"Senpai, if you're trying to s*xually harass me, I'll call the police, you know~"

Hikigaya Hachiman: ....

"Why?"

Hearing Isshiki Iroha's words, Hikigaya Hachiman's face instantly twitched. He was just being considerate, seeing how hard it was for Isshiki to stand, so he wanted to give her his seat. How did that somehow escalate into sxual harassment*?

"Eh? Weren't you just inviting me to sit on your lap, Senpai?"

Seeing Hikigaya's baffled expression, Isshiki clasped her hands behind her back and smirked mischievously.

"Of course not."

Hikigaya felt utterly drained. Just how much dirty fuel does Isshiki's brain run on to twist his words like that? And could she at least keep her voice down?! That uncle sitting next to him was already looking at him with eyes full of suspicion!

"Well, even though I'd love for Senpai to give me your seat, seeing how exhausted you looked just now… I guess I'll let it go."

After teasing Hikigaya a little, Isshiki grabbed onto the overhead strap again.

Normally, if he offered, she definitely wouldn't hesitate to take the seat. But just now, Hikigaya had looked so tired he'd actually fallen asleep.

She didn't know what he had been through earlier to be that worn out, but in this situation, she couldn't bring herself to take his place.

"I wasn't tired." It was just pure spiritual energy depletion.

He quickly circulated his cultivation technique a few times, and spiritual power once again gathered in his body. As the familiar sensation of energy flowing through his meridians returned, Hikigaya perked up. Then, without a word, he pulled Isshiki down and pushed her into his seat.

"If you're having such a hard time holding on, don't force yourself."

Easily grabbing the strap that Isshiki had been struggling to reach, Hikigaya looked down at her blank expression and spoke with mild irritation.

"U-Um, is it really okay?"

Sitting down, Isshiki looked up uneasily. It was true that sitting made her feel a lot better, but wouldn't this make Hikigaya more tired?

"I'm getting off in just a few stops. Standing a bit won't kill me."

The way Isshiki looked so concerned for him made Hikigaya wonder if he was talking to her long-lost twin sister instead.

This polite and reserved demeanor wasn't like Isshiki at all. The normal Isshiki should've just said something like, 'Thanks so much, Senpai!' plopped herself down without hesitation, and handed him a "good guy card" afterward.

"R-Really? In that case… okay…"

Hearing he was about to get off, Isshiki's face showed a flicker of sadness. Then she lowered her head, staring at the tips of her shoes, falling silent.

"…Something happen recently?"

Seeing her so gloomy, Hikigaya couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Not really… I just got kicked out of the soccer club, that's all…"

The moment Hikigaya asked, Isshiki's sadness deepened.

"Kicked out? Why? Weren't you doing fine?"

Sure, Isshiki's motives for joining as team manager weren't pure, but she had still done all the proper work of a manager. Besides…

He looked her up and down. Even when she wasn't in high spirits or dressed up carefully, she was still undeniably cute.

Unless the soccer club members were complete idiots, they wouldn't fire her. Even if she was just a mascot to cheer them up with her cuteness, that alone was like a performance-enhancing drug for those guys.

"Because, for some reason… I can't set foot on the field anymore…"

Isshiki's voice was filled with frustration. She had talked about this with Hikigaya before. Because of the aftereffects of her aversion to spirits, the moment she stepped onto the field, she felt sick all over. Forget participating in club activities—she couldn't even take normal P.E. classes anymore and had to sit out by the track.

After she joined the soccer club, plenty of girls at school were already jealous of her. Now that she couldn't even enter the field, rumors spread everywhere.

Under the weight of public opinion, and in order to protect both the club's and Isshiki's reputation, the captain had no choice but to dismiss her.

"…Sorry."

Hikigaya hadn't expected that changing her dreamscape would cause Isshiki this kind of trouble.

"Senpai, why are you apologizing? The ones who should apologize are those jerks spreading rumors about me."

"No… the truth is, this problem of yours…"

Leaning closer, Hikigaya quietly explained to her why she couldn't enter the field.

"Senpai…"

When Isshiki heard that the reason she couldn't set foot on the field was because Hikigaya had hypnotized her a second time in her dream, planting a subconscious psychological shadow tied to that place, she looked at him with obvious grievance in her eyes.

"I'm really sorry! I never thought it would turn out like this. As compensation, I'll help you with a few things for free!"

Because of a hypnotic suggestion planted in a dream, she had developed a trauma that carried into reality. It sounded absurd, but now that it had actually happened, Hikigaya could only apologize sincerely and promise to make it up to her as best he could.

"…Anything?"

Isshiki blinked in surprise. Then her dangling legs started to swing back and forth.

"Of course, nothing against my principles, and nothing illegal." Hikigaya quickly added conditions, his face serious.

"Well, duh. I never planned on making you commit crimes, okay?"

Isshiki rolled her eyes at him. She was just a harmless, cute high school girl—why would she demand something so terrifying?

"Ah! I've got it!"

After just a moment of thought, Isshiki came up with the perfect way to mess with him.

"The only reason I joined the soccer club in the first place was to get close to Hayama-senpai. So, Senpai, you're going to help me achieve that goal."

"Alright. Understood."

Hearing her condition, Hikigaya nodded without hesitation.

"W-Wait, Senpai, you're not serious, are you?"

Isshiki, who had only said it as a joke, froze when she saw Hikigaya's serious expression. He couldn't possibly be planning to really help her chase Hayama, right?

"I'll do what I can to gather information on Hayama, and set up chances for you two to be alone. Beyond that, I can't make any promises."

But Hikigaya was clearly dead serious. After agreeing to Isshiki's request, he immediately pulled out his phone and sent Kawasaki Saki a message, asking her to collect intel on Hayama.

"Ughhh…"

Watching Hikigaya's serious expression, Isshiki puffed up her cheeks. She had only been joking!

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