My dear wife, I still love you more.

……

Hiratsuka Shizuka was still dressed in a way that made her look less like a woman, with a white lab coat over her clothes. The only thing that made her look like a woman was her not-so-high heels.

"We have a new student in our class today. Well, he's not exactly a freshman. Actually, he's been a student in our class since the beginning of the semester. However, he was hit by a car while trying to help someone at the start of the semester and had to stay in the hospital for three weeks. He's back now. Everyone should get along well with him. Come on, introduce yourself." Hiratsuka Shizuka stood on the podium and spoke casually to the students below.

"Hello everyone, my name is Hachiman Hikigaya. Um—"

"Huh? Those eyes are so strange."

"What disgusting eyes, like dead fish eyes."

"I think I might have nightmares tonight."

In fact, if Hiratsuka Shizuka hadn't been in the classroom, the students might have been even more outrageous. However, although it had only been less than a month since the start of the semester, Hiratsuka Shizuka's authority had already been established in the class.

The people below couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves, and this murmur reached Hachiman Hikigaya's ears, but his expression remained completely unchanged. Just that calm, and the conversation abruptly ended there.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Hachiman with Dead Fish Eyes

Hachiman Hikigaya, well, this guy gives off a strange vibe, especially his eyes. To be honest, this is the first time Hasegawa Kenichi has ever encountered eyes like those. They look like a salted fish that's been dead for who knows how long. Aside from his eyes, his appearance is actually not bad.

His eyes were strange, making people hesitant to approach him. And then there was the fact that it was already the fourth week of school, three weeks into the semester. Small groups and cliques within the class had already formed and even matured. For example, Yui Yuigahama, who hadn't even arrived on the first day and whose personality had become somewhat timid due to a family crisis, hadn't been able to integrate into any group. So, it was even more difficult for Hachiman Hikigaya, a boy who had only just arrived at school and whose eyes were so unusual, to integrate into any of those groups.

Hachiman Hikigaya sat quietly in his seat, not speaking or interacting with anyone. Even when he occasionally glanced at the other classmates, his gaze remained somewhat indifferent, giving the impression that he viewed himself as an observer—merely an observer, absolutely not participating.

Seeing Hachiman Hikigaya's expression, Kenichi Hasegawa was a little curious about the guy. Of course, being a little curious didn't mean Hasegawa wanted to get to know him. To be honest, Hasegawa really didn't enjoy interacting with high school students. He felt there was a generation gap; high school students were just too energetic. He felt old, old at heart. He preferred to sit quietly to the side, watching these high school students laugh and joke with a kind gaze.

However, at this moment, Hasegawa Kenichi noticed Yui Yuigahama. After seeing Hachiman Hikigaya, Yui Yuigahama had a strange look in her eyes. She wanted to go up and thank him, but she hesitated and dared not go up or speak.

Her appearance made Kenichi Hasegawa shake his head.

Perhaps he needs to talk to Yui Yuigahama. After all, she's his classmate, and she always follows him to and from school like a little tail. Besides, she's Mrs. Yuigahama's daughter. Um, the last point can be ignored.

……

After school, Kenichi Hasegawa walked out carrying his schoolbag. Seeing this, Yui Yuigahama followed him like a little tail.

In fact, most of the classmates had noticed Yui Yuigahama's situation to some extent. However, Yui Yuigahama was unable to integrate into any of the other small groups, and Kenichi Hasegawa didn't have any groups at all. So, occasionally someone might talk about them, but no one would actually go up to them to say anything, so they remained quiet.

"Yuhihama-san."

"Huh? Hasegawa-san." Yui Yuigahama seemed surprised that Kenichi Hasegawa would suddenly speak to her. She was taken aback, then lowered her head, her face slightly red, and dared not look Hasegawa into his eyes.

"You seem to care a lot about Hachiman Hikigaya."

"Huh? No, no, that's right, I, I, I just—" Yui Yuigahama blushed.

"I know, it's because he saved you back then, right? You want to thank him in person, right?" Kenichi Hasegawa looked at Yui Yuigahama's expression and couldn't help but shake his head, asking with a smile.

“…Mm.” Yui Yuigahama lowered her head, remained silent for a while, and then couldn’t help but nod.

“In that case, thank him in person. I think he won’t blame you,” Hasegawa Kenichi said to Yui Yuigahama.

"But, but—really, is it okay?" Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but raise her head, but after seeing Kenichi Hasegawa's eyes, she couldn't help but lower her head again.

“Of course you can. I don’t think Hachiman will blame you. After all, although his eyes are a bit strange, he seems like a reasonable person. Besides, he took the initiative to save people when they were in danger, so he must have a good heart. He should be a good person.” Kenichi Hasegawa analyzed, “And if you don’t take the initiative to find him, you’ll keep this to yourself, and it will be very uncomfortable to keep it bottled up.”

"Then, then I, I'll go find Hikigaya-kun?" A determined glint flashed in Yui Yuigahama's eyes. Encouraged by Kenichi Hasegawa, she made her decision.

"Yes, that's good. But let's do it tomorrow."

"Ugh?"

"Didn't you notice? Hachiman should have already gone home. He probably hasn't joined any clubs, since it's only his first day at school. Even if there were clubs he was interested in, he wouldn't have had time to join. We probably won't find him at school. Let's go find him tomorrow," Hasegawa Kenichi said.

"Yes. Thank you, Hasegawa-san," Yui Yuigahama said gratefully.

“You’re welcome. I still need to go to the kendo club. Are you going to stay with me or go home first?” Hasegawa Kenichi asked again.

"This—" Yui Yuigahama was taken aback, lowered her head, and didn't speak, but her expression showed that she had made up her mind.

Kenichi Hasegawa smiled and shook his head upon seeing this. She really is a shy little girl.

When Hasegawa Kenichi returned to the kendo club, he noticed that his usual little corner for practicing kendo seemed to be occupied. He frowned slightly, but didn't say anything. He turned around and went to find another, more secluded corner to practice his kendo by himself.

Meanwhile, in the corner where Hasegawa Kenichi used to hang out, Busujima Saeko frowned slightly: "It's this late, and he's still not here. Is he not coming to the kendo club for practice today?"

Generally speaking, even if you join a club, you don't necessarily come to practice or participate in activities every day. Normally, a student would come to the club two or three times a week, so it's not surprising that Saeko Busujima thought that way.

Kenichi Hasegawa was unaware that the person who had taken over his spot was Saeko Busujima, nor did he know that she had been waiting for him. Finding another secluded corner, Hasegawa picked up his wooden sword and began practicing again. After this period of practice, his kendo proficiency had improved considerably, and he was almost at the next level. Once his kendo reached level 4, that level would likely place him among the top-tier professionals.

However, while level 4 is easy to upgrade to, level 5 requires ten times the proficiency of level 4. At that time, it will not be so easy to upgrade again. Even his current level of Japanese is still level 4, and it will take a long time to upgrade to level 5.

Chapter Twenty-Four: Hikigaya's Unrequited Love

"Good morning, Mrs. Yuihama."

"Good morning, Hasegawa-kun. Yui, I'm counting on you today too."

"Well, don't say that, we're just going to school together."

He smiled and said goodbye to Mrs. Yui, then went to school with Yui following behind him like a little tail. In fact, similar conversations happened every morning. Every time Hasegawa Kenichi went to school, Mrs. Yui would smile and say a few words to him, mostly things like, "I'm entrusting my daughter to you today, please take care of her."

Every morning, a few simple words of conversation are enough to keep Kenichi Hasegawa in a relaxed and cheerful state throughout the day.

When Hasegawa Kenichi arrived at school, he saw that Hikigaya Hachiman was already sitting in his seat, quietly reading a book by himself. It was hard to tell whether he was truly engrossed in it or not; in short, he seemed to be in a completely different world from the rest of the class.

"Hello, Hikigaya-kun." Hasegawa Kenichi approached Hikigaya Hachiman and greeted him with a smile.

"Huh?" A hint of surprise flashed across Hachiman Hikigaya's dead fish eyes as he looked at Kenichi Hasegawa with a blank expression, not quite understanding why Hasegawa would call him: "Um, Hasegawa-kun, is there something you need?"

"Hachiman-kun knows me?" Hasegawa Kenichi was a little surprised. After all, he was usually quiet and reserved, and his appearance was ordinary and unremarkable. He shouldn't be very noticeable in the class. Hachiman Hikigaya seemed to have just entered the school, and even if the students in the class knew him, they shouldn't recognize all of them. But he immediately called out Hasegawa Kenichi's name.

"Well, I just glanced at the class roster and wrote down everyone's names." Hachiman Hikigaya said in a casual tone.

"..." Hasegawa Kenichi was somewhat at a loss for words after hearing what Hikigaya Hachiman said. To memorize the names of everyone in the class on the very first day of school was truly astounding. Hasegawa Kenichi himself didn't dare claim to have memorized everyone's names, since he wasn't particularly concerned with his classmates; they didn't interact much, and he didn't really take them to heart.

"Hachiman, could you wait for me after school at noon? I have something I want to talk to you about," Hasegawa Kenichi asked with a smile. Although it was a question, his tone was somewhat certain, as if he didn't want Hachiman to refuse. However, there was a gentle quality to his tone, so it didn't come across as aggressive.

"Oh, okay." Hachiman Hikigaya blinked. Although he didn't know why Kenichi Hasegawa wanted to talk to him, he nodded anyway.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya's mind was racing with thoughts: Why did Hasegawa want to talk to him? Was Hasegawa a school bully trying to pick a fight with him? No, Hasegawa didn't seem like one. So what was going on? Did he want to be friends? Hmm, that was possible. After all, Hasegawa didn't seem to belong to any particular group in class, and was mostly alone. So, did he want to find solace in someone like him? Or perhaps…

Meanwhile, after Hasegawa Kenichi and Hikigaya Hachiman finished their conversation, Hasegawa made a gesture towards Yuigahama Yui. Yuigahama Yui couldn't help but show a grateful expression.

After that, Kenichi Hasegawa wasn't affected much; he attended classes as usual, listened attentively, and even took careful notes. Hachiman Hikigaya, on the other hand, kept his mind wandering, and couldn't even concentrate in class. As for Yui Yuigahama, well, she was a complete academic failure.

At noon, after school, Kenichi Hasegawa, along with Yui Yuigahama, found Hachiman Hikigaya, who was already waiting at the agreed-upon location.

"Hikigaya-kun."

"Hasegawa-kun, um, and Yui-hama-kun too." Hachiman Hikigaya looked at Yui-hama, who was following behind Kenichi Hasegawa, and his eyes were even more confused.

Kenichi Hasegawa stepped back two paces, letting Yui Yuigahama face Hachiman Hikigaya. However, at this moment, Yui Yuigahama seemed a little flustered, her face turning slightly red.

Hachiman Hikigaya was completely bewildered. He even wondered if he was still dreaming. After all, Yui Yuigahama's expression was just too misleading.

"What's going on? Could it be that Yui-hama likes me? She wants to confess to me, so she asked Hasegawa-san to invite me? No way, she really wants to confess to me? But that's impossible, I've only just entered high school. And, looking like me, although I don't want to belittle myself, how could any girl like me? But what is Yui-hama doing? What's going on here?"

"Um, um, compared to Penguin-kun—"

Hachiman Hikigaya's face darkened: "It's Hikigaya."

"Ah? Ah, I'm so sorry, Hachiman-kun, um, um, I, I didn't mean to call you by your name, I, I, I just, I just—"

"I'm sorry, please allow me to decline the call."

"Huh???" Yui Yuigahama looked completely bewildered: "I, I haven't said anything yet—"

"Please allow me to decline, no matter what. I'm sorry, Yuihama-san, but I don't have any intention of dating in high school. I want to focus on my studies and get into a good university," Hachiman Hikigaya said earnestly.

"Huh???" Yui Yuigahama was completely bewildered. She had only come to apologize and thank him, but why did Hachiman Hikigaya tell her that he didn't want to date in high school anymore?

Kenichi Hasegawa's expression was a little strange; he finally understood what was going on. However, he thought that Hachiman Hikigaya was a bit too narcissistic. Putting aside the fact that he had only just entered high school and didn't know or know anyone, he wasn't handsome at all, especially with those dead fish eyes—he didn't look like someone any girl would like. Yet this guy actually thought Yui Yuigahama liked him and wanted to confess to him? What was this guy thinking?

"I'm sorry, if there's nothing else, I have to go back now." Hachiman Hikigaya apologized again and then prepared to leave.

"Huh?" Yui Yuigahama was still not in the mood to react.

"Ahem, um, Hachiman, you, did you misunderstand?" Hasegawa Kenichi saw that Hachiman Hikigaya was about to leave, and Yui Yuigahama, that idiot, hadn't even realized what was going on, so Hasegawa Kenichi had to step in.

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Examination

"Um, Yuihama-san, she just wanted to thank you for saving her when school started. But she wasn't planning on confessing her feelings to you. So, are you... misunderstanding something?" Hasegawa Kenichi said strangely.

"Huh? Huh? Huh?" Hachiman Hikigaya's face flushed red instantly. He was filled with embarrassment, feeling incredibly ashamed. He hadn't understood anything and had presumptuously assumed the other person was confessing to him. He had even said something about rejection. Now, thinking about it, it was truly embarrassing and incredibly awkward.

After learning what had happened, Hachiman Hikigaya said he accepted Yui Yuigahama's thanks, then turned and left with a blank expression. However, he left rather quickly, and his back looked a bit disheveled.

But at least this matter is over now, and Yui Yuigahama can finally put her mind at ease.

However, Hachiman Hikigaya, to put it another way, is still quite awkward. He has reverted to his previous state, as if he has built a wall, completely separating himself from everyone else.

……

"Dear students, it's been a month since the start of the semester. So, we're going to have an exam to see how you've fared and how you've learned over the past month, so you can have a better understanding of your grades..." Shizuka Hiratsuka stood on the podium and announced this news, which was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for most of the students.

"Huh? An exam?"

"No way? There's going to be an exam?"

"Oh no, I haven't studied much since I entered high school."

"Oh my god, what should we do?"

Why do we have to take exams?

"Hmph, exams are a piece of cake for me."

"I'll get a good score and show you."

The students reacted in various ways, but most of them looked frustrated, clearly showing their resistance to exams.

Kenichi Hasegawa wasn't particularly concerned about exams. In the month since entering high school, although he continued writing novels, practicing kendo, and occasionally studying other things, he had been quite diligent in his studies, especially with the system at his disposal. Therefore, exams weren't difficult for him. However, it had been so long since he'd experienced exams, and starting them again felt somewhat fresh and novel.

For Kenichi Hasegawa, the exam process was relatively easy, even easier than his usual classes. The test paper was handed out, and he simply had to fill it out; it covered knowledge he had already learned and mastered. Therefore, Hasegawa looked relaxed after the exam.

However, after school, Yui Yuigahama, who was walking home with Kenichi Hasegawa, looked rather pale, as if she had suddenly turned ashen. Seeing Yui Yuigahama like this, Kenichi Hasegawa could only shake his head.

"Yuigahama-san, judging from your expression, you don't seem to have done very well on the test?"

"Of course! Exams are the worst! Why do we have to take exams? We should just go to school. We're supposed to have a relaxed and happy education system. Why do we have to take exams? Isn't that taking away students' relaxation and happiness? We must resist, resist, resist exams!" Yui Yuigahama's face was filled with resentment, and she seemed like a ghost, as if she had lost all her strength.