Chapter 323: Succubus Hikigaya – The Fall of Toyokawa Shoko and Hoshino Ai

The idol performance had come to an end.

The crowd of fans in the audience began to leave in droves.

Hikigaya and the others also left their seats, walking through the aisle of the venue.

Komachi was all smiles, while Hikigaya and Toyokawa Shoko wore odd expressions—silent and visibly uneasy.

Once they reached a relatively empty area—

Toyokawa Shoko finally couldn't hold it in any longer and spoke up:

"Um… Hikigaya-kun, just now… I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It was an accident, after all."

Hikigaya awkwardly shook his head.

"Shoko-nee, there's no need for you to apologize. You're a beautiful girl, so for you to kiss my brother—he should consider himself lucky!"

Komachi said brightly, then added teasingly, "But for you, are you sure kissing a guy like my brother is really okay?"

Hey! What a wonderful little sister I've got, huh?

"Huh?"

Toyokawa Shoko blinked in surprise, her eyes instinctively drifting toward Hikigaya. Their gazes met—for a moment—and then both quickly looked away.

Weird.

What is this feeling?

She has the same kind of presence… as Yukinoshita.

No no no, it's just your imagination!

Hikigaya tried his best to stay calm.

"Right? I mean, my brother's got those dead fish eyes, he's a total slob… Honestly, it was him who got lucky. He's the one who should apologize, not you."

Komachi continued without mercy.

Oi, your dear older brother just got surprise-kissed and you're still ragging on me? Ugh, maybe I shouldn't even exist in this oxygen-sharing space anymore.

"No, it's really not like that…"

Toyokawa Shoko shook her head, then gave Hikigaya a few quick glances, her voice lowering to a shy murmur.

"Actually… I think Hikigaya-kun is kind of… handsome."

"…Huh?"

"Eh???"

Not only Komachi but even Hikigaya himself looked stunned.

This… This might be the first time in his life someone's called him handsome.

And it was a girl, no less!

Waaah, Toyokawa, you're an angel!!

"Shoko-nee, are you serious…?"

Komachi's lips twitched in disbelief. "My brother, handsome? He's the type that gets judged just for standing in a crowd of regular people! I mean, look at those dead fish eyes of his!"

Mmm, this is why Komachi will always be my favorite sister. The barbed loyalty runs deep.

"Come on, it's not that bad."

Toyokawa couldn't help but giggle. "I think Hikigaya-kun's eyes are… kind of cute."

…Wait, what? Cute? My eyes??

If Yukinoshita didn't exist, I swear I'd start chasing after you, Toyokawa-san!

"Huh?? Cu—Cute??"

Komachi stared at her brother's face, her expression crumpling like she'd just bitten into a lemon. "Okay, I guess this is happening. Someone actually called your eyes cute in this lifetime."

"I really mean it…"

Toyokawa Shoko kept examining Hikigaya's eyes more closely. Then she reached into her small bag and pulled out a pair of glasses.

"Hikigaya-kun, do you want to try these on? I have a feeling your eyes would look even better with glasses."

"No way."

Komachi shrugged. "Shoko-nee, better put those away before my brother smudges them."

"It's fine."

Toyokawa Shoko smiled warmly and held out the black-rimmed glasses to Hikigaya.

"Want to try? They have a very mild prescription. Totally safe for someone with normal vision."

"…Well."

Faced with the hopeful look of a beautiful girl, Hikigaya hesitated for a few seconds, then gave in and took the glasses.

Alright, Toyokawa—you said I looked good. That earns you one try.

"I'll wear them, okay? Is this how they go on?"

"Hikigaya-kun, is this your first time wearing glasses? Let me help you."

Toyokawa Shoko tiptoed slightly and gently helped him put the glasses on. As she did, she also smoothed out his messy bangs, tidying them into place with delicate fingers.

Hikigaya wanted to say something—anything—but seeing her act so angelically, he gave up and let her do her thing.

She's only the second girl to ever touch my bangs… The first was Yukinoshita.

"Hmm?"

The more she fixed his hair, the more Toyokawa Shoko's expression shifted—from surprise, to amazement, and finally… to genuine awe.

"I'm telling you," Komachi sighed, "even with glasses, my brother still looks like a dead fish. No saving him."

She said it half-heartedly, then glanced up at her brother.

And then—

Komachi froze. Her eyes went wide like little bells. She just… stared at her big brother's face.

"What's with you guys? Why those expressions?"

Hikigaya looked at the stunned Komachi and Shoko, completely bewildered.

"Sigh… I get it. I must be so ugly, it's shocking…"

So please—stop shattering Hikigaya's already fragile self-esteem. He knows he's a hopeless, trash-tier, friendless dead fish-eyed loser.

"No, no, no! Hikigaya-kun, you—!"

Seeing him sink into depression, Toyokawa Shoko quickly shook her head, cheeks now tinged with pink, clearly ready to explain—

But before she could—

A girl in casual clothes and a mask came hurrying toward them. She had purple hair and an intense aura, cutting off Shoko mid-sentence.

"Shoko!"

As soon as the concert ended, Hoshino Ai had rushed over. After all, her bestie had just kissed the guy she secretly liked—a physiological crisis if there ever was one.

"Shi—Shino-san?!"

Seeing Hoshino Ai storming over, Hikigaya's face tensed. He instinctively stepped back, trying to avoid her.

"Huh? You're…?"

Spotting Hikigaya in glasses, Hoshino Ai paused in confusion. Then her face changed dramatically—eyes widening in disbelief, staring like he was a creature from another world.

"Sigh… Just because I put on glasses, you can't recognize me anymore?"

Hikigaya sighed in despair.

"Eh?!"

Hearing that familiar voice, Hoshino Ai jolted in shock. A blush rose to her face, her voice trembling—

"That's not just my imagination?! You're really… Hikigaya-kun?!"

Hikigaya didn't deny it. He just let out another sigh.

"Sigh… I knew it. No matter what I do, an ugly guy in glasses is still an ugly guy…"

"Ugly?"

Both Toyokawa Shoko and Hoshino Ai wore strange expressions at that.

Komachi pursed her lips and let out a long sigh:

"As much as I hate to say it—bro, you're… ridiculously handsome right now."

"…???"

Hikigaya blinked, stunned.

Then he looked up and saw all three girls—including his own sister—blushing, staring at him with the bashful eyes of infatuated schoolgirls.

"…Huh?"