Chapter 6: Kushida-san Is So Kind

She's dangerously cute.

That was the first thought that crossed Hikigaya Hachiman's mind.

It was the first time in his life a girl had looked at him that way—like he was worth noticing. Worth smiling at.

Class D wasn't just home to Hirata the dependable motherly type. Now it had Kushida Kikyo too, a literal sunshine angel.

Hirata Yosuke was kind, reliable, the type who made sure everyone felt included. And then there was Kushida. If social skills were a weapon, hers were maxed out and polished to a mirror shine.

In the class group Hirata created, Kushida was the one pulling students in. Constantly adding new members. That meant she had administrator status. And more importantly, she had everyone's contact information.

To do that, she needed more than access. She needed trust.

That made her a prime connector in the classroom—possibly even a central node.

For someone like Hachiman, who typically preferred shadows to spotlights, people like Hirata and Kushida were difficult to deal with. Yet strangely enough, there was no friction between them and him. No pressure. No false camaraderie.

Maybe it was her eyes—those glistening, pleading eyes that made her look like a kicked puppy.

Her cuteness wasn't just skin-deep. Her aura radiated comfort. You could almost forget she was a classmate and not an anime heroine plucked straight out of a romantic slice-of-life.

"By the way, Kushida-san, are you heading to the shopping district?" Hachiman asked, mostly just to have something to say.

"Yeah," she nodded, perking up. "Everyone's been confirming that we can use our points just like real money. I took a look around my room, and while the basics are there, there are a lot of daily necessities missing."

Naturally. When you live away from home, you need everything from towels to tableware. Even toothpicks. The list doesn't end.

So she was heading to the shopping district.

Which meant they'd be parting soon.

Hachiman had intended to do the same—to stock up while he had the chance—but he felt a different kind of urgency pressing at him. There was information to be gathered, and the senior students were likely better sources than anyone else. Chabashira might be under orders not to speak, but that didn't mean other routes weren't available.

"Um… Kushida-san," he began, glancing sideways. "Would you be willing to share your classmates' contact info with me?"

"Huh?"

She blinked, puzzled, head tilting slightly in the most anime-esque way possible.

Her expression asked the question: why?

"I'm kind of a loner," Hachiman said, scratching at the back of his neck, "but I'm hoping to make some friends here."

That was a lie.

In reality, he needed the contact list to complete Chabashira's assignment. She'd offered him 200,000 points per student file, and the ability to exchange points into cash. Whether or not he managed to investigate all thirty-nine classmates, even one or two would be worthwhile.

To start that process, he needed access.

And Kushida? She was the perfect gateway.

Her warmth. Her popularity. Her openness. She could give him exactly what he needed.

And unlike Hirata, who was always drowning in conversations and surrounded by others, Kushida felt a little more reachable.

Not to mention, she was overwhelmingly cute. That alone made this awkward request a bit harder to voice without second-guessing himself.

"I want to make friends..." she echoed softly, looking up at him.

Her tone wasn't suspicious, just... curious.

"It's not like I need all the contacts," Hachiman added quickly. "I just thought, if I found someone I might get along with, it'd be easier to reach out."

It was a thin excuse. No one needed everyone's info to make one friend. Even he knew that.

"I see..." she paused, eyes flickering slightly. "Alright."

Then she smiled.

"I'll give you the contact info."

Hachiman blinked.

"Just like that?"

"But," she said, holding up a finger. "On one condition."

She stepped forward slightly, her voice lowering.

"You have to become my friend first."

The way she said it made his chest tighten a little.

Her eyes sparkled. Not just in the literal, animated way. But in a way that made you feel like she was serious.

She had seen through his lie. She wasn't oblivious. She understood that he wasn't looking to make friends for the sake of companionship.

And yet, even knowing that—she was still willing to help him.

That trust… came at a price.

Not money.

But a seat in her circle.

A risk. Because if anything happened with that list, she'd be the one blamed.

Even knowing that, she still offered.

Why?

Hachiman almost chuckled bitterly.

If he were a normal boy, he might have misunderstood. Might have thought Kushida Kikyo liked him.

But he wasn't normal.

Stay sharp, Hachiman. It's just friendship. Don't mistake kindness for affection.

"Although I'd really like to be friends with you, Kushida-san," Hachiman replied carefully, "I have a strict definition of what that means."

She tilted her head.

"I'm talking about real friends. The kind that help each other without hesitation. That can open up and be honest. A friendship that lasts. Not just convenience or small talk."

"A real friend, huh?" she repeated.

Then she giggled.

"That's a pretty high bar."

She didn't mock him. Didn't retreat.

She just smiled.

And said, "But I like that. It means you take it seriously."

Maybe she understood more than he expected.

Ordinary people might think sharing meals or chatting between classes was friendship. But to Hachiman, that wasn't enough.

And to her credit, she didn't seem thrown off by that.

As they walked, the conversation naturally stalled. They exited the dormitory together, stepping into the warm afternoon air.

Kushida headed for the shopping district.

Hachiman turned toward the school.

"Did you forget something in the classroom?" she asked.

"No," he shook his head. "I want to explore a bit. Figure out why the school's offering so much. It doesn't make sense."

"I tried asking Chabashira-sensei, but she's clearly under orders not to talk."

"So I thought I'd try my luck with some upperclassmen."

"Oh, I see."

She nodded, understanding.

Then—suddenly—she stopped walking.

"Then… can I come with you?"

Her hand reached out, gently grabbing his sleeve.

Before he could respond, she took it a step further.

She reached out with both hands, softly taking his left hand in hers.

She lifted it gently.

Her skin was warm.

And that without a doubt was the first time in Hikigaya Hachiman's life that a girl had held his hand.

***

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