Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Spring break ended, and the new semester at Sobu High officially began.

On the first day of the new school year, high school students usually wake up early. Freshmen are eager to arrive and meet new classmates, while upperclassmen hope their new class assignments will include familiar faces.

For any normal high schooler, the first day of a new semester is a monumental event in their youth. Everyone wants to get to school early.

Except for me, Hachiman Hikigaya. As a senior starting my third year of high school today, I was currently pedaling furiously on my bike, trying to beat the clock with only ten minutes left before I'd be officially late.

In fairness, my sister Komachi had tried to wake me up earlier, but I'd been too groggy to pay her much attention. So, my lovely little sister had heartlessly left me behind.

"Sigh…"

I let out a heavy sigh. Even the fresh morning air felt annoying. After past failures on similar occasions, I'd planned to wake up early this morning to welcome a new class, new teachers, and new classmates—to start my final year of high school perfectly.

But life always has its surprises.

Yesterday, I had been forced to spend the entire afternoon with Yukinoshita, leaving me so exhausted that even a night's rest wasn't enough to soothe my sore back and aching legs.

Even now, as I pedaled my bike, I had to move carefully to avoid my cramping legs from giving out.

"Sadist! No, she's a full-blown demon king!"

The thought of what happened yesterday filled my mind with dark shadows.

Before this, I'd been pretty confident. As a guy, I thought I could easily outlast Yukinoshita when it came to stamina. But reality had slapped me hard in the face. Yesterday, she had somehow transformed into a max-level Lv99 boss while I was nothing but a pitiful Lv1 rookie fresh out of the starter village.

Damn it! How could I be so weak?

I dreaded seeing Yukinoshita today at school. She would definitely mock me mercilessly. I could already imagine her saying things like, "What a loser. You're just a useless fish. From now on, I'll call you Mr. Fish." Or worse: "Mr. Fish, maybe you should take some medicine? No? Never mind, as long as you're functional enough to have kids."

Ugh! My pride! My dignity!

I grimaced like I'd swallowed a bitter melon.

No, I can't just give up!

Even if my high school youth is problematic, my future married life can't be, too!

Balancing the heavy academic workload of my senior year, I resolved to prioritize physical fitness. I would never let Yukinoshita look down on me again.

With newfound determination, I pushed harder on the pedals, quickening my pace. Tired or not, I told myself this was just a head start on my new fitness regime.

"Ah! Whoa, whoa, whoa! Watch out!"

As I turned a corner, a short-haired girl suddenly dashed out in front of me. If I hadn't braked in time, I might have caused another bike accident—just like last year.

Close call. Good thing I'm so weak; otherwise, a stronger stop might have hit her.

Balancing my bike with one foot on the ground, I turned to the girl and asked with genuine concern, "Are you okay? Sorry about that."

…Wait. She's wearing Sobu High's uniform?

Ah, a fellow unlucky soul.

"I'm fine," the girl replied.

"Good, as long as you're okay…" I nodded in relief. But just as I was about to leave, I hesitated and glanced at her, noticing the sweat glistening on her forehead.

Seeing my hesitation, the girl paused and asked, puzzled, "Are you thinking of offering me a ride on your bike?"

"Eh?"

Wow, this girl must be a mind reader!

Since she had called me out, I suppressed my embarrassment and replied, "It's only natural for an upperclassman to help a fellow student. We're both about to be late. If you hop on, you'll get to school faster."

This was hard for me. Offering a stranger a ride on my bike on the first day of school? The risk of being seen as a creep was high.

Still, I imagined if it were a certain mischievous younger girl, she would probably clutch her chest, trembling, and say something like, "Senpai, you're not falling for me, are you? Sorry, I already like someone else. I apologize!"

"Thank you," the short-haired girl said unexpectedly. She walked calmly to the back of the bike and sat down as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I appreciate your help, Hikigaya-senpai."

"Eh?" I turned my head sharply. "You know me?"

"Hikigaya-senpai, you're quite famous at Sobu High. Every normal student knows who you are," she replied with a calm expression.

"Famous? I'm just a regular, inconspicuous student."

"One of the key members of the Service Club, who organized events like the cultural festival, sports festival, and joint dance party... Does that sound 'inconspicuous' to you?"

"Uh…"

Her words sent chills down my spine. She had just recounted all my embarrassing second-year "achievements" as if reading them from a list.

Now pedaling slower because of the extra weight on my bike, I struggled to keep my balance while processing this unsettling conversation.

Who is this girl? Has she been stalking me?

The idea of her secretly harboring a crush on me briefly flitted through my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. I already had a girlfriend now.

"Uh, um, I…"

I stammered, struggling to think of a way to politely reject her—anything to distance myself from this ominous presence behind me. My instincts screamed that she was dangerous.

But the girl interrupted my thoughts, her voice steady. "Hikigaya-senpai, I'm actually a third-year student like you."

"...What?!"

A fellow senior?

That can't be right!

Though I had met almost every student at Sobu High during my many activities last year, I had zero memory of her. She was a complete blank.

A transfer student, maybe?

No, you idiot! She knew all about my past. How could she be a transfer student?

Black mark on my record: +1.

"Ah, I remember now! You were in Class 2-B last year, right? Uh… Fujihara?"

"I was in Class 2-E. My name is Katou."

"...Oh. Sorry."

Black mark: +2.

With that embarrassing admission, I racked my brain. Katou? Class E?

She was right next door to my Class F!

But there was no way someone like her could have escaped my notice all year, right? Something wasn't adding up.

Cold sweat trickled down my back as I slowly realized: the person sitting on my bike wasn't just any girl. She was like an invisible demon king, one who had quietly hidden her presence from everyone—until now.

The growing unease in Hachiman's mind only deepened. What kind of monster had he unwittingly stumbled upon today?

"It's fine," Katou said, shaking her head. Her tone remained calm and indifferent as she continued, "I've always been pretty unremarkable. Average grades, no club activities, no class representative roles, and not many friends. It's normal that you wouldn't remember me."

This eerie sense of déjà vu…

Isn't that me?!

Wait, no! Not the same at all!

I may be a nobody, but I've at least joined a club, and my language grades are ranked third in the entire year!

There's no way I'm on the same level as you!

"Actually, I think Katou-san is quite cute," Hachiman offered hesitantly, hoping to ease the awkward atmosphere.

At the very least, in one particular area, she's better than the top student of our grade, Yukinoshita.

"Senpai is very kind," Katou replied, her expression unchanged. "But you don't need to comfort me. If I really were cute, you would have noticed me long ago."

"...Uh."

Hachiman was left speechless. As he clammed up, the alarm bells in his mind rang louder and louder.

Not only did he have zero recollection of this girl—zero!—but this unassuming, seemingly invisible creature clearly knew far too much about him. Talking to her felt like being caught in some invisible net, where every move he made only further entangled him.

For the first time, he truly considered whether this so-called "chance encounter" might actually be some kind of elaborate, malicious plan.

Katou was dangerous.

He suddenly yearned for the familiar sharp tongue and cold gaze of Yukinoshita. At least with her, he could prepare for the onslaught.

"Yukinoshita… save me…"

...

After what felt like an eternity of tense silence, they finally arrived at Sobu High.

The moment Hachiman brought his bike to a stop, Katou smoothly stepped off the back seat. She patted her skirt to straighten it and then turned to him.

"Thank you for the ride, Senpai," she said, her tone polite but lacking any warmth. "I'll see you later."

Without waiting for a reply, she walked away, her figure disappearing into the crowd of students heading into the school.

"...What just happened?"

Hachiman stared after her, stunned.

The morning sun shone down on Sobu High, signaling the start of a new school term.

And yet, all he could feel was the oppressive shadow of something inexplicably sinister.

This was going to be a very long year.