COTE: A Man On A Mission || Love is War?

There are several tourist spots in Sapporo. Among them, shopping for key or action figure chains of favourite characters, is more popular.

After all, beautiful scenery is one thing, and shopping is another.

Moreover, although school has all kinds of facilities, there is indeed a feeling of freedom when you are outside.

”Kito has been working hard for his ideals...Look, he is definitely not fooling around.”

Hachiman did not enter the store, but sat down on a bench nearby a street lamp to enjoy new quality of oxygen.

The reason is there is also a student sitting here.

This is Yamamura, a classmate from same group, and he is not sure whether she is still under Sakayanagi’s order to continue monitoring him.

There was a reason why Hikigaya-kun stayed here on purpose. He grabbed Sakayanagi before getting on the bus, and she was not wearing gloves.

The temperature of his hands is not cold.

Then Kamuro-san also took Sakayanagi’s gloves, so there shouldn’t be any problem keeping warm.

But looking at current situation of....

Her hands were bare, without gloves, and even a little stiff, looked cold.

Generally speaking, no one likes to freeze themselves.

There is also a clothing store here, so Yamamura can actually leave the team and buy gloves by herself.

It was obvious that she wanted to buy it, but...her personality limited her.

”....The hell? Why are you not wearing gloves?”

However, at this time, Ryuen, who had changed into a thick coat, walked over.

”Hikigaya, you want to open a harem but don’t even know how to be gentle with women. I saw you had gloves in your pocket, but you wouldn’t lend them to a girl?”

”….what do you mean Harem?”

Ryuen’s attitude seems quite strong.

Yamamura was sitting obediently on a bench outside clothing store, her hands seemed to be trying their best to endure the cold so as not to be discovered, but they could not be hidden.

Not only was she seen by Hikigaya, but also by Ryuen.

”...It’s...Actually...actually I don’t feel cold either.” Yamamura said quickly. She was also listening to their talking just now.

Ryuen was asking why Hikigaya-kun had gloves in his pocket and didn’t lend them to girls.

’In other words, does Ryuen-kun want him to lend me his gloves? Huh? Can he say such words....It is possible. But... but, it might cause Sakayanagi-san to be jea---right? This kind of thing would probably be troubling for me!’

That’s why her voice was 5 decibels higher than her normal speaking volume.

But such efforts were meaningless in front of the tyrant Ryuen.

”What are you talking about? Kito and I are going to ski resort to compete later. You, as leader of the group, must also go to ski resort. Your hands will become stiff due to frostbite. Do you think you can still continue?”

’No....This is the duel you have arranged with Kito from Class A, so even though we are in same group and class, Yamamura doesn’t need to be there. Now it seems like Ryuen is forcing others to do things against their will.....’ But Hikigaya didn’t say anything. He intuitively felt that dragon boy was up to something.

For example, yesterday Yamamura was harassed by students from another class, and Hikigaya asked him for help.

He arranged for Albert to come over, but afterwards he did not let Albert continue to follow him, but let return to the group.

What does this indicate?

’Does it mean that even tyrants can be careful? I think since Yamamura is being entangled, leaving Albert behind can deter students from other schools....Is Ryuen surprisingly a caring person?’

But Hikigaya doesn’t think that Ryuen would have such a love-brained mind.

Then, only one reason.

’Eh. Dragon Boy is working hard for the special exam and is using what he does best, attacking the hearts of others. Even if Yamamura has a low sense of presence, if used well, may be able to help in a special exam in the future. Without her even knowing, just from a few conversations.’

”I--I don’t want to cau...” Yamamura wanted to say something, but she didn’t want to use Sakayanagi as a scapegoat.

But Ryuen rejected her.

”If you cause a commotion because of your injury, I’ll have to stop skiing too. Can you take responsibility?”

It seems that Dragon Boy made some kind of bet with Kito in clothing store.

In other words, his goal is not only to snare Yamamura, but also interested in Kito.

After all, Kito is the strongest athlete in Sakayanagi’s class except for newly arrived Koenji, and his physical fitness is only slightly weaker than that of cheating Sudo.

It is still very intimidating among ordinary people.

At the same time, Kito is also a member of Sakayanagi faction in her class... Well, there is no Sakayanagi faction now, but only one leader, Sakayanagi Arisu.

At the same time, Kito is also Sakayanagi’s right-hand man in Class A, so if he can assist in the betrayal... plus Hashimoto who got treated quite excitedly in last year’s forest exam.

Then Ryuen has planted three nails in Class A.

You can feel Ryuen Kakeru’s persistence and passionate desire to win in class competition.

Hikigaya was bought by Ryuen, so as a member of Class C, he naturally had to support leader’s plan.

”…..” Hikigaya-kun took out his gloves from his pocket.

But he looked at Ryuen, he didn’t say anything because Yamamura was nearby.

But the look in his eyes when he looked at Ryuen clearly said, ”Why did you take my gloves?”

”I’m going to compete with Kito later. Just now I checked, store selling gloves is not open yet. Or, Hikigaya, have you decided to fight Kito in my place?”

’Your battle with Kito is actually intended to arouse his fighting spirit and deepen his impression. Then, at the right time, you can throw out bait and make Kito betray Class A, right?’

”I have no such fantasies.” Hikigaya-kun had no intention of stopping Ryuen, but he also had no intention of taking on such a job.

Then handed the gloves to Yamamura.

”You use it first.”

”Well... it’s really okay...?” Yamamura herself seemed to want to refuse politely, because colour or style might be noticed by Sakayanagi.

”Take it.” Ryuen used a commanding tone.

”Woo--” The timid Yamamura had no choice but to passively accept the gloves handed to her.

Ryuen snorted and headed towards the store.

He was waiting for Kito to come out.

If he can trick him from Class A into coming here, then school trip will be very fruitful.

Hikigaya and Yamamura continued to sit on the chairs outside.

He discovered that Yamamura seemed to be hesitant to speak, bit did her best in opening her mouth.

”...Fuf..Fuu....Somehow, I feel like Hikigaya-kun and Ryuen-kun have a very good relationship.”

’....What nonsense? Does this appear to outsiders?’

At this moment, Hachiman recalled last year’s sports festival for the whole grade, because he wanted to squeeze out the agreement with Class A worth 300 points from Ryuen.

Then he let Ryuen lay out the plan at will, and then tricked him into a trap.

In other words, Ryuen was being hunted as prey.

As a result, they are now classmates and even help each other with exams.

From this perspective, Ryuen is indeed a good person!

Be able to take it and put it down.

While thinking this, Hachiman noticed that Ryuen seemed to be talking to Ayanokoji who was in the same group.

Ayanokoji was not wearing gloves either, and put them in his pocket.

Ryuen also saw this.

But he said nothing, seemed to be in a good mood and tried to find a topic to talk to Ayanokoji.

In other words, Ryuen could have forced the innocent loner social awkward boy to lend him the gloves, but he didn’t.

Instead, he chose to lend Hikigaya Hachiman’s gloves.

So, it can be said that Ryuen really had a grudge against him.

”Kitō--kun seems to be very interested in tearing materials apart.” Yamamura seemed to feel that it was awkward to accept other party’s gloves and then just sit there, so she took the initiative to start a conversation.

”...Yeah, Last night the boys were discussing their life plans together. Then Kito talked about his dream of becoming a fashion designer.”

”I see... it’s good to have your own ideals.” Yamamura said with some envy, ”Then what about Hikigaya-kun? Is it really what Ryuen-kun said...harem?”

She looked at him strangely.

As someone arranged by Sakayanagi to follow Hikigaya Hachiman 4 and Kushida-chan 6 times, Yamamura has witnessed Hikigaya and Kushida doing obscene acts.

’As a girl myself, it’s not hard for me to understand what Sakayanagi-san is thinking. Is she really going to do this? When I followed Hikigaya-kun and Kushida-san, I found they seemed to be getting along very well. So Princess Sakayanagi wants to be... a mistress?’

In this way, Yamamura herself was led away in a corrupted direction.

xxxxxxx

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