Chapter 9 In the Storm
After finishing the day's classes, Hikigaya and Ena walked out of the main entrance of the school building.
As time passed, the weather began to cool down.
Although traces of summer still lingered during the day, by dusk, a cool breeze would blow. But today was a bit different—though it was still early before sunset, the sky had already turned gloomy.
Because a typhoon was coming.
It was a normal typhoon, the kind that typically made landfall in Japan in September.
Of course, at Sobu High, another kind of storm had already stirred up in advance, involving Hikigaya and Seishuin Ena.
A beautiful girl in disheveled clothing… no, practically just in underwear, having a rendezvous in the clubroom—such tales were the kind of juicy gossip high schoolers with brimming energy loved to talk about.
On top of that, considering the earlier incident where he slapped Yukinoshita Haruno's butt in public, Hikigaya had now earned the nickname among many students—depending on their individual perspectives—as "the man skilled in toying with girls."
Hikigaya didn't bother refuting it. After all, everyone saw it happen.
It was almost unbelievable. The Service Club was usually a pretty deserted club, yet on that day, so many classmates had shown up.
And all under the pretense of organizing the cultural festival. Damn you, Hayama, you damned normie—look what your "good deeds" led to!
Although Hikigaya could bet it was that girl Sagami, who came in at the time, who spread the story.
Of course, Miura and the others were also highly suspicious.
But he didn't really care anymore.
After all, Hikigaya had already received Seishuin Ena's loyalty. And since she herself wasn't particularly bothered by the rumors spreading around the school—according to her, she was constantly being confessed to by immature high school boys—that was also one of the reasons she was hiding out in the clubroom, sleeping that day.
Because she had pledged her loyalty, the two of them now openly came and went from school as a pair.
They just weren't living together yet—that's all. Although she said otherwise, Seishuin Ena was actually a very shy girl in this aspect.
The act she performed that day was likely already the limit of what she could handle.
Hikigaya wasn't in a rush either. Since the dish was already in the pot, there was no need to rush to eat it. He didn't want to actually be equated with a brute in Ena's heart.
Besides, the rumors were gradually subsiding. With the cultural festival approaching, all the classes were now focusing their energy on preparations.
In Class 2-F, where Hikigaya was, the organizing team was more or less established.
The normies, led by Hayama, came to invite Hikigaya to join them that day. But under those circumstances, they obviously couldn't extend the invitation properly.
Although they later brought it up again in private, Hikigaya politely declined.
He wasn't kidding—he really wasn't good at those things. Joining would only be a burden on everyone.
Thunder rolled faintly in the sky, as heavy clouds gradually blanketed the entire sky.
Even more troublesome than that was the wind. It was strong and carried humidity—a clear sign that rain was imminent.
The weather forecast had already clearly stated that there would be a storm today—a gift from Mr. Typhoon to Chiba.
That strange typhoon earlier this year had left a deep impression on the Tokyo Bay region's residents. Although they didn't realize that typhoon was fundamentally different from previous ones, they were still somewhat uneasy about this "normal" one making landfall—especially the residents of Chiba.
Every time a typhoon hit the Kanto region, rail lines like the Keiyo Line, Sobu Line, Joban Line, Musashino Line, Keisei Line, Tozai Line, and the Toei Shinjuku Line would all grind to a halt. Chiba would temporarily become a landlocked island, cut off from the outside world by land transport.
Of course, as a God Slayer, Hikigaya wouldn't be troubled by this. After experiencing Set's storm, this kind of wind felt almost gentle.
So, unlike others who stopped to glance at the sky, Hikigaya and Ena proceeded straight toward the school gate without any hesitation.
Trailing behind them were the disciples of darkness.
"Uwah... this déjà vu…"
"This must be what ancient people called a 'procession,' right?"
"Feels so imposing. Strange... why does it feel like Hikigaya suddenly became super impressive this year?"
"Idiot, that's called scary… he must have prayed to some incredible god!"
"Which god? I want to go pray too…"
Such voices could faintly be heard from behind—some even from classmates.
Actually, Hikigaya didn't like this kind of high-profile attention, but he also thought being all tsundere about it wasn't a good look. Ever since the "Boss-kun" rumor started circulating around the school, he'd stopped caring.
But praying to a god… that was actually a surprisingly accurate way to put it.
Because all of this was indeed a result of him becoming a God Slayer.
Even if he hadn't become one, he might still have intersected with the Yomi—but Seishuin Ena would definitely not have intersected with him. That may not be a happy thought, but it was the truth.
As the sky grew darker, the disciples of Yomi gradually dispersed, leaving only Hikigaya and Ena walking slowly along the road.
If he wanted, Hikigaya could, like Yukinoshita, have a luxury car pick him up. But he clearly wasn't into that.
Nor was Ena, even though she was a genuine, bona fide rich girl.
Raindrops finally began to fall, leaving dark spots dotting the asphalt. The scent of moisture mixed with earth began to stir.
People around them quickly took out their umbrellas.
Soon, the light rain escalated into a storm so fierce it made walking difficult.
Hikigaya and Ena didn't need an umbrella, but Ena still opened one she seemed to have prepared in advance.
In reality, not much rain fell on the umbrella. Even most of the wind was blocked by another current swirling around them. Only a faint breeze sneaked through—a clear contrast compared to those around them.
While the two of them still walked normally, the other pedestrians were hunched over, struggling against the storm. Some unlucky ones had their umbrellas blown away, or bent backward like sails, the umbrella ribs creaking in distress.
"You can still regret it now, you know."
Looking at the people struggling against wind and rain, Hikigaya suddenly said.
"I don't regret it." Ena blinked and smiled. "Why do you say that? Is it because of that kind of thing? If Hachiman wants, he can hold me anytime."
She had previously considered calling him "King," but Hikigaya had refused.
Being called "King" was way too cringy for him. He wasn't that chuuni—not like that guy Voban...
After that, Ena simply began calling him by name. From a lover's perspective, that was only natural.
"That's not the point," Hikigaya said after a moment of thought.
But the word hold—he admitted—was used with such elegance, so high-class.
After that, the two of them fell into silence. But not for long.
"Not just anyone can become a king," Ena suddenly said. "But Hachiman became one—and Ena saw the whole process with her own eyes."
Her eyes still shone brightly in the darkness. Hikigaya sensed a certain passion within them, but he felt it wasn't the kind of passion born of romantic love.
"Ena didn't receive an order like 'Go serve the King.' Father and Mother both told me I could choose my partner freely. As a maidservant, it may be inappropriate to say this, but Hachiman's figure on that night—I haven't been able to forget it since."
She wasn't lying. She had indeed not been ordered to do this—her father had only suggested it. Ultimately, she made the decision for a certain reason.
For Ena, who had always devoted her time to training, she didn't really understand what modern people meant by "love." But ever since that night, she couldn't forget the scene of Hikigaya Hachiman battling the Heretic God. Whenever she remembered it, her whole body would heat up. Even though she had reached the state of an empty heart, she could no longer calm her spirit.
Even throughout history, those who personally witnessed a God Slayer being born were exceedingly rare—far rarer than those who encountered a Heretic God. She was undoubtedly lucky to have seen that moment.
Drawn by that form, she wanted to stay by Hikigaya Hachiman's side. Whether this counted as love, she wasn't sure. But she didn't dislike it. Even if she had learned from her mother that being the King's lover meant doing those things, and that she might need to bear the King's children in the future—she felt she could accept it.
Because she really couldn't forget that scene. If this went on, she wouldn't be able to bear it.
Suddenly, she saw Hikigaya stop, his gaze surprised as he looked ahead.
She also looked over.
The storm had dyed the surroundings like an ink painting. But ever since becoming the sword maiden, Ena had learned how to see in such conditions.
So she saw it.
She looked at Hikigaya. As their eyes met, she was sure that he had also seen it. She just wasn't sure if he saw the same thing.
"That is…"
She asked tentatively—and saw Hikigaya nod, still surprised.
Hikigaya was truly stunned. Because he had just seen a fox slip into the body of a girl holding an umbrella.
And that girl… was none other than Sagami from his class.
What the hell was that?