Hikki is 22, Ai and Komachi are 20, Irohasu is 21.

Running away the moment neither of the three girls were looking at them was, all things considered, a really dumb decision.

Ari's attention snapped back at them once the soles of Hikigaya's and Ai's footwear screeched against the mall's floor, and managed to cry out a "hey!" before the two could get away entirely. It was also a particularly bad idea to run, given that Ai should've let her ankle rest. But she was fine, the paramedic had said as much. And nothing quite beat the feeling of her muscles listening to her and letting her exert her body with a small victorious cheer.

Movement was joy, and joy was movement. Even the effort of holding her children made Ai's body feel alive.

Dancing, singing, doing exercise. All of these things kept her going, kept her from losing her mind to her own thoughts. She couldn't stay put for long if she wasn't tired, because that was really depressing. She would have honestly lost her mind if she hadn't had something to do while she didn't work. Ai would rather feel like dying due exertion than feeling sluggish for the opposite reason.

"Hey! Don't go around running indoors!" One of the guards in front of a boutique yelled at them, and Ai almost tripped over herself when her instincts made her stop. Made her go back to trying to be lowkey, of at all possible.

She was still giggling when they stopped, mouthing a loud "sorry!" before moving aside from the entrance of the store to avoid obstructing the people going in and out.

"You're pretty fast." He pointed out after taking a deep breath.

"Ehehehe… I'm young and in pretty good shape, after all." Ai moved her index finger from side to side, cheerfully making clicking sounds with her lips before continuing. "I thought you'd be slow! I didn't know you exercised."

"I told you: I bike everywhere." Hikigaya sighed, seemingly already going back to breathing normally. "I'm retaking the habit, since there's no longer any issues with physical effort."

"Right! I guess that it doesn't sound like exercise if it's not, like, mountain biking and stuff." Ai scratched her chin, wondering why she hadn't caught that fact.

"It serves it purpose."

"It does, it does." Ai nodded. Come to think of it, a stationary bike routine was encouraged to get thicker thighs and butt, right? It should work the same for regular bikes, right?

Interesting…

Ah! He was trying to distract her!

"Never mind that." Ai crossed her arms, pouting while looking away from Hikigaya. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

Hikigaya blinked a couple of times, scanning Ai for any hints of what she was talking about.

Kind of slow, not gonna lie…

"You look cute." Hikigaya stated in a low tone. "You always do, but that crop top suits you really well."

Ai scratched her left ear, weighing whether to accept that as a valid answer or not.

She wore a long-sleeved light top, pastel pink, which was woven in that weird pattern that revealed a little bit of skin underneath. But not enough to let her bra show. Her jeans were a little old, but not like she used to wear them when she was younger. Just with the color slightly washed off instead of looking like she'd come out of a construction site. Comfortable, not wrecked.

"No, not that." She decided after a moment. There were more important things at hand! And as he said, Ai was always cute. It'd be strange if she wasn't!

"Oh, then let me take that ba—"

Ai grabbed him by the neck of his polo, forcing him to lift his hands in surrender.

"Now you'll have to say it again."

"I yield."

"You're so annoying!" Ai puffed her cheeks, looking away again and seeing Ari close in on them with the ginger-ish girl close behind her.

"What are you, twelve?!" Ari huffed when she finally caught up with them. "Please, don't make us stand out so much, Ai!"

"Where's Kyun?"

"She went, and I quote, 'ain't no way I'm gonna run! You two catch up'. End quote." The girl spoke while motioning with her hands, obviously making her tone a mocking and annoyed one. "And you! I don't care if you're the Prime Minister! You can't just steal Senpai away like that!"

"I didn't force him to do anything." Ai remembered to release Hikigaya's clothes while answering.

"You two were like cats and dogs. I do need a break from time to time." Hikigaya scoffed, getting himself an annoyed look from his so-called friend.

"I'm marking my territory. You think a cute girl like me can just let someone walk all over me?" The girl shook her head, looking up like she was asking the heavens why the guy in front of her didn't get what she was saying. "I'll forgive you because you're such a pushover when it comes to cute girls, but only this time. Okay?"

"Slandering people is not very cute; I'll tell you this much." Hikigaya growled at the girl. Narrowing his eyes while injecting as much venom in his words as he could.

"Slander means it's a lie, and it isn't." The girl winked at him, touching his chest with an index finger while doing her best to tease him. "Senpai's been so lonely that it can't be helped~ But don't worry, I'll treat you right if you take me out and buy me stuff."

"I didn't know you'd entered the rental girlfriend industry. Not the most high-brow of jobs, but I'll respect that." Hikigaya looked away.

"Eh~? Sounds to me like you're not confident in your ability to pick me up, so you're hoping money would do~"

"You were the one that brought up buying stuff. Ergo, such a relationship would be strictly transactional. On top of a pain in the ass."

"Not necessarily." The girl stated without missing a beat. "But if that's what you're into, I'm sure we can figure something out~"

Hikigaya choked on… Nothing, really. But that didn't' stop Ai from reacting to it. She was about to smack him on the back, trying to help him out, when Ari put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him back.

"Uwah… This girl is seriously dangerous." Ari stared at the girl like she was seeing a strange animal, or perhaps a poisonous one. She didn't fully get in the way between the girl and Hikigaya, but she did take a step to overlap with him. "Where did you even get her?"

"Excuse me? I'm not a five stars. And, even if I was, Senpai's not that lucky to pull me~" The girl closed one eye and lifted her chin, smugly proclaiming this while Ari calmed down a bit.

The green-haired idol pointed at Ai instead of answering.

"T-That doesn't count! That was a very dangerous situation!"

"Agreed. I am the one that is lucky here." Ai interjected to finally get into the conversation. "But that doesn't matter. I haven't said my piece, so…"

"I don't care! You people just came here and interrupted our alone time. Begone!"

"Can you… Can you not say it like that?" Hikigaya spoke what Ai was thinking, earning himself a scoff from the girl.

"They won't understand otherwise."

"No, no. Listen to Hachiman-san. If you aspire to be an idol, you can't even imply you know a single male ever." Ai made a no-no motion with her finger again. "For your own good. Look at where I am. It's better if you start mentalizing yourself now."

The girl looked at Ai like she was crazy.

"That has nothing to do with any of this."

"Actually." Hikigaya cleared his throat. "It does."

He-he. Seems like someone didn't expect to have Hikigaya be on Ai's side!

"I did want to talk to you about that." The guy looked away, bothered. "About your audition."

"…" The girl closed her mouth, finally, and examined Hikigaya's face. Trying to understand where he was going.

When she glanced at Ai, the idol simply returned a smug smile.

"You're gonna tell me not to go through with it." The girl guessed and—

"Yeah." Hikigaya nodded.

Wait, what?

"Really?" Ari raised an eyebrow at Hikigaya. "How come?"

"I'd have thought you guys would be happier with the idiot still around." Hikigaya mimicked her expression.

"Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?" Ari retorted, mimicking back his expression. Making the back and forth increasingly uglier as both adjusted their features.

"Hey, hey, hey. Here. We're here." The girl clapped her hands a couple of times, breaking Ari's conversation before it could devolve even further. "Concentrate."

"Yeah, I wanna know about this too." Ai took a step away from Hikigaya and closer to the girl. "Do you hate my job that much?"

"That's… An unfair thing to ask." Hikigaya replied as slowly was he was allowed to.

"Well, that's the impression I get." Ai replied without thinking too much about it.

"Why does it have to do with you, though?" The girl asked while giving Ai a side-glance.

"Because I am the one thinking about it?" Ai guessed. "Who am I supposed to think for?"

"What kind of idiot answers a question with another question?"

"You're doing the exact same, though…"

"Is this going to be a reoccurring thing?" Ari cut through the conversation. "Maybe Hikigaya has a point, the chemistry's just terrible."

"She isn't usually like this." Hikigaya leaned closer to Ari while replying.

"Neither is Ai. What did you do to her?"

"Sorry, I cause that effect in women." Hikigaya shrugged.

"Oh, pwease." The girl moved her hands to dismiss his words, looking at the ceiling with the most unamused expression Ai had seen in her face. "Did you forget that I used to rate your dating prowess?"

What.

"You're not high specs." The girl scoffed at him, crossing her arms and overall, just leaving Ai with even more questions.

Ari looked rather disappointed when she turned to face Hikigaya.

"Is this your ex-girlfriend?"

"Why does it sound like you're surprised that I'd have one?" Hikigaya retorted.

"No, that's not…" Ari furrowed her brows, raised them after a moment, and made a popping sound with her lips while looking away. "So? Yes or no?"

"Hehe… Senpai and I have gone in quite a few dates, I'll have you know." The girl puffed her chest, closing her eyes while keeping her chin up with triumph.

"She was trying to pull the most popular guy at school." Hikigaya looked about ready to groan, but he didn't. Actually, he tried to calm down a bit by shaking his head. But that didn't do much. "Basically… It's like that."

"Oh, like that? I see. Mooching off the meek and stuff." Ari nodded to herself.

"That's not it?! I didn't mooch off Senpai!" The girl protested, grabbing Ai by the shoulder and looking at her like they were sharing the outrage. Even though only this girl felt that way. When Ai didn't react, the girl went back to looking outraged in the other two's general direction. "Tell them!"

"I mean, it's been a while…" Hikigaya scratched his jaw, pondering about it. Or looking like he was. "I don't remember quite right…"

"Unbelievable! Well, if it was that much of a pain for you, then why did you want to stop me from growing my career?" The girl looked a bit angry. Honestly angry, without exaggeration in her features or holding back anything either.

Just, annoyance. Plain and simple. Easy to understand even to Ai.

"That's…" Hikigaya looked to where some people came close to the girls, stopping until they were out of earshot. "It's different."

Ai scanned her surroundings again. They hadn't been yelling that much anymore, at least compared to when they were sitting down, so the most attention they got was a curious glance while walking by.

Where was Kyun anyway?

"You can't make that call for me." The girl insisted. "Senpai, I know you're dumb and think that you should be on top of every little problem. But, really, this is my decision to make."

"I know that." Hikigaya nodded. "But I also wanted to give you a warning. To tell you what I went through, to give you a better perspective."

"Ichigo-san has been improving the way we do things." Ai interrupted, speaking less from the strange pit in her stomach and more from her knowledge and understanding of her business. "The fact that the girls stayed after the… Accident… Is proof enough that there's some trust involved. Hachiman-san, you don't have to worry that much."

"I mean, unless Isshin-chan can't behave. Then we'll have a problem." Ari glanced at the girl and Hikigaya in turn, fixing her glasses while talking. "Because, I don't know if you noticed, but the immediate answer on our part was an 'oh god, oh fuck' from the bottom of our hearts."

"Is this, like, some sort of bullying?" The girl turned to Ari. "Why use my username? Is it because I'm not as popular as you guys?"

"You'll probably stick to it, if you pass the audition." Ari clarified. "Rebranding would defeat the point of choosing someone with some popularity on their back."

"Eeeehhhh…"

"Lament choosing a name that sounds like an old man's now." Ari shook her head.

"It can be cute, though!"

"It feels like the name of an old swordsmaster." Hikigaya commented.

"Oh, I know the kind. Yes. Beard, period customary light clothing…" Ari nodded.

"Oh, for sure." Hikigaya made a strange sound between a chuckle and a scoff. "All gray, a tired stare…"

"So it is bullying." The girl clicked her tongue.

"I do think it's cute." Ai told the girl, now being the one to place a hand on the other's shoulder.

"I…" She looked rather disappointed, and stopped her words with a heavy sigh. "You all don't even know what I'm planning."

She looked up, and the expression remained. There were no traces of the cuteness from before.

"Senpai, do you truly believe that I'm doing things in an honest fashion?"

The question made Ai drop her hand and exchange a look with Ari. She didn't seem to get it either.

Hikigaya pondered it for a moment.

"Why are you actually thinking about it?" Ai looked at the girl now. "She couldn't have possibly bought her way in. We haven't even started the auditions."

"No, that's not it." Hikigaya said without looking at Ai. "I see, I think I get it now."

"I don't."

"It's fine, don't worry about it." The girl waved Ai off, focusing back on Hikigaya.

"No, explain." Ai also focused on him, given that he was the one that would understand her plight the best. "I don't get it, and I don't like that. Please, explain."

"That's not my place, Isshiki will share if she wants."

"Who's Isshiki?" Ai insisted, getting a loud gasp from the girl beside her.

Oh…

"It's me. I am Isshiki." She looked very disappointed in Ai, but by this point it mattered very little.

"Hachiman-san knows too many people." Ai closed her eyes for a moment.

"Oh, sure. He has, like… Six friends, maybe seven." The girl replied with a deadpan. "Unthinkable."

"They are a lot for me." Hikigaya interjected.

"Doesn't make it a lot!" The Isshiki girl stomped her foot angrily. "It's a pitifully small number! And besides, that's not the point. The point is that—"

One of Ai's phones buzzed, startling her into checking who it was. Since she didn't recognize the tone of the device.

Oh, Kyun.

…

Was this the first time she got a call from one of the girls outside of work hours?

"Where are you?" Ai looked around, but she couldn't find her fellow idol.

"Floor above, I'm looking at you from the corridor." Kyun's voice made Ai look up, trying to check for anyone staring at her on the other side of the mall. "I see a couple of guys that already walked twice by you guys. Might want to wrap up or get away from Hikki-kun now."

"Oh, okay. Nice catch." Ai saluted, hoping that Kyun would be able to discern the action. "Did you buy something to eat?"

"I got some popcorn. Why? You want something?"

"Can I get some gummy worms? Two bags, if— three bags. I'll pay you later."

"Yes, ma'am. Finish on your side."

"Got it, thanks." Ai ended the call, looking at Ari while lifting her index finger and drawing circles in the air with it.

"Trouble?" Ari stepped aside from the other two, now joining Ai while she tried to identify the people that Kyun had mentioned.

"Not yet." Ai didn't find them. It felt like this was the moment to make a call, to choose and live with the consequences. It felt important. "But if we stand around, we might get recognized. I…"

She wanted to stay, there were things she wanted to ask, information she needed to have shared with her.

But she also didn't need a scandal, nor did Kyun or Ari for that matter.

"Are you leaving now?" To his credit, Hikigaya sounded a bit disappointed. But Ai didn't let that get to her, for she still hadn't figured anything out here.

"I didn't mean to stay here for long." Ai explained with a sigh.

"We didn't actually think we'd find you. It was more of a… Sightseeing trip, I guess." Ari added when Ai failed to explain herself. Wrapping her arm around Ai's to remind her that they should move soon. "Sorry for the inconvenience."

"You ruined our date, though." The Isshigirl interjected, still very much annoyed.

Ai opened her mouth, but Ari held her a bit tighter. Reminding her to behave.

"No worries, we'll see each other again." It wasn't a threat (it was), but Ari still pinched Ai to get her to stop before pulling her along.

"We're leaving."

"Hachiman-san! Get ready for something cozier and more private, okay? It'll be nice and, and fun, and—!"

"Please don't start yelling." Ari growled when they had walked away enough to warrant it. "You have a lot of explaining to do already."

"Eh? But I told you before…"

"Not to me." Ari shook her head. "To him. This was pretty weird and we're basically running with our tails between our legs, metaphorically speaking."

"Yes, I get it's a metaphor." Ai stated.

"Okay." Ari pressed her lips together. "I'm just… Figuring things out with you."

"Sorry." Ai looked down while letting the green-haired idol drag her along. "What do you think about the girl?"

"Who are you? Mei?" Ari looked at Ai with some annoyance.

"What?"

"No… Nothing." Ari sighed. "I just want to get out of here ASAP."

"Fair."

"What was the question, again?"

"Analysis."

"Ah… I don't know, we had to annoy the hell out of her to give you a chance." Ari raised an eyebrow at Ai now. "Why did you stay quiet?"

"I was trying to understand the conversation." Ai furrowed her brows. "I don't actually understand Hachiman-san half of the time. I've coasted on asking him to elaborate when we do talk. But with this girl around, I was just too lost to do that."

"You're a bit slow, huh."

"No, everyone just talks too fast and about too many things." Ai pouted.

"Guess we do get distracted quite often… Wait. Is that why you're so quiet most of the time?" Ari put some distance with Ai, like she wanted to examine her but couldn't see her properly while being nearby.

Ai put up her best picture-perfect smile while she scratched her cheek.

"…No?"

Ari didn't buy it.

The walk back was awkward as hell, and Hachiman's guilt didn't help at all. Isshiki was in a bad mood, staying silent and brooding. Basically ignoring him entirely. Except for when they needed to cross the road or turn a corner.

There wasn't much he could do about it, Hoshino had all but crashed their reunion and figuratively got her feet on the table while asking what they were having for dinner.

Hachiman would have to talk to her about boundaries. But, for now, his attention was on Isshiki.

"I wasn't planning to become an idol, by the way." When she spoke, her voice didn't show anger. It was more like she was disappointed, sad even. "I just wanted Strawberry Pro to notice my channel. I could probably get them to manage and stuff, keep me an online celebrity."

Hachiman put aside his thoughts for a moment and chuckled.

"Crafty little girl."

"Well, I am pretty smart. I don't know why Senpai forgot that, to be honest." She sighed before correcting her posture. Still refusing to look at Hachiman, but at least she wasn't glaring at him now.

"Guess I haven't reconciled with the way I got entangled in all of this."

"That's fair. Annoying, but fair." Isshiki looked at him. "Just stop getting entangled with strange girls, will you? It's pissing me off."

"That's… I don't have it in my plans to keep meeting new women, no." Hachiman looked away, uncomfortable. "It just sort of… Y'know."

"Yeah, yeah." Isshiki sighed again, but now with more tiredness than annoyance. "You do owe me big time for this, though. Any lesser girl would've slapped and blocked you everywhere for not getting rid of the second girl in their presence."

He didn't like the way that she said that, but he didn't really have much solid ground to refute her.

"Do you have any more celebrity friends I should be aware of?" Isshiki asked after a moment of silence.

It looked like her mind was starting to work on something else.

"No, not really."

"Hmmmm, such a shame…" Isshiki stretched her arms up, shaking a little before releasing the tension and slowly letting them go down, drawing an arc on either side of her body. "Haaaaah… Well. No choice, then."

"Hmmm?"

"Seems like everyone was right. You can't be left alone at all." Isshiki shook her finger. "Guess I'll have to tag along more often. See that… Everything is in order."

Hachiman scoffed.

"What will your fans think?"

"That it'd be great if I collabed with B-Komachi, of course." Isshiki nodded to herself.

"Right…"

"Besides…" Isshiki gave Hachiman a knowing look. "I don't want another high-specs girl to steal you just to throw you away when she's done with you."

Hachiman stopped walking, feeling a little hollow inside after Isshiki's comment.

"That's… Not really what happened." He said dryly. Not mad, not really. It felt like he couldn't get mad, even if he wanted to.

There was just… Coldness.

"I know." Isshiki hugged Hachiman from behind, hiding the right side of her face on his body. "But… Last time I talked myself into thinking that it was okay to give you space. I won't make that mistake again. I'll stay here, with you. Like everyone else did."

Hachiman looked down, seeing the way Isshiki locked her hands around his chest. He didn't know how to feel.

"You'll be fine, Senpai. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Hachiman wanted chuckle now.

Her worries were appreciated, but unneeded. For Hikigaya Hachiman was an expert in hurting himself without people's aid.

He still placed a hand on top of hers, to reassure her.

"Thanks."

"You owe me a proper date, by the way." Isshiki spoke while still having half of her face pressed against him. "You'll pay, of course. So prepare like you mean it, okay?"

Hachiman scoffed.

"Right. So you won't stay mad at me?"

"I'll think about it."

Hachiman sighed, but he didn't feel as burdened as when they left the mall.

"You're truly magnanimous, Isshiki-sama."