Crossover: After deciding to give up, i became popular

When someone rejects your confession but still wants to stay close to you, it's not because they regret rejecting you. More often than not, it's because they find your company beneficial and want to continue enjoying the perks of having you around.

This is true most of the time, with few exceptions.

For people like Kasumigaoka Utaha or Eriri Spencer Sawamura, however, it might be more complicated. Perhaps it's because they lack genuine friends who care about them, which makes them cherish the rare friendship they share with Kanade.

But whatever their reasoning, Kanade knew he had the right to refuse further involvement. He didn't need to feel guilty or anxious about it. As Katou Megumi had told him, it was time to prioritize his own emotions and learn to be selfish, instead of living cautiously for others.

The cafeteria wasn't too crowded. Most of the students at Shuchiin Academy preferred bringing bento from home and gathering in small groups to chat about topics of mutual interest.

Those with sharp eyes noticed Kanade entering the cafeteria alone, and curiosity sparked among them. The student council president wandering the cafeteria? Was this a precursor to some new policy?

While speculation buzzed quietly, no one dared to approach him. The authoritative image Kanade had cultivated over time worked to keep others at a respectful distance.

"Now then, what should I eat today?"

Kanade stood before the vending machine-style menu, deep in thought.

One of humanity's eternal struggles—what to eat today? And tomorrow? And the day after that?

Shuchiin's chefs were Michelin-star-level professionals, offering an endless array of culinary options.

In the past, Kanade had chosen meals based on the preferences of the heroines he was trying to impress. His own tastes had always taken a backseat. Now, free to indulge his personal cravings, he found himself paralyzed by indecision.

"If you're stuck, go for something simple, like a grilled meat set."

A voice interrupted his musings. Kanade turned to see a completely unexpected figure.

"Hikigaya... Hachiman?"

The infamous "Hikki," also nicknamed "Big Sensei," stood there. With his trademark dead-fish eyes, Hikigaya was the picture of a disheveled slacker—but cover his eyes, and he could almost pass for a handsome young man.

"Don't look at me like that. You're making me regret speaking up," Hikigaya muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

"No, not at all. Actually, you've been a big help," Kanade said with a chuckle.

Since Kanade had quit the Service Club, the two hadn't really interacted. There might have been the occasional brief encounter in passing, but Kanade had always been too preoccupied to notice. This close interaction felt like a rare moment.

"Good afternoon, Hachiman."

"Uh... yeah, afternoon. What's with that grin, though? You look like you're up to something," Hikigaya muttered, clearly wary.

"Just a friendly greeting. No need to be so on edge, my former clubmate," Kanade teased lightly, not at all bothered by Hachiman's prickly demeanor.

"..." Hikigaya's expression soured further, his dead-fish eyes narrowing.

Ever since Kanade left the club, Yukinoshita Yukino had become even more overbearing. Her sharp tongue had only grown sharper, and her methods had become downright extreme. Both Hikigaya and Yui had borne the brunt of her stress.

Unlike Kanade, who had the luxury of leaving, Hikigaya had been stuck dealing with Yukinoshita's relentless demands. These days, he was too intimidated to even speak up around her.

"You owe me. You should at least buy me coffee as compensation!" Hikigaya declared suddenly.

"Compensation?" Kanade raised an eyebrow, puzzled but not opposed to the idea. "Coffee, huh? MAX, right? What about lunch? You eating anything?"

"Lunch? I was thinking of getting the grilled meat set..."

So that's why he suggested it, Kanade thought, amused.

"Alright, two grilled meat sets it is." Kanade quickly placed the order at the vending machine and handed one of the meal tickets to Hikigaya before he could protest.

"You grab the food. I'll get the coffee."

"Wait! I didn't say anything about—"

"If you keep arguing, there won't be enough time to eat. You don't want to be late for afternoon classes, do you? Let's just call it compensation," Kanade said, casually flipping Hikigaya's own words back at him.

He'd always known how to handle Hikigaya.

"Ugh..." Hikigaya couldn't find a good counterargument, so he begrudgingly accepted the ticket.

Damn that charming bastard, he grumbled internally. Even after all this time, Kanade's effortless charisma hadn't waned—in fact, it seemed stronger than ever. It made Hikigaya's complaints feel trivial.

Before long, the two of them were seated at a secluded corner table, their meals and drinks laid out before them.

"How's the club doing?" Kanade asked, struggling to think of a conversation starter. The club was the one shared connection between them, so it seemed like a natural topic.

"..." Hikigaya hesitated. Wasn't that a question for Yukinoshita? He was just a lowly member—what did he know?

"Uh, fine, I guess. We even got funding from the school recently..."

Hikigaya shot Kanade a sideways glance.

He didn't need to guess who was behind that. The Service Club wasn't technically a proper club, with only four members at its peak. They didn't meet the official criteria for recognition, let alone funding.

Kanade must have pulled some strings to make it happen.

As much as Hikigaya disliked interacting with "normies," he couldn't bring himself to dislike Kanade. In fact, he somewhat admired him.

Kind, hardworking, emotionally intelligent, and even good-looking—Kanade exuded warmth without overstepping boundaries. Damn it! The guy's a walking charisma machine!

"You're thinking bad things about me, aren't you?" Kanade sighed, shaking his head.

The sheer weight of Hikigaya's resentment was palpable. Kanade couldn't recall doing anything to deserve such hostility.

"You're imagining things," Hikigaya retorted. Like he could admit, I'm mad because you left and now Yukinoshita takes out all her frustrations on me.

He wasn't about to play matchmaker for them, either. That was their business.

Besides, Hikigaya knew Kanade had been pursuing the so-called "Ice Princess" of the student council. He'd seen them together more than once, walking side by side.

Why stir the pot unnecessarily? Better to drink unsweetened black coffee—it reminded him that he was still alive.

"By the way," Hikigaya said, changing the subject. "I saw a lot of people gathered near your classroom earlier. Standing around talking with two girls like that... not worried about rumors?"

"Hachiman, you've never dated anyone, have you?" Kanade asked with mock seriousness.

"I'm going back to class," Hikigaya deadpanned, standing abruptly.

"Just kidding! Relax," Kanade said, raising his hands in surrender. "But seriously... there's no such thing as a real-life harem comedy."

"Obviously," Hikigaya replied, rolling his eyes. What did that have to do with anything?

"It's relevant. Think about it: if you're seen alone with one beautiful girl, people will automatically assume there's something special between you two, whether it's true or not. But if you're with two or more girls? People assume it's a group discussion, not a date. No misunderstandings, no awkwardness. It's basic social dynamics."

"..." Hikigaya was speechless.

While Kanade's logic might apply to normal people, it didn't account for the fact that Hikigaya would immediately label such a scene as a romantic comedy love triangle.

If Yukinoshita saw something like that... Oh no. My stomach...

Wait. If he would see it as a love triangle, there was no way the "Ice Princess" wouldn't notice, right? Unless she didn't care.

Suddenly, everything clicked. Kanade's romance with Shinomiya Kaguya had ended.

That's why he's here alone.

Hikigaya felt a pang of sympathy for Kanade but quickly realized his concern was unnecessary. Kanade seemed fine—surprisingly optimistic, even.

Man, he's tough. I'd be devastated after just one rejection.

But if Kanade was out of the picture, didn't that mean Yukinoshita had a chance now? Hikigaya made a mental note to tell her later.