The gymnasium was enveloped in white light. From the gaps in the walls. From the shadows of the steel beams on the ceiling. From beneath the feet of the six hundred spectators. From every place, soft light was overflowing. The murmuring of the audience seats gradually faded into the distance. "What is this...!" "They're disappearing... everyone, melting...!" Screams, surprise—everything sounded muffled, like sounds underwater. Hikigaya Hachiman stood at the center of the stage. In his hand, a microphone with a solid, heavy weight. Before him, three girls. Yukinoshita Yukino. Her black hair, reaching down to her waist, was beginning to dissolve into the light. Her outline blurred softly. Yuigahama Yui. Her fluffy chestnut short bob was turning into particles of light, scattering and falling away. Isshiki Iroha. Her flaxen semi-long hair swaying, she was crying and smiling within the light. (*Ah, I see.*) Hachiman thought. This is the end. This world is being completely reset. The Reverse-Popularity System's termination condition—because I spoke my true feelings, the world is now vanishing. (*But, not yet.*) There's still one thing left unsaid. "[serious]At the end—just one thing, listen." His voice, through the microphone, echoed through the gymnasium as it melted into light. The outlines of the three blurred further. The light grew stronger. There was almost no time left. That was when it happened. *Click, clack.* Footsteps echoed quietly. From the edge of the stage, Hiratsuka Shizuka walked forward. Dressed in a suit like a lab coat. Her hair swayed down her back, and her narrow, sharp eyes looked straight at Hachiman. She alone was not consumed by the light. "[gentle]Hikigaya." A quiet voice. No iron-fist punishment, no lecture about embracing youth. Just one adult, looking at one student. "[serious]Your last words, then. Say them." Hachiman looked at Hiratsuka-sensei. "[gentle]...Sensei, did you know? That I was really Hikigaya Hachiman." Hiratsuka-sensei smiled, just a little, a lonely smile. "[gentle]All along. From a letter Komachi-chan sent." Komachi. At the mention of his little sister's name, something deep in Hachiman's chest gave a small creak. "[gentle]From the very beginning, you knew everything..." "[gentle]Yeah. That's why I made the No-Loner Rule. Because you kept running away." Despite her sharp tongue, her voice was somehow gentle. "[gentle]If they're words you chose yourself, they'll reach them. I've been waiting for that, all this time." Hiratsuka-sensei raised her right hand lightly. "[gentle]Go. And... see you later." Her body was enveloped in light. Right to the very end, no fist, no lecture, just calm eyes. The white light swallowed Hiratsuka Shizuka. At the edge of the stage, her figure was no longer there. (*...Damn it.*) Hachiman gripped the microphone tightly. His fingers trembled. Scary. Honestly, truly, scary. But—if I run away here, I'll never forgive myself, for the rest of my life. Hachiman raised his face. His dead-fish eyes looked at the three girls in turn. Yukino. Yui. Iroha. "[serious]Back when I wasn't Hikitani-kun, but Hikigaya Hachiman—" His voice trembled within the light. "[serious]Did you... like me?" It wasn't a question meant for running away. The me from the original world, the loner. Hikigaya Hachiman, the twisted guy with no friends, who just read books in the corner of the classroom—that version of me— (*For the first time, I wanted someone to acknowledge me.*) The gymnasium fell completely silent. Only the light grew steadily, relentlessly stronger. Yukino stepped forward. Her trembling lips pressed tightly together. And then— "[gentle]...Isn't it obvious?" It was her sharp tongue. Her usual, cool voice that kept everyone at a distance. And yet. "[crying]Are you stupid? Something like that, it was decided a long time ago." From her lapis lazuli eyes, tears spilled over. *Plip.* One drop, then another. "[crying]Whether you're Hikitani-kun or Hikigaya-kun—you are you, right? It doesn't matter which. I've always liked you." Yukino smiled through her tears. Her perfect mask was nowhere to be found. She was just a single girl. "[crying]...Idiot." His voice was hoarse. At that moment— "[crying]I've always liked you!!" Yui shouted. Her face a mess with tears, with all her strength. "[crying]Hikitani-kun or Hikigaya-kun, it doesn't matter! I, since a long time ago—" Her voice choked. But still, she pushed the words out through her tears. "[crying]I've always... liked Hikki, you know..." The word "Hikki." Her way of addressing him, from the original world. Deep in Hachiman's chest, a warmth slowly spread. And then— "[laughing]...Ahaha." A small laugh. Iroha roughly wiped her tear-wet eyes with the back of her hand. "[crying]Even if you were Hikigaya-senpai, I definitely would've slipped invitations into your locker three times a week, you know~" Crying, she made her little devil smile. But it wasn't her usual calculating grin. It was, for the first time, a smile from the heart. "[crying]Because I wanted to be with you in the student council. No matter who Senpai is—my Senpai is the only Senpai I have." The voices of the three mingled together within the light. Yukino was crying. Yui was crying. Iroha was laughing while crying. (*Ah, I see.*) Hachiman, still gripping the microphone, looked up at the ceiling. The Reverse-Popularity System... it never mattered from the start. Even if this world was fake. Even if I was Hikitani-kun or Hikigaya Hachiman. Their feelings had always been real. "[gentle]...What a pain." He muttered quietly. But his voice was laughing. In that instant— The light exploded. The gymnasium walls, the ceiling, the floor—everything melted into white. The six hundred people in the audience seats turned into particles and vanished. Yukino reached out her hand. Yui, crying, tried to run closer. Iroha, smiling to the very end, waved her hand. The outlines of the three were completely swallowed by the light— (*Thank you.*) Hachiman closed his eyes. The world disappeared. — By his ear, an electronic sound was ringing. *Beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep.* The familiar sound of an alarm clock. Hikigaya Hachiman slowly opened his eyes. A familiar ceiling. His own six-tatami-mat room. Anime posters from long ago, stuck on the wall. Piles of light novels stacked on the floor. Weak winter sunlight streamed in through the window. "[gentle]...Was it a dream?" He raised his arm and looked at his hand. No wounds, no microphone. Just his usual, jaded high school student's hand. He looked at the clock. February 1st. 7:15 AM. He remembered everything. The light in the gymnasium. The tears of the three. Hiratsuka-sensei's final words. (*It's not a dream. It's absolutely not a dream.*) He sat up. The spring-loaded bed creaked. "Nii-chan! It's morning, are you awake?" From beyond the door came the voice of his little sister, Komachi. The usual voice of everyday life, from the original world. "[gentle]...I'm awake." Answering, Hachiman turned toward his desk. Textbooks, notebooks—the usual cluttered desk. —Right in the middle of it. A single piece of paper had been placed there. A handwritten memo. *"Don't run away next time."* That was all that was written. No sender. The handwriting seemed neat, yet slightly rounded, with a quirk only in the final stroke. It looked like Yukino's writing, and Yui's, and Iroha's—and, just a little, like Hiratsuka-sensei's too. Hachiman picked up the memo. He stared at it for three seconds. "[sarcastic]...Creepy." He muttered. But he didn't crumple the memo into a ball. He folded it neatly in half—and shoved it into his pocket. He stood up. He picked up his uniform. The usual Sobu High School uniform. He looked outside the window. The winter sky stretched out. A clear, cloudless blue sky. (*Today, another tiresome everyday life begins.*) (*I'll probably get dragged into all sorts of troublesome things.*) But— (*Running away... I'm done with that.*) Hachiman lightly tapped his uniform pocket. The feel of the memo faintly returned to his fingertips. And then, he opened the door. Beyond the hallway, Komachi was shouting something. The morning news was playing from the TV. The usual everyday life. But deep in his chest, their tears, their smiles, and that warm light still remained, unmistakably. (*This time, I'll face it properly.*) (*Without running, with my own words, I'll tell them everything.*) Hachiman took a step toward the front door. He put on his shoes. He tied the laces tight. No more hesitation. *Click.* Hachiman opened the door and walked out into the winter morning sun.