Chapter 271: Diligent Ordinary People
"Is it really you?!"
Seeing Saki's reaction, Yukino raised an eyebrow.
"Have something happened between you two?"
"Just some misunderstandings," Hachiman replied with a faint smile, as if unwilling to elaborate.
"Hmph."
Hearing Hachiman's words, Saki snorted lightly and turned her head, indicating she didn't want to see him.
As a girl, she couldn't casually share details about underwear incidents with strangers.
"So, Yukinoshita, why are you here? Are you on a date with this guy?"
"Of course not. With his current state, Kawasaki's imagination is too vivid," Yukino calmly retorted.
Observing their interaction, Hachiman chuckled, "Hey, can you two talk without stabbing me in the back? That's personal attack, you know."
After the banter, Hachiman sighed and continued, "Kawasaki-san, your little brother Taishi is worried about you since you've been coming home late lately."
"Oh, that's why. I was wondering why people around me have become so annoying recently," Saki said with a sigh.
Although she understood their purpose now, Saki continued working without any intention of giving up.
"Regardless of what Taishi told you, you don't need to worry or interfere. It's none of your business."
At that moment, Yukino abruptly spoke up, "In fairy tales, Cinderella's magic wears off at midnight, you know."
Upon hearing her words, Saki smiled.
"After Cinderella's magic wears off, doesn't it lead to a happy ending?"
"I don't necessarily think so," Yukino squinted her eyes.
"Not all endings are comedic. Am I right, Little Mermaid?"
Their cryptic conversation left Yui utterly confused.
"Hey, Hikki, what are Yukinon and Kawasaki-san talking about? I don't understand."
Seeing Yui's bewildered expression, Hachiman sighed.
"At our age, working late at night is not allowed. Taishi mentioned that Kawasaki-san sometimes returns home around 5 in the morning. It's evident she lied about her age."
Upon hearing Hachiman's explanation, Yui finally grasped the situation, expressing her displeasure.
"Why not just say it directly instead of talking in riddles that no one can understand?"
"Do you really not intend to give up?" Yukino continued to dissuade.
However, Saki's response remained resolute. "I won't give up because I have reasons that require me to continue."
At this point, Yui also spoke up, "Um... Kawasaki-san, although there are times when I work to buy things I want, isn't lying about your age and going home so late something too much? Your family must worry."
It seemed Yui thought Saki was working to afford something specific, but the situation was more complex than that.
Listening to the girl's words, Saki didn't say much. She calmly stated, "I'm not doing this for fun; I just have essential reasons that require money."
"After all this talk, if I don't work, who's going to give me money? Can you give me money?"
"I don't want to burden my parents. Is it wrong to work for my own expenses?"
"I'm different from people like you who don't lack money. I can only rely on my own hands to earn what I want."
Saki's words left Yui stunned, as she couldn't find an immediate reason to counter.
"Well..."
Seeing Yui's dilemma, Yukino naturally stepped in.
"Even so, working so late is still not ideal, considering your family..."
However, before Yukino could finish her sentence, Saki interrupted.
"I'll explain things to my family. How could someone like you, from a family with a county councilor for a father, understand the feelings of ordinary people?"
Hearing her talk about her family background, Yukino felt uneasy and accidentally knocked over the nearby glass.
"Be careful."
Hachiman promptly picked up the glass, wiping the spilled liquid from the table without letting it touch Yukino's dress.
"Thank you."
Seeing Hachiman's gesture, Yukino couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart.
However, Yui couldn't sit still. She couldn't resist slamming the table and stood up with a look of frustration.
"Hey, what does this have to do with Yukinon's family situation?"
"But given my family situation, working hard is the only way for me to earn money."
Saki chuckled, though there was a hint of melancholy in her smile.
Seeing this scene, Yukino fell silent.
With her family background, perhaps she truly couldn't understand the girl's current state of mind.
Although Yukino had always wanted to break away from the Yukinoshita family, it couldn't be denied that everything she currently possessed, from the apartment she lived in to her daily necessities, was obtained through the resources of the Yukinoshita family.
The world is unfair, and ordinary people can only rely on themselves.
While all roads lead to Rome, some people are born in Rome.
The endpoint you strive for might just be someone else's starting point.
"Alright, Yui, I'm fine. I just accidentally knocked over the glass," Yukino shook her head at Yui, then turned to Hachiman beside her.
"Do you have any other ideas?"
At this moment, the girl didn't realize that she had become different from the Yukino who used to be solitary.
Seeing the girl who had gradually become accustomed to seeking help from him, Hachiman felt a sense of joy. He then turned to Saki, who was still busy.
"Although your family situations are different, what you said just now was indeed a bit much."
Saki fell into silence as well, perhaps regretting her words from earlier.
"Kawasaki-san, let me take a guess at the reason you want to earn money."
"It's probably for tuition fees."
Upon hearing this, the girl couldn't help but look up in surprise, and even Yukino and Yui turned their attention to them.
"Tuition fees?"
Hachiman smiled faintly and continued, "Exactly, it's for tuition fees."
"Earlier, Taishi mentioned that there are many kids in the Kawasaki family, and since he's in the third year of junior high, it's time to attend cram school."
"Oh, I understand. It's to earn money for your brother's cram school fees, right?" Yui exclaimed with a look of sudden realization.
Hearing her words, Hachiman nodded slightly and then shook his head.
"Earning money for cram school fees is correct, but it's not just for my brother. If it were only for his cram school fees, the Kawasaki family could manage, and she wouldn't have to work so hard."
At this point, Yukino also grasped the situation, "I see, it's not just for her brother."
"You're indeed smart, Yukino," Hachiman smiled faintly.
"It's not just for her brother's cram school fees; it's also for Kawasaki-san herself."