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[-Continuation-]
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[Hachiman's POV]
"Uh, yeah." Yuigahama chimed in. "He is Hikki from our class. Hachiman Hikigaya."
"*sigh…." Kawasaki let out a sigh and offered a resigned smile. "So, what brings you here?"
I decided to get straight to the point. "I heard you've been coming home late these days. Is it because of this part-time job of yours? Your little brother's worried about you."
Nice. I wrapped it up conveniently without missing the important details. Plus, I made an extra effort to emphasize that it's your brother who's concerned. Not anyone else, especially not me.
At that, Kawasaki smiled, with a hint of ridicule on her face mixed with annoyance. "You came all the way here just to say that? Good job. Do you seriously think I would stop just because some guy I don't know or care about said that to me?"
"Amazing. Even Hikki's classmates don't care about him…" Yuigahama oddly chose this moment to express her admiration.
Is this girl just following Yukinoshita, thinking she will look cool?
"Color me surprised. I didn't know anything about you either, Kawasaki, until recently, that is."
Obviously, that's a lie.
I mean, currently, I am the most knowledgeable person about Kawasaki in our trio.
…like how she possesses skills in [Sewing] and has the talent for class(:job) [Fashion Designer].
And also the fact that she is far from the delinquent image she portrays, but a kind and loving older sister.
Kawasaki picked on. "Recently? Oh, so the reason I thought things had gotten a little more irritating lately was because of you guys. Did Taishi say something to you? I don't know how he tried to spin it, but I will have a word with him, so don't worry."
She paused. "You see, Taishi has nothing to do with this."
"..." Kawasaki glared openly at me.
Right then, Yukinoshita chimed. "There is a reason for you to stop."
Not backing down, she shifted her gaze from Kawasaki to the wristwatch on her left hand, checking the time. "[22:40]… if you were Cinderella, you'd have one hour left before your magic runs out."
Kawasaki countered. "If my magic were to run out, only a happy ending awaits me, don't you think?"
Yukinoshita chuckled. "I wonder about that, My Little Mermaid. I believe a bad end lies ahead of you."
Now that's an interesting analogy.
Someone tapped me on the shoulder insistently and whispered in my ear, diverting my attention from contemplation.
"…hey, Hikki. What are those two talking about?"
"We can't work nights at our age. Basically, Yukinoshita is trying to say that Kawasaki is lying about her age."
"...oh, why not say that out?"
How? And why in the world would I know that, Yuigahama? Do you think I am a mind reader?
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" I retorted.
"*hump..." Without replying, she turned her head away, snorting like the child she is.
"So you have no inclination to quit?" Yukinoshita pressed her.
"Hm? Nope." Kawasaki said nonchalantly as she wiped a sake bottle with a cloth.
Yuigahama opened her mouth nervously. "Hey, Kawasaki, I work too when I need some money, but I don't lie about my age and work at night…"
"It's not… look, I just need money." Kawasaki felt lost in words, unable to express herself.
I began nonchalantly. "Oh, yeah, I get what you mean."
"No, you don't get it…" Kawasaki's expression hardened instantly.
"Yeah, I was lying too. I didn't get it at all." I agreed instantly.
"See, you d–?"
That surprised everyone, including Yukinoshita, as she reprimanded. "Hikigaya, don't play around."
"Well, I am not." I replied and gave my worldly advice. "And if anyone did say they 'get it', don't believe it either." I shared one of my treasured pieces of advice I have been passed on by my 'father' as a so-called family lineage of ours.
But it was an incomplete one.
There is another half that I didn't mention, as I thought it was unnecessary in this particular instance.
Maybe I will get a better opportunity for the other half. Who knows?
"Do you think this is all a joke to you?" Kawasaki's expression darkened.
"Of course not. Definitely not at this hour. We are only here for our fourth [Quest]."
"Yes, Kawasaki, we are here to help you."
I don't know how Yuigahama understood my words, but she said it, nodding her head seriously.
Kawasaki retorted. "I am not working because I want to pocket some money. Don't lump me in with those retards. You guys are all spread around and talk like you are big. But can you three help me out with any money? You think you can get something for me that even my parents couldn't get me?"
She glared at us with steel in her eyes - Don't get in my way - those eyes seemed to roar vehemently.
But she was crying on the inside.
And yet, that really was a sign of her strength when all was said and done. I was not made to think that her heated words were a sigh of defeat, signifying how misunderstood she was and that she secretly wanted people to like her.
Take Yukinoshita, for instance. She was misunderstood by everyone, and she did not give up or cry. But that was because she was convinced of the force of her own will.
Or take Yuigahama. When she was trying to understand someone, she didn't give up or run away. No matter how things appeared to her on the surface, she'd go on trying to make contact with the other person, praying something would change.
Yuigahama uttered it with difficulty. "Th-that's…"
"That's quite enough." Yukinoshita said it in a frigid tone. "If you mouth off any more…" She was all the more imposing for cutting off Yuigahama mid-sentence.
Kawasaki winced for a moment, but she turned back to Yukinoshita. "Hey, isn't your dad a member of the prefectural diet? There's no way some well-off snob like you—!"
–gulp!
–thud!
With one fluid motion, I gulped the entire drink, placing the empty glass on the table with a distinctive yet not too noisy sound.
"..eeEEk!" A spontaneous expression escaped my lips.
"Man, I wasn't lying about this before. This drink really isn't for me." I mused to myself, successfully interrupting their conversation once again.
"Sorry if I was too loud." I added with the slightest hint of apology, glancing to the side. "So where were we before…"
Yukinoshita was biting her lip. Her gaze pointed downward. I would never have imagined Yukino looking like that.
"Oh yeah, this isn't going to work, not here at least." I bluntly stated the purpose of our meeting.
Man, I know something like this is gonna happen. I should have opposed her more strongly and stopped her from coming here to talk with Kawasaki.
"What do you mean 'not here'? I am not changing my decision." Kawasaki stubbornly declared.
"Kawasaki Saki." I called with a monotone expression but sharp eyes.
I added. "You are strong. Okay. We get that much, at least. In fact, I truly commend your hardworking character for wanting to earn money, and I could definitely assume you have a good reason from what you have said."
"I mean, there is a lot of sh*t these days outside to make some easy money. But you didn't go for it. So you have my respect for that."
"...but still lying about your age. That's no go from me. Nonetheless, if I am being honest, I couldn't care less about everything I simply said now. Because I have no connection to you whatsoever."
"If you don't care, why did you come all the way here?" She demanded.
"Do you think I am here because I like it?" With a slight pause, I continued. "I am here because your brother nagged my sister, and Yukinoshita accepted his request. Trust me, I would prefer lying down at home by this time."
Moving forward a little in her direction and looking straight into her eyes.
"However, watch what you say." I threatened.
"Anyway, we will be leaving."
I and Yuigahama exchanged glances, and then she nudged. "Yukinon, shall we go home now?"
"…very well, then let us be off." Miraculously enough, Yukinoshita followed my lead. Without any objections, mind you.
"I still have a few things to deal with. You go ahead." Hearing my words, Yukinoshita, who was about to pay the bill, stooped, nodded at me, and walked off with Yuigahama tailing behind.
After I saw the two of them off, I tilted my empty glass, turned back to Kawasaki, and spoke. "Kawasaki. Give me some of your time tomorrow morning. I will be at McDonald's at half past five. Got it?"
"Huh? Why?"
"I might solve your problem with money."
"…what?" Kawasaki peered at me with suspicion - no, more like hostile eyes.
Not bothering to avoid those eyes, I slowly took three thousand yen and stood up.
"We will talk about that tomorrow. Later."
"Tsk, so you are also a rich brat."
I walked off after placing the money as a courtesy, clearly ignoring Kawasaki's remark on my action of not taking the rest of change.
Hey!! I am still far from a rich brat, but I guess I do have a lot in terms of a normal highschool student.
….but that's my hard-earned money.
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"sigh* So what now…" Yuigahama sighed, looking at both me and Yukinoshita.
"Hikigaya, you seem quite knowledgeable about her, from the way you were talking. What were you two discussing just now?" Yukinoshita asked, her curiosity evident.
Hum… That kinda came out of nowhere.
"Yukino, don't worry about her. I admire you more than anyone." I spoke my mind out to clear up any misunderstanding.
And then I continued. "As for our next plan of action..."
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[To be continued….]
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