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[-Continuation-]
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[-Third Person View-]
"...I guess dealing with people is not like being in the background." Hachiman muttered, not quite answering her unspoken question.
Yukino's brow furrowed, but she didn't press the issue as she pushed it away as his usual grumbling.
"You should have simply stayed as you were then." She said, a note of finality in her voice as she turned her head away.
"Welp, it's too late now." He conceded with a shrug, raising my hands in surrender.
"...." - "...."
As Hachiman gazed out the window, a small, silent decency descended.
Eventually, it was Yukino who broke the stillness, her voice softening perceptibly.
"In all seriousness, you shouldn't have come. We wouldn't want you falling ill as well right before the festival." There was a flicker of what might have been actual concern in her expression.
Hachiman shrugged, playing it off as nonchalantly as possible. "Well, if I do get sick, I will just have to rely on your care until I am better. Than we can finish the preparations together on equal footin–!"
–fush~
A pillow came whipping towards his face without a warning… and hit him.
–bash!
"Ouch, you wound me, woman!" He clutched his chest in mock(:fake) pain.
"And here I am being the perfect gentleman, delivering sustenance from the great Komachi herself." His tone slowly subsided as Yukino fixed him with a stern, unamused glare.
"...*ahem." Clearing his throat, he tried to forget what happened.
Still failing to control himself, he chided teasingly for one last time. "If your aim stats improve, I may have to start watching my back."
Yukino's lips twitched, fighting back a smile despite her best efforts. "Perhaps you should. It might teach you to think before you speak."
"Okay, no need to take such desperate measures I will behave now. Promise." He straightened up, trying to compose himself, but he couldn't quite wipe the smirk off his face.
Yukino's glare softened, her eyes losing some of their sharpness and gaining a trace of annoyance.
"Somehow, Hikigaya, I doubt that very much." She said, her voice was a mixture of irritation and something that sounded suspiciously like suppressed amusement.
"You understand me too, we–!" I started to say, but I was interrupted.
"Keep talking, and I am sure I can find heavier objects to throw." Yukino's voice dripped with icy sarcasm as she spoke, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
…gulp, hah, that could be dangerous. I guess, enough playing around. Hachiman, for sure, knew it was time to fall back.
"But seriously, though, how are you feeling? Your color seems a bit better than I was expecting." He finally asked the main point.
Yukino turned normal at the genuine concern that laced his inquiry. "It's just, as you guessed, a mild sinus fever due to seasonal change, nothing too serious."
"So, by tomorrow, you should be all better, right?" He asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.
"Speaking of..." Yukino reached for the gift bag of fruit he brought, pulling out a juicy strawberry.
"I guess a little thank you is in order." She muttered to herself.
"For me, right?" Hachiman chimed in.
But all he received was a steamy look.
Then she eyed the strawberry thoughtfully, a small smile on her lips, then looked back at him. With a playful grin, she took a small bite, pecking her lips as she kept eye contact.
Hachiman felt a sudden rush of heat staining his cheeks as her unknowingly sensual provocation, which did not go unnoticed, judging by Yukino's now broader playful smirk.
He coughed awkwardly, trying to regain his composure as Yukino slowly savored the fruit, remaining completely naive of her actions.
"You know....I have often wondered." Yukino said innocently between bites.
However, her tone was astronomically smoother than her usual sharp one, making Hachiman push his thoughts out of his brain and focus on her next words.
"Do strawberries remind you more of the bitterness in your life…or the rare sweet moments you stumble upon?"
This conversation had suddenly taken a strange, sensitive turn.
Hachiman considered how best to respond, debating whether to joke around or act clueless.
In the end, he decided to match her boldness. "I would have to say the sweetness."
I replied evenly. "But only when the person offering decides just how much they want to toy with the portion size."
A heavy pause stretched between us, the air thick with tension. Yukino's eyes widened slightly, her lips glistening from the berry's juices.
Then, just as quickly as the moment had come, it faded as she regained her usual calm.
The moment passed quickly as she collected herself.
"Well then." She said, unpacking more fruit. "Feel free to have some. It would be rude not to share."
"Don't mind me if I do." He said.
–buzz!(:bell rang)
Just then, the shrill buzz of the doorbell pierced the air, causing us both to jump.
"Who could it be?" Yukino wondered aloud, rising from the couch to answer the call near the door.
Is it Yuigahama? Hachiman mused. She must have found out about Yukinoshita's illness and come to check on her. But how did she find out about it though?
"...Yes?" Yukino's voice crackled through the intercom.
["Yukinon!? It's me, Yui. Are you okay?"] Yui's hurried voice rang out, confirming Hachiman's suspicion.
"...Yes, I am fine, so..." Yukino began, but Yui's determined tone cut her off.
["Let me in! I will see it for myself."] Yui was determined.
"....." Yukino turned towards Hachiman, her expression questioning, as if seeking his approval as the first guest, while he gestured with his hands, signaling for her to ask for a few minutes.
["Y-yukinon?"] Yui's voice held a note of confusion, waiting for her response.
"....Can you wait for five minutes, I will directly open the doors for you?" Though confused, Yukino complied.
["I will!"] Yui complied.
–tut!(:line ended)
Placing the phone back, Yukino walked towards Hachiman, clearly wanting to know the reasons.
Yukino let out a soft sigh and turned back to face Hachiman, her eyes narrowing accusingly. "You knew she was coming, didn't you?"
A wry smile tugged at his lips as he spread his hands in a gesture of innocence. "Well, I had my guess."
Her gaze remained skeptical, but she seemed to accept his response, at least for the moment. Shaking her head, she moved to tidy up the pillow she just threw and the place she sat. Her movements are brisk and efficient.
But there isn't enough time to explain everything to her. Hachiman thought.
"Yukinoshita, is that room free to use?" He asked, nodding towards the hallway.
She paused mid-motion, regarding me with a puzzled look. "...It is a guest room."
"Mind if I occupy it for an hour or so?"(Hachiman)
?..?Yukino's brow furrowed as she studied his expression, no doubt picking up on the undercurrents of his request. "Hikigaya, did something happen between you and Yuigahama that I am unaware of?"
"Yeah." He told the truth and added hastily, sensing her growing curiosity. "However, I can't explain to you now as Yuigahama might show up any second."
Yukino's eyes narrowed, trying to understand the complication of the situation. "Is it something serious that you couldn't even face her?"
"Nah, it's not, actually." He reassured her, waving a dismissive hand. "But don't you think it's too soon for everyone to learn I visit you?"
"...?!" Realization dawned on her features, and she let out a soft 'ah' of understanding. "It is your first time here."
"Exactly." He confirmed with a nod. "People misunderstand, Yukinoshita. Their imagination can be wild."
"Don't try to twist the situation in your favor. I know we could have avoided this if you had come with her." She said, refusing to let him have his way easily.
"I thought you might be feeling lonely, so I showed up as early as possible."(Hachiman)
She stopped abruptly, shooting him a sharp glare over her shoulder. "Don't be ridiculous. I would never seek out your company intentionally."
"Ouch, that hurts." He chuckled, feigning offense as he clutched at his chest dramatically.
"And here I thought we were making such progress."
At that, a faint blush tinged her cheeks briefly, but she brushed it off. "Progress towards what, exactly? Annoying each other into an early grave?"
"Now, now, don't be like that." He chided her playfully, wagging a finger at her.
"Anyway, time's ticking, so you should go open the door while I disappear." He said, tossing the fruit bag into the freezer.
Yukino simply stared at me, unamused.
"...Just don't do anything dirty in the room." A faint blush tinged her cheeks, but she maintained her composure.
"Yeah, yeah..." He responded, rolling his eyes at her implication.
"Oh, be sure to hide my shoes."(Hachiman)
"You are quite well-versed in this." Yukinoshita looked at me, half annoyed and half amused.
"I would rather you didn't think that."(Hachiman)
Yukino opened her mouth, no doubt to deliver a scathing retort, but the shrill buzz of the doorbell cut her off.
–ring!
So she shot a final glare, silently promising retribution, before moving to answer the door.
The sound of the lock disengaging was followed by the familiar pattern of Yui's footsteps as she burst into the apartment, a whirlwind of energy and concern.
"Yukinon!" She exclaimed, eyes wide, as she took in Yukinoshita's disheveled appearance. "Are you okay? I came as soon as I found that you were sick!"
"I am fine, Yuigahama." Yukino sighed, though her tone held a hint of fondness.
"You guys are simply overreacting." Yukino unintentionally slipped up, but thankfully Yui was more focused on other words.
"Overreacting….." Yui muttered rather angrily.
Shaking her head, she made her way further into the apartment, a paper bag clutched in her hands. "I brought you some supplies, Yukinon! Soup, tea, and all sorts of goodies to help you feel better."
Yukino's expression softened as she accepted the offering, her fingers brushing against Yui in a rare display of physical affection.
"Thank you, Yuigahama. You didn't have to go into such trouble."
"Of course I did!" Yui insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"You are my best friend, Yukinon. I would do anything for you."
A comfortable silence settled over the room as the weight of her words hung in the air, their bond laid bare in those simple yet deep sentiments.
.
[To be continued…]
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