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[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
"I am going to go buy some sake for a good drinking session. See you. Be careful on your way back."
"..." - "..."
We were both silent, standing side by side, while Ms. Hiratsuka's back began walking away from us.
The silence in the air felt completely natural for the both of us.
A sudden gust of wind made me shiver, and I instinctively shoved my hands into the pockets of my shorts, seeking whatever warmth they could offer.
The warmth from inside the restaurant had only made the cold outside feel sharper.
"Well, I guess it's just us now. Shall we get going?" I proposed, trying to sound casual despite the cold.
"Uh-Hum…" Yukinoshita took a moment before nodding, her gaze shifting to the path ahead with a thoughtful look.
With that, we began walking toward the inn.
The sound of our footsteps echoed softly against the quiet of the night, and for a moment, I let myself get lost in the rhythm.
What do I do now? Should I go for it?
I would feel guilty if I had just pushed her, but on the other hand, I wasn't satisfied with just walking her and leaving, either.
I really couldn't find the right words to say, but more importantly, I didn't want it to end on that simple of a note.
Wait… where is Yukinoshita?
?!I blinked, realizing she was no longer beside me.
I had been so caught up in my own thoughts that I hadn't noticed I had slowed down to a near stop.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita was a few steps ahead of me, her figure partially obscured by the shadows of the street.
Then she stopped too, her movements hesitant, almost uncertain.
I watched as she glanced around, her expression shifting into something almost….. restless.
Like a cat that had lost its way or was searching for something - a new home, perhaps.
There was a vulnerability in the way she stood there, under the dim glow of the streetlight, that made my chest tighten just a bit.
…Maybe it was common sense, built from experience, but I immediately understood why Yukinoshita was having a lot of trouble.
But that is really funny, I remember something similar happening in the story….
"To your right, Miss Lost Yukitty." I called out gently, my voice playfully cutting through the quiet of the night.
Yukinoshita blinked at the nickname, a rare moment of surprise breaking through her usual composed demeanor. Her lips parted, almost as if to protest, but she didn't say anything.
Instead, she just turned to the right, her steps light and purposeful.
She walked ahead a bit, and I followed closely behind.
As we continued down the narrow street, the shadows of the night stretched around us.
After a few moments, another intersection appeared, a cross-section of the road splitting off in different directions.
Yukinoshita stopped again, not speaking a word, simply standing idly in place. This time, she didn't even attempt to guess the path.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at myself.
It was almost as if she was silently demanding guidance, as if exercising one of her basic rights… though I wasn't really complaining about it.
If anything, it wasn't that bad.
And so, the process continued.
"Left." I instructed.
She complied, the click of her shoes against the pavement a steady companion to mine.
"Straight ahead."
I added, guiding her down the path as she followed without a word, my steps aligning with the steps she left behind.
"Left again." I directed.
Yukinoshita turned smoothly, not missing a beat.
"Right… and we're here." I said finally, stopping in front of a small, warmly lit store.
Yukinoshita carefully examined the place in front of us, her gaze sweeping over the exterior before settling on the signboard above the entrance. She examined it twice, her eyes moving up and down, before focusing on the billboard on the roof with the store's name.
Her brow furrowed slightly, as if trying to make sense of our destination.
After a moment of silence, she turned to me, shooting a confused look. "This isn't the inn…"
I moved up next to her, a casual smile curling at the corners of my mouth.
"Good deduction. Guess, this is kinda my little detour." I admitted, with a shrug.
"Oh…" Yukinoshita said, her voice tinged with a mocking edge, her lips curving into a slight smirk. "What are you planning to buy, then? A tacky souvenir?"
"Coffee…" I replied, watching her expression shift slightly.
As soon as the word left my mouth, Yukinoshita opened her mouth to say something.
"You just drank-!?"
But I cut her off. "A Max Coffee this time." I interjected.
She blinked at me, her eyes narrowing, and for a brief moment, I thought I saw the corners of her lips twitch upwards.
"Just give me a minute. I will be right back." I told her, stepping forward and pushing open the door to the store.
As I did, I caught her soft murmur from behind. "Idiot, Hikigaya."
I couldn't help but smirk as I replied without turning around. "Oh, I heard that…"
"Precisely. As it was meant to be." Without a moment's hesitation, she retorted, her voice crisp yet carrying an undercurrent of subtle amusement.
I heard that too….
Ignoring her retort, I walked into the store.
The warm air greeted me as I entered, and the smell of roasted coffee beans filled my senses.
I glanced back for a second, catching a glimpse of Yukinoshita standing there, a soft, almost amused expression on her face.
….Okay, I shouldn't keep her waiting.
Determined, I turned around and made my way to the refrigerated section, scanning the shelves for the familiar yellow can.
There it was - Max Coffee.
I grabbed one, the cold metal pressing against my palm, and then my eyes landed on the cola. Remembering that Yukinoshita might appreciate something light after dinner, I grabbed a can for her too. It seemed like the best drink for someone who had just had their fill.
I waited exactly half a minute for the cashier to ring me up. I paid for the drinks and quickly headed back to the door, the can in hand. As I pushed it open, the cool night air hit me once again, but this time, it wasn't as refreshing.
I stepped outside, and I looked for Yukinoshita, but she was nowhere around to be seen.
"Shit..." I muttered under my breath.
?!Where is she?
I scanned the area frantically, turning left and right in search of her. Panic bubbled up, and I felt my grip tighten around the cans.
Then I spotted her.
She was standing a few meters away, around ten, maybe fifteen.
But she wasn't alone.
Two guys were hovering near her, clearly trying to strike up a conversation. Their body language was casual, but there was an edge to their stance, something a little too presumptive, like they were testing their luck.
Hey, hey, what the hell!??
My heart skipped a beat, and before I could even think, my legs were already moving. I started running toward her, my footsteps loud against the pavement, adrenaline spiking with every step.
As I got closer, I could see Yukinoshita's expression - icy and unwelcoming, one arm crossed over her chest, a clear signal that clearly screamed 'not interested' in whatever these guys were selling.
...And I could also hear bits of their conversation.
"Hello~ Are you waiting for a friend?"
One of them leaned in slightly, his expression too familiar for comfort.
Yukinoshita stood her ground, her posture stiff and her eyes narrowing into a cold, unyielding stare.
She flicked her gaze back and forth between the two, but there was no fear, only irritation, as if they were more of a nuisance rather than a threat.
Still, seeing her like that, cornered, even if just verbally, made something twist inside me.
She paused, giving them a look that, to the untrained eye, might seem like she was pondering their words.
But I knew her better. It was the look she wore when looking for a response, the best way to dismiss them without causing a scene.
Deciding on the kind of response, her eyes narrowed to the point where her gaze alone could send chills down anyone's spine. Her lips were pressed into a thin line
"Ugh… Please don't talk to me." Her voice was cold, each syllable as crisp and biting, befitting her title - Ice Queen
Ouch. That was brutal.
If I were in their shoes, I would probably want to disappear.
"...S-sorry." The first guy stammered, clearly rattled by her frosty response.
"Ah-we…!!" His friend, a step behind him, shuffled uncomfortably, as if reconsidering this whole approach.
It was my cue to step in.
I closed the remaining distance between us.
"Oi! Yukino..." I called out, my voice sharper than I intended.
?!Both guys turned to face me, surprise flashing across their faces.
They hadn't expected anyone to intervene.
Perfect. The element of surprise was on my side.
….
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[To be continued…]
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