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[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Oh." Yukinoshita's voice broke the silence, as though a thought had just occurred to her.
Her expression shifted to one of playful innocence, the corners of her lips turning up ever so slightly.
"....Does this meet your standards of simplicity?...." She inquired, her tone airy and teasing, her smile almost too pure to be genuine.
"Simple enough?" I echoed, scratching my head as I pretended to consider her question seriously.
Today, it felt like she was trying to make me eat my own words, didn't she?
"Well, let's think about it… You have bought me a brand new scarf, saved me from freezing, and even managed to fend off two persistent strangers with nothing but a glare. If this is your idea of simple, then yeah, I would say it's more than enough to please me."
Yukinoshita's lips curled into a small smile, the kind that told me she was enjoying this little exchange more than she let on.
"I choose to take that as a compliment." She spoke, her voice light yet edged with that familiar sharpness.
I shrugged, feeling the warmth of the scarf around my neck. The fabric was soft against my skin, but the bright red color was... a choice, to say the least.
"Hey, are you absolutely sure?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at Yukinoshita. "You didn't pick this out just to see me wear an out of place bright scarf and knee-length knickers with a t-shirt, did you?"
I glanced down at myself.
It wasn't that I particularly cared much about how I looked. I wasn't the type to fuss over fashion. But even I had to admit, this outfit was complete... offbeat.
Yukinoshita's gaze dropped to the scarf around my neck, then lingered on my mismatched outfit.
Her gaze lingered there for a moment longer than necessary before she turned away, and I could have sworn I caught a faint embarrassed blush coloring her cheeks by her own choice, just barely visible under the streetlights.
"It does look a bit ridiculous." She conceded, her voice taking on a quieter, more reflective tone. "But… it kind of suits you."
I blinked, surprised by the softness in her voice, the unexpected warmth of her words. For a moment, I was at a loss for how to respond.
It was the first time I saw Yukinoshita act so... coy.
I knew her well enough to detect when she was being playful, but the gentleness in her eyes suggested there was more behind her words than mere teasing.
"Oh, really?" I said, trying to mask my surprise with a smirk. "So, you're saying I actually look good in this absurd outfit?"
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she sighed and clarified herself. "No, Hikigaya, what I am saying is….. even in such a ridiculous getup, you somehow manage to be… endearing.(:adorable). In your own odd way, of course."
I raised an eyebrow. "And I am just supposed to take your word for it?"
She nodded, still looking at me with that strangely soft expression. "Indeed. You should."
I exhaled slowly, feeling an unexpected warmth in my chest, and nodded in return. "Alright then. I will trust you."
She smiled again, a bit more openly this time, and for a moment, the night felt a little less cold.
Just as quickly as it had surfaced, the softness in her expression vanished, giving way to her usual composed demeanor.
"Let's get moving." She said, turning away. "It's getting late."
"Yeah." I responded, falling into step beside her as we continued down the street.
Yukinoshita popped open the can of cola and took a leisurely sip, her eyes sparkling with bliss as she scanned the quiet street ahead.
I twisted the lid off my Max Coffee tin and took a long, satisfying drink, feeling the familiar surge of sweetness and caffeine course through me. A contented sigh escaped my lips before I could catch it.
"Haaa…" I exhaled, feeling the tension of the day gradually unwind. "Nothing beats that."
Yukinoshita glanced at me out of the corner of her eye, taking another sip of her cola. Her expression was mildly amused.
This time, our walk had a different feel. We weren't playing the earlier roles of 'tourist' and 'guide.' We were simply walking together, side by side, without any need for pretense.
The evening was peaceful. As the night deepened, the streets were emptying out, leaving us with just the soft sounds of our footsteps.
Just a few hundred meters and… we would be there.
As we approached a small, well-lit park, I mentally prepared for the final part of the evening.
Alright, this is the spot I had in mind for the finale. Time to put my plan into action.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita slowed down, her eyes drifting to a nearby bench.
Just as I opened my mouth to say something, she spoke first, her voice cutting through the stillness.
"Let's sit for a bit." Her tone was gentle but carried an undertone of insistence that I couldn't ignore.
"I was about to suggest that." I replied, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
"Hmm, were you?" She asked, her eyebrows raising in mild surprise and suspicious.
I nodded, finding a comfortable spot on the bench as she joined me.
We settled in, the cool night air a refreshing contrast to the warmth left from our drinks. The park was nearly deserted, save for the faint chirping of insects in the distance. It felt like a rare, peaceful pause in the midst of our otherwise busy days.
The night was still young, and for this moment, it felt like enough.
As Yukinoshita's eyes wandered over the calm scenery, she drained the last of her cola and set the empty can aside.
I glanced at my own Max Coffee tin, which was also finished.
I noted the conveniently placed trash bin a mere few meters away, exactly four meters, if we were counting.
A super fun thought crossed my mind.
It's been a while since I took up an [Epic] quest.
With all the necessary calculations running in the back of my mind, I readied myself for what was surely going to be a grand throw.
Alright, here I g–!?
"No. You are not doing that. Just walk over there like a civilized person and put it in."
But before I could make my move, Yukinoshita's voice stopped me in my tracks.
For a moment, she resembled a girlfriend gently chiding her boyfriend, stopping him from doing something foolish. The way she spoke, with that blend of authority and care, was adorable.
Feigning innocence, I looked away from her piercing gaze and focused instead on the quiet surroundings.
"I wasn't planning anything." I lied, trying to keep my tone as nonchalant as possible.
"Oh, really? You weren't just considering testing your [Accuracy] stats?" Yukinoshita's eyes twinkled with amusement, her tone making it clear she saw right through me.
I put on my best serious expression. "Hey, it was just my primal instincts kicking in… for real this time."
"Right, right… Always blaming those instincts." She countered, her voice light, tinged with a bit of fondness.
I sighed dramatically as I stood up, letting out an exaggerated groan and making a big show of shuffling towards the trash can.
Every step was an overdone display, my shoulders slumped in mock defeat, dragging my feet as if I were walking to my doom. When I finally reached the bin, I made a perfectly executed, slightly over-the-top throw, sending the empty tin arcing through the air before it landed neatly inside the bin with a satisfying clang.
As I made my way back to the bench, I caught sight of Yukinoshita's soft, approving smile. It was the kind of smile that made my heart do a little flip, just like the empty tin.
"There, all done. Happy now?" I asked, settling back beside her and trying to hide my grin.
"Good." She responded, her smile growing a little wider, filled with genuine contentment.
"It's refreshing to have you actually listen, even if it's just about the little things."
She added softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. As she spoke, she absentmindedly twirled a strand of her dark, raven hair around her finger, a rare, almost girlish gesture.
For a moment, we just sat there, letting the silence stretch out comfortably between us.
"Well, if that's what you wish." I said, finally breaking the silence. "I can listen to those little things as well as the bigger ones, if necessary."
Yukinoshita turned to look at me, her blue eyes wide with fake shock. With a theatrical gesture, she placed a hand on her chest.
"You will… actually 'listen' to me?" She pointed a finger at herself with exaggerated emphasis, as if the very idea was absurd.
I shrugged, replying honestly. "Hm. I will definitely listen, I can guarantee that. But whether I follow through… well, that's a different story."
"I should have expected this." Yukinoshita muttered, rolling her eyes with a touch of annoyance. "You always end up falling back on your white-collar scams, don't you?"
Even though her words were kinda mean, her voice was soft, almost... fond?
"Oh yeah?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow. "And what exactly is this white-collar scammer trying to sell to this so-called innocent woman?"
She paused for a moment, then replied with an air of certainty.
"Well, is it yourself?"
Her words left her lips confidently, but almost immediately, her expression shifted as she realized the unintended meaning behind them.
?!Her sapphire eyes widen, a mixture of surprise and embarrassment flickering across her face as the implications of her statement finally sink in.
A soft pink blush bloomed on her cheeks, spreading to the tips of her ears.
I felt my own face grow warm.
Yukinoshita quickly averted her gaze, suddenly finding enormous interest in the ground beneath the bench. Her slender fingers fidgeted with the hem of her coat, betraying her nervousness.
The silence between us stretched, charged with an unfamiliar tension.
….
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[To be continued…]
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