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[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Nothing… you just look cute." I said casually.
Without waiting for a response, I turned and started walking again, a small smirk tugging at my lips.
Huh… I could almost imagine the steam rising from her ears.
…And was that a little storm cloud forming over her head?
It's fun… teasing my girlfriend.
….
.
The entire city of Kyoto was visible on the rooftop of this particular structure.
Modern buildings, temples, Buddhist shrines, and other structures were mixed into the scenery. Between these buildings' spaces were the bustling activities of the people below.
It was the last day of the field trip, and I was waiting for someone who I had called for a meeting.
Right than the expected individual footsteps were heard who bothered to climb up those long outside stairs, followed by a cheerful voice.
"Hallo, hallo~ did I make you wait?"
I turned to see Ebina Hina, her glasses glinting in the sun as she caught her breath.
Her eyes wandered slightly as she noticed Yukinoshita standing nearby, arms crossed, face unreadable as a stone statue.
Her lips curled into an impish grin. "Well, well, Yukinoshita here too? Must be some real 'hot' stuff if you two are teaming up."
Yukinoshita acknowledged her with a slight nod, her long hair swaying in the breeze. "Indeed. We have a... sensitive topic to discuss."
As I was clearly not in the mood for banter, dove right in. "Tobe's planning to confess to you today."
Ebina's eyebrows shot up, and she let out an exaggerated gasp that wouldn't have been out of place in a kabuki(:theatre) performance.
"Oh my!" In an exaggerated display of shock, Ebina gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "I had no idea! Tobe, of all people!"
Yukinoshita, standing a little to the side, gave her a skeptical look, clearly not buying it.
I just rolled my eyes, feeling like I was really stuck with a freak.
"Cut the self scripted act, Ebina. We all know you are sharper than you let on."
Ebina's laughter danced in the wind. "Oh, Hikigaya, you are such a wet blanket. Always so serious."
Her playful facade melted away, replaced by a sly grin that reminded me of a fox eyeing up a henhouse.
"Can't blame a girl for trying. So, what's the real reason for this little summit meeting?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to keep the conversation on track. "I am here to ask how you are planning to let him down….gently. Tobe might not be the brightest and may be a useless excuse for a human being, but I think he's a pretty good guy. And some people would prefer it if this didn't destroy him entirely."
Ebina's laughter bubbled up, as if I had just told the funniest joke in the world.
"Oh, Hikigaya, you're a riot." She said, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "Let him down? Who says I am going to reject him?"
I snorted. "Please. We all know who it was."
Ebina tilted her head, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Aww, are you worried about poor Tobe's feelings?"
I furrowed as I spoke. "Personally, I couldn't care less. But you should. If this goes south, it could mess things up for everyone in your little group."
"...." Ebina fell silent, studying me with an intensity that made me want to squirm.
Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, her expression changed. She glanced between Yukinoshita and me, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"I have got an idea!" She announced, clapping her hands together. "Let's do a little roleplay. You pretend to confess, and I will show you my rejection technique. It will be fun!"
This chick really is a drama freak.
"Absolutely not."
Before I could even process the ridiculous suggestion, Yukinoshita stepped forward, her voice as sharp as a katana.
Ebina's eyes lit up, like a pachinko machine hitting the jackpot. "Oh my, Yukinoshita! I didn't realize you were so protective. Is Hikigaya off-limits?"
I jumped in, feeling the conversation deteriorate faster than a bullet train on a roller coaster track. "Yeah, something like that."
Yukinoshita remained silent, but the slight flush on her cheeks spoke volumes.
Ebina's smirk grew wider, clearly relishing the awkward atmosphere she had created. "Interesting…"
The three of us stood in contemplative silence, the distant sounds of the city filling the air.
Ebina broke the silence, her expression thoughtful. "Say, Yukinoshita, you are quite the popular one, aren't you? You must have dealt with confessions before. How do you handle them?"
I couldn't help but laugh at the harsh sound against the serene cityscape. "Sure, if you want to crush Tobe's spirit so thoroughly, he will never show his face again. By all means, take her advice."
Yukinoshita shot me a look that could have frozen Mt. Fuji, but I caught the ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.
"Poor Tobe." I sighed, shaking my head.
Ebina grinned with amusement. "You two really are quite the pair, you know that?"
Yukinoshita and I exchanged a quick glance, the latter shrugging in response.
"We will figure something out." I said, my voice more determined than I felt. "But seriously, Ebina, try not to break him completely."
Ebina's usual playful demeanor softened, and she gave a small nod. "I will do so, Hikigaya. Don't worry."
….
.
Ebina's farewell was as breezy as the wind that ruffled her bob hair.
"Catch you on the flip side." She chirped, tossing a casual wave over her shoulder as she sauntered off, leaving Yukinoshita and me in her wake.
We began to walk our footsteps in sync as we ambled in the opposite direction. I exhaled deeply, stretching my arms as if I could physically shake off the weight of our recent conversation.
"Phew, that was like trying to wrestle with an octopus made of words." I said, sounding worn out. "Honestly, I would rather run a mile than go through that again."
Yukinoshita's answering nod was short.
"So, all cooled down, Ms. Yukitty?" I asked with a teasing smile.
"I don't know what you are referring to." Yukinoshita replied, her voice firm and defiant.
But as she spoke, I noticed her eyes were distant, a far-off look in them as if she was lost in thought, grappling with something important.
"What's on your mind?" I asked, picking up on her pensive mood.
After a moment of contemplation, she blinked.
"Actually, Hikigaya..." She began, her voice delicate. "I might have 'accidentally' mentioned to Yuigahama that we are together. And... I might have given her a bit too much information, if you know what I mean."
A wry chuckle escaped me as everything clicked into place. "Ah, that explains why she had been buzzing around like she had too much coffee all day."
Yukinoshita's lips curved into a smile that mixed mischief with satisfaction.
She isn't the least bit sorry about this, isn't she?
It appeared that now that it was out in the open, it was no longer just my responsibility to manage.
"Is that it?" I asked, trying to keep the mood light. "I thought it was something more serious, like, I don't know, maybe your mother found out about us and wanted to meet me or something."
I made a casual joke, but as soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a pang of unease.
Did I just jinx myself?
What am I saying? Something like that happening so soon?
No way.
Nope. Not happening.
Yukinoshita, clearly annoyed, probably for the same reason, retorted. "Why would my family know about it when I haven't told anyone, save Yui."
She continued, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "And more than that, why would my mom want to meet you?"
"Hmmm… you don't know?" I said with a knowing look, raising an eyebrow.
Yukinoshita stared at me, her expression suggesting she had reached her limit for the day.
After a few seconds of silence, I found myself musing aloud. "To be honest, I spilled the beans to a friend of mine too. Guess we are both guilty of loose lips."
As the words left my mouth, I wondered why we were even having this cloak-and-dagger discussion. It's not like we had made any promises about keeping things quiet.
From the start, even though we haven't discussed, we both knew we weren't planning to keep our relationship completely hidden.
It is just that not here, or more like not during this field trip.
We didn't want to keep it a secret, but we also preferred not to make a grand announcement to the world in a mic and become the main topic of gossip during the field trip.
Yukinoshita's sigh was as heavy. "When is this trip going to end?"
Her exasperation matched my own.
"Right, me too." I said, offering a comforting tone. "I am tired as hell, and can't wait to go back to our usual routines."
As we strolled and chatted, we came across two familiar faces - Yuigahama and Hayama.
Hum, that is oddly not a reassuring pair.
"Yukinon, there you are!" Yuhighma sprung over like an excited ball.
Meanwhile, Hayama stood by, giving me a wave and flashing his trademark smile.
Yuigahama leaned in close to Yukinoshita, her whisper as discreet as a drumroll. "So, how did it go with Ebina?"
But still, her voice was just loud enough for the three of us to hear.
Seriously, Yuigahama? Your concept of a whisper could awaken the entire neighborhood.
I shot a sidelong glance at Yukinoshita. Hey, are you sure it was wise to let this human megaphone in on our little secret? I am starting to doubt her ability to keep a lid on things.
Yuigahama, realizing her volume control issues, flashed a grin that was more sheepish than apologetic.
I let out a resigned sigh.
It wasn't a catastrophic mistake, but it was about as comfortable as wearing wet socks, especially with Hayama standing right there.
He had been less than enthusiastic about our plan when I mentioned it, though he hadn't voiced any objections.
Yukinoshita gave me a sidelong glance, then turned to follow Yuigahama, leaving me to deal with Mr. Perfect.
"Hey, Hikigaya." Hayama said, his tone carrying a hint of amused surprise.
I turned to face him, forcing a polite smile. "Yeah?"
There was a brief silence, the kind that hangs between two people who are acquaintances but not quite friends.
Deciding that it was enough.
"So, what brings you out here?" I asked, not out of curiosity, but sometimes it's easier to keep the ball rolling than to sit in awkward silence.
Hayama's gaze swept over the surroundings. "Just needed to clear my head, you know? It's been a bit of a whirlwind lately."
I nodded. "I hear you. Sometimes it's good to take a moment for yourself."
Hayama offered a softer smile. "So... you were chatting with Ebina?"
"Yeah..." I replied, my enthusiasm as flat as week-old soda.
We stood there for a moment longer, a strange silence settling between us.
"So, today's the day, huh?" Hayama ventured again.
"Looks like it." I confirmed, my tone was as dry as uncooked rice.
You have my sympathy, bro, but that's where the well of my emotions runs dry...
….
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[To be continued…]
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