.
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Hachiman's POV-]
"Hachiman, there's something I need to tell you..." Haruno's voice cut through the air, her usual playful tone tinged with an unfamiliar seriousness.
Before I could process Haruno's words, Ryota's voice chimed in, overlapping hers like an echo.
"Hachiman, I have got some news to tell you..." His expression was a mix of excitement and nervousness, his fingers drumming a quick rhythm on the table's edge.
The simultaneous announcements hit me like a one-two punch. My mind, usually quick to process, stuttered like an old engine trying to turn over.
Ryota mentioning the news wasn't a surprise - he had been hinting at it since this morning.
But Haruno? She had given no indication of anything in the ten minutes since we had met.
I turned my head slowly from one to the other, the muscles in my neck tense, expressing my blatant confusion - It wasn't every day that I got hit with synchronized news announcements.
Clearing my throat to buy time, I felt the dryness in my mouth. When I finally spoke, my voice came out a bit rougher than usual, tinged with a hint of my trademark dry humor.
"Well now." I drawled, the words stretching out like taffy. "Don't keep me in suspense. Any chance one of you is about to tell me I have won the lottery?"
Ryota's response was lightning-quick, his words overlapping with the end of my sentence.
"With your luck? Not in a million years."
His words danced on the edge between playful jab and friendly roast, threatening to topple over at any moment.
Haruno's reaction was immediate. A soft chuckle escaped her lips, the sound was light and airy.
"Hehe..." Her hand rose to cover her mouth, but not before I caught sight of her amused smile.
Meanwhile, Yukinoshita's face became a canvas of confusion. Her brow furrowed, creating a tiny valley between her eyebrows that spoke volumes about her bewilderment.
??In that instant, as if struck by lightning, Haruno's attention snapped to Ryota with laser-like focus.
The silent question - 'Who are you?' - practically screamed from her gaze. Her head tilted slightly, like a curious bird examining an intriguing insect.
It was as if he had materialized out of thin air, despite having been present for the last few heartbeats.
At the same time, awareness seemed to dawn on Ryota like a slow sunrise.
His posture subtly changed as he noticed the two women at the table. His shoulders straightened, as if he were preparing to make an impression.
"Ryota, at your service." He introduced himself, his voice as smooth as it ever was.
A polite and confident smile replaced his earlier smirk as he inclined his head towards Haruno as his hand rose in a small wave, the gesture casual yet somehow elegant.
Turning to Yukinoshita, his greeting carried a hint of familiarity, acknowledging their prior acquaintance with a subtle nod.
Both women returned his greeting, each in their own unique way.
Yukinoshita's reply was cool but not frigid, her usual icy demeanor tempered by recognition.
"Hello, Mr. Ryota." She said, accompanied by a slight nod that showcased her cool but not icy nature.
Haruno, true to form, responded with her characteristic charm.
"Well, well, what have we here?" Her voice lilted with curiosity, each word a carefully placed stepping stone.
"I can't shake the feeling we have crossed paths before..." She mused, her statement carried more of a confirmation than confusion.
Ryota didn't deny it.
"Yes, we have. Though I think we were just way too young back then. Maybe this is our real introduction." His smile was warm, but his eyes were sharp, matching Haruno's intensity like a fencer meeting their equal.
Yukinoshita's voice was sharp, curiosity clear in her tone. "Big sis, do you know him?"
Her gaze shifted between Haruno and Ryota, trying to piece together the connection.
Haruno's response was casual, but there was a hint of something more in her voice.
"Our fathers know each other." She replied, her tone careful and precise.
"The specifics are unclear, but I believe they get along well." She shared this information as if imparting a valuable secret, her voice dropping slightly, inviting the others to lean in closer.
The effect on Yukinoshita was immediate and visible.
Her posture, already straight, seemed to elongate further. Her eyes widened slightly, reassessing Ryota as if seeing him in a new light.
The change was subtle but unmistakable - In that moment, Ryota's status had been elevated in her estimation, moving from a mere acquaintance to someone of potential importance.
Finding my voice at last, I felt like I was interrupting a silent play.
"So, about this news you both mentioned...?" My words hung in the air, tentative and probing.
"Before we get into that." Haruno cut in, glancing between Yukinoshita and me, "I am curious, how did you two get here?"
Sensing Haruno taking the lead, Ryota gracefully stepped back, content to let her set the pace of the conversation.
"...we rode here on my bike." I replied, still unsure of where this conversational road was leading.
"How delightfully romantic." Haruno teased, a mischievous glint in her eye.
But before she could elaborate, it was clear she had something else bubbling just beneath the surface, eager to escape.
"..." I met her gaze with stoic silence, waiting for her to complete.
"Well, it seems that on your way here..." Haruno started, her smile sly as a fox. She paused for dramatic effect, clearly relishing the moment. Her eyes danced with barely contained excitement, like a child with a secret burning to be told.
And just like that, the dam broke.
Words came forth, each revelation more startling than the last.
….
.
…..So, the cat was out of the bag.
Damn. I had never been Lady Luck's favorite, but this?
God not to this level.
Of all the people in this bustling metropolis, with its millions of inhabitants, it just had to be Yukinoshita's mother who spotted us.
Why couldn't it have been my folks? It didn't matter whether it was my mom or my old man. In fact, if it had been my dad, it might have been even better.
If it were my parents who had seen us, they would probably think they were seeing my doppelganger rather than entertain the idea that their son had actually managed to secure a girlfriend.
The mental image was almost comical - my parents, wide-eyed and disbelieving, convinced they had stumbled upon some lookalike rather than accepting the reality before them.
The thought of their stunned faces, especially my old man's, would be a feast to watch.
This fact was equal parts amusing and depressing.
Of course, I had already 'had' to mention something about a date to my mom due to unforeseen circumstances. But I doubted she took it seriously. In her mind, it was probably just another one of those 'phases' I went through.
Anyway, having them spot us wouldn't have been a colossal problem if it had ended there.
But no, my cursed luck wasn't satisfied with just that.
After Haruno finished her gleeful exposition, Ryota chimed in.
This time, it wasn't just a cat out of the bag – it was a full-grown tiger, complete with stripes and a predatory grin.
Damn. I mentally shook my fist at the heavens.
Seriously, what kind of script was the universe writing for my life?
"...hum…." I nodded sagely, folding my arms and tapping my right shoulder with my fingers.
To the casual observer, I might have looked deep in contemplation. In reality, I was unleashing a barrage of silent curses at the situation, each more creative than the last.
"Guess I don't need to bribe you in the future to talk with your parents." I quipped, looking at Haruno. "My already thin savings are safe."
Haruno let out a genuine chuckle, her laughter warm and infectious.
"I am not at all surprised. You are funny as always, Hikigaya." She said, surprising her laughter with one hand.
….and nope.
I didn't even attempt to gauge Yukinoshita's reaction.
Because I freaking don't want to.
My survival instincts were screaming at me not to look in her direction.
Not even a fleeting glance.
But let's be honest – I didn't need to see her face to feel the strong icy blast of her gaze.
It was so cold, I half expected icicles to start forming on my eyebrows.
Easy there, Ice Queen.
Let's chill out.
No, wait. Don't do that.
If you chill out any further, I might actually freeze solid on the spot.
I know I have committed a cardinal sin in your book, but there's no need to give me frostbite.
"Hikigaya…." Yukinoshita called out, her voice icy and controlled.
Yeah, just because I wasn't looking at her didn't mean she couldn't make me face her.
Reluctantly, left with no choice, I turned to look at her.
"I guess…. you don't have to worry about my finances either. I-isn't that great….?" I said, my tone as dry as dried out desert.
"....." Silence.
No reply.
Yep. That wasn't going to cut it, it seemed.
….
.
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
[Author Reminder : 3+chapters advance in Patreon.]
-->patreon.com/WrightBrothers