.
[-Continuation-]
[Location- Hikigaya's Household]
[Time - 8:25]
…
[-Third Person View-]
The Hikigaya household's drawing room, usually a place of quiet evenings and casual conversations, had transformed into an important court of justice - with all four Hikigaya family members assembled.
At the center of this domestic drama sat, our protagonist, Hikigaya Hachiman - who acquired a new [Honour Of Title] with his sheer effort and hard work.
The [Legendary] Rank Title, no less.
It is called - [Mr. Most Unlucky Lead]
[Effects] - [You are fucked up dude!!!]
Hachiman sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, feeling every bit as unlucky as his new title suggested.
Mirroring his position, Nanami Hikigaya, the current head of Hikigaya Household, sat opposite his son.
His stern gaze swept across the room before settling on his wife, who stood nearby, fighting back a yawn.
"Mrs. Hikigaya." Nanami began, his voice carrying the weight of parental sternness. "Are you aware of your son's recent... activities?"
His wife, Mitsuki Hikigaya, rubbed her eyes sleepily.
"...yawn, well, not unless you tell me." She mumbled, her words slightly slurred with fatigue. "And really, couldn't this wait until morning? Why the midnight fuss?"
Nanami's brow furrowed. "Mrs. Hikigaya, this is a matter of utmost impor-!"
"Honey." Mitsuki interjected, her voice tinged with exasperation. "Could we drop the 'Mrs. Hikigaya' act? I know you are trying to act cool and all, like in those old-school dramas, but it is giving me the creeps."
"Hehee~" A soft giggle erupted from the corner where Komachi, the youngest Hikigaya, stood watching the proceedings with poorly concealed amusement.
"Haahaa!"
….and her laugh seemed to break the dam holding back Hachiman's own mirth, and he found himself sprawled on the floor, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.
After a moment of chaos, Nanami cleared his throat, attempting to regain control of the situation.
"...cough, cough. As I was saying." He pressed on. "Your son is roaming around the town with a girl and–!"
"Is it true, Hachiman!?" Mitsuki cut in, her curiosity piqued despite her drowsiness.
Hachiman, still recovering from his laughing fit, managed to compose himself.
"Yeah, I have been seeing a girl from school recently." He admitted, his honesty surprising even himself.
Nanami's frown deepened, clearly frustrated by the constant interruptions to his carefully planned confrontation, and worse, he couldn't even do anything about this.
"Oooh~ It's Yukino, isn't it?" Komachi squealed, launching herself at her brother in an enthusiastic hug. "Congrats, big bro!"
Right, she was actually not aware of this news yet.
Not completely, she has been suspicious lately, but she didn't ask out right, and he didn't see any reason to say out.
Sure, he wants to brag about it to his sister, but, for some reason, he also doesn't want to tell her yet.
"Koma-!" Mitsuki opened her mouth, about to address Komachi, when Nanami's authoritative voice cut through the chatter.
"Don't interrupt." Nanami said, his tone stern but his expression betraying a hint of resignation.
Mitsuki sighed softly at her husband's childish tantrum. It wasn't hard to see where their son got his stubborn streak from.
Like father, like son, she thought wryly. It's no wonder their boy turned out the way he did, prone to moments like this.
"Fine, do whatever you want." She replied, throwing her hands up in surrender, her voice laced with the kind of casual exasperation that only came after years of such exchanges.
Nanami's eyes gleamed with triumph as he finally got the controller into his hands.
Straightening his back like he was preparing for battle, he crossed his arms around his chest. He tapped his finger on his shoulder with a dramatic look, which he reasoned was to build up the momentum.
Then, with a dramatic flourish that caught even his wife off guard, he declared.
"I accept."
"..." The room fell silent, the unexpected words hanging in the air like a mist.
?Hachiman, who had been bracing for rejection of his father to decline his request to date a girl, no particular reason required. So he found himself caught off guard.
"I don't care." He blurted out, immediately regretting the words as they left his mouth.
?!For a moment, he wondered if he had actually heard right, his mind reeling from the sudden turn of events.
The rejection didn't come?
Perhaps it was simply a desire to maintain his image of being the cool, stoic parent. But Hachiman never expected the acceptance to come so easily.
And it seemed the shock wasn't limited to him. Both Mitsuki and Komachi stared at Nanami as if he had suddenly grown a second head.
"Darling, are you feeling alright?" Mitsuki inquired, genuine concern lacing her words. "You didn't have a run-in with a lamppost on your way home, did you?"
"Oh no! Dad, does it hurt here? Or here?" Komachi chimed in, rushing to her father's side with an exaggerated urgency, her fingers gently prodding at his temples as she inspected his head for any signs of damage.
"Everything is fine." Nanami insisted, his patience wearing thin.
"You are absolutely certain?" Mitsuki pressed, scepticism evident in her tone.
"Yeah, Dad, are you sure?" Komachi echoed her concern, now tinged with a hint of amusement.
"Maybe I should call for an ambulance." Hachiman deadpanned, already reaching for his phone.
"I said I am fine!" Nanami snapped, his composure finally cracking.
"Geez, alright, no need to shout." Mitsuki retorted, being the most sensitive to sound, dramatically covering her ears. "If you say you are fine, you are fine."
"..." Nanami opened his mouth, then closed it again, words failing him in the face of his family's united front of concern and subtle mockery directed at him.
His grand plans were crumbling faster than a sandcastle at high tide.
He can't let this happen.
This was supposed to be his moment, his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to truly command the family stage.
Nanami was so excited, he had meticulously set the stage and mood for the scene.
He had rehearsed a few lines and perfected his tone, envisioning himself as the stern patriarch about to deliver earth-shattering news.
He positioned himself across from his son, while his wife and daughter stood beside him.
Even Kamakura(:Kai), the Hikigaya family pet, had a role to play in this grand production - who was now furring beside his son, its half-lidded eyes a silent mockery of Nanami's carefully laid plans.
…tch, at least pretend to be interested, you furry layabout. Nanami grumbled internally, watching as Kamakura almost went to sleep.
Nanami has mixed feelings towards the cat.
Obviously, he treats it well since Komachi likes him a LOT.
The bratty cat, on the other hand, is the most loyal dog to his son.
The cat actually only listens to his son fully in this house. Maybe it actually remembers he is the one that picked him up.
Anyway, in Nanami's imagination - Mitsuki and Komachi's faces would be etched with worry, or at least mild interest. Even Kamakura would perk up its ears, sensing the gravity of the moment, while his owner, Hachiman, of course, would be a nervous wreck.
Then comes the scene in which he was most looking forward to the big reveal, to let out his son's doing, one by one in front of them… and shocking them.
….and finally his judgement with a big bang.
That's how it was supposed to happen.
Reality, however, had other ideas.
"...ahem, ahem." Clearing his throat, Nanami attempted to salvage the situation. How many times has he cleared his throat now? He had lost count.
"Right, listen up." He began, his voice carrying a hint of desperation. He cast a hopeful glance at his family, silently willing them to play along with his imagined scenario.
Looked at his family member again, waiting for his final judgement.
"As I was saying…" He continued, trying to inject some gravitas into his tone -
"I give my approval."
"..."
"...and as I said, I don't care."
The words hung in the air for a moment before Hachiman's retort came swiftly, his voice dripping with indifference.
Sprawled out on the couch with his usual slouch, he made it clear that this wasn't a subject he was willing to entertain.
He didn't mind letting his father have a say in most matters, but when it came to this, to her, there was no room for anyone else's opinion.
Mitsuki, still puzzled by her husband's uncharacteristic behavior, tried once more. "Honey, are you sure you are–"
Nanami's hand shot up, attempting to stem the tide of her words, but Mitsuki plowed on, oblivious to his frantic gesticulations.
"–maybe, we should call an ambulance, after all." His handwaving grew more insistent, but she continued, utterly unfazed.
The reality hit him, he was being ignored, plain and simple.
"Enough." He sighed, his voice heavy with defeat.
"..." Mitsuki finally paused, her gaze steady on him. Nanami, realizing his usual theatrics were getting him nowhere, changed his approach.
"Mitsuki." He began, his attempt at dramatic flair returning. "Have you ever seen the fine young lady our son courted? Or at least, the one he claims to be dating now?"
His emphasis on the word our didn't go unnoticed by Hachiman. And despite his best efforts to maintain an air of indifference, he couldn't suppress a subtle eye roll at his father's pointed remark.
"No…" Mitsuki replied, her eyebrow raised, clearly wondering where this line of questioning was leading.
Before she could say anything more, Komachi's voice broke in, filled with enthusiasm. "I met her! I know her!"
Mitsuki turned to her daughter, half-expecting some insight.
"So, what is it?" She asked, still not understanding how any of this was relevant to the conversation.
"The lady our son is dating is-" Nanami paused for dramatic effect.
"-a real stunner."
"..." - "..." - "..." - "..."
His words hang in the air like the final notes of a symphony.
But Nanami wasn't done yet, he leaned back, a mock-serious expression taking over as he concluded -
"She is so far out of our son's league. Different worlds is what I day."
Mitsuki's eyebrow, if possible, climbed even higher. "Is she truly that captivating?"
"Yeah!" Komachi chimed in, her voice dripping with adoration. "Yukino is the most beautiful girl in the whole world!"
The irony of this declaration coming from the family's current reigning cuteness champion was lost on no one.
"Absolutely. If you say so, princess." Nanami spoke, completely breaking his character.
However, Komachi's praises didn't end there. "Also, Yukino has a great character. She can also cook. Do you remember the cookies I gave you from my big brother's friend? She is the one who made them."
"I remember." Mitsuki's eyes lit up.
Immediately, her gaze swung back to Hachiman, suddenly stern. "Hachiman, you would better be treating this girl like the treasure she apparently is."
Behind her, Komachi and Nanami nodded in vigorous agreement, forming a united front in support of this important decree.
"Hm-uhm." Hachiman, still sprawled on the couch, managed a noncommittal nod.
But beneath his carefully cultivated air of indifference, a small pang tugged at his heart.
The hierarchy in this family was changing…
….and it wasn't for the better.
.
"I am telling you, if our son is dating someone, it has to be her. Otherwise, he might as well stay single forever, for all I care."
.
….
[To be continued…]
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