.
[-Continuation-]
[Location- Hikigaya's Household]
…
[-Third Person View-]
Despite the air of indifference, Hachiman felt a small pang tug at his heart at this realization.
The hierarchy in the Hikigaya family was changing…
….and it wasn't for his better.
However, for now, he was simply too worn out to even feel sad.
–click
The door to his room yielded with a soft click.
As Hachiman slowly shut the door behind him and entered his room, his usual slouch posture was even more pronounced.
The weight of the past few hours clung to him like a heavy fog.
He didn't pause to switch on the lights, nor did he bother to remove his school uniform, not even his blazer.
Instead, he simply dragged himself based on his muscle memory and collapsed onto his bed.
He landed face-first, his limbs sprawling wherever they fell, as if gravity itself had finally claimed him.
He buried his face into the cool fabric of his pillow and closed his eyes.
And then a deep inhalation, then exhalation, finally let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
The sigh wasn't just a release of air. It came from the very pit of his soul, one that symbolized more than just tiredness.
He wasn't merely tired.
He was spent.
Still, he couldn't help but let his thoughts once again spin in circles, replaying the people he met today.
Isshiki's bubbly enthusiasm
Haruno's razor-edged smile, delivering news of Yukino's mother.
Ryota, unwittingly dropping the bomb about Yukino's father.
The uncomfortable ghost of Orimoto, which he would prefer to throw out of his system.
And finally the shock of his own father stumbling upon him and Yukino together.
…what a day.
"If Yukino hadn't been there..."
He trailed off, unable to even imagine how all these lunatics would drive him to his death.
No doubt. I would have lost it. Hachiman concluded.
The day felt like some scripted joke, each encounter designed to push him further into an abyss of social anxiety and existential dread.
No sooner had he clawed his way out of one awkward situation than life shamelessly shoved him into another.
His uniform clung to his skin uncomfortably, but he didn't care.
Changing seemed like a herculean task right now, and it was beyond him.
His muscles ached - which had nothing to do with physical exertion and everything to do with the mental gymnastics he had been forced to perform.
A part of him almost wished he could just fall asleep in these numbnesses of exhaustion.
It made everything feel distant and hazy.
–ring!ring!(:personalized ringtone)
Then, his phone rang, shaking him from his internal monologue.
A brief frown creased his forehead.
Normally, right now, any interruption would irritate him. He would probably groan and curse the world for daring to intrude on his rare moment of solitude.
But this time, it didn't.
Because the person on the other end was someone special.
He knew that ringtone.
A small, tired smile tugged at the corner of his lips and made his heart stutter even in his current state of weariness .
He didn't even need to look at the screen.
The personalized ringtone said it all.
"Yukino." He whispered, the name a charm against the day's accumulated miseries.
With far more energy than he thought he possessed, Hachiman fished the phone from his pocket.
Hachiman hit the accept button with a tired swipe of his thumb and switched the call to speaker, letting the phone drop onto the bed beside him with a soft thud. Holding it up to his ear felt like too much effort right now.
The fatigue in his expression seemed to ease slightly at the thought of hearing her voice.
It is his room - basically an empty room, so there's no need to worry about privacy.
–tut(:called accepted)
The line connected with a soft click, but only silence greeted on both sides.
"..." - "..."
Hachiman waited, expecting Yukino's familiar cool tones, but heard nothing save for a faint sound? – like liquid being spilled?
He blinked, confusion replacing the calm for a moment.
But then it hit him - this means of communication was an uncharted territory between them.
Texts, sure, they had exchanged plenty of those.
Almost daily actually - to the point even verbal sparring matches conducted via emoji and dry wit full of sarcasm.
But an actual phone call?
Hearing each other's voice so close to their ears.
That was new.
"…hello, Yukitty?" Hachiman's voice broke through the silence.
He knew he had to take the initiative, given the unfamiliarity of their situation.
"..." The line remained quiet for a moment, save for a faint rustling that suggested movement on the other end.
Then, Yukino's hesitation came through, sounding a little off, like she had been caught off-guard.
"...hEllo."
A low chuckle rumbled in Hachiman's chest, equal parts amusement and affection.
"What, can't sleep without me, huh?" He teased with a smirk, the playful arrogance creeping into his tone, but there was a softness beneath it.
"I really regret worrying about someone like you." Yukino retorted, her voice regaining its usual sharp edge.
The words might have stung coming from anyone else, but Hachiman could detect the relief hidden beneath her prickly exterior. "Seems like you are doing just fine."
"Were you expecting my father to kick me out or something?" Hachiman smiled and teased.
He was amused by the idea, ignoring his current state, too tired to even sit up, not caring about the weight of his own words.
"Not to that extreme, but something along those lines, maybe." Yukino admitted that her typically composed voice carried a whisper of concern that she couldn't quite disguise.
Rolling onto his back, Hachiman stared up at the familiar ceiling, his expression softening.
"It can't be that bad. Their worst would be making me sleep on the couch or floor. Maybe they would make me do all the chores for a week or a month. Nothing I can't handle."
"..." A beat of silence followed, pregnant with unspoken thoughts.
When Yukino's voice cut through again, it carried a layer of weight, a seriousness that hadn't been there before. "...that isn't called bad?"
Hachiman blinked, momentarily thrown off balance by her reaction.
In his mind's eye, he could picture her expression – brows furrowed, eyes narrowed in a potent mixture of concern and confusion, her brilliant mind working overtime to make sense of his casual statement.
Oh no, what's with her tone? Did I accidentally awaken the sleeping dragon in her justice complex? He thought, a twinge of panic fluttering in his chest.
Unbeknownst to Hachiman, it wasn't Yukino's sense of justice that had stirred, but rather a protective instinct that ran deep in her blood by default.
The way she said it - felt like she had just uncovered some hidden mistreatment lurking beneath the surface of Hachiman's home life.
For a moment, Hachiman could almost see it - Yukino storming into his house to lecture his parents on basic human rights, determined to rescue her boyfriend from his oppressive home life.
Before her imagination could run any wilder, Hachiman quickly interjected, a note of panic creeping into his voice. "Whoa, I was half-joking. Don't take it so seriously."
"Half-joking? That doesn't sound very convincing to me." Yukino replied, her words tinged with lingering worry.
Ah, she's worried. A grin spread across his face.
Sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, he leaned into the moment, his voice taking on a playful lilt. "Well, if you are that worried, why don't you let me crash at your place, starting tomorrow?"
"Not a chance."
Yukino's response was swift and decisive, leaving no room for argument. Hachiman could practically hear her eyes rolling through the phone.
He let out an exaggerated sigh, though the grin remained firmly in place.
"At least pretend to think about it for a second." He grumbled good-naturedly.
"If you are so eager to come over, why don't you join me and meet my family tomorrow?" Yukino shot back, her voice dripping with mock sweetness, as if already assuming his inevitable refusal.
Yukino had finally decided to visit her family.
She had been postponing it for far too long, and now that a lot of things happened during these few days after her return from the field trip, it left her no choice but to make the trip.
She also figured that maybe it was time to make a bit more effort with them. Instead of sending a souvenir through a courier, she would bring it herself, crossing away her initial plan.
Moreover, this would also allow her to delay her boyfriend's visit, which had been set in stone without her knowledge.
She wasn't exactly thrilled about that.
On the other hand, Hachiman's grin widened. "Oh, Yukitty, you are getting naughty, huh?"
"..." There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and Hachiman's smirk only deepened, practically picturing her fumble for a response.
Yukino, being called many things in her life - cold, stubborn, and proud - had likely never been called naughty before.
The phrase clearly threw her off.
Before she could voice her protest, Hachiman pressed on, his teasing tone unrelenting. "I know you are eager to be with me, but you are already planning on introducing me to your parents? Isn't that moving a little too fast?"
"I-I never said that." Yukino stammered, flustered.
Hachiman ignored her halfhearted denial, his words becoming increasingly exaggerated. "Though the offer is quite tempting, I need to put it on hold for now. As Haruno said, we should at least wait until we graduate from high school."
"But sure, why not? If it's just meeting your parents, not talking, I don't mind." He finished, a hint of sincerity breaking through his playful facade.
Yukino's sharp intake of breath was audible even through the phone. Hachiman envisioned the moment of regret crossing her features for ever bringing up her family.
"Now that I think about it." She said, her words coming in a hurried rush. "It's not a good idea after all. I would rather spend some private time with my family without any distraction. So no, you don't have to trouble yourself."
Hachiman couldn't resist one final jab, his tone dripping with playful affection.
"If you say so... dear~"
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
[Author Reminder : 5+chapters advance in Patreon]
-->patreon.com/WrightBrothers