.
[-Continuation-]
…
[-Third Person View-]
"Agggaa..."
Hachiman made a sound that was probably not in any known language.
He practically slammed the cup back down, scrubbing his mouth with his hand as if that would somehow erase the taste.
His face stayed twisted in what had to be the least attractive expression known to mankind.
Then came the soft padding of feet, and there was Yukino in the kitchen doorway, looking like some domestic goddess in her apron.
She stood there, arms crossed over her chest.
Her expression was a perfect blend of annoyance and amusement, one eyebrow arched in that way that always made Hachiman's heart skip a beat.
"That's what you get for being greedy." She commented, her tone dry, but her eyes sparkling with barely contained mirth.
Before Hachiman could formulate a suitably witty response, Yukino had already turned on her heel, disappearing back into the kitchen.
The gentle swish of her apron and the lingering scent of her perfume were the only traces of her brief appearance.
With a newfound determination, he decided he couldn't let her have the last word.
Pushing himself up from the couch, he followed her into the kitchen, propping himself against the doorframe with what he hoped was a smooth lean.
"So, what's on the menu for tonight, Chef Yukino? More cold tea surprises, or maybe something spiced with your signature sarcasm?"
Yukino glanced up from the pot she was stirring, trying and failing to keep a straight face.
"Bold of you to assume you are still getting dinner after that little performance."
"Fair enough." He admitted, settling more comfortably against the doorframe.
He glanced at her, then, with exaggerated deliberation, brought a hand to his lips, as if trying to recall a particular sensation.
"But seriously, thanks for the tea. It was... unique." His fingers brushed his lips again, as though he could still feel the faintest trace of something left behind.
Yukino, stirring the pot with steady precision, stiffened slightly. The meaning behind his gesture wasn't lost on her.
Her hand hesitated for just a moment before resuming its task, but the slight flush creeping onto her cheeks betrayed her.
She didn't turn around, her voice steady despite the hint of embarrassment. "Just wait until you taste the actual food. I promise it will be a lot warmer than your surprise cold brew."
Hachiman chuckled, letting this matter slide for now. Instead, he simply watched her as she worked, the way she focused intently on the pot.
The soft glow from the overhead lights framed her silhouette perfectly, making the moment feel intimate in a way that he couldn't quite put into words.
"Need a sous-chef?" He asked, drifting closer to where Yukino stood at the stove.
He couldn't quite hide the playful note in his voice, still riding the wave of their earlier banter.
Yukino paused, casting him a sidelong glance. "If you are planning on spilling more tea, I would rather not risk it."
That got a genuine laugh out of him, and he raised his hands like he was being held at gunpoint. "Hey, I will be on my best behavior. Scout's honor."
"Mostly?" He added with a little wink.
A small, exasperated smile broke through her previous facade. "Fine, but stick to the edges of the kitchen. I would hate to add 'cleanup duty' to your list of achievements today."
"Is that supposed to scare me off?" He raised an eyebrow, trying to look serious and probably failing miserably.
Yukino just shook her head, turning back to the pot that was making the whole kitchen smell amazing. "If you will excuse me, I have actual cooking to do. For a very particular guest, I might add."
Something warm bloomed in Hachiman's chest at her words.
"Better be your only guest." He said, only half-joking.
"Maybe." She fired back, throwing him a look over her shoulder that made his heart do a little flip.
"Message received. I won't disturb you any further." He settled against the counter, perfectly happy to watch her work her magic.
The way she moved around the kitchen was kind of mesmerizing, like she had the whole space mapped out in her head.
She was in the middle of chopping something when she spoke up again. "Can I ask you something?"
"Shoot." He replied, intrigued.
"How did you know I was back at the apartment?" The question came with genuine curiosity.
Hachiman let out a dramatic sigh.
"Had to make a deal with the devil herself." The memory still made him want to cringe.
Yukino's mouth twitched - they both knew exactly who he meant. Her sister Haruno had a way of showing up in their lives like a particularly persistent hurricane.
"Ah, of course." Yukino's voice carried that special tone reserved just for talking about her sister. "She never fails to meddle, does she?"
"Pretty sure meddling is her full-time job at this point." Hachiman said, watching Yukino stir whatever was in that pot. "She feeds off chaos like some kind of drama vampire."
Yukino let out a soft laugh, the sound light and melodic. "It does seem that way."
"I just wish she would focus more on her own life..." Yukino added quietly, and something in her voice made Hachiman wonder what conversation with Haruno had sparked that thought.
It oddly left a mark on her.
A soft blush colored her cheeks, but she quickly masked it with a teasing tone. "But just remember this the next time you think about stealing my cold tea."
Hachiman chuckled, rolling his eyes. "Lesson learned. Cold tea is a culinary crime I will avoid in the future."
Yukino gave the pot one final stir before turning to him.
"Now, since you are hovering anyway, make yourself useful. The table isn't going to set itself."
"Yes, ma'am." He pushed off from the counter, heading for the dining room with a lightness in his step that hadn't been there earlier.
As he laid out plates and silverware, he kept sneaking glances back at Yukino.
She was humming something under her breath, totally absorbed in her cooking, and wearing this tiny smile that made his chest feel tight in the best way.
Once everything was arranged just right, he wandered back to the kitchen. "So, what's the chef's special tonight?"
She turned to him with that sparkle in her eyes that meant she was pretty proud of whatever she'd created. "You will see."
"Playing mysterious, huh?"
When they finally sat down to eat, the overhead lights cast this soft, golden glow that made everything feel extra cozy.
Hachiman took a moment just to appreciate the spread before him – each dish looked like it belonged in some fancy food magazine.
"Wow, you really went all out." He remarked, picking up his fork and admiring the vibrant colors of the meal.
"Just a little something to make up for my earlier annoyance." Yukino replied, her tone light as she began to serve herself.
"Consider me thoroughly appeased." He said, diving into his food.
The first bite hit his tongue, and - "Holy... this is incredible!"
The flavors were perfectly balanced, warming him from the inside out.
Yukino's smile grew a little wider, and yeah, that was definitely pride lighting up her eyes as she watched him dive into the food.
They continued to eat in a comfortable silence, with the occasional clink of utensils and soft sounds of satisfaction punctuating the air.
…
.
The last bites of dinner settled comfortably in Hachiman's stomach, matching the warmth that had spread through his chest during their meal.
"Let me help clean up." He said, pushing back his chair with a gentle scrape against the floor.
Yukino waved him off with a shake of her head. "I have got this. Go sit down."
"You sure?" He lingered by the table, not wanting to be that guy who just lets someone else do all the work.
"Positive." She said, her words leaving no room for debate. "You cooked last time, remember? Take a break."
A small smile tugged at his mouth as he eased back into his chair, watching Yukino move around their kitchen like she was performing some kind of carefully choreographed dance.
The tap water's steady stream mixed with the quiet hum of the lights above, creating this oddly peaceful soundtrack to their evening.
She worked efficiently, rinsing dishes and stacking them in the sink, the faint sound of running water blending with the soft hum of the overhead light.
They fell into an easy rhythm - Yukino washing, Hachiman watching, trading little looks and smiles that said more than words could.
When the last dish was dried and tucked away, Hachiman found himself near the counter, watching Yukino dry her hands on a dish towel that had definitely seen better days.
"Now what?" He asked.
Yukino turned to face him, looking thoughtful. "How about we watch a movie?"
His face broke into a grin. "Perfect. Just promise me no romantic comedies - I might have to throw popcorn at your TV in protest."
That pulled a real laugh from her, the kind that made her eyes crinkle at the corners. "No rom-coms, I promise. I will find something that won't offend your delicate sensibilities."
"Now that's what I like to hear." His heart did a little skip when she brushed past him to grab the remote, her perfume leaving a trail that made him want to follow.
They sank into the couch together, and Hachiman couldn't help stealing glances at her throughout the movie, feeling stupidly grateful for moments like these.
…
.
But all good things have to end, right? When the credits started rolling, reality came knocking like an unwanted neighbor.
The clock on the wall might as well have been screaming at him.
The walk to her entryway felt longer than usual. Hachiman crouched down by the shoe rack, taking his sweet time with each shoelace like they were some complicated puzzle that needed solving.
"Guess I should head out." He mumbled, his voice barely louder than the rustle of his clothes.
"You should." Yukino agreed, but her voice was soft around the edges, like she wasn't too happy about it either.
He paused for a moment, staring at the laces in his hands, before lifting his gaze to her, a half-hearted smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"...How about another movie?"
"And who is being childish now?" She tried to sound stern, but the smile in her eyes gave her away.
Finally, he surrendered, standing up to face her.
She was right there, her presence that felt both comforting and daunting.
Without overthinking it, he leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
It surprised them both – these spontaneous moments weren't usually his thing. But right then, it felt as natural as breathing.
He pulled back just as quickly, a grin forming on his lips as he glanced toward the door.
"I will make it suffice with this for now." He said lightly, trying to play it cool even though his heart was doing gymnastics in his chest.
Behind him, Yukino stood still, her hand gently touching her cheek where his lips had just brushed, her eyes soft with something unspoken.
There was a pause, an air of disbelief almost, as she processed the suddenness of it.
He didn't give her time to react, already turning toward the door.
He reached for the doorknob, his fingers brushing against it, but before he could twist it, he froze.
Something inside him made him hesitate.
Before his brain could catch up with his feet, he was already spinning around, crossing the space between them in two quick strides.
Yukino barely had time to blink before he had wrapped her up in his arms, pulling her close like she might disappear if he didn't hold on tight enough.
This wasn't like their usual hugs – this one felt more raw, more honest somehow.
Like he was trying to memorize the feeling of her against him, storing it away for later when he would be missing her.
He held on longer than he meant to, and when he finally pulled back, he did so with the same unexpected swiftness, as though he was retreating from something he wasn't quite ready to face.
"Just needed a little more of you." He mumbled, attempting a smile that probably looked more like a grimace. "But I should really go now."
He turned back to the door for what felt like the hundredth time that night, his hand hovering over the knob.
This time he meant it.
Really.
He had to leave eventually, right?
Except suddenly there were arms around his waist from behind, holding him with a certainty that made his breath catch.
?!He froze, every muscle going still, because moving felt impossible when she was holding him like that.
"Funny." Yukino's voice came muffled against his back, warm and teasing, as well as something else he couldn't quite name. "I wasn't done with my boyfriend yet either."
Her arms tightened just a fraction, pulling him closer, and yeah, his heart definitely wasn't playing fair anymore.
"But I suppose this will have to do for today." She added, and he could hear the smile in her voice – that special one she saved just for him, the one that always made him want to stay just a little bit longer.
Then, without warning, her hands were on his back, and she was giving him a playful shove toward the door.
The move caught him so off guard he actually stumbled forward a step.
The door clicked shut behind him with a finality that felt almost too loud in the quiet hallway.
He stood there for a moment, feeling like his chest might burst from everything trying to happen inside it at once.
Part of him wanted to turn around, knock on her door, and make up some excuse to see her smile one more time.
But he didn't.
Sometimes the hardest part of loving someone was knowing when to walk away - even if it was just until tomorrow.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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