.
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Hachiman's POV-]
"I will be going now." Yukino announced, pushing herself off the wall with an air of finality.
I nodded, not bothering to protest.
"Alright." I know better than to question her decision.
She took a few steps forward, then pivoted on her heel, her hair swaying with a grace that seemed almost otherworldly.
How? The movement was so fluid, so effortless, it caught me off guard.
How could something as simple as turning around be that… beautiful?
"Hachiman." She called out, her voice ringing clear and purposeful through the hushed corridor.
It was louder than necessary, as if she wanted to ensure it carried beyond just my ears.
I braced myself, sensing there was more to come. "Yeah?"
…this girl.
"Why don't you escort me to my classroom?" She asked.
No, she demanded.
To an outsider, it might have sounded like a casual suggestion, a girlfriend seeking a few extra moments with her boyfriend.
But I knew Yukino better than that. Her eyes, her expression - they told a different story.
This wasn't just about walking to class together.
Of course, our hidden audience wouldn't pick up on those nuances.
"…Sure." I agreed, kicking off the wall I had been leaning against for far too long.
I fell into step beside her, the can of Max Coffee cool against my palm as we began our walk.
We hadn't gone far when the sound of a door sliding open - too fast, too loud - echoed through the hallway.
It was followed by a chorus of poorly concealed whispers.
- "Shh! Not so loud, we will get caught!"
- "Yeah, keep it down."
I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
For all their attempts at stealth, they were the noisiest ones in the hallway.
And now, of course, I could practically see them, one head popping over another, peeking out of the classroom door, tracking our every step.
Good grief. Can someone teach them some proper [Stealth] skills?
"You know, Yukino." I said, turning my attention back to her. "There have been incidents in high schools where students were harmed by jealous classmates."
"Have there?" Yukino replied, without even glancing back at the circus behind us.
Of course, she didn't care.
She never did.
To Yukino, their curiosity was probably as insignificant as a fly buzzing around a room - annoying, perhaps, but ultimately not worth acknowledging.
That's what made this whole thing so ridiculous and, strangely, kind of funnier.
A small smile tugged at my lips as we continued our stroll.
The whispers behind us grew fainter, but never quite disappearing.
Knowing how people will be - they were still trailing us, hoping to catch some juicy exclusive scoop about our relationship.
"You almost seem to enjoy stirring things up." I mused, studying her profile. "Showing up like this, asking me to walk with you... it's almost like you want them to see us together."
Yukino was quiet for a moment, her pace slowing ever so slightly.
When she spoke, her voice was soft but resolute.
"What they see is irrelevant to me." She said, her words meant for my ears alone. "But I want there to be no misunderstanding. This isn't fodder for their gossip anymore. It's real. We are real."
The conviction in her tone left no room for doubt.
There was no hesitation in her tone, no room for ambiguity.
Yukino had never been one for grand displays of emotion, but when she spoke like this - clear, direct, unwavering - it resonated more profoundly than any dramatic declaration ever could.
This wasn't about satisfying idle gossip - this was about making things known - in her terms.
"Well, you certainly have a knack for making your point." I remarked, admiration creeping into my voice.
"Subtlety is often lost on the masses." She lifted her chin slightly, eyes still focused ahead. "Sometimes, actions speak louder."
We reached the stairwell, the gentle hum of students going about their day echoing down the corridor.
Yukino slowed as we approached the stairs, casting me a sidelong glance, her cool, unreadable expression still in place.
"Are you sure you can handle the attention?" She asked, her voice almost teasing now.
I scoffed lightly, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Handle it? After all the chaos you have dragged me into since the Service Club? I maxed out my [Immunity] stats long back."
…
.
We started climbing the stairs, our footsteps the only sound for a moment.
As we reached the landing, Yukino slowed her pace again, glancing over her shoulder for a brief moment.
"...Did you have your lunch?" She inquired, her voice laced with that familiar mix of concern and gentle reproach.
I heaved a dramatic sigh, rolling my eyes skyward.
"Of course not." I muttered, already anticipating her reaction.
Yukino paused at the top of the stairs, turning to face me fully. Her eyes, clear and piercing, met mine without hesitation.
"Hachiman." She said, her tone softening just slightly. "...would you like to join me for lunch in my classroom?"
"Yeah, no thanks. I want to live a little longer." I replied, with a smirk.
Yukino's presence was already enough to draw attention, but us together? - It was like walking into a lion's den with raw meat strapped to my back.
With that, she turned back toward the hallway, her posture as graceful and composed as ever. "Now, are you going to walk me to my class, or should I go alone?"
I fell into step beside her once more. "Yeah, yeah. I am coming."
….
.
We reached her classroom - 2J.
Our gazes landed on the door.
She took a small step forward, her head turning just enough for our eyes to meet for a fleeting moment.
Then, with her hand on the door, she paused, the barest hint of hesitation in her movement.
"I will see you later, Hachiman." She said, her voice steady and composed.
I gave a small nod, knowing she couldn't see it, and watched as she disappeared into her classroom, the door sliding shut with a soft click.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the closed door. Then, instinct took over, and I turned to head back to my own class.
I made it a few steps before something nagged at me, pulling me to a halt.
Wait. Did I thank her for the coffee?
Such bad manners.
If my old man found out, he would be ashamed - I could almost hear his voice in my head, chiding me for being discourteous.
Now, as the future head of the Hikigaya household, I couldn't let that happen.
Nah, now I am just making things up.
With a sigh, I turned around and retraced my steps, walking back to where I had stopped before.
The door creaked open, louder than I'd intended, drawing curious glances from within.
Well, whatever….
Now, where does she sit?
My eyes scanned the unfamiliar faces until they landed on her, seated by the window at the back of the room.
Our eyes met, and for a split second, I saw a flicker of surprise in those deep, dark eyes of hers.
But it quickly morphed into something else.
Surprise quickly gave way to shock and ….then unmistakable embarrassment.
Familiar, isn't it, Yukino? - Now you know how it feels when someone shows up unannounced.
I took a breath and started to call out. "Hey, Yukit–!?"
Her eyes widened in panic, shooting me a fierce glare. Her head shook vigorously from side to side, a silent but clear warning - Don't. You. Dare.
Her classmates were everywhere, and I realized I had just stepped into dangerous territory.
"...no. Yeah. Yukino." I corrected myself, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Thanks for the coffee."
Though, it was tempting - why would I announce my cute little nickname for her in front of everyone?
Still, Her reaction was priceless.
A rush of color crept up her cheeks as she glared at me, her expression a perfect blend of flustered annoyance and quiet rage.
I could almost feel the chill in the air, like a brewing ice storm, as her eyes narrowed at me, balancing between a glare and what could only be described as pure mortification.
If looks could kill, I would be done for.
I even thought about retreating before the inevitable backlash hit.
But no, I wasn't about to back down now.
I held back a chuckle, fully aware of the chaos I had just down.
"Anyway." I added, feigning nonchalance. "I will be heading back. Call me whenever you want me to walk you home or something." I threw in the last bit as a parting shot, knowing full well it would irk her more.
??Her eyes widened even further, clearly taken aback by my audacity.
I could almost hear the collective silence of her classmates as they tried to make sense of the scene unfolding before them.
With that, I turned on my heel, closing the door behind me and walking away, a satisfied smile spreading across my face.
I couldn't help but feel a lightness in my steps, a playful rhythm to my walk.
It almost made me want to whistle, hands folded behind my head like I didn't have a care in the world.
…
.
Anyway, on the way back to my class, I had to brace myself for a dangerous obstacle, the inevitable ice blast aimed directly at my head with a hundred percent accuracy.
Remember, I said she was sitting by the window?
As I passed by, I could practically feel Yukinoshita's icy glare piercing through the glass, her eyes trained on me like a sniper with a target in sight.
But nope, not today.
I strolled past, hands behind my head, acting like I hadn't just provoked the scariest person in the room.
Though, let's be honest, I probably deserved whatever icy wrath was coming my way.
But sometimes, it's worth it.
A satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of my mouth as I kept walking, fully aware that I had just thrown fuel onto a fire I would inevitably have to face later.
With a few steps, I was already near my class.
As I approached, I caught sight of a familiar figure still lingering by the windows.
I sighed, preparing myself for whatever ridiculous comments were coming my way.
The door slid open, and I barely crossed the threshold before Yuigahama's voice rang out. "Hikki! There you are! What kept you?"
Totsuka, standing nearby with his ever-present smile, chimed in. "We were starting to wonder. You are usually back by now."
I offered them a casual shrug, aiming for nonchalance. "Just had to walk someone to class. No big deal."
Yuigahama's eyes widened, her lips forming a teasing grin, but she didn't say a word.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
[Those who have not found Auxiliary Chapter, check it in 'Contents' under Volume 0]
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