.
[-Continuation-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
As I followed behind Yukino and Yuigahama, the faint echoes of their footsteps filled the otherwise quiet hallway.
Yukino's elegant figure moved with its usual grace, her back straight, while Yuigahama's lighter, more casual steps contrasted hers.
We reached the clubroom door, and without so much as a glance back, Yukino slid it open.
The room felt familiar, almost like a second home…
Yuigahama stepped in first, stretching her arms as she looked around the room. Yukino makes her way to her usual seat and settles down.
I walked in last, closing the door behind me.
The atmosphere was calm, yet it was more of a subtle awareness between the three of us, a shared understanding that we had grown too accustomed to.
Yuigahama finally plops down onto her seat, her expression cheerful as usual.
...then time passes by, like it does every time.
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the room, painting everything in warm, golden hues.
Pages turn, tea is sipped, and comfortable silence reigns.
…
.
And just like when the door was slid open, it was closed in the same way as we walked out.
Then the three of us walked down the stairs and then to school.
We reach the spot where I usually part ways with them.
I raise a hand, a casual wave goodbye. "See you tomorrow."
"Goodbye, Hikki!" Yuigahama chirps.
Yukino, however, responded with an unusual lack of enthusiasm. "Yeah… bye, I guess." She says, her tone deliberately flat, almost as if she's forcing herself to remain detached.
I sighed inwardly.
She is trying to act as though there was some kind of issue between us, even though we both knew there wasn't. Isn't she…?
I have spoiled her a little too much lately, haven't I?
Something clicks in that moment, and without really thinking it through, I feel a mischievous grin tugging at my lips.
Why not spoil her even more?
I casually dropped. "Yeah... bye. Love you too, Yukino."
The next second, I turned and bolted, making a break for it before I could see the full force of her reaction.
Still, I couldn't help but smirk as I sprinted away.
Because, honestly… sometimes, it was too much fun to ruffle her feathers.
Maybe I should just leave a peck on her cheek next time? The thought crosses my mind as I dash around a corner.
Next time, for sure.
…
[Yukinoshita Yukino's POV]
The moment those words leave his mouth -
"Yeah... bye. Love you too, Yukino"
My mind stuttered to a halt. Love you too?
What did he mean by that? I never said I loved him... not now, at least.
Couldn't he see that I was trying to be at least a little annoyed with him? The way he brushes off subtleties is absolutely infuriating at times.
My thoughts swirled in a confused tangle of surprise and frustration.
Before I could gather myself enough to respond, I noticed he was already several meters ahead, his figure shrinking as he dashed away like a coward, avoiding the aftermath of his own recklessness.
"…Haa." The sigh escaped my lips unbidden, soft but laced with an exasperation I couldn't quite suppress.
There was no point chasing after him, not now.
"Hehe…"
That's when I heard it, a soft giggle beside me.
Turning, I saw Yui, her ever-present warmth reflected in her smile, though this time it was laced with unmistakable amusement.
Of course.
I could feel an odd sense of awkwardness creeping in, aware of how absurd that moment must have appeared from her perspective.
I should say something.
Perhaps apologize for the ridiculousness of it all, or at least attempt to explain away his careless idiocy of my boyfriend.
But just as I opened my mouth, Yui, as if sensing my hesitation, spoke first.
"He is really something, huh?" She said with a playful grin, her eyes twinkling, as if my embarrassment was a source of endless entertainment for her.
I blinked, still processing Yui's reaction, caught off guard by how nonchalant she was.
For a moment, I hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
I should have been more flustered, but instead, I felt a strange sense of calm.
Perhaps it was because Yui always had this way of making things feel less tense, even when I wanted them to be.
Clearing my throat, I tried to regain my composure. "He really doesn't know when to quit, does he?"
Yui laughed again, this time with a softer sound, more understanding than teasing.
I glanced in the direction where he had run off, his figure now completely out of sight.
It was almost ridiculous, the way he fled after dropping off casual love comments…
Yui's eyes sparkled with mischief as she spoke. "You know, for someone as calm and composed as you, Yukinon, you get pretty flustered when Hikki pulls stunts like this."
I rolled my eyes, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite myself. "Don't encourage him. He is already too bold for his own good."
After a brief pause, I added. "...and for the record, I am not flustered. He just... catches me off guard sometimes, that's all."
I huffed softly, brushing a stray strand of hair away from my face. My fingers lingered, almost as if they could somehow smooth away the warmth creeping into my cheeks.
Annoying, really. How could he affect me so easily?
Yui giggled, her bright, teasing tone filling the air around us. "Yeah, sure, sure. But honestly, it's kind of sweet. Even if he's a bit clueless, he really does try."
Her words rang true, settling in my chest with a warmth I couldn't deny.
In his own clumsy, roundabout way, Hachiman always made sure I understood he was trying. More than I ever expected him to, more than I ever thought someone like him could.
Yui must have noticed my silence, her grin softening into something more playful.
She reached out, giving my arm a gentle, reassuring pat. "Ho... Yukinon, you look so cute when you're thinking about him."
Her teasing smile returned, and I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle, the sound surprising even myself.
As we walked together side by side, the realization washed over me.
Even though he could be a fool at times, I was lucky. Lucky to have him, and lucky to have her by my side.
Yui skipped ahead a little, her steps light and playful, her school bag swinging gently with each bounce.
Then, as if a sudden thought crossed her mind, she turned to me with a more serious look, though her tone remained casual.
"But, Yukinon... Hikki's really good at drawing lines when he needs to, so you don't have to worry about Isshiki... or anything else, really."
Her words, though meant to be lighthearted, carried an unspoken reassurance that settled in the pit of my stomach.
As subtle as Hachiman could be, he was clear when it came to boundaries.
He had no interest in anyone else, and his actions, however awkward, always pointed toward that truth.
The way he looked at Isshiki had made it abundantly clear - just an annoying junior, more like a bratty little sister who probably reminded him a bit of his own.
But beyond that? There was nothing there. Not for him.
I exhaled softly, feeling the tension I hadn't realized I was holding slowly dissipate.
Hachiman was awkward, yes, but he had always been clear about where his heart lay, whether he voiced it directly or not.
I didn't need to second-guess that.
"Yes, I am aware." I replied, my voice calm and assured.
Yui smiled knowingly, skipping a little more as we walked, the afternoon sun casting long shadows ahead of us.
And for once, everything felt perfectly in place.
As we finally reached the spot where we would part ways, Yui stopped and turned to me, her expression bright yet sincere.
"Well, I will see you tomorrow, Yukino."
I nodded, offering a faint smile in return. "Thank you, Yui."
She gave me a quick wave before heading off, leaving me standing, watching her figure grow smaller in the distance.
The quiet settled in around me again, but it wasn't uncomfortable.
I glanced up at the sky, the soft hues of dusk painting the horizon, and for a moment, I allowed myself to think about what Yui had said.
With a sigh, I turned on my heel and began walking, a quiet resolve forming within me.
…
After a few minutes of walking, my phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts.
I fished it out and glanced at the screen, an incoming message from Hachiman.
Hachiman: ["Oh no, Yukitty! I forgot something."]
My brow furrowed at the screen. What on earth could he have forgotten now?
And that ridiculous nickname - Yukitty - made my heart skip an involuntary beat, though I would never admit such a thing aloud.
Not in a thousand years.
I quickly typed a response, trying to maintain my usual seriousness.
Me: ["What is it?"]
Not even a minute later, my phone chimed with a series of rapid-fire texts, each one appearing more absurd than the last.
Hachiman: ["My Poor goodbye kiss…"]
Hachiman: ["Don't worry, I will let you keep it for now, but next time, I will definitely take it back."]
Hachiman: ["...and you can have it back whenever you need it. Your boyfriend isn't as grumpy as you think."]
I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his antics, though a smile threatened to break through my composure.
He really is impossible sometimes.
I hesitated for a moment before typing out my response, aiming to put an end to his nonsense - at least for now.
I sent a text adorned with a very angry, very exaggerated emoji.
That should do the trick… or so I thought.
His reply came back almost instantly, catching me completely off guard.
Hachiman: ["What? You don't want to leave it with me? Sure, why not! You can have as many as you want."]
My finger hovered over the send button as I fought back laughter, the absurdity of our exchange finally getting to me.
But as soon as I pressed it, a moment of clarity hit me, and I realized it wasn't quite the reaction I intended.
Nope. That definitely didn't work.
Perhaps...
I sighed inwardly… perhaps I am not as skilled at this as I thought.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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