.
[-Continuation-]
….
[-Hachiman's POV-]
But this guy… Hayama.
He crossed the line.
How dare he make me his subject, his personal mirror reflecting whatever he thinks he's missing?
Like I am some kind of living metaphor for his own perceived failures?
I won't stand for it.
And yet he keeps staring at me, a constant, damned look in his eyes, almost sympathetic, as if he's silently reaching out.
It twisted something deep inside me, like he was trying to reach out without saying a word, and it only made me want to punch him more.
I finally break the silence.
"What's your type, Hayama?" My voice is as cold as I can make it.
My question did not match my tone at all.
Sure, it's the kind of question friends ask each other, but we both know that's not what this is about.
He lets out a low chuckle, the corners of his mouth lifting in the faintest hint of a smirk.
"So now you are trying to set me up with someone?" He fires back, his words carrying that familiar, evasive edge.
"Just… stop." I spit out, frustration seeping into my voice. "I am done with the roundabout crap."
I pause, letting my words sink in, then press forward. "Back with Tobe, you mentioned you had a crush on someone, someone whose name starts with 'Yu,' right?"
For a moment, his jaw clenches, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face.
Annoyance?
Maybe even something closer to regret?
But instead of brushing me off, he holds his ground, gaze unwavering.
"What if I do?" His voice drops to barely above a whisper, each word carrying an underlying challenge. "Why do you care?"
That's not a denial, right?
That was a little unexpected for me… I was sure he was going to do a word play and get out of it.
If anything, his response just makes me lean in a little, tilting my head, my expression carefully blank.
"Who is it… this person you are interested in?" I ask, keeping my voice level, unruffled.
His gaze flickers, a brief flash of defensiveness crossing his face. "Now, why would I tell you that?"
Hah, I knew he would take the bait.
My lips curve into a smirk. "Well, it's because I did."
"Did what?" He looked a little puzzled.
I explained. "I mean, I told you about the girl I like to you even before I confused her. In fact, you were the first person to know."
It was true.
Maybe my reasons to share that detail with him might not have been the healthiest, but it didn't change the facts.
Right now, that was all that mattered.
For the first time, Hayama's flawless composure cracked, just slightly.
"Aha..."
His voice trailed off, the word hanging in the air like he'd meant to say more. I could almost see the words balancing at the edge of his lips, just out of reach.
But, as usual, timing wasn't on my side.
Before I could press him, a familiar, cheerful voice broke through the tension, calling out behind us and snapping our silent standoff back to reality.
"Hikki! Look what we have got here!"
I turn around to find Yuigahama beaming at me, waving what looks like tickets in her hand.
Did she win a lottery or what? Nah, who am I kidding.
Then her eyes widened slightly, landing on Hayama.
"Hayama? You are here?" She blinks in genuine surprise.
Yukino and Isshiki trail in behind her, both wearing almost identical expressions of confusion, almost.
Isshiki's face lights up the second she sees Hayama, her gaze lingering on him a little too obviously.
Can she be less transparent?
Yet, against all odds, Isshiki doesn't make a direct beeline for him. Instead, she turns toward me, something unreadable in her expression.
"Senior…" She begins, her tone laced with an accusation that she doesn't even try to hide. "So, this is what you have been 'busy' with after dumping all the work on us?"
Is she actually accusing me of slacking off?
I roll my eyes, my voice laced with irritation. "Don't act like you are doing everything alone."
Her expression shifts, a hint of annoyance mixed with something almost pouty.
"Still, you can't be the only one who gets to hang out with Senior Hayama, you know." Her gaze darts over to Hayama, unmistakably envious.
Seriously? That's what's bothering her?
Being jealous over two guys having a conversation is a new level of petty, even for Isshiki.
Besides, shouldn't she be buried in work right now, handling event details with Ms. Hiratsuka? With the event only four days away, the student council should still be scrambling to finalize everything.
There is no way the time they have spent on it so far could have covered all the tasks, not with each department needing updates, revisions, and last-minute corrections.
So what is she doing here?
Moreover, why did you meet up with Yukino and Yuigahama?
None of this adds up.
If you didn't know already, the supervisor in charge of this collaborative event is none other than Ms. Hiratsuka…. again.
Speaking of our dear teacher, Yukino mentioned that Hiratsuka actually showed up today to do her job as event supervisor.
It's practically a miracle, considering how often she has been absent lately.
At least my [Luck] stats were high enough to avoid running into her so far.
….anway today was supposed to be the day when the student council presented their updates to her, at least, that's what Yukino told me.
So how did Isshiki manage to shake off our most annoying teacher so easily, only to wander over here with the rest of us?
"Actually." I say, a grin spreading across my face as I glance at Hayama. "He was just saying he wanted to help you guys out."
"Really, Senior Hayama?" Isshiki's eyes widen with excitement, sparkling with hope, while Yukino watches from the side with a weird look.
"...y-yeah." Hayama stumbles over the word before recovering with his trademark smile. "I thought I could volunteer if you guys need some extra help."
I watch as Isshiki practically lights up, latching onto his arm with enthusiasm. "Ah, thank you, Senior Hayama! You are so thoughtful!"
But just as swiftly as her excitement flared, she pulled back, suddenly all business. "However, I must respectfully decline. I couldn't possibly take you away from your club responsibilities, especially with the tournament right around the corner."
Smooth operator.
I almost whistled in appreciation.
Here I thought she would jump at the chance to spend more time with him.
Yet, I can't shake the feeling that she's banking on something better down the line.
What could it be?
"No worries. Just know we are always here to help you." Hayama replied, slipping back into his familiar, reassuring tone, smooth as ever.
Finally, I redirect my attention to Yuigahama, who has been unusually quiet during this exchange. "So, Yuigahama, what were you about to say?"
At my question, her eyes brighten, and she immediately picks up where she left off, waving the tickets again to draw our focus.
Now that I take a closer look, I notice the corners are folded, and the papers are crumpled.
Sure enough, they are tickets of some sort.
"Ms. Hiratsuka got some tickets to Destinyland for us!" Yuigahama exclaimed, waving them at me with an excited bounce in her step.
"Right, there are even five of them…" Isshiki chimed in, matching Yuigahama's enthusiasm, beat for beat.
"Uh-hum…"
I nearly do a double-take.
Even Yukino, who typically despises distractions during this type of conversation, is nodding along with them.
Something's definitely off here.
I get why these two are excited, but Yukino–!
Then I caught it.
Her eyes darted to the tickets, lingering on an illustration that adorns them.
...and then it hit me, it's a panda.
Ah. Mystery solved.
Yukino clears her throat, smoothing her expression back to its usual composed state. "Apparently, some event is being organized at Destinyland that is similar to what we are planning, and Ms. Hiratsuka asked us to do some studying there as a reference."
Yeah, about that.
I am pretty sure Ms. Hiratsuka just made that up on the spot.
But again, I could guess why though - she just wanted them to have some breather from all the workload.
Still, if it counts as both research and relaxation, I suppose it's not completely pointless.
No wonder Yukino is on board with it.
"So… who are these lucky people getting free tickets?" I ask, turning to Isshiki.
Shouldn't these be going to the student council members?
Or have they already called it a day?
Yuigahama looks at me like I am missing something obvious. "What do you mean, 'who'? 'We' are going on Sunday! Just three days to gooo!"
I knew it.
There was something off about this from the start.
So, this was the plan.
I had half a mind to suspect it the moment the tickets came into the conversation, where this is going according to what I 'remember' from.
…you know, the amusement park episode and Hayama and Iroha's confession one?
"What about the student council members?" I press, wanting to stretch this out a little longer.
"Geez, Senior." Isshiki cuts me off with an eye roll. "You are such an old man sometimes. The other service club members already declined and said they would rather laze around for the weekend doing nothing."
Oh, no wonder they mesh so well with me.
We think alike.
"Oh, and since Hayama's here, he can come too! We have an extra ticket anyway!" Yuigahama chimes in suddenly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Perfect! Then it's settled. Tomorrow it is!" Isshiki leaps on the idea faster than a cat pouncing on a mouse.
See that?
Was this her plan all along when she turned down Hayama's help earlier?
More importantly, nobody even bothered to ask us what we thought about it.
I glance at Hayama and catch his expression - it's the same defeated look I am probably wearing right now.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
[Author Reminder : 2+chapters advance in Patreon]