….
[-Continuation-]
[-Next Day-]
[-Yukino Yukinoshita Place-]
.
[-Third Person View-]
The apartment buzzed with energy, filled with the sounds of movement and conversation.
It was the aftermath of Yukino's birthday celebration, and everyone was busy restoring order to the once-lively space.
In the kitchen, Hachiman stood by the sink, sleeves rolled up, diligently scrubbing dishes under a steady stream of warm water.
In the kitchen, Hachiman and Yukino were focused on cleaning up after the party.
After rinsing each plate, he handed it to Yukino, who stood beside him with a clean towel in hand.
She dried each dish and put them in their proper places with the same care she reserved for everything she did.
Hachiman, of course, couldn't resist adding his signature commentary.
"This one's clean. Probably cleaner than your standards, even." He handed her a plate without sparing a glance.
Yukino accepted it smoothly, her voice cool as always. "You overestimate yourself."
Despite her sharp tone, she didn't miss a beat in her rhythm, placing the plate neatly in its proper place.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Komachi wielded a broom far too large for her petite frame, dramatically sweeping the floor.
"Komachi, you are just moving the crumbs around!" Yui teased from nearby, crouched down as she stuffed streamers and crumpled wrapping paper into a trash bag.
"Excuse me, Yui, this is a high-level sweeping technique." Komachi paused to lean on her broom, her grin mischievous. "It is called strategic dirt cornering."
Yui laughed, adjusting a cushion on the couch as she responded. "Strategic? It looks like pure chaos to me!"
Her ponytail bobbed as she worked.
Komachi stuck her tongue out but toned down the theatrics slightly, resuming her task with a touch more focus.
Amid the tidying chaos, her gaze eventually wandered to a large stuffed purple cat doll sitting in the corner.
Amid the tidying chaos, a large, fluffy purple cat doll sat conspicuously on a chair near the corner of the hall caught Komachi's eye.
Its oversized fluffiness stood out against the simple decor of Yukino's apartment, impossible to ignore.
It was the same stuffed toy that had caught Hachiman's eye when he visited Chiba with his little sister Komachi and Yui to shop for a gift for today, Yukino's birthday.
And, as promised, it had been delivered just two hours ago.
"Seriously, I still can't believe you bought her that," Komachi called out toward the kitchen, her voice laced with mock disbelief.
Hachiman turned his head slightly, his expression flat. "What's the issue? It's practical. Decorative. And fluffy."
Komachi crossed her arms, leaning on her broom for effect. "A giant purple cat doll? Really? You are just lucky Yukino likes cats."
"I think it's adorable!" Yui chimed in, her voice bright as she ran her fingers over the plush surface. "It totally suits Yukinon! And it's super soft!"
From the kitchen, Yukino finally spoke, her voice even but quiet. "It's… fine. I suppose."
Hachiman smirked faintly at that, muttering just loud enough for Yukino to hear. "See? At least someone understands."
Yukino glanced at him briefly, arching an eyebrow in response but saying nothing more. Instead, she refocused on the plate in her hands, her movements a little brisker now.
Just as Hachiman handed her another rinsed plate, the rapid thud of footsteps approached. He sighed, already anticipating trouble.
"Hey! No running in the kitchen!" He barked, his tone sharper than usual.
Unbothered, Yui burst into the kitchen with her usual enthusiasm, holding a single candy.
She practically skipped to Yukino, her bob head bouncing with every step. "Yukino, here! Take one!"
"Huh?" Yukino glanced down at the single candy, her hands still occupied with drying the plate. "I am a little busy right now, as you can see."
But Yui wasn't one to be deterred. With a quick flick of her fingers, she unwrapped the candy and leaned closer.
"Here, open up!"
"Wait, what–!" Yukino started to protest, but Yui gently placed the candy into her mouth before she could react.
Yukino blinked, visibly caught off guard by the sudden gesture.
"...." She paused, her expression a mix of surprise and resignation, before finally tasting the sweetness melting on her tongue.
"…Thank you." She murmured, her tone softer this time.
Yui beamed triumphantly, already pivoting on her heel to dash out of the kitchen.
"No problem!" She called over her shoulder, her energy as boundless as ever.
"Hey! What did I just say about running?!" Hachiman snapped, his frustration bubbling over.
Turning back with a cheeky grin, Yui stuck her tongue out at him as she darted back to the living room. "Blah!"
Her triumph was short-lived.
She misjudged the edge of the coffee table and lightly knocked her shin against it.
"Ah—ouch!" She yelped, stopping in her tracks to rub her leg, wincing.
Hachiman, still at the sink, paused to turn off the faucet with an exaggerated sigh. "That's what happens when you treat basic safety rules like optional side quests. Natural consequences at work."
"Geez, Hikki! A little sympathy wouldn't kill you!" Yui pouted, her movements still animated despite the wince that followed.
Komachi, leaning on her broom nearby, joined the commentary with a gleeful laugh. "That's what happens when Big Brother goes into full dad mode."
She twirled the broom for emphasis, striking a mock-paternal pose.
Yui's energy remained intact despite the jab, though she muttered under her breath - "More like grumpy-old-man mode." - As she limped back to her pile of streamers and scattered decorations.
Hachiman ignored the remark, rolling his sleeves higher as he turned back to the stack of dishes.
"Yui, if you are done breaking yourself, can you pass me the trash bag?" Komachi called out cheerfully.
"Ugh, I am on it!" Yui replied, her voice as chipper as ever.
She reached for the bag, resuming her tasks with the same chaotic energy as before.
In the kitchen, the rhythm of cleaning continued, punctuated by the occasional clink of dishes and the steady flow of water from the tap.
As he worked, Hachiman muttered almost to himself. "Guess I didn't get any candy."
Yukino didn't respond immediately, but after a moment, she set down the plate she was drying.
"...You can have mine."
Her voice was soft but deliberate, breaking the flow of their routine.
Hachiman turned to her, his expression a mix of confusion and surprise. "What…?"
Before he could fully process her words, Yukino stepped closer.
She leaned in slightly, her face just close enough to his to make him instinctively step back - but there was nowhere to retreat in the cramped kitchen.
"What are you–!"
Before the question could even leave his mouth, Yukino closed the distance, brushing her lips softly against his. In the briefest of moments, he realized the candy was there, transferred to him.
Hachiman blinked, wide-eyed, as he instinctively accepted both the kiss and the candy.
By the time his brain caught up with what just happened, Yukino pulled back as casually as if she'd just handed him another dish.
She picked up the cloth again, drying another plate without a word, her focus seemingly undisturbed.
Her expression was composed, her movements deliberate as she reached for the towel to dry the next plate.
"...You seriously just…?" Hachiman's voice trailed off, his mind struggling to catch up.
Yukino spared him a quick sideways glance. "You said you didn't get any candy. I was merely rectifying that."
Her tone was measured, but the subtle upward curve at the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement.
Still rooted in place, Hachiman blinked, his mind replaying the moment.
"Unbelievable." He muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he turned back to the sink.
From the living room, Komachi's voice rang out, cheerful and commanding. "Big Brother! Stop slacking! Yui and I are almost done!"
Yui chimed in with a teasing shout. "Yeah, Hikki! You are not getting out of dish duty!"
Hachiman groaned, his usual sharp retorts absent. As he resumed scrubbing, he risked another glance at Yukino.
Her focus was firmly on the dishes, her calm facade unshaken. But there is a faint blush tinting her cheeks, barely noticeable unless you knew her well enough to look for it.
He let out a quiet sigh, unsure whether to feel flustered or triumphant.
"This day just keeps getting better…" He muttered sarcastically, though his lips twitched into a faint smirk.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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