….
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Third Person View-]
"You know." Hachiman continued, his voice low and amused. "If you are going to sneak kisses, maybe try not to run off like you just committed a crime… I mean just like yesterday."
Yukino froze, her coffee cup halfway back to her lips.
Her eyes narrowed sharply, her voice firm but soft. "You were supposed to be asleep."
His grin was downright insufferable now. "I was. But then someone woke me up with their unnecessary escape."
The warmth on her cheeks deepened into a more prominent flush as she set her coffee down with deliberate precision.
"It wasn't a big deal anyway." Yukino muttered under her breath, her gaze dropping to the coffee cup in her hands. "It's just a girlfriend giving her boyfriend a morning kiss."
Her words, though quiet, were firm enough to reassure herself. It wasn't as though there was anything unusual about it.
The sound of rustling blankets drew her attention.
Hachiman had fully emerged from his cocoon, the blanket still draped over his shoulders like a makeshift cape.
With a yawn that seemed to stretch on forever, he lazily shuffled toward her.
Before she could comment or protest, he plopped himself down on the floor right beside her, leaning against her without hesitation.
"Hachiman–!" Yukino began, but her words were cut off as he adjusted himself, using her as a makeshift cushion.
His shoulder pressed firmly yet comfortably against her side, and his head tilted just enough to rest lightly against hers.
"Comfortable." He muttered, his voice barely above a mumble, as though stating an undeniable truth to no one in particular.
Just then a hand reached for the cup sneakily.
Yukino arched an elegant brow, her gaze drifting to the coffee cup that was now perilously close to slipping from her hands.
"All this effort just to steal my coffee." She remarked, her tone laced with dry exasperation.
He said, finally reaching for the cup in her hands. "Coffee tastes better when someone else brews it."
She sighed, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It's tragic how you manage to justify such behavior with such little effort."
….and just like that, before she could resist, the cup was already in his hands.
He took a slow sip, sighing contentedly.
"You could have just asked." Yukino said, her voice cool but her expression betraying a flicker of amusement.
"Why ask?" Hachiman countered, a smug grin forming. "When I know you would let me anyway?"
Yukino sighed softly, leaning back against the oversized doll with a resigned expression.
After taking another sip, he handed the cup back to her.
Holding it in her hands, Yukino glanced between the cup and Hachiman's face, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.
Yukino smirked, but the smile didn't quite reach her eyes as she sipped her coffee.
She couldn't help but feel a quiet satisfaction in the way things had unfolded over the past day... and how easily they had slipped into this comfortable rhythm.
….
.
Behind the door, something entirely different was unfolding.
Komachi blinked sleepily, stretching her arms over her head, the warmth of the blankets still clinging to her. She yawned, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, groggy and half-awake.
She shuffled toward the door, her footsteps quiet on the floor. For a moment, she almost forgot this wasn't her usual room, but the unfamiliar surroundings quickly reminded her.
As she reached for the handle, a strange shift in the air caught her attention. The atmosphere felt different, like something had changed while she was asleep.
"My home got lost…" She murmured, her fingers hovering over the door.
It only took a second for the realization to hit her - this wasn't her house.
She was at Yukino's place after the party.
"Right…" Komachi chuckled to herself, a small, self-amused laugh slipping out. "Guess I am not at home, huh?"
What had she expected?
She had crashed here after all, and now… well, now it was time to figure out where everyone else was.
Her gaze flickered back to the bed.
Yui was still fast asleep, her form tangled in the covers.
Guess Yui isn't the morning bird, Komachi thought with a faint grin.
With that small decision made, Komachi turned back to the door, reaching for the door handle.
She twisted the doorknob.
All that was left was to push it open.
But just then a soft murmur of voices slipped through, making her freeze.
Her instincts flared immediately, something was off.
"Caught you… Miss Yukitty."
My dumb brother's voice? Her heartbeat quickened, and a rush of conflicting thoughts flooded her mind.
She wasn't a bad girl.
Komachi wasn't! - and that's just how it is.
And, right now, this wasn't anything to be ashamed of.
It wasn't as though she'd meant to eavesdrop. It just happened.
She could pull away.
She should pull away.
But the option was gone now.
But the door was already half-open, and she knew that any movement now would give her away, potentially ruining whatever moment her brother and Yukino were sharing.
….and she doesn't want to do that.
Komachi hesitated, a grin tugging at her lips. Heh… definitely not my fault.
Just then, a soft, sleepy voice called out from behind her.
"What are you doing there, Komachi?"
Komachi whipped around, startled, only to see Yui, still bleary-eyed and groggy, stumbling over to her. Komachi hadn't even noticed her friend stirring.
She had been so wrapped up in the scene unfolding on the other side of the door.
"Sheeshh... Yui." Komachi hissed, raising a hand as if trying to stop her friend from making any noise.
But Yui, clearly still groggy, didn't quite grasp the situation.
Even if she were fully awake, it was unlikely she would grasp the subtlety of Komachi's frantic gesture.
Unfortunately to Yui, Komachi's waving hand looked more like a signal, a clear invitation to come over.
And so, with that innocent misunderstanding, Yui started to shuffle toward her.
"Komachi? What's going–!"
Before she could finish her sentence, Yui's legs caught the edge of the bed, sending her stumbling forward. With a yelp of surprise, she collided directly into Komachi.
"Eep!" Komachi yelped, her body flailing as Yui collided with her.
At that moment, everything seemed to unfold like a slow-motion disaster.
Yui's weight sent Komachi staggering back.
Her foot caught the edge of the floor, and before she knew it, she was falling - straight back into the door, which had been left unlocked.
With a loud bang, the door swung open.
The scene on the other side was nothing like either of the girls had expected. There, seated on the floor, Hachiman was leaning against Yukino, his head resting comfortably on her shoulder.
…while the fluffy doll behind them was also not missed.
In Hachiman's hands, an empty cup of coffee sat as he stared blankly at the space ahead, completely unaware of the chaos unfolding just behind the door.
But it was too late for any of them to pretend they hadn't noticed each other now.
Komachi and Yui landed in a tangled heap on the floor, the door now wide open, leaving the two of them on full display.
Hachiman blinked in surprise, clearly startled, while Yukino's expression remained unreadable, her eyes flickering toward the door in what could have been a hint of irritation or perhaps just the shock of the situation.
There they were, a flustered mess, staring at each other across the threshold, the awkwardness of the moment settling in like an uncomfortable weight.
Komachi, ever the optimist in moments of panic, let out a nervous laugh as she scrambled to push herself off Yui.
"U-uh... sorry about that." She said, her voice a mixture of embarrassment and humor. "Didn't mean to interrupt!"
.
….
[To be continued…]
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