Part 2:
I got out off my bed in which I had made myself cozy, but the intruder at the door had to come at this time. But knowing the person who I think it is behind that door I can't help but not feel anything bad about it. I mean this is how that person works. As I was about to open the door I heard a sneeze, which was for certain one of a girl, but the one thing that I can say is that it wasn't the one of Yuigahama, the one who said would come to meet me. Even though I felt like I knew about the person as it felt familiar somehow. So willingly or unwillingly I opened the door for the ones waiting for me.
"Ah hello Hikki, sorry for disturbing you while you were resting"
"No problem it's ok..."
Now I see the reason why the feeling was familiar but not of Yuigahama.
"Hello Hikigaya-kun, how is your illness?"
It was none other than Yukinoshita Yukino who was peeking through the shoulder of Yuigahama. She looked cute like a cat. No no no, bad thoughts go away, it's your illness making a work off you and making you think bad thoughts.
Though what surprised me that how could 'The one and Only Ice Queen' catch a cold? But what was more surprising was the fact that she had come to visit me, as I was never told of this arrangement and along with the fact that loners never make plans out of their comfort zone and don't go out of their way to do things.
Thus my questioning gaze went towards Yuigahama to ask about the presence of Ice Queen here, but she faced the other way with a finger to her ear and whistling. Soon after she turned towards me with an impish smile and face saying, "things happened". Damn, I am not good at these kinds of circumstances. If I tagged along with someone to go to his friend's house, the so-called friend will look at me with eyes saying what is this person doing here; well it's hypothetical in itself, like if there would be someone who will tag along with me. But it looks like Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were together and they came to check on me as I could see the snacks they were carrying, so it's not that bad.
"I am feeling much better than before, and you should come inside before you get cold too."
"Ok."
I welcomed them in and offered them a seat after which I tried to go to Kitchen to fulfill my duties as a host, but as I said I tried.
"Hikki let me do it, you have just started to feel better so take rest and sit down, I will take care of things here."
"It's ok I am feeling much better and I can handle these things" I tried to do the right things by insisting again.
And there was 'that' other thing too. She was bad at kitchen chores so I think it was better for me to do it. But she was adamant.
"No, you should rest I can at least do this much."
I gave a pleading gaze at Yukinoshita for help with the matter of Yuigahama and Kitchen chores, which she replied with an hmm and stood up. As expected of another loner.
"Yuigahama-san let me help you too. You take out the snacks and I will brew the tea. And Hikigaya-kun you take rest."
Looks like it went the other way, but it is still better than Yuigahama being left to do it all alone. With the fact that I am getting this kind of treatment which is a dream come true for raijuus, I am feeling delighted. No, I shouldn't show my creepy smile to them.
I faced the other way towards the TV and switched it on to clear my mind of these thoughts.
A girl paying a visit to their sick classmate is what every boy wishes and dreams about. And I believe it is one of the top 5 wishes of the teenagers. Get a girl look after you when sick: quest completed, Reward: you are now a raijuu.
As if something like that would ever happen, I do think that these two are special to me. But I know there won't be anything more than that. They both have their own circumstances; Yuigahama is nice so she worries about someone like me too. Yukinoshita is a loner like me so she is empathetic about my situation and that's it about us.
"Sorry for the wait"
"Yeah Yuigahama-san you don't even know how to handle the flame"
"Hehe, I am practicing but the appliance here is different than my house"
I was brought back to senses by Yuigahama with her cheerful mood. It has been 5-minutes since they started working on tea and snacks. Tea must be good as usual. But after a taking a brief look at the snacks it seems they were catered for my taste. There are 6 pieces of cake which looks delicious with Yukinoshitas tea this is much better than I thought.
"Well I hope you are under surveillance when you practice cooking"
"HIKKI, I am not a criminal"
"No I was just saying, but cooking poison is illegal that's why"
I got hit on my shoulder, ouch.
"Hey what's that for"
"You deserve it"
Yeah maybe I went a little far, but I am sick you know. While we had this act Yukinoshita was ogling around the living room. I was waiting for some kind of comments on my way but they never came.
"You have too many books here, have you read all of them?"
"These books are mine and my father's. We both have a reading habit so all these years they have been added one by one. I haven't read all of them though. My father's hobby is to collect books so many of them here have never been opened."
"Yeah, yeah Yukinon when I first came here I thought like this too, he has so many books it may take me whole life to read them all"
Yeah, there are so many books of my pops after reading the title I didn't even give another look. Don't know what type of reading tastes he has.
"Yuigaham-san, Hikigaya-Kun and you are different. You may not have time to read these because of your friends but for Hikigaya-kun he has only time because he has no friends, so you see it's not a big deal"
"Hehe, I get it now"
Oi, did you just insult me while explaining things to Gahama-san. Damn, and I can't even refute it.
As I was wailing in my thoughts, Kamakura came and hopped on the couch near me and then snuggled on my lap. Wow, this is one of the miracle events which rarely happened. Today must be my lucky day.
I patted him; first his head and then his neck, he was as soft as ever and his fur really smooth. Komachi is taking good care of him so it's no wonder he is all shiny and smooth.
While we were enjoying ourselves I could see a very strong gaze in my direction which could dig a hole in me, and the owner of that gaze was none other than Yukinoshita who was watching Kamakura being petted by me. I can tell that she is also yearning to snuggle with Kamakura. And then there was another pair of eyes which were eyeing me with anxiety as they were bad with cats, which was Yuigahama.
"Ah.. can I.."
Yukinoshita started mumbling something but I couldn't hear her. But seeing her actions and her eyes I know that she must want to pet him too.
So being a good person that I am, I stood up with holding Kamakura in my arms and gave him to Yukinoshita, who was too delighted that she forgot to hide her expressions for a moment, while Kamakura didn't hate it himself.
As I went to take my seat again, Yuigahama came and sat across me.
"Umm Hikki"
She called me with being a little fidgety herself and hiding something behind her back. After few moments she brought a cutely packed and wrapped box and held it towards me.
"Umm, this is?"
"Happy Valentine's day Hikki"
It was too small of a voice but I was able to hear every word of it, which was the reason I was completely astounded to hear something like.
"Eh?"
"eh..eh.., Don't misunderstand, it's courtesy, yeah courtesy chocolate you see. You have done quite a few things for me past year so these are for that, as thanks"
Ah, so it was like this. I got my hopes high. Just joking as I know something like this would never happen.
"But I don't think I really did anything it was you and yourself who made everything possible"
"No Hikki without you I don't think I would have been here, so please accept these"
I was at of loss words with that. So now I had no reason but to accept it. I could see those were her sincere words and I didn't see any kind of deceit in them. Not accepting them now will be demeaning to her, which I don't want her to suffer.
"Arigato"
Saying thanks was something which I rarely did, not many people talked with me and not many of them even gave me another look. So being on the receiving hand of another's goodwill is too rare for me.
For a moment it became too silent for some reason, and I looked around to see that Yukinoshita had her head hung over and was petting Kamakura in a calm manner, but it felt like it didn't have any energy in it.
Ah, I forgot that Yuigahama had said that she had things she wanted to talk about.
"Ah, Yuigahama you said there was something you wanted to talk about with me about..."
I looked at Yukinoshita to give a hint to her. For some time, she was like what the hell is he talking about, but soon she figured it out.
"Hehe, sorry I forgot the important thing I came here for. Umm,"
She stared into the eyes of Yukinoshita for a while and after a nod from her, she spoke the thing she wanted to.
"Yesterday when we were going home Haruno-san came to pick up Yukinon. And she said that she was going to live with her in the apartment."
Living with a devil is too bad for the health. And when that devil has all your weakness in your hands it becomes life-threatening matter. I gulped at what I had just heard and I was genuinely worried about Yukinoshita on this matter now.
"So after saying that she went back but I thought it may not have been good so we went to my house and she has been there from then on. So this is the matter and I think it's because of the Valentine event, so I was thinking..."
On that day when we went to drop Yukinoshita at her apartment we met her mother, so she thought we were the bad eggs who were spoiling her daughter and because of that Haruno-san was sent to live with her. Yuigahama thinks that it's her responsibility as she was there when it happened and wishes to help her. By that logic, I am also one of the reasons or maybe the main reason. But…
"It's not like Yukinoshita can stay at your house forever, so she must confront her as soon as possible. But given the recent events, it may not be that easy. You should stay at her house for the weekend at most so as to confront her with all you can"
I looked at Yukinoshita for an answer. I glanced at Yuigahama and she was also not in high spirits now.
"Maybe that will be better for now. Yuigaham-san if you don't mind me for the weekend can I stay at your place?"
"YUKINON, you are always welcome. Hehe"
"Not so close Yuigahama-san"
Looks like my worries about Yuigahama were unfounded.
"And also would you accompany me to my apartment for a change of clothes. Nee-san would not be there at this moment"
"Yeah I will go with you"
Yuigahama returned to her cheerful personality. She wanted Yukinoshita to rely on her and at this time she is the one who can do most for her.
We talked things that happened in my absence in the school and the club. News about school can't interest me much as even knowing about it won't help me. For a loner, gossip is rubbish as he doesn't have anyone to share it with. But things like news about good anime and the light novel does interest me. Oh yeah, news about Totsuka is the top-rated collectible thing. I will even pay info for his favourite food. Then I will invite him to a restaurant and order it. He will get impressed by me and I will confess to him at that moment and get rejected. Hehe, all the routes have same results with him, me getting rejected. As I was immersed in my delusions I felt a chill run down my spine, is heater not working? Ah no the reason is someone seating in front of me the glaring ice queen, her chill is much stronger in winters.
"Hikigaya-kun can you take your drooling pervert face and put it in gutter"
Oh yikes, it showed on my face.
"Ah sorry, what were you saying?"
"Nothing important"
She is angry and she is not someone who forgives easily hope it's not big enough where I have to do Seppuku.
After 1hour of chatting and watching TV, it was time to say our good byes.
"Hikki see you in School next week so take care"
"Hikigaya-kun take care"
"See you in school and be careful on your way back"
As they were going back Yukinoshita was holding her bag and was fidgeting a little. She took quick glances at me and then her bag. After doing it few times she put her bag away and waved bye at me and went. What just happened? I couldn't understand.
I could see her hunched back and drooped head as she went with a cheerful Yuigahama. Looks like matters are worse than I expected.
I went back to my reading the book which I was on before they arrived. But I couldn't focus for much longer after what I heard and what steps to do to resolve this. A family matter where I don't have anything to do. Should I meddle with it or should I let her take the steps herself? I can't find an answer to this right away as this is something new to me.
After moping around and thinking for don't how much time, I went for a drink. I looked at the time so I started to brew a second cup of coffee. After 5 minutes a cheerful girl came rushing to me.
"Onii-chan how are you?"
Looks like everything went well on her side so I should treat her a little.
"Here Komachi have a cup."
"Onii-chaaan, you prepared this for me, thank youuuu..."
She was jumping all around before coming to as top suddenly. When I looked at her, she was staring at something. I followed her gaze to find the something was the gift that I had received today.
"Onii-chan, who came to see you?"
Those fierce eyes are like a wild beast, which were ready to devour anything if not given an answer.
"It was Yuigahama and Yuikinoshita, they came to give me the notes and discuss things for service club"
"Wow Onii-chan so you got your first Valentine chocolates other than me or mom"
"Hey it's not a big deal and those are courtesy ones, and what's with that genuine happy look with teary eyes?"
"It doesn't matter which type they are, you got one that's what's important. I am so happy for you."
This brat annoys me sometimes. But it is true this is the first time for me receiving anything from the opposite sex which is not pity or their obligation or prank. Well, other than prank being wrapped trash.
"Onii-chan can I eat it too?"
"Hey wait a minute let me test taste it for poison before you eat it"
"Eh?, what are you talking about onii-chan"
She opened the wrapper and put one heart-shaped chocolate in her mouth but I didn't see any extreme reaction from her, maybe it's safe to eat it or maybe it's too much for her she doesn't know how to face it.
"Onii-chan this is tasty but little bit burned"
"Is that so, let me eat it too."
I took a bite and I was so happy that tears started to flow from my eyes, the Yuigahama which I reared for the whole of past year has grown so much that she isn't making poison now.
"Onii-chan why are you crying? You are weird, creepy"
"It's nothing and I wish you don't find anything about it too, the dark secrets need to remain in the shadows" The dark poisonous charcoal to be specific.
"First tell me how your exam was?"
"Hmm,…" She made a confusing face, or maybe it's what they call thinking face.
"I think I did really good and we may be able to study together the coming year."
Is that so, so the brat did it. I hope what she thinks comes true, as she worked hard for it and I want her to be rewarded for it.
"Congrats Komachi-chan, now you have two more exams before you get to relax. But for today rest a little."
Even though she thinks she did good doesn't mean that she is guaranteed to be expected. So she should also work hard for her 2nd and 3rd choice schools.
"Ah, Onii-chan you party blooper, I had forgotten about it and now you made me remember and worry about it again"
"Ah, sorry Onii-chan will treat you after the exams so work hard"
"Is that so? Is that so? Then Komachi will take a rest today and work hard from tomorrow onwards, I love you Onii-chan. Hehe that must be high on Komachi points"
And she went trotting in her room.
