A Hikigaya Hachiman Interlude (1 of 2). All of these happen at the same day as Tsurumi and the gang goes to visit him.


"Yuigahama, it hasn't been even an hour after you left and here you are again."

"Forget about that, let me in. Again."


"Ne ne, Hikki. Have you heard from Ebina-chan? Just this Friday, Hayato-kun got confessed to by Yumiko!" Yuigahama said to me so excitedly, stomping her hands on the wooden table we're resting our arms on. Hey stop that, I'm just renting this whole thing!

I set out my gaze to the roof of my room. I ponder about what Yuigahama just said right now.

Hmmm…. Hayama Hayato getting confessed to? Yui, that's old news. But what's new is the confessor. It seems like someone finally decided to challenge him in the name of love again, except this time it isn't just some random girl or an admiring kouhai. Hmm.. hmm.. I'm wondering on what wonderful way did he reject Yumiko Miura-san.

"Ohhhh… and?" I replied to Yuigahama with my head now resting on my left hand. I probably look and sound like I'm interested in what she just said right now, that's because I am.

"And?" Yuigahama looked like she didn't get what I wanted her to say.

"And what did he answer?" I continued where I left off before, eager to hear what she says next.

"YES! He said Yes! Hayama Hayato finally said yes to someone!" The girl before me sprung standing just to say that like she was actually the one who got accepted in the confession. Calm down woman, your assets are bouncing like crazy.

But wow, Hayama saying yes? I involuntarily clapped inside my mind to congratulate Yumiko Miura-san for winning the long-bloated lottery that is Hayama Hayato. Hayama Hayato… saying… yes… yes… Hayato.. Hayama.. to.. a.. confession.

Hayama Hayato said yes.

What?

"Know what Yui? Forget chatting, get my wallet and let's go party for Yumiko! Actually not my wallet, go take out yours, I'm barely surviving after affording this unit." Is what I wanted to say in disbelief from all of this, but I couldn't really do that, can I?

"I need to send her my best wishes then." I said as the best substitute for what I really wanted to spurt out of my mouth.

"Hrnn, hrnn!" Yuigahama looking happy as ever for sharing this revelation to me. Did she really have to come back so soon just to tell me this?

"Getting confessed to, huh?" I muttered to myself. Confessing that you love a person can take quite a large amount of courage to pull off, all for the sake of letting that person acknowledge you as a potential lover. Clue word: Potential.

"It must be nice to get confessed to." I blurted out just for idle chatter.

Yuigahama replied to what I just said "Yeah it must be so nice to get confes-" but she didn't finish saying what she meant to say. She instead looked down at her fingers, making them play with each other. "D-Didn't you already experience getting c-confessed to, H-Hikki?" She asked me in a dejected tone, her eyes looking back and forth from her fingers to my gaze.

"Ihrm." I made an inaudible noise as I realize my mistake. My grave mistake that I blurted out right in front of her. How could I forget! How could I forget that! How could I forget that I once was confessed to before!

"I-I'm sorry." Was all I can say to her. My feeling of guilt stopped me from thinking more complex than that.

"It's okay, Hikki. It was my fault anyway, back then and now." Her gaze fell down again, her face just centimeters from touching her now bent knees.

No, Yuigahama. Don't you dare take my sin away from me. Because-, because-

Because it really is my fault. It really damn is. Tell me, who else made you realize? Who else made you think and feel like that? Who else didn't take responsibility? Who else didn't do shit to stop you to becoming what you are now?

Who else but Hikigaya Hachiman.

A shroud of silence coated the already painful atmosphere between us. It's just the two of us here in this room. Just us two friends that should just chatter and have fun like they're supposed to, but we aren't. Instead we're here reminding ourselves of things that should've been dumped into the trash can of forgetfulness long ago.

I looked at Yuigahama and I can say for sure that she's as uncomfortable as me. What am I talking about? I already know that even if I don't look at her.

Damn it, I can't stand this at all but do I really have to use this method of escape again? Damn it, Damn it all.

"Come with me next week, I need to congratulate the new couple." There, I did it anyway. Way not to go, self.

"Y-yeah!" Yuigahama wore back her mask, smiled again and took my offer, just like Yuigahama Yui was supposed to do.

"I need to get going now, I told you what I needed to tell you and I still need to do my job application. Ehehehe." And with that is the cue for Yuigahama to stand up and leave.

"Really now? You prioritized telling me about Hayama and Yumiko over your job application?"

"There's no deadline for these, and what I just told you is really big news you know! and… and …and I j-just wanted to see you again." With a slight stutter, Yuigahama blushed, for reasons I already know all too well.

"S-sure, if that's what you say so." What am I? A Renaissance painting locked up in a museum just for you to see once in a while? Of course you can see me anytime you want.

Feeling responsible for dampening the mood, I decided to make an apology that I know she'll like.

"I'll see you off this time. Don't dare to run away from me."

"If that's what you want then fine, don't complain if I savor every moment though!" Yuigahama seemed surprised at first but she quickly took on the offer.

"Yeah." This is the least I can do for you, Yuigahama.

We both climb down the large stairs of the apartment building at the same pace and at the same step. Yuigahama was on my right and I was on her left.

"Hikki, if you don't mind."

Yuigahama took grasp of my right hand with her left hand. Her palm's warmth pressed against mine. "I warned you, I'm not holding back."

"Have it your way." I breathed a sigh of defeat and resigned my faith of my hand to her, interlocking my fingers with hers.

She didn't lie when she said she'll savor every moment as she didn't let go of my hand with her hand all the way to the guard post.

"Bye bye, Hikki!" Yuigahama waves me goodbye.

"Bye." I waved back at the figure slowly disappearing in my horizon of sight. I didn't end my wave until I didn't see the figure anymore.

"Well there's that."

I looked up at the sky that's starting to show its orange to reddish tint. It reminds me of that day that took me and everyone I know by surprise.

It's just human nature to fall in love, everyone and anyone will fall in the sweet fields of romance. The only question there in this is, will your beloved reciprocate what you gave?

That is a question that Yuigahama Yui already found the answer to. The answer, vague or not, is up to her to give meaning to.


*knock knock*

"Hrmm?" I opened my tired eyes that were still hungry for sleep.

*knock KNOCK*

"Really now?" I was suddenly awakened by the loud knocking at my door. "Surely Yuigahama didn't come back again?" I complained as I rub my eyes. I looked up at my phone besides my pillow to see how long I went to sleep after I escorted her. 4:30 p.m.? It hasn't even been a half hour after Yuigahama left! What does she want now?

*KNOCK KNOCK*

With the knocking getting stronger and stronger so was my will to sleep getting weaker and weaker. Not even covering my ears with my pillow stop the noise from irritating me. It came to a point that standing up and answering the door was the only option, and so I did. "Damn it Yui, this is the third tim-"

I stood still grabbing the handle of the door without a word to speak for I was surprised that it wasn't Yuigahama that's standing there outside. It wasn't Yuigahama but is also a familiar figure to me.

"Yukinoshita?" I muttered in a surprised tone.

"Hikigaya-kun, c-can I come in?" Yukinoshita stuttered.

"I guess you can, no one's stopping you."

"Okay, I'll let myself in then." Yukinoshita passed by me, I smell a strong scent of shampoo coming from her still somewhat wet hair. Woman, did you just shower?

"Yukinoshita, what's that?" I asked the identity of the large plastic bag she's carrying with her upon entering my room.

"I guess you could say it's my bribe." Yukinoshita lifted her hand that's carrying said bag and thrust it towards my chest.

I'm confused at what she meant by bribe? Money? No, that's not it, why would she place that in a plastic bag? "Bribe?"

"I'm cooking." As she said that, she opened the bag to reveal numerous amounts of ingredients that looks too expensive for me to afford.

Oh, That's what she meant. Wait no, that still doesn't clarify it.

"You're cooking here?" I asked her in a curious way.

"Yes. I decided I'm having dinner with you." Yukinoshita smiled all while wearing a blushed face.


A/N

No Tsurumi Rumi on this one! Btw I read your reviews about chap 3 and I find myself amused on how accurate you guys describe the situation they're currently in.

Thank you so much for reading! (and being patient with my mediocre grammar/writing!)