Living together with a girl in the same house for days; this particular situation could be the dream of a normal high school boy, but reality isn't that kind. When you think of the reason of why you might be doing it, you can become a little sad. Take my case for example. I'm currently living in Yukinoshita Yukino's apartment, and have been for some weeks now, not because of some hormonal dream, but for a different reason entirely.

Right now I'm like Yukinoshita's guardian, and will likely not exit that role until after she recovers from the rape attempt on her. Obviously I would normally not take a job like this because after all, to work is to lose. However, I really wanted to help Yukinoshita so I took the request from her father Yukinoshita Shiro, to "take care of her". Man, her father's name is so awesome!

As of now, we're in her living room drinking the tea that I made. She still can't do anything other than grabbing my sleeve or holding my hand so I took up the task of doing her daily chores. As we sit in the living room I glance over at the nearby calendar, it's sight reminding me of the day after this. Tomorrow would be our first day in school since this all started, and I don't know what Yuki papa told the school, but he told me that he got special permission for Yukinoshita to attend class with me. This was so she can be with me and come to school at the same time, allowing her to keep her school attendance up to date. Not only that, but it seems that being in the school environment where there are mostly men, would make her fear school too. In the beginning, Yuki papa decided that she would stay home for a few weeks, but I couldn't just not attend class, so I told them that I still needed to go to school. With Yukinoshita not wanting to leave my side, the only solution was to bring her to class with me. As I shifted my attention back to myself and Yukinoshita, I saw a familiar scene.

She was sitting next to me as always, her side pressed against my own. At the moment, we both have hot tea cups in our hands, so she couldn't grab mine or hug me at all, and I was glad for that. I mean, she is cute and beautiful, but that is precisely why I should not get too close to her. The way my body warms up when she touches me and the way my heart races every time she says "Hachi" are not good for my health at all.

I'd rather not get intimate with Yukinoshita or anything, that's a no go for me. Like I told her, as much as it embarrasses me, she is precious to me, so I don't want to develop any feelings for her and end up suffering because I can't relay them to her. If I actually confessed to her, she would obviously reject me and then get awkward with me, either way, I'm as good as finished.

However, I'm a professional person so I won't fall for these intimate actions of hers. After all, I'm THE Hachiman; I'm something like the Reality Wielder. Oh, that sounds so cool! As I continue to be an idiot in my head, I come to a sudden realization. I haven't talked to Yuigahama about this, and Yukinoshita is always with me so I don't want her to hear me when I explain the situation to Yuigahama; she's still trying to forget. While I'm thinking of how I'll break this to Yuigahama, Yukinoshita leans in close and tells me something.

''Hachi, I'm tired. Can we go to bed?''

''Uh, s-sure.''

Since we came back from my house after I had gathered my belongings, she has been asking me to do the things that she would usually do alone, like going to bath, NO WAY IN HELL! I remembered that she was so stubborn about us going in together when that happened. Luckily, I used my new skill against her, "Soothing Yukinon!", just so she would drop the idea.

I mean, Yukinoshita was almost naked when that bastard ripped off her clothes, so why does she want me, yet another man, to see her completely naked? I don't really understand but apparently when she is with me, she doesn't think about what would happen to her. The doctor told me that her mind was in such a horrible state due to the accumulation of fear that, she immediately put a lock in her brain. He told me that since she considers me such a close person in her life, and that she saw me during that time, when she touches and looks at me, her dark feelings do not appear.

I really do not understand that psychological bullshit so we ran an experiment. We put her in a room alone for 20 minutes straight and the results were so horrible that I immediately regretted consenting to the test.

She began running around the room crying and shouting him to leave her alone. This happens because apparently when she is alone, she sees that man again and that accursed alley, where she almost met a dark fate. She was shouting my name then, asking me to save her. At that moment, my heart broke, so I entered the room with haste. She grabbed me strongly and started to cry, and for good reason.

That gave me the last push to accept Yuki papa's request. Haruno-san wasn't smiling like always, she was just thanking me again and again when she saw that her mother, the snow queen, had gripped her husband's arm and began to cry into it. That may have been one of the worst experiences of my life, hearing her calling for help with that desperate voice.

''Hachi?''

I quickly rid myself of my memories and focus on the girl next to me. When I saw that her face was too close to mine I prayed to God that she would back off, no seriously, back off will ya?! I back away from her a little, but that only made her panic again, making her start to hug me again and almost resulting in her dropping her tea cup.

''S-S-Sorry.'

''N-No... don't worry about it...''

We eventually start to get up, and she immediately grabs my hand and leads me to her bedroom. Okay, it seems that now is the time for Hachiman's battle; convincing Yukinoshita that sleeping together is not a good idea. The first time, I ended up doing it because it was literally right after she was assaulted and I felt bad for her, but now is time for me to sleep on the floor. A girl should not be sleeping with a boy that she has not married yet; or at least that was what my mother told me.

Yukinoshita entered the bed and with a very cute look, she was practically asking me, "Why aren't you here yet?" Time to recharge my mana to cast my last spell, "No to Yukinon". It is a powerful spell that can reject almost any request from Yukinon, except that it's percentage of effectiveness is currently right under 10%. Let's see if it works now!

''Yukinoshita.''

''Yes Hachi?''

''You shouldn't be sleeping with a boy of your age...no screw that. You shouldn't be sleeping with any boy.''

''But it's just Hachi….''

''Huh? Are you trying to say that you don't consider me a man?! That hurts you know!''

''No, but I know Hachi wouldn't try anything strange. I trust you.''

After she said that, she sent me a beaming smile. God, her face when she is inexpressive or angry is already beautiful in itself, but a smiling Yukinoshita is a force to be reckoned with. I need to use my defensive powers. I won't give in; I won't give up!

Well, those were truly five heroic seconds if I do say so myself. Of course, my defense was burnt to ashes by her radiant and sunny smile. After my defenses were utterly demolished, I end up in bed with her blushing madly again, and I try to put some distance between us, making sure I face my back towards her.

I was beginning to fall asleep when I felt a warm hand on my back, and little by little, I felt some skinny and warm hands beginning to hug my chest. My heart was beating so fast I thought that it would jump out of my chest, but still that wasn't worst part. A couple of seconds later, I felt her breath hitting my neck, causing me to freak out a little.

''U-U-U-Um, Y-Y-Y-Yukinoshita-san?''

''Hachi...''

''Y-Y-Y-Yes?''

''Your heart is beating so fast…''

''S-S-Sorry''

''Don't be. I'm glad that your heart is beating so hard for me.''

Okaayy, I'm seriously about to fall in love with her. It took all my self-control to keep my feelings in check, and I kept telling myself that she just needed me, nothing more, nothing less. That's right, I already know how she gets when she isn't with me. Of course she is trying to be as close to me as possible, even I wouldn't want to start seeing those visions that she has.

''I'm sorry for reacting like this...'' There was a silence between us for a couple of minutes, and then it was broken when she began to talk.

''You know, when that…human...grabbed me, I felt his heart urging him to do those things to me, it was disgusting. His heart was as eager as him to do those things to my body, but with you it's different. Your heart is honest to a fault just like you, and even though I know how you are, I understand that even you can get normal teenage reactions like this. I made a mistake once, thinking that when you solved our requests with your methods, you couldn't feel anything with that strange and unreadable expression that you always wore."

''But I really…''

''Shut up for a minute, Hiki-interrupting-gaya-kun.''

I shut my mouth when she said that, and for a minute, her voice was like before, like the Ice Queen I came to know. I smiled a little at that though. She may be able to get back to how she was, and even in the middle of this situation, even with my blushing face and my heart pounding like a horse in the middle of a race, I felt a huge wave of relief.

Knowing that she may be able to recover was good, and even if it is just wishful thinking, I know that she will recover eventually. I was a little afraid since the doctor told me that there have been cases in which the victim does not recover. That the person's in charge of them always end up abandoning them because they want to get on with their lives too, to be able to get married and find new job opportunities. He told me that those cruel people let the broken victims fend for themselves, and because of that, the girls end up either committing suicide, or end up being scared for the rest of their lives.

''Are sure that you want to stay with her? She may never recover, and a lot of good and kind people have grown bored of doing this kind of task.''

That was what the doctor told me just before we left the hospital. When he said that, Yukinoshita looked at me with a hopeless face, and even her family looked a bit scared after the doctor had finished explaining the situation.

''I'm going to fulfill the request that Shiro-san made to me.'' Is what I had said in response to his explanation.

''They all say the same thing. I have seen a lot of empty promises in this very room, and it really pains me when people don't fulfill this kind of task. Please don't start something if you won't be able to complete it.''

He was trying to make sure that I was up to the task by saying all those cruel things. Her family was looking at me with uncertain eyes, and the ever anxious eyes of Yukinoshita didn't leave my frame.

''I don't think I would be able to get married so that isn't a problem. I've never had a girlfriend in my entire live and working is something that I can do without leaving her.''
Yeah, my house-husband dream is just that, like Haruno-san's fake personality, a dream, not reality, because I need to get married to be a house-husband and that won't happen to me. Man, it really sucks being me sometimes.

''Even if I have to use the rest of my life I'll stay by her side. Even if she won't recover, or something horrible happens to us, I'll still be with her.'' I said that to the doctor with a straight face; a face full of confidence.

''Kind-hearted people have said that to me before and have ultimately disappointed me. What makes you different Mr. Hero?''

Oh, so this doctor wants to use that horrible nickname. I don't want to be a hero! A certain pirate once said that heroes have to share their food and I don't want to share my MAX Coffee with anyone ever! Luffy, you messed up my mind.

''I can't say for sure that I would never leave her, and I can't promise you anything because even good people change with time, but….'' As I said this the doctor raised an eyebrow at me, expecting an ending to that sentence.

''But?''

I took a deep breath and looked at him with my face full of confidence yet again, and then gave him my answer.

''I'll still try my best.''

He looked surprised for a moment, and then he began analyzing me with his eyes. Finally, he smiled and began to speak.

''I'll you take you on your word then, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun.''

I finally stop dwelling in my memories and concentrate on Yukinoshita's voice. It seems that she took her time to think of her words before she began talking again.

''I took you for a monster of logic who couldn't feel anything, but, when you confessed to Ebina-san in order to save Tobe, and I told you that I hated your methods, you seemed really sad, and the sadness that you never let go is something that is always with you right?''

I was at a loss, and I could not reply to her in any way, because I never noticed those things about me too. Did I really make a sad face during that time?

"During that trip in Kyoto, that's when I got a glimpse of the real you. A kind person, even though you want to act as if you're a disregarded by society. That you would commit a social suicide if it meant helping someone...but that isn't always the answer, you ways of doing things that is. After that trip, I decided to stop you from using those methods that both hurt yourself, and the ones that cared about you." She took a deep breath and paused for a second before continuing.

''But it was hard. I couldn't fill your shoes at all; I chose a desperate plan to help Isshiki-san when the answer was right in front of me and I almost destroyed our club because of my mistake.'' I was still at a loss when she was saying all this to me…, but still, I thought that I needed to tell her that it wasn't her fault.

''That's wrong, I was the one who….''

''Didn't I told you to listen to me for once?''

Well so much for telling her that it wasn't her fault.

''Sorry, please continue.''

This is the first time we have ever talked about this, about how we felt all those weeks ago. The time when our time together froze and our bond get so weak that it could sever at a moment's notice.

''But as always, you came into our help when the situation seemed hopeless. You resolved everything with a result that didn't hurt anyone, but I couldn't help but feel dissatisfied with the whole thing. You easily resolved a request that I couldn't fulfill in weeks, and that was so frustrating. The worst part was that you seemed sad every time I saw you. You wanted the club to stay together but you couldn't do anything about it since you're so socially awkward''

How does she know how I felt at that time? I didn't notice it myself until Komachi told me. She's saying so many accurate things it's beginning to scare me.

''That's when I decided to free you, if the club was making you miserable, I wanted you away from us. But you still came back, asking us for help for that event with Isshiki-san. Helping others was something that hurt you, so I thought that you mustn't stay in our club. That's why I told you that you should resolve it alone. I secretly wanted you to fail or give up and stop helping people who don't even thank you for what you sacrifice to help them, but when you told us you wanted something "genuine", I couldn't bring myself to look at you, because I was wrong, the emotionless person wasn't you….it was me.''

''…''

''I don't understand anything that doesn't have logic mixed in with it. You were the same except that I was scared of irrational things while you secretly wished to understand them. That's why I decided to stay beside you, to find that irrational thing together with Yuigahama-san, because if I wasn't alone, I might have been be able to understand it, or at least try to.''

''…''

''That's why, I made yet another mistake. The most emotional and irrational of us wasn't Yuigahama-san nor I but you. That's why I really like the way your heart beats, and the way your emotions are.''

''Yukinoshita…''

''So, if you really would stay beside me, I want you to know this: I really want you to."

''I already told you right?''

I gained some inner peace because of what Yukinoshita just told me. I finally understand a little of why she did the things she did, and I'm really glad to know that our relationship can being this honest. That's why, for the sake of understanding the human being known as Yukinoshita Yukino, there was only one course of action.

''Even if it takes you forever, I'll still stay with you for as long as you want me to.''

I was starting to feel drowsy and my eyes began to close when Yukinoshita lifted herself a little so her hands were grabbing my head, and then placed her head was on top of mine. As she did this, she sighed and I finally drifted into my slumber and, breathing softly, I never heard her last words.

''Then, stay with me for the rest of our lives Hachi.''

Hello, FireHero here!

I finally got a Beta Reader for this story, Awesomenes11, a new writing buddy so now you can blame all grammatical mistakes to him D: Nah, I'm joking, Hope you like the chapter, it was pretty difficult to write this one because I have never been in love in my life, mostly, this is inspired by all the Light Novels of Romance I've ever read,

Bye Bye :D