* 4:00 am*
"Hmmm, the air here is a little different compared to grandpa's house" I am currently doing some minor stretching to stabilize my body for an excessive workout later.
I'm doing one of my so called 'Habit'. It's not a 'Work' since work is something that I do unwillingly, while habit is the opposite.
As I walk downstairs, two bags enter my vision. "It seems those two overworks themselves again."
Well, that's the fault of being a corporate slave.
They already gave up their time until Saturday, but it still ends midnight.
"Seriously, a word Deadline can kill them. When they thought they finished one, another will come up what a scary cycle…" I felt a chill thinking about it.
"…Being a househusband is better after all. It is only difficult in the beginning, but you will gain time in the long run."
* 7:00 am*
As soon as I got home from my daily habit, I immediately focus on preparing breakfast for Komachi.
"Good morning Kamakura!" I greet the fat cat going downstairs.
"Meow!" He walks to my foot and caresses his skin against it.
"Showing fake affection in the morning? Don't worry I'll give you your food when I'm done cooking ok?" I slightly nudge him near his bowl under the table.
"G-good morning Onii-chan." A half-closed eye girl can be visibly seen on the side of my vision
"Good morning Komachi, Be careful about walking downstairs. I'm preparing a fried egg, what do you want scrambled or sunny side up?"
She is currently rubbing her eyes to remove some eye dirt. "Before you go down next time, wash your face first ok? I don't want to see an injured Komachi. Oh! That must be high in Hachiman points!"
"Okay, E-eh Onii-chan are you cooking?" She points her index finger at me.
How rude! I'm taking care of you when you are a child you know!
"Yes, so what do you want to the egg?" I ask her again.
"A-ah I'll take the sunny side up…" Seems she recovered from her shock
"…I'll prepare the coffee and chocolate for me." She goes to prepare our drinks.
"Okay, bring some milk to Kamakura as well" I point at the cat with my free hand. "Meow!"
"Roger!" She salutes. She starts going to the refrigerator to get the necessary ingredients.
After I prepared the food. Komachi is waiting on the table with the coffee and chocolate already done.
I put both mine and her breakfast on the table.
Nicely done! This should increase my basic stats in Househusband first requirement.
"So Onii-chan why did you wake up early and prepare our breakfast?" She asks.
"Ask a question after completely digesting food in your mouth…" I hand her some tissue since she is talking with some food on her mouth.
"…and to your question, it is just that Onii-chan wants to at least help you (and increase my skills) since you will be studying for your exam and entrance exam in Sobu! In short, I want to increase my Hachiman points (Skill points)!"
"Ehh why did you need to remind me about my exams!" She frowned.
"Dear Imouto, even if you don't want to study, you need to since how can I see you (guard you against those insects) in my last year in Sobu High! So, I'll help you if you need one" I smile at her.
"I-I will get to the Sobu High. I promise, and Yukino-san said she is willing to help me study" She gave me a thumbs up.
"What! How can you ask her when Onii-chan is here!" I can't accept this. That Ice Queen even tries to enter my domain, No way! Absolutely No!
"But Onii-chan is bad at Science and Math right?" She innocently said.
Ouch, don't hurt your Onii-chan.
"I'm good at Japanese and Literature though!" I put my fist in my chest.
"But Yukino-san is good in both" She continues to look at me innocently.
Arrrgh That woman! It seems she already started to influence my Komachi. I must prepare some anti-Ice queen plans before everything will be over.
"F-fine, but don't forget to ask Onii-chan for help if necessary, okay?"
She nods. "Okay"
"By the way Komachi, I won't eat lunch here okay?" A beaming eye can be seen in my vision.
"Ehhh, Onii-chan got a date! Who is it, is it Yui-san or Yukino-san?" She moves closer to inspect me.
"You are partially correct Imouto!..." I pushed her away and point at her food for her to eat. "…I'm meeting with Yukinoshita and it is not a date but a meeting to discuss problems"
"Ooohh so it's a date! Okay, leave our parent's food to me" She put her hands in her small chest with a "puff" sound.
"Okay! I'm counting on you and please say to them 'Thank you for the gift' for me" No need to correct her again, as long as she understands the most important parts.
*10:59 near the fountain on the mall*
I am currently wearing pants, a t-shirt and the cap that Komachi gave me, I even wore the glasses my father gave me since even I got scared of myself without it.
"Hmmm as expected she is too early…" I saw a twin-tailed girl wearing a skirt and a blouse. "…Does she always wear that kind of outfit whenever she goes to the mall?"
I silently walk to where she was and grab her hands. "Yo!..."
"…Follow me." I immediately pull her which causes her to follow me unwillingly.
We blend in the crowd and let her rest on a bench in the kids' section.
"Hi-Hikigaya-kun?" She looks at me with a tired face.
This girl and her stamina. It seems she didn't fully recognize me with my cap and glasses. Well, maybe she understands that it's me with my trademark greetings "Yo" since she followed me without much resistance.
I raise my hand. "Yo!..."
I remove my cap and slightly fix my hair. "…Sorry about earlier" I said.
I expect an insult like a brute, no etiquette or something, but the only thing I got is a silence.
I look at her and she looked at me wide-eyed. "What? Is there dirt in my face?"
I looked on the mirror on the walls to search if there is any but I found none.
"N-no, I am just shocked that there is still a chance for you to hide that dead-fish eyes of yours." She looks sideways.
Yep, my eyes had been focused once again.
"Woman, you always talk about proper manners but you didn't even look at me when talking." I wear my cap again.
"B-by the way, why did you pull me here?" She asks me while stealing a glance at me.
Changing topics, that's a skill I want women, would you teach me? And please look at me when talking, I'll be accused here if this goes on.
"Well, your Onee-san is following you…" I sense a gaze when I got closer to her so I slightly look at the source, and what I saw is a witch aka her sister. "…it seems you didn't notice?"
"Nee-san?..." She put her two fingers on her jaw. "…I thought she will stay at my apartment since she is tired from the party yesterday."
"It seems she has a spare for stalking you."
I feel her if I know that Komachi will meet someone other than her girlfriends. I'll unseal my reserved stamina and follow her.
"Haaah" She sighed heavily.
Wow, what a deep sigh you got there. Will Komachi also going to give that deep sigh when she found out about me?
I better hone my stalking… I mean safeguarding skills.
"Don't worry..." I casually wave my hand. "…She might have lost us already"
I don't feel her presence anymore but I felt all the stares of the man here.
"We should change location now…" I point at the kid station sign, where a "Baby station" also posted at the back. "…or we will get some misunderstanding here."
"I-I agree" Seems she noticed as her face became red.
Don't worry woman. I won't get embarrassed and will steel my nerves since nothing helps when both parties involved look like guilty.
"Where do you want to discuss that important thing you mention?..." I point to some restaurants.
"…I prefer some places with food since I'm also hungry and we can kill two birds with one stone. It's a win-win situation for us." My words caused an icy glare from Yukinoshita.
"Why are you rushing?..." She crossed her arms then look at the clock posts in the mall. "…We still have a lot of time. Right?"
This woman is using contrapositive. On her text, she said to meet up early to use time and now I'm helping her to use minimum time as possible yet I am on the wrong side again?
"Do what you wish, Milady." I move in front of her and bow like how butler's do.
No need to dig anymore since she will be the one who will lose money so I'll let her have the rights.
She blushes from my actions and looks away. "T-Then let's find something to eat first".
Those words she said ticks something in my annoyance meter.
Give me a wall! I'll smash my head.
Isn't that my suggestion?
Why are you being like this?
Is it my punishment for being absent in the service club?
Just tell me to perform 'dogeza' I will do it in a flash.
Calm down Hachiman. I perform some breathing.
Think of it as a recuperation for your actions.
"That's a nice idea!" It seems my smile is a little bit distorted as I said those words sarcastically.
We are inside of a restaurant with a massive crowd.
Rare for us, right? Well, I sense the witch when we headed to the ground floor so I suggest to her that we can at least endure this place than with her sister which she approved.
"Good morning ma'am, sir…" A waitress greets us.
"…are you two on a date? We have a special seat for couples inside if you want?..." She points on a very quiet looking place.
It looks good there! A perfect place for a loner such as myself. I want it but the pride of the Ice queen is something that I can't take a risk for.
I don't have enough given to create an equation that will route to the solution and get an answer. Did I say something about Math?
"We-we-we…" I stutter in answering.
Come on the mouth, just deny it. A little more push. "We are…n-t"
"We are on a date" I look at the source of the voice and saw a red Yukinoshita.
She saw me looking at her which caused her to look away.
"I see. Please follow me then" The waiter signed us to follow her.
We followed the waitress.
I attempt to get closer to Yukinoshita to help her calm down.
"No need to be embarrassed, I know that you sacrifice your pride for us. So just hold your head up high!" I console her as an act of goodwill but what I got is an.
"Ouch!" It seems I yelled too loud since the waitress looks at me.
"Is there some problem sir?" She asks.
"N-none, I just got pinched by her" I point at Yukinoshita nervously.
Oh my god! Why did my honest trait just activate on its own?
She glances at the embarrassed Yukinoshita. "Fufufu, a young love indeed…"
She continues to walk to our table. "…This is your table sir. Please try to hold your voice since there are other couples here as well."
She gave us a smile and the menu.
"Thank you. We will call you if we already decide our order" I said.
The waitress bows at us and leave. 'What a pro'
"What's the limitation of what I can buy?" I check the price. It is something within my range in case I made this Queen mad.
"Just buy what you want to eat," She said with a bonus of a glare and a cold aura.
If you're trying to pressure me then it's effective, I swear.
"O-okay"
We called the waitress and told her about our orders. After a while, she gave us our orders and we decided to eat before we focus on the main topic of this meeting.
"Thanks for the free food."
"Your welcome, it seems you at least know how to thank someone." She casually said.
Geez, I'm already giving my thanks and you didn't even let the insult passed.
"Do you want to talk it here or do you want another place?" I wipe my face with a napkin while looking at Yukinoshita who's finishing her drink.
"Let's talk about it somewhere." She points at the crowd outside.
I nod at her suggestion and grab her hand to avoid losing each other.
We found a nice plaza outside the mall where a chair, table and an umbrella are set.
"Sorry about that" I lift my hand to show her what I meant.
"I-I don't mind since we might separate within the crowd."
We both take a seat facing each other.
"I heard that you and Yuigahama are feeling down lately…" She tensed up at my question. Better dig in any further.
"…Did something happen to you and her?" She shakes her head.
I sighed in relief.
"What?" She asks.
"I-I thought you and Yuigahama started to walk on the forbidden path called Yuri." She steps on my foot and gave me a glare.
"Hikigaya-kun…" A cold voice suddenly uttered and murderous chilling eyes glare at me. "…We don't swing that way okay?"
I nod multiple times.
Why did I voice out what I thought? This damn mouth doesn't know its limitations.
"S-so what's the problem?" She looked down and held her hands.
"Hikigaya-kun, you are dismissed from the Service Club by the principal" She didn't even look at me. It looks like the queen will cry.
I offer her my handkerchief. "Here, don't try crying on me because of something as low as that."
She slaps my hand with the handkerchief and scowls at me. "What do you mean by low? Is your time in the service club doesn't affect you?..." Her eyes are red, and some water starts to gather at the corner of it.
"…T-Then I must apologize that Yuigahama-san and I think too much about it. If you want to leave that badly then do what you want." She tries to stand up but I kick the heels she is wearing to lost her balance and stay at her chair.
"Oi woman, I'm not even done talking yet you have your own conclusion?..." I hand over my handkerchief.
"…here take this first. It will leave a bad aftertaste if I will talk to you like that." She finally accepts my handkerchief this time and wipes her tears with it.
I rest my cheek in the back of my hand and sit lazily.
"So, are you okay now?" She nods.
"Well, where should we start?..." I ponder for a while.
"…okay so you got mad because I don't mind quitting the service club, am I right?" She nods.
"Well, quitting the service club is not a bad idea since I can once again join the go-home club!" I admit.
Finally, my old club is looking at me once again.
"Ouch…" I felt a pain in my foot.
"…Oi is that a heel?" She gave me a "Be serious" look.
"Jeez, I only want to lighten the mood but about the go-home club I'm serious about it." I put my thumb and index finger in my chin.
I might able to see Komachi and greet her before she got home. I can also spot those insects that lurking around her.
"Hikigaya-kun." a cold voice suddenly wake me from my day-dream.
"A-ah where are we again, Oh right. Here is my own opinion…" I show my index finger at her. "…I think that you and Yuigahama's point of view is too shallow…"
I point my index finger at her small or so-called modest chest.
She immediately crossed her arms and stay away from me. "Hikigaya-kun, even though we had a serious discussion, I didn't think that you still have the guts to let your libido take over you and let it get rampant."
I sigh at hearing her insult. "Don't worry I'm not into flat-OUCH!..."
I felt the same pain I got earlier. "…Don't use your heel woman!"
If before she only gave me a glare, now she is giving me a murderous look.
"I-I don't mind the size…" I immediately redeem the words I said earlier.
Let's add some honest thoughts. "…as long as she is beautiful and workaholic, size doesn't matter." Her glare finally subsided as I voice my opinion.
That was close.
"By the way, I'm not pointing at that modest chest of yours. I'm talking about the inside…" She gave me a questioning look.
"…I think you let your emotion rampant which caused you to not understand my words earlier."
"I-I think you're right…" She admits her misinterpretation. "…t-then what do you mean by those words earlier."
I just shrug. "I wonder."
I only gave her a vague answer, even I can't explain it pretty well.
She immediately stands up and instead of running like before.
She comes closer to me and invades my personal space. "Hikigaya-kun, I don't understand."
It seems her emotion is taking over once again.
I just shake my head. "Even I, can't explain it pretty well."
When Yukinoshita heard my word, I saw that her eyes started to swell up once again.
"Oi, I didn't know that you treasure me that much even as an acquaintance." She ignores my insults as she just goes back to her chair and looks on her knees.
I sigh. "I can only give you a vague answer, would that be enough?"
She looks at me and nods.
"Hmmm, how can I explain this…" I ponder for a while to think for an example.
"…let's put it in a normie point of view. If you got close to someone in the school, both you and that someone will think that you are friends, right?..." She nods.
"…but if you two separate ways in the college, do you think there is a high chance that you two will be the same as before?" Yukinoshita shakes her head.
"…Then it means that those two normies are just friends because of the place called the school."
Yukinoshita silence for a while before nodding. "I see, so you meant is that as our relationship, I and Yuigahama-san think that it can only maintain in the Service Club?"
I shrug once again. "I don't know, it depends on the involved parties, to begin with."
That's why it's hard to explain if the parties involved had a different point of view.
"T-Then what about you?" She asks me.
"I don't mind being acquainted with the both of you…" I give her a smile. "…I can even have free food just accompanying you!"
She sighs at my words. "Seriously, I'll just take it in a positive way…"
She gives me a smile. "…and I don't mind being acquainted by someone who will work for me in exchange of food."
"Geh, as long as it is within my ability, then I don't mind." Free food is still free food, to begin with.
"Well, you should at least tell that to Yuigahama since I don't like to repeat what I said."
"Your laziness still knows no bounds"
"It's not laziness! I just used my energy efficiently" I look at the clock, it is almost 2 p.m.
"So, you got plans after this." She put her thumb and index finger in her jaw.
"Didn't you say Nee-san is here?" I nod.
"Yeah, what of it?" She opens her phone and types something then put it in her ear.
"Good afternoon Nee-san, are you still in the mall?" She calmly asks.
"I know you are following me since Hikigaya-kun said he saw you" I put my arms in front of me and show a big X.
Don't bring that witch here.
"Yeah so are you still there?" She asked, "I see."
"Well Hikigaya-kun plans to leave now, so you might see him if you rush here. We are in the plaza outside the mall" She puts her phone in her pocket.
"It seems you are right, she suddenly hung up when I told her our location so I suggest you should leave now." She is smiling at me. As I thought she is still angry, this woman.
I stand up and pat her head. "Good job, it seems you didn't let your emotions rampant to the very end."
I remove my hand. "Well, then see you tomorrow if we will have the chance to meet." I immediately run out of the place.
Damn, what a waste of energy! That witch is really a pain in the ass.
*YUKINOSHITA POV*
I look at the man who dashes out while touching the spot where he pats me.
I think blood starts rushing to my face.
I take a breather to calm myself down before Nee-san gets here.
As I am taking a breather, I felt something smooth in my hand.
It's his handkerchief that he lends to me.
"My emotions?..." I reminisce the words he said earlier. "…it seems I really got taken over by my emotion but not because I thought of you as a clubmate, a friend or even as an acquaintance."
"What are you smiling for Yukino-chan?" I look at the source of the voice.
"It's nothing for you to concern Nee-san" I calm myself down.
"I thought Hikigaya-kun is here?" She observes her surroundings.
"Didn't I told you that he will be leaving when I called you?"
"Ehhh! Why didn't you stop him for me?" She gives me a frown.
"Why would I?" I also gave her a frown.
*BZZZZT* BZZZZT*
I pick up my phone.
From Hikigaya Hachiman
Oi, I forgot my Handkerchief, clean it then bring it back to me when we meet, it's one of my favorites after all. I will also meet the Principal, so I'll just update you what's the cause of my dismissal in the Service Club.
I sigh. "Seriously…"
I put my hand on my temple. "Why did he forget important things such as this one?"
I look at the handkerchief in my hands. "As punishment, I won't remind you about your handkerchief."
I smile and put the phone in my pocket while holding the handkerchief he lent me.
