Chapter 7: Hikigaya Hachiman Goes Out on a Date (Part One)

Sunday morning came and I found myself primping myself up in front of my full-length mirror in the corner of my bedroom. Moo was at my feet, to my left, looking at me with wide-eyed curiosity as her tail wagged happily from left to right as I continued with my thorough self-inspection.

"Looks good Moo?" I asked as I looked down for her honest opinion.

"Meow!" It was rather happy sounding. I'll take that as a yes.

I looked at myself in the mirror one more time, impressed with the results. I decided on clothing that was simple, sleek and stylish. Black loafers, slim-fit black pants, a black leather belt with a ratchet buckle and a tucked-in, slim-fit, midnight blue dress shirt comprised the ensemble. I kept my sleeves rolled-up and my hair slicked back. Hopefully, I didn't look too much like a stiff.

'Not bad.'

I walked out of my bedroom and made my way towards my apartment entrance. In the kitchen, Tobe, who looked like he had just woken up, was making some eggs and was brewing up some coffee.

"Whoa Hikitani-kun! Looking good." Tobe approached me for a closer look and scrunched his nose, sniffing the air around me. "You smell good too. Going out?" I watched as Tobe returned to the kitchen and cracked another egg onto the pan.

"Thanks Tobe. I'll be heading out."

"Oh yeah, you're going shopping with Yumiko today huh?" Tobe asked. I nodded my response and made my way towards the door.

"Bro, tell her I said hi! Go get her man!" I heard from around the corner as I made my way out of my apartment.

I proceeded down the stairs and onto the restaurant floor only to be met with more gawking from the Tobe family.

"My, my. You're looking quite handsome today, Hachi-kun." Mikako-san observed, scanning me from head to toe.

"Wow...Hachi-kun...you actually look really nice..." Aya followed up shyly.

"Thanks."

"Are you going out on a date?" Mikako-san asked.

"Yeah." I suppose you can call it that. I gave her a simple nod to affirm my response.

"Holy hell!" Nobuo-san screamed. As he walked into the room, he had dropped the supply crate he was carrying once he laid his eyes on me. "Aya! Marry this man right now! Get your ass upstairs and put on a dress! Be quick!" Nobuo-san proceeded to remove the wedding band from his ring finger, turned to Mikako-san and barked, "Honey! Take off your ring too! By the power invested in me, I will marry them both off right now where they stand!"

"Dear..."

"Pops! What the hell?! Quit trying to marry me off to Hachi-kun! Why the hell would I want to marry him?! He's like an older brother to me!"

As I made my way out the restaurant entrance, I can still hear the faint bickering among the Tobe family.

'Well, thanks for the vote of confidence everyone.'

I stood outside of Yumiko's apartment waiting for her to answer her door. I had knocked several times and had been waiting out in front for about five minutes. Not that I'm experienced in these kinds of matters or anything, but do girls seriously take this long to get ready?

Well, I guess for the Queen, it is to be expected.

'How much longer must I wait out here? I don't want to stand outside all day looking like a creep...'

Fortunately, before getting further lost in thought, I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.

"Hikio. Sorry I didn't reach you sooner. I didn't mean to make you wait outside too long. I'm still getting ready! By the way, I just unlocked the door. Make yourself at home!

~ Yumiko."

That was very thoughtful of her. I do wish she had unlocked the door sooner though.

Walking inside her apartment, I note that it is my very first time actually setting foot inside her abode. Like my apartment, there wasn't much to look at. Since it was a studio, there is a limited amount of real estate for things other than the necessities.

Directly as I walked in, I stepped foot into a tiny kitchen containing a fridge, a counter-top sink, and a stove with two cabinets floating above. To my left, is a door leading to the bathroom. I assume Yumiko is still inside prettying herself up.

Moving further along into the living space, directly to my right was a dining table suitable enough for up to two people. At the furthermost right corner, was a chair, a small flat-screen and an impressive collection of RPGs ready to play. On the furthermost left corner was a desk containing her paperwork. Finally, directly to my left was a full-size bed with a feminine bed cover and an acoustic guitar laying on top.

"I'll be out soon!" I heard her call out from the bathroom.

"Take your time."

Sitting at the foot of her bed, I was still taking in everything inside her studio apartment.

"No need." Yumiko said as she stepped out of the bathroom. She walked out and faced me with her left hand firmly pressed on her hip, oozing confidence befitting that of a monarch.

"How do I look?" She asked me with a warm, bright smile.

Simple, cool and stylish. From toe to head, her ensemble comprised of two-toned white/coffee wedged sandals that showed off a pedicure. She wore a vibrant yellow shift dress whose hemline was short enough to put her captivatingly long, bare, legs on public display. The vibrant yellow outfit accentuated her loosely curled golden locks and auburn tips. The accessories that complimented her outfit was simply three silver bracelets on her left wrist, two small white pearls on each ear and a small tan leather purse slung over her left shoulder.

Wait. Hold on a minute...

'Golden locks...she actually dyed her hair again!'

"Well?" Yumiko looked expectant with her arms crossed tightly over her assets...

"Uh...good." I couldn't help but turn away as I felt a bit of blood rush to my face. I think she noticed because she tried to stifle a giggle.

"Perfect! You don't look bad yourself Hikio! Nice job! Thankfully your fashion sense isn't as rotten as your eyes!"

I furrowed my brows at the statement. The Tobes' had me thinking I was a high-quality product! Unblemished!

"I'm sure that's the first time I've ever heard you comment on my eyes. Your hair...are you sure your workplace will approve?"

"Don't worry about that." Yumiko replied as she fiddled with her now golden locks. "I got an approval from the rest of the faculty the other day. They didn't mind. Actually, the faculty and the students loved it!"

"I see..."

"You like it?"

"...Yeah. It looks good."

"Thanks!" I watched Yumiko's face light up for a moment.

With unprecedented agility, Yumiko caught me by surprise and latched onto my left arm. In that brief moment, she took a surprise selfie that captured my shock and her proud smile. Showing me her phone, we had stared at the photo for several seconds before Yumiko decided to delete it as she was unsatisfied with it's quality.

"I hope you don't mind if I take another?" Yumiko smiled sweetly as she asked.

"Go ahead."

With my permission, she took another selfie.

I honestly don't like selfies. They are far too narcissistic and self-indulgent for my liking. I suppose Yumiko really wanted to capture this moment. Despite my personal inclinations, I see no reason to object.

"There. Much better."

Satisfied with the quality of the photo, she was eager to carry on the rest of her day. Still latched onto my left arm, Yumiko gave it a quick tug.

"Shall we?"

Somehow I felt as if I was dragged into all of this. Yumiko strong-armed me into taking her out shopping on my free day. At the moment, we were currently at a shopping district, inside a retailer, checking out clothes. Supposedly, we were looking for a birthday present for Yuigahama, but as far as I can tell, it seems more like Yumiko was shopping for herself with me in tow.

Is this how it felt back during the medieval era when the peasants blindly followed royalty? When they threw common sense and critical thinking out the window just to grovel and kiss the ground that their beloved monarch walked on? I can't help but feel for them right now.

I am merely a pawn in the game of life.

Still, in the years I've known Yumiko, I've never thought of her in a truly negative fashion. Yes, I've thought of her as shallow, vain, and scary at her worst, but I've never thought of her in any sort of malicious way.

In any case, Yumiko sure does look cute happily trying on clothes.

"Oi. Hikio. Quit spacing out." Her assertive voice had halted any further musings to an abrupt stop. She held a blouse in each hand, putting each one in front of her at a mirror one at a time as if she was imagining herself trying it on before turning to me.

"Which one do you prefer?"

'Damn it. I've been backed into a corner.'

We had settled on a number of accessories from a local boutique as our birthday gift to Yuigahama. Several bracelets, hair clips and other such things comprised the gift box that Yumiko was currently having wrapped at the counter. I quietly stood behind her, shopping bags in my right hand as my meager arm desperately tried to fight the unstoppable forces of gravity in a valiant effort.

As I thought about the current matter at hand, perhaps I'm more of a pack mule than a pawn.

"Yes. That will work nicely." Yumiko and an associate were mulling over the design of the gift box that contains Yuigahama's presents.

"One last thing. On the inside, can you write To: Yui, From: Hikki and Yumiko, in calligraphy?"

"Will this be all, ma'am?"

"Yes. This is great." Yumiko observed the design of the box. Her nodding signified her approval. "Perfect. Thank you very much for your hard work."

As the associate rang up the total, Yumiko began to reach into her purse for her wallet. Before she can complete that action, I pressed my free hand on her left shoulder, sliently shaking my head as I got her attention.

Setting the shopping bags down, I reached into my back pocket for my wallet and pulled out my bank card and handed it to the associate.

Chivalry isn't dead folks.

Now, if I were a Warrior of Light and my money was my hit points, I'd surely be in the yellow. I'm just another broke college student! I don't know how much more of this I can take!

Walking out of the boutique, Yumiko and I continued down the street towards the southern section of the shopping district, unsure of what to do next. We had gotten what we wanted and were basically just killing time now.

"Hikio." Her voice brought me to her attention. There was a hint of concern in Yumiko's voice.

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for everything and all that..."

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing."

"You'll be left with nothing today if you keep this up. I know you're in the yellow."

Are you a mind reader? You got me there Yumiko.

"Look. Don't be an idiot. You don't have to be a gentleman. I appreciate the chivalry, but please be more careful with how you spend the next time okay?" She spoke to me with a warm and affirming tone as if she was a mother scolding her own child.

I simply nodded my affirmation. Yumiko, you are such a sweet girl!

"Good. Now that that's settled, let's have some lunch!" Yumiko clasped her hands together, smiling brightly. "What would you like to eat? I'm sure we both haven't ate since breakfast. Come on, it'll be my treat. Don't try me on this one Hikio, I'm paying and that's final."

Until Yumiko had mentioned it, I never realized how hungry I actually was. As we came up to a corner at an intersection, there was a Saizeriya at the corner across the street. It's recognizable sign stood tall and proud, beckoning all to stop by and eat. With it's glorious selection of cheap and tasty meals, one can never go wrong with Saize.

"...Saize..." I mumbled absentmindedly. I would love to have a plate of one of their famous spaghetti plates right about now...

"Haa? Saize? Why the hell should we eat at Saize?" Yumiko responded in a rather abrasive tone as if she had objected to my absentminded suggestion. What was wrong with Saize these days? Here I am thinking that I thought I could choose what I would like to eat...

I turned my head towards her looking slack-jawed and exasperated. Before I could possibly say something foolish, inflamed at Yumiko's crime against Saize, both our stomachs rumbled a far more compelling argument. In an instant, I watched as Yumiko's attitude shifted from abrasive and authoritative to meek and sheepish.

"...Saize is fine I guess..."

You can never go wrong with Saize.

A/N: Indeed, Yuigahama's birthday has historically been a pretty convenient excuse to go out on a date. Haha. Now, I highly doubt a Japanese school would even let an employee dye her hair...but for the sake of this story, I'll just roll with it!

This chapter is the first part of two. I have some ideas I'm working around for the second part. I hope that this chapter has not disappointed and I hope the next one will not disappoint. Stay tuned!

Guest Not: Woah. It's been a while since I've read that manga. The story totally does have that Horimiya kind of vibe!

Koalalumpur: Since the beginning, I've considered having Yukino make an appearance. As far as whether or not Yukino will actually appear in the story...I'll just let the narrative play it out.

Prominis: Thank you. That was truly informative. I'll adhere to that information when I work on my next possible Oregairu fic.