Chapter 13: An Honest Proposal
Stepping out of my parents' car, I took in a breath of fresh air and yawned deeply. Glancing at my attire, I stiffened a little. I was never one for wearing tuxedos or dress shoes of any sort. They felt clunky, uncomfortable, and quite frankly I never understood why wearing such an outfit was necessary. Yet here I was, straightening my tie and making sure that the hem of my dress shirt was lined up correctly. As I looked around, I took a brief moment to think to myself.
So this is the place, huh? I thought, walking alongside Komachi and my parents.
The Yukinoshita residence was definitely an eye-catcher. It wasn't exactly a luxurious mansion, but it was without a doubt more than just a nice, big house. The rounded driveway was big enough to park about half a dozen vehicles and from what I could tell, the lawn and garden were both very well-maintained. There was a fountain in the middle of the front yard and the bricked walkway was lined with solar-powered lights, which illuminated the yard now that it was evening time. As I walked along, I thought about the last week and a half.
My new early-morning runs/workouts became a regular thing and although I wasn't getting much faster or stronger, I could tell that my endurance was increasing. To go along with that, my appetite was also growing and I began making healthier food choices (although nothing was going to separate me from my beloved Maxx Coffee). Despite the fact that I was afflicted with a terminal condition, I actually felt more full of energy than I ever had before and my focus grew sharper. Tedious class subjects that I once struggled with like math became less torturous to study and it became easier to get myself into a groove when studying language. For probably the first time I could remember, I began to develop self-confidence and became slightly more proactive about my work habits (even though I was still a lollygagger at heart).
Even though I was only a couple weeks into my treatment, I had gotten used to showing up every day after school. Aside from my hair growing back thin, I didn't notice any major side effects yet, which was nice considering the long list of possible side effects that my treatment pamphlet described. I was, however, due for a regular CT scan in about a week which made me a bit nervous. I knew that worrying wouldn't do me any good, so I decided to keep it out of mind until the time came.
Family dinners were now commonplace at home and every time my family and I sat down at the table, we would share little details about our day with each other. Despite the conversations being typical and bland, the experience of enjoying time with my own family became something that I cherished. The Service Club also started to get a bit busier and more requests started coming in. Unfortunately, most of these were homework help requests and even though we were more than capable of handling them, we had to remind many students that there were better-suited resources available to them. The club was constantly flowing with people walking in and out nonetheless and my afternoons became a little livelier.
On the downside, since club was always busy, Yukino and I never found any time to speak one on one. There was a lot I wanted to ask her and talk to her about, but the right moment never seemed to pop up. Now that we were both going to be here at her parents' house, I was hoping that we would have a better chance.
Hearing a quick gasp from my left, I was brought back to my senses.
"Wow, this place is incredible!" Exclaimed Komachi, somewhat bewildered by the residence. "Yukino-chan's family sure has a lot of money- oh, look!"
Turning my head straight ahead, I noticed Haruno waving at us in the distance. She walked towards us and turned to my parents, who were now standing directly next to me.
"Greetings! You must be Mr. and Mrs. Hikigaya, am I correct?" Haruno asked, smiling hospitably. Nodding, my father spoke up.
"Ahh, yes. That would be us. Thank you for inviting us to your banquet." He said, bowing slightly.
"It's our pleasure, Hikigaya-san! I'm Haruno Yukinoshita, daughter of Hiro Yukinoshita! Anyhow, would you like me to show you around? There's still about half an hour until dinner's going to be served." Haruno replied.
"Sure, we wouldn't mind that at all!"
"Alright, then! Follow me."
With that, we walked through the yard and through a large set of double doors which opened up into the Yukinoshita residence. Stepping into the house, I looked around at the interior décor. The walls were lined with pictures, plaques, and frames of all sorts. A couple hallways branched out on either side of the living room hall and in the middle, a set of stairs went up into the second floor, which overlooked where I was standing. At the end of the stairs was a balcony, which overlooked what appeared to be the backyard.
Alright, I take the initial thought back. This place is definitely a mansion. I thought to myself, walking alongside my parents in Haruno's wake.
As we walked through the main hall, I examined Haruno's attire. She was wearing a red Chinese dress, black high-heels, and red gloves. Her hair was tied in a bun and kept in place with silver hairpins. She looked elegant and refined unlike her casual wear, but her outfit suited the occasion nonetheless.
"Ahh, we'll going up the stairs first." Haruno said, motioning with her hands. As we followed her, she turned to Komachi and I. "So, how have you two lovelies been?" she asked with her usual smile. Komachi immediately responded.
"Everything's been going great! Onii-chan has been getting up early to go running every morning and he makes breakfast for me all the time now. We watch TV and eat dinner together more than we used to. He's less of a grump now, too!"
As Komachi and Haruno giggled, I rolled my eyes at that last part. Haruno turned to me and back to Komachi.
"That definitely sounds like him." Haruno replied, winking at Komachi.
My mother turned to Haruno perked her neck a little.
"Oh, you know these two?" she asked curiously. Haruno nodded and widened her smile.
"Of course! I visit Hachiman at school all the time and I've talked to Komachi-san before. We're all quite familiar!" she said. As we approached the top of the stairs, we walked out onto the balcony and Haruno turned to my parents.
"Alright. Out here is our backyard. Right in front of you is the main courtyard where my mother and father sometimes like to hold private balls and dances. Then we have the pool which is further out as you can see. In the very back are the guest house and shed, which are actually part of the same building. We rarely have anyone using the guest house, so it usually serves as an extra storage room, but we clean it out when we need to. In the far corner to your right is our garden. There's a persimmon tree in the middle that my mother had imported from the United States. She loves the fruits, so she had the tree planted a few years back. The fruits are actually almost ripe for the picking, so if you wish to go down and try one out later, feel free…"
As Haruno went on, my mind drifted and I started pondering the reason my family was invited to this banquet. It was for Hiro Yukinoshita's charity, which supported the same oncology clinic that I was going to. I was close to Yukino and Haruno was familiar with who I was, so inviting me to this sort of event made sense. Hiro Yukinoshita seemed like a generous, caring man and considering how close I was to a couple members of his family, it wasn't difficult to imagine him reaching out to me. It made even more sense when I thought about what Haruno told me a week and a half ago about her father rekindling an old passion that inspired him to found his charity in the first place.
Perhaps he invited my family for the same reason he invited me and he wanted us all to be there to enjoy the gathering of charity members. Maybe Haruno was the one to suggest inviting all of us. Maybe he had some important news that he wanted all of us to hear. Maybe we were invited non-altruistically and he wanted us to spread the news of his foundation's benevolence. It wasn't all that likely in my mind, but the bitter possibility still lingered.
"…is a sword that's been passed down through the generations. It originally belonged to one of my father's ancestors, who was a samurai warrior during the end of the Tokugawa shogunate's reign. Now, it serves as a family heirloom that will continue to be passed down. My mother simply views it as an antique, which annoys my father since he has quite a bit of pride attached to it. Don't tell them I told you that, though…"
Soon enough, we found ourselves back in the main hall. Haruno turned to us again and bowed slightly.
"Anyhow, thank you for coming tonight. My father was happy to hear that you'd all be attending. The dining hall is this way. The other guests are coming, so I have to usher them in. Please, enjoy the evening." Haruno said, gesturing towards the hallway on our left. As she walked towards the front door door, she came towards me and whispered in my ear.
"I think Yukino-chan wants to talk to you later, so be on the lookout for her after dinner's over." She said, patting me on the shoulder. I nodded and walked into the main dining hall with my family.
The dining hall was probably the largest room in the house, the ceiling looming about ten meters above us and the hall itself being big enough to fit at least a few dozen people. A set of large chandeliers hung from the ceiling and illuminated the room. There were a few round wooden tables with cushioned chairs around them and a few people who were idly chatting. Servers came by with glasses, utensils, and bottles of champagne and apple cider. As my family and I took a seat at one of the tables, I looked around at the guests.
From the corner of my eye, I saw my oncologist and a couple staff members from the clinic. Haruno was out greeting more guests and from what I could see, her mother was now out doing the same thing. Scanning the hall again, I notice that both Yukino and her father were nowhere to be seen. Figuring that they were busy, I turned to Komachi and decided to talk to her to pass a little time.
"Hey, Komachi. How's school going?" I asked, keeping an eye out for either Yukino or her father.
"Oh? It's going pretty good, I guess. I have almost all straight A's except for in math. I might have it this term if I do well enough in my fall exams. I'm surprised you asked, Onii-chan. You almost never do! Hee hee hee!" Komachi replied, giggling a little towards the end. Shrugging my shoulders, I went on.
"Hey, now. I do care about you. Anyways, that's good to hear. Don't feel bad if you don't ace math. It was never my strongest area, either. So, do you have a study plan or are you just turning in homework?" I asked curiously.
"I've been studying a lot with Taishi-kun. He's a wiz at math and science, but he's not so good in the other areas. That's okay though since I help him where he needs help and he helps me where I need help." She replied. I nodded my head a little.
"Ahh, that's a pretty good setup. Wait a second, about Taishi-kun… Isn't he the brother of uhh…"
I scratched my head a little, trying to remember the name of my gray-haired classmate who wore black lace. Kawasaki, right? Or maybe it was something else…
"Saki Kawasaki?" Komachi asked, raising an eyebrow. A lightbulb went off in my head and my original thought was confirmed.
"Yeah, her." I replied, somewhat relieved that I now knew her name for certain. As I was about to go on, I shifted my gaze a little and noticed Hiro Yukinoshita walking towards my table accompanied by Yukino, who was wearing an outfit similar to her sister's.
"Ahh, Hikigaya-san! Nice to see you again!" Hiro said, approaching me.
"Likewise, Yukinoshita-san." I replied simply. Hiro turned to my parents and held out his hand.
"You must be Mr. and Mrs. Hikigaya then. Pleased to make acquaintance!" He said as he shook my parents' hands.
"Yes, nice to meet you as well, Yukinoshita-san! Thank you for inviting us!" My father responded.
"Of course. It's my pleasure." Hiro said, bowing. He turned to Komachi. "And you must be his sister? Or cousin?"
"I'm his sister, Komachi!" Komachi replied excitedly, shaking Hiro's hand.
"Ahh. Nice to meet you as well!" Hiro said, smiling at Komachi. Turning back to face all of us, he cleared his throat. "So, are you all enjoying your evening?" he asked. We all looked at each other and nodded our heads.
"Wonderful! I hope you haven't been waiting too long. Dinner's going to be ready in just a bit. We're having French cuisine tonight. It'll be mushroom soup followed by Coq Au Vin and we'll be having chocolate crepes for dessert. If you haven't tried it before, you're in for a real treat!" He said, enthusiastically throwing his hands in the air.
"Anyhow, after the other guests and patrons leave, I'd like you to stick around for a bit. I have an offer for you that I'd like to make in private."
My parents looked at each other somewhat surprised and turned back to Hiro. They both nodded their heads and my father spoke up.
"Alright. We'll do that." He said. Hiro smiled at us and then glanced at his watch. Appearing to be somewhat startled, he made a slight grimace.
"Oh, my. I'm running behind schedule here. Sorry! I apologize for being so brief with you, but I have to check on a couple of things and talk to my wife. I was really hoping to chat before dinner started, but I'm afraid I won't be able to." He said, bowing. As he turned to leave, he spoke to Yukino, who was right beside him. The whole time she'd been standing there, she appeared eager to talk to us but had been patiently waiting to get a word in.
"Yukino, darling. I'm sure you wouldn't mind keeping Hikigaya-san and his family company now, would you? He is your boyfriend after all." Hiro said, facing all of us and smiling. Yukino blushed a little and shook her head.
"O-of course not, Father. I'll gladly keep them company." She responded, pulling up a chair and taking a seat next to me. Hiro nodded and then took off, making his way out of the dining hall.
Looking back at Yukino, I noticed that she was still blushing a tad. Despite being nervous about the offer that Hiro just mentioned, I smiled. The expression on Yukino's face was a cute display of her usual reserved nature and seeing her act the way she was oddly calmed me down a little. I was definitely happy to see her again and glad that we'd be able to speak to each other later on. Clearing her throat, Yukino spoke up.
"Ahh, Hachi-kun… I like your tuxedo. It compliments you quite nicely." She said, smiling meekly.
"Thanks. I didn't pick it out, though." I responded, shrugging a little.
"Oh? Who did?" Yukino asked interestedly. Komachi's face lit up and she pointed towards herself with both hands.
"That would be yours truly!" she exclaimed. Yukino grinned and shook her head a little. I turned to Komachi and eyed her curiously.
"Hey, you were only rummaging through Dad's closet. You knew I'd be happy with anything so long as it fit me." I said teasingly. Komachi smirked and fired back.
"It's the thought that counts, Onii-chan. Blegh! Idiot! Dimwit! Hachiman!" she said, sticking her tongue out and poking my shoulder.
"The last one wasn't even an ins-" I said, pausing when I realized what my sister had just said. Also realizing what was said, Yukino giggled a little.
"Oh, dear. This is déjà vu." She said, turning to me. Defeated, I nodded.
"Indeed. So, how often does your father hold these sorts of banquets for charity?" I asked Yukino, changing the subject.
"Hmm… It's definitely been a while since he's held a private event for the Noboru Foundation. I think the last time he did was at least four or five years ago. It was a special event for a certain donation amount. If I recall correctly, all the funds went towards buying new equipment for different oncology centers. He was really happy then. Other than that, though… I can't remember any other time he's done something like this for his charity. I think the foundation just reached another milestone, but I'm not sure what it is. If anyone could answer your question for sure, it would either be Haruno or my mother..." Yukino said informatively.
As Yukino trailed off, I looked around and noticed that the room was a lot fuller than it was before. What was just a few was now a couple dozen people, and Haruno could be seen walking into the dining hall with her mother. They made their way towards us until they were standing directly in front of us. Haruno said something to her mother and walked out in the same direction that Hiro did just a couple minutes ago, waving at us. As her mother approached her, Yukino tensed a little.
"Ahh, Yukino. There you are. Being a good host, I presume?" she asked calmly. Yukino nodded her head and replied softly.
"Yes, Mother."
"Good."
Turning to my family, she took a deep breath and put on a hospitable smile.
"Greetings. I'm Hiro Yukinoshita's wife, Naomi Yukinoshita. You must be the guests of honor my husband was talking about." She said calmly.
"Ahh, yes. Thank you for inviting us!" My father said, practically repeating the same thing he said earlier. Yukino's mother simply nodded.
"Mhm." She replied. Looking at me and then at Yukino, she scratched her head a little. As if having an epiphany, her facial expression changed and she now looked more curious.
"Oh, you're Yukino's friend at school. I believe we've met before." She said, turning back towards to me. I nodded my head in confirmation. She continued.
"I was unfamiliar with the name Hikigaya, but I do remember your face. Anyhow, my daughter Haruno told me about your medical condition. I'm sorry to hear about it." She said, immediately switching her gaze back towards Yukino. "Yukino, dear. Have you seen your father around anywhere? I've been looking for him for the past few minutes."
"He was actually just here a few moments ago, but I think he had to go check on meal prep. He said he needed to talk to you as well." Yukino responded.
"Right. Well, I'll be on my way then. Yukino, keep our guests company during the banquet. Everyone else, I hope you enjoy your evening." Yukino's mother said, turning to my family and I before walking out. A few moments later, I heard Yukino mutter something along the lines of "that was rude" under her breath. She quickly turned to my parents.
"So, have you ever tried Coq Au Vin before?" She asked, extending the question to all of us. Komachi and I shook our heads while my parents looked at each other. My mother nodded her head.
"It's been a long time since I've had it, but if I recall correctly, I enjoyed it quite a bit." She said, a suspicious smile forming on her face. "My husband and I were actually both eating at a French restaurant during our honeymoon. I believe he ordered… What was it called again?"
My father shook his head and began laughing. After taking a few moments to settle down, he responded.
"It was the 'Steak Tartare'." He said, continuing to laugh a bit. Joining in on the laughter, my mother went on.
"Right! It was 'Steak Tartare'. He had no idea what it was, but since he felt hungry for steak, he picked randomly off of the menu and chose that. You should have seen the look on his face when the waiter came out with his plate and placed it on the table! It was absolutely priceless!" She said, her cheeks red from laughing. Yukino also began laughing.
"Oh, my. That must've been quite the shock." She said, giggling. My father nodded his head.
"It was! But, I did finish it." He responded, putting up a finger as if to accentuate what he was saying. Somewhat confused, I tilted my head a little and turned to my father.
"Err, what's 'Steak Tartare'?" I asked. My father looked at me with a dead serious face.
"Son, it's the manliest dish you could imagine. Manly in that you have to man up to finish it, that is." He said, laughing again. "Basically, it's raw meat with an egg cracked open on top. Mine came with Worcestershire sauce. It's an interesting dish, but it made my stomach crawl after I ate it. I still felt like a man for eating it, though."
I slowly nodded my head in acknowledgement and glanced over at Yukino, who was visibly less tense than she was a minute ago. Looking around, I noticed that all the guests were now seated and that Hiro Yukinoshita was walking towards the head table with his wife and Haruno, who sat on either side of him. Standing tall, he tapped his wine glass with his spoon to get everyone's attention. Clearing his throat, he began to speak.
"Can I have everyone's attention, please?"
At that, the room quieted down and everyone turned towards Hiro's table.
"We have a few honorable guests here tonight who I've invited on behalf of the Noboru Foundation. Hachiman Hikigaya is one of my daughter's friends and a Glioblastoma patient at Chiba's local oncology center where our primary chapter is located. I had the opportunity to speak with him a couple weeks ago. He reminded me of Satou-kun in many different ways and I'm happy to have him and his family with us tonight. Would everyone please raise their glasses and welcome the Hikigaya family?" He said, raising his champagne glass with a beaming smile and pointing towards my table with his other hand.
Everyone in the room turned towards us and raised their glasses. Some applauded and others gave a few hearty welcomes. The people sitting closest to my parents shook their hands. Komachi and I smiled and meekly waved at those around us. Although it was nerve-wracking to have so many people staring at us, the warm welcome from Hiro and the rest of his foundation was comforting and much appreciated. Turning back to his audience as a whole, Hiro went on.
"Dinner is about to be served. Tonight we'll be enjoying some of Satou-kun's favorite French dishes in honor of his memory. If you're curious as to what those are, it'll be mushroom soup, Coq Au Vin, and chocolate crepes. I have some great news to share with you all in just a bit, but since I'm sure we've all been waiting for a while, let's enjoy dinner!"
With that, several servers came walking through one of the halls with covered platters and began serving the guests. Each guest got a moderately sized bowl of mushroom soup and a plate with chicken, vegetables, and mushrooms that appeared to be drenched in a thick, red sauce. The food was steaming hot, so I let the plate in front of me cool off for a bit before picking at anything. The aroma coming from the plate was very appetizing. It smelled like a variety of spices, but most notably I could distinguish a bit of cooking wine. Noticing that I hadn't touched my glass of cider yet, I took a sip.
Yukino, who was also sipping from her glass, looked at me like she had something she wanted to talk about. Curious, I leaned over to her and as if she read my mind, she leaned behind me and whispered in my ear.
"Come join me on the balcony after the event is over. I want to talk to you." She said, ever so softly. I nodded my head and whispered back.
"Alright. I want to talk to you, too."
We both looked at each other and separated, both ready to eat our meals. Now that Yukino had confirmed that she wanted to talk to me in private, I felt a bit more at ease. After folding my dining cloth and carefully placing it on my lap, I picked up my spoon and began to eat. The mushroom soup, still fairly hot, was both creamy and silky in texture. The "Coq Au Vin" as it was so called tasted rich and chock-full of all sorts of fancy sauces and spices. The chicken was filled with flavor and the vegetables nearly seemed to melt in my mouth.
I'll be damned! This is really good! I thought to myself as I continued eating, picking at my soup and dish until the only thing left were chicken bones and a small puddle of red sauce.
As we ate, my parents and Yukino enjoyed a little bit of back and forth conversation. Although the topics being discussed were entirely trivial, it was soothing to listen to. My parents, who I was beginning to appreciate more time with, and Yukino, whose company I'd enjoyed for quite a long time, were eating, drinking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. Although we were at the Yukinoshita residence instead of my house, I felt at home and I could tell that everyone else felt that way as well. After about an hour or so, Hiro stood up in his seat and tapped his champagne glass with his spoon again.
"If I could have everyone's attention again, please?" He said, waiting a few moments for the chatter around the room to die down. When the hall became silent, he cleared his throat and carried on.
"Before I say anything else, I'd like to thank you all for coming. The Noboru Foundation appreciates your service. Earlier, I told you all that I had some news to share. It's been a long time since I've gathered you all here, but tonight, the Noboru Foundation has reached another milestone."
Looking around, I saw that everyone in the room was one hundred percent fixed on Hiro Yukinoshita. Every eye was focused on him as he spoke and as he went on, I could almost feel the hall itself growing excited. Curious as to what Hiro was going to say next, I listened in, turning my right ear towards his table.
"The Noboru Foundation has been proudly serving the Chiba prefecture for nearly a decade now. However, we've branched out nearly country-wide, with chapters opening up as far as Miyagi, Hiroshima, and even Okinawa. Our philanthropic success has given old medical centers the opportunity to be able to afford state-of-the-art technology and our community outreach program has encouraged cancer awareness throughout many local neighborhoods and large establishments. It's kind of hard to imagine that this whole thing started with one man, but it did."
Pausing for a moment, Hiro looked down at his table and drew in a deep breath. Looking back up, he gave an inspired look and continued, although a bit softer.
"That man wasn't me. It was my colleague, best friend, and mentor, Satou Noboru."
A couple people raised their glasses. Seeing this, Hiro took his glass and raised it in the air for a brief moment before bringing it back down.
"Satou-kun was perhaps the weirdest man I ever knew. When we met in grade school, the first thing he ever told me was how he thought the sky was made of fish. I still remember it to this day."
Chuckles could be heard from around the room and I even noticed Yukino's mother crack a sincere smile.
"I didn't really understand what he meant by that, but something about him seemed fun and so I began talking to him more. As time went on, we found ourselves talking about all sorts of strange nonsense and we became fast friends. Nobody really seemed to understand him, but he didn't care much. He always had this aura about him that made everyone around him feel good. His happiness radiated in all areas of life, from the workplace to the deep sea to his family. When he received news that he wasn't going to have much more time to live, his joy still shined through. The fruits of his labor were seen all throughout Chiba, but his spirit was seen by every person who had the pleasure of meeting him. When he passed, that spirit was still very much alive within those who knew him."
Pausing for a second, Hiro looked at his wife, who rubbed his hand a little. The hall went silent once again and even I found myself fully engaged at this point.
"Satou-kun's spirit lives on today, shining brighter than ever through all of us, not only through the foundation, but through those who the foundation has had an impact on."
Pausing once more, Hiro's facial expression changed and the smile that he carried at the beginning of his speech came through again. Raising both hands in front of his chest with his palms up, he excitedly continued.
"Today, I am proud to announce that the Noboru Foundation has become the fifth largest cancer charity in all of Japan. With over 5 billion Yen raised and over 7000 patrons and volunteers who've served with love and compassion, Satou-kun's spirit of joy and happiness has spread further than I could've ever imagined. I would like to extend my personal thanks to all of you, from those of you sitting in this room to everyone else who has contributed towards the mission of the Noboru Foundation. I am utterly humbled by your passion and dedication. None of this would've been possible without you."
Hiro bowed and soon, everyone in the room began clapping and cheering. There was a standing ovation and even I found myself clapping. The room was bursting with pride and for a brief moment, I felt like I was a part of everything. Raising his glass once more, Hiro turned to everyone.
"At this time, I'd like to propose one final toast, in memory of Satou-kun and in good wishes for Hikigaya-san and his health."
One by one, everyone raised their glasses and made a toast. Taken aback by Hiro's speech and toast to my health, I looked around. I was in awe of the sheer enthusiasm that every person in the room seemed to be sharing. However, that same enthusiasm made me nervous as I thought about the offer that Hiro mentioned earlier. When the crepes came, I found myself absorbed in thought.
Is he offering money? Does he want to grant a "final wish" or something like that? Is there some sort of new treatment that he wants me to try? I thought to myself, periodically turning towards the Yukinoshita's main table to see what Hiro was doing.
After sitting for a while, I saw the patrons begin to leave, many greeting my family and I before walking out the front door. As they began filing out, I made a little bit of small talk with Yukino to pass the time.
"Hey, who are all these people?" I asked. "I didn't recognize most of them."
Shrugging, Yukino answered in an oblivious tone.
"I don't know any of them either, to be honest with you. From what Father has brought up before, many of them helped him set up the foundation and others were patrons who donated copious amounts of money. He never talked about them to me, though. The foundation was always a personal thing to him. It was a project that he pursued aside from work, politics, and family and he always kept to himself about it."
"Ahh, I see." I replied simply.
As the last of the dinner guests left, the meal crew came back and picked up the glasses and silverware, carrying them away on carts and trays. By now, the only people left in the dining hall were my family and the Yukinoshita family. Walking over and bringing a chair up to our table, Hiro Yukinoshita greeted us again and sat down.
"So, did you enjoy dinner?" He asked with a smile on his face. My father smiled in return and nodded his head.
"Certainly! It was absolutely delicious. Once again, thank you for inviting us. It was most appreciated." He said.
"Of course, of course! Like I said, it was my pleasure to have you here. I thought you might enjoy it!" Hiro said cheerfully. Haruno and Yukino's mother pulled up their own chairs and sat off towards the side of the table.
"Anyways, I'm glad you all stuck around after the dinner ceremony. As I mentioned earlier, I have an offer I would like to propose to you, the Hikigaya family."
My father slowly nodded his head and I turned my ear towards Hiro, listening carefully to what he was going to say next. Clearing his throat, Hiro went on.
"This offer is strictly confidential. I am not presenting this to you on behalf of the Noboru Foundation nor do I expect anything in return if you accept or decline."
Folding his hands, Hiro looked at his wife who nodded in return, and turned back to my family and I, his face now straightened.
"I would like to offer to cover the expenses of Hachiman's treatment from this point onward. If you accept my offer, I will personally pay for all of his medical expenses, from regular check-ups to medication to any further operations that may need performing. You won't have to shill out a single Yen and you'll be under less financial pressure."
With a more generous look forming on his face, Hiro suggestively raised his left hand and carried on.
"I understand that when medical crises like the one you're going through right now arise, you get placed under a great deal of stress and often times it takes its toll on everyone in the family. I would like to help in alleviating this if possible. After all, worrying about the medical issue itself is very taxing, let alone carrying the financial burden that comes with it."
There was a lingering moment of silence as my parents looked at one another, taken aback by the proposal that Hiro had just laid in front of them. Komachi stared at my parents, while Haruno and Yukino's mother seemed to be looking in no particular direction. Dazed, I simply sat in place and began to subtly fidget with my hands. Looking to my side, I noticed that Yukino was looking at her mother with a concerned expression. Slowly, Hiro continued with a suggestive tone in his voice.
"If you need time to consider, I understand. My offer has no time limit and if you wish to think it over for a while then please do so by all means."
Hiro Yukinoshita's offer was quite the deal for my family. My parents had been working overtime for a long time and they'd barely saved enough to be able to come home earlier from work to spend time with their kids. I wasn't exactly sure what kind of situation my medical expenses were putting them in since they never talked about it, but I imagined that the extra load was pretty hefty. A financial break would make things much easier for them. That being said, my parents were also firm believers in dignified self-sufficiency. That isn't to say that they wouldn't accept help if they absolutely needed it, but they always kept their affairs and concerns to themselves.
It was nice to know that Hiro was willing to lend a hand. He seemed like a genuine, caring person who was driven by an honorable pursuit. I admired how he was both courteous and concise with the delivery of his proposal. However, something still felt off-kilter and I was having trouble wrapping my head around what that was. Perhaps it was the fact that Haruno and Naomi Yukinoshita were present when the offer was laid out. On that note, maybe it had something to do with the concerned look Yukino made while staring at her mother.
It made sense for Hiro to have his wife and elder daughter present while discussing a matter like this since they were closely involved with his work. He'd waited until everyone else had left to discuss the matter, so confidentiality was of clear importance to him. He'd even stated so himself. But if that was the case, then what felt so strange?
After a little while, my parents looked at each other and nodded briefly before turning back to Hiro. My father took a deep breath and looked down a little before looking Hiro in the eyes.
"We're extremely grateful for the offer and we're overwhelmed at how caring you've been, but we have to decline. We wish to cover Hachiman's expenses on our own. I'm very sorry if this disappoints you." My father said, standing up and bowing.
Hiro solemnly acknowledged my father's response and put his hand forth, nearly touching my father's hand.
"I understand, Hikigaya-san. I respect your decision. Thank you for hearing me out." He said, smiling softly. "If you ever decide to change your mind, I'm more than happy to help."
At that, Yukino's mother got up and placed her chair back where she got it from. Hiro and my father shook hands once again and Yukino's mother walked out of the dining hall silently. Both my parents started exchanging pleasantries with Hiro. Haruno stood next to her father as he congenially chatted with my parents. Pushing their chairs in, my parents and sister stood up and grabbed their belongings.
"Feel free to stick around a little longer if you wish. I have no qualms with it. After all, you are my guests of honor." Hiro said, holding out an arm. My parents looked at each other and turned to Hiro, shaking their heads.
"I'm sorry, Yukinoshita-san, but we should probably be going now. Thank you for your hospitality. It means a lot to us that you support and care about our son. We won't forget it." My father said politely.
"It's my pleasure." Hiro replied, holding out his hand. He and my father shook hands and then we all began to walk out of the dining hall.
Haruno quickly walked over to Yukino and whispered something in her ear. Turning to my parents, she spoke up.
"I believe Yukino-chan wants to talk with your son for a while." She said, sneaking a sly smile towards Yukino and I. Raising his brow, my father turned to me and then looked at Haruno.
"Oh? Well, I suppose we can wait." He said, glancing at his watch to check the time. Yukino looked at me and pointed her head towards the balcony that overlooked her backyard. As I looked back at my parents, my dad nodded at me and I made my way up the stairs. As I walked up, I could hear Hiro and my parents talking once more.
"I hope my daughter isn't causing you any trouble by keeping you and your son here."
"Oh, no. It's quite alright."
"Would you like anymore champagne? We have quite a bit left over."
"No thank you. We still have to drive home…"
As Yukino and I walked out onto the balcony, Yukino shut the windowed doors behind us. For a moment, the two of us stared at each other with blank faces, almost unsure of what to do or say. Yukino sighed and placed her hand on the railing of the balcony, looking towards the guest house. After a few seconds, she broke the silence.
"Did you notice how my mother was acting tonight?" She said, still facing the yard. I moved closer to her and looked down at the persimmon tree sitting in the garden. After taking a breath, I responded.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Now that I thought of it, Yukino's mother was acting a bit strange the whole evening. She seemed preoccupied when she came to my table and almost flat-out ignored my family aside from a brief acknowledgement. She was probably busy with a lot of things since she was helping host her husband's charity dinner. Still, after hearing my parent's response to her husband's proposal, she left the room without saying a word to anyone. Now facing me, Yukino spoke, a half-angry, half-worried tone in her voice.
"She was incredibly rude to you and your family. I almost couldn't believe it! She was even told that you were guests of honor, but that didn't stop her from showing her usual disregard. I really wish she wasn't so closed-minded about people she doesn't know, but she's so damned stubborn."
Looking away, Yukino sighed and placed her other hand on the rail, leaning on it and staring off into the backyard again. Shaking her head, she continued.
"I'm sorry, Hachi-kun. There's a lot I wanted to speak to you about, but I still can't shake off my mother's demeanor. If you and your family weren't here as designated guests of honor, she would've been much more curt and inconsiderate. She probably would've been hurling insults at your parents towards the end. I know what she was thinking…"
As Yukino trailed off, I thought about what she meant when she said that she knew what her mother was thinking. It wasn't much surprise that Yukino's mother wasn't exactly fond of people she was unfamiliar with. I'd witnessed this firsthand on more than one occasion and although her mother had never verbally attacked me, she did speak to me in a cold, condescending tone. Add to that my parent's response to Hiro's offer to pay my medical expenses and there was now a reason for her to dislike me. I definitely understood Yukino's concern and to an extent, I felt it as well.
Sensing Yukino's anxiety, I stepped next to her and put my hand on the rail, looking out into the backyard again. I put my other hand around her and pulled her in ever so gently. Startled, Yukino gasped, but leaned into me, loosening her grip on the balcony rail. We stayed like this for a minute or so, just looking at the yard and staring out into the night sky. After a little thought, I spoke up.
"Hey, I know you're worried, but I'm still here." I said in an attempt to offer some comfort. Yukino shook her head and looked me in the eyes again with a morbid look on her face.
"That's just the thing. When my mother finds out that we're more than just friends at school, she might try to separate us. If that's what she wants, she'll play dirty to do it. She'll manipulate things within the family so that I'll never have time to be around you. It would be easy for her. She'd hardly have to lift a finger." Yukino said, resting her head on my shoulder.
"But your father still supports us. He's happy for us, you know. He told me that in person. I have faith that he'd keep us from being separated if it came down to it." I said, stroking Yukino's hair, following the waves with my fingertips.
"I know that, but I can't help worrying. The thought of being pulled away from you cuts deep." Yukino said, now embracing me with one of her arms. Taking a deep breath, I placed my chin on the top of Yukino's head.
"I know what you mean. It's that feeling of helplessness that you get when you know that you can't do anything. I've known that feeling all too well." I said with a large sigh.
"Hachi-kun…"
"When I first heard that I was afflicted with brain cancer, I shut down completely because I didn't know how to react. Everything just became dull and gray. Nothing really seemed to matter anymore. But then I realized that there were people who still cared about me. You were one of those people. After a while, I began to worry. I began to worry about how I'd handle the weight of my ailment every day. I began to worry about how everyone would feel if I were to suddenly wake up one morning and have an aneurysm. After that night at your apartment, I worried that I might have destroyed both our friendships with Yuigahama."
I paused, looking up at the sky. Turning my gaze to the constellations as if to search for some sort of celestial wisdom, I took in a breath of fresh air and went on.
"I worried about everything that was out of my control for the sole reason that it was out of my control and that there were indeed circumstances that I couldn't predict. But worrying never changed anything. It made me anxious and prevented me from functioning properly. It ate away at me for a while. After your father spoke to me in the hospital, I learned one important thing, and that was not to worry. It takes willpower to handle overwhelming situations one step at a time, but at the end of the day, I'm a lot better off than I was when I obsessed over what I couldn't control. Although life is short and sometimes very painful, it's much more satisfying when you view it through a bright lense. Those were your father's words."
"My father said that to you?" Yukino asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.
"Yeah, when he visited me in the recovery ward. Ever since he spoke those words to me, I've done my best to follow them every day."
The two of us stood, gazing out at the night sky together. Enjoying the calm that swept over us, we listened to the soft echoes of the occasional breezes that blew through. Looking at Yukino, I could see the moonlight glimmering off of her eyes. Her dress seemed to glow in the light and as she leaned into me, I could feel her slender form. Returning my gaze, Yukino nudged me.
"Last week, Haruno stopped by at my apartment during the evening. It was after she spoke to you during club hours."
Nodding my head, I motioned for Yukino to continue.
"At first, I thought she was there on my mother's behalf to berate me or give me some sort of instructions, but she just came by to speak. She even bought some groceries and we cooked dinner together. It was… a pleasant surprise." She said, chuckling a little.
"While she was there, we talked a lot and caught up with each other. It was strange, but refreshing. I can't recall the last time we actually ate and laughed together. The strangeness of the whole thing made me realize that I'd never really gotten the chance to bond with her."
Yukino's smile died down a little bit as she gazed out into the open stoically. A pensive look formed on her face.
"I'm still glad she came, though. It's been far too long since we've actually gotten the chance to talk like sisters should. On a similar note, you and I haven't had the opportunity to talk in a while either."
Yukino paused for a moment as if to think of what she wanted to say next. Patting me on the shoulder, she spoke up again.
"No, that's not exactly right. We've talked a lot in club and in passing, but… I can't exactly put my finger on it-"
"You mean we haven't had the opportunity to talk like this." I said suggestively.
"Exactly. I want to hear from you. How's everything been?" Yukino asked. Looking her in the eye, I breathed in.
"Well, it's all been pretty good for the most part. Home life has been peaceful lately. After I get home from treatment, we all sit down and eat dinner as a family. It's nice since we haven't really done that before. Usually, Komachi just goes on about her day while my parents and I listen, but it's relaxing." I said, smiling. Yukino gave me a smile as well and giggled. Touching my forehead as if to inspect something, she asked another question.
"How's your health been?" she asked.
"I feel fine as of now. My hair's been growing back a little thin as you can probably tell, but other than that I don't feel any major side effects from treatment just yet. I've been put on this new exercise regiment, though. My doctors want me to be in the best possible physical shape I can be, so I've started running and working out in the mornings. It kind of sucks since I have to wake up early to do it, but hey. That's how these things work."
"I see. I'm happy for you. I feel better knowing that you're doing alright. Thank you for telling me." Yukino said, running her hand down the side of my face. "You know, we haven't done anything together yet. As a couple, that is. I know your schedule is extremely hectic given club business, treatment and school work, but I want us to try."
I nodded my head in agreement and placed my hand over Yukino's.
"I know. I'd like to as well." I said simply. "Do you have any ideas?"
Yukino pulled back and began to chortle. Moving back towards me, she wrapped both her arms around me and placed her head on my shoulder again. She sighed.
"Funny. Usually the boyfriend is the one who comes up with these sorts of ideas." She said teasingly, poking me in the ribs.
"Hey, now. I'm not the most outgoing boyfriend in the world, you know. These sorts of things are foreign to me." I said, laughing in the process.
"I know, I know." Yukino replied.
Suddenly, an idea popped into my head.
"Going by that train of thought, you should stop by my house every so often for dinner. My parents wouldn't mind at all and I'm sure Komachi would love to have you around. It would be fun. Plus, we'd have more time to study and talk about club business." I said.
"Hmm, if that's going to be the case, you should visit me at my apartment every once in a while as well. We could make dinner together and enjoy a movie."
"Sure. As long as it's not Pan-san, you have yourself a deal." I said, smirking at the end.
Yukino stepped back and flicked me on the forehead, giving me a fake glare. I pulled my head back and started laughing again when I noticed Yukino moving in. Placing both arms around me, she drew even closer and propped herself on her toes. I almost flinched for a second as she moved so close that I could feel her breath on my chest. When we were eye to eye, she hesitated for a brief second and then pecked me on the lips. Letting go of me, she stepped back and looked away. I could see her blushing and promptly, I began to do the same. Facing the night sky, I moved back towards Yukino and placed an arm around her, looking out at the night sky once more. She tapped me on the shoulder and meekly spoke up.
"H-hey. That was my first kiss, you know." She said semi-nervously. Chuckling, I leaned in and pressed my lips against her forehead.
"It was mine, too." I replied.
Yukino and I held each other, staring at the stars in the sky and listening to the breeze and the few cicada that chirped sporadically. Tonight was definitely an interesting night. I learned a lot and got to enjoy the company of everyone around me. There was no shortage of awkward moments, but there were also plenty of joyful ones to go around. From hearing Hiro speak about his foundation to seeing my parents turn down his offer to having a meaningful chat with Yukino, tonight was without a doubt a rich night. I wasn't exactly sure what would happen in the future or whether I'd be able to enjoy the rest of my days, but one thing that I did know was that I was enjoying myself now. Right here, right now, at this very moment, I was happily stargazing with Yukino, and that's all that mattered.
A/N:
Hey, guys! Bronze V Lee Sin here again! I hope you all have enjoyed the story thus far. The last chapter was a pain for me to write since there was so much to account for, but I think it got things moving in the right direction. I know that many of you have commented on a lack of romantic interaction between Hachiman and Yukino, but believe me when I say that I've been thinking about it too. It's been on the front of my mind as I've typed out the past couple chapters. The romance between these two is still burning strong and will continue to grow and develop over time in each of the future chapter updates. I'm still debating on whether or not I should throw some fluff in (or whether or not having Hachiman x Yukino fluff would be appropriate for the type of fic I'm trying to write), but if anything, I'll play it by ear and do what feels best. I know that the integrity of this story has gone up and down like a roller coaster since I first started writing, and to be honest, this whole thing has been a massive challenge. However, the vision that I started with hasn't changed one bit and I have confidence that this fic will be able to wrap up even stronger than it started. For those who've stuck with me all this way, I give you my thanks and hope that you'll finish this journey with both Hachiman and I. That being said, Bronze V Lee Sin out! Hikuu!
P.S. If you haven't checked out "Maturity" by Lose, I highly recommend that you do so. It's by far one of the best, most down-to-earth fics ever written for the Oregairu series. If you haven't read it already, you're seriously missing out.