Here is the chapter 19! Haruno is acting herself, Hachiman acts for his election and tries to act as a good boyfriend for the pain of a girlfriend he has.

It was almost time to start the afternoon period and the little clique formed by Tobe, Ebina, Miura and Hikigaya was done eating and were now chit-chatting for the exception to the loner whose mind was lost elsewhere.

Hachiman was indeed thinking hard about how to put all the chances on his side. Yukinoshita was supported only by Yui but the problem was that between the two of them, it was clear who would be chosen. Popularity was a key factor and it was what was problematic. She was cold to everyone, and yet she was a goddess in the school. It did not take a genius brain to understand how it was going to unfold.

"If I want to win fairly without my usual underhanded methods, I'll have to win Sagami over..." He muttered to himself.

"What did you say Hikio?"

"Oh? My bad, I spoke my thoughts."

"What is it about winning Sagami over?"

At this point Tobe and Ebina were all ears too.

"Well, think about it that way. I have thought about all the possible outcomes and it's not great. In the possibility that my speech was on par with Yukinoshita. Even with a full team behind me, in the end the Sagami's event is still in the mind of the student body. It's the shadow in my plan."

"So what you are saying is that you'll try to make amend to her, so she would forgive you publicly?" Asked Ebina.

"That's like impossible Hikitani-bro. Sagami's like stuck-up when it comes to you."

"Hell no I won't apologize. She deserved it. Thanks to that she was good enough to handle the sport festival. That made her grew, so I will ask her to give me her support. If she was to accept and publicly take my side then others will naturally think that maybe I am not that bad. Maybe."

"So you're relying on sheer luck here huh?" Said Yumiko kind of perplex.

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Not really. Don't even ask me to talk to her, it will end badly."

Hachiman sighed and got up from his seat, surprising his comrades.

"Huh? Likes right now?!"

"Now or later the result would be the same."

Hikigaya walked to Sagami's group with his hand in his pockets, as nonchalant and disinterested as ever. Soon enough, all eyes were on him in the room. This situation was way too unusual since almost everybody knew about their relationship.

Sagami noticed his presence and turned around, glaring at him when she saw his face.

"What do you want creep?"

This earned her a powerful snake like glare from the Fire Queen which made her wince and softened her own glare because of the intimidation.

"I-I mean what is it Hikigaya-san?"

So this is what it's like to have power huh? Urgh, that was very chuuni of me.

"I wanted to talk to you about the election. It won't be long."

"If you're asking me for my vote then you can scram. After what you did to me-"

"After what I did to you in order for you to move and do your work as you were supposed to do. And guess what, after being shaken a little brutally you were able to do a decent job at the sport festival, so all in all it was useful. I admit I could have done it in another way but I don't regret it."

"Guh... You!"

"What are you even asking Sagamin to do?!" Said Haruka getting annoyed by the presence of the creep.

"Yeah scram already. The damage is done!" yelled Yokko.

Hikigaya just looked at them with his fish eyes burning with conviction, they were finally useful to him. They intimidated Sagami's friends resulting in them closing their mouth while backing away. He let his stare wander to Yuigahama who averted her eyes by looking at her feet out of fear and shame. He mentally sighed and looked back at Minami.

"So? What do you say Sagami? I'm just asking for your temporary support and to turn a blind eye on me for the duration of the election."

"Why would I even do that? What do I win by helping you like this?"

"Nothing much, I'm not really expecting you to accept. I just asked."

"Then you can forget it I w-"

Sagami felt a tug on her left sleeve. She looked at who was interrupting her and it was Yuigahama who still looked at her shoes with the gloomiest aura one could emanate.

"Sagamin please. Can you help Hikki just this once... It was us who burdened him to get you back. He shouldered all the negativity for you so far so please help him. I'm ready to bow to you..."

"W-What are you saying Yui? Why would you go so far for him? With what happened the other day how can you ask that of me?"

"It's precisely because of what happened that I'm asking this little favor of you!" She said a bit louder, gritting her teeth.

Hachiman had a confused and shocked look on his face much like Minami.

"I did something horrible and there not so much I can do feel better about it because I'm unforgivable so please Sagamin, help Hikki..."

"I-Is that really what you want?"

Yui nodded, removing her fingers from Sagami's sleeve. She still avoided Hachiman's eyes.

"Fine, fine, whatever, ok you got it Hikigaya but I'm not doing it for your sake. I'm doing this for Yui. Understood?" She said sighing.

"Yeah, thanks I guess." He said looking at Yui.

"Shouldn't you be supporting Yukinoshita? This is playing dirty you know? Not that I mind."

"You heard me Hikki, I just want to feel better about myself... I'm doing it for me, not for Yukinon..."

"I see."

Hikigaya scratched his head and went back to Yumiko doing the victory sign. She grinned at him.

The bell finally rang and all students in the classroom were now at their seat. It was a science afternoon, a real torture for the loner who slumped down on his desk at the end of the last lesson.

"Ah... I'm beat."

"Good bye, see you tomorrow Hachiman!" Said the angel Saika waving at him.

"Yeah see you Saika." He answered with a smile.

Yumiko came next to him after saying her farewell to her friends whom said theirs to Hikigaya from afar.

"So Hikio, you have something to do with Kawasaki right?

"Yeah, so don't mind me, you can go back. Sorry about that it's linked to the election don't worry."

"Ah? Why should I worry, I know I can trust you plus I talked about it with her and you too right?"

"Yeah... Thanks for trusting me. It means a lot."

"Don't belittle yourself from now on, you can be confident in yourself Hikio. You are not a bad person. You are a creep, you are underhanded, malicious, vicious, I'm sure you are a perv but you're a kind person nonetheless even if you're dense as hell."

"Oi! Are you trying to cheer me on or take blows at me?"

"I wonder?" She said smirking.

This woman I swear.

Saki who got up and felt disgusted at the sight disrupted the couple with her full annoyed aura.

"Hikigaya, I don't have all day, either you flirt or you come with me for what you asked me."

"A-Ah right, coming right away Kawasaki, see you Yumiko." Said Hachiman getting up with his bag to join Saki.

He waved at Yumiko who waved back sighing. Saki and Hachiman left together while Yumiko pouted and left the school.

"So what about the election Hikigaya?"

"Well so far so good I guess, I have all my chance to win you know? Let's start the operations. Can I just ask you to make some banners for me for the speech? I think it would be reasonable with your tight schedule and I don't want to ask too much from you. Just that would be amazing in itself."

"Seriously? That's all you need? Not that I mind it's actually nice of you to think about all the things I have to do. Thanks, I'll do it you have my words."

"Great! Also sorry but could you send a text to Ebina asking her if she can make a design for the campaign? I know she draws her weird Yaoi things so maybe she's good with calligraphy or something. If so it would be great if she could help us."

"I think I can do that too but why didn't you ask her then?"

"I just thought about it just now actually."

"I see."

An awkward silence fell on the both while they were walking at their own pace to Hachiman's peaceful haven.

"Say Hikigaya... Are you two really going out with each other?"

"Y-Yeah... Well more like, we're trying it out..."

"What do you mean? She said she was serious with these kinds of things. I hope you're not half-assing it. I don't like Miura, but she does not deserve that kind of attitude."

"Hey hey, calm down, honestly I'm doing my best. This is alien to me."

"I said we're trying it out because that's the truth. We don't know if it's love or a desperate need for affection and genuine care but since every person we held dear in our heart hurt us we decided to do this since I don't dislike her, and she neither."

"You mean?..."

"Yeah I loved Yukinoshita Yukino."

Kawasaki looked at him with a thoughtful expression mixed with disappointment.

"I'm sorry Kawasaki but I can't return the feelings you may have for me. I care about you as a friend I guess but I don't even know what I'm really feeling so... I don't want to half-ass things with others when they try so hard."

"I understand Hikigaya, don't worry. Actually it removed a huge weight off my shoulders. Aaaaah! I was troubled since the day you said 'Love ya, Kawasaki' at the festival you know, you bastard."

"W-Well sorry about that, I was in a hurry I guess and I tend to say a lot of crap when my mind is in overload."

"You don't say, you idiot. Never do that again." She said smacking his head playfully."

"Well I'm off Hikigaya, see you."

"Yeah, bye." He said with a small smile. A bit of weight was lifted off his shoulders too.

Hachiman then went back into the facility because it was the fastest way to go to his bike to get it back. The corridors were empty, everybody was at their club, something he didn't need to do anymore.

Nothing ever goes accordingly to his planned actions though. Halfway through, he met the one person he thought he would never meet again before the final showdown. Yukinoshita Yukino was facing him.

"Hikigaya-kun."

"Yukinoshita. What is it?"

"Don't go imagining in your twisted mind that the kind person that I am would grace you of my presence if I hadn't important things to talk to you about."

"The same as always huh? Haughty just to take a blow at me. So?"

"I called nee-san yesterday. She hung up on me during our discussion about her interference in the election and Miura-san's well-being."

"That much was predictable, she never listened to anyone of us."

"True. But she did say that she had some other 'tricks' to play. I'm just warning you since I can't do anything about her... Also..."

"What?" Said Hachiman unnerved and gritting his teeth behind his lips.

"Sorry about Yuigahama-san's behaviour."

"Tch, you didn't have to remind me of that. It's Yuigahama's problem Yukinoshita. She has to handle it her way. You aren't in the wrong for 'that'."

"You're right. Bye then I said what I needed."

She started to walk again, going past him without looking at him or back at him. While he just left the building, biting the bottom of his lip out of frustration. Seeing Yukinoshita made him remember all the good memories in the club and it hurt like hell. Yukino tighten the grip around her upper right arm to keep herself from crying. Seeing him was too much for her. Her path was a thorny path but it was for the better.

Hikigaya reached his bike and his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it and read the message, it was from yumiko.

'See you at the park on the way Hikio.'

"Would it hurt you to ask for my opinion woman?" He said with an eased and small smile.

'Also stop muttering to yourself, I know you just said something about me'

Esper!

Hachiman rode his bike and reach a small park. He got off it and dragged it next to him. It wasn't long before he saw the usual golden mane of the queen. She was sitting on a swing. The picture was kinda sad in most cases. The lonely highschool girl sitting on a swing all alone. Except here, the girl was smiling and waiting for someone.

"You were fast Hikio? Did you really want to see me that much?"

"Cut it out woman. Seriously you're the only person to boss others around like that. You're such a handful."

"I know right? That's the only way to get things done. Especially with you since you're a bit of a Hikkikomori. You have this kind of aura. 'Going home as soon as possible'. Too bad I won't let you since we're dating." She said with a shit-eating grin.

"Ah whatever, I knew what I was getting myself into." He said chuckling.

"So what do you want to do ojou-sama?"

"Hmm I like the sound of that. How about pushing the swing for me?"

"Miura... You aren't a little girl anymore. Moreover, it would be embarrassing..."

"Come on Hikio, don't be such a killjoy... I'm not asking much. It's been a long time since I last did something like that."

"Fine fine."

Hachiman went behind Yumiko and put his hands on her tiny back, his cheeks got a bit pink, but he still pushed her gently and little by little she was getting higher and higher with a small laughter. She was like a little girl having fun after a long time.

Well if it's this much I guess I can do it.

Then the wind blew and Yumiko's skirt made some dangerous movement.

No! I can't do this at all!

Hachiman stopped her movement by catching her back. His cheeks were now burning, and he looked at his feet.

"What the hell Hikio? Did something happen?" Said Miura leaning her head back to look behind her.

"No, that's just... The wind-"

When he opened his eyes he met Miura's beautiful green eyes under his face. She was looking upward and he was looking downward. Eyes looking straight into another. She was as red as him with surprise in her eyes. She didn't expect the closeness.

Both were silent, time seemed to stop for a bit, they just stared at each other like they were hypnotized. Their face seemed to get closer and closer while their thoughts were shut off in their brain.

"Ara ara! Hikigaya-kun!"

The voice of a devil interrupted their trance, and they both jolted up. Miura being faster than Hachiman to react headbutted him in the chin. They both hurt themselves doing so and held their respective chin and head to ease the pain.

Still blushing and flustered by what happened, they had a hard time to regain their composure to face the person who disturbed them.

Shock and hatred appeared on their face when they finally recognized this person.

Yukinoshita Haruno.

"Yahallo Hikigaya-kun, Yahallo Miura-chan!"

Yumiko made a step back but Hachiman went in front of her, she smiled and hugged his left arm.

"What is it Haruno? Coming to do something else to us?"

"So hostile! You're hurting your onee-chan's feeling you know? Ah but I may be wrong now. Since you're going out with blondie. Poor Yukino-chan."

"There is nothing else you can do to Miura or myself Haruno, you don't have enough power to meddle that much. I know you want to get me back to the club in Yukinoshita's grasp but that won't be happening. And I know She didn't mean any single words she said back at the double date thing. The deed is done though. I'm not a member anymore and I'm her opponent."

"Don't get too hasty there shall we?" She said with her most normal smile. It was a scary sight.

Hikigaya gulped at this sight. Yukinoshita Haruno was a scary person, but seeing her this calm was the scariest sight one could see.

"This is not that simple Hikigaya-kun. I know I told Yukino-chan that I had some other tricks but that's not the truth. Let's have a nice talk shall we?"

Hachiman looked at Yumiko, and they both nodded to each other.

"I'm going home Hikio. Take care around this witch."

"Yeah don't worry I'll manage. I guess."

She smiled, not really convinced but still chose to trust him. She was reluctant to let his arm go, but she would be in the way here. Her instinct told her that.

Hachiman then joined Haruno who sat on one of the two swing. She was wearing her usual casual long skirt attire. He sat on the last empty swing. Both of them were now looking at the ground as it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"So where should we start?"