"Okay, now it's Yukinon's turn to ask a question!" I announced cheerfully.

"All right. This is a Japanese question. Complete the following idiom: 'when the wind blows…'"

When the wind blows… hmm… Hikki takes a nap?

Gah, stop it, me! We're studying here. Super-duper serious! No distractions! Even if they're cute…

Ugh.

"… the Keio line stops?" I answered instead.

"The correct answer is 'the carpenter gets rich'" Yukinon corrected me.

Huffing out a sigh, I let my head droop for a moment. All this is way too hard. There's too much material. I can't stay focused at all.

Yukinon, Sai-chan, and I were all at a café together studying. We had exams coming up, after all.

It's too bad Hikki didn't want to come. Since we didn't have club today, I was hoping that I'd still get to spend some time with Hikki today…

… but I guess no—

"Whoa, that was fast, Onii-chan!" came a voice to my right.

Glancing over at the entrance, I couldn't believe my eyes. There was a girl and boy, or something, I didn't really pay attention, standing at the entrance. And next to them was…

"… Hikki?"

Blinking a couple times, I slowly realized that he really was there. In the flesh. Standing up straight, obviously out of breath, and towering down on some boy.

"Is… this… him?" Hikki breathed out between breaths.

My gaze snapped to the two kids he was talking to. They looked like middle schoolers. One was some random boy, and the other…

… totally looked like him.

A sister! I mean, I knew that he had one, but this is my first time ever seeing her. What was her name again? I think it was… Komachi?

She was a lot shorter than Hikki. Her hair was longer. Her eyes were different too, but other than that, she looked a lot like him. She was…

… super cute!

A-ah, but not in a weird way! I don't swing that way…

… but she does look a lot like Hikki.

I mean, what?

I watched wordlessly as Hikki circled the boy, eyeing him from head to toe. Then, Hikki stepped back and brought his hand up to his chin.

"Rejected!" Hikki shouted suddenly, pointing accusingly at the boy. His voice was powerful. It had enough authority to stop the waiter in their tracks and draw attention from everyone in here. Even from across the café, I could see the determination that shined in his eyes. He looked like an iron wall, placing himself between the boy and his little sister. Honestly, it was kinda coo—

*bonk*

Or not.

My eyes widened in surprise when Komachi chopped Hikki over the head.

"Stop making a scene, Onii-chan" Komachi berated firmly.

Then, Hikki… pouted.

I mean, actually pouted. As in, using his face muscles to make an expression, while also covering up his head with his arms. It was nothing like his usual poker face, or at times, small tilting of his mouth upwards into what I've learned is his best smile. It was a full, normal expression for the average person. And yet, it looked so… special on Hikki.

My heart skipped a beat. My hands suddenly felt clammy. My breathing quickened.

He was…

… by far the most adorable thing I've ever seen.

I feel like I should call the cops. This sight should be illegal. It was lethal.

"Hachiman!" called out a voice.

My head snapped back to my table when I heard his first name being called. The first thing I noticed was Sai-chan calling out to Hikki, waving him over. Ah, well, that's okay. Sai-chan is a guy, after all. No harm, no foul…

… but, what was Yukinon doing? She was sitting to my left, meaning she had no clear view of Hikki.

Or so I thought.

Yukinon was leaning forward in her seat, eyes wide as saucers. I briefly noticed the fact that her hand was clutching a napkin tightly, and the fact that she was looking right through me. As if I wasn't here.

Seeing her body position and the way that her jaw was hanging slightly open, I felt a pang of pain from my heart. There was something wrong here, something really wrong. Yukinon didn't look ladylike at all. She looked more like…

… a maiden in love.

They were saying things, that I knew.

We had all stuffed into the same booth, now with three on each side. They were on one side, and us original members were on the other.

Oh, we're doing introductions.

I was right, her name is Komachi, isn't that nice?

"N-nice to meet you! I'm Hikki's… classmate, Yui Yuigahama!" I managed to get out.

In response, Komachi quirked an eyebrow at me, scanning my face over. She was… suspicious of me. For what reason, I had no idea.

Yukinon cut in, introducing herself.

There was something about acquaintances, or cram school, oh and Kawasaki. I wasn't really listening.

It all sorta faded away from me. Their words all sounded muddled to me. I felt like I was watching myself in the third person.

How in the world did I not realize!?

I was so damn focused on Hikki that I never took a second to look at Yukinon!

I mean, after all, Yukinon's a proper lady and Hikki's a just a lazy classmate, right? There's no way that they'd get along at all, right!? Haha… ha…

… Apparently not.

Why? Just why did it have to be you, of all people!?

How in the world am I supposed to win against you?

It's not fair at all!

Signing internally, I reeled back in my emotions.

I always knew something was off. Whenever Yukinon said something weird or gave a strange glance, it always had something to do with Hikki.

I knew it. I knew it. I knew it…

… but I didn't catch it in time.

Or maybe, I didn't want to catch it. Because doing so would, well, kinda suck for me.

Discretely glancing over at Yukinon, I felt my jaw tighten when I saw her. Or rather, when I saw the way her dilated pupils were following Hikki's every movement.

Looking at Hikki myself, I could see why Yukinon was so… interested. Hikki had seemed to be relaxed now. If anything, he was way too relaxed right now. He looked more like a big pile of jelly than a human.

The result being a really, uh, provocative showing of bare skin as his shirt slipped up more and more the further down he melted into the seat.

"Taishi-kun is the brother of a student of our school" Yukinon said, breaking me from my thoughts. "And she is the one he is seeking advice about. I believe this falls within the category of Service Club work, does it not?"

"No way. I refuse. Rejected, once again." Hikki responded instantly "I mean, after al—"

I watched as Komachi tapped on Hikki's shoulder, which instantly shut him up. They stared at each other for a moment before Komachi flashed him a cheeky smile.

Turning back towards us, I saw Hikki's face take on a look of defeat. He placed his arms on the table and rested his forehead on them.

"… Fine" He relented, letting out an exasperated sigh.

Let it be known! 8man might have be forced into servitude by Komachi, but he has not given up quite yet!

He won't let his principles fade that easily!

That being said, we have a big event coming up. How will it go down in this AU?