Chapter 14: Progressions
(Yukinoshita Yukino POV, Sobu High School)
"Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
That's something I get frequently from my classmates (and probably students from different classes who were passing by as well), not just during the class, but I already got it from them from when I changed the shoes at the shoe locker.
However, there's one person that won't give me that like others even once even though he's my classmate. In fact, he just walked past me without hesitation.
I'm talking about the one who's a completely random guy to me until he became the member of Service Club and being introduced as one of Hikigaya-kun's cousins.
Sanshokuin Hachiju. Self-proclaimed nickname: Miki.
His shoe locker is neither too near nor too far from mine, regrettably.
Just having his presence entered my sight really makes me annoyed.
And now that man finally showed up.
The only good thing about his presence is that his gloominess aura ruined people's mood and deterred unneeded greetings from them for me.
"Hmm…" said Miki-kun.
It looks like he noticed something wrong with his shoe locker without open it.
Then he pulled out a decent sized black garbage bag from his sleeve and covered it on his shoe locker then opened his shoe locker as it was.
The garbage bag is almost full the moment the shoe locker is opened and then Miki-kun proceeds to change his shoes as if nothing has happened.
However, there's one thing that slipped off of his garbage back when he tied it.
It's a piece of paper and I picked it up.
(Clubroom)
I've read the content of the letter and am confused.
'Do you like it, senpai?'
What's that supposed to mean?
So I discussed this with Yuigahama-san, saying that I happened to pick it up after it slipped out of the shoe locker that isn't even mine but even she doesn't know either.
"Hey, Hikki. Do you know what this means?" Yuigahama-san asked Hikigaya-kun about it.
But when she's about to show the letter to Hikigaya-kun, she tripped and the letter flew into Miki-kun and Sanshin-kun's direction.
The moment Miki-kun reads it, he looks like he has figured out something and is deadpanned.
"That damn girl…" said Miki-kun to no one.
What?
"Maybe her real surname was Kohinata, don't you think?" said Hikigaya-kun.
"Not possible, this brat isn't fictional. And Hachiju definitely not Ooboshi Akiteru." said Sanshin-kun.
What are they talking about?
"I guess she's not going to stop unless you face her head-on, Hachiju." said Hikigaya-kun.
Miki-kun brushed his bangs and casted the shadow covering his eyes.
Gross…
"As you wish, Isshiki Iroha. If you want to have fun with me, I'll have fun with you as well. Come, Hassen." said Miki-kun.
"Roger." replied Sanshin-kun as he left with Miki-kun.
After both of them left, Yuigahama-san and I turned to Hikigaya-kun for an explanation just to notice him sweating.
"Don't hold grudges on me, Isshiki…" muttered Hikigaya-kun.
After hearing that, Yuigahama-san grabbed his collar shirt and asked him violently.
"I demanded your explanation, Hikki!" said Yuigahama-san.
"Eh? What?" asked Hikigaya-kun.
"I've tolerated it long enough, this time I couldn't stay calm! Explain why you allow their bullying again and again!" said Yuigahama-san.
"Yuigahama-san, calm down." I said.
"Don't stop me Yukinon. I need him to tell me how much those two needed to hurt others until they're satisfied. First Yukinon and me, second Shiromeguri-senpai and now Iroha-chan." said Yuigahama-san.
After that, Yuigahama-san cried.
"Explains please, Hikki. I know you're not someone who would let things like that happen without a reason. How long are you going to keep us out of it?" said Yuigahama-san with tears as Hikigaya-kun surrendered.
After hearing that, I couldn't help but sadly agree with her.
Lately, I felt like he left us out for so long and I don't like it.
Seriously, why do I feel this way in the first place, I wonder?
"It's not like I want to keep you guys out of this, nor it's hard to explain, but it's because it doesn't sound convincing." said Hikigaya-kun.
Hikigaya-kun conducted a long sighed.
"Rather than bullying, it's how they express their grudges toward people to be exact." said Hikigaya-kun.
Huh?
"You guys already know why they're bullying you guys so I'm going to explain why they picked a fight with Shiromeguri-senpai and Isshiki right away." said Hikigaya-kun.
Hikigaya-kun's looks turned serious.
"To be frank, I just found out recently that Hachiju has a fiancée and it turned out to be Shiromeguri-senpai. Of course it's their parents' desire, not theirs." said Hikigaya-kun.
Yuigahama-san and I stood there, shocked.
This is way too much…
"If that's the case then he's even more horrible! How could he treat someone who is his fiancée like that bad?!" said Yuigahama-san.
I think I can't agree with that.
"Imagine that you're getting engaged with Zaimokuza then you'll understand his feelings a bit." said Hikigaya-kun.
Yuigahama-san couldn't help but shut her mouth and averted her eyes elsewhere.
I couldn't blame her because that's one hell of comparison ever. Still…
"I don't think that comparison would fly, Hikigaya-kun, especially when you compared Shiromeguri-senpai to that Zaisomething-kun." I said.
"In Hachiju's eyes, yes she is. And for your information I don't mean to degrade senpai to Zaimokuza level but if I told you guys that he felt like being engaged with someone like Hayama then it would be hard to imagine after all." retorted Hikigaya-kun.
I really couldn't say which one I prefer more.
Wait. Feel like Hayama-kun, then…
"You probably will be able to guess it, Yukinoshita. Senpai took peacefulness over outright rejection even though she herself also did not wish for engagement resulting in his hatred for her grew." said Hikigaya-kun.
I also could imagine Hayama-kun doing the same as Shiromeguri-senpai if he ever got engaged.
"Since you guys already got a taste of how being hated by him felt like so you could imagine how he would treat her if they met, right?" said Hikigaya-kun.
I could picture it and I couldn't help but pitied at her fate and admired her toughness at the same time.
"But I still couldn't help but think that Miki-kun was overdoing it, even if it's because of unwillingness!" said Yuigahama-san.
Although she's right, I don't think I can fully support her opinion.
After all, it's something only those who were in the same situation as him would understand.
Not to mention that just imagine myself getting engaged by my parents with someone I don't like really felt like being hit by a whole truck.
"It sounds funny but even if he's doing the opposite thing, I don't think it would be good for senpai either." said Hikigaya-kun.
"Why?" I asked.
"It's because of the reason why the engagement is held in the first place." said Hikigaya-kun with a serious tone.
Hm… a family matter, huh? That's surely a pain…
"Their parents are just being too nosy about their children's love life." said Hikigaya-kun.
"Eh?" Yuigahama-san and I said in unison.
What kind of reason is that?
"I've talked about this topic with Hachiju since the lunch break and it turned out that Shiromeguri-senpai's parents did it because they didn't want people's expectations on their daughter became too high and crushed her while my uncle and auntie just wanted to help Hachiju forget his sadness they assumed he still bothered it." explained Hikigaya-kun.
"ARRRRGHHHH?! The more I heard the more painful my headache became!" groaned Yuigahama-san.
"It's true that getting her together with someone like Miki-kun would lower people's expectations on her, but in Miki-kun's case, that's ridiculous. Is his sadness really worth having engagement with Shiromeguri-senpai solved?" I voiced out my opinion.
"Maybe they thought that things might work out in the end since their children were already teenagers, sometimes I couldn't help but think that Hachiju made sense when he described them as idiots." said Hikigaya-kun.
If they're not idiots, then they must have screwed loose.
"But the main problem is that the Hachiju you know used to have a girl he likes, has his love unrequited and today he just told me that the girl who he likes turned out to be already dead. So it's no wonder his parents think that he's bothered by it, especially when his personality turned out like this so they arranged the engagement for him hoping that will help him forget his grief." said Hikigaya-kun.
He has someone he likes and that person already died, huh? That's definitely hurt deeply…
"But isn't that weird? Are they trying to make Shiromeguri-senpai a replacement for that guy's unrequited love? That's really absurd!" complained Yuigahama-san.
"That's why Hachiju kept playing the role of Shiromeguri-senpai's nemesis. One, to indicate that she not only couldn't replace his unrequited love, but also doesn't deserve to be involved with his problems even if his parents went this far because of familial love." said Hikigaya-kun.
"You're saying as if he was a good guy." I said.
Aren't you guys overprotective of each other too much?!
Hikigaya-kun laughed dryly.
"Both him and Hassen will be 'good guys' only to those who they counted as either family or the recognized ones. The rest will get the horrible treatment especially those who interact with their family, and take notes that 'relatives' is 'family' to them." said Hikigaya-kun.
Just like how you treated Totsuka-kun compared to others, right?
"But what about Iroha-chan? Isn't she completely not related?" said Yuigahama-san.
"You're right. She's not related, until the day where she's coming to the Service Club for the first time." said Hikigaya-kun.
"How?" I asked.
"In the end it's Hachiju's idea that saved her from bullying, right?" asked Hikigaya-kun.
"Yeah, what's about it?" I asked.
Then Yuigahama-san looks like she figured out something.
"D-Don't tell me that…" said Yuigahama-san.
"Your premonition is probably right on the money, Yuigahama. Since the day where she could officially be exempted from being a candidate for student council president, Isshiki somehow developed feelings for Hachiju." said Hikigaya-kun.
"Um… Hikigaya-kun… isn't that sound too delusional?" I asked.
I couldn't help but feel gross upon hearing that.
"What a coincidence, Yukinoshita. Hachiju himself also felt gross about that idea too so he discarded that thought. However, lately, Isshiki did approach Hachiju in secret again and again much to his annoyance. Remember that one time where he being a jerk and suggested to Totsuka that his kouhai should just give up?" asked Hikigaya-kun.
"Now that you mentioned it, I also wondered what's wrong with him at that time." said Yuigahama-san.
"But how did he know that the kouhai Totsuka-kun referred to is Isshiki-san and knew that the boy she actually referred is himself?" I asked.
No matter how much I racked my brain on it, I couldn't help but wonder if someone could deduce this much from this little amount of clue.
"I don't think it's right to say he knew that much. Let's say that he doesn't let that possibility slip and blurts out that jerky line back then to check whether his assumption is a hit or miss. Unfortunately for him, it was proven to be a hit from that paper." said Hikigaya-kun.
"The paper?" confused Yuigahama-san.
"It's a paper that flew toward Hikigaya-kun and those two earlier, Yuigahama-san." I explained.
"Oh. That paper?" said Yuigahama-san.
"But how is it considered a hit?" I asked.
Hikigaya-kun blinked his eyes and sighed.
"Since the paper was in your possession then you're the one who took it after Hachiju slipped it, right?" asked Hikigaya-kun.
And now it's my turn to blink my eyes.
"Yes, it's me. And how did you know about that? Are you stalking me?" I said as I hugged myself defensively.
"While your tongue is sharp, your nose seems to be just as great as Yuigahama's cooking if it's not for tea, I guess." retorted Hikigaya-kun.
"I'm right here, you idiot Hikki!" scolded Yuigahama-san.
Okay, wise guy. You'll get super bitter tea from now on.
Before I could say anything, he interrupted me.
"Inside Hachiju's shoe locker, it contained a certain amount of his pet parrot's smell and that same smell coming from the paper itself that's why." said Hikigaya-kun.
Is he a dog? Well, his manners really fit ones so that might be the case.
"Also, Hachiju always placed a transparent tape on his shoe locker and today it's twisted so he figured out that someone was meddling with his locker. Guess what? A ton of Isshiki in bunny outfit flooded out of it. If Hachiju hasn't been on guard, things would get nasty." said Hikigaya-kun.
"No way… to think that Iroha-chan has this side of her…" said Yuigahama-san.
"That's gross…" I couldn't help but say it out loud.
I couldn't help but admit that Miki-kun's premonition was frighteningly on point.
Because she has a feeling for him or not, if what Hikigaya-kun said is true then Isshiki-san really has gone too far this time. However…
"But I couldn't help but feel pity for Isshiki-san even though she's at fault for pulling such a prank. Is it a good thing to let your cousins handle it, Hikigaya-kun?" I asked.
"Iroha-chan might get something that is even worse than heartbreak. You're thinking this is alright, Hikki?!" said Yuigahama-san.
"Don't worry that much. He's not that heartless. Because h—"
Before Hikigaya-kun could finish his reply, the door was knocked and swung open, revealing the figure of someone I definitely not expected to be here at this time.
My nosy, big sister. Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Yahallo. Hikigaya-kun, Yukino-chan, Gahama-chan." said Nee-san.
Weird. Is she really that Nee-san of mine? It would be normal for her to greet us with that line and the cheerful smile of hers, but today, that smile is missing.
"What do you want, Yukinoshita-san?" asked Hikigaya-kun as he gazed at Nee-san.
"To be honest, I wanted to have a chat with Hikigaya-kun alone but considering the topics you guys talking about up until now I don't think I could have him for myself today." said Nee-san with a dejected expression (which I'm not sure if it's genuine or fake).
"If you don't have any business here then could you be so kind and lea—" I said but got interrupted.
"If I'm saying I have a request that involves your clubmate then would you ignore and still insist on chasing me out, Yukino-chan? Although the person I referred to is currently absent it seems." said Nee-san.
Sweat rolled down from my forehead. I couldn't detect any playfulness and cheerfulness in her voice at all.
This is way too unusual so I couldn't help but allow her to say whatever she wants.
"Since the topic you three have discussed coincidentally related to my request then let's make it quick. I want you guys to help me break the engagement between Meguri and Miki-kun." said Nee-san.
My jaw dropped upon hearing that.
"Are you serious, Nee-san?" I asked.
"I wish I wasn't, Yukino-chan." said Nee-san.
I gulped.
"But why, Nee-san?" I asked.
"It's for Meguri's sake. I owe her an apology. Also,…" said Nee-san as she approached me and reached for my shoulder.
"What are you trying to d—" I said and got interrupted again.
Nee-san's face reached past mine and her lips just so close with my ears.
"Take care of yourself well, Yukino." whispered Nee-san.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" I asked.
But Nee-san doesn't reply back and just walks toward Hikigaya-kun and whispers something in his ears for a moment causing his face to turn red for some reason before leaving the room.
And for some reason, watching the scenes in front of me really makes me annoyed, even more than when Shiromeguri-senpai approached Hikigaya-kun when she came here during the sports festival.
"Your sister is weird today." said Hikigaya-kun as he sighed with his eyes closed.
Yuigahama-san and I approached him and gave him an intimidating glare.
"What did Nee-san tell you? Tell me." I demanded.
Hikigaya-kun closed his eyes again and shivered.
Don't make it look like I'm bullying you!
"Are you sure you want to hear it?" asked Hikigaya-kun as he averted his face elsewhere.
"I'm sure so tell me." I demanded.
"'Please protect my beloved Yukino-chan', that's what she said." replied Hikigaya-kun with a red face.
"Eh?" said Yuigahama-san, confused and her face is red.
"W-what are you saying?! Gross! Gross!" I said while my face became hotter.
"That's why I asked you if you really want to hear it, you demon superwoman! Oh geez, I'm out!" retorted Hikigaya-kun and about to leave.
Nee-san, you…!
"Wait, Hikki. We're still not finished talking! What about Iroha-chan?" called out Yuigahama-san.
Good job, Yuigahama-san.
"I think he already showed mercy on her, y'know? If not then he wouldn't hesitate to report the whole prank to student council and get her being punished already so—"
Before Hikigaya-kun could finish his reply, the door swung open again and revealed the figures of people that had left before Nee-san.
Miki-kun and Sanshin-kun are back.
"If you're worried about that fox kouhai that much then you could check up on her yourself." said Miki-kun.
"What did you do to Iroha-chan?!" asked Yuigahama-san, angrily.
"I'm the victim here and yet I was accused as a bad guy, huh? Hm… how should I put it in words…? Let's say that before we realized we already walked past each other." said Miki-kun.
As always, he loved to get on our nerves.
"If you're not going to tell me then that's fine. I'll go check on her myself." said Yuigahama-san as she stormed off of the room.
Looks like Yuigahama-san has had enough of his bulls already.
"Hachiju, Haruno-san requested to have your engagement with Shiromeguri-senpai be cancelled, y'know? What will you do?" asked Hikigaya-kun.
"That's not something you should ask me, Hachiman. I'm just a member of this club so I don't have any authority to decide to do any requests that the president still hasn't decided to accept." said Miki-kun.
"You've been eavesdropping that long, huh?" I said as I embraced myself.
"Said the one who keeps digging my personal matters out of Hachiman as if he was a gold mine the moment I was no longer present." retorted Miki-kun.
No comment…
"Well then, Ms. President. What are you going to do with your sister's request?" asked Sanshin-kun.
I…
"That's a pointless question, Hassen. It's pretty much obvious that she's going to accept the request." said Miki-kun.
W-what's with this guy? Why did he…
"W-What are you talking about? W-Why should I accept that request?" I asked, stuttered.
"Because your nosiness backfired, that's why." said Miki-kun.
You…!
"What did you mean by that?" asked Yuigahama-san.
Hikigaya-kun let out a sigh upon hearing that.
" 'Do remember well that this outcome is still within their predictions. Be mindful about it.' I believe I have already given you guys that warning." said Hikigaya-kun.
It's the line he said to me and Yuigahama-san when he walked us home.
Ugh… not again. We just waltzed in these rotten twins' hands again.
"Now that you know what's going on between me and that former student council president, do you really be able to ignore her troubles? And that became your fetters. I bet Hachiman has kept you guys out of this to prevent that but eventually give up thanks to your nosiness that you're all tied by those fetters." said Miki-kun.
That's right…
"Your choice is split in three ways: 1) Ignoring your sister's request means turning blind eyes on the former student council president who, in your opinion, is being tortured by my existence. 2) Doing the opposite thing to that request means you're killing the former student council president despite being a good chance to get back at me. 3) Accepting the request means not only making me owe you one but also helping that former student council president too. Of course the third choice is the safest for you. Something like that, right?" said Miki-kun.
I bit my lips upon hearing that.
"Oh, was I right on target? Bullseye, huh?" said Miki-kun.
I clenched my fist but immediately relaxed it.
"Yes. I accept the request." I answered, begrudgingly.
"Well, thank you. I'll be in your care then." said Miki-kun, nonchalantly.
There's really no thankful feelings coming from those words of his, I can tell that much.
Even though he really wants to break the engagement, he has zero expectations for my help.
He's really mocking me, isn't he?
"For someone like you who acts like he knows everything, yet you don't know how to solve your own problem. I guess you're not as great as you think you are after all." I said, sarcastically.
"The pot calling the kettle black." said Sanshin-kun.
"Better take Hachiman's warnings seriously next time, Potnoshita-san." said Miki-kun as he left.
I could feel the big angry mark appear on my forehead.
Thanks for your sarcastic concerns, Kettlekuin-kun!
(Yukinoshita Yukino POV Ended)
(Flashback, Isshiki Iroha POV)
Tch. Senpai is really a tough opponent. I couldn't believe that he's that good at handling unexpected situations like this.
Now think, Iroha. How will you make your senpai head over heels for you?
Then I saw a figure of the person I thought of walking towards my direction together with his brother to the vending machine.
The only person who lent me a hand to save me from my classmates' bullying.
The only person who could make me forget Hayama-senpai.
The only person who could warm and hurt my heart at the same time.
And the only person who I couldn't stop myself from approaching him.
Now, what should I do? Oh, I knew it. I will surprise him from behind.
As I approached him from blind spot, he talked with his twin brother after getting the coffee out of the vending machine.
"It's rare to see you blow off the stream through a beverage, Hachiju. I guess that Isshiki brat is really that meddlesome, huh?" said Senpai's brother.
How rude, calling me a brat and not even a cute one. I'm already a high school student, y'know?
Also, it's your brother's fault that I'm like this!
"That also applies to all those people in this school. However, a sly kouhai is really one of the worst five here." said Senpai.
Oh, Senpai really took me in his ranking, I'm so blessed~
As if! That's your expression on me for my hard work up until now? Is this guy even possessed a sex drive?
"I wonder why don't you tell her about your engagement with that Shiromeguri-senpai so that she would just give up on you." said Senpai's brother.
Eh? Did I misheard something? Senpai? He's engaged with Shiromeguri-senpai? You're joking, right?
Senpai raised his hand and whacked it on his brother's head.
"It's a good thing that no one is around here, otherwise that annoying secret would leak." said Senpai.
It's already leaked, though.
So it's true that he's…
"Do you think that would convince her? she would just think that I just came up with such crappy excuses, especially when she's already noticed that the former student council president and I aren't in a good relationship with each other. Also, those romance addicted apes in this school wouldn't miss the chance to bother both me and her. It's bothersome." said Senpai.
It really doesn't sound convincing coming from you who has no problem going savage with Shiromeguri-senpai in front of everyone, y'know?
But seriously, engagement? How did it end up like this?
"Yeah. This is a problem. What would you do then? If you officially date that Shiromeguri-senpai to shoo that Isshiki brat away then you will no longer be able to avoid living with her for the rest of your life which you always wholeheartedly denied." said Senpai's brother.
If that's the case then why don't you just screw the engagement and go out with me?! What's the harm?! Your situation is more like welcoming me, isn't it? Isn't it a boy's wet dream to have his cute kouhai such as myself fall for him?!
"You meant I have no choice but to go out with that sly kouhai, huh?" said Senpai.
"Although she's annoying, she did put that much effort into hogging your attention, didn't she?" said Senpai's brother.
Good job, Senpai's brother. Or should I say 'brother-in-law'?.
"Now that you mentioned it, she does put in a lot of effort, even more than the effort the former student council president put into convincing our parents and hers to cancel the engagement." said Senpai.
Oh. Did he praise me? Praise me more! Praise me more!
"So that means you're going to give up on shunning her away?" asked Senpai's brother.
Finally, finally…
"As if." said Senpai.
Figured…
"However, if she's able to save me from that engagement then I wouldn't mind dating her as a reward." said Senpai.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" I shouted, causing both of them to freeze.
Both Senpai and his brother eyed me for a moment and sighed.
"You heard that?" asked Senpai.
"Yes." I replied with a thousand-watt smile.
"Everything?" asked Senpai.
"Yes. And you're not going to take back your words, right?" I said.
"I won't and I don't have to worry about it since you can't save me anyway." said Senpai.
Before I knew it, I committed kabedon on Senpai.
"Glad to hear that. So prepare yourself for the day you've become my boyfriend, Senpai." I said.
"That's hilarious coming from a girl who's so weak that I have to lend her a hand back then." retorted Senpai.
"Belittling me all you want, Senpai. But remember that the last laugh and you will be mine in the end." I said.
Then I let him go since I'm satisfied enough.
But come to think about it, what should I do?
After that for a long while, Yui-senpai called out for me.
She asked me if Senpai ever does something like crushing my heart or beating me to pulp or something horrible.
Of course he's not, in fact, he gave me hopes.
After Yui-senpai left with utter confusion, a person who I never expected to see at this time appeared in my sight.
It's our school's current student council president, Tenma Ichi.
"You seem to be having trouble, Isshiki-san. Feel free to tell me if you need help, okay?" said President Tenma with a cute wink.
Perfect timing, her help will let me take a step closer to my victory.
(End Of Flashback, Isshiki Iroha POV Ended)
(Hikigaya Hachiman POV)
"You guys really love that trick, aren't you?" I said.
"Nope, we're not. At least that's not why we choose to play that trick." said Hassen.
"It's not because we love that trick, but because people love to fall into it." said Hachiju.
"Sadly enough that I couldn't deny that either." I said.
I told them about my assumption about what they have done with Isshiki and it looked like I was mostly right about it.
Hachiju and Hassen purposely spilled the fact that Hachiju was engaged with Shiromeguri-senpai so that Isshiki would hear it just like how they had done with Shiromeguri-senpai.
The reason for their actions is it would be a good thing if Isshiki gave up on Hachiju because of that, but even if she didn't give up, the results would still favor Hachiju. Knowing that Isshiki is so shameless and doesn't know when to give up to the point that she could pull such a prank on him, she might be able to help him cancel the engagement for real.
In other words, all for the sake of progression in breaking the unwanted engagement.
But don't forget that I said I was just mostly right about it.
I didn't expect that Hachiju would promise Isshiki that he would date her for real if she could break the engagement for him.
"She has a mindset similar to Komachi's so this is the only available card to play." said Hachiju as he read my mind.
Sly yet airhead, huh?
"Just how many people you need to manipulate for your own favor until you're satisfied, really?" I said.
His own fiancée, his former boss, Yukinoshita and now Isshiki.
"There's only that loser of a fiancée of mine who is worth being called a manipulated victim, the rest are all 'give and take' accomplices. Also, I am afraid that this might keep going on until the engagement is cancelled." said Hachiju.
Scary. At this rate he could make Haruno run for her money on that matter.
"But are you sure you're going to date her? Didn't you want to shoo her away or something?" I asked.
Hachiju may make a ton of fools out of people with his word misleading skill, but he wouldn't tell lies that break a person's heart just for his own personal profits.
In other words, it's not a joke that he would date Isshiki for real.
"And I never said I would go beyond dating, also, it's not that unreasonable to begin with." said Hachiju.
"Huh?" I said.
"In Hachiju's opinion, if there's someone that is clever enough to solve this engagement problem without resorting to threatening or traumatizing, it must be someone who is on the same level as Kazuki-san." said Hassen.
Kazuki. It's the name of Hachiju's late unrequited love. Don't tell me…
"Only if she could succeed, then she's not out of question to me." said Hachiju.
So she's just a substitute for your late unrequited love to you after all!
Your parents are definitely right about you still being bothered by your love, isn't it?! Or it's just that was your type all along!
Although I'm glad that he didn't plan to crush Isshiki's heart or resort to using Nebula Lores on her, I couldn't help but wonder if he has a screw loose in his head.
*Beep beep beep*
Hachiju's phone vibrated.
"Hmm… a mail from those cheeky parents." said Hachiju as he read the content of the mail.
Hachiju rubbed his temples in annoyance.
"Hassen, look like your time has finally come." said Hachiju, deadpanned.
"Come again?" said both Hassen and I in unison.
(Hikigaya Hachiman POV Ended)
A/N: Chapter 14 for you readers, please enjoy.