Chapter 15: To some people, bathroom isn't a place for relaxing

(Tenma Ichi POV)

"Are you sure about that, Onii-sama?" I asked.

"Of course I am. Ichi. Also, please fix your habit of taking the phone into the bathroom already." replied Onii-sama.

What's the harm? It's not like we're talking through video call or something. Also, mine is waterproof.

"You don't need to go that far even for everyone's sake, y'know?" I said.

"I've already thought about it carefully. Sorry but I don't intend to change my mind. I'll leave Sanshokuin's matter for you." said Onii-sama as he hung up on me.

I don't know whether I should complain about him forcing Miki-senpai's matter to me even though it's unrelated to the student council president's responsibilities or should be grateful to him for giving me such an interesting task to ensure I'm not bored.

Well, even if he's not telling me to do that, that has been something I'm intended to do anyway.

Also, thanks to Miki-senpai's problem, I could make new friends today so I don't mind much as long as it doesn't affect my duty as a student council president too much.

So Onii-sama, don't overdo it, okay? I'm worried.

To some people, bathroom isn't a place for relaxing, I guess.

(Tenma Ichi POV Ended)

(Narrator POV)

Komachi waited for her big brother to come home for so long.

Once she heard the sound of someone opening the door, she thought it was her big brother which is the reason why she was disappointed after going to check who's back.

It's not her brother, but it's her parents; the tired-looking daughter complex Hikigaya Rei (比企谷零) and his wife Hikigaya Kosakura (比企谷小桜).

Komachi didn't hate her parents that much, it's just that she's been too focused on her only acknowledged brother lately.

But what makes her upset is that she received the message from her brother that he would stay at Sanshokuin Household tonight.

"Um… Komachi-chan… are you mad at something?" asked Rei.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" asked Komachi.

Kosakura then took a picture of Komachi's face with the smartphone and showed it to her daughter.

"You're telling me that this isn't the face of someone who's not mad about something at all?" asked Kosakura.

Komachi went silent and turned her back at her parents after being shown the picture of her face with a mixture of sadness and anger.

"I guess it's about Hachiman, huh?" guessed Kosakura.

"Is that so? Then I guess I have to stay awake until I get to beat the crap out of him for making my cute little angel Komachi-chan mad!" said Rei.

"He's not going to come back today since he's going to stay at his cousins' for a night." said Komachi, coldly.

The moment both Rei and Kosakura heard the words 'cousins' from Komachi's mouth, Komachi's homemade dinner in their mouth suddenly lost its tastiness and became extremely bitter.

'People like you two don't deserve to call yourselves parents!'

'It's okay, I'm fine. Hachiju, Hassen. It would be better if I go, me being untalented would only disgrace and embarrass Komachi like what mom and dad said.'

'Hachiman… you… even at a time like this you still cover for them despite what they've described you behind your back'

'Please… this is for Komachi's sake…'

'Komachi's… sake…'

'Yes, it's for her sa—Guwaaahh?! W-why? Hassen? Why did you punch my stomach?!'

'You're saying you do that for her sake, then we will also do something for her sake as well'

'W-what are you going to do?'

'Uncle, Auntie. As you heard that my youngest brother is untalented, wouldn't it be better to take me and Hassen instead of him?'

'No, don't, you two.'

'What? You're fine with you being the one leaving, yet you can't tolerate both of us being the ones who left?'

'W-why?'

'You remained here for Komachi's sake, Hachiman.'

'You've always been our pillar for a long time and yet we couldn't do anything for you. We can't protect our relationship with you from that shitty contract'

'You guys…'

'We disgraced you and made you suffer just by existing. If that's the case… If that's the case then…'

'No… no… don't…'

'We're sorry, Hachiman. From today onwards, we will take up Sanshokuin names and become your cousins'

'No… come back… don't disappear…'

'Forgive us, Hachiman…'

After reminiscing about the past where their three triplets children said those lines with tears streaming out of their eyes before they parted away, their regrets skyrocketed.

"Even now we couldn't make up with them, let alone Hachiman despite the fact that we live together." said Kosakura.

"Yeah. But we couldn't find the right time to do so, even if we weren't bound by work we can't let Komachi know about their teary conversation back then, otherwise she would hate us." said Rei.

"But Komachi thinks she would hate you if you're not spilling the beans right here right now." said Komachi in a cold tone.

Rei and Kosakura are completely clouded by their past regrets that they forgot that Komachi is nearby.

That night, Rei and Kosakura were forced to tell the past that Komachi missed by their daughter after dinner.

"To some people, bathroom isn't a place for relaxing, I guess." thought Rei and Kosakura in unison.

Meanwhile, In the Sanshokuin Household, Hachiman and Hachiju are having a chat in the bathroom while Hassen follows his parents to the living room.

"Don't take jokes from those cheeky adults seriously, Hachiman." said Hachiju.

"Shouldn't you worry about your parents instead? This is the first time I have ever heard someone greet their child (you) with 'Hachiju, you already have a fiancée and yet you're taking your little brother home to flirt with? Shame on you!' line. Are they alright?" asked Hachiman.

"Their screws only loosen when things concern me and Hassen, if things concern Sumireko then you wouldn't believe that they're the same people at all." said Hachiju.

"Even your parents are giving off Jekyll/Hyde vibes like you and Hassen, huh?" said Hachiman with a serious tone.

Hachiju went silent after hearing that and looked at Hachiman back with a serious gaze as well.

"You pressured Service Club girls because you want them to be clear about their feelings toward me whether what it is so that I wouldn't have to suffer from getting the wrong idea again." said Hachiman.

Hachiju still remains silent.

"That worry is unnecessary." said Hachiman.

"Seeing you asked to stay the night here with us against Komachi's permissions just to tell us to stop being villains to them might make everyone fall for you more." said Hachiju.

"Stop it. That's disgusting." said Hachiman.

"It's undeniable, the same thing could be said to the fact that they've finally deemed themselves to be important to you enough that you're standing up for them… no, for her against your beloved cousins, right?" asked Hachiju.

Hachiman averted his face away in response.

"You know who?" asked Hachiman.

"No, I don't. It's just guessing. All I know is that I will at least say 'I won't give you my Hachiman' right to that person's face." said Hachiju.

"What are you, my parents?" retorted Hachiman.

"Do I look like someone who would just sell you to another family for the sake of some bullshit contracts because you're the least talented like them?" said Hachiju.

"Nope. At least for now, you're looking like someone who hides things from me and not intended to tell me unless being asked specifically." said Hachiman.

"So you've finally caught up. Now let's see if you could figure out those 'specifically' parts and why Hassen and I are doing this or else your bystander charade would end up in vain." said Hachiju.

"That's a bad way to urge someone to ask you something, y'know?" retorted Hachiman.

"Maybe. To be honest, both of us can't wait to share it with you." said Hachiju.

The reasons why Hachiju and Hassen were doing this is already crystal clear to Hachiman. It's because Hachiman has done similar things to them during their childhood except all the savage parts.

Back then Hachiman kept secrets about him shielding Hachiju and Hassen's haters in secret by getting bullied in their places until the scenery unfolded to their very eyes and Hachiman won't answer them anything until they asked him specifically.

Now it's Hachiman's turn to figure out those 'specifically' parts.

He wanted to know every change that happened to his cousins after not seeing each other for a long while.

But both Hachiju and Hassen were known to be far exceeded Hachiman especially in cunningness, Hachiman knew that he couldn't get his desired answer by guessing alone so he chose to spend time with them and focused most of his attention their actions much to others' dismay and probably Komachi's jealousy.

"Your hostility toward others and probably Hassen's as well. You guys might have so many reasons to do so, but the main reason is that was self-defense, am I right?" asked Hachiman.

Hachiju closed his eyes and his smile widened as he laughed lightly.

"I wish Hassen was here to see your victory. What a shame." said Hachiju, indicating that Hachiman was right.

"Well, it's not that funny, y'know? Is it really worth going as far as to hurt others' feelings for that?" asked Hachiman with slightly anger mixed with confusion in his voice.

It's not strange that Hachiman's voice turned out like that.

The guys who he talked about used to have their hearts as weak as tofu that hurt if others hurt because of their selfishness.

"As you wish, I will answer you everything you want to know. But I want to hear your answer to this question first." said Hachiju.

"Go ahead, I'm all ears now." said Hachiman.

"Am I evil?" asked Hachiju.

"No, you're not." replied Hachiman.

"Am I evil?" asked Hachiju.

"No, you're not." said Hachiman.

"Am I evil?" asked Hachiju.

"No, you're not." replied Hachiman.

Seeing no wavering in Hachiman's answer, Hachiju cleared his throat.

"Three of us used to chase after them just to have a taste of happiness, right? Friendship, familial love and romance." asked Hachiju with a serious tone.

"Yes." replied Hachiman with a serious tone.

"And three of us were hurt by them a lot, right?" asked Hachiju with a serious tone.

"Yes." replied Hachiman with a serious tone.

"In the end, because we're hurt because we couldn't obtain them and being betrayed (by familial love with Hachiman's parents), we only had the path of loners as our only remaining choice since there seems to be no genuine hope left, right?" asked Hachiju with a serious tone.

"Yes." replied Hachiman with a serious tone.

"What if there's a fifth choice that would give you the happiness that much superior to the happiness we have been chasing after just to end up hurting us?" asked Hachiju with a serious face.

Hachiman's eyes visibly widened in surprise as the dots started to connect.

"So that was what they wanted to share with me." thought Hachiman.

"So you're telling me that your hostilities up until the latest were necessary to obtain that happiness?" asked Hachiman with a serious tone.

"They were necessary, but definitely not in the way you're referring to. They were necessary to fulfill the conditions of getting his guidance to obtain that paramount happiness." said Hachiju.

After hearing how Hachiju emphasized 'his', Hachiman immediately figures out who's the one he's referring to.

"Paramount, huh? For you to label it that way yourself, I guess it's really that amazing." thought Hachiman.

"Guidance from Grandfather Gocho, huh? Are you guys sure about that? You guys have once been deceived by my parents because of that strong obsession, remember?" warned Hachiman.

"You assumed that we might've succumbed to our obsession and getting deceived again, right?" asked Hachiju which Hachiman seriously nodded in response.

Before Hachiju could answer, Hassen barged into the bathroom.

"You may be right about us succumbing to our obsession but we're not as foolish as when we were your parents' sons. And I didn't mean the current us are worse in comparison." said Hassen, indicating that he's probably been eavesdropping for a certain period of time.

"I wonder about that. To three of us, that person could be labeled as the one who caused all these ruckus lives we have. And yet you two chose to listen to him." said Hachiman.

"And thanks to his wife giving birth to us in her late 50s at once, our family chart became ridiculous beyond anyone's imagination." said Hassen.

"It's become ridiculous starting from the moment three of us were handed to big brother Rei as his sons for practicing." said Hachiju.

"And the moment we learned about that we couldn't help but to believe that the road to hell is paved with good intentions." said Hachiman.

The triplets then sighed heavily in unison as they reminisced about their past.

During their childhood, when they heard that Hachiman's parents decided to hand him over to the Sanshokuin family, they also accidentally heard about their roots from eavesdropping.

Three of them, in fact, not the real children of the couple of people they've called their own parents for years. Thus, not the real big brothers of the person they've called a little sister for years too.

Although it's shocking, three of them have also started to understand more and more why Komachi is being treated so much differently from them despite having her talents at average level.

It's because Komachi is the real child while Hachiju, Hassen and Hachiman were adopted.

But it's not like three of them were completely unrelated to Hikigaya clans.

It's Hikigaya Gocho and his wife's idea to have her eldest son, Rei, to take care of her newborn triplet babies because they wanted their babies to have normal lives without being ridiculed for having such old-timers as their parents, not to mention that it's benefits their eldest son who lack of experience raising children.

Of course, none of them have ever thought they were practically giving the triplets sweet hell instead of normie paradise.

Because of that, they preferred to refer to Gocho as their grandfather instead of their father as a way to not acknowledge him as one.

"Just when did you guys start to take interest in that happiness, I wonder?" asked Hachiman.

"About a week after you got rejected by your classmate." answered Hachiju.

"Oh. If I'm not mistaken, grandfather Gocho's birthday is around that day. Well, since Komachi hates you guys so much she forbids me from visiting him knowing you guys would be there." said Hachiman.

"That kid didn't grow up at all since then, I see." said Hassen.

"She did grow up if you overlooked the fact that she still holds grudges against you guys for making her Pan-san doll your punching bag and practicing calligraphy skill on her Pan-san notebook." thought Hachiman.

"When we visited him that time, we forgot the present at Sanshokuin Household so we told him the story of you getting rejected in middle school to him as a present instead." said Hachiju.

Hachiman couldn't help but screamed 'F*ck you, Hachiju' to Hachiju in his head.

"After he listened to your story, he gave us his usual long lecture." said Hassen.

"Figured. I could imagine he did that." said Hachiman.

"But there's some lines among them that pique our interest. For example, 'If it weren't for adolescents these days thinking that they either need romances or go straight to the path of loners in order to function as human beings then they would get the happiness even superior than the one they hoped for' he said." said Hachiju.

"And you guys seriously believe that such happiness exists right away?" asked Hachiman.

"Unlike your parents who we both really were fools to believe in even though they don't have what it takes to grant us wishes, grandfather Gocho never promised something he couldn't do, let alone tell white lies." said Hassen.

"And he also told you guys to act like savage, unkind bastards in order to get his guidance?" asked Hachiman.

"Of course not." answered Hassen.

"It's because he said 'Unless you kids prioritized that kind of happiness above other kinds without any wavering, otherwise it's a waste of time' so…" said Hachiju.

"With hearts as weak as tofu, you guys need to maximize your seriousnesses to the point that you're seemingly not giving others any chances to let them make you wavering at any cost. Other than that, you guys are just hostile toward Yukinoshita and Yuigahama for the sake of your brother complex. Am I right, Onii-chans?" deduced Hachiman.

Hachiju and Hassen's eyes widened upon hearing that and they twisted in pain afterward as the sound of two bellies got punched echoed in the bathroom.

Hachiju and Hassen let their guard down, so Hachiman punched their guts.

"That's for those girls who were your hostility's victims." said Hachiman.

"Unfair. Using 'Onii-chan' of all words to distract us." said Hassen.

"That's a magnificent sweet trap…" said Hachiju.

"Even after learning about your reasons, I still think you deserve some punches, especially when you guys don't plan to apologize to them. However, I do respect your decision." said Hachiman.

"I genuinely wish those parents would do the same instead of shoving that engagement bulls down our throats." said Hassen with frustration.

"Oh, right. How's yours doing then?" asked Hachiju.

"I have already done my part, it's up to how the soon-to-be-ex-fiancée does her part. I can't wait to see this engagement being cancelled." said Hassen.

"How envious. Only if that former student council president were like her I wouldn't have a hard time dealing with this bull." said Hachiju.

"I'll definitely tell grandfather Gocho about their engagement life as his next birthday present and as a payback to these two." thought Hachiman.

"To some people, bathroom isn't a place for relaxing, huh?" muttered Hachiman.

(Narrator POV Ended)

A/N: Chapter 15 for you readers, please enjoy. Also, happy valentine day.