The new beginning

"Hachiman, I have a question to ask you, and you know what I am going to ask," Yukino said while taking her previous seating position. I sat on a chair, which I placed opposite to that.

I visibly gulped a mouth full of saliva and readied myself for the set of questions yet to come.

"Do you have any particular reasons to hide our relationship? or it's your rotten loner brain's so-called self-defense mechanism."

Upon hearing her words, I remained silent. I should at least change my behavior to an acceptable degree. As I am the one to confess first, I should be the one to take the initiative to announce our relationship to our close ones. Though, the person I considered closer enough can be counted on one hand and still have some fingers left.

Upon noticing my worried face,

"I know how you would feel about all this, as this is the first for both of us." Yukino said in her concerned tone.

"It's not like that~"

"You don't have to hide your thoughts from me."

To show we care about someone, we don't have to provide them with valuable ornaments, fancy dates, or flirt with them 24/7. We just need to learn about their worries and clear their anxiety by being with them, though this action seems small. It tells that the relationship you share is genuine. In conclusion, we need to show them we were there for them. Here, Yukino is providing me with just that. For outsiders, it may seem like a cliche girl who wants to announce their status of the relationship to the world. I know enough about her to think otherwise.

"OK, please listen without teasing me."

"Even though I like to do that, I can differentiate serious matters from not-so-serious ones. You have my assurance."

"Though I am aware that I should come out of my reclusive nature, it's so taxing for me. I lived as a certified loner for nearly my whole life. It's hard to process the fact that we are in a relationship. Don't misjudge me, I am happy that we are together, and I cannot digest even the thought of letting you go. I am ready to face what our future entails. I can't help but be anxious. As you mentioned now, it's new to us."

hehe~ Yukino giggled into her palm. What about your assurance of not teasing me, woman?

"Pardon me, Hachiman. You are saying there things like you are alone in these matters. Don't forget one fact we will be in this together."

I can't tell whether it's her laughter or her words that reassured me. I begin to feel that, my already rootless worry starting to fade away. Maybe not entirely, which won't be a one-day process.

"I have another peculiar matter to discuss with you, Hachiman."

"Does it involves cats and Caffe"

"Not now"

Cats will be there in your thought at any part of the time.

"Anyway, you know that my mother is rather fond of you, due to your antics the previous year."

For some odd reason, her mother allows me to be together with Yukino. I cannot understand her, she is one of the reasons why Yukino turns into an ice queen, yet she allows us to be together. Strike that even she supports us to a certain extent.

"I don't know whether it is a good thing or bad."

"She wants you to meet my father."

What? my life shifts to Mach speed all of a sudden. I should be careful with her father because no father in his right mind will allow their daughters to come within five meters of the opposite gender. Tokyo Bay may become my permanent residence. Even I will do the same if Komachi brings some unwanted bugs.

Suddenly I recalled someone, who always likes to meddle with other's life, especially Yukino's life,

"What about Haruno? Does she know about this arrangement?"

"You know her, when you arrive to meet my father, she will be there. Don't worry, father will be busy for a month, so your meeting only be held next month."

Can't you understand? a month is still too early, even though we only started our relationship a couple of months ago.

"What about your parents? You said that Komachi-san knows about us. Do your parents know about us too?"

"I am yet to reveal about us to them. Just waiting for the right moment."

*creak* sound of opening the door entered our ears.

Hiratsuka sensei entered the room as usual, without knocking.

"Hey kids, it is a miracle that both of you are calm and civilly deciding this matter. Here, I thought to announce a competition to motivate you and induce some friendly rivalry."

Sensei, you planned to trigger Yukino's competitive spirit and expect her to pull me in too. You are a sly one.

"Sensei, you don't have to bring any competition card to make me do my job."

If it was Yukino a year ago, she would jump at any chance to prove her worth. she has grown in many areas.

"And knocking on the door before entering the room is basic etiquette. You should at least try to follow that when you come here next time."

"I will keep that in my mind. Anyway, you are going to greet your first consultant soon enough. I am en route to meet someone through this corridor, so I thought I might convey this to you guys."

"You are just mocking about the devoid of club request recently."

"You don't have to take it on that note, I said that so you guys will remember that this will be the first request you are facing together."

First or not, requests are always bound to be bothersome. I don't know what kind of requests are handled by the club. Better not be on relationships and physical labor. I am not really into helping others without expecting a gain. For the record, helping others and hoping for good karma also comes into the category of expecting something. But Yukino strives to be different as she wants to help others without anticipating any gains. That may be one of the reasons why I am feeling this way towards her and only her. At least for her, I should brace myself for the impacts which will come in the name of requests.

Again sensei left the club to attend her own business. We start to indulge ourselves in our respective reading materials, either higher literature or works about cats for Yukino and light novels for me. Don't judge me. Not everyone will understand the charm of light novels.

For most people, being in a relationship goes hand in hand with long chats. It will be good in its own right, but being in peace and enjoying each other's company feels just as good as any fun activity. Despite participating in one, I can say that for sure. Despite having a lot to think about, like meeting her father, I want to enjoy this moment. So, I pushed other thoughts into the back of my mind and started enjoying the moment.

*knock*knock* here goes our peace.

"Yahello, is this the service club?" a with bunned peach hair entered with a greeting of some shorts.

"Yes, I am Yukinoshita, Service club president, and this is Hikigaya, a member of this club."

Wait for a second if I am the only other member, I can be considered vice-president, can't I? I better keep it to myself, I am sure that claiming positions without contributing enough will irritate her. And I can give my introduction, not that I am against this, as I can avoid small contacts too.

"You are here to request our help in some regard, I presume."

"I am Yuigagama Yui. Yes, I heard that you guys would make our wishes come true," said that girl.

"Our club is not a place which makes someone's wish come true it's a place where he will get assistance in making his wish true." declared our club president.

"Awesome!" uttered the girl. She may be one of those people who will get inspired by others speaking with complex words.

"I want to give some sweets to someone, but I don't know to make one. Will you make something for me?" She asked while looking at Yukino. I am here too, you know.

"As I said earlier, we won't give a man a fish, but we will teach him how to fish."

"um?" She is an airhead, for sure.

"She said we will not make the treats for you but will teach you how to bake some." I gazed at Yukino for her approval. She nodded in agreement.

"It's enough guys, thank you in advance."

"Let's use the equipment in the cooking club." Yukino sure doesn't waste any time.

After some not-so-serious discussion, we, or more specifically, they decided on baking cookies. Yukino's cookies as usually very good. So good that she can enter as a baker in a Michelin star bakery if there is one.

But Yuigagama's are bad, like really bad. Even calling it an edible item is a sin worth committing senpaku. She may be an Angel in disguise who had been sent into this world to tackle the coal shortage. I can't wrap my head around the fact that how a human can mess up something this much.

Even a person who does not entered a kitchen in his entire lifetime can follow basic instructions and have done it better.

"Yuigagama-san, I think you should ensure a different approach." uttered Yukino while massaging her temples.

" um ha ha " Words failed to form in Yuigagama's throat, maybe due to embarrassment.

"Here, try this." I gave the only batch I made.

"It's not good and not bad either." Yukino shared her opinion.

"Yes, that's right." Yuigagama agreed with her. Don't you have your own opinion?

By observing Yuigagama, I conclude that she is a nice girl. I hate nice girls. They not only won't call out on you for doing something but also hurt themselves in that process. They claim to do this not to hurt your feelings. They will be nice to everyone, including you, which will cause many misconceptions. I may not hate a person in particular, but I hate nice girls.

"By your way of asking, I deduce that you are giving this to a boy. Am I right?"

Yuigagama nodded at my question while blushing.

"You don't need to worry too much about the taste, as, for us boys, the feelings behind cookies are more important than the taste. Now you say, how are my cookies? I put my feelings while making that." I said the last sentence while looking at the raven-haired girl.

Yukino remained silent for some time and then said,

"As usual, despite your rotten personality, your words have something in it which calms the people around you and provides them what they need."

"Can't say that I completely understood what you said, I got the gist of it." claimed the resident airhead.

After this, both the girls prepared another batch then Yuigagama shared her cookies with us by wrapping them. But, I caught something in her behavior while she gave my share.

"Thank you, Hikki, Yukinon" she even blushed while saying that. What is there to blush about in giving cookies to us?

After parting in the hallway, Yukino and I arrived at the club room.

"Isn't it the time to close the club?" I asked her while reading myself to pack my things.

"Yes, it is, but there is something to do."

Yukino said that while giving me some cookies.

"You already shared your feelings. Let me share mine too."

I was flabbergasted by her actions, I reached my hand for the cookies, but she refused to let me pick that up. Instead, she brought a cookie near my lips. Her face is painted with a slight red hue, and her eyes are dilated a little. Cute, too cute. I bit the cookie then a familiar taste filled my mouth. MAX coffee.

She definiely knows me well.

"How is it?"

"Really delicious!" I replied truthfully albeit my embarrassment.

I can't contain the urge to hug this girl, and I just did that. Yukino squirmed at first but eased into me. The height difference placed her head into the crook of my neck. I let my nose enjoy the texture and smell of her hair. This is truly a blissful feeling.

A/N

Thanks for the reviews guys. I really appreciate that. It will be helpful in the improvement of the fic and my writing in general.