A mouse is a small and delicate creature. Due to its petite size, it cannot be denied that it is inherently a weak animal. Yet, in countless fables and age-old stories, mice come off as powerful, sly creatures because of their intelligent nature.

They make the fullest use of what they were born with so as to make up for their overt, uncontrollable shortcomings.

Therefore it is safe to say that if mice were humans, they would be the most skilful scammers.

/

I eyed Haruno-san indignantly and she gave me a sickeningly innocent face in return.

"What?"

"You…" I muttered in dampened annoyance.

She smiled cockily. "Don't look at me like that, Hikigaya-kun. We won't need an interpreter if the two of you can just stop talking so vaguely."

I lowered my head for a second and sighed.

Much to my surprise, the person beside me sighed as well.

We immediately looked at each other with wide-opened eyes, unaware of exactly how to react. As if on cue, we turned away from each other.

Dammit!

"The two of you really were made for each other, huh?" she teased even more. "Even your mannerisms are so similar. Fated to be, perhaps?"

I clicked my tongue.

"I don't believe in fate." I remarked strongly.

My casual but rather brusque response seemed to catch their father off guard. He looked at me with an inquisitive look and smiled.

"Are you perhaps a realist, Hikigaya-kun?" he asked.

If he was talking to the Hikigaya Hachiman a year ago, he would be getting an immediate 'yes' for an answer because I never really cared for anything so desperately back then.

I had the 'it is what it is' kind of mindset.

Of course, things are different now. Ever since the three of us met, I began to hope more and at times, expected the worst. In that case, I am definitely not a realist.

I glanced at the girl who was sitting beside me as I recounted moments of the past.

I disliked the reality that we were going to approach at that time. I was sure that if we were going to grow apart, we would only grow apart and nothing more. She and I were both hopeless people down to the very bone so I figured that two hopeless people in the world would be better than one.

She is the sole reason why I can't call myself a realist anymore. If I were still one, I definitely wouldn't have reached for her hand that night.

I would have let her walk away.

So, back to her father's question: am I realist?

Haha, of course not.

I shook my head and gave him a pathetic smile.

"Ehhh… I thought you were." he mused.

I laughed nervously. "I used to think I was."

He shrugged and leaned back on his chair. After a few moments, he sighed.

He turned to Haruno-san. "Are you up for a drink?" he asked.

"I've been wanting one the whole day." she confessed, raising her hands to stretch her back.

Her father stood up and walked over to the rectangular glass casing I was looking at earlier. He gingerly opened the door of the casing and took out the wine bottle placed on the highest level.

My mind was blank as I watched him.

"Eh? We're going to drink that?!" Haruno-san squealed, getting up from her seat yet again. She might as well stand through the rest of the night at this point.

I subtly glanced at their mother and saw that her mouth was slightly agape.

I knew that wine could be expensive but if even their mother was shocked by the mere sight of that bottle, just how significant could that bottle of wine be?

My previously blank mind was now overwhelmed with thoughts and questions.

I elbowed Yukinoshita lightly. She turned to me with an unfazed expression unlike the other two women.

I leaned in towards her. "What kind of wine is that?" I asked.

She held her chin with her fingers. "It's a type of French wine." she replied. "Thatcher, I think."

"Thatcher?"

"Mhm."

"Is that expensive?"

"The last time they drank wine from that bottle was a year ago when my father won a seat again in the Diet." she replied.

"Ah…" I nodded.

Heh.

I looked at her with a smug expression. "Does that mean me coming here is as grand of an event as your father winning a seat in the Diet?" I teased.

She sniggered but the side of her lips curled up ever so slightly. "Don't flatter yourself."

I laughed quietly.

When he sat back down, he placed three wine glasses and the bottle of wine carefully on the table.

"You are the second one to be introduced to me," he said cheerfully, "Haruno introduced Kouichi-kun last year. You are the second one, Hikigaya-kun."

He carefully opened the bottle and poured a humble amount of the drink into the three glasses in front of him.

"Who is Kouichi-san?" I asked, looking intently at the wine being poured in front of me.

"Onee-chan's current boyfriend." Yukinoshita responded.

Haruno-san nodded with pride.

"Ehh…" I mused.

Kouichi-san, I haven't met you but you already have my respect.

"You haven't met Keisuke yet right, Hikigaya-kun?" Haruno-san asked, "you'll meet him soon enough so don't worry."

"I… look forward to it," I replied hesitantly, "he seems like a very interesting person."

Yukinoshita brushed a hand through her hair. "He's a very interesting one indeed. I wonder what possessed him to find Onee-san appealing."

Haruno-san did not falter from the bitter gaze of her sister and simply laughed it off.

"I've always been endearing, what do you mean?" she boasted.

I laughed dryly at her bold and false proclamation.

"Right…"

Her mother shook her head as she reached for the wine glass her husband was handing to her.

"You were more endearing when you were younger, Haruno." she commented. "Back then, you and Yukino were rarely ever pushing each other's buttons."

"Teasing Yukino-chan nowadays is very fun. Mother, you should try it once in a while." she prodded cheekily.

Yukinoshita put her utensils down loudly on top of her plate. "Onee-chan, before you go on suggesting all sorts of nonsense, please shut up."

"Now, now- stop fighting." their father beckoned as he handed Haruno-san the last wine glass he filled.

Upon his calling to stop making a fuss, silence ensued for several moments until he turned to his wife.

"If I start saying things that don't make sense, please get me to bed." he cautioned her.

Without batting an eye, she replied, "I already had that in mind so don't worry."

He nodded contentedly before taking his first sip.

"Uwah~ this tastes as good as I remembered!" Haruno-san exclaimed, swirling the glass in her hand leisurely.

The liquid that swirled in her glass was a dark burgundy color. I gazed at it for a while and when I looked up, I saw her staring across the table at me with a mischievous smirk across her face.

"It's quite a shame that the both of you can't drink yet." she remarked casually. "Alcohol can really tender a mind of worries."

I shrugged. "I don't think I'm missing out on anything." I replied.

I've never been particularly interested in alcohol. I have tasted it a few times before just like any other kid and frankly, it astounds me that people can drink several pints of it at a time. It always leaves a lingering taste on my tongue which I can't quite describe - sort of like the aftertaste of bread.

Alcohol is a strange thing. Once I am of age, I want to discern if the momentary pleasure it gives is worth the pain it brings.

The night went on with the adults drinking and us two minors drinking tea. At some point, a couple of maids entered the dining room and cleared the table.

The mother stopped after one glass of wine.

"I've always had the impression that you're a stubborn person." she said. "Are you?"

I mustered a small smile. "I'm only stubborn for the right reasons." I replied. "Of course, what is 'right' can differ from person to person."

She nodded understandingly. "You're much like someone I know."

For a split second, she darted her eyes to the man sitting beside her. He continued indulging in his wine without so much a thought.

They were difficult people to talk to. As much as they were polite and attentive, I couldn't help but feel as if they were judging every conceivable aspect of me.

They asked me about my family, my goals and aspirations and even about more sensitive matters like my Math grades in school.

"Say, why don't you try for a profession in politics?" asked their father out of the blue.

I waved my hand dismissively to the idea.

"Hikigaya-kun would cry if he took on such a profession," Yukinoshita remarked, "I don't think he'd be able to bear such a stress-inducing environment."

Her father raised his eyebrow. I did so too.

"Aren't you underestimating my mental capacity?"

I think I can actually take on impertinent scumbags anytime of the day with some sophistry. Words can do a great deal of damage to fragile egos if you use them right. That is to say, if the person in question does not know I am susceptible to mere words too.

Yukinoshita gave me a side-glance. "I do have a rough grasp of it though, don't you think?"

What a sly person.

I sighed.

Haruno-san scrutinized me from the other side of the table, one of her hands balled into a fist supporting her chin up.

"Hikigaya-kun is stubborn and devious. He would make for a perfect politician if I say so myself." she blabbered mindlessly.

"Are you already drunk?" I mumbled in annoyance.

She laughed and shook her head, "I already told you, right?"

Ah, right.

This person has developed absolute sobriety.

After she said that, I felt Yukinoshita glance at me suspiciously. I simply returned her a nervous half-smile back.

Haruno-san leaned forward a little and looked straight at me.

"You never know what the future can bring, Hikigaya-kun." she taunted. "Let's just wait and see, shall we?"

I averted my eyes away from her. This woman will never miss an opportunity to get on my nerves for the fun of it.

Thankfully, Yukinoshita coughed dryly beside me.

This distraction prompted Haruno-san to soften her taxing expression at me. She turned to her sister and smiled innocently.

Whew.

"Haruno did make a good point." her father voiced out. "Don't completely eliminate that prospect, Hikigaya-kun."

I nodded nimbly.

In my list of potential careers, that is effectively in the last place. It shouldn't even be on the list, really.

I am the son of a commoner and I have no complaints about being the son of a commoner. Frankly, I believe it is best for my sanity to be a commoner.

I quietly watched him take a sip of wine.

Yukinoshita's father is a surprisingly reserved man. A bit witty, sure, but more on the calm and composed side like Yukinoshita herself.

I honestly expected him to be more like Haruno-san since Yukinoshita was already the spitting image of his wife both in appearance and personality.

I guess Haruno-san is the black sheep of the family.

His complexion noticeably grew red as time passed. He began to laugh and talk more but a part of him was still quite obviously suppressed, meaning that he wasn't completely indulged yet.

I glanced at Yukinoshita beside me.

Is this what you will be like when you drink?

She noticed me looking.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head a bit in concern.

"Nothing…"

I reached for the cup of tea and continued wondering.

"That's your limit, dear." his wife cautioned him. "You're turning red already."

He turned to me. "Am I?"

"Yes Sir." I nodded.

He pouted a bit before shrugging it off. "I guess that's all for me today."

He glanced at his watch. "It's quite late already, huh?"

I looked down at my own watch. It was already 9pm.

He turned to me. "About time you head home, hm?" he prompted. "Wouldn't want your parents to worry sick about you."

I laughed. "They know where I am." I assured him.

I stood up and stretched my back a little. I've been sitting down for close to two hours.

Their mother stood up and began clearing the tea cups that Yukinoshita and I drank from.

I bowed my head. "Thank you for your hospitality." I said out loud.

When I raised my head, her wide-opened eyes were fixated on me in slight disbelief.

Huh?

She stared at me for a few more seconds before finally expressing a thin smile.

She turned to Haruno and gave her the used cups of tea. "Help me bring this to the kitchen, will you?"

"Okay!"

With that, Haruno-san was gone.

She faced me again. "You're very welcome." she replied warmly.

Huh, so she is capable of speaking in a manner that doesn't send shivers down my spine.

I smiled back at her nervously.

"I hope you know you're always welcome here, Hikigaya-kun."

"I'm... I'm glad to know that."

She looked at me with a soft expression before finally turning her back and walking into the room which I presume, leads to the kitchen.

"I'll get my driver to give you a ride home, Hikigaya-kun." the father suggested amicably. "Let me just make a quick call."

He took his phone out of his pocket and disappeared into the living room.

I felt a sudden tug on my sleeve. Then a hand grabbed my elbow and pulled me down before I knew it.

"Why are you strangely polite today?" she asked rather coldly. I looked at her from the corner of my eye and caught her ice-cold glare at me.

I looked away almost immediately in fear.

"Was I?" I stuttered nervously.

"You were." she insisted.

"I don't think I was though…"

I sighed. Who am I even trying to fool?

She let go of her hold on my arm. "I know this situation is perplexing but I don't want to have you act like someone you are not." she mumbled. "I… I don't like it."

A few moments of silence passed. Seeing her in such a state made my heart throb.

"That's not what I was doing." I replied seriously.

I barely have any assets. Vague things are all I can promise to her. I have very little to give yet she still gave me the right to mess up her life. I know that we will take some twists and turns along the way so I thought the least I can do is to make the path smooth.

In terms of politeness and etiquette, I have a long way to go. But if it's for her, I don't mind having to learn more.

She lowered her head and sighed, refusing to look at me.

I bent down and carefully put my hand on her shoulder.

"If I'm going to stand by your side, it wouldn't hurt picking up one or two habits, right?"

She turned and looked at me with eyes carrying a tinge of melancholy. I smiled softly at her. "Don't worry. I'm still rotten at my very core." I assured her.

I coughed dryly and straightened my back. "Let's just call it an investment for the future."

She finally smiled and let out a soft laugh. "I hope that future-you is a master of courtesy then."

Her father appeared again in the dining room. "Tanaka-san is already here," he said, "Yukino, do you want to send him home?"

She nodded almost immediately.

Seeing her earnest enthusiasm, he let out a giggle.

"I see," he responded. He then turned to me. "Let me talk to Hikigaya-kun for a while, Yukino."

She opened her lips slightly as if to say something but then she shook her head and nodded instead.

"Let's go talk on the porch." He beckoned me to follow him with a movement of his hand.

I gulped as I followed behind him closely. I stole a glance at Yukinoshita one last time before the door shut and let's just say that it wasn't a very pleasant last sight.

/

Hello! Sorry for the long wait but here you go.

1. Next update will probably be in a month or two unless I get some astronomical motivation somehow.

2. 8man's nendoroid has been released for preorders! I think it's pretty cute. It's rare for him to have merch so this is honestly quite a miracle, haha.

3. I wrote a very VERY short fluff fic about the pairing's apartment life before I finished this chapter, lmao. I'm still divided on whether to publish it or not. What do you think?

4. Oregairu's fanfic output has been scarce recently. Take this as my contribution, haha.

Lastly, please leave a review if you are able to :)