Chapter 8. Is Cutting off all Communication Also a Form of Communication?
"Hachi." Squish, squish, squish, squish; at steady intervals, with measured force, evenly, continuously. My shoulders, my back, then my shoulders again.
Is morning awakening via being kneaded at a good thing?
"Hachi!z Hachihachihachi!"
Is morning awakening via being kneaded at by your girlfriend, still in her nightgown and calling you repeatedly for additional silliness, a good thing?
"Wha- stop! It's too cute, stop, stop or I'm gonna burst all over the apartment with all the cuteness." I managed to dodge the incoming doze of kneading and turned to her. "Someone's gonna have to clean that up."
"Oh." Yuki stopped and looked at me with her eyes teasingly squinted. "You've brought it up just in time."
I gave her a long and presumably hard stare.
"…Cleaning?.."
"It's Saturday, so yes, cleaning." Yuki didn't even bother pretending my stare had any weight.
"At…" I reached for my phone, flinching from the too bright screen. "At eight in the morning?"
"According to my accurate-as-always calculations," Yuki retorted smugly, straightening up and putting a hand on her chest, "you'd need precisely an hour and twenty seven minutes to wake up, wash yourself, have a breakfast and mentally prepare for the most horrible forty minutes of your week."
"I… Too many numbers." I tried to hide back under the blanket.
That was not a smart tactical move because the kneading resumed.
(Or maybe it was. Not that I would admit it.)
So, back to the initial question: is morning awakening via being kneaded at by your kind, sweet, uptight and punctual girlfriend to clean up the apartment a good thing?
"Fine…" My voice was becoming more steady as the last traces of sleep were going away. "Fine! I'll do it, woman. I'll do it."
"Yay." Yuki mirthfully deadpanned. "I'm using the bath and loading the washing machine with my batch first if you don't mind. Please warm up the leftovers."
"Roger."
After reaching for my phone and earplugs with a now well-trained motion I proceeded to the morning routine: folded my futon and stowed it in a storage shelf, got dressed and headed to our tiny fridge. Said fridge, among other things like bottled tea and small vegetable packs, now contained a pot of the nikujaga I'd prepared yesterday. For a second, a part of me worried it would turn into inedible mush overnight. It didn't of course. Measuring up a batch for us both, I then loaded it into our microwave and watched idly for it to stop.
Yuki, now looking fresh and dressed in an oversized sweater and a long comfy skirt, exited the bathroom just in time for me to prepare the dishes. The stew turned out even tastier than the night before.
As I exited the bathroom I saw Yuki fetching an arsenal of chemicals. That made me elicit a sigh of resignation.
"I see you are ready," Yuki noted dryly. "Well then… I prefer a certain pattern. Normally I start with the bathroom, then the windows, then the walls and ceiling and finally vacuuming the floor. In this particular apartment washing it would also be required, though easier than expected since it's laminate."
"Huh… Seems like not much."
"Hachi." Yuki tilted her head and looked at me disapprovingly to emphasize the point. "Please look around."
"…Point."
"Good then. This time I'll go through every step with you and either show or direct you. Just so you won't be afraid of it."
"I'm not afraid!" I shot back defensively. "Just…"
"Too lazy it is then." Yuki concluded with a satisfied nod and looked at me for added emphasis: "Hachi, it really isn't that hard. All you need is just do it regularly and often enough, then it becomes easy and hassle-free."
"If you say so."
"Let's start then. Take the gloves."
In the bathroom Yuki took a lime green bottle and sprayed the contents at the toilet bowl, then took another one and did the same to the stall and the sink. Yet another bottle and she lightly sprayed the walls.
"The acting chemicals are different for each one, though not by that much. Each one of them requires to wait for several minutes before wiping the surface. Again, that will be it if the cleanings are regular."
"How regular?"
"At least weekly but in some cases bi-weekly should do it."
"Huh."
"I the meantime please take that orange bottle and the microfiber cloth."
"Microwhat?- Oh, that." I finally bothered to read the inscriptions on the cloth package. "Hell's that mean?"
"That means several micrometers in diameter which is thinner than the normal cloth. Suitable for wiping glass for example. Which, coincidentally, we are going to do just now."
"Okay…"
"Good," Yuki continued after we approached the window. "Just spray the contents on the window from both sides."
"Alright." I did as told, first the inside, then the outside.
"You did great." Yuki covered her smile with her palm. "Now wipe it."
"Uh-huh."
"This is it. Now let's go back to the bathroom…"
Thus, one thing after another, me and Yuki went through the rest: the kitchenette, the walls, the floor. There was no characteristic sparkling everywhere like they like to draw in the manga, but the place now did look cleaner and fresher. After taking the gloves off and putting them, along with the cloth, into the proper containers, I sighed once again and glanced at the phone clock. A little over forty minutes.
"I'm sorry for not trusting you."
"You are forgiven." Yuki giggled, then suddenly because serious, to the point of being moody. "The washing machine will finish soon and I'd… like to hang my clothes and… underwear."
"Uhh…" Yeah, exactly. 'Uhhh'. "I guess, we can, what… hang it behind the clothes so it wouldn't be visible from inside the apartment?"
"And then not look up when we leave?" Yuki shook her head, partly aghast, partly exasperated. "I guess… this will have to do. Promise me you won't peek."
"Yeah, umm… you too."
Yuki fiercely blushed. Some time later I realized so did I.
"Well, either way…" She shook her head, as if chasing away unneeded thoughts. "One more thing left to do."
"Which is?.." I looked at her incredulously.
"Homework." She nodded to me confidently.
"Homework…" I said exasperatedly.
"Homework." She replied reassuringly.
"…Homework." I sighed despairingly.
"Homework!" She exclaimed demandingly.
"I give up. Homework."
Yuki lovingly smiled in response.
"Oh, I will be there for you. We'll finish up in no time. Please believe me."
The first thing happening after we've entered my home, which started to get confusing as either I now had to call two distinctly separate locations my home, or start calling it my parents' home, which I probably should settle on…
Anyway, the first thing happening after we entered my parents' home, even before having taken off our shoes, was Kamakura.
Who was eagerly waiting by the threshold, apparently for Yuki to come into the house proper.
To then proceed to rub at her ankles, purring and trilling and occasionally even rising up on his hind feet to reach under her palm.
"Do you have this feeling that creature right there is not our cat anymore?" Mom, now propped by the wall with her hands folded, drolly asked no one in particular. "Because I do. Also hi kids, come in, don't be strangers."
"Hi Mom."
"Good evening, Hikigaya-san." Yuki barely managed to pry her eyes off the suddenly very cuddly furball by her left foot and nodded.
"Y'know, at this rate 'Ayahi-san' will suffice," Mom scratched her temple under her glasses' frame and nodded at the strange creature that used to be Kamakura. "I mean, what gives."
"Right," I gave the sight some more attention, then turned to Yuki: "Let's go to the living room for now. I guess you can grab him along."
"Will do," Yuki didn't even give it another thought as she switched her full attention to the cat and carefully put her hands under his belly. Kamakura took that in stride, sniffing her hands and actually nose-bumping her face as she turned him around.
"Gotta wait here for some time," I noted after returning from the kitchen with a juice carton and a couple of glasses; only now I finally allowed myself to give into overwhelming fatigue that my whole body seemingly consisted of now, unceremoniously plopping on the sofa by my girlfriend's side. Even Kamakura was barely succeeding at reviving her: we both had three hours at the conbini plus a ride here because she stubbornly refused to board the train, claiming she needed to ride the bike daily to gain any semblance of stamina.
She got what she desired for, that's for sure.
The only thing that gave us both some hope by the end of the day was a bath. An actual long wide bath in my parents' home which they wholeheartedly let us use on Saturdays. In fact both Mom and Dad were honestly surprised to learn we had a shower stall and not a bath, even if a tiny one like in their first three apartments; Dad muttered something about the greedy landlords and wishing them to descend into Netherworld only to then get stuck halfway because the oni in charge cut costs on the elevator. I decided not to comment on that.
So now we, well, were resting on the sofa, all the while in a serious need to stand up straight like the proud sentient humans we were and head to take a bath befitting that title.
"Al… right," I heavily swung off the couch in two deft if tired motions, then lent a hand to Yuki; she gently let go of Kamakura, then gladly took it and rose up to her feet with all the grace she could muster. "Ladies first then. I have to make my room presentable and stuff."
"Holding my breath for that," Yuki turned and waved to Kamakura, who actually "mrraow"'ed back in response. I only shook my head in defeat at that.
After saying "have a nice bath" to Yuki (which I sincerely meant by the way) I slowly started relocating myself in my room's general direction. At the same time I began making a mental list of things to fix: properly make my bed since it was one, two, three, four, right, four days since I had actually slept in it (what has my life become?..); check my desk and clear it up; confirm the wall rack with my personal collection was there and hidden; check the room wasn't overly dusty in general; what else, hmm-
-Nevermind, new task: take care of one nasty pest, that's what.
"Ah-erm- good afternoon, big brother."
"Taishi… kun?" I finally managed a hard scrutinizing stare after blinking and shaking my head several times. The stare turned out entirely authentic, along with the low growl in my voice. "The hell?.."
That's right, the least welcome member of the big Kawasaki family, in the flesh. I'd be less surpries if I met a wild bear in a bedroom. In fact that bear would have been preferable. Anything would have been more welcome here than this pillow bug.
"I was told to await here by Hikigaya!" He suddenly rose up from my chair stood up straight as if I was his drill sergeant or whatever. "As… as in your sister, big brother."
No! Call me a drill sergeant instead! That's Drill Sergeant Hikigaya to you and none other way! Especially very definitely not "big brother"! I'm gonna be your worst nightmare, maggot!.. Or something.
"The hell you're doing in our house in general?" I finally managed to squeeze out of myself; I think it even was in a relatively polite tone.
"Hikigaya called me…" Taishi was starting to sweat under my glare. "That's true. She's changing before going outside."
"Outsi-"
Don't tell me.
No way.
No.
They're not going on a date.
… Are they?!
That time in my life has finally come.
No matter how much I prepared myself to this time, even when I was telling myself I should not allow that in the first place, the time nevertheless had come and that still hit me harder than the Truck That Delivers You to a Better World.
I now had to give my dear little sister The Talk.
Getting rid of this tick still standing before me was up next right after.
"Wait here."
Going to Komachi's room's door took me just a few very wide strides.
"Komachi?"
"Hey there Bro," came the muffled reply.
"Komachi-chan, dear, we need to talk."
"Ooohhhhhhh… First of all, how about you wait till I get changed then?" Now she sounded angry. "And second, if you touch Taishi-kun I'm not talking to you anymore ever. Go be with Yukino-san and leave me alone. I had enough from Dad already."
Way to go, Dad. Turns out you really were the family head after all.
"Also Mom said he's good, so you both buzz off, like, twice as much."
… Nevermind.
"We're trying to do what's best, you know…" I made the last attempt to resist.
"Yeah, yeah." My dear little sister very loudly sighed. Several seconds later the door opened, revealing me Komachi in a long skirt and a trendy striped cardigan over a blouse. Yep, dressed for a date.
Just what the hell did I miss as of lately?..
"Seriously, Bro. Stop this ritualistic nonsense. You're not the one to talk anyway." Komachi gave me The Look. "Heads-up time: I've known him for a year already."
Wha?..
"Don't make that stupid face. I'm just going out to town with him."
"At least take the pepper spr-"
"Brooooooooooo." Komachi drawled out in a weird mix of cute and angry manner. "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Waiting for my turn to take a bath."
"Huh. Wait, what, I didn't take away my bath soa- Wait what?! Like, with Yukino-san?"
"She's there, yeah."
"Pheeew." She visibly relaxed. "Should've told me sooner."
"So, back to the topic."
"Oh god." Komachi grabbed me by the shirt and halfheartedly shook me back and forth couple times. "Bro, stop being stupid. I'm a big girl. Hard to swallow and stuff, I know. Hang in there. Go see the therapist. Slowly accept the fact. Okay, make that face couple more times if that helps."
"Not really." Finally giving up, I reached out and tousled her hair. "Whatever. If he does anything he's toast."
"Yeah, sure, I know." Komachi smiled at me. "You're the best Big Bro in the world. Even if a dumbass sometimes. Go check your date and I'll go check mine."
Some time later, after watching Komachi and Taishi head out and still feeling a weird mix of everything in no particular order, I finally heard the bathroom door being opened.
"What was the commotion about?" Yuki curiously asked, now all clean and considerably more fresh-looking.
"Yeah, well…" I suddenly felt at loss of words. "My sister had gone on a date apparently."
"Ohhhhhh," Yuki started giggling. "Nice day for a white wedding, I see. Or, in other words, your tribal instincts kicked in. I understand."
"Well…"
"Don't bug her phone or anything of the sort, please." She warily noted, her smile fading down a notch. "Please."
"I know, I know." I nodded and scratched my head looking away. "I promise I won't. We know how that goes."
"Quite. So, would you kindly lead me to your cave?"
"It's a room."
"My apologies, a room." Yuki nodded as if wholeheartedly accepting the correction.
"Come in then."
"Thank you." She entered, slowly tiptoeing to the center of my room and sending looks here and there. "Rather… neat."
"That's a high praise, coming from you."
"I appreciate your no doubt titanic effort at 'making it presentable', as you said."
"Uh-huh. Make yourself at home. I'll be back soon."
Some more time later, after realizing I actually dozed off in the all too comfortable warm bath, I epically climbed out of it, dried myself, got dressed and returned to my room only to find Yuki slumbering on my bed, cutely curled up. Unsure what to do, I carefully sat down on my chair.
Yuki opened her eyes, tracked me and stared sleepily in my general direction, occasionally blinking; not carefully enough after all.
"I now know of one very important thing we desperately need in our apartment," She said sitting up and slightly shivering, her hair an adorable mess. "Even more than a bath."
"A bed?"
"A bed." Yuki confidently nodded. "A soft, warm bed."
The world had moved on without me and we now needed a bed.
Such was what my life had actually turned into.
Quiet shuffling nearby slowly woke me up. Opening my bleary eyes with considerable effort I saw just what I was expecting: Yuki planning to wake at eight in the morning on Sunday.
That promised horrible things.
For example, me being awake at eight on Sunday too. Which I technically already was, but that also meant actually doing something meaningful .
And that, that right there was blasphemy.
"Yuki." I outstretched my hand from my warm comfy blanket (notice my heroism) and caught hers. "Yuki! Yukiyukiyuki!"
"Wh… What did you just say?" She stopped to look at with an arched brow and lips slowly forming a smile.
"I have now had my revenge for yesterday." I made the most stern look I could produce given the circumstances. "And right now I'm preventing a crime against humanity."
"Which is?.." Yuki tilted her head.
"Waking up before noon on Sunday should be banned by the Geneva convention. It's a forbidden torture technique only criminal warlords in the darkest corners of the world use. It's more than a felony." I looked her square in the eye, after more or less succeeding in blinking off the remaining bleariness. "It's a mistake."
Yuki touched the bridge of her nose with her free hand.
"That was to be expected. Still, I'd rather not break my daily schedule even on Sundays."
"No way." I kept holding her hand. "You're now working three hours a day on top of school and homework, not to mention riding the bike. You need all the rest you can take."
That made her pause, looking elsewhere.
"Are you serious?" She demurely yet somewhat coyly glanced at me over her shoulder.
"I am saving you from yourself," I added with a fair bit of pathos. "Yeah, now I'm serious. You've cleaned the apartment yesterday, we both have. Today's shift is at six in the evening. Let me ask you just one entirely serious question."
"Proceed?"
"What are you planning to do with all that free time on your hands, Yuki?" I asked with an expression most pained.
"Your lovely theatrics aside, the technical answer is either read or play," Yuki shook her head and carefully yawned into her free palm. "Alternatively, I can finish setting up my Vaio your parents generously donated to us."
"Yeah… alright," I blinked several times, but then firmly concluded: "But I still have to teach you the sacred art of Reading, Gaming and Doing Other Nice Things Without Getting out of Your Bed."
Yuki gave me a long considering look.
"If I become a slothful blob just like you, you will have to take responsibility."
"Great." I let go of her hand and pointed to the desk: "Now grab your laptop and get back into bed."
That's right, we finally got to check those. I handed Yuki the Vaio P as it was smaller to the point of being cutely petite, while Libretto-tan was fully mine now. "Mine" was an optimistic stretch though: the first thing I was greeted with was an entirely unfamiliar desktop I had never seen before. True, it wasn't exactly alien, but still elicited an impression of going to Saizeriya and finding out the inside was an unknown Italian food chain from a parallel world. Everything was there, yet at different places and looking different in general. Brief mail exchange with Dad answered my questions ("Hell's that?." "It's Linux Mint." "What's that? Why?" "Windows wi-fi drivers were shit"), but of course it did nothing to alleviate the feeling of weirdness.
Not so much for Yuki.
Yesterday it only took her a better part of an hour to look for something on her phone, figure out how to share mobile internet to her laptop and then there she was, browsing some strange bulletin boards and reading some pages that upon the first glance wouldn't be out of place in Cabbala or Necronomicon, applying the gathered knowledge by setting everything up to her liking. I was seriously thinking I would have to drag her to bed but Yuki, being Yuki, briefly glanced at the clock two hours in, promptly put Vaio-tan to sleep and went preparing for bed.
What was I going to do if my girlfriend would become like one of those weirdos from Computer Research club?.. Take responsibility, I guess.
Yuki meanwhile did return to the futon with her Vaio and curled up under the blanket.
"Awaiting instructions then, Sensei."
"Uh-huh…" I scrutinized her general posture. "Put a pillow under your back."
"And done."
"Uncurl a bit, make a mounting slope with your lap."
"Done."
"Put the laptop there."
"Alright."
"You're good to go…" I paused, then heavily stood up. "Almost. Let me get something to drink."
Yuki curiously watched me as I returned with a bottle of black tea and two cups.
"Now we're good to go."
My girlfriend took a long look at me. Then at her laptop. Then at me again.
"Next thing I know I'm eating sweets before dinner and going to sleep past ten in the evening." She finally smiled. "But you are actually right. It is quite cozy."
"Told you."
And thus the whole Sunday morning was utterly wasted on us lazing in our futons: me reading, Yuki typing something. My unspoken question was answered with "ledgering"; seeing yet another unspoken question right after the previous one Yuki explained she was noting down our spendings and earnings. I then cuddled her some and fixed her blanket, to which she squinted and tenderly head-bumped me.
After the noon had passed Yuki finally (very gently) kicked me out of bed. We had our breakfast dash lunch, then Yuki made simple yet delicious ham sandwiches for the express purpose of riding to the seaside park nearby to sit there, take some fresh air and kiss and cuddle in the meantime. Which we did, in no particular order.
"Yuki?" I asked a figure comfortably resting on my lap, eyes closed and face most serene, as we were sitting on the park bench.
"Purr?" The figure replied, opening her eyes and giving me a relaxed gaze.
"How do you feel?" I asked. "I kinda never asked since… back then."
Yuki's face became dark for a second. Moments later, though, she touched my hand stroking her hair and closed her eyes, savoring the feeling.
"I can't say I take stress well," she added thoughtfully. "It normally requires several days for me to recover from that state. Now, though… now I feel very evenly. Not bursting with happiness, but not feeling the pressure either."
Yuki paused to kiss the palm and ponder something.
"What do you know, an understanding boyfriend really helps," she chuckled. "And Yuigahama-san. And Hiratsuka-sensei. Kawasaki-san too. Suddenly I have so many people who don't hate me…"
"Shouldn't it be the same for everyone?" I looked at the sea absentmindedly.
"Even for you. Maybe loners do need a company after all, just the right one."
"Discovery of a century." I stroke her hair once again. "I was really afraid you won't recover."
"I will repay you all," Yuki suddenly became serious. "I promise."
"Hold your horses," I frowned. "No grand gestures please. I know you like this thing of yours."
"This thing?.."
"Making resolutions and being hell-bent on fulfilling them. And then we worry about you again."
"No need to remind me." Yuki pouted in response.
"Well…" I scratched my head, at loss of words for couple seconds. "Told you before. You're fine as you are."
"I probably never told you. So are you." Yuki rose up and hugged me, nudging into my chest. "Caring Hachi."
"Thank you." I hugged her back. "Cuddly Yuki."
For some time we half-sat, half-reclined like that, allowing chilly breeze to cool us. The soft breathing of the sea added soothing ambient noise.
"What time is it by the way?" Yuki finally asked, her tone very lazy and almost sleepy.
"Half past two." I replied after performing some complicated acrobatics to reach for the phone. "We still have time before work. And after work we'll get home. And sleep. And go to school."
"And then to work again." Yuki dreamily continued. "Weird as it sounds, I think this is what I would want to do with my life."
To that I could only shrug.
"Better than most."
"Hachiman!"
No.
"Hachiman, my man!"
No, please, gods, no.
"I art here right before thou!"
Nooooo.
"Well then… let it be so, Hachiman. I shall not bother you no more… I am departing… seriously…"
Breath in, breath out. I've dealt with worse. I can do that.
Surely I can dedicate some of my time to Yoshiteru Zaimokuza.
As a last resort, still retaining some fickle hope, I turned to the girls.
"We assign you as the honorary ambassador to Chuuniland," Yuki sensed my pleading gaze and immediately cut off all the rescue attempts, not even pausing while opening the window.
"Mhm, mhm," Yuigahama eagerly nodded in support.
"… Sensei?" I turned to Hiratsuka-sensei for help.
"Nope nope nope. Ain't engagin'," Sensei shook her head eagerly in response.
Closing my eyes, I sighed in defeat and slowly turned to Zaimokuza.
"…Hi."
"Ah-hum. At the long last! How do you do, my fellow friend of misery-" He abruptly stopped himself. "-nah, wait. You're not anymore. You're dating the Demon Superwoma- I-I mean Lady Yukinoshita."
Imagine what would happen if he learned we lived together.
"And Sir Totsuka has a vixen under his arm too now…"
Also imagine what would happen if he learned it's not the same girl I saw him with last time. In a nutshell it was like this: I saw him walk into the classroom with Ondou, now sporting a black bob cut; I became slightly surprised by Ondou's looks so drastically changed but then shrugged it all off on the ground of maidens in love and all that; then I turned my head away only to see Ondou actually at her seat looking at the lovely couple with slight annoyance but not exactly hostile. Upon a closer look Totsuka's lovely companion turned out to be a different girl entirely, not even from our class. Nevermind Zaimokuza, it started bewildering me myself.
And don't even get me started on the fact that Hayama-
Wait. Now that I think about it…
"Heh. Just saw Hayama during the homeroom break. He was with Isshiki and Miura-"
"That filthy normie!-"
"-and he was running away."
"-he should just slowly rot in a- say what?"
"He's right," Yuigahama sheepishly touched her bun. "Yumiko and Iroha-chan keep chasing him all the time."
"Even slapped him once each," I added, not even bothering to hide my glee.
"Wait, how do you know? They did at the inner yard."
"It was loud enough so I heard it in class," I smirked. "I think everyone heard it. A slap and right after that another slap."
"Stop laughing at Hayato," Yuigahama pouted. "It's not funny."
"From a certain point of view…" Yuki interjected, hiding a distinct giggle.
"Yukinon? Not you too! I get it, you rejected him and stuff, but…"
"My apologies," Yuki lowered her head, still stifling a giggle bout. "It was an unfortunate case of schadenfreude."
"Sh… Sha…"
"Schadenfreude," I repeated. "Experiencing joy at someone's misery. Absolutely despicable and regrettable."
Yuigahama angrily put her hands on hips.
"Stop being mean! As if you'd ever regret it. Enough with that scha-schadenfude."
"Schadenfreude," me and Yuki repeated in unison.
"Sha-den-fu-roi-de," I suddenly heard a whisper beside me: Zaimokuza was diligently writing it down in katakana.
"Zaimokuza," I melancholically said while propping my head on the arm, "don't tell me you found a new cool name for a superpower or something."
"Eh?! Ah-hem," Came the mighty billowing cough in response. "Anywho. I am here for for strictly business reasons this time."
"Another novel?"
"Certainly." He fetched a rather hefty pile of papers and handed it to me. Forget "rather", it was hefty. I did my best to straighten the pile into a more or less neat stack.
"Is it battle harem again?"
"Tis was a mistake of my youth!" Zaimokuza proclaimed. "I had since moved on."
"Isekai then."
"Guhhaaah! How did you guess?"
"Because you follow trends and don't even bother to use your imagination."
"Aghouu!" That stupid exclamation was accompanied by Zaimokuza clutching his heart.
"You also think making long convoluted sentences is the way to go."
"Ughaaa!"
"Just like all of them. Do you know that describing thoughtful looks and then jumping to a girl's knees in the same sentence is physically painful?"
"Hegooo!"
"… Is he enjoying this?" Yuigahama quietly mused.
"You could try it anytime yourself," I shot back. "I'm willing to switch."
"You're good as you are, Hikigaya." Sensei noted. "Maybe try freelance reviewing light novels? I think there's a position or two in Townwork."
"You think?"
"Yeah. You're not the reviewer the world needs, but a reviewer the world deserves."
"Sensei, the world we live in is not so bad as you make it out to be."
"Well… Extra money is extra money." I shrugged, then paused for a second and turned to Zaimokuza again. "By the way… You still want to marry a voice actress?.."
"Th-" Zaimokuza stuttered and assumed a darkly thoughtful pose. "That I still do. What of it? I am ready for all the mocking you can dish out at me."
"Nah. I mean… Why become an LN author for that? How about you try voice acting?"
"Hmpf. You tell me to abandon all my effort and break myself?! To put my very person to shame by putting an over-exaggerated performance?! To-"
Suddenly he felt silent. Sensing the unnatural silence, so did everyone. I realized the girls were now staring at Zaimokuza, as if contemplating something.
"My point exactly," I finally said to no one in particular.
"Guh…" He visibly deflated. "I am at loss of words. I have to ponder about that."
"Are you even sure he'd be a good at voice acting?.." Yuki pondered after we said goodbye to Zaimokuza. The latter, now seriously lost in thought, barely nodded back to us and headed for the special building's exit while mumbling and gesturing to himself.
"Probably better than at writing anyway," I shrugged. "Even if he fails he can still do writing."
"Strange," Hiratsuka-sensei pondered. "Never even thought about Zaimokuza from that angle."
"That is precisely what I appreciate Hikigaya-kun for," Yuki sent me a tender gaze, but then gradually scowled: "If only I could also deal with all the gazes from other…women. As of lately I'm seeing a lot of those."
"Ahhhh, that." Sensei laughed. "You've got to see the concept of pre-selection in practice."
"Like… Everyone sees Hikki with Yukinon and starts having second thoughts?" Yuigahama asked.
"Exactly. Stupid, really."Sensei turned to me: "Hikigaya. If you ever dare give in I swear I'll chop your balls off."
"I know, I know," I answered, irritated by the insinuation. "I'm not an idiot… Wait, why just me and not Yukinoshita too?"
After a pause I decided to add:
"And no, I won't let go. Ever."
On Monday I woke up feeling slightly dizzy, but didn't pay attention to it. Not to mention Yuki's cream soup for dinner made me forget about it along with most bad things in my life in general.
On Tuesday I woke up still slightly dizzy and feeling a faint headache during class, but yet again didn't pay any attention to it. Yasuda-san scolded me for almost dropping one crate when carrying it, though only briefly.
On Wednesday I went to sleep feeling mildly hot and the headache wasn't going away. Even my soboro and scrambled eggs bento, complete with Yuki's Monte Cristo sandwich, didn't inspire any appetite (though it did inspire one approving 'oooh' from Totsuka and his, what, third girl accompanying him already?..). Yasuda-san scolded me for a crate I did drop (fortunately only magazines inside), but then took a closer look and issued me a mask. I barely managed to convince Yuki I was fine and this would go away tomorrow.
Tomorrow came and I woke up distinctly shivering, with my head feeling like it was stuffed with cotton and splinters. The alarm clock was particularly obnoxious, and when I reached for my phone to turn it off its screen almost blinded me. After putting the blanket away I felt the shiver increase, and sitting up was harder than usual since I kept swaying.
"… Hachi?"
"Nah, I'm fine" is what I wanted to say; what came out instead was "Nmmmmmmlllllllklklkl" because suddenly I shivered so much my teeth started clacking. Under Yuki's increasingly panicking look I tried to stand up and failed. I felt blazing hot like a warmed up clothes iron and at the same time cold as if I was in a middle of January.
Great. I got a fever.
"Hachi?!" Yuki dashed out of her futon to the desk, still in her nightgown. She immediately returned carrying a black bag with a red plus sign on it for some rea- wait, it was a red cross. She brought a medkit. I vaguely remembered her packing it when we moved here. Probably hers. Thoughtful Yuki.
Though, this Thoughtful Yuki wasn't actually thoughtful, but now full-on panicking.
"Lie down! D-Don't move!"
"I-Itttt's finnnne," I weakly tried to protest and fight my clacking teeth at the same time. Obviously I failed.
Yuki meanwhile reached for the lock on the box but her fingers slipped. Sharply inhaling, she tried once more only to fail again. Sharp inhales increased. On the third attempt the box cracked open with too much force, scattering the contents on the floor. Yuki scanned the resulting pile with wide eyes, then reached for the thermometer; as she was about to put it in my mouth Yuki exclaimed aloud "what's the point it's obviously 39". Finally she reached my forehead with the back of her hand.
"You have a fever!"
I only nodded, not even trying to speak anymore.
"You d-do have a f-f-f-f… fever," she repeated the obvious, probably in a futile attempt to concentrate.
"Lie d-down…" Yuki then hastily fixed my pillow and covered me with a blanket, hurriedly tucking it everywhere.
"Give me a moment, give me a moment, give me a moment…" She took deeper breaths. "Cold compress. W-wait here, cold compress, cold compress, cold compress…"
I turned my head to follow her; Yuki dashed to the sink and stopped, sending wild looks left and right. Finally she grabbed the kitchen towel, shoved it under the cold water, squeezed and returned to me to put it to my forehead. Moments later ("a bowl for the cold water, idiot, idiot, idiot…") she headed to our kitchenette again and returned with the saute pan full of cold water; judging by the cracking sounds there were ice cubes there. "What now, what now aspirin- wait, bufferin" and she started searching the still scattered medicine on the floor. Moments later Yuki frantically grabbed two blisters and started unpacking one of them, then fetched two pills and turned to me.
"Oh g- water, one moment, sorry, sorry, sorry-" She rose up and dashed to the kitchenette yet again only to slip on one of the scattered blisters and ungracefully fall with a pained yelp. As she was slowly sitting up I found myself tossing the blanket aside (the cold, the cold) and shakily crawl to her.
"Ar-re you alr-rright-t-t?.."
She looked back with a pained wince, tears slowly forming in her eyes.
"Am I that…" She whispered. "I said lie down. I will come back with w-water."
"But-"
"L-L-Lie down." She repeated, steadier now. "I am so pathetic my own sick boyfriend will get up and console me. Lie down. I will come back soon. Lie down already!"
At least she was being stubborn again. I slowly complied.
"Here. It's bufferin," Yuki said offering me the pills and a glass of water. I gratefully swallowed them. "Good. What else beside the fever? Sore throat, mucus, coughs?"
I shook my head, but then coughed and immediately felt hell: my head throbbed so much it was like being hit with a club once per second.
"Oh god," Yuki gently held my head. "I can feel your veins pulsing. Here's some ibuprofen. Now just lie down. I will prepare some chicken soup."
"S-sorry," I finally managed to steady my jaw. "J-just give me couple hours till the pills have effect-"
"You are staying at home today!" Yuki suddenly burst. "If you felt you were going sick why did you kept telling me everything was fine? Why- oh" she shifted to lower voice. "My apologies, I didn't mean to be so loud. But… why, Hachi?"
"Didn't want… to inconvenience you…" I finally uttered. "It's, y'know… stressful… all this…"
"It's stressful for you too for that matter you stubborn… all chivalrous… dumb… idiot…" Yuki balled her fists, but then sighed and uncurled them. "Look what you've done to yourself."
"I'm…" I wanted to apologize but then fully realized what I in fact had done. I was now going to miss a work day and probably so was Yuki. Unable to say anything I just turned away in shame. "I didn't mean to. Now you have to skip a day because of-"
"One day is alright. We have a window for miscellaneous spendings and won't be affected by that much." Yuki knelt beside me and touched my forehead with hers. "Goodness gracious, Hachi… Don't scare me like that…"
"… Yeah. Sorry." I reached for her head and carefully stroked it.
"Just lie still. I'll go prepare the soup."
The rest of the morning, while really seriously uncomfortable due to my body heating up like a boiler and refusing to even move properly, was actually peaceful and with no significant events whatsoever. Yuki called Hiratsuka-sensei and told her we both wouldn't go to school today. Sensei clarified what was wrong with me and what medicine Yuki had issued; I barely remembered the whole dialog. The soup Yuki gave me was hot, salty and delicious. I finally drifted off to sleep, though had to wake up twice to go to the bathroom, actually gathering enough strength to have a shower during the second one. Yuki, now calmed down, was by my side at all times: stroking my hair, replacing the compress, curling up and simply watching me.
When I finally woke up fully it was just half past five in the evening. I felt considerably better, overly weak from dehydrating but at least able to function without shaking.
Beside me Yuki was reading something.
"Hey." My voice was still hoarse.
"Awake already?" She asked, putting the book aside and touching my forehead with hers.
"Yeah. I'll live."
"That is the most uplifting news as of lately." She straightened the hair on her head as she sent me a somewhat exhausted gaze.
"Shouldn't you… go… to work?" I asked carefully.
"No. I'm staying with you."
"You don't have to."
"I do." Her gaze turned more stern.
"You don't."
"I do."
"I'm speaking full sentences and not shaking. Sure, can't go outside but will manage without you. No need to lose today's earning. Just go."
Yuki drew a long, pointed sigh.
"… I will text you in thirty-minute intervals. If you don't respond or if there's anything, anything, I'll come to you."
"Hour intervals." I glared.
"… Forty five minute intervals." She glared back.
Silly, weren't we.
"Fiiine. Just go already."
"Will do," Yuki finally smiled and gave me a light kiss. "But at least make yourself presentable."
After she left I did as instructed and then found myself in out empty apartment. Which, with just me around, was positively eerie. I got used to Yuki being around too much too fast.
What should I do now…
Tossing my sweat-soaked sheets into the washing machine only got me occupied for an hour, with Yuki's first text indeed coming in exactly forty-five minutes; right on schedule. I chuckled and replied to it while waiting for the machine to complete the cycle. I was left with nothing to do once again.
Idly gazing here and there I found my lonely Libretto lying on the desk, so I took it and started making some finishing touches to the desktop; fortunately Yuki gave enough tips and showed me some more complex stuff. While I was at it I suddenly thought about some sort of a backup work I could pick up. Preferably something that required just my laptop. Not programming, poor ol' Hachiman was a bit too inflexible for that (shame on me); but, maybe, hm, reviews? Just as Hiratsuka-sensei proposed.
They're not supposed to be uploaded every day, there's just five-ish thousand word essays to submit, what's not to like?
… Apart for the fact there's probably a couple thousand competitors who were thinking exactly the same. And the fact it was a test of my potentially non-existent writing skills.
I stared blankly at my laptop for some time, came to terms with my fate and finally laid my hands on the keyboard.
By the time Yuki had returned, tired as usual yet worried, I have already applied myself to write a review for the first volume of an upcoming light novel with a long-ass title. If everything was going to be okay, I would be paid around 4000 yen for 3000 words by the end of the month. Even the requirement to buy my own copy wasn't that bad.
That, along with my fever going away completely by the next morning, made me progressively happier, which extended to the whole next day.
It only disappeared in the evening when we returned from work and found a familiar black limo by the entrance of our condo.
Sensei, you were right on the money. Even though we never made that bet.
It was at that very moment I realized I barely ever thought about the, in hindsight, inevitable meeting.
Sure, I now lived together with my girlfriend who angered her mother so much she was booted out of the family. And we had to work to pay for our food and housing. And make long-distance bike trips to school. And returned exhausted to the bone. And could only have a proper hot bath once a week.
But, honestly, and I myself was very surprised I was telling that… it was nothing tragic. Nothing really hard, honestly. I could say for both of us that, over the course of these 10 days, it all fell into a groove. I would wake up to see a sleepy comfy Yuki. We would then eat nice food we had prepared, ride to school, buy stuff at the grocery store, have our shifts, return home and be all cute and cuddly together. Aside from that literally nothing had changed: not our pastimes, not our homework, not the way we spent the evenings.
It was such pure bliss I forgot about the Yukinoshita matriarch entirely. That made her appearance all the more impactful. And by "impactful" I mean "a sledgehammer to the gut".
I felt characteristic sinking in my stomach. What was I supposed to do now? What should be the words to say to someone who ignores your existence, someone who's more powerful and well-connected? What was I supposed to do?
All I could do now was to feel Yuki start taking deep breaths and, gradually, shake. Gently squeezing her hand helped with the deep breaths, but the shaking never quite went away completely.
The limo's door meanwhile opened and a figure in a lush kimono stepped out. All of Yuki's features: the beautifully sculpted face, the mane of gorgeous black hair neatly composed into an intricate hairstyle, the elegant movements. The only distinct exception was her eyes: black, and cold, and calculating even when she politely smiled and nodded in our direction.
"Good evening, Yukino." She started, evenly, in a moderate yet articulated manner honed by years of practice. "Are you well? I am asking out of genuine concern here, despite how the last time we spoke turned out. I have been worried, after all."
Yuki tensed and squeezed my hand, to the point I felt nails starting to dig into my skin.
"Yukino?" Kei Yukinoshita's tone became worried; she slowly started approaching us. "Is something wrong?"
Yuki opened and closed her mouth several times. Her mother finally stopped maybe two meters before us.
"Yukino? Please, tell me."
Yukinoshita-san's tone was sincere… yet Yuki was trembling in fear. It took me some time to realize so did I. Why, though? There literally was not a single reason to feel fear.
Yet… why?
"G…" Yuki swallowed. "Good evening… Mother. I am… well."
Yukinoshita-san let a small sigh of relief.
"Then perhaps you could just say so. How do you think it feels for a mother when her daughter just disappears without a word? And then not a call, not a mail, not even a note relayed by anyone. Please don't do it like that again. It is very hard to live through situations like this. You won't, won't you?.."
Wait.
She was the one who told Yuki she was disowned. Why was she asking those questions as if Yuki was some sort of a rebellious runaway?
"Yukino?"
'Don't reply, don't reply don't reply!' is what I wanted to say, but couldn't open my mouth. I was terrified, anxious, in a neverending fight-or-flight mode and I couldn't even figure out why.
Yuki kept quiet. Yukinoshita-san sighed again and lowered her eyes.
"You are still angry with me, aren't you? I suppose that yes, you are. That was inevitable after those words we've exchanged, I should have expected it. And I forgive you for that."
Didn't Yuki say she only once said "no" to you? Unless she was a pathological liar that wasn't what you'd call "exchange".
And what did she forgive Yuki for?
What was she talking about?..
"Will it help if I say it was not an easy decision to make?" Yukinoshita-san meanwhile continued. "In retrospect, probably not even a right one at that. I willfully admit it: I let my patience run out when teaching you the right values in life. I would never do such a horrible thing as disown you in the clear state of mind. My sincerest apologies for that. What I wish right now is that we mend our relationship. So…" She paused. "I humbly welcome you back."
Yuki still kept quiet.
"Yukino? Perhaps it is all hard to swallow right now." Yukinoshita-san nodded. "I understand. You need some time now. I can wait. Just tell me when to send the movers, tomorrow morning or evening."
… What? What kinda choice is that?
Exactly, it hit me. There was no choice. There never was a choice.
All niceties, no listening. I felt hair rise on the back of my neck.
"… Is that what she had to live with all her life?" I suddenly heard myself saying aloud. "Why did you turn it in such a way she's guilty for everything? You didn't even listen to what she says!"
Yukinoshita-san moved her eyes at me, then back to Yuki. No movement otherwise.
"Stop ignoring me! I'm right here!"
She actually waited when I stopped talking, then spoke.
"Yukino, I am not and will not be angry at you. So, will you?"
"N…No," Yuki hoarsely whispered, then repeated in a more steady voice: "No."
Yukinoshita-san made a sad smile.
"I understand. Evening it is then."
That was it.
Any sort of respect or good will I had to that woman disappeared. I realized I stopped caring what she would do to me. All I felt was anger.
But just as I opened my mouth I felt a tug from Yuki.
"Hachi." Surprisingly, her voice was now steady. No deep breaths, no shaking. In fact, she was looking at me with grim determination.
"… Yeah?" I turned to her, bewildered by an abrupt shift in her composure.
"I'd like to ask your opinion… as a resident master contrarian." We both briefly smiled at the joke; weird feeling, all circumstances in mind. "Is cutting off all communication also a form of communication?"
For a second I stood stupefied, not quite comprehending what Yuki just said. Out of a corner of my eye I saw the Yukinoshita matriarch frown, but otherwise say nothing.
"Well…" I replied. "Yeah. Just… I believe the right term is 'passive-aggressive'."
"I'm fine with being passive-aggressive." Yuki confidently nodded. "As it stands, I have neither means nor legal reasons to be active-aggressive. I…"
She looked at me again, seemingly steeling her resolve.
"I'm walking away. She so pointedly ignores what I say… I feel I have no choice. We will return to our apartment through the neighboring alley. There'll be a lot of noise in every meaning of the word if she tries to stop us. We can call the police in the worst case scenario. They'll listen. Unlike her."
"Are you sure she can't buy them?"
"Our family is not that influential," Yuki shook her head. "In fact I am not sure as to who started the rumor we are some ancient clan."
That was it. Yuki was engaging into a conflict. That meant I was caught in the crossfire.
Though… Didn't I promise I'd take care of her? Wasn't I disgusted by her family's attitude? Even if that would bite me in the arse with poisonous teeth later, at the moment I let all pessimistic thoughts go.
"Yes. I'm with you."
"Then…" Yuki finally smiled. "Shall we?"
With that we turned and started walking to the station.
Before I could fully comprehend just what we both have done here I heard buttery-polite voice with a tinge of acid:
"You are making a grave mistake, Yukino. I take my words back. I don't regret anything anymore: I should have doubled down. Manhandle you into a basement if needed. Don't think you can just walk away like that. I will reach you anywhere. I won't let you live anywhere near here."
"She's bluffing," Yuki whispered. "It's another family's property."
"You won't make it into any self-respecting university in the country."
"Same," Yuki replied to herself as we walked away. To be honest, it was now my turn to shake slightly. What if Yuki was wrong?
"Come back you insolent impudent little cu-"
And it all was interrupted by a loud slap and a brief yelp of pain. Startled, we turned to the source of the sound.
Kei Yukinoshita was now rather unceremoniously sprawled on the hood of the limo, nursing her burning red cheek. The sight would have been almost comical if not for a menacing figure standing near her.
A rather tall elderly man, of the "old but still strong and hardened" kind. Neat gray suit, carefully crafted hairstyle, sharp features.
This man used his right hand he just had slapped Yukinoshita-san with to fix his tie, then rolled his neck; all in livid motions you'd really expect from a serial killer, a thought crossed my mind.
Then the man spoke, calmly but with a pronounced edge in his voice:
"I leave for a business tour two weeks prior and it's all fine and good. My lovely wife is a controlling manipulative bitch as usual but recently she's relatively quiet, so okay. My elder daughter's hanging with some shady dudes and is a bit dodgy on the college attendance but fine, just as always. Won't complain, coulda been worse. My youngest is still in her apartment and not intending to come home any time soon, but alright, she's in fact in a club and with some friends, holy dicks from hell, progress. Now, I come back home, my younger's told she's disowned, Haruno is in the hiding and no one, not a single soul, can tell me why. And a cherry on top for that is my dear wife is apparently officially off her trolley. Why fucking hello there."
Yukinoshita-san tried to slowly stand up, but stopped under the man's glare.
"The brain you had, dear. Tell her she's disowned. What if any of my business partners learned? Eh? Any response on that? And then you thought of an even better idea, hm? Like, how about you go to their place so the whole block would watch a free episode of one of those reality TV shows you watch all the time. What was that foreign one? Ah, right, 'Keeping up With the Yukinoshitas'. The brainprower you have. The genius mind."
"… Do you seriously think you can get away with that?" Yukinoshita-san finally spoke, steadily and menacingly.
"Yeah?" The husband cocked his brow in amusement. "Why not? What are you gonna do to me?"
"Have you forgotten who are you without me?" She practically hissed at this point. "Let me remind you then. A welder at a shipyard slowly closing off because the Koreans are better at building ships."
"A happy welder, mind you. Without you in sight." He threw a glare at her again. "You know, that's an idea. How about I just toss you back to that dying village in Aomori you're hailing from? How. How did I fall for a typical village bum from a dirt poor family who thought she just needed to marry a right man. How. No, really, I can fix it all. Have your old folks work you to the bone on those pretty-looking rice fields up north. Just gotta convince them not to drown right there in the fields outta shame."
He raised his hands and dropped them again, all in that same livid manner.
"Nah, really. Marrying off Yukino to the Hayama's boy. The brilliance. You can swap his balls with a pair of soybeans and he'd still be more a man. Errrrrrgh."
He heavily sighed and tiredly turned his head to the driver who had been wisely silent during the whole exchange.
"Tsuzuki? Be a buddy, hop her back to the mansion, will ya? I'll take a taxi when I'm done with those two. If she so much as tries to get away it's her fault entirely. An' if she tries to do something to you, tell me. I know she will. Never one to be convinced anything. A'ight? Thanks."
After the limo had left I realized I was there throughout all the tirade, entirely speechless. Since I didn't hear a single thing from Yuki the same was true for her too.
"That was…" I half-whispered, "colorful."
"He's from Hakodate," Yuki solemnly replied. "A former dock worker. Now it's all too easy to forget."
"I probably should have covered your ears."
"No, I should have covered yours."
"Hey, princess," The man meanwhile finally approached as we were discussing the recent events. "Sorry for the dynamic entry. Was seriously pissed off. A'ight then…"
He stopped just short of us and gave me a long scrutinizing stare, head to toe and back. For a second I felt like shrinking right there.
"Seriously? This kinda guy? Well, he's better than Hayama, but that ain't a high bar to clear in the first place. Just, you know… He looks right like the boys in the docks. You sure?"
Yuki just grabbed my hand and straightened up.
"Very sure, father."
"Uh-huh…" The man switched his attention to me. "Name's Hiroaki Yukinoshita. Yours?"
"Uh… Hachiman Hikigaya, sir."
"Doesn't ring any bells… Think it's for the better though. Wife always has those plans 'let's marry her off to this rich guy', 'let's marry her off to that rich guy'. I can barely keep her in check these days. Like a brothel mistress or something."
I decided to keep quiet on the last statement.
"So, you're dating Yukino."
"Yes, sir." I replied carefully.
"And you're serious."
"Yes, sir."
"I ain't asking. Y'know those concrete wavebreakers at the shores everywhere around here? Guess where you'll be if you ever made her cry."
I fully understood what he was doing, I really did. After all, I probably wasn't that much different whenever matters regarding Komachi arose. Just… There was one thought lingering in the back of my head. One very important thought, stemming from a resolution I made several days ago (which now felt like eternity).
After spending several moments to form the thought properly I spoke up.
"Sir… Can I ask you a question?"
He cocked his head with an intrigued face.
"Heh, that's interesting. Go ahead."
"Will you… cast your wife and eldest daughter into those first?"
That made him look sideways and laugh bitterly.
"Hah. Bullseye. Can't unfortunately. Our lovely snake pit of a family must uphold appearances. The disappearance of a family member is kinda in the way of that… but I like your thinking."
"Then… Will you leave your daughter to me? I promise I won't do her no harm." I bowed at the last part. Yukinoshita-san in response shoved his hands into pockets and gave me another once-over.
"Nah, look at this guy. Reeeal cocky. You think it's that easy? Now tell me, what good would you be to Yukino?"
As I said, I understood him fully. And while I could never give a fully correct answer, I could offer the next best thing: something I myself would accept if anyone asked me for Komachi's hand.
"We're paying the rent to her apartment together."
A long pause started.
Finally, Yukinoshita-san pursed his lips and nodded.
"Yeah. That's what I had to hear. But if you ever, ever, ever! make her cry, I'll get to you. You have my word on that."
"While you are busy deciding who I belong to," Yuki interjected in a put-upon tone, "I would like to… ask for some favors."
"Oh come on, what favors? Anything for you."
"Well then…" Yuki touched her chin for a second. "First of all, what is the status of my school's tuition fee?"
"Uhhh… It's paid already last time I checked. Aaaaahhhhh, of course. My wife we're talking about here. Yeah, I'll check again."
"Thank you." Yuki bowed for good measure. "And second… I want things to stay as they are. At first I was seriously afraid I wouldn't make it. Maybe I still won't… After all, it's only been a week. But still, I want to live with Hikigaya-kun. And most importantly, I'm choosing my own path. I'm going to the university I select and I'm paying my own tuition. In the very worst case, I will ask for a loan from you that I'll return later. Whether I'm working for a big corporation or standing by the cash register for the rest of my life, I am asking you to accept it. Is… is that an adequate request?"
"What are you talking about? Just what I wanted to hear from you all my life. Beats you being a wallflower all the damn time."
"Thank you, Father," Yukino let go of my hand to make a deep formal bow, then took it again. "It also would greatly help me if you help me by keeping your wife in check from now on."
"She's still your mother-"
"She is not!" Yuki suddenly raised her voice.
"Teenagers," Yukinoshita-san raised his eyes skyward. "Women. You do realize she's still your mother, right?"
In response Yuki only narrowed her eyes.
"Okay, okay," Yukinoshita-san sighed in resignation. "A story for another day. Fine then. I promise. And, young man…"
Seeing his outstretched hand, I hesitantly reached for a handshake. The handshake was painfully strong, but only for a brief moment.
"Not so bad," Yukinoshita-san noted. "Tentatively."
Just as his taxi cab had finally left Yuki suddenly grabbed me with both her hands and pulled me in a tight hug.
"It's over."She mumbled into my chest. "Finally… Finally… Finally…"
"Right." I held her back and, surprising even myself, started gently rocking left and right with Yuki still in my arms.
"I can't even…" Yuki trailed off, still swaying.
"I know." I buried my nose into her hair. She briefly giggled at that.
"Fetuccini Alfredo?"
"Sure."
"Or macaroni and cheese?"
"Or that."
"So which one is it?"
"Anything by you is fine. Told you that once."
"Oh you flatterer you."
At the moment I didn't want to do anything more, just revel in this feeling of immense relief. Just us two, in a middle of the street, hugging and caressing each other and smiling. We would go back to our apartment and relax. Tomorrow we'd clean it, do the homework and go to my parents' house to take a much awaited bath. On Sunday we'd laze around. I would ask for nothing more.
We were only interrupted by a series of buzzes from my pocket. As I opened the phone I was presented with a string of messages from Komachi. In a bewildered tone clearly evident from the contents she notified me Dad had Mom change into something snazzy and dragged her to an honest-to-god date, and now they've just returned and he carried her into the bedroom princess-style.
That was so out-of-place, yet so fitting along with the recent chain of events, that me and Yuki simply started laughing, and laughed for five minutes straight.
I would say many things about that life of mine, but I would never complain.
A/N: So while I was busy procrastinating Volume 14 is finally out and, according to spoilers, even has a proper HachiYuki ending. For some time I personally thought Watari would go full Murakami on us. While it's one less reason for me to write this story it's a) too little too late, b) my headcanon is better (- tall claim again) and c) gotta finish what I started. Not to mention I'm almost there.
So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year folks.