"Yo." - Person Talking
"Yo." - Person Thinking
And here is a sudden new chapter. Let's a go.
"I-I'll be in your care then."
Those words had sealed the fate of one Hachiman Hikigaya, the raven haired youth entering the living room of the Kawasaki residence with tentative steps. Keika was leading him into the cozy feeling house by the hand, pointing out various different sentimental items that decorated her house. Idly nodding and offering a comment here and there, the pair alongside her parents made it to the living room as Taishi, Takao and Satou were watching TV.
"Ah! Onii-san, you're here!?" Taishi suddenly said with a bright tone, Hachiman feeling his brow twitch at the overly familiar tone.
"Yo. Pardon the intrusion." Hachiman said as he bowed his head slightly, Taishi grinning as he moved to chat with the raven haired youth to his utter despair.
Seeing him interact with their children so naturally, Sanae had a smile on her face as Suki, Takao and Keika began to fight for his attention. While it may have been heartwarming to his wife, Takahashi felt a part of his soul chip with each hug and pout his precious daughters shared with the young man in front of him.
How long? How long has this intruder, this outsider, indulged in the pouts, smiles and hugs of his precious daughters? How could he, someone who just waltzed into the lives of his daughters, experience such joys when he, their father, have been denied those very joys, at least from his now rebellious eldest. As he entered a depressive slump, Takahashi's head dropped as his wife merely giggled at him in a knowing manner. Returning her gaze to the laughing and smiling children trying to clamber onto the resigned form of Hachiman, she saw him shoot her a pleading look as she gained a glint to her eyes.
"I'll go start dinner then, please, if there's anything you need feel free to ask, Hachiman-kun!" Sanae chirped as she flashed him a mischievous smile, Hachiman feeling his despair grow as he racked his mind to free himself from the ironclad holds on his arms, legs and waist.
"Let me help out." He blurted on instinct as his habits helping in the kitchen with Jiro kicked in, the corners of Sanae's lips quivering before a coy smile crossed her face.
"Ara, are you tying to woo me too, Hachiman-kun?" Sanae teased as the raven haired young man froze, feeling a piercing stare from Takahashi as the man's brow furrowed.
"Ufufu, I'm just teasing, Hachiman-kun! I'll be fine by myself, I'm not a wife and mother for nothing!" She reassured him before moving to the kitchen, Hachiman letting a sigh leave as he was once again hounded by the younger Kawasaki children as Taishi tried to reign them in.
As he continued to watch Hachiman get tugged, pulled and fought over by Keika, Takao and Satou; Takahashi couldn't help but crack a small smile when he took in the younger man's current expression. Clearly he wasn't too enthusiastic about being made a human rope for their little game of tug-of-war but the twinkle in his eyes and the small smirk that was plastered on his face spoke volumes about how he felt inside. Even the way Taishi was trying his hardest to not laugh in the face of his senpai was a telling sign about the closeness of their relationship.
The wait for Sanae to cook wasn't a long one, Hachiman finding that entertaining three young Kawasaki children helped pass the time quicker then he'd like to admit. Within the hour, the young man was seated at the table with Keika and Taishi flanking his sides. Across from him was Takao and Satou, Saki sitting to the far left of the table as she shot flustered glances every now and again. Watching their eldest was Sanae and Takahashi who were sitting on the ends of the table, a look of surprise on their faces as they took in the sight before them.
The shy and embarrassed expression on the face of Saki was a foreign one to both Takahashi and Sanae, but no less a welcomed one, at least for Sanae. Seeing such a maiden-like look on her usually rough and blunt daughter was a well of teasing material for Sanae, a knowing giggle leaving her mouth as Saki snapped to stare at her with an absolutely pitiful and pleading look in her eyes. Giving her a playful wink, which only drew greater distress from her eldest, Sanae turned to focus her gaze on the young man who managed to work his way into the heart of her Saki.
For Takahashi, he felt his world crumbling when he took in her flustered expression. For the life of the large man, he was unable to find an instance of the face she was making in his memory of the past few years. Why? When? How much time had passed since his little girl was making grossed out faces at the thought of boys? However, it wasn't just the act that Takahashi wasn't able to remember his eldest making such a face, but the feelings that shone in her expression. Those hidden feelings nearly caused him to pass out in his chair, the glittering twinkle that sparkled in her eyes whenever she asked Hachiman to pass a dish or when she offered him a dish, it was absolute torture for the man. The Saki that he had raised and loved was a girl who didn't let feelings, at least those unrelated to her family, dictate her life.
"Oh? That so, Taishi? I thought it was just at the supermarket that you tripped onto a lady?" Hachiman questioned the horribly blushing and embarrassed young man, Taishi frantically trying to clear him of the suspicious gaze his mother was sending him.
"Ufufu! I know, it sounds hard to believe but he doesn't have the best sense of balance." Saki giggled as she teased her brother a bit more, Taishi letting a pitiful groan leave as he buried his burning face into his hands.
That sound, the sound that reminded Takahashi of a time where his little girl was an actual little girl, a time where she giggled at everything she found enjoyable or adorable, which mostly came from him. Hearing Saki giggle, giggle not laugh or chuckle but an actually delicate and maiden-like giggle, broke the bastions of Takahashi's restraint as a fleeting memory of the last time he had made her giggle entered his mind.
His head dipping a bit, he gained the concerned stares of everyone present as Sanae worriedly placed her hand on his shoulder. But when a humorless chuckle left him, she froze before a tired sigh left her mouth at what was to come. Raising her head, she offered Hachiman a wry and apologetic smile as the young man felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand in turn. Slowly, he began to connect the dots as Takahashi rose to meet his anxious gaze with a somewhat crazed one of his own.
"So, Hachiman was it? I hear you've been taking care of my kids." Takahashi said in a stern and powerful tone, Hachiman stiffening out of reflex as he nodded his head.
U-Ush. Hachiman Hikigaya, sir. And it's more like I've been in their care, sir." Hachiman answered as he dipped his head as a sign of respect, Takahashi feeling his brow twitch when he saw the action.
"Does this boy think showing a little bit of respect will get him in my good graces? It'll take more then that, kid. And what do you mean you've been in their care?! A man shouldn't be relying on others for his troubles, especially not my adorable kids!." The elder Kawasaki thought with twitching brows as Sanae laughed a tad wryly, Saki blinking as she scowled a bit at her father.
"Dad, could you stop being so rude?" Saki asked her father in a heated tone, Takahashi feeling a piece of his heart break when he saw the irritation and vexation in her eyes.
"Yeah, Tou-chan! Stop being mean to Ha-chan!" Keika added with puffed out cheeks, the poor man coughing up a bit of blood as his beloved daughters' piercing words struck him.
"Mean, Tou-chan!"
"Meanie, meanie!"
Came the simultaneous chirps of Takao and Satou as they joined in on the brutal assault against their father, though the grins on their faces contrasted greatly against their piercing words. Faced with the relentless and merciless words and stares of his children, Takahashi lost all feeling in his body as he slumped over. Falling into the table in a slow and shaken manner, taking extra care to shift the tableware away during his descent, he laid prone as the chatter and lively atmosphere stilled.
"Now, now, your Tou-chan is just so happy that Hachiman-kun has been taking such good care of you! Isn't that right dear!" Sanae said in an attempt to ease her hopeless husband's situation when she saw her beloved's over-dramatic reactions, the younger Kawasaki children giggling before grinning while Saki shyly followed.
"R-Right... T-Thanks for takin' care of my kids." Takahashi said in a shaky tone while rising as he clutched at his chest, dipping his head towards Hachiman as the younger man winced at his current state.
"Oi, oi! Come'on, Takahashi-san! Don't let Saki, Satou, Takao and Keika's words break you down! Though, I do feel some sympathy if those three were snapping at me." Hachiman commented in his mind as he offered him a wry smile, a semi-comfortable air taking hold as Takahashi remained sullen as Keika still refused to look at him.
The rest of their meal was followed by various questions that Sanae asked Hachiman concerning his relationship with her children. Much more gentle and good natured then her husband with her choice of words, the parents of the household felt a warmth spreading through their bodies as he recounted the various events that he was involved with concerning the Kawasaki children. Seeing someone so close to their children, namely Saki, brought smiles that weren't simple pleasantries. Though, when a particularly mischievous and sly smile graced Sanae's face, all pleasantries fell apart.
"I'm so glad that you're so close to my children, Hachiman-kun! Once again, you have our thanks for taking such good care of them!" Sanae stated once more as Hachiman merely nodded his head, having become a bit more used to her praises.
"It's no trouble, really. And Saki always helps me out when I ask, so the feeling is mutual." Hachiman said as Saki smiled in a shy and clumsy manner, Takahashi twitching once more while Sanae mentally pumped a fist at his choice of wording.
"Ara? Mutual? Then I can assume that you two will be dating soon!" She exclaimed with a bright and eager tone, the blood draining from the faces of Takahashi, Saki and Hachiman.
"R—Really!? Then you really will be my Onii-san, Onii-san!" Taishi cheered with a bright tone, Hachiman feeling his soul chip from the outrageous claim.
"Yay! Ha-chan will be my Onii-tan!"
"Ha-chan will be Onii-chan!"
"Onii-chan, yay!"
Keika, Takao and Satou added in equally excited tones, the three panicked souls finding themselves panicking more when they saw how happy the trio were.
"M-Mom! What the heck are you talking about!? W-We're not like that!" Saki shouted in a tone of absolute mortification, Sanae merely tilting her head as she flashed her a knowing smile.
"But you two make such a cute pair, isn't that right dear?" Sanae sang as she turned to her husband, her smiling face turning wry when she saw him sitting with a completely out of touch look on his face.
"Ah, Tou-chan! Welcome home, I missed you!"
"I'm not going to bed until I get a good night kiss!"
"Nu-uh! Boys are icky, Kaa-chan! I'll marry Tou-chan when I grow up!"
His eyes watering as distant and beloved memories sprang to the forefront of his mind, Takahashi shielded his eyes with his forearm as tears streamed down his face. The others looking on with shock and confusion, though Sanae was merely sighing at his overly dramatic reaction, Takahashi shook his head as lamented the cold, hard facts that were laid out in front of his eyes.
"My little girl is going to leave me!" He cried as Saki felt nothing but embarrassment and horror fill her body, snapping to look at Hachiman as a rather uncomfortable expression crossed his face.
"D-Dad, stop it! You're embarrassing everyone!" She snapped at her father in a heated and pleading tone, her demand only causing more tears to stream down his face.
"You said you all boys were icky, that you would only marry your Tou-chan! Ahh, my little Saki is going to leave me all alone!" Takahashi wailed a bit harder as Hachiman excused himself to the kitchen, Saki watching him go with wide and horrified eyes before snapping to glare at her father.
As Saki started to snap at Takahashi, her siblings were soon laughing and joining in on the chaotic energy that filled the dining room while Taishi seemed a tad lost. Sanae had slipped out to follow Hachiman, both curious as to why he had wanted to leave to the kitchen rather then just home and to tease him a bit more about his relationship with her eldest. When she entered, she saw him leaning against the counter with a wry smile on his face, Sanae blinking when she heard a rather strange request from the young man.
(Time Skip - Twenty Minutes Later)
"-nd I never told you that I'd marry you when I was younger! That was Keika and Takao who told you that, not me! And furthermore, why would you even say that in the first place!? In front of guests no less!" Saki spat out in a heated and mortified tone, Takahashi merely staring ahead with blank eyes as the realization that his eldest was growing more rebellious cracked his heart further.
Just as the depths of despair were about to finalize their hold on his heart, Takahashi and the rest of those still in the dining room smelt something sweet and delicious waft in the air. The rough and heavy air being replaced with one of curiosity and intrigue, the followed the trail of the scent as the sight of Hachiman and Sanae walking into the dining room with a tray held in the hands of the youth while she had a tray with glasses of milk.
"You made dessert?" Takahashi asked in a surprised tone, Sanae smiling before shaking her head and gesturing to Hachiman.
"No, Hachiman-kun wanted to make something for us all since he felt guilty about not bringing anything to dinner." Sanae reported as everyone turned to look at the young man, Hachiman coughing slightly as he placed the tray on the table.
"It's not anything special, really. My boss made it all the time as a snack for us part timers." Hachiman explained as he gestured to the fluffy looking treats, the younger Kawasaki children drooling as they basked in the warm glow of the pastries.
Currently resting on a simple sheet pan was an assortment of puff pastries with a golden brown crust. The mundane yet tantalizing treats broke the bastions of restraint that the younger Kawasaki children had, each of them racing to grab a pastry before delicately taking a bite. A soft and flaky crust soon gave way to a buttery and velvety inner shell, which then melted into a rich and creamy chocolaty core. After that first, tentative bite all hesitation left as they helped themselves to the baked treats.
"Seems like they like it, Hachiman-kun!" Sanae chirped as he breathed a bit lighter, mentally wiping his brow as his impromptu recipe didn't seem inferior as he expected.
"Oh, this is better then the ones at the store!" Saki commented as she helped herself to one of the pastries, her eyes shining before a slightly melting light entered her eyes.
"Huu... W-What about Tou-chan?" Takahashi asked in a pitiful manner as he looked at his children, getting a glare from his younger kids as they shielded the baked goods from him.
"Hmph!" Saki harrumphed as she turned her nose up at him, the poor man losing all traces of color with a shocked expression etched onto his face.
"Ugh, here!" Saki snapped in an angered and embarrassed tone, holding out her partially eaten pastry to her father.
"Ah! Honey look, Saki still loves me!" Takahashi cheered as his stunned and distraught expression practically vanished with the offered treat, Sanae offering her husband and eldest a dry smile as he triumphantly held up partially eaten treat.
"Geez, stop acting like a kid, dad! I'm almost an adult for heaven's sake! I can't be your little girl forever, ya know!" She barked at him in a flustered tone, crimson having practically dyed her face since the end of dinner.
The statement causing her father to choke on the pastry he was eating, he snapped his head to stare at her with an incredulous look on his face. The sight being rather comical with how wide his eyes were, the panic and confusion that danced in his grey orbs along with the crumbs that lined the corner of his mouth; he quickly downed a gulp of milk his beloved had so thoughtfully prepared, he swallowed heavily before firing a volley of embarrassing and infuriating questions towards both Saki and to her horror, Hachiman.
Soon enough, the energy in the Kawasaki household has returned to its usual level, some could even argue that it exceeded that standard. But though crimson faces, tears, accusations and denials were being thrown and shown, the smiles and laughter that echoed through the halls of the home spoke volumes of how at ease and amiable the atmosphere really was.
(Time Skip - Half an Hour Later)
"Thanks again for having me." Hachiman said as he dipped his head in gratitude, warm gazes and smiles being directed towards him as Keika, Satou and Takao moved to hug him.
"Ha-chan, thank you for keeping your promise."
"Ha-oniichan, come again?"
"Come back soon, Onii-chan."
The three told him with somewhat teary voices and equally pleading eyes, Hachiman offering them a small smile as he patted their heads. The action only causing them to hug him harder, it wasn't until Sanae ushered them to let go of him that they did. Taking a few steps back, Hachiman felt a bit of warmth fill his heart at how attached the tykes were to him in the short time they were together.
"Thanks for coming over, Onii-san! I hope that you'll be back soon!" Taishi chirped with a smile on his face, Hachiman forcing himself to not show any visible discomfort with the irritating title or the radiant and happy smile that came with it.
"Y-Yeah, thanks again for coming Hachiman. I'll c-call you later, is that okay?" Saki added with pink colored cheeks, Hachiman offering her a small smile of his own as she returned it tenfold.
"Ufufu, I'll hope to see you soon as well, Hachiman-kun! Certainly now that my kids have gotten so attached to you!" Sanae remarked with a bright and mischievous tone, the young man sighing internally as he nodded and smiled at her wryly.
"Mind if i talk with Hachiman, alone?" Takahashi asked his family as they all blinked at him, slowly turning to look at the paling youth before heading inside.
"So, I saw how Saki looked at you tonight. She likes you, kid." Takahashi said in a nonchalant manner, Hachiman's face exploding in crimson as he choked on air.
Watching the scene unfold in front of him with an amused smirk on his face, he helped ease the younger man's torment by patting him on the back. A few seconds later and with a deeper shade of red on the face of Hachiman, he had his gaze focused upwards as he tried to find a way to end his life without making it seem like murder. But to his distress, he felt the large hand of Takahashi fall onto his shoulders as he braced himself for a blow to the face or stomach.
"Haha, ease up kid, I ain't gonna brain ya, less you got something worth whacking ya for..." The silver haired man chuckled good naturedly, though it did turn a bit scary towards the end of his statement.
"N-No, sir. Just a bit surprised is all." Hachiman quickly said to alleviate the concerns of the larger man, a small smirk crossing Takahashi's face as he heaved a soft sigh.
"Relax kid, you don't seem like the kind of guy to play around with a girl's heart. I know my Saki may seem like a hard headed, intimidating, cold person but she's a complete and utter sweetheart deep inside. Never seen her like that before, not even when she was younger. So, if ya would, hear out a request from her old man and just treat her right, kid." Takahashi requested the raven haired youth in a somber tone, Hachiman feeling his embarrassment melt slightly though it was replaced with a frightening sense of responsibility.
"And one more thing, if ya don't mind." Takahashi asked gently as Hachiman nodded softly, completely untrusting of his voice in his current predicament as the other hand of Takahashi found itself on his other shoulder.
"Don't you get any bright ideas about any kinda kissing or touching her inappropriately, ya hear. My little Saki is way too young for stuff like that, so keep it to hugs and hand holding lasting no more then two seconds. And be sure keep your 'little friend' locked down until you get on your knees and beg her to marry ya, and even then, ya still have to get through me to have her." The large man stated in a tone of complete and utter seriousness, the poor glasses wearing youth trembling horribly as Takahashi grinned viciously in turn.
Lightly patting the younger man on his shoulders, he gripped them before turning Hachiman around. Giving him a gentle push, the raven haired young man stiffly marched towards the street. Watching him go, Takahashi felt a twinge of satisfaction at having successfully run off a potential competitor for his eldest's heart. A content sigh leaving his mouth, he turned around and opened the door only to meet the terrifying stare of his eldest daughter. Disbelief, confusion, embarrassment, anger; a wild myriad of emotions were dancing in the eyes of his daughter as her face retained a stone-cold expression. But soon, the expression fell as crimson flooded her cheeks and tears lined her eyes, Saki shouting the words that were the absolute death of fathers everywhere.
"I hate you!" Saki shouted with a tearful and betrayed tone, rushing to her room as everyone stood a bit stunned by her sudden outburst.
Slowly, they turned to look at the man of the house of Takahashi remained still with his hand on the knob of the door. That same hand slid off of the knob as he fell backwards with a completely pale and shattered expression on his face, his tongue lolling out of his mouth when he hit the ground with a dull thud. A startled cry leaving the mouth of Taishi, he rushed towards his father with Satou in tow; the young man barely managing to lift up Takahashi's upper body as he cried with tears streaming from his eyes.
"T-Tou-san!" Taishi cried towards the heavens as he held his father's limp body, Satou blinking as he poked his father's cheek in curiosity.
"Oh dear." Sanae sighed in an exasperated manner as she rested her hand in her palm, Keika and Takao giggling as they moved to poke at their father's prone form.
Giving her husband a dry look, Sanae moved to help Taishi drag him to the living room before depositing him onto the couch. A soft plop sounding as his body rocked the piece of furniture slightly, Sanae moved to check on her daughter but not before shooting Takahashi one last exasperated look, shaking her head as she exited the room.
(Scene Change - Chiba: Yuigahama Residence)
"Thanks, mama!" The ever cheerful voice of Yui called out towards her mother as she left them a plate of snacks, Sayaka Yuigahama beaming her beloved daughter a smile as she left her to her friends.
Currently gathered inside of Yui's room with said owner were Yukino and Komachi; the three happily munching on the chocolate covered biscuits and tea that were prepared for them by Sayaka. As they settled in, the atmosphere was an amiable one, Yui and Komachi leading most of the conversation while Yukino threw in a few words here and there. Eventually, the topic of conversation began to grow a bit inclusive as Yukino still hadn't branched out towards the interests of her two companions as much as she would have liked, Komachi mulling over another possible topic they could all indulge in before gasping as it suddenly sprang to the forefront of her mind.
"Then, what about Onii-chan!" She chirped as the two choked slightly on their tea, coughing as they tried to ease the pink that colored their cheeks.
"W-What?! H-Hikki!?" Yui stammered as she held her colored cheeks, shyly looking away as Yukino daintily wiped away the remnants of the tea that stuck to her lips.
"I-I agree with, Yuigahama-san. W-Why bring up the topic of Hikigaya-kun so suddenly?" Yukino asked with red coloring her cheeks a bit deeper, Komachi holding her inner turmoil at bay to satisfy her curiosity.
"You two have to admit it too! Onii-chan is so much more different now!" Komachi exclaimed as the two nodded their heads in agreement, the contrast between how he was before and now being startling.
"Mhmm... Hikki looks like a different person now." Yui added with a slightly dreamy tone, her eyes gaining a fond glint to them as Komachi felt her stomach churn a bit.
"It is a startling change. Though, even if he has changed physically, he is still the same brooding, cynical, sloth-like human being as before." Yukino quipped as the others giggled at her assessment, the ravenette offering them a small smile at their agreement.
"But Yukinon, Komachi-chan, Hikki has been acting weird too! Remember at the store, Yukinon? Hikki was working like a normal person! And before he was eating lunch with other people on the rooftop!" Yui suddenly said as she remembered the other changes that befell the man, Yukino and Komachi raising their brows as they hadn't heard of such changes.
"Really, Yui-chan? I know that Onii-chan was working, but who is he having lunch with?" Komachi asked in a curious tone, her mood dampening a bit as he was rather adamant about not eating with her.
"I would also like to know who he would curse to bear the burden of dining with him." Yukino added with curiosity shining in her tone, Yui leaning forward as she gained a rather unsettling and serious expression.
"Saki-chan and Hina-chan." She reported in an equally serious tone, the eyes of the others widening a bit as they leaned a bit closer to hear Yui continue with her explanation.
"And what's more, there's something even weirder going on between Hikki and Saki-chan. They're together in Class 3-I with Hiratsuka-sensei, and the last time I went into their class to help her deliver some papers, Saki-chan was sitting on his desk!" Yui continued as the other girls found themselves growing a tad worried, Yukino feeling an unknown yet familiar ache ebb through her chest while Komachi gripped the hem of her brother's shirt turned her night shirt.
"How close is Kawasaki-san to Hikigaya-kun? I remember him aiding her in her request last year, but I don't recall any other instances where I've seen them interact." Yukino asked as she tried to recall any other memory of the two together, Yui and Komachi following as they furrowed their brows and tightened their focus.
"I mean, Taishi-kun and I have the same class together this year and Saki-chan and Onii-chan brought us our bento. Other then that, I don't think I've seen the two of them hang out outside of school until today; which was really surprising as Onii-chan never agrees to do something like that unless it's important. But then again, Onii-chan is really weak to 'imouto' characters like Saki-chan's who are both cute and a little bit pushy..." Komachi added in a contemplative manner, nodding her head subtly before a sense of gloom entered her person at the realization of the latter half of her assessment.
"I... I also saw something on Hikki's phone that showed that they were closer then we thought..." Yui added in a slightly depressed and defeated tone, drawing curious and nervous stares from her companions as they awaited her answer.
"When.. When we were heading to the club room one day, Saki-chan mentioned something about Hikki using something that she had sent him. When I heard that, I checked his phone and saw that Saki-chan sent him a picture of her." Yui explained as Komachi and Yukino gained slightly confused expressions, finding the idea a bit strange but nothing to be too concerned about.
"While I do admit that the idea of someone sending Hikigaya-kun a photo is a ludicrous one, it isn't one that is unheard of. We also took and sent a photo to him once before, have we not, Yuigahama-san?" Yukino explained as Komachi found herself nodding in agreement, a harmless photo wasn't anything to be concerned with after all.
"And I think so too, but it was what the photo was that makes me think something is going on between the two of them." Yui stated as the two grew a tad anxious once more, motioning for Yui to continue as she gained a slight grimace on her face.
"That photo was of Saki-chan with her hair down while making the victory pose. While I wouldn't think it's a big deal normally, she had a huge blush on her face and her smile and eyes... They were just, shining..." Yui explained in a tone that was a mix of understanding and defeat, Yukino and Komachi growing quiet as they mulled over the facts they were given.
"...W-Well, Onii-chan hasn't told me anything yet, and neither has Taishi-kun. If anything would have happened, this Komachi would be the very first to know!" Komachi exclaimed in a sure and shining tone, Yui and Yukino looking at her before a soft set of giggles left their mouths at her declaration.
"You're right, Komachi-san. If there were anything suspicious between the two of them, no doubt you siblings would be the first to know. Even if Hikigaya-kun has changed in such a manner, it would take more then just a few days of talking and having lunch for such a drastic change in one's relationships to take place." Yukino added with a soft nod of her head, taking a sip of her tea as her nerves slowly lost the tension that they held.
"Right! So I say we forget about my dumb Gomi-chan and just focus on having fun! What about you, Yui-chan!" Komachi declared as Yukino had another soft giggle leave her mouth, the pair turning to Yui as she offered them a radiant smile of her own.
"Hehe, that sounds like a great plan! Hmph, dumb Hikki! Doesn't he know that playing with a girl's heart is a one way ticket to pain!?" Yui snapped as they all shared a laugh at the young man's expense, though the light throbbing in the pits of their hearts spoke volumes of how shaken they still were at the startling revelation presented to them.
Deciding to toss aside the topic of the raven haired young man who held a special place in all of their hearts, the trio moved onto the other festivities that Yui and Komachi had conjured for the rest of the night. With a number of board games, puzzles and other forms of entertainment; the duo shared a laugh at the expense of their club president as Yukino found it a bit difficult to keep up with both the energy and experience that her fellow club members held. But slowly and steadily, the laughs of the two began to grow quieter and strained before stilling completely as the raven haired beauty started to understand and grasp the intricacies that the games they played held. Before long, Komachi and Yui were both pressed to defend against the genius that was Yukino Yukinoshita, sweat dripping from the brows of the two as she stared them down before continuing on with her ruthless assault.
"I'll play this 'Plus Four' card and change the color to red, oh and Uno." Yukino stated in an elegant and calm manner, gently placing the card onto the table as Komachi had a horrified expression on her face.
"W-Why Yukinon..." Yui whimpered as she stared with eyes full of betrayal at her best friend, Yukino running a hand through her hair as she kept her eyes closed.
"Apologies Yuigahama-san, but as the two of you had previously stated. 'The game is on', no?" Yukino asked as Yui let her head drop onto the table, tearfully picking up four additional cards from the pile of cards before another whimper left her mouth when she caught sight of her new hand.
"No red cards..." Yui cried as her head impacted the table with another soft thud, Komachi staring with even more abject horror at the completely ruthless domination that Yukino was displaying over their current game.
"I believe that it is your turn, Komachi-san." The older girl stated with a small smile on her face, Komachi gulping as she looked at her hand before looking back to Yukino.
Alternating to glance between the two, Komachi felt the smile and gaze of the older girl growing more and more frigid as she shakily picked a card. Snapping her eyes shut, the poor girl placed it onto the pile of other cards as the sound of a biscuit hitting the table could be heard echoing through the room. The sound making the already shaken girl shake even more, Komachi dared not peek out and face the unnerving gaze of her club president. As for Yukino, she was giving an extra icy gaze towards the top card that now rested on the pile, feeling her brow twitch slightly as the lead that she had so rightfully ripped from the grasp of the two around her was once stolen by the very card she had used to secure it in the first place. Stiffly, she shifted her gaze back towards Komachi as Yui looked at the younger girl as if she were a hero from a story. As if her previous distraught were a figment of her imagination, Yui found herself grinning as she looked at Yukino and her slightly twitching face.
"Nice move, Komachi-chan! We'll beat Yukinon at this rate if we keep things up!" The pinkette cheered as Yukino felt her gaze grow colder at the unspoken truce that her fellow club mates had erected to oppose her rule, turning to stare at Yui who yelped and hid behind her own hand of cards.
"...Well, Komachi-chan... I guess this means war..." Yukino whispered in a frigid and stoic tone, Komachi mentally screaming as she shakily adverted her gaze from the unamused young lady.
"B-Blue..." Was all Komachi could say as the turn shifted to Yukino, the raven haired young lady gaining a small frown as she drew four more cards.
Upon seeing her new hand, she grew even more displeased at the three colors that bore no resemblance to the newly decided color. Her eyes gaining a sharp glint to them, she drew another card as the temperature of the room dropped a few degrees. Yui and Komachi shared scared looks as they shot quick glances towards the still form of Yukino, the two letting out a pair of squeaks when she suddenly locked gazes with them. Soon enough, what was once a clumsy but warm and fun game of Uno had become a frigid and fierce battle for survival as Yui and Komachi combined forces to try and topple the tyrant that was Yukino. But, as they would come to find, toppling a tyrant would prove to be a herculean task, even for such skilled and gifted girls as they.
(Scene Change - Chiba: Hachiman's Location)
With a certain raven haired young man, Hachiman was still walking in a stiff and forced manner as pink stained his cheeks. Never in his life would he have thought that he'd receive an indirect confession from someone's father of all people, more so that it came from Saki's father. If he was honest, he felt his heart flutter a bit at the thought that Saki held a crush on him, the memory of her dazzling smile and attractive features coming to the front of his mind at the thought. But with it came the frightening image of Takahashi and his threatening words, Hachiman shaking his head to rid it of the silver haired man.
"That was rough..." Hachiman muttered in a tired tone, taking a moment to gather his bearing as his mind finally relaxed from the harrowing ordeal he survived.
Taking out his phone, he blinked a bit when he saw that it was just a little past seven. Quickly sending a text to his parents to let them know that he was fine, he glanced around and saw that it was just about sundown, a few people shuffling about as they enjoyed the Saturday evening. A few pairs of couples dotting the grounds, he felt his face heat up a bit when he was reminded of Saki's affections. Forcing those thoughts back down, he made his way back home, praying to any deity that he would make it back without issue. Though, that idea was shattered as he passed through the entrance of a park, a ball rolling and gently bouncing off of his foot. The sudden sensation snapping the youth out of his thoughts, he turned and saw a young girl with a head of fluffy brown hair that brought a strange hint of nostalgia to the front of his mind, Hachiman estimating that she was around Rumi Tsurumi's age.
"Have I seen her before? No, I don't have a habit of interacting with kids... Wait... Rumi, Keika and now Takao and Satou? Wait just a minute, Hachiman, what do you think you're doing playing around with little kids!? Oi, oi, it's not my fault, I keep getting roped into doing things with them by forces outside of my control. Yeah, that's it. Absolutely none of those events were of my own volition." Hachiman thought to himself as he kept his gaze on the curious and now slightly unnerved girl standing before him, only breaking from his thoughts when she tried to gain his attention.
"U-Umm... E-Excuse me, but could I h-have my ball back, please?" The fluffy haired girl asked in a meek tone, Hachiman flinching as he snapped from his stupor and glanced down.
Wordlessly, he knelt down slightly and picked the ball up. Turning his gaze back up to her, he offered it to her as her eyes lit up and a small grin spread across her face. Quickly making her way over, she accepted the ball and beamed a bright smile at the glasses wearing youth as Hachiman was unable to resist returning it with a small one of his own. Nodding his head as he rose, he was about to turn to leave when the girl gently tugged at his sleeve. A bit curious but also a tad unnerved himself, Hachiman blaming the horror games and novels that involved grudge bearing children who stalked the living, he glanced at her and offered her a small nod of recognition as she gained a bit of light in her eyes.
"U-Umm, Onii-san, c-could I ask you a question?" The little girl asked in a tone that held a strange mix of guilt and sadness, Hachiman's 'Onii-chan' instincts blaring as he knelt down to her eye level and nodded softly.
"H-How would you f-feel if your little sister called you a b-bad name and told you that she h-hates you?" The girl asked in a pleading and desperate tone as Hachiman quieted and mulled over the question, his furrowed brow growing more and more slack as horror slowly etched onto his face.'
"If Komachi called me a horrible name and said that she hated me... Hmm... I think I'd..." Hachiman trailed off in his thoughts as he gained the attention of the little girl with his current expression, the brunette gaining a bit of anxiety as she felt his answer wasn't one she'd find too reassuring.
"I'd die." Hachiman stated with a serious tone and haunted expression, the girl nearly being brought to tears with how unabashedly and grave his answer was.
Upon seeing her devastated expression and the beginnings of tears lining her eyes, panic filled the glasses wearing youth as he quickly scanned the general location for any possible suspects who'd misunderstand the current situation. Mentally breathing a sigh of relief when he saw none, he gestured for the girl to follow him towards the benches that laid beside the vending machines a bit further inside of the park. Stunned a bit shaken by his ruthless answer, she numbly and quietly followed him as Hachiman pulled out his wallet and ordered a couple of drinks for himself and his tiny companion. A can of his favorite coffee out of reach, Hachiman cursing the 'out of stock' light that shone when he applied for it, he settled on a can of green tea while grabbing a carton of strawberry milk. The drinks falling without issue, he sat down beside his current charge and offered her the carton of milk, smiling slightly when he saw her eyes light up at the sight of the beverage. Wordlessly, they enjoyed their drinks as the pair settled into an amiable silence, at least on Hachiman's end. Shifting his eyes, he saw that his drinking buddy wasn't as at ease as he was, the gloomy that she currently bore drawing a concerned look from the youth.
"I said that I'd die, and I probably would if it was my sister, but I'm just exaggerating so no need to be so down about it." He told her as she jumped slightly at his sudden statement, Hachiman desperately holding back a laugh as she stared at him with curious eyes.
"What do you mean?" She questioned in a tone of genuine confusion, Hachiman sighing mentally as he envied the youth of today for their purity and simpleness.
"As long as you apologize and tell them how you really feel, it'll be ok." He explained as her eyes lit up once more, the girl shooting to a standing position as she turned to stare at him.
"Y-You really think so?" She asked with a hopeful tone and eyes, Hachiman simply nodding his head as he stood up and aimed to toss his can into the recycle bin only for it to bounce off the top.
"Mhmm, it'll work out just fine. Should probably get going before it gets any darker, it's dangerous at night." Hachiman told her in a serious tone though his cheeks were colored pink at his recent fail, the girl shivering a bit at the thought of a monster or ghost following her around when the sun went down.
"I-I will! Thank you again, Onii-san!" The girl called out as she bowed towards him in appreciation, Hachiman offering her a small smile and a nod of the head as her face gained a bit of a shocked expression.
"Ah! I almost forgot, Onii-san! My name is-" She started in a tone that held a bit of embarrassment at her lack of manners, only to be cut off by a voice that caused Hachiman to stiffen immediately.
"Haru, where are you!" A feminine voice called out with worry heavily coloring it, the young girl gaining a startled and guilty look as she snapped towards the source of the voice.
"Kaori-nee!" Haru shouted back with emotion thick in her tone, the form of Kaori Orimoto rushing into view capturing the eyes of Hachiman as she sped towards the younger girl.
"You little brat, just what were you thinking running off like that?!" Kaori scolded Haru with an angry but also relieved tone, Haru accepting it without resistance as she latched onto her waist.
"I'm sorry, Kaori-nee! I won't do it again, promise! And I'm sorry for saying those bad things to you, I don't hate you at all!" Haru choked out with tears beginning to run down her face, Kaori quickly losing her angered look as she knelt down to wipe away her tears with the sleeve of her jacket.
"It's fine, Haru. I'm sorry too, so we're even now, ok?" Kaori asked her with affection coloring her voice, Haru sniffling but nodding and smiling nonetheless.
In the midst of their little moment, Hachiman snapped from his frozen state as he began to slowly inch his way away from the pair, more specifically, Kaori. But as fate would have it, the karma that came with littering made itself known as he kicked his improperly dumped can of tea. The sound of empty aluminum being struck gaining the attention of the two in front of him, Hachiman cursed Gaia for imparting such a brutal punishment for his failed shot. For the two girls, they were staring at the raven haired youth with varying expressions on their faces; Haru looked positively radiant and smiled brightly at him for giving her such worthwhile advice while Kaori stared at him with a bit of caution tinting her own brown orbs.
"Thank you again, Onii-san!" Haru called out towards him while waving happily, Kaori blinking at the sight but opting to smile a bit as it seemed the young man before her had watched over her cousin while she was looking for her.
"Thanks for watching over Haru, I really do mean it." Kaori said with a genuine tone of gratitude, bowing slightly as Hachiman felt a complex mix of emotions well up inside of him.
"D-Don't mention it." He replied while trying to alter his voice a bit, Kaori seeming to buy it as she merely offered him a small but thankful smile.
A sigh of relief mentally leaving him, he was about to turn and leave when Haru, while waving her arms around happily, accidentally tossed her carton of strawberry milk at the young man. The carton impacting against the side of his head with a light thump, it expelled the rest of its contents over the man as Haru and Kaori looked on with horrified expressions on their faces. Haru almost breaking down into tears, Kaori and herself rushed over to him while spouting apologies for her action. More concerned about ridding himself of the sticky wetness that now coated him, Hachiman removed his glasses and pulled out his handkerchief to wipe his face off.
Whilst doing so, Kaori and Haru stopped beside him with both guilty and embarrassed faces in tow, bowing towards him and they continued to apologize for what had just happened. But when Kaori rose her head to see how bad the situation really was, she felt her stomach tingle before dropping when she saw a face that appeared to resemble the one had started to appear more and more often while she dozed off. And that assumption was proven to be true when Hachiman finished wiping his head as best as he could, turning to glance at Kaori before freezing when he realized that she was looking at him with a deeply flustered gaze of recognition.
"H-Hikigaya?!"
"Y-Yo, Orimoto..."
And that's a wrap. Thanks for reading, stay awesome.