"See? It's not that hard for you to look good at first glance."
"That may be so but can this be even called hard work?"
"The point is that even if you have high starting attributes it would be pointless if you don't bother to try to use it."
Hachiman became extremely conscious of how people just keep stealing a glance at them. Hachiman could practically read their thoughts, they either thought He and Hachi were good looking siblings or good looking couple.
Ew.
"Sorry, Hachiman, I get a call from work," Hachi said as she took some distance away from him, which actually relieved him somewhat.
"Moshi-Moshi, what is it?"
"[It's me, Mikuni.]"
"Oh, Manager, what is it?"
"[Well, a bunch of people caught a major scoop and well... can you see Twitter at least? I'll hang up.]"
Hachi winced a bit and decided to browse twitter from her phone, it was her official Modeling account, which is why she never use it to post casually. In other words, her twitter usually detached from her daily life as a normal high school girl.
And lo behold, the tags and retweet.
It seems that she keeps being tagged, and a sneak photo of her and Hachiman on the gym was being spread around.
Hachi herself don't mind, though even now she still surprised how she and Saki seem to be gaining prominence among teens after their debut.
The phone rang again and Hachi answered, "Yes, I saw it, what's the matter?"
"[That's your only reaction?]"
"It's not as if I was a celebrity or anything, who cares about what people think."
"[Well they think your boyfriend is seriously good looking.]"
"They need eye surgery." Hachi sheepishly laughed.
"[What?]"
"Nothing, anyway, I'm pretty busy with my date at the moment. If it's really important I can come right away."
"[No, no, it's not really important. I'm just curious that's all. Plus it's a good publicity, all things considered.]" Mikuni laughed, "[You teenager thrive on gossips after all.]"
"Oh, so it's alright if I spice up a bit?"
"[Spice?]"
"Later," Hachi said, and then closed the call. "Yo, Hachiman, come here."
"You're done?" He asked and then threw her a can of cold Maxx coffee, which obviously up to her taste.
"Domo." She smiled, truly only her other self can appreciate the grand taste of ultra-sweet canned coffee, which everyone else around Hachi seems to despise. "You really know what I want huh."
"Meh."
"Excuse me, Onee-chan."
A bunch of younger girls, probably around Komachi's age or younger, approached them shyly with a bright smile on their face, "Are you Hikigaya Hachi-san?"
"Mmh, yeah that's me." Hachi confidently replied, "What do you need, ojouchan*?"
"Could we ask for an autograph?" One of them showed the Summer special edition of Sensible! magazine, which had various pictures of beautiful and handsome Soubu students doing extracurricular activities. "I really love everyone in this edition."
"Ahh, sure thing, where I should sign?" Hachi was actually taken aback a little. This is the first time anyone asked for her autograph as a model, ever.
Those kids look cute so it's fine!
"Oh, by the way, I need help, can you take our pictures?" Hachi asked as she handed out her iPhone in camera mode.
"Uwaa, a smartphone**!"
"Hmm? What are you doing?" Hachiman asked curiously, only for Hachi to twist the can in his hand and kissed the tip of it.
Snap. There goes the picture.
"What-what the hell?" Hachiman gawked.
"Shut up and act natural!" Hachi whispered angrily and then hugged him from behind, much to his confusion and embarrassment.
Another couple of pictures were taken.
"Thank you." Hachi smiled and retrieved her iPhone from them, and they were all embarrassed too. How innocent!
"Umm, Onee-chan, is that your boyfriend?"
"You're stupid Mika, look, they must be twins!"
Hachi was itching to say why not both, but she don't think Hachiman will appreciate any more trolling on her part. he might actually bail out of the date from shame.
"I-it's complicated yeah." Hachiman quickly clarified, in lieu of needless rumor to be made. Of course, that was a bold-faced lie coming from him.
Or was it? Genetically speaking, they're not that far off from the truth. Non-identical twins exist for a good reason, and no more resembles each other genetically than normal brother and sister.
So for him and Hachi to have an identical face like this, their genetic makeup should be very close.
Thinking like this, he actually feels relieved that it wouldn't be a lie in the normal sense.
"I see..." These young girls blushed and left hurriedly, "Thank you!"
"Be safe." Hachi chuckled, "Man I feel like I was about to have a heart attack, this is the first time someone asked me for an autograph."
"Really?" Hachiman asked in disbelief, he would've thought people already did that since a long time ago.
"Yeah." Hachi laughed, with streaks of red drawn on her cheek. "I thought Sensible! was a small publication, but it has apparently millions of subscriber all over Japan."
Hachi looked absolutely happy, and her bright, stupid smile shine like a sun in the clear summer sky.
"Speaking of which, can I post these photos on Twitter?"
"Huh? I'd rather you not. Twitter is a bit much..." Hachiman hastily stopped her.
"Then I won't." Hachi put back her phone in, "It's not like I give a damn about publicity anyway."
Hachiman watched as she hummed and danced around, in trance. She really lives a fulfilling life, huh?
"Well, honestly I'm just afraid of the photo turning out ugly." Hachiman pointed, "If it's not that bad then fine, do whatever. Just don't put a strange caption or anything, alright?"
"Heee..." Hachi mischievously elbowed him, "You actually want me to put it in?"
"No, of course not." Hachiman defied, "But I don't mind if you want to put it in."
"Speaking of putting it in, are we even talking about photos anymore-"
"I'm not hearing anything." He immediately cut her out before she can tease him further with another barrage of entendre.
"Alright then, let's see... 'No way he can be this handsome' for the first one, and the second one is 'stealing a sweet, cold kiss from him'." Hachi gleefully read her own twitter aloud after she posted it.
"I said no weird caption, you bitch!"
"Too late!"
Hachiman ended up buying so much stuff that he actually has most of his new clothes delivered to home via Kinko's shipping service instead of carrying them himself.
Afterward, they went to buy some lunch in Saizeriya nearby. And while Saize is far cry from where two teens unusually went to date, neither Hikigaya couldn't give rat-asses about it, what with their huge appetite and all.
"Saize is fine and all for hanging out with friends, but you should remember not to bring it up on dates."
"Why?"
"It's a family restaurant, for starters. And adding to that, when you bring it out yourself, you will come out as cheap. Of course, it's different when it's the girls bringing the idea themselves." Hachi pointed him, "Either they prefer not spending needless money, or they feel more secure with lack of privacy and so on, it depends on their character."
"That's a double standard," Hachiman complained.
"We're not escaping that one hundred thousand years cycle yet." Hachi cheekily winked, "When you're going on a date, make sure you know what they expect in expenditures as well, whether it's always a half and a half, or they expect to get treated for everything."
Hachiman scoffed, "Gold digger? I wouldn't want to date that kind of girl."
"And I completely agree." Hachi said, "It's just that you need to prepare for everything in advance instead of acting like a virgin buffoon. Because I know you're not the type who improvise well in social interaction."
"Your level of normalfaggotry is way too high." He pointed back to her, "So, have you get any boyfriend yourself?"
"No such luck, I have high standard even though I'm the same loser who get rejected eleven times in junior high. Of course, I went to several dates before, and have been confessed by some chucklefucks I don't know, but well, they don't count."
"Even for you, things aren't that easy huh." He pushed his cup of coffee to the drink bar for a refill. "You're sounding more and more Yukinoshita-like."
"Really?"
"Well, the first time we meet she think I'm a rapist stalker. She said boys always get close to her with the thoughts of romance because, and I quote-"
"Because I'm cute. That's what she said, right?" Hachi guessed right before he could finish.
Silence.
And both of them broke into collective chuckles.
"So? What are we going to do next? Watch some movies? Go to karaoke? Or you want to try to go to a hotel?" She teased again.
This time around, however, he was expecting it and threw out the rational, perfectly in character answers.
"...Or we could go home and snark at Pretty Cure Movies without Komachi being there."
Now, that was a suggestion that Hachi didn't entirely expect.
But at the end of the day, only Hikigaya Hachiman would truly understand what Hikigaya Hachi loved.
"...You know what? Screw his date, riffing Pretty Cure movies it is."
And so, they traced their way back to Chiba station and board the train home. Looks of satisfaction drawn on her face because she considers it was a successful if short date.
The clothing selection and his surprising fashion sense were great and all, but what was most important is that Hachiman seems to grow accustomed to the presence of a persistent girl.
"You don't have to be so nice to me, Hachi." He suddenly told them when they both came out of Makuhari station, "I'm fine on my own, really."
"Eh?"
"The reason why you keep teasing me." Hachiman muttered, "You're worried I'll get overwhelmed when I get to enter Soubu right?"
"That's..."
Because Hachi knew, the moment he stepped into Soubu, he will meet many girls with strong character and personality. And in such situation, he should be able to at least resist their pressure, or go with the flow, without crumbling back into isolation.
At the end of the day, Hachi was deluding herself if she thinks Hachiman wouldn't realize that, sooner or later.
Hachi feels a little ashamed and stopped walking.
"Even if I look like this outside, whatever inside isn't going to change that quickly. It's just common sense that I can get comfortable easily with you because we used to be the same person."
Hachiman stopped walking so he could face her, his face was really grumpy and annoyed.
"I know all your strength and your weakness, I know things you like and dislike, I know what you're thinking most of the time. It's easy for me to understand you, to accept your presence, to get attracted to you, and even fall in love with you."
"But things will be different when it comes to other people. I might just be the same messy and creepy person as I had been before in their eyes." He flicked her forehead, which made her yelp in surprise, "And I don't appreciate changes imposed on me by others."
Hachi rubbed her forehead, completely speechless and embarrassed. "I see."
"Now let's go home and rant on little girls cartoon to all our heart's content." He told her with his usual, signature creepy smirk.
"One more question." Hachi asked, "Given a chance, would you like to reconnect with the people you know?"
"That's..." Hachiman hesitated.
Then he remembered everything.
His regret and unspoken words, the feelings he desperately tried to suppress.
"If somehow it happens, then it happens." Hachiman cryptically said.
It was indeed a short and meaningful date, still, his words made her slightly worried.
Did Hachiman decide not to change?
やはり, 俺の関係の値はリセットされました
As Expected, My Relationship Values had been Reset
Disclaimer:
Original Story by Watari Wataru
Chapter 4 - Unneeded Assistance
"The glasses really make a strong different impression." Hachiman said as he looked at himself in front of the mirror, "I wonder why."
"Hmm, perhaps it was the visual effect?" Hachi asked.
"Visual effect?"
"Your eyes are super dry because of your poor reading and sleeping habit." Hachi pointed, "Because of that, your eyes look like that of a dead fish. Even more so than mine. But the glasses hide that and makes your eyes look moist like normal."
"O... oooh." He hummed in realization.
Hachiman actually amazed, people always talk shit about his eyes being his worst possible physical attribute, but glasses could hide that easily. "I feel like I'm just deceiving people like this."
"Then start actually sleeping like a normal person." Hachi punched his waist, "Let's go, everyone is waiting."
"O-oh... Komachi-chan you're not going?" Hachiman asked his sister, who didn't dress up much to his surprise, where both he and Hachi geared full with Yukata and all.
"Don't worry about me. I have an exam to take care of after all." Komachi said with the smile of a tired old woman, even though it was clear she wanted to go. "Please buy those things for me though."
Hachi received the list of item that Komachi wanted her to buy.
"We're going then."
And so Hachi and Hachiman walked their way to the Kaihin-Makuhari station, with their final destination being Chibaminato Station, and eventually, Chiba Port Park where the firework festival supposedly held.
"Fireworks started at 07:30 so why are we here when it's not even Sunset?" Hachiman asked.
"To enjoy the festival, dumbass." She slapped his chest, "That's just common sense. But then again I guess you don't like a crowd."
"As if you do."
"I don't but it's an acceptable price." Hachi pointed, "We'll know once we get there."
Hachiman looked at her weirdly but decided to stay quiet.
"You know, it might be weird for me to say but I wish Komachi could come too. She's the type that can actually make something like this fun."
"Don't worry, the shadow of Komachi will be there anyway." Hachi rolled her eyes aside, annoyed.
"Huh?"
Hachi, of course, refers to Iroha, not that Hachiman understood the context of her statement.
"And now we wait," Hachi said as they walked out of the boarding area and in front of the station.
"Waiting for who?"
"Everyone."
"What."
"Actually just one." Hachi smiled mischievously, "She'll be here soon."
After roughly fifteen minutes of waiting, it seems that Hachiman's worst nightmare was made true.
Yuigahama Yui arrived, almost out of breath. "Sorry, I thought we're supposed to meet in thirty minutes!"
"Nah, it's my fault, sorry." Hachi raised one hand apologetically.
"Oi, what the hell is this?" Hachiman growled at Hachi.
"Chill, I just think having you two meet would be for the best. By the way, I once disguised myself as you and meet her before, couple months ago."
"What the fuck?"
"Ummm, eh? If this is Hacchan then... Hachiman?" Yui suddenly realized that there are two of them.
"Ding-ding-ding! This is my twin brother Hachiman." Hachi grinned widely, "And I'm sure you already know each other so no need for introduction, no?"
Well, Hachi's not wrong.
"Uh, well, l-long time no see..." Yui blushed hard when she looked at him, "Umm, well, how should I put it... what I should I call you with?"
"Hikki," Hachiman muttered.
"Huh, eh?"
Hachiman smiled in relief, looks like Yuigahama didn't change at all. And so, he decided to say it louder, "You can call me Hikki."
Just like you always do.
"Hikki... huh? I guess Hikki is fine." Yui looks absolutely delighted. After all, she's the kind of people who give others nickname.
Hachi, meanwhile, winced from the sheer concentration of love and nostalgia irradiating from these two. She felt like her lung is going to burst from all the bittersweet taste floating in the air.
"Yuigahama-senpai, I have a little favor." Hachi handed her out a list of item, the same list Komachi gave her. "Komachi wanted to buy these, but I don't trust Hachiman enough to buy them properly, so could you please tag along? I still have to wait for Yuri, Isshiki, Miura-senpai, and Kawasaki-senpai."
"Eh, umm, just two of us?" Yui frantically flailed her hand, her head steaming like boiling kettle from embarrassment and panic.
"Don't be unreasonable, you bitch," Hachiman told Hachi, then offered his hand to Yui. "I'm sorry, Yuigahama-s-s-san, she must've been bothering you with that stupid request. I can find them on my own."
Much to his surprise, Yui was the one who pulled the list away from his reach. "No, I don't mind in the slightest, of course, if you don't mind me that is."
"..."
Hachiman felt like he's seeing a deja vu, what is it with women and mixed signals? Still, he could tell Yui was eager to do so. At the very least, he could've realized that from her action alone.
But it totally doesn't mean anything. Or at least Hachiman totally think so. Still, Hachiman doesn't think Yui was like this because she feels indebted or anything.
So maybe it was her being nice as usual.
"Go get her tiger, she had the hots for you," Hachi whispered and patted his shoulder.
"What."
Hachi already took ten steps away from them and stuck out her tongue, much to Hachiman's ire.
"Shall we go?" Hachiman asked Yui hesitantly, mainly because he couldn't decide on how familiar he should treat her. Should he start as perfect stranger? Closer?
"Mmmh." Yui nodded eagerly and smiled.
And so they walked side by side through the crowds, unfortunately, most of the stalls haven't even opened.
Hachi must've done it on purpose.
"It seems that they're still not open yet, would you like to rest for a while or... or just walk around here?" He asked, almost choked on his spit from all the tension and awkwardness.
"Umm, kya, let's just walk around for now." Yui half-shrieked, but managed to reply properly at least, "B-besides, I want to talk with you."
Shoot, since when is Yuigahama this aggressive again? He couldn't remember this kind of Yui at all.
"H-Hikki said you're going away back then so... I'm very glad you're here now. Ah, I mean... there's a lot of things about you that I don't know, and I never have the chance to ask. Sorry if this sounds bothersome to you but I really curious."
"A-ah, I don't mind, really." Hachiman lied through his teeth because he was extremely bothered by this proximity.
"I see, glad to hear that."
Jesus tapdancing Christ, is this girl serious?
Hachiman couldn't even lie to himself anymore. No matter how much he rationalized it, the conclusion is clear. Yui had a crush on Hachiman, and if it wasn't Hachiman, then it was Hachi in the past.
Yeah, that totally made sense. It's definitely not the current him that Yui liked! Totally!
So he messaged Hachi with several thousand years worth of insult.
And then came a callback.
"Please excuse me, Hachi is calling."
"Uh, ah, yes, I'll be waiting on the bench over there." Yui pointed with a red face.
Hachiman bailed out as quickly as possible and then answered.
"[You fucking retard!]" Hachi screamed.
"Stole the words out of my mouth, you cunt." Hachiman snorted, "What the fuck are you doing? Matchmaking? You're toying with Yuigahama's feelings."
"[That's rich coming from you. What are you doing, running away?]"
"I..."
Hachiman's mind flashed back to the Workplace tour, where he and Yuigahama stood in the corridor, she looked at him with loving and caring eyes, and he...
...Just told her to fuck off.
He misunderstood and she misunderstood. They end up not talking for weeks until they reconcile and restart their relationship.
"...It was not me who she seeks of." Hachiman said, "It's you."
"[No. It wasn't me. It was Hachiman.]"
Hachiman bit his lips in anger, "Mincing words don't win you any favor."
"[I'm not joking at all. She knew next to nothing about Hachiman and she wanted to know.]" Hachi pleaded, "[If you're not willing to give her a chance, then make it clear that you're not interested. Don't you chicken the fuck out.]"
"This has nothing to do with-"
"[It has everything to do with it.]" Hachi's voice was grim, "[One and half a year, that was how long she chased for your shadow. And I thought it was out of guilt... but it wasn't. Yuigahama-senpai is really persistent, to the point that she could even win Yukinoshita-senpai's affection.]"
"[Maybe it was a pointless crush, but even if it was, her feelings might change once she knows you better but... if you truly care about her feelings, then confront it like a man.]" Hachi begged, "[Because as a girl I understood what it means to be hopelessly in love and let alone reciprocated, my feelings didn't even reach him.]"
That last sentence struck Hachiman something fierce.
Maybe... Hachi was right.
In the end, he was the one who always running from everyone. Hachiman had always been the one running from the possibilities.
And in the end, he hurt everyone. Even himself, by denying that even the smallest possibility exists.
It was something he never considered before.
"Fine."
"[Huh.]"
"Just this once, I'll play with your stupid schemes. However, I'm not doing this for anyone's sake." Hachiman said, "It's for myself and no one else, is that clear?'
"[... Sorry.]"
As much as Hachiman wanted to berate her...
Hachi was objectively in the right.
If he really wanted to connect with the other Yuigahama, he will have to think all sort of possibilities. This Yuigahama is not the same as the old Yuigahama.
Even so...
It would be cowardly for him to avoid her altogether.
If Yuigahama was this different, just how much Yukinoshita have changed from what he remembers?
He dreads to even think about it.
"Sorry, you've been waiting for too long," Hachiman said.
"It's okay, it must be something important after all." Yui seems to calm down herself and the red hue on her face, and the stutter in her voice, have all but disappeared.
It seems that Yui managed to keep her emotion in check, and it put him at ease.
Even so... that's just the same as buying time.
For this moment let's try to assess the general situation.
In the first place, it's not as if Hachiman was dense. On the contrary, he's very sensitive, he's way too sensitive and overreacts at everything.
80% of the time, most guys would think something like "Does she likes me?" and it's necessary to balance it with the rationale of "How could she possibly like me?" Which Hachiman always use whenever he had a chance.
But this overwhelming aggression from Yui, it was all too clear. So one could easily skip the first question.
Where did Yuigahama's crush come from?
First, because Hachiman helped her, so she thought he's a nice person. Second, because he's handsome, it's fairly logical for her to get physically attracted.
...What the hell, her crush was way too logical. In fact, so logical that Hachiman actually feels dumb for not noticing it. Because he had a low opinion of himself and that is.
He wonders... maybe the other Yuigahama also... well, no use thinking about it now. After all, he might never be able to meet her again.
So how to deal with this Yuigahama's feelings?
Well, that's simple, Yuigahama just needed to see him as the person he was. Maybe if she knew his rotten personality, she would decide to pull back.
But... Hachiman also doesn't want to hurt her. Just like he hurt the other Yuigahama.
What should he do?
If Hachi were here, then she'd probably say just do what he wants. And so, for the moment he decided to simply observe.
Yuigahama looked absolutely excited when she's walking, her face absolutely shines under the dim light of the festival lanterns.
Yuigahama Yui was truly beautiful, he admits that. Most boys would kill to be in his position now. But he wasn't happy because a romance wasn't what he's seeking at the moment.
What did Hachiman expect of her again? Something like... friendship? Friendship was what he sought out of Yukino, after all. So it's not friendship.
He felt supremely irritated, honestly. On one side, he wanted to connect with her, and yet, Hachiman can't really define what connection he wished to have with Yuigahama either.
He could never face her earnest feeling with that kind of half-assed thoughts, so he decided it would be up to Yuigahama to decide it herself where her feelings should end.
"Look! Look! Takoyaki there looks so yummy! Oh, Chesnut!"
He looked at Yui, who almost indistinguishable from children in her behavior. She was way too happy, and it made him all the more guilty.
"Ano, Hikki, if you don't mind me asking." Yui suddenly mumbled, "What happened after that... accident?"
He promised Hachi not to run away and he hates lying. So whatever grain of truth he could spill, he would spill it away.
"I ended up alone over the course of my first years because I can't be arsed to get in touch with anyone." He said with ashamed tone, "But... well, it's just a thing that happens all the time. I can be an asshole sometimes, so it's not surprising."
Yui didn't seem to buy his excuses and seems regretful.
"I don't even have any friend, and I argue often with those who tolerate my existence. I'm really stubborn and don't change my opinion and I rationalize the stupidest thing whenever I can."
"Ah." Yui closed her mouth a little.
Looks like it's working.
"You sounds a lot like Yukinon."
Eh?
"I'm sure if you meet you would get along well." Yui smiled happily with no slightest hint of irony in her voice.
Shoot, that doesn't work at all.
"This Yukinon person sounds like a swell one." He snarled, "You must've had the patience of a saint to deal with someone as bad as her."
So the best thing he does would be to slight Yukino in front of Yui, maybe that would work-
"I know right? She can be infuriatingly rude sometimes." Yui cheerfully agreed, "She's also petty and merciless whenever she had a grudge."
Eh?
Since when Yui become someone who would openly insult anyone, let alone her friends? And once again, Hachiman was completely astounded by how exceedingly different this Yuigahama from the one he knew.
"But... Yukinon is a hard working girl, she always gives everything her all, and always wanted to help anyone in need. Even people who she personally dislikes, she would accept their request in a heartbeat."
"She would patiently help me solve my problems, and she always been honest. I always admired her, and I'm glad I can be her friend... or close enough at least. I want to be with her as much as I could."
"I see..." Hachiman was completely taken aback by her borderline lesbian confession, "You must like her a lot."
"Well, Yukinon become friendlier these days at least." Yui said, "You... changed a lot too."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, last time we meet was, April, wasn't it? Anyway, you're taller now, and your voice changed too. I guess that's puberty or something... ha-ha-ha..."
"Well, maybe I am a late bloomer after all." He scoffed.
So it must be Hachi that she met before.
And when they finished buying the stuff they need, they decided to head for the VIP area.
The more Hachiman spent his time with her, the more he wondered...
"Ah, there she is."
And there she was, as beautiful and angelic as usual.
Dressed in expensive-looking silky white Yukata, her pale skin was distinct enough that she looked like the moon in a sea of stars.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
However, his moment of trance was disturbed by other presence.
Multiples, in fact.
Yukino stood side by side with Hayato, which Hachiman absolutely know that Yukino despises. And not only that, Yukino was also surrounded by Hayato's friends.
And Yukino looked absolutely content with it.
The Yukinoshita Yukino he knew would be generous enough to tolerate their presence at best.
Here?
She was laughing openly, in fact, Hachiman could tell that some of them were flirting with her.
"Yukinon, Hayato, you're done?" Yui asked as she approached them both.
Clad in a lighter shade of orange with a reddish maple pattern on the Yukata she wore, even in a graceful and traditional outfit Yuigahama Yui always looked bright and refreshing.
"Yeah," Yukino said, herself in relatively more exquisite looking silk white Yukata with reflective lining, "I think we're finished, Yuigahama-san."
Behind Yui were Tobe, Ooka, and Yamato in a similar getup. Tobe wore dark red, Yamato dark blue, and Ooka dark green.
Hayama himself wore a dark yet strikingly visible two-tone Yukata. The upper right side was differently colored than the rest; a Chinese dragon pattern on it.
Yukino and Yui even joked he looked like a Yakuza boss, much to his dismay.
"Let's meet up with everyone else, shall we?" Hayato cheerfully asked.
What the fuck did he mean with 'everyone else'?
Come to think of it, Hachiman remembers the bitter conversation he exchanged with Hayato, back then. When Hayato, Yumiko, and his lackeys barged in trying to take over the tennis court that Saika painstakingly borrowed to train himself.
Hayama was using 'everyone' as an excuse for his cowardice.
And it still annoyed Hachiman, even months after it ended.
And yet...
Yukino could laugh so openly in the center of that disgustingly fake group.
It's like he didn't even know her anymore. Though, maybe he really doesn't know anything.
"Ah, everyone, this is Hikigaya Hachiman!" Yui introduced him, "He's Hacchan's twin brother and a Sophomore like us."
"Hoo? Hikitani's twin brother? Seriously? They look alike!" Tobe loudly pointed the obvious, and admittedly, that was really dumb. Hachiman guessed that some people didn't change in the slightest.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Yukinoshita Yukino, President of Soubu High Student Council." Yukino politely smiled and bowed, which completely uncharacteristic on her. "I owed your sister a lot."
"I see." Hachiman bitterly smiled, holding his tears of rage and disgust behind his shimmering glasses. He was really glad that he was wearing it now.
"My name is Hayama Hayato, I'm Yui's classmates, and these are-"
"Tobe, Ooka and Yamato." Hachiman cut him off.
"Ahhh..." Hayato froze for a moment, feeling Hachiman's unbridled killing intent for a second. "I see, let's get along shall we."
And then, dozens and dozens more, familiar and unfamiliar face approached. Hachiman watched intently as Hachi bicker with Yumiko, and not in entirely unpleasant form either, which then split open by the petite little girl, Isshiki wasn't it?
And then, he saw Hayato, his sight entirely locked on Yumiko and Hachi. The eyes of a boy who was falling in love. Hachiman wasn't sure which one, or perhaps both of them, which completely disturb him.
As Hachiman stood quietly despite Yui's effort to bring him in the conversation, the fireworks were launched at last.
He could neither hear nor enjoy, any of it.
* Literally means Little princess, it's often used toward much younger girls.
** This story is set in 2009 where Smartphone in Japan still a niche novelty.