AN: Ok, either all of you reaaaally like fluff, or you guys really like Yukino, because that's the only explanation as to why the last chapter had such a good reception.

Hello again my beautiful readers, I hope you all are having a nice day. I come again to deliver upon you another dose of much needed fluff, this time featuring our loveable nice girl, Yuigahama Yui!

A little something I have to mention though before you read this chapter. As I mentioned before in the last chapter, these stories are based on after the main story, so that means some characters might act a bit differently from what you would perceive as normal. Not to say they're OOC, but just expect little changes in their mentality is all.

Oh, and one more thing. Rejoice everyone for as of the 1st of September I am officially out of industrial training! ... aaaand back in university for my final year. TTATT

Don't expect that since I'm not working anymore means I can concentrate on PUSH BACK, because my teachers are out there to kill me I tell you. FIRST week back in school and already I have assignments dog-piling me. Just pray that if all goes well I'll get back onto it.

With that said, enjoy the chapter!

PS: Prepare insulin

Chapter 2: Concerningly Rewarding

I'm not good at studying.

Like, really not good.

That being said, I'm obviously not the best student. I think it's because I made it a habit to not bother to score on tests. I found earlier on that people who get good grades don't fit in well with the majority. People get jealous, and you can't make a lot of friends if their jealous of you. So it didn't matter to me if I got better or worse. As long as I fit in with the crowd then everything would be fine.

But of course something came along the way that changed my opinion.

Or in this case, someone.

"Hikki, is this right?"

"Give it here."

I watched with an anxious heart as he checked over my answers. The mock questions were tough. Well, tough for me. I'm sure Hikki and Yukinon could answer them, no problems whatsoever. Must be nice being smart.

"Eight out of ten. Good job."

I breathed out a sigh I'd been holding in relief before my lips formed into a huge smile.

"Thanks, Hikki."

"There's no need to thank me. You're the one who's been busting your back over studying. This was all you."

It was true. For the past few months I've been studying regularly every day. I wanted so badly to get better. To get smarter.

To be equal.

"But I wouldn't have gotten this far without your help, Hikki. Both you and Yukinon have been tutoring me all this time. So really, thank you."

Even though it was a real pain to study, the times where it was just Hikki and I were one of the few reasons why I didn't mind.

"If you put it that way then I deserve more than thanks. I should get a nobel prize for getting your brain working again after all the years of inactivity."

Of course it would be so much better if I didn't have to deal with his sass!

"My brain worked just fine beforehand, you big dummy!"

"Your old test scores say otherwise."

Being reminded of how bad I was made me flush in embarrassment. Stop smirking, you!

Like always when he teases me, I hit him in the chest as many times as I could. Of course I always did it lightly. No matter how annoying or rude he can be I could never hit him seriously.

But I'm coming really close to hitting him for real!

"Don't go bringing up my bad grades! You're so mean, Hikki! Stupid! Dummy! Jerk! Creep! Meanie!"

"Ok, ok, I'm sorry."

I stared up at him with an angry pout and all he did was smile wryly. The distance between us now was a bit shorter than usual. I took note of his shaggy hair, it having grown quite a bit since the start of the year. When was the last time he had a haircut? He's probably too lazy to even get one. But it gave him quite a wild and masculine air.

His eyes weren't as creepy as when we first met. Back then they would constantly have that beady look to them; always straining and scrutinizing everything. Nowadays, they were more relaxed and expressive. It made quite a big difference.

A very good difference.

… Ok, I'm blushing for a totally different reason now.

"Hey, you ok? You suddenly blanked out on me."

"Ah! Uh… I-It's nothing!"

"You sure?"

The look he was giving me made me flush even harder. A concerned Hikki is a cute Hikki. Oh, my heart is totally pumping like mad right now!

"R-Really… Let's just get back to studying."

"… If you say so. Just don't push it. All this studying will be for nothing if you break your head over it."

I know, Hikki. But if breaking my head gets me what I want then that's fine with me.

Because I'm not doing all this for nothing.

"It's done!"

I looked over my newly finished essay with satisfaction. I checked the timer, a good fifteen minutes left before the set limit. My fingers hurt from writing so much but the satisfaction of finishing the paper made the pain worth it.

"You done proofreading for any mistakes?"

"Give me a minute."

I cautiously made sure there wasn't anything wrong with my essay. If it was me from a few months ago I'd never get the opportunity since I'd always finish it at the last second. Even if I did have enough time I wouldn't even know where I might have been wrong.

"… Ok, I think everything is fine."

"Let's hope so."

I gave it over to Hikki and like before, waited anxiously for him to finish grading. His eyes gained that familiar scrutinizing squint as he started marking. It just made me even more nervous.

…

…

"So… how did I do?"

"…."

"… Hikki?"

"… I wonder if it's going to rain today?"

"Eh?"

He smiled that wry smile as he handed back my essay, "Congrats. It's 'A' quality work."

I was stunned for a moment.

An 'A'?

Like, really?!

I quickly glossed over all the marks on it. There were only a few red lines pointing out redundancies and such but other than that it was perfect!

"I did it! I did it, Hikki!"

"Yeah, you did. Now hopefully you can do just as good on next week's test."

"I can do it! I can totally do it!"

This was proof. Proof that I can be on par with them. Proof that I can reach my goal.

"You're looking way too happy over just a simple practice paper."

"But I can't help it! I've never gotten an A on an essay before."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"Don't ruin the moment, Hikki."

I gave him a pointed look that I've seen Yukinon do a thousand times whenever Hikki would be rude… which was like, almost all the time.

"Yeesh… Alright, enough with the glare. You've been hanging out with Yukinoshita way too much."

"Ehehe, Yukinon knows best how to keep you in line, Hikki. Well, other than Komachi-chan."

I cheekily grinned at him as he grumbled under his breath about the unfairness of women and ranking up his resistances, usual Hikki things.

"… Are you tired?"

"Eh? I-I'm fine. Why are you asking?"

He stared at me for a good moment before turning away and gesturing to the clock hanging on the wall.

"It's been almost four whole hours since we started our session, and you haven't taken a break since."

"Eeeh?!"

No way! I looked to the clock and sure enough it was already half past five.

"… I guess I didn't notice. A-Are you tired, Hikki?"

"Between waiting for you to finish answering questions and doing my own work, I had plenty of time to relax. You on the other hand just kept going and going. Heck, you didn't even notice me taking a toilet break halfway through."

Had I really been that distracted? I didn't even notice the time pass by. Already I could see the sky starting to turn orange from the window.

"Eheh… maybe I've gotten too used to studying."

"… Are you overworking yourself?"

He was giving me a rather worried look. His eyes were staring straight at me and I couldn't help but get flustered. A warm feeling started to grow in my chest.

"Are you worried about me?"

"Guh… somewhat." His face was turning pink as he said it. The warmth was growing even bigger now.

"Eheheh, I see. That makes me happy." I gave him a big smile and he grew even redder.

I looked back down at the paper in my hands for a moment. I traced each line slowly while humming in thought.

Slowly but surely, I was getting there. The hours and days of work were showing. Classes were getting easier to follow. Quizzes weren't as scary as before. Tests weren't near impossible any longer.

I felt happy, knowing I was making progress.

And then I thought about the future. It was only going to get harder and harder. The place I wanted to go to. The place he was going to go to.

It was frustrating, knowing there was still a long way to go.

Can I keep up?

Will I actually get there?

Will what I want be waiting for me at the end?

Maybe-

Pat.

Eh?

"Oi, stop thinking too hard."

I felt a large warm hand on top of my head. I looked up in surprise and immediately blushed hard. He was staring at me with full on concern. I felt like a lump was stuck in my throat. It was probably my heart.

"Hi-Hikki?" I squeaked out his name.

His face was also turning red but he kept his strong gaze on me.

"I don't know what's going on in that empty head of yours… but filling it with stupid thoughts ain't healthy. Source: Me."

His words were mean and rough, but to me they sounded so kind and gentle. It was just like him, to be rude and caring at the same time just to keep in character.

He's such a hopeless dummy.

"Don't think too much over this. I'm just… giving you a reward for all your hard work."

My heart jumped when I felt his hand start to move. His fingers brushed my hair gently causing shivers to run up my back. I unconsciously pressed against his warm palm. A soft groan left me when he rubbed over a particular spot.

I felt my hair bun loosen, the hair tie probably shifting from my hair being tussled. It was slightly annoying so I pulled it off, my hair coming loose as a result.

His hand suddenly stopped moving.

"Hikki?"

I didn't realize I had my eyes closed the whole time. I opened them to see a super red faced Hikki staring at me pretty intensely.

"Your hair… it's gotten longer."

Ah, he noticed.

"I've been thinking of growing it out. Wanted to change my style, y'know?"

And because you like girls with long hair.

"It's… nice."

"… You can touch it if you want?"

He looked at me in surprise. I just smiled shyly.

He slowly moved his hand. When his fingers brushed against my ear I suddenly let out a soft gasp. We stared at each other with wide eyes and glowing cheeks.

"O-Oi, you ok?"

"M-My ears are sensitive."

"I-I see."

I couldn't look him in the eye anymore and just closed my eyes shut. He seemed to take that as a sign to continue as his hand moved again. I breathed in a bit shakily when his fingers ran through my hair just above the back of my neck. With each brush and gentle tug my heart beat moved erratically.

And then he brushed my ear again.

"Hya!"

Everything suddenly stopped. He didn't move. I didn't move. I don't think I was even breathing!

I couldn't stand the silence any longer and slowly opened my eyes. My face burned even more when I saw his face was somehow closer than before. What caught my attention though were his eyes. They looked slightly unfocused, like he was in some sort of trance.

"Hikki?"

My breath hitched when he suddenly cupped my right cheek. I felt a single finger trace the rim of my ear.

"Hnng…"

That finger reached to the back of my earlobe. His thumb joined in as well and I felt him start to gently rub my ear. The stimulation sent pleasant waves up to my head. My breathing was labored. I was trying so hard to hold back anymore weird sounds from escaping my lips.

W-What is he doing to me? If he keeps that up I-

And then he pinched.

"Hngaahh!"

It was like static shock just rushed up my brain. Haggard pants escaped me as my heart skipped every few beats. I had to hold onto his arm as shivers came over my body. I stared up at him hazily. He stared back with that same glazed look in his eyes.

It was scary… yet oddly exciting.

Our faces were now just a few inches apart. Our breaths were coming out roughly and slowly. His eyes were hooded and dark, but they were looking only at me.

I let out another breathless sigh.

Just a little more.

A little bit more.

More…

Knock knock!

"Onii-chan~? Yui-san~?"

The door opened and Komachi-chan popped her cute little head in. Her eyes landed on us and she smiled. We returned the smile, though weakly.

And about several feet away from each other.

"H-Hey, K-Komachi-chan! W-What's up?"

"I just came to check on you guys! Oh, and also to tell Onii-chan that our parents aren't coming back for dinner tonight."

Hikki didn't say anything other than grunting to sound out he heard her.

"Say, Yui-san, wanna have dinner with us?"

"A-Are you sure, Komachi-chan? I wouldn't want to trouble you two."

"It's fine, it's fine! If we don't have enough stuff to cook then Onii-chan can just go buy us some more groceries. Right, my beloved big brother?"

Again Hikki didn't answer verbally, just grunting in agreement.

Of course, this made Komachi-chan suspicious.

"Onii-chan? You ok?"

"… I'm fine. Just peachy."

"… but you didn't complain about doing work."

"… Aha… for my cute little sister, Onii-chan will gladly do any request." His voice was plain and monotonous, plus with that creepy line it made both Komachi-chan and I grimace.

"Uwaa… that's so gross. Yui-san, please forgive my Gomii-chan for being so gross."

"Eheheh, it's fine. Hikki's nice side wins out more than his creepy side these days."

"Hmm, well I guess. Anyway, do you wanna help me out in the kitchen, Yui-san?"

"U-Umm, sure."

I made to get up…

But I couldn't.

"Eheheh, I think my legs fell asleep."

They were numb. Completely numb.

We were sitting for too long!

"I-It's fine, Yui-san! Take your time! Komachi will start preparing first. Gomii-chan, make sure to take care of Yui-san better! Don't make her study until her legs go to sleep!"

"How is that even my fault?"

"You're so hopeless, but Komachi still loves that side of Onii-chan. Ah, that scored me a lot of points!"

Komachi-chan closed the door behind her after that.

The two of us sat in silence.

Complete and totally awkward silence.

…

…

…

"Hikki…"

"… What?"

…

…

"A-After dinner… can I have the rest of my reward?"

"Guh!"

What would you do for love?

Wow, that's like, totally heavy, right?

But yeah, what would you do?

...

I guess that's not really something easy to answer. As for me, I'd just do my best. Even if that meant going beyond what I knew I was capable of.

I'd change for him.

I'd get better for him.

I'd love him despite all the little and big things.

No matter how far away he would go. No matter if it will take me days, months, or years. No matter how many others there were.

For him. For that kind, caring, self-sacrificing dummy.

I would do it.

Because…

He's my one and only, Hikki.

AN: Soooooooo how was it? I might have gone a bit overboard in some areas but I wanted to test out the waters a bit. The one thing I didn't like last chapter was that the fluff part kinda ended a bit too short for my taste. So I decided to extend it by just a bit more. Hopefully it didn't come off as too much.

So regarding Yui, yeah this chap was actually harder for me to write. I intended for Yui to be more focused in obtaining her own happiness. After all that she's been through the one thing that stood out to me was her character growth. She went from being content with putting other people before her to straight up pushing Hachiman and Yukino into moving forward, with the expense of massacring her confession of her feelings to Hachiman. She's not all kind and fluffy, she's willing to go the distance even if it meant playing the manipulation card on her best friend. (But we all know it was for Yukino's own good and for Hachiman to break the status quo)

So yeah, I hope I got it across how she's matured. And also that she has sensitive ears XD

The next girl will be our favourite foxy kouhai, look forward to it. This is KitsuneLovers signing off!