"Hikigaya-kun, what do you think of these?" Yukinoshita asked holding up a pair of oven mitts.

Yukinoshita asked if I would accompany her to do some shopping today, so of course I had to say yes.

Unfortunately for me, Yukinoshita can never make up her mind on the items she is purchasing and always asks for my opinion. I'm not sure if she was doing this on purpose or not but it makes me feel something I'm not sure I really understand.

Currently, she was asking my opinion on oven mitts. The ones she was holding were in the shape of a cat, even had ears that popped out.

Seriously, how much can you like cats?

"Umm…hmmm... It's kinda hard to tell like that. How about you model them for me?" I say teasing her and trying to hold in a chuckle.

"Yes, well I suppose you do have a point." Yukinoshita said holding her chin, thinking real hard.

Hey no, wait a minute. I was only kidding!

As I was thinking this, Yukinoshita began to put on the cat-shaped oven mitts.

I fear if I say anything now, she might slap me.

"W-well, then. How's this?" She asked putting her hands up in a cat like manner. Her face as red as a tomato.

…

If I were to die now, I think that would be okay with me.

Who is this girl? Is that really you, Yukino? You're way too damn cute!

"Can you please say something. This is embarrassing…"Yukinoshita said shyly looking away.

"Ahem!" I clear my throat in order regain my composure. "Yes. You look cute. Really cute, actually." I say, as I feel the heat in my cheeks rise.

Yukinoshita's eyes widened a bit at my comment.

Taking off the oven mitts, she too clears her throat.

"Thank you. If that's what you think, then I will get them." She said clutching the mitts up to her chest, giving me a warm smile.

"R-right." I say scratching the back of my head. Avoiding eye contact.

Yukinoshita Yukino is dangerous.

The day continued and Yukinoshita was still looking around, going from department to department. Just how big is this store anyway?! It had like seven floors! It even had places to eat. You might as well be a shopping mall at this point! Wait. This is still the same store, right?

We were currently in a department of the store that housed dresses, blouses, shoes and other various womanly items that would make me feel utterly uncomfortable if I wasn't here with Yukinoshita.

"Hey, make sure you stay close to me. People will think you are being creepy if they see you wondering here alone." Yukinoshita said turning to me and giving me a mischievous smile.

"Yes, ma'am."

Stop reading my mind, thank you.

As I stood next to Yukinoshita, while she searched through clothing. I heard the faint sound of familiar voices. As the sound grew stronger I couldn't help but look toward it's direction. My eyes searched for the source.

"Ah." I let slip out as I found the owners of said voices.

It was none other than the Hayama club. Well not really a club, more like a herd. The way they always tagged along together like that made it seem so. I could see them as they walked closer. They seemed to be walking towards the same department Yukinoshita and I were currently in.

"What is it?" Yukinoshita asked, noticing that I was paying attention to something else.

I point to where my attention had gone.

"Oh."

And just as I was about to look away, Hayama and I made eye contact.

Crap.

He gave me one of his sparkling smiles and waved. This caught the attention of the rest of his herd and they all turned to look at who Hayama was waving at.

Yukinoshita noticed this and turned away from them.

Hmmm?

By the time I looked away from Yukinoshita and back to Hayama, they had already made it to where we were standing.

"Look who it is! It's Hikitani-kun!" Tobe's energetic and annoying voice let out.

"Hello, Hellooo!" Ebina yelled out.

"Yo." I say, trying not to let my annoyance show.

"Hey. You guys doing some shopping?" Hayama asked.

"Yes." Yukinoshita replied coldly not even turning towards them, still fiddling with some blouses that she was looking at earlier.

"Tch." Miura let out.

"What a coincidence huh?" Hayama said awkwardly, a pathetic smile on his face.

"I guess." I say, hinting that I want this conversation and interaction to end.

"They seem busy Hayato! Let's go!" Miura said latching on to Hayama's arm.

"Hey, hey! Hikitani-kun are the rumors true?! Are you guys actually a thing?!" Tobe asked with a goofy smile on his face.

That took me by surprise. Out of all people, for Tobe to ask was the last thing I expected.

Oh! So the news is spreading. And here I thought nobody spread it around because no one believed it.

"Mm. Well, yeah…" I say trying not to seem flustered.

Tobe didn't say anything at first, his face just stayed the same. And then-

"huuuhh?! Wait! Seriously?!" Tobe said dumbfounded, face to mach.

"Tobe, you're being too loud." Ebina said.

I didn't reply to his question.

Yukinoshita did.

"Is there a problem with that?" Yukinoshita said finally turning around with one of her signature cold stares.

"U-umm. N-No! Of course not! Hahaha…" Tobe nervously said.

Hayama only let out what I could describe as an uncomfortable laugh.

Get over it.

"Hayato, can we go now?" Miura said trying to ignore Yukinoshita.

"Umm. Actually, I have something I want to talk about with these two. Do you mind going without me? I'll catch up when I'm done." Hayama gave a smile to Miura.

Miura seemed surprised by his comment. Her face became unsatisfied as she detached herself from him.

"Whatever." Miura said and stormed off with the rest of the herd.

Hayama with a small smile watched as they left.

"Do you mind if we go somewhere else to talk?" He said, smile never leaving.

"We are rather busy today." Yukinoshita said.

"Just for a few of minutes. Please?"

Yukinoshita shifted her eyes towards me.

Ah, hell!

"Let's go to that café then." I point across the building to where a small café was.

I didn't look at Yukinoshita as I could feel the daggers she was throwing at me with her eyes already.

Sorry Yukino!

Although I could already guess what Hayama wanted to talk about. And if I was right, then it would eventually happen anyways. Might as well get it over with.

"So you guys are really in a relationship then?" Hayama asked as he sat across a small table from Yukinoshita and I.

"Hayama-san, if you have something to say, please just say it." Yukinoshita said.

"…san?..." Hayama, with his head slightly down, commented under his breath, but loud enough that I heard it.

"Hey, Hayama-"

"Can I ask why him?" Hayama cut me off.

His remark surprised me, but I try not to let it show.

I look towards Yukinoshita as she let out a sigh.

"Hayama-san, what do you plan to do with this information?"

"I just need to know… Please." Hayama said with distraught eyes.

Yukinoshita closed her eyes and waited a few moments before opening them back up again. As if thinking of the perfect words to say.

"Because he saved me."

Hayama looked uncontent with her reply. Yukinoshita noticed his silence and continued.

"He saw me like nobody else did." She said looking at me with a soft smile. "He appreciated me and stood next to me when no one else would. He taught me that I didn't need to be afraid anymore. And gives me courage."

Did I do all that? Not that I would actually ask her.

Hayama looked at her and then looked at me with a pained expression.

"I see…" he said leaning back in his chair letting out a sigh.

"And…" Yukinoshita continued, now looking at Hayama.

"And?" Hayama asked.

"He makes me really, really happy!" Yukinoshita finished with a smile.

I could feel my whole body getting redder by the second. Stop it! That's too embarrassing!

Hayama only let out a small chuckle at this.

"Hikigaya-kun." Hayama said looking at me.

"Yeah…"

"I completely lost to you."

I have to try my hardest from jumping out of my chair.

I only nod.

As Yukinoshita and I were about to leave the café Hayama called out to me. I tell Yukinoshita to wait for me back at the department we were at and she agreed.

"What's up?" I say to him wanting to end this conversation already.

"I was going to confess to her." Hayama said, a small smile on his face.

"huh?" is all I can say, my brain trying really hard to process what exactly he said.

"Depending on her answer…I was going to steal her from you."

"huh?" Still not sure what was happening.

He chuckled and shook his head.

"But… hearing her answer…there was no way I was going to beat you… "He said, smile still on his face.

I don't really know what to do at this point, so I can only stare at Hayama Hayato.

"Are you-"

"Take care of her." Hayama said as he laid his hand on my shoulder.

"I don't need you to tell me that." I say pushing his hand off.

He only laughs at my reaction.

"It really was impossible for us to be friends, huh?"

"Of course. After all, I hate you."

Hayama only smiles at this.

Doesn't it get tiring to smile so much?

"It's going to be a rough road ahead for the two of you…"

I didn't need Hayama to explain what he meant by that. If there was one thing I knew when Yukinoshita and I started dating, it was that it would not be easy. Her family would prove to be the ultimate obstacle.

"Well then, I gotta go catch up with the others." Hayama said, Noticing I didn't reply to him.

As Hayama was leaving my sight, he suddenly stopped and turned around to face me.

"I hate you too."

Ah.

Hayama's face was noticeably pale even from this distance. His eyebrows furrowed. Hands balled into fists. His eyes filled with animosity.

I didn't say anything. How could I. I didn't even know Hayama could make that expression.

Just as I was about to say something, Hayama slowly turned away and started walking away. His head seemed down, but after a few steps the grip in his hands loosened and his head stood back up and then he disappeared into the crowd of shoppers.

Scary.

It seemed Hayama couldn't keep his farce up and showed me a genuine reaction. At that thought I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.

You really aren't a nice guy after all, huh, Hayama Hayato.

"So what did Hayama-san want to talk to you about?" Yukinoshita asked still looking through more items of clothing.

"Nothing really." I say staying close once again.

"Hmmm." Yukinoshita shot me a glance.

Oh? Interested are we? Perfect chance to mess with her.

"He just wanted to remind me of what's instore for me…"

After I finished that I noticed Yukinoshita had stopped moving.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Yukinoshita quietly asked still not moving.

"Well y'know…Your family will probably have a few things to say about me…most likely…"

"…Do you…" She couldn't finish her thought. But by the look she had she was uncertain of what she even wanted to say in the first place.

"Not that I care really." I say trying to get her from looking like that.

It kind of works. Only now she is staring at me with helpless eyes.

"Well, I mean I do care. It's just…Well, how should I put this?" I pause and look up at the ceiling as if the answer was waiting for me there.

"it's like…" I start as I lock eyes with Yukinoshita. "As long as we are together; I'll make sure your family acknowledges us…or something like that…" I say trying my best to not look away from her, my face noticeably getting warmer.

Yukinoshita quickly turned away, hiding her face from me.

Sneaky.

Just as I was about to reach over and spin her back around, Yukinoshita spoke.

"Of course, I too!…Will make sure they understand." Yukinoshita proclaimed, turning around after she was finished.

"Hikigaya Hachiman!" She enthusiastically said with a bright smile. "Let's do our best!" She said pumping her small fist in front of her chest.

"Yeah."

"Now let's continue on to the next store." Yukinoshita said as she walked to the check-out counter with a couple of items of clothing.

I followed suit.

I guess Yukinoshita has also changed a lot since I first met her. I thought to myself as I made my way beside her at the check-out counter.

"Ma'am, would you like any of these items gift wrapped?" The lady at the register asked, holding up the pair of cat-shaped oven mitts we were looking at earlier.

Well, something's stay the same, I suppose.

"In a bag is fine." Yukinoshita said trying to hide her embarrassment. Unfortunately for her, her rosy cheeks were a dead giveaway.

While many things about our future as a couple remained unknown, for the first time in my life, I felt like I had finally found someone I wanted to protect with everything I had.

Hikigaya Hachiman, you really are gross, as expected.

A/N: Hello, Everyone! It feels like it's been ages since I last updated! Like I said last chapter, my life is kinda hectic right now, but I promise to update asap! Anyway, I want to say thank you all for the reviews and support, keep them coming! Also, shout out to RalphZiggy, who wanted to see Hayama's reaction for a while now! So here you go! lol I hope it filled some of your expectations! Although, I don't think I'm quite done with him yet... So again, if any of you have suggestions or things you want to see in future chapters, please let me know! I hope you all enjoyed!