Chapter 2: Villain

Yukino welcomed a smiling Yui at the apartment door and led her into the living room. She briefly considered inquiring about her friend's health but then decided against it. Forcing Yui to lie as an opening move wouldn't bode well for the talk they needed to have.

It was hard to decide if Hachiman's presence came as a surprise to Yui. Her only reaction was an even broader smile and a cheerful greeting.

Hachiman just nodded.

Yukino returned to the couch and patted the place beside her. "Please sit down." Yui obeyed.

Yukino came right to the point. She looked at Hachiman. "Could you please show us that letter?"

Still keeping silent, Hachiman put the letter on the table. He then sat back and tried his best to make himself invisible.

"It looks as if somebody has played us a prank..." Yukino began.

"Not somebody, of course," Yui just said.

"What do you mean?"

"I did that. You figured that out, right?" Yukino and Hachiman exchanged a glance.

"Yuigahama, why?"

Yui's smile changed from broad to shy. "I thought you two might need some encouragement. A lot of encouragement, actually."

"Encouragement," Yukino echoed. "He..."

"I turned her down." It was the first time since Yui's arrival that Hachiman spoke up.

Yui's constant smile wavered, if only just a little. "I don't think that's what you really want, Hikki."

"I don't think you understand what people want," he retorted.

"Oh, Hikki. You aren't 'people' to me. Of course I can tell."

"He really tried not to upset me when he declined," Yukino explained. "He was very indirect."

"Yeah, I can imagine that..."

"So indirect, that for minutes, I didn't even comprehend what he was talking about... and when I finally understood, I still didn't understand why he was talking about it. It was so embarrassing."

"Oh, Yukinon..."

Yukino interrupted her. "Why would you put me through that? Why would you do that to me, why you?" she asked, clearly beginning to lose her composure. "Please explain."

"Yukinon, but there is no reason for you to be embarrassed."

"Why would you say that?"

"You didn't do anything. I did it." She was still smiling.

"You..." Yukino stopped and took a deep breath before continuing. "Yuigahama, I can't believe that you simply don't comprehend what you have done. I want to understand why you did it and what you were planning. If you want to help me, please stop spouting cheerful one-liners and explain yourself."

Finally, Yui's smile vanished and was replaced by a frown. "What do you want me to explain? I already admitted what I did. I helped you where you are to afraid to act. I did this for you. For you. For you. Stop acting as if I did something to you."

"Yuigahama, your explanations make no sense at all. Do you really think, we wouldn't find out who wrote that letter? Do you think I couldn't act for myself if I wanted?" Yukino stopped for a second. When she started speaking again, her voice had become ice cold. "You are my friend. Ask me. Advice me. Even encourage me. But never try to manipulate me into anything. Never, you hear?" Her voice became normal again. "And why would you want to help me there, you of all people?"

"When I'm in love with Hikki, you mean."

Yukino let out a sigh. Hachiman grunted something unintelligible.

Yui looked from one to the other. "As if you wouldn't know," she mumbled.

Hachiman stared at the table. "I know," was his monotone reply.

"We both know," Yukino added, noticing that she was echoing Hachiman's remark from earlier.

"So what's the problem?"

"What are you, a grade schooler?"

"Yukinon, do you remember the first thing I admired in you? You were so honest. I'm just tying to be honest. So you will believe me."

"No, I don't remember. There are situations that ask for honesty, and situations that don't. And people grow up."

"Well, I love him. Tell me why I shouldn't say it." Defiance in Yui's voice.

Yukino bolted up. "Because we three had an arrangement," she shouted. "The club still exists because of the arrangement we had!"

"... and you love Hikki too."

Yukino froze, then after a second collapsed back into her seat again. "You're wrong, Yuigahama," she replied after a while. "It's just... not that simple."

Yui's eyes widened. "That's laughable. How can you just pretend that you don't?"

"It's the truth."

"Do you say that because he just rejected you? Or are you trying to be considerate, Yukinon?"

"That's not it." Almost a hiss. Again, softer: "That's not it. It... it's not the point. You haven't answered my question. Why? Since you love Hikigaya, why would you give him up so easily?"

Hachiman was now staring intensely at the fighting girls.

"What does it matter? I'm giving him to you!" Yui shouted.

"And I wasn't asking for it!" Yukino shouted back.

"Please don't talk about me as if I'm not even in the room!" Hachiman interjected angrily.

Yukino ignored him. "Are you even giving up? Did you think if you forced him to reject your imagined rival you'd have a free run at the goal?"

"Yeah, maybe that's it!" Yui hit back. "But why would my 'imagined' rival even care?"

Yukino didn't answer. Deep anger was now clearly written onto her face.

"I'll better be going," Yui declared after a few seconds of silence. She rose from her seat.

"Yes," Yukino mumbled, "maybe that's for the best after all."

"I might not be coming to the club for a while."

"I understand."

"You aren't going anywhere," Hachiman suddenly demanded. "I'm sick and tired listening to you two. But you're gonna stay, Yuigahama. You sit and listen to me."

Yui reluctantly sat down again. Both girls looked at him.

"I am not," Hachiman continued, emphasizing every word, "some trophy or item for negotiation. I am a person and make my own decisions. What the hell are you thinking? That I'm just waiting here patiently, ready to jump on whatever girl opens her legs first?"

Yui drew a sharp breath.

"That was uncalled for. Don't speak that way to Yui," Yukino said coldly. "You better..." She stopped when she suddenly felt Yui's hand on her arm, squeezing it.

"I think you two don't even remotely understand what love means. Stop talking about it until you do," Hachiman went on.

"Thank you Hikki," Yui declared overly friendly. "I'll be leaving you two alone now." She stood up. Hachiman jumped from his seat and blocked her way.

"Sit down. I'm not done."

"Hikki, it's really for the better."

Hachiman only stepped closer. "Tell me: what do you think I want? Just sex? Or is it all that you want? Then maybe you should just have told me."

Yui just shook her head. "Hikigaya Hachiman, stop it. I'm not that stupid."

"Oh, there is nothing stupid about sex, you know."

She shook her head again and attempted to sidestep him. "You know that's not what I'm talking..."

Hachiman grabbed her shoulders and violently kissed her.

Author's Notes

… and then the two had angry sex on the couch until Yukino stabbed them with a kitchen knife. The End.

Well, no. This is probably not what will happen next.

"Author, what the hell are you doing? This is completely out of character." Patience. Bear with me. Some explanation for what just happened will follow in the next chapter already.

This was probably the most M rating worthy chapter. Sex will become a topic of conversation again but in a much more roundabout way than here.