"Onii-chan, wake up alre- W-Woah, are you okay?"
It wasn't over.
It wasn't over.
I could feel my hand shaking even as I tried my hardest to keep a firm grip on my phone.
|7th March|
|6:05 AM|
Those offending, déjà vu-inducing numbers repeated themselves in my mind over and over again as I stared at them in disbelief. No effort was made to turn the phone on and off again. I had no energy to be in denial but I also could not think of anything.
No solutions or possible plans of my actions.
Simply put, my mind was blank.
A clean canvas with nothing on it.
No thoughts.
Zero. Zilch. Nada.
Even as Komachi berated me for staying in bed for too long while the others had gotten up, I don't think I even replied to her. All I remembered was staring at my phone, then being urged by my sister to take a shower, freshening myself up, then going outside with the others.
My mind and body were on autopilot.
But the only thing I could focus on was these disgusting numbers on my screen.
|7th March|
|7:35 AM|
7th March.
Not 8th march.
But 7th march.
The last day of our trip. The third and final day of this impromptu group trip that I was forced into.
A day that I have experienced far too many times to properly remember.
The others were acting natural, conversing with one another or pointing out the various tourist attractions as we walked through the city. Yukinoshita and my little sister laughed with each other while talking about some random topics. Isshiki acted all shy around Hayama as Tobe and his two friends took pictures and made fools of themselves while Miura tried to keep everyone in check.
My throat hurt. As if something was threatening to spill out. I really wanted to just scream at them and tell them that they were all stuck in a time loop so why the hell weren't they panicking?!
But I didn't.
What would that accomplish? Nothing.
Even as we reached that accursed shrine and queued up again, my brain kept whirring and wracking itself in search of an answer but none came. When it was my turn to talk to that masked shrine maiden, no coherent words escaped my lips.
Without hesitation, I quickly got out of line just so I could get away from that fake smile of hers.
Think.
I needed to think. Harder.
What can I do? What can be done?
Talking to that shrine maiden would only give me the same results as before; cryptic words upon cryptic words that I wouldn't be able to decipher.
But even as we changed location and moved to the next parts of our itinerary, nothing came into my mind. No matter how much I thought as I sat down under the gentle rustling leaves or observed my girlfriend having the time of her life while being surrounded by her peers, I just could not crack what I'd done wrong.
What did I even do wrong?
Was my assumption incorrect?
The entire day was spent on autopilot. Mindlessly answering or doing things based on what I'd done in the previous loops, almost like muscle memory. My girlfriend and sister didn't suspect a thing nor did anyone else, thinking that I was just being my usual aloof self, following along with whatever my girlfriend asked for.
While everyone else was enjoying the festival, I was more than content being dragged around.
While everyone was cooing at our group photo, I didn't even notice that I was being dragged into one.
Even while we were walking back to the inn, it still didn't register in my head how the day just went by in the blink of an eye. We repeated this endless temporal conundrum for so long that it just felt like another day. Another unimportant barely noticeable day.
All the while I just could not understand nor figure out what to do next.
Think, Hachiman. Think.
What can be done that hasn't been tried?
Speaking of which, what has been tried?
Changing nothing. Didn't work.
Waking up faster or changing what happened during the day. Didn't work.
A hangout between me, Yukinoshita, and Yuigahama. Didn't work either.
"Hikki…?"
A soft voice asked me from behind as I felt the hem of my shirt getting tugged, just right before we entered into the inn again.
Everyone else had already gotten in.
The only ones that didn't were me and…Yuigahama.
"Is something wrong…?"
The date…with Yuigahama.
It didn't work.
It didn't break the time loop.
But I never asked why.
Why didn't the date with Yuigahama work if it was her wish? The shrine maiden all but confirmed that fulfilling the wishes by ourselves would break the time loop. I was more than certain about my own wish and felt the same for what was supposed to be Yuigahama's.
My wish for more time with Yukinoshita was fulfilled.
And Yuigahama's supposed wish was fulfilled yesterday.
Yet we were still stuck, which led me to one conclusion.
Yuigahama's wish wasn't to spend the day with me.
But why?
Why wouldn't going on a date with me not be what she had wished for? Was I wrong in assuming her wish? All evidence pointed towards Yuigahama being the kind of person to make that wish yet the fact that we were still stuck in this time loop proved otherwise.
"We didn't talk all day about what to do…" Yuigahama said, giving a worried look, "So I thought you wanted another rest day so I didn't bother you."
Her wish wasn't to hang out with Yukinoshita and me yet at the same time, and it wasn't to have a date with me either. Was it because I didn't put in enough effort towards that little playdate of ours? Could that be it? No, no, it couldn't be.
I lied to my own girlfriend just to spend time with Yuigahama. I decided that my hours were better spent with this woman rather than the one I love. And even then, I made sure to be as positive and engaging as possible just so Yuigahama can have the best day out of her life.
"Umm…so do you want to talk now? I mean," she asked again before giving a fake laugh, "I don't mind if you don't! But like I thought you would…y'know, wanna get out of this time loop early and all?"
My eyes locked onto her as I stared intensely, as if I was trying to pick apart her brain through eye contact.
"I actually do have like a plan…ish? Well, not a plan but just something I thought of," She explained, mindlessly kicking the ground as if trying to find the right words for it, "Uhh…it's actually what I wanna tell you yesterday – or well, you know what I mean."
What if…I wasn't wrong?
What if my assumptions about Yuigahama's deepest desire was indeed on the right track? Not perfectly correct but still leaning towards it. It was just missing something. Like a puzzle lacking a piece to complete the entire picture.
But what was that piece exactly?
"It's kinda weird to say to be honest, but I think I gotta get it off my chest, y'know?" Yuigahama made an exaggerated showing of breathing in and out as if prepping herself.
"Full disclaimer though! Yesterday was suuuuuper fun! Like I totally didn't expect you to hang out with me but I'm still glad that you did! And y'know, I had lots of fun just doing stuff with you!"
I was suddenly reminded of some past words that were said to me.
No, not those of the masked shrine maiden telling me that Yuigahama's unexpected yet expected wish. I had already deciphered that clue as much as I could and strip off any and all information that I could get from it.
Instead, the words that had suddenly wormed its way into my mind belonged to the bubbly girl standing right in front of me.
Even though it has been more than a year since Yuigahama had uttered those very words, its impact was as fresh as ever on my conscience, as if it had seared itself onto my mind. How could it not? After all, it was something so succinct yet at the same time, gave me one final supportive push that I needed to mend what was left of my relationship with Yukinoshita during all the whole Service Club disbandment fiasco.
I want it all.
Those were what Yuigahama said to me on that sunset-glazed day as we were walking back home.
The words of a girl who so desperately wanted her beloved club and friends to stay together.
Despite the arguments, the conflicting feelings, and the emotional rift tearing us apart, she still held her head up high and told me those words in order to urge me to go after Yukinoshita. I've already made up my mind back then to not let our bonds be severed, but it didn't hurt to know that Yuigahama had my back.
But now, those thoughts seemed so foreign to me.
Because now, her words began telling me some other things.
Things that I couldn't help but think after what Yuigahama tried to do during our third year. Even if she had stopped herself from doing anything drastic afterwards, there was still an invisible bitter aftertaste in everyone's mouths. One that Yukinoshita and I would like to forget.
We did end up giving her the benefit of the doubt and buried the hatchet as Yuigahama showed us that she had become better. Someone who wasn't as self-centered or conniving anymore.
And I believed her. I truly did.
But evidently, I was wrong.
Deep down, Yuigahama was still that type of person.
She still wants it all.
Yuigahama Yui still wants it all.
But this time, it was no longer a plea for me to keep the Service Club together nor to keep my relationship with Yukinoshita intact. Instead, it was a self-centered desire to monopolize me – to have all of me.
The date in the previous loop didn't work because it wasn't everything. It wasn't all that Yuigahama desires.
But where does that her everything even begin? Where would it even end?
That one date wasn't enough.
She wanted more.
To hang out.
To have dates.
To laugh together.
To hold hands.
To hug.
To cuddle.
To confide in each other.
To kis-
My head jerked abruptly at those absurd thoughts, unwilling to believe that I could even think up of doing such a thing for Yuigahama.
"Hikki…?"
However, when she placed a tender hand on my shoulder and looked at me with that worried face, I instinctively flinched and moved my body away from her. No matter how much I tried to keep my eyes on her, I couldn't bear to look straight at Yuigahama.
Yuigahama desired everything from me.
My heart.
My body.
My mind.
That was her true wish. Her desire that she buried deep down yet still took time to write it on a wishing plate.
A desire that must be fulfilled if this loop was to be broken.
I couldn't accept that answer.
Not one bit.
There must be some other solution.
Some other method out of this madness.
Surely, there must be.
There needs to be.
"Is something wrong…?"
I avoided Yuigahama's bewildered gaze, silently walking past her. Her questions towards me went unanswered as my pace quickened before breaking into a sprint.
There were yells and shouts coming from behind me but I didn't listen as my legs carried me faster and faster away from her. I couldn't stand to be around her. Not after realizing what she wanted after all this time.
The surrounding environments seemed so different to me this late at night yet there was more than enough familiarity for me to navigate through the foliage and trees-laden route.
It wasn't long before I reached the path that the others and I traveled on during the mornings of the previous loops, illuminated by the faint ethereal light of the moon and stars above. The well-worn road below me stretched out to the sloping stairs that would finally bring me to my destination.
The one place that would have the solution to this entire fiasco.
My legs were aching and my lungs were begging for some reprieve but I pushed past these pains as I began to ascend the stairs.
Slowly but surely.
One step at a time underneath the winding crimson torii gates that loomed ominously overhead.
And after a few grueling minutes, the lights emanating from the shrine made its way into my field of vision as I heaved a sigh of relief.
I finally reached it.
Just one more step and I would-
"Oh my, dear patron. You seem rather flustered."
A familiar enigmatic voice made its presence known as I immediately looked up at the presence of the voice. When I was climbing the stairs, the final torii gate marking the entrance of the shrine was devoid of people, yet now, in its place was a very familiar shrine maiden.
The only thing different was her trademark customer-service smile not being worn.
Upon seeing her, my body almost collapsed as the exhaustion that I held at bay a few minutes ago collided into me like a freight train, causing me to support myself on my knees as I panted hoarsely. I could feel the beats of my heart vibrating through my ears as sweats dripped down my forehead.
Even so, I lifted my head up and looked right into her eyes, trying to muster up the words needed to make a request.
The shrine maiden, however, spoke up again before I could do so.
"What exactly are you doing here, dear patron?" she asked, mockingly tilting her head, "It is rather late in the night after all. Not an appropriate time for a shrine visit."
Exhaling one last time and swallowing my pride, I finally got my words out.
"I need help."
My words came out more artless and desperate than I intended it to, but I didn't care. I needed help. Plain and simple. And this shrine would have an answer for that; that much I was sure of.
However, the thin line on the shrine maiden's face never shifted into a smile.
"That's quite an…impertinent request, dear patron. Especially after you disrespected our deity by walking right in the middle of the torii gates."
I lowered my head and begged again, "Please…I need your help. Anything. Just…I need your help."
"Visiting times are over, dear patron. Your request can be made tomorrow morning. For now, please return back to your inn."
"You don't understand. I can't stay here any longer. I can't…I just can't…"
My throat felt scratchy, as if a cough was going to come through yet it never did as I battled with this invisible itch that was making it harder and harder for me to make my pleas heard.
"Not only are you asking for something impossible, you are being quite rude while doing it," said the shrine maiden, and upon noticing my lack of response, launched into another tirade, "Besides, didn't you say that you dissected Yuigahama-san's desires without her even knowing? That you figured out the solution to this little time loop without help?"
"I did but-"
"Then simply apply that solution, dear patron."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just…can't. It's impossible for me to do."
"Yet you were so confident in your assessment of what others' desires were," mocked the shrine maiden.
"I don't have the strength to do it."
To my surprise, the shrine maiden scoffed.
"And why is that?"
"If I go through with that…that solution," I spat out those words bitterly, thinking of what went through my mind earlier when I looked at Yuigahama, "I'll be breaking the trust of someone that I love. I'll be breaking the relationship that we built over the years just to sate someone else's wish."
With a sharp inhale, I added, "And I can't do that to her. I love her too much to put her through that. Even if she doesn't know, I won't be able to look her in the eyes ever again if I do this."
"I see."
Two simple words. Yet it filled me with so much hope as I took a step forward, energy filling my body for the first time today.
"Then will you-"
"I did not say anything about helping you."
…
…
…
"Please," I fell to my knees, almost bowing right into the ground, "Please just give a solution. An answer. Anything but fulfilling Yuigahama's wish."
"That's impossible."
"Please!" My voice screamed out coarsely, as if gravel was flowing through my throat, "I'll do anything. I'll offer anything. Just get me out of this time loop!"
"That matter is simply out of my control. The wishes made on this shrine's grounds are to be fulfilled no matter what. After all, what good is teaching a man to fish if you are giving him a fish anyways?"
"I…just please…"
I had no more words to appeal to her, only able to whimper out incoherent cries for help that echoed louder than before in the dead of night. Only the rustling leaves accompanied the silence as I waited for her response while my head was kept down low.
But the shrine maiden never spoke again and I had half a mind to raise my head up so I can cry out for help again.
Clack. Clack.
A sinking pit began forming in my stomach as I heard the sounds of the shrine maiden's sandals against the ground, getting further and further away from where I was. When I looked up, I no longer saw the fox mask she donned, but her retreating back.
"Wait! Don't leave! Please!"
My cries rang throughout the shrine again as I lifted myself up and broke into a sprint.
The shrine maiden was still walking away.
My view of her back was hazy but I was sure that it was getting smaller and smaller.
Without thinking, my hand automatically reached out in a futile effort to grab onto the only source of help that I can think of.
But before I can reach her, I saw her masked face turning back, whispering softly.
"I apologize, dear patron. But please return to your inn."
Those words reached my ears as I was mere inches away from grabbing her. I could literally see her masked face in close proximity to my hand in one moment but in the next, that familiar fox mask was gone. The shrine maiden was gone. She vanished.
...no, that wasn't it.
My eyes were glued to my outstretched hand before wandering to my surroundings. It was only then that I realized it.
The shrine maiden didn't disappear.
I was simply back at the entrance of the inn.
The light emanating from the lamps above buzzed and flickered, as if putting me in a spotlight. One that I definitely didn't want as I fell down into a squat and held my head in my hands, balling up my hair as I was this close to getting a way out.
But deep down, I was simply deluding myself.
There was no alternative solution provided by that shrine maiden or her deity.
There was only one solution.
"Hikki!"
One solution that had everything to do with the woman running towards me in this very instance.
"Hikki, where did you go? How did you end up back here? I didn't even see you returning," Yuigahama kneeled down right next to me to get a closer look at my disheveled face, "W-What happened? Argh, lemme get a handkerchief for you."
"…"
"You really scared me!" exclaimed Yuigahama as she fished out a small piece of fabric, "You just suddenly ran away and left me alone and I really didn't know what to do! Where did you even go?"
I stared listlessly as Yuigahama fussed about my current conditions. However, the moment she unfurled her handkerchief and tried to clean my face, I unconsciously flinched again and abruptly jerked away from her, falling on my bottom instead.
There was a visible look of hurt on her face but it immediately vanished as Yuigahama asked, "D-Did something happen, Hikki? What's wrong?"
"…"
I still couldn't look at her.
No matter how much I tried, I could not look at the source of my problem.
Yet at the same time, Yuigahama was also the problem and the solution to this entire thing.
A solution that I was wholly unprepared to do.
But I know that I had to.
"Hikki…is it something relating to the time loop?"
"…"
"You don't need to tell me if you don't wanna..."
"..."
Pursing her lips, Yuigahama continued, "But I think I need to tell you something from yesterday."
My eyes widened as the memory of Yuigahama's flustered face from the previous loop entered my mind. She wasn't about to tell me that, was she?
"It's serious. I think if I wait any longer, you'll just brush me off again or something."
"…"
But instead of a foolhardy attempt at a confession, it was something much worse.
"I think I finally figured out what my wish was."
Something instantly got lodged in my throat. Was it just nocebo? Or actually something physical? It didn't matter because what did matter was that I suddenly had a hard time breathing.
But I knew why.
Yuigahama saying that she figured out her wish.
She took longer than I did but her conclusion must've been the same.
Yuigahama Yui wants everything from me – that phrase repeated itself in my head as I glanced at her determined face.
My breaths were shaky as I asked myself what it truly meant.
Everything.
It was such a broad concept.
Yet at the same time, I knew exactly what everything from me entailed to Yuigahama.
Not just my body.
But my heart and soul as well.
What would even show to Yuigahama that I was willing to give everything to her?
Having a date together clearly was not enough.
So perhaps, a hug or a kiss.
No, even that wouldn't be enough. Those would just be the tip of the iceberg on the things that she wants.
Something more than that.
Something more substantial that would clearly indicate that I was hers. That everything of mine was hers.
Be with her.
Confess to her.
Break up with Yukinoshita just so Yuigahama can date me.
The thought of doing so almost made me throw up, but the thought of being stuck in this time loop with her was worse.
Even though every single fiber in my body was against the thought of going through with this, I ultimately steeled myself for the inevitable.
"Hikki, I think that-"
"Save it," Unable to take it any longer, I decided to cut our talks short, "Let's just iron out the details tomorrow."
"W-What…?"
Pushing myself up, I made sure not to look at her as I turned around and began walking back.
"I know what you want to say, Yuigahama. Let's just…talk about it tomorrow."
I needed to think tonight about how to deal with the inevitable guilt that would wrack my heart after all this is over. When I go through with what I was planning, Yukinoshita won't forget it because the time loop would be broken. So I needed to think of how I can salvage the remnants of my relationship with Yukinoshita when I was done dealing with this.
If that was even possible.
Without any other words to Yuigahama, I began walking into the inn.
However, my steps were stopped just after a few seconds due to an impassioned yell.
"HIKKI!"
Her voice was loud, booming through the area. I wouldn't be surprised if someone woke up from that.
"For once," Yuigahama made heavy, thudding strides towards me, her face stern and her eyes teary as she grabbed my shoulder and spun me around completely to face her, "Just listen to me!"
"…"
"For once in this stupid time loop! Can you just let me finish saying my piece?!"
"I…"
"Because you always cut me off. You always interrupt me or have somewhere to be! All before I can tell you my thoughts!" cried out Yuigahama, anger and rage filling her voice as her grip on my shoulders tightened, "I thought we were supposed to be a team during this thing! Work together to solve it! But all you've been doing is working alone! Even though I'm the one who's been stuck here longer!"
"Yuigahama, I-"
"So please, for once, just stop blowing me off and actually listen to what I have to say! I know I'm not the smartest person in the room but even I have some thoughts too, y'know!"
A cloud of silence hung between us for a solid few second as I stared at Yuigahama, mouth agape at her words. She was sniffling, covering her eyes with her sleeves but even I could spot her reddened cheeks and glossy eyes.
"…I'm sorry."
"N-No, just…" Yuigahama sniffled louder, turning around so I couldn't see her, "Just give me a few seconds…"
I complied and waited for Yuigahama to regain her composure. She eventually did, but her face still showed signs of her earlier outburst. One that I couldn't help but feel slightly guilty for.
But right now, she stood in front of me, her face firm and resolute.
"Hikki."
"Yeah."
"About yesterday. About our hangout."
"What about it?"
"I wasn't lying when I said that it was fun. It was really fun, especially since I get to spend it with you. Honestly, it was the most fun that I had in a long while. I really mean that."
"…"
"But during the entire day, it felt…off. It just felt weird, y'know! And I tried my best to ignore it. I really did," Yuigahama explained, her hand clutching the front of her shirt as if calming her heart down, "I tried to push that feeling aside and just enjoy my time with you. Because it's not everyday that you would invite me to hang out, right?"
I pursed my lips, realizing what Yuigahama was going to say next.
"…but that's because you didn't actually want to."
"…"
"And I really didn't want to think this way because I don't want to be pessimistic about you but…Hikki..."
"…yeah?"
"The reason you invited me to hang out with just the two of us…without Yukinon," Yuigahama sharply inhaled before shakily forcing out her next words.
"It's because…you thought that was my wish, didn't you?"
Yuigahama kept her eyes locked onto mine without ever wavering as I tried my best to not confirm her suspicions. But in the end, I averted my gaze before muttering out.
"…yeah."
"Mmhm, I…I k-kinda figured that out, not gonna lie…especially since you were nonchalant when saying that Yukinon would forget everything..." Yuigahama nodded before sputtering, her words interlaced with fake, nervous laughs as she continued.
"I mean…that's total-totally expected, to be honest. Like why would you wanna hang out with me when you have Yukinon, right? I honestly can't really b-blame you for thinking like that because it's my fau-"
"Yuigahama, it's not-"
"It is my fault! It is my fault that you're thinking like that," exclaimed Yuigahama, wearing a fake smile as she pursed her lips so she won't break down, "All those hurtful things I said and did to you and Yukinon…I wouldn't blame you for thinking of me like that…hell, I wouldn't blame you either if you thought worse of me."
I couldn't help but look shamefully at my feet.
"B-But…" Her voice began choking, interrupt by hiccups and sniffles as Yuigahama continued, "Trust me when I say this…I'm not that kind of person anymore. I regret every single hurtful thing that I did to you guy two…and it's worse because…you two forgave me before I even properly apologize."
Yuigaham took another deep breath, concealing her eyes with her arm as she spoke, "And when you two invited me on this trip, I was happy. I really was. I thought I could make it fun for you two and patch things up before I go away, but I know that's impossible…"
"…"
"You really hate the fact that it's not just you and Yukinon on this trip, right?"
I nodded.
"Mmhm, I realized that when I was the last person invited," said Yuigahama with a bitter laugh at herself, "But still! I thought that I could help you guys have fun. Do stuff as a couple, y'know? Because I know that it would be hard while the others were around."
I nodded solemnly at Yuigahama's words before she removed the arm blocking her eyes and looked at me. Even though she was sporting a smile, her teary eyes told another story.
"That's why Hikki…tomorrow…you need to go on a date with Yukinon alone."
"…huh?"
"I think – no, I know that's my wish. I'm 100% sure that my wish was to make sure you two can have a date just by yourself on this trip," explained Yuigahama with a solemn smile, her lips twitching as if holding back from crying, "Because this trip is my last chance to make things right. It's the last thing that I can do to make up for all the shit I put you two through…"
"Yuigahama…"
"Because I never got to apologize. I never got to make it up to you two," Yuigahama began to clutch her chest again, almost doubling over as her sobs got louder, "Y-Y'know? When I actually realized the things that I did? Like the actual weight of it…it felt so painful…I honestly t-thought…that I can't look at you two in the eyes again…"
"…"
"But you still welcomed me…treated me like a friend…and for that, I can never make it right…"
Yuigahama's sobs got more erratic as her entire body shook from trying to contain her tears.
"A-And I really tried to. I tried to change so bad. I studied harder. Made sure to focus on my career…my future…everything that I should've done. I even went to cram school alone just so you two can spend time without me butting in…but that wasn't enough…"
With a sharp inhale, Yuigahama looked up at my eyes once more, even though it looked like she wanted nothing more than to curl up into a ball and hide away.
"But this time, I think I can…I can finally make you two happy," smiled Yuigahama, trying her best to give an energizing fist pump, "So tomorrow…you gotta take Yukinon out. Just the two of you. And no one else."
"Yuigahama…"
"I'll make sure…to distract those guys, okay? So, don't worry about that," Her smile got wider while her voice remained shaky, as if Yuigahama had to force out her words.
"It kinda hurts to say this…" She took in another sharp breath, "But you gotta make Yukinon feel like…the luckiest woman in the world…"
It eventually was too much for Yuigahama to handle as she resorted to blocking her face with her arm once more. But even so, she didn't stop talking.
"Make her day. Make her feel like this is actually a couple's trip with just the two of you."
I could only stare as Yuigahama sobbed harder before nodding, "Yeah…I'll make sure of that…"
She thrusted out her free arm and extended a pinky, "Y-You gotta promise!"
"I promise," I said, interlocking my own pinky with hers.
"If y-you lie and don't have fun with Yukinon t-then-"
"I'll swallow a thousand needles," Completing her words, I reassured Yuigahama again, "I'll make sure Yukinoshita have fun tomorrow."
"And you too," said Yuigahama as she peaked from under her arm, "You gotta have fun with your girlfriend as well."
I nodded again as we separated our fingers. Eventually Yuigahama did calm down enough that we were able to get back into the inn without rousing much suspicions from the receptionist. But just before we departed to our own rooms, Yuigahama and I looked at each other.
My mouth moved to thank and apologize to her but before I could do so, Yuigahama gave me a quick thumbs-up and I couldn't help but do so in return. The last thing she told me was to think only about Yukinoshita tomorrow and nothing else.
I suspected that she didn't want me to waste my time thanking her. But that was fine.
Tomorrow, I have a date with Yukinoshita Yukino to focus on after all.