Standart Disclaimer: I do not own Oregairu and i do not make money publishing this story.

Forewarning: I strongly advise you to read my earlier story "And so, Hiratsuka Shizuka" before this story if you want to understand the whole story, as this one consists of moments that were mentioned in earlier one but weren't featured as the PoV character was not present during those moments.

"Yes father, I understand." I replied to the phone with a fake yawn.

"Sorry, I have been pulling all nighters as I told you before, exams have been harder compared to last year, they started taking their toll for once." Again I replied with a deliberate dejected voice.

I could detect both the doubt and the surmounting anger of the incoming voice so I chose to use an offended tone this time. "I am not a machine father, you have to understand there will come a point when I am going to have to sacrifice something if I am to keep sparing so much time to your work."

This would have been enough to defuse him had it been Yukino-chan who uttered the same words, but it was no surprise that I was going to have to work a little harder than daddy's little girl. "I am aware that it is the family work father, but maybe you should start considering whether the well being of the family work mean the same thing to every member of this family."

A few seconds of silence was enough to deduce that his anger was defused, incoming timid tone and the words aimed at emotional appeal made it too easy. "No one is doubting your love for your children father, that is irrelevant, you can still hurt the person you love the most, problem is not exactly that you and mother are hurting us, problem is both of you are not aware that you are hurting us."

Incoming voice even started to become desperate, to hear a man who is a wolf among the business world turn into a sheep when facing his daughter filled me with pleasure, albeit a guilty one. "You do not have to apologize for the past father, just think of our feelings from now on."

The effect my words had was too quick, too easy..."I love you too father, take care."

A wide grin started forming as I turned the call off, this slowly starting rebellion, which might be considered a little too late to be called a teenage rebellion, filled me with an invigorating feeling, for so long since I have been burdened with the responsibilities of father's work, I have always felt like ten years older than I actually was, now I was feeling even younger than I was.

I wondered if I wasn't as mature as I thought I was for feeling so much amusement towards the reaction I received for the little mischiefs I have been doing lately, surprisingly I found out I didn't care how mature I was or even how mature I appeared to others, for the first time ever there was something I could try to achieve for myself, for the first time ever there seemed to be a possible solution to my dilemma that was not unthinkable, for the first time ever someone saw through who I was and even called me brave for it...

Before I could revel even more on these new feelings, my phones ringtone announced the coming of the harbinger of despair, or as us Yukinoshita daughters call her, Mother.

I wasn't ready to confront her yet like I did with father, so I forced myself to answer with my signature cheerful voice. "Good afternoon mother."

"Good afternoon dear." Answered the calm voice.

I felt like it would be wise to direct the conversation myself and I could easily do that by starting with her usual number one reason for calling. "Are you calling to check up on Yukino-chan mother, I am afraid she has been most boring since I started living with her, I think I can hear her preparing lunch inside the kitchen."

"No Haruno, I actually wanted to talk with you." The voice replied without losing its calm.

Here we go, after dealing with father's easily defused anger, now I was going to have to endure countless manipulation attempts and occasional guilt trips from her, and her talks were a lot more tiring compared to father's. "How may I help you mother."

"It is not something to help with dear, I just wanted to ask how you were doing, you must still be having a hard time living in an unfamiliar place." This time the voice came off as worried, and even I wasn't able to decipher whether it was sincere or not.

I was ready to deal with selfishness and irrationality, but I started getting worried faced with this unfamiliar behavior. "It is no big deal mother, Yukino-chan is so diligent I don't even have to cook for myself, she even leaves me breakfast before she leaves in the mornings."

"I am glad you two are getting along so well, but do not hesitate to call me if you are troubled." The voice definitely sounded sincere this time, which started to freak me out.

I had to end this call or I was going to drive myself mad with paranoia. "I understand mother, I think I can hear Yukino-chan calling for me, I will have to hang up."

"All right dear, take care." Again I could hear the calmness return to the voice before I hung up.

This was dangerous, I hadn't even started the fight yet there already was an unknown entry to the ring, I could deal with unreliable parameters but this was something different, if mother was playing a long game she had already exceeded my expectations by throwing something unidentifiable.

Yet despite all the gathering fear and paranoia, I could detect something inside me slowly showing itself, the competitive spirit which i actually shared with other two Yukinoshita women, which I so carefully have hidden all these years was resurfacing.

Mother was somehow exceeding my expectations, and I loved it when people did that, that was why I was so amused by that boy I call monster of self consciousness no matter how much of an idiot he was.

For the second time today a grin started to force itself to appear after ending a phone call, I could barely hold myself from letting the amusement to overpower all the other emotions I was feeling at this moment...

"Nee-san, your lunch is on the table, I will be in my room for a while." I heard Yukino-chan's voice, this time for real about half an hour after the phone call with Mother ended.

I walked towards the kitchen with lazy steps, still with my pajamas on, and found myself faced with a portion of pasta made with caprese sauce, Yukino-chan called it "lunch" but considering I did wake up at the middle of the day, this was my breakfast, well it was destined to be delicious so I didn't care whether it was okay or not to eat pasta for "breakfast".

No surprise, it was delicious, I closed my eyes and gave out a satisfied sound as the taste registered itself, right when I was about to keep digging in, I heard a giggling sound, it sounded as if the owner tried to contain it but failed spectacularly.

With a raised eyebrow and without thinking, I made my way to the Yukino-chan's room, I was like a feline on the hunt, without letting my footsteps make any sound, I leaned my back on the wall and listened in.

"Idiot, don't make me laugh like that, Nee-san is eating right outside in the kitchen." I heard her speak, probably to the phone, still trying to contain herself.

After the inaudible reply from the phone, and after another barely contained giggle, I heard Yukino-chan's tone turn sarcastic. "Do not worry dear, I was never under the illusion that a decent sense of humour was part of your offered package when I accepted your proposal, so I will not hold you onto that."

Apparently Yukino-chan was so amused this time, she didn't even try to suppress her laughter and that amusement was reflected on her replying voice. "Oh my, who are you and what did you do with my Hachiman, I didn't take you for a competitive one."

Oh my indeed! Now everything about her since we started living together started to make sense, her treating me a lot better than expected, her being able to shrug off my attempted teasings easily and her negligence of watching her beloved Pan-san's DVDs.

With the same nimbleness as before, I sneaked back to the kitchen table and called out after finishing the remaining food like a starving animal. "Yukino-chan, thanks for the food, nee-san really appreciates your diligence."

Even before I could hear her rise up, I was already back in my room with phone in the hand, with quick fingers i managed to find the contact I was looking for, and started listening to the beeping of the call, alas recipient didn't seem to be inclined to answer.

It was nothing unexpected, I wasn't going to hesitate using my cheating trump card, so I immediately found the other contact I was searching for and this time recipient answered almost instantly. "Good afternoon Haruno-san, i can't say I wasn't expecting a call from you these days."

Oh, so she was going to try to take the lead. "Good afternoon Komachi-chan, how is my favorite sister in law doing these days."

Surprisingly she replied with a dejected voice. "Even though hearing that made Komachi really happy for a moment, I think it also means you want something from Komachi."

So you want me to cut to the chase Komachi-chan, it was too easy to forget she was a Hikigaya sometimes. "So, were you informed about or did you pick up on what is going on Komachi-chan, it should not be too hard to pick up on the signs for an astute socializer like you?"

A sigh came from the other end of the line, and if that wasn't enough even her replying voice had a tone of accusation. "Komachi is aware of what she thinks she needs to be aware of Haruno-san, I don't know if you are fishing and I am sorry for being this rude, but I hope you are not trying to meddle with something you should not, things can be a bit delicate for interference this early."

Before I could even try to control myself, a burst of laughter overpowered me, it was a great wonder how scary a loving sibling could be, hearing her reply felt like listening to one of my usual inner thoughts. "It is nothing like that Komachi-chan, sorry for worrying you, I just need you to deliver him a message from me as he refuses to answer my call, tell him to remember his promise, usual place, in two hours."

Another sigh came out as reply, this time a defeated one though. "Komachi is still not entirely sure but it can't be helped if it is a promise, I suppose I am going to have to trust your good intentions Haruno-neesan."

Before I could fake it, another laughter forced itself naturally. "Oh my, I could easily get used to being called like that Komachi-chan, and not just by you..."

They say, life is intrinsically boring and dangerous at the same time, at any given moment floor may open up, but it almost never does, that is what makes it so boring.

Well, as I kept leaning on the table and occasionally sipped my coffee while the dead fish eyed boy sitting across used all his willpower to avert his eyes faced with the visual service I provided, I was determined to force that floor to open up no matter what.

With an obviously fake disappointed voice i started complaining. "Nee Hikigaya-kun, you don't get the chance to have a date with a beautiful onee-san like me very often, women don't like a man who can't lead the conversation you know."

A victorious smile formed on his face even before his rebuttal could arrive. "That is the beauty of 21st century Haruno-san, we live in a world of gender equality! I don't have to be the one to lead the conversation."

A wicked grin formed on my face almost immediately. "Oh my, you are not even going to deny that we are on a date Hikigaya-kun, what would Yukino-chan think."

His previous cocky attitude dropped instantly as he answered with teeth gritting. "She would think I was a man of my word I suppose."

Silence settled as I kept sipping my coffee, desire to say unsettling things so I could receive an amusing reaction slowly started to overpower my willpower to hold up the promise of not meddling I gave to Komachi-chan.

"Nee Hikigaya-kun, how does it feel?" I finally asked with a mysterious tone.

"How does what feel?" He asked back with an eyebrow raised in confusion.

Another wicked grin adorned my face as I elaborated my question. "To settle for the inferior sister, while you have me here, the older one who exceeds the young one in every way imaginable?"

Instead of the expected annoyed look, I received a bored one before his reply. "Do you, Haruno-san?"

Hilarious I thought right before I found myself overcome with a laughing fit, simply hilarious. "Pray tell me Hikigaya-kun, in which way I do not."

He looked as if he was trying to force the words out, too scared of receiving my ire, yet it appeared the passion to defend her seemed to overpower the infamous indifference of Hikigaya Hachiman. "Leaving aside all the things you consider insignificant in your arrogance, there is one thing you could never possess, that is why you are putting up this facade of carefree insanity."

In disbelief, I tilted my head sideways and spoke with an annoyed tone. "Are you still stuck there Hikigaya-kun, I thought I warned you about that thing you failed to label, I told you it is something much more sinister."

He replied with teeth gritting and nails digging into his fists but there was a tone of apparent doubt in his voice. "I do not believe that to be true, I have my reasons, and even if it is...and even if it is true I-"

"Hikigaya-kun." I interjected with a freezing cold voice and piercing eyes. "It is because of the fact that I could never possess that thing you kindly mentioned, I can easily notice the lack of it in people who appear to possess it most."

"Even so, even so, I-i can not judge or blame h-her for that-" He started with occasional stutter but his voice became much more clear and determined after that. "-for I do not know if you are right or not but even if you are I am already guilty of the same crime, I also hoped or more like dreamed for this thing we have to provide a steady blissfulness and a sense of security, there was a voice in my head that I pretended to not hear which kept whispering that I would instantly be gratified if we were able to grasp that thing, did you also notice something this sinister looking at me Haruno-san."

"I-" I was speechless, to think that Hikigaya-kun who would not even bother to give me a greeting unless I were to pester him endlessly would open up like that, before I could think my mouth moved on its own and spilled out something I would prefer not to. "-I am afraid for Yukino-chan, I am afraid she will invest even more than she did last time, and she will be devastated, except this time no one will be able to break her shell again."

For a moment he looked determined but bashfulness took over as the words spilled out from his mouth. "This thing, these feelings I mean have a power, she has been pestering me endlessly to change since the day we have met and I have been endlessly protesting to not to all this time, yet look at me, I believe she, who was open to it all along, have also changed, even if that scenario you seem to be afraid of were to happen, and I refuse to believe it will, she would power through it, I witnessed its proof on that Valentine's Day evening."

As the silence settled back, a smile formed on my lips and a genuine one at that, his eyes which never left mine during the serious parts of our conversion were now turned sideways in embarrassment, after the awkwardness were back at tolerable levels again, I spoke in my usual cheerful manner. "Nee Hikigaya-kun, you have grown up."

"Maybe a little, but not nearly enough for-" He started with a monotone voice but he must have realized he was about to spill something so he cut himself short.

I sported yet another wicked grin and commented playfully. "Shizuka-chan will be proud you know, she worked on you more than she did on any of us, maybe you were so much of a hopeless case to begin with."

His face turned red and he averted his eyes immediately as he answered with deprecating words. "Shut up, that woman is a real pain, seriously someone should marry her."

That, we all agree on Hikigaya-kun...

They say there is no suspense in inevitability, and the response I was going to receive appeared inevitable no matter how I looked at it, I had nothing to say, there was nothing to say, a few minutes of words wasn't going to change years of animosity.

Yet here I was, with every step of the stairs taken up, constant heartbeats reaching my eardrums, a spark of hope left within me, which I could not even decide whether it was a thing I desired or not for a part of me desired to be punished and hoped to be grateful for it, that hope clamouring for forgiveness kept me in deep suspense.

Finally reaching to Yukino-chan's apartment, to be precise our apartment, I let myself in and gave a greeting assuming she was at home. "I am home."

Her voice replied back without a tinge of emotion. "Welcome home, Nee-san."

She was bundled to a side of the couch watching one of her Pan-san DVDs, seemingly considerably less enthusiastic than usual as she wasn't leaning towards the screen as if she wanted to be absorbed by the world on it unlike ever before, more surprisingly she normally would cease watching it the moment I would stumble upon her doing so, yet now she was staring at the screen without even showing any intention of turning to look at me.

Sitting at the other end of the couch, I let my interest switch towards the screen, as the building anxiety forced me to do everything I can to delay the upcoming talk, knowing the back story I could understand why Yukino-chan would be so entranced, idea of a loving parent doing what he can to help alleviate the concerns of his child who was thrust into an unfamiliar environment, must have evoked an emotion of longing in her.

For another quarter of an hour I kept my eyes glued to the screen, yet my resolve finally managed to win the war it has been waging against the earlier anxiety, and finally with a determined voice I broke the silence. "Nee, Yukino-chan, you know where I have been to right?"

She spoke after a small nod without letting any emotion creep into her voice. "I do, you two were supposed to drink tea if I recall correctly, but it appears both of you drank coffee, and yours was not even a sweet one."

I couldn't help myself but smile hearing how thorough her information appeared to be and spoke teasingly. "So, I suppose congratulations are in order, I wasn't hopeful it would happen so soon."

Despite the teasing, she still did not allow any emotion in her voice. "Thank you, I never even conceived 'us' would ever happen."

"You two are aware that this is only the beginning right?" I knew this was a cheap play on my part, I did choose this topic deliberately so I could start warming her up to the idea that it would be wise to join forces with me.

For the first time she allowed her uncertainty to take over her tone. "I know, we have talked about it and decided to come clean before the semester ends, I intend to inform m-mother when I think I can."

"Will he be standing at your side?" I asked immediately.

"I would not allow it, I will do it by myself." She replied even quicker.

I took in a deep breath, thinking I was preparing myself for the crucial question of this conversation. "Do you have to, Yukino-chan?"

Regrettably, it appeared Yukino-chan's stress levels caused her to be even denser than usual so she took my question in the wrong way almost making me laugh. "I do, I can only ask for his help after I have tried and failed by myself, to tangle him with the mother would be unfair before I make my own efforts."

Again I asked the same question, with a smile on my lips yet no sign of it in my focused eyes. "Do you really have to, Yukino-chan?"

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her and her words came out in stutters. "B-but I have to do it by myself, it would be m-meaningless if you were to remedy my own shortcoming, I would be-"

"Yukino-chan." I cut her short. "Sometimes our shortcomings can be our virtues. In your case, your inability to deal with the unreasonable is not something to be frowned upon, or something to get rid off, on the contrary it is something admirable."

She still tried to argue against it not willing to accept the truth. "But I can still make Mother understand, she is not entirely unreasonable, she would have to admit it if I come up with the right arguments."

I shook my head sideways as I started crushing her hopes. "She will indeed try to meet your logic with her own at first, but she will not be satisfied with that, if or when you start making too much sense that she no longer has any arguments left, she will start playing with your emotions, you will start slipping up under her unreasonable conjectures and she will use those slip ups against you, you need someone beside you who can call her on her bullshit, someone she would consider to be not emotionally invested."

She looked extremely dejected hearing my claims, as if the reality she had been ignoring were slapped on her face. "So in the end, this is yet another thing I can't do myself."

Right at this moment when I managed to drag her down to her lowest point, I reached out with a helping hand. "No Yukino-chan, I did not say that you could not do it by yourself, but there is no point in sacrificing so much to have so little freedom, one every schoolmate of yours considers a basic right, when we could get away with sacrificing so much lesser, I am not proposing to give you a freebie anyway, what we are doing here is an equal exchange, I will also ask for your cooperation when the time arrives, especially against father, even the fact that we are standing together makes us each stronger individually."

I could see the righteous anger swelling up inside her from her body language. "But why Nee-san, why would you be on my side now when you have been torturing me for years let alone helping me, is it only because your own benefit is on the line now?"

As I heard the accusing words coming out of her mouth, I finally snapped and found myself shouting without even intending to do so. "Because I was mad at you Yukino-chan, I was mad at you for doing nothing and wasting all the time in the world while I was burdened with everything they threw at me, I envied you for having the freedom I never had and tortured you for wasting it all."

She turned her gaze downwards, probably hoping to hide the tears that was about pour and spoke with a barely audible voice. "I have no idea why you would try to deal with everything yourself, I have no idea why you wouldn't dump some of it on me, I wouldn't have minded carrying some of it, just tell me why Nee-san."

It was my turn to turn my gaze downwards as I answered with a tone that was partially filled with embarrassment and also passion. "Because you are my little sister Yukino-chan, mine to protect, mine to torture, and our parents are no exception to this rule."

Just when I was thinking there was nothing that could shadow the amount of coolness I was exuding at this moment, she did something unexpected, with tears on her cheeks, she closed the gap between us and embraced me in a tight hug as she hit me with all her honesty. "I knew you wanted me to be different than I am Nee-san, but you could have helped me be more of what you wanted by actually talking to me, by telling me things."

A smile adorned my face as I also let the tears fall down my cheeks and answered her hug the same way. "You know what is the best thing about having a little sister Yukino-chan, you spent so much time trying to be me that you are far wiser than I could ever hope to be, you have even learned how to be unfair, but do not forget, I have spent three years longer than you did inside the Yukinoshita household, I am even more of a damaged goods than you are."

She gave out a chuckle between her tears and spoke with a throaty voice. "I assume that means you will keep teasing me with every other chance you get."

I made a snorting gesture as I broke the embrace between us. "Oh, do not worry Yukino-chan, I am still mad at you for forgiving me so easily, I was half of a mind to be grateful for being rejected by you, I will only wait until the talk with the mom is over before I punish you for trusting me so easily.

She faked a sigh, finally a smile forming on her lips and spoke playfully. "You know they say how sisters can be many things for each other, but some days they are the reason you would wish you were an only child, I think today is not one of those days..."

AN: To work is to lose, I think last six months finally made me realize the truth of these words, to think that I would be forced to put this away for so long would have been alien to me had I been asked back then, well I guess I will have to be honest, calling the work sole reason would be lying as the misguided idea that volume 12 would be the final volume had a part in it along with the fact that I had an extremely hard time writing the last part of this chapter.

Well, at least it finally is here, I realized the chapter started with four phone calls in a row, which is weird i suppose, the part i liked the most were the talk with Hikigaya when i made my usual rereads, it had a nice back and forth exchange when one would assume that Haruno would have the total control of the conversation.

I feel conceited talking about the next chapter considering i might have to make you guys wait as long as i did for this chapter, but oh well, as you could guess it is going to be centered around the confrontation with the Yukimom, but i have some plans for the stuff before it, it is going to be Yukino PoV.

As usual, I am waiting for your reviews with enthusiasm whether they be positive or negative.

Thank you for reading.

William 'Bill' Huggins