"Komachi, you're getting a break from your etiquette teacher." I declared, looking at her from the threshold of her room. She beamed but kept an air of caution.

"Why?" She queried. I felt a burst of pride at her tempered reaction and the forethought that she had demonstrated.

"I'm sending you for a sleepover at Chika's house," I replied. "Consider it a weekend-long etiquette intensive."

She groaned at my answer. "I knew that it was too good to be true."

I smiled unapologetically. "Tough break, I know."

She considered my words before smirking. "You also gave mom and dad tickets to a hot spring out of town. Good luck with whatever it is that you're planning."

I hummed in acknowledgment of her words but didn't reply. She stuck her tongue out before scampering up the stairs.

To: Yui Yuigahama

From: Hachiman Hikigaya

My house is also empty. I'd rather do it there. Let Yukinoshita know. Thanks.

Her reply was a thumbs up to my text sent back almost instantly.

I smiled and shook my head before sending another text, this time to Kaguya.

To: Kaguya Shinomiya

From: Hachiman Hikigaya

Can we meet up soon? I want to talk about the future of the company and progress in building our law firm.

I didn't get an instant response but didn't bother fretting. Kaguya was rarely on her phone; and now, with the responsibilities of growing the conglomerate, I knew that her free time would be more depleted than an abandoned gold mine.

With that done, I went downstairs and made myself a coffee. I tried my coffee unsweetened and without cream. I winced at the taste and added a splash of half-and-half and a spoonful of honey.

After stirring, I took a sip and savored it with a smile. I heard footsteps descending the staircase and called out. "Hey, mother, didn't expect you to still be up?" They were slower than Komachi's but lighter than my father's.

They stilled; she remained out of sight but responded. "Hey Hachiman, I smelled coffee and came downstairs to see if you were doing alright."

The ahoge on the head of my mother poked up as she reached the first floor. Never before in my teenage had she come to check up on me. It felt novel and warm. "Oh yeah, I have some work to get done."

"Don't overwork yourself." She patted me on the shoulder and went back upstairs. "I would stay up with you, but I have to leave early tomorrow for a meeting. Goodnight, Hachiman."

~/~

The weekend came quickly and sooner than I thought I was leading Yukinoshita and Yui into my living room and plopping down on one of the couches. The material gave in under my weight, and to my delight each time that I had stepped onto the scale in the past months the number had continued to trend upwards.

"So, now that we're here; ask your questions and I'll answer them." I declared, cutting to the heart of the issue without bothering with foreplay.

Yui looked taken aback while Yukinoshita immediately pounced on the opportunity. "Why did you leave Shuuchin?"

I took a deep breath, man this was the kind of question that I really didn't want to answer sober. "Let me get something to drink because this is going to be a long story. I quickly padded upstairs and fetched the bottle of absinthe from my safe. Frowning at the label.

For a moment, I pensively studied the open window in my bedroom but eventually turned away with a sigh and headed downstairs. I had to grab the bull by the horns, no two ways about it.

I walked downstairs and set it on the coffee table, I faced Yukinoshita and Yui. "Do you guys want some?"

Yui spoke for them both before Yukinoshita could turn me down. "Fuck yes." She turned to Yukinoshit and pouted. "Come on Yukinon, it'll be fun."

"Yui she doesn't have to drink if she doesn't want to-"

"I will." Well okay then I guess.

"You guys can crash here and then use my shower. You probably don't want to go home stinking of booze. And this stuff is super strong." I warned.

They nodded. They probably shouldn't trust me this much. I don't know why they do. But I appreciate it.

I opened the bottle and winced at the scent. "Shit, that is so strong."

I took a swig and began my tale. "I left Shuuchin because I felt guilty." I took another swig and gagged on it before continuing. "I was the one who got Ichiro Unuzawa released from prison."

Yukino gasped softly, bringing a delicate hand to cover her mouth. Yui glanced between the two of us. "Who was Ichiro Unuzawa?"

"He was a childhood friend of one of the partners at a law firm I was working with, which is how I got involved. He himself was a fairly prominent investment banker." I trailed off unsure of how to segue into the vile deeds he would commit.

"I'd met him at a few events, his family and mine were in the same social circles." Yukino whispered like she was moments away from being sick.

She held her hand out and I passed the bottle gamely. She frowned at the bottle head that I had drunk from, so I stood to fetch a glass. I brought two back and poured two fingers into each of them.

"He was arrested under allegations of abuse towards his daughter and wife. The key testimony was based on the wife and the partner begged me to take a look. I read the case and got the judge to release him on bail provided he respect a 300ft restraining order for his wife and daughter." Yukino was looking at me now, eyes understanding but without pity.

"After that, I washed my hands of the whole thing and told the partner not to bother me with stupid cases. But my name was now attached, of course, no one blamed me when it happened, but I knew that I had helped cause it." I began to trace nervous circles on the couch.

"Just spit it out, Hikki." Yui was leaning forward.

"He didn't respect the restraining order; he stabbed his wife and strangled his daughter before hanging himself. It was a massive scandal but was kept mostly quiet because my firm and his bank worked to keep the story suppressed."

I sipped again and regretted it, the flavor was about as appealing as gasoline mixed with antifreeze. "This bottle was something that I'd had imported around that time. I kept it as a reminder sitting in my safe."

I stared at the wall, braced for the backlash that was sure to come. Yui cleared her throat and spoke quietly. "Okay, I can see why that would make you feel guilty."

My neck almost broke with how fast I turned to face her. "That's it; you aren't going to say more about it."

Yui tilted her head. "What would you have me say? I don't blame you or think that you're a bad person. But I'm also not gonna say that it's okay. It wasn't your fault but a woman and her child died."

Yukinoshita also looked shocked. "I suppose Yui is right; there's nothing more for us to say on the subject. You clearly felt guilty, and knowing you - you've tried to pay your penance."

Wow, okay. That's not at all how I expected this to go. I thought that - well, I suppose that it no longer matters what I thought.

Yui took a sip from her glass. "Jesus, Hikki. How do you drink this shit without spitting it up?" She coughed as she spoke.

Both Yukino and I smiled while watching her struggle, and she stared at us balefully. "I don't see you throwing them back, Yukinon."

Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes and reached for her glass, taking a tentative sip. "I assure you, Yui, I am perfectly capable of downing and holding my liquor. Thank you very much."

I put a stop to the petty argument - because it would lead to a drinking competition. Then, we would all get blind drunk, and tomorrow we'd be so hungover that we'd think we were going to die.

"You guys don't have to drink if you don't want to. I was only drinking so that I could get through telling that story." I offered, pushing the bottle away from me. "So what do you guys want to do next?"

Yui perked up. "Do you wanna play some board games?'

I smirked, maybe I could finally convince someone to play diplomacy with me. Even Fujiwara had declined, citing that the game was just too damn long. "I have an idea for a game."

~/~

Komachi POV:

I held the strap of my backpack in one hand as I entered the house. The visit with the Fujiwara's had been fun if a bit weird - Moeha kept on staring at me. After a late brunch with them, I'd been driven back by Chika's dad. He was kind to me, but then again, he was a diplomat so gleaning his real thoughts were nearly impossible.

"Hikki, you stupid asshole." A female voice cried from the living room.

"Don't hate the player, Yui. Hate the game." Came my brother's smug response.

"Hikigaya, we can hate both the player and the game without it being contradictory." Came a dignified woman's tone. "You promised not to attack her before doing just that. Therefore, she can hate you. Additionally, the game allows you to behave in so dishonest a manner. Hence the game is deserving of hate as well."

"Quit moralizing Yukinoshita; you backstabbed me three turns ago." My elder brother grumbled. Though underneath the surly tone was a genuine note of happiness.

I smiled and crept upstairs. Careful not to disturb.

(A/N): Diplomacy is a real game, and it actually does take forever

Sorry for the long gap between updates, finals season started for my college while my parents were undertaking a major house renovation that saw me living out of a hotel, and I'm also battling a case of the flu. Honestly, room service gets boring after the second night. There are only so many times that you can order their food before you realize how bland it is. On a brighter note, the fitness facility was really good, and the sauna + hot tub were also nice.

Hachiman fan: I'm glad you enjoyed it, and no the story is not yet drawing to a close. Hachiman had his self-revelation, and now the way he handles the rest of the second and third seasons will change.