Disclaimer: I do not own Oregairu. This series is owned by Watari Wataru (writer), Shogakukan (light novel), Yen Press (NA Publisher), Square Enix (Manga Publisher), Brain's Base and Feel. (anime studios)

Time.

A relentless march of seconds, minutes and hours, slipping through human fingers like grains of sand. Maybe that's why it was called 'Sand of Time'. Time is both our greatest ally yet fiercest adversary, shaping our past, present and future; concepts that we can even barely understand.

Despite being omnipresence; or maybe because it is, time remains an enigma, a puzzle with no obvious solution, waiting to be solved. We measure time as days, weeks, years but does it even matter? Is time is a linear; a straight line from one point to another, an absolute, or is it more like a tangled web, weaving together the thread of existence in a way beyond our comprehension?

Future... it's like a distant mirage, attracting everyone to ever closer, yet never once we grasp it. Then we have fate and destiny... an idea that everything is governed by higher forces, an unfathomable power that guide every move and event that happened, happens and will happen. But, is it true? Are everything just a puppet dancing to the whims of something we can comprehend, or do we have what it to take to control our destinies?

But in the end, the answers to these are as mysterious as time itself. Perhaps, everything we mentioned are just illusions; a construct of our own to give the meaning of the unknown.

"Hikki!"

I turned around a see Yuigahama approaching me with a stride. I slowly waved back to her as I noticed her attire.

Apparently, she decided to go full-throttle for this firework festival, wearing a pale pink yukata with red flower pattern that completed her looks by matching with her hair. The large crimson sash was tied up securely around her and a pair of wooden geta to complete her attire.

"Wh...what with that look?"

Oopps.

I accidentally stared at her too long. "It's nothing," I tried to smooth the situation out, no need to be awkward since we still need to take 2-hour train ride. "Just that outfit look nice on you."

Seeing she's gaping at me, I immediately turned around and walked toward the train platform. "Come on, we still have a long way to go."

After arriving at Chiba Port Park, it was no surprise for being packed with people even though the main event wouldn't start anytime soon. We then took a little moment until finally we found a place for us to take a breather. Like I said, this place is full of people. A LOT OF THEM!

Usually, Yuigahama would initiate some conversation, but it seems like she was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people here. Huh, I would thought she would be familiar with something like this, being a social butterfly and stuff.

"Nee, Hikki," Yuigahama suddenly called me. "It's quite some times before fireworks start, what should we do now?"

Indeed, there are still a lot time left... Hmm.. decision.. decision..

*DING*

"Oh! Komachi-chan send me a list of things she wanted!"

What do you mean, 'Memories of watching fireworks'? Who are going to firework festival but didn't watch fireworks?

Onii-chan disappointed in you, Komachi...

"Well, I guess we can stretch our leg around the festival stalls for a bit."

I swear I never see her face brighten up that much before.

"Hikki! Look at those candied apple!" Yuigahama exuberantly pointed at one the stalls. "Don't they look delicious! Let's get some, Hikki!"

"... You sure can eat, huh?" I blankly looking at takoyaki's packs in her hand, with an emptied yakisoba plate beside of it, that wrapped up inside crumpled taiyaki wrapper. "Where did you put all of that?" I wanted to say I'm surprised with her appetite, but seeing her wholeheartedly eating with a big smile made me smiling too.

"Nee Hikki! What is that?!" Yuigahama suddenly rushed to another stall that was in different direction from candied apple stall.

I looked up at what she's pointing at, and slightly grimaced. Strings, a lot of strings tied up into a few bundles and for every fee you paid you get to choose a string and pull it to win the prizes at the other end. To entice gullible preys, I mean customers, the prizes were displayed in a glass case. But the real thing is, it's a scam; a highway robbery that tricked you into false sense of any chances f winning, while none of the ropes are actually connected to the prizes.

However...

"You would want to try it?" I offered Yuigahama.

"Eh?!"

"Don't worry about it." I assured her. "My treat, just pick any of them," I handed the fee to the vendor.

While Yuigahama scrunching her face deciding which rope to choose, I noticed the devious smirked etched on his face.

"Yosh! I'll choose this one, then!" Yuigahama shouted while pulling on the rope. I could see the smirk on the vendor's face widening considerably.

Unfortunately for you though...

"Hikki! I got something!" cheered Yuigahama while a certain adorable ball of brown floof from the glass box got pulled up. Wait a minute, is that Inugami Korone furball plushie?

What in the...

Reluctantly, the vendor passed the plushy and we left the stall. Yuigahama gleefully hugging the prizes with wide smile on her, before suddenly asking, "Hikki, are you dying?"

*COUGH COUGH COUGH*

"What the heck, Yuigahama!?" I finally squeaked out my confusion. At that moment I realized Yuigahama's frown.

"You are weirdly very cooperative today, and you didn't complain once during our outing. You are smiling throughout today," I did? "and you even treat me a game just now. Please Hikki! Tell me, are you going to die?" slowly her mumbling became louder and faster until she out of her breathe at the end of her rambling, tears slowly dripped down.

Her crying attracted people attention. Fearing to attract even more attention, I pulled her aside to the sideways. Having some space for ourselves, I let Yuigahama to calm down first before addressing her questions. After a few minutes, she finally calmed enough.

"Are you okay now, Yuigahama?" I let out a sigh when she nodded to my question. "So, you noticed my changes, then I assume?" She kept her gaze on me but kept her silence. "I won't tell you a full story, but," I cut her off before she could protest. "-however, what can I say is, something happened to me during the break, something that changed my view of the world." Yuigahama flinched a bit when I put my hand on her shoulder, but I kept pushing, "But, you can rest assure, I'm still the very Hikigaya that you know."

I gave her a smile before continuing,"I may have some changes here and there, and I also may acting differently for time to time. But deep inside, I promise to you that I'm not that different. Even I myself trying to settle with this new me, if you know know what I meant. So, no more 'am I dying stuff' from you again, okay?"

Yuigahama kept her silence but it gave me a relief when I saw her nod.

We then continued our walk around the festival after Yuigahama feeling much calmer, when suddenly a voice stopped us.

"Ah, Yui-chan, is that you?"

Yuigahama and I turned around a saw three girls approaching us. The one who was in front of the other, their leader I assumed, has a pair of grey eyes with her short brown hair barely reached her nape. Also, I noticed her pink earrings and purple finish on her nails, probably new additions either for the festival or during this summer break.

"Sagamin~ It's been a while!" Yuigahama approached the three girls while exchanging greeting with them. Seeing how familiar Yuigahama is with them, I'm not surprised at all remembering how social inducing Yuigahama can be. Well, it's not of my concerns though, so kept quite a distance from the group.

"What a coincidence, to meet ya here" the Yuigahama called Sagamin said in a cutesy voice. Heh, what a poor perfomance, I would say. Maybe a lot of gullible men would fell for that acts, but for this Hachiman, it's nothing but clear as sunny day that she put up the mask to make people to like her. If I'm being honest, judging from her tone changed when she's talking to Yuigahama compared to the tone she used to her fellow girls group, I'm willing to bet my whole Vita-chan collection that she's nothing but a wolf in a sheep's clothing, and I love my Vita-chan collection.

"So, are you with someone?" Sagamin asked. From the outside, people would assume she's worried about Yuigahama for being in the public area without company, but it's impossible for her to miss that I'm with Yuigahama when she approached us. Well, maybe she just being polite here but the glint in her eyes totally told me it's not.

"Eh? Ah, no. I'm here with Hikigaya-kun from our class," Yuigahama introduced me to the group. Not wanting to sully her name, I nodded to them, "Yo."

Then Yugahama continued, "This is Sagami Minami, our classmate." She introduced her friend to me. Yeah... I didn't have any idea on who she is.

"Ooohhh..." That's smile, that's damn smile. I didn't like it, at all. Smile that reminded me a lot of a predator just being served of their prey. "Are you guys together, then... Oh my, Yui! Why you didn't say that..."

Immediately, Yuigahama blushed furiously, denying Sagami's unspoken words. "N-no! You got the wrong idea here!"

As Yuigahama tried to explain the situation to her friends, I took a discreet glance to the group. From where I'm standing, I could see the nasty satisfaction from them, especially from Sagami, from seeing their supposed 'friend' dated someone like me. I could see it clearly from their eyes and smile. Noticing her particularly disdained look to me, I could read what was playing in their, shallow if I might said, head. Trying to remember Yuigahama's and their interaction, if there any, in the class, I could say they were from two different cliques, which Yuigahama is from Hayama and Miura's... Ah I see. So that's where they're going, huh?

These girls, they are not only the type that flaunting their kindness, innocence and non-assuming on the outside to make them look good, respectable and admirable, but the real them are far more sidious. Their leader particularly had a very large ego, and from on how she talked to her 'friends', also rather pompous. Not to mention, if I'm not wrong, she also but willing to drag someone down to the ground if it could benefit her socially. And current misunderstanding of Yuigahama, who is famously amongst top clique not only in our class, also arguably in the school, is dating someone like me, a disgusting no-named loner, is a golden opportunity for Sagami to drag Yuigahama's reputation through the mud.

A lot of light novels and manga out there portrayed on how the most popular and beautiful/handsome girl/boy will fall for a non-assuming loner. That's just bullshits that was specifically catered to be a wish-fulfillment for their target audiences, a fellow loner. The thing is, it was almost impossible it to happen. Not only the social strata between those two is too big, let alone the possibilities for those to meet is very low. Well, why almost you ask? Because there would be always exception to every rules.

I walked away from them and started to continue walking alone... if it was past me. However, the current me is...

"Come on, Yuigahama. You said Komachi would like some candied apple, right? Let's get them before the fireworks start," I told Yuigahama, giving her space to run away from them. "I'm sorry, girls. I would love to let you girls catching up," no, I am not, "but we still didn't finish our errand yet," not really,"so we need to hurry before fireworks start, " and that was true, we need to hurry to not to see them anymore.

Without turning to them, I casually walked away, not to show any urgency to run from them. I smirked a little when I saw Yuigahama ran after me, probably trying to run away from them too. "Wait for me Hikki! Sorry, Sagamin. We need to go now," Yuigahama apologized.

After we gained some distance from the group, Yuigahama finally spoke, "I'm sorry about that, Hikki."

"...What do you mean?"

"You lied to get me from that awkward situation right? After all, Komachi-chan didn't ask for candied apple at all."

A silence followed.

"But you want some,right?"

"Huh?"

"You said you want some candied apples, right? So let's get them."

After walking for a while, we finally reached a less crowded area, but...

"Haha, there's less people around here but it's still pretty crowded though..." Yuigahama commented wryly.

Yeah, even the area has lesser people here, but lesser than ginormous is still a lot. This area is just the river banks, with a lot of people with picnic mats or chairs for enjoying the fireworks. So we kept walking until we could find a better place, without realising we were approaching VIP area.

"Nee, Hikki," Yuigahama called out to me, "I don't think we supposed to be here," she then pulled my sleeve to lead to another place.

*SCREEECH* *BOOOM!*

Before I could answer her, a loud screech teared through the night sky, followed by a loud boom. For a moment, the dark blue of night sky was dyed with a redness, before disapeared.

Gone as quickly it appeared, it's very similar with human if we looked at a certain angle. Like fireworks, human lifespan is utterly limited especially we compared it to how old our world or how long our history, both written or not. Though, even with that very finite amount of time, the beauty of human life and the fireworks really captivated us.

"It's starting!" squealed Yuigahama while she was awestruck by the fireworks, ooh-ing and waah-ing all the time.

"Ara, it's Hikigaya-kun!"

Yuigahama and I turned around as we heard someone called my name.

Standing within VIP are, a familiar older sister of our club president waved her hand over our direction with a smile. For a moment, I could see a certain gleam flashed through her eyes, but I dismissed it as she reckoned us to join watching fireworks with her.

"Wow, I didn't expect to meet you here, Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita-san started the conversation as we sat beside her on her bench.

"...Yeah, likewise," I answered her slowly as I felt slight uncomfortable to be with, even after all of those misadventures I had before... that's how scary Yukinoshita-san was.

"Hahahaha, you are so cold, Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita-san laughed. "A lot of girl didn't like it, you know?"

"...Yeah, so I had been told," I mumbled under my breathe, but the gleam in Yukinoshita-san increased and Yuigahama slight gasp told me that they heard me alright.

"I came here for representing my father for some really boring family matters that I had to do, greeting old geezers all evening and whatnot," she started to complain about her family, out of nowhere mind you. Sheesh woman, humble brag much? "So I'm really glad that I meet you here, Hikigaya-kun."

"I'm glad I can give you some relieves for you to forget the old geezers then," I replied. To be honest, I'm not really lying here as I could see the tiredness in her eyes, which slowly disappeared right after we joined her. I guessed she just needed someone to hear her out, huh? I'm sorry for accusing you being a humble brag, Yukinoshita-san!

"Hehe, you know you usually can't use this area, right?" she teased me while nudging me with her elbow. "You can express your gratitude to Onee-chan, you know," she boasted while winking at us. Huh, despite being slightly older than us but I won't lie and that make her really cute. Not as cute as Komachi though, but still cute.

"Waah, it's like celebrity..." mused Yuigahama in awe.

"Well, you can say it like that, I guess? My dad has a lot of influence over these kind of local events thanks to his job." Then she turned to me with a slight frown, "That being said, I can't say I'm happy to see you are having an affair, Hikigaya-kun."

What the heck? "It's not an affair, I'm afraid," still I needed to get the fact straight here, or my (already non-existence) social standing would be destroyed.

"So, she's the main girl then?" How... did you even got to that conclusion, woman? "It's even worst you know, treating my cute little sister as a side-piece." If anything, I could see her frown got even bigger, even when playfulness in her voice didn't gone.

"It's not either, I swear," I protested when she pulled my cheeks. Damn, she's even worse than Yuigahama in physical contact, if I was aware of her nature I would have imagined our non-possible love life, from dating to wedding until having a few grandchildren to dote on. But fortunately or unfortunately, based on who you asked, I'm aware of it.

"Um.. excuse me," timid voice of Yuigahama surprised me as I was too into conversation with Yukinoshita-san that I almost forgot we had a third person with us.

"Umm...," Yukinoshita-san scrunched her face like trying to remember something. "Gahama-chan, right?"

"Yuigahama is her name," I cut her off, while holding slight annoyance and threat in my voice. Being Miss Perfect she is, I doubted she actually forgot Yuigahama's name, as she's arguably her little sister's best friend.

"Haha, right right. That's is my next guess, you know," she tried to appease me a little bit. I would retaliated but Yuigahama's grip on my sleeve hold me from doing so.

"Did Yukinon come with you today?" Yuigahama asked her question after seeing me calmed a bit.

I see. I guessed this question had been gnawing her from the get go. I couldn't blame her though, I myself didn't met Yukinoshita since the end of the camp trip.

"If you talking about Yukino-chan, then I think she's at home," Yukinoshita-san replied. "As the eldest sibling, I'm the one who usually represents our family on events like this, you know?" She might try to blow it off, but I realised something amiss from her sentences, 'I think'. So she didn't know for sure where her little currently is? Interesting.

"That's what our mom decided from early and she's pretty firm with that decision," explained Yukinoshia-san. "And she's pretty powerful and scary," she continued with a smirk.

"Eh," that info taken Yuigahama and I back a little bit. "You are saying she's even scarier than Yukinoshita?"

She blinked at my response, before laughing. "Iyaa, Hikigaya-kun. Is it how you see my cute little Yukino-chan? That's rude you know?" No, really. I'm being serious here though...

"But, I can say that our mom is even scarier than me," she smirked at me.

"...Is she even human anymore?" I asked her in very urgency and seriousness in my voice. I might met a few inhumane beings throughout this summer break, but this really took the cake. And knowing both Yukinoshita and Yukinoshita-san had to deal with someone as someone that scary made me pitied them from all of my heart.

Yukinoshita-san giggled at my question before continuing, "Yeah, our mother is someone who decides on everything and expects everyone obey it. She's just that hard-headed." Her eyes then dimmed a little bit,"all we can do is negotiate or compromise with her demand..."

"And that's where Yukinoshita sucks at, huh...?" I finished her sentence. Yuigahama let out a gasp while Yukinoshita-san startled at my words.

"...Yeah, like you said, negotiation and compromise isn't actually her fortes, which actually surprised all of us when she demanded to live alone when she entered high school. Of course, Kaa-san vehemently against it, but thankfully Tou-san quite lenient and allow it. Kaa-san is still quite vocal against it, though."

"Well, jokes aside," No,no, that's not a joke though, Yukinoshita-san... "Are you guys really on a date? If so, I'm sorry for getting on your way."

"Ah no. It's really not a date," denied Yuigahama while vehemently shaking her hands around.

"You acting all flustered make it even more suspicious though," chuckled Yukinoshita-san. "So, Yukino-chan still has the chance to be chosen, right?" I believed those words were not supposed to be heard.

Before I could say anything, the fireworks finally reached the climax. Even more fireworks being fired in succession illuminating the sky. Yukinoshita-san clapped eagerly as if trying to move on from previous topic.

"Yukinoshita-san..." I called out to her.

"Ah,just called me Haruno-san if you want to," Yukinoshita-san interrupted me. "Oh, you also can call me Onee-san, too. Actually, I prefer you call me that."

"...So, Yukinoshita-san, are you..." "Eeeh, quite a stubborn one, aren't you? I like it though."

Ha ha ha ha. You could hear my enthuast in the laugh, really.

"So, you are Soubu High's alumni right, Yukinoshita-san?" I asked remembering how familiar she was with Hiratsuka-sensei.

"Yupp, I'm only 3 years older than you in fact." No, no I didn't asked for your age though... "And currently I'm studying Science course at Chibadai." Like I said, too much details Yukinoshita-san...

"Oh, that's what Yukinon told me her plan too," Yuigahama said. It was minute, but Yuigahama's comment startled her quite a bit.

"She still pursues after me, after all things happened... She's doesn't changed much,huh? That girl..." muttered Yukinoshita-san with melancholy-laced expression.

At that moment, no word I could utter. In front of that heart-filled words, even I would be speechless, but on the contrary,

"Um... Haruno-san," Yuigahama called out to Yukinoshita-san, "Do you hate Yukinon?"

Wow, Yuigahama... Just wow.

"Hahaha, of course not," Yukinoshita-san replied. "I really love her, you know. After all, how could I not loving her if she kept chase after me, right?" Again, I heard something from her tone, but I still could not grasped on what is it. "What about you, Yuigahama-chan? Do you love her?" she returned Yuigahama's question.

"A-absolutely!" Yuigahama replied with full of resolute. "Yukinon is cool, honest and reliable, but there's also time where she'd be klutzy, which is very cute. Also, a lot of people can't see it," Yuigahama stole a glance at me, "but she's really nice." She paused for a while before chuckled nervously, "I got to far, didn't I?"

No you're not. That just showed how important Yukinoshita is for you and how you really appreciated her. I gave her a smile.

"Ah, it's fine. That's what they said at first. But in the end, each of them rejected her out of jealousy." AH, I see... So that's is it, huh? That girl... "I hope you will be different than them, Yuigahama-chan," Yukinoshita-san bore her gaze to Yuigahama, most likely hoping for it to be true.

"Betraying Yukinon; such thing... I'll never do!" Yuigahama answered her while staring straight into Yukinoshita-san eyes. Heh... aren't you cool now, Yuigahama.

However, I think I got what irked me nonstop from before. It's all fell on the place now, with all miscellaneous information dropped by Yukinoshita-san here and there. It's all pointing towards our club president.

First of all, we got a strict mom who micromanaged and made all of decisions for her daughters, probably with the intention that were 'the best for them'. Then we had Yukinoshita-san, who's concerned and care for her little sister, even if her methods of showing it was questionable. Not only that, she also quite manipulative, even towards said little sister. And lastly, we got Yukinoshita, who was caught up with her mother's and sister's manipulation, also couldn't make her own decision without facing against her stern mom and manipulative sister. And of course her life couldn't be any easier, being betrayed again and again by her so called 'friends', those she met before Yuigahama and I. And looking from how she and Hayama interacted; he must also betrayed her sometimes in the past.

My god, no wonder she kept her wall up with Yuigahama, even with how familiar Yuigahama treated her. Or on how she rejected me from being her friend.

OF-EFFING-COURSE!

*CRACK* *CRACK* CRACK*

Ah... I need to calm down a bit. No need to lost control for something out of my control. I might not been able to change what already happened , but you still could change the future. Now, time to resume our conversation...

"How about you, Hikigaya-kun?" Yukinoshita-san turned her attention to me, obviously baiting.

"Well, my mom always said to me not to be picky," yet I still picky about tomatoes... But my answer managed to incite a light giggle from her. "But, if I had to choose between like or dislike, I would say I like her I guess."

""Eh""

And with that, the crowd cheered and gave a round of applause as the fireworks display finally ended. Instead joining the crowd, Yukinoshita-san laughed at my answer, "Oh my god, Hikigaya-kun. What a tsundere-like answer you're giving there!" She continued laughing heartily while Yuigahama joined her albeit being more awkward.

Still laughing, Yukinoshita-san stood up, dusted off her dark blue yukata and gave me a smile. "Thank you so much, Hikigaya-kun for making me laugh so hard today. Unfortunately, I'll have to excuse myself now to avoid traffic."

Hearing that, Yuigahama turned to me and asked, "Should we?"

"Yeah, I guess we better get going too," I agreed. After all, not only the traffic would be terrible, the amount of passengers on the train would be ridiculous too if we got stuck here.

We accompanied Yukinoshita-san to the parking lot to see her off before we went for the station. That's the least we could for sharing the spot with us. After a while, a somewhat familiar limousine pulled up in front of us. Somewhat was the word I used because not only we seen it once during the end of camping trip...

"If you guys okay with it, I can give you a ride too," offered Yukinoshita-san.

Yuigahama pulled my sleeve with worry. "Hikki..."

Yeah I know, Yuigahama... It's not a doubt that this was the very same limousine from back then...

Yukinoshita-san chuckled lightly seeing our reaction, "The scratches won't magically appear again even if you stare it that hard, you know."

Yukinoshita-san seemed to notice something was wrong when Yuigahama gasped at her words. "Wait... Did Yukino-chan didn't told you about it? Maybe I shouldn't said anything then..." even Yukinoshita-san seemed sorry about her blunder.

"So it's really the same one..." Yuigahama muttered with a slight strain in her voice.

"Ah! It's not Yukino-chan faults you know? So you guys don't need get the wrong idea. She only rode in the car at the back," Yukinoshita-san tried to defend her sister.

I just them a light chuckle, with was met with confused look from both of the girl. "Yeah, I know it's not her fault here, I mean I don't think she drove the car on that day or something," I explained to them. "The only way she can be hold responsible if she have the conversation with the driver. But knowing her..." I tried to make a joke to give of them a peace of their mind, if they thought that I would held a grudge for her.

"Beside, it's already happened, so holding grudge here won't give anything though. It's not like something will be different if that accident didn't happened." The me in the past might have blamed Yukinoshita for being the reason for me being friendless that caused by the accident. But I know, even the accident didn't happened I still would be friendless. If anything, I afraid how this would affect Yuigahama if Sable died on that day. So yeah...

If anything to blame her, maybe for keeping it a secret, for her being involved indirectly to the accident. And believe me, the past me might go on tirade on how she is irresponsible and how she betray my trust and so on. But from the tidbits revealed by Yukonoshita-san today I suspected that Yukinoshita tried to keep it a secret fearing it would changed Yuigahama and my opinion of her. She was afraid that we would left her alone again like her previous 'friends'.

"I see. Thank you, Hikigaya-kun."

I just gave here a smile, "Whatever for, Yukinoshita-san?"

"Hikki..." Yuigahama suddenly broke the silence.

We were silence since we saw Yukinoshita-san's off, it's took a long time for Yuigahama finally gathered her wits, seeing we almost reached her station after all. "Did Yukinon said anything to you?"

"Nope, nothing at all," I replied to her.

"I see..." she muttered. "Then, how about..." but before Yuigahama could finish her question, the train stopped at Chiba Port Station; Yuigahama's stop.

She looked reluctant to drop off, keeping looking at the exit and me, I decided to follow her. "Ending our conversation just like that will leave a bad taste, even for me you know," I explained to Yuigahama as she felt guilty for making me to drop with her. "By the way, is this within you keikaku (keikaku means plan)? The timing is immmalculate though."

"Of course not!" denied Yuigahama. "I just don't know how to bring that up!"

"Well, there's no use for crying over the spilt milk, I guess." I took a look at the surrounding before offering her, "Let's me take you home. It's quite late so it's inappropriate for a young lady be outside alone."

"...Thanks."

After taking a few moment while walking Yuigahama home, I decided to continue our talk from before, "Did she said anything to you?"

Unsurprisingly, she shook her head in negative. "I think, this is something you just can't bring up out of nowhere."

"Yeah, you got a point there," I agreed. "Not to mention, even you yourself take almost a year to talk about it and it took some hinting from Komachi and I had to bring it up myself before you can say anything about the accident," I pointed it out to her.

"Hehehe... Yeah you're right..."

"So, we can only wait for her to be ready to open up. Based on from what Yukinoshita-san said, it will take a lot of effort from both of us to make her starting to open up," I started to explain.

"Do you think she will...?" Yuigahama asked. I guess she also realised the hidden meaning from what Yukinoshita-san said.

"'No Man is an Island'. No matter how past me hate to admit it, this phrase is very true. We can't survive if we do everything by ourselves. That's why we human and even amongst animal kingdoms, always create a functioning society. Not only for biological and technological needs, but also for our emotional and psychology needs. If Yukinoshita can't see it, then it will be our job to help her by being by her side. Even if she reject us, then we just reject her rejection," I laughed, followed bt Yuigahama. "After all, it's our job as Service Club to help people, no matter if we are rejected from doing so," I ended my impromptu speech.

It might be cheesy, it might be cringey. But seeing the pure smile from Yuigahama totally worth it.

My past self would describe Yukinoshita as a stuck-up, haughty, cold-hearted; befitting her nicknamed Yuki-Onna, and brutally honest without any filter. For these reasons, we always butthead (figuratively of course) because on how differ we see and do stuffs. But for the same reasons also made she was ostracised and became a social outcast, same with me but for very different spectrum reasons.

I would held her upon a pedestal, seeing Yukinoshita as a perfect human that would never made mistakes, would not lie, a smart and flawless as much as posibble ways. But, my meeting with Yukinoshita-san at the fireworks festival and our subsequent talks, opened my eyes

She's not a perfect model student; it's all the facade that she wore to mask her loneliness. She's brutally honest because she was betrayed again and again, making she to stop hoping for friends, but secretly still yearned for company.

She was ostractised socially and became subject of others' jealousy, but that was her ideal relationship without any facade, lies and hidden motives.

In short, it's only my and mine only tinted view of her that put her on said pedestal. I forgot that she just a girl. I forgot she just a human. I forgot everyone has flaws. I forgot every single of it and selfishly put her higher to be compared to us human.

"Ara, long time no see, Hikigaya-kun," her melodious voice greet me.

I looked up and saw her lone figure. She looked no different from last time I saw her back in the camping trip, still same perfect figure that she was. But, I now could see the minute details that I missed before; her shoulder tensed up when other students walked pass us, her eyes slightly wandered off, unfocused etc.

"Yo," I greeted her back. "How was your break?" I asked while continuing my walks to class.

I could see her surprised but then I remembered on Yuigahama's reaction.

"I won't complained anything about summer break, if you asking," she replied, hasten her pace to match mine, which I slowed for her.

No complains, huh? So nothing good either, then.

"Oh, I met with your sister at the firework festival, by the way," I told her. I could see her body stiffened a little bit before relaxing.

"I hope she didn't say anything weird, then? Scratch that, I hope you won't say anyhting weird," Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes at me.

"Heh, nothing much I assure you. Just a few words from one older sibling to another," I told her, but with a smirk.

I could see she was unsatisfied with my answer, but she won't push it any further.

Don't worry, Yukinoshita. As much you want to change me for better, I promised to do same with you.

I swear this upon my name, the Promised Greatest and Kindest Demon King!

Author Notes:

HELLLOOOOOO EVERYONE!

You are expecting the continuation of Path Within, but it's me; A new story!

1st of all, I would like to apologize for writing another story, instead of continuing Path Within. But if you guys didn't notice it yet, you can see on how much differences the words count between this chapter and Path Within's.

From the way it seems, I might or might not publishing a lot of different stories first before continuing each of those stories (finger cross)

2nd, like I said before, I hope you guys can give me positive critics that can help me improve the stories, either from grammatical or plotwise.

3rd, do you guys can imagine Oregairu being collab with Kamen Rider? One of the most powerful ones at that?

Can you guys guess which Kamen Rider is being used before the reveal at the end of chapter?

I really hope the clues isn't obvious for you to guess btw

And I would like to apologize for the sudden change of scene in the middle of the date (you can say anything you want, but it's clearly a date), from happy and sweet to su1c1dal thought. You can blame it on me as suddenly I relapsed mid-writing. And it was too late when I realised what I wrote. I promised I'll try my best to avoid it again in the future.

Well then, until next time