There was an old woman snooping around outside her apartment when Hoshino and Hachiman got to the door that she remembered belonging to Kamiki's home. She pretended to water the small plants on the edge of the corridor's cement rail, but she was actually paying more attention to whatever was happening on the floor below. Tilting the watering can so slowly that she could've been there all day if she so desired.

The duo's arrival did not go unnoticed but, as Hoshino had assured Hachiman before, she quickly took the lead before the old woman could get too weirded out by Hachiman's eyes.

"Unfortunately, he doesn't live here anymore." The woman shook her head slowly, putting away her watering can and placing a hand on her cheek. After telling them how she remembered Kamiki being a shy but kind small guy, or how she'd sometimes offer him to cook something nice because he seemed to live alone, Hachiman would've expected some more info about the guy. Something he could work with.

Hoshino hadn't told him much, just that they hadn't dated for long, that he had had his problems… And that Hachiman himself probably knew more about him now than she did.

Frustration was eating away at him, like a worm slowly swallowing an apple. Small chunks at a time. Except, it felt like his brain was the apple. And the negativity that ate away at his mental fortitude knew exactly where to bite to make the whole thing crumble, to weaken him in a way that could end up badly. Given Hoshino's helpful but reserved attitude here.

It felt like she'd retreat given a chance, so it was very important that Hachiman kept his cool. That he supported her here.

She wanted to know, but not enough that she had come clean with her own father. Let alone Hachiman, who she had known but far less time and should trust an awful less than she did Saitou.

At least that's what he wanted to tell himself.

"What?" Hoshino's squeak-like question caught Hachiman a little by surprise. She had turned her voice small and raspy, faking a cold and coughing from time to time. But here, she sounded genuinely sick. Like she had something in her throat that she couldn't push out. "Since when?"

"I thought you were his theater friends?" The old woman looked slightly surprised. It annoyed Hachiman even more, because this was all pointless.

Hoshino had told her that they wanted to "reconnect" with Kamiki, the old woman got defensive because she hadn't actually seen a lot of people with him, Hoshino came up with the idea that they had taken lessons in the same troupe but had only come once or twice, the old woman then goes on a rant about how Kamiki had only seemed to be visited by her tutor from time to time, and that made Hoshino try to cut the woman out. Which finally made them arrive to the fact that he didn't live here anymore.

And now, the old woman had looped right back to the beginning!

Hachiman wanted to act out, to show his annoyance in one way or another. But he couldn't, because this senior citizen seemed hell vent in becoming more obtuse the more Hoshino tried to be reasonable. Who knew what she would do if Hachiman started with his antics?

"You're right, someone from that place probably has his info." Hachiman mumbled as calmly as he could, avoiding the woman's eyes because he'd probably just get even more pissed off if they crossed gazes. "Worth asking, right?"

"I guess…" Hoshino looked down. Not disappointed, they both knew what Saitou said about this place. But more like weighing her options.

"I didn't know he had friends there. Maybe you should've done that first." The old woman tilted her head innocently enough, and Hachiman stopped breathing for a moment before exhaling super slowly while Hoshino did her thing.

"You're right, thanks for your time." Her voice was still weird, but she sounded far colder than she usually did. Which, to be fair, was still very kind given the passive-aggressive way that they had been treated thus far.

"A pleasure, sweetheart. Careful on your way back." The woman waved at them. "Ah. And mind bad company, okay?"

Hachiman turned around and, lo and behold, the old woman was looking at him with a blank expression.

"Hikaru was pretty smart about who he got along with." Hoshino pointed out, trying to bring the topic back to what mattered. But the old woman chuckled.

"You'd be surprised. There was this little girl, a small thing that always seemed to be looking for trouble, that invited herself to his place a few times." The old woman shook her head in disappointment. "He told me that she was just a friend, but the boy was a looker alright. Wouldn't be surprised if that girl was only in for his looks. Teens these days are always so eager to do things only married adults should…"

Hachiman stared blankly at the old woman. Baffled, rather than angry. Terribly so.

"Ma'am, our population is declining."

"Well, I'd expect so!" The horrible person in front of them sounded amused by the idea. "We used to fall in love and raise families! Nowadays it's just satisfaction that young people are after! Relationships mean nothing nowadays when they used to last forever."

"Okay." Hachiman had enough. It was clear that they wouldn't be able to reason with this person, so he chose to cut his loses and placed a hand on Hoshino's shoulder. "Thank you for your advice, ma'am. Have a good day."

"Right, right." The woman still looked at Hachiman with an odd expression. "Remember what I told you, darling!"

"Yeah." Hoshino didn't look at her, but she knew that she was being talked to.

Maybe they should've listened to Saitou, maybe they should've stayed put. At least give the man a little time to see things through, to…

"What a horrible person." Hachiman muttered when he noticed Hoshino staring at her feet while walking, and keeping her movements oddly subdued. Like she wanted to occupy less space than she needed.

"She sounded genuinely happy to talk to us." Hoshino didn't talk right, barely opening her mouth to gesticulate. She was coping in her own way, it seemed.

"Like a bully gets happy to see their favorite victim." Hachiman didn't keep touching her for long. It wasn't in him, and he didn't know if she needed space. So he took a step to the side to give Hoshino even more room.

The idol noticed, and closed the distance enough to brush shoulders… Or shoulder to arm, really, with him.

Hachiman sighed.

"I thought we were the same." Hoshino spoke up after another moment in silence. "His looks might've factored into things but…"

"He is pretty good looking." Hachiman stated without thinking, remembering the guy's defeated expression and thinking how unfair it was. People could look really awful when they were overwhelmed, but this guy just looked good all the same. Almost cinematic, in a way. It was hard to explain.

Hoshino snapped her face toward him, eyes wide-open. Anger unmistakably flaring to the forefront of her mind for a moment, before she reeled herself in.

It scared Hachiman. That, even for a moment, Hoshino was capable of generating so much hatred.

Her jaw moved, so she was probably opening her mouth behind her facemask. But words failed to be expressed, to convey what she was thinking or trying to think.

"Just stating a fact." Hachiman murmured, holding Hoshino's gaze because doing otherwise would reflect poorly on him.

Hoshino turned to face the way they were walking with a small nod.

"I know you probably didn't mean anything by it." Hoshino murmured, sounding oddly pleased. Although Hachiman had to take a moment to think whether she was having a weird idea or if she was putting up a front.

"What did you think I meant?" Hachiman asked when his mind couldn't come to a decision. Hoshino was strange like that, and this felt like a delicate enough situation that he didn't feel like flipping a coin and making things awkward.

It wouldn't be fair to the Hoshino that was so desperately trying to open up about some core aspect of her Self.

"You tell me." Hoshino didn't look at him, tone still strange.

Hachiman couldn't help the groan that escaped him, and Hoshino took that as her cue to stop and face him. Still a little too close for comfort, showing herself as fearless.

"You want to do this here?" Hachiman asked reflexively, unwilling to be intimidated by a girl that didn't break into the 160 cm height.

"You seem to be very aware of what's going on." Hoshino pointed out, faux-surprised by Hachiman's smarts. Or maybe she was actually learning and she was making fun of him, which honestly was fair enough and it actually made him a little proud.

If Hoshino learnt to argue like a civilized person, throwing comments that needed to be interpreted and thrown back, it sounded like an absolute win in Hachiman's mind.

But that was neither here nor there, and he had an idol to reassure. So Hachiman just shook his head as if to physically push away his attempt to use humor to deflect the topic.

Good thing he said none of this.

"I know that you don't want to look… Affected by this." He could have used any emotion here, but it felt like she could take it as being judged for it. So he chose a softer descriptor instead. "I've seen you do this… And I know that it's hard, but these are your emotions. Not mine, not that hag's. Yours. And I can't help shoving my foot in my mouth if you don't give me anything to work with."

Hoshino stared at him for a moment. And Hachiman didn't know whether she'd be understanding or ignore his point. If she was angry, or feeling hurt in any way, it wouldn't be strange for anyone to shove others aside. No matter how reasonable they were being. It was one of those things that made being overwhelmed so horrible. Because the emotion controlled you instead of working as intended. A mind, a brain, could only take so much before it needed to forsake other functions to keep working in the face of such strong forces.

So he waited, he gave her the time she didn't want to ask for. And used it to also try to keep his mind clear, somewhat free from the negativity that threatened to have him argue with Hoshino in public again.

"Why did you mention his looks?" Hoshino asked after a moment, still holding her ground.

"Because he is good-looking." Hachiman replied dryly.

"But why did you mention it?" Hoshino insisted.

"Because I have eyes, and they work well enough."

"But what was the reasoning?"

"That it's obvious?" Hachiman furrowed his brows, annoyed. "Like, it's a nothing burger, Hoshino. Yes, that hag might've tried to paint it in a terrible light. But, while plain and soulless, approaching someone because of their looks is more normal than having breakfast."

"That's the opposite of what I was saying. I'm not the kind"

"But you shouldn't feel the need to defend your choices either. You don't have to say 'yes, I find him attractive'. Because of course that's the case. There has to be some level of attraction in a relationship like yours…" Hachiman trailed off, feeling his chest tighten while he went further and further in that direction. It was something that he didn't want to put into words, something that he'd have rather ignored. But it felt so petty to think about that, instead of doubling down on reassuring Hoshino about her taste in men, he went back to point that peered through Hoshino's words. "And I know for damn sure that you're neither as shallow or pathetic enough to just want a pretty face to entertain yourself."

In leu of answering, Hoshino became mindful of the fact that they were outside and got some distance. Even though there really weren't any passerby to worry about.

"You're good with words, I'll give you that." The idol stated while nodding to herself, once more in control of her emotions.

Hachiman released his breath, feeling drained by the exchange.

"Thanks."

"How do you remain so calm through this? It's quite mysterious to someone like me." Hoshino tilted her head, speaking like she wasn't the lunatic that could hide her emotions in the blink of an eye.

"I was very close to start yelling at you." Hachiman acknowledged with some heaviness in his heart. "Though I think it helps that this doesn't fully feel real yet… And I'm sure that it's not as personal as it is to you."

Hoshino looked down, thoughtful.

"I see." She sounded cute now. Not childish, but innocent all the same. "Makes sense."

Hachiman closed his eyes. This woman was such an unfair existence he couldn't even face her when his head cooled off a bit.

"Should we head back?" Hachiman cleared his throat, trying not to make things awkward when they had to be serious. "I doubt that we can storm the theater company and demand answers."

"Going to Lala Lai would be basically suicide." Hoshino stated while bringing her facemask slightly below her nose. Reminding Hachiman that she was very aware of her status as an idol, and what that implied. "And for nothing, too. Hikaru left them. I'm pretty sure that not too long after Airi-san died."

"For naught." Hachiman murmured before frowning. "How do you know?"

"It's complicated." Hoshino cut off the eye contact after answering a little too soon. "I thought that he needed to be away from the industry, and what that lady said makes me feel like it fits. He probably moved out to leave all those horrible things behind too."

All those horrible things, huh.

Hachiman closed his eyes, willing himself to keep his mind in the present. Paying attention to Hoshino herself.

"…I see."

Hoshino gave Hachiman a curious look.

"Do you know the case of Airi-san and her husband?" The question felt like a threat. Although she spoke softly, almost normal for her, Hachiman felt like the topic was one that he didn't want to hear about.

Hachiman shook his head, letting her decide whether to curse him with the knowledge or not.

"I see. It was quite the scandal, for however long it lasted in the public's eye." Hoshino shook her head, almost amused by her own words, before resuming walking. Pulling Hachiman into her orbit like she held an invisible leash and had tugged at it, making him walk and follow her. "Her husband killed her and then killed himself, leaving a boy orphaned and a lot of questions unanswered."

Holy hell.

"It… Doesn't feel like you're referring to Kamiki." Hachiman pointed out, trying to let the information flow without thinking too much about it. Even though it felt like he was shooting himself on the foot by letting Hoshino elaborate.

Hoshino just smiled beneath the facemask.

"There's a lot of evil behind the scenes, Hachiman-san. Quite literally, in this case… I didn't mean it as a joke." Hoshino's soft tone became serious as she realized what she had said, trying to correct the logic of her words. Or perhaps catching herself trying to make it sound less important than it actually was. "I am very lucky, all things considered."

Hachiman nodded. For all of Saitou's shortcomings, it sounded like the man was a literal saint compared to… Whatever the hell Hoshino had been forced to see while growing up.

Not that it meant that Hachiman liked the man any more. The guy was an asshole, and neither hindsight or a new point of comparison would change that. It was the truth, plain and simple, even with worse people lurking around the corner.

"I've been very lucky…" Hoshino let out a dreamy sigh, seemingly caught in her own world. "And I couldn't see it… I-I'm just the worst, aren't I?"

Hachiman chuckled. Those words sounded so familiar, so intertwined to Hachiman, that it sounded like a joke coming from someone else. Let alone someone with a life like Hoshino's.

"Probably, yeah."

Hoshino looked at him and pulled off her facemask entirely, letting him see her full poker face before hiding it again.

She wasn't amused, but she didn't take it personally either.

Hachiman smiled to himself.

"It'd be pretty cool if you could say something positive here." Hoshino stated, looking at the two sides of the road before crossing.

Oh, now she wanted to play it cool and like she hadn't been all on his face just minutes ago?

"You're really lucky you're so pretty." Hachiman scoffed.

Hoshino released a sound that might've been a loud chuckle or the beginning of a cackle.

"Can't hide all my overwhelming charisma." She gave him a look that made Hachiman lag behind a little after speaking. "Is it working on you?"

Hachiman weighed his options for a second.

"Far too well." He admitted.

He didn't get to process Hoshino's reaction, for she checked her phone once they were on the other side of the street. Becoming serious once more.

"I… I don't think I have enough time for the hospital." Hoshino admitted, turning to look at Hachiman.

For however little they had to joke around, it seemed like it had done wonders for Hoshino's mood.

"It's probably better this way." To begin with, Hachiman didn't feel like visiting Nino any time soon. He could understand the need to face Kamiki but, again, knowing from someone else that what they were doing here was pretty harmless was… More comforting than he was willing to admit.

All of this, all the nonsense and fear, and nervousness… It felt like it consumed his lifespan in real time.

And there was no doubt in his mind that it'd be even worse for Hoshino herself.

"'Better'… I don't know if I love the answer." She seemed to chew on the answer for a moment, staring into distance without paying attention to her surroundings. It made Hachiman place a hand on her shoulder to help her navigate the sidewalk. But she came back quickly from the contact. "It should be perfect."

Hachiman scoffed.

"This can get messy without that line of thinking. Is it so hard to go easy on yourself even now?"

"Complacency means failure." Hoshino stated emotionlessly. "I am not here today by thinking that things are 'good enough'."

"And yet, there has been things where you didn't quite succeed." Hachiman raised an eyebrow. Honestly curious about where she stood on her own recklessness.

It seemed like she smiled at him before answering.

"And that's with me giving it my all, imagine what would happen if I lowered my guard!"

Ah… So that's how it is.

"I see." Hachiman looked away.

"Are you disappointed?" Hoshino's question sounded sweet, but Hachiman felt bitter inside.

"A little bit." Hachiman gave her a meaningful look. "I have tried to tell you when you're going to far. But I guess I underestimated your self-awareness."

"You 'guess'?" She insisted, sounding a little cheeky but not as playful as she could be. Still somewhat grounded.

"Yes, because I don't make mistakes. Ever." Hachiman lifted his chin. "If it seems like that, I will of course doubt that fact."

"Oh, I see. It just so happens that I'm the same. I don't make mistakes." Hoshino shrugged. "What now? Someone has to be the one in the wrong here."

"Logic dictates that we should make our arguments and come to an agreement." Hachiman tilted his head. "But if I argue I'll be in the right."

"And whatever I say will obviously be true too." Hoshino chuckled. "So that's out of question?"

"I suppose."

"Then, shall we get an impartial party involved?"

"That'd be cheating. You're clearly more popular, so that'll create a significative bias. It wouldn't be fair."

"And I probably don't want random people seeing me be bullied by some guy that thinks too highly of himself…" Hoshino moved her eyes like she was considering it, but came to an obvious conclusion. "So…?"

"If it's so important, just flip a coin."

"I know that it's possible to cheat even there." Hoshino shook her head. "And, even if it wasn't, would you be convinced when I win?"

"You wouldn't win, but I see your point." Hachiman scoffed. "But I guess there are other ways of convincing stubborn people."

"Oh, yeah?" Hoshino's voice changed, sounding odd when people walked by. Distorted. She was still, even now, mindful of her surroundings. And that made Hachiman a lot calmer. "It'd be hard to make stubborn people change their mind. There has to be a good reason, preferably an enjoyable one."

He didn't know if it was the relief of having nothing wrong happening here, but Hachiman couldn't help the sly smirk that he gave Hoshino.

"I wonder if we have the same idea of 'enjoyable'."

Hoshino returned the expression. And he knew that because of the glee reflected in her eyes even before he finished his own sentences.

"I'm pretty sure I can convince you otherwise in this."

"Can you two stop flirting in public? It's kind of annoying."

"GAH!" Hachiman jumped back when a familiar voice made him remember that they were in public, making him turn around and throw a punch at the person that had seemingly been about to walk past them.

Hayama Hayato hurried back to avoid Hachiman's fist. A little shocked, but very much on guard when the two of them saw face to face. Ready to defend themselves.

For the briefest of moments, reality seemed to halt. Questions appeared in Hachiman's mind, especially due to the way that Hayama's face went from shock to a look of annoyance as the seconds passed. Making Hachiman even more confused.

Hayama dropped his guard first.

"We're in public, Hikigaya-kun." Hayama stated blandly. "Please put down the hands, you're just making yourself look dumb."

Hachiman looked back, and saw Hoshino stop in her tracks a few more steps away from him than he had imagined. Again, mindful of her surroundings. But ready to get close as needed.

"What are you doing here?" Hachiman's voice became harsh, his expression hostile. He felt younger, in a way. But also more… Feral. Like the world had become slightly wilder around him, more dangerous. Like all the eyes were on him, ready to hurt him at the slightest provocation.

A feeling that he hadn't fully forgotten, but one that had grown weaker as time went by. As he got people that he learnt to trust.

The guy in front of him wasn't someone that would hurt Hachiman, but he wasn't someone that he had learnt to fully trust either. Much less because of the circumstances, and the ties that both of them held.

"That's my line." Hayama placed his left hand on his hip, looking around like the place was unfamiliar to him. "Shouldn't you be in college?"

"What about you?" Hachiman looked at Hayama with even more suspicion, even though the blond looked little more than ready to get out of there as soon as possible. A far cry from the suave teen that Hachiman had met.

"I wish." Hayama rolled his eyes. "But you know how it is. Haruno-san needs something, and she's of course not doing it herself."

Haruno. Damn, so Hachiman's gut feeling was right.

"What does she?"

"I don't know, I don't care." Hayama closed his eyes and scoffed before schooling his features and speaking less coldly. "I just know that you shouldn't be here, especially you."

He looked at Hoshino for a moment, and his expression changed again. More pleasant, but mixed with some resignation as he waved at her.

"Good morning by the way." Hayama spoke a little louder so that the disguised idol could clearly hear him.

"Yes, good morning." Hoshino nodded, matching his volume before approaching. "I take that you're Hachiman-san's friend?"

"You could say that." Hayama stated.

"No." Hachiman glared at him at the same time.

"You could say that." Hayama repeated himself, friendlier this time. "There's no bad blood between us, at least."

"So you say." Hachiman interjected. "But you don't seem keen to hear us out and have already come to your own conclusions."

"I just don't want to get too involved, is all." Hayama didn't change his expression. It seemed like he was content now that he had established his boundaries. "I'm just doing what I was asked."

"Which, coming from you, doesn't give me too much comfort."

"It's not about me, it's about Haruno-san." Hayama spoke with his patience seemingly intact, but Hachiman knew better than to take his tone at face value. "But I understand if you don't want to admit it."

"You've become quite obedient, maybe even a little like her."

"The price to pay for freedom." Hayama shrugged.

"You don't look very free if you're doing her errands."

"No person is completely untethered from the world, Hikigaya-kun." Hayama scoffed. "Tell me, since you like to think in terms of concepts so much, would a person that needs no connection from his fellow even human? Aren't our ties what define us in a more abstract and personal sense both?"

"You're ignoring the fact that you're an errand boy for a horrible person." Hachiman ignored the guy's words.

"No. I'm simply doing my part to someone that lets me move away from my family's gaze." Hayama didn't look too impressed by Hachiman's animosity. "And you are ignoring the fact that you're trying to appear hot stuff because it's not Haruno-san in front of you. So how about we skip this part and go straight to where I call for the driver and get you away from here?"

"Why would you do that, though?" Hoshino joined the conversation, getting a little closer while analyzing Hayama. Learning, in a way, about him.

"Wasn't I helpful last time too? It's just in my nature." Hayama replied happily enough.

"Last time?" Hoshino spoke up the same question that Hachiman had in his mind, only to seemingly have something click in hers and point at him surprised. "Ah! You're the guy from back then!"

"…I am, yes." Hayama smiled with some confusion. "Did you just realize?"

"Yeah, you look totally different!"

"I do not." Hayama pursed his lips, blinking blankly and blandly almost blundering something else before he eyed Hachiman himself. "Did she tell you that we've met?"

Hayama, too, seemed to be able to read Hachiman's mind.

"No…"

"We met at Haruno-san's apartment." Hoshino stated like it was the most obvious thing.

"What?" Hachiman couldn't believe his ears. "You went to Haruno's place? Why?"

"I told you! She has an apartment in the same building I lived."

"She had. Since stuff happened and she had to sell it and get a new place for safety's sake." Hayama interjected, sounding a little cold but still respectful enough that he managed to sound sincere when he added: "Not that I'm complaining. The least of anyone's concern would be a guy having to move out in this case."

"You just told me that you went back to the building to 'see if things were okay'." Hachiman ignored the blond, focusing on Hoshino. "I was under the impression that you needed the reassurance."

"I did!" Hoshino blurted out. "Just, y'know, because you hadn't told me why you were there."

"That's…" Hachiman had to bite his tongue to avoid saying something that he'd regret. "This is a horrible moment to get that much context."

"You really should choose your bonds better, Hikigaya-kun." Hayama stated, unimpressed.

"You shut up." Hachiman glared at him.

Hayama chuckled it off.

"You know, I'd say this is part of why she asked me to come here." The blond scoffed, seemingly finding this whole thing funnier than he had admitted before. "But that'd be giving too much credit to Haruno-san. So tell you what: I get you two wherever you need to be, talk it out after you've cooled off, and we can all say that we did what we were supposed to. How about it?"

"What do you need to do?" Hoshino focused on the blond now. Not as tense as she had been, but still very much finding this all as contrived as Hachiman did.

"Get you guys out of here." Hayama repeated. "Whatever you're looking for, Haruno-san took it already. And I get the feeling that you shouldn't be tempting fate being here."

"I see." Hoshino scratched her chin. "Sorry. I know you're trying to be helpful, but you don't know anything."

"I don't." Hayama conceded with a nod.

"This is important." Hoshino insisted like that would get Hayama to do something different.

"Like talking to Haruno-san was, back then?" Hayama raised an eyebrow.

"Life-changing important." Hoshino replied evenly.

"If you don't care, then just go. Tell her you didn't find us." Hachiman pushed aside the questions that he had, for now, and took a step closer to Hoshino. "Why bother?"

"Because it's 'life-changing important', Hikigaya-kun." Hayama didn't stare at Hachiman while talking, only regarding him when he had already finished. Letting his words settle in with a serious expression. "I don't know if you understand this, but I'd hate to think that you went ahead and had something terrible happen to you because I didn't stop you. You might not think we are friends, but that doesn't mean that nothing would change if one day I realized that you were just gone due to a freak accident or whatever."

The words that he had ready to counter whatever argument Hayama came up with died in his mouth. Leaving Hachiman with only an open mouth and nothing to show for it.

"And I think that Haruno-san also hates to think that it'd be her fault." Hayama sighed. Letting out far more breath than Hachiman expected. "We would all be happier if things were as simple as when we were in Sobu. Back then, our problems were the worst we had encountered thus far, true. But now I think that anyone would take having their feelings hurt rather than see things get as bad as they had recently."

Hachiman still didn't know what to say.

"You don't know anything." So he repeated Hoshino's words, trying to find an angle to get back into the argument.

"I don't, that's true. I don't know what moves you now, Hikigaya-kun. But please, see reason." Hayama smiled sadly at him, fully expecting to be ignored. "Slow down, wait. You're going too fast, getting into something far too big for yourself."

"If we ignore our problems, they'll get worse and fester." Hachiman murmured, looking at Hoshino. Who was silently studying the two men interact. "I'll go wherever she goes."

Hayama might've expected to be turned down, but he still looked hurt with Hachiman's words.

"I see."

"'I see'? No warnings or advice?" Hachiman chuckled. "Not even a threat?"

"Wouldn't that be counterproductive?" Hayama asked before turning to Hoshino.

"Why should I listen to you?" Hoshino didn't challenge Hayama on this, or even sound remotely hurt by his words. She simply asked him for a reason, a factual question that would need a factual answer. One free from emotions.

"Because I only know where you can get your answers." Hayama admitted. "And you'll get nothing more out of me, you can't."

Hoshino pondered his words for a moment.

"Why was Hachiman-san in that building that day?" Wait, huh? Why did Hoshino?

"Because Haruno-san plotted to make him think that her sister was there." Hayama stated, and the urge to punch him in the face returned tenfold.

"What the hell are you saying?!" Hachiman wanted to grip Hayama by the neck of his shirt, but Hoshino's lack of reaction stopped him in his tracks.

"Are they a thing?" Hoshino asked, voice eerily even.

"They were." Hayama replied. "Until they weren't, until she just… Left."

Even Hoshino's facemask couldn't hide the way her expression warped upon hearing that.

"…Hoshino?" The indignation died in his heart, the inquiry of why she didn't ask him directly also settling in like a dry leaf turning into dusty chunks under the pressure of a boot. She wasn't reacting like that because she realized that Hachiman had had a romance before, but because of something else in the answer.

She hadn't asked because she wanted to know about Hachiman, he realized. She'd have asked him. Instead, she asked because there was a piece of context that she needed for a reason that surpassed their bond in the way only a core memory can overcome the things that people learn along the way.

What… What happened? What was done to her?

"I…" Hoshino's voice broke. "I don't want to be here anymore."

Hayama smiled, but there was no satisfaction in the expression. It was a thing done out of politeness instead.

Hachiman didn't know whether to approach Hoshino or not, but the blond tilted his head toward the idol. Giving them his back while taking out his phone. Giving them 'privacy'.

Hachiman embraced the small and frail girl in front of him.

"I'm the worst…"

"It's okay." Hachiman murmured.

"No, it's not." Hoshino swallowed painfully. "This is all my fault."

"No, it's not." Hachiman tightened his arms around her. No matter what happened, he wanted to believe that she didn't deserve the cards that she got. "No, it's not…"

"…I want my babies." Hoshino murmured.

Hachiman stopped breathing for a moment.

"Aren't they at school?"

"I want to see them. Now."

Hachiman didn't know what to do.

"Okay, we can do that." Probably. If he asked Hoshino's mom, would they be able to retrieve them now? But the meeting… "Just… Let's just get out of here first."

Hoshino didn't answer immediately, but instead nodded against his chest.

She did not shed a single tear, even after they separated.

It felt utterly wrong for that to be the case.