Beyond the realization that he hadn’t brought his math textbook, his pen suddenly running out of ink, failing to grab his beloved bread for lunch, and his desk suddenly falling apart, nothing else particularly worth noting happened until it was time for club activities.
As usual, Hikigaya Hachiman leaned against the hallway, waiting for Yuigahama Yui.
Not long after, Yuigahama walked out of the classroom while bidding farewell to Miura Yumiko.
Upon lifting her eyes and seeing Hikigaya Hachiman waiting to the side, she sighed under her breath and leaned over, looking extremely reluctant.
“Hey, you, don’t go making that ‘I’m looking at someone I hate’ face.”
Yuigahama didn’t intend to acknowledge him right now; she lightly threw her book bag at Hikigaya Hachiman and marched toward the Special Building in a huff.
Hikigaya Hachiman fumbled to catch Yuigahama’s bag, held it in his hand, and followed cautiously behind her.
“I have a few coupons for a dessert shop here.
I don’t have a use for them, so you can take them.” Hachiman fished a stack of coupons from his pocket and offered them to Yuigahama Yui.
Yuigahama didn’t even glance at them, continuing to walk forward as if Hikigaya Hachiman beside her were nothing but air.
Seeing this, Hachiman could only helplessly tuck the coupons back into his chest pocket.
“Hey, my cat at home—you know, Ka-kun—has started being a picky eater lately.
I wonder if your Sablé is picky about food?”
Hearing her beloved dog’s name, Yuigahama finally had a reaction, turning back with puffed-out cheeks to say, “I agreed with Yukino-chan last night that I wouldn’t talk to Hikki for the whole day today.”
“Last night…
so, you knew about what happened last night?”
“Of course.
Someone was acting very proud of himself, playing the hero saving the damsel in distress.”
“That, of course, had other reasons.”
“Then go tell that to Yukino-chan.”
The two remained silent until they reached the Service Club.
Yuigahama’s hand rested on the door of the clubroom, but she didn’t move for a long time.
She turned back to look at Hachiman with a bitter smile, her expression filled with worry.
She wasn’t ignoring Hachiman because she was angry—if anything, she was angrier at herself.
But thinking of Yukinoshita Yukino and the events that had occurred previously, she
Compared to having a massive argument, running far away with Hachiman right now seemed better.
“Hikki, you can’t go arguing with Yukino-chan again later.”
Her voice seemed to carry a sob.
Watching Yuigahama Yui with such an expression, Hikigaya Hachiman answered earnestly: “I have already realized my mistakes, and I will apologize to you both properly.
Rest assured, I absolutely will not get into an argument with Yukinoshita.”
Then, he pulled open the clubroom door with a clatter.
As usual, Yukinoshita was still sitting near the window reading quietly.
Seeing the two enter, she looked up, greeted them, and then closed her book.
After a delayed greeting, Yuigahama went to sit next to Yukinoshita.
Hikigaya Hachiman did not speak; he silently sat in the empty seat at the far end of the table.
He put his bag down, sat, and then didn’t move.
As if nothing else had happened, Yukinoshita Yukino made black tea for both of them just like before.
However, when she handed the cup to Hikigaya Hachiman, she paused for a moment, looking as if she had something to say, but in the end, she said nothing at all.
Combining this with the forced smile she had left him with that morning when they parted, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly felt the urge to clarify everything.
“Um, about yesterday…”
“Yuigahama, thank you for your hard work today, please enjoy.”
“Yukino-chan too.
By the way, so many interesting things happened in class today.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, Yumiko was in class…”
Listening to Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui chatting happily, Hikigaya Hachiman swallowed the words he wanted to say, took a manga out of his backpack, and started reading on his own.
The sounds of passing conversations in the hallway, the ticking of the second hand, even the sound of his own heartbeat became distinct.
The black tea sitting to the side radiating warmth, and the manga book held in his hands that he hadn’t turned a page of for a long time—he had never felt such agony.
Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly stood up and pulled a chair to sit on the other side of Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui—the position usually taken by those who came to the Service Club seeking help and wanting to pour out their hearts.
‘Thank you, Yuigahama Yui, for engaging Yukinoshita Yukino in trivial topics from the start.
But a person cannot keep running away forever.’
“Um, regarding yesterday’s request, I still have some details to add.”
Tell me in detail.” Yukinoshita Yukino sat up straight, her attentive listening expression making it impossible to read her inner thoughts.
“Hikki.” Yuigahama Yui looked at Hachiman with concern.
“It’s fine, Yuigahama.
As long as I explain it clearly, it will be fine.”
“Regarding the request from Yotsuya Miko, there are four facts as follows:”
“One: Everything Yotsuya Miko saw and heard is real.
Two: Beings that exist beyond common rational cognition are real.
Three: On the way to escort Yotsuya Miko home, we were attacked by an unknown biological entity.
Four: The request of Yotsuya Miko is incomplete.”
Yukinoshita Yukino didn’t express agreement or disagreement, only saying with a composed face: “Explain the four facts you mentioned in detail.”
“Right.
Yesterday, after finishing Yotsuya Miko’s request, I encountered Yotsuya Miko on the second floor of the Special Building, who appeared to have seen the terrifying entity again.
Therefore, as a form of club care and with the support of Yuigahama Yui, Service Club President Yukinoshita Yukino required her member, Hikigaya Hachiman, to carry out an escort task to send Yotsuya Miko home.
During the execution of this escort task, at the end of the pedestrian path in Ishii Park where the Mikami Road and Cheng-guang Road intersect, a humanoid monster appeared—hereafter referred to as ‘the Curse’.
The Curse appeared before Hikigaya Hachiman and Yotsuya Miko.
Under Hikigaya Hachiman’s decision, Yotsuya Miko waited for an opportunity to escape.
Hikigaya Hachiman intercepted it first, so the Curse was enraged and launched an attack on Hikigaya Hachiman.
At the point of death, member Hikigaya Hachiman obtained a mysterious power and fully utilized his subjective initiative to deal a devastating blow to the Curse; the effect was outstanding.
Therefore, everything Yotsuya Miko saw and heard is real; beings beyond common rational cognition are real; member Hikigaya Hachiman was attacked; and Yotsuya Miko’s request is incomplete.”
Listening to Hikigaya Hachiman’s narration, Yukinoshita Yukino’s eyes were already brimming with tears.
“I thought you were going to try to be tough and take all the responsibility on yourself again.”
Beside him, Yuigahama Yui, listening to this feigned casual recount, had long since burst into tears.
“It’s all my fault…
I shouldn’t have asked Hikki to escort Yotsuya Miko-san home.
If only…
if only…”