“Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend…” Like a parrot repeating words, the monster yelled inside its mouth while charging toward Yotsuya Miko.
This monster appeared to be a combination of a human and a horse.
Despite having a horse’s skull, it was covered in human skin.
A mouth that split from left to right was grinning hideously, revealing rows of dense, white, ghastly teeth.
Perhaps to match this large face, even the eye sockets were terrifyingly large; but if you looked closely, you would find that the monster not only lacked eyelids, but its massive eyeballs were twitching wildly in all directions.
On top of its head, beside a pair of furry horse ears, were a pair of human ears.
Its face was frightening enough, not to mention its abstract body.
It should have been a well-proportioned horse’s body, but the sight of human hands pressed against the ground as its front limbs was bone-chilling.
The mane on its back was matted and greasy, looking like the unwashed hair of a human woman.
Judging by this appearance alone, one could tell that this monster was not only terrifying to look at but also had power that was absurdly strong.
Yotsuya Miko’s soul had almost flown out of her body, but she forced herself to remain calm, pretending she hadn’t heard or seen anything, and sat tightly against Hikigaya Hachiman.
After such a long time, she had long since understood that as long as she pretended not to see them, there generally wouldn’t be any danger.
But even knowing this truth, she still gripped the corner of her clothes tightly in fear.
Hikigaya, meanwhile, had no time to worry about Yotsuya Miko’s state, as the watch on his wrist was vibrating violently again.
“These are some local specialties from the countryside; you can try them, classmate.
Miko, I know you like him, but crowding him like that is very impolite to a guest.” Mrs.
Yotsuya, while setting down the dish in her hand, smoothed the hair draped over her shoulder and lectured Yotsuya Miko with a troubled look on her face.
“Come to think of it, I didn’t get a chance to ask you earlier—who are you?”
“Thank you for your hospitality, ma’am.
My name is Hikigaya Hachiman.
I am Yotsuya Miko’s…
um, I am a senpai at her school.”
“Oh, I see.
So Miko likes someone older; that’s not surprising at all.”
“What are you saying?
He’s just a senpai from school, don’t think too much into it.”
Yotsuya Miko retorted while shifting her body to the side.
After being teased by her mother, she finally noticed how inappropriate her behavior was; if she had leaned in any harder, Hikigaya Hachiman would have been squeezed right off the sofa.
The monster that had just been crowding beside them had now moved to the side of Mr.
Yotsuya, who had appeared at some point.
If it didn’t look so terrifying, it would be a lot like a little puppy that could talk.
‘Fine, for the sake of convenience, I’ll call you the Yotsuya family puppy.’
“Well, I’ve safely escorted Yotsuya-san home, so I won’t disturb you any longer.” Hikigaya Hachiman brought his cup to his lips and finished the remaining water in one gulp.
Staying any longer wouldn’t lead to any new discoveries, and seeing that Miko seemed only nervous and not in any immediate danger, Hikigaya Hachiman stood up, prepared to slip away—staying longer would mean he’d have to stay for dinner.
“Hikigaya-kun, won’t you stay a little longer?”
“No, thank you.
My Nee-chan is waiting for me to go home and cook.”
At the entryway, Hikigaya Hachiman declined Mrs.
Yotsuya’s invitation while putting on his shoes.
Just then, the door to the Yotsuya house was opened.
It appeared to be a junior high student; looking at the face that resembled Yotsuya Miko’s, it was definitely Miko’s younger brother.
Seeing a stranger, Yotsuya Kyousuke, who had just opened the door, froze in place.
Then he immediately reacted.
“M-man…
Nee-chan, you…”
‘This guy—is he my Nee-chan’s boyfriend?’
That explains it!
Recently, my Nee-chan has been acting weird; so it was all his doing.
And taking advantage of me not being home, he even secretly gained Mother’s approval.
What a despicable guy!
‘How could my Nee-chan ever be wrong?
It must be this guy who deceived her.’
“You jerk, what have you done to my Nee-chan?”
It wasn’t that Hikigaya Hachiman couldn’t understand Yotsuya Miko’s brother’s mindset; a while ago, when Komachi was with that…
what was his name…
Kawaguchi’s younger brother, he had been even worse than this.
Thus, Hikigaya Hachiman explained: “Well, I haven’t done anything.
Look, your Nee-chan and I aren’t even friends; I’m just a senpai from school.”
“Really?” As if seeking confirmation, Yotsuya Kyousuke looked at Miko.
“I suppose that’s the case…”
What do you mean ‘suppose’?” Upon receiving such an ambiguous answer from his own Nee-chan, Yotsuya Kyousuke felt as if the whole world had betrayed him.
‘This guy actually…’
Feeling the world spinning before his eyes and a deep sense of helplessness washing over him, Yotsuya Kyousuke finally could only roar in frustration.
“You guy, if you dare—if you dare do anything to wrong my Nee-chan, I won’t let you off!”
“Hikigaya Hachiman.
My name is Hikigaya Hachiman, not ‘you guy’.” Correcting Yotsuya Kyousuke, Hikigaya Hachiman opened the door and walked out.
‘What a lively family’ Hikigaya Hachiman thought as he walked into the distance.
Sensing a presence behind him, he slowed his pace.
“I’m sorry, my brother, he…”
“No need to apologize.
After all, that’s a family member’s concern.” Hikigaya Hachiman looked back at Yotsuya Miko’s house one more time, then spoke with underlying meaning.
“Alright, escorting me here is enough.
You can see it, right?
The thing in your house.”
“Mm.”
“That’s good.
Since you haven’t asked me for help, I assume it poses no threat to you?”
“Not for the time being…”
“‘For the time being,’ that’s a truly irresponsible thing to say.
But, I believe you can handle it.” Hikigaya Hachiman sighed.
After this visit, the last thread of clues had been severed.
It seemed he would have to find a way elsewhere.
“By the way, please give my regards to Mr.
Yotsuya.”
“Senpai, my father has already…”
The long-unused ashtray and the hidden lighter all proved that Mr.
Yotsuya hadn’t been home for a long time, not to mention that family portrait tucked away in a corner.
Hikigaya Hachiman had already figured out the news of Mr.
Yotsuya’s passing while he was in the living room.
However, including the reaction of the spirit-detecting watch and the emotional fluctuations—the kind of feeling a father has when seeing his daughter in close contact with a boy—all indicated one fact: Mr.
Yotsuya exists in the Yotsuya home in another way.
“Actually, I now think that this special ability of yours—to see what others cannot—is not entirely a bad thing.”