Just as Yukinoshita and Yuigahama sat waiting in silence in the corridor, Hiratsuka’s phone rang.
She glanced at the caller ID and walked farther away, over to the window, before picking up.
“Hey, Shizuka?
Didn’t we agree you’d come over tonight and try the new plum wine I got my hands on?
Where are you?
Standing me up means a penalty drink, you know.”
The voice on the other end of the line was a bright, youthful female voice tinged with a hint of playful cunning.
It was none other than Yukinoshita Yukino’s older sister—Yukinoshita Haruno.
Hiratsuka rubbed her brow and explained wearily, “Haruno, sorry.
Something came up.
I can’t make it.”
“Oh?
What kind of ‘something’ could make our great Shizuka-sensei stand me up?” Haruno’s voice brimmed with curiosity.
Hiratsuka briefly recounted the day’s events—how the Service Club had taken on the request, how Hachiman had recklessly charged into danger alone and gotten injured, and how he was now getting stitches at the hospital.
“Hachiman?
Hikigaya Hachiman?” A note of surprise crept into Haruno’s voice, which then shifted into a knowing chuckle.
“Him again, huh.”
“Hm?
You know him?” Hiratsuka was somewhat surprised.
“I do.
Or rather, I know of him.” Haruno’s tone carried a reminiscent quality.
“That was back when Yukino-chan was still in elementary school.
I happened to pass by her school once, and I saw a rather interesting scene.”
There was a playful lilt in her voice, as if she were savoring an amusing old memory.
“A few older boys had surrounded Yukino-chan.
I guess they thought that since she was always alone—and so adorable—they’d pick on her or try to get her attention.
You know how that child is.
Stubborn even as a little girl.
She kept her lips pressed tight and wouldn’t say a word, but her eyes were cold enough to freeze someone solid.
Right at that moment, this skinny little boy with messy hair—Hikigaya Hachiman—came out of nowhere and planted himself right in front of her.”
She let out a soft laugh.
“That kid.
He was clearly terrified himself—his legs were trembling, his voice wasn’t loud at all—but he stuck his neck out and said to those boys, ‘What kind of guts does it take to pick on a girl?’ The result, of course, was that he got shoved around a bit, fell on the ground, and scraped up his knees.
Still, his interruption drew those boys’ attention away, and it also got a passing teacher to notice what was going on.”
Haruno paused, her tone carrying a trace of unidentifiable emotion.
“Later, I asked around a little.
It turned out those boys had it in for him after that.
They’d hassle him now and then over petty things.
But he never seemed to regret it or complain.
Still wore that same lifeless expression.
Only, every so often…
he’d steal a few glances at my equally lonely little sister.”
“At the time, I thought that boy was pretty interesting.
Clumsy, yet stubborn.
Like a stray cat that has no idea how to wag its tail and beg.”
Listening to this, Hiratsuka couldn’t help but picture Hachiman—the way he was always trying to hide himself away.
She never imagined he had that side to him as a child.
“So that’s how it was…”
“Yeah,” Haruno’s tone returned to its usual lightness, but her words carried deeper meaning.
“Seems like, after all these years, he’s still the same as he was back then.
Clearly limited in what he can do, yet at certain moments he does things that are unexpected—stupid, and brave.
Shizuka, keep an eye on my fool of a little sister for me.
And…
keep an eye on that ‘stray cat’ who always seems to stir her emotions, too.”
After hanging up, Hiratsuka looked into the distance at the two girls seated on the bench outside the operating room, and understanding settled in her heart.
‘So that special bond had been there since so early on.’
Just then, the treatment room door opened with a click.
Out came the doctor in his white coat, along with Hachiman, whose face was still somewhat pale but who seemed in decent spirits.
His left arm had been freshly bandaged in clean white gauze—looking far more professional and tidy than before.
The doctor walked directly over to Yukinoshita and explained with respectful courtesy, “Yukinoshita-sama, please rest assured.
Hikigaya-kun’s arm suffered only a flesh wound.
The procedure was very successful.
We used the latest biodegradable sutures, so there is no need to return to the hospital for removal—they will be absorbed naturally.
Going forward, simply change the dressing on schedule each day, keep the area dry, and avoid strenuous activity.
It will heal quickly.”
“Thank you very much, Doctor.” Yukinoshita bowed slightly, her tone sincere in its gratitude.
The doctor hastily waved his hands, insisting it was no trouble at all.
After giving a few more words of instruction, he took his leave.
The moment the doctor was gone, Yuigahama immediately pressed close to Hachiman, her eyes still rimmed with red.
She asked worriedly, “Hikki, does it still hurt?
What did the doctor say?
Is it serious?”
“It’s fine.
Just a small wound.” Hachiman shook his head, trying to make his voice sound lighter.
“The doctor said it’ll heal quickly.”
Yukinoshita approached as well.
Her ice-blue eyes carefully scrutinized his bandaged arm and his still somewhat bloodless face.
Her tone, though restored to its usual cool clarity, was considerably gentler than it had been in the car.
“Next time, do not do something so dangerous again.
The Service Club’s purpose is to help others—it does not include pointless self-sacrifice.”
“…I know.” Hachiman answered quietly.
Faced with Yukinoshita’s concern, he found it hard to deflect with twisted logic the way he usually did.
At that moment, Hiratsuka finished her call and walked over.
“All taken care of?
Then let’s go.
I’ll drive you all home.”
On the return trip, the atmosphere inside the car was noticeably lighter.
Perhaps because the most perilous moment had passed and Hachiman’s injury had been properly treated, Yuigahama gradually regained her usual liveliness.
She began chattering about amusing things at school, trying to dispel the lingering heaviness in the car.
“Oh, right, Hikki, are you hungry?
You lost a lot of blood—want to eat something to replenish?”
“Yukinon, we really owe you today.
Otherwise, Hikki would’ve had to wait in line forever.”
“Hiratsuka-sensei, thank you so much for driving us today!”
She was like a busy little bee, diligently weaving threads of conversation among the three of them.
Though Hachiman mostly responded with “Mm” and “Ah,” and Yukinoshita only occasionally answered with a brief word or two, the once-stagnant air inside the car did, under her efforts, gradually begin to flow again.
It was as if everything had returned to a seemingly normal track.
Hachiman watched the neon lights flashing past outside the window, listened to Yuigahama’s energetic voice beside him, and occasionally stole a sidelong glance at Yukinoshita, sitting quietly on his other side.
The dull ache radiating from his arm reminded him that everything that had happened today was no dream.
This feeling of being worried about, of being cared for—it was still unfamiliar, yet no longer made him want to flee the way it had at first.
The first stop was the Yuigahama residence.
After the car came to a stop, Hachiman instinctively got out alongside Yuigahama.
“I’ll walk you to the door,” he said.
It was perhaps his own clumsy way of showing chivalry.
Yuigahama froze for a second, then a delighted, radiant smile blossomed on her face.
She nodded firmly.
“Mm!”
The two walked silently to the entrance of the house.
The evening breeze brushed past, carrying a slight chill.
“Well…
I’m heading up, Hikki.
Make sure you rest well when you get home, and remember what the doctor said!” Yuigahama stood at the door and turned to Hachiman.
She wore a sweet smile, but hidden in her eyes was a faint, barely perceptible reluctance and worry.
Hachiman nodded.
“Yeah.
You too.
Get some rest early.”
Just as he turned to leave, Yuigahama suddenly reached out and gently caught his uninjured right wrist.
Hachiman’s steps halted.
He looked back, somewhat startled.
Yuigahama had her head lowered slightly.
The light from the streetlamp cast soft shadows across her face.
The rims of her ears were faintly flushed.
Her voice was much quieter than before, carrying a note of entreaty and undisguised concern.
“Hikki…
next time…
don’t go rushing into danger all by yourself again, okay?”
Her voice trembled softly.
“I really…
really was so scared.”
Looking at the glistening tears in her eyes and the unguarded emotion written plainly on her face, Hachiman felt something in his heart gently stirred.
He was silent for a few seconds.
Then, with solemn gravity, he nodded.
“Mm.
I promise.”
Hearing his promise, a relieved smile returned to Yuigahama’s face.
She let go of his wrist and waved to him.
“Then…
see you tomorrow!”
“See you tomorrow.”
Only after watching her figure disappear behind the apartment door did Hachiman turn around and return to the car.
Hiratsuka glanced at him through the rearview mirror but said nothing.
She simply restarted the engine and drove toward the next destination—the upscale apartment building where Yukinoshita Yukino lived.
Inside the car, only Hachiman, Yukinoshita, and Hiratsuka at the wheel remained.
The atmosphere seemed to have settled back into that same subtle quiet from before.
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