Scout

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[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

As I sat down, the person next to me shifted slightly, creating a welcoming gap between us.

And just as I nodded in thanks to show my feeling of appreciation as if I had been awarded money, the person I was searching for called out to me.

"Oh, what a coincidence."

As if to only conform, I turned towards them. The person sitting there was Yukinoshita Yukino. My girlfriend.

She looked at me with those clear, piercing eyes, a hint of amusement dancing in them. However, my attention was drawn to her lips, forcing in some memories.

Luckily, I managed to look away and tried to act casual, though my heart was hammering in my chest.

Still, I couldn't help but put on a gentle smile and curled my lips, hoping to convey the emotions I couldn't quite put into words.

"Hey."

Yep, those were the words I chose.

A low, melodic chuckle escaped her lips.

She reciprocated my smile, her lips curving upward in a gentle arc that spoke volumes more than she ever could out loud, just like mine.

"Hello, there."

…silence.

And finally, for the first time, I looked around and realized she wasn't alone.

Surrounding her was a group of girls I didn't recognize – a tidy group of nice looking girls who sat next to her.

The girls eyed me with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Their gazes traveled between Yukinoshita and me, giving me a chance to practically see the gears turning in their heads and attempt to deduce the relationship Yukinoshita had with me.

The dubious looks they gave me made me feel a little uncomfortable… but I can understand their feelings.

Yukino Yukinoshita actually initiating a conversation with someone was a rare show in itself - truly an odd event.

Especially that person who happened to be a male, that was enough for them to be talk of the moment.

Putting aside the fact that she had friends in the class, or maybe they weren't, she seemed perfectly okay when moving as a group.

However, unlike how she spends her time with Yuigahama on equal terms, this looks more like a gathering of people who worshipped a single entity from afar.

As the silence stretched on, becoming more awkward by the second.

Finally, I cleared my throat, hoping to break the uncomfortable stillness.

One of the girls leaned in closer to Yukinoshita, her voice soft but laced with curiosity. "Yukinoshita, do you know him?"

Before Yukinoshita could form a response, another girl's eyes widened, recognition flashing in them like a light bulb going off. Her voice, though controlled, carried a note of surprise. "Wait, isn't he... the prez of the cultural fest and…."

"And the sports festival." A third chimed in, completing the thought like the final piece of a puzzle.

I shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny, while Yukinoshita, however, remained a picture of composure.

After a moment, she spoke quietly.

"This is Hachiman Hikigaya. We are in the same club."She added, her voice calm but with a finality that suggested she didn't want to dwell on the subject.

Her words, however, only seemed to fuel their curiosity.

"Oh, that's the club that does all the odd jobs around school, right?" One of them asked, leaning in with renewed interest.

"Kind of like a student council but without the politics." Another added, clearly amused by the idea.

I sat there, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. That's… one way to put it, I guess.

Yukinoshita didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on something in the distance.

"We solve problems." She said eventually, her tone neutral, as if she was discussing something mundane.

The girls exchanged glances, clearly intrigued.

"So you two work together a lot, huh?" One of them asked, this time directing her attention to me, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Frequently." I replied, keeping my expression as neutral as possible, unwilling to give them any more than necessary.

"Yukinoshita, you have never mentioned a boy in your club!" A third exclaimed, her tone a mix of surprise and something that sounded suspiciously like accusation.

Throughout this barrage, Yukinoshita's expression remained impassive, but I could sense her discomfort at the sudden attention that 'I' was receiving.

I am repeating 'I' was receiving.

Yes, I - the social outcast - was the center of attention, and the irony wasn't lost on me.

Clearing my throat, I stepped back, trying to extricate myself from the conversation. "Well, I should probably get going. Don't want to interrupt your... gathering."

I gestured vaguely at the group, hoping to make a swift exit.

"Ah, Yukinon! We really met."

At some point, Yuigahama was right next to us.

It seems she spotted Yukinoshita and was about to sit in the space between me and her.

Nice save girl…

However, Yukinoshita stood up with a wry smile when she saw her.

"Let's move somewhere else, shall we?"

"Okay, let's talk over there." Yuigahama agreed.

Just as I left ahead, Yukinoshita flicked her hair and turned around. "I am sorry. I am going to be away for a bit. I don't mind if you go ahead."

She addressed her classmates from Class J, who all nodded obediently with eyes of admiration towards Yukinoshita. It's like a senior and junior relationship between classy women… Calling that being close was probably wrong as well.

As I speculated on Yukinoshita's relationship with her classmates, I heard a voice coming from above.

"What are you doing? Hurry."

It was kind of scary when the stars of the girls from class J all focused on me.

Now that I think about it, I won't get stabbed by a Yukinoshita fan when the news about us dating gets out, right? Should I prepare my Sunday mourning clothes tomorrow?

We exited the Houjou structure and wandered around the garden park, with Yukinoshita and Yuigahama trailing behind me.

"How is the request coming along?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Mmm… It's turning out to be pretty hard." Yuigahama explained the situation briefly.

…

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As we completed our leisurely stroll around the garden, we returned to the front gate. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the gravel path, painting everything in a warm, golden hue.

"We will be going to Kinkakuji Temple, by the way." Yuigahama's voice broke, her words were directed at Yukinoshita.

"I think I will head back now." Yukinoshita stated, her posture already shifting towards departure.

"Alright, catch up with you tomorrow!" Yuigahama responded with a casual farewell.

Yukinoshita's gaze then settled on me. "I will see you tomorrow as well."

"Hm-uhm…" I responded with my head bobbing in a half-nod.

After we parted ways with Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and I met up with Hayama and the others. There were still other places we had to visit.

We walked past Ritsumeikan University and took the street that led back and forth.

Eventually, it was past five in the evening. It was time to wait for the bus and return to the inn.

….

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[-Next Day-]

It was morning on the third day of the field trip.

Today was the day everyone could move how they wanted. Since you weren't limited to just your classmates or your group, you could spend the entire day with other people, like your club mates.

Couples could even get together to spend their day fawning over each other too.

Which means that they are not restrictions and were given autonomous freedom.

So anything was okay.

Being alone was okay too.

However, that's not possible since I already made plans to visit a few more places with Yuikinoshita and Yuigahama.

I said my farewells to the little futon that loved indulging in my inactivity.

After finishing my business in the washroom, I changed my clothes while tidying up my luggage, and we would be changing lodgings tonight.

…Alright, with this finished, I just need to eat breakfast, return to the room, and then I will be ready to go out.

….

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After finishing my breakfast, I left the hotel and strolled around for a while, enjoying the crisp morning air.

Eventually, I met up with Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, just as we had planned.

"So, shall we go and scout the area for a 'confession'?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light and casual.

Yuigahama gave me a puzzled look. "Scout…?"

Yukinoshita stepped in to clarify. "Yes, we are checking out the place Hikigaya had suggested. You know, the one where a confession could go off without a hitch."

"Woah, Hikki found it, right? I am excited!" Yuigahama said with a burst of enthusiasm.

….

We headed for Arashiyama Street and continued straight without turning onto the road that led to Tenryuu-ji Temple.

A gust of wind could be briefly heard coming from the right side.

When I looked up, I was met with dense and verdant bamboo branches that grew overhead.

The leaves that were attached gave rise to the earlier sound.

I had absolutely no idea how many bamboo branches were growing, but this path, which looked like a bamboo tunnel, seemingly continuing on forever, had us walking shoulder to shoulder.

The sunlight that had penetrated through the gaps in the numerous bamboo trees exuded a sense of tranquility. With the calming sound of nature, the entirety of the small path was submerged in an atmosphere of relaxation.

It was the bamboo forest trail that was often seen in Arashiyama tourist guides and on television.

"Wow, this is pretty amazing…" Yuigahama said, stopping in her tracks and looking up in awe.

"It is." Yukinoshita agreed, walking closer to a brushwood fence and pointing downward. "But try looking below you."

Yuigahama's eyes followed Yukinoshita's gesture, and she noticed the lanterns scattered along the path. "Lanterns, huh?"

Yukinoshita confirmed with a nod. "Exactly. When it gets dark, the entire path will be beautifully illuminated."

"This seems like the perfect spot." I said, surveying the area with a nod of approval.

"Yeah…" Yukinoshita replied, her tone reflecting a shared sense of satisfaction.

It was mid-afternoon, and there was still plenty of time before the play began.

Once we were done here, Yukinoshita and I had another place to visit. It wasn't anything romantic, just some work we needed to get through.

Our main goal for this little outing was to talk with Ebina about the confession she would be receiving today.

this was our first moment of solitude since that pivotal exchange less than a day ago. A mere seventeen hours had crawled by since I'd laid my heart bare and she'd accepted it. The realization sent a flutter through my chest.

Now that I think about it, this might be the first time Yukinoshita and I have had some alone time since my confession and her acceptance. It hasn't been that long - just sixteen or seventeen hours, really. Still, the thought of it made me a bit excited.

We continued walking silently, the crowd around us gradually thinning out.

…And while I hadn't planned this out intentionally, it made sense. If we were going to talk with Ebina, we needed a place without prying eyes. Somehow, it just turned out this way.

I found myself in an unusually high spirits, my arms behind my neck as I occasionally whistled a tune.

Oh… and the reason I am stuck talking to myself instead of the person beside me? Well, she wasn't even looking in my direction.

In fact, she maintained a solid two-meter distance between us, and whenever I tried to close the gap even a little, she would move away.

Yeah, I know that's some serious crisis.

Noticing there was no one around, I decided to make my move. I reached out, intending to grab her hand smoothly.

But just as I was about to make contact, Yukinoshita dodged it with a graceful, almost instinctual sidestep, as if avoiding an oncoming obstacle.

?What the…

I thought, startled by her quick reaction. My hand hung awkwardly in the air for a moment before I pretended to stretch, trying to play it off.

My mind scrambled to make sense of what just happened, but Yukinoshita continued walking as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

"Hey, Yukinoshita…" I called out, my tone laced with a playful whine.

She didn't respond right away, her pace only slowing after a few more steps.

After a moment of hesitation, she turned around with a deliberate slowness, one hand slipping behind her back as if seeking support, or maybe just something to do with her hands.

Her face was a deep shade of crimson, a flush that had crept all the way to the tips of her ears. Her usually sharp, confident gaze was now skittish, her eyes darted around, avoiding mine as they searched for anything else to focus on.

"What is it…" She murmured, her voice softer than usual. She reached up to play with a loose strand of hair, twisting it nervously before tucking it behind her ear.

She was… shy.

That's new.

I guess that kiss last night might have been a bit too much for her.

But watching her like this, all flustered and trying to keep her composure, made my chest tighten with affection.

She looked so unbearably cute that the urge to run over and hug her tightly.

Still, I held back, I am pretty sure she would probably faint on the spot…

"Nothing… you just look cute." I said casually.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and started walking again, a small smirk tugging at my lips.

Huh… I could almost imagine the steam rising from her ears.

…And was that a little storm cloud forming over her head?

It's fun… teasing my girlfriend.

….

.

[To be continued…]

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