[485] The Disappearing Confession

Chapter 485: The Disappearing Confession

On the third day of their school trip, the students were finally allowed to explore freely.

Friends gathered in small groups, excitedly exploring the ancient city of Kyoto.

With Tobe's issues resolved, Hachiman no longer had any worries and fully enjoyed the trip.

As in the original story, Hachiman strolled through the streets with Yui and Yukino.

The quaint streets were lined with food stalls, and the enticing aromas drew in many tourists.

Yui was one of those enticed.

By the time they had walked some distance, her hands were filled with various snacks.

Croquettes, buns, fried chicken...

She took a bite of croquette with her left hand and a bite of meat bun with her right, enjoying herself immensely.

Seeing this, Yukino spoke up with some concern, "Yui, if you eat so much now, you won't have room for dinner."

Hearing this, Yui, who was happily eating, realized her mistake and laughed awkwardly.

"Hehe, I forgot. Yukinon, you can help me eat some."

Saying this, she handed over the half-eaten croquette.

"Alright, but just this once."

Yukino sighed, accepting the croquette without hesitation, took a small bite, and then turned to Hachiman.

"Don't just stand there, help us out."

Hachiman, of course, didn't refuse and nodded with a smile. "No problem."

Seeing this, Yui handed him a bun.

"Here, Hikki, take this."

Hachiman didn't hesitate, remembering all the times he had already kissed this silly girl; he didn't mind a bit of shared saliva. He took the bun and quickly finished it in a few bites.

Seeing how fast he ate it, both girls were momentarily surprised, then Yui pulled another bun from the paper bag and handed it to him.

"Here, Hikki, have another one."

Hachiman, a bit exasperated, remarked, "You guys are treating me like a pig."

"Well, aren't you just like Zhu Bajie stealing the ginseng fruit?" Yukino chuckled.

Hearing this, Yui also laughed.

Seeing this, Hachiman was at a loss for words.

Besides "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," another very famous novel in Japan is "Journey to the West." It's a household name, so it's no surprise the girls knew who Zhu Bajie was.

However, being called Zhu Bajie, Hachiman naturally retorted, "Who's Zhu Bajie? I should clearly be Sun Wukong."

Though he was complaining, he still took the bun.

This time, instead of eating it quickly, Hachiman decided to savor it slowly, just like the girls.

As they walked and ate, the scene looked quite heartwarming.

After a while, Yukino seemed to remember something and asked Hachiman.

"By the way, how's Tobe  doing? Today is the third day, and we're leaving tomorrow."

Yui, who was eating fried chicken, also chimed in.

"Yeah, what about Tobe? Is he still planning to confess to Hina? Yesterday, Hina told us she has no interest in Tobe at all."

"If Tobe still plans to confess, Hina will definitely reject him, and that would ruin their relationship..."

Hachiman shrugged. "Don't worry, I've already taken care of it. Tobe has given up on confessing to Ebina."

Hearing this, Yui's eyes lit up. "Really? Hikki, you're amazing!"

"How did you get Tobe to give up?"

Yukino, curious, also asked. They had interacted with Tobe before, and he seemed determined to confess to Ebina. How did he change his mind so quickly?

"I have my ways," Hachiman replied with a mysterious smile.

Not liking his mysterious tone, Yukino frowned. "No keeping secrets, tell us."

Yui also joined in, grabbing Hachiman's arm and shaking it. "Yes, yes, Hikki, tell us. We want to know."

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you."

Seeing their curious expressions, Hachiman decided to explain.

"I just made sure Tobe understood Ebina's feelings."

"Did you have Ebina tell Tobe directly?" Yukino guessed.

"But that wouldn't fit with Ebina's wishes, would it? She wanted to maintain their friendship."

"Of course not. I wouldn't do something so reckless," Hachiman shook his head.

"Then how did you do it?" Yukino asked, puzzled. "I remember you saying that Tobe was pretty clueless and didn't realize that Ebina wasn't interested in him."

Hachiman smiled. "I just made sure Tobe overheard Ebina's thoughts on romance."

"?"

Both Yui and Yukino were confused.

Seeing their expressions, Hachiman smiled. "Yui, didn't Ebina tell you yesterday that she has no feelings for Tobe and isn't considering romance right now?"

"Yeah, Hikki, how did you know?" Yui blinked in surprise.

But Yukino quickly caught on. "Did you arrange all of this? Did you have Ebina say that on purpose?"

Hachiman nodded, then shook his head. "Yes, I arranged it, but I asked Yumiko to specifically question Ebina about Tobe and romance."

"As expected, Ebina expressed that she wasn't interested in dating, and those words were 'coincidentally' overheard by Tobe and me outside the door."

"Understanding that Ebina wasn't ready for a relationship, Tobe naturally gave up on his plan to confess."

"I see," Yui nodded instinctively, then seemed to realize something. "Wait, you and Tobe were eavesdropping outside the door yesterday?!"

"Yes, how else would I know what Ebina said?" Hachiman chuckled.

"And if Tobe hadn't heard it directly, he wouldn't have given up so easily."

Yui, however, became a bit embarrassed. "Did you... hear anything else?"

If Hachiman had heard everything she said, would he think she was an indiscreet girl?

Hachiman had indeed heard what Yui said, but seeing her worried expression, he decided not to mention it. He simply smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry. After Ebina expressed her feelings, Tobe and I left, so I didn't hear anything strange."

Relieved, Yui sighed and then pouted. "Hikki, you shouldn't do that again. It's basically eavesdropping."

"Right, secretly listening to a girl's private conversations is practically a crime," Yukino agreed, nodding firmly.

Seeing their reactions, Hachiman shrugged helplessly. "I had no choice. This was the best way to resolve the issue."

Indeed, aside from the drastic measures taken in the original story, this was the most effective method.

It preserved everyone's dignity and perfectly resolved the situation.

"But, is this really okay?" Yui was still a bit worried.

Hachiman smiled. "Don't worry. Tobe was only a little down for a short while, but he bounced back quickly."

Yes, it was a "little down," lasting less than five minutes.

"Since he wasn't rejected face-to-face, Tobe can save face and still remain friends with Ebina."

"It's like a sheet of window paper; even if it's thin enough to see through, as long as it isn't torn, it still serves its purpose."

"I see."

Yui nodded, somewhat understanding Hachiman's explanation.

At that moment, Hayama and Yumiko's group approached, with Tobe and Ebina among them.

Seeing them still chatting and laughing as usual, Yui finally relaxed and ran over to greet them.

"Hi, Hina, Yumiko."

"Hi, Yui," Ebina responded cheerfully.

As for Yumiko, seeing Yukino next to Hachiman, she gave a displeased huff but said nothing, perhaps out of respect for Hachiman.

Hayama nodded at Hachiman and Yukino, a silent thanks for preserving the friendship he valued.

After exchanging greetings, the two groups soon went their separate ways. After all, Yumiko and Yukino didn't get along, and neither wanted to walk with the other.

Hachiman's trio continued their walk.

Walking along the paths of Arashiyama, they turned a corner and heard a rustling sound.

Looking ahead, they saw a lush bamboo grove not far away.

A small path wound through the grove, flanked by countless bamboo stalks.

A gentle breeze rustled the bamboo leaves.

Soft sunlight filtered through the gaps in the bamboo, creating dappled shadows on the ground. Coupled with the pleasant rustling, the scene felt peaceful.

This was another famous spot, the Sagano Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto. It was also the original location where Tobe confessed to Ebina.

But now, without the confession, it was just another beautiful tourist spot.

"This place is so beautiful," Yui exclaimed, admiring the surroundings.

Even Yukino nodded in agreement. "It really is. Look at the ground."

"Lanterns? It must be stunning when they light up at night," Yui imagined the scene.

However, in the next moment, she blushed and glanced at Hachiman.

"This place seems perfect for a confession..."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yukino also looked at Hachiman.

Feeling the simultaneous gaze of both girls, Hachiman forced a smile.

------------

If you want to read 20 advance chapters ahead.

Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky