Would You Like To Go Out With Me?
.
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Hachiman's POV-]
As I took in Yukino's calm, unflinching expression, a ripple of tension settled over the room, muffling the background chatter.
"You want to talk right here?" I asked, feeling oddly indifferent to the attention we had started drawing.
"Yes... if you don't mind." Yukino replied, her voice steady but with an undercurrent of something I couldn't quite place.
"Yeah, I don't." I replied quite nonchalantly.
I had no clue what she wanted to discuss.
The past few minutes had thrown me off.
Everything felt a bit surreal, like I had wandered into someone else's story.
And let's be real here, no one's exactly lining up to make grand gestures toward me, so this entire scenario was new territory.
I will admit, there was a part of me, a small, somewhat prideful part, that couldn't help but feel... flattered.
I mean, a girl had just walked up, looked me straight in the eye, and confessed her feelings.
Don't get me wrong, I am not some hopeless romantic or anything.
But I am still human, and having someone genuinely express their feelings for me without malice or ulterior motives?
It was kind of a refreshing change.
But that's all it was.
Nice, for a moment.
Because, as flattering as it is, I would rather not go through that whirlwind of confusion and discomfort again anytime soon.
Even if, for a brief second, I actually felt a bit like the protagonist of my own story.
But then I noticed Yukino's hand reaching into the pocket of her skirt.
She pulled out something small, pink, and glittery, catching the light as she held it in front of her.
I squinted, momentarily thrown off.
At first glance, it looked like… a letter.
Pink, with sparkly glitter dusted all over it.
For a second, I thought she was returning the letter I had asked her to hold onto.
"I will take it back–!" I started, reaching out, but paused mid-sentence when I saw it more clearly.
It wasn't the same.
This one had a giant red heart smack in the middle, with glitter practically screaming for attention.
I stared at it, my mind racing.
Did she get a love letter?
…No…
I think it is a bit girly.
Not something a guy could be capable of pulling off.
It looked like something a girl would prepare for a boy.
...and a worse thought crossed my mind.
Was some idiot trying to mess with me by giving her one?
Then my eyes caught something familiar in the bottom corner, a small… black cat paw print?
?!And that's when it finally clicked.
Yukino, her expression softened with just a hint of shyness, extended the letter fully toward me.
"It's a love letter… from me." She said, voice as composed as ever, though there was a subtle warmth in her tone that was undeniable.
A moment of stunned silence filled the room before the entire class erupted in a chorus of gasps and whispers.
"Is that… what I think it is?"
"No way… Did Yukinoshita just confess? Like… in front of everyone?"
The buzz grew into a full-blown uproar, the disbelief and curiosity rolling through the room like a wave.
I could feel the weight of a hundred eyes on us, but all I could focus on was Yukino, standing there, holding that overly glittery, pink letter out to me.
Somewhere from the back, Tobe's voice cut through the chatter.
"Yo, is that for real?! Yukinoshita gave Hikitani a love letter? Man, didn't see that one comin'!"
Beside him, Yamato, crossing his arms with a little envy.
"I thought he screwed up for sure, you know the confession he just got from the other girl."
"Wait, wait, this is huge!" Chika bounced up, her eyes wide and sparkling with curiosity. "Isn't this, like, the most romantic thing ever? Hikkigaya, you lucky guy!"
Behind her, Miura scowled, crossing her arms in visible annoyance.
"Tch. What's all the fuss about? I mean, it's just a letter." Her dismissive words as she glanced at a certain person from her corner of the eyes.
Yuigahama, caught between shock and excitement, leaned closer to Totsuka and whispered. "This is so adorable! Oh my gosh, I am so happy for them!"
Totsuka, visibly trying to hold back his excitement, beamed, his eyes practically glowing. "Hachiman really… He really did it…"
As the murmurs filled the room, I returned my attention to Yukino.
She stood there, a steady presence amidst the chaotic whispers and curious stares, holding that pink, glittery letter in her hand.
Her gaze was locked on me, unwavering, even as she stood in the eye of the storm that was our classmates' growing fascination.
Then she said it, her voice clear, carrying across the room. "I like you, Hikkigaya… would you like to go out with me?"
Haa…. She is not shy about confessing to me in front of my classmates, but she could call me by my first name?
"Haa…" I breathed, almost chuckling at the absurdity of how calm she seemed when my mind was racing. But still, my own answer came out easily, without a second thought.
"Of course, I would like to."
And just like that, the classroom erupted in noise, gasps, whispers, and a few outright exclamations.
Somewhere in the background, I heard Totsuka's happy murmur. "...haaa! So cute!" While Yui's voice squealed in delight."I knew it!"
But… something felt off.
Amid the sea of congratulatory whispers and gleeful murmurs, I caught a glimpse of Hayama.
He was wearing that usual smile of his, polite, immaculate.
It reminded me of that same look he had given me back at the bakery, when I had finally admitted to him and Zaimokuza about my relationship.
A smile with something unspoken behind it, like he was holding back a different thought, one I couldn't quite read.
What was his deal?
I filed the thought away for now, choosing to ignore it.
This moment, right now, wasn't about anyone else.
Despite the noise, despite everyone else, Yukino's gaze never wavered.
And for once, I didn't feel the urge to look away either.
"But, you really… didn't want to go for something less flashy?" I muttered, eyeing the glitter that shimmered obnoxiously under the classroom lights.
Yukino's lips quivered, just barely. "I thought it would suit the occasion. It certainly has garnered enough attention."
I huffed, doing my best to suppress the amused smile tugging at my mouth. "You have really outdone yourself."
"Are you going to take it or not?" She asked, her tone cool but a hint of warmth glimmering in her eyes.
With the class still watching intently, I extended my hand, carefully taking the letter from her.
As soon as it was in my grip, I gave it a quick look-over, the oversized heart and Yukino's neat handwriting adding a personal touch that struck me.
Just as I took it in, voices from outside reached us, pulling both Yukino and me out of our shared silence.
"Good… luck. Yukinoshita and Hikigaya." Nao's voice came softly, her respectful half-bow lingerie as she backed away from the entrance.
Right behind her, Fujikura stayed a beat longer, flashing an encouraging smile as she added.
"Don't worry, she is a strong girl. And you… you too." She gave a small nod, her gaze steady before she also slipped away.
I stayed silent, unsure how to respond to their quiet support.
Watching them leave, I returned my focus to Yukino, whose expression softened slightly as we stood there.
Cough-! Cough-!
I opened my mouth, searching for the right words to say, but a faint cough interrupted us.
Both of us turned instinctively toward the source.
Ms. Hiratsuka was standing by the doorway, watching the scene unfold with an amused smile, clearly entertained by the situation. "Ah, young love. Keep it appropriate, you two. Some of us are trying to teach here."
This finally shattered whatever semblance of composure was left in the room, and laughter rippled through the class.
Realizing I was still holding her letter, I glanced back at Yukino.
"Well, guess I am not getting out of this one." I said, feeling my cheeks warm under the weight of her gaze and the amused looks of my classmates.
"No, you are not." Yukino replied, a small, genuine smile forming as she met my eyes, unperturbed by the crowd around us.
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
[Author Reminder : +2chapters advance in Patreon]