[Quest] Accepted

….

[-Continuation-]

.

[-Hachiman's POV-]

You know how trains are usually noisy?

Well, not now.

It's weirdly quiet, partly because everyone's tired, but mostly because Tobe, who would talk to Isshiki about various things while being considerate, was missing.

It's not just him who's missing, though.

Hayama, Miura, and Ebina weren't here either.

The Line those four took to go home and Yukino, Yuigahama, and Isshiki took different routes.

There wasn't much of a difference in either line for me, but I obviously decided to go with the Yukino.

Although the train was not very packed and there weren't any seats you could sit in.

Yukino and Yuigahama chat here and there, but mostly they are just staring out the windows, lost in their own worlds.

We have been like this for about twenty minutes now, just trading glances and letting the silence do its thing.

We were now approaching our stop, where Yukino and I would part ways with the others.

Yukino straightened beside me, watching the doors like she's counting down the seconds.

"Well then, we will be getting off here." She says, all proper as usual.

Behind her, Yuigahama gave a little wave. "Ah, you two go on. I will stick with Iroha till her stop."

We both nodded, catching the meaning.

I get it - Yuigahama's stop isn't far, but leaving Isshiki alone right now? Not the best move, especially in her current state.

"Isshiki." Yukino's voice held a rare gentleness. "Take care on the way home."

Isshiki, always quick to mask anything serious, nodded with a half-hearted smile. "Right. Take care."

Once we were on the platform, the doors closed behind us.

Not letting any silence build up in between us, Yukino gently wrapped her arm around mine, pulling me closer as we walked toward her house without any exchange of words.

She seemed… off. I can't help but think for myself.

Almost instinctively, I lift my free hand to her forehead, checking for fever.

Hmm, her temperature is normal, but that doesn't stop me from worrying.

"What's going on?" I ask, keeping it low-key.

Yukino remained quiet, still not meeting my gaze. And then, almost out of nowhere, she spoke in a soft, almost hesitant voice.

"Hachiman… what would you have done if I had rejected you that day?"

?!!The question hit me like a sudden gust of wind.

I stopped walking, surprised by the sudden depth of it.

I hadn't expected her to bring up such a deep and personal topic in this quiet moment between us.

"..." I looked at her, her gaze still forward.

She wasn't making eye contact, like she was unsure about even asking.

It was too much to let slide, though. I couldn't help myself.

My fingers moved almost instinctively, flicking her forehead.

"That's what you get for asking stupid questions to your boyfriend." I muttered, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth.

Yukino blinked, clearly startled by my sudden action.

For a second, her face was a mix of surprise and slight annoyance, but then, I saw it, a hint of a smile playing at the edge of her lips.

"...Anyway, I told someone else this already. But if you must know, I would have been a mess." I added, trying to downplay the weight of her question.

Yukino's face softened slightly, though her gaze remained fixed ahead, not quite meeting mine.

She didn't respond immediately, but as we continued walking, I felt her fingers subtly tighten around my arm, almost imperceptibly.

It was small, but it was enough.

As we reached our destination on the ground floor, Yukino stopped and turned to face me.

There was a gentleness in her eyes that was unfamiliar but also inviting.

It seemed like she wanted to say something more but was struggling to find the right words.

"Why don't you come over for tea?" she finally said softly and sincerely.

"Huh..? Tea... not coffee?" I raised an eyebrow, not entirely expecting her suggestion.

She looked at me, her tone firm. "Tea, or you can leave."

I smirked, feeling a slight tension in the air, but there was something irresistible about her insistence.

"Tea it is then." I said, already moving forward. "However, you won't be getting rid of me that easily."

"Well, I never said you should be leaving right after." She walked away with those words.

…well, we also have a day off tomorrow…

Just as we approached her apartment door, she unlocked it and led me inside.

I followed her in, closing the door behind me as she made her way toward the small hallway, and without turning back, she spoke over her shoulder.

"I will just freshen up a bit." She said, disappearing around the corner.

Left alone in the quiet of her living room, I took a moment to take it all in. My gaze drifted over the shelves, stacked carefully with books, each one handpicked and organized with an unmistakable sense of order.

Titles like 'The Art of War' and 'A Tale of Two Cities' caught my eye, a perfect representation of Yukino's love for combining strategy with classic literature.

Typical Yukino - mixing strategy with classic literature.

I heard the faint sound of running water, but my thoughts were interrupted when I noticed a small potted plant on the windowsill.

It seemed a bit droopy, like it could use some cheering up - much like someone else I knew.

I made my way over to the kitchen, my eyes immediately drawn to the sleek tea machine sitting atop the counter.

It was similar to the one Yukino used frequently in our clubroom.

Next to it was a set of instructions, written on crisp white paper, propped up beside the machine.

For some reason, I instantly knew it was specifically written for Yuigahama to not mess up whenever she came over.

…and I am sure she probably messed up despite that.

Welp, now that's a below-par standard to be compared to, I guess.

Still, I tried to not get anything over my head.

I began to follow the steps outlined on the paper, carefully measuring each ingredient from its designated spot beside the machine.

While I know how to make tea… I got the instant urge to try out this recipe. Maybe I can replicate her flavor?

The scent of jasmine and green tea filled the air as I followed each instruction meticulously.

Honestly, it would be shameful for one to make a bad tea even after the detailed instructions down to the timings and scent.

So not wanting to be called 'ignorant' or 'unskilled' in the art of making tea by my girlfriend, I followed every instruction to the dot, as I prepared our drinks.

….

In just a few minutes, the steam rose from the freshly brewed tea, curling into delicate wisps that filled the air with a soft, calming aroma.

Balancing the two cups, I made my way down the hallway, feeling a quiet sense of satisfaction.

The sight of Yukino emerging from her room made me pause for a moment.

She looked refreshed, her hair flowing loosely over her shoulders, with an ease that was rare to see.

"All done?" I asked as I approached the couch, my voice casual, though I could feel a trace of pride creeping in.

She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips as she caught the scent. "Smells promising."

I carefully placed the cups on the low table between us, feeling a sense of honor and accomplishment at being able to make tea for Yukino using her secret recipe.

"I had a cheat sheet, of course." I admitted with a grin. "No way am I making any noob mistakes here."

Yukino picked up her cup, holding it delicately in her hands as if it were a precious treasure.

"Well, let's see how well you followed them." She said with a small smile, preparing to take a sip.

The anticipation was almost palpable as we both savored our first sips of the perfectly brewed tea.

I took a sip of my own cup.

"Mmm…" I said, trying to sound nonchalant, but a grin betrayed my confidence.

Not too shabby, huh? A perfect blend of earthy notes and just a hint of–!

"It's got character, I will give you that." Yukino interrupted, raising an eyebrow.

Of course she won't admit it.

"Well, I at least need to grind my [Culinary] skill to this [Level] if I want to unlock the [Househusband] hidden job class down the road." I said.

Her eyes softened just a bit, but she kept her composure. "Quite ambitious. But you know, any position here requires strict qualifications. No shortcuts."

"[Quest] accepted." I replied, lifting my cup in a mock toast.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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