Reunion 

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[-Continuation-]

[-Location : Chiba Village-]

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[Third Person View]

While Hachiman and Ryota just landed and started heading towards the group.

There is an intense conversation taking place within the group.

The same group of nine high schools is now sitting on the table under a kettle, with five on the side and the other four opposite the bench.

However, rather than a joyous atmosphere, one would expect among them a heated conversation taking place between two individuals.

Particularly between Yukinoshita Yukino and Miura Yumiko.

The intensity is no less than usual, despite both of them sitting at opposite corners of the bench, with three people in between them acting as a bridge.

Naturally, Komachi was sitting beside Yukino, while Yui and Ebina were on her other side, leaving Tobe to sit directly across from Miura. Hayama and Touska sat next to him, making it officially the guy's side.

"You just have a persecution complex." Yukino said indifferently.

It didn't sound as if she was talking about just Miura, as she added. "You are aware of your inferiority, so you feel as if you are being looked down upon, am I not correct?"

Miura scowled. "Look at you. It's because you say crap like that." She shot up from the bench like a rocket.

"Yumiko, stop it." Hayama's low voice stopped Miura in her tracks.

There was no presence of his usual glib joking, just a steely demeanor that sent shivers down everyone's spines.

"Hayato… hmph!" For a moment, Miura seemed stunned at Hayama's attitude, but she backed down without resistance.

"..." After that, she refused to open her mouth altogether.

–silence

A gloomy silence fell over the proceedings. Nobody was in the mood for any talking, and they all made a kind of pact of decision that they would work things out the next day.

They all knew that this conversation had started with good intentions - an effort to help an elementary school girl fit in among her peers.

That's when a new voice chimed in from the side -

"Hey Kiddos! You shouldn't fight amongst yourself…"

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[Hachiman's POV]

"Hey, Kiddos! You shouldn't be fighting amongst yourself when you are here to guide and help elementary school kids…"

Ryota chimed in, boldly stepping in front of them, not caring for the uncomfortable silence that had settled around them.

He had overheard the heated exchange between Yukinoshita and Miura and couldn't resist intervening, causing the whole group to turn their attention towards him(:us).

Hey, don't just butt in their conversation when you are meeting them for the first time.

"??!Who the HELL!?" As you would expect, Miura's face twisted in anger as she questioned him.

At the same time, Yukinoshita asked. "And, who precisely are you?"

The drastic shift in her tone was clear, from an annoyance to her usual plain… but slightly cautious one.

The people around the table also began to notice our presence as they became curious and wary of the unexpected interaction of a random dude with me standing behind.

However, their gazes are more focused on Ryota, who stood tall at six feet with his dark hair pulled back into a small ponytail.

Instantly, I noticed the atmosphere relax as they took in his good looks.

Damn. Having [Charm] stats at max has so many privileges.

Hold on. I don't think just looking good doesn't have this kind of effect. There has to be something more than looks.

I mean, Yukinoshita is undeniably beautiful, but she is incapable of performing such an action. In fact, she tends to push people away rather than draw them in.

And yet here is Ryota, dressed casually but exuding an aura of importance and respect. Not the kind that demands it, but the kind that simply commands it.

…hmm, that also makes sense, as I also couldn't pull off something like that despite being 'good looking' myself.

"Who are you, Mister?" Miura finally spoke up again, her tone far from what she originally intended.

See, there you have it. The change in the atmosphere was evident as much as the shift in her tone.

"Haah, my apologies. You can call me Ryota." He introduced.

Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow, clearly uninterested in his introduction. Her gaze wandered behind Ryota, as if searching for something or someone else.

Then she spoke. "Hikigaya. Is that you behind?"

For some reason, I felt the tone of her question seemed like she finally had found her familiar-looking 'target' to play with. Yeah, she is looking at me.

"Yeah, it's me." I replied, taking a step closer to make myself more 'visible.'

"Big Brother! It really is you!" Komachi exclaimed with joy upon recognizing me.

I knew that brat hadn't noticed me until just now, but now she is acting like she mistook me for someone else.

Yeah, that's how our reunion happened, I guess….

".....are we disturbing something important?" I added to my previous statement, giving a full scan to all the people present.

"Nothing like that, actually…" Yuigahama is the one who replied to me with the least convincing expression on her face.

How does she expect me to take her word with such an expression on her face? Well, it's not like I don't have any idea what's happening.

"Good." I replied, not pressing.

Ignoring the tension in the air, I took a seat on the bench while Ryota leaned against a wooden pillar nearby.

"So yeah, this is Ryota." I announced it to everyone gathered. "He will be joining us for volunteer work."

Totsuka, always the friendly one, gave Ryota a warm smile. "Nice to meet you. I didn't know Hachiman had other friends."

Man, that was touching. Wish I had more people like him around.

"HE is Saika Totsuka, my classmate." Ignoring everyone, I introduced, while making sure to give him the correct hint.

Understandingly, Ryota returned the smile. "Thanks, Totsuka." Then he turned to me and joked. "Luckily, Hachiman here hasn't scared me off yet."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his unnecessary comment.

"Haha…" - "Heeheehee…" But it successfully generated a laugh from two people.

Exactly, Komachi and Yuigahama. Traitors.

But that was only them.

The unacceptance on some people's faces is evident. But it was not aimed at Ryota but rather at me. Yeah, the sense of strong rejection he is facing was caused by my own loner status. If it was someone else who made the introduction, the reaction would definitely be different.

But I was the least bit worried about that…

"Wait!! That's you, right? Komachi?" Ryota exclaimed, slamming his hands on the table, surprised his eyes sparkled brightly, like he was getting to see his favourite celebrity for the first time.

See, he is more than capable of handling the situation. But holy smoke! He really is smooth. Even I was caught off guard.

Not only me, it seems everyone had the same expression, especially Komachi.

"...Yeah, it's me, hee~" Komachi shot up from her seat and responded, smiling slightly nervously at the sudden spotlight she was receiving.

"That's Yukinoshita, I presume. Hachiman's Club President- I mean captain."

For a moment, it was all like an award ceremony was going on from one person to another.

"Yuigahama, Hachiman didn't say he had such a cutie as his friend." Ryota said, winking at me.

Stop it, dude. You are digging the wrong hole.

Yuigahama just sat in her seat, likely following Yukinoshita, but a slight pinkish blush on the cheeks was present because of the unexpected compliment she received.

But now that I look at the reactions, isn't he siding a little too much with our side? I can already see some grumpy faces, especially a certain blond-haired bitch.

I thought he would be taking on a more neutral approach, but guess not.

Ryota stopped his 'self-introduction' with the names he already knew from me.

"So, Hayama, having FUN?" I asked, eyeing two supposed individuals with an amused smile and a lite grin.

"Does it look like that?" Hayama replied with a defeated tone.

"Absolutely." I said with a straight face.

Hayama chimed in. "But Hikigaya, I never thought I would see the day when you'd willingly bring someone along. What's the catch?"

"Oh yeah, it seems our Mr. Perfect isn't perfect anymore, who knows you can also be 'wrong' at times." I replied with a cracked smile.

"It seems so…" Hayama also responded in the same way.

This time, Ryota chimed in. "Hachiman, I don't know you are capable of making such a good friend." 

He continued without stopping. "Well, maybe it's not about him being capable enough or not, but rather the capability of people around you to have it in them to be friends with a person like you."

"Now that I think about it, that might be really true." Hayama compiled.

Weirdly enough, they both agreed on something before even having a chance to greet each other.

"Hey there. I am Ryota." Ryota said, finally extending his hand towards the person who happened to sit adjacent to him.

Hayama accepted. "Yeah, nice to meet you. I am Hayama."

It's good that they are hitting off well, but I feel uneasy for someone else.

However, a certain person is definitely not amused by this new greeting.

No. Not Yukinoshita. Don't underestimate her. It is a fact that she doesn't view Hayama in a good light, for whatever reason. But that doesn't mean she is the type to be disturbed by his well-being. She would be happy as long as they were not concerned or middling with her life.

Then who is it, you ask? Obviously, Miura Yumiko. If it is not her, who could it be?

But before she could express her distrust, someone else beat her to it.

This time around, it was Yukinoshita.

"So, Hikigaya, I take it you already asked Ms. Hiratsuka for permission to bring someone with you." She inquired.

"Oh, yeah, of course I did. What do you think of me anyway?" I added. "In fact, that's the first thing I did."

..…actually, I completely forgot about that initially until I was just an hour's distance from reaching here.

The moment I remembered there was smoothing like that to do, I immediately called Ms. Hiratsuka, and asked about the permission, and yeah, she did agree.

And if you are wondering how exactly it went and the details, I will tell you some other time.

"I am surprised she accepted easily."

…maybe not. Seems like I need to spill the beans now itself.

"Frankly, it was not that difficult, even I was a little surprised by how fast she agreed."

"You are making me curious, Hikki." Yuigahama peered her head, intriguingly.

"It's really simple. All I did was inform her that I would be bringing in an extra pair of free labour. Well, I also had to remind her that she took Komachi without a word, and she accepted it."

The way I phrase it will make all the difference.

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[To be continued….]

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