Rumi

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[-Continuation-]

[-Location : Chiba Village-]

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[Hachiman's POV]

"...Nhn." She sighed softly before posing a question. "What are you trying to convey, Hikigaya? What's your stance? Are you objecting to my decision to help her?"

"All I can say is, I am here to help you anytime." I declared, making sure she truly and clearly understood my feelings.

…welp, no hurry. Let's deal with her personality slowly.

"Again, it's not about me, but the girl." She reminded me, her voice softening slightly. "But that should be enough."

"Now that's out of the way, can you do me a favor?" I suggested taking out my phone and unlocking it.

"?...what is it?" She questioned, tilting her head sideways, her brows furrowing slightly in curiosity.

Instead of jumping right into my request, I took a step closer to her, so that we were facing each other but still standing side by side

Folding my arms, I adopted a deep and serious voice. "You remember how you guys almost 'kidnapped' my adorable little sister in broad daylight."

My eyes softened as I continued. "You know how devastated and frightened I was when I got the call from her. I nearly had a heart attack due to the sudden surge in my blood pressure, all because of a misunderstanding caused by miscommunication due to the lack of proper communication channels with 'you'."

I emphasised each word with exaggerated gestures and deliberately dramatic expressions.

"..." As I finished my heartfelt plea, I looked at Yukinoshita to gauge her reaction from the corner of my eye.

??!!?I noted the subtle shift in her expression and the way her eyes widened slightly.

It took a moment for Yukinoshita to digest my words and their underlying meaning. Her lips parted slightly as if she were about to speak, but no words emerged.

"..Nanh."

After a brief silence, a breath of exhaustion escaped her lips, and she turned to me, her gaze shifting with newfound understanding, her features softening with....pity?

Wait!! What? Why pity?

"I am at a loss for words." Yukinoshita responded, her expression one of astonishment.

That's a compliment, right?

I mean, how many people out there can make Yukinoshita admit her loss? I bet they can be counted with one hand.

"Every time I think one can't stoop any lower, you prove me wrong, Hikigaya." She remarked with a hint of ill humour.

I shrugged casually, unable to deny the truth in her words, as I am someone pathetically using his sister's 'well being' as an excuse to get a girl's number.

"Well, I do try to exceed expectations." I replied with a smirk, trying to play off her comment as a joke.

"....." But Yukinoshita's gaze held a seriousness that belied any humour in the situation.

"Why so serious? I was just trying to, you know..." I trailed off with a whining tone, looking away like a scolded child.

"Then you need to improve a lot. Your jokes are not cracking any laughs." Yukinoshita remarked with a deadpan expression.

I couldn't help but notice the subtle quiver in her lips, betraying the faint smile she was trying to suppress.

"Yeah, sure." I retorted, choosing to ignore her playful expression. It was easier to pretend I hadn't noticed.

"Here, pass your mobi-!"

"Heea… hahaha~"

As Yukinoshita was agreeing to something, then something unexpected happened - my previous attempt to lighten the mood finally bore fruit with a soft chuckle.

"Heehaha… hahaha~" It continued.

??...But interestingly, it was not from Yukinoshita, and obviously not from me either. It came from the drake behind a tree.

!!?Surprised, I turned to face the source of the laughter, my eyebrows raised in bewilderment.

Likewise, Yukinoshita did the same, but with a startled expression and stiffening up her position.

"Seems like it's not my jokes that need improving, but perhaps the listener needs to loosen up a bit." I grumbled under my breath, a hint of amusement in my voice.

"Pfft…haha… pfhaha!" The chuckle started again.

By one, it was clear that the other party was trying their best not to laugh, but they continued and burst into laughter.

It raised a question in my head.

Was my joke that funny?

Taking a step forward, I felt Yukinoshita retreat, seeking refuge behind me as she slowly took cover, using my back as a shield.

"Hikigaya, hold still. There's someone ahead." She cautioned me, her tone serious, as she peered over my shoulder.

"Who's there?" Yukinoshita uttered it with an uncertain tone.

Guess even she would feel scared when someone sneaks up from behind at a time like this.

"....." Instead of a verbal response, the person willingly revealed themselves, stepping forward slightly.

"Rumi…" Yukinoshita said, fully not sure whether it was her or not because of the darkness.

Ah, it's Tsurumi Rumi, isn't it?

It turned out to be the same girl we were just discussing. And no, I wasn't expecting this encounter.

Hey… Talk about impeccable timing.

The girl took a few more steps, the moonlight fully exposing her.

"Rumi." Yukinoshita called out to her again, closing the distance between them, but this time her voice carried more confidence after verifying her identity. "What are you doing so late at night outside?"

"..." Instead of answering, the little girl glanced over at me first, her eyes reflecting a mixture of curiosity and wariness.

"He is Hikigaya, he is with us, so don't worry." Yukinoshita reassured the girl about my existence.

"..." Despite Yukinoshita's reassurance, the little girl, Rumi, continued to stare at me, and I couldn't help but return the gaze, my expression less than welcoming.

In my experience, being overly friendly with people like her rarely worked out.

Yeah, sometimes being a bit of a jerk really does wonders.

"...it's Hikigaya Hachiman." I stated my name, breaking the silence.

Satisfied with my reply, Yukinoshita looked away, her attention shifting elsewhere.

Why did this brat have to show up now, and from this direction, of all places?

I was just getting to the main point, couldn't you just wait a minute. Right when I was about…. I cursed.

Yukinoshita begins with the same question. "So what are yo–!"

I cut her off. "Yukinoshita, aren't you asking the obvious?" I said with a dry voice.

Once again, I felt her glare, along with another pair of eyes fixed on me.

"What do you think she's doing out here all alone?" I asked.

?!..As if being jolted from her sleep, Yukinoshita's eyes brightened with understanding of the situation.

It's likely for the same reason Yukinoshita did, though I don't know the exact details.

I can pretty much guess what transpired…

Or maybe I was just overthinking it, and nothing like that happened.

Perhaps she just came out for a breath of fresh air. If that's the case, then it's a good thing, I guess.

But either way, even if that is overlooked, her coming out alone is the main problem.

"So you're the girl who has been making Yukinoshita worried." I addressed Rumi, studying her reaction.

.

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[To be continued….]

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