After The Trip

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[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

The field trip finally came to an end.

Yeah, it did.

….and I mean it seriously.

Now, if you're wondering how the whole 'confession' thing went down...

Well, patience. You will get the details soon enough.

Anyway, it was yesterday, around the sun started dipping. I finally reached my territory, my room, my sanctuary.

...And now, here I am, groggily waking up from a surprisingly decent night's sleep.

"Ughhh..." I let out a groan, stretching out on the bed, still half-buried in my blanket. My baggy t-shirt clung to me awkwardly, and my hair stuck up in all directions like I had had an intense fight with a hedgehog - and lost.

With another groan, I tossed the blanket aside and dragged myself up. My body felt heavy, like I was moving through molasses. I shuffled over to the window, pulled back the curtain, and immediately regretted it as the morning sunlight smacked me right in the face.

Squinting, I raised my hand to block the light, but it slipped through the gaps between my fingers, stubbornly making its way to my eyes. I blinked a few times until my vision adjusted, and the world outside slowly came into focus.

The sky was clear, an endless stretch of blue, but there was a chilly breeze that made the windows tremble just a little. Inside my room, the atmosphere was relaxed, almost inviting me to curl back up for another round of sleep.

"What a pleasant morning."

Wait, did I just say that out loud? Really?

What an odd sensation! This isn't like me at all.

Is this what happens when you start dating? Is this a side effect?

I mean, today is Monday of all days.

Shouldn't I be grumbling about the start of another miserable week or something?

–Ring!Ring!

But before I could dive deeper into that thought, my phone rang, jolting me out of my musings.

I groaned again.

My phone, ringing far too early for my liking, just had to ruin the moment.

...and no, it wasn't from Yukinoshita. How do I know without even checking? Simple, the ringtone. I had set a special one just for her.

Dragging my feet, I reached for my phone at the table. The screen lit up with an all-too-familiar number, one I recognized without even having to think.

Seriously, who is bothering me at this hour? I sighed, bracing myself for whatever was about to come next.

"Mmmph... What's the emergency?" I grumbled into the phone, my voice still rough with sleepiness.

["Hey, sunshine! Why don't you come over to my place after school lets out?"] Ryota's voice crackled through the speaker, so cheerful it made me consider tossing my phone out the window.

I groaned, rubbing my eyes with my free hand. "Dude, did you read a sketchy romance novel or something? That invitation has more red flags than a bullfighting convention. Maybe tone down the creep factor a bit?"

["Oh, come on, just drag yourself over here already."] Ryota's persistence was like a dog with a particularly juicy bone - admirable, but incredibly annoying.

"Not a chance." I shot back, hoping my sarcasm would get through to him. "In case you forgot, we just got out of that field trip. Can't a guy have some time for rehab?"

I mean, come on.

The 'single' label no longer applies to yours truly.

It's like a Relationship Rule: [101] - keep the schedule open, just in case some spontaneous plans with Yukinoshita pop up.

That's just basic boyfriend etiquette. Ryota should get that, he has a girlfriend too, after all. Right?

["Look, Hachiman, this isn't just idle chit-chat. We've got serious business to discuss."] Ryota's tone shifted abruptly, like a weather vane in a storm.

"Yeah, well, serious or not, it's not on my radar." I shot back, quickly losing whatever fleeting interest I had in this conversation.

["Trust me, it's very much on your radar whether you like it or not."] He pressed his words relentlessly.

I let out a long sigh. "Fine, fine. No promises, but I will see if I can make it... assuming I am not busy with, you know, my life."

["..."] There was a pause, followed by the sound of Ryota's exasperated sigh. ["Just be there."]

I hung up, rolling my eyes. Another day, another crisis. So much for a quiet morning.

With that settled, well, more like reluctantly agreed upon, I dragged my rare, energized body toward the washroom, half-shuffling, half-trudging.

The thought of splashing cold water on my face was the only thing keeping me moving.

….

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January was nearly over, with just a few days left to endure. The first month of the year always felt like a false start, over before it had really begun, leaving nothing but a few scattered days that didn't quite know where they belonged.

My parents had already left for work, heading out early to dodge the commuter rush and make up for the slacking off they'd been doing lately.

I finished up in the washroom and shuffled into the living room, only to find my sister Komachi standing in the kitchen.

She was striking a rather daunting pose in front of the teapot, like she was about to challenge it to a duel.

Since our parents had finished breakfast earlier, the menu for the morning was set to be Japanese. With the tea ready, Komachi had completed her morning ritual.

"Ah, morning, Big Brother." She greeted, her tone as bright as the morning sun streaming through the window.

"Yep. Morning." I replied, still a bit groggy.

After our usual morning exchange, Komachi leaned back against the counter.

She asked, head tilted, with a knowing glint in her eye. "So, big bro, did you sleep well after the trip?"

"Yeah, I guess. Sleep happened. It usually does, you know." I replied, taking the seat over the table.

Komachi's eyes sparkled mischievously. "You seem a little too upbeat for a Monday. Could it be because of Yukino? Ah, the magic of young love!"

I felt a flush creeping up my neck. She noticed. Damn, women are scarily perceptive, I thought, scrambling for a change of subject.

"Let's hurry up and eat so we can go to school." I deflected, but even I could hear the lack of irritation in my voice.

Komachi's teasing was like a daily vitamin – necessary, but mildly annoying.

"Ah, okay." She carried the tea kettle over to the dining table while making a lot of stepping noises with her slippers on.

Once we were seated, we performed our ritualistic clap and gave thanks for our meal in unison.

During the winter season, the Hikigaya household Japanese meals consisted of primarily warm meals and miso soup. The miso soup's purpose was to warm up your body before you head out. Overflowing love from mom, I suppose.

As we ate in silence, time seemed to stretch and freeze, each second dragging on. Komachi, ever the impatient one, finished her miso soup in record time.

She then rose from her seat, gathering her things, and paused at the threshold, her silhouette framed by the doorway.

Without turning, she called over her shoulder. "I am heading out now. Don't forget to lock the door."

"Okay." I replied with a half-hearted nod.

–THUD!

The door slammed shut behind her with a resounding thud, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the remnants of breakfast. I had just lifted my chopsticks to my mouth when-

–Creak!BANG!

The door flew open with a bang as I nearly dropped the bowl in my hand, as the figure burst back into the room.

It was Komachi, of course.

I mean, if it is not her, who else would have the audacity to slam open the door of our household and get by unscathed.

….and you know what?

In the commotion, I noticed movement near the entryway. Kamakura, who had been curled up in his usual spot, was a fuzzy lump of contentment. The sudden noise jolted him awake, widening his yellow eyes with surprise.

For a moment, he looked like a cartoon character, all puffed-up fur and arched back, ready to face whatever threat had disturbed his slumber.

Upon realizing it was just Komachi, Kamakura's battle-ready stance deflated. His tail drooped, and he slunk away with as much dignity as he could muster, throwing a look over his shoulder that could only be described as feline exasperation.

Man, I felt a bit sorry for him.

Komachi, oblivious to the feline drama she had caused, leaned against the doorframe with a mischievous grin.

"You know, big bro." She began, her tone dripping with sisterly wisdom. "Yukino is perfect for you. She can help you build character!"

"Yeah, well, my character's already overdeveloped, thanks." I grumbled, but the corners of my mouth lifted slightly despite myself.

"Heehe~ I like you anyway. Bye~" With a triumphant giggle, Komachi disappeared again, the door closing behind her with a softer thud this time.

–thud!

….

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The scenery on the way to school was bathed in the lingering hues of after autumn, the leaves clinging to their branches like stubborn memories.

My bike rattled as I continued ahead. Occasionally, there were sounds of rust squeaking coming from the bike somewhere.

But I kept pedaling, not bothered enough to care about it.

As I rolled into the bike parking area, I noticed a few students rushing ahead, clearly in a hurry to avoid the dreaded tardy bell.

I locked up my bike, joining the flow of half-awake bodies making their way toward the front entrance.

With the field trip, the so-called 'biggest event' of the season, finally behind us, the usual routine of high school life resumed, as if nothing had ever happened.

…and as I entered the classroom, ignoring a few unfamiliar looks, I took in the atmosphere, scanning the room.

It seems the classroom was no different - just the same desks, the same faces, the same idle chatter.

Everything had returned to normal.

Whatever that meant.

….

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[To be continued…]

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