One of the most amusing psychological traits inherent in a specific type of person is a peculiar apprehension regarding a decision already made. A kind of nasty doubt that arises precisely at the moment when the events stemming from the choice are supposed to take place.
It's like you've already agreed, say, to attend a friend's birthday party; initially, you were burning with enthusiasm, proud to have received the invitation. But a day, two, or an hour later, thoughts begin to sprout in your head, such as, "Damn it, why did I agree?" or "Maybe I should call and cancel everything? No, that would create an unpleasant situation." And ultimately, it all culminates in the realization: "I should have declined." Of course, this doesn't hold true in every single case; there are exceptions, moments that cannot be subject to doubt in any way, but the sheer possibility of this scenario is persistent.
Yet, there is always another option, one that often goes unnoticed by many. How does the saying go? "There are two paths—up or down—but if you have a knife..."
And I had one!
For the record, it's not as if I had any real complaints about Yuigahama. The girl was appealing to me in a way—it's difficult to find a more open and genuinely kind-hearted person in modern society—but this forced necessity to keep her company? That was what was suffocating me from the inside, destroying any attempt to find something positive in the current situation right at the root.
After all, the situation could conceivably be turned around: that Yui is actually in love with me and is trying to subtly hint at her growing attachment. Something like, Hachiman, I hold the most tender and heartfelt feelings for you; please understand them, accept them, and warm me in your passionate embrace.
Unfortunately, there was one small snag that prevented me from sincerely believing in that particular turn of events: even if Doggy originally had such motives, say, based on a sense of guilt—*how could she have caused him to get hit by a car because of her dog*—I suspect that after interacting with me personally, all those inclinations were successfully buried under a thick layer of concrete.
Or perhaps I'm deliberately trying to belittle myself, carefully nurturing a deeply hidden inferiority complex.
In short, my mood was far from great.
— Where is she?
In an attempt to stave off negative musings, I glanced at my phone screen. Someone, following the dreary clichés of the genre, was criminally late. Frankly, I was tired of ignoring the stares of the security guard, who seemed intensely interested in my presence. Well, yeah, I've been standing here for over half an hour, propping up the wall; what's the big deal? I'm not blocking the path, I'm not singing songs, and I'm not begging. But no, he just had to keep giving me the side-eye.
It's his job, I guess.
— H-Hikigaya!
Could it be? Were my prayers finally answered?
Turning my head toward the voice, I spotted a familiar shock of chestnut hair, the owner of which was determinedly trying to push her way through the crowd. You're not quite stout enough for that, Doggy; you're more likely to collapse yourself.
Peeling myself away from the wall, I slowly walked toward her to offer some kind of assistance.
Slipping past two especially portly gentlemen, Yui swiftly made it onto the top step and, seeing me, smiled radiantly, breaking into a light run.
In doing so, she managed to trip over her own foot.
It was fortunate that I had been reasonably prudent and managed to get closer, so I was able to catch the girl, preventing her knees from making a harsh acquaintance with the stone floor.
— Thank you,
Yuigahama mumbled, leaning against my chest, and then, continuing to use me for support, she stood up.
— I haven't worn geta in ages...
— Didn't twist anything?
— No, I don't think so,
Stepping slightly to the side to avoid colliding with the stream of people, she rotated her ankle.
— I'm fine!
— Excellent,
I offered a slight smile, taking an interested look at her attire.
Hmm, now I sort of grasp all the admiration expressed by anime protagonists when the girls they know try on traditional dress. What's so special about it? Just an ordinary orange yukata with simple patterns, cinched by a red obi, and a slightly different hairstyle—*I don't know what it's called, something like a "sphere" held together with hairpins*—but somehow, it looks incredibly adorable.
It's entirely possible that the blood of my ancestors is at play; it must be.
— It definitely suits you. I'd even say, very, very well,
Placing my fingers on my chin, I surveyed my classmate one more time. It would be a crime not to compliment her; she must have put a lot of effort into this. It's not difficult for me to say a few pleasant words, and it will make her happy.
— T-thank you,
Yui lowered her gaze, flustered, nervously fiddling with a burgundy traditional-style pouch that looked more like a small drawstring bag.
— You look pretty good too.
I raised an eyebrow in surprise at that.
No, I understand that reciprocal gratitude is a fundamental part of etiquette, but compared to her, my outfit leaves much to be desired. I should have listened to Komachi, it seems, and dug out something more formal from the closet than my usual T-shirt, which is starting to feel a bit tight in the shoulders, and my worn jeans.
However, this way I preempt any possible misunderstandings, as anyone who glances at me can confidently state: "This guy couldn't care less about what's going on."
— Speaking of which, that is quite an... um-m, interesting haircut,
Hearing her words, I slowly blinked and automatically ran a hand over my shaved temples.
— In a good way or a bad way?
A vital distinction, since my little sister ultimately couldn't give a clear answer on whether the new style suited me or not.
The girl narrowed her eyes and walked around me in a businesslike manner, examining me as if I were an exhibit.
— You want the honest truth?
Yuigahama inquired, apparently having come to the necessary conclusion.
— Usually, when a question is posed in that manner, it implies the worst-case scenario, suggesting the person should brace themselves for criticism,
I smirked.
— Go ahead, drown me in the cruel reality.
Not that she has much chance of dropping my self-esteem below its usual level. I'm already too adept at doing that myself.
— I actually like it. You look a bit younger. I don't know... your eyes look different somehow,
She tilted her head thoughtfully, pressing her index finger to her lips.
— If they used to resemble "dead fish eyes," now they are more...
Yuigahama trailed off, instinctively snapping the fingers of her other hand, as if trying to find the right word.
— Oh, right! A **severe** look!
Wow, that was extremely unexpected. Given that her tone remained serious the entire time, it seems the hairdresser wasn't exactly lying when she suggested this particular style.
— You should get some glasses too, to complete the look.
— My eyesight is perfect.
— Hikigaya, don't be ridiculous; they make non-prescription ones now.
— Why?
— Why? For style!
— Highly persuasive, I must admit,
At that very moment, our dialogue was cut short by a loud signal, followed by the dispatcher's announcement about the imminent departure of the train we needed.
Yui and I exchanged glances and, without coordinating, simultaneously sprinted toward the platform.
Exchanging pleasantries is one thing, but neither of us had any desire to spend another half-hour waiting for the next train.
***
We reached our destination without any trouble; fortunately, to our mutual satisfaction, the train car wasn't packed, so we managed to snag a comfortable seat. More accurately, Yuigahama did, and only after I literally forced her to sit down while I stood next to her. She had been complaining that she wasn't used to the geta yet, and considering how the train sometimes shuddered, especially when braking, the desire to catch the girl in my arms a second time, though it arose, was forcefully pushed away with an act of will.
— Right,
Adjusting the folds of her yukata, Doggy looked around the crowded platform with interest.
— The Fireworks Festival doesn't start for another hour. What should we do? Should we tick off some items from Komachi's list?
— She sent it to you too?
I snorted.
— Yep,
Yui nodded happily.
— Then we can do that,
Taking out my phone, I checked my inbox,
— But first, we need to do one extremely important thing.
— What is it?
I quickly typed a message and sent it. In just a couple of seconds, a reply arrived.
— The third one, then,
I sighed, putting my phone back in my pocket.
— Well, let's go.
And, without waiting for a reply, I was the first to head toward the necessary platform. Yuigahama, startled, caught up and tugged at the sleeve of my T-shirt.
— Hikigaya, where are we going?
— Over there.
— And where is "over there"?
I hummed. She's learning, learning right before my eyes.
— We're going where we need to be.
— And where is it that we need to be?
Doggy furrowed her brows.
— Somewhere we can accomplish an important task, as I said before,
I spoke in a tone as if stating a fundamental truth.
In response to my remark, Yui merely rolled her eyes and lightly hit my shoulder.
— Don't make fun of me, Hikigaya,
and she puffed out her cheeks.
Close, very close. A few more months of practice and you might reach half the power of my little sister.
— As if he's capable of anything else. If Hikigaya were to start answering without the desire to offend his interlocutor, the world would end,
The resulting response made Yuigahama freeze in place, her eyes wide.
— I'm learning from the best...
I was cut off before I could finish by a loud exclamation.
Doggy practically leaped into the air and dashed like a whirlwind toward the voice.
— Yukinon!!!
— Yui, let go, you'll choke me,
Yukinoshita patted her friend's shoulder, seemingly embarrassed by such a public display of affection in a crowded place.
— Aww-w-w, I thought you weren't coming!
Snow-chan, surely you know that you can't easily escape the emotional storm of this one person.
— Well...
The girl conceded, stopped pretending to be annoyed, and put her free arm around Yui.
— An opportunity unexpectedly arose, and I decided to take advantage of it.
— And you didn't even tell me?!
— I wanted to make it a surprise...?
Yukinon attempted to justify herself.
— Really?
Yui pulled her face away from Yukino's chest and narrowed her eyes.
— Really, really,
Her friend replied with a poker face, holding eye contact.
— Yu-ki-non!
And she latched onto Snow-chan with even greater enthusiasm, happily murmuring something.
Yukinoshita smiled gently, but her expression instantly changed the moment she looked at me.
— Don't even think about it,
The girl whispered with her lips only.
In response, I raised an eyebrow.
— About what?
I silently inquired, smirking.
Fine, I won't ruin her beautiful lie.
After all, it sounds much better than if she had honestly admitted that she only came here to repay me for the favor with Kawasaki.
Especially since she had dressed up so well, deciding, like Yui, to wear a purple yukata with a yellow obi. It definitely suited her, but I certainly wouldn't say that out loud. My compliment quota for the day has been exhausted.
***
Nothing had changed since the last time I was here.
It was the same deafening din, the mingled smells of food, and the shouts of vendors inviting patrons to examine the wares displayed on their stalls.
The only difference was that this time, my company wasn't my parents but two young girls. That's where the distinction ended, because, just like back then, I was essentially left to my own devices, as Yuigahama and Yukinoshita were deeply immersed in their conversation, completely forgetting about my presence.
And that was excellent!
Hachiman is smart; Hachiman knows how to make the most advantageous situation for himself.
— Hikigaya, why are you petting your own head? Are you sick?
Snow-chan turned her head toward me.
— If you want to compliment my new haircut, you can say it directly, without compliments disguised as insults,
If she thought she could rile me up, she failed; I was in too good a mood from a quality job done.
— If there was anything to compliment,
Yukino scoffed, returning to her discussion with her friend.
And she didn't add anything else? It really must suit me.
For the next fifteen minutes, I simply wandered around the stalls, looking at the assortment and simultaneously searching for a suitable souvenir for Komachi.
It was going to be a tough job. Yes, my little sister would be happy with almost any gift from me, but I wanted to give her something useful, something she would actually use, and not some trinket to "play with for a minute and toss into the back of a drawer."
Maybe a plush toy? Look, Yukinoshita is actually lingering near a stall selling them.
Oh, right, I have the list. I meant to open it before the trip, but it completely slipped my mind.
Quickly pulling out my phone, I opened the message. Alright, let's see what we have here.
Yakisoba, cotton candy, lemonade, and takoyaki? Seriously? Out of all the possible things, she chose food?
I scratched the back of my head in confusion and shrugged.
Well, if that's what she wants, who am I to object?
Now all I had to do was find the right stalls...
— Oh, Yui, you're here too?!
A loud shout came from behind me. Glancing over, I saw three girls approach Yuigahama, who was standing a couple of meters away from me, looking intently at something in a box. I think I might have run into them at school.
— Sagamin?
Doggy was surprised, turning abruptly toward them.
— Long time no see!
— Hello, hello,
The girl my classmate addressed smiled broadly, adjusting the small bag on her shoulder. Unlike Yui, all three schoolgirls were wearing everyday clothes, which made someone look significantly more attractive in comparison.
No, the Japanese blood in me is strong and pure as spring water, after all.
— Did you come to see the fireworks festival too?
Yuigahama asked.
— Exactly. We decided to get together as a group of girls,
Her acquaintance nodded.
— And you? Did you come alone?
— No, no,
Doggy waved her hands.
— I came with friends too. With Hikigaya and Yukino!
— Hikigaya?
Sagamin narrowed her eyes, completely missing the second name.
— Yep,
The girl turned toward me and pointed her finger.
— Hikigaya Hachiman.
Mentally rolling my eyes, I slowly walked over to the group of schoolgirls so as not to look utterly ridiculous. Because the worst thing you can do in such a situation is stand aside and pretend you don't notice anything; that usually just attracts more attention to yourself. Of course, the feeling of discomfort wouldn't go away—it's awkward joining a conversation with people you don't know—but it would be easier for everyone this way.
— And this is Sagami Minami, she's in our class too,
I raised a slight eyebrow at that.
In the same class? Strange, I feel like we only casually crossed paths a couple of times, but nothing more.
— With a guy, huh?
Minami smirked, examining me with interest.
— So, you're fully utilizing the spirit of youth hanging in the air?
Yes, yes, only an idiot wouldn't pick up on the hidden meaning in your words.
When her gaze clashed with mine, she recoiled slightly.
— What are you talking about?
Yuigahama, despite her simple nature, also clearly grasped the context of the phrase, which made her visibly flustered.
— We're just friends! Right, Hikigaya?
Not the best answer, Doggy. People around might get the impression that you're trying to hide something. There's this funny thing that happens when you try to convince someone of something by invoking another person. It seems harmless, but the opponent subconsciously senses the insecurity in your statement.
Alright, let's try to play this situation to our maximum advantage.
— What?!
I feigned a shocked expression and theatrically clutched my heart.
— You mean my feelings will never be reciprocated?
I put my other palm to my forehead and let out a long, drawn-out moan.
— Ah! My life will never be the same; my heart is shattered, and its shards are ruthlessly trampled by your cruel words,
At the end, I inhaled sharply and stopped playing the hero of a third-rate melodrama, addressing Sagami and her companions in a calm, slightly weary voice:
— It's terrible, isn't it? You're living your life, indulging your vanity with thoughts of beautiful domestic bliss, and then she, in one fell swoop, annihilates all attempts at the root with a single sentence.
Given the tone I used, the irony was painfully obvious.
I usually limit all this to mental commentary, not expressing myself in such a way, but... why not? My mood allows it.
Minami couldn't help but quietly snort with laughter, covering her mouth. Her friends limited themselves to smiles, but I noticed in their eyes that they also appreciated my performance.
Only Yuigahama was looking back and forth between me and her classmates in confusion.
— Too bad you don't have a heart; otherwise, I might have believed you.
I wonder if it's a learned skill or an innate talent—to appear at the most unexpected moment?
— You refuse to understand my inner world, limiting yourself only to my external facade,
I turned my head toward Snow-chan, who was standing a meter away from me. The girl held a plush panda with oddly slanted eyes in her hands.
— Unfortunately, I have not the slightest desire to plunge into the utter darkness of the abyss in search of a hint of light,
Yukino scoffed, walking past me and standing next to Yui, thus using Doggy as a kind of barrier between us.
— That makes it sound like there's nothing human left in me,
I smiled faintly.
— Was there ever?
Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow.
— Before meeting you, definitely. Now I have distinct doubts that you've managed to completely extinguish all the good within me.
— If by "good" you mean the attempts to irritate every person who dares to speak to you, then I dread to imagine what you consider "bad,"
Snow-chan crossed her arms over her chest.
— You'd better forget about it; you'll sleep sounder,
Ah, not bad; we're trading barbs lively, and it's even lifted my spirits.
— Thank you for the advice,
She replied, not hiding her sarcasm.
As soon as she fell silent, Sagami entered our conversation with an uneasy smile.
— Well, I guess we'll be going now?
She looked toward her friends, and they nodded in unison.
— Have fun at the festival.
Finally, Minami gave me a strange look and disappeared into the crowd, followed by her friends, who gave hurried goodbyes.
— You definitely have a talent for driving people away,
Yukino drawled with a hint of stoicism.
— Are you jealous?
— Perhaps,
Snow-chan hummed.
— Um-m, guys, I don't want to interrupt, but the fireworks start in twenty minutes. We should hurry and find a better spot,
Yuigahama cut in.
— Don't worry, we'll make it; I've accounted for everything,
Yukinoshita reassured her.
— Really?
Yui perked up, her expression like a puppy being offered its favorite treat.
— Have I ever lied to you?
The girl smiled sweetly, reaching out and gently stroking her friend's head.
The crowd's roar, the smells in the air intertwining into a bizarre aroma that tickled the nostrils, and two young schoolgirls, just embarking on a difficult path where they would face many sorrows and hardships, but in return, they would gain the chance to find true happiness.
In moments like these, I feel more than ever that this is what **true "youth"** looks like...
— Hikigaya,
Catching Snow-chan's suspicious gaze on me, I just smiled broadly and patted her on the shoulder.
— Don't worry, no matter what anyone says, I'll support you both with everything I have,
And, so as not to interfere with the moment, I walked ahead.
— What is he talking about?
Yuigahama wondered.
— Forget it, just forget it,
Judging by her tone, Yukino definitely had her palm pressed to her face.
Don't worry; someday you'll thank me for this...
***
The longer we walked, the more sullen Yukinoshita's expression became.
— I didn't expect there to be so many people here,
At one point, having reached almost the edge of the paid viewing area, the girl muttered distractedly, glancing at the enormous crowd that had virtually covered the slope.
And why the surprise? It was the best place to watch the fireworks; it would have been strange if it had been deserted.
— Well... I think we can find a spot, right?
Yuigahama tried to cheer up her friend, frantically looking around for a suitable option.
At one point, she looked at me hopefully, but to her great disappointment, I shook my head no. I was definitely the last person she should ask. Besides, I couldn't care less where or how I watched the colorful explosions. I could essentially enjoy them perfectly well on TV.
— Maybe we should walk back a little; perhaps something has opened up?
Snow-chan suggested, a clear tone of defeat in her voice.
Miss "I'm fine" in action. All that was missing was a mug in her hand and a raging inferno behind her.
— Yukino!
Hearing that voice, Yukinoshita distinctly flinched and paled, freezing like a salt pillar.
— Yukino! Little Sister! I'm here! Oh, Hikigaya? You're here too?!
Turning around, I gave a small nod of greeting to Haruno, who was actively waving at us from the VIP section, a slight smirk playing on my lips.
— Come over here!
— Why did you answer her...
Yukino groaned.
All I could do was spread my hands.
— Please blame my good manners for everything,
I joked, and without waiting for her reaction, I slowly headed toward her older sister.
— Um...
Yuigahama uncertainly looked from me to her friend and, with an awkward laugh, followed, quietly whispering to Snow-chan:
— Sorry.
The girl let out a long sigh, mumbled something inarticulately, but judging by the sounds, she was following us.
— So, please welcome—the elite seats for honored guests; you can't just walk in here,
Haruno smiled, leading us to the furthest bench, and then, putting a finger to her lips, she playfully added:
— Take advantage of it while you can.
— You didn't need to,
Yukino clipped, stubbornly refusing to take the offered seat, which resulted in us also standing awkwardly.
— Little Sister, why are you making your friends feel uncomfortable? Come on, come on, I don't bite,
Sitting down on the edge, the older Yukinoshita patted the bench.
Snow-chan glanced at Yuigahama and exhaled loudly, lowering her head.
— Fine, have it your way,
And she demonstratively sat down on the far side, as far away from her relative as possible. Yui had no choice but to take the middle position, becoming a kind of human buffer.
In the end, I was the only one still on my feet. Not that it bothered me, but to avoid attracting excessive attention, I squatted down next to the bench. In any case, it was much better than being crushed in the crowd.
— No, that won't do,
Haruno protested and, grabbing my shoulder, pulled me closer, making me sit right next to her on the very edge, which involuntarily forced me to press against her so I wouldn't fall back onto the ground.
After confirming that I wasn't going to resist, she smiled contentedly:
— Comfortable, Hikigaya?
— It'll suffice,
I answered honestly, shrugging, which I immediately regretted, as I unintentionally brushed her chest with my elbow. Judging by her raised eyebrow, the action did not go unnoticed.
— I see someone's found some courage?
Now she resembled a smug cat cornering a frightened mouse.
— Has the presence of two beautiful girls right next to you influenced you this much?
— Sister!
Yukino reprimanded her, giving Haruno an irritated look.
— Oh, my apologies, I'm so sorry, I must have truly interrupted you. I got completely carried away; I didn't realize I'd spoil the atmosphere of your group date,
She put her hand to her mouth, not at all concealing the blatant provocation in her voice.
I don't think Snow-chan will fall for that...
— It is not a date!
Oh, so this is the Service Club President's unbeatable kryptonite? She even blushed a little, though perhaps I was imagining it because of the shadows. After all, it was already well into twilight.
— Two girls and a guy strolling at a festival, only to end up alone, watching colorful fireworks together, and you claim there's nothing going on? I don't be-lieve it!
The elder Yukinoshita pronounced the last two words slowly, syllable by syllable.
— You don't have to,
Yukino snapped back again.
— Tsk, you're such a feisty one,
Haruno clicked her tongue, shifting her focus to Yui sitting next to her.
— She's difficult to be friends with, isn't she?
Doggy, who had been silently watching the feud unfold, suddenly jumped, not expecting the question to be directed at her.
— What?! No, of course not!
She blinked a couple of times.
— Yukinon is a wonderful person, and I'm genuinely happy that she agreed to be my friend! Yes, sometimes she's hard to understand; she can be overly blunt at times, but that doesn't change the fact that Yukinon is kind and gentle! She's just a little shy about... this...
Toward the end of her passionate speech, Yuigahama grew flustered, realizing that the person she was discussing was sitting only inches away from her.
Mmm, she's definitely blushing now; a crimson flush like that can't be blamed on the play of shadows. Well done, Doggy; you managed to push your friend into an extreme state of embarrassment!
— Is that so,
Haruno murmured, a little taken aback, clearly unprepared for such an outpouring. However, to her credit, she quickly recovered and immediately added:
— And you're even ready to forgive her for trying to steal your beloved?
I slowly and aristocratically raised an eyebrow.
When did our exchange of friendly blows escalate into an exchange of nuclear warheads? Did I miss something?
— Huh? B-beloved?
Yui's eyes widened, and lowering her head, she squeezed the edge of her yukata.
— W-we're friends!
— Oh-ho, so Yukino can relax!
The girl laughed heartily.
— What are you talking about, Sister?! Hikigaya is not my boyfriend!
Now it was Snow-chan's turn to be indignant.
— And he never will be!
Should I put on an injured expression?
That would be difficult, as I was barely suppressing my applause.
— Now, now, I know it's a touchy subject, but why so harsh? Trust your dear older sister: breaking boys' hearts is incredibly easy, but putting them back together is an impossible task,
Haruno lectured her, a pedagogical tone in her voice.
— Right, Hikigaya?
— I couldn't agree more,
Words of gold; they truly touched my soul.
— Finally, someone recognizes the vulnerability of male feelings in this rotten world!
— Poor dear,
The elder Yukinoshita lamented, pressing my arm into her chest and simultaneously moving closer to me, which made us look like a couple cuddling from the outside.
At this point, I was supposed to be fiercely embarrassed and stammer something, but Kami, she was executing this so well. Forget the lewdness, forget the hormones—this was pure admiration for the mastery of trolling.
And, as the final element of the composition, at that very moment, the sky was painted by the first burst of fireworks.
If I possessed more of the spirit of youth, I would have melted into a puddle on the spot and confessed eternal love to the woman sitting next to me until my grave.
Instead, however, I was genuinely enjoying watching Yui and Yukino, whose expressions could serve as an illustration for the word "shock."
To their misfortune, Haruno had no intention of stopping at the achieved effect and continued her artillery bombardment.
— But in that case, since he's not your boyfriend, I can take him for myself,
The girl purred, pressing herself even closer, although it seemed such a thing was no longer physically possible.
— A... a...
Yuigahama's mouth hung open, struggling to say something, but only confused gurgling sounds came out.
— What's wrong? Should I be afraid of sudden competition?
The older Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes, mainly glancing toward her younger sister, who had her lips tightly pressed together and was looking at her with evident fury in her eyes.
Of course, theoretically, I could have stood up for them and put a stop to the rampaging woman...
But I won't.
Because so far, whatever the girls might think, Haruno wasn't crossing certain boundaries, merely teasing them quite harshly—but within reasonable limits.
— I'll interpret your silence as approval. You're not against this arrangement, are you, Hikigaya?
She asked casually.
I let out a prolonged hum, scratching my chin.
— Look, your excuse about us needing to get to know each other better won't work anymore,
For emphasis, she wiggled three extended fingers in the air.
What should I say to her?
A playful agreement could be misunderstood, plus it would be extremely easy for her to exploit, leading to a losing situation for me.
Refusing wasn't an option either; I'd trapped myself. Well, I *could*, but that was a terrible choice with painful consequences.
Lose to the Troll? My self-esteem wouldn't withstand such a blow.
Should I risk it and go all-in?
I thoughtfully raised my gaze to the sky, where the flashes of the fireworks continued to bloom.
— Why so quiet, Hikigaya?
Haruno noticeably poked me in the side with her finger.
— Oh, you're solid; I like it.
And, as if to mock me, she repeated the action several times, increasing the pressure with each attempt.
Alright, all-in it is.
— I was thinking about where we should go on our date,
I replied with maximum serenity, ignoring the pokes.
— I don't really want all those cliché options like going to the movies, the park, or shopping—the mere thought of it is boring.
Haruno happily lifted the corners of her lips, closing her eyes for a second and nodding.
— A great attitude; the thing I dislike most in life is boredom.
— That's what I figured,
I sighed.
— Life is already composed of monotonous things that sometimes make you sick to your stomach. Occasionally, you need to introduce something new.
— Yes, exactly! You are absolutely right,
The girl's voice was full of undisguised approval.
— Therefore...
I met her gaze and smiled softly.
— We will begin our relationship with a trip to a competent psychotherapist.
I watched intently as her mouth slowly opened, and her eyes clearly registered incredible shock.
God, I'm so good!
Where were the thunderous ovations when I needed them?
And then, another, exceptionally powerful fireworks explosion sounded, and shouts of delight erupted from the festival guests everywhere.
Thank you. Thank you, Kami-sama! I knew you'd back me up!
Finally tearing myself away from the sight of my resounding victory, I looked at Yui and Yukino. It must be noted that their expressions were also worth capturing.
— Hikigaya...
Haruno mumbled, then loudly exhaled and, tilting her head back, laughed long and sincerely.
When the fit of merriment subsided, she caught her breath and, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, whispered hoarsely:
— I've never received such an offer before.
— Thank you; I'm glad to hear it,
But perhaps you could stop pressing my arm into your chest so tightly? I am patient, but I'm not a monk, after all.
— Then...
What she wanted to say remained a mystery, as at that very moment, Yukino sprang to her feet.
— The fireworks are over. Let's go!
Without waiting for a response from our side, she grabbed Yui by the hand and pulled her along. Yuigahama obediently followed her, shooting an apologetic glance at us.
— Oh, it seems we might have overdone it a little,
The elder Yukinoshita chuckled, finally releasing me from her "embrace."
— What else would you expect from a typical tsundere?
Getting to my feet, I stretched until my spine cracked.
— Yes, you hit the nail on the head with the personality type once again today,
Haruno stood up from the bench, adjusting her slightly askew yukata.
Afterward, we hurried to catch up with the departed girls; thankfully, they hadn't managed to get far, and there wasn't much opportunity to, as all the festival guests were heading for the exit along with them.
During the time it took us to push our way to the parking lot together, Yukino had calmed down, only occasionally casting annoyed glances at my sister and me.
Finally making it out of the park, I shivered contentedly, feeling the noisy atmosphere of the event slowly lifting. After such experiences, one usually begins to appreciate blessed silence even more.
— So, who needs a ride home?
Haruno asked, approaching her familiar car as if nothing had happened.
Yuigahama looked at me with a worried expression. So did Yuki, but her gaze held more incomprehensible resentment than concern.
— Nah,
I shook my head.
— Thanks for the offer, but I need to clear my head.
— Oh, me too!
Yui quickly added, moving closer.
— So you two should go together.
Whoa, whoa, I didn't realize there was a Brutus hidden in you. Such betrayal, right before my eyes...
— Ah...
It seemed Snow-chan didn't quite agree with her friend's words, but, looking away, she clenched her fists.
— Don't worry, my little sister and I have a heart-to-heart waiting for us,
As if driving the final nail into the coffin, the elder Yukinoshita gently pushed her sister toward the car.
They both got into the back seat, and before driving away, Haruno, through the open window, delivered one last line to me:
— By the way, I know a good psychotherapist. Yukino, you have Hikigaya's phone number, right?
Waiting for an affirmative nod, she continued:
— Excellent, then expect a message from me.
Giving me a playful wink for good measure, she closed the window, and the car immediately sped away.
I blinked slowly.
...So this is what a "Pyrrhic victory" feels like?