— You know, Hikigaya, you never cease to amaze me. At first, I thought you were just a regular sociophobe, avoiding contact like the plague, then a sociopath who, in principle, should avoid socializing altogether, and now...
— And now what? — I took a sip of coffee, wincing at the excessive bitterness.
— Now I have no idea what to think of you at all, — the girl snorted, tapping her fingers on the table, each tap sending barely noticeable jolts of headache through me.
However, to Yumiko's credit, noticing that her actions were causing me tangible discomfort, she stopped, taking her usual stance—crossing her arms under her chest.
— Just think bad things—it will be easier, and you'll end up with less disappointment, — it was a rather pathetic attempt on my part, but I literally didn't have the strength for more. — And anyway, just let me die in peace.
In response, I received only a short, superiority-filled scoff.
— Hachiman Hikigaya suffering from a hangover—tell anyone, and they won't believe you, — Miura clicked her tongue and shook her head. — I dread to imagine what Yui's reaction would be if she found out.
Stoically finishing the drink, I glanced at the lonely sausage sandwich—the only thing I managed to snatch from the cafeteria. I had absolutely no appetite, but the remnants of my still functioning brain subtly hinted that skipping a meal would be unwise.
— What does she have to do with this? — I automatically brought the roll to my nose, sniffed, and immediately regretted it, feeling a wave of nausea rise to my throat.
— What do you think?
Finding no desire to take even a single bite, I set the unfortunate sandwich aside. Your time will come later, I promise.
— I don't think, Miura, — rubbing my eyes, I leaned back in the chair, wearily looking at my classmate. — I can't.
— Fair point, — judging by her expression, someone was genuinely enjoying watching my miserable state.
And, as luck would have it, I just had to run into Yumiko while trying to sneak out of the room. What was she even doing here? I purposely stayed in bed until the last minute, counting on all potential witnesses to my disgrace being off on sightseeing tours of Kyoto, especially on a free day.
But no, things never happen that easily in life.
...Thankfully, at least I ran into her in the corridor, and not right outside Hiratsuka-sensei's door.
Speaking of which, did she wake up, or is she still sleeping?
— In any case, I won't ask where you managed to find the alcohol or who you drank it with, — thanks for the favor, Yumiko, I'm positively overflowing with gratitude. — You wouldn't give a proper answer anyway, and if you did—I'd regret asking in the first place. So...
She paused briefly, taking a sip of the tea she had ordered for herself so as not to sit there empty-handed.
— Why, Hikigaya?
That was an interesting question, of course.
— Why the sudden interest?
— I want to understand the depth of your idiocy, — Miura shrugged.
I raised an eyebrow.
— I didn't realize you had such grand plans for your life.
— Kami, if you don't want to answer, just say so, — the girl grimaced. — Frankly, your habit of constantly evading an uncomfortable topic is starting to annoy me!
— Do you think I should do the opposite and readily talk about things I dislike? — If so, all I can do is throw my hands up.
— No, it's just that your behavior reminds me of Hayato, — Miura frowned and looked away, rotating her cup.
That's an interesting comparison, to say the least.
Hayato and I are similar?
Hmm...
Putting aside the childish urge to stomp my feet and yell that I have nothing in common with that guy, there might be a grain of truth in the blonde's words.
We both, in a way, prefer to sidestep uncomfortable answers, although our reasons and methods of "escapism" are different.
— So you think Hayato likes to shift responsibility onto others, avoids overly close relationships, and almost never voices his true opinion about people? — I couldn't resist a sarcastic remark tinged with a healthy dose of self-deprecation.
However, I didn't get the reaction I expected from Yumiko.
Instead of snapping back or somehow putting me in my place—how dare I criticize the school darling!—the girl pursed her lips, continuing to hypnotize the floor with her gaze.
— Fine, let's pretend this conversation never happened, — sighing, I closed my eyes.
Any other time, I'd happily discuss this topic, perhaps throwing in a few digs about the girl's taste in men, but right now, all I wanted was to collapse back onto the bed and just pass out for the rest of the evening.
— Probably, — judging by the scrape of chair legs on the floor, Miura stood up. — Go on, get some rest.
— You allow it? — I offered a crooked smile.
— Don't test me, Hikigaya, — my classmate hit the spoon against the saucer, causing a jolt of pain in my head. — Especially when I have such compromising information.
— Do you think anyone would believe you?
— Want to find out?
I shook my head.
— Good. See you later... alcoholic.
As the clatter of her heels faded into the distance, I finally opened my eyes and slowly rose from the chair, considering my next steps, the range of which was not exactly varied.
I should probably take another shower and actually try to nap for an hour or two, hoping that by evening I would finally feel better...
***
— Hachiman!
I grumbled in annoyance, trying to cover myself with the blanket.
— Ha-chi-man! — However, the saving blanket was literally ripped from my grasp. — Get up!
Kami, just leave me alone, is that too much to ask?
— I told you, we should douse him with cold water, he'll wake up instantly, — Doggy, you can take those suggestions and go for a long walk off a short pier.
— I think that would be excessively cruel, — right, Snowball, no need to bully poor me. Even better—take your friend in your tender embrace and waltz right out of the room.
What were Zaimokuza and Totsuka doing anyway? How could they allow the appearance of female specimens in our masculine sanctuary? Although, masculinity and Saika are diametrically opposed concepts...
— Hachiman, open your eyes, — and poking my cheek with a finger is completely unnecessary, not to mention unhygienic.
Mentally cursing everyone possible, I resigned myself to the impossibility of returning to the realm of Morpheus, and, propping myself up on my hands, I somehow managed to peel my eyelids open, looking at the uninvited guests.
— I'm listening intently... — due to the abrupt awakening, my voice was noticeably husky.
However, instead of a coherent reason for the invasion of my personal space, I received a suppressed squeak from Yuigahama, who covered her eyes with her palm.
— Ahem, Hikigaya... — Yukinoshita cleared her throat, looking away. — Please, put on a shirt.
— Mmm? — Not fully awake yet, I looked down at myself.
Ah, right, I took my shirt off before lying down. They were lucky my boxers and pants were still on.
Under any other circumstances, I would probably feel a rush of embarrassment, but right now, the horrible dryness in my mouth concerned me far more. So, with a slight effort, I sat up and reached for the glass of water on the nightstand by the head of the bed.
Taking a noisy drink, I blinked a couple of times, almost fully regaining consciousness, and then finally condescended to put on my shirt, saving Yui from a heatstroke, as it seemed she was moments away from having steam coming out of her ears.
— So what do you want? — I repeated my question, trying to bring my disheveled hair into some semblance of order. Should I just cut it all off again?
— W-we were just wondering where you disappeared to all day, — still seemingly close to a state of shock, Doggy mumbled under her breath.
If she reacts like that to a bare male torso, I dread to think what awaits her in married life. I should advise her future fiancé to keep a defibrillator handy, just in case.
— I was sleeping, imagine that, — I yawned and rubbed my eyes.
— Hikigaya, I don't doubt your capacity to spend a full twenty-four hours in meaningless procrastination, — Yukinoshita, leaning her shoulder against the wall, gave me a cool look. — But where were you all morning?
— And the night! — Yuigahama chimed in, adding, in response to my questioning look: — Totsuka told me.
How does the saying go?
"Every nation has its Judas."
Should I try the legendary way of evading the answer? Since I absolutely did not want to reveal the truth.
— I decided to walk to the vending machines, sat down on the stairs between floors, got lost in thought, and fell asleep, — the key to delivering such nonsense is to maintain the most indifferent expression possible. — Or do you think I secretly snuck out of the hotel, called a taxi, drove to the nearest bar, got drunk with an older woman, and then spent the entire night with her?
I raised an eyebrow at the end, maintaining my unperturbed look.
Yukinoshita shook her head and waved her hand dismissively.
— And I actually hoped I'd get an honest answer? — You should roll your eyes for added effect.
— Hachiman, why are you being such a jerk? We were worried, — Doggy, unlike her friend, seemed more saddened than annoyed by my words. — You should have told us...
— I don't have a habit of reporting every single thing I do, sorry, — I forced my lips into something resembling a smile, mentally patting myself on the head.
Essentially, the strategy I used works almost every time, but it requires a certain degree of skill and a minimal understanding of how the person you're talking to perceives you.
How does a person's consciousness process external information?
The brain examines the data, cross-references it with what is already in the "database." Then, depending on the result, it begins to form a subjective perception.
When external information and internal beliefs clash, a logical conflict arises, the resolution of which depends on completely different factors, such as the authority of the speaker, understanding of the topic being discussed, and personal feelings, including what you already know about them.
The task is greatly simplified, and the risk of revealing an inconvenient truth is minimized only when the probability of conflict is close to zero. Consequently, the information provided should hardly differ from objective reality.
...I'm overthinking this.
Be simpler, Hachiman, you need to be simpler.
Want to lie so no one notices? Don't lie; make your truth look like a lie. The most primitive way is to play on the contrast between the absurdity of two statements, which...
— Hikigaya, please don't go off into your own head when someone is trying to talk to you, — Yukinoshita accompanied her words with finger snaps in front of my nose, which pulled me out of my trance.
— Talk? — I snickered. — Is that what you call a torrent of unending accusations directed at me?
— Don't exaggerate, — Snowball wrinkled her nose.
— What else am I supposed to think? You came in, woke me up, and without giving me a chance to fully regain my senses, immediately barraged me with complaints, — at that, Yuigahama gave an awkward laugh, looking away.
Alright, it seems I managed to slip through without touching on the painful subject. Time to ease up on the defensive.
— Anyway, why were you looking for me? — The essential element of a good diversion, which I've realized lately, is to maintain the general direction of the conversation.
Were we headed north? We keep going, just shifting the vector slightly west. Eventually, we will end up somewhere we didn't plan to be.
— We wanted to go out, all three of us, — Yuigahama, tired of standing, brazenly sat on Zaimokuza's bed.
By the way, where did those two knuckleheads disappear to?
— That's a good idea, of course, — I scratched my cheek, looking at the girl. — But why do you need my glum face tagging along?
— Well-said, I told Yui the same thing, — Yukinoshita offered a hint of a smile.
Am I supposed to be offended?
— Don't say that! — Doggy protested. — We're friends, and friends have to stick together, especially during trips like this!
— Really? Then state the full list of duties so that such incidents don't happen again, — I was probably crossing a line slightly, but remarkably, I didn't intend to insult or hurt the girls in any way. Rather, I was habitually trying to scare them off with this behavior.
— Don't worry, Hikigaya. Upon our return to Chiba, I will personally handwrite you the notes, and then Yui and I will give you an exam on the material learned, — on the one hand, Snowball's phrase could be interpreted as an attempt at a joke. On the other hand, she was fully capable of suggesting it in all seriousness.
— I will only accept a Ministry-approved version that has passed all verification stages and been certified by the relevant regulatory act.
Yukino slowly blinked and tilted her head, staring at me.
— Hikigaya, be honest, does your brain not always keep up with your mouth?
— Why ask a question when the answer is already known? — I gave a short laugh.
— Unfortunately, I still hold out hope for your common sense.
— Which suggests a complete lack of it in your case...
Yui bowed her head.
— Yuki, Hachiman, try to go without fighting over nothing for once, please, — she put her hands together in a prayer gesture.
— Are we fighting? — I deliberately asked Yukinoshita.
The girl, elegantly adjusting a stray lock of hair, snorted.
— Only in your dreams, — wow, just look at that, the pathetic Hikigaya is not worthy of such fervent attention from her imperial highness.
However, no matter what ribald remarks I wanted to make, I needed to wrap up this delightful conversation. Or at least figure out what the girls needed, as they had already made their indignation over my absence quite clear.
— Look, — I raised my hand in the air, — I acknowledge my mistake, next time I'll give a warning...
— Actually, the proper thing to say is: "It won't happen again," — Snowball didn't miss the chance to interrupt me.
I patiently counted to three, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
— I prefer not to make promises about things I don't have control over, — I glanced towards Yukino, trying with every fiber of my being to convey one single request—to shut up for at least a couple of minutes.
Judging by the way she pursed her lips, the message was correctly received.
— So, next time I won't silently disappear, let's settle on that. Right now, I'm worried about something slightly different, — I paused briefly to emphasize the next phrase. — What else do you need from me? I should state right away: I refuse to get down on my knees, — sometimes it's best to smooth out the sharpness of a statement with an awkward joke or an attempt at irony. It lightens the atmosphere.
Yuigahama looked at her friend with a hint of uncertainty. Her friend looked back at her.
Has their bond reached a new level bordering on telepathy? I envy them.
— Well... — apparently reaching some conclusion, Doggy smiled tentatively. — We want to walk around evening Kyoto, so...
She didn't finish the sentence: everything was crystal clear anyway.
I sighed loudly and lowered my head, checking the wall clock out of the corner of my eye.
— Isn't it a bit late? — After all, it was already past five.
— Hiratsuka-sensei gave us permission until eight in the evening, — Yukino replied.
— And my company is mandatory? — I was confirming more than asking, as otherwise, they wouldn't be here.
— Yes! — Yui nodded vigorously, then paused, cleared her throat, and added much more quietly: — However, if you don't want to, we won't insist...
But if I refuse, you'll hold a grudge against me.
Yes, yes, Hachiman is dense, but not that dense.
— Wait for me in the lobby. Or you can stay, but the striptease session will cost you a pretty penny.
As confirmation, I reached for the elastic of my pants.
A moment later, the room finally emptied, granting me the illusion of blissful solitude.
Closing the door behind the girls, I shut my eyes, fighting the urge to call Yuigahama and tell them that she and Yukino should go without me. Not even inventing silly excuses or reasons, just honestly saying: "I don't want to."
Why do I feel obligated to follow their lead? Because I somehow let down their expectations this morning? And why do the girls assume I owe them anything at all? We had no strict agreements on this matter, apart from a small conversation before the trip.
...Which, if I recall correctly, I paid no mind to, instead shrugging it off with an agreement. What was it?
"I agree to everything, except mass suicide; that's a strictly personal matter."
It's all perfectly obvious!
Although, given Yui's nature, she is quite capable of taking my words at face value without catching the irony.
Should I start carrying a sign with me that says: "Do not take the following words seriously"? Because it seems the single word: "Sarcasm" — won't be enough.
***
— I see you weren't exactly in a hurry, — Yukinoshita snorted, thoughtfully looking me over. Yuigahama, standing next to her, patted her friend on the shoulder.
— Don't grumble, Yuki. We need to focus on the positives! — sometimes I'm truly amazed by the depth of positivity radiating from Doggy. — We're finally going out!
— Does yesterday not count? — I winced for a second from a headache that just wouldn't let go.
If Hiratsuka-sensei faces similar consequences after drinking every time, I'm starting to have certain suspicions about her attitude towards masochism.
— Yumiko, Ebina-san, and Saki were with us then. It's not that I mind their company, it's just... — Yui looked away and smiled faintly. — It's not quite the same with them.
Mmm, so I've been placed in a special category of people for her?
— I see, — I cracked my knuckles and nodded toward the door. — Shall we go then? The faster we start, the faster we finish.
— Hachiman! That also applies to you: stop being so gloomy! — Yuigahama pouted, accusingly pointing her index finger at me. — Smile, and the world will become a brighter place!
No problem.
— Ee-ee-ee! — I stretched my lips wide, deliberately baring my teeth.
The girls recoiled in fright.
— Not that much, — Yui cleared her throat, looking everywhere but at me.
— Don't do that again, Hikigaya, it's disgusting, — Yukino shivered.
In response to their complaints, I could only shrug, returning to my usual expression.
First, they tell me to smile, then when I do, they ask me to stop. What fickle individuals, it's horrifying...
— Alright! Where should we go? — Doggy proclaimed as soon as we stepped out of the hotel.
— I thought you already had a plan, — I smirked.
— We did, — Snowball agreed. — But we didn't think you would agree.
I blinked.
— What? — Yukinoshita crossed her arms over her chest, noticing my questioning look. — Hikigaya, we've known you for a while. I personally thought you'd come up with a hundred and one reasons to get out of the walk.
On one hand, she was spot on, as that thought had crossed my mind several times.
On the other hand—then why did you insist so much on my presence?
— But I believed you would agree, — Yui smiled radiantly, taking up a contented position on my right arm. — And a little improvisation never hurt anyone!
— Are you hinting that we're just going to wander aimlessly? — I tried to decipher her phrase.
The girl nodded.
Sighing, I massaged the bridge of my nose.
— You still have a chance to back out, Hikigaya, — Yukino snorted and, as if mocking me, took a spot on my left, thereby completely contradicting her own statement.
— He's not going anywhere! — Yuigahama protested, shamelessly grabbing my arm and pressing it against her chest.
Doggy, I fully understand that the boundaries of personal space blur as social connections deepen, but maybe...
However, why complain unnecessarily? If a beautiful girl wants to snuggle up to you—and isn't trying to pick your pocket or stab you in the liver in the process—you should just shut up and seize the opportunity.
Especially since the look Yukinoshita gave me, noticing her friend's actions, was a worthy payment for any potential discomfort.
— I prefer to stick to the chosen path, — I raised the corners of my lips, addressing the club president predominantly.
— I can tell, — the girl responded glumly.
Someone is definitely in a bad mood.
Could it be jealousy tormenting her?
— So, I don't really want to go to the center, you can't stand the noise. Going too deep is dangerous, it's already dark outside. That means we'll just wander around the neighborhood, — Doggy thoughtfully chewed on her lower lip, turning her head from side to side and, having decided on a direction, pulled me forward somewhere.
— So we'll aimlessly wander until we get tired? — I clarified, just in case.
— Is that bad? The point isn't where we're going, but who we're with! — Yui said instructively, then, hesitating, laughed awkwardly. — I hope that didn't sound too silly...
— On the contrary, that's a very sound thought, — Yukinoshita hastened to reassure her, with my silent approval.
You look at her from the outside, and it seems like Yuigahama is just a simple, good-natured girl with butterflies and a rainbow in her head, where winged unicorns frolic. But, in reality, in some aspects of life, she understands things much better and deeper than Yukino and I combined.
— They don't say for nothing that a meal tastes better when you share it with someone, — Snowball added after a moment of thought.
— One of the few positive aspects of social interactions, — I decided not to be left out. — As much as one might not want to admit it, a person is much more comfortable with a representative of their own kind than alone.
— Even though rare individuals stoically ignore this fact, pretending they don't care? — Yukino raised an eyebrow, not hiding her attempt to needle me.
— Well, self-deception is something that simplifies life, — there was no reason to deny it. — It's like makeup, created to hide one's flaws from others.
Of course, I could have easily woven in a comparison to padded bras, thanks to which some of the fairer sex try to visually compensate for a lack of volume in one part of the body, but I decided to save that mockery for another time. The atmosphere wasn't right.
— Why just for others? — Doggy knitted her brows. — They often use it to make themselves feel beautiful first, and only then for someone else! My mother always told me that a person will be attractive as long as they consider themselves to be.
— Then why use so many tricks for that? — I snorted. — Just convince yourself—and you're done.
— Hikigaya, why do you need a shovel if you have hands?
...Logical.
— Yes, I hadn't thought of that, — judging by her expression, Yukino didn't expect me to agree with her so easily.
— That is typical of you, — the girl quickly recovered from her surprise.
— Fighting! Is! Forbidden! — Yui demonstrably stomped her foot. — Let's talk about a topic that won't make you two argue instead.
— Does such a thing exist? — I couldn't resist a chuckle.
Yuigahama froze, deep in thought.
And judging by the prolonged silence, my question managed to stump her.
However, I don't see any fault of my own here; my perception of the world and Snowball's differ too greatly for there to be an adequate number of common ground points where a conflict of opinion wouldn't arise.
— I've got it! — Doggy shouted abruptly, making me jump in surprise.
— Hachiman, — she turned to me. — Tell me, if you fell in love with one of us, would you confess right away or keep silent until the very end?
...
— I think you broke him, — Yukino drawled with a note of concern in her voice, examining me.
— Hachiman? — Yui shushed her friend and waved her hand in front of my face. — Hachima-aan?
...For the first time in my conscious life, I sincerely wanted to run up to a wall, smash my forehead into it, and slip into a coma.
Well, I often felt that way.
But right now, the desire was so strong that I involuntarily began sizing up a nearby lamppost.
Only the pathetic remnants of my will, mixed with crumbs of self-respect, kept me from turning the mental impulse into reality.
— Yui, — maintaining the most carefree tone possible under the current circumstances, I looked at the girl with a long, steady gaze. — I have only two questions: how did you come up with that, and... why do you need to know?
In principle, I didn't need the answers themselves; everything was clear anyway. She projected the Romeo and Ebina situation onto our group, added a pinch of personal interest, and finished it off with a good dose of impulsiveness. Whatever came to mind, she said.
I, however, needed time. Or a way to most advantageously avoid disclosing information. Or to find an option where everyone wins.
And, as a small addition: to figure out for myself how I would actually answer her question, because the right picture refused to form in my head immediately.
— Um-m-m... Do I have to answer? — Doggy replied uncertainly.
— It would be nice. You want an answer from me, right? A fair exchange and all that, — I hoped Yukino wouldn't interfere, reducing my already limited time limit.
Fortunately, the club president chose to maintain her observer status, enjoying the situation, and specifically—the trap into which Yui had cornered me.
And what's funny is that I'm creating the "trap" myself, because subconsciously, I don't want to abruptly cut off the conversation or settle for a rude answer. It's as if I genuinely want to answer with all my heart, but without... falling flat on my face?
It's a complex feeling, impossible to dissect immediately, even somewhat irrational.
After all, nothing is stopping me from answering with a joke or reducing everything to something absurd, as I did just half an hour ago at the hotel. However, the context of the question and its significance in the current circumstances build insurmountable barricades around me.
— I got curious, well, like, we just ran into something similar with Tobe and Hina, so it came to mind... — Yuigahama rattled off like a machine gun, seemingly trying to rush through the task.
— Got it, understood, — I stopped her babbling with a gesture, fully aware that she was quite capable of wandering into wild territory from which it would be difficult to escape.
Unfortunately, the time I gained wasn't enough to formulate a suitable answer in my head.
No, no one forbids a few minutes of thoughtful silence; that would even be logical. But recent events clearly showed that choosing sensible solutions to problems is not my forte.
Therefore, I would have to improvise on the fly.
In addition, Doggy's expectant gaze involuntarily hurried me. It felt awkward to keep her waiting. I've gone completely soft, haven't I...
— Actually, it's quite obvious. And at the same time, it's not, — when there's no ready-made line, you should always use introductory phrases; in rare cases, you can even pass for smart. — The point is that I would only have two positions or courses of action: to stay silent or to confess honestly; we cut off all other paths immediately. Both cases have their pros and cons, so, logically speaking, I would choose the one that causes the least damage. Furthermore, we shouldn't forget the additional factor: who the object of my affection is. As an example, I'll take Yukinoshita.
Snowball raised an eyebrow in surprise, then narrowed her eyes, starting to radiate menace.
Doggy, on the other hand, frowned in bewilderment and pursed her lips, as if unhappy with my choice, all while releasing my arm.
Smiling at their reaction, I finally stretched freely until I heard a faint click of my shoulder joints.
— I can tell by your faces that you each have your own thoughts about my choice, right? — I shifted my gaze from one girl to the other. — And yet we are only hypothetically talking about things that have no bearing on reality. What would happen then if everything were actually true? Yui, tell me, are we friends?
Yuigahama cautiously nodded.
— Excellent. Yukino, — calling her by her first name felt extremely unnatural, but circumstances demanded it. — Are we friends?
— Of course, — the club president replied with clear sarcasm in her voice.
— Then the next question, — pretending to take her words seriously, I continued to press the issue. — Would the friendship between the three of us be preserved if, hypothetically speaking, I confessed to Yukinoshita?
I spread my arms, waiting for my friends' replies, because I wasn't going to shoulder all the burden myself. They asked an awkward question? They should pay the price.
Yuigahama nervously licked her lips and, meticulously examining the pavement tiles, stretched out a little too carelessly:
— Well... it would be unusual at first, but I think so. After all, something so trivial wouldn't ruin our friendship! — I didn't doubt Doggy's answer for a second.
...Which is slightly depressing.
Because, while my guess might seem overly confident, I have a feeling that my classmate harbored—and, let's assume, still harbors—feelings for me that are far from platonic.
From this perspective, her decision should be interpreted as an act of self-sacrifice, extremely popular in school romance manga, where the protagonist's friend, wiping away tears on the sidelines, watches the girl who took her man, but is unwilling to fight for her feelings, afraid of thus destroying the fragile bonds of friendship.
Yukinoshita, however, took much longer to think, thoughtfully looking straight ahead toward the neon-lit shopping streets of the district.
— Honestly, I don't know. Relationships within a group are too complicated, and extremely volatile. One poorly chosen word can destroy the collective from within... — She fell silent, lost in thought again.
— And I don't know either. In theory, everything seems simple, but in practice, it's much more convoluted, — I smiled weakly, mentally patting myself on the head for the chosen tactic. Because, essentially, thanks to Snowball's answer—again, a perfectly obvious one—I had a chance to back out relatively honestly.
However...
— Although, I would have said the opposite before—easy and clear. You just confess so as not to create unnecessary problems, — I let out a short chuckle at the end.
— And what changed? — Yui asked quietly, without raising her head.
I shrugged.
— I received a number of convincing arguments that allowed me to rethink the theoretical basis of my principles.
Yuigahama looked up at me from under her brows.
— Are you messing with us?
— In a friendly way, — I winked.
— Simply put, this idiot changed his mind, — Yukino snorted.
— Under the influence of circumstances, I should note! — I raised my index finger in the air.
— Yes, yes, — Snowball waved her hand dismissively. — Whatever you say, Hik... Hachiman.
Sigh, it seems another person will constantly call me by my first name now. Not that it's a bad thing.
I was starting to get used to it.
— Well, as for the answer... — I didn't want to leave the question hanging.
I looked up at the sky, where the first stars were beginning to appear.
— Once I fall in love, then I'll start thinking.