After eating, Kousaka Yoshino tidied up the food container and left with Kousaka Daisuke.
They still had things to do.
That's just how the adult world is; there's always something to be busy with.
The ward returned to quiet.
Arata became a bit bored.
To be honest, he was a little tired.
His injuries had healed, but his right leg was still in a thick cast, hanging there.
"Um, excuse me, is this Arata Onii-chan's room?"
Just as he was wondering whether to use demonic flames to shatter the cast, a clear and pleasant female voice, like a silver bell, entered his ears.
Turning his head, Arata saw a very cute girl wearing a nearby middle school uniform.
Hmm.
How to describe her exactly?
Fair skin with a rosy glow, sparkling black bobbed hair, and a vibrant smile.
When she smiled, a lively canine tooth was visible, and a cute cowlick on her head swayed in the wind…
Black over-the-knee socks perfectly showcased her long, slender, beautiful legs, and paired with the middle school sailor uniform, she was simply an adorable loli~
"Uh, well, I am Kousaka Arata, that's right, may I ask who you are?"
After a brief stunned, Arata immediately snapped back to attention, looking her over while instinctively asking the question.
Scanning his memory, he realized he had never seen this girl before.
"Ah, forgive my rudeness."
Hearing his words, the girl formally bowed to him, showing her politeness.
Only then did she explain her purpose.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Hikigaya Komachi. My good-for-nothing Onii-chan has been a trouble to you, so I've come to thank Arata Onii-chan on his behalf."
"Hikigaya?" Yu Ye was taken aback, "Um, Komachi-chan, have you mistaken me for someone else? I don't know anyone named Hikigaya."
"Sigh."
Hearing this, the girl sighed, seemingly worried about her Onii-chan's social skills.
But the next second, she quickly adjusted, flashing a lively smile, "Komachi didn't come to the wrong place~ Didn't Arata Onii-chan get hit by a car while saving a small animal?"
"That's right, but what's the connection?"
Arata was a bit troubled, and felt the surname Hikigaya was somewhat familiar, but he hadn't quite put it together yet.
Hikigaya Komachi, a little embarrassed, fiddled with the corner of her clothes and gently explained.
"It's like this. My good-for-nothing Onii-chan was also there that day, and he was the one who stupidly went out to save that dog first. If Arata Onii-chan hadn't pushed him out of the way, he would be the one lying here now."
"Ah, of course, Komachi isn't saying Onii-chan is stupid…"
At this, she blushed and waved her hands repeatedly.
"So that's how it is, I remember now."
Arata nodded understandingly; with her hint, he finally recalled the memory of that moment.
"But why didn't that guy come himself, and instead sent little Komachi to thank me? That's too rude, isn't it?"
"Uh, I'm very sorry. Arata Onii-chan, my good-for-nothing Onii-chan has caused you trouble. He's really not good at communicating with people, so… so…"
Looking at the girl's somewhat coy and cute appearance, Arata chuckled.
"So you came here secretly to thank me on his behalf, is that right?"
"Ah, no… hmm, yes, that's right." She wanted to refute at first, but seeing Arata's serious gaze, Hikigaya Komachi could only give in.
On one hand, she really wanted to thank him on her Onii-chan's behalf, and on the other hand, she thought it was a good opportunity.
An opportunity for her introverted Onii-chan to make a friend, which is why she secretly came here, hiding it from her Onii-chan who dotes on her.
"Haha, Komachi is really a good little sister. Don't worry, I've received your good intentions."
Arata said with a smile.
"Ha, then…"
Hikigaya Komachi's face lit up. So now, could she take this opportunity to make a small request, to help her Onii-chan gain a potential friend?
"But thanking someone is only meaningful when you do it yourself. I think you've gone to unnecessary trouble."
"Eh? How could that be?"
Hikigaya Komachi was greatly surprised.
In response, Arata simply chuckled and gestured with his chin towards the direction behind her, giving her a hint.
Standing there was a boy with a dark aura and a pair of dead fish eyes.
"What's behind me… Ah! Onii-chan, why are you here?"
Turning around to see the face of the person with dead fish eyes and a dark aura, Hikigaya Komachi exclaimed in surprise.
At the same time, Komachi felt speechless.
This Onii-chan, who dotes on her, probably couldn't rest easy, so he followed her…
With a dark expression, Hikigaya Hachiman walked in and glared at her, then looked at Arata somewhat nervously.
"Um, hello, nice to meet you, my name is Hikigaya Hachiman. Anyway, thank you for saving me!"
He bowed sincerely to Arata, and judging by his slightly trembling hands, he was very embarrassed at that moment.
After all, as a lonely person with no friends, a first-year high school student.
It was already difficult for him to communicate with people, and thanking someone required immense courage.
And a tiny bit of timing.
Seeing this, Arata smiled calmly and waved his hand.
"Don't mention it, Komachi-chan has already thanked me on your behalf, and even if I hadn't saved you, you would just be lying here for a while like me, so don't worry about it."
As he spoke, he winked at Hikigaya Komachi, and the girl playfully made a face at Hikigaya Hachiman, even cutely sticking out her tongue at him.
She didn't feel like she was meddling either; if she hadn't come, her Onii-chan would probably have agonized over thanking him for who knows how long.
On the side, noticing the exchange of glances between the two, Hikigaya Hachiman's face darkened.
"Even if you saved me, Komachi won't be given to you!"
Without thinking, he blurted out this nonsensical statement, which made Hikigaya Komachi extremely embarrassed and annoyed.
"Onii-chan, what are you saying? That's disgusting!"
The girl showed him a look of disgust, and Hikigaya Hachiman's face immediately fell, as if he had been completely struck down.
"H-how could that be? What's disgusting about it?"
This is definitely a sister complex, confirmed.
"Hmph. It's just disgusting!"
He even followed her, and it's not disgusting?
After retorting to her Onii-chan, Hikigaya Komachi turned her cute smiling face towards Arata.
"Well then, Arata Onii-chan, Komachi and this good-for-nothing Onii-chan won't disturb your rest. We'll visit you next time, get well soon~"
"Ah, this is a small gift, please accept it~"
With that, the girl took out a delicate small bag full of cookies from her small purse and handed it to him.
"Alright, thank you for the gift, little Komachi. Receiving such wonderful wishes, I think I can be discharged tomorrow."
As soon as Arata finished speaking, he received a wary look from the sister-complex Onii-chan, Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Hehe~ Then you have to get well soon~"
Hearing his words, the girl immediately laughed happily.
Having a gift one gives acknowledged is undoubtedly a very happy thing.
"Hey, even so, Komachi won't be given to you, don't even think about it…"
"Let's go! Idiot, disgusting stalker Onii-chan!"
Hearing her Onii-chan still making impolite remarks, Hikigaya Komachi angrily pushed him out of the ward.
"Hehe, what an interesting pair of siblings."
The ward returned to quiet once more.
Looking at the cookies in his hand, Arata was in a very pleasant mood.
It must be said, Hikigaya Komachi is indeed cute.
At least she brings a gift when visiting someone; his Onii-chan with the dead fish eyes brought nothing.
"But, Hikigaya Hachiman?… Oh my god, isn't that the dead fish-eyed guy known as the Great Teacher?"
Pondering the name, Arata finally remembered something.
Thinking of this, could the owner of the car that hit him and sent him to the hospital be that beautiful girl named Yukino Yukinoshita?