Chapter 278: Sudden Incident
"Onii-chan, dinner is ready."
Outside Hikigaya Hachiman's room, Komachi reached out and knocked on the closed door. About a few seconds later, Hikigaya Hachiman's silent response sounded from the room. Immediately followed by approaching footsteps, and as the doorknob twisted open, Hikigaya Hachiman, whose hair was completely messed up like a bird's nest, appeared before Komachi.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?"
He only went upstairs to rest for a while, so why did he make himself look so messy! Looking at Hikigaya Hachiman's bird's nest hairstyle, Komachi's eyelids twitched. She then suppressed the urge to smooth his hair for him.
"I'm fine."
Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head. But looking at his shifty eyes, Komachi truly couldn't believe his statement.
"You can talk to Komachi about anything that's bothering you."
Although she was very concerned about what was troubling Hikigaya Hachiman, forcefully asking for the truth might exacerbate the conflict between siblings and make things worse! Komachi, keenly aware of this danger, pointed out that Hikigaya Hachiman could confide in her, then turned and walked down the stairs.
"Confide?"
Looking at Komachi's retreating back, Hikigaya Hachiman let out a bitter smile. For other things, he would be happy to discuss solutions with Komachi, but for something like starting a harem... Imagining the scene of the siblings sitting on the sofa seriously discussing whether he should start a harem, Hikigaya Hachiman felt incredibly absurd.
He ate dinner in silence. After cleaning the dishes, Hikigaya Hachiman locked himself back in his room. Regarding this, Komachi and Sakura, who were worried about his condition, could only sigh helplessly while looking at his closed door.
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Thursday noon, on the rooftop of Sobu High School's teaching building.
"I'm finished eating, thank you for the meal!"
After quickly finishing the bento Yotsuya Miko had prepared, Hikigaya Hachiman politely expressed his gratitude while closing the lid, then hurriedly left.
"Miko, do you feel like Hikigaya-kun has been acting mysterious lately?"
Watching Hikigaya Hachiman disappear through the doorway, Yurikawa Hana moved closer to Yotsuya Miko's ear and whispered.
"Well, maybe he's just been busy lately?"
Although she agreed with what Yurikawa Hana said in her heart, Yotsuya Miko still tried to defend Hikigaya Hachiman. After all, she had been paying attention to Hikigaya Hachiman and noticed that since last week, the Service Club seemed to have been helping the tennis club captain—that boy who looked even cuter than a girl—with special training. Hikigaya Hachiman leaving right after eating might just be because he was rushing for time...
"But even so, he doesn't need to not say a single word while eating, right?"
When the three of them ate together before, although most of the time it was her and Yotsuya Miko discussing recent events, Hikigaya Hachiman would occasionally interject and join the conversation. But starting Tuesday, and now for three days straight! Except for necessary communication, he hasn't said anything else!
"Uh, actually, I know all that! I've been trying my best to find excuses, so please don't expose me, Hana-chan!"
Unable to find any more excuses to defend Hikigaya Hachiman, Yotsuya Miko pinched her friend's smooth cheek somewhat shamefully, seemingly wanting to vent the resentment she felt from being ignored these past few days onto her.
However, Yotsuya Miko couldn't bear to hurt Yurikawa Hana. After only leaving faint red marks on Yurikawa Hana's cheek, Yotsuya Miko let go of her hand, disheartened, and sulked.
"Seriously, what is wrong with Hikigaya..."
He was perfectly fine talking to her for quite a long time last Monday at noon. She had thought Hikigaya Hachiman was finally ready to accept her feelings. But after just one night, things had completely changed...
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Hikigaya Hachiman silently walked out of the teaching building and arrived at the tennis courts. He had noticed the disappointment in Yotsuya Miko's eyes before he left, but ever since he met Key, his mind was simply too chaotic. Before making a firm decision, Hikigaya Hachiman truly didn't know how to face her.
"In the end, I've become a complete deserter..."
Leaning against the fence, Hikigaya Hachiman looked up at the dazzling sun and murmured to himself.
"Good afternoon, Hachiman~"
After an unknown amount of time passed, the voice of Totsuka Saika suddenly reached Hikigaya Hachiman's ears. Lowering his head to look towards the entrance of the tennis courts, the blurry figure of Totsuka Saika, caused by staring at the sun for too long, gradually became clear.
It was still that cute face that caused one's heart to race. Having encountered something joyful, that face was now blossoming with an incredibly radiant and innocent smile. It felt even more dazzling than the sun itself... Thinking this, Hikigaya Hachiman averted his gaze, no longer looking in that direction.
However, Totsuka Saika didn't seem to notice that Hikigaya Hachiman's state was somewhat off. He easily breached the "Do Not Enter" barrier Hikigaya Hachiman had unconsciously erected around himself, and, mimicking Hikigaya Hachiman, leaned against the fence.
"The weather is very nice today."
Placing his fair right hand above his eyes to shield his sensitive eyes, Totsuka Saika raised his head, looked at the clear, cloudless sky, and initiated a conversation with Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Mhm."
If it were the past, faced with Totsuka Saika's proactive approach, Hikigaya Hachiman would probably have been flustered, like a pure-hearted boy meeting his crush. However, now, upon hearing Totsuka Saika's words, Hikigaya Hachiman merely nodded slightly in response.
"Um... are you unwilling to talk because you find me troublesome?"
Hikigaya Hachiman's indifferent reaction made Totsuka Saika uneasy. Especially since he felt he hadn't made much progress after this period of special training...
"That's not the case."
"Then why..."
Hearing that Hikigaya Hachiman didn't dislike him, Totsuka Saika was about to continue asking Hikigaya Hachiman why he was so cold to him, but then he noticed Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui from the Service Club walking towards them, carrying tennis rackets.
"Why are you here so early today?"
Yukinoshita looked at the two people waiting on the tennis court with surprise, knowing that usually, she and Yuigahama Yui were the ones who arrived first to wait.
"Well, since you're here, let's start the special training for this afternoon."
Their early arrival did not particularly catch Yukinoshita's attention. After putting away their tennis rackets, Yukinoshita organized the three of them to begin the warm-up and physical training before the special training.
Just as they finished warming up and were about to start their tennis match, a group of uninvited guests suddenly appeared at the entrance of the tennis courts.
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