Chapter 82 – Hachiman and Saika
The atmosphere inside the Service Club room had become… complicated.
And the cause was none other than the man standing before them—the golden boy of Sobu High, Hayama Hayato.
"So, what's your plan now?"
The request had already been accepted, and Yukinoshita Akira had no intention of interfering with Yukinoshita Yukino's decision. This wasn't his business. If she had taken it on, then so be it.
Among all the members of the club, the only one who seemed genuinely invested in this issue was Yuigahama Yui—after all, Miura Yumiko was one of her closest friends.
"I'm not sure yet… But it seems like Yumiko herself is still unsure, too. That's why I wanted to ask for Yuigahama-san's help. They're best friends, after all."
As he spoke, Hayama's gaze naturally turned toward Yui.
Just as guys often confide in their friends before confessing to someone, girls did the same thing—but in their own way.
In this case, Yui could act as the "bridge" between them—a confidant who might slow Yumiko down from making a move too quickly.
"E-eh? But… I don't really know what I'm supposed to do…"
Yuigahama's voice trembled slightly.
Within the "popular group," she had always been the follower—the type who nodded along and avoided confrontation. Thinking for herself wasn't her strong suit.
So when Hayama suddenly placed such a responsibility on her shoulders, she froze, unsure what to do.
"It's fine, Yui. Don't overthink it," Akira said smoothly, his tone calm and assured. "Just mention it casually during one of your conversations—say that Hayama once told you he doesn't plan to date anyone during high school."
"And if Yumiko asks when I heard that… what should I say?"
"Just say you overheard him talking to me. If she starts getting suspicious, you can pin it all on me."
"O-okay, got it."
Hearing Akira's explanation, Yui nodded enthusiastically, looking visibly relieved.
She wasn't good at navigating emotional minefields like this—but with Akira taking the heavier burden, she could finally breathe.
"And if she really looks like she's about to confess," Hayama added, "please let me know in advance, so I can… prepare myself."
"Leave it to me!" Yui declared, puffing out her chest confidently.
The resulting motion drew everyone's attention for all the wrong reasons—particularly Yukino's, whose calm demeanor cracked for a split second.
(Was that deliberate…?)
Meanwhile, both Hayama and Hikigaya Hachiman instinctively averted their eyes. Some things simply weren't safe to look at.
Afterward, the Service Club spent the rest of the meeting discussing various possibilities and countermeasures. When everything was said and done, the sun had already begun to set.
"Thank you… really," Hayama said, bowing politely before leaving.
The soft click of the closing door felt like a sigh of relief filling the room.
"Yukinoshita," Hachiman said after a moment, "this time, you've accepted quite the troublesome request."
"Do you have a problem with that, Hikigaya-kun?"
"Not at all. You're the club president; your decision stands. But still… it's a pretty messy situation."
"Messy doesn't mean impossible. It just requires a bit more effort."
"So you already have a plan, then?"
"Not yet."
Her answer came without hesitation. That was Yukinoshita Yukino—sharp, direct, and honest to a fault.
"At least you're honest about it," Hachiman replied with a faint smirk.
"There's no point hiding it," Yukino said calmly. "This is a club matter. Keeping secrets from each other wouldn't benefit anyone."
Her words were simple—but they carried a quiet sincerity that struck deep.
For Yukinoshita Yukino, the people in this room—Akira, Yui, and Hachiman—were no longer just "club members." They were her friends. People she trusted.
The real ones…
That thought surfaced in Hachiman's mind without warning.
The world was full of masks—students pretending to be model classmates, teachers pretending to be flawless mentors, lovers pretending to be in love.
Even among family, lies were common. Secrets. Facades. Roles.
Hachiman had long stopped believing in anything "genuine." He'd lived too long in the shadows of superficiality to expect otherwise.
And yet… hearing Yukino's words, so simple and unfiltered, made something inside him stir.
He glanced toward Akira, who stood quietly by the window, the last rays of sunlight outlining his calm expression.
It hit him then—he had finally found it.
The real thing.
Yukinoshita Yukino.
Yukinoshita Akira.
Both of them were genuine—people who lived by their truth, unshaken by the world's hypocrisy.
They were what he had been searching for all along.
Knock. Knock.
The sound of someone knocking broke the silence.
"Come in," Yukino said, as composed as ever.
Neither she, Yui, nor Akira looked surprised.
Because, at this point, the late knock had become routine.
The door opened, revealing a familiar figure with silver hair and a soft smile.
"Yahallo, Saika-chan~!" Yui greeted cheerfully.
"Yahallo, Yuigahama-senpai," the newcomer replied with a gentle voice.
Totsuka Saika.
At this point, he was practically an unofficial member of the Service Club—showing up every afternoon without fail.
And his reason for coming? Simple.
To see someone.
"Good afternoon, Hachiman," Saika said with his usual angelic smile.
"Ah… G-good afternoon, Saika," Hachiman stammered, his heart thumping wildly in his chest.
Once again, the atmosphere around him melted into a hazy dream of fluttering cherry blossoms and soft light.
The other three were already desensitized to the sight.
But their reactions differed.
Akira watched with an amused smile, as though blessing the scene. Yukino sighed in resignation. And Yui giggled like an aunt watching her favorite drama unfold.
"Well then," Akira finally said, voice calm but teasing, "I think that's enough for today. Hikigaya-kun, you're free to go."
"Ah—r-right. Then… I'll see you all tomorrow."
Hachiman grabbed his bag almost immediately. Saika, standing beside him, looked every bit like a gentle sweetheart waiting for his partner.
And together, under the trio's silent gaze, they left the room side by side.
"…Looks like they're officially a couple now. Congratulations, congratulations," Akira said lightly.
"Honestly, you should be ashamed," Yukino muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Aren't you afraid of karmic retribution—pairing up two guys, of all things?"
Her tone was exhausted but faintly exasperated.
In truth, this had been going on for weeks now. Saika often dropped by the club specifically to meet Hachiman.
And every single time, it was Akira who "granted permission" for Hachiman to leave early—thus giving the two their quiet moments together.
And because of that… their bond had only grown deeper.
In the end, Akira could only smile knowingly to himself.
Because even in this absurd world—where demons and humans, reality and fiction intertwined—
some feelings, no matter how unexpected, still remained genuine.
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