The restaurant buzzed like a shaken beehive after the voice's first question.
"…How many people in this restaurant have fallen in love with Hachiman Hikigaya?"
Nobody spoke at first. Everyone's eyes slid toward Hachiman, who sank lower in his seat, as if hiding would cancel the question.
Finally, someone broke the silence.
Hayama cleared his throat. "Three," he said carefully. His calm smile didn't quite hide the tension in his voice.
"Ehhh?! Hayato, don't just blurt that out!" Yumiko grabbed his arm, scandalized. "That's way too many!"
"Just a guess," Hayama said quickly, his eyes flicking toward Hachiman with something between sympathy and curiosity.
"Seven!" Zaimokuza declared, slamming his fist on the table so hard the cups rattled. "Seven maidens have sworn themselves to the dark knight, bound by destiny and passion!"
"…Idiot," Kawasaki muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Maybe… two?" Yui said softly, her face already red. She fidgeted with her menu, not daring to look at Hachiman. "I-I mean, like, maybe just… two people who… kinda… you know…"
"Zero." Yukino's voice was sharp, immediate. She didn't even look at Hachiman, her arms folded tightly across her chest.
"…Obviously zero," Hachiman muttered, echoing her. "The only thing people fall in love with me is my natural ability to repel them."
"I'll say… one." Hiratsuka raised her hand lazily. "And it's probably a mistake."
"Pfft—" Ebina stifled a laugh behind her hand. "You're all aiming too low! I bet it's five. Hikki-kun is way more popular than he realizes. He just gives off that brooding tragic hero vibe!"
"Ughhh, negative one!" Iroha whined, shaking her phone like it owed her money. "Seriously, there is no way anyone's in love with Hikki-senpai! He's, like… him!"
"Excuse you," Hachiman muttered.
Kawasaki crossed her arms, glaring at the table. "…One. But definitely not more than that."
"Three!" Yumiko shouted suddenly, cheeks flushed. "Wait, no, maybe four—no, three! Yeah, three!"
"You just copied Hayato," Ebina teased.
"Shut up!"
The voice cut through all the noise.
"Wrong. Correct answer: Six."
The restaurant fell into stunned silence.
"Six?!" Yumiko yelped, nearly falling off the bench."Six?!" Yui squeaked, her voice cracking."Six?!" Iroha screeched, her phone clattering to the table.
Ebina let out a shriek of joy, clapping her hands. "AHAHAHAHA! Jackpot! I told you, Hikki-kun is secretly irresistible!"
"This is impossible," Yukino said coldly, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of shock.
"…I should've said seven," Zaimokuza muttered, folding his arms dramatically.
"…Why am I not surprised," Hiratsuka sighed, rubbing her temple.
Hachiman's expression was a mask of horror. "…This is it. My life is over. Just throw me in the fryer with the tempura."
"First reveal: Haruno Yukinoshita."
The restaurant went silent again.
Haruno tilted her head, her smile dazzling and dangerous. "Ohhh, me first? What an honor."
"Y-you're joking," Yukino stammered, her carefully built composure cracking.
"Would I joke about something this serious?" Haruno purred.
"Yes!" Yukino snapped instantly.
Haruno laughed, soft and melodic. "True. But not this time."
"This system is broken," Hachiman croaked. "Glitched. Needs debugging. Maybe a full reset."
"Oh, but it isn't," Haruno said sweetly, her grin widening. "Let's take a look together, shall we?"
The lights dimmed. The walls shimmered with projected images.
(Projection)
The shopping district bustled with light and chatter. Yukino and Hachiman walked stiffly side by side, tasked with buying a birthday present for Yui. Their conversation was short, awkward, prickly.
From the other direction, Haruno appeared, graceful and composed.
"Yukino-chan? Out shopping? And with… ohhh."
Her eyes slid to Hachiman, who froze like a deer in headlights.
"So this is the boy you've been spending time with," she said, smiling faintly.
"Sister…" Yukino's tone was sharp, defensive.
Haruno ignored her, stepping closer to Hachiman. "Hmm. Not what I expected. You're not dazzling or fake-polite. You don't even try to impress. You're just… you."
"…Is that supposed to be an insult?" Hachiman muttered.
"Not at all," Haruno said softly. "It's… interesting."
Her inner thought echoed through the projection:
"…So this is Yukino-chan's friend. Strange. Refreshing. I want to see more."
The projection shifted. Another day, later in the year.
The night was quiet, the streets less crowded. Yukino was absent — only Haruno and Hachiman walked side by side.
She smirked at him, her voice lilting. "You know, you're different. Most guys trip over themselves to look good in front of me. You don't even try."
"That's because trying is exhausting," Hachiman said bluntly.
Haruno laughed. "You really are funny, Hikki-kun. Always so sharp."
He glanced at her, expression unreadable. Then he said it:
"…There's no need to keep that high-powered exoskeleton on when it's just us."
Haruno froze mid-step. For a split second, her smile faltered.
"…Exoskeleton?" she repeated.
"You know. The polished act. The perfect Yukinoshita Haruno that dazzles everyone," he said. "You don't have to keep it up right now."
Her eyes widened, though she quickly masked it with a chuckle. "…You're dangerous, you know that? Seeing right through me like that."
The projection highlighted her thought:
"…No one's ever called me out like that before. Not my parents, not classmates, not colleagues. But this boy — Yukino-chan's boy — he saw me. Instantly."
The next projection showed a meeting during the cultural festival . Yukino sat rigid, her pride wounded. Everyone else had turned against her.
Everyone but Hachiman.
He lingered nearby, his presence awkward, his support clumsy — but unwavering.
Haruno's eyes, watching from the shadows, softened faintly.
"…Even when everyone turned on her, he stayed. Reckless. Stubborn. But he stayed. And I cant seem to look away."
"…That honesty. That refusal to bend. I admired it. More than I wanted to admit."
The projection faded.
"EHHHH?!" Yui squeaked, nearly dropping her menu.Iroha shrieked, "No way, no way, no way! That's forbidden!""Forbidden love route," Ebina whispered gleefully."This isn't a dating sim!" Hachiman barked, face crimson."Feels like one," Haruno said cheerfully."Older sister route bonus DLC," Zaimokuza declared dramatically.
Yukino's voice was low, trembling with fury. "…You—"
Haruno leaned back, smiling warmly at her. "Relax, Yukino-chan. It just proves you have good taste."
"…Die," Yukino muttered.
"Harsh~" Haruno sang.
The voice cut in, cold and steady:
"Proceeding to the next reveal."
And with that, the restaurant lights brightened, leaving the group shaken, their first truth out in the open — and five more waiting to be exposed.