Chapter 114: Warmth
Rather than worrying about a winner being decided between the new and old bands, Hachiman thought that Soyo working for both simultaneously might be a peaceful solution.
He recalled hearing about someone who managed over thirty bands at once; surely Soyo could handle two with ease.
What surprised Hachiman was the news that the girl who had proactively sought a confrontation was the one with short, light-grey hair.
He had entered Soyo's nightmares before—that girl was likely Tomori Takamatsu. In his memory, she was a timid, socially anxious girl who barely dared to speak when scolded by Sakiko.
But the girl Subaru described was different. According to Subaru, Tomori had been shouting and arguing fiercely with Soyo. Hachiman had expected the drummer, Taki Shiina, to be the one to lose her cool, or perhaps the pink-haired girl. He never imagined the mousy Tomori would step up to demand a band battle.
'How could someone's personality change so drastically?'
Hachiman shook his head. Then again, after experiencing the collapse of two bands, it wasn't unusual for someone to undergo a major personality shift from the trauma.
The one who tied the knot must be the one to untie it; Soyo was the one who hurt them, so Soyo would have to be the one to resolve it. Subaru and the others were merely caught in the crossfire.
"Thanks for today, Hachiman-kun!" Subaru chirped, thanking him again for covering for her in front of her grandmother.
Though they lived in the same complex, they were in different buildings. They reached a fork in the path and prepared to part ways.
"Hey, come watch us practice sometime!" Subaru suggested.
"Soyo-chan and the rest of us would really love to have you. As our only fan, your support is super important to us."
Since the band hadn't performed a formal live show yet, calling Hachiman their "only fan" wasn't technically wrong.
"The only fan? I'm honored," Hachiman replied with a hint of helplessness.
"I'll be there, even if you don't mention Soyo."
"Hehe." Subaru was just teasing. They all knew about the relationship between Soyo and Hachiman.
Ever since the morning Soyo used Hachiman's phone to message the group chat saying she was fine after her hangover, the secret was out.
Nina had been too dense to realize why a guy was replying for Soyo, but Subaru had caught on immediately and warned her to drop it before things got awkward.
Subaru had assumed they were already living together, but under "interrogation" during practice, Soyo had confessed that they weren't even close to that stage yet.
Knowing that the "elegant" Soyo was just as much of a beginner in love as they were made the "sisters" feel much more at ease.
"Bye-bye! See you next time, Hachiman-kun!" Subaru waved as she walked away. Once she was out of his sight, she let out a small sigh.
The reason she felt the situation was so troublesome wasn't just the band battle—it was the fact that their prospects looked grim. Subaru suspected they might actually lose. To show off their confidence, the opposing band had sent over a short clip of their practice. Their skill level was far beyond what Subaru had expected.
The music was incredible. Subaru had never heard such a powerful score; the composer had to be a genius. Even Momoka had admitted, "We're in trouble. I can tell just from the intro that this composer is terrifyingly good."
Despite only hearing the intro, the technical skill and the raw emotion embedded in the notes were overwhelming. They were being outclassed in every department.
But that didn't mean they were going to give up and just hand Soyo over. While the opposing band was anonymous, Subaru's group had an advantage in popularity: they had Momoka Kawaragi, the former guitarist of Diamond Dust.
"What a bunch of troublesome people," Subaru muttered. It felt like being dragged into a 7:00 PM soap opera—lingering feelings and a refusal to let go. But it was interesting. Fighting a war over a bassist... it felt very "rock and roll."
"I'm getting fired up!" Subaru thought, suddenly filled with the urge to find Soyo and practice some more.
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"I'm almost there," Hachiman messaged Yukino.
"Okay," she replied instantly.
Hachiman walked toward his apartment building. He looked up at the very top floor—Soyo's penthouse. It was past 7:00 PM, yet the windows remained pitch black.
'She's really working hard.'
He knew from Subaru that Soyo's old band had recruited a temporary bassist. Feeling the gap in skill, Soyo was currently holed up in a rented practice room, practicing her heart out. It was a good thing; having a goal was better than the despondency she had displayed before.
He swiped his key card, entered the elevator, and arrived at his floor. Standing before a familiar closed door, he rang the bell.
"It's me."
Since he had messaged ahead, Yukino opened the door almost instantly. She had clearly been waiting right behind it. She peeked out, wearing casual home clothes, her hair tied in a side-swept low ponytail with a red ribbon.
The style made her look less like a schoolgirl and more like a young wife.
"Welcome back," Yukino said with a gentle smile. "Hikigaya-kun."
She was wearing a kitten-patterned apron. Her smile was soft and warm, a stark contrast to the worry and gloom he had seen on her face days prior. Hachiman actually froze for a second.
"Yeah... I'm back."
As he spoke the words, he felt a sudden, powerful sense of déjà vu.
It felt like a husband returning home after a long day of labor to a wife who had prepared a feast.
Between the dim hallway and the warm glow of Yukino's home, the feeling was overwhelming. The aroma of food wafting from inside only added to the sense of domestic coziness—a warmth that suggested all the hard work was worth it.
Hachiman never thought he'd feel this "warmth of home" in another girl's house.
Seeing him stare at her, Yukino blinked, wondering if she had something on her face.
Then she realized the implication of their exchange.
Welcome back. I'm back.
It was the dialogue of a married couple. A flush of crimson crept up her porcelain neck and onto her cheeks.
"In... just come in," she said, looking down to hide her embarrassment and stepping aside.
Hachiman coughed to mask his own slight loss of composure.
"Right."
He stepped inside and changed into the slippers she had prepared for him. Having visited several times, he was no stranger here. He walked to the kitchen to wash his hands, and the feeling of "being home" only grew. Without realizing it, he had already carved out a place for himself in Yukino's life.
In the kitchen, the table was laden with dishes, and more were being kept warm in the steamer. It was an incredibly lavish spread.
Yukino was truly a master of housework and cooking; her "feminine power" was off the charts.
'She'd make a great wife' Hachiman thought, his appetite piqued despite the cola he'd had earlier.
After closing the door, Yukino took a deep breath to calm her racing heart, lest Hagoromo Gitsune mock her. Inside her, the fox spirit was already rolling her eyes, thinking,
'What a little girl.'
"I've got it," Yukino said when she saw Hachiman reaching for the warm dishes in the steamer. "Just sit at the table."
"It's just a little help," Hachiman insisted, bringing the remaining dishes over.
"Looking at this spread, I feel a bit overwhelmed."
"Don't exaggerate," Yukino said, though she couldn't hide her happiness.
Hachiman noticed a bottle of champagne on the table, decorated with a bow. It was about 9% alcohol—slightly higher than beer.
"Did something good happen?" he asked. Opening champagne usually meant a celebration.
"Nothing specific. I just felt like today was a good day."
Yukino didn't elaborate. For her, today was spectacular.
The death of the Master of Lust had forced the Post Office underground. They were so afraid of her being exposed that they had stopped sending her missions.
They had even changed her "skin" as a sorcerer—altering the color, power, and vibration of her cursed energy so that no one could recognize her.
Now, even if she used her powers in front of Hachiman, she would be safe.
She took two crystal flutes from the cabinet. She didn't really know how to drink; she just wanted the celebratory vibe.
The pop of the cork and the rising bubbles felt auspicious.
The bottle had actually been left there by her sister, Haruno, for her housewarming party, but Haruno had been too busy with the Yukinoshita-Shinomiya partnership to stay and finish it.
"Is it okay for you to drink?" Hachiman asked. He saw she was in high spirits, but he didn't know her tolerance.
"A little should be fine," Yukino said, though her tone was uncertain.
She relied on her newly strengthened physique and cursed energy to handle it.
"Let me," Hachiman said, seeing her struggle with the bottle.
"I'll loosen the cork, but you do the honors."
He didn't want the liquid spraying everywhere; otherwise, they'd be taking a bath instead of eating dinner.
Yukino handed it over, afraid her own skyrocketing physical strength might accidentally crush the glass. Hachiman carefully used the opener to start the cork.
"Here."
"Thanks."
With a gentle pull, the champagne hissed and let out a crisp pop. Yukino poured two full glasses—brimming to the top. Hachiman's eyebrows twitched; normally you only fill a flute one-third of the way, but Yukino was clearly feeling bold today. The golden liquid sparkled in the glass.
They raised their glasses. "Cheers!" x2
Yukino took a large gulp. It was sweeter than she expected, almost like fruit wine. She immediately began serving Hachiman, offering a mix of French, Japanese, and Chinese dishes, all plated with meticulous care.
Her appetite had grown significantly lately—a sign of her body's "second growth" phase.
Hachiman noticed something odd.
'Is her home outfit getting a bit tight? She seems to be... growing.'
As they ate and the bottle emptied, a seductive flush appeared on Yukino's pale skin. She wasn't drunk yet, but she was definitely feeling the buzz.
"Hikigaya-kun, I'm really, really happy today," she said, looking at the empty bottle. "Should we open another?"
Hachiman looked at her misty eyes.
"That's enough. One bottle is plenty."
"No, it's rare that we drink together. One more glass!"
She shook her head stubbornly, looking adorable in her slightly dazed state—a far cry from her usual serious self. Hachiman wanted to laugh. He realized her earlier "graceful" celebration was just a front; she was a total lightweight.
But then, Yukino's expression shifted. She let out a long sigh, and her eyes turned red.
"Hikigaya-kun... it's so good." She hugged the empty bottle, a visible sadness washing over her. Tears began to well up.
"I really thought... that days like this, sitting together and eating a meal in peace... would never happen again."
Hachiman's smile faded.
"What's wrong?"
Inside Yukino, Hagoromo Gitsune's heart tightened.
'Oh no. She's going to leak it.'
Important announcement
Hello everyone!
Thank you as always for your support!
There are 2 new Fanfictions!
Emiya Shirou will change the fake Holy Grail War
A false Holy Grail War was held in Snowfield City.
Consequently, the Noble Phantasms of Gilgamesh and Enkidu flew wildly like rain. The Pale Rider rapidly infected the entire city. The Avenger Heracles surged with overflowing black mud. Even the Zealot, who possessed the eighteen secret techniques of the Hassans, had to struggle just to survive in the cracks between them.
A battlefield where gods fight is exactly like this; a duel between a human and a Heroic Spirit is, after all, a distant and irrelevant myth.
That is, if the silhouette of a certain red-haired "faker" young man hadn't happened to—randomly, inadvertently, and accidentally—pass by this world's counterfeit Holy Grail War.
COTE: Katsuragi Keima's battle of wits in love
The youth, Katsuragi Keima, was holding his game console, posting walkthroughs for various galge (dating sims) across different forums.
At that very moment, Katsuragi Keima received a new message.
[To the Capturing God]
[I've heard the rumors that you can capture any girl, regardless of who she is. While I find it unlikely, if it is true, there are many girls waiting for your capture. (This will be a super-high difficulty galge unlike anything you have ever experienced.)]
"What's this? An email full of such provocative undertones... who does he think I am? The God does not run away!"
Katsuragi Keima pressed the confirmation button.
Welcome to the Classroom of the Elite!
(Katsuragi Keima is the protagonist of The World God Only Know)
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting