The Exorcism Tale of Hachiman

After all, if it were Key, he would never hesitate for so long; he would have made a decision and turned his ideas into action much earlier.

By comparison, he was absolutely terrible!

"So, is Hikigaya-kun saying all this to make me give up?"

Hachiman Hikigaya's gratitude did not make Miko Yotsuya happy.

On the contrary, she felt a bad feeling.

This scene, this dialogue... is just like the situation in the novels I read in my spare time, where the protagonist faces a loser supporting character.

But it's very strange.

She is neither blonde, nor arrogant, nor is she Hachiman Hikigaya's childhood friend.

Their acquaintance clearly took an unexpected turn during the "Evil Spirit Crisis" arc.

If reality were a novel, I should be the female lead, so why did things turn out this way?

"No, I'm just a little confused..."

Hachiman Hikigaya gently shook his head, rejecting Miko Yotsuya's conjecture.

On ordinary days, he and Yotsuya Miko seemed to have no interaction other than with evil spirits, but their daily noon rooftop lunch had long become a part of his life.

He didn't know when it started, but Yotsuya Miko's gentle and virtuous appearance had been etched into his heart.

Giving up on Yotsuya Miko would be tantamount to ripping out his heart.

"confused?"

Hearing that Hachiman Hikigaya wasn't what she had guessed, Miko Yotsuya breathed a slight sigh of relief.

She then repeated what Hachiman Hikigaya had just said, and after a moment's thought, she understood what Hachiman Hikigaya was struggling with.

"Is it because of Yukinoshita and Yuigahama?"

Although she used a questioning tone, Yotsuya Miko's tone clearly indicated that it was these two people who were bothering Hikigaya Hachiman.

No, perhaps... we should add her too? The three of them are the reason why Hachiman Hikigaya is feeling confused.

"You know, oh, those two..."

Miko Yotsuya knew about Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama, but Hachiman Hikigaya wasn't surprised.

Yukino Yukinoshita is a star at Soubu High School, and even someone who was previously marginalized would be recognized by him. There's no reason why Miko Yotsuya wouldn't know about Yukino Yukinoshita's existence.

As for Yui Yuigahama, who is the follower of Yumiko Miura, nicknamed "Queen" at Soubu High School, Miko Yotsuya should have heard of her as well...

"After all, Hikigaya-kun goes to the Service Club every afternoon."

When Yotsuya Miko said this, her gaze towards Hikigaya Hachiman also carried a hint of complexity.

I spent lunch with her, and in the afternoon with two other girls.

She should have known what this meant long ago.

"Since you say you're feeling lost, it means you haven't made a decision yet. Has Hikigaya-kun come up with a solution?"

What had been deliberately forgotten was now brought up by Yotsuya Miko. Hachiman Hikigaya glanced to the side, only to find that the two of them had unknowingly walked onto a secluded road under Yotsuya Miko's guidance.

Is there a solution?

The method Key had given him quickly came to mind, and then Hachiman Hikigaya shook his head.

It's impossible; a harem is something like that...

From the moment he heard the method but still hesitated, that method was already doomed to fail!

"Are you planning to choose one of the three? If so, I'd like to recommend myself!"

Seeing the conflicted look on Hachiman Hikigaya's face, Miko Yotsuya jokingly volunteered herself.

After all, if Hachiman Hikigaya chose her, he would only have to endure the pain of a broken relationship once. But if he had to choose between the other two...

"Can one truly bear the pain of two breakups?"

Looking at Hachiman Hikigaya's profile, Miko Yotsuya asked earnestly.

"......"

Hachiman Hikigaya kept his head down and did not respond to Miko Yotsuya's question.

Indeed, as Yotsuya Miko said, if one wants to escape, choosing Yotsuya Miko is undoubtedly the method with the least loss.

but!

Is emotion something that can really be measured?

If it has reached the point where you need to weigh the gains and losses, can such feelings still be considered feelings?

And most importantly...

Do I really like them?

Looking at the expectation hidden in Yotsuya Miko's eyes, Hikigaya Hachiman asked himself a question.

Having lived for so many years, apart from the familial love he had received from Komachi, he simply couldn't distinguish the blurred line between friendship and love when it came to female friends.

Perhaps all three women have feelings for him, but what is his true attitude towards them?

Does he like her? Or is it simply a response to avoid betraying their feelings?

"Unable to make a choice?"

Seeing that Hachiman Hikigaya did not answer, Miko Yotsuya's eyes revealed disappointment and a small hint of joy.

Disappointment stemmed from the fact that Hachiman Hikigaya hadn't given her a clear answer.

The joy comes from the fact that this situation proves that there is a place for her in Hachiman Hikigaya's heart, and that her feelings are not unrequited!

"At least it's much better than being hopeless before, isn't it?"

Miko Yotsuya kept reassuring herself.

Compared to when Hachiman Hikigaya directly refused her in the past, her situation is much better now.

But what should she do next?

Does this mean that I have to stage a real-life 'palace intrigue' in front of Hachiman Hikigaya and the other two to kick them out of Hachiman Hikigaya's heart?

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I can't give you a definite answer right now..."

It was a mistake to approach Yotsuya Miko from the very beginning, and Hikigaya Hachiman had already made that decision.

He hadn't even made up his mind yet, but he rashly said those things to Yotsuya Miko. He was really terrible!

Chapter 292 This is your wisest decision

"No, rather, Hachiman-kun made me wake up too..."

If it weren't for Hachiman Hikigaya's previous remarks, Miko Yotsuya would probably still be deliberately ignoring the existence of Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama.

But it is different now.

"Running away won't solve anything. If we want to win over Hikigaya-kun, then we'll have to announce our existence to those two, right?"

Thinking of this, Yotsuya Miko felt somewhat troubled.

After all, her two rivals were just as good-looking as her, and besides, one had a better figure than her, while the other was quite intelligent and came from a good family.

"However, I am not without my advantages!"

Yotsuya Miko clenched her fists to encourage herself.

Her ability to see evil spirits, which she had previously loathed, now became a natural advantage over the other two!

.............

"Ah, Onii-chan is back already?"

When Hachiman Hikigaya returned home after seeing Miko Yotsuya off, Illya and Irisviel were already gone.

Along with the mother and daughter, Sakura also disappeared.

Where is Sakura?

Entering the living room, Hachiman Hikigaya saw only Komachi lying on the sofa. He wasn't alarmed, but rather puzzled by Sakura's whereabouts.

"Sakura was invited by Illya to stay overnight at her house."

Komachi fiddled with her phone, answering Hachiman Hikigaya's question without looking up.

After a while, once Komachi had finished the game, she looked up at Hachiman Hikigaya, who was sitting silently on the sofa like a statue, and asked curiously:

"Onii-chan, what's wrong?"

Mingming forced Jianzi to go home under her physical force.

Logically speaking, Hachiman Hikigaya should be beaming with a happy, silly grin right now, so why is he putting on such a bitter and resentful expression?

"Hey, Komachi, if three people were really nice to you, who would you choose?"

Hachiman Hikigaya eventually turned to Komachi for help.

"Those three are Yui-nee, Yukino-nee, and Miko-nee, right?"

Hearing Hachiman Hikigaya's question, Komachi rolled her eyes at him helplessly.

Does she not know what's going on around Hachiman Hikigaya? They've already narrowed it down to just three people, and yet...

"That's exactly what happened."

Upon seeing Komachi, Hachiman Hikigaya easily guessed the identities of the three, and he slumped down like a defeated rooster.

"May I ask you some questions, Komachi?"

Komachi was slightly surprised that Hachiman Hikigaya would admit it so readily, then she put down her phone and sat up from the sofa.

"can."

Hachiman Hikigaya nodded.

Now that he has decided to ask his sister for help, he naturally needs to provide the necessary information.

"What are your thoughts on your three older sisters, Onii-chan?"