Hikigaya Hachiman is still in the dark

"Ah."

After Saki left, I returned to the calm state I had before Isshiki came to see me, closing my eyes and feeling the gentle night breeze.

"Xiao Qi, are you here? I've been looking for you for a long time!"

I opened my closed eyes, and what came into view was a very distinctive pink bun.

"Xiao Qi, are you still alone?"

"You'll know after you see it, right?" I responded to Yuigahama a little awkwardly. Sitting alone on the grass in such an occasion, one look at me should tell you that I'm a lone traveler compared to the crowd. But I may not be alone, maybe there are ghosts wandering around, but ghosts cannot be classified as humans, so I'm alone after all...

"That's not what I meant." Yuigahama shook her head and then sat down next to me. We were accidentally too close, so I moved to the side, but Yuigahama came closer again as if she didn't want to give up. There was really no way I could move away, so I moved a little further, but Yuigahama still came closer.

"Too close..." I said to Yuigahama a little embarrassedly. Now, to outsiders, Yuigahama and I were definitely as ambiguous as a couple in love, and because we were so close, I could feel Yuigahama's body slightly leaning against me.

"It's okay, let me lean on you and rest occasionally." Yuigahama's voice was almost a plea, as if she was afraid that I would run away in the next second. As she said this, Yuigahama leaned her head on my shoulder and put her weight on me.

The unexpected feeling made me stay where I was. There was indeed such a scene in my memory. It was when Komachi asked me to maintain the daily life of the Service Club and not let Yukino go to be the student council president. However, Komachi is the younger sister, and all the ambiguity can be attributed to the convenient reason that she is just a younger sister. No, that is family love, but Yuigahama and I have no blood relationship at all, which means that I can't cover up the past when I make such an intimate move.

A plot from a youth love comedy? How could that be possible? I don't want to misunderstand something again and go through that painful experience again. Yuigahama is a lively girl, so it's normal for her to be defenseless against boys. She occasionally does things that can be misunderstood. At this time, I should show my courage as a member of society!

"Yuigahama, no matter what, this is still..." I stammered. After all, I felt a little embarrassed. It was the first time that a woman other than a family member relied on me so much, and I really had no experience of refusing.

Yuigahama didn't respond to me. Was she playing dumb at this time? I mustered up the courage to turn around, ready to express my feelings and let her keep a safe distance from me so that no one would misunderstand her. But I found that Yuigahama had quietly fallen asleep on my shoulder with a satisfied smile on her face.

This girl, it seems like she really worked hard today. Although she didn't seem to be working seriously in the mall, that was probably just because she wanted to liven up the dull atmosphere. She must have been invited to dance by many boys just now, and she must be exhausted now...

"You've tried hard, Yuigahama." I raised my head, and the stars in the sky and their brilliance were imprinted in my pupils.

Even so, I still didn't want to accept this position, but it was obvious that it was impossible to let her change herself. If I carried her back to the classroom, it would cause even greater misunderstandings. Was there no other way but to keep the status quo? I sighed.

I hope she won’t sleep too long. Thinking of this, I turned my gaze back to the crowd dancing under the lights.

Don’t these people really get tired? After dancing a few times, I already want to lie down. Xianchong is really amazing.

But that's just talk. I have the weight of a person on my shoulders now, so how can I just lie down like that?

I maintained this awkward posture for about half an hour. Half of my body was almost numb. I could feel the tingling with any movement. In response to my body's strong protest against me, Yuigahama finally woke up a little vaguely. She first looked at me with sleepy eyes, then shook her head as if trying to wake herself up. Then, she screamed "Ah", and it seemed that she finally understood the current situation. She got up very quickly, and I breathed a sigh of relief, taking the opportunity to stretch my stiff body. It was really painful. After all, we had been stiff for half an hour. Even the most ordinary movement of my toes would make me feel very painful.

Perhaps noticing my painful expression, Yuigahama looked at me with shame.

"I'm so sorry to go to Xiaoqi, I didn't expect that I would fall asleep."

I didn't know you would fall asleep. Rather, I didn't know you would lean on my shoulder.

"Thanks to you, my whole body aches now." I expressed my dissatisfaction in this way.

"Well, let me massage it for you." After saying that, Yuigahama ran behind me and started massaging my shoulders.

“You don’t have to do that.” I twisted my body to get rid of Yuigahama’s hand, but because my body was too stiff, I couldn’t make any big movements. It looked more like I was twisting my body in enjoyment…

No way, I increased the strength of my movements, and then I felt a pain like being struck by lightning, it felt so painful...

Noticing something was wrong with me, Yuigahama massaged my shoulders more gently.

"Xiao Qi, you don't have to force it. It should be better after a while."

Indeed, as long as you keep making small movements, your body will not be as stiff as it is now after a while, but will return to its original state.

"Xiao Qi, thank you so much, whether it's the school festival, the student council election, or just the shoulder I gave you, I'm very grateful to you, Xiao Qi, for always working so hard."

A soft voice came from behind me, and because it was so close, I could feel her breath.

"So Xiaoqi, I will always pursue you and keep working hard."

Her low voice made people feel her deep determination, and she exhaled as if she had made up her mind.

"Xiaoqi, I will definitely grow up to be able to stay with you and Xiaoxue."

My heart couldn't help but beat faster. What should I do? I didn't dare look back at Yuigahama. She must be wearing a reassuring and warm smile on her face.

With such remarks, does she really cherish this friendship?

"Actually, I didn't either..."

Before I could finish my words, Yuigahama smoothed her hands through my hair and interrupted me with her voice.

"Xiao Qi, you don't have to say anything. I understand. No matter if it's Xiao Xueno, Xiao Caiyu, or the current Xiao Qi, we can't take that step. So, Xiao Qi, you don't have to say anything." There was an inexplicable sadness in his voice, as if something was piled up in his body, and his heart felt inexplicably blocked.

Yuigahama didn't say anything after that, and I just sat there quietly, feeling Yuigahama's gentle hands smoothing my hair.

"That's good." Perhaps the work was completed, Yuigahama said with a sense of accomplishment. She walked in front of me and looked at me carefully. I felt a little embarrassed by her gaze.

"What's wrong? Is there something weird on my face?"

"Nothing, I just suddenly thought, Xiaoqi, is really handsome!"

Another straight ball, what is handsome? Is it this word that is totally incompatible with me dancing with the fairy?

"I have an appointment with Yumiko and the others. Xiaoqi, see you in the club office later!" After waving to me, Yuigahama left the lawn.

Feeling that my body had almost recovered, I stood up and forced myself to suppress the image of Yuigahama talking about being handsome in my mind. Idiot, don't praise others for being handsome so casually, it will cause misunderstandings, so please be careful!

I felt more tired than ever before. After dancing three dances and maintaining the same posture for half an hour, I really had no desire to stay in the playground any longer. So, I decided to go back to the club room to rest. Thinking of this, I walked towards the special building.

There was no one in the special building at this time. The empty corridor made me feel a little relieved. Following the dim light, I came to the department room.

I opened the door of the club room and walked in, and saw a girl sitting quietly in front of the window. It seemed that even the end of the world could not destroy such a quiet scene. It was really familiar. The lights in the club room were on, and the faint light and the bonfire outside the window outlined the girl like an impressionist painting by a master.

Seeing this scene that looked like a painting, my body and mind seemed to have stopped, and I was stunned once again.

As if she noticed my arrival, Yukinoshita turned her body facing the window and cast her gaze towards me.

Chapter 43 Finally Ending

"Why are you here? A listless senior being tortured by a junior?"

"Do you want to have a long-awaited quarrel?"

"The bonfire party isn't over yet, aren't you going?"

"Do you think I'm the right person for that kind of occasion?" Saying this, I came to my usual seat, sat down and looked at Yukinoshita.

"That's not what I meant. You should have someone to keep you company, right? Whether it's Yuigahama, Isshiki, or Komachi, they should all be happy to stay with you."

Although they did come, they all left very soon. Everyone had their own things to work hard for, but for some reason, I did not tell Yukinoshita the truth.

"They just come to see me and then go about their own business. Besides, I prefer a quiet atmosphere."

"I see." Yukinoshita's smile seemed to be able to light up the darkness. Under such a smile, she seemed to have something else to talk to me about.

"How does it feel? Watching other people dance."

"It's really great. Watching the current people twisting their clumsy dance moves, I'm really glad that I'm a lonely person."

Yukinoshita rubbed her temple in pain and said as if she had given up.

"It's still the same rotten answer as before, and it's still said with such confidence. I feel like all my efforts over the past few years have been in vain."

"I am a man who will not change easily and always stick to myself!"

Men who stick to themselves are the most handsome! As expected, Hikigaya Hachiman is an excellent man!

"But I will definitely complete Mr. Hiratsuka's request."

Yukinoshita looked at me with a smirk on her face and said, "Besides, can you really say that you haven't changed at all?"

How could there be no changes... We have been together for such a long time, and experienced so many unforgettable things together, there wouldn't be anyone who wouldn't change. Since my thoughts were seen through, I focused my attention elsewhere.

“You can’t say that I haven’t changed at all…” I scratched my head and tentatively admitted that I had changed a little.

"The same half-baked speech as always!"

"Do you really want to quarrel?"

"That's not what I meant. What I meant was that although you have changed, it's not thorough enough, and I won't allow such a mistake to happen in a commission."

There should be a limit to perfectionism. This has reached the level of obsessive-compulsive disorder, right?

"I am very satisfied with myself, and we have all graduated. It seems that I cannot complete your commission." He told Yukinoshita the truth cruelly.

"Oh, really?" Yukinoshita looked at me happily. Her unexpected smile made me a little uneasy.

"It's no use trying to be tough."

"Do you think I'm the kind of person who would show off, Hikigaya?"

Indeed, Yukinoshita is not the kind of person who likes to show off her strength. Rather, she has done everything she promised. If I think about it carefully, if you want to change me, you must have some elements. If subtle influence doesn't work, then I can only use force. There is nothing in this world that can restrain me for the time being. The only one is the bet between Yukinoshita and me. It seems that I don't even know the content of Yukinoshita's service. Due to the lack of sufficient information, I became a little uneasy.

Damn it, did I miss this? What a mistake.

"You seem uneasy."

"How could that be? I'm just worried that you can't stick to your principles as always." The counterattack was unconvincing. Yukinoshita seemed to see my uneasiness, and the smile on her face became brighter.

"Bang." The sound of fireworks bursting could be heard outside, and the club room was instantly illuminated by strong light. So, it seemed that it was time to set off the fireworks. Explosions continued to sound outside, and the light in the club room kept changing...

When the fireworks started, Yukinoshita ignored me and turned around to concentrate on watching the fireworks. It turns out that she also likes fireworks, which is an ordinary girl's interest.

"Can you see clearly there?" Yukinoshita spoke as if she wasn't talking to me, so I decided to ignore this meaningless line.

"Hikigaya, do you think I'm the kind of person who would talk to myself in a room with two people?"

Eh? Were you asking me just now? Gaolingzhihua, could you please not be so abstract in your question?

"I can still see it clearly." I answered carefully.

"Just today, I don't mind you sitting here." Saying this, Yukinoshita moved to the side of the window, leaving a seat for me.

What kind of development is this? Did God finally open his eyes and let Yukinoshita change her personality?

Although I had a lot of doubts, I still moved the chair there. The effect of watching the fireworks up close was indeed much better than before. Now I could clearly see the shape and light of the blooming fireworks.

Yukinoshita and I just watched the fireworks outside the window quietly.

Come to think of it, when the school festival was over, the two of us were in the club room, one writing down our job search and the other writing down the final cleanup work for the school festival.

Both of us are lonely people in this campus, so we have few choices, and the only one is this small, ordinary but warm office.

There was a throbbing in my heart, and I secretly glanced at Xuexia. Her perfect profile and moist pupils, her face flickered like a slide as the fireworks bloomed.

If, just if, I and Yukinoshita could be friends now...

"Yukinoshita, I..."

"I'm sorry that's not possible."

An immediate answer? And it was when I hadn’t explained it clearly at all. I felt like I had seen this scene before.

"It's very rude to answer someone's question quickly without listening to it carefully."

"It's the same question as the first time we met, right? Friends and stuff like that?" Yukinoshita said as if she could see through my thoughts.

"I won't tell a lie."

Ah, I can’t tell lies, so verbal violence and cold violence are very powerful.

"But." Yukinoshita laughed, the fireworks illuminating her face like stars: "I can go back on my words."

"Hikigaya, one day, your words will allow me to take back what I said at the beginning. We can definitely become true friends."

"Is that so?" I let out a long breath and felt my whole body relax.

Unlike before, Yukinoshita finally recognized my existence, recognized my values, and had expectations of me, just like I had for her.

There is not only change between us, but also recognition and expectation.

My youth is going to end like this. I focused my eyes on the fireworks outside. They were really beautiful, and they stood out so perfectly against the night.

Yukinoshita is probably like the fireworks, always emitting light and heat, always making others yearn for it. Yuigahama is like the night, setting off the fireworks and giving people peace.

As for me, I am probably just an ordinary person who appreciates the beauty of fireworks and enjoys the tranquility of the night while looking up at the sky...

"Knock, knock, knock." There was a knock on the door of the office.

"Hello." Yuigahama greeted us enthusiastically, "Xiaoqi, Yukino is here as expected." As she said this, she also came to the window. Yukinoshita and I moved to the side at the same time, leaving a space for Yuigahama.

"What beautiful fireworks!" Yuigahama seemed to be very impressed by the fireworks seen from this angle.

"After all, the location of the special building is quite special." I explained, "You can see the whole view of the fireworks, and it's not too noisy."

"It's a good location." Yukinoshita also said with a smile.

"Yeah, that's not right, that's what you two said." However, Yuigahama did not agree with what we said.

"Then, what is it?" I was very confused. The probability of both Yukinoshita and I making mistakes at the same time is even smaller than the probability of Mars hitting the Earth.