Chapter 5 - Looking Forward, Hikigaya Hachiman Can Finally Show a Smile

"My feet hurt. I think I just came down with a cold. I want to go home." I grumbled while being pulled along by the hand, feet dragging in the sand beneath my feet.

"Hachiman, there's a lot of things wrong with you that I'm willing to accept, but if you say those things on route to visiting your girlfriend's house again I'm seriously going to punch you." In front of me dragging me along was, of course, Isshiki Iroha. Today she's wearing a crisp clean white button up shirt with a black bow at the collar and a charcoal coloured skirt.

"No, it's not that I don't enjoy spending time with you, but please give me time to mentally prepare myself before dragging me to your place. Actually, do your parents even know who I am yet?"

"Relax, my parents aren't home today. I'm not so mean that I'd drag you to meet my parents without any warning." Iroha puts on a pouty face, unsure of how to deal with my pathetic display.

"That has it's own set of problems! I can't even be sure whether to be relieved or not."

"Guh-!" Iroha leaps backwards a step, letting go of my hand. Her cheeks show a hint of redness, but she quickly regains her composure. "Were you trying to imply something right now? I'm sorry, but we're too early in our relationship for that sort of thing."

"That's a new variation…I thought we weren't doing that thing anymore. Actually, more importantly, I wasn't going to do anything indecent, I'm only pointing out how awkward this'll be."

"Sigh. It doesn't have to be awkward if you don't want it to be. Besides, it's not like I didn't think of this, I trust you, that's all." Iroha grabs my hand again, as if to affirm her last words. "Come on, we're almost there."

"Sorry for the intrusion." Seriously, I'm an intrusion, it's not just a figure of speech here. I'd like to think that this phrase had its origins in someone like me, which would make me suited to pioneer new figures of speech. How about 'please ignore my presence' as a replacement for a greeting at social gatherings? I'm sure it'll see lots of use.

"Well, come in. I'll make some tea." Iroha wanders off to her kitchen while I absentmindedly loiter around the living room, eventually settling down on the edge of one of the sofas. Interestingly, her house's layout is almost exactly the same as the Hikigaya residence.

"Alright, let's go." Iroha wanders over carrying two cups of tea.

"Huh?" I'm not sure I follow. Where exactly were we going now?

"Come on, doesn't it feel weird taking up the living room just by ourselves? Let's go to my room."

"…You're doing this on purpose."

"You won't ever take the initiative, Hachiman, so I have to do things like this or we'll never move forward. Besides, it's too much fun to tease you."

Author's Note:

Obviously not finished. I've been pretty busy with school and also writing my other story, so this one has kind of been left in the dust. I figure a little bit is better than nothing so here you go. Also shameless self advertisement, go read that other story I'm writing. It's a Seitokai no Ichizon fanfic.