Chapter 3: They didn't get together, did they?

A/N: Announcement on Bottom A/N!

(Hikigaya Residence, Saturday Morning, Hachiman's POV)

Weekend mornings are the best! There's no burden of going to school early, no unmarried expired christmas cake will punch you.

Why did it feel like I just set up a death flag?

Anyways, there is one more reason for my happiness.

You can laze around today?

No! I am happy because my girlfriend is here. Miura Yumiko decided to stay the night this weekend too. I decided to head downstairs as I guess they are already there. Lo and behold! My little sister Komachi, Yumi and her little sister Yuna, is on the sofa, watching Sailor Moon.

Who is Yuna? A pathetic add on of the author?

Don't tell that to me, tell it to him! Yuna is a story for another time!

I approach them quietly, earning a shriek from the little sisters, and a karate chop to the head courtesy of Yumi.

"Ouch!" Critical strike! Intstant death!

"That's what you get for being a creep, Hikicreep-kun." Yumi shouted at me. How did you know Yukinoshita language woman!? So even opposites have something in common too.

"Ne Onii-chan, let's eat breakfast!" Yuna exclaimed enthusiastically. Komachi nodding in agreement.

"Yumi, you hungry?" I asked Yumi but she didn't answer me. Well she did...

If a growling stomach was an acceptable answer.

"Alright, let's eat breakfast. I'll cook for you guys." I stood up and walked to the kitchen.

One satisfying breakfast consisting of Eggs and Bacon later, We found ourselves back to the sofa, watching an anime called Lucky Star.

"Ne Hachi-nii-san, will you tell me a story? I'm getting bored of the show." Yuna spoke, making us look at her.

"Sure. What story would you like?"

"Mou Onii-chan! why does she get you to agree that quick!? What's with her that's not in Komachi?" Komachi demanded.

"Well for starters, Yuna is a good little sister. She listens to her Onee-chan and is caring. Are you like that?" I questioned her, to which she just pouted. To add insult to injury, Yuna snuck her tongue out.

"How about you tell us how you and Yumi-nee got together?" This made Yumi blush and look away. Who won't after all? Even I blushed a bit.

"Well... we got together two months after she requested to know Hayama's career choice. I guess you want to know the details right?" This resulted in both of them nodding in agreement. "Well how do I start..."

(Monday Morning, two months after the request, Hachiman's POV)

Mondays, the bane of my existence. I know you'll argue that every weekday is, but I am telling you that Mondays are the absolute worst. I have to deal with assignments, reports, and a Teacher who's trigger happy to pummel me to the ground. But I have one more problem...

Her.

Who is her you ask? Well it's the fire queen of Sobu High, Miura Yumiko.After a restless weekend of reflection, introspection, and deep analysis, I have come to a conclusion:

The loner, Hikigaya Hachiman, was in love with the super popular, fire queen named Sagami Minami.

Wait! You got it wrong! It's not Sagami that I am in love with, it's Miura Yumiko that I am inlove with! Get your facts right!

I carefully open the classroom door. So my presence will be lowered even more and my classmate will not notice me. My plan was bust since Yuigahama noticed me already and shouted.

"Good Morning, Hikki!" Way to go Yuigahama.

I scan the surroundings to see if my object of interest is present. There she is, chatting away with her clique. Should I do it now or should I muster up more courage and speak to her later?

Screw it! I'm going to do it now!I stood up coolly that I think Sakamoto will be proud, and walked like a hero after defeating a villain. Reaching their location, I spoke with a slight nervousness on my voice. "Miura, can we talk outside?" This stopped the discussion and Miura looked at me.

Is she blushing?

I walked outside since I know that she will follow me and waited beside the classroom door.

What if she didn't come Hachiman?

Well you will never know since Miura is in front of me right now. She's annoyed and... flustered?

"What is it, Hikio?" Miura asked. I gathered the courage left in my body to ask her.

"Will you come to the roof after class? I have something to tell you." I examine her face and she seem to be flustered more?

"Can't you say it now?" .

"No, not right now."

"I guess I have no choice then... Fine."

"Thanks for listening, Miura." She just flipped her hair like a certain Nakiri and Hmphed.I guess you can call it a success then? Phase 2 of Operation Confession is on!

(After class)

My fears are very much cultivated and ready to swallow me whole. The time has come to judge me. Why am I being dramatic? Well I guess my fears are getting the best of me. It's the moment of truth, Hachiman!

I walked to my destination, meeting Isshiki and shooing her away. Here am I, the rooftop of Sobu High. I am very anxious at the moment, and I feel like an unstable chemical reaction that might explode any time.

"Heh, What are you doing here Hikigaya?" I heard a voice ask. Stupid Hachiman, how can you forget that rooftop is Kawasaki's place.

"I'm waiting for someone." I replied. She does a comtemplating face as she was deep in thought.

"Hikigaya." I heard her speak. "Say... If a woman confessed to you, what would be your reaction?" I was surprised to hear that from her. Does that mean she harbors something for me?

"I would be surprised. I mean, who would like a self-depreciating creep like me? I am just a waste of-"

"DON'T SAY THAT, HIKIGAYA!" I was interrupted by her shout. "You are one of the realest person here in school. You're actually cool."

"Thanks. That means a lot to me, Kawasaki. Why the sudden question though?" Kawasaki looked surprised by the question.

"Nothing! Just a thought of mine." I feel like she has something to say, but I didn't press it. I might anger her if I did. Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned they say, which I agree wholeheartedly.

I continued to wait in silence for Miura, I've been here before the sunset. Right now it's dark, and I'm the only person here left. Kawasaki left after the sun set.

"I guess I got my hopes up." I mutter to myself. The moon is rising now, being to only source of light in the rooftop I currently occupy.

"She won't show up Hachiman, you just got rejected by a person harsher than being rejected orally." My hopes are but a tiny speck of light that is diminishing every minute I stay longer.

"Better go home, Komachi's worried sick now." I started to walk towards the door. With a heavy heart, I opened it.

"Hikio!?" I heard someone say. With my perception being darkened and the sky being dark, I didn't see who was that.

"I guess my hopes made me hallucinate. Why am I hearing her beautiful voice just now?"

"It's because I am here Hikio."

"My hallucination replied! I guess I am going crazy about her now." I accompanied my remark with a loud laugh that made me sound like a villain.

"You're not going crazy Hikio, I am here." My hallucination replied with annoyance present in her voice.

"Your voice is really beautiful Miura, I wish I could hold you right now."

"Well you could, you stupid!" Really? You're just a hallucination right? So I did try touching her. I reached for her hand to hold. To my shock, when my fingers reached her soft hands, It felt solid.

It felt real.

"How is this possible!?" I am hallucinating right? "You're really here!? If you're really here, can you slap me, Miura?" I requested.

*Slap*

Ouch I felt that! Does it mean that I'm not hallucinatingNow that I think about it, I started to scan my surroundings, and I saw her face. The face that I grew to love.

And that face looks annoyed right now.

"Miura? You're here?" I carefully asked.

"That's what I'm trying to say earlier!" She replied. Find out a way to make her calm or face her wrath!

"I thought you won't show up." I said to her and her face looked sad.

"Sorry I'm late, Hikio. I had to help my friends." Her reply left us in awkward silence. After what seemed like eternity, she spoke again. "So what do you want to tell me, Hikio?"

Gathering the courage you have after getting your hopes crushed is hard. Come on Hachiman! "I think you know what I want to say by what happened."

"Hikio..."

Observing her face, I am drawn by the moonlight reflecting off her face. It traced the curves of her face and accentuated it, amplifying the look of her face. She looked beautiful...

She looked perfect.

"Miura... No, Yumi..." I cupped her face. She didn't do a thing to stop me. "Those times we're together... Those were the happiest moments of my life. Last weekend was my most excuriating moment of my life since I pondered, reflected, and analysed what happened the past two months. I love how you smiled when we got the stuffed toy from a crane game. I love how you would show me the dresses you picked and how awesome you looked at them. The way your face contort when you eat something spicy, the way you enjoyed when we went to a festival since your friends were busy. The moment we held hands when the fireworks started. When we nearly kissed because you tripped trying to reach the lipstick that I raised. I realized something last weekend. Something you said when we tried to get that plush stuck to me, and gave me courage to do this."

"W-what is it?" Yumi stuttered. Her confused face still mesmerizing.

"You won't win if you won't try. So here I am, the self-proclaimed loner, the monster of logic, Hikigaya Hachiman asking you Miura Yumiko to be my girlfriend because of one thing."

"Hikio... Are you saying that you love me?" Miura asked. Which I nodded yes.

The rooftop is silent. The silence almost kills me since my heart is filled with nervousness.

"Hikio, before I tell you my answer let me tell you what happened earlier." she started telling me happened earlier

(Earlier, Yumiko's POV)

I packed my bags as the bell rung. I scanned my surroundings to look for Hikio, and I couldn't find him. I guess he's already up there. I started to walk towards the said meeting spot when someone grabbed my wrist.

"Ne Yumiko will you join us for karaoke?" Yui asked me.

"Come on Yumiko! I'm excited to sing!" Tobe enthusiastically added.

"But I have to run an errand for my little sister." I made up a reason so they won't force me.

"Your sister can wait! Isn't that right, Hayato?" Tobe answeed. I looked at Hayato and saw that he is smiling sheepishly.

"Let's just go, Yumiko." Hayama replied. I guess it can't be helped.

"Alright fine, let's go." My answer satisfied them, and so we went, sorry Hikio.

I was surprised by how quiet I was during the walk, and my friends noticed it too. They asked me if I was okay to which I replied I was.

"Yumiko, what are you thinking?" I heard Hina ask me. Honestly, what's wrong with me? I don't know myself.

"Nothing, there's nothing wrong Hina."

"I guess you're thinking about something or rather, someone. Am I right?"

"You're right."

"Whatever it is, I'm sure that you can overcome it. Do your best, Yumiko!" Thank you for not pressing on to it, Hina.

"Thanks Hina, that helps a lot."

After a few songs and an overly enthusiastic Tobe later, Hayama suddenly started to speak. "Uhm, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for coming." This earned him a round of applause. "There's something I'd like to say. Yumiko, please stand up."

Oh my, what's happening!? Is this what I think it is? "I wanted to say this for a long time but I never found the courage to do so... Until now. Yumiko, would you be my girlfriend?" This earned him a few cat calls from Tobe and others. Hina looked happy for us.

Why am I not happy? This is what I've wanted right? For Hayama to notice me and be together with him. So why am I not happy?

My thoughts wandered back to when I was with Hikio, on the arcade, the look at his face when we were getting a stuffed toy was so determined, focused...

Genuine.

To tell you the truth, I heard Hikio's request for something genuine. His voice was so clear when he spoke. What he said that day was the reason I took matters to my own hands and approached Hikio for help. I guess I secretly wanted to have something genuine too.

What should you do Yumiko?

A. Accept his confession and satisfy the status quo.

B. Reject it to break the dynamics we had built up.

C. Reject it by saying that you're not ready and chase after the genuine thing you wanted.

What is the genuine thing you wanted Yumiko? This? Fragile friendship? Acceptance and belonging from a fragile group?

No. That isn't what I want. I wanted to experience something that is not easily shattered when something happens. Something truthful, without lying to oneself.

Something genuine.

Now I sound like him. I guess that's what happen when you hang around people. I laughed when he told jokes, because it so cringy that it actually became funny, not because I had to laugh. The adrenaline from the crane game. The feeling of happiness that I felt when I went with him in a festival. That happiness and contentment I've felt during this past two months were better and more vivid than the last two years with my friends.

We laughed together, we went out for fun, we tried our best in a crane game, the unexpected hand holding during the fireworks. The way his face looked when I say that he should eat tomatoes. The way he will help and deny that he's helping. The way his brows furrow when I say something ridiculous, and then laugh at me. I love that...

I love him.

Because it was true, it was not superficial, not fragile like our clique. It was a relationship that started with messy but real foundation that stood the test of time. It was real...

It was genuine.

What we had was genuine.

And so from this moment, Miura Yumiko decided to chase the genuine thing she wanted.

"Sorry Hayato, but I don't think I'm ready." My answer seem to shock all people present. "I guess I am a bit preoccupied since midterms are coming."

"Eh!? I thought you wanted to be with Hayato?" I thought so too Tobe.

"Who knows maybe it was just not the right time." I replied to him. I looked at Hayato and see that he is a bit sad, but still smiling.

"You're right Yumiko, I guess it was a case of bad timing on my part." Hayato gave me a sheepish smile this time.

So, since the party is ending, where should I go? Now that I remember it, Hikio said he'll be waiting on the rooftop? Maybe he's still there?

'You won't win if you won't try.'

And so I ran. As fast as my feet will take me. Back to Sobu High, back to where my belongings are, back to the rooftop to meet someone.

Back to him.

(Present time)

"And so I ran here to see if you are still here." I finished. He looked surprised by what I said and asked.

"Then why don't you look tired?"

"I guess it comes from the tennis training."

"Right." Then silence comes back. "So... What is your answer?"

"I guess you can deduce it from what I told earlier."

"I want to hear it from you, that's why I asked." I kind of hate that smart-ass attitude of his but love it too.

"Alright..." I took a deep breath. "I, the fire queen of Sobu, the ferocious tiger and top of the social ladder of Sobu High, Miura Yumiko, would love to be Hikigaya Hachiman's girlfriend, because I love hime too." His face lightened up, he looked happier.

"Then that means we're official, right?" He asked, to which I nod in agreement. The next thing Hikio did was very out of character.

He hugged me. I guess he really wanted it right? And so we embraced each other, with the moonlight shining down on us.

(Present Day, Hikigaya residence, Hachiman's POV)

"And that's what happened." I finished telling them a story. Yuna looked amazed and so was Komachi. Yumi is blushing like mad.

"That was so sweet Onii-chan!" I heard Komachi say.

"I know."

"You're lucky with Hachi-nii-chan, Yumi-nee!" What Yuna said made Yumi blush harder.

"Hachi... I'm glad you still remember that." Yumi gave me a smile so beautiful, it was contagious.

"Of course, it was something unforgettable after all. So do you guys want to go to the mall?" I asked. Yuna and Komachi exclaimed yes at the same time, and ayumi nodded.

"All right, let's go!" And so we went. I like how peaceful my life is now. But like the weather, the life of Hikigaya Hachiman will be full of twists and unexpected events.

A/N: You might be wondering where those bits of story came? Well, I have a story in the works on how they got together, and what's on this chapter is a preview on that.

I lost the will to write for the moment because my phone got lost. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Oh, and that planned story on how they got together? That will have another story too! An alternate ending where Yumiko did not show up at all. Set in their work life.

Thanks for Reading! Reviews will be much appreciated! Until next time!

-Jssrr Out!