This is… strange.

The looks on people's faces were familiar, and yet entirely new at the same time. Little had changed in my life, and yet things were completely different.

And the astounding thing about it was that all this had come simply from the act of a girl's fingers intertwining with my own.

"I can't believe you got me to do this."

"Sorry. Couples Rule No. 1: Couples hold hands with each other."

Something tells me that there's no such thing as 'Couples Rules'.

"People are staring…"

"Oh, now what happened to 'I don't care what others think of me'?"

"Hmm…"

I would never admit this, but despite my protests, I was actually enjoying this, whatever it was. The whole concept of being with someone like this was entirely foreign to me, but I felt that if I had Yui leading me through it, it could prove to be… enjoyable.

Thoughts like this floated around in my head for the majority of the day. They were a nice distraction from the glares of what I assume to be jealousy and disgust. Though I didn't much care for Yui's more popular friends voicing their disapproval, but it was more than a little reassuring to hear.

She was truly an anomaly. It seemed the nothing could stop her from somehow being friends with everyone. No one was exempt from her kindness. The notion of such a person had often been something of fiction or tall tale; completely implausible. And yet, she stands before me, practically glittering. Kindness and acceptance was something I had never been accustomed to, and yet she offered such things to anyone she met.

I take more comfort than I'm willing to admit to know this person. In fact, I would wager that she's the most important person in my life. Of course, I would never say that aloud, but something told me she already knew.

The day continued normally enough after that, besides frequent surprise visits from Yui who would sneak up and kiss me.

I was never accustomed to receiving such affection before. I'm sure I don't have to tell you I was enjoying it.

It's a little uncomfortable, I must say. I feel as though I've made myself vulnerable; exposed myself. But, I feel I can trust Yui with this. Yui's the only person I can imagine showing this side of myself to. I feel like I can grow accustomed to this feeling; this sense of comfort.

Though the day would go by rather nicely, I knew in the back of my head that I would have to deal with an inevitable meeting.

That meeting took place that day in the Service Club room.

"… Hikigaya."

Yukinoshita entered the room. As usual, I couldn't get a reading from on her from her expression, but I could tell what she was going to talk to me about.

"About what you said…"

I was ready for whatever aberration she had for me.

"… As much as I would rather not say it, and as much as you don't deserve it, I want to thank you."

Her words were painful, b- wait, what?

"As much as it brings me joy to see you swallowing your pride like that, I really have to ask why."

Yukinoshita, in a rare moment of hesitance, gathered her words carefully.

"After you spoke, my sister, though upset, seemed to undergo an epiphany. She asked me if what you said about me was true. I didn't hate my sister, but you were right about what she's done to me. I had always felt beneath my sister. I could never do enough to make her treat me with respect. I felt like she hated me, and I suppose, in a way, I started to hate her. After your words, though, she looked at me in a way I'd never seen before. She cried and apologized to me for so long… like she'd never regretted anything more than this. For the first time, I felt like my sister was talking to me, rather than at me; like we were really a family for the first time. I think… I think I can have the kind of relationship I always wanted with my sister now. So, thank you."

"Y-you're welcome, I guess."

"Of course, I still can't be your friend."

"So I gathered."

Just as a comfortable silence settled over us, it was shattered to pieces by the arrival of another character.

"Hachi! Yukinon!"

Yui had entered the room and hugged my arm, appearing to have been in a hurry to get here.

"Sorry I'm late, I had to talk to a teacher for a bit, and it took longer than I expected."

"Hmmm… Hachi?" Yukinoshita asked.

Uh oh. I would have hoped she would reframe from calling me that in public. Of course, I wasn't too surprised that she didn't.

"Oh, Yukinon, I completely forgot to tell you! Hachi and I… well, the short version is, we're together now! Isn't that great?"

"Ohh, that is something."

Oh she's just having a field day with this.

"You had best keep an eye on him, Yui. You never know when another girl might steal him away."

"Ehh?! Yu-Yukinon, that's not funny!"

I had really hoped that my life wouldn't become a romantic comedy.

Now that it has, I'm not sure if I hate it as much as I thought I would.