That was such a Hikki-style choice.
Yui yawned and continued.
"Yui, are you tired?" Yukino asked, noticing.
"Aren't you tired? You didn't get back until so late last night."
Yui wiped away her tears, looking somewhat drowsy.
Hachiman stood up, took a can of coffee from the cabinet, and handed it to Yui, signaling for the yawning girl to wake herself up.
"Well, I'm doing all right."
There was also a faint trace of fatigue on Yukino's face.
"It's just that I really didn't expect Saki to work so desperately hard."
Yui had experienced the hardships of working late into the night for the first time and said so.
"No. It would be more accurate to say that everyone has their own hardships."
Hachiman's eyes were fixed on the floor. "Anyway, let's not talk about that."
"By the way, Yukino."
Hachiman turned toward the girl who had closed her eyes and begun dozing on the table.
"Mm? What is it?"
Yukino opened her eyes, her dark-blue irises as clear as a pool of spring water.
"Do you have any plans for summer vacation?" Hachiman asked softly.
"I'm not sure. Don't forget that I'll be staying at home for quite a long time during summer vacation."
Yukino spoke in the same gentle voice.
"Eh~ So Hikki and Little Snow don't have any plans for that either?" Yui asked in surprise. "This is summer vacation we're talking about—two whole months!"
"If we're talking about plans, have you thought about what to do with that child?" Yukino quietly moved beside Hachiman and whispered into his ear.
"Who? Rumi?" Hachiman asked with a frown. "I haven't figured out what to do about her yet."
Yukino thought of the girl in her dream who looked much like herself, and her heart was filled with confusion as well.
"It's fine. You have me."
Hachiman embraced the girl in front of him and stroked her head comfortingly.
"Besides, Hachiman, I have a feeling my mother might come looking for you."
Yukino raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with unease.
Mother Yukino's forceful nature had left a deep impression on her, making her worry whether Hachiman could pass the test.
"It'll be fine. I don't think your mother is an unreasonable person."
Hachiman spoke in a soft voice. "And besides, isn't Haruno there? I think she'll help us too."
"My sister? Then I'll call her later and ask."
Yukino hesitated.
As Hachiman and Yukino discussed the matter in low voices, faint snoring came from beside them. When they turned around, they discovered that Yui had fallen asleep without realizing it.
"Haah~" Yukino yawned as she watched Yui sleeping soundly. "Hachiman, I'm tired too."
"Then do you want to sleep for a while? We still have some time."
"Mm."
Yukino rested her little head against Hachiman. Relying entirely on his support, she breathed in his scent and gradually fell into a peaceful sleep.
"Onii-chan~ Have you really been staying home all summer vacation?" Komachi asked while clipping her toenails, lying on the bed and playing with her phone. She was wearing only a T-shirt and blue-and-white underwear.
"Mm." Hachiman responded half-heartedly from the bed.
"Onii-chan, are you even listening to me?" Angry, Komachi planted one foot on Hachiman's face and rubbed it hard.
With his face pinned beneath her foot, Hachiman remained unhurried. He merely licked the soft sole of his little sister's foot, making Komachi cry out and quickly pull it back.
"Onii-chan, why are you such a pervert?" Embarrassed, Komachi pretended to be angry and lightly kicked Hachiman.
"If I went out instead of staying home, turning on the air conditioner, and sleeping with my adorable little sister, then I'd be the one with something wrong with my head."
Hachiman licked his lips, savoring the sensation from moments ago.
"Eww~ Onii-chan, I'm happy you said that, but aren't you going out on a date with Sister Yukino?"
Hachiman took Komachi's freshly trimmed foot in his hand, picked up the nail polish beside him, stuffed a towel between her toes, and slowly began painting them.
"What does my business with Yukino have to do with you? You worry too much."
Hachiman spoke gruffly.
"Uu~ I was just showing some concern. After all, it took Onii-chan so many years to finally have a Sister Yukino who likes him."
Komachi complained pitifully after he pinched her little foot.
"Phew~"
After finishing Komachi's toenails, Hachiman gently blew on them.
"This nail polish of yours isn't very good. Should Yukino and I buy you a better one tomorrow when we go shopping?" Hachiman asked.
"Hee hee hee, anything from Onii-chan is fine."
Komachi happily hugged Hachiman and rubbed her little face against his.
"Don't do that. It's too hot."
Hachiman pushed Komachi away with a look of disgust.
"Uu~ Does Onii-chan hate Komachi now? You used to say you'd marry Komachi and make her your bride, but after getting Sister Yukino, you threw your used Komachi aside."
Komachi pretended to cry.
The corner of Hachiman's mouth twitched. He ignored Komachi's theatrics and sent Yukino a text instead.
"Are you free tomorrow? I promised to buy Komachi some nail polish."
"Tomorrow? I'll bring some over to you directly. I have lots of cosmetics I don't use. Komachi can have them all."
"Isn't that inappropriate? They're your things, after all. How could I just take them? How much do I owe you?"
"If you mention money to me again, I'll kick you to death."
"Then it's settled. I'll bring them over tomorrow."
Hachiman felt exhausted. Having a wealthy girlfriend made him feel as though he were some pretty boy living off her.
"Komachi~ Come here for a moment."
"Eh~ What is it, Onii-chan?"
Komachi cheerfully came over.
Hachiman reached out and wantonly squeezed and kneaded Komachi's cheeks.
"Uu~ Onii-chan, what are you doing?"
Ignoring Komachi's wails behind him, Hachiman let out a satisfied breath.
Revised Version: The Morning When Nothing Happened
Early in the morning, Komachi, sleeping soundly, was awakened by a series of knocks at the door with perfectly regular intervals between them.
"Ah! Who is it? Who comes to disturb someone's sleep so early in the morning?"
Looking annoyed, Komachi reluctantly got dressed.
Yawning repeatedly, Komachi dawdled to the entrance. "Who is it?" she asked impatiently.
"Oh my, good morning, Komachi."
Yukino looked apologetically at the obviously sleep-deprived Komachi before her.
"Eek~ Sister Yukino, you came so early?" Komachi asked in surprise, blinking.
"I didn't have much to do alone at home."
Yukino said this while smoothing her disheveled hair.
"Hee hee hee, Onii-chan will definitely be surprised to see you when he wakes up."
Komachi narrowed her eyes, smiling until her cute little canine showed.
"Mm? He's still asleep?" Yukino tilted her head, and her hair, tied into a ponytail, swayed with the motion.
"Ever since summer vacation began, Onii-chan has slept like a dead pig every morning."
Seeing the disdain on Komachi's face, Yukino burst out laughing.
"Mm? May I come in now?"
"Ah~ Sure, sure."
"The Hikigaya Residence is always open to you~" Komachi joked with a grin.
At her words, Yukino blushed faintly.
As soon as she stepped into the entrance, Yukino saw Komachi slap her forehead and say regretfully, "Sister Yukino, I forgot we don't have any slippers at home. Should I go buy you some now?"
"No, there's no need to trouble yourself. I'll be fine like this."
As she spoke, Yukino removed her sandals. Her snow-white bare feet stepped directly onto the hard oak floor.
"Where is Hachiman's room?" Yukino asked Komachi.
She followed the direction Komachi pointed in, but halfway there, she seemed to remember something and turned around.
She handed the makeup bag in her hand to Komachi. "Here, these are my cosmetics. I don't use them very often, and it would be a waste to keep them, so you can have them all."
"Eh? There are so many! How could I accept this?"
Komachi waved her hands repeatedly, making no move to take it.
"It's fine. Just take them. At worst, Hachiman can make it up to me."
Yukino smiled warmly.
"Uu~ Thank you, Sister Yukino~" Komachi happily hugged the makeup bag and spun around once.
"Eh~ Sister Yukino, have you eaten? I'll make breakfast now."
Komachi set the things down, took an apron, and tied it around herself.
"I haven't eaten either, so that would be wonderful. But don't make too much for me. I'm not very hungry in the morning."
Yukino had already eaten breakfast at home.
"Then go find Onii-chan. I'm going to make breakfast."
Yukino quietly made her way toward Hachiman's room. Since she wasn't wearing shoes, she made only the faintest sounds against the floor. Like a thief, she stealthily opened Hachiman's door.
"Ah~ What are those two doing? It's already been an hour."
Komachi waited around in the dining room, bored, after finishing breakfast.
Just as Komachi was about to rush into the room, Hachiman came out carrying Yukino in his arms, looking thoroughly pleased.
"Onii-chan, you're so slow! Breakfast is already cold."
"Ah~ Sorry, sorry. Yukino couldn't bear to wake me, so I slept until now."
"Then hurry up and eat."
Komachi urged him impatiently.
"Um... Hachiman, I want to wash my feet first."
Yukino buried her face in Hachiman's arms and spoke shyly.
"Go ahead. Turn left at the end of the corridor. It's the last room."
"Huh? Wash her feet?" Komachi watched Yukino hurry away, her face blank with confusion.
Before you continue