Chapter Thirty-Four: Little Rumi's Here to Cause Trouble Today / Chapter Thirty-Five: Rumi-chan's Affection Is MAX

You... heard everything?

Rumi merely said flatly, "I got here even earlier than you."

So she had heard everything.

Hachiman covered his face.

Rumi slowly approached, staring at the two people before her.

What did you mean by what you just said?

Deeply hidden anticipation mingled in her eyes.

"Should we tell her?" Yukino asked Hachiman.

"What else can we do? Tell her."

Hachiman shrugged indifferently.

——

I see.

After listening to Hachiman and Yukino's explanation, Rumi merely nodded.

"You actually believe that? Don't you think it sounds fake?" Hachiman found the little girl's calmness rather unusual.

"I don't think you have any reason to lie to me, and I don't think you would."

Little Rumi said this matter-of-factly.

"Is that so? Then, do you think this will work?" Hachiman asked softly.

"Hadn't you already decided, Dad?"

"Huh?" Hachiman stared blankly at Rumi's retreating figure.

Chapter 34: Little Rumi Is Causing Trouble Today

What did she just call me? Hachiman seriously suspected that there was something wrong with his ears.

"I think your ears are perfectly fine."

Yukino spoke irritably, clearly very displeased with Rumi's actions.

Hachiman looked at Yukino, who had become extremely awkward out of jealousy, then pulled her into his arms and gently comforted her.

When they returned to the house, Hachiman carefully lay down on his bed.

When he woke up, Hachiman felt that something was wrong. He felt arms wrapped around his waist and chest, while a familiar fragrance drifted into his nose.

This can't be real, Hachiman thought. Then he carefully opened his eyes.

As soon as Hachiman opened his eyes, he saw a head of dazzling silver hair. Seeing his suspicions confirmed, the corner of his mouth twitched.

He was just about to get up when he realized he could barely move. Looking closer, he discovered that Ayaka's legs were wrapped around his waist, his head was buried against Hachiman's chest, and one arm was draped around his back.

Can someone tell me what happened last night? Hachiman was completely bewildered.

He gently moved Ayaka's legs off his waist. During the process, he discovered that the feel of his skin was no worse than Yukino's.

Isn't he on the tennis team? Why doesn't he feel muscular at all? And can someone tell me how he takes care of his skin...? Hachiman's thoughts ran wild.

After Hachiman finally escaped, he saw that Ayaka was still asleep and walked outside with a sigh of relief.

After confirming that Hachiman had left, Ayaka gazed at the doorway with an extremely alluring expression. Remembering the warmth of Hachiman's palm against his thigh, Ayaka blushed and lay back down on Hachiman's bed, inhaling the scent he had left behind.

After leaving the house, Hachiman encountered Komachi wandering along the road. He walked over and patted her little head.

Komachi, caught by the sudden attack, abruptly turned around. She relaxed only after seeing that it was Hachiman.

"Onii-chan, why did you get up so early today?"

Komachi spoke with a grin.

Hachiman yawned and said flatly, "I don't know. I just woke up for no reason."

"Getting up early isn't bad. When Onii-chan's at home, you're practically a salted fish. Every day, you either play on your phone or sleep."

As she spoke, Komachi linked arms with Hachiman.

"You have no right to say that. You're cooped up at home all day too."

"I'm doing it for Onii-chan's sake. I don't want to go out one day, come home, and suddenly find that Onii-chan has died of a heart attack."

"Yes, my little sister is the most considerate."

There was not a trace of sincerity in Hachiman's tone.

"Tch, Onii-chan is so perfunctory."

Komachi pouted.

"So what are you doing here, anyway?" Hachiman asked.

"Hehehe, it's Sister Yukino. When I saw her just now, she asked whether I'd seen you."

"So you waited here for me?"

"Yeah. Sister Yukino told me to say that once you woke up, you should go find her."

"Come to think of it, Onii-chan and Sister Yukino are really close."

Komachi narrowed her eyes as she said this.

"Heh."

Hachiman merely smiled aloud, while thinking, We've already been married once, after all.

Seeing that Hachiman did not respond, Komachi fell silent as well. She simply held his arm as they walked.

Before long, Komachi led Hachiman to where Yukino was. She was making breakfast.

Hachiman looked around. Apart from the three of them, there was no one else around, so he walked straight over and hugged Yukino.

"Don't fool around. Komachi's watching."

Yukino realized that she seemed incapable of getting embarrassed over something like this anymore, though she still said it aloud.

"Komachi isn't an outsider."

Hachiman tried to argue.

Yukino gave him no chance and pushed him away.

"Go on. Don't bother me while I'm cooking."

Yukino wrinkled her little nose in irritation.

Seeing Yukino acting like such a young girl, Hachiman could not help reaching out and pinching her nose.

Yukino immediately pulled free and bit down on Hachiman's hand. However, she only gave it a light bite before quickly letting go.

"If you bother me again, it won't be this gentle."

Yukino bared her pearly teeth in warning.

Just then, Little Rumi walked over with a blank expression, pitter-pattering across the floor. She suddenly threw herself into Yukino's arms, tilted her head up, and stared at Yukino with her large eyes.

"Mom, I want one too."

With the same emotionless expression and the cool, distant tone Yukino had once used, Rumi spoke. Yet Hachiman felt that her pretty little face was filled with ill intent.

Chapter 35: Rumi's Affection MAX

Rumi's words left not only Yukino stunned—even Komachi, who was standing nearby, was dumbfounded.

She stared blankly back and forth between Rumi and Yukino.

Only Hachiman covered his face and remained silent. When Rumi noticed him, she blinked, released Yukino, and threw herself straight into Hachiman's arms.

"Dad, carry me!" As she spoke, Rumi buried her head against Hachiman's stomach and wrapped both arms around his waist.

Komachi was even more bewildered now. She stared blankly at the suddenly appearing Rumi and the other two.

After a long while, Komachi finally asked in a trembling voice, "O... Onii-chan, what did she call you?"

"Dad! Carry me!" Rumi repeated. Then she jumped, hanging herself directly from Hachiman.

Hachiman instinctively caught Rumi around the waist under the sudden weight. Little Rumi took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his neck and rest her head against his shoulder.

"Dad, I'm hungry."

Rumi rubbed her face against Hachiman and acted coquettishly with malicious intent.

"Onii-chan... what's going on?"

Komachi quickly recovered and looked at Hachiman questioningly.

"Ahem. Haven't you noticed that the three of us look a lot like a family of three?"

Hachiman supported Rumi's bottom, letting her sit on his arm.

Rumi's little feet dangled in midair, swinging casually. She did not refute Hachiman's words.

"This is your aunt. Say hello."

Hachiman teased Rumi.

With a smack, Rumi lightly slapped Hachiman's face, then jumped out of his arms.

Rumi cast Hachiman a cold glance, pouted, and walked toward Yukino.

"Oh~ Onii-chan, you're an idiot."

Komachi giggled as she walked over beside Hachiman.

"Are you hungry?" Yukino asked Rumi softly. When her nominal daughter nodded, she continued, "Then eat Hachiman's portion. He can make his own."

As Yukino spoke, she handed Rumi the plate in her hands. Rumi accepted it, picked up the chopsticks from the nearby table, and ate bite after bite.

At that moment, Rumi noticed Hachiman's suddenly sour expression. She bit her chopsticks and tilted her head in thought, then walked over and used the chopsticks to pick up a small piece of sausage she had left over, feeding it to Hachiman.

"You're not eating it?" Hachiman asked.

"I'm full."

Rumi spoke flatly, holding out her hand. "Hurry up and eat it. My hand is getting tired."

Hachiman looked at the tsundere Little Rumi and smiled faintly before biting down on the chopsticks she held out.

Rumi suddenly remembered that her saliva still remained on the chopsticks and sausage, and her face flushed shyly.

After the other three had finished eating as well, the four of them sat around the table with nothing to do.

"It feels like there's suddenly nothing left to do."

Hachiman sighed.

"We'll be busy this afternoon, won't we?"

Yukino sipped her tea calmly.

"By the way, how did you find us?" Hachiman turned and asked Rumi.

Do I really have to tell you that I searched for nearly half an hour?

Seeing that his daughter was completely ignoring him, Hachiman turned his head away, having brought it upon himself.

Thus, the four of them remained in silence until a certain Dango appeared.

"Little Snow~ Hikki~" Hachiman was staring at Rumi and Yukino across from him when he suddenly heard the voice of the pet at home.

He turned his head and saw that it was Yui running over.

When Yui came closer, the slightly breathless girl complained to the two in front of her, "I was wondering why I couldn't find you anywhere all morning. I couldn't even find Komachi. So it turns out you were hiding here for some peace and quiet."

"There wasn't much to do this morning. Having some tea here is nice too."

As Hachiman spoke, he stood up, poured Yui a cup, and handed it to her.