After that, everything continued as usual.
However, there was one more person in the car on the way back, which had originally only held five people.
Rumi was curled up in Hachiman's arms, taking a nap. This left Yukino, who had wanted to whisper a few things to Hachiman, extremely displeased.
Wake up.
When they reached the entrance of Sobu High School, Hachiman gently shook the Little one in his arms.
Disturbed, Rumi rubbed her eyes unhappily.
After getting out of the car, Hachiman saw Haruno standing quietly beside a black luxury car.
"Oh my~ Hachiman-kun, let me tell you some good news."
"Mother asked me to invite you over as a guest."
Haruno said it with a beaming smile.
Upon hearing this, Yukino immediately panicked and instinctively glanced back at Hachiman.
When she saw that Hachiman's expression remained as calm as ever, she finally relaxed.
"Little Yukino~ Let's go. Mother is waiting for you at home."
Haruno opened the car door and quietly looked at Yukino, who was standing still.
Go.
Hachiman patted Yukino on the head.
Only after the car had disappeared from sight did Hachiman take Komachi's hand, carry Rumi, sling his bag over his back, and walk home.
Conditions
In the early morning, Hachiman tidied his appearance in front of the mirror.
"How do I look?" Hachiman turned and asked Rumi beside him.
Little Rumi, wearing only panties and a T-shirt, lay on the bed playing with Hachiman's PSP, her two pale legs swinging about casually.
"Could you be a little less half-hearted?"
Hachiman walked over, picked Rumi up into his arms, and rubbed his nose against the Little one's soft, pale nose.
"What are you doing?"
Rumi said grumpily, then stretched out her foot and planted it directly on Hachiman's face.
"It's all because of you! I'm dead!" Rumi glanced at the PSP in her hand.
Rumi stomped hard on Hachiman's face with her foot. Unexpectedly, Hachiman merely gave the sole of her foot a light lick.
Rumi shuddered and pulled her foot back, but then gritted her teeth and stepped on him again.
She slipped her toes into Hachiman's mouth and clamped down on his tongue. Ignoring the saliva covering her foot, the Little one said angrily,
"I worked so hard to get that far, and you got me killed. And now you're licking me?" As she spoke, Rumi shoved half her foot inside.
"You like licking so much? Then I'll let you eat your fill."
Feeling Hachiman's tongue circling her foot, Rumi could not stand the stimulation and hurriedly pulled it out.
"Cough... cough, cough."
Hachiman had nearly been done in by his own daughter. He coughed painfully.
Rumi wiped the saliva off her foot on the bed with a look of disgust, then stared expressionlessly at Hachiman. "I'm going to tell Mom. Dad licks my feet all day."
"Huh? You little menace, if you say that, I probably won't live to see tomorrow's sun."
Hachiman looked at Rumi with a bitter expression.
"Hmph. I want pineapple cakes."
The Little one spoke in a sweet, spoiled voice.
"Then I'll bring you some when I get back."
Hachiman immediately patted his chest and promised.
Seeing that her request had been granted, Little Rumi turned around, lay on her stomach with her backside facing Hachiman, and continued playing with the PSP in her hands.
Seeing the Little princess clearly showing him the door, Hachiman had no choice but to leave.
After stepping outside, Hachiman took out his phone, found Haruno's number, and called her directly.
"Oh my~ Why is Hachiman-kun calling me?" Her tone was still as cheerful as ever.
"Come pick me up. I don't know where your house is."
"Eh~ Why so cold?"
Before Haruno could finish, Hachiman hung up and quietly waited.
Before long, a red Maserati stopped outside Hachiman's house.
"Get in."
Haruno, wearing sunglasses and perfectly done makeup, spoke to Hachiman.
Hachiman opened the car door and got in.
As soon as he sat down, Haruno poked him in the cheek. Seeing her irritated expression, Hachiman was somewhat puzzled.
Haruno was not someone who easily showed this kind of expression.
"Do you know how much I sacrificed for you and Yukino? And you actually hung up on me. Big sister is really hurt, you know."
Hachiman studied Haruno carefully. He noticed a faint, barely perceptible dark circle beneath her light makeup, and his expression softened.
"Do you need any compensation?"
"No."
Haruno bit her lip and stared at Hachiman seriously.
"Just treat Yukino better. And don't go fooling around with other women."
"I will."
"Then that's all the better."
Haruno nodded and drove on.
Amid the roar of the engine, Haruno soon brought Hachiman into the Yukino Family's mansion.
Before Hachiman had time to look around, Haruno hurriedly pulled him inside.
"What kind of behavior is that, rushing around like this?"
The moment Haruno entered the house, Mother Yukino gave her a thorough scolding.
"You must be Hachiman-kun. Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter."
Mother Yukino turned to Hachiman and gave him a faint nod.
"No, you're too kind. It's only what I should do."
Hachiman's attitude was completely sincere.
"No, you don't need to be modest."
"I know my own daughter best. You and I both know what Little Yukino used to be like."
Seeing Hachiman's humble, teachable expression, Mother Yukino was very satisfied.
"But judging from what I've heard, Little Yukino has become much more cheerful since she started dating you."
"That is something I, as her mother, am very happy to see."
"I think Yukino's feelings are what I should care about."
Hachiman looked calmly at Mother Yukino, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.
Mother Yukino was quite satisfied with Hachiman's attitude.
"But how do I know you aren't after the Yukino Family's wealth?" Mother Yukino suddenly changed the subject and looked at Hachiman sternly.
Before Haruno appeared, Yukino had never mentioned her family circumstances. She had only told me, after we became a couple, that her family was quite wealthy.
Mother Yukino said nothing more and simply continued staring at Hachiman.
More than ten minutes passed. Only after seeing that Hachiman remained so composed did Mother Yukino speak again.
"Then I'll trust you this once. If you ever do anything to wrong Yukino, don't blame the Yukino Family for using its influence to bully you."
"I wouldn't dare."
"Then that's all the better."
Mother Yukino gestured for Hachiman to sit down.
"But there is one more thing I need to say."
Only after Hachiman had sat neatly in front of her did Mother Yukino continue.
"Please, go ahead."
"Although the Yukino Family can be considered wealthy and possesses considerable assets, Yukino cannot keep spending her family's money to support an outsider."
"What do you mean?" Hachiman asked, confused.
"I also have to consider my daughter's future happiness."
Mother Yukino thought for a moment before continuing. "How about this? After you graduate from university, the Yukino Family will provide you with a platform. If you can meet my requirements, then we'll leave it at that."
"What if I don't?" Hachiman asked somewhat nervously.
"I thought you were always so calm. Don't worry. If I tried to keep the two of you apart, I fear Yukino would hate me for the rest of her life."
"So even if you fail, all that will happen is that you marry into the Yukino Family."
"Is that all?" Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief.
"What else did you think? I'm not an entirely heartless person. Besides, someone has already paid for the losses caused by Yukino."
Mother Yukino glanced at Haruno, who was standing quietly nearby, as she spoke.
"All right, Hachiman-kun. Yukino is waiting for you in the back."
Mother Yukino slowly issued her dismissal.
Only after Hachiman turned toward the backyard did Mother Yukino rise gently. As she passed Haruno, she said,
"Don't forget what you promised me."
"I know."
Haruno gritted her teeth and agreed.
Hachiman walked into the backyard and found Yukino sitting blankly in the garden.
He quietly approached her and pulled her into his arms.
Yukino cried out in surprise. When she turned and saw that it was Hachiman, she happily enjoyed his embrace.
"Wait, that doesn't make sense. Wasn't Mom the one who called for you? How did you end up back here?"
"We've already finished talking."
Hachiman inhaled the sweet fragrance of Yukino's hair.
"What did Mom say to you?" Yukino asked.
"She said she wants me to marry into your family."
Before you continue