Chapter Forty-Nine: The Fireworks Festival, Part Two

"What do you mean?" Yui asked curiously.

"For example, your measurements, or your relatives' birthdays."

Hachiman grinned mischievously.

"Want me to list them?"

"Don't!" Yui's face flushed crimson as she reached out and covered Hachiman's mouth.

"Hikki, you're awful."

Yui had wanted to step on Hachiman's foot, but then remembered she was wearing Geta sandals. Her plump little foot froze in midair, so she could only stomp the ground angrily.

"Can't be helped. I remember this one very clearly."

Hachiman shamelessly teased the Dango in front of him.

"Ugh, I really don't know how I ever became friends with someone like you."

"Heh... You didn't just become friends with me. You drugged me, too."

Hachiman thought silently to himself.

"Hikki~" Yui suddenly called out hesitantly.

"What is it?"

"Can you tell me about those things? Back then, the two of you only gave me a general idea."

Yui spoke expectantly.

"Sure. It's not like there's anything else to do while we're walking."

Hachiman agreed indifferently.

"When do you want to start?" Hachiman asked in return.

"Start from the beginning."

"That'll take a while. It was several years, after all, and a lot happened in between."

Hachiman furrowed his brow.

"It's fine~ We've got plenty of time."

Yui blinked playfully.

"All right, then."

Hachiman cleared his throat and began slowly recounting the original story.

Hachiman was telling Yui the story on the train when, without warning, the train braked sharply, sending Yui straight into his arms.

"What happened?" Hachiman, holding the soft warmth in his arms, was somewhat puzzled. A train like this shouldn't have braked so abruptly.

"Weren't we almost there? Why did it suddenly stop?" Yui, sprawled against Hachiman's chest, looked out at the scenery with confusion.

"Dear passengers, we regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, this train will be temporarily suspended after stopping at the station ahead. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience."

The train announcement came right on cue.

"Eh~ What happened?"

Yui was puzzled.

"Someone probably threw themselves onto the tracks again."

Hachiman shrugged and spoke unconcernedly as he watched the scenery outside crawl past.

"Eek!" Yui jumped in fright.

"That sort of thing is pretty common, isn't it?"

"People care too much about not causing trouble for others. When the pressure becomes too much to bear, they just return it all in one go."

"And the best way to do that is probably to throw themselves onto the tracks. They die without much pain, and they can get revenge on a whole lot of people."

"Poor Japan."

Hachiman sighed.

"Yikes, Hikki, you see through things so well. You sound just like an old man."

"But why do they have to kill themselves...? Isn't it better to be alive?"

Hachiman said nothing at that. He merely rubbed the Dango atop the girl's head.

"What are you doing?" Yui sounded somewhat displeased, but her expression gave her away.

Looking at Yui, who was enjoying being petted like a pet dog enjoying its owner's touch, Hachiman sighed.

"I was overthinking it. With how carefree you are, you'd never commit suicide."

"Ah! If you keep saying things like that, Hikki, I'll bite you!"

Yui curled the fingers of her right hand into claws beside her small face, pretending to look ferocious.

"What a dummy."

Hachiman chuckled helplessly. "Come on, we're getting off."

He took Yui's hand and walked leisurely beside her, continuing to tell her about the events from his dream.

What Hachiman failed to notice was that a man who had gotten off behind them silently took out his phone.

"Hello, young miss..." The man watched Hachiman and Yui walk hand in hand as he spoke quietly to the person on the other end.

Chapter Forty-Nine: The Fireworks Festival, Part Two

Hachiman and Yui still had no idea that a certain sister-complex man had learned of their whereabouts. The two walked leisurely down the road, with Yui glancing around from time to time.

"Want to play?" Hachiman asked after noticing Yui constantly watching several girls nearby scoop for goldfish.

"Eh? Um..." Yui suddenly panicked when Hachiman asked her that.

"Come on, let's go."

Hachiman pulled Yui directly over.

"Ah, slow down, slow down~" the girl murmured as he dragged her along.

"Yo, young man! Brought your girlfriend here to play? Seventy-five yen per net."

The stall owner spoke to them in an especially hearty voice.

"No... We're not..." Yui waved the small hand fan in her hand, just about to deny that their relationship was anything like that.

"Give me six."

Hachiman handed over the money and placed the two coins and six nets, each thinner than paper, into Yui's hands.

"Give it a try."

Yui gripped everything tightly in her hands and bit her lip.

"Hikki, you know, the more you act like this... the more unwilling I feel."

The girl's lowered face wore a gloomy expression.

"What's wrong?" Hachiman asked, puzzled.

"Nothing~" Yui's usual cheerfulness returned the moment she raised her head.

"I was just thinking that I might not catch a single one. Wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

As she spoke, her little face flushed just the right amount.

"Isn't the point of this just to have fun?" Hachiman smiled helplessly.

"True. Then I won't hold back, okay?" Yui crouched in front of the tank and carefully observed the relatively sluggish goldfish inside, seemingly choosing a suitable target.

Once the girl finally found a fish that looked particularly stupid, she struck instantly, trying to scoop it out quickly and accurately. But just as it left the water, the goldfish gave a slight shake, causing the soaked paper net to tear apart.

Watching the little fish disdainfully swish its tail in the water, Miss Dango refused to give up and continued scooping with the remaining paper nets. Every time, they broke just as she lifted them from the water.

Yui stood up angrily, grabbed Hachiman, and turned to leave.

"What's wrong? Are you angry already?" Hachiman looked at the girl's puffed cheeks, barely resisting the urge to poke them.

"Of course not~" Yui threw him a dirty look.

"I want something to eat~ I'm starving."

Dango covered her stomach and gazed at Hachiman pitifully.

Hachiman looked helplessly at Yui, who stood before him with the pleading eyes of a hungry puppy, and sighed softly.

"If you're hungry, go eat. Why are you asking me...?" Hachiman said.

"I... I forgot to bring my bag... I don't have any money on me..." Yui spoke with great embarrassment.

"What would you have done if I hadn't come out with you today?"

Hachiman adjusted his slipping glasses and looked at the foolish Yui.

"Hehehe, if Hikki hadn't come with me, I wouldn't have come today."

Yui giggled as she hugged Hachiman's arm and dragged him toward the many food stalls.

"Hurry, hurry! I'm starving to death."

"All you ever think about is eating. Aren't you afraid of getting fat?"

"Of course not."

Yui waved her hand dismissively.

"Really? What will you do if you get as fat as a pig and no one wants you?"

"That's fine. I still have you and Little Snow, don't I? You can raise me if worst comes to worst."

Dango puffed out her chest and spoke matter-of-factly.

"Raise you as a wet nurse?" Hachiman said mischievously as he watched the two things wobble.

"Ew, Hikki!" Although Yui said that, there wasn't the slightest hint of embarrassment on her face.

"So I'm a wet nurse? How much are you planning to pay me per month? I won't do it if it's too little."

With all shame abandoned, Yui shamelessly poked Hachiman in the chest.

"Sure. Call Yukino right now and see how much she's willing to pay you per month."

"Ew... Hikki... You're living off a woman, aren't you?"

Yui attacked Hachiman without mercy.

"Heh, so what?"

Yet Hachiman's skin was so thick that he was completely fearless.

"After a while, it won't count as living off a woman anymore."

Hachiman smiled mysteriously.

"What does that mean?" Yui failed to understand for quite some time.

"Forget it. Eat your food."

Hachiman stuffed the takoyaki in his hand into Yui's little mouth.

"Ahh~ It's hot~" The girl fanned her mouth with her hand, then kicked Hachiman in the shin with her bare foot after taking off her Geta sandals.

"Are you trying to kill me with heat?" Yui glared at Hachiman with tears in her eyes.

"Do you have a cat's tongue? I didn't feel anything."

Hachiman held the skewer he had pulled from Yui's mouth, speared another piece, and put it into his own mouth, chewing slowly.

"I was distracted just now. You suddenly shoved it in, and it nearly scared me to death."

Yui was thoroughly displeased.