Hachiman: Living off a woman? Poker face

"Cough, do you want some yakisoba and candy apples?" Hachiman coughed lightly, trying to divert the girl's attention.

"Yes!" Yui snatched the skewer and takoyaki from Hachiman's hand, stuffed another one into her mouth, then spoke around the skewer.

Seeing that his plan had worked, Hachiman turned and walked straight toward the stall.

"Hachiman~" Yui called his name and ran over to him.

"Young man, your girlfriend is quite pretty~" The busy middle-aged woman glanced up from her work and teased the two of them.

"What is it? The yakisoba will take a little longer."

Hachiman handed the candy apple in his hand to Yui.

Yui ignored the woman's teasing and spoke directly with Hachiman.

"Let's go over there after we buy it. There won't be many spots left soon."

Yui pointed toward the place where they would watch the fireworks.

"It's fine. The Yukino Family has seats over there."

Hachiman spoke indifferently.

"Here you go. All done."

The woman packed up the yakisoba and handed it to Hachiman.

"Have fun."

The woman waved goodbye to the two of them with a smile before returning to her busy work.

"Thank you, ma'am~" Yui looked back with a smile, hugged Hachiman's arm, and shuffled along in tiny steps.

"Young master."

Just as Hachiman and Yui approached the Yukino Family's seats, Yukino's driver appeared out of nowhere, startling Dango so badly she nearly jumped.

"The young lady is inside. Would you like to join her?" The driver spoke respectfully to Hachiman, completely ignoring Yui clinging to his arm.

"Take me there."

"Oh my, isn't this Hachiman-kun? What is the meaning of this?" Haruno looked at Yui beside Hachiman. Although she was smiling, her expression carried a chill.

"I hired a nanny for Yukino. What do you think?"

Hachiman spoke boldly.

"Huh?" Haruno instantly went blank, wondering what kind of move this was.

"Fine. You're impressive, Hachiman-kun."

Haruno nodded, accepting it for the time being.

"Heh heh, what can you do? Your little sister doesn't object either."

Hachiman showed no fear at all.

"I..." Haruno faltered, her expression resembling someone forced to swallow something bitter.

"Enough. In a month, send someone to me. I have something for you."

"What is it?" Haruno asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Something good. You'll know when the time comes."

Hachiman winked at Haruno and teased her mysteriously.

"I can't be bothered with you."

Haruno rolled her eyes, showing Hachiman no warmth whatsoever.

"All right, watch the fireworks properly."

Hachiman patted the blanket on his left, gesturing for Haruno to sit down.

"This is obviously my family's spot, yet you're acting as if you own it."

"We're family. Why be so polite?"

Yui sat beside Hachiman with her legs folded to one side, smiling as she watched the two of them bicker.

When the fireworks began to bloom, Haruno also sat down beside Hachiman.

Smelling the two different fragrances, Hachiman felt that it would be perfect if Yukino, Komachi, and Rumi were here with him too.

"Where's Yukino? Why didn't she come?" Hachiman asked Haruno beside him.

"She's at the party with Mom and Dad."

Haruno pointed toward the building across from them, where only one floor was lit.

"Huh? Why aren't you accompanying them?"

Hachiman sighed, somewhat dissatisfied.

"Hey, I'm your sister-in-law, at least in name. Could you show me some respect?" Haruno bared her teeth, thoroughly displeased.

"Well~ It's about time. I should get going too."

Haruno stretched lazily, put on her Geta sandals, and waved at Hachiman.

"By the way, you're Yuihama, right?"

Haruno suddenly turned back to look at Yui.

"Um... yes, that's me. Is something wrong?" Yui tilted her head and asked stupidly.

"Since my sister acknowledges you, don't make her sad. Otherwise..."

"Enough, okay?" Hachiman cut Haruno off.

Haruno glared resentfully at Hachiman without saying anything else and turned to leave.

"Hikki... We should go too."

Yui turned around and quietly put on her shoes.

"Are we leaving now?" Hachiman looked at the still-blooming fireworks and asked Yui in confusion.

"Yeah. I'm afraid we'll miss the train."

"Th-then let's go."

Hachiman nodded and took the initiative to reach for Yui's hand, but the girl quietly dodged him.

Hachiman frowned. He wished he could beat Haruno to death for sticking her nose in, but then he firmly grasped the girl's plump hand and walked outside with her.

"Looks like the trains haven't stopped running yet."

Hachiman spoke gratefully.

Yui did not reply, only lowering her head gloomily.

They walked all the way to Yui's front door. Only when she saw the person beneath the streetlamp did Yui finally speak.

"My mom is over there. I'll go first."

As she spoke, she tried to pull her hand free from Hachiman's.

"Yui."

Hachiman called out to stop her. "You don't need to worry about what Haruno said. After all, you're a friend of mine and Yukino's."

Idiot.

Yui said nothing, merely thinking it in the depths of her heart.

Hachiman continued watching as the girl ran toward her mother. He saw Yui's mother tap her daughter on the forehead, then nod at him before walking into the house with Yui.

Hachiman finally relaxed and silently headed home.

"That's it?" Yukino asked.

"That's all."

Hachiman shook his head.

"Consider yourself honest."

As she spoke, Yukino yawned. "Let's go. Time for bed. I'm exhausted."

Hachiman looked at the tired girl without saying anything and silently followed behind Yukino.

Chapter 50 Hachiman: Living off a woman? Poker face

In the evening, Hachiman was busy in the Service Club, slowly writing out a development plan for the Yukino Family covering the next two years.

These would be handed to Haruno, serving as Hachiman's gift to his sister-in-law.

After looking through them, Haruno would surely be able to display her full ability.

"What are you doing?" Yukino, who was sitting in a chair reading, asked curiously when she saw Hachiman writing furiously.

Hachiman said nothing. He simply handed Yukino some of the things he had already written, indicating that she should read them herself.

"Pfft, you can do this too?" Yukino burst out laughing when she saw what was written on the paper.

"Otherwise, what?" Hachiman shrugged. "I'll just write a rough outline. The rest is up to your sister."

"Why do I feel that you're shameless?" Yukino said with a charming laugh.

"What's shameless about this? Just wait and see. Your sister will be extremely grateful to me."

"Give me a break. A lot of these ideas were things she came up with herself."

Yukino rolled her eyes.

"No. The key is time."

Hachiman shook his head.

"What I'm doing can help her get started much earlier and give her more time to develop."

Hachiman smiled and adjusted his glasses.

"But... I could give these to her too. And I remember them even more clearly than you do."

Yukino teased him.

Hachiman's hand froze. He realized that there was nothing wrong with what Yukino had said.

How could clever Yukino possibly fail to realize Hachiman's intentions? However, she did not point them out. Instead, she sat beside Hachiman, took out a pen, and added some details to the proposal he had written.

After returning the completed proposal to its original place, Yukino continued reading her paperback.

The two of them understood each other without words and neither spoke. Whatever Yukino said at that moment would only make Hachiman terribly awkward, so she pretended nothing had happened and continued reading.

"Yahallo~" Just as the only sound in the Club Room was the rustling of writing, Yui suddenly pulled open the door and plopped herself down across the table.

"Why are you so late today?" Yukino asked.

"Hee hee hee, I was talking with a friend and completely lost track of time."

Yui stuck out her tongue and apologized sheepishly.

"I thought you weren't coming."

As she spoke, Yukino stood up and poured Yui a cup of tea.

"If I weren't coming, I would have told Little Snow."

Yui took her cup and sipped from it.

"Eek, the tea's gotten a little cold."

Yui tested it and found that the water was not very hot, so she immediately drank more than half the cup.

"Phew~" The girl let out a comfortable sigh. "I didn't notice earlier, but I'm dying of thirst."

"Don't drink so quickly. Be careful not to choke."

Yukino reminded her gently.