Chapter Fifty-Three: Hachiman's Collection of Essays, Part One / Chapter Fifty-Four: Shizuka Hiratsuka's Fury as a Single Dog

Yukino pursed her lips before asking, "How did it go? Did you spend the whole day soaking in water?"

"More or less. That day, I'd just ridden my bike out of the school gates when I was nearly knocked flat by the rain."

"Was it really necessary to dream about that..." Yukino said disdainfully.

"Are you really sure it was only a dream?" Hachiman asked solemnly.

"This..." Yukino thought about those events that had felt as though she had experienced them herself, and began to waver.

"So what are you trying to say?" Yukino asked with a frown.

"A parallel world... You should know about that, right?"

Hachiman fell silent in thought for a moment.

"So you're saying... all of this was experienced by another version of us?" Yukino raised her eyebrows and took over the conversation with some interest.

"More or less."

"And what does that prove? Does it mean anything?"

"Maybe the three of us have all kinds of possible endings?" Hachiman said with a smile.

"Huh? Are you thinking about whether there's somewhere you can legally marry two people?" Yukino's face was full of malice.

"Why not?"

"...I really underestimated how thick your skin was."

"No, I feel like I've already been lucky enough."

Hachiman gently embraced Yukino.

"Lucky in what way?" Yukino did not resist. She obediently allowed Hachiman to pull her into his arms.

"Meeting you was the greatest stroke of luck."

"You're always saying things like that."

Yukino lightly patted Hachiman's chest, but her face was filled with delight.

Hachiman said nothing. He simply scooped Yukino up around the waist while the driver beside them held an umbrella over the two of them.

After escorting them into the house, the driver returned to the car and slowly disappeared into the heavy rain.

Chapter Fifty-Three: Hachiman's Collection of Essays, Part One

What exactly was a person's life for? Some people might say it was for social status, money, or a lover.

But judging from my current situation, I had already obtained all those things. Did that mean the rest of my life had no meaning?

Perhaps some people would say that people lived in order to pass on their ancestors' bloodline.

But I already had that feeling of being a father. Watching her grow up happily day by day brought a sense of fulfillment that nothing could replace.

Thus, it seemed that I had already achieved all the goals people struggled toward throughout their lives. So... what was I supposed to do with all the years ahead of me?

Perhaps saying this would make people jealous, but what did ordinary Japanese high school students think about during their second year? Some might not yet have graduated from their chuunibyou phase, continuing to live inside their own fantasies.

They believed they possessed enough power to change the world, that everyone in power was an idiot, and that only they could lead the people to a better life.

But those were merely delusions. Some high school students were more practical. They cared about their future prospects, so they worked hard without stopping in order to enter the University of Tokyo or some other prestigious institution.

They did so to enter a higher social class. But what about the majority? They drifted through each day in a daze, muddling along while constantly hypnotizing themselves into believing that everyone around them was just like them, so they did not need to work hard either.

However, how could we know whether other people were truly working hard? Some people could simply work in secret where no one else could see, using that to deceive others.

Some people might say they were not cut out for studying, but that was merely a self-deceptive excuse. If they truly steeled themselves to study from the moment they opened their eyes each day until they went to bed, squeezing every bit of free time from their schedule, I believed that anyone who was not an idiot could get into a decent university.

Even Yuihama had managed to get into the highly selective Sobu High School through her own efforts. So who was there that could not do the same?

They knew perfectly well that these things could affect their entire lives, yet they gave up simply because of laziness. I had to say, humans really were creatures that craved comfort.

In any case, these were no longer things I needed to consider. Having already proven my worth to the Yukino Family, I could now enjoy the same family resources as Yukino.

And in Japan, those things passed down from generation to generation were beyond the reach of even a commoner prodigy who had worked hard since childhood.

As one of Chiba's prestigious families, the Yukino Family could obtain two University of Tokyo recommendations with ease. Once a high school student's greatest worry was resolved, they suddenly had plenty of time to indulge in pointless thoughts.

So I often thought about the reason my present and future had become so smooth: Yukino Yukinoshita.

The renowned beauty of Sobu High, the girl people secretly called the Ice Queen.

She was now sleeping peacefully beside me. The expression on her sleeping face was so serene and sweet that it was impossible to see any trace of her former bone-chilling coldness.

And Yuihama Yui, who also had a tremendous connection with Yukino and me, was known at Sobu High as a social butterfly because of her ability to get along with everyone. Yet in front of Yukino and me, she often looked like someone whose intelligence had been disconnected.

I often wondered what had caused these differences.

After thinking about it for a long time, I reached a conclusion.

Perhaps this was simply what they were really like, but for various reasons, they had put on the masks that ordinary people saw.

Deep down, Yukino Yukinoshita was just a girl who wanted to be doted on. Her strength existed only because, in the past, no one had allowed her to lower the walls around her heart.

So she could only pretend to be cold and distant, using that to display her strength.

But once someone wore a mask for too long, they could no longer take it off. That was why I was so lucky to have met someone like Yukino.

No, I should say that meeting her was the thing I was most proud of in my life.

Because Hikigaya Hachiman—that is, me—

was also nothing more than a pitiful person who used loneliness as a mask.

Komachi often asked me in confusion whether something had happened to me. The old me had not been such a lonely person. I had also yearned for friendship. So what had happened to that cheerful and lively Hachiman?

Nothing in particular had happened. I had simply suffered too many wounds to my heart, and put on a mask to cover the scars, using an extreme method to ensure that I would never be hurt again.

And so, the dead-fish-eyed, deeply twisted loner had appeared before the eyes of the world.

Think about it. If I had never met those two, what would I have become?

A vicious person bent on taking revenge on society?

I did not know, because the two most important people in my life had slowly changed me.

Whether it was Yukino, who always wore a cold expression and only showed a radiant smile to Yui and me, or Yuihama, who had perfect social skills yet threw away all her dignity in front of Yukino and me—

even Hikigaya, who had only those two friends—the three of us seemed to have come together because of some strange fate.

That fate was vague, something that could not be put into words.

It was like meeting someone for the first time and somehow both feeling that the other person would be a lifelong friend.

So, I finally knew what the goal of my future life was.

Whether it was for Yukino's radiant smile, Yui's foolishly adorable behavior, or for myself—for the only friends Hikigaya Hachiman had ever had—

I would do everything in my power to protect the relationship between the three of us. I would never tolerate anyone trying to destroy it.

Although what I was doing was somewhat selfish toward both Yukino and Yui, I could not give up either of them.

Hachiman was just about to continue writing when Yukino suddenly let out a soft moan.

Hachiman hurriedly put away his notebook and sat down beside Yukino.

"Awake?"

Yukino opened her eyes, and they were filled with amusement.

The girl spoke with a faint nasal tone.

"What about you? Why did you get up so early?" Yukino propped herself up, then leaned against Hachiman.

"I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about Yui."

"Why don't we immigrate~"

"Why would we immigrate?" Hachiman asked, puzzled.

"That way, you could marry Yui too~" Yukino said with a mischievous grin.

"That sounds great. When are we leaving?" Hachiman eagerly played along.

"Yeah, right. If anyone's immigrating, it'll be Yui and me. You're not coming. I'm going to marry Yui."

Yukino laughed as she scolded him.

"Wouldn't that be a waste? Two beautiful women running off to become lesbians."

As he spoke, Hachiman kissed Yukino's cherry-red lips.

After a long while, they parted. Yukino caught her breath before saying, "What are you doing? I haven't brushed my teeth yet."

"I don't mind if you're dirty."

Hachiman gave her a lecherous grin.

"I can't be bothered with you. I'm going to sleep a little longer... Call me when the food's ready."

Yukino lay back down on the bed and curled up into a little snowball.

Hachiman left with a smile and looked out the window at the sun, whose red face was only half visible.

Another new day.

After stretching vigorously, Hachiman headed for the kitchen and got busy.



Chapter Fifty-Four: Shizuka Hiratsuka's Fury as a Single Dog

The atmosphere inside the Class 2-F classroom was somewhat quiet. At the front of the room, Shizuka Hiratsuka resembled a Queen inspecting her territory.

Whenever Shizuka Hiratsuka's gaze swept over an area, the boys in that section lowered their heads.

"What? You still haven't managed to decide on a committee member after all this time?" Shizuka Hiratsuka slammed her hand onto the lectern and spoke in an unfriendly tone.

All the boys in the class remained silent. Even Tobe, who was usually extraordinarily energetic, pretended to be a well-behaved little boy under these circumstances.

Shizuka Hiratsuka noticed Hachiman spacing out calmly to one side. After thinking for a moment, she spoke.

"Hikigaya, you'll be the committee member."

"Huh?" Hearing his name, Hachiman came back to himself. He looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka, who was staring at him, in confusion. "What did you say?"

"I said you'll be the boys' committee member."

Hachiman responded blandly.

Shizuka Hiratsuka ignored Hachiman's attitude and continued, "Now that the boys' committee member has been decided, let's choose the girls'."

"Would anyone like to volunteer?"

Shizuka Hiratsuka asked the girls.

"Hurry up. You've spent all this time spacing out."

Hachiman silently straightened his back, completely shielding Yui, who was sleeping soundly behind him.

"If no one wants to do it, we'll draw lots."

Shizuka Hiratsuka said impatiently.

"Huh?" Miura asked in confusion.

"What? Do you have an objection?" Shizuka Hiratsuka looked over.

"If you have an objection, why don't you do it?"

"No. I don't like doing thankless work."

Miura decisively shook her head.

"Then don't complain to me."

Shizuka Hiratsuka slammed her hand onto the lectern again, but before she could say anything, Yui's scream interrupted her.

"Hikki~ What happened? Was there an earthquake?" The girl raised her head in a panic.