My youth romance is always confusing

"Did Hiratsuka-sensei tell you anything?"

After dinner, Yukino talked to Hachiman while watching little Yuna go into the room to study with Mr. Hiratsuka.

I didn't expect Yukinoshita to talk to me, so I was a little flustered.

"Well, I talked about some unimportant things."

Anyway, let's just avoid the conversation here.

Who knew that Yukino turned around and looked at Hachiman with a gentle smile.

"You're still the same."

I don’t know what she remembered, but Yukino smiled and came over to sit next to me.

Ha, why is this guy so happy today? He seemed indifferent before.

Yukino shook her head, shook her slightly messy long hair, and showed a playful smile.

Hey, why is this guy so cute? Is he really the same person as the Yukinoshita in my impression? Also, you are 26 years old, can you stop acting like a little girl?

Strange, I was very resistant to this kind of attack, why is this guy so cute? Is it because I am his wife that I let down my guard against her? Damn it.

"Don't make that expression. You can trust us a little more."

The words that came out of Yukinoshita's mouth were completely different from those before. They were different from those ironic and sarcastic words. On the contrary, these words were extremely comforting, words that were very suitable for a wife, but -

"Trust?"

Talking to myself, as if asking someone a question, I gradually began to feel confused. How was this family, this relationship, established? How should I treat these people? For me, the lukewarm attitude before made me more comfortable. Instead, I felt a little panicked when I was suddenly understood and cared for by others.

The emotional panic was reflected in real actions.

I began to grit my teeth and lower my head, leaving Yukinoshita with only her black forehead hidden by her bangs.

But Yukinoshita was not angry about this. Instead, she was very happy to see this scene.

Is she finally starting to think? She thought.

"Although it's a little too early, I think you can get in touch with your friends more. They are all good people. Maybe you can find what you want in them."

Yukino patted Hachiman's shoulder and went into the house to urge little Yuna to study.

She knew that it was best to leave the time for him to think for himself. Although there would be no substantial progress and it was impossible for him to really understand what he wanted in just one month, this was not a reason for them to stand idly by, because he was still "him" after all.

Not knowing how to face them, I hid in the study. I avoided the question. Yes, just like before, I avoided the question.

But I know that avoiding a problem does not mean that it can be solved. One day I will have to face this reality, but now——

"call."

What should I do.

I started thinking.

Thinking from the perspective of time, it is actually correct to do nothing in this month, but deep down I am vaguely expecting something, expecting that the answer I am looking for is here, even though I know it will not change anything, even if it is fleeting, even if it will eventually be forgotten by me, but I still want to find that answer, so that I can feel at ease.

I found that my heart actually supported me to do this. It was not some reason given by others, but I really wanted to do it.

I looked back at the book I had put back on the bookshelf. I knew that it was proof of Zaimokuza's efforts until now. That was why I allowed him to publish my embarrassing history.

What about me? Even he, who I thought was a chuunibyou in high school, has found the answer and keeps working hard to achieve it. Shouldn’t I also find what I really want?

The unknown, the fear, these are the realities I have to face on this road, but even so——

I still made up my mind at this moment.

"So there is only one solution?"

With a determined tone, I decided on my next move.

He took out his cell phone and checked the address book.

"Yukino, Totsuka, Zaimokuza, Hayama, Isshiki, Yuigahama...even Miura is there."

As I flipped through my empty address book, I became more and more confused about my interpersonal relationships.

So, how did I do that?

"Oh, I found it."

I called Komachi and prepared to ask her for help.

Yes, here, the person who is most associated with the word "trust" is not my wife Yukinoshita, nor is it my life mentor, Hiratsuka Shizuka, but my sister, Hikigaya Komachi.

"Hey, this is Hikigaya Komachi."

The voice coming from the other end of the phone was as cute as always, but compared to ten years ago, it was a little more stable.

"Komachi, I have something I want to discuss with you."

When I said this, I heard the person on the other end of the line was a bit busy, so I asked, "Komachi, are you busy? Let's talk when you are free."

"Ah, I'm a little busy today, but it should be fine after tomorrow."

"tomorrow?"

I quickly grasped the main points of Komachi's words.

"Ah, I don't think I had time to tell my brother yet. Tomorrow is Komachi's graduate school graduation ceremony, hahaha..."

Komachi smiled somewhat awkwardly. After all, her brother was already in enough trouble now, and she couldn't cause him more trouble at this time.

"time and location."

"Eh?"

After hearing what I said, the person on the other side became surprised.

"I'm asking you about the time and location of your graduation ceremony. Can't my stupid sister even understand that?"

As usual, I was having the same conversation with my sister as I had ten years ago.

"Eh! No need. My brother is in a lot of trouble right now. There's no need to—"

"Idiot? I'm not worried about my sister yet. Although I want to say this, I'm a little troubled recently. However, this has nothing to do with my sister's ceremony. How can a brother not attend his sister's graduation ceremony? It's not like I can't move."

I scolded my sister in a slightly stern tone for worrying too much about her behavior. Although my sister is much older than me, as her brother, I must behave more like a brother at times like this.

As Komachi listened to Hachiman's words, the expression on her face softened unconsciously. That's right, no matter what time it was, her brother was always her brother.

"Then Komachi wants something more extreme. Is that okay?"

With a playful tone, Komachi reverted to younger sister mode.

"Oh, it's okay. It's okay to go a little overboard."

I don't know where I got the confidence to fully accept this agreement. It might be the boring but precious self-esteem of being an older brother.

"That--"

"Then Yukino, I'm going to go home today. If I go back late, Yangno will make fun of me again."

Mr. Hiratsuka finished today's teaching and stood at the door to say goodbye to Yukino. Poor little Yuna was still in the house finishing her homework today.

"Mr. Hiratsuka, please be careful on your way back. Otherwise, Mr. Hiratsuka, please move in directly. I think the residents upstairs seem to have moved out."

Yukino looked at Shizuka Hiratsuka who was putting on her shoes and brought up an idea she had always had.

"Huh? I'm not so old that I can't take care of myself."

Shizuka Hiratsuka looked at the student in front of her who once needed her care. She never expected that one day she would need her care and attention.

"No, I'm just worried that you might get into more trouble if you live with your sister."

When she thought of that person, Yukino couldn't stop having a headache.

But when Yukino raised her head and looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka again, the only answer she got was an indifferent look.

"Let's talk about it next time."

Just as she brought it casually, she left casually as well. After all, this had become her daily life here.

"Ugh."

Yukino watched teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka leave, and just as she turned around and was about to go back into the house to see how little Yuna was doing with her homework, she saw Hachiman coming out of the study.

"Yukinoshita——"

"Call me Yukino."

Eh? I looked at Yukinoshita in surprise, and even my hair fluttered a bit, but when I looked over, I could only see a faint smile on her jade-white face.

"Why? Haven't you made up your mind?"

Ugh, how does this guy know me so well? Where did the roundworm come from? No, roundworm is too ugly. Is there a better way to describe it?

"If you want to get in touch with other people around you, then if you can't even face me as your wife, how can you get along well with others?"

Having said that, it would be too embarrassing for a single woman like me to suddenly call out the name of a beautiful woman who had nothing to do with me a few days ago. Besides, it would be too shy, isn't it?

"What? You can't even do this, Hachiman~"

As if to tease me maliciously, Yukinoshita lifted her skirt and moved closer to me to observe my expression.

Ahhhhh! How could there be such a foul operation? Even my Hikigaya Barrier is about to be shattered.

"Yuki...no."

I uttered Yukinoshita's name through gritted teeth.

I want to die!!!

"What? The sound is too soft, I can't hear it."

After saying this, Yukino even made a special gesture of expanding her ears with her palms.

This person hasn't changed, he's still as sinister as ever.

So I gave up on my defense and asked Yukinoshita with a formal expression: "Yukino, I need your help with something."

"Sure, Hachiman."

Without hesitation, she answered me with her usual smile, but this time, I began to taste a different flavor.