Chapter 56: Impatience of Her And Cowardice of Him.
—OoOoO—
Summer was always a tricky season. Sometimes it could be so much fun, but sometimes it could be so much pain in the ass. Staying at home with a few books and playing games was the best way to enjoy the summer. However, things didn’t always go according to plan. Before you know it, troublesome people had entered your life and kidnapped you, dragging you everywhere to experience all the dynamics of summer.
Summer camp had never been on his to-do list for the summer. Yet, Hachiman, despite his grumbling, was forced into this activity, which should have allowed him to enjoy a short vacation at home before the many jobs as a jujutsu sorcerer would come his way. However, that was where the interesting and unexpected things came from. Relaxing at home all the time was perfect, but being with these people wasn't so bad.
'At least, we have amazing hot springs here. Though, I still prefer relaxing at home.'
Hachiman emerged from the hot spring with his wet head. The air around him seemed fresh, all the fatigue, negative feelings, and dust clinging to his body were washed away.
The atmosphere seemed eerily quiet. There seemed to be no sign of anyone wandering around. Hachiman glanced at the clock on the wall, checking how long he had recharged himself in the hot spring.
'Almost ten, huh? Who would have thought I'd soak for almost forty minutes? Well, I did fall asleep in there, though.'
Did no one wake him up? Did no one remind him that he had been soaking too long? The short answer was, yes, there was none. However, that was because no one went to the hot spring with him.
'Wait. It sounds pathetic if I put it that way.'
Hachiman purposely didn’t go to the hot spring with other people. It wasn’t that he hated being around people and preferred solitude. Well, that might be one reason. However, what made him reluctant was that he didn’t want to show his body to others. It wasn’t that he was embarrassed or insecure, but for someone who looked lazy, his body was actually well-built, and he even had a few scars.
'Imagining I’ve to make excuses when they ask, it's really troublesome.'
Hachiman roughly wiped his head with a towel one last time before throwing it in the laundry. He leisurely walked out of the hot spring area. His clothes were slightly damp in places from the water not being wiped off properly, but the boy didn't care much if he caught a cold.
Everyone was asleep, Hachiman thought. However, when he entered the hot springs lobby, he found a woman sitting leisurely in a massage chair.
'What’s she doing here?'
The woman turned to him, looking at him with a friendly yet enthusiastic gaze. Her right hand was raised, and she waved as if urging him to come over. Hachiman wanted to leave immediately and ignore the call. However, he knew the woman would never accept his refusal.
“What are you doing here at this hour, Hiratsuka-sensei?” the boy asked after approaching her.
“I should be the one asking. Why are you taking a bath at this hour, you idiot? It wouldn't be funny if you suddenly caught a fever.”
“I mean, we're jujutsu sorcerers for a reason, right? If things like this can cause a fever, we might as well not be one in the first place.”
Hiratsuka narrowed her eyes. It was clear she wasn't satisfied with her student's answer.
“Even so, that doesn't mean you can just ignore your health, you know?”
Hachiman didn't reply to the reprimand, nor did he try to make an excuse. The boy simply looked away, his eyes darting around the lobby. The words he had prepared wouldn't come out, as if lost with the breath that escaped his nose.
It was rare for him to be reminded to pay more attention to his health. Especially now that he had become a special grade, many considered him a superhuman figure who couldn't be knocked down by trivial matters. Not Haruno, not even Komachi, had reprimanded him about his health recently. The last person to do so was his mother, and that was even before she left for a business trip overseas this morning.
"You want to sit here?" Hiratsuka asked, breaking the silence.
Hachiman stared at the woman, but his eyes glanced at the thighs covered by the typical summer yukata.
“A massage chair, I mean. And don’t you dare think anything weird!” Hiratsuka growled, her eyes glaring at her student.
“Ah. No, thanks. I don’t have any money with me right now.”
Hachiman raised his head, pretending to look at the insects flying around the lamp.
“Just sit down. I'll pay for it for you.”
Hiratsuka reached for her pouch on the small round table between the two massage chairs. She took some coins from it and inserted them into the machine, even though her student initially declined her offer.
“You’ve to learn to listen to what other people say," Hachiman sighed.
“And you’ve to learn to accept generosity from others without much reason.”
The woman's response made Hachiman bite his tongue. However, just a moment later, a smile spread across his face.
"Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure to accept all donations once I'm truly an independent sorcerer. I'll accept it wholeheartedly, whether it's dirty money or money laundering."
This time, it was Hiratsuka's turn to be made speechless by his students.
“I’m not even sure if it was a joke or if you were serious,” the woman said with a sigh, “All the bad words that come out of your mouth, somehow, they all sound convincing.”
“Tee-hee.”
Hiratsuka immediately threw a sarcastic look when the guy gave a strange reaction, which looked terrible and didn't suit his personality.
“Sit down. I don’t want my three hundred yen to go to waste.”
Hachiman shrugged, having no reason to refuse his master. Besides, it wasn't that bad. Things you receive without working for them always feel good, and he would welcome them with open arms.
“So, what are you doing here, Sensei?”
Along with that question, Hachiman pressed the “start” button on the massage chair without bothering to adjust the functional details.
“I'm sitting in a massage chair and enjoying my hot chocolate. Isn't that obvious, Hikigaya?”
“I mean, you’re not waiting for me to get out of the onsen and suddenly throwing a bunch of work at me, are you?”
The woman chuckled at the question.
"I told you this was a vacation, didn't I? I even set up a barrier around Chiba Village so you could relax without worrying about anything."
The barrier that protects the camp area that Hiratsuka created was the same version as the Tengen Barrier in Jujutsu Schools, but had different functions and uses.
The Tengen Barrier wasn’t impenetrable. On the contrary, anyone could penetrate it as long as they know how, as proven ten years ago by Zen'in Toji. However, the barrier's unique feature was that anyone who entered the area without Tengen's permission would never reach the core of the Jujutsu Schools and continue to be led astray by seemingly endless doors, like a never-ending maze.
Meanwhile, the barrier Hiratsuka constructed this time truly denied entry to anything with despicable intentions. Whether humans, cursed spirits, or even projectiles, it would be incapable of penetrating it. Furthermore, everything within was under her watchful eye. For this reason, Hachiman completely abandoned his guard and relaxed completely. However, even with such a high-quality barrier, its lifespan was limited. Hiratsuka needed to perform maintenance every twelve hours to keep it active.
"So, what brings you here, Sensei? Did maintaining this barrier tire you out, and you came here to rest?" Hachiman asked, feeling the tingling sensation on his back from the massage chair.
“You really don't sense it, huh?”
Hachiman raised an eyebrow.
“Sense what?”
"Miura suddenly woke up. She probably had a nightmare, and her cursed energy was about to explode," the woman replied.
Those eyes, which normally seemed soulless, widened and stared intently at the high school teacher. As the teacher had said, Hachiman didn't sense anything because he had completely let down his guard when Hiratsuka's barrier acted as the primary defence.
"Luckily, Haruno and your sister were there to calm her down quickly,” the woman continued.
“Nightmares and out-of-control emotions,” Hachiman muttered as he looked back up at the ceiling, “It wasn’t Yukinoshita who caused it, was it?”
“Why are you suddenly accusing her?”
Hiratsuka glared at the boy as if she wanted to skin him alive. She couldn't believe he still had time to joke around in that situation.
"I mean, it wasn't without reason, you know?" Hachiman defended himself nervously, "They had a tense argument a few months ago on the tennis court, and their relationship hasn't improved since then."
The long-haired woman let out a sharp gasp. However, before she could reprimand her student further, he had already beaten her to it.
“But, yeah, a nightmare, huh? If I’m not mistaken, the first thing that happened when her cursed technique awakened was that she killed someone accidentally, right?”
Hiratsuka stared at the boy intently for a while, ensuring he wouldn't make another stupid joke.
“Well, you could say that,” she said softly as she leaned back, “That’s why I really want to create something so that things like this don’t happen again.”
Was there really a happy ending for jujutsu sorcerers? Born with a curse attached to their destiny, would their stories be the end with a lonely death? Would their lives be filled with nothing but tragedy? Thinking about it, it seemed there would never be a happy ending for jujutsu sorcerers.
However, Hiratsuka was a dreamer. She was considered a pure genius, second only to Gojo Satoru. Her path as a jujutsu sorcerer was paved smoothly. Unfortunately, everything came crashing down when she lost one of the most important figures in her life. She, Haibara Yu, and Nanami Kento were supposed to be a solid team. However, it all ended up being just a dream.
Despite that, Hiratsuka Shizuka never gave up hope. With the little nudges from those around her, Hiratsuka Shizuka truly yearned for and desired that happy ending.
“By the way, I heard you and Haruno helped an ostracised child.”
The words that suddenly came out of Hiratsuka's mouth made Hachiman turn to her for a moment.
“Helped, eh? I think it's a bit too much. All I did was provide a little advice. If anything, Haruno-san played a big role in coordinating everything with the teachers without making the child feel uncomfortable.”
“But in the end, the girl was still helped by your advice, right?” asked the black-haired woman.
“I don't know, I'm not sure.”
Hachiman hung his words in the air for a moment.
“Saying that my advice helped her, even though the results haven't even been seen yet, doesn't that sound arrogant?" the boy continued.
His constant denials seemed commonplace for Hiratsuka. However, she still struggled to discern whether it was because he was humble or unwilling to take too much credit. Sometimes, he didn't care about these things, making him seem apathetic and sceptical. However, she could also see that he simply wanted to do what he felt needed to be done.
“It's Judo, isn't it?”
“What?” Hachiman asked with a raised eyebrow.
“The advice you gave the girl to rebuild her self-confidence.”
"Ah, yes, it is. But as I said, it's too early to say whether my advice will help her. I mean, she might actually fail and not be suited to Judo."
The corners of Hiratsuka's lips curled up after hearing that reply.
"Then, how about we make a bet? If I lose, I'll do whatever you say."
“And if I lose?” Hachiman asked.
Hiratsuka gave a knowing grin before answering the question.
"You'll see, Hikigaya. You'll see."
That didn't make it sound convincing. On the contrary, it sounded incredibly suspicious. Hachiman couldn't come up with a proper response and simply stared at the woman with narrowed eyes. While her offer sounded tempting, the fact that he could do anything to her and the stakes involved were unclear.
'This is number one bullshit. I'll just keep quiet and pretend I agree to the bet.'
Speaking of Tsurumi Rumi's problems, none of her teachers were aware of the situation. Haruno's report and complaint were like a slap in their faces. This was truly unfortunate, as at the elementary school level, a teacher should play a role more than just an instructor.
'A loner hates being the centre of attention. They'll be afraid to ask for help if they're being bullied. That's why you must do something quietly when you want to fix something.'
Those were Hachiman's final words and advice to Haruno before she left to confront the teachers and staff. As a result, the temporary solution was to reshuffle the groups after each activity after yesterday's lunch break. As of today, a single student could be in four different groups.
This solution didn't come without other challenges. Several activities had to be cancelled, such as each group's best group contest and performances. It was impossible to hold these activities if the groups constantly changed each program. However, this issue appeared to have been resolved by rescheduling several events.
The empty hours due to several cancelled events were shifted and compressed into one session, and a visit to a local farm near Chiba Village
was replaced.
'However, visiting a farm without prior reservation should be impossible. I wonder who could do it,' the boy thought.
Haruno's name crossed his mind, but Hachiman quickly dismissed it. While her family had considerable influence, it didn't mean they could suddenly change the standard of operation just because she asked.
"Welp, I think it's time for me to return to my chamber," blurted Hiratsuka.
Hachiman threw a questioning look at the woman who had just stood up from the massage chair.
“Eh, already?”
“Already, you say?” the woman muttered, “I’ve been here for thirty minutes, you know? If anything, you’re the one who’s been soaking in the onsen for too long.”
“I mean, I thought you wanted to talk to me about something more important, that's why you're here,” the guy replied.
The woman's eyes rolled tiredly as a sigh accompanied.
"You checky brat. I told you I just wanted to relax, didn't I? Besides, if there was something I needed to tell you, I would’ve said it properly.”
“Properly? As if you had done it properly, Hiratsuka-sensei,” Hachiman replied, emphasising his teacher’s name.
Hiratsuka mostly spoke to him on the spur of the moment, even kidnapping him when there was work or something that needed to be done. The word "proper" had become rare since he returned to Chiba and was under her care. In fact, his work schedule had been much friendlier when he was still a student at Tokyo Jujutsu High.
“Tee-hee~!”
“Don't tee-hee me. And it doesn't suit your age.”
Hachiman immediately received a deadly stare with a thick killing aura from the black-haired woman.
“I mean, at your young age, your tee-hee should sound more enthusiastic.”
Hachiman avoided eye contact with the senior sorcerers. Her overpowering killing intent made him appear slightly nervous. However, after hearing his clarification, Hiratsuka grunted enthusiastically and nodded in agreement.
“Well, see you tomorrow, Hikigaya. Don’t forget you’ve logs-chopping duty tomorrow, you hear me?”
‘Hopefully, I'll sleep until noon tomorrow, and no one will wake me up. A fever would be even better,’ the boy thought.
Though he wouldn't dare say it out loud for fear of being scolded by the woman. Hachiman just wanted to see his teacher leave and end the day peacefully. Moreover, the massage chair was starting to show its soothing effects.
'I guess, adding another thirty minutes wouldn't be bad either.'
—OoOoO—
Was he a jujutsu sorcerer? A high school student? Or a lumberjack? Hachiman was a man who could be anything. Given his forced labour, it was understandable that he always declared he would live a quiet life after retiring from his exorcising profession in his late 20s. However, his hopes of settling down at home, with money constantly flowing in, seem far from reach.
'Is marrying a lady from a rich family and letting her take care of and pamper me the only way left?'
Hachiman shook his head slowly, throwing the idea away.
'No, that's not necessary. As long as you’ve a little sister, you don't need to get married!'
With barely a trace of enthusiasm, Hachiman swung his axe vertically, splitting the log in two perfectly even halves. The swing was powerful enough to cause the axe to sink into the chopping block. Wasting no time, he quickly picked up the split log and tossed it onto the pile of work he had been doing for the past half hour.
“Hikitani-kun, you know, I never thought you'd be so good at this kind of work.”
A stupid-sounding voice interrupted his tranquillity. He didn't want to reply, nor did he want to engage in conversation. For now, he just wanted to let whoever it was be. However, the figure seemed relentless in its insistence on conversation.
“Hikitani-kun, you’ve got a wrinkle on your forehead, you know? Your pose also makes you look scary, you know?”
Hachiman took a deep breath. He pulled the axe from the chopping block and slung it over his shoulder.
“Tobe, move your hands, not your mouth.”
The words that came out of Hachiman's mouth sounded flat, and his eyes looked unenthusiastic.
"Uh, I know, I know. It's just that chopping wood without talking is boring, isn't it? Feels like time goes by so slowly, especially since it's just the two of us.”
'I know working with me is boring, but working with you is no less annoying.'
As per Hiratsuka's orders, Hachiman had to wake up early to chop wood. The remaining firewood wasn't enough for today or tomorrow. Furthermore, they needed several long logs since there would be a campfire tonight.
At first, Hachiman thought it was unfair that he had to work alone. However, his thoughts changed after he realised that the others had to accompany the children to morning exercises and other activities. No matter what, spending time alone was always better than being surrounded by a crowd—at least, that was what he thought. Unfortunately, his momentary bliss was cut short when Hiratsuka asked Tobe Kakeru to help him.
“If your hands move faster, you can finish earlier and get back to them, you know?” the black-haired boy said as he placed a block of wood on the chopping block.
“Ah, I understand now. You also wanna finish this job quickly so you can be with Yukinoshita-san’s sister, right? I understand, Hikitani-kun. I understand.”
“No, you don’t understand at all, you moron,” Hachiman quickly retorted, “Besides, why did you bring Haruno-san into this conversation?”
The boy swung his axe quickly, splitting the log effortlessly like a knife cutting paper.
“But, honestly, right, Hikitani-kun, I didn’t expect you to be this skilled in romance.”
“You really won’t listen to me, will you?” Hachiman replied, throwing the wood onto the pile.
"I'm being serious, you know? I thought you were a kind of aloof guy who’d be awkward around girls. But who would’ve thought you'd actually hit the jackpot."
On the other chopping block, Tobe placed the log perfectly in the middle and swung his axe. His swing didn't seem as powerful or accurate as Hachiman's, but the log eventually split in two.
“Hit the jackpot, huh?”
From anyone else's perspective, forming a close relationship with someone as charming as Yukinoshita Haruno might be extraordinary. It might feel like winning a lottery with such low odds and a vast competition pool. Eliminating countless men was like a boxer defeating elite fighters to claim the most prestigious title.
However, Hachiman didn't like how Tobe compared Haruno to a jackpot for some reason.
“I think the wood is enough,” said the guy with the dead fish eyes.
“Eh? Are you sure?”
Hachiman simply nodded slowly, not intending to say a word in response. However, Tobe didn't seem too bothered by the cold response. He placed the axe on the chopping block and then attached a cover to the blade for extra protection.
“Wow, my palms really feel rough now. Don’t you think I’ve become a lot more manly?” Tobe said, opening and clenching them repeatedly, “Following you not wearing gloves seems like the best option, don’t you think so?”
The orange-brown haired boy suddenly widened his eyes, as if he had just had a flash of inspiration.
"Could this be how you charm Yukinoshita-san's sister, Hikitani-kun? Showing off your manly side that other men don't have?"
Tobe didn't know Hachiman very well and didn't have a particularly good impression of him. Not only had he just transferred to Sobu High this year, but he was also a complete loner. In fact, he was often seen sleeping through class rather than listening, as if he stayed up all night almost every day.
However, this summer camp rewrote most of that. Despite his cold and indifferent demeanour, Tobe didn't think Hachiman was bad. Furthermore, after spending more than an hour chopping wood together, he began to think the boy was in pretty good shape. After all, judging by their current workload, Hachiman had clearly chopped more wood than he had.
“Stop daydreaming. We still have to haul these big logs for the campfire.”
Hachiman's exclamation made Tobe jump. He immediately looked at the boy and found himself standing with one foot propped up on the pile of wood in question.
“Right away, Hikitani-san!”
“Why are you suddenly so polite? It disgusts me,” the boy muttered with narrowed eyes, “And who are you calling Hikitani anyway, you moron?”
—OoOoO—
The evening campfire was a staple at summer camp. It wasn’t just a way to gather and share the fun on the last night, but also to celebrate the participants' experience of various emotionally and mentally draining activities.
“Uuh… finally finished,” Tobe complained as he stretched his waist.
“I told you that you could just go and leave this to me, didn't I?”
"Oh, c'mon, Hikitani-kun. Don't be so petty."
Tobe put his arm around Hachiman's shoulder as if they had become true friends after doing some work together. However, Hachiman lazily pushed his hand away and rolled his eyes.
“Besides, I can’t bear to let you stack these logs alone, you know?” the loud-voiced boy continued.
“Well, it wasn't that hard. Stacking wood for a campfire is like stacking sticks for Jenga, and I'm used to doing it myself.”
Tobe immediately looked at his interlocutor with his eyebrows raised, surprised by what he had just heard.
“Jenga isn't a game to be played alone, though?”
“Eh? It's not?”
This time, it was Hachiman's turn to respond with a similar expression to Tobe's.
“You're clumsier than I thought, Hikitani-kun.”
Hachiman was about to protest at those words, but Tobe beat him with his loud voice.
"Anyway, let's go to the river. Everyone is waiting!"
“Everyone?” Hachiman muttered in confusion, “Didn’t they come to the ranch?”
Tobe shook his head in response.
"It seems our help isn’t needed because they’ll use the tour guide provided by the farm."
Although Hiratsuka asserted their role was to volunteer to cover the lack of an organising committee, they were still amateurs. Their presence was undoubtedly useful as extra manpower. However, going to a farm and supervising small children wasn't a job that could be simply delegated to a group of high school students. Moreover, even if they did go, there would be nothing they could do other than add to the financial burden, considering this was a spur-of-the-moment schedule after their main agenda was changed to provide a short-term solution to the case of one of the students being ostracised.
"Nah, I'm good. I'll take a quick shower and sleep instead," Hachiman replied.
The boy didn't bother waiting for a response from his interlocutor. He immediately turned and was about to leave. However, Tobe swiftly grabbed his wrist.
“You can't just walk away when things are starting to get fun, you know?”
"I could and would, actually," the sorcerer quickly retorted.
“But you’ll miss the most anticipated part, you know? Like Yukinoshita nee-san in a swimsuit, for example?”
Hachiman's body froze at those words. His brain seemed unable to keep up with his ego, which wanted to leave immediately. His entire nervous system seemed to work rapidly, sending the same impulse to his central nervous system.
In his mind, an image of Haruno began to form, her beautiful body, her alluring assets covered only by a swimsuit. Her fair skin would probably make the sun's rays feel insecure. Her extraordinary charm would probably force the surrounding flowers to hide, as their beauty was unmatched. However, what would make all men willing to kill for each other was her sly smile, as if it could pierce the heart and tear it to shreds.
The sight of Haruno in a swimsuit, there were no words in the world enough to describe it.
“Fine, I’ll go. But I’m not coming because of Haruno-san or something.”
—OoOoO—
Chiba Village felt quiet as the elementary school children's bustle and energy faded. There was no laughter or immature shouts, nor was the sound of small feet running around despite their supervisor's repeated warnings. Everything felt calm, peaceful, and serene. Only the sound of rustling leaves and creaking branches filled the campsite's shade.
However, as Hachiman's feet carried him deeper into the mountain, the rushing water began to reach his ears. The fresh scent of mossy rocks constantly exposed to water also reached his nose. Several birds circling in the sky also seemed to signal that the water source was within reach.
“Hey, just so you know. If you ever dare look at my sister with those filthy eyes of yours, I’ll kill you right there and then.”
Walking next to the black-haired boy, Tobe turned his head, staring at his friend in surprise at the sudden warning. However, the next instant, a knowing smile spread across his face, as if he wasn't offended by the sharp words.
"Don't worry, Hikitani-kun. I'm not interested in younger girls. Besides, you already know, right? I’ve got my eyes set on just one lady."
Hachiman's mind suddenly remembered the conversation the men, or Hayama and his friends, had before they went to sleep last night.
“It's Ebina, isn't it?”
Tobe nodded enthusiastically.
“I didn't wanna discuss this with you at first, Hikitani-kun. I mean, you seem so clumsy, inexperienced, and completely unreliable regarding girls and romance."
Hachiman immediately furrowed his brows at those words. While what Tobe said might sound true, he didn't want to hear it from a guy like him.
“I mean, please don’t get me wrong. That was just my first impression, okay?" Tobe quickly clarified to avoid misunderstandings, "However, after seeing you being able to charm even someone like Haruno-san, I've come to think that you might be a romance expert."
It was a compliment. No matter how you looked at it, it was clearly a compliment. However, that was precisely what made Hachiman a little uncomfortable. It was as if he sensed a different meaning behind those words.
“That’s why, please be my love advisor, Hikitani-kun. No, I mean, please help me, Hikitani-san!”
Tobe immediately bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle, forcing Hachiman to stop in his tracks and stare at him as if he had just seen a piece of shit in the middle of the road.
"I told you, seeing you suddenly act so polite disgusts me."
The spiritless guy sighed and started walking again.
"Besides, if you really want my advice, it's best to hold off on telling Ebina until graduation day. Or at least, until our classes are reshuffled in our third year."
Tobe raised an eyebrow as he tried to keep pace with his friend.
“What do you mean? And why wait until then?” the boy asked.
"You're in the same friend group, right? If you confess now and get rejected, things will get awkward. In the worst-case scenario, the girls might start distancing themselves from you, considering Miura's tendency to prioritise Ebina's comfort."
"Really? I don't think that's happening. I mean, I doubt Yumiko would move away because that'd mean she couldn't spend more time with Hayato."
From a normal person's perspective, what Tobe said was certainly perfectly reasonable and justified. There wasn't a single person at school who didn't know that Miura Yumiko had a crush on Hayama Hayato. Her feelings weren't a secret worth hiding. In fact, there were even rumours circulating that they were actually dating.
However, people didn’t know that Yumiko herself knew that her chances of winning Hayato's heart were slim. On top of that, her mental state has recently been unstable due to the sudden awakening of her jujutsu sorcery abilities.
She probably wouldn't have cared if it were a normal Yumiko, even if the opportunity was as small as an ant hole. With her personality, she would have continued forward like a bulldozer, forcibly clearing a path. However, the recent experiences had left her mentally exhausted. Even though she didn't want to, she had to train her sorcery because it was the only way to survive while those old geezer sorcerers considered her an anomaly best disposed of. With the disgusting things that had happened lately, her circle of friends was her only comfort zone when even her parents doubted her sanity.
Therefore, when it became awkward and only added to her mental burden, Yumiko was more likely to save what was left rather than continue holding on to something that clearly couldn’t be hers.
'Though I can't possibly say that to this Homosapien,' Hachiman thought.
"Miura may be an idiot and think everyone can be friends as long as they can play together. However, I don't think she's a selfish girl who’d abandon her friends to pursue her love."
Tobe looked down with a tired expression.
“You’re right. I’ve known Yumiko since our first year in high school, and I even introduced her to Hayama. But I don't think I really understand her that well."
Hachiman glanced at his interlocutor out of the corner of his eye. He seemed disturbed by Tobe's expression.
"Well, the thing is, if you confess your feelings to Ebina on graduation day, the impact will be much stronger. Not only will you save your group from awkwardness, but you can even brag to Ebina that you've harboured feelings for her for a long time. It'll show that you're dedicated and truly serious about her."
"Now if you put it that way...."
"See? It's like saving your ultimate move for one big blow at the end," he said as a closing suggestion.
For Hachiman, meddling like this in other people's love affairs wasn't even on his bingo list. He never cared about other people's personal problems that weren't related to his work. His hands were already full with all sorts of complicated issues that needed to be prioritised. However, hearing Tobe's story made something inside him tickle a little.
Love was a heavy burden, but also a fragile thing. A cruel curse, one that could even leave invisible wounds, scars that would linger even after years. Yet, somehow, the word resonated in his chest.
“Oh, isn't that Hikitani-kun and Tobecchi?”
The feminine voice that touched his eardrums made Hachiman wake up from his reverie.
“Hikio and Tobe? Are you done with your work?”
"Ebina-san! Yumiko! Yay! Nice to see you again!"
Tobe then jogged towards the two women. Meanwhile, Hachiman simply stood there, looking around.
The clear river water perfectly reflected the sunlight, creating a warm yet refreshing sensation. The gentle current and the occasional breeze sounded like a soothing melody. However, what made it all feel different was the presence of the girls.
Ebina Hina wore a black bikini with lace around her chest, emphasising the cuteness she had always had. Beside her, Miura Yumiko chose a slightly shiny red bikini, which perfectly suited her fiery personality. However, the most captivating aspect of her bikini was the beautifully outlined cleavage, which seemed to have a strong gravitational pull, making Hachiman's eyes seem to have autofocused on that one point.
'I swear I'm not a womaniser, but it's so hard to fight the urge not to stare at those fats!'
“Hikio? Are you okay?”
“I… what?”
The blonde girl narrowed her eyes, then covered her cleavage with her hands.
“Where are your eyes looking, you pervert?”
"I mean, I've been trying hard not to stare at that part, you know?" Hachiman replied, tilting his head, "You should give me some credit for that."
“Oh, Hikitani-kun, it’s not good, you hear me? Yukinoshita-san’s sister wouldn’t like it if she caught you looking at another woman,” Tobe chirped.
Hachiman immediately glared at the guy, giving him a death glare that shrank his guts.
“Hikio, you….”
Yumiko called his name with a slight drawl, as if reprimanding him without saying specific words. However, it showed her level of concern for her friend.
"What? Why me?" the response.
Hachiman stared at the blonde girl, trying his best to keep his focus on her face. He then realised that she had faint dark circles under her eyes.
The boy snorted and turned his head to the side, not wanting to see his conversation partner's slightly distraught state. However, his eyes widened when he caught sight of a group of teenagers approaching him.
“It's Onii-chan!”
Komachi and Yui walked at the forefront of the group in their respective bikinis. However, the presence of three boys behind them made Hachiman narrow his eyes, whom he recognised as Hayama's gang.
“Komachi, why did you go with these thugs?” the boy asked after approaching them.
“Here we are, Hikki with his siscon.”
Hachiman glanced at the pink-haired girl, but his eyes scanned each boy standing behind Komachi.
"This has nothing to do with siscon. No one would like it if some guys were gooning behind their sister's back."
Everyone was shocked when Hachiman suddenly spat out words that could be considered slurs or defamation.
“Onii-chan, it’s too much, you know?” Komachi said, covering her face, “Please don’t embarrass me.”
“I don't see any fault in my words, though.”
Hachiman took one step closer to send a clearer message to them through his eyes.
“Hikitani-kun, you’re joking, right? You know I didn’t mean anything by it, right? We walked behind her because it was easier to keep an eye on her if something suddenly happened,” Hayama replied with an awkward smile.
However, the black-haired boy didn't seem taken in by his words or show any signs of joking.
“But my sister doesn’t need your help at all,” Hachiman responded curtly.
The atmosphere seemed quite tense out of nowhere, especially since Hikigaya wouldn't listen to any defence. He expressed his distaste for the three strange boys walking behind his sister. While he didn't say it directly, his message was clear. He demanded they get out of his sight immediately. However, for Hayama and his friends, it wasn't as simple as it seemed, as they wanted to clear up the misunderstanding.
“Tsk. That’s enough. I’ll play with Yumiko-san. You’re really embarrassing me, stupid Onii-chan!”
Komachi pushed past Hachiman. She refused to look her brother in the eye, trying to hide her remaining pride. A flustered Yui followed behind her. However, Hachiman didn't even flinch, unconcerned by her reaction, continuing to stare at the boys as if he were prepared to fight them.
“Hikitani, I completely understand your concerns, but isn’t calling your classmates gooning a bit too much?”
Hachiman glared at one of the boys beside Hayato.
"Who in the hell are you? Dude, I don't even know your name."
Was it a warning that his presence wasn't significant? Or was it arrogance? No, neither. Hachiman didn't recognise him because he was bad at remembering names and faces. Usually, Hachiman labelled people to make it easier for him to remember them, like the loudmouth Tobe, the Casanova Hayama, or even the chuunibyou Zaimokuza, who often came to the clubroom to ask for reviews of his novels.
However, if the person in question had no quirk and their existence had no connection to his personal life or affairs, Hachiman would always have difficulty remembering them. The best he could do was remember them as Potatoes 1 and 2, who always followed Hayama wherever he went.
“Hayato, can you check if any fish have entered our bamboo fish trap?”
The boys turned around when a voice interrupted them.
“Haruno-san?” muttered the blonde.
“Yahoo,” Haruno waved with a smile, “Hikigaya-kun’s here too? Thanks for your hard work, then. It must have been hard chopping wood since this morning, right?”
Haruno didn't come alone. Beside her, and a few steps behind, her sister arrived with an expressionless face devoid of interest. However, turning his gaze away from the two girls, Hachiman's eyes traced the current along the river, and he noticed two small protrusions on the surface that looked like markers.
“Got it, Haruno-san. We will be back,” said Hayama.
The boy then looked Hachiman in the eye again, as if he wanted to convey something. However, unlike before, when he had only intended to clear up the misunderstanding, this time, it felt like he was trying to drill a hole through his head. Despite that, nothing happened. They simply exchanged glances without a word until Hayama finally left to carry out his duties.
“Congratulations, Hikigaya-kun. Now you have ruined the mood.”
Yukino's subtle sarcasm made Hachiman's brow twitch slightly. However, she wasn't entirely wrong when he noticed the awkwardness around them. In fact, Yumiko even took her group, including Komachi, to play in the water a little further away to avoid confrontation.
“Hikigaya-kun isn’t entirely wrong, though,” Haruno chimed in.
“You said that just because you wanted to defend him, Nee-san.”
"Hm? I don't think so. I completely understand Hikigaya-kun's feelings. If someone I didn't know well was following my sister in a bikini, I would definitely be suspicious and would definitely kill them if they had any indecent thoughts.”
Haruno gave a wide smile with her eyes closed, but instead of looking charming, it looked creepy as if she wasn't playing around with her words.
"Besides, isn't that why we're wearing more moderate clothing than bikinis like the others? Aren't you uncomfortable with Hayato and his friends around, Yukino-chan?” Haruno continued.
Now that Hachiman thought about it, the two sisters weren't showing off their curves and skin in such revealing outfits.
Yukino wore a pale one-piece dress resembling a pareo or minidress with lavender patterns in several spots. The halter neckline perfectly exposed her shoulders, revealing a black bikini strap underneath. It looked simple, yet it really accentuated her elegance.
Meanwhile, Haruno was wearing hotpants about twenty centimetres above her knees. Her top was covered by a black T-shirt with a cut-out bottom and a tie at the side, showing off her fat-free stomach and clean, shapely navel. While she didn't reveal much skin overall, the tight T-shirt accentuated her curves quite clearly.
'However, that's precisely what makes Haruno-san stand out. She covers most of her body, but still shows a glimpse of her curves. That's precisely what turns men on, and their imaginations start to dance, imagining many things that were hard to describe. And when she shows what's hidden beneath, that's when she would stun them with her beauty and charm.'
Hachiman swallowed his saliva with difficulty.
'It's like building hype for one big explosion at the end, and Haruno-san knows how to play it well. It's not good. This woman is very dangerous.'
"Hikipervert-kun, don't you know your eyes are getting more disgusting? No, this time it is not just your eyes, but your entire existence.”
Yukino's insults made Hachiman wake up from his imagination.
“Huh? What do you mean? I didn’t even do anything, nor was I even glancing at you, you know?”
'And you don't even have any good assets to look at,' Hachiman added inwardly.
The boy rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He did glance at Haruno, but it was fleeting, as he preferred to stare at her beautiful face.
“I mean, I’m just a little confused. I understand if it’s Yukinoshita, but I didn’t expect you to not wear a bikini like the others, Haruno-san.”
The black-haired woman gave a flirtatious grin at those words.
“Oh, does our Hikigaya-kun want to see me in a bikini that much?”
Haruno immediately grabbed Hachiman's arm, hugging him until it touched her supple assets. His cheeks immediately flushed, and his breath hitched for a moment, as if he had been electrocuted.
“Please stop. You know I'm not very comfortable with this.”
It wasn't just the lewd thoughts that crossed his mind, but the fact that he felt piercing stares from all directions made him want to leave immediately, rather than be the centre of attention. Understanding his character, Haruno removed her hand and stopped teasing, even though she still wanted to continue. However, it couldn't be helped, and lately she preferred to enjoy Hachiman's cute reactions to herself rather than let others see them.
"After all, I'm Yukino-chan's sister, you know? Even though people say our personalities are very contrasting, I still don't like strangers seeing me in a bikini."
“That’s why I said I didn’t expect you to be like that too,” Hachiman replied.
However, instead of Haruno replying, Yukino responded with her usual sarcasm.
“Oh, you did not know?” Yukino cut the conversation, “That is surprising. Didn’t you always brag that you had good observation, Hikigaya-kun?”
Hachiman's eyebrows twitched at that, but he couldn't retort, having already swallowed his words. And for Haruno, to be honest, she was a little disappointed that the boy didn't know it, but she also couldn't expect him to, as she never told him about it. Furthermore, she knew full well that her complex personality made it difficult for others to understand.
“I’m a classy person with high standards, you know, Hikigaya-kun,” Haruno said, brushing her hair back with her hand, “I don’t need to wear a sexy bikini to get anyone else’s acknowledgement of my charm. After all, I know I’m an elite and can easily outshine any woman in the world if you want me to.”
Those words may sound arrogant, and to some, even annoying. However, no matter how you look at it, no one could deny the fact. Yukinoshita Haruno essentially had it all. Beauty, intelligence, wealth, and even luck, she lacks none of it.
Hachiman described her as a woman beloved by the gods. And he didn’t give such praise to others lightly. So far, only Gojo Satoru had received the same praise. And to Hachiman, if Gojo Satoru were born a woman, perhaps Yukinoshita Haruno would be the perfect representation.
“Your words make it seem like they are wearing bikinis because they need recognition that they are sexy,” Hachiman replied.
“If not for that, what else could be the reason?”
Yukino gave her usual curt response as her arms crossed. Although she always claimed that she and her sister were different, no one could deny that they, as sisters, honestly shared the same core mindset.
"That being said, it doesn't mean I don't want to wear a full bikini. It's just that if I want to show it off to a guy, he has to be someone worthy."
Haruno stepped forward, moving closer to Hachiman. Her hands rested behind her hips. She looked up, staring straight into Hachiman's eyes, who was staring at her in amazement. Although their height difference wasn't significant, only about ten centimetres, Haruno stood on her tiptoes so that her face was only an inch from his.
"That's what I used to think. But Hikigaya-kun, I don't mind if you want to see it."
Haruno's whisper, accompanied by a breath from her lips, sent shivers down Hachiman's spine. The scent of her mouth lulled him for a moment, almost lulling him to a deep sleep and not realising how close they were. The reflection of himself in those clear eyes also seemed to hypnotise him, making his mouth shut tightly. He could even hear his heart pounding and the blood rushing to his head.
“Can you two go somewhere else if you want to flirt with each other?”
Yukino's sharp words felt like cold water poured over his head. The sensation reactivated his entire nervous system, and all the brain's networks returned to normal.
Hachiman immediately pulled his head away from Haruno, a blush on his cheeks impossible to hide. Meanwhile, Haruno simply chuckled as she hugged her sister's arm.
“No need to be so cold, Yukino-chan. I’m actually jealous of you, you know?” the woman pouted in a swaying tone.
“Jealous? Why should you be jealous?”
"You get to be with Hikigaya-kun almost every day. Even your quarrels feel like love letters to me. How can I not be jealous?"
After hearing those words, Yukino felt a faint blush on her face, but she quickly sighed and controlled her emotions, and the cold expression immediately returned to her face.
“Love letter? Don't be ridiculous.”
The long-haired girl walked away without any intention of further interfering with her sister. Her hair danced with her steps, and the shimmering sunlight made it difficult for anyone to look away. However, neither Hachiman nor Haruno minded her departure much.
“So, Hikigaya-kun, what do you think?”
"What?"
"Bikini."
Hachiman raised his eyebrows, and his eyes dropped slightly to Haruno's chest, which was covered by her black shirt. However, this only lasted a moment, and he immediately looked away.
“Didn’t you say earlier that you didn’t like strangers seeing it?”
“Yeah, but that means we just have to go somewhere where there’s no one else, right? Just the two of us, and it doesn’t have to be the beach,” Haruno replied with a flirtatious smile.
'Just the two of us, and not necessarily on the beach.' Hachiman didn't know how to interpret those words. On the surface, they sounded so provocative. Even when he searched for a deeper meaning, only naughty thoughts came to mind. It was as if his mind was filled with something that might lead to misunderstandings, both in interpretation and action.
“Hey, Hikigaya-kun. Whatever you’re thinking right now, I’m not going to deny it, you know that, right?” Haruno whispered right into his ear.
Hachiman momentarily glanced at the woman, then returned to the blue sky. But eventually, the gravity of her beautiful, clear eyes drew his attention back to her.
“Jujutsu sorcerers are going to be crazy busy in the summer, don't you remember that? Besides, you're going back to Tokyo after this.”
"I've started to get used to my job, and even though it's very tiring, making time isn't difficult," Haruno replied.
Right, this woman was indeed that type. She was someone who could do almost anything with ease. Moreover, with the innate characteristics of her cursed technique, her work as a healer alongside Ieiri Shoko was something she could do as naturally as she breathed. Considering all these factors, finding excuses to avoid Haruno would never be a solution.
“Fine. But someday, okay?"
the boy replied.
Those words echoed in Haruno's sigh. However, she felt quite satisfied, and a smile spread across her face.
“You know I’m not a patient woman, right? If that someday never happens in this near future, I’ll personally break into your house and drag you away with me.”
Before Hachiman could even think of a way to escape, Haruno had already eliminated every possible excuse. That was how she understood the boy's nature. With her casual demeanour, the woman's words firmly closed every possible escape route.
Hachiman could only stand there. His mouth curled into a grim smile that looked more like resignation than friendliness. Even though Haruno had made a simple promise to go on a vacation together, without any threats or drama, somehow, he felt like he had been trapped in a lifelong contract without even being given a chance to read the terms and conditions.
‘She won't let me go, will she?'
—To Be Continued—
Author Note: Hello everyone, nice to meet you again.
This chapter gives a glimpse into the conclusion of Tsurumi Rumi's case. In addition to Hachiman's advice, Haruno also encouraged that all groups be shuffled constantly to separate her from her group of friends and to avoid anything that might arouse suspicion among the other students.
This is actually an alternative to Hachiman's method in the LN, which I combined with his thinking method in the marathon arc (season 2 episode 10 in the anime). While he originally proposed forcibly "destroying" Tsurumi Rumi's group of friends, here I made it so that Tsurumi Rumi could leave naturally. Rotating all the groups every now and then would give Tsurumi Rumi a natural excuse to leave her group for a while, and after that, joining the Judo school would give her a chance to truly break free from her toxic friendships.
I once said that I used season 2's version of Hachiman as a reference for my characterisation because in this story, he's never truly alone, with many people in the same boat as him, and has adults like Satoru guiding him since childhood. This is what I mean by that. I won't remove the core of his personality, but I won't make him completely "cruel" like in season 1 either.
Well, that's all from me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay safe and healthy. See you again in two weeks.