Uneasy daily life

Yukino Yukinoshita remained calm.

……

……

Inside a men's clothing store, Komachi Hikigaya looked at the various clothes and asked, "Brother Shiro, has Yukinoshita arrived yet?"

"I told them to go to the comfortable shoe store we just passed by."

"Huh? Wasn't that just a dozen minutes ago?!" Komachi Hikigaya put her hands on her hips and said helplessly, "Brother Haku, be careful Yukinoshita beats you up if you keep playing tricks on people like that."

“If she just uses her imagination a little, she could easily ask the shop assistant if there was a really handsome guy there just now,” Bai Ying added. “I specifically described to the shop assistant how to describe my beauty, so it’s definitely not wrong.”

Mai Sakurajima remarked, "Yeah, this is probably the first time the shop assistant has encountered someone as boastful as Hater-kun. It's impossible for her not to be impressed."

"Huh?" Komachi asked, pressing, "Brother Haku, did you forget to include me?"

Bai Ying gave an OK sign: "Next time, add the super cute Komachi."

"That's more like it~"

Hikigaya Komachi continued happily browsing the merchandise, pondering what to give as a gift, when she suddenly remembered a detail from the conversation: "Yukinoshita-neechan came with someone else? Yui-hama-neechan?"

"Yui didn't come; she must have wanted to pick out a special gift herself," Bai Ying commented. "It's like she's trying to vent her pent-up emotions by putting herself through some kind of ordeal."

"I see, um..."

Hikigaya Komachi frowned. "Brother Shiro, what kind of gift do you think my brother would like?"

"you."

"I meant things, things!" Komachi Hikigaya grumbled. "I wanted to give him a belt or some clothes. My brother dresses too casually, he even wears those T-shirts with 'I am Chiba' printed on them. At least get him some cool clothes to keep him warm."

"This question..." Bai Ying nodded repeatedly, arms crossed. "Yes, with my artistic eye, let's pick out a handsome new outfit."

Hikigaya Komachi suddenly remembered something, turned her head and stared at the white figure for a few seconds: "Brother White, why is your outfit exactly the same as before?"

"I asked the shop owner to sell me several sets of clothes because I wanted to save time when I was buying them."

Bai Ying spoke eloquently: "Buying clothes is very simple. Just pick a set that looks good, try it on, and there shouldn't be any problems. Get three sets of the same size, enough for half a year's worth of clothes. I even asked the teacher to make two extra sets of school uniforms..."

What a horrifying fashion sense!

Hikigaya Komachi raised her hand and slapped him: "Brother Shiro, apologize to the costume designer for all that hard work!"

"Ha, they can only design clothes, not customers." Bai Ying swiftly dodged the chop to the side. "I'm the one who gives value to the clothes; they should be thanking me!"

Hikigaya Komachi stared at the white figure for a few seconds, and thought that there was actually some truth to what she said. Then she turned around and continued her shopping behavior of looking but not buying.

The white figure looked around, wondering where his beloved general was.

He was indeed a master of concealment and infiltration, a guy who loved to betray himself; no one had discovered his whereabouts along the way.

Hmph, have you ever heard of stealth drones?

……

……

Komachi examined a leather belt, then handed it to the department head, seemingly wanting him to try it on—wait! Wasn't this a gift for me? Why is the department head being asked to try it first?!

The minister picked up the belt, held it by both ends, and swung it around a few times. Judging from the deft movements of his wrist and the arc the belt traced in the air, it would surely become a legendary skill for subduing future generations...

The minister apparently expressed his opinion that "this belt doesn't fit well," and Komachi laughed and made a few sarcastic remarks before the two left the clothing store together.

Continue to follow up, be discreet, and try to focus your attention on Komachi rather than the department head. Your intuition tells you that the department head has a very sharp intuition, so you should not focus on observing the department head, but rather observe everything around you while paying attention to the department head's expressions and actions.

The next stop is a toy and accessory shop filled with all sorts of strange and wonderful things: metal pendant chains for no apparent purpose, various tattoo stickers of unknown meaning, oddly shaped decorations, flashy scare boxes, and a variety of cheap four-wheel drive cars, building blocks, and so on.

These things stirred up memories in my mind. There was a time when I was particularly interested in the fancy things other boys did, and I had moments when I was tempted to do the same. Of course, it turned out that I was not worth talking to—it was a two-way street.

He became obsessed with things he could do alone, things that he could entertain himself with, such as light novels, anime, and games. He even created a unique kind of "daydreaming game" where he could remain completely still and immerse himself entirely in his own world. His current record is eight hours...

Well, to put it simply, this is all a story about a friend of mine.

Could it be that in Komachi's eyes I'm the older brother who plays those kinds of things? So childish, just like the boys in her class?!

I've graduated from that pointless, delusional phase of chuunibyou!

I'm currently in that blissful, nonsensical phase of my second year of high school when I'm contemplating life!

Hmm... what's the minister doing? He's got that fancy ribbon, is he going to use it to pack gift boxes? He's probably planning to use those 'surprise boxes' as gifts, right? You just picked up a few boxes and played around with them! The minister is holding the ribbon and talking to Komachi about something...

Wait! Why is Komachi panicking, waving her hands and backing away? What is the department head trying to do?!

The minister tossed out a ribbon, looped it around Komachi, and circled her, who had a helpless smile on her face. Then he tied the two ends of the ribbon into a bow... Hmm? Could Komachi be the gift?

This is good.

The minister gave Komachi to me as a gift?!

very bad!

With his hair styled upwards and wearing leather shoes, a mature-looking person was pacing back and forth on the street. He was wearing a slightly ill-fitting business suit, and his expression was furrowed as he frequently looked ahead. He exuded the anxiety, excitement, and all-out effort of a recent college graduate looking for a job.

Without him noticing, the phone clicked and flashed, freezing the image in time.

[Want to be a bunny girl: Image.jpg]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: ?]

Chapter Ninety-Three: The Traveler on the Road is Heartbroken

"No way! Who would wrap ribbons around themselves and present them as a gift!"

"I think this is the decisive blow for Hachiman."

"Stop, stop, stop! This is too strange!"

Hikigaya Komachi fiddled with the ribbon wrapped around her body, saying helplessly, "Brother Shiro, I came to you to ask what gift would be better, not to play a prank on my brother."

“This is the best gift.” The white figure tied the two ends of the ribbon into a bow and pinned it to the side of Komachi Hachiman’s head. After observing for a moment, she said, “You should know your brother very well, right? The reason you asked me for advice—is this the first time you’ve tried to celebrate his birthday on your own initiative?”

"..."

Komachi Hikigaya raised her hand in a serious manner and said with an X, "Brother Haku, don't change the subject. Let's discuss what gift to give our brother!"

"More than what you give him, Bikiguchi cares more about who gives him the gift," Bai Ying summarized simply, confirming. "Generally speaking, he'll be happy to accept anything from you—if you really want a gift that will make him ecstatic, how about you give him a kiss on the forehead?"

hiss--!

Komachi Hikigaya jumped back in shock, gesturing wildly: "Wait! Why did it jump to this kind of action? I think this should be..."

"You put yourself in the box first. I'll take the box to deliver the birthday gift. On the way, I'll defeat the professional gang that tries to forcibly change the ownership of the birthday gifts and redistribute them. After going through eighty-one tribulations, I'll reach my destination and deliver the box to my dear general. You'll be inside the box. As soon as the box is opened, jump out and turn into a facehugger!"

Bai Ying carefully described her plan, and as Hikigaya Komachi listened, she unexpectedly learned to look like a dead fish without any instruction.

"Sigh, this is really..."

“Machi…” the white figure murmured to herself with self-pity, “You’ve always been the boss at home. Your brother took care of you like a baby, which made interpersonal relationships at school very simple. Now that you’re all grown up, you want to celebrate your brother’s birthday, but what makes you think I’m a materialistic person? You don’t respect me at all, and you won’t even kiss my forehead to wish me a happy birthday…”

"Stop—! Brother Bai, don't speak in your brother's voice, it sounds weird!"

Komachi Hikigaya couldn't hold back any longer, wondering if asking Shiro for help had been a bit ill-considered. She coughed lightly, her face serious, "I'm so happy about the changes in my brother since he started high school. Since things have changed, his preferences must be different, right? Shiro-nii, could you give me some advice on that..."

"When did you start to have the illusion that he's changed... hmm?"

Bai Ying took out his phone and glanced at it. He tilted his head back and showed an exaggerated look of shock. Before Hikigaya Komachi could ask, he quickly controlled his expression, moved to a product shelf, and waved furtively, saying, "Come on, come on."

"?"

Hikigaya Komachi quickly stepped forward, glanced curiously at the phone, and saw a photo that looked like that of a college student seeking employment.

Shock!

elder brother? !

Confuse!

He was dressed in a suit and leather shoes, and his hair was combed; he looked quite presentable. My brother actually does these things?!

Observe carefully.

That listless look in his eyes...it really does remind me of my older brother...

"Komachi, that's going too far, isn't it?"

"Ah...ah?" Hikigaya Komachi was shocked by her brother's transformation and hurriedly responded twice.

Bai Ying said indignantly, "He was clearly told not to come along, yet he still disobeyed Komachi's orders. To avoid being discovered, he even disguised himself like this—a traitorous villain, with ill intentions!"

"You agree, right, Komachi?"

Bai Ying asked with a serious expression.

Hikigaya Komachi raised her fist, coughed, and said, "Hmm! You're up to no good!"

"Arrest him immediately and subject him to severe torture!"

The white figure asked, "What does Komachi think?"

"Hmm..." Komachi Hikigaya looked out of the shop with great interest, but it was difficult to pinpoint Hachiman Hikigaya's location in the bustling shopping street—where was her brother, dressed in proper clothes?

"Brother Bai, do you have any ideas?"

"This is simple."

A white figure strode out of the shop, and the next second, a loud, booming shout echoed around the area.

"Hikigaya——!!"

Some pedestrians on the street subconsciously looked at the white figure.

minister?!

Hachiman Hikigaya, standing to the side of an advertising billboard, was startled. Impossible! I've disguised myself so much that I don't even recognize myself. How could the department head know I followed him? Right! He's definitely bluffing me! Logically speaking, if Komachi is going shopping with a dangerous person like the department head, I'll most likely follow her—the department head guessed that, so he's bluffing me to go out.

The minister had observed his surroundings several times along the way but hadn't noticed him, indicating the disguise was very successful. It wasn't for nothing that I endured the discomfort... Tsk, I acted impulsively after all, and the minister used Komachi as bait! He's got me! Fine, I'll just stick close to Komachi and come along...

Hachiman Hikigaya felt comforted and confident, and casually lamented his own operational mistake.

Beside him, Mai Sakurajima peered out from behind the billboard and waved her hand at the white figure in the distance.

It feels really strange to have my bangs combed up like that.

Hachiman Hikigaya didn't budge. He tugged at his collar, which was a bit too tight around his neck. His dad's cheap suit actually fit him fairly well...

"Gagaga! I'm going to record your voice, your smile, and your every smile on my phone, hang it on the wall for inspiration, and offer it on the altar for blessings... I've got an inspiration! I'll write a tragic story about a protagonist who finds a set of clothes, changes his entire life, and ends up ruining it! Give up the struggle, dedicate your soul to art, and let me record Hachiman's incredibly handsome appearance..."

The sound is getting closer.

Hachiman Hikigaya's forehead gradually broke out in a cold sweat—No, it can't be. The minister doesn't know I'm here. This is just a test... right?

Follow your instincts and trust yourself.

run!

……

……

In the pet section of the shopping street, Yukino Yukinoshita leaned forward, resting her hands on her knees, watching several kittens playing.

Inside the spacious box, the kittens, like colorful fluffy balls, were nuzzling and pushing each other, occasionally letting out tender meows. With their bright, watery eyes, soft, clean fur, and pink tongues peeking out as they meowed, this group of adorable little creatures successfully captivated Yukino Yukinoshita.

"I said...it's been five minutes already, hasn't it?"

Feng Bin and Hua weren't interested in the cat. She glanced at the time and muttered, "Where did that bastard go?"

“We’ll wait for them. The pet area isn’t big, but it’s quite obvious. It shouldn’t be hard to find us. I’ve already sent them a text message,” Yukino Yukinoshita said methodically. “The map navigation isn’t very accurate. By the time we asked for directions and found the Comfortable Shoes store, Shiro and Komachi had already gone somewhere else. It would be tedious and troublesome to chase after them all the way here. It’s better to let them find us.”

That does make sense...

After going around in circles, having navigation pointing through walls and dilapidated houses, asking for directions, and then having to ask which road was which, a question couldn't help but pop into my head.

Toyohama and Hana asked suspiciously, "Yukinoshita, you don't happen to have a terrible sense of direction, do you?"

"I've never been to this shopping street before." Yukino Yukinoshita had already crouched down, observing the cat's posture, and said calmly, "Does coming to a completely unfamiliar place make any difference whether you're directionally challenged or not?"

That makes sense. Feng Bin and Hua nodded and waited with their arms crossed.

Yukino Yukinoshita gazed at a small black cat among the cats. While the other cats frolicked, this slender black cat sat in the corner, lazily licking its paws from time to time, appearing exceptionally elegant. Its amber eyes were deep and serene, reminding Yukino of the black cat named Miss Christine…

A kitten, pushed out during a playful scuffle, stumbled and rolled to the side of the little black kitten.