Uneasy daily life

Yukino Yukinoshita, uninterested in metaphysical matters, asked, "Did you make a date with Hayato Hayama?"

"Yes, Hayama-kun agreed."

Yui nodded. It seems that Yuki has a problem with Hayama. Last time when Yuki and Yumiko had a fight, Hayama came out to mediate, and Yuki's attitude was a bit strange... Should I tell Shiro about it? No, no, no, I can't be like Hajime and backstab my boss every now and then.

"Xiaoxue, what's wrong between you and Yeshan?"

Yui Yuigahama chose to ask directly.

Yuihama has changed; she has become bolder, more honest, and less timid.

In the past, she, who seemed silly and cheerful, would never have touched on topics that might be a sensitive area for the other person and could lead to changes in the relationship. Instead, she would have carefully catered to them, smiling foolishly and pretending that she hadn't noticed anything.

Changes that occurred after the car accident.

It was Yui Hihama who first mustered the courage to try to get to the heart of the matter. In the end, the three of them discovered that it was just a ridiculous misunderstanding, and instead, they were subjected to a vicious attack by Father Shiro, which made them regret their actions.

Human relationships are too mysterious. If you don't speak up bravely, they will become knotted on their own. But if you rush things, they will leave behind consequences, such as aversion.

Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, admiring that guy. He was more than just a natural at making friends; it made one wonder if he was even a species in human society.

There's a prevailing social attitude of "don't bother others"—or more accurately, "don't bother me." People subconsciously reject those who are overly familiar or unconventional. Bai Ying's personality doesn't seem to be a simple cultural difference... otherwise, the world would be too chaotic.

A hero... a brave person?

"Hayama Hayato and I are childhood friends... well, not really. Our families had work-related interactions, so we knew each other when we were little and went to the same elementary school."

Yukino Yukinoshita found that talking about this matter was not as difficult as she had imagined. She simply recalled: "When I was in elementary school, my classmates all disliked me, but they didn't dare to confront me directly. So some of them would hide my indoor shoes, some would steal my recorder, and some would write swear words they had learned from somewhere on small pieces of paper and stuff them into my drawer. Looking back now, I was a little helpless at the time. I was so angry that I didn't know who to be angry at. It seemed like everyone was my enemy, and everyone seemed innocent."

"The collective is like a fig leaf; when placed within it, one feels no shame no matter what outrageous things one does."

"If I had been more mature back then, I should have tried to catch someone in the act of theft from the so-called group, so that the evidence would be conclusive, the crime would be proven, and I would have made an example of them. I don't think I would have ended up running away in the end... I'm getting off topic."

Yukino Yukinoshita pulled herself together and summarized the past grievances.

"When I was confused about what to do, Hayato Hayama offered his help, so I trusted him and his solution."

"The end result was that I went abroad to study junior high school."

Chapter Sixty-Eight: I Don't Hate You Anymore, Hayama-kun

"That's it..."

Yui Yuigahama nodded thoughtfully. As for the things that Yuki didn't say—such as what method Hayama-san proposed and why it ultimately led to Yuki going abroad—these were probably things that Yuki didn't want to talk about, so there was no need to ask.

Knowing the general outline of what happened between the two is enough.

Great, this way we don't need to tip off Xiaobai.

"Then, then—what idea did Hayama-kun come up with? I'm really curious!"

Chitanda Eru's eyes sparkled as she went upstairs, asking questions as she went.

Oh, I almost forgot there was another listener.

Yui Yuigahama is thinking about how to smooth things over.

"I don't really want to talk about that."

Yukino Yukinoshita smiled, her gaze as if she were looking at a curious child: "After all, from my perspective, I have a lot of opinions about Hayato Hayama and I really dislike him, so I will avoid commenting on his behavior, as that would easily be interpreted as me talking badly about him behind his back, which is wrong."

Yukino Yukinoshita paused, then her smile widened: "I still prefer to talk badly about people to their faces."

Chitanda Eru felt a powerful aura emanating from her.

She scratched her head, her mind a little confused.

Hmm? Speaking ill of someone to their face doesn't seem right either, does it?

Chitanda Eru falls into contemplation about the complexities of human society.

If I had to say, I'm curious too.

What was Hayama Hayato thinking back then that led him to use that method to help me?

Yukino Yukinoshita pondered this.

Should I ask a question?

Asking someone you dislike seems to require a lot of courage.

On the contrary, I'm somewhat envious of that guy. I really can't figure out if he can read minds or what. He always manages to make complicated people seem simple and complicated problems seem simple—of course, this also includes making simple problems seem complicated, stirring up trouble, dragging a bunch of people into it, and then just grumbling away.

Speaking of stirring up trouble...

That day, Father Shiro was provoked by Miura Yumiko at the school gate. In the midst of his counterattack, he seemed to have said something to Hayama Hayato, but I was busy going to get reinforcements at the time and didn't hear the specific content of the conversation. I only glanced back and saw Father Shiro killing people.

Could it be that Hayama Hayato has something strange, something he's keeping to himself and can't say out loud?

Courage, bravery, hero...

Yukino Yukinoshita, you deserve the title of hero—ugh! It's clearly a nickname that guy inexplicably forced on me!

Although his mind was in turmoil, his face remained calm and aloof.

Yukino Yukinoshita arrived at the rooftop, casually pushed open the rooftop door, and then looked ahead with some surprise.

"I wondered when Hayama-kun arrived... Huh? He's already here?"

So fast? Yui Yuigahama was a little confused.

Oh... This must be Hayama-kun? We'll have to convince Hayama-kun to make our school trip destination our hometown.

Chitanda Eru rallied her spirits, her fighting spirit soaring.

Hearing the door open, Hayato Hayama, who was looking out at the campus in his soccer uniform and somewhat lost in thought, instinctively turned around and saw three girls walking across the door onto the rooftop.

He scratched his head, a wry smile playing on his lips, and asked with a calm smile, "Yukinoshita-san, is there something you need from me?"

"About the school trip."

Yukino Yukinoshita, with her hands tucked in, asked directly, "Where are you planning to vote on for your school trip?"

"A school trip..." Hayama Hayato was a little confused, and shook his head with a smile, "I don't have any particular place I want to go, so I'll probably just skip it."

"Then..." Yukino Yukinoshita frowned, wondering if speaking up would sound like accepting help from someone in elementary school.

She felt she had some psychological issues and was really unwilling to make the choice to ask Hayato Hayama for help.

Before she could even sort out her thoughts and emotions, Chitanda Eru excitedly asked, "Hayama-san, have you ever heard of the Jinde area of ​​Kamiyama City?"

Hayato Hayama was stunned: "Where is that?"

"This is my house," Chitanda Eru asked. "Would you like to come to my house for a school trip?"

Hayato Hayama finally understood and laughed, "I see. Was it a request from the Service Club?"

“That’s right, Chitanda wants the school trip to be to her hometown.” Yukino Yukinoshita frowned deeply without realizing it, feeling an urge to turn around and leave cleanly. She even hoped that the other party would not agree, so as not to seem like she was only helping because of her.

It was a truly subtle emotion.

I sometimes wish the other person were a complete stranger, so that we could communicate without having to think about anything, making it simpler and easier.

Why would I come up with such an awkward and unpleasant solution? Is this why Bai Ying said there's a problem at its root?

Because I actually harbor some dissatisfaction with this method, problems are bound to arise when it is implemented.

Yukino Yukinoshita closed her eyes slightly and took a deep breath.

Thinking about the cat locked in the bathroom, thinking about the sleepless battle last night, thinking about Bai Ying's usual blood pressure-lowering behavior, thinking about my mother's somewhat unusual behavior after I started living with Bai Ying...

Great, the irritability buff is fully stacked, and I no longer feel irritable or annoyed by the things in front of me.

One's own personal likes and dislikes are certainly important, but entrusting someone is only to solve the client's difficulties.

The correct approach is to properly distinguish between the two. Since you have accepted the request, you should strive to do your best and not let personal likes or dislikes affect the commission you have been entrusted with.

The snow calmed down beneath the snow.

After learning about the situation, Hayama Hayato frowned and fell silent.

"Since you don't have a specific place you want to go, could you vote for Kamiyama City?"

Yukino Yukinoshita calmly said, "You should know your own appeal and influence. If you vote for Kamiyama City, I will find a way to spread the news. It should be able to get most students to vote for the same place as you. Of course, this method may have some impact on you. For example, if your friends ask you what's going on, you can just say that it was a request from the Service Club."

These are the possibilities I can think of. Do you have any concerns or questions?

Chitanda Eru added, "If you encounter any difficulties, I will try my best to help!"

Hayato Hayama took a few seconds to gather his thoughts and said, "Yukinoshita-san... is a little different from what I remember."

“I have no interest in discussing any personal matters with you.” Yukino Yukinoshita flatly refused to have a private chat. “What we’re talking about is whether you can vote for Kamiyama City’s formation. If not, are there any difficulties that I can try to help with? If so, then all the better.”

"Yeah, too."

Hayato Hayama smiled and said, "As for this question... I will probably abstain from voting."

“Okay.” Yukino Yukinoshita nodded and asked, “So, what difficulties are you facing?”

“This isn’t a problem that can simply be solved.” Hayama Hayato evaded the question, shaking his head. “I can’t offer any help, I’m sorry.”

Yukino Yukinoshita had mixed feelings—she felt like Father Shiro had broken her defenses and that she knew he was hiding something, but she also felt like, "Why is this person so troublesome? Can't you just speak plainly?"

What brand of riddle teller are you?

If the other party's attitude shows that they will not budge on this point, then this approach will not work.

Bai Ying was right.

Prime Minister Xue's boat was chained together with iron chains, and a fire burned it to ashes.

The problem that the solution didn't work wasn't with me, but with Hayato Hayama—what exactly is the problem? What's wrong with Hayato Hayama?

My impressions of him from elementary school and high school are basically the same: he's still the most popular guy, still a nice guy, and still maintains a superficially friendly relationship with most people, a relationship I despise.

Trouble. If I could learn that inexplicable insight from Bai Ying, I wouldn't be so frozen right now... Wait!

Although Father White perished along with the seven deadly sins, he left behind a valuable legacy before his death.

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately turned her head and whispered in Yui Yuigahama's ear.

'Yuigahama, what did Shirokage say to Hayama Hayato when he went crazy at the school gate that day?'

"Xiaoxue, my ears are a little itchy... I was very flustered at the time, and I wasn't standing very close, but I vaguely heard strange things like 'meeting other people's expectations,' 'true feelings,' and 'lust.'"

Eliminate two things whose meaning is unclear.

To conform to others' expectations?

To conform to the expectations of others...

To conform to others' expectations?!

Yukino Yukinoshita was taken aback, her thoughts as complex as the internal patterns of a lock, but this evaluation was like a key, fitting in perfectly, turning, unlocking the problem, and releasing her surging thoughts all at once.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help. If there's nothing else, I'll go back to my club activities."

Hayato Hayama was preparing to leave.

"Please stop."

The words were enunciated with great force and carried an unusually heavy tone.

Hayato Hayama looked at Yukino Yukinoshita, who had spoken, and seemed to see a glimmer of fire in her eyes; he felt a sense of déjà vu.

It's similar to the aura of Yukinoshita Haruno and Yukinoshita's mother when they're angry, but ultimately it feels different. Even when those two are angry, they maintain a proper smile, and you can only feel the unsettling pressure from their tone and words.

Yukino Yukinoshita wasn't like that. She didn't laugh, perhaps still trying to suppress the urge to laugh out loud. Her chest heaved violently, and after a few seconds she slowly exhaled: "When we were in elementary school, you offered to help me, saying you would help me mediate a dispute with my classmates."

Hayato Hayama was at a loss for words, and he had no idea why Yukino Yukinoshita would suddenly bring this up, especially in front of the other two.

“I have neither insulted anyone for no reason, nor stolen anything, nor would I do anything that is morally ambiguous. Just because I am not a member of the group, it seems that I should be ostracized, envied, and treated maliciously. I am not wrong, I am right, and I still think so now—you stepped in to mediate, said that we should make up, said that we are all classmates and friends, and should get along well.”

“I was feeling very uncomfortable at the time, but I also felt that you had helped me solve my problem, and I should thank you.”

Yukino Yukinoshita's voice was initially cold, but gradually became more and more peaceful.

Chitanda Eru and Yuigahama Yui were hesitant to speak, seemingly having suddenly become embroiled in a serious personal feud.

They were well aware of the outcome—the problem remained unresolved, and Yukino Yukinoshita went abroad.

"That time, I didn't think things through..."

Hayato Hayama seemed to want to apologize.