Uneasy daily life

“Yukino, men are all dark, dirty, and stinking,” Yukino’s father said earnestly. “Hachiman-kun looks suspicious, which means he’s even more suspicious in reality. He’s definitely not some simple and honest person. As the saying goes, a man’s words are deceitful…”

Yukino Yukinoshita said with dissatisfaction, "Is Father lying to me now?"

“Of course not! I am your father! Human beings are born as animals, yet transcend animals in that they can be pure to the point of clarity—” Yukinoshita’s father said solemnly, glancing at Hachiman Hikigaya, “and also have emotions that are so wicked they are so murky! As your father, I have transcended factors such as gender, age, and class, and I am certainly not on the same level as those wild men outside.”

"Hmm?" Yukino Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes and said, "So, Father came up and asked Hachiman Hikigaya some random questions because he thinks that Hachiman Hikigaya..."

"Hahaha, of course that's impossible!"

Yukinoshita's father vehemently denied it, saying with a smile, "It's just a little concern from a parent. Perhaps I was a bit abrupt, but when it comes to the friends you make, I can't help but scrutinize them a bit..."

Yukino Yukinoshita was skeptical, saying, "That's true, but Hikigaya-kun and Hayama-kun are different. Father, don't worry unnecessarily."

"..." Yukino's father smiled broadly, "Hahaha, really? That's wonderful! Hayato is a very good child, but Yukino thinks Hikigaya is even better than him... Hikigaya is truly someone you can't help but admire!"

Are you sure you mean to look at me with newfound respect, or are you going to gouge out my eyes to see what's going on? Yukinoshita! I feel like what I'm thinking and what you're thinking might not be the same thing!

Hachiman Hikigaya felt the increasingly heavy force of the large hand on his shoulder. His expression stiffened, and he said sincerely, "Hayama-san is a heartthrob, good at studying, and plays soccer very well. I feel that I am completely incomparable. Yukinoshita-san is too kind."

Very good! Excellent self-awareness!

Yukinoshita's father's smile faded slightly, and he adopted a more mature demeanor: "Young man, there's no need to say that. A life obsessed with comparisons is endless, and the complexity of humanity cannot be determined by comparing just one aspect. In fact, rather than what we gain, what we find is what we should be thinking about..."

"What others think is irrelevant. You think so too, right, Hachiman? If that's the case, then don't say things that belittle yourself." Yukino Yukinoshita said with her arms crossed. "Others will only think how excellent Hayama-kun is. In reality, it's just a bunch of ignorant people having a party."

Everyone else is completely unaware—but you, my little goddess, know?

Yukino's father's eyes sharpened, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Eh? Yukino doesn't dislike Hayato..."

"I don't hate it anymore."

Wow! So it's not just Hachiman-kun who gets his head chopped off, Hayama-kun also gets his head chopped off?!

To be fair, Yukinoshita's father thought that Hayama Hayato was an outstanding child from a friend's family. While other children his age were still squandering their youth, he had subconsciously imitated adults at a young age and learned the skills to survive in society. Whether in interpersonal relationships, studies, or sports, he had reached the limits of a student in terms of general rationality.

From a common-sense perspective, this child has great potential for success.

From the perspective of the father, Hayato Hayama poses no threat.

Those who pretend to be oblivious are most afraid of encountering serious people. When the conflict explodes, the relationship becomes irreparable, and that is a tragic fate.

Hayato Hayama is a good kid, but he's good because he single-handedly angered the three goddesses in his family.

After that incident in elementary school, my old friend also gave up the idea of ​​getting his children married.

Isn't that wonderful?

And now? What did the little goddess say? She said she doesn't hate that scoundrel Hayama anymore?!

Yukinoshita's father's smile turned cold, and he feigned ignorance: "Huh? So you've made up? Then I'm relieved. After all, these are things from childhood. It's a good thing to be able to let go..."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Yukino Yukinoshita frowned. "I just don't hate him. Let's forget about making up. I have no interest in being his good friend."

Good friends...?

Yukinoshita's father was a little surprised that this little goddess, who was always more self-disciplined and serious, had actually seen through Hayato's true nature.

If you understand this, then you won't dislike her, because Hayato didn't intentionally betray her trust; he just did it naturally—like an adult, to cover up the conflict, ignore it, and stabilize the overall situation.

Did the young goddess develop her ability to judge people while studying abroad?

No, no, no... Come to think of it, the young man seemed to have said that Hachiman is very good at observing.

Yukinoshita's father subconsciously turned his head and asked with a smile, "I think Hayato is alright, what do you think, Hachiman-kun?"

Hachiman Hikigaya just wanted to get away as quickly as possible: "I am mortal enemies with normal people, no need to say more."

“Hachigaya-kun is in the same class as Hayama-kun, but he’s an outsider in the class,” Yukino Yukinoshita said trustingly. “Of course, Hichigaya-kun wouldn’t become Hayama-kun’s good friend.”

Hachiman Hikigaya felt a chill run down his neck and awkwardly laughed, "Haha, after all, that's Hayama-kun. How could someone as annoying as me be his friend..."

Yukino Yukinoshita wholeheartedly agreed, saying, "We certainly don't need those superficial things that can be easily discarded and obtained with a little pretense."

Yukinoshita! I beg you, please stop! Open your eyes and look carefully! Poor Hachiman is dying!

It's confirmed that Hachiman Hikigaya, this father of Yukinoshita, has a completely different thought process from Yukinoshita!

Yukinoshita's father laughed a few times: "Hahahaha—Hachigaya-kun, you really are a genius at playing dumb."

He's becoming increasingly suspicious, increasingly repulsive, and increasingly dangerous! Maybe we should just kill him right here!

The father's smile was gentle, but his gaze was cold.

I'm going to die—no! I have to save myself immediately. As long as I don't expose the fact that the minister and Yukinoshita are living together, everything will be OK!

Hachiman Hikigaya changed the subject: "Uncle, did you run into someone named Hakukage on your way here?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was startled, but forcing herself to remain calm, she secretly released her killing intent and stared at him: Hachiman! What are you doing?!

"White Shadow? I don't know her." Yukinoshita's father steered the conversation back on track. "Oh dear, could you tell me how you two became friends?"

Yukino Yukinoshita quickly tried to continue the conversation: "Actually, the second time we met was at the club..."

Hachiman Hikigaya desperately tries to uncover the real culprit: "A very handsome guy!"

Yukino Yukinoshita is beginning to suspect that Hikigaya has betrayed their friendship. She's considering whether to surrender, lead the way, betray him, or steer the conversation toward sensitive people!

"A handsome young man? Oh, my car broke down on the road, and a kind young man did help push it. We even chatted for a while on the way."

Yukinoshita's father said with a smile, "So his name is Shirokage? He's quite an interesting young man. He even told me a lot about Hikigaya-kun."

Yukino Yukinoshita is a little scared... Father, Father actually bumped into the white shadow?!

What exactly did Bai Ying say to her father?!

"They did talk about me, just as I suspected." Hachiman Hikigaya felt a surge of joy, as if he had caught the mastermind behind everything. He immediately said, "The department head really likes to play pranks, especially on me. If he said anything bad about me to you, please don't take it seriously. He probably just thinks it's funny..."

Hahaha! Minister, you've given yourself away! Today is the perfect opportunity to backstab you! No matter what you said to this old man, as long as I coordinate with Yukino, we can make him turn on you!

Just as Hachiman Hikigaya was about to give Yukino Yukinoshita a "cooperate with me" look, he suddenly felt an increasingly heavy sense of oppression.

“That young man didn’t say anything bad about you, but you’re the one saying bad things about others. That’s not a good thing.”

Yukinoshita's father said with a smile, "That young man was praising you, saying you have a keen eye for observation, a kind and helpful nature, and a very serious attitude towards life!"

Huh? It's not that they're badmouthing me to seduce the older man, but praising me? Wait a minute—

Hachiman Hikigaya felt that he might have misunderstood some details!

“Hmm… Haku-kun’s judgment is pretty accurate, isn’t it?” Yukino Yukinoshita interjected. “Father, don’t worry, I think Hikigaya-kun is a very good friend.”

"Hahahaha! It's great to have good friends! Come on! Let's have a good chat today..."

The father smiled broadly under the snow.

Hachiman Hikigaya is stunned—was this a case of praising someone to death?!

"Shouldn't Father go find a place to stay?" Yukino Yukinoshita interrupted. "The hotel for our school trip is just ahead, so Father doesn't need to come along."

Yukino's father paused, then said, "Then I'll come and live with you..."

"The hotel has been fully booked for a long time."

Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head and said, "Let's meet again tomorrow. We need to go for roll call."

"Right, right, right! Roll call is coming!" Hachiman Hikigaya seized the opportunity and quickly broke free from his restraints. "I'm going first!"

"Running so fast..."

Yukino Yukinoshita muttered something to herself, then turned to her and said seriously, "Father, I consider Hikigaya-kun a friend. The way you treated him just now was really strange, wasn't it?"

"I... I was just concerned about Yukino's friendships, worried that she might be making the wrong friends..."

Yukinoshita's father hurriedly tried to explain, then suddenly realized he had stepped on a landmine—Good heavens! He shouldn't have judged her from an elder's perspective!

"Is my father going to carefully select a few brand-name premium products for me, products that you find pleasing to the eye, that have passed quality inspections, and that have anti-counterfeiting labels? It's inexplicable."

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned, turned around and left in an annoyed manner.

I increasingly felt that my father had probably changed and had joined forces with my mother, and was no longer trustworthy.

Chapter Ninety-Four: This is Frost's Sorrow

No--!!!

My dear goddess, you've misunderstood. I really just accidentally said the wrong thing. I just wanted to test how many lives Hachiman has. I absolutely didn't mean to criticize you!

Under the snow, the father clutched his chest, a bitter feeling washing over him.

How dare he! He actually dared to provoke me just because he's a goddess (not really)!

We were ready to fight to the death, so why did Your Majesty surrender first?

Yukino's father sighed for a while, pondered anxiously for a while, and was furious for a while before calming down.

When an eagle tries to catch a chick, it has to find a way to avoid the mother hen; charging around like this won't be effective... Hmph, Hachiman chick, just you wait!

Everyone has moments when they feel alone!

Yukinoshita's father glanced at the hotel where the students of Soubu High School were staying, then turned to find a hotel to stay in.

Just you wait, kid...

Ok?

She had just turned around and taken a few steps when Yukinoshita's father stopped in surprise and doubt.

Although it's called the countryside, it's been modernized for over a decade, so it's not exactly a complete rural area. At most, the lights aren't as bright as in the city, and the nights aren't as lively. In the thin twilight, you can see the mountains and rivers in the distance, which makes you unconsciously imagine strange things like rural ghosts and mountain tales.

The streetlights were doing their best to dispel the darkness, but the light became increasingly blurry as it moved further away, until it completely disappeared into the gloom. Ahead, amidst the interplay of light and shadow, the silhouette of a woman, vaguely familiar yet unsettling, was vaguely outlined. The silhouette stood at the crossroads, gazing in this direction, motionless, creating a chilling, almost ghostly atmosphere.

To be fair, Yukinoshita's father felt this was a little more terrifying than encountering a ghost. He thought he should run away, or quickly come up with a reasonable explanation, or comfort himself by saying that the other party must not have noticed. If I didn't see it, then I didn't see it!

The silhouette raised its hand and waved.

Yukinoshita's father ran over excitedly, beaming, and said, "Wife, you've come on vacation too?"

Yukinoshita's mother looked him over and asked with a smile, "What are you doing here? Have you given up on things at the company?"

Tragic! Is this really the price of irrationality? Knowing full well that the goddess was definitely after the lesser and middle goddesses, and that they were probably nearby, he still clung to a sliver of hope and charged head-on into a rage.

Look—the little goddess just got back to the hotel and was immediately cornered.

Am I the only one left out?!

Yukinoshita's father explained, "I took leave..."

"You ask for leave and approve it yourself?" Yukinoshita's mother smiled gently. "You are the head of the company and the family, and the decisions and plans are all in your hands—you ask for leave?"

“Wife, you’re mistaken. A good system won’t collapse because of the absence of a single individual, unless the system itself is flawed,” Yukino’s father gestured. “A truly excellent company is one that can function normally even without me…”

Yukinoshita's mother nodded and said, "So, it makes no difference whether you're here or not, then what use are you?"

"...You can't say it like that, cough cough."

Yukinoshita's father coughed and said, "People can't work non-stop. Even machines have to consider their lifespan and warranty. It's normal for me to take a few days off to relax."

"I know you've been working hard, and taking time off to travel is fine, but doing it secretly seems a bit strange, doesn't it?"

Yukinoshita's mother smiled, her eyes narrowing: "Are you really just here for tourism?"

Oh no! The goddess is doubting her own loyalty, wondering if she's covering for the lesser goddesses, and suspecting she's interfering in her family affairs!

Yukinoshita's father said seriously, "Innocent, a very innocent trip."

"It better be."

The mother, Yukinoshita, remained noncommittal: "Then let's go."

"Go? Where?"

"The inn where I'm staying." The mother's smile held a hint of cunning. "Or, where would you like to stay?"

Yukinoshita's father immediately said, "Hahaha, of course I'll live with my wife!"

The couple followed the road to the hotel.

Yukinoshita's mother said, "Let's go sightseeing together tomorrow, Yukino and the others. The scenery here is really nice."

Are they going to lay their cards on the table so soon? At least let me deal with Hachiman first!

Yukinoshita's father calmly replied, "Yes, the scenery is indeed quite nice."

"Someone invited me to play a game, and we'll go see it together. I'm really curious to see what he'll come up with."