Chapter 180 – Everyone's Surprise
"Still awake?"
Taking a taxi to Yotsuya Miko's house, Hikigaya Hachiman noticed as soon as he got out of the car that the light in the Yotsuya family's living room was still on.
He pressed the doorbell, and immediately, hurried footsteps came from behind the door.
The next moment, the door opened, and a soft body threw itself into Hachiman's arms, at the same time as Komachi's voice rang in his ears.
"Onii-chan!"
Opening his arms, he caught Komachi, patting her back to calm her for a while before finally letting her down. Then, he looked past her at Yotsuya Miko and Yuriwaka Hana behind her.
"Are you alright, Hikigaya-kun?"
Watching the touching reunion between the siblings, Miko asked with a gentle smile.
"I'm fine. But what about you all—after I left, nothing strange happened, right?"
Key had said before that the DemonKing intended to attack Yotsuya Miko and the others. Though Hikigaya's timely arrival had disrupted things, he couldn't be certain whether Inoue Tairyu had sent evil spirits ahead of time to assault them.
"Now that you mention it, Miko did look nervous earlier while holding her bracelet…"
At his question, Yuriwaka Hana wore a thoughtful look. Then, realizing something, her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"So it's true—there really were evil spirits near us just now, right, Miko?"
"No, at that time I was just worried about Hikigaya-kun…"
Seeing Yuriwaka Hana suddenly acting sharp, Miko felt a bit of a headache.
A while ago, when the evil spirits came, Hana had reacted so slowly. So why was it that as soon as Hikigaya returned, she suddenly became so perceptive?
"Well, anyway, it's all over now. Hana-san, there's no need to worry anymore. For quite a long time, Chiba should be very safe."
Seeing Hana tense, Hikigaya comforted her.
"I see…"
In Hana's eyes, Hikigaya's words carried the weight of an exorcism master's authority.
She let out a long sigh of relief. Once her vigilance faded, drowsiness quickly set in.
"Haah…"
Yawns are contagious, and soon Komachi and Miko followed with their own. Finally, even Hikigaya himself felt a little sleepy.
.
.
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By morning, Hikigaya Hachiman woke up in Yotsuya Miko's living room.
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw Miko, already dressed in her school uniform, coming down the stairs.
"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun…"
"Good morning, Yotsuya-san."
They looked at each other for a few seconds before Miko greeted him first. Hikigaya then responded and got up from the floor.
"Please go wash up first, I'll prepare breakfast right away…"
Glancing at Komachi, still asleep on the sofa, Miko blushed slightly before hurrying into the kitchen.
"What a plain greeting that was…"
Just as Hachiman was about to head to the bathroom, the "sleeping" Komachi suddenly opened her eyes, her tone teasing.
"..."
"How long have you been awake?"
He looked at his sister helplessly.
"Mm, probably since Onii-chan and Miko-nee started talking?"
Lying on the sofa, Komachi put on a thoughtful look, then spoke in a joking tone.
"Ah, so basically you've been awake for a while then…"
Hachiman sighed in realization.
"Well, since you're awake, get up. We still need to go home and grab our schoolbags."
"Okay~"
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.
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The morning exam subject was National History.
Compared to yesterday's math exam, when tension filled the air, today everyone Hachiman passed by wore more relaxed expressions. After all, it's National History—getting a high score isn't easy, but failing is just as difficult.
When Hikigaya entered the classroom and sat down, Miura Yumiko walked straight up to him, carrying a bag, under the astonished stares of everyone.
"What's the matter?"
Seeing Yumiko approach him on her own, Hachiman thought she wanted to ask about last night. But wasn't that a little too impatient? At least wait until the exam is over and ask at lunch…
"Thanks for the jacket last night…"
Glancing sideways at the people watching, Yumiko swept her gaze over them one by one, and whoever she looked at quickly turned their eyes away.
Once she had silenced the crowd, Yumiko placed the bag holding his jacket on Hachiman's desk and offered her thanks with great seriousness.
"Couldn't you have returned it to me secretly?"
Seeing the shocked and bewildered looks on the eavesdropping classmates' faces after Yumiko's words, Hikigaya felt a headache coming on.
By thanking him so publicly, Yumiko had shoved him right into the spotlight.
"If you're worried that they'll spread rumors, don't be. I'd like to see who dares to talk nonsense."
Crossing her arms, Yumiko once again embodied the queen of Sōbu High.
"…Fine, do as you like."
Covering his face, Hikigaya felt utterly drained.
"Well, I know liberal arts is your strong suit, but still—good luck on the exam."
With that, Yumiko returned to her seat, ignoring the stares.
"Yumiko…"
As soon as she sat down, Yuigahama Yui rushed over to probe.
Why had Yumiko gone to Hikigaya first thing in the morning? And what was this about a jacket last night? She absolutely had to know!
But no matter how much Yui pressed, Yumiko simply refused to say.
Frustrated, Yui turned to her next best option—Hikigaya himself.
"Hikki…"
With tears welling in her eyes, she looked at him pitifully.
Hikigaya's eyebrow twitched. He realized that whenever Yui wanted something, she always used this same pitiful expression.
"Since Miura-san doesn't want to talk, it's not my place to say either."
Not wanting to drag Yui into trouble, Hikigaya decisively refused.
"Uuu…"
Hearing his words, Yui puffed out her cheeks like a sulking child.
"Anyway, how's your studying going, Yuigahama?"
"It's… okay, I guess…"
The topic shift was clumsy and obvious, but it always worked on Yui.
At his question, her face immediately showed worry.
After all, she was exactly the type of person who could fail even the liberal arts exams…
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