"Hayama, why are you staring at me like that?"
Saku raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not into guys."
Hayama froze for a moment, his smile nearly collapsing.
"Enough of that."
Yukino had no interest in Hayama's feelings. The main reason she'd come outside was because of her sister.
"How did you run into Nee-san?"
Deep down, Yukino was afraid Haruno would take Saku away from her.
That fear had become almost instinctive after so many years.
Even though she knew her sister probably had no such intention, it wasn't something she could simply erase overnight.
Saku shrugged and headed toward the inn.
"I ran into her on my way back. What else could've happened?"
"She's your sister. I couldn't exactly pretend I didn't know her."
"You absolutely could."
Yukino answered without the slightest hesitation.
"...That's insane."
Saku stared at her.
"Is this what a loving family looks like?"
"Stop being sarcastic. Yesterday, you..."
Yukino had originally intended to ask about Utaha.
But the moment the words left her mouth, she realized she had no right to.
Saku wasn't hers.
She had no reason to interfere with his relationships.
If anyone should be anxious about what happened yesterday, it was Sakurajima Mai.
Not her.
"I was with Utaha yesterday."
Saku answered before she could finish.
"You already know that. She came all the way to Kyoto. I couldn't exactly leave her alone."
He made no attempt to hide it.
His complete openness left Yukino with no idea how to respond.
Yui, however, puffed up her cheeks and marched over.
"You...!"
She hesitated, then huffed.
"Anyway, I'm telling Mai-senpai exactly what happened."
"You just wait!"
"Yui looks pretty cute when she's standing up for someone."
Saku casually reached over and ruffled her hair.
"Ah!"
An infuriated Yui immediately fled into Yukino's arms.
"Yukino-chan! He's bullying me!"
Hikigaya watched the entire exchange with growing confusion.
He had the strange feeling he was missing some absolutely crucial piece of information.
"Saku, you..."
Before Hikigaya could finish, Saku raised a hand and cut him off.
"Why are all of you still here?"
"Aren't you sightseeing today?"
He looked at Hikigaya.
"And what happened with your request?"
"...We're discussing it with Hayama."
"Hayama?"
Saku immediately nodded.
"That explains it. That explains everything."
"No wonder he isn't hanging around with his little friend group today."
Hayama frowned.
He had the distinct feeling there was something hidden in Saku's words.
"I don't think there's anything left to discuss."
After comforting Yui for a moment, Yukino stepped forward.
"But a certain someone has decided he doesn't need to listen to his Club President."
Her words answered Saku's question while simultaneously taking a jab at Hikigaya.
"Once we get back, perhaps I should resign as Club President and let that certain someone take over."
Hikigaya's face immediately reddened.
He had no idea how to respond.
"I just don't want to give up halfway."
"If I back out now, I won't be able to face them."
He paused, then added with obvious pride:
"Besides, I've already thought of a solution."
Judging from his expression, Hikigaya genuinely believed he'd found a way to resolve everything perfectly.
Yukino, who already knew how this would end, could do nothing but sigh.
She'd tried everything.
She'd said what she should've said and even things she normally never would've said.
Yet Hikigaya remained convinced he could solve the problem.
He'd even started guarding against Yukino and Yui interfering with his plan.
At this point, there was little more she could do.
For Hikigaya, perhaps the only phrase left was:
Everything is fate, and not a bit of it is up to man.
Even so, Yukino and Yui intended to make one final attempt.
At the very least, they could shield Hikigaya from the pressure Hayama kept placing on him.
Unfortunately, Hikigaya really was too softhearted.
Hayama pleaded with him pitifully a couple of times, and Hikigaya immediately abandoned whatever resistance he'd had.
Yukino genuinely felt there was no saving him.
「A solution? Sacrifice one Hikigaya and bring happiness to everyone else. How touching.」
Saku didn't particularly want to judge whether Hikigaya's choice was right or wrong.
Nor did he want to mock something that was, in its own way, almost selflessly saintly.
Strictly speaking, Hikigaya was genuinely a good person.
He was the kind of person worth having as a friend.
He might constantly involve himself in thankless problems, but when something actually happened, he really would step forward.
「I just hope your family would be equally moved by your behavior.」
「What I didn't expect is Yukino actively trying to stop this. That's pretty different from the original story.」
「First Mai, then Utaha, and now Yukino. Looks like this little butterfly is causing a bigger effect than I thought.」
「Whether that's good or bad, I honestly can't tell.」
「Either way, I'm definitely watching tonight's drama.」
[Valid roast detected. Roast Points +20. Current total: 215.]
If even Yukino couldn't persuade Hikigaya, Saku certainly didn't believe he could.
That was fine too.
He could enjoy the original story's legendary drama firsthand.
"Then good luck."
Saku patted Hikigaya on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging thumbs-up.
"I'm rooting for you."
"Saku-kun is right."
Hayama immediately seized the opening.
"I feel the same way. I believe Hikigaya can definitely complete the request."
He smoothly followed Saku's words and piled even more pressure onto Hikigaya.
Hayama was smiling brightly as he said it.
For some reason, that only made Saku feel disgusted.
「As expected of the ultimate pressure machine. All he knows how to do is dump pressure on other people.」
「It's your own problem, yet you refuse to solve it yourself and expect someone else to handle everything for you.」
「If Hikigaya succeeds, you enjoy all the benefits. If he fails, you can dump the blame on him and say it was because he wasn't capable enough.」
「Heads, you win. Tails, he loses. Amazing, Hayama.」
「And Hikigaya, that ridiculously nice guy, knows there's a massive pit right in front of him and still happily jumps into it.」
「One is willing to push, the other is willing to suffer. What else can I say?」
「I wish you two a long and happy marriage.」
[Precise roast detected. Roast Points +120. Current total: 335.]
"It's almost noon."
Saku stopped paying attention to Hayama and turned toward Yukino and Yui.
"Want to grab lunch together?"
"Fine."
Yukino nodded.
"But you should go back to your room and put your things away first."
She paused.
"And preferably take a shower while you're at it."
"Huh?"
Saku blinked.
"A shower? Why?"
"Because you smell."
Yukino didn't bother hiding her displeasure.
"I don't like it."
She was only one step away from outright saying she could smell her sister on him.
Saku sniffed himself.
He thought he smelled perfectly fine.
Still, seeing how visibly bothered Yukino was, he didn't argue.
After all, he wasn't some pervert. Clothes would have to be changed and washed sooner or later anyway.
The strange thing was...
He could only detect Utaha's lingering fragrance on himself.
Maybe different people simply had more sensitive noses for different scents?
Following Yukino's advice, Saku quickly returned to his shared room.
He put away the souvenirs he'd bought, stored them safely, then took another shower.
That made two showers today.
After changing into fresh clothes, Saku left the room and headed out to meet Yukino for lunch.
He only made it halfway before running into Hiratsuka Shizuka.
Apparently, she'd heard something.
Because Shizuka-sensei had clearly come specifically to intercept him.
With no other choice, Saku brought his teacher along when he went to meet Yukino and the others.
"Why did you bring Hiratsuka-sensei too?"
They were still standing outside the inn.
Yukino's group hadn't moved, and somehow even Hayama was still there.
When Saku appeared with yet another woman beside him, Yukino couldn't help rolling her eyes.
It was absurd.
Wherever Saku went, there always seemed to be a woman beside him.
People said every boy experienced a period when he suddenly became popular.
But wasn't this getting ridiculous?
"Sensei said she's treating us."
Saku answered without shame.
"I heard 'free lunch' and thought, why would I turn that down?"
"So I brought her with me."
"He's right."
Shizuka-sensei nodded.
"Today's lunch is on me."
Shizuka-sensei stood on her tiptoes, hooked an arm around Saku's shoulders, and pulled him forcefully toward her, completely unaware of how intimate the gesture was. Perhaps this was the lingering charm of a mature woman.
"Come on."
Shizuka-sensei grinned.
"I know a ramen place nearby that's really good."
"Let's go!"
…