Later she only realized that Rurikawa Tsubaki was actually noticed by the Elf Princess because of her relationship with Hachiman. With the Elf Princess's backing, the Rurikawa family devoured massive portions of the Poiman family's asset channels, leaping up to become a new noble house even stronger than the combined strength of the Takamine, Tohsaka, Ichinose, and Yukinoshita families.
Rurikawa Tsubaki of the Rurikawa family indeed had very good looks, even in decline she carried a full noble aura. But she felt that her best friend, Touka, was in no way inferior. In fact, since she had already matured, she was even more attractive than Rurikawa Tsubaki.
She had always thought Touka looked like what her own little sister would be like when grown up. Even little Yukino might not necessarily be more attractive than Touka in the future.
Unfortunately, although Hachiman and Tohsaka Touka stood side by side, there wasn't the slightest spark of romance between them. Their emotions weren't nearly as high as Komachi, Rin, and the others. She wanted to engineer some "accidents" to push the two together, but because of Hachiman's currently sensitive status, her hands were tied.
"This Elio and the others mentioned it to me. They also thought about whether holding a concert in the aquarium would better match their mermaid tribe's characteristics, but they haven't done an outdoor concert in a long time. The aquarium's venue is too small and not really suitable for a large-scale concert."
Walking beside Tohsaka Touka, Hachiman slowed his pace, following Komachi, Shion, and the others ahead. Hearing Yukinoshita Haruno bring up Elio and their concert location, he casually replied.
Elio and the others knew he was coming to play at the aquarium today, and at first they even wanted to come along to act as his guides and introduce the creatures inside.
But last night at the tavern-themed party, they couldn't hold back. While singing, they dropped the microphones and jumped off the stage, pole-dancing together with Sylpha and Sakurase Shino.
They even overexerted themselves and needed proper rest, lest they lose energy for this afternoon's concert.
However, from one overly excited mermaid princess who swung her tail so hard she broke a wooden barrel, then collapsed on the floor dehydrated, he learned that this newly opened aquarium was actually backed by mermaid tribe support.
Don't be fooled by Mermaid Princess Meroune's peculiar hobby of secretly watching him from the side. She, as this world's mermaid princess, had wealth no less than Elf Princess Iris's. Only because she hadn't awakened her bloodline and was weaker did she not dare to reveal her existence like Iris did.
"So that's how it is. No wonder the mermaid singers invited you especially to help them, Hikigaya-kun, your relationship with them is really good."
Yukinoshita Haruno's face lit up with sudden realization, full of amazement and envy as she looked at Hachiman.
"..."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at her sister's exaggerated reaction, pressing her lips together, unwilling to speak.
Where did that normally sly sister of hers go?
What was with this act of pretending to be some sheltered girl who had never seen the world?
She didn't even know what her sister was thinking anymore. At first, she thought her sister wanted to seduce Hachiman and wanted to warn her against such tactics. But looking at the situation now, it didn't seem like that.
If her sister really wanted to seduce a guy, she wouldn't need to play dumb like this. The whole "older dumb big sister" act clearly didn't suit her at all.
Yet her sister forcefully dragged her, Touka, and also Rin and Sakura out to hang around with Hachiman and his sister.
Could it be?
"It's just that through Elio's concert I can experience what it feels like to be a manager. The real management work, I can't do. There are mermaid specialists handling it."
Hachiman, long aware of Yukinoshita Haruno's black-bellied nature, only smiled and shook his head. He didn't follow along with her topic about Elio and the others, just simply explained his reason for going to the concert that afternoon.
For now, Yukinoshita Haruno hadn't done anything terrible. It was just that Ichinose, an assemblyman from a different faction than the Yukinoshita family, was trying to cozy up to him. Since the Yukinoshita family didn't want to fall behind and be suppressed by the Ichinose family, they could only draw closer to him as well.
The Yukinoshita family weren't ordinary citizens who could ignore politics. There was no way they would pass up a chance to build ties with the Elf Princess. So he didn't feel any dislike.
Still, there was no need for him to play along with Yukinoshita Haruno's probing. It wasn't that he needed the Yukinoshita family to side with him, but rather that the Yukinoshita family wanted to win the Elf Princess's support. They had to first show sincerity.
Compared to the Yukinoshita family, whose internal educational policy was to set up rivals to constantly surpass, making the whole family a bunch of awkward types, he actually looked more favorably on the Ichinose family, whose atmosphere was terrible but who focused only on profit.
Even though Assemblyman Ichinose was unpopular, endlessly ambitious, even willing to use his daughter's marriage as a bargaining chip, earning his daughter Ichinose Ayano's hatred.
Still, one had to admit, when it came to currying favor, he was incredibly diligent. If someone needed something, he really sent it.
Apart from Ayano, who had come over on her own, now in his class was Ichinose Honami, and from other classes there was Karuizawa Kei, plus those advanced nurturing academy transfer students. All either directly or indirectly brought to Sobu High by Assemblyman Ichinose.
Because of that, Hachiman didn't feel right targeting Ichinose over that petty one-million-yen grudge from before. He decided instead to wait until Ichinose Ayano was old enough for assembly elections, then have her replace her father.
Of course, since today was just for fun, he didn't need to think about the Ichinose or Yukinoshita families. His attention now was mostly on the out-of-place Tohsaka Sakura nearby.
Komachi, Shion, and Tohsaka Rin wandered around taking pictures, always pulling the quiet Sakura into the shots.
But whenever they weren't taking photos, Sakura simply stood silently beside them, not joining in their conversations. From time to time, she glanced toward him and Tohsaka Touka, but the instant their eyes met, she lowered her head again, her bangs falling to cover her face.
Rather than saying Tohsaka Sakura was quiet and introverted, it was more accurate to say she was gloomy and brooding. No wonder Komachi said nobody in class befriended Sakura, everyone kept a respectful distance from her.
How strange.
By all logic, with this appearance, and given the system's prompt, this should indeed be Tohsaka Sakura of the Tohsaka family.
But in his memory, a Sakura who hadn't been adopted into the Matou family and grew up normally shouldn't have been this gloomy. She should have been even livelier than Tohsaka Rin, so lively it could turn nasty.
Could it be because Sakura lost her father early, growing up without paternal love?
Although judging from the current situation, they also had an extra older sister, Tohsaka Touka. Maybe it wasn't right to judge their personalities by normal expectations.
"Hikigaya-san? Are you looking at Sakura?"
Since Hachiman hadn't concealed his gaze, Tohsaka Touka easily noticed him looking at her younger sister. After a while, when he still didn't look away, she couldn't help but ask.
Hikigaya-san was walking with her, Haruno, and Yukino. Yet he wasn't looking at her, not at Haruno, not at Yukino, but at her little sister Sakura?
"Mm. Sakura seems very out of place. Komachi told me she's always quiet in class, and now even when out with you she's the same. Has she always been like this since childhood?"
Hachiman smiled and nodded, then seeing her doubt about his concern for Sakura, he asked directly.
"Ah? Not exactly... Sakura used to be cheerful like Rin, always playing around. But after our father passed away, she gradually lost her smile and finally became this silent, taciturn self."
Tohsaka Touka froze, hesitated, then still revealed the reason behind Sakura's personality.
"At home, too, she rarely talks. Whenever we ask her opinions on things, she doesn't show much will of her own. She just quietly does as we say."
"Hikigaya-san, why are you suddenly asking this?", After explaining, Touka still voiced her doubt.
"Sorry, for rashly bringing up your sad memories."
Hachiman was a little surprised. So it was after their father's death that Sakura became like this? As expected, it was all Tokiomi's fault.
"Has Haruno told you I'm the president of the Service Club? Our club activities are about accepting requests and helping those in trouble."
"Together with Yukinoshita, I've handled many requests. We've even guided withdrawn girls who rarely spoke, and severe social phobia cases. Now in the Service Club, we've got several introverted, socially anxious members."
"Hikigaya-san, no need to apologize. So much time has passed, I've already accepted Father's passing. Now I only want to take good care of Mother and my sisters. I see... So that's why you're so concerned about the out-of-place Sakura."
Hearing Hachiman's reason for paying attention to her sister, Touka sighed in relief, her previously tense, refined face softening, her gaze toward Hachiman also gentler.
But then she quickly glanced at Haruno, who was deliberately giving the two space while actually eavesdropping. She beckoned her and Yukino over.
"Haruno did mention the Service Club. She also said little Yukino originally wanted to start a Service Club herself, even asked Hiratsuka-sensei to be its advisor and look after her. But unexpectedly, you founded it a day earlier, Hikigaya-san, so Yukino only became vice president. She seemed depressed about it for days."
She and Haruno had both already graduated from Sobu High. Normally, when they met, they wouldn't bring up school matters. But since Haruno loved Yukino, whenever they talked they'd mention her.
And she was the same, often telling Haruno about Rin and Sakura.
Their mothers, though close in youth, were elders. It wasn't suitable to talk about their affairs. And speaking of their own matters wasn't very pleasant either.
So most of the time, the two chatted about their younger sisters, to the point where they treated each other's sisters like half their own.
"Let Komachi, Rin, and the others of the same age deal with Sakura. Why are you two worrying?"
Yukinoshita Haruno, seeing her best friend Touka beckon, came over helplessly dragging Yukino along.
It was one thing to talk about sisters with Touka in private, but how come even when out with Hachiman today she was still talking about sisters?
Given such a chance, Touka still didn't get it. Didn't she realize? To marry some stranger she barely knew was meaningless. Hachiman right in front of them was clearly the better choice.
What was the point of marrying into the Takamine family's third useless son? The old man of the Takamine Group would surely devour all the Tohsaka assets.
Once the family assets were gone, what would a Tohsaka household of one mother and three daughters, with no male heir, do?
Touka didn't think it was that serious. The Takamine family had once helped them, she doubted they would go that far. But Haruno didn't trust the old man at all.
Meanwhile, someone like Rurikawa Tsubaki, close childhood friend of Kaede, didn't even need to worry about her family's affairs. All those families unable to reach the Elf Princess would actively deliver fat contracts to the Rurikawa family.
If she wasn't in Yukino's place at school, even she herself wanted to learn from Rurikawa Tsubaki.
Rather than some arranged marriage later, wouldn't it be better for Touka to date Hachiman, who was always with Yukino in the same club? Once connected with the Elf Princess and mermaid idols, there'd be no need to worry about family business.
But since she wasn't in the same school as Hachiman, her actions naturally carried ulterior motives. They weren't pure.
So she thought her sister Sakura, as Komachi's friend, was a better fit to approach Hachiman, to be saved from the Takamine trap and live a good life.
"..."
Dragged along again by her sister, Yukinoshita Yukino expressionlessly stared at Haruno.
Shouldn't that line have been said to her sister herself?
Speaking of peers, her sister shouldn't even be meddling in her and Hachiman's relationship, forcibly pulling her to meet him.
Now she had to watch from the side while Hachiman and Touka interacted. Did her sister even understand her awkwardness?
If Hachiman and Touka ended up together, she would lose any chance to make a move and reclaim her Service Club presidency to restore its spirit.
"Don't sulk, Yukino. Since your Service Club has experience guiding withdrawn and socially anxious students, then please see if you can help make Sakura a bit more cheerful. She doesn't need to become overly optimistic, just speak more, not bottle everything inside."
With the Yukinoshita sisters now closer, Touka turned her gaze to Yukino, looking at her with hopeful eyes. Haruno always teased that Yukino was like a little Touka.
Once she fulfilled her marriage contract, she could take over her mother's burdens. But she still worried about her sisters—especially Sakura.
Rin was fine, bright and good at studies. What worried her was the overly gloomy, withdrawn Sakura, who had sealed her heart ever since their father's death.
"..."
Feeling Touka's expectant gaze, Yukino fell silent again, slowly turning toward Hachiman.
Could she say she actually had little experience?
She had tried with Sakurase Shino's autism, but it hadn't worked. The one who succeeded was Hachiman. She still wondered how he had done it.
Gotou Hitori had also been brought into the club by Hachiman. Nijichi Nijika's band request, she had only been present as formality.
The girls' swim team's request, she had also done nothing, just toured the club with Gab and the others before withdrawing under pressure.
Looking back, her only real involvement had been saving idiot Hayase Saki and the delinquent trio Yuina, and the "makeover" request.
But after the thug who targeted Saki died outside school, and Hachiman successfully became attractive, she hadn't actually handled any more requests herself.
Still, could she admit this to Touka, who had always treated her kindly?
Maybe she couldn't make Sakura cheerful, but to just encourage her to talk more.
"Heh, Miss Tohsaka, don't worry. I think Sakura is just shy with strangers, which made her gradually more introverted."
Seeing Yukino's faintly pleading look, Hachiman addressed Touka before walking toward Sakura under their watch.
Sakura, who had been sneaking glances at them, quickly lowered her head as Hachiman approached.
Silent as she was, once her head dipped, her bangs fell to cover her eyes and part of her face, making her appear oppressively gloomy, unapproachable.
"Sakura, you were sneaking looks at me, weren't you? If you want to hang out with onii-san, just say so. I'll take you around the aquarium. No need to peek at me secretly."
Hachiman squatted down, peering up at her lowered face, noticing how long her bangs were, hiding even her eyes. He reached up and lifted them.
"Wait!"
Seeing Hachiman not only speaking but even about to touch her sister, Touka's expression changed and she quickly tried to stop him.
Sakura's gloominess wasn't simple introversion. Even with family she had no will of her own. But if a stranger suddenly touched her, it might trigger her poison.
But unexpectedly, Hachiman had already brushed aside Sakura's bangs, revealing her eyes, even gently pinching her cheek.
Her sister didn't pull out the needles she kept hidden, didn't grab the spray, didn't even bite his finger. She just stared dumbfounded at him.
"Father..."
"Huh? No, Sakura, you should call me onii-san, right?"
Still pinching her soft cheek, Hachiman froze. Did Sakura mistake him for something?
How did he resemble Tokiomi in any way? He was still young!
"Father!"
With her eyes revealed, Sakura stared directly into his, then suddenly threw her arms around him, hugging tightly.
"..."
Hachiman blinked, dumbfounded, as Sakura clung to him. He had no idea what went wrong. Why she was calling him father instead of onii-san.
Touka had said Sakura had no will of her own at home, and he had thought his "dependence affinity" could work.
Throughout the day, he had felt Sakura's gaze many times, thinking she had been watching Touka. Now it seemed she had been staring at him.
Dependence affinity had a special effect on dependent personalities. It made him their most trusted figure.
He had tested it several times already: the submissive Miki, the self-conscious Saki, the socially anxious Gotou Hitori, all felt strong safety around him.
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