So this is my life now, huh? First, Yuigahama. And now this hairpin-wearing little devil decides she wants a piece of me too?!
I'm a man! A real, flesh-and-blood man! So why does everyone in this clubroom look at me like I'm some frail goldfish about to float belly-up in a bowl?!
Do I really look that weak? Fine then. If that's how it is… today, I'll prove them wrong. Hikigaya Hachiman will show everyone here what it truly means to be a man!
"Are you two ready?" Komachi, acting as referee again, looked absolutely thrilled, her eyes sparkling as she glanced between me and the hairpin menace across the table.
"Of course." I nodded, trying to project confidence. You dare to challenge me, Isshiki Iroha? Then so be it! I'll crush you with the raw, undeniable might of my Hachiman muscles! Don't you dare cry later when I flatten you into the table!
"U-ugh… Senpai, please be gentle, okay?"
"Eh?" My head tilted automatically.
Because just then, Iroha pursed her lips ever so slightly, her big animal-like eyes shimmering as she blinked up at me two, three times in quick succession. She clutched her own hand like a timid rabbit and gave me that frail, defenseless look no man could ever resist.
…Hey, hey, hey! What the heck was that?! That's not fair! That's cheating!
Why is my overwhelming urge to win suddenly… evaporating? And why do I suddenly feel this weird, protective instinct instead?!
"Hehe~ I win, Senpai."
"Wha—?!"
Before I even realized what had happened, my hand was already slammed onto the table.
Hold up. Wait. What? Did we already start?!
I jerked my head toward the so-called referee. "Komachi! Seriously?!"
"Game over, onii-chan." Komachi smirked, hands on her hips, delivering the verdict with zero hesitation. "You lost."
"No way! Absolutely not!" My jaw dropped. "I—I was just distracted for a second! That's not fair!"
But the cruel truth couldn't be denied. While I was busy being dazed by her cutesy antics, the devil known as Isshiki Iroha had pulled off an easy victory.
Damn it… why does this girl's dangerous charm always put me at a disadvantage? She's like a boss fight where you lose before the cutscene even finishes.
Meanwhile, Komachi's face changed faster than a weather app. One second she was unimpressed, the next she plastered on a bright, innocent smile and beamed at Iroha. "As expected of Iroha-nee! You're so amazing!"
"Hmph! Well, duh. Beating a gloomy fish of a Senpai like him is easy-peasy." Iroha puffed herself up proudly, basking in her shallow triumph. Then she glanced at Komachi and frowned. "But seriously, Komachi-chan, I told you not to call me 'nee.' It feels weird."
"If I can't call you Iroha-nee, then what should I call you?" Komachi tilted her head, pretending to think hard.
"Senpai! Call me Senpai! That has a much nicer ring to it."
"Eh? No way. I'll either call you Iroha-nee, or… maybe something else." Komachi's grin turned mischievous as her eyes ran up and down Iroha with suspicious intent.
"…Something else?" Iroha's whole body stiffened under the stare. She instinctively crossed her arms over her chest and shuffled closer to me, her tone suddenly sweet and fragile. "Senpai, could you, um… please watch your sister? I-I feel like she's plotting something against me, Sen…pai."
Hey! That last "Senpai" was completely unnecessary! Stop dragging me into this!
Komachi raised an eyebrow innocently. "What kind of bad ideas could I possibly have against Iroha-nee?"
"Hmph! Don't think I can't see through those evil schemes of yours. But let me tell you—it's impossible!"
"Oh yeah? Then what exactly am I plotting?"
"… …"
Iroha fell silent, lips pursed in defeat.
I didn't get what they were going on about, but watching them bicker like cats and dogs was oddly entertaining. As much as I struggled against the little devil, Komachi seemed to have a natural advantage against her. Hmm… very interesting.
While I amused myself with their squabble, my eyes wandered. I caught sight of Yukinoshita and Yuigahama off to the side, quietly chatting over steaming cups of tea.
At that moment, Yuigahama looked unusually dejected, shoulders slumped, gaze glued to the tabletop. Yukinoshita, in contrast, remained elegant as ever, lifting her cup to her lips before speaking softly. "Yuigahama-san, would you like to try again later?"
"Eh?" Yui slowly raised her head, eyes darting nervously. "I-I don't know if that's a good idea… I mean, I already lost…"
"You lost once. And now you plan to give up already?" Yukinoshita's sharp gaze pierced through the hesitation, her tone firm yet strangely gentle.
"I…" Yui's lips trembled as she lowered her head again.
"Failure isn't what you should fear." Yukinoshita reached out, lightly taking Yuigahama's hand in her own. "What's truly frightening is being unable to face your defeat head-on. Don't surrender so easily, Yuigahama-san."
"Yu… Yuki…"
Encouraged by Yukinoshita's words, Yuigahama—who had been staring gloomily at the table—slowly raised her head. For a moment, her teary eyes sparkled with the kind of hope one might feel after glimpsing an angel in the middle of despair.
After a few seconds of dazed silence, she clenched her fists and inhaled deeply. The defeated, downcast Yui from a moment ago was gone, replaced with someone brimming with newfound energy. "Mm! Yuki, you're right! How could I even think of giving up so easily? Hikki, let's go again!"
"???" Hikigaya, who had been half-listening while pretending to sip his tea, nearly choked. "Again… again?! What is this, a boss raid?!"
The moment Yuigahama's energetic voice echoed, Komachi—who had just been bickering with Iroha—snapped her head around. Her eyes lit up like a child cheering for her favorite hero. "Yay! Yui-nee, I believe in you! Beat big brother!!"
"Eh? Why are you rooting against me, Komachi? I'm your onii-chan, remember?" Hikigaya muttered in despair.
Meanwhile, Iroha, leaning lazily against her chair like she was watching a drama unfold, gave a sweet smile. "Fufu~. Yui-senpai, I'm cheering for you too. Crush Senpai for us."
"…Do you two want me dead?" Hikigaya deadpanned, but the wave of encouragement pouring into Yuigahama only seemed to make her burn hotter.
Her fists tightened, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes locked on him with an intensity that made his back go cold. "Hikki! Come… come on!"
"Huh?!" Hikigaya froze under her serious gaze. He felt an immense, suffocating pressure, like a deer caught in headlights. "W-wait, hold on… I suddenly feel nature calling, so I'll just… excuse myself for a quick trip to the restroom."
Yeah, that's right. Tactical retreat. A strategic escape. Survival comes first!
But before he could even stand—
"Brother (Senpai), no running away!"
Komachi and Iroha shouted in unison, glaring at him with perfect synchronization. Their rare teamwork sent a chill down his spine.
"?!" Hikigaya's mouth twitched violently. Betrayed by his own sister and his underclassman? What cruel fate is this?! With nowhere left to run, his last hope instinctively shifted toward Yukinoshita, his beloved girlfriend. Surely she, of all people, would save him… right?
Wrong.
Yukinoshita elegantly raised her teacup, her fingers delicate against the porcelain, and took a small, graceful sip. Then she turned her cool gaze toward him, lips curling into the faintest of smiles. "Hikigaya-kun, it's just arm wrestling. As a boy, shouldn't you face it instead of avoiding?"
"…You traitor." Hikigaya's expression stiffened, his last line of defense shattering into dust.
Seriously? Is it really fine for your boyfriend to engage in physical contests with other girls like this? Shouldn't there be some objection here? Some jealousy? Some… anything?!
But no—if she, as his girlfriend, didn't mind, then what could he possibly say? His complaints fell silent before they even left his lips.
Yet, across from him, Yukinoshita's calm façade concealed something far more complicated. Watching Hikigaya's troubled face, her faint smile held a secret delight she herself barely understood.
It was strange. So very strange. Normally, when Hikigaya had physical interactions with other girls, she felt an instinctive repulsion. As his girlfriend, wasn't it natural to want to guard him? To monopolize his closeness?
And yet… perhaps it was the thrill of seeing those precious system points climb higher and higher. Or perhaps it was simply the comical, pained look on Hikigaya's face whenever he resisted. Whatever the reason, Yukinoshita found herself experiencing an inexplicable sense of amusement—almost enjoyment—at his awkward suffering.
All in all, without realizing it, Yukinoshita was beginning to feel that watching Hikigaya engage in these little "skinship" moments with other girls wasn't entirely unacceptable.
Cough, cough! But let's make this clear—!
That didn't mean she could accept him outright cheating. If Hikigaya ever dared cross the line into truly intimate acts, like kissing another girl or—heaven forbid—sleeping with them, her heart wouldn't be able to forgive him. At least… not yet.