[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

Yukino tilted her head slightly, resting it against my shoulder as she spoke. "So, what do you think Hayama was doing?"

"That idiot is a real coward." I muttered, my irritation bleeding into my tone.

She didn't say anything, waiting patiently. She knew I wasn't done yet.

"I thought, for once, he would change his approach. That maybe he would handle this differently. But no, yet again, he picked the absolute worst path - without even hesitating."

I let out a frustrated sigh, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "Ahh… That bastard. Just how much patience can one person have in their life?"

Yukino's lips curved into a faint smile as she processed my rant. "So you are saying he is playing the long game?"

Yeah, that's exactly what he is doing.

His actions were speaking louder than words ever could. He wasn't saying it outright, but the message was clear - I know that you know how I feel about you, more than anyone else does.

And for all the things he thought he understood, the one thing he hadn't missed was that she wasn't interested in whatever he was hoping for.

Still, there was something about his approach.

He was waiting, quietly and patiently, for the time when she might need him.

Until then, he would remain in the background, watching, hoping, and waiting for the moment when he could step in.

That was Hayama's life in a nutshell.

It wasn't just about this particular situation.

In fact, I had never seen anyone more patient than him.

He had built an entire existence around waiting, always hoping for something, yet never really taking a risk.

And for god's sake, I hoped I wouldn't have to witness anyone worse than him in this game of his.

But there was also the unsettling thought that maybe, Hayama could get even worse as time went on.

Irrespective of all my complaints, one thing was sure.

That guy was built differently.

I couldn't help but both respect and criticize his decision.

I leaned back, letting out a groan. "The guy acts like he is got all the time in the world."

"Not just a little long, either - a very, very, very long one at that. The kind of game that would exhaust anyone else from all the waiting."

"And the worst part of it?" I continued, a tinge of exasperation creeping into my voice. "You can't even guarantee the outcome."

Yukino tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. "Well, you can't guarantee an outcome with any other choice, either."

"True." I admitted, my tone softening a fraction. "But at least with a quicker decision, you get to the outcome a lot sooner, whether it's good or bad."

I added after a pause. "If it's a good one, great. All is well."

"And if it's not the one you wanted." Yukino murmured, her voice quieter now,

"…then at least you will have time to move on." I finished her statement, a faint sigh escaping my lips.

"But the chance of waiting might have a higher probability for a good outcome." Yukino added thoughtfully.

"Yeah. That's the only thing stopping me from grabbing that bastard by the collar, slamming him against a wall, and dragging his mind back to reality."

"You seem really invested in this topic." Yukino observed, her head tilting slightly, a trace of amusement in her tone.

"Well, for better or worse, I was the one who started this for my own selfish reasons." I admitted, crossing my arms. "I just wanted to stop him from looking down on himself while looking at me."

"I feel kind of obligated."

Yukino's lips curved into a light chuckle. "Haa… is that really all there is to it?"

"Is it not?" I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.

"I thought you were just trying to help out a friend in need. That's how it looked to me." She replied, her words carrying a teasing edge.

"Funny. Hayama and me? We could never be friends." I retorted, the idea sounding absurd even as I said it.

"Okay, I guess." She replied with a subtle shrug, her expression softening again as if conceding to my logic but not entirely convinced.

I sighed, rubbing my temple. "Look, it's not like I want to care about this situation, but I can't help but get pulled into it. It's like, one of those messes you can't ignore because you know it will just get worse if you don't do something."

Yukino's gaze softened, and she let out a quiet hum. "I get that. It's hard to turn away when you see someone trapped in their own choices, especially when you know what's at stake."

I leaned back slightly, closing my eyes for a moment. "Anyway, I am done with that from today. He made his decision, so I will let him be for now."

"I don't want to ruin my date because of his problems." I added, glancing over at Yukino.

Yukino nodded slowly, her voice steady as she responded. "You still do remember we were actually here out on a date?"

"I do." I smirked slightly. "So, where were we? Was it the clothes store?"

"It is." Yukino replied, her tone calm but carrying a hint of amusement.

"Let's go then." I said, already heading in the direction she had pointed.

Yukino gave me a small nod of approval, her expression softening just enough to reveal a touch of warmth.

Without another word, we moved forward.

We stepped into the clothing store, the ambient hum of soft music blending with the subtle rustle of fabric.

The place was nearly empty, and when we moved to the second floor, the number of people dropped even more.

It was quiet - almost too quiet.

The dim lighting cast delicate shadows over the displays, making everything seem just a little more intimate.

Yukino moved ahead effortlessly, gliding between the racks like she was in her element. I lingered behind, eyes fixed on her every step, my attention caught up in her presence.

She stopped in front of a rack of dresses, fingers skimming the fabric, and I couldn't help but watch.

As if she sensed my gaze, she glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes were sharp, but there was a softness there, a quiet understanding.

"What's up?" Her voice was a little quieter than usual, with a slight flush on her cheeks that she didn't try to hide.

I leaned casually against a nearby display, trying to sound indifferent. "Nothing. Just... curious."

Yukino tilted her head, lips curling into a half-smile, as if she already knew where this was going. "Curious about what?"

I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the dresses before lifting back to her. "Wondering what you would look like in one of these."

Her expression flickered, a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place.

She raised an eyebrow, lips parting just slightly. "No shame, huh?"

I smirked, unfazed. "Nope. But you still haven't answered me."

She rolled her eyes, but then - reluctantly - turned toward the fitting room. "Fine. I will try one on. But you better not get any ideas."

I followed her without another word, staying just outside the fitting room while she disappeared behind the curtain.

I leaned against the wall, thoughts swirling with possibilities.

Every so often, I heard the rustling of fabric, the faint sound of Yukino shifting inside the room. My mind wandered, but I forced myself to wait.

Then, the curtain slid open.

Yukino stepped out, the dress hugging her body in all the right places, the fabric a deep shade of midnight blue that seemed to shimmer under the dim light.

The dress was simple yet elegant - sleek, with a delicate neckline that framed her collarbones perfectly and a slight slit along the side that hinted at her legs without being too obvious.

It was understated, but it made her look like she belonged in a different world.

Her eyes met mine, a slight blush coloring her cheeks, but there was a quiet confidence in the way she held herself, as if she knew exactly how good she looked.

She didn't say anything at first, just stood there for a moment, letting me take her in.

I couldn't help but let my gaze wander, slow and deliberate, taking in every detail.

The way the fabric clung to her curves, the subtle way it moved when she shifted her weight - everything about it made her seem almost untouchable.

"Well?" She finally asked, her voice softer than before, but still sharp, like she was holding back something. "What do you think? Does it suit me?"

.

….

[To be continued…]

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