[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

.

[-Hachiman's POV-]

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

My breath caught in my throat. I couldn't stop looking at her. "You look… perfect."

Yukino blinked, and for a moment, her expression softened in a way that made me feel like I had said something right.

I stepped closer, just enough to close the distance between us, and without thinking, I reached out, lightly brushing my fingers along the side of her dress, where the fabric parted slightly.

She flinched just the smallest bit at the touch, her breath catching for a second.

Yukino didn't pull away, though.

Instead, she stood there, letting me trace the fabric, her eyes locked on mine.

"You know." She said quietly, her eyes soft and almost playful. "Maybe I should get this one."

I nodded, my fingers brushed the fabric of her wrist as I lightly held it, drawing her closer just a bit.

"Yeah, it definitely suits you." I murmured, my thumb gently tracing the edge of her wrist.

Yukino's breath hitched, her body stiffening for just a second, before she relaxed. 

I couldn't help it.

I leaned in quickly, pressing a small, fleeting kiss against her cheek - just enough to let her know I couldn't keep my hands off her.

Then, I pulled back just as quickly, my grip still lingering on her wrist for a second longer than necessary.

Yukino's breath came out in a soft exhale, her cheeks flushed deeper now, but she didn't pull away.

Instead, she held my gaze, a silent challenge in her eyes.

Her eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of amusement behind the coolness. "Don't get any ideas, and let's just focus on picking one, alright?"

I smirked, still holding her wrist gently. "You are the one wearing the dress."

She stepped back, her expression returning to its usual composed state. "I will change back, then."

She disappeared behind the curtain, leaving me standing there.

A few moments passed in silence, and just when I thought she would take longer, her head popped out from behind the curtain.

Not her whole body, just her head, peeking out through the middle of the fabric. Her eyes were bright with a mischievous glint, her lips curling into a smirk.

"What?" I asked, a little caught off guard, though I couldn't suppress the chuckle that followed. "Changed your mind already?"

Yukino tilted her head, that teasing, almost smug look never leaving her face. "I couldn't help but notice you standing there looking... distracted. I thought I would give you something to focus on."

As she shifted, the curtain moved slightly, revealing a flash of her pale shoulder, the curve of it just visible, along with the faint outline of her black bra line - skin soft and smooth, the subtle glimpse sending my pulse quickening.

My cheeks flushed slightly, but I couldn't look away. "You're crossing the line, Yukino."

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze daring. "What are you going to do about it?"

I didn't wait for a response this time.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us.

My arms moved around the curtain, pulling it tighter around her while I brought myself closer.

Her half-exposed figure pressed against me as the fabric shifted under my touch.

I could feel her curves more clearly than ever before, the warmth of her skin just beneath the layers of cloth.

The sensation made my heart race.

Her breath, steady but faint, brushed against my chest, and I held her a little tighter, feeling the subtle tremble in her frame.

Leaning in, my lips were just a breath away from her ear, my voice a low murmur that barely escaped my lips. "This is what I am going to do."

Just then I heard a few footsteps…

I quickly pulled back, realizing where we were - surrounded by racks of clothes and the soft murmur of shoppers just beyond the store.

The last thing we needed was to draw attention in the middle of a public space like this.

Yukino, too, seemed to snap out of it, her eyes sharpening again as she straightened.

The usual cool composure returned, though I could still see the faint flush on her cheeks.

"Right." I muttered, stepping back. "Probably not the best place for this."

She gave me a quick glance, that usual smirk tugging at her lips.

"No, definitely not." She said, her tone sharper but with an undercurrent of something that made my heart race.

I cleared my throat, trying to act normal again. "We should probably - uh - get moving, huh?"

"I will change quickly." She said, before disappearing behind the curtain again to finish changing.

Moments later, the curtain parted, and Yukino stepped out, back in her usual clothes.

"Shall we head out?" She asked, adjusting the bag she now held in one hand.

I nodded, the corners of my lips twitching into a small, involuntary smile. "Yeah. Let's go."

…and we walked out of the store together, hand in hand…

….

.

[-A Week Later-]

Valentine's Day ended a week ago.

The tacky decorations had finally been taken down, leaving the world mercifully free of heart-shaped clutter.

That's one win for society.

But February, being the overachieving short month it is, was already on its way out.

Another week, and it's curtains.

As I reached the bike parking lot, the emptiness struck me.

Rows of unoccupied spots stretched out like a visual reminder of how deserted the school felt today.

With third-years buried in exam prep and given the option to skip school altogether, most of them had taken the obvious route - stay home.

The result?

A parking lot that felt more like a ghost town, with none of the usual hustle.

Even inside, the atmosphere was equally lifeless.

Both the first and second floors of the building were eerily quiet, as though the entire school had taken a collective vow of silence.

The final bell had rung hours ago, yet today it felt like a formality - just another reminder that the usual routine had been put on hold.

The usual post-class routine?

Nonexistent.

With exams looming, club activities had been suspended.

And yet here I was, walking home alone.

No Yukino.

My hand instinctively reached for my phone. I unlocked it, scrolling through a few texts before closing it again.

No messages.

No missed calls.

Nothing.

It wasn't like I was expecting her to send me a love message or anything, but still…

"Seriously, no 'walk home safely' text? Not even a 'don't fall into a ditch, you idiot'? Am I really that unimportant now?" I muttered under my breath.

The air was cold, sharp enough to sting but not enough to turn me into an icicle.

I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder.

Yukino usually walked beside me on days like this, her scathing remarks filling the otherwise dreary silence.

But today? It was just the sound of my shoes crunching against the road.

"Guess almost half a year of dating doesn't come with a guaranteed walking partner." I sighed, glancing up at the sky.

It was gray, predictably so, like it had stolen Yukino's mood on a bad day.

I reached the corner where we usually split ways - except today, there was no one to split from.

Just me, a fading winter, and my overly critical inner monologue for company.

"Fine, whatever. I didn't want to walk with her anyway." I muttered, though the dull ache in my chest betrayed me.

I picked up my pace, shoulders hunched against the cold. If this was how the day was going to end, I would at least make it home quickly.

Maybe she would text me later.

Or maybe I would text her first.

Probably not.

Definitely not.

...Right?

As I was already walking ahead, a voice called over.

I turned around.

"Hachiman, what nonsense are you muttering to yourself now?"

I turned around.

Sure enough, there she was - Yukino Yukinoshita, arms crossed, her sharp tone matching the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

"I was practicing." I said casually, stuffing my hands back into my pockets.

"Practicing?" Her eyebrow arched.

"Walking home alone. You know, for tomorrow. You said you wouldn't be walking with me because of exams and all that 'not fooling around' nonsense, right?"

Her expression stiffened. "I only said that because it's for your own good. You should focus on studying."

"I get it. That's why I didn't argue." I replied, gesturing vaguely at the sidewalk. "So, I am practicing. Makes sense, doesn't it?"

For a second, she just stared at me, as if weighing the sheer idiocy of my reasoning.

Then she let out a short, exasperated sigh.

"Hachiman…" She muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Only you could make something this trivial sound so absurd."

"Glad we agree."

Her irritated gaze lingered on me for a moment, the subtle twitch of her eyebrow suggesting I was teetering on thin ice.

Without another word, she turned on her heel and started walking, a curt gesture inviting me to follow. "Come on. Let's go before I regret this entirely."

So much for practicing walking alone.

Yeah, this wasn't the place we usually parted ways… It is a little away from here.

Just a little.

I picked up my pace, closing the gap between us quickly.

Before I could stop myself, my hand reached out and clasped hers.

She slowed down for just a moment, the faintest hesitation in her step. But she didn't pull away.

After a few seconds, she finally broke the silence, murmuring just loud enough for me to hear. "If this is how you are planning to act from tomorrow, then maybe we should just stick to 'fooling around' in our usual way instead of… whatever this is supposed to be."

"I totally agree." I said, letting a smirk tug at my lips.

Her eyes flicked to me, narrowing slightly at the sight of my expression. She let out a small sigh, her grip on my hand tightening just a bit, as if to scold me without words.

But she didn't let go.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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