Chapter 34: It Backfired

Chapter 34: It Backfired

"What's so strange about it? It's just a certificate, that's all..."

Faced with Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze, the usually thick-skinned Hikigaya Hachiman surprisingly felt a bit embarrassed.

"It's nothing, I was just surprised. I thought Hikigaya-kun was beyond saving, but your writing is actually quite good..."

As Yukinoshita spoke, she withdrew her gaze and focused once more on the certificate in her hand.

This time, however, the corners of her mouth slightly curled up, as if she found something amusing.

"Just 'quite good'? I wonder what rank the self-proclaimed genius Yukinoshita got? With your talent, you must have participated in this essay contest too, right?"

Although he scoffed at his second-place finish inwardly, hearing Yukinoshita's comment still left Hikigaya annoyed.

After all, this was second place in a national competition!

Aside from one person who did better than him, he was the best!

"Sigh…"

Faced with Hachiman's provocation, Yukinoshita put down the certificate and gave him a pitying look.

Then, under his confused gaze, she bent down and opened the school bag by her feet, pulling out a certificate identical in style to his.

"You've got to be kidding…"

Seeing the certificate in her hand, a bad feeling suddenly surged in Hikigaya's chest.

And when Yukinoshita displayed the certificate to him, his premonition came true.

"First Place in the Essay Contest – Yukinoshita Yukino…"

Hikigaya read the content aloud with a dark expression.

"You must've worked really hard for the essay contest, Hikigaya-kun. Accidentally getting second place must be so embarrassing~"

Looking at his gloomy face, Yukinoshita was full of pride.

Originally, she didn't feel much about winning.

After all, it was just another first place.

But upon seeing Hikigaya receive second, a thought suddenly came to her: I'm glad I got first.

"Well, I guess you win this time…"

Although he never cared much about rankings, at this moment, Hikigaya regretted not putting in more effort and submitting a better essay.

But the results were final—he could only admit defeat this time.

Outside the classroom, Yukinoshita and Hikigaya's advisor, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had been eavesdropping at the door, revealed a smug expression, pleased her scheme had worked.

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While the two bickered, time quickly passed, and it was already dusk.

Gazing at the sunset outside the window, Hikigaya stood up to pack his things and prepare to leave.

However, seeing that Yukinoshita was still seated and reading, not showing any sign of getting ready to leave, he couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going back?"

"Going back? Back where?"

She paused her page-turning, looked up at him, tilting her head in confusion.

"Home, of course."

Hikigaya frowned slightly as he replied.

"Home… huh?"

A thoughtful expression appeared on Yukinoshita's face.

But soon, her expression dimmed, and her tone toward Hikigaya turned cold: "When the time comes, I'll go back!"

"Fine, I'll head out first…"

Hearing her icy tone, Hikigaya naturally didn't linger.

He pushed open the door and left, leaving Yukinoshita alone, sitting by the window in the glow of sunset.

She didn't care about his departure and continued reading her book.

Only when the second bell reminding students to leave the school rang did she calmly pack her things and prepare to return to her apartment.

However, while packing, she suddenly realized she had forgotten to return the certificate to Hikigaya.

"Oh well, I'll give it back to him tomorrow afternoon when he comes…"

Looking at the two certificates—first and second place—laid out side by side in her hand, Yukinoshita shook her head and carefully placed them together into her bag.

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Meanwhile, Hikigaya, who had left early, was pedaling his bike home.

After a quick ride, he managed to get home before Komachi.

He quickly tidied the living room, then collapsed on the sofa and started watching TV.

When Komachi bounced through the front door, she found her dear oni-chan sprawled on the sofa like usual, playing the role of a lazy fish.

Komachi, of course, knew Hikigaya did this to put her at ease.

Still, that didn't stop her from feeling touched by his thoughtfulness.

"Oni-chan!"

With a shout, Komachi leapt toward him.

Hearing her voice, Hikigaya tried to sit up to greet her—but before he could move, she was already flying at him.

In a flash, his body reacted instinctively—he opened his arms, caught her mid-air, spun half a turn to absorb the impact, and landed on the sofa with her cradled safely, shielding her from any harm.

"That was dangerous…"

As he lay on the couch, Hikigaya gently scolded her while looking at Komachi.

"Hehe…"

Komachi just flashed her signature little tiger-tooth grin, then bounced off the sofa and skipped upstairs.

Not long after, she came back down, having changed out of her school uniform into comfy casual clothes.

Seeing her outfit, Hikigaya's eyelid twitched, but in the end, he said nothing.

After all, a big brother who lectures too much ends up being hated by his little sister…

After petting Kamakura the cat on the sofa, Hikigaya got up and went to his room to prepare for the evening's task.

First, he took out a mysterious-looking toolbox.

Of course, it was completely useless.

Then, he added some talismans and exorcism tools.

Naturally, those didn't work on real spirits either.

They were just for show—to put the client at ease.

After all, if he showed up empty-handed, they might think he was a fraud.

The only things that actually worked were the red bracelet on his wrist and the demon-slaying sword stored in his personal space.

But Hikigaya remained highly skeptical about the so-called "minor side effects" mentioned in the red ponytail wristband's manual.

Unless absolutely necessary, he would never use the bracelet.

Having finished preparing the tools for his night mission, he heard Komachi calling him for dinner from downstairs.

After putting everything into his system's inventory, Hikigaya quickly tidied up his room, opened the door, and headed downstairs.