[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

Her lips quirked into a small smile, and she stepped closer, her voice soft enough that only I could hear. "Thank you… for handling her."

"Anytime." I replied, and as we rejoined the others, I couldn't help but feel like I had passed some kind of unspoken test.

Isshiki clapped her hands, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, student council members, let's call it a night. Please help send everyone home and make sure the doors are locked."

The council members nodded, politely expressing their thanks as they dispersed, sending the helpers off one by one.

The three of us lingered a little longer, exhaustion settling in.

"That was kinda scary..." Yuigahama groaned, rubbing her temples.

"No kidding... Mothernon's frightening..." She added, her voice carrying a hint of mock drama.

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'mothernon'...?"

Yuigahama let out a dry laugh, which somehow eased the tension hanging in the air.

She turned to Yukino, offering a small smile. "Anyway, it's great that things worked out. Right, Yukinon?"

Yukino nodded, her movements stiff as she composed herself. "Yes, you are right... Thank you."

With that, we wrapped things up and made our way out of the conference room.

Yukino and Yuigahama went together to Yukino's place, as apparently it had been a while since she came over with all this frenzy.

Night had settled over the school as I stood on the steps, looking out at the empty road.

A few cars passed, but otherwise, it was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Hey, don't wear your slippers outside." Ms. Hiratsuka's voice broke the stillness.

I glanced up, finding her standing nearby, arms crossed.

"I was about to lock up. Go get your shoes."

Urged on, I finally got to my feet as I began climbing one step at a time.

I made my way back inside, grabbing my shoes and slipping them on.

By the time I returned, Ms. Hiratsuka was waiting by the door, watching the dim hallway.

She didn't say anything for a second, just gave a small nod when I finally reappeared.

"Hikigaya." I heard Ms. Hiratsuka's voice from behind, and I turned to find her quietly following me, a small smile on her face. "It's gotten late, so I will take you home."

"Yeah, let's do that." I replied, stretching a little. "I am too tired to ride back on my bike."

Ms. Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow. "Now, now, don't act lazy all of a sudden. I don't want to spoil my student."

"...Haa..." I sighed dramatically. "You do everything for your students except spoil them."

"Hehe." She sighed back, giving me that playful, sweet warning tone I had gotten so used to. "Want a punch?"

"You can try." I said with a smirk. "If you can catch me."

Her eyes glinted mischievously, and she stepped forward, cracking her knuckles as if preparing for a challenge. "Oh, don't tempt me, kid."

I grinned and stepped back. "Don't be too sure you can catch me. I am too quick for you. Remember, I was second in the running race that was conducted a month ago."

She scoffed, then, with a dramatic sigh, adjusted her bag on her shoulder. "I swear, you have got way too much confidence for someone who almost passed out from exhaustion after all that 'hard work' at prom."

"Hey." I said, feigning offense. "I worked hard in my own way."

"Yeah, sitting around and looking grumpy counts as hard work, huh?" She teased, laughing lightly. "But fine, I will let you off the hook today. Let's just get going."

In the end, we made our way to the entrance, and she practically dragged me toward the parking lot.

The lot was quiet, empty except for a couple of cars.

One of them was a sleek, foreign luxury car, definitely out of place for a school. The headlights blinked on with a soft flash as Ms. Hiratsuka pressed a button on her smart key.

"Ms. Hiratsuka, are you rich or something?" I couldn't help but ask, my curiosity getting the best of me.

As far as I remember, even in the show there was no mention of this, right?

The car was way too nice, and the thought of her salary popped into my head. How much does she even make to afford something like that?

She shot me a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "You are thinking about my income, aren't you, brat?"

"Don't you know you are not supposed to ask a lady's salary?" She teased, giving me a playful side-eye.

I shrugged. "...last time I checked, it was women who weren't supposed to ask about a man's salary and men about to ask about a woman's age. But don't worry, I already know your age, so I won't ask."

She stopped in her tracks and gave me a mock glare. "You sure know how to push buttons, don't you?"

I grinned. "It's a gift."

She rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her expression. "You are lucky I like you."

"Lucky? You mean I am the one doing you a favor." I shot back with a shrug.

"Is that so?" She leaned in a bit closer, narrowing her eyes playfully. "I suppose I should start charging you for all the 'favors' then."

"Please, you would be bankrupt in a week." I said, stepping ahead, my tone light. "I am a terrible client."

She laughed, the sound genuine, before she let out a sigh. "Alright, enough with the banter. Let's get you home before it gets any later. I am sure you are not a fan of walking in the dark."

I gave a dramatic yawn. "Guess you are right."

When she walked up to her beloved car, she made furtive looks around and beckoned me over.

"Get in quick. Like, now."

"Right..." I sat in the passenger's seat as she demanded and fastened my seat belt.

She slid into the driver's seat, her movements smooth and practiced.

The engine roared to life, and in an instant, we were speeding away, the car accelerating as she pressed the gas.

I leaned back in the seat, trying to relax as the world outside blurred by.

The orange glow of the streetlights flickered in and out of view as we drove from the school to my home.

Ms. Hiratsuka handled the car like she was born behind the wheel, humming softly to herself, until, abruptly, her humming stopped.

"First things first, good work with the prom." She said, her tone shifting to something more serious.

I glanced over at her, unsure whether she was being genuine or just keeping up with the usual sarcastic front.

"Thanks."

She chuckled softly, glancing at me from the corner of her eye. "I would love to celebrate over a drink, but I am driving today."

"I am not old enough, though." I reminded her.

She continued looking forward with a chuckle. "Good point. Something to look forward to in three years, then."

Ms. Hiratsuka didn't say anything for a few minutes and continued with the drive.

"…When is the marriage ceremony?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"Didn't Ryota say it to you?" She glanced at me, half-amused.

"No. He didn't." I replied, a bit confused.

"It's in a month." She answered, her tone calm but with a subtle warmth to it.

"I see…" I nodded slowly, absorbing the information.

A month seemed so soon, though in the grand scheme of things, it really wasn't. The idea of Ryota settling down was a strange one, but it wasn't hard to imagine.

"Hikigaya, I am quitting my job."

"…Well, I expected that." I glanced at her, half-surprised, but not really.

"I am sure you did." She said, her voice casual but with a hint of finality.

"You are happy, right?" I asked, unsure if it was the right thing to say but figuring it was the question that needed to be asked.

She took a breath, the car humming softly in the background. "I always wanted to get rid of this damn job and stop dealing with troubled kids like you. Yeah, I am happy."

"You are not going to miss it?" I asked, half-teasing but mostly curious.

She shook her head, her lips curling into a grin. "Not even a little. I will be glad to finally have some peace and quiet."

I leaned back against my seat with a sigh. "Ouch, that's pretty harsh. Was I really that bad?"

She raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "I didn't say it was you, though."

"Yeah, yeah." I muttered, a small grin escaping despite myself. "I am sure."

I added after a small pause. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Ms. Hiratsuka lost her voice for a moment, but when she realized it, she laughed.

"You really were a handful, though." She added with a smirk, as if trying to mask the vulnerability in her voice. "Guess this is goodbye, huh?"

"Goodbye?" I raised an eyebrow, unsure if she was being serious. "What do you mean, goodbye? Even if I wanted to leave you alone, Ryota isn't going to leave me, and since you are marrying him, you are also stuck."

There was a beat of silence before she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. "Yeah, guess you are right. I am stuck with you for life, huh?"

The car slowed as we approached my house, the lights of the neighborhood flickering in the distance. I could already see the gate ahead.

"We are here." Ms. Hiratsuka said, her voice breaking through the quiet of the car as she pulled to a stop.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and glanced over at her. "...Thanks for the ride."

"Yeah." She gave a brief nod, looking at me for a second before replying. "Take care of yourself."

"Always do." I muttered, ready to escape the moment.

Before I could turn away, I shot her one last glance. "I will hold you to that drink in three years."

She grinned, barely a trace of softness in her expression. "I will be waiting."

I closed the door with a sharp click and started walking to the gate.

Just as she started the engine, about to take off, I turned and added. "Oh, yeah, Ms. Hiratsuka. I hope you will have a kid more troublesome than me. See you."

Wrooom–!

She drove off.

"...."

I am sure she is cursing me to death. I thought as I stood there the night air cooler now.

"Damn! It's cold." Immediately feeling the chill, I headed inside the house.

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….

[To be continued…]

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