[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

My second year of high school was coming to a close.

The graduation ceremony and prom had come and gone in a blur, leaving the finals to speed by just as quickly.

Now, with only two days left, today and tomorrow, our exam results will determine how we ended this chapter.

After that came the year-end ceremony, the final hurdle before the long-awaited spring break.

The day of the ceremony would be a half-day, meaning no classes to attend and a straight ticket home.

And then, freedom - spring break, yet again.

With only a few more days of school left, I was counting down to when I could finally leave it all behind, if only temporarily.

As of today, the restriction on club activities during the test period had been lifted.

The campus outside was filled with vigorous yells and metallic batting noises.

Groups of people consisting of the upcoming freshmen in spring and their guardians were here in place of the club members.

My little sister Komachi and I were one group of the many.

Today was Sobu High School's orientation for new students, which included taking measurements for uniforms and a tour of the campus.

In other words, it was Komachi's debut moment, trying on the Sobu High uniform for the first time.

Both of my parents had taken leave from work to attend the event, but I tagged along as the honorary 'parent' to witness the moment myself.

After getting her measurements done and trying on the uniform, Komachi made for the social gathering from the gym, and I returned to the main building.

Before long, school ended, and students began streaming out of the gates.

The evening sun cast its warm glow on the rows of trees lining the lane to the station.

I pushed my bike forward, the fuzzy light filtering through the branches and leaves.

Walking alongside me was Yukino.

"Did you go somewhere earlier?" She asked suddenly.

"Yeah." I replied, glancing her way. "Komachi had her orientation today. I went with her. Stayed through the uniform fitting too."

Yukino's gaze shifted slightly, her expression softening. "I see. She must be excited about starting high school."

"Yep. She sure was." I agreed.

"I wish I could have met her, too." Yukino remarked, a small smile playing on her lips.

"You will get to see her plenty in April." I said, though my voice carried an edge of unease. April wasn't as far off as it seemed.

She tilted her head slightly, as if considering something. "Maybe I will buy her a present. It's a milestone worth celebrating, after all."

I let out a small sigh, trying to keep my tone casual. "These days, she is practically swimming in presents. First, it was for passing the entrance test, then her birthday, and now for starting high school. Honestly, it's getting a bit much… but you know what? Do whatever you want. I am not getting in the way of you two."

Yukino smiled faintly at that, her gaze lingering on me for a moment before turning back to the path ahead. "That's very indirect of you."

She shook her head, her expression lightening as we reached a quieter stretch of the lane.

The noise of the other students faded into the background, leaving only the soft hum of the evening.

After a moment of comfortable silence, she spoke again, her tone more reflective. "It's strange to think how quickly time has passed. A year ago, this all felt… different."

I glanced at her, surprised by the shift in her mood. "Different how?"

She hesitated, her steps slowing slightly.

"I suppose it's just the realization that things don't remain the same. People change. Circumstances change." She met my gaze briefly, her expression unreadable. "Even we have changed."

I stopped, resting a hand on my bike's handlebar. "Yeah, maybe. But not everything has to change completely. Some things just… evolve."

"Huh… evolve? So how do you think we both are going to be ten years in the future?" Yukino asked, her voice laced with curiosity as she tightened her grip around my arm.

I didn't turn to look at her, keeping my eyes on the road ahead while still dragging my bike alongside me.

Then, without thinking much, I started babbling whatever came to mind.

Hachiman launched onto. "Ten years into the future, huh? I don't know. We will definitely be married by then… probably have kids too, two, actually. I would prefer the first to be a girl, and the second… yeah, maybe another girl. I don't think I could handle having a son like me. Nope, definitely not."

He continued. "Oh, and I will be a jobless house husband. How could I forget that? Also, by then, I should have found a nice lady cat for Kamakura. Can't let him die single, after all."

I chuckled to myself, already imagining Komachi's future all the while not knowing the expression of the lady beside me.

"Komachi will still be a brat." I continued without pausing, my stream of thoughts tumbling out unchecked. "And my old man? He will probably be sitting in the corner mooching off my savings. Yeah, I can see that happening."

The words just kept flowing, a mix of absurdity and honest thoughts. "Oh, and you will probably still have that habit of lecturing me about every little thing. Like, 'Hachiman, why didn't you take out the trash?' or 'Hachiman, stop teaching our kids bad habits.' You know, the usual."

And then, it hit me, like a sudden bolt of clarity. "Oh, and speaking of kids, what do you think we should name our daughter?"

It was at that moment I finally realized just how much I had been talking.

I glanced at Yukino briefly, and her expression made me halt.

She was staring ahead, her lips twitching slightly, and I could almost feel the heat radiating from her, as if steam were rising from her head as she processed what I had just said.

Yukino's voice, barely audible but sharp, cut through the air. "Idiot. How can you say all those things without feeling even the slightest bit of embarrassment?"

I couldn't help but grin, a little smug at her reaction. "Haa… come on, Yukitty, what's there to be embarrassed about? It's just the two of us. Not like I am announcing it to the world or anything."

She huffed, her face getting even redder as she looked away, though there was no hiding the amusement that flickered in her eyes.

A quiet moment passed before I teased. "Want to hear a little more?"

"No. Stop it." Yukino's voice was sharp, but there was a playful edge to it.

I chuckled, relenting. "Okay, okay. Maybe I will save it for another time. Seems like my lady has a lot of 'issues' with my version of ten years into the future."

Yukino didn't respond at first, her silence stretching on for a few seconds.

Then, she spoke, her tone unexpectedly calm. "Not a lot. I only have …one 'issue'."

I stayed quiet for a beat, raising an eyebrow, silently asking her what that 'issue' might be.

She shifted slightly, turning her head just enough to glance at me, her expression deadpan. "A son like you? What's wrong with that?"

"Haaa… Really? Are you asking me that?"

As soon as I processed what she meant, I couldn't hold back my laughter. It bubbled out, uncontrollable, and I had to take a moment to catch my breath.

Yukino remained unfazed, her eyes boring into me as I struggled to compose myself.

Once I managed to calm down enough to speak, I grinned and said. "I just don't think the world needs another me running around. It's already a disaster with one, don't you think?"

She rolled her eyes but didn't say anything for a moment. Her expression softened, though, as if considering what I said.

Then, her voice lowered a bit, more thoughtful. "Well, I think if we had a son, he might turn out fine... if we nurture him properly."

I raised an eyebrow at that, glancing over at her. "Oh? And how exactly would you nurture him?"

Her lips curled up slightly, her usual composure in place. "I would make sure he learned the importance of responsibility... and perhaps how to keep his head out of the clouds."

I shrugged casually. "Maybe you are right. Our son will be a genius, take after you, and be way smarter than me, though."

Yukino raised an eyebrow, her lips curling up into a teasing smile. "I don't know if that's such a compliment to me or an insult to you."

I shrugged again, feigning indifference. "...Definitely a compliment."

She stared at me in silence for a few seconds, her gaze assessing, before she broke eye contact, her expression unreadable.

…She is not mad, right?

Before I could overthink it, Yukino started walking faster.

"Come on. You are slowing down." She said, a little snip to her voice, though the warmth of her words didn't escape me.

I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head as I caught up to her. "Right, right."

As soon as I caught up, I added, a playful grin tugging at my lips. "For someone who was so embarrassed a second ago when I talked about the future, you sure do talk a lot now, don't you, Yukitty?"

Want to know what her expression is right now??

Just a second ago, I said I wasn't sure whether she was mad or not, but now…

I wasn't confused anymore.

You know why, right?

.

….

[To be continued…]

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