[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

.

[-Hachiman's POV-]

A week had passed since the preparations for the prom kicked off.

Not that I AM involved in any of it.

Yukino is managing the situation independently, with occasional assistance from Yuigahama.

However, I made it clear that she should call me if she needed anything. And, surprisingly, she actually took me seriously and contacted me.

Anyway, the results for Komachi's high school entrance exams were out.

She passed. Obviously.

Her reaction, though, was something else. She burst into tears like a brat.

For someone who always acts all grown up, she sure let it all out.

It only lasted a couple of minutes, though. By then, she had wiped her face, puffed up her chest, and returned to her usual self.

"Komachi-sama delivers!" She declared, holding up the results like a victory banner.

Did she just level up or something?

Still, her transformation wasn't entirely seamless. Her eyes were still a bit puffy, and the faint redness on her cheeks gave away her earlier crying fit.

Yet here she was, beaming like nothing had happened.

The speed at which she bounced back was almost unsettling.

I leaned back on the couch, watching her with a mix of amusement and exhaustion. "You acted like your life depended on this. Did you seriously think you wouldn't make it?"

She shot me a sharp look, her expression brimming with indignation. "Big brother, you are underestimating the pressure I was under! My adorable life was on the line here!"

Cute life? What does that even mean?

Before I could question it, she marched over and practically shoved the results in my face. "And thanks to me, you don't have to deal with pops' wrath. You are welcome."

I swatted the paper away. "Yeah, yeah. I would be in trouble if you didn't make it. Guess I owe you for not tanking."

Komachi smirked, clearly reveling in her moment of victory. "Exactly. You should be groveling right about now."

"Grovel? You just did your job. Don't expect a parade." I shot back, standing up to avoid her smug aura suffocating me.

But she wasn't done yet. "Hey, don't walk away from the star of the family! And also–!"

Buzz! Buzz!

Her phone buzzed loudly on the table, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"Let me get it!" She trailed off, darting toward her phone.

"Probably Yukino or Yuigahama." I muttered, retreating toward the kitchen.

"Yukino already wished me, dummy. And Yui sent a text earlier." She replied without looking up.

Right. I remember now. They were the ones who kept her calm yesterday. But if it wasn't them...

"Then who could it b–!"

"Shush, Big Brother." She cut me off, holding up a hand dramatically. "This is important. And for your information, it's Big Sis Haruno!"

…you are texting her dumm–!

!??I froze mid-step.

Haruno?

As in thaaat Yukinoshita Haruno?

What could she possibly want with Komachi? Since when were they on texting terms?

Komachi's expression shifted as she read the message. Then, she glanced at me, her tone deliberately casual.

"She congratulated me. Oh, and she said something about seeing you in a few days. Weird, right? What did you do? Actually, never mind, I don't care."

My stomach twisted slightly.

Seeing me soon?

That couldn't be good.

Knowing Haruno, this wasn't just a friendly visit.

It had to be about the prom. She had to find a way to make things … complicated.

"Komachi, tell her I am busy forever." I said, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Nope. I am just gonna tell her you are excited." She said, already typing away with a mischievous grin.

"Hey, wait–!"

Too late. She hit send, humming cheerfully as if she hadn't just thrown me to the wolves.

I let out a long, weary sigh. "I should have let you handle Dad."

Komachi just grinned wider, clearly reveling in her victory.

….

.

Anyway, today is another story.

We are throwing a small party tonight to celebrate Komachi's success.

But for now, I am still at school, wrapping up the last bits of the day.

The final bell rings, and the classroom erupts into life - chairs scraping, chatter filling the air as students pack up to leave.

I gather my things, sling my bag over one shoulder, and make my way to the Student Council room.

…

As soon as I finished knocking on the door, it opened immediately.

Isshiki's face appeared from the gap of the door. "Ugh, Senior, you actually came?"

"Well, I was called." I replied, stepping inside.

Inside, Yukino and Yuigahama were already seated.

Yukino looked up briefly, her expression as composed as ever, while Yuigahama gave a small wave and a cheerful smile.

The other Student Council members were nowhere to be seen, probably working elsewhere, I guessed.

Yukino noticed me and spoke up. "Hachiman, thanks for making it. We could use some help today, so your assistance is genuinely appreciated."

"No need. I am quite free today after all. I don't mind." I replied.

Yukino rested her chin on her hand, her tone casual yet thoughtful. "You are probably having a celebration for Komachi at home tonight, right? I will make sure we wrap things up quickly. If there's anything you need to leave for, just let me know, I can adjust."

"...Actually." I started, scratching the back of my neck. "You are coming too. My mom's been pestering me ever since she met you at the launch event. She wants to 'properly meet you' or something."

Yukino paused for a moment, and after a small thought, she nodded and gestured for me to sit next to her. "...very well. We will leave together. On that note, without further ado, let's get started."

Before I could settle into my seat, Isshiki's voice cut through the air with a mischievous grin. "Oh, things are moving quickly for someone, huh? Is it Senior Yui?"

Yuigahama stifles a laugh, though she doesn't look too surprised.

Isshiki, meanwhile, leans forward dramatically. "What's next? A wedding invitation?"

Neither Yukino nor I respond. That's the trick with Isshiki - ignore her, and she eventually gets bored.

Yukino clears her throat, steering the conversation back on track. "Shall we continue?"

"Yeah, let's." I replied with a shrug, moving to sit down.

"Fine, fine." Isshiki sighed dramatically, raising her hands in mock surrender, before flopping back in her chair. "Don't mind me."

And just like that, the conversation moved on. A pile of documents landed with a thud on the table in front of me.

Yukino starts sorting through a neat stack of papers on the table, her movements precise. "These are the latest documents for the prom. Please review them and let me know if you notice any discrepancies."

She spread the documents out in front of her and began skimming through them, her eyes moving quickly over the text. "Along with the proposal documents, please also take a look at the progress planning table."

I pick up the papers, flipping through them. The budget estimates catch my eye, and I let out a low whistle. "This is… ambitious."

Without missing a beat, Yukino pulled out a separate sheet of paper. "I have already prepared a trial balance sheet with estimates for the event costs. You can take a look if you are curious."

I waved it off. "Nope, I am good."

She nods, satisfied, and we get to work.

And after reading through the prepared material, I certainly became more confident and began to feel more realistic about the actualization of the prom than what I thought before.

It should be doable theoretically…

….

.

Yukino and I packed up our things, ready to start walking out of the room.

"Bye, Yukinon! Bye, Hakki!" Yuigahama's cheerful voice chimed from behind, her hand waving enthusiastically in the corner of my vision.

Isshiki wasn't far behind with her usual antics.

"Good luck, Senior Yukino. Hope things work out for you." She teased, her tone dripping with that trademark mischief, each word stretching just enough to prod.

I didn't bother responding. It was easier that way.

Yukino, however, gave a polite nod to both of them before turning toward the door.

As we stepped into the hallway, Isshiki's voice trailed after us, unwilling to let us leave without one final jab. "Oh, and don't forget to invite me if th–!"

The soft click of the door closing behind us neatly cut her off, the muffled echo of her teasing dissolving into the distance as we walked away.

With each step, the chatter from the room faded further, replaced by the quiet hum of the empty corridor.

By the time we were halfway down the hall, all that was left was the faint sound of our footsteps as we moved.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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