[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

.

[-Hachiman's POV-]

"Well, this is my room." I pointed out, though the argument felt weak even as I said it.

"Right. I remember someone sleeping soundlessly in my room once." She countered smoothly, her lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile.

She turned her head toward me then, and for a brief moment, our eyes met.

I froze.

For a second, there was nothing but the quiet sound of our breathing.

The air in the room was thick, charged with a feeling that was hard to define - intimate.

I could feel her presence beside me, her warmth radiating from just inches away.

I didn't say anything, but the silence between us wasn't uncomfortable - it was almost... inviting.

Without thinking, I moved a little closer.

Just enough that the space between us shrank.

The soft brush of her breath against my skin, the faint scent of her perfume, all of it was intoxicating.

I couldn't hold back any longer.

My hand moved instinctively, finding the small of her back, pulling her toward me.

…and then I kissed her.

It was not the usual smooth - it was wild and intense - something raw that neither of us had expected.

My lips pressed against hers with a hunger that came from somewhere deep inside, as if all the restraint I would be holding onto had shattered in an instant.

Yukino didn't pull away.

She leaned into me, her hands cupping my face as her lips parted just enough to let the kiss deepen.

I kissed her harder, the warmth flooding through me, and my thumb gently grazed her jaw.

I pulled away for just a second to catch my breath, but I couldn't help myself. I whispered her name, feeling her eyes on me.

She didn't answer, but her lips trailed to my neck, her kiss a slow burn that sent a shiver down my spine.

Her fingers found their way to my shirt, lightly pulling, grounding me as if I might float away.

Unable to stop myself, I kissed her again, my lips tracing her jaw, down the delicate curve of her neck.

She gasped, fingers tightening on my shirt, a small, breathless sound escaping her lips. I kissed her neck, nipping gently, savoring the feel of her skin against mine.

Then, without thinking, I kissed her ear, the action soft but enough to make her body freeze, a shudder running through her.

Her breath caught in her throat, her voice barely a whisper. "H-hachiman…"

I pulled back slightly, my forehead resting against hers, my hand still gently cradling her neck.

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide, like she was still trying to make sense of what had just happened.

"Sorry." I muttered, feeling a little embarrassed, even though I wasn't sorry at all.

Yukino let out a soft, amused breath, the corners of her lips twitching into the smallest of smiles.

I chuckled, brushing my lips across her temple, then resting my cheek against hers.

There was a long moment of silence, where neither of us moved.

I could feel her heart beating against mine, our breaths syncing, our bodies intertwined in the most natural way.

Finally, she whispered, barely audible. "...no, I think I like it too… It's just I didn't expect it…."

I smiled softly, pressing another kiss to her forehead. "Then I will keep showing it to you."

In that quiet, tender moment, everything felt perfectly aligned.

Just as the moment stretched on, serene and perfect, there was a sharp knock on the door.

It cut through the air, jarring and unexpected, pulling me back to reality.

We both froze, our faces still close, my breath lingering against her lips.

For a heartbeat, neither of us moved, almost as if we could pretend it hadn't happened - if we didn't acknowledge it, maybe it would go away.

Then came a voice. "Big Bro? Is Yukino with you? I can't find her?" Komachi's voice called through the door.

I sighed, a small, resigned smile tugging at the corner of my lips as I pulled away from her.

Yukino's expression matched mine - amused but with a hint of frustration.

She rested her forehead against mine for a moment, her breath still shaky, as though she was trying to hold onto that moment too.

"Looks like we can continue our break." I muttered, my hand still resting on her waist.

"Seems like it." She replied softly, eyes flickering toward the door.

Thankfully, no more knocks come.

"...did she leave?" Yukino questioned, uncertain how to feel about that.

"I am not sure." I roll my eyes, unable to hold back the small laugh that escapes. "But we should probably go now."

Yukino leaned in one last time, her lips brushing mine in a brief but sweet kiss, leaving a warm sensation lingering between us.

When we pulled away, she straightened, smoothing down the fabric of her dress, the slight adjustment an almost unconscious action.

She met my gaze, her eyes soft, yet there was something in them that made me wonder if she was thinking the same thing.

"Ready?" She asked, her voice steady, but with a hint of amusement.

I nodded, though I couldn't help but smile back at her, the moment lingering longer than it probably should have. "As ready as I will ever be."

Yukino's smile softened, and we both walked toward the door, the sound of footsteps muffled by the stillness of the room.

As we reached the door, I could hear footsteps walking away.

I opened the door, and there was Komachi, descending the stairs in a Ninja style as if making sure not to cause any sound.

But hearing the sound of the door open, she stopped and questioned in a mischievous smile. "...ahem, you guys finished?"

I shot Yukino a quick glance, fighting the grin that was threatening to creep up. "Should I really need to answer that?"

Komachi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.

"Yeah, no." She said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, but she didn't push the matter further.

"Come down… Yuigahama and Saika are leaving." Komachi adds, her tone casual but with that familiar edge of urgency.

Yukino straightened herself, smoothing her dress once more. "We will be down in a moment."

Komachi nodded, her smile returning to its usual mischievous flair. "Sure, no rush... Just don't make me wait too long. You two might miss all the fun."

I rolled my eyes as Komachi bounced away down the hallway, already lost in her own world.

Yukino and I exchanged a quiet look before following her out, the brief moment of quiet intimacy fading into the noise of the rest of the evening.

….

The party continued well into the afternoon, Komachi's energy never waning.

By the time the guests started leaving, the house was a mess of empty cups, crumpled wrapping paper, and leftover cupcakes.

Komachi flopped onto the couch, utterly exhausted but grinning from ear to ear. "Best birthday ever!" She declared.

Yukino stood, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thank you for having me, Komachi. It was a lovely celebration."

Komachi beamed at her. "Thank you, Yukino! And seriously, you should come over more often. Big Brother is less annoying when you are here."

"Hey." I muttered, but my protest was half-hearted.

As Yukino gathered her things, Komachi shot me a knowing look. "Walk her to the station, big brother. It's the least you can do."

Yukino glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. "That's unnecessary. I can manage."

"It's fine." I said quickly, already grabbing my jacket. "I need the fresh air anyway."

The walk to the station was quiet, the crisp evening air a welcome change from the chaos of the party.

Yukino walked beside me, her usual calm demeanor intact.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"I did." Yukino replied, her lips twitching into a small smile. "Komachi is certainly a sweet girl."

"That's one way to describe it."

As we reached the station, Yukino turned to face me, her expression soft. "Thank you for inviting me. Today and the other day."

I scratched the back of my neck, slightly awkward. "Actually, thanks for coming, even though I keep putting off meeting your parents properly. I promise, I will meet them once the graduation ceremony is over."

I looked at her, then added. "I just wanted to say… having you here means a lot to Komachi. And… to me too."

Yukino's gaze lingered on me for a moment, her eyes softer than usual, before she gave a small nod. "I understand. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Yuki–!"

Just as I was about to respond, she leaned in and kissed my cheek, the unexpected gesture making me freeze.

She then boarded the train, leaving me standing there, rooted to the spot, watching her until the train pulled away, her figure slowly disappearing into the distance.

Despite the chaos, it hadn't been such a bad day after all.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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