Chapter 317: Tsurumi Rumi Sees Through Everything
Having finished the simple lunch prepared by Yukinoshita, Hikigaya Hachiman intended to head back to his tent for a midday nap. However, the moment the thought crossed his mind, he was conscripted by Yukinoshita Yukino to serve as a "security guard."
"Why did you have to bring me along just because you and she are going to play by the creek?"
Hachiman sat bored on a large rock by the stream, staring at Yukino, who was currently doing warm-up exercises beside him.
"If we encounter danger, wouldn't it be more convenient with you around?" Yukino countered.
Although the creek wasn't too far from the camp, there was still the possibility of wild animals appearing. Moreover, danger didn't just come from animals; it could also come from various accidents. Since Hachiman planned to rest anyway, resting under the shade of the trees by the creek was the same as resting in a tent, right?
'Is she treating me like a bodyguard?'
Hearing Yukino's explanation, Hachiman felt quite helpless. Though he had already performed bodyguard duties the previous night, there was a significant difference between being forced into it and doing it voluntarily.
"Then I'll leave the work to you, Mr. Bodyguard~"
Having finished her warm-up, Yukino—who was in an unusually good mood for some reason—rarely teased him. She then took the hand of Tsurumi Rumi, who had also finished her exercises. Under Hachiman's watch, the two "Yukinos," one large and one small, jumped into the cool water.
The sound of playful laughter and splashing reached his ears. Hachiman shrugged and, following Yukino's suggestion, found a patch of shade, leaned against a tree trunk, and closed his eyes to rest.
"Hachiman..."
After some time, Tsurumi Rumi's voice suddenly appeared by his ear. Hachiman looked up in confusion at Rumi, who was standing timidly before him. Just as he wondered what she wanted, a look of resolve appeared on her face. She pulled her hands out from behind her back and splashed a container full of creek water directly into Hachiman's face.
"...."
The icy touch of the water instantly jolted his body awake. Wiping the droplets from his face, Hachiman reached out and caught Rumi just as she tried to flee. He dangled her slightly in the air and asked why she did it.
"It was Yukino-neesan's idea! I was just following her orders!"
Caught in Hachiman's grasp, Rumi didn't even wait for him to press for an answer before she covered her head with her hands and spilled everything.
"...."
Hachiman was stunned; he hadn't expected Rumi to surrender quite so quickly. Standing in the creek, Yukino witnessed the scene and pressed a hand to her forehead in distress.
"Are you... angry?"
Rumi waited for a long time with her eyes closed and her head covered, but Hachiman's anger never came.
[It really is just like Yukino-neesan said.]
Rumi breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at Hachiman.
"Not at all."
It was just a bit of water splashed by someone familiar in a playful manner. Hachiman wasn't so narrow-minded as to get angry over such a thing. However, while he wasn't angry, he had technically "lost" that exchange.
Therefore...
To Rumi's shocked eyes, Hachiman raised his hand and manipulated a large sphere of water from the creek, hovering it directly over her head before popping it.
"You're cheating!"
Drenched like a drowned rat, Rumi indignantly accused Hachiman of foul play.
"I don't see anything wrong with making rational use of my own abilities."
Hachiman turned his face away, refusing to meet Rumi's angry eyes. This action undoubtedly fueled her fire. She ground her teeth in annoyance, her eyes scanning Hachiman's body as if looking for the perfect spot to pounce and bite.
"Alright, Tsurumi-chan, come here."
Yukino, unable to watch any longer, stepped in. She walked over to Hachiman, pulled Rumi to her side, and thoughtfully wiped the water from the girl's face. Then, she turned her gaze toward a certain guilty-looking person.
"Want to play together?"
"Eh?"
Hachiman could hardly believe his ears. Had Yukino just invited him to play?
"That's right. It's exactly what you heard."
Facing Hachiman's surprised gaze, Yukino nodded with certainty. She had thought about it; playing with Rumi while leaving Hachiman alone on the sidelines was a bit much. Furthermore, during their play, Rumi didn't seem to be fully opening up to her. Though she hated to admit it, Rumi seemed more relaxed around Hachiman than her, despite him being the opposite gender.
"I suppose playing isn't out of the question..."
Hachiman's gaze drifted. Even though this was the second time he'd been invited by a girl, it still felt surreal—especially since the person inviting him was Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Since you want to play, go change your clothes quickly."
Yukino didn't give Hachiman any more time to talk. Upon hearing his agreement, she immediately gave him a light shove on the back, ushering him toward the camp. Once Hachiman had completely vanished from the creek side, Yukino finally let out the breath she had been holding.
"Whew..."
Taking a deep breath, Yukino recalled her actions just now and felt her face start to heat up again. She hurriedly jumped back into the creek, submerging her entire body. However, the cool water did nothing to lower her body temperature; instead, she felt even hotter.
"Does Yukino-san like big brother?"
Suddenly, Rumi asked a blunt question from the side.
"Why do you say that?" Yukino's heart skipped a beat, but her voice remained steady.
"Hmm, because the way you look at him is exceptionally gentle, right?" Rumi thought about it and gave an uncertain answer.
"Gentle?"
"Besides him and the other 'meatball-head' sister, your attitude toward everyone else feels very distant. But when you face him, you proactively show your true feelings..."
'And you act a bit spoiled!' Rumi added silently in her heart.
However, she didn't dare say that part out loud. After all, while she hadn't seen Yukino at her most terrifying, she hadn't forgotten the "ferocious" look she gave Hachiman when she first woke up this morning.
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