OREGAIRU : Hikigaya Hachiman's Exorcism Story

The next morning, when Hikigaya Hachiman opened the door and stepped out of his room, Komachi was just walking out of her room, yawning.

"Eh, Onii-chan?!"

Komachi, still a little sleepy, immediately woke up and stared wide-eyed when she saw her older brother.

Didn't their parents give him a good beating last night? Did that knock his brain loose?

There's no way Hikigaya Hachiman could be up at 6:50 in the morning.

"I rarely wake up early. Is it really that surprising?" 

Seeing Komachi standing in front of him, only wearing a sleepwear that barely covered her hips and staring at him non-stop, Hikigaya Hachiman felt a bit embarrassed.

He rubbed his face and turned his head away.

"It is very surprising!" 

Komachi nodded seriously.

Then, holding her head, she made a troubled face. "If that's the case, my cute little sister persona, who takes care of her useless older brother, will completely fall apart."

"Hey, hey, if you say things like that about me, I might just cry! Like, really cry, you know!" 

"Hehe..." 

Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's complaint, Komachi, who had been frowning just a moment ago, suddenly broke into a cheerful smile.

She squinted her eyes and showed a small fang on the side of her mouth...

"Stop being so intentionally cute!"

Hikigaya Hachiman crossed his arms, signaling that Komachi's cute attack was useless.

"Hmph, that line just now doesn't score high in Komachi's book!"

After saying that, Komachi snorted a couple of times and then walked past Hikigaya Hachiman, heading downstairs to the bathroom to wash up.

Soon, about ten minutes passed.

When Hikigaya Hachiman finished washing up and came out of the bathroom, Komachi was already sitting at the table with breakfast, waiting for him.

"I'm starting!" x2

After saying a quick prayer over the breakfast, Hikigaya Hachiman took a bite of the sandwich made with his sister's love.

Hmm, looks like she added a little too much salt today.

It seems that even Komachi makes mistakes while cooking sometimes.

But even so, Hikigaya Hachiman ate the entire sandwich without changing his expression.

"Huh?"

Komachi, who had been quietly laughing, looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, who didn't react at all, with confusion in her eyes.

She had put in a fair amount of salt, so why wasn't Hikigaya Hachiman reacting?

Could it be that her brother really got knocked silly?

"What are you doing?"

Hikigaya Hachiman finished his milk in one gulp, and just as he put the cup down, he saw Komachi staring at him with teary eyes.

Was she playing a prank on him and putting salt in both sandwiches?

"Onii-chan, are you sure your brain's okay?"

But just as Hikigaya Hachiman was worried about Komachi, she asked him with a voice that seemed like she might cry.

Hikigaya Hachiman: .....

"No problems..." 

Hikigaya Hachiman replied with a twitch in his smile.

"Really?"

"Really..."

"You're not lying?"

"Why would I lie?"

"Then, what's 1+1?"

"....."

...

After much effort, Hikigaya Hachiman finally convinced Komachi that his brain wasn't messed up from the beating their parents gave him.

"What the heck, I made Komachi worry for nothing..."

Once Komachi was sure Hikigaya Hachiman was fine, she immediately returned to her usual cheerful self.

"Yes, yes. I truly apologize for making Komachi, a grown-up, worry. It was terribly disrespectful of me..."

While cleaning the dishes on the table, Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes wandered, following the movement of Komachi's legs as they swayed back and forth on the couch. He casually responded to his sister's words. 

By the way, wasn't Komachi dressed a bit too lightly at home? Or maybe this girl just doesn't see him as a man at all? 

Following some instinct, Hikigaya Hachiman felt that he should avoid probing too deeply into the matter. 

After all, the answer might be enough to make him shut down right then and there. 

After putting the cleaned dishes away, when Hikigaya Hachiman opened the door to leave, Komachi was already sitting on the back rack of his bicycle. 

"Hikigaya Hachiman, let's go!" 

Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman come out, Komachi immediately shouted her usual slogan. 

However, Hikigaya Hachiman had already seen through her desire to avoid walking. 

He gestured for Komachi to get off the bike first, and once everything was ready, he hopped on the bike, tilting his head to signal Komachi that she could get on. 

"Wow, Onii-chan, did you know? That head tilt you did just now was surprisingly cool!" 

With that, Komachi quickly jumped onto the bike, wrapped her arms around Hikigaya Hachiman's waist, and started chattering while enjoying the view. 

"By the way, that thing you said earlier scored high in Komachi's book!" 

"Really?" 

Hikigaya Hachiman just smiled at Komachi's words. 

Did she really think his dead fish eyes made him look cool? 

No way, there was no way it could be called cool. 

So, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't take Komachi's words seriously, assuming she was just trying to comfort his fragile heart. 

Soon, they reached the fork in the road where they had to part ways. 

"Well then, see you later, Onii-chan!" 

With a swift jump off the bike, Komachi waved at Hikigaya Hachiman before slowly walking towards her school. 

Hikigaya Hachiman also waved back, then continued pedaling towards Sobu High School. 

While passing a crossroad near a residential area, a small yellow dog suddenly darted out from another street. 

Right behind it, a panicked female voice shouted, "Ah, Sabre!" 

The bike tires screeched loudly against the ground. 

Once the bike stopped, Hikigaya Hachiman let out a relieved sigh. 

That was way too close to hitting the dog... 

Suddenly, Hikigaya Hachiman felt something tugging at his pants leg. 

Looking down, he saw the dog that nearly got hit was now lying at his feet, panting and wagging its tail. 

"You... why do you look so familiar?" 

Hikigaya Hachiman picked the little dog up and held it in front of him, staring at it closely. 

The more he looked, the more he felt it seemed familiar. 

"Ah..." 

Just as he was about to remember something, a girl with her hair tied in a bun, wearing pajamas, and holding a dog leash ran up to him. 

"Is this your dog?" 

Looking at the leash in her hand and then at the dog in his, Hikigaya Hachiman asked. 

"Um, thank you..." 

The girl blushed as she took her dog back from him. 

However, just as she was about to put the dog down and reattach the leash, the dog ran back to Hikigaya Hachiman. 

"This dog... seems to like me..." 

Seeing the little dog sticking to him, Hikigaya Hachiman helplessly turned to the girl in pajamas and said. 

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