[OreGaIru : New Me!]

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[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

Saturday, March 3rd.

10 days before the graduation ceremony.

The calendar practically glared at me from my desk.

Today wasn't just any Saturday.

It was the birthday of none other than the sister of the world - Hikigaya Komachi.

The title was self-proclaimed, sure, but today was not the day to argue semantics.

This day wasn't about me.

It was Komachi's day, which meant two things - absolute pandemonium in the Hikigaya household and a rapid depletion of my sanity reserves.

"Big Brother! Are you ready yet?" Komachi's voice rang out from downstairs, high-pitched and brimming with excitement, as though her mere words could summon me into action.

I threw on a hoodie, clean enough, and trudged down the stairs.

The living room was already decked out, a shrine to Komachi's monumental day.

Balloons with 'Happy Birthday!', scrawled across them floated lazily near the ceiling, streamers crisscrossed chaotically above, and the dining table had been overtaken by a frankly excessive pile of presents.

Who even gave her all this stuff? Aunts? Cousins? Random people Komachi somehow charmed into celebrating her existence?

In the middle of it all stood the birthday girl, Komachi Hikigaya, in all her grinning, overexcited glory.

She had gone all out - her casual dress was a bright shade of pastel pink, paired with what I could only describe as 'sparkly disaster shoes'.

She looked like a walking Instagram story, and I wasn't even going to attempt to tell her otherwise.

"Big Brother, you are so slow!" She said, waving a spatula at me.

"It's 9:02 AM." I deadpanned. "Technically, I am early by my standards."

Komachi gasped, as if I had insulted the sacred rites of her day. "Birthdays follow Komachi Standard Time. And on Komachi Time, you are very late!"

She shot back. "Now, get over here and help me finish the cupcakes before Mom gets home. I promised her we wouldn't blow up the kitchen this time."

The 'this time' went without elaboration.

Best not to revisit that incident.

I sighed and made my way to the counter. A dozen half-finished cupcakes sat there, frosting tubes scattered around like the aftermath of some culinary battle.

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang.

Komachi squealed, abandoning her cupcake operation entirely as she bolted to answer it.

I could hear her excited chatter through the door.

Great. More chaos is incoming.

I barely had time to process the influx of bright voices when the doorbell rang again.

This time, Komachi's shriek was near glass-shattering. "It's Yukino!"

I blinked, turning toward the doorway just in time to see her stepping in.

Yukino Yukinoshita, my girlfriend - stood there in her typical composed elegance, holding a small, neatly wrapped box.

Her presence, as always, seemed to lower the temperature in the room, a stark contrast to Komachi's volcanic energy.

"Good morning." Yukino said, offering a polite nod to Komachi before her eyes briefly met mine.

Her gaze was calm but lingered a fraction longer than necessary, and for a moment, I wondered if she regretted stepping into the chaos.

Komachi practically bounced on her heels. "Yukino! I am so glad you came! Now it's a real party."

"I wouldn't miss it." Yukino replied, her voice measured. She handed Komachi the gift. "Congratulations on your birthday. This is for you."

Komachi accepted the box like it was a national treasure, eyes sparkling.

"Thank you so much, Yukino! You are the best. But honestly, you are already giving me the best gift by putting up with him." She tilted her head toward me, her grin wicked.

Yukino's lips quirked into a faint smile. "I suppose it's a [Skill] I have had to cultivate."

I sighed. "Oh, great, double-team me right from the start. I see how it is."

"Don't act like you are not used to it." Yukino said smoothly, stepping further into the room.

Her eyes scanned the chaotic scene - streamers, cupcakes in various stages of incompletion, and a hyperactive Komachi flitting about like a caffeinated sparrow. "It seems lively here."

"That's a polite way of saying it looks like a sugar-fueled war zone." I muttered.

"Oh, come on, Big Brother! You are supposed to be helping!" Komachi scolded before turning her attention back to Yukino. "Yukino, can you believe he has been grumpy all morning? It's my birthday, and he is already acting like he is ninety."

"Grumpiness seems to be his default setting." Yukino said lightly, crossing her arms.

She tilted her head slightly as she scanned the room. "But I don't see your parents anywhere?"

"You don't know?" I said, feigning surprise with an exaggerated thoughtful expression. "Today happens to be our parents' wedding anniversary too, so they are out on a date. Family dinner's scheduled for tonight."

Komachi, who had been carefully pretending not to eavesdrop, perked up.

"My dad always says I am the best gift for their marriage anniversary." She said proudly, giggling.

Then, as if struck by a sudden epiphany, Komachi clapped her hands together. "Oh! Yukino, help us with the cupcakes. They are supposed to represent emotions, but Big Brother's decorating skills are, uh, lacking."

"Don't drag me into this." I grumbled.

Yukino stepped up to the counter, gracefully picking up a frosting tube. "Very well, I will assist."

As she started decorating with precision that could rival a pastry chef, Komachi leaned closer to me and whispered conspiratorially. "Big brother, you are so lucky. Yukino is like a cheat code for life."

I glanced at Yukino, who was focused on the cupcakes, her movements steady and deliberate.

"Yeah." I muttered, almost to myself. "I guess I am."

The day was going to be chaotic, exhausting, and filled with Komachi's relentless energy.

Just then, the sharp chime of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts again.

Komachi, as if running on some secret reserve of boundless enthusiasm, dashed to the door.

Seconds later, she returned, flanked by Yuigahama, who carried a box overflowing with colorful decorations, and Totsuka, holding a stack of neatly wrapped presents with the kind of care only he could muster.

"Oh my gosh, Yui! Saika!" Komachi practically squealed. "You're just in time! We've got so much to do before the party really gets going!"

Yuigahama beamed, already setting the decorations on the table.

"Happy birthday, Komachi! I brought streamers, balloons, and some fairy lights!" She held up a particularly glittery roll of ribbon as if it were the crown jewel of her haul.

"Thanks, Yui! You're a lifesaver!" Komachi said, immediately diving into the box like a kid on Christmas morning.

Meanwhile, Totsuka offered a polite smile as he set the presents down carefully. "Happy birthday, Komachi. I hope you like the gifts."

"Saika, you're the best!" Komachi chirped, clearly thrilled.

I, on the other hand, was less thrilled.

Watching the chaos unfold as Komachi, Yuigahama, and Totsuka began debating the optimal placement for the decorations.

This was going to be a long Saturday.

After that, things snowballed in the usual Hikigaya household fashion.

More people arrived - friends and acquaintances Komachi had roped in somehow.

There was laughter, chaos, and, at one point, a mildly concerning balloon mishap.

Eventually, the cake was cut amid cheers and flashes of cameras, with Komachi predictably in the spotlight.

Everyone got a piece of cake and juice, the sugar rush fueling the energy of the gathering even further.

Few people already left during this timespan.

And then Komachi brought out the family photo album, dragging everyone into her personal highlight reel.

She flitted from one group to the next, directing people like the world's most cheerful dictator.

At some point, I managed to slip away.

I found myself in my room, finally alone for a moment. I think Komachi had asked me to grab something - what, exactly, I couldn't remember.

But somehow, instead of looking for it, I ended up lying on my bed, staring at the ceiling.

Why? Who knows.

Then came the knock.

I sat up slightly. "Come in."

The door creaked open, and Yukino stepped inside.

Yukino stepped inside, her presence filling the room with a quiet sort of elegance.

Her gaze swept over the space for a brief moment before settling on me.

She didn't say anything at first, just stood there, as though contemplating whether to break the silence.

I glanced up at her, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "What's up?"

She tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable but her eyes soft, almost curious. "Komachi said you were looking for something. But you are here, lying down. You seemed... preoccupied."

I shrugged, not really having a good explanation. "Just needed a moment away from everything."

Yukino stepped further into the room.

She hesitated by the edge of the bed before sitting down beside me, the faint warmth of her presence radiating even in the quiet.

Now, sitting on the edge of the bed, she glanced around, taking in the room with an unreadable expression.

"So this is your room, huh?" She said, her voice calm and neutral.

I stayed where I was, still sprawled across the bed. "Yep."

It was her second time in our house, but she hadn't had a chance to explore my room during her first visit.

She walked closer, her steps quiet but deliberate, and before I could fully process it, she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Before I could fully process it, without a word, she leaned back, flipping onto her back beside me.

I blinked, turning my head to look at her. "You are making yourself comfortable."

Her gaze remained fixed on the ceiling as she replied. "If you are allowed to lie around during your sister's birthday, I don't see why I can't."

"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.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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