[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

.

[-Hachiman's POV-]

The prom had gone off without a hitch.

By the time we had finished cleaning up the gymnasium, night had fallen.

We left the vacant gymnasium and moved to the conference room of the main building.

Everyone involved in the logistics of the prom were gathering there.

It wasn't a particularly large group.

It included the following - the main staff consisting of the student council and Yukino, helper grunts from various clubs, Yuigahama, Ms. Hiratsuka, individuals from the parents association, and me.

Yukino was already seated, her paper cup held lightly in her hand.

"Good work today." She said, raising it slightly.

I tapped mine against hers. "You pulled it off."

An extremely peaceful period continued as Yuigahama and Isshiki similarly expressed their gratitude with smiles for today's efforts.

The atmosphere was casual, the kind of subdued energy that comes after a long day.

People murmured, sipping drinks, swapping quick reflections on how the event had gone.

The peace didn't last.

With the core staff gathered here, it was only natural that the people making the rounds would find their way to us.

One of them was, of course, Yukinoshita's mother.

The surroundings quieted as she stepped in.

She moved, her gaze cutting through the gathered crowd before settling on Yukino.

"Good evening." She said, her voice even. "I see everything went as planned."

"Yes." Yukino replied, standing. Her tone was measured, but her grip on the cup tightened. "The event was successful."

Mrs. Yukinoshita's eyes swept the room briefly. "I trust it wasn't without challenges. These things rarely are."

There was a pause, heavy and awkward. Yuigahama shifted nervously while Isshiki stared at the table, visibly uncomfortable.

Yukino straightened her posture and courteously lowered her head. "Thank you very much for your cooperation. We were able to hold the event without any significant problems because of your guidance."

"Not at all." Her mother returned with the same formality and bowed her head.

Upon lifting their heads, they looked at each other with a smile.

"I am quite impressed by your work today." Her mother said, raising her folding fan to her lips with a faint smile.

Yukino's posture stiffened at the teasing tone. Noticing the eyes of everyone on her, she coughed lightly, trying to steady herself.

Well, it's not exactly easy talking to your mom in front of a crowd like this…

Haruno's laugh cut through the moment, sharp and amused. "I had a lot of fun watching, too. Good 'stuff'. Especially that little dance with Hachiman…"

The room froze for a split second.

Yukino's head snapped toward Haruno, her eyes narrowing in silent warning, but the faint blush on her face betrayed her composed exterior.

"Anyway, this is exactly the kind of thing Yukino wanted to do, isn't it? That's your plan for the future, right?"

"Wanted to do...?" Yukinoshita's mother tilted her head and glanced at Haruno.

Haruno shrugged with a smirk. "Why don't you ask her?"

Her mother turned to Yukino, her expression unreadable.

Yukino's fingers tightened slightly, but she met her mother's eyes. "I am interested in father's work and want to get involved in the future. I know what I did today isn't directly related, but I wanted you to understand my feelings."

Her mother folded her fan with a quiet snap. "Is that truly how you feel?"

Yukino flinched but quickly nodded, holding her ground.

Her mother scrutinized her daughter's hardened expression but suddenly broke into a smile. "I see… I understand. If that's truly what you want, I will support your decision. Let's take it slow and think things through, there's no need to rush."

Yukino nodded back to her smile.

Then, her mother readjusted her posture.

"It's gotten rather late, so I should be on my way." She sent a glance to Haruno, who returned her eye contact and indicated to go on ahead. "Have a good night."

Ms. Hiratsuka offered. "I will walk you out."

"Oh no, here is fine." Yukino's mother rejected respectfully.

"Please, I insist. I will walk you to the gates."

"No, no, thank you for the kind gesture, but there are still many students here." Yukino's mother countered, stepping back slightly.

"Thank you for your concern. At least allow me to walk you to the door."

Yukino's mother paused, then offered a composed smile. "If it's truly compulsory for someone to escort me, perhaps a student could suffice?"

Yukino, Haruno, and Ms. Hiratsuka all exchanged subtle glances, immediately catching the implication.

…and, of course, so did I.

Before anyone else could say a word, Haruno let out a low chuckle, clearly enjoying the tension in the air.

"Huh… Why did I do that?" I muttered, stepping forward before I could stop myself.

"Oh, that will do, I suppose." Yukino's mother said with a slight smile, her approval.

I shot a brief glance at Yukino, and she gave me the faintest nod in return.

"Big sis, thank you, too..." Yukino whispered.

Haruno acted obtuse and tilted her head. "For?"

"For a lot of things, like putting in a word for me." Yukinoshita chewed her words out of embarrassment from her questioning clarification.

Her sweet but blunt manner of speech caused Yuigahama to broadly smile.

"Oh, that? That really wasn't my intention when I said I would do that for you." Haruno's voice was cold and sounded as if she had no recollection of the promise.

After that we begin to move.

As I moved to escort her mother, the sound of Haruno's playful, complaining voice followed us like a persistent echo.

"Hachiman, no fair! When it was me, I had to beg and escalate everything myself. But for my mother, you are just volunteering? Traitor!"

The remark was loud enough for Yukino and the others to hear, drawing a mix of smiles and exasperation from those left behind.

I didn't bother looking back, Haruno would make sure I heard every word, whether I wanted to or not.

I trailed slightly behind her, keeping a respectful distance, though my mind was anything but calm.

Escorting Yukinoshita Yukino's mother, what kind of [Sudden Quest] was this?

"I have heard quite a bit about you." Her voice broke the silence, calm but probing.

"That sounds ominous." I replied cautiously, matching her pace.

Her lips curved into a faint smile. "From Haruno, of course. She has a... unique way of describing people."

Ah, Haruno. That explained it. "Then I will assume half of it wasn't flattering."

"Perhaps more than half." She said, the teasing edge unmistakable. "But Yukino seems to think highly of you. That's not a sentiment she shares lightly."

The mention of Yukino made my steps falter slightly.

Her mother's tone wasn't hostile, but there was a weight to her words that demanded precision.

"I am not sure if I deserve that." I admitted, keeping my tone neutral. "But I will do my best not to disappoint her."

Her mother glanced at me from the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable. "A sensible answer. Yukino tends to surround herself with individuals who can challenge her, but she also values stability. I wonder which category you fall into."

"Neither." I replied without thinking, then quickly added. "I think she is the one who challenges me more often than not."

That earned me a soft chuckle. "I see. Perhaps that's why she chose you."

The conversation ended as we reached the main entrance. She turned to face me fully, folding her hands neatly over her fan. "You are an unusual person, Hikigaya. I will be sure to watch you both closely."

"Understood." I said, bowing slightly. There wasn't much else I could say to that.

But then, unexpectedly, she gave a small bow herself. "Thank you. Once again, thank you for always taking care of my daughter."

Her words took me off guard, and for a moment, I found myself speechless.

It was the first time she had spoken to me like this, without any of the usual sharpness, the subtle judgment, or the distance.

Just genuine gratitude.

I blinked, then instinctively bowed again in return. "I-it's nothing, really."

She straightened up and gave a slight, approving nod.

Her gaze lingering for a moment before she stepped toward the waiting car.

Haruno, of course, was already leaning casually against the vehicle, smirking as if she had orchestrated the entire encounter.

"Well, how did it go?" She called out as her mother approached.

"Pleasantly." Yukino's mother replied, glancing at me briefly before entering the car.

Haruno raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Not bad, Hachiman. You are holding up pretty well for someone dating my little sister."

"Thanks for the glowing review." I muttered, shoving my hands into my pockets.

As the car pulled away, Haruno waved lazily before turning to me with a knowing grin. "Better get back to Yukino. She will probably want a full report. Don't leave out the part where you almost tripped over your words."

"I didn't trip over anything." I shot back, but she was already walking off, laughing to herself.

When I returned to the room, Yukino was waiting near the door, her expression calm but her eyes searching mine.

"How did it go?" She asked quietly, though her tone carried a hint of tension.

"Fine, I think. Your mother didn't kill me, so that's something." I said, keeping my tone light.

Her lips quirked into a small smile, and she stepped closer, her voice soft enough that only I could hear. "Thank you… for handling her."

"Anytime." I replied, and as we rejoined the others, I couldn't help but feel like I had passed some kind of unspoken test.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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