"Huh?" A certain little girl's image quickly flashed through Hachiman Hikigaya's mind, and he tilted his head in confusion.

"Why?" Looking at Saki Kawasaki, Hachiman voiced his inner doubt. He had only met Keika that one time, right? Why would she suddenly want to see him now…

"How would I know?" Feeling frustrated, Saki Kawasaki unconsciously folded her arms in front of her chest.

The day before yesterday, after parting ways with Hachiman Hikigaya and returning home, Keika sniffed her and said something about having the scent of a big brother, then looked up at her with longing, saying she missed her big brother.

If Saki hadn't clearly known that Hachiman hadn't met her younger sister in all that time, she would have thought he had abducted an innocent little girl.

"Uh… so?" Hachiman's mouth twitched at Saki's words. It was the first time he had realized someone could miss him so much—and that someone was a little girl.

He didn't know whether to feel happy or want to cry.

"So… do you have time this Saturday?" Taking a deep breath, Saki Kawasaki finally voiced the decision she had been thinking about for almost two days. Since Keika wanted to see Hachiman, she would let them meet. As long as she was watching, nothing should go wrong between them, right?

"Saturday?" The implication in Saki's words was very clear. Hachiman muttered to himself about how spoiled Keika was being, while thinking about his schedule for Saturday.

"Sure, no problem!" After checking and seeing his schedule was free, Hachiman nodded.

"Then… how about meeting at the amusement park at 10 a.m.?" Hearing Hachiman agree, Saki Kawasaki exhaled in relief. With this arrangement, Keika wouldn't have to wait at home asking why her big brother hadn't come today.

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With Saki Kawasaki leaving, the afternoon dismissal bell rang. Hachiman packed up his bag and glanced back at Yui Yuigahama, who was still chatting with Yumiko Miura and Hina Ebina, before heading toward the Service Club.

"Hikki, wait for me!" Not long after stepping out, Yui's voice called from behind, followed by the sound of small running footsteps. Hachiman turned around to see Yui, who, despite running only a few steps, was already panting.

"Why are you calling me Hikki?" Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, Hachiman finally asked the question he had been holding in all day.

"Because we're good friends, right?" Blinking, Yui seemed puzzled why he would ask such an obvious question.

"Does that mean you don't consider me a friend?" Yui's expression visibly fell as she said this.

"Of course not!" Hachiman hurried to explain. If Yui entered the Service Club in this state, Yukino Yukinoshita's sharp tongue would probably tear him apart.

"I just wanted to know why sometimes you call me 'Hachi' and other times 'Hikki.'" Having calmed Yui down, Hachiman explained the reason for his question.

"Oh… that." Yui gave a silly smile and poked her chin with a finger, trying to remember why she used those nicknames for Hachiman. After a moment, her face showed a hint of embarrassment.

"I forgot the reason." "..." "Really! Anyway, 'Hachi' and 'Hikki' are both special names for you, so don't worry about it." Seeing Hachiman silently staring at her, Yui hurriedly waved her hands in explanation.

After that, she hopped forward in small steps, occasionally looking back to urge Hachiman to walk faster.

"Yuigahama, you didn't forget what you said this morning, right?" Seeing Yui unusually excited, Hachiman kindly reminded her. She had promised to make pig noises if she fell asleep during the exam—was she already eager to go to the Service Club?

"Ah?" At Hachiman's reminder, Yui first froze, then her expression instantly fell.

"What should I do, Hikki?" "Just accept the consequences, right?" He had already warned her not to get carried away. Besides, he wasn't some blue-and-white robotic cat; not everything should involve him!

Passing by Yui, Hachiman walked ahead, urging her. "Come on, Yuigahama, please walk a little faster~"

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Pushing open the Service Club's door, as usual, Yukino Yukinoshita was seated in her usual spot. But unlike normal days, today she wasn't reading a book; she was carefully sipping a cup of black tea.

Wait! Tea?! Setting down his bag, Hachiman suddenly realized something was off. Where did tea come from in school?!

Looking up again at Yukino, he saw a full tea set, including a kettle, placed on the table beside her.

"You all are really slow today." Noticing Hachiman's gaze, Yukino put down her teacup with a slightly displeased tone.

"Good afternoon, Yuki…" Yui greeted her, looking distressed.

"Good afternoon, Yuigahama…" Yukino responded, briefly puzzled by the difference in greeting style today, and then noticed Yui holding her hands to her ears.

"Hmph hmph!!" "Yuigahama, what are you doing?" Startled by Yui's sudden action, Yukino asked.

"Practicing pig noises…" Having finished her punishment, Yui glared at Hachiman, who was stifling a laugh, and then ran to Yukino with a red face, complaining.

"Pffft…" Hearing Yui's explanation, Yukino laughed in front of them for the first time.

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to." Seeing their surprised expressions, Yukino realized her mistake. She cleared her throat lightly,

composed herself, and comforted Yui. Judging by the curve of her lips, it was clear she was still recalling the scene of Yui making pig noises.

"Hmm, Yukinon, you're picking on me too…" Yui had clearly noticed this as well. Tears streaming, she buried her face on the table with an expression like the world was ending.

"Sorry to bother you…" At that moment, a knock sounded on the door.

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