Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatte Iru - Volume 4 - Chapter 8

8

With Yukino Yukinoshita aboard, the car drives away.

In the car on the way back, the ride was quiet.

The occupants of the seats behind me had been annihilated. They’d all conked out within thirty minutes of departure, as is common on car trips. Up in the front passenger seat, I felt like I might nod off, too, if I didn’t concentrate. But I’d feel bad for Miss Hiratsuka if I fell asleep right then, so I made an effort to stay awake.

The highway was empty. It felt kind of surreal, since it was vacation time for students like us, but for the rest of the world, it was a normal weekday. It wasn’t even the Bon festival yet, so there was no reason for the highway going into Chiba city to be busy. I’d just have to put up with another two or three hours, and we’d be there.

“I plan to drop all of you off at the school. Are you okay with that?” asked Miss Hiratsuka. “It’s just a little too much work to take each and every one of you around to your homes.” It sounded like she was just deciding how we would get home.

“I think that’s fine,” I replied, and she gave me a nod and a hmm in return. She was probably tired, too, so I sensed that it would be best for her if this trip ended as soon as possible.

Still facing forward, Miss Hiratsuka quietly commented, “This time around…you crossed a rather dangerous bridge. If you had made even one wrong step, it could have become a problem.” I didn’t remember telling her all the details of what had happened, but she’d apparently learned it from someone. She was most likely talking about the Rumi Tsurumi incident.

“Yeah, I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“I’m not criticizing you. I’m sure it was unavoidable. In fact, I think you did quite well, considering the time constraints,” she said.

“It was a horrible way of going about things, though.”

“Yeah, you’re awful.”

“Why are you evaluating my character here…? I thought we were talking about my methods?”

“Only a horrible person would think of a plan like that. But maybe it’s precisely because you’re so low that you can approach someone else at rock bottom. That’s a valuable talent.”

“What a mean way to compliment me…” I drooped.

Miss Hiratsuka, on the other hand, was humming along cheerfully. “Now then, how will we work out the points this time?”

“This is a total victory for Hachiman, right?” I said. This one was all me: planning, design, and production… Though I have serious doubts that what I did was ultimately helpful, it was only appropriate that I be evaluated based on my ambition, interest, and attitude.

“Hmm. But if Yukinoshita had not made the decision to undertake the project in the first place, you probably wouldn’t have gone into action. And if Yuigahama hadn’t talked everyone into it, you wouldn’t have found a reason to act in the first place.”

“Ugh. So we’re all tied at number one, huh…?” Man, so close! I thought.

But then she smirked back at me, and I had an ominous suspicion. “How long have you been under the delusion…that you’re all tied at number one?” she said.

“That again?”

“You originally tried to skip out of this. So minus one point for that, and if Yukinoshita and Yuigahama have one point each, you’re at zero.”

“I had a feeling this would happen…”

“But anyway, good work.” Suddenly, her hand reached over from the driver’s seat. Her other hand still on the wheel, Miss Hiratsuka patted me on the head.

“It’s embarrassing for you to treat me like a kid,” I said. “Please stop.”

“Don’t be shy, come on!” Miss Hiratsuka seemed to relish teasing me. She stubbornly persisted in her head patting.

“Oh, no, I don’t mean me. I thought you might be embarrassed. Treating a high schooler like a kid really makes you look old and—”

“Hikigaya. You may sleep now.” She knife-handed me square in the neck, and my consciousness plunged into a black tunnel.

Someone was shaking me roughly. “Hikigaya. We’re here. Wake up.”

“Mm…” When I opened my eyes, before me was a familiar sight. It was my school. The time looked to be sometime past noon. I must have been exhausted; I’d slept like a rock, deeply enough that I didn’t remember falling asleep, and now that I was awake, I felt refreshed. “Sorry,” I said. “I must have fallen asleep at some point.”

“Hmm?” It was Miss Hiratsuka. “……Oh yeah. Don’t worry about it. You were probably tired. Come on, out of the van,” she prompted, being uncharacteristically kind.

I stepped out of the vehicle with the thick air of high summer clinging to my skin. The atmosphere gets like this around here, close to the sea. It had only been two or three days since we had left, but I had missed it.

After some stretching and yawning out on the street, we unloaded our bags from the van and drowsily prepared to go home. The reflected heat from the asphalt was seething hot. We all checked to make sure we hadn’t forgotten anything and then formed a sloppy line, like we felt we should.

Miss Hiratsuka observed us with satisfaction. “Good work, everyone. This trip isn’t over until you’re at home, so take care on the way back. You’re now free to go.” She was looking pleased with herself for some reason. She’d probably been planning to end the trip with this classic teacher-student exchange since even before we’d left…

“So, Bro, how are we getting home?” Komachi asked me.

“I guess we’ll take the bus to the Keiyo Line,” I said. “We’ll do some shopping on the way back.”

“Aye-aye, sir!” she replied cheerfully with a crisp salute. Then she turned to Yukinoshita. “Since we’re taking the Keiyo Line, will you be coming with us, Yukino?”

“Oh, all right… Partway, then.” Yukinoshita nodded.

Yuigahama and Totsuka looked at each other. “I guess Sai-chan and me are taking the bus, then,” said Yuigahama.

“Yeah, I guess so. See you…,” said Totsuka.

We were all saying our good-byes, heading our separate ways home. That was when a jet-black limo pulled up beside us with the smooth, low purr of an engine, slowly slinking past. In the left-hand driver’s seat sat a middle-aged man with silver-gray hair peeking out from underneath the hat of his driver’s uniform. The rear passenger-seat windows were tinted to obscure the interior.

“What an expensive-looking car…,” I commented. There was some kind of flying golden fish ornament on the front, and the hood had been polished to a shine, not a single smear on it. I feel like I’ve seen that before… As I examined the car more closely, the stylish driver stepped out, gave us a sharp bow, and briskly opened the rear door.

A woman emerged from the car, the kind who would make you feel the comfort of a cool autumn day, even at the height of summer. “Hey there, Yukino-chan!” Haruno Yukinoshita was adorned in a bright white sundress as she stepped gracefully from the car.

“It’s my sister…” Yukinoshita trailed off.

“Huh? Yukinon? …Your sister?” Yuigahama blinked rapidly, comparing Yukino and Haruno Yukinoshita.

“Wow! You two look a lot alike…,” Komachi murmured, and Totsuka nodded vigorously. The pair were on opposite ends of the spectrum, but they closely resembled each other, like Nega and Posi.

“Yuki, you were told to come back home for summer vacation, but you didn’t,” said Haruno. “I was so worried, I came to pick you up!”

“How did she know where we were…?” I quietly asked Yukinoshita. “Frankly, I’m terrified now…”

“She probably tracked me down through the GPS in my cell phone,” replied Yukinoshita. “Good grief. She’s always trouble.”

Haruno cut in. “Oh, it’s you, Hikigaya! Ooh, so you were hanging out together after all. Hmm? You’re on a date! You’re on a date, aren’t you?! I’m so jealous! Oh, to be young!”

“Not this again…,” I groaned. “I told you, we’re not dating.”

She was prodding me with her elbow. This girl was the most obnoxious person ever. I gave her my you’re-bothering-me look, but she didn’t back down. In fact, she escalated and practically glued her body to mine. She was annoying, and soft, and in the way, and nice smelling, and I frankly wanted her to get lost.

“U-um! Hikki doesn’t like that.” Yuigahama tugged my arm, pulling me away from Haruno.

The older woman stopped immediately. She surveyed Yuigahama with curiosity, but I also caught a sharp glint in her eyes. She put on a calm smile and then faced Yuigahama. “Hmm, so this is a new character, huh? Are you…Hikigaya’s girlfriend?”

“N-no! Nothing like that!” Yuigahama stuttered.

“Oh, that’s good,” Haruno replied. “I was just thinking, whatever would I do if you were in Yukino-chan’s way? I’m Haruno Yukinoshita, her sister.”

“Oh, nice to meet you… I’m Yui Yuigahama. Yukinon and me are friends.”

“Friends, huh…?” Haruno was grinning broadly, but her tone was ice-cold. “So Yukino-chan has a proper friend, huh? How nice. That’s a relief.” Her words were soft, and her tone was soft, but the atmosphere enshrouding her suggested if you were to touch her, thorns would burst out from underneath. “Oh, but you’re not allowed to touch Hikigaya. That belongs to Yuki.”

“No he doesn’t.”

“Seriously, no.”

Yukinoshita and I responded practically in unison.

“Look! You’re perfectly in sync!” Haruno chirped with pleased laughter. Was this teasing for fun, or was it just part of her act?

“That’s enough, Haruno.” This time, it was Miss Hiratsuka who spoke.

Haruno’s laugh immediately broke off. “It’s been a long time, Shizuka-chan.”

“Don’t call me that.” Miss Hiratsuka jerked her head away. I guess that embarrassed her.

I was surprised the two of them were acquainted, though. “You know her, Miss Hiratsuka?” I asked.

“She’s a former student.”

“Does that mean—?” I attempted to probe for the real meaning behind Miss Hiratsuka’s all-too-brief answer, but Haruno cut me off.

“Well, we can do some catching up another time, right? All right, Yukino-chan. Let’s get going.”

But Yukinoshita showed no indication of moving. She was practically ignoring her sister.

“Come on. Our mother is waiting,” Haruno said.

Yukinoshita had maintained her arrogant attitude up until that point, but at that word, she twitched. She showed the slightest hesitation. Then she breathed a resigned sigh and turned to me and Komachi. “Komachi. I appreciate your invitation, but I must offer my apologies. I will not be able to go with you.” The way Yukinoshita spoke was stiff, formal, and somehow distant.

Komachi’s reply was bewildered. “Um, o-okay… Well, if your family is waiting, then…”

Yukinoshita gave a clear smile and then, in a voice so soft it seemed to become entirely inaudible, she whispered, “…Good-bye.” Haruno prodded her back, and she disappeared into the car.

“See you, Hikigaya. Bye-bye!” Haruno gave me a flighty wave, climbed into the car, and said to the driver, “Tsuzuki, let’s go.”

The driver bowed and quietly closed the door. Without a glance our way, he slid into the driver’s seat. I guess that initial bow had not been directed at us but at Yukinoshita.

I couldn’t see what was inside the car beyond the tinted windows. But I got the feeling that Yukinoshita was sitting ramrod straight, as usual, facing front, with only her eyes turned toward the window to the side.

The limo started its quiet engine, and the car smoothly drove out. It departed in a long, straight line and then disappeared around a corner.

I watched it go, stunned. Yuigahama gave my sleeve a gentle tug. “Hey…that car…”

“Well, those chauffeured rental limos all look about the same. And I was in a lot of pain, of course, so I don’t remember everything about that car,” I said, but I wasn’t being sincere.

The truth was, the moment I saw that limo, I knew.

I did not see Yukino Yukinoshita again that summer.

Reference:

Natsume, Souseki. Kokoro.