Chapter 28: Misunderstanding
"No need for thanks. You should hurry home."
After saying this, Hachiman Hikigaya didn't wait for Iroha Isshiki's reaction and left on his own.
"Ah?"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Iroha looked up at his retreating figure in confusion.
Thanks?
Did she say she wanted to give thanks?
But this really was another chance to get close to him...
Watching Hachiman walking further away, Iroha silently thought to herself.
He's indifferent to my cuteness, so I'm definitely going to investigate all of Hachiman's secrets.
As for what she would do after discovering them...
Thinking of this, Iroha frowned.
Exposing him was definitely out of the question.
After all, Hachiman just saved her...
"Ah, this is so troublesome!"
Thinking about how, with Hachiman's personality, most punishments that work on normal people would just be bypassed, Iroha's cute face furrowed in frustration.
Whatever, forget it. Once I get some dirt on Senpai, I'll think about how to use it to pressure him!
Satisfied with her clever plan, Iroha nodded approvingly.
.
.
.
"I'm home..."
Pushing open the door, Hachiman called out as he entered, then stood at the entrance to change into slippers.
"Welcome back, Onii-chan..."
Komachi dashed over from the living room holding a teddy bear.
Upon seeing Hachiman, a displeased expression appeared on her face.
"How could you leave Komachi alone at home? Komachi is very disappointed in you today!"
"Sorry, sorry. I ran into some trouble on the way back..."
Hachiman quickly apologized to Komachi.
He hadn't expected to encounter an evil spirit on the train.
By the time he dealt with the spirit and walked back home, it was already very late.
"By the way, where are Mom and Dad?"
Hachiman peeked into the living room as he asked.
Though he came home earlier than the previous day,
leaving Komachi alone at home so long was enough to get him scolded by his parents.
After all, he was the lowest-ranking member of the family—even the family cat, Kamakura, had a higher status than him.
"They're not coming home tonight..."
Komachi pouted unhappily as she said this.
It was clear she was very upset about being left alone.
"I see..."
Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief at her answer.
Looks like he wouldn't get scolded tonight...
"Hmph! Onii-chan is an idiot! Komachi is mad!"
Seeing Hachiman sigh, Komachi immediately frowned in dissatisfaction and stormed upstairs to her room after throwing out that sentence.
Knowing Komachi well, Hachiman understood she wasn't truly angry—just unhappy about being left alone.
After changing his shoes, he headed to the kitchen intending to grab some barley tea from the fridge to quench his thirst before going upstairs to comfort Komachi.
But passing by the dining room, he noticed two sets of dishes on the table.
Touching the bottom of the dishes, he found the rice was cold, but the dishes still emitted faint white steam, as if reheated many times.
Hachiman felt warmth in his heart, ignored his thirst, and went upstairs directly to Komachi's room.
Through the slightly open door, the light from the electric lamp shone out.
After knocking with no response, Hachiman pushed the door open and entered.
"What are you doing here? Isn't it fine to leave Komachi alone?"
Komachi buried her face in her pillow, lying face down on the bed with her back to Hachiman.
Seeing his sulking sister, Hachiman's face softened.
He sat beside her and apologized:
"Sorry for leaving you alone at home..."
"It's nothing. Komachi's used to it!"
Still hiding her head in the pillow, Komachi replied in a muffled voice.
Hearing this, Hachiman wasn't discouraged; instead, he relaxed a little.
Since Komachi was still willing to respond, comforting her this time should be easy...
After hesitating a moment, Hachiman decided to tell Komachi the secret of the system in his mind.
After all, with this system, he didn't know how many times in the future he would have to leave Komachi alone at home.
"Actually, I have a secret I want to tell you."
Thinking this, Hachiman no longer hesitated and prepared to tell Komachi the whole story of how he obtained the system.
But upon hearing Hachiman's opening, Komachi suddenly became very agitated.
"I don't want to hear it!"
Covering her ears, Komachi jumped up from the bed, her eyes red and her emotions a little shaken as she looked at Hachiman.
"What's wrong?"
Noticing her unusual reaction, Hachiman raised his hand to check Komachi's forehead to see if she was sick.
But Komachi waved him off, interrupting the gesture.
"Onii-chan, do you have a girlfriend and don't want Komachi anymore?"
As she said this, tears appeared at the corners of her eyes.
Hachiman: When did I get a girlfriend?
Suddenly being misunderstood by his own sister, Hachiman was utterly confused.
He looked carefully at the sobbing Komachi and cautiously asked, "Why do you think that?"
"Because yesterday and today, when you came home, there was the scent of a girl on you! And you came home so late—you must have been on a date with your girlfriend!"
After saying this, Komachi quietly started to cry.
Hearing this, Hachiman couldn't help but smile bitterly.
"Don't worry, I don't have a girlfriend. I was really just held up with some stuff yesterday and today, which made me come home late..."
"Really?"
After Hachiman's explanation, Komachi immediately stopped crying and looked up with tear-red eyes to confirm.
"Really!"
Hachiman nodded seriously.
Afraid she wouldn't believe him, he even raised his hand, ready to swear to the gods that he was telling the truth.
"Alright, Komachi believes Onii-chan won't lie!"
Seeing Hachiman about to swear, Komachi quickly grabbed his hand.
Komachi held her own hand, and Hachiman didn't force it away.
Looking at the now calmer Komachi, Hachiman smiled and asked, "Are you feeling better now?"
"Mm!"
Komachi nodded eagerly.
During this short time, she had come to understand.
Judging by Hachiman's depressed appearance, no other girl besides her would come near him, so what was there to worry about?
"So can you listen to what I have to say now?"
Successfully calming Komachi, Hachiman straightened his expression and resumed the story he had been interrupted from telling.