Chapter 43: Misunderstanding

Early morning. As soon as her phone alarm rang, Yotsuya Miko woke up. She picked up her phone to turn off the alarm, then sat quietly on the bed for a while until she felt completely awake, before getting up and changing out of her pajamas into her school uniform. Because she needed to prepare an extra lunchbox recently, Yotsuya Miko had set her alarm twenty minutes earlier. Thus, she became the earliest riser in her household. Ignoring the malicious spirit crawling above her head, after checking in the mirror that her uniform was properly worn, Yotsuya Miko went to the bathroom to wash up. "Bang!" A pale hand slammed against the mirror, then a head with a stretched neck poked down from above. Despite the terrifying sight, Yotsuya Miko remained calm inside and continued brushing her teeth as usual. Unlike the hostile spirits Hachiman Hikigaya and she had encountered before, which actively attacked humans, the spirits in her home were harmless as long as ignored—if they didn't notice she could see them, she was safe. Because the spirits at home were harmless, among other reasons, Yotsuya Miko had not invited Hachiman to her house to exorcise them after they met. "But they are really annoying..." Looking at the ugly head blocking her view, Yotsuya Miko sighed helplessly. Though the spirits caused no real harm, they would block her line of sight. It was fine while washing up, but if they caused trouble while she was preparing the lunchbox, it would be easy to ruin the food. Thinking this, Yotsuya Miko took a sip of water to rinse the foam from her mouth. Then she went to the kitchen to prepare lunch for herself and Hachiman. "You're up early again today." Hearing noises in the kitchen, her mother—the second person awake in the house—walked into the living room and smiled seeing her daughter busy in the kitchen. "Yeah, because I have to prepare an extra lunchbox..." There was no way to hide the extra lunchbox from her mother, so Yotsuya Miko didn't even try. "Oh? Is it for a boy?" Her mother covered her mouth and giggled, feeling gratified watching Yotsuya Miko busy. She remembered that before, Miko was always inseparable from Koharu, never interacting with any males other than her father and brother, and she worried if she might get another daughter someday. It seemed she no longer needed to worry. "Mm." Yotsuya Miko simply replied to her mother's teasing with a brief "mm" and refocused on the frying pan. "Looks like my daughter can't wait to get married..." Seeing Miko ignore her, her mother sighed again. "Mom!" Hearing that, Yotsuya Miko's face instantly flushed red as she looked at her mother, embarrassed and angry. What does "can't wait to get married" mean?! At least she needed to date first! Besides... Thinking about how Hachiman had ruthlessly rejected her the day before yesterday, Yotsuya Miko bit her lip. It was her first time liking a boy, yet that blockhead rejected her without hesitation! He really deserved to be single for life! Thinking this, she clenched the chopsticks holding the tempura harder. "Snap!" The tempura instantly broke into two. Imagining the tempura as someone, Yotsuya Miko looked satisfied with the result, then put the overcooked tempura into her lunchbox... . . . At that moment, as the tempura broke, Hachiman, who was playing with a dog named Sabre, suddenly felt a chill somewhere on his body. His rare smile immediately froze. Coincidentally, Sabre's owner, a girl with a bun hairstyle, was walking toward him calling the dog's name. Patting Sabre's head and signaling it to stay put, Hachiman quickly got on his bike and sped away from the scene. "Ah, seriously, Sabre. Why did you suddenly run off? I was really worried!" Yuigahama Yui looked half-angry, half-amused watching Sabre sitting obediently waiting. She then picked up Sabre and put its leash on. Suddenly she remembered that when she was some distance away, the figure playing with Sabre looked somewhat familiar. "Could that be him?" Looking up at the empty street corner where the person had disappeared, Yui Yuigahama's mind flashed to someone's slightly hunched figure. She couldn't delay any longer... With the number of girls gathering around him increasing, Yuiigahama felt a growing sense of crisis. She had to do something! . . . Hachiman arrived at the classroom. Because he had stopped to play with the dog, many students were already inside when he entered. He quickly scanned the room and headed to his seat. Before he could warm up his chair, Kawasaki Saki approached, looking displeased. "I need to talk to you..." After saying this to Hachiman, Kawasaki turned and headed outside the classroom. "?" Hachiman looked at her departing back in confusion. Who had upset Kawasaki this early in the morning to make her so angry? Outside the classroom, ignoring the gazes of other students, Kawasaki grabbed Hachiman and took him to a secluded stairwell. Then Kawasaki pulled out her phone and questioned, "What do you mean by this?" "What's wrong?" Seeing over five million yen on the phone screen, Hachiman scratched his head, puzzled. The transfer amount to Kawasaki was correct—so why was she so angry? "Who do you think I am? There's no way a mere intermediary fee could be this high!" Upon hearing Hachiman admit the five million yen transfer last night was from him, Kawasaki's emotions exploded. She wanted to rely on her own strength, working as Hachiman's intermediary to repay his kindness while saving money for cram school. Not like now—being given a huge sum after casually completing a task, as if Hachiman was just handing out charity! "Calm down..." It was the first time Hachiman had seen Kawasaki this angry. "How can I calm down? I didn't help at all... what is this? Are you pitying me?" Kawasaki clenched her fists, tears gleaming in her eyes. "Sorry..." Seeing Kawasaki suddenly cry, Hachiman's prepared explanation caught in his throat. He lowered his head, standing awkwardly before her. Although he had done nothing wrong, hearing Kawasaki sob made him feel as if he had committed an unforgivable crime.