There were currently many guests at the cultural festival. Hachiman was currently in charge of taking photos of the event. His sister, Komachi, had actually stopped by as well.

Y/N's brother had left work early and decided to visit as well. Setsuna was in the auditorium with Haruno. Saki had left Y/N up on the roof, who was still contemplating on what she had said to him. On the way to her classroom, she encounters the older cousin.

Itsuki: Saki, good day to you.

Saki: Itsuki-nii san.

Itsuki: Where's the others?

Saki: Most likely exploring the grounds. I'm heading back to my classroom.

Itsuki: Y/N and Setsuna?

Saki: Last I heard about Setsuna is that she's in the auditorium. Y/N is on the roof. We had a bit of time so we just sat up there.

Itsuki: Well, I'm going to look around and see what this place has to offer. Been awhile since I was last here. See you around.

Saki: Bye. (thoughts) ...He should really get a wife. Him and Hiratsuka-sensei could hit it off.

Back with Y/N

The green-eyed boy still sat on the roof, pondering the words his cousin had said to him. Was he to follow those feelings he's been getting?

Love was a hard concept for him to grasp. His mother had tried telling him when he was little but he still didn't get it. He could ask his sister, but it would end up with him getting teased. Not that it is a bad thing to get teased by his older sister, sometimes she just makes it a bit dramatic. She usually makes her outbursts over the top.

With nothing better to do, he leaves the roof and heads to the auditorium. Upon arriving, he sees his older brother, a blush on his face.

Y/N: Nii-san, what's wrong with you?

Itsuki doesn't respond as his jaw was dropping. When Y/N glanced to the stage, he smirks. Itsuki was seeing Shizuka in makeup and a pretty black dress. Her hair was in a bun and had bangs going down the side. She even had lipstick, something that Y/N doesn't see on his teacher very often.

Y/N nudges Itsuki's side, who finally notices that his younger brother was here.

Y/N: Going to ask her out?

Itsuki: (blushes) H-Huh!? Don't be an idiot!

Y/N: Whatever.

Y/N proceeds to the upper area, still watching the performance. Hiratsuka was playing the piano and Haruno was composing the whole entire thing. The crowd sure found this enjoyable.

Along the way, he encounters Hachiman and Yukino.

Yukino: Expectedly good.

Hachiman: Unexpectedly praised. You don't usually do that.

Yukino: Really?

Y/N: She holds her sister in high regard, you know.

The two finally notice Y/N, who was standing right next to them.

Hachiman: What the--at least tell us when you get here.

Y/N: Sorry.

Yukino: (looks back to stage) There was a time when I wanted to be just like her.

Y/N: You don't need to. You're fine the way you are.

If any other boy had said that to her, Yukino wouldn't have felt anything. However, hearing it from Y/N instead brought a warm feeling to her heart. A light blush graces her face as she slightly looks at the L/N boy.

Yukino: (quietly) A-Arigato...

Y/N: Hmm? Did you say something?

Yukino: I-It's nothing.

Soon, people gather around her, but there was someone behind her. The person behind Yukino whispers into her ear and her face changes to that of concern.

Timeskip after concert

Hiratsuka: Sagami's missing?

Meguri: Yes. She isn't answering her phone, either.

Yukino: This isn't good. We can't hold the ending ceremony without her.

Meguri: Can't someone substitute for her?

Yukino: That might be difficult. We could improvise the closing address and reconstruct the vote tally, but only Sagami-san knows the overall winner and the recipient of the regional award.

Hachiman: We can make up the overall winner. The vote counts aren't made public.

Hiratsuka: Hikigaya...

Y/N: (sigh) Of course someone like you would suggest that...

Hachiman: What? It was just a suggestion.

Meguri: We can't do that.

Hachiman: Then why not announce the awards tomorrow?

Yukino: Only as a last resort. But the recipient of the regional award needs to be announced at the ceremony.

Hayato: Something wrong?

Hayato and his clique had come up, wondering what the problem was, as they had just finished their performance. Their members were clearly tired.

Small Timeskip of explaining things to Hayato

Hayato: I see. Mind if we play one more song?

Yukino: You're not too exhausted to play?

Hayato: Yeah. Yumiko, think you can play and sing another song?

Yumiko: A-Again!? Seriously!? No, no! No way! I'm, like, totally bushed!

Hayato: (smiles) Please?

Yumiko: (blushes slightly and nods hesitantly)

Yukino: Thank you.

Yumiko: I'm--

Y/N: Yeah, yeah. You're not doing it for her, you're doing it--

Setsuna: (covers Y/N's mouth) Stop talking.

Yumiko: Look, they're almost done. Stand by, everyone.

Tobe: Seriously dude!?

Yamato: Damn, this is crazy.

Hayato: I just sent out a mass text. If anyone sees her, they'll call us.

Yukino: Thank you.

Hayato: Don't mention it. More importantly, we can only buy you ten minutes at most. That's all the time you'll have to find her.

Yukino: Indeed.

Yui: I'll go look for her!

Hachiman: You won't find her if you run around randomly. Even if you had fifteen minutes, you'd be able to check one place at best.

Yukino: Hikigaya-kun, if we buy you another ten minutes, can you find her?

Hachiman: All I can say is, "I don't know."

Yukino: So you're not saying it's impossible? That's good enough.

Yukino pulls out her phone and goes down to a certain number. Normally, she wouldn't call the number, but at this moment, she needed to.

Yukino: Nee-san, we need your help.

Not long after, Haruno had arrived and she pulled herself up a chair, crossing her legs as she ponders whether she should help or not.

Haruno: Hmm? I could. It's the first time you've ever asked for a favor, after all. I can do it for you this once.

Yukino: A favor? I think you're under the wrong impression. This is an order as a member of the festival committee.

Haruno: And is there a penalty if I don't follow this order? You can't cancel my performance anymore. What'll you do? Tell on me?

Yui was about to berate the older sister, but was quickly stopped by both Y/N and Hachiman, the green-eyed boy shaking his head.

Yukino: There is no penalty, but there is a merit.

Haruno: What kind?

Yukino: You'll have me in your debt. What that means is up to you.

Haruno: Hmm. You've grown, Yukino-chan.

Yukino: No. This is how I've always been. We've known each other for seventeen years. (smirks) Maybe you never realized it.

Hachiman: Heh.

Yukino: Is there a problem?

Hachiman: No. (thoughts) Yeah. Took the words right out of my mouth. This is the kind of person Yukino Yukinoshita is.

Haruno: So? What do you want me to do?

Yukino walks over to a nearby electric guitar and picks it up.

Yukino: Put on a performance.

Haruno: Oh? That sounds like fun. And we've got the whole band here. So? What song?

Hiratsuka: (strums guitar) I can still play the one we did last time.

Haruno: Meguri!

Meguri: Yes! I can too!

Haruno: Now we need a vocalist.

The ice queen walks up to the orange haired girl, who was confused as to what she was going to ask her, but had an idea.

Yukino: Yuigahama-san.

Yui: Huh?

Yukino: Can I rely on you?

Yui: Um...er...I don't know if I can do it, like, I might, like, screw it up, but...I was wondering when you'd ask.

Yukino: (smiles) Thank you.

Yui: (nods) Yeah! But, like, I need to faint before I remember the lyrics, so don't expect too much!

Yukino: I believe you mean you "have a faint memory" of them. Now I'm not so sure about this.

Yui: Yukinon, that's so mean!

Yukino: Hikigaya-kun. We're counting on you.

Yui: We're in this together, Hikky!

Hachiman then leaves, waving as he goes.

Haruno: Oh, what would be a real treat is Setsuna-chan would sing.

Setsuna: Eh!?!?

Haruno: You know that one song you've been writing? You and Sarashiki-oba sama have been working on that for years.

Setsuna: B-But...I don't know if I can sing that...after all, it was mother's song.

Itsuki: What are you talking about?

Setsuna: Huh?

Y/N: Nee-san, you can. I remember when you would stay up most nights thinking of lyrics.

Itsuki: Besides, I think mom would have liked it if you finished it and sung it for her. 

Hearing her siblings say that had brought the biggest smile on to her face, tears leaving her eyes. Music was joy to their mother. She would love to write music on her free time.

Y/N: Well, if you need me, I'll be hanging with Saki. Listening to different performances does get a bit stale.

Yukino: But--

She couldn't finish her sentence as Y/N had already left. She wanted him to hear her voice.

Itsuki: Don't worry, Yukino-chan. He'll hear it. And I know he'll see it.

With a reassuring nod, Yukino smiles again. She always believed the words Itsuki said. Essentially, he was the older brother she never had.

In fact, when she was over in America, she was able to call Itsuki when she could, talking about her problems there. Itsuki had always been supportive of Yukino's choices, which also included when he heard when she wanted to go her own path. When he found out that she liked his younger brother, he was fine with it.

While Y/N did say that he was going hang with Saki, which he did for a minute or two, he stood outside the auditorium, listening to Yukinoshita's voice. While Yui was the main vocalist, Yukino's voice would enter in as well. His lips would curve up every now and then when her voice was heard in his ears. Her voice was something else is what he could describe. It was beautiful, but he couldn't say it was better than his mother's. On Christmas events, his mother would sing for the children and she was loved by it, people saying her voice was heavenly, belonging to an angel's.

But when Y/N heard Yukino Yukinoshita's voice, it just brought him happiness. As well as the same feeling his mother's voice gave off as well. Comfort. Safety. That's what he felt.

He smiles as the crowds scream could be heard, cheering for the wonderful performance.

Timeskip

In the meantime, Hachiman had found Minami, but Hayato and two of her clique members were the ones that brought her back.

Sagami was soon brought back up on the stage.

Minami: This--

The mic echoes and the crowd begins to stifle some of their laughter. But they soon silenced themselves so they could listen to the announcement.

Minami: This year's cultural festival was the biggest in Sobu High history...

Small Timeskip

After Minami's speech, before everyone could leave, Meguri had come up for one last announcement.

Meguri: Before you leave everyone, we have a very special performance! Please give it up for, Setsuna L/N!

Everyone knew of who the L/N's parents were. They were cheering as they were going to hear a song from Sarashiki L/N's very own daughter.

Setsuna walked up to mic, taking a deep breath. Hiratsuka at the piano, she begins to play.

https://youtu.be/zbl-gyo5dKc

(A/N): Not only is it a good song, the lyrics are also good to. You can listen to it if you want. I don't own this by the way.

As soon as Setsuna started singing, Y/N's eyes widened. He remembered this tune. His mother would hum this to him when he was being put in bed by her.

He would also see her and Setsuna sitting by the piano on, singing and thinking of the lyrics. He would be sitting on the couch, Itsuki next to him. If he wasn't in bed, he would fall asleep, Itsuki allowing his younger brother to sleep on his shoulder.

As Y/N remembered, tears would begin to flow out of his eyes.

Y/N was soon brought into and embrace as his older brother hugged, he too letting out tears. The memories of their mother, the happy ones, all of the. Coming back to them. Even on the stage, Setsuna was shedding small tears herself. She would enjoy singing with their mother. 

Setsuna: "Smile...for...you..."

As the song finished, the crowd erupts into happiness. Some of the adults were even crying. It was as if Sarashiki L/N was there herself. Even when she wasn't present anymore, the people still remembered her, giving out their blessings. "Smile for you," is what the song was called.

After the performance, everyone begins to clean up. Sagami was shedding tears, hurt that Hachiman had said things about her, but it was true.

Everyone heard of what he did, but Y/N didn't feel bad for her. After all, it reminded him of himself trying to impress his father. The three of them tried to. But it just never worked. After fixing things up, Yukino walked up to him.

Yukino: S-So, what d-did you think?

Y/N: Of what?

Yukino: M-My--

Knowing what she meant, Y/N only sighs and shakes his head, patting her head. Confused, she looks up with a slight blush on her face. The only thing she sees was a smile on Y/N's face.

Y/N: You did good...Yukino-chan.

She didn't know how to respond. The silence was his answer. Y/N turns around, scratching the back of his head as it got awkward.

Y/N: R-Right...we should...get to the clubroom. I-I'll see you there.

She stood there for awhile. The blush on her face still remaining. Tears were falling out of her eyes.

Yukino: W-Why can't you see how I feel...baka.

Timeskip

Now recognized as the most hated person in the school, Hachiman was walking towards the Service Club Room. Upon opening it, he is met with the ice queen sitting in her seat as well as Y/N, who was leaning back in his own.

Yukino: (grins) Welcome, most hated man in school.

Hachiman: You picking a fight?

Yukino: What about the party? Aren't you going?

Hachiman: Do you even need to ask? You already know I'm not.

Yukino: So? Enjoying being hated by everyone?

Hachiman: Hmph. Any fame is good fame.

Yukino: I don't know if I should be surprised or sickened. There's something wrong with you.

Y/N: Really? I kinda expected this. But, you can't really hate how he accepts and affirms weakness.

Yukino: You aren't wrong.

Hachiman: I can't say I hate it either. In fact, I love it. I love myself. So what're you two doing here? On a date?

Y/N: (blushes slightly) Don't be stupid.

Yukino: (blushes) O-Of course not.

Hachiman: (thoughts) Wait, they're not dating yet? The hell!?

Yukino: Besides, I need to complete my career consultation survey. I didn't have time to with the preparations for the cultural festival. Y/N is here because he's bored.

Y/N: Yep.

Yukino: What did you come here to do?

Hachiman: Wrapping up the festival records. I wanted a quiet place to do it.

Yukino: I see. I guess we all think similarly.

Y/N: Wanting a quiet place to do something? Sure.

Hachiman: Not like we had many options. We're all loners on a convergent evolutionary trajectory. We're not similar.

The three go back to what they were doing, Yukino filling out her survey, Y/N resting his head on the table, and Hachiman finishing up the festival records.

Hachiman: Hey, Yukinoshita. I can--

Yukino: I'm sorry, but that's not happening.

Hachiman: What? I didn't get a chance to finish.

Yukino: I believe I told you before. It is impossible for us to be friends.

Hachiman: That right?

Yukino: Yes. I do not lie.

Hachiman: No, you can lie if you want. I lie all the time. Saying you don't know something you do doesn't make much difference. In fact, forcing a confession is just messed up.

Yukino: ...I wasn't lying. After all, I didn't know you well. But now I do.

Hachiman: That right?

Yukino: Yes. It is.

Soon, the bright and bubbly member of the Service Club comes in.

Yui: Yahello! Good work with the festival! Now let's go to the after-party!

Hachiman: I'm not going. And what's this "after-party?"

Yui: You don't know what it is, and you don't want to go!? Um...it's, like, a really big...party thing...?

Hachiman: So you don't know what it is, either?

Yukino: Based on the word, I would imagine it's the reverse of a pre-party.

Yui: That's it! Hayato-kun reserved a club by a station and said to invite everyone!

Yukino: A very kind invitation. Why don't you go, Hikigay-amigo-kun?

Hachiman: Oi. Please spare me the name puns. And who's gay for who?

Y/N: You and Hayama apparently.

Hachiman: Weren't you asleep?

Y/N: You guys were too loud.

Hachiman: Well, I'm sure as hell not gay for Hayama.

Y/N: Ebina's vision begs to differ.

Hachiman: Oi...

Yui: Come on, we got invited, so let's go!

Hachiman: No thanks. I'll just be alone in the corner anyway. And cramping people's style isn't my thing.

Yukino: Indeed. And this after-party doesn't require committee supervision.

Y/N: And there is no reason to go.

Yui: What? Come on, let's go! So, what are you guys doing?

Hachiman: Festival records.

Yukino: Career festival survey.

Y/N: Bored. Again.

Yui: Then I'll wait for you to finish!

Yukino: I never said I was going.

Y/N: I as well.

She doesn't respond Yui only sighs happily. Y/N only closes his eyes and grins.

Y/N: (thoughts) Guess I'm happy now, right mom?

------

Sorry for the shorter chapter. Half of it was Hachiman looking for Minami and I didn't want Y/N to do that as he pretty much doesn't give a shit about her. Anyway, after the thirteenth chapter, I am planning on doing a FFXV x reader. I'm almost done with the first chapter for it. I'm just trying to make the gifs, which are being a pain in the ass to make. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed the chapter as I enjoy making this book. I still need to watch season three of this anime before I go on and make the second season. Well, I might make the second season as I'm watching the third. Anyway, until the next update on this book. Stay safe out there.

-okami