After departing from the mall and his short meeting with Yukino, Y/N was walking home to his house. He pondered what that hug was.

Y/N: (thoughts) Was it affection? Or was it just friendly? We're just friends, right? Nothing more?

"You don't need to force yourself. You never had to."

Y/N: (thoughts) Forcing myself? Have I been forcing myself to attend the club? Everything is just do confusing.

Just as he was going to continue walking, a car horn was heard. Turning his head, he sees it's his brother in Setsuna's Toyota 86, considering she was still sick.

Itsuki gestures him to get inside the car, which Y/N does so.

The car ride was silent for a while. Not until Itsuki asked him something.

Itsuki: Can we make a pit stop?

Y/N: Sure, I don't really care.

Itsuki: (chuckles) That's your answer to everything, huh?

Taking a detour, they drive to what seems to be a bridge. Parking to the side, the two get out and stand by the stone railing, gazing out into the ocean. The winter chill was around them.

Itsuki: ...How man years has it been since we've left home?

Y/N: ...Who knows? It's been so long that I stopped caring for that bastard.

Itsuki: Yeah...but...that doesn't change the fact that he helped make us.

Y/N: Yeah...that's what sucks the most.

The green-eyed boy continued to stare out into the ocean until Itsuki had wrapped him into a side hug.

Itsuki: You've been working hard lately. For a lot of different people's sakes.

Y/N: Have I?

Itsuki: Yeah. The only time you really showed this was when every time you were with Yukino-chan. You two were two peas in a pod back then.

Y/N: I suppose.

Itsuki: Those were the good ol' days.

Y/N: Yeah...

Itsuki: ...Oh, yeah. Shizuka told me you and Hikigaya were helping the student council with the Christmas event, right?

Y/N: Yeah?

Itsuki: She told this hint to Hikigaya and asked me to tell you. (clears throat) "When you think, don't pinpoint the wrong thing to think about." That's all.

Y/N: That's it?

Itsuki: Not entirely. Why are you helping the student council?

Y/N: Well, it's the Service Club's--

Itsuki: Wrong. You and Hikigaya are helping her individually, not as the Service Club. Try thinking about it. For the Service Club's sake, or in other words, for Yukino-chan's sake.

Y/N only stared at his older brother, not sure of what to say. Itsuki then smiles and ruffles Y/N's hair, turning around and heads to the car.

Itsuki: Well. we better get home. It's late as it is and you know how Setsuna is on curfew hours. Especially yours.

Y/N: (sigh) Yeah, yeah. (thoughts) For Yukinoshita's sake, huh?

Timeskip

That night, Y/N laid on his bed. He was most likely thinking the same thing as Hachiman, trying to figure out how to turn their situation around. He knew they couldn't do it alone.

Now that he thought about it, he wasn't sure why he didn't want Yukino to be the student council president. It was in fact the right decision, the people wouldn't be surprised. So why did he stop from her becoming it? He wasn't sure what the feeling was, considering he never really cared about his feelings at first. His happiness had mostly came from his mother.

Standing up from his bed, he goes to his desk that had the picture of him and his mother. It was his 5th birthday, smiles present on both their faces.

Y/N: (thoughts) Kaa-san...what is the right answer? What should I do? Please, tell me.

Next Day, Outside Service Club Room

Y/N: Are we really doing this?

Hachiman: Not like we have a choice. We can't really do anything there. Not unless we have help.

Y/N: (sigh) Fine. Let's get this over with.

The two boys were outside the Service Club room. Y/N goes to reach for the door handle, but pauses. He wasn't sure whether to proceed or not. Hachiman rolls his eyes and knocks on the doors.

Yukino: (muffled) Come in.

Hesitantly, Hachiman opens the door.

Yukino and Yui were surprised to see the two boys come to the clubroom.

Yui: Hikky...L/N-san...what's up? Why did you guys knock?

Yukino: I told you didn't have to force yourself to attend anymore.

Y/N: (scratches back of head) Well...that's not it, really.

Hachiman: We have business here.

Yui: W-Want to sit down?

Awkwardly, the two went to sit in front of them, Hachiman in front of Yui and Y/N in front of Yukino. Both Yukino and Y/N avoided eye contact, only glancing at each other briefly.

It wasn't until Hachiman looked at the both with seriousness. Yukino kept glancing to their seats, Hachiman's being at the end and Y/N's being at the other, next to her.

Yui: Is something wrong? You're not acting like usual...well, both of you.

Hachiman: (deep breath) We want to make a request.

Both girls perk up, Y/N shyly glancing at the blue-eyed girl as a small blush made it's way to her face.

Yui: (small smile) Hikky...L/N-san...you're going to talk to us?

Y/N: You know, it's about the Christmas event Isshiki had brought up. It's going a lot worse than we really expected.

The two girls look to Hachiman for confirmation, who simply nods.

Hachiman: We'd like you to help.

Yukino: But...

Hachiman: No, I know what you want to say. We took this on ourselves. I specifically said our helping wouldn't help Isshiki. 

Y/N: But we're the ones who pushed Isshiki to become president.

Hachiman: Do you remember the kids from Chiba Mura? The girl from there is helping, but she's the same as back then.

Yui: Oh...Rumi-chan, was it?

Hachiman: That's why we want to do something. Our actions are the underlying cause.

Y/N: We know we're being selfish. But still, we want to ask for your help.

Yukino: (clenches fist) It's both your faults...that's what you're saying, correct?

Y/N: Yeah.

Hachiman: We can't deny that.

Yukino: ...I see. If you two caused these problems yourselves, then I think you should solve them yourselves.

One of Y/N's fingers twitches, but he shrugs it off.

Hachiman: You're right.

Y/N: Sorry. Forget we asked then.

The two go to stand up, but were stopped by Yuigahama.

Yui: Wait! That's not true! (looks to Yukino) Why does it have to be like that? It's not right!

Y/N: No, it is right.

Hachiman: We should take care of our own problems. That's how it works.

Yukino: That's right.

Yui: (shakes head) No, it's not! What you're saying isn't right at all! Look, it's not just you're fault, Hikky, L/N-san. Maybe you two were the ones who came up with that stuff, and carried it all out...but we were wrong, too! We forced it all on you two!

Y/N: No, that's not true. 

Yui: It is true! It's not just your guys' fault things ended up this way! It's my fault, too... (looks to Yukino) I think what you said was a little unfair, Yukino.

Yukino: You're saying this now? You're unfair, as well.

Yui felt hurt by those words and was starting to cry. Hachiman and Y/N only looked between the two, trying to find a way to stop the bickering.

Hachiman: Hang on. This is what we wanted to talk about.

Yui: Yukinon, you didn't tell us anything. There are things we can't know if you don't tell us.

Yukino: You didn't say anything, either. You only made conversation to keep up appearances. So if that's what you...if that's what you the three of you wanted, you...

Y/N: ...need to say so, or you'll never know?

Hachiman: But there are things you can't understand even if you're told, aren't there?

Yui: That's...

Hachiman: Even if you'd told me, I probably wouldn't have accepted it. I would've thought there was something behind it, some circumstances making you talk that way, even if it was my own selfish idea. 

Yui: But if we'd talk about it...if I had talked to you more...I...

Hachiman: (shakes head) I don't mean that. Saying you'd understand because you were told is arrogant. It's an ego trip for the person who said it, or the conceit of the person who was told. After things happen, there's no guarantee everyone will understand if they talk about it. So what I...we want isn't words.

Yui: (wipes tears) But if you don't say anything, we'll never have any way to understand.

Y/N: I guess. Thinking you'll understand without being told anything is an illusion.

Hachiman: But...but...I...we...

Y/N: What we wanted was definitely there. It was just...out of reach. The real thing.

Yui: Hikky, L/N-san.

Yukino: I don't understand. ...I'm sorry.

Immediately, Yukino runs out of the room, Y/N only staring wide-eyed before his body moves on it's own, chasing after her.

He didn't know why he was chasing, but he was. He starts to follow her up the stairs, going towards the roof. Going through the doors, he finds the beautiful blue-eyed girl standing there.

Yukino: I don't understand. What did you two mean by "the real thing"?

Y/N: That's...I don't know. I just want to understand. But I never did.

Yukino: Understand what?

Y/N: Why...why did you two leave me with him!?

Yukino: I...

Y/N: No matter what I did, what I did to make him notice me, acknowledge me, he never did! And then you two left! You never said goodbye! So make me understand...why did you guys leave me?

Yukino: I...

Y/N: But it's all the past now. What's the point of even thinking about it. You can't change anything.

Turning around, he brushes past Hachiman and Yui, no words being spoken. He left the school without a trace.

---

So this chapter was significantly shorter. I didn't know how to go about this. First time I tried writing this, I was burnt out and had no ideas for me to write it. Second time I tried writing this, what I wanted to write would only make this chapter too short. I tried making this longer by adding some original scenes of my own, but it wasn't working.

So for that, I do apologize if the chapter was shorter and not what you expected. Next time, I'll try to make the chapter longer and better. Again, apologies.

-okami