[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Third Person View-]

As they approached the bride and groom, Shizuka turned, her face lighting up when she saw them.

"Ah, my favorite students!" She exclaimed, holding out her arms.

Hachiman raised an eyebrow but made no move to reciprocate. "Favorite? That's a bold claim in front of all these people."

"Don't flatter yourself." Shizuka grinned, pulling him into a quick, firm hug anyway, much to his chagrin. "I am just being polite for today. It's my wedding, after all."

"You look radiant, Ms. Hiratsuka." Yukino chimed in, her voice warm and sincere.

"And you look absolutely gorgeous." Shizuka replied, taking Yukino's hands in hers. "Though I am sure you already know that."

Hachiman cleared his throat. "Congratulations, Ms. Hiratsuka. And Ryota... condolences."

Ryota laughed, clapping Hachiman on the shoulder. "Thanks, Hachiman. I think."

Hiratsuka grinned, her sharp eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don't think you're off the hook tonight. I have got my eye on you two."

Hachiman sighed inwardly, already sensing the trouble brewing, but gave a small nod in acknowledgment.

As the newlyweds took over the stage, he and the rest descended the stage to mingle with the guests. Hachiman noticed a group standing off to the side, a little too close for his comfort.

Satoshi, Renjiro, and Nanami.

Or, in simpler terms - Ryota's father, Yukino's father, and his own father.

The 'father's alliance' was an unexpected and mildly terrifying sight.

Hachiman felt his stomach sink - what is my old man doing with them?

He instinctively tried to steer Yukino, Komachi, and Yui in another direction, hoping to avoid the encounter entirely.

But, as luck, or misfortune, would have it, Satoshi's sharp eyes landed on him.

"Hey, Hachiman! Come here." Satoshi called out, his voice cutting through the chatter around them.

Hachiman froze mid-step, his hopes of escape dashed.

After a brief glance at Yukino, who gave him a barely perceptible nod, he resigned himself to his fate and approached the trio.

"Good evening." He said, bowing slightly, his tone polite but wary. "Ryota's father, Yukino's father... and mine."

Satoshi chuckled. "Oh, you are suddenly all formal, Hachiman?"

"The setting kind of demands it." Hachiman replied, straightening up but with a faint edge of sarcasm in his tone.

"I wish you were half as polite at the negotiation table." Satoshi smirked, clearly enjoying himself.

"What are you talking about? I was always a polite boy." Hachiman defended himself in front of his soon-to-be father-in-law.

As he spoke, his gaze flicked to his father, silently asking the unspoken question: What are you doing here with them?

Nanami, true to form, offered no explanation, his expression as impassive as ever, though there was the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

...and this was happening he got to see another trio out of the corner of his eyes.

This time the 'mother alliance'.

Same gang - Ryota's mother, Yukino's mother, and his own mother.

Behind them, he saw Haruno giving him a thumb's up with a wide grin.

Hachiman immediately understood.

She set this up, didn't she?

The corner of his mouth twitched.

"Don't look so tense, kid." Satoshi said, clapping him on the shoulder again. "We are just here to enjoy the evening, same as you."

Hachiman bit back a retort, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Sure. That's exactly what it looks like."

Yukino, standing a short distance away, observed the interaction with a faintly raised brow but chose not to intervene just yet.

Komachi and Yui exchanged amused glances, clearly entertained by the scene unfolding before them.

Hachiman sighed. Of all the people to run into tonight…

Hachiman quickly excused himself from the trio, sensing the conversation wasn't going to get any better.

"Well, nice catching up." He said, the words practically tumbling out. "I should get back to my group."

"Already running off?" Satoshi teased, his grin widening. "You sure you are not avoiding us?"

"Not at all." Hachiman said, backing away, throwing a look at his father, who simply shrugged. "I am just... needed elsewhere."

He didn't wait for any more remarks.

He turned on his heel and practically bolted, weaving through the crowd to make his escape.

The moment he spotted Yukino, Komachi, and Yui, relief washed over him.

"So, how was the Dad Squad?" Komachi asked, barely suppressing her laughter.

Hachiman shot her a flat look. "Terrifying. Thanks for asking."

Komachi linked her arm through his, her grin as bright as ever. "Aw, come on, big brother. You've already made it through the worst part. Now it's just smooth sailing!"

Hachiman glanced back at the trio of fathers then the mothers, who were still standing together, their gazes now following his retreat. He shuddered internally.

"Sure. Smooth sailing." He said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

The playful banter was interrupted by the sound of clinking glass, signaling the start of the ceremony.

The small crowd turned their attention to the front, where Ms. Hiratsuka and Ryota now stood hand in hand under an elegant archway.

The officiant began speaking, his words carrying the kind of warmth and gravity befitting the moment. 

….

The four of them quickly found their seats near the middle, the perfect vantage point to observe everything without drawing attention to themselves. 

As the guests settled down, the air grew quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Shizuka appeared at the far end of the aisle, her arm looped through her father's.

Hachiman blinked, momentarily taken aback. 

She looked… different.

The usually brash and bold Shizuka Hiratsuka was almost unrecognizable in her flowing ivory gown.

Her hair was styled elegantly, and her makeup was subtle yet striking.

For once, she looked like someone entirely at peace with herself. 

Hachiman nodded absently, his gaze fixed on his teacher. It was strange seeing her like this.

For years, he had known her as the chain-smoking, no-nonsense adult who often poked fun at his lack of ambition.

The ceremony proceeded with a mixture of heartfelt vows and quiet laughter.

Ryota, Shizuka's groom - was a man of many words, but his sincerity was evident in every gesture.

When he promised to cherish and protect her, a soft cheer erupted from the guests. 

Hachiman leaned back slightly, his gaze shifting to Yukino.

She was watching intently, her hands resting lightly in her lap.

The way the sunlight caught her hair, the faint smile on her lips, it was a rare moment of tranquility for her. 

The ceremony concluded with a shower of flower petals as the couple walked down the aisle, hand in hand.

Shizuka caught Hachiman's eye as she passed, her expression a mix of gratitude and mischief. 

….

The after reception was lively, with calm music, food, and laughter filling the air.

Yukino and Hachiman, with a few others, found themselves seated at a table near the center, surrounded by a mix of familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Yui was buzzing with energy, chatting with anyone who would listen. Yukino, ever composed, sipped her drink quietly while occasionally chiming in. Hachiman, as expected, mostly observed. 

"Hey, Hikki." Yui said suddenly, leaning over. "Have you ever thought about what your wedding would be like?" 

Hachiman choked on his drink, coughing as Yukino shot Yui a sharp look. "What kind of question is that?" 

"It's just a fun thought!" Yui said defensively. "Like, what kind of bride would you want?" 

"Someone who doesn't ask weird questions like this." He muttered. 

Yui pouted. "You are no fun." 

"I think we all know the answer." Yukino said, her voice calm but laced with amusement. 

"Yeah we do, right?" Hachiman asked, raising an eyebrow. 

Yui burst into laughter, and even Hachiman couldn't help but chuckle.

For all the teasing, there was something undeniably warm about the atmosphere. 

As the evening pressed on, Hachiman found himself unexpectedly pulled toward the dance floor by an overly enthusiastic Komachi.

"C'mon, Big brother! It's a wedding! You have to dance!" She said, her grip stubbornly strong despite Hachiman's resistance.

"I don't wanna." He muttered, remembering the parents' alliance that will be watching him.

Before he could escape, Yukino's voice interrupted, calm yet laced with rare amusement. "Don't worry, little Komachi. I will handle him."

Hachiman blinked, confused. "Wait, what–!"

Before he could finish, Yukino had taken his hand, her grip firm yet gentle. She led him to the dance floor with surprising confidence. 

As they swayed awkwardly to the music, Hachiman couldn't help but notice how close they were.

He felt the warmth of her hand in his and the faint scent of her perfume.

"You are staring." She murmured, her gaze fixed ahead, though her tone held a hint of annoyance.

"Am I?" Hachiman replied, pretending to be completely unaware of his gaze, though he knew exactly what she meant.

"Yes. It's distracting." She added, a little more sharply now.

"Then stop being so distracting." He retorted, though his voice was unusually gentle.

A brief silence hung between them, the music flowing around them as they continued to sway in step, their movements a little awkward, but steady.

Yukino shifted slightly, adjusting her footing, but she didn't pull away.

Hachiman's voice was softer now, a quiet break in the lively chatter around them.

"Huh, you know what?"

Yukino glanced at him, intrigued. "What?"

"This kind of reminds me of our first meeting..." He trailed off, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And no, not the accident one."

Yukino's expression shifted slightly, her gaze flickering to him in surprise. Hachiman noticed the faintest change in her demeanor, like something was stirring just below the surface.

"The one when we saw each other in our clubroom." He added, his words hanging between them.

Yukino blinked, a faint glimmer of realization in her eyes. "What of it now?"

Hachiman leaned in slightly, lowering his voice just enough so only she could hear. "Maybe I am just inspired. Who knows... maybe this will be us soon."

?!The words hit her like a shockwave.

Yukino's head snapped toward him, her cheeks now unmistakably flushed.

"A-Are you seriously proposing at this moment?" Her whisper was sharp, but the slight tremor in her voice betrayed her surprise.

Hachiman met her gaze with a playful smirk. "Yeah, I did. But did you forget? I already did this once before too."

Yukino turned silent, the words hanging between them for a moment. She danced with him, her movements smooth but her heart racing in her chest.

"So what is it now?" Hachiman asked, his voice softer, yet expectant.

Yukino's lips curved in a subtle smile, her eyes sparkling with a mix of affection and teasing. "It seems you also forget… I already agreed to this once."

Hachiman chuckled, the tension melting away. "Right... that was a dumb question."

He took a breath, his tone turning serious, but his eyes never leaving hers. "Let me ask properly. Allow me to be yours forever."

Yukino's breath caught for a moment, but her eyes turned sharp as she quipped, almost blaming him.

"That's my line."

Before he could reply, she raised her fist as if to punch him, but her expression was all warmth.

"But... allow me to be yours too."

In that moment, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them in the quiet, perfect bubble of their own making.

And it really did fade away - leaving them alone.

.

.

….

[To be continu–!]

[Ahem, sorry. It became a habit.]

[-THE END-]

….

[Chapter Title : Allow Me To Be Yours]

[Please read the 'Author Note' I will upload. I have a few words to share.]

[THANK YOU!]

[PEACE OUT!]

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