Chapter 23: Extra ─ The TS Boku-kko Heroine Who Has Moved Past Everything Can’t Be Stopped

(Note: This story takes place immediately after the main story)

"Hikigaya-kun, let's go on a date."

Cutting right to the chase, Yukino Yukinoshita declared this over the phone as if reading from a set of regulations.

"Huh!?"

"Meet me at 12 o'clock at the shopping mall we went to before. Let's get something to eat together. Same place as last time."

"No, I have plans too..."

"What? You mean your Sunday morning anime (Nichiasa), right?"

How did she know? That girl is scary.

"I gave you plenty of time, so make sure you come. Bye."

The call cut off with a click. Yukinoshita had changed in various ways since that time, but her arrogant streak remained exactly the same.

But a date, out of nowhere? We barely even saw each other on our days off, isn't jumping straight to a date skipping a few too many steps? I mean, until just a few days ago, things had been kind of awkward between us. Isn't it a bit weird to suddenly get a call on a holiday and be summoned out? It's not like I hate the idea of going out with her or anything. But I need time to mentally prepare myself for these things.

"...I guess I'll just go back to sleep for now."

My brain couldn't keep up with this sudden turn of events, so I tried to get some sleep to let it rest. However, the door to my room—my supposed sanctuary—was suddenly thrown open.

"Onii-chan! What are you doing!?"

It was my beloved little sister, Komachi.

I, who was about to partake in the extremely human act of indulging in idle slumber on a Sunday morning, raised a voice of protest against my sister's assault.

"What is it, Komachi? I was just about to hit the sack for a second time."

"No, no, no, you're going out today, right?"

"Huh? How do you know about that?"

Scary. Has my private life been completely monopolized by my sister without me even noticing?

"I got an email from Yukino-san. She told me to keep an eye on you so you wouldn't run away."

"Eeeh..."

Seriously, what's with her? That's way too scary. I can feel her absolute, unwavering determination to not let me escape.

"But we're meeting at 12. Whatever I do until then is my own business, right?"

"What are you talking about? Komachi's fashion check hasn't even started yet, you know?"

Saying this with a smug look on her face, Komachi seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself.

Ah, this is going to take a while. Looks like I'll have to record today's Nichiasa.

Having finally passed Komachi's fashion check, I arrived at the bustling Sunday shopping mall.

To be honest, I was worried about whether I'd be able to meet up with that directionally-challenged girl in the middle of this crowd. However, I was quickly reminded that such worries were unfounded.

The gazes of the chaotic, passing crowds came to a dead halt at one specific point. It was the kind of reaction people have when their eyes catch something truly extraordinary. Following their line of sight, I found the person I was looking for immediately.

"Yukinoshita."

Yukinoshita, who had been glancing around anxiously, saw my face and trotted over to me.

"Thank goodness. I couldn't find you at all, so I thought you didn't come."

Yukinoshita said, using a casual tone.

"...Did you get lost again?"

"No, not really. I just got here a little early. Even I can learn after coming here once."

The way she looked away as she said that gave off an incredibly childish impression.

"So you're 'that' version of yourself today."

Until now, she had stubbornly stuck to her formal watashi persona outside the clubroom. This was probably an incredibly important change for Yukinoshita. And definitely a good one.

"Yeah. I am me (boku). But well, it's only because I'm with you. Anyway, shall we go?"

Saying so, Yukinoshita spun around, her long skirt fluttering lightly.

Her tone might have been casual and boyish, but the aura she exuded from behind was exactly that of a sheltered young lady. The impression I got from her appearance and the one from her words were somehow mismatched, giving me a slightly strange feeling.

Looking at her back, there was something I absolutely had to tell her.

"Yukinoshita, that's the restroom."

"No way, again!?"

While constantly checking the directions with me, Yukinoshita headed toward a food court packed with people. The tightly packed tables in the area looked to be about 90% full. Gatherings of families and student groups made the place terribly noisy.

Just as I was thinking that Yukinoshita might have preferred one of the neat little restaurants on the upper floors, she scanned the storefronts and spun back to face me.

"Hikigaya-kun, ramen! They have ramen!"

"Huh? Are you really fine with that?"

"It's fine! It's ramen eaten with you, Hikigaya-kun, so it has value! Come on, let's line up!"

Looking somewhat excited, Yukinoshita grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled me forcefully.

Um... you're stretching my shirt...

I looked over at the ramen shop Yukinoshita was pointing at. It seemed to be thriving, with a decent number of people waiting in front of the counter.

"Hold on, Yukinoshita. You go grab a seat first. I'll go get the food. What do you want?"

When I asked for her order, Yukinoshita smiled happily for some reason.

"Could it be that you're being considerate so I don't get tired in the crowd?"

"..."

It would be a lie to say I didn't have that intention.

"...Yeah, Komachi trained me well whenever we go out. Saying the guy should be the one to go get the order."

"Hmm. Bringing up another girl's name on a da...te is a deduction, but I'll gratefully accept your consideration. Thank you."

A "da...te", huh. If you're that embarrassed to say the word, you shouldn't have said it in the first place. Or rather, I'm pretty sure she said it proudly over the phone...

After thanking me, Yukinoshita briskly walked off toward an empty seat.

Two steaming bowls sat on the table. Faced with cheap ramen, Yukinoshita took her disposable chopsticks in hand and politely said, "Itadakimasu."

I joined her with my own "Itadakimasu," scooped up some noodles, and took a slurp.

Checking on Yukinoshita, she was surprisingly slurping her noodles with an audible sound.

"Did you think I was so sheltered I couldn't even slurp ramen?"

Yukinoshita, seemingly noticing my gaze, said this with a somewhat triumphant look on her face.

...No, you don't need to look that smug over something like that.

Still, getting to see such a rare expression on Yukinoshita's face made me feel like I had somehow gained something.

Here I was, eating cheap ramen together with Yukinoshita, who usually had the aura of a high-class young lady. I had a vague feeling that I wouldn't have been able to do this with the old Yukinoshita, who always seemed to have a wall put up around her.

After finishing our meal, Yukinoshita had, for some reason, wandered over to an area lined with men's clothing stores.

"Why are we here?"

"Well, since we're here, I thought maybe I'd pick out some clothes for you, Hikigaya-kun. Plus, I have some business here too."

"Huh."

I honestly thought that was surprising. When you think of Yukinoshita, she always gives the impression of dressing like a pure, refined young lady. In fact, she was dressed exactly like that today.

Wandering around the store, Yukinoshita had a serious look on her face as she held a glossy, solid-black jacket up against her body. However, the men's outerwear looked a little too big on her slender frame.

After sizing it up against herself, she thrust it out against my body.

"Hmm-hmm. It might be too gloomy if you wear black, Hikigaya-kun. Seeing as you yourself are already gloomy."

"Leave me alone."

Yukinoshita returned the jacket to the hanger on the sales floor. Even after that, she only picked up masculine items.

"What, are you trying to change up your image or something?"

Her tastes seemed completely different from the fashion she had shown up until now. With her slender fingers still fiddling with a thick blouson jacket, Yukinoshita answered.

"Hmm, well, rather than an image change, it's more like breaking away from my past self. I've never bought clothes like this before... in my current life."

Yukinoshita wore a somewhat serious expression. Looking at that face, the words slipped out naturally.

"Look, I get that you want to change, but you don't have to force yourself, do you? Even if you wear clothes you don't like, I don't think you can really call that changing."

I implicitly asked if she was rushing things, but Yukinoshita answered looking surprisingly calm.

"No, I have a feeling... I used to like things like this."

"You have a feeling..."

Yukinoshita spoke as if talking about someone else's affairs.

"Well, but the 'me as I should be' (watashi) is already a part of me too, so it's not like I want to throw away all my past tastes and preferences."

As she said 'past tastes and preferences,' Yukinoshita looked at me for some reason.

"But, in order for me to be genuine, I thought I needed to take another look at what my likes and desires actually look like now."

Yukinoshita used the word "genuine" (Honmono) as if it were something precious.

I couldn't be entirely sure what meaning she was attaching to that word. But strangely, its ring settled comfortably in my chest, and I found myself convinced.

"So, that brings us to fashion."

"Yeah. ...Alright, I'll go with this one. Oh, I bet that one over there would look good on you, Hikigaya-kun."

"...You're picking out mine too?"

After that, under Yukinoshita's guidance, I bought my own clothes. Convinced to buy a rather expensive outerwear piece after being repeatedly told how good it looked on me, I left the store with a paper bag in one hand. Yukinoshita likewise had a paper bag in one hand.

"Make sure you show me what it looks like on you next time."

"If I get the chance."

"What's with that reply? You have no intention of making the chance at all. ──I'm definitely making you show me."

"O-Oh."

What's with that intensity? It seemed Yukinoshita's business was finished at the previous store. As we walked aimlessly, she asked me a question.

"Is there anything you want to look at, Hikigaya-kun?"

"The PreCure episode I recorded today."

"You never waver, do you..."

Walking together, Yukinoshita and I exchanged idle banter. That sort of everyday, ordinary thing felt like it had been a terribly long time coming.

Come to think of it, ever since that night on the school trip, Yukinoshita and I hadn't had a conversation like this. Even when we did speak, we only exchanged distant, somewhat cold words.

If we could break through that state and build a relationship like this again, then my swallowing my pride and relying on someone was well worth it. I couldn't say it out loud because it was too embarrassing, but that's what I felt.

"Hey, Yukinoshita."

"Hmm?"

"You... want to be genuine, right?"

"...Yes."

Looking slightly embarrassed, Yukinoshita nodded. Her reaction was completely natural. Ideals and dreams are things far too embarrassing to discuss completely sober.

That's why I, too, endured the embarrassment and spun my words.

"I don't know what that 'Genuine' thing you talk about actually is. I'm sure Yuigahama didn't know either."

My wording came out sounding harsh and dismissive, but there was no wavering on Yukinoshita's face. I'm sure she understands it too. That it is utter arrogance to think you can convey everything through words alone. That it is impossible to completely understand someone else's thoughts, or for two people to perfectly understand each other.

"But I can tell that those two characters [本物 - Genuine] are packed with your emotions, your ideals, and your way of life. That's why I want you to show me your genuine too. ──And, let me share it with you."

What came out were vague, arrogant words, and I'm sure they didn't convey everything I wanted to say. But Yukinoshita nodded quietly, as if she understood everything. Her cheeks seemed to be tinged with a slight blush.

That day in the twilight classroom when she shed transparent tears. When she spoke the word "Genuine."

I ended up wanting it, too.

The genuine she speaks of and the genuine I yearn for are definitely different things. We seem similar, but we're completely different people, and even though we speak the same language, we can't convey everything we're thinking. Therefore, the day our two genuine things perfectly overlap will surely never come.

But I couldn't help but wish... that her genuine and mine were exactly the same.