A Certain Loner's Protégé [Hachiman x Yumiko]

M is for Monologue

"I didn't know you were so good at cooking!" Komachi said as she shoveled another spoon of food into her mouth. She liked to consider herself decent at cooking, but with Yumiko's help, breakfast had turned out much better than she expected it to.

Yumiko gave a nervous chuckle at the younger girl's praise, she couldn't recall a time she got praised for much else other than her looks. "T-Thanks, I usually end up cooking for myself since my parents are always busy." She managed a grateful smile.

The unlikely trio ate together at the dining room table, and even Komachi had to admit that this was unusual. She'd have expected to see Yui or Yukino being invited over rather than a girl she had never seen or heard of before. It made her just as curious and wonder:

What exactly was her connection to her older brother? As much as she loved him, Komachi was well aware that her brother's personality left much to be desired, so what did such a kind and pretty girl have to do with him? Although Yumiko had specified that she and Hachiman weren't friends, her question still stood firm. 

Still, Komachi thought that her older brother being comfortable enough to invite another girl home was a step in the right direction, though he probably missed the first few steps; so she decided not to interfere or pry. That'd probably be the best course of action for now.

After she finished her breakfast, she stood up and put her plate in the sink, before checking her phone, only for her eyes to widen after doing so.

"Crap, I'm late!" She said to herself, gaining the attention of Hachiman and Yumiko.

"Late for what?" Her having plans made it more convenient for the 'teaching' that would end up happening today.

"I'm meeting with Taishi-kun and some more friends at the mall today! I'll see you later Onii-chan, Yumiko-san!" She quickly rushed out of the door, shutting it behind her. 

'Tch, that insect better not try anything.'  Hachiman thought, his eyebrow twitching slightly.  

Yumiko sat across from him, wondering why he seemed to look annoyed. 

The two finished the rest of their food not too long after Komachi left, leaving them to be faced with the reason Yumiko was at his home in the first place. She inspected her nails before Hachiman gave a sigh, tired of the awkward silence that had ensued in Komachi's absence.

"If we're going to do this, I might as well start with a few questions." Hachiman eventually said, breaking the silence and moving over to the couch.

Yumiko nodded as she followed him, not having any qualms since she certainly didn't know where to start. 

"Could you try and explain more about why you think you'd like to be...like me?" He wanted to get a better grasp of her personal feelings on the whole situation, so he could have something to base his conclusions on.

Yumiko looked away, seemingly thinking about something before she began speaking. She couldn't meet Hachiman's eyes for whatever reason, finding it a bit embarrassing to talk about something so personal to him of all people. But still, he seemed to be the person most likely to be able to help.

"I guess..thing's just seem different than how they used to be. We're in our third year of high school now and our group- no, school just doesn't seem the same. It's like something's different from our first and second years." She had trouble putting her thoughts into words, but she was willing to try if it meant he'd be able to help her understand just what she was going through.

"Different as in the people?" Yumiko shook her head at his response.

"No...I think the mood, I guess? I-It feels like I don't have much of a place in our group anymore. Don't get me wrong, it's not because of them. I just feel like something's changed, and they still talk and act like things are the same as they've always been. So I guess it's just something wrong with me then..." Yumiko looked down at her fingers and started playing with them. It was a nervous habit Hachiman didn't know she had.