Chapter 6: Hachiman's Confession
Hachiman stepped out of the bathroom and, supporting his waist with one hand, chugged down a bottle of milk in one go.
'So this world really doesn't have Chiba's soul drink... sigh, I wonder if I can make it myself.ʼ
He had considered picking up cooking skills, but with too few skill slots, he decided to endure it for now.
He lay down early intending to sleep, but couldn't fall asleep—people always tend to overthink just before sleeping.
Faces of important people kept appearing and fading in his mind—some from his original world, others he had met in this new one.
"Hachiman-kun, you're still awake?"
Asuna suddenly spoke.
"Can't sleep?"
"Yeah. I was fine earlier, but when it came time to actually sleep, I just couldn't stop thinking."
As they talked, Asuna suddenly began to open up.
Although discussing the real world was frowned upon, uneasy emotions always need an outlet.
Hachiman quietly listened as she shared her story—how, as the daughter of a prestigious family, she bore the heavy expectations of her parents, her fear of declining grades, and the pain of being constantly bound to tests and the pursuit of victory since childhood...
Truthfully, Hachiman didn't fully understand these concerns. After all, no one can truly grasp another's pain.
'As expected, she's a proper high-born lady... though compared to Yukinoshita, she's the complete opposite. If I had to compare, she's more like Haruno-san.ʼ
"What about your life, Hachiman-kun?"
"...It's nothing interesting. Honestly, it's just a bunch of depressing stories."
"You don't have to force yourself, but I'd like to know. Why are you always so kind to others?"
Hachiman immediately denied it.
"I'm not a kind person. Everything I do is for my own sake."
"That's a lie. If that were true, you wouldn't have bothered saving me back then. Ignoring me would've been easier, right?"
"That was…"
"It's okay. I won't hurt you.
You're my savior. So even if it's not about repaying you, I'll listen to whatever story you want to share. If it can help ease your burden even a little, I want to be your support."
Asuna keenly sensed that Hachiman's past hid something deep, yet still spoke with firm resolve.
Whether moved by her sincerity or the atmosphere, Hachiman began to speak haltingly about his experiences.
Asuna listened quietly the whole time.
'Even heavier than I imagined... I shouldn't have asked so lightly.ʼ
Asuna was shaken, but still couldn't truly empathize.
Having never lived his life, she could only understand it superficially.
Even so, she wanted to understand Hachiman more deeply and support him however she could—because she believed the kindness he showed when saving her wasn't calculated.
"Are you… crying?"
When she came to, Asuna realized tears were streaming down her face, sparkling under the moonlight.
"You idiot. I just like being alone. What's so bad about solitude?
As long as I'm alone, I don't trouble anyone. That's the ultimate form of environmentalism.
I don't believe people who work alone are inferior to team players. I can handle everything myself. You don't need to cry for me."
Asuna laughed through her tears, wondering if this was Hachiman's unique way of comforting someone. Seeing her like that, Hachiman began to unburden the thoughts he usually kept buried.
"If you're troubled by a relationship, destroy it. That way, it won't bother you anymore.
If it's a negative cycle, then break it at the source. That's how I live.
The idea of 'not running away'—that's just the arrogance of the strong.
People always tell you to change, but change is just another form of escape.
If you want to win without changing, your only option is to get stronger.
It's not about being good at fighting or anything like that—it's about maintaining a strong sense of self, like I do.
Whether you're alone or part of a group, as long as you keep control and stay true to yourself, you'll be fine."
"By 'sense of self'... do you mean goals? Or mindset?"
"It can be a goal, or an unshakable belief. Or something you want to protect."
Asuna listened quietly. Her previously clouded eyes now sparkled again.
"Also, I know someone similar to you.
She was also pressured by her family to always win. She wore a mask and never showed weakness.
But deep down, she's a massive siscon, always trying to change her sister who was afraid to defy their parents and had no opinions of her own.
Even if she was hated for it, she kept trying to teach her sister independence. By the way, that sister is the president of our club."
"You'd keep going even if someone you care about hates you?"
"If they end up happy, then being hated is worth it. That feeling—you get it, right?"
"Yeah... I do."
"So it doesn't matter what happens to me. Being associated with me only brings judgment. Even if people hate me, if more people can be saved because of it—that's the most efficient way to help."
Hearing this, Asuna felt Hachiman's way of life was dangerously self-sacrificing. The thought of him vanishing caused a sharp pain in her chest, and she finally realized her true feelings.
"That might be true... but Hachiman-kun—"
Asuna made up her mind and took a step closer to his heart.
"You can't use that as an excuse to hurt yourself. At least to me, losing you would be incredibly lonely.
We've only just met—strange, right? Maybe it's the suspension bridge effect.
But what I want to say is: I hope we can share our joys, hardships, and sorrows.
Then, hold our heads high and return to the real world.
Please let me fight by your side until the end."
Her words were practically a confession of love.
After the Christmas incident, Hachiman was finally able to accept such sincerity.
Ever since Yukinoshita had rebuked Tamashige as if to share the burden of guilt with him, the possibility of connection had begun to grow in his heart.
'So this little room I always kept shut... had space for someone else all along. I only now realize how nice it feels, this warmth between two people...ʼ
Like snow melting, Hachiman suddenly found himself crying like a child. Asuna gently stroked his head.
"So, do you think... there's still a place for you in the real world?"
"Yeah. There definitely is. I have to go back and make sure something's real.
It's a comfort zone I worked hard to build. I won't give up until I'm back laughing with everyone. I planned to fight seriously before, but now it's different."
"Mm, I'll fight with you too. By the way... when you say 'everyone,' does that include me?"
The sudden question caught Hachiman off guard.
He pictured the Service Club room—Yukinoshita, Yui, sometimes Iroha... and Asuna naturally fitting in among them.
"I'll introduce you to them when we're back. You'll get along great."
"I want to go back and protest to my parents too.
Not out of rebellion, but to do what's right, find what I really want to do, and make them acknowledge it.
Then I'll share your story with everyone in the Service Club."
Though lightly spoken, Asuna truly believed these things would happen.
It felt like she'd received something precious from Hachiman and resolved to protect it with him.
"Hachiman-kun, if it's okay..."
"Let me say the second half. Let me look cool, just this once.
Even with my past... even after losing composure in front of you... I have bad eyesight, I'm not sociable, I hate going out, and... did I mention my eyesight is really bad?"
"You said that twice! Enough with the self-deprecation."
"R-right... So—"
"This is a rare moment. Let's say it together."
They spoke in unison:
"Would you be my friend, Asuna?"
"Would you be my friend, Hachiman-kun?"
And thus, Hachiman gained his first female friend in life—and the first time a girl had asked him to be her friend.
"Ah~ about me crying... please keep that a secret."
"Yup. I'll keep it secret... at least until we meet the Service Club members~"
"No way..."
From that moment on, Yuuki Asuna truly became the Rapier User Asuna, and Hikigaya Hachiman temporarily shed his identity as a loner.
"Nice to meet you, Hachiman-kun."
"Yeah, let's take care of each other. Let's go back to the real world together."
"I'll become stronger too."
"And I'll say goodbye to the coward I used to be."
There's no such thing as a perfect miracle born purely from chance.
What they had now was the result of everything that had built up during the Christmas incident.
And so, hand in hand, they continued building the bond that belonged to them alone.