101. Jabami Yumeko and Yukinoshita Yukino
Time rewinds to a few minutes ago.
Jabami Yumeko was watching Hachiman Hikigaya fall into a disadvantageous position in the gamble, her face flushed with excitement.
After all... the idea of someone she's interested in becoming another girl's personal pet...
Just thinking about it was enough to make her thrilled!
Even though she knew deep down that Hikigaya-kun wouldn't lose, just the occasional idle fantasy of it made Yumeko feel like she was about to fall into an abyss of ecstasy.
At that moment, a pair of hands clapped down on her shoulders, pulling her back to reality from her electrified state.
Somewhat dazed, she turned her head to the side.
"Eh? You are... Miura-san."
"Is there something you need from me?"
Yumiko Miura wore a somewhat complicated expression, but recalling the request from Yukinoshita Yukino, she still opened her mouth and said, "Jabami-san, do you have a moment? There's something I'd like to talk to you about."
Something to talk about?
Jabami Yumeko immediately thought of what might connect the two of them.
Naturally—Hachiman Hikigaya.
'Is this about Hikigaya-kun's middle school past?'
'How irresistible.'
"Sure." She nodded, leaving Aiura Kokoro behind to continue watching the match alone, and followed Yumiko Miura to a quiet corridor.
Jabami Yumeko placed her hands folded in front of her abdomen, and curiously asked, "Miura-san, what is it that you want to talk to me about?"
"Jabami-san, how much do you know about Hikigaya's past? I mean, from middle school."
Yumiko Miura was the kind of straightforward girl who always repaid her debts. Back in middle school, she owed Yukinoshita a favor from a request to the Service Club, and she had decided to repay it now.
Of course, she also owed both Jabami and Hikigaya a favor from yesterday. If Jabami didn't want to talk, she would drop it.
Fortunately, Jabami did not resist the conversation.
"Hmm... Hikigaya-kun's middle school, huh? I don't really know much. He's never brought it up with me," Jabami Yumeko said, her tone sounding somewhat regretful. It was one of those beautiful distances between them.
After all, he's someone she's taken a liking to, yet she doesn't know everything about his past.
Even though she's already shared everything about herself with Hikigaya-kun, he still won't open up in return.
That sly Hikigaya.
At that thought, Yumeko couldn't help but pout her lips.
Seeing this lovestruck-girl expression, Yumiko Miura fell silent. A strange and absurd sense of guilt crept up inside her. What kind of relationship did Jabami have with Hikigaya now... If she told Jabami about the story between Hikigaya and Yukinoshita, would she be ruining something between them?
She hesitated on whether to say it or not—whether to reveal it or let it go.
Before she could think more, Jabami suddenly grabbed her hand.
Her eyes were filled with a gentle, water-like light: "Miura-san, if you don't mind... could you tell me about Hikigaya's middle school days? I'm really interested."
"But..." Miura hesitated even more.
"Was there a girl Hikigaya was close to back in middle school? It's okay, I don't mind that kind of thing."
She said she didn't mind, but in reality—
She was completely excited!!
In order to maintain her ladylike demeanor in front of anyone other than Hikigaya, Jabami Yumeko was doing her utmost to suppress any strange moaning sounds, tightly clenching her fair thighs to keep herself from "short-circuiting" in public.
Yumiko Miura's gaze flickered, and all of a sudden, she understood why Hikigaya would fall for the girl standing before her.
She really was... just too gentle~
Gentleness is a universally appreciated trait—regardless of age or gender, it captures everyone's heart.
At that moment, Yumiko Miura had already been deeply captivated by this charm. She took a deep breath. Since the other girl didn't seem to mind, there was no longer any reason to hesitate:
"Hikigaya Hachiman attended middle school at..."
"...That girl was named Yukinoshita Yukino."
"She and Hikigaya founded the Service Club..."
Yumiko Miura explained as objectively as possible everything she knew about Hikigaya and Yukinoshita's middle school days to Jabami Yumeko.
Still, she was worried about hurting this love-struck girl, so she kept sneaking glances at her expression as she spoke. Only when she saw no sign of change did she continue.
Eventually—
"So that girl Hikigaya-kun was on the phone with that day was Yukinoshita~" Jabami Yumeko exclaimed with a sudden realization. She then asked, "What kind of relationship did Yukinoshita-san and Hikigaya-kun have back in middle school?"
"Were they already confirmed to be dating?"
"Um..." Yumiko Miura hesitated for a moment, thought about it, and shook her head. "No, they weren't."
Although she wasn't that close to either of them, girls are pretty sensitive when it comes to this kind of thing.
To summarize: at first, the two didn't think much of each other → then Hikigaya accepted Yukinoshita, and Yukinoshita began developing feelings for him → Yukinoshita Yukino fell for him completely, but she was far too reserved and didn't dare to be too forward.
So even up to graduation, as far as Yumiko Miura knew, they had never displayed any affection in public.
So... a Platonic relationship?
"I see..."
Yumiko Miura thought she must have misheard. Did she just detect a hint of regret in Jabami Yumeko's tone?
Wait—what are you even regretting?!
"I could tell~ Yukinoshita Yukino must be an excellent girl, which is why Hikigaya-kun is so close to her," Jabami Yumeko said with a sweet smile. "I'd love to meet her someday."
"Jabami-san, you... aren't mad?" Yumiko Miura asked, a little confused.
Normally, when a girl hears about her boyfriend's ex, even if she isn't outright mad, she wouldn't be looking forward to meeting the other girl, right?
Although, of course, the relationships between all three weren't quite at that stage just yet, but still...
"Why would I be angry? Becoming friends with someone as outstanding as Yukinoshita-san sounds like a wonderful thing, doesn't it?"
Jabami Yumeko's expression remained calm.
But there was one thing she didn't say aloud.
Just being friends isn't nearly enough~ It'd be best if Yukinoshita Yukino actually stole Hikigaya-kun away, and did it with him right in front of me—then I'd be completely thrilled~
Yumeko had never once thought about monopolizing Hikigaya Hachiman. In fact, she loved the idea of someone else fucking Hikigaya right in front of her. As long as Hikigaya remembered the promise he made in the hospital—"I won't abandon you"—then no matter what Hikigaya did, it would only excite her more.
"Miura-san..." Yumeko spoke. "If it's alright, could I trouble you to tell Yukinoshita-san for me? I really want to become her friend."
"I-I see..." Yumiko Miura rubbed her nose. At this point, she really couldn't figure Jabami Yumeko out anymore. "I'll pass on the message for you."
"I'm counting on you."
Jabami Yumeko gave a slight bow, then glanced at the cheap wristwatch on her hand—the one Hikigaya had bought for her.
"Oh my, it's getting late. The gamble should be ending soon, I have to get back now."
With that, Jabami Yumeko began walking with light, delicate steps, making her way back to the baseball club's activity room.
She waved behind her as she left, leaving Yumiko Miura standing there, completely baffled.