Sipping on the expertly brewed blend of coffee prepared by the mustachioed store manager, Hachiman waited for Yumiko to arrive.
Before long, the door to the café opened again, and a ticulously dressed young woman walked in.
Her golden spiral curls cascaded over her shoulders, and her erald green eyes shone brightly.
She wore a blue-purple jacket over a white blouse, highlighting her graceful curves at the chest and waist. Her lower half was dressed in black skinny jeans, accentuating her long, slender legs.
It was none other than Yumiko, the person Hachiman had been waiting for.
Noticing her arrival, Hachiman greeted her with a wave.
"Yumiko, over here."
Yumiko smiled brightly when she saw him and walked toward his table.
"Have you been waiting long?"
"Not at all. I just got here myself," Hachiman replied, shaking his head and raising his coffee cup. "See? I haven't even finished my coffee yet."
"Why don't you sit down and have sothing to drink too?"
"Hmm… sure, why not."
With that, Yumiko took a seat across from Hachiman.
At that mont, a slightly lazy voice interrupted them.
"May I take your order?"
Hearing the voice, Yumiko turned her head and was surprised to see Gabriel, dressed in a server's uniform.
"Wait, Gabriel? Are you working here?" Yumiko asked, her expression full of surprise.
"Oh, it's Miura-san," Gabriel replied, recognizing Yumiko and giving a slight nod.
"Yeah, I work here part-ti. So, what would you like to order?"
Before Yumiko could respond, Hachiman chid in with a recomndation. "The manager's blended coffee is great, Yumiko. You should give it a try."
"Hmm, alright. Since you're suggesting it, I'll go with that," Yumiko replied with a nod. Then she turned to Gabriel and said, "Gabriel-san, I'll have a cup of the blended coffee and a slice of strawberry cake."
"Got it," Gabriel responded. She then walked off towards the counter, her small leather shoes clicking against the floor.
"Manager, one blended coffee and a slice of strawberry cake," she called out.
"Understood," the mustachioed manager replied.
Hearing another order for his signature coffee, the manager's face lit up with satisfaction.
As expected of Hikigaya-kun's friend, they have excellent taste, he thought.
Without delay, he began expertly asuring and blending different coffee beans. His skilled hands worked with precision, and before long, a cup of perfectly brewed blended coffee was ready. He also plated a slice of strawberry cake and called out to Gabriel.
"Gabriel-san, you can take this to the custor."
"Got it~~" Gabriel responded in her usual lethargic tone.
Soon, Gabriel returned to Hachiman and Yumiko's table, carrying the coffee and cake. She placed them down and said, "Here you go, Miura-san. One blended coffee and one strawberry cake."
Yumiko quickly thanked her. "Ah, thank you, Gabriel-san."
Gabriel nodded in acknowledgnt before turning away with the tray and walking off.
Yumiko picked up the coffee, took a sip, and her eyes lit up in surprise. "Wow, this is really good."
"See? I told you the manager's coffee is amazing," Hachiman said with a small smile. "When it cos to coffee, even I can't compete with him."
Indeed, when it cos to coffee, the mustachioed manager is probably at least a Level 5, maybe even Level 6. At Hachiman's current skill level, he couldn't hope to compete with him.
"Wow, he's really that good?" Yumiko asked in surprise after hearing Hachiman's comnt.
Knowing Hachiman's status as a hero, Yumiko couldn't help but be impressed. Soone who could surpass a hero in any area deserved to be called exceptional.
Seeing her astonishnt, Hachiman smiled and shook his head. "I'm not good at everything. Sure, I learn things quickly, but mastering a skill takes ti. There's still a process I have to go through."
Yumiko nodded, understanding the implication. While a hero's buffs were indeed powerful, they didn't grant instant mastery of a skill. They rely sped up the process of gaining proficiency through practice.
The two didn't dwell on the topic for long. They continued sipping their coffee and chatting, letting ti pass naturally.
Before long, the coffee was gone, and Yumiko fed the last piece of strawberry cake to Hachiman.
After settling the bill, they left the café together.
It was still early, only just past two o'clock.
Glancing at Yumiko walking beside him, Hachiman asked, "So, Yumiko, where are we going next?"
"Hmph, don't ask so many questions. Just follow ," she replied with a playful smirk.
Hearing this, Yumiko let out a soft huff and took Hachiman's hand, pulling him forward.
Hachiman didn't resist, allowing Yumiko to lead him.
Before long, they arrived at a movie theater.
After all, a date wouldn't be complete without watching a movie.
Unlike Iroha Isshiki, who had a peculiar fondness for horror films, Yumiko chose a romantic movie instead. After deciding on the film, she dragged Hachiman to the ticket counter.
They bought tickets, along with popcorn and soda, and then proceeded to the screening room after their tickets were checked.
Since it was a newly released film, the theater was quite crowded, mostly with couples seated in pairs.
Of course, that made sense—romantic movies weren't exactly the type of thing single people would watch alone.
Finding their seats, Hachiman and Yumiko settled in.
Soon, the movie began, with the director and production company credits rolling on screen.
Popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth, Yumiko comnted, "I watched this director's last movie. It was pretty decent."
Hachiman, not being much of a romantic movie enthusiast, pulled out his phone and searched for reviews online.
"The reviews seem positive. People say the romance is sweet, but we'll have to see for ourselves," he said.
"True," Yumiko nodded, focusing her attention on the screen as the main feature began.
As the room grew quiet, the two naturally ended up holding hands.
The movie told the story of a high school romance.
The female lead was a popular girl in her class and a renowned beauty throughout the school.
Despite her trendy and fashionable appearance, she was surprisingly responsible, spending her evenings taking care of household chores and looking after her younger brother.
The male lead, on the other hand, was an introverted and unassuming classmate.
With glasses and a plain appearance, he blended into the background, interacting only with a few male classmates.
His reserved deanor gave off the impression of a typical nerd.
But this was rely a façade. Outside of school, the male lead was a tattooed, pierced, and stylishly dressed heartthrob.
The story began when the female lead's younger brother was escorted ho by the male lead.
This chance encounter brought the true sides of both characters to light, setting the stage for their intertwined lives.
At school, they maintained their usual personas, but after hours, they interacted with each other as their authentic selves.
Thanks to the younger brother, the male lead frequently visited the female lead's ho.
Their relationship gradually grew closer, and they beca increasingly accustod to each other's presence.
Thus, their heartwarming and unconventional high school romance unfolded.
...
The movie turned out to be truly impressive.
There weren't any dramatic twists or grandiose monts—just a series of small, everyday events.
Yet, it was precisely because the story focused on relatable, ordinary experiences that it resonated so deeply with the audience.
A particularly morable scene featured the female lead getting jealous over a minor misunderstanding with the male lead, which drew knowing laughter from the audience.
The film wrapped up with the male lead proposing to the female lead, bringing the story to a heartwarming and satisfying conclusion.
As they exited the theater, Yumiko wore a content smile on her face.
"It really was a great movie," she said, her tone tinged with a hint of envy, clearly admiring the sweet and simple daily life of the on-screen couple.
However, when she glanced at Hachiman—her very different, sowhat clueless companion—her mood shifted. Feeling a bit annoyed, she reached out and gave his waist a playful twist.
Feeling the pinch, Hachiman looked puzzled. "Yumiko, why did you do that? I didn't even do anything."
"Hmph, you know exactly why," Yumiko retorted with a huff, refusing to elaborate.
Seeing her expression, Hachiman blinked in realization. She was likely feeling a little bitter after watching the movie, given that he wasn't exactly the kind of devoted partner the male lead had been.
But that was just the way things were—he couldn't give up any of the girls in his life right now.
"I'm sorry, Yumiko. I—" Hachiman started to apologize but found himself at a loss for words, trailing off into silence.
Noticing his troubled expression, Yumiko rolled her eyes and sighed. "Alright, alright, stop overthinking. I was just venting a little."
"But today, you're going to focus entirely on . No thinking about anyone else, got it?"
"Got it. Wherever you want to go, I'll follow," Hachiman replied, unable to refuse her request.
"You said it. Now, co with ,"
Hearing Yumiko's words, she wasted no ti in grabbing Hachiman's hand and pulling him in another direction.
Before long, they stopped in front of a building.
Hachiman looked at it, visibly surprised—it was a couples' hotel.
"Yumiko, this is..."
"Stop overthinking. Didn't you say you'd go anywhere with ?" Yumiko huffed lightly, giving him a sharp look before dragging him inside.
"You're not losing anything, so just co along."
For Yumiko, the date and the movie weren't the real goals.
She had only one objective in mind: to finish what had been left undone that day.
To claim Hachiman for herself before Yukino could.
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