Chapter 7: Yui-chan
The area where the serious traffic accident occurred had been completely cordoned off by the police, with fire trucks, ambulances, and more present.
The once luxurious car was now a burning wreck, reduced to a charred frame amidst thick smoke. However, the driver had been rescued before the vehicle caught fire and was now safely taken to the hospital.
"Then we can leave now."
Hikigaya Hachiman said to the men in black suits and white shirts.
"Yes, we apologize for the delay."
They were members of the Sorcerer Association called in by the Kamo Clan to take over the scene. Therefore, the Metropolitan Police Department had no authority to demand statements from Hikigaya Hachiman or the other party involved.
Moreover, issues involving Curse Spirits are indeed beyond the police's jurisdiction, as Curse Spirits cannot be captured by ordinary people or machines.
This resulted in the surveillance cameras at the intersection recording a bizarre sequence of events for the car at the scene of the incident.
The car seemed to hit an invisible wall, was then violently dismantled, lost control, crashed into the roadside, and began to self-immolate.
In all incidents involving Curse Spirits, the Sorcerer Association holds the highest level of authority over the scene and can directly take control.
Hikigaya Hachiman nodded and walked toward the outside of the cordon.
This early morning had been quite stimulating for him. He encountered a top-tier Special Grade Curse Spirit on his way to school, and the most ridiculous part was that the Special Grade Curse Spirit's appearance was actually to save a dog.
Since when have Curse Spirits been so kind-hearted?
Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head. The person he had seen earlier was accessing nearby surveillance footage, so there should be results soon.
He was quite familiar with the owner of that silly dog: Yuigahama Yui, Hikigaya Hachiman's classmate, whom he internally referred to as "Yui-chan", dango or dumpling.
Hikigaya Hachiman had contact with Yuigahama Yui earlier than Yukino Yukinoshita, starting from the first year of the high school division.
If Yukino Yukinoshita was the aloof cat type, then Yuigahama Yui was the enthusiastic dog type—a very gentle but slightly ditzy girl.
The situation at Shuchiin Academy is complex, with numerous powerful families and clans. Someone like Yuigahama Yui, who is good at reading the mood but whose mind doesn't quite keep up, is easily taken advantage of and prone to offending people.
Especially since this idiot likes to secretly give people nicknames.
Hikigaya Hachiman is well aware of his own severe personality issues. Therefore, he only gave Yuigahama Yui a certain degree of care out of concern for a classmate, at least ensuring she wasn't bullied.
Yuigahama Yui, currently crouching by the roadside, made Hikigaya Hachiman feel as pathetic and helpless as a stray dog that had lost its owner.
The silly dog, Sabre, also realized it seemed to have made a mistake and was as disheartened as its owner.
Poor Yui-chan had never been through something like this. She truly thought her beloved Sabre was gone. It was a good thing "Hikki" had saved it.
"Yuigahama, it's all handled."
Hikigaya Hachiman walked from outside the cordon to the terrified Yuigahama Yui, his tone softening slightly.
He extended his hand, wanting to pull Yuigahama Yui to her feet.
"It's over now."
But unexpectedly, after he helped Yuigahama Yui up, she immediately hugged him.
"Hikki... I really didn't mean it."
Yuigahama Yui held Hikigaya Hachiman with both hands, her voice hoarse.
As the person who directly caused the accident, Yuigahama Yui was completely stunned when she saw the car warp, lose control, crash into the roadside, and turn into a burning fireball.
"I didn't know..."
Feeling Yuigahama Yui trembling in his arms, Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't push her away. He just allowed her to hold him silently, without saying anything.
He sighed inwardly.
He still couldn't escape the nickname "Hikki."
Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't sure what had gone wrong. Yuigahama Yui's name for him in this life was still "Hikki".
Perhaps when he entered the high school division, he was too aloof, like Kaguya Shinomiya, and didn't fit in, causing this girl to target him and call him "Hikki". Little did she know that this "Hikki" was an existence that made the Sorcery world tremble in fear.
"Mhm, I know."
Hikigaya Hachiman patted Yuigahama Yui's back carefully, as if comforting her.
"Nobody wanted this.
It's alright. It's alright now."
Yuigahama Yui, receiving the comfort, found an outlet for the anxiety and fear in her heart and vented it all out.
However, Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't keen on letting others see this scene, so an invisible barrier, like a black curtain, separated them from reality.
This is a Veil, a barrier technique for concealment.
Since he was already late today, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't mind being a little later.
"I really must owe you in a past life."
Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but think, looking at the girl who was gripping his collar tightly and crying very sadly and pitifully.
Sabre, on the other hand, circled the two of them, occasionally nudging Hikigaya Hachiman, as if saying, Don't just hug my owner, hug me too.
Hikigaya Hachiman rolled his eyes at the silly dog.
'You're the one who caused all this trouble.'
Soon after, Hikigaya Hachiman noticed Yuigahama Yui's ears getting redder, and her head lowered further, as if she couldn't bear to look anyone in the face anymore.
He knew this meant she had calmed down and was now just embarrassed. So, he patted her head.
"If you don't want to cry anymore, wipe your eyes."
Hikigaya Hachiman took a pack of tissues from his jacket pocket and handed them to Yuigahama Yui, whose face was so red it looked like steam might come off it.
"Hehe."
Yuigahama Yui, hearing this, immediately let go of Hikigaya Hachiman's hands.
The girl could only manage a silly laugh now. She couldn't say anything else because she could feel her heart pounding so fiercely it felt like it would leap out of her chest.
While Yuigahama Yui was wiping her tears, Hikigaya Hachiman, to ease the awkward atmosphere, crouched down and vigorously rubbed the head of Sabre, who had narrowly escaped death, and admonished it.
"Sabre, this is all your fault. Try to cause your owner a little less trouble."
Yuigahama Yui calmed down a bit and looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, who was squatting and teasing Sabre, and her mood became depressed again.
"Sorry, Hikigaya-kun, I caused you trouble again."
Yuigahama Yui's subconscious action is to clasp her hands together when she feels reserved and uneasy.
"It's fine. It's not the first time anyway.
And why aren't you calling me Hikki anymore?"
Given Yuigahama Yui's timid and hesitant personality, in a place like Shuchiin, teeming with powerful people, if Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't supported her, others would have eaten her alive a long time ago.
She is the type who is very easy to deceive and manipulate.
Hikigaya Hachiman even felt it was quite something that she had the self-awareness to admit to causing trouble for him.
Although he is cold in front of unfamiliar outsiders, he still reveals his rare gentle side to specific people.