Hello everyone, I hope you all had a good start to 2017.

This is a 3-part fic by a user called かなみん. For those who aren't familiar with my modus operandi, I'm not the one who wrote this, it's simply a poorly done JP-ENG translation. As this is a complete work, I won't be making any effort to adapt the plot. Any problems with this fic, however, you're free to blame me for, as it's probably something I did wrong. ;_;

Treat this story as being from a different, new user if you wish. Each fic I release on this site isn't mine to start with anyway. Besides, they really are from different users anyway, and take place in different settings. I won't make any attempt to hide it, though, the ones I choose all follow the common theme of being Iroha-favoured.

Isshiki Iroha home tuition fanfic is on hiatus for the time being. I know it's still only on 10/17 released chapters, but it reached a point in the story where I had to be seriously thinking about how to modify plot points if I wanted to achieve some closure. Thinking is tough. Expect updates to be irregular. (As if you didn't get the hint from a 2+ month hiatus).

As for why I suddenly got the drive to do this piece?

…

Not enough kouhai stories on the front page.

Also: Don't know what Honey Toast is? Neither did I. Google is good friend.

There's a lot of dialogue and very little monologue in this chapter. I hope it's easy enough to figure out who's saying what.

Chapter Title: 「Iroha: "… I love you."」

"That reminds me, there's a few small things that have been bothering me lately…"

"Something on your mind? Meaning?"

"Senpai, you went on a Honey Toast date with Yui-senpai several times, didn't you? Even so, you still accompanied Yukinoshita-senpai on a date to buy some Pan-san goods…"

"Date? It's nothing of the sort, is it? Surely it doesn't automatically qualify as a date if a man and woman simply go out somewhere together?"

"No, it really does work like that. It's even more certain if the two of them keep going on outings again and again."

"Well, it might be that way. Though, I had originally promised to do that with Yuigahama anyway, and Yukinoshita just wanted to share her enthusiasm about the new merchandise."

"…Two-timing is a terrible thing to even consider doing, you knowww…"

"You, just what are you trying to imply here?"

"Well, that was a joke, but, honestly, I wonder which one of them senpai would choose to go out with…"

"Whichever way, isn't the choice non-existent in the first place!?"

"Non-existent? Ehh… are you really sure it isn't there? That choice."

"Nn? I really don't understand what you're trying to get at."

"Surely even senpai would be able to notice the feelings of goodwill from those two."

"…Well, I'm not particularly thick-headed or hearing-impaired."

"Then, of the two of them, who would senpai consider going out with?"

"The other party you're talking about is Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, you know? If it's me, there wouldn't be a good balance."

"No, when you look carefully, the outward appearance is plenty balanced enough. There's just the small matter of your eyes."

"Really, to start with, aren't I too different from those guys?"

"Ha?"

"What's with those eyes of yours that seem to be looking at garbage... In the first place, I already have Totsuka and Komachi."

"No, that's alright."

"… Well, if I was asked if I liked the two of them, of course there's no way I could deny it, but the question of which one of them I like is a completely different matter."

"In other words, you like both of them, so that's why you need to make a decision."

"I really didn't say anything of the sort, did I?"

"… Two-timing isn't good."

"Like I said, that's not how it is."

"But, the reality of the situation is, if senpai were to go to the two of them: 'I love both of you! Please become my girlfriends!', something like that, they'd both accept. Probably. Since the two of them like senpai too much."

"… But, that would really be two-timing, you know?"

"I really don't think that's a good option. Two-timing."

"Then why."

"But, it's better than continuing with the ambiguous relationship that exists at the moment, isn't it?"

"For what reason?"

"Those two, deep down in their hearts, they hold the expectation that something to come out of it. That by some chance. One day, something would happen."

"This expectation, is there a reliable source backing it up? That claim."

"The source is me. After all, I also have thoughts along those lines."

"Is that so, about Hayama, huh."

"But, those expectations are always opposed by feelings of anxiety. For example, what if those feelings don't bear fruit in the end… something like that."

"I don't understand at all."

"That's why, stopping it already with that unclear relationship, and going out with those two would be for the best, don't you think?"

"No. Two-timing, that's the kind of thing that only the lowest of men would do."

"Even if they're the lowest of men, isn't it all right if in the eyes of those two, such a person is to them the best of all men? … Not that I'd know anything about that."

"I don't quite understand you... But, would you really be all right with that?"

"!?…Eh!? Myself…?"

"Hypothetically speaking, if Hayama were to go, 'I love Iroha-chan. But, I also love Yumiko. All three of us, let's become lovers!", if he were to say something like that, would you accept it?"

"…Ha? Just what are you saying, senpai, are you an idiot? If it was Hayama-senpai saying it, it'd be impossible to strike that face of his."

"See?"

"I mean, senpai, right now you're nowhere near Hayama-senpai's level in terms of looks, you know?"

"I know I'm not, just leave me alone."

"But, if it's those two, I think they will accept it."

"The source is?"

"… The source is me."

"No, didn't you completely discredit yourself as the source just now."

"This and that are completely different! Anyway, please understand what I'm saying. The source is me."

"I don't understand at all."

"Well, senpai, are you always this ridiculous? If that's the case, I'll try make what I'm saying extra confusing so you can understand."

"I've been trying my best to translate for a while now, and my understanding's in lukewarm territory. Besides. Making things more confusing. That's scary. Please stop it."

"If you stop trying to keep it at that temperature, it'll immediately turn cold, so please don't stop your efforts to boil it. I don't want to have to go through this with you again some other time."

"That is… well, you know."

"Isn't it almost summer vacation? There isn't really much time left…"

"Even if you say that, how about the matter of yourself. To do with Hayama, that is."

"…Well, that is how it is."

"Preaching about my own shortcomings, yet being so indifferent to your own situation, that makes this rather unconvincing…"

"My situation is separate from what you said. Talking about it would only make things more complicated."

"Like I said, what's with this thing about complications… You're making me frightened."

"Senpai, do you really not understand, or are you simply pretending not to?"

"No, frankly speaking, I'm not really at all that worried about the state of your love life."

"… Is that so. Then that's all right, isn't it?"

"On the contrary, just why are you so interested in our situation? It's not like there's anything you'd be able to gain from it…"

"… I love you."

"-Ha?"

"I love you. Senpai, Yui-senpai, and Yukinoshita-senpai. The close relationship all three of you have, the trivial disagreements you have, it's warm and cozy. I really love that Service Club. I'd love to be able to see the club continue in that way forever. If a single person is lacking, they are able to receive as much happiness as they like from the others.

That's why, I unconsciously became interested… I know that it's really none of my business, but, recently, watching my senpais, I was wondering if the current state of relationships was really okay to have, something like that. Because I felt that if the three of you senpais were left to your own devices, things might stay as they were forever, but on the other hand it's also possible for things to start heading in a strange direction."

"Two-timing is a strange direction, isn't it?"

"I wonder about that. I already said this earlier, but if it's alright with those two, it'll be fine. That much is almost certain, probably. The three of you, should always be three. Surely it wouldn't be acceptable for any one of you to be left out… That's why, all that's left in the case of those two is…"

"It's not going to happen. That kind of confession… there's no way a request to two-time would ever work out, is this some harem game?"

"Fufu. The fact that senpai likes those two very much, you aren't denying it anymore, right, senpai?"

"Mm. No, what? Did you slip in a leading question there? Quite the schemer, you."

"That really wasn't my intention, but, well, just knowing senpai's true feelings is quite the harvest. Senpai is so fond of those two and loves them so much that senpai has trouble sleeping night after night, isn't that so?"

"No, I go to sleep in the normal way. Of my own accord."

"But, it's not untrue that senpai loves them very much, right? Yui-senpai and Yukinoshita senpai."

"… Well, sort of."

"Then, that's why, isn't the confession all that's left for the goal-in?"

"Like I said, just why would those two accept that kind of condition."

"Senpai, there's no meaning in making me repeat what I've said so often. I said so a short while ago. I am the source."

"This source, since it's quite poorly backed up, I can't really accept. Isn't it lacking in composition slightly?"

"Then, what does senpai want to do? Is there any other way of approaching it?"

"… I don't really know. That sort of thing."

"Well, a solution's already been presented to you, hasn't it?"

"A solution, huh."

"On that day, senpai will definitely be able to clearly make senpai's feelings known. That's why, it'll definitely be fine."

"…Well, when I get home, I'll have a proper think about it."

"That's right. … I'll be cheering for you, senpai."

"…Mm."

"…Ah… ahaha… Yukinon. Somehow, I think I just heard something amazing."

Yuigahama-san shrank back and revealed a somewhat guilty expression on her face.

Certainly, something amazing had just been heard.

We had been heading down the corridor towards the Service Club in the usual way.

For him and Isshiki-san to be discussing the future of us in the courtyard under the aisle was a completely unexpected development.

Besides, I hadn't ever considered a two-pronged relationship.

"That's right…"

"Yukinon, what do you think?"

"By what I think, do you mean…"

Since I had never considered it, it was a startling proposition, but, as Isshiki-san had said, there weren't any alternatives.

He and I, he and Yuigahama-san, Yuigahama-san and I. The three of us would be able to walk together as usual, and continue to fulfil our feelings in the same way. The manner in which it would be done might be considered wrong, but it might be the only way, perhaps.

To say that there'd be a lack of intention to monopolize would be a lie, but, Yuigahama would also be feeling the same.

"For me. For me, I was thinking that it would be OK. With Yukinon, with Hikki, to always be together from this point forwards."

"If Yuigahama-san is alright with it, then… I also… I also wouldn't mind that sort of thing."

"I see."

However, supposing that this really is the only option, then what would become of Isshiki-san?

If I haven't been misunderstanding things, it's likely the case that, undoubtedly, Isshiki-san also harbours feelings for him.

Taking into consideration Isshiki-san's personality and behaviour, it's on the whole unlikely that she would let her guard down so much around a male she didn't have feelings for, or be so interested in knowing what he likes. Moreover, whenever she's holding a conversation with Hikigaya-kun, Isshiki-san looks so joyful, and with so many of her cute expressions rising to the surface, it makes one slightly envious of how just how happy she seems to be.

…That's why… is this really alright?

"But, you know… Iroha-chan… is she really okay with this?"

It seemed that Yuigahama-san and I were both thinking of the same thing.

Me and him, he and Yuigahama-san. Even if the three of us were to become lovers and Yuigahama-san and I were to have our wish come true, Isshiki-san would not be able to have that much granted. Though this is assuming that Isshiki-san really does love Hikigaya-kun now.

… In the first place, we might be misinterpreting things, and it might be true that Isshiki-san still loves Hayama-kun, as she has maintained. The true situation is unknown. Isshiki-san's true feelings are, something only Isshiki-san herself will be fully aware of.

However, in the hypothetical case that Yuigahama-san and I had our desire granted, Isshiki-san would be the only one forced to back out.

Then, wouldn't that kind of future hold no meaning?

"Yukinon… Next time, let's have a talk. With Iroha-chan."

O_O

EDIT: It seems that everyone's under the impression that this is a harem fic, I can assure you that (for better or for worse) that this is not the case. There's many ways of expressing the word 'love' in Japanese, and it's still ambiguous as to what kind of love Iroha means when she says "I love you" to Hachiman (and includes the other two"). To be more precise, she actually just says "daisuki desu", and then names all three of them, so the subject of her love isn't even clear to start with. Sorry if it was too unclear.

No ambiguity about the two-timing stuff, though.

As previously mentioned, this fiction has three parts to it, and this is chapter 1.