Yukino is sick. Therefore, Hachiman and Yui go and visit her in a fancy high-rise that surprises (I don't know why though - it's clear Yukino is from a wealthy family, as if the personal chauffeur weren't enough signal) Hachiman. He imagines all sorts of objections when Yukino finds out he's there with Yui ("So go home already") but ignores those and demands entrance. And just like that, the door opens.
Yui and Hachiman are both upset about the way the festival work is being handled, meaning Hachiman has a quiet, monotone speech and Yui has an outburst. They eventually get Yukino to agree that she will rely on others - at least these two - but Hachiman doesn't believe anything will change. He himself has a plan, however.
This happens during the festival meeting, in yet another display of atrocious leadership by Sagami-san. Debating the slogan, common Japanese high school platitudes ("Let's all work together and help each other out!") as vomitoriously saccharine as they are ubiquitous get thrown around like drunken ping pong balls, until Hachiman points out all these really mean is one or a few people - himself and Yukino in particular - do all the work and the rest goof around. This insight causes Yukino to lose control momentarily in what for her is hysterical laughter.
Naturally this makes everyone hate Hachiman and this provokes a delightful conversation between him and Yukino about changing and the lack thereof in Hachiman's case. It is an ingenious scene. No conversation about Yukino's lie, no overt apology, but an awkward half-smile and wave goodbye from Yukino, which is probably equivalent to a heedless embrace from, say, Yui. Somehow the two have reconciled, and if not exactly where they were before Hachiman realized his friend's lie, tensions between them have somehow eased almost without trying.
It might be because Yukino perceives the reason for Hachiman making himself the villain, as Haruno observes. Prior to this, following the stupid president's example, committee members were slacking off, but having a perceived villain (Hachiman) brings everyone together. "What brings people together more than an enemy?" Haruno flirts, which is true. I've felt closer to people over shared hatreds than shared loves. And since Yukino is easily as smart or smarter than her sister, it's unthinkable she hasn't picked up on that herself.
Nor is Yukino the only one who perceives something. Yui understands her friend is in the process of changing, and is content to more or less wait for her to come talk honestly and genuinely whatever's on her mind. An exception is made, however, for "those who won't try even if you wait," and it doesn't take a genius to figure out she means Hachiman right there. Giving him a dessert turns into Hachiman refusing charity meaning he takes Yui out for something else. That sounds suspiciously like a date. I can't work out if that was her intention from the beginning (sneaky girl) or if she was just being Yui. She certainly snaps at the idea of going out for food, reminding me of the dog collar scene.
The common thread in Hachiman's interventions is being the agent of his own vilifying, which is eerily similar to Sengoku's unrequited love for Araragi in Monogatari. One of her friends (I think Hanekawa or one of the twins) calls it a deception, a way of hiding from reality; a way to shut that part of you off, which means it will never be hurt. Hachiman is the same - being hated is its own form of enjoyment, particularly if you are despised by the stupid; if you know the truth, what difference does the bleating of cliques make? One can easily rise above that. But that is the Haruno road, and ten to one it will take Sensei, Yui, or both to keep Hachiman away from that abomination. There's a form of selflessness in what he does, but he is still unwilling to go all the way and seek total, genuine friendship with another.
Yui and Hachiman are both upset about the way the festival work is being handled, meaning Hachiman has a quiet, monotone speech and Yui has an outburst. They eventually get Yukino to agree that she will rely on others - at least these two - but Hachiman doesn't believe anything will change. He himself has a plan, however.
This happens during the festival meeting, in yet another display of atrocious leadership by Sagami-san. Debating the slogan, common Japanese high school platitudes ("Let's all work together and help each other out!") as vomitoriously saccharine as they are ubiquitous get thrown around like drunken ping pong balls, until Hachiman points out all these really mean is one or a few people - himself and Yukino in particular - do all the work and the rest goof around. This insight causes Yukino to lose control momentarily in what for her is hysterical laughter.
Naturally this makes everyone hate Hachiman and this provokes a delightful conversation between him and Yukino about changing and the lack thereof in Hachiman's case. It is an ingenious scene. No conversation about Yukino's lie, no overt apology, but an awkward half-smile and wave goodbye from Yukino, which is probably equivalent to a heedless embrace from, say, Yui. Somehow the two have reconciled, and if not exactly where they were before Hachiman realized his friend's lie, tensions between them have somehow eased almost without trying.
It might be because Yukino perceives the reason for Hachiman making himself the villain, as Haruno observes. Prior to this, following the stupid president's example, committee members were slacking off, but having a perceived villain (Hachiman) brings everyone together. "What brings people together more than an enemy?" Haruno flirts, which is true. I've felt closer to people over shared hatreds than shared loves. And since Yukino is easily as smart or smarter than her sister, it's unthinkable she hasn't picked up on that herself.
Nor is Yukino the only one who perceives something. Yui understands her friend is in the process of changing, and is content to more or less wait for her to come talk honestly and genuinely whatever's on her mind. An exception is made, however, for "those who won't try even if you wait," and it doesn't take a genius to figure out she means Hachiman right there. Giving him a dessert turns into Hachiman refusing charity meaning he takes Yui out for something else. That sounds suspiciously like a date. I can't work out if that was her intention from the beginning (sneaky girl) or if she was just being Yui. She certainly snaps at the idea of going out for food, reminding me of the dog collar scene.
The common thread in Hachiman's interventions is being the agent of his own vilifying, which is eerily similar to Sengoku's unrequited love for Araragi in Monogatari. One of her friends (I think Hanekawa or one of the twins) calls it a deception, a way of hiding from reality; a way to shut that part of you off, which means it will never be hurt. Hachiman is the same - being hated is its own form of enjoyment, particularly if you are despised by the stupid; if you know the truth, what difference does the bleating of cliques make? One can easily rise above that. But that is the Haruno road, and ten to one it will take Sensei, Yui, or both to keep Hachiman away from that abomination. There's a form of selflessness in what he does, but he is still unwilling to go all the way and seek total, genuine friendship with another.
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