

It's evident that Yui's been in love with Hachiman quite early on in the
story. I always thought that it started right after her matter with Yumiko's
been solved (I think it was episode 2 of the anime).

But the issue with her cookies for Hachiman in the last episode of season 2
made me doubt it. It's clear that they're meant romantically, and it's been
hinted that the ones she gave him in the very first episode were also meant
that way, which would mean that Yui loved him since the beginning of the
story. Although, I'm not completely sure if I understood it correctly. The
cookies in the first episode could have also been just her way to thank him
for saving her dog.

* * *

Regarding Yukino, it's very difficult for me to find the moment she started to
fall in love with Hachiman ("started" because I believe that she fell in love
with him slowly over time) as she doesn't express her emotions as much as Yui,
and for most of the first half of season 2 her relationship with him had been
"overshadowed" with their confronting principles (maybe not a good description
of what actually happened, but you get the gist of it).

I think Yukino started to love Hachiman shortly after their "dispute" was
solved in episode 8 (s2). That is further supported by that picture of herself
with Hachiman from the amusement park she'd kept behind her plushie on her bed
(see episode 2, s3). Thanks to a Reddit post I've realized that the [paper
sheet](https://i.stack.imgur.com/oR4Xg.jpg) Yukino quickly put away after that
waterfall scene is most likely that picture.

Maybe another interesting fact: according to a different Reddit post, that
plushie was the one Hachiman won for her. Unfortunately, I don't know if
that's true as I can't remember having seen it in the anime. Maybe it was
depicted in the novel?

But maybe she loved him even before they solved their dispute but there was
simply no moment in which she could have expressed it (properly) because of
that dispute. Or maybe a reason why Yukino became so upset with him after his
fake-confession to Hina was that she cares greatly (and romantically?) for
Hachiman and doesn't want him to get hurt any longer with his methods.

Going further back: at the end of episode 13 (s1), there's a scene that might
hint that Yukino has already started to fall in love with him (she blushed
when Yui pointed out that Yukino also watched Hachiman during the sports
festival), although it could be also interpreted that she cared for him as a
close friend.

Worth mentioning is also Yui's monologue after finding the picture behind that
plushie on Yukino's bed. If I understood it correctly, she already felt being
"the third wheel" for a long time. Maybe that hints that Yukino's already
started to love him in season 1. Or it might be that Yui simply felt their
"good chemistry".

A scene that might support the first one is the confession-scene in episode 11
(s3, 18:40+): Hachiman asks Yukino to allow him the privilege of distorting
her life. Yukino then tells him that both of their life's already been
distorted from the very beginning and Hachiman further says that it's only
going to get even more distorted.

A Reddit post came to an interesting interpretation: it said that "distorting"
here means to become so much involved in the other's life that it's being
distorted. And the only relationship that could accomplish it is a romantic
one. It concluded that Yukino actually said she and Hachiman had been in love
"for the longest time" (so likely also since season 1). But does life really
only become distorted when a romantic interest (or relationship) is involved
and not already with e.g. simple friendship?

* * *

When did Yui and especially Yukino (start to) fall in love with Hachiman? If
there's no clear answer to that question from the anime's perspective, does
the Light Novel give an answer to that or at least obvious hints?


CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-15T11:51:07.127
58133
2023-05-01T21:17:36.910
2023-05-01T21:17:36.910
19307
15475
question
oregairu
When did Yukino and Yui fall in love with Hachiman?


It feels like Yukino started falling for him, once she realized that her
personality and demeanor didn't affect Hikigaya in the way it usually does
with normal people.

In fact, he couldn't care less about how she is, due to the fact that he was
forced to join the club to begin with.

Yeah, he was a pessimistic bum who was antisocial, but that time being in that
state allowed him to see the hidden nature and flaws of people, along with
their tendencies.

This common ground between Hikigaya and Yukino, seeing the bad and ugly in
others, and being subject TO that same bad and ugly, formed the basis of their
relationship.

Hikigaya was different. Hikigaya was unique. So was Yukino.

They both saw things from the lowest of the low, and when they both realized
that they have synergy with how they convey things, the seeds started planting
themselves in all the right spots. This was widely apparent throughout the
entire series.

Over time, they became comfortable around each other, being able to
communicate and mingle in the only way they know how. They didn't receive the
same flack they usually receive when they conversed among each other, compared
to talking to normal people.

Although, on the surface, their conversations were usually filled with petty
banter and the like, people like Yukino and Hikigaya are used to decoding the
hidden meanings behind words.

Yukino isn't very good at conveying her feelings, or anything that's on her
mind for that matter, which only leaves a few events in the anime that hint at
her fondness for Hikigaya.

Their first "outing" in the mall. She was insecure as all hell.

Her displeasure with Hikigaya's solutions to club jobs. She reprimanded him
for always throwing himself under the bus.

Her realization that Hikigaya contributes a lot to the club, often relying on
him to find a solution to an seemingly unsolvable problem.

Her standing up to Tobe when he publicly talked down to Hikigaya.

Her reluctance to let Hikigaya use his way to solve the presidential election.
She didn't want him to be self-destructive again.

Her voluntary discharge of his club membership. She wanted to honor his wishes
echoed from when he got into the club in the first place.

The time in the nurse's office when they locked eyes for the first time.

When she kept the photo of them on that water ride next to her bedside pillow.

When she knew Hikigaya would come in and save the prom from being cancelled.

It's very subtle, and coupling Yukino's often reticent demeanor with that
subtleness, leaves little to go off of other than what's made obvious.

===============

Yui is easier to discern. The initial spark was at the very beginning, when
she witnessed Hikigaya saving her dog.

Ever since that happened, she's attempted to repay him back for the deed. Once
she realized why Hikigaya told her to stop with the act, to free her from
feeling indebted to him, she found out that Hikigaya isn't all about doom and
gloom.

Another dimension to a seemingly dimensionless character.

She started seeing the other sides of him, and how, despite his outlook on
life, he carries on with his solutions, paved the way for Yui to find her own
strength to find her own path.

To take control for once, rather than be controlled. To actually feel like she
did something for once, without following the flow of others.

Yui didn't think too highly of herself to begin with, that's why she started
looking at him. Hikigaya was her role model. She looked up to him. That's why
she started liking Hikigaya, for giving her the key she needed to discover
herself.

She found herself getting swept away by his resolve to continue onward,
quickly becoming entranced by his waltz.


CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-02-09T11:25:07.137
61875
2021-02-09T11:48:20.970
2021-02-09T11:48:20.970
58745
58745
58133
answer