Lately, Nee-san has been talking about Hikigaya-kun a lot.
I used to think it was because she wanted to tease me. Perhaps that was her intention at first. After all, he is the only male outside of our family and it's associates whom I regularly interact with.
Right from the time they first met, Nee-san took an interest in him. He's the only person to witness her act firsthand and not be even remotely charmed. Even father jealously guards her when he sees her talking with men at one of our social events.
Disgusting.
Thinking back, before Nee-san first met Hikigaya-kun, she always seemed so distant and cold. As if she had already conquered everything she had set out to conquer in the world, and was already bored with her life. Her chirpy facade, however, was flawless as always, and only Hayama-kun and I ever got to see her true nature.
I remember that day, after they had first met, Hikigaya-kun had told her straight to her face that her act wasn't fooling him. It certainly took me by surprise. Nee-san had burst out laughing at that moment, as if she had noticed some hilarious oversight within the world.
When I returned home that night, she seemed to be back to her usual self. The exception being that she had offhandedly mentioned I had made an 'interesting friend' to our parents at dinner.
Nee-san had chosen not to specify whether the friend was male or female. Unfortunately, I ruined the surprise with my embarrassing outburst.
"...H-he's not my friend!" I shouted defensively.
Needless to say, my parents weren't happy about that. Nee-san, though, couldn't help but laugh to herself at the table. That wasn't the first time I thought Nee-san had a twisted sense of humor, but at the time I wondered if I should be concerned for her in some way.
Time went by, and Hikigaya-kun was still as apprehensive towards Nee-san as the day they met. She was always laughing at him, saying he's "interesting", and invading his personal space. In other words, she was always flirting with him. He hated the attention, of course.
Whenever we were alone, she would tease me about him. Saying things like "He's probably into you" or "I think Gahama-chan likes him too". When I would deny it, she would tease me in another way, telling me she would take him for herself if I didn't want him.
One day when she was teasing me, I made the mistake of saying "My love life is not your business, Nee-san, and yours is not mine."
Her sadistic grin only grew when I said that, and her response was chilling. "It is if we both want the same man." It was different from the jokes she usually makes. The way she said it was almost...threatening.
I didn't have a response for that, and her grin quickly faded. As if it suddenly stopped being funny.
After the incident with Orimoto-san, Nee-san started asking me questions about Hikigaya-kun. The questions varied in topic and intensity, ranging from what he acts like in the service club, to whether he still talks about Orimoto-san. That's when I began to suspect that her interest in him was different from what it used to be.
One day in the clubroom, Hikigaya-kun entered, looking somewhat offended. It made his miserable eyes even more deterrent than usual. He took his seat, and spoke to me.
"You've been talking to your sister about me?" He asks. It was an accusation versed as a question.
Caught off guard, I answered honestly. "Well...yes and no. She asks about you a lot, sometimes I answer just to appease her."
He went quiet, so I asked a question of my own. "Where did this come from?"
He looked at me with weary eyes. Even more so than usual. "Hayama was chewing me out today. He says you and your sister only ever talk about me, and it's pissing him off. I told him to get lost, and he went on to bitch about how much he hates me."
Hayama-kun? That's odd. I supposed it would make sense that he saw it that way, though. Nee-san has been rather interested in Hikigaya-kun as of late, and I suspected Hayama-kun might be jealous.
"I didn't know he felt that way. I'll talk to him and Nee-san about it when I get the chance."
"Thank you, please do. I don't need this sort of bother."
I got that chance a few days later. Hayama-kun's parents were visiting for business purposes, and Nee-san happened to be home. So when it was just the three of us, I told them to both stop being a nuisance to Hikigaya-kun.
Hayama-kun hated it, and I knew he would. I always suspected that he never got over his puppy love for Nee-san, but she had long since grown bored of him. The fact that someone could grab Nee-san's attention so easily, and not even want it, tormented Hayama-kun. I felt sorry for him, I really did.
That day, he snapped. Nee-san, after I had mentioned Hikigaya-kun, started laughing to herself about something he said or did. Hayama-kun exploded.
"It's always Hikigaya, isn't it!? Every time I see you, you're talking about him! What's so special about him anyway!?" He spewed in rage.
Haruno had immediately stopped laughing. Her expression was one I rarely see, but it's one I'll never forget. I was grateful that expression wasn't directed at me.
"Shut up, Hayama. If you can't see why he's interesting, then you'll never understand why I find people like you to be so boring." The way she said it was beyond cold. She had no intention of playing nice at this point.
Hayama's face turned red, and I think I saw tears beginning to form in his eyes. "Don't you fucking tell me to shut up! I've always been with you! Always! And yet, you never looked at me! It's not fair!" His voice grew shaky towards the end. "...He doesn't even want your attention. Why do you give it to him so easily?" He got quieter as he spoke, until he was almost whispering. "Why couldn't it be me?"
I truly pitied him then. His hysterical outburst turned confession was entirely wasted, because the recipient was glaring at him like some offensive, disgusting rat. If we were still friends, I might have put a hand on his shoulder for comfort, but we just didn't have that kind of bond anymore, so I stood there and watched.
Haruno spoke up. "You don't even know me. I've been babysitting you for most of your life, so I know you're a pathetically basic person, Hayama. You accept everything at face value, because that's all that matters to you. He's the exact opposite. He saw the real me from the moment we first met. He felt me. We connected." She smiles as if recalling a fond memory.
No, that never happened. Nee-san is lying, and I know because I was there. It's true he saw right through her, but he was repulsed by what he found. Why would she lie about that? Is she trying to crush Hayama-kun's affections completely?
"...You're lying." I thought I said that, but it was in fact Hayama-kun who spoke up.
"He doesn't like you. He never talks about you and when someone does mention you, he makes a sour face." Hayama begins, this time not out of jealousy, but mere contempt.
"Shut up." Nee-san tries to deny it.
"Whenever he's around, you're all over him but he pushes you away because he finds you repulsive." Hayama-kun's voice steadily grows louder.
"Shut up." Nee-san repeats herself.
"He sees you the same way you see everyone else! You're annoying to him!" Hayama-kun is once again shouting.
"Shut up!" Nee-san is beginning to raise her voice too.
"Don't you see!? HE HATES YOU!"
"I SAID SHUT UP!" They are screaming at each other at this point. I can only stand there and watch.
Our parents had, at some point, come in to find the source of the commotion. I don't know how much they heard, but I do know that their business is finished. Whether they had actually finished their business here, or were interrupted by the screaming, it doesn't matter. Hayama-kun was crying miserably. His parents took him and left swiftly.
For the first time in my life, I saw Nee-san get slapped by father. For father to get angry at anything is rare, but that's probably because he always gets his way. For Nee-san to embarrass him like she did that day, I should have known father would lose his temper.
Nee-san didn't even flinch. As if she were ready for the hit, she took it and looked at father with the same eyes she was looking at Hayama-kun with. This defiant reaction only seemed to fuel father's rage, and he slapped her again. Harder, this time. Still, she doesn't noticeably react. She just stares at him as if he were somebody worthless.
He goes to raise his hand a third time, but mother stops him. She is almost in tears herself. Father diffuses when he sees her crying face. It's a very difficult day for our family.
Since then, Nee-san's relationship with our parents has been different. Father became insecure about himself and begged me to move back in home. I couldn't find it in me to refuse. As for Nee-san, they never found out the source of the conflict, and she never bothered to justify herself. It's all formality now. She doesn't laugh or joke anymore, at least not at home. The amazing thing is, she can just as easily put on her mask when she leaves the house, and nobody is ever any wiser.
Today, she came to visit me during club hours at school. Or more accurately, she came to visit Hikigaya-kun. Being a former valedictorian, it was probably easy for her to get in, even though Sobu is a private highschool. Then again, Nee-san is like father in that she usually gets what she wants, and cannot accept reality when she doesn't.
Isshiki-san is here today. Of course, she couldn't have known. There was no reason not to think flirting with Hikigaya-kun was a harmless gag. I think Yuigahama-san saw Nee-san's face when she saw Isshiki-san leaning over Hikigaya-kun and invading his personal space again. Because she was shaking in terror.
"U-um, I-iroha-chan, maybe that's enough teasing for now?" Yuigahama's voice was quivering. She definitely saw.
Clueless, Isshiki-san responds teasingly. "Oh? Are you jealous of us, Yui-senpai?"
Maybe she is. Maybe I might be, too. But that's not the reason we wanted her to stop.
Nee-san speaks. "Iroha-chan. You're being a bother." Her tone is playful, yet somehow cold.
"...H-Haruno-senpai?" Isshiki seems to have noticed the reason. We were trying to warn her.
Nee-san doesn't say anything. She just continues to stare at Isshiki-san.
"Ahaha, y-you're right I guess. I think I'll go check on the student council or something." Isshiki-san nervously sputters, and inches towards the door as she speaks.
"Bye, senpais." She says with a forced smile. When she closes the door, we hear rapid, fading footsteps. She ran away.
Yuigahama-san is frightened of Nee-san. I am too, even though I've recently been privy to this side of her. Hikigaya-kun, on the other hand, doesn't appear to be afraid in any way. Instead, he looks positively furious.
He locks eyes with Nee-san. "What the hell was that?" He demands.
When he speaks to her, her expression softens. "I was just doing some pest control. Relax, Hikigaya-san."
He slowly stands from his seat, not once breaking eye contact with Nee-san. "...Pest control? Is that what you call intimidating innocent kouhais?" He sounds astonished her answer.
Nee-san, on the other hand, is calm as ever. "Of course. She was bothering you, right?"
Hikigaya-kun slowly begins to walk towards her. "You didn't have to threaten her."
Nee-san feigns offense. "Threaten? Me? I did nothing of the sort!" She's smiling as she speaks.
"Don't bullshit me. That was a threat and you know it." Hikigaya-kun's face begins to twist into anger.
Nee-san on the other hand, bursts into laughter. It's a chilling sound. "Bwahahaha! You really are interesting, Hikigaya-san! Of course you'd be able to see right through me."
Hikigaya-kun's patience seems to be wearing thin. "What the hell is so funny?"
"You! You're funny, Hikigaya-san! You're funny, interesting, and..." She steps towards him, "So very endearing."
She reaches her hand out to touch his face. He aggressively grabs her wrist and throws her hand down. He then steps towards her, closing all the distance between them. He moves his head towards her shoulder, and speaks into her ear. "Don't fuck with my kouhai, Yukinoshita-san."
He leans back to return her personal space, and I see her face again. She has a sly grin which I feel is better suited to someone like Isshiki-san rather than Nee-san. "Well, aren't you protective?"
Hikigaya-kun doesn't miss a beat. "It's a senpai's duty to protect his kouhai from danger."
"A man of action. I like that, you know."
"I don't give a shit what you like!" He almost spits at her.
Nee-san breathes in sharply. "Ooh. I love it when you stand up to me too."
Where Nee-san is full of mirth, Hikigaya-kun has only righteous fury. Usually, Nee-san makes him nervous and uncomfortable. I'm amazed he can stand up to her without a second thought when his kouhai is at risk. I've never seen this side of him, and if it weren't for the seriousness of the situation, I would be extremely charmed right now.
But right now is not about me. Hikigaya-kun is directly confronting Nee-san. Yuigahama-san and I are mere bystanders.
"What the hell do you want, woman?"
"I've said it before. Become mine, Hachiman."
"I would never affiliate myself with someone who threatens the people I care about."
"Then stop caring about that whore."
"Don't call her a whore, you bitch!"
This is getting out of control. I've never been in a situation like this before, and I'm starting to panic. I don't know what will happen if this continues, and I don't want to find out.
"Both of you, stop!" I shout hysterically. It gets the attention of everyone in the room.
Hikigaya-kun looks at me with surprise, and steps away from Nee-san. He walks back to his seat, and quietly sits down. His expression becomes solemn.
"Nee-san, please leave." I speak to her, but I don't look at her. She has been terrifying me more than ever lately, and I don't have the courage to confront her like Hikigaya-kun does.
"Fine." She responds sharply. She turns to leave.
A few minutes later, the three of us are sitting in the clubroom, tension thick in the air. Hikigaya-kun is the first to speak.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" He asks, seems his rage has not yet dissipated.
"It's my fault for not mentioning this to you two. I didn't realize it had become this serious." I offer apologetically.
"Yukinon, what are you talking about?" Yuigahama-san asks cautiously.
I sigh. Where do I begin? "Ever since she met you, Hikigaya-kun, Nee-san has slowly continued to develop an interest in you. I thought she would eventually grow bored of you like she does everything, but she never did. As time went by she began to talk about you more, and that's when Hayama-kun started to lose his patience with her. Recently, though, Hayama-kun confronted her at our home about it. When he did, she said something crazy."
"She said you, Hikigaya-kun, were connected to herself. That you shared a bond from the day you met."
He interjects. "That's a load of-"
"I know, Hikigaya-kun." I interrupt him. "She's delusional. I'm afraid of her, and worried for her at the same time. What if she does something terrible?" My voice starts to shake. I begin to sob. "I don't know what to do." I sniffle, and the tears begin to fall. "What should I do, Hikigaya-kun?"
Yuigahama-san embraces me. "There there, Yukinon." She whispers to me. "It'll be okay. We'll figure it out together." Her words are so comforting right now. I break down, and cry in her arms.
After a while, a regain my composure and separate from Yuigahama-san. We decide to end our club session early today, and we all say our farewells before leaving the clubroom and locking the door. Before we can part ways, Hikigaya-kun calls out to me.
"Yukinoshita, can I have your number, just in case?" Hikigaya asks in a serious tone.
If this whole situation with Nee-san hadn't happened, I might have been flustered by such a forward request. Unfortunately, all it did was emphasize the seriousness of the situation. I agreed, and we exchanged numbers.
"...I'll make this right, somehow. I promise." He tells me with conviction. His words give me strength, and I smile warmly at him.
"Thank you, Hikigaya-kun."
When I finally arrive at home, it's dark. Our parents aren't home. They rarely are. It's fine, we have butlers and maids to take care of the house. Though they don't exactly make the best of company. I wonder if Nee-san is home. I'd probably have to call her cellphone to find out, our house is far too large to simply check every room whilst calling out her name.
I don't bother calling her, but as I pass by her room, I decide to knock on her door. To be honest I'm anxious about talking to her. Will she act the way she always does, or will she not bother to hide her terrifying self now that I've seen it?
"...Nee-san?" I call timidly. No response.
I should go back to my room. It's the smart thing to do.
Instead, I opened her door. It was dark inside, so I fumbled around trying to find the lightswitch. It's been years since I've been in here. I wonder if her layout is the same. I find what feels like a lightswitch. I flick it on.
...
What the hell is this?
I can barely comprehend what I'm seeing. Everywhere. They're everywhere. Photos. Photos of Hikigaya-kun stuck to almost every surface. On the walls, on the nightstand, on the roof, even on the doors.
I can't move. I think I'm in shock. I have to leave. Turn the light off, get out of this room and erase this experience from my memory. I turn around and find the lightswitch in front of me. My arms are weak, it's difficult to turn off the light. When I finally do, the sudden darkness frightens me. I don't want to be here in the dark. Luckily, the door is still open, and it brings in some light from the hallway.. I walk towards the door. I think I begin to smile in relief, at the notion that I am able to escape from this place.
If I was smiling, it falls right off my face as I peer my head around the door.
"Yukino-chan, what are you doing in my room?"
That yandere Haruno tho. First of all, let me apologize for shamelessly defiling the personality of such a strong character. Won't happen again. Okay yes it will. Also, not sorry.
Yandere and Oregairu seems to be a popular mashup lately, so I thought I'd jump on the crazy train too. Don't expect this to continue. This was just a fleeting idea. And if it does continue, don't expect regular updates. This story is not nearly as important to me as Intertwined, which I am currently feeling out the next step of. Truth is, I never have a solid plan when I write. I just write shit, and when I do, I try to connect the current situation to the scenarios in my head.