Soundless Day - Naoi x Otonashi x Hinata, main pair is still OtoHina

2.

I woke up, feeling heavier than usual. I slipped my uniform on and began my morning routine of patrolling the school grounds. Life on campus seemed quite peaceful so I just headed to the cafeteria to buy something.

My so-called 'life' was so boring. I did the same thing every day. The people I became close to eventually were reborn. The only things I looked forward to were meeting new people that came into this world and eating Kanade's favorite mapo tofu. The last thing had changed, of course. I still liked the dish, but I wouldn't associate it with Kanade anymore.

Come to think of it, I don't think I ever met the same person twice in this world. Hinata was the first one. It was my fault for upsetting him. I should have just let him remember on his own. But then again, he would probably have yelled at me for not telling him about our past relationship. Spending my time with countless personalities helped me deal with people better. Or so, that's what I thought…

I caught a glimpse of Hinata as I sipped my coffee from the vending machine. How would I approach him? Should I even approach him at all? I swallowed the rest of the coffee and threw the can into the recycle bin. I took long steps to catch up with him. Just as I was about to grab his shoulder, the bell rang.

"Hinata!" I called to him before he entered his respective classroom. "Can I talk to you during lunch time?"

He gave me a questioning look before grinning like he did the day before. "Sure." He gave me the thumbs up and walked into his class.

Relieved, I returned to the student council room. Now that I looked at it, it was pretty bland. I had left it the way it had been. Maybe I should change my headquarters into the old SSS room? A voice came from behind me.

"Hello?" It was a bit shy.

I turned around and laid my eyes on a shorter boy. He had green hair and his long bangs covered his brown eyes. "Hello, welcome to the afterlife."

"I've met you before." He eyed me suspiciously. So had I. So who was he? "I'll introduce myself. You can call me Naoi."

"Naoi? As in…"

"I used to be the son of a famous potter." He told me his tale up until his death and grasped my hand tightly. "I remember you. I was here before."

"Yes, Naoi-san."

"Just call me Naoi, Otonashi-san."

"How do you know my name?"

"It just came out. I just had a hunch." What kind of hunch is that? He paused for a while and then stared straight into my eyes. He snapped his fingers. "I know you. I know everything about this world."

I frowned. "All right then. So you know my goal is to get you to reincarnate, right?"

"Yes." He closed his eyes as if he was trying to recollect his thoughts. "You were my lover, weren't you?"

"Excuse me? I'm not sure I knew you back when I was alive."

"Oh, I mean in this world, Otonashi-san!" He laughed heartily. His personality had changed so quickly. "You saved me from my dark thoughts. You embraced me and made me come back to my senses. Of course I would remember you."

"I, uh… I'm sorry?"

"But there was always someone going against our love…" he rambled on, and I could feel myself getting slightly more impatient. To be honest, that didn't happen often. "So I think that if we could rekindle our love, I would probably disappear from this world." He grimaced. "Oh, but I don't think I would ever want to leave someone as noble as you in this world alone, Otonashi-san. Without me, you would be void and unhappy again. I will stay here with you forever!"

"I'm afraid that is impossible. Get rid of your delusions and tell me, truly, what I could do to help you reincarnate." I shook my head in disapproval and sat down on a chair.

"How about a kiss?"

"I'm sorry, that's a bit…" I laughed awkwardly. "How about I let you stay here for a while until you figure out what you really want?"

"My mind is already set."

I sighed and proceeded to debrief him on how this world had changed. I led him to Hinata's room and said that he was new here too and that they would get along, like in the 'good old days' when we were all together. Despite his protests of wanting to stay in my room, he finally relented and accepted the cohabitation with Hinata. After that, I handed him some money and said that I had something to do. He thanked me profoundly and went off to the cafeteria obediently.

Now rid of him, I could go see Hinata and explain to him that I didn't mean any ill intent. I really did want him to reincarnate as much as I missed his presence. I caught him at the line for omelette rice and I called him over to an empty table so that we could talk.

I explained to him my feelings, and he did understand them. We were once both humans after all, and in this world, emotions were still present. I loved the way he nodded and smiled. He was so considerate. I nearly burst into tears.

"There's one last thing I need to tell you about."

"Eh? What is it?" He asked, his mouth still full of egg and rice.

"I've given you a roommate."

"Sounds fun!" He washed his meal down with a glass of water.

"He knew you when you were in this world." I admitted.

"Doesn't sound like a problem. I mean, I don't remember anything. I just know my name." He placed the glass down. "You gotta smile, man. Can't be a sad student council president. You're gonna bring the whole school down."

"I know, I know. It's just too overwhelming… Meeting two people I already knew, that is. I still wonder how."

"Fate has brought us once again together, man." He chuckled.

"Don't joke about things like that." I replied with a smile.

"Otonashi-san!" I could hear Naoi's voice calling me from a short distance. "Are you finished?" He stopped a moment to eye Hinata. It looked more like an oppressive glare though. "Is this my roommate?"

"Yo, nice to meet you, Naoi, right?" He said cheerfully. "I'm…"

"Hinata Hideki. I know all about you. I could even help you get your memories back if you want." Naoi said emotionlessly. "What I request of you is not to get unnecessarily close to Otonashi-san."

"Um… We're best friends though, so that'll be hard." I could feel my heart skip a beat. Best friends! I was happy, and the hint that he didn't want to separate himself from me was making me even more joyful.

"Well, as long as you don't get between our relationship…"

"Hey, I didn't say I was in a relationship with anyone!"

"I'll make you feel love for me again, just you wait." Was that supposed to be a threat?

"About the returning my memories thing… Do you think you could do it?"

"Of course, I'm a master hypnotist. Ask Otonashi-san."

I acquiesced gloomily. "It's true, you can really count on him."

"Then why not just hypnotize Otonashi into liking you?"

"What a good idea!" Naoi clapped his hands together. "Maybe you're not as bad as I thought… Well, according to the data from your past life, I mean."

"Are we done here?" I sighed. "You guys can get together and have your hypnotism session tomorrow. I'll let you be dismissed from class."

"Please don't use those words in the same sentence. I do not wish to be associated with one such as him." Naoi scowled gently.

"All right, all right. You guys can have your hypnotism session tomorrow. I'll be there if it makes you feel any better."

"Any place you are makes me feel immediately more relieved, Otonashi-san."

"Okay, okay, cut it out and go to class now. The bell's going to ring soon."

Naoi bowed respectfully and left. Hinata just sat with me for a while.

"Are you sure you want your memories back?"

"It won't hurt, will it?"

"It depends on how bad your memories were."

"I'm curious anyhow. A man such as myself cannot be lost in the shadow of confusion for too long!"

"What's with those words? Is Naoi affecting you in a negative way?"

He laughed, picked his stuff up and pat me on the back twice before leaving. I sat there in front of my empty plate of mapo tofu, whose sauce, in fact, was starting to dry and plaque, and thought. What uncanny encounters.

Uoh, people who actually like this kind of fanfic! All right then! It'll be short though, and I can't promise anything amazing!

Thanks for reading~