It's said that everybody is born with a blank slate, and that every new soul is an empty book waiting to be written. I think it's unfair to books to compare them to people.

Books have twists and turns, hidden depths, and deeper meanings. People have stories that are woven through them, except these aren't made to entertain or to educate. These just are.

So they're predictable and boring. For example, when's the last time you've done something unpredictable or out of character? Not something that would surprise other people, something truly surprising given the context it's done in. Most people are condemned to walk narrow paths and stick to their pre-written stories.

With that in mind, can you truly blame anyone for the actions they take? Can you berate someone for being who they are? For taking the obvious choices?

Actually, yes.

It felt like a frozen moment in time, Yui clinging to my shirt, us looking at each other. All I could hear were her heaving breaths and all I could feel was the tremor in her hands.

Why was she so shaken up? If anything, I should be terrified right now because of Yukinoshita, for what's going to happen when she hears I damaged her textbooks.

We were shaken out of our reverie by a shout of "You darn brats!" and the hurried footsteps of old leather shoes on alleyway concrete. What looked, and sounded like an angry old man came charging towards us, lecture already prepared.

Maybe we got lucky and it just seems like an angry old man. Maybe it's a duck.

I expected Yuighama to stand up and apologize for whatever he was going to accuse us of, not leaping behind my back and leaving me to deal with this guy. I knew women were high-maintenance, but I never expected it to be this bad.

"Don't the kids these days know to take it indoors? What's the meaning of doing it so boldly in public?"

"Sir, I think you have the wrong idea..."

I had to listen to this nut give me a twenty minute lecture about inappropriate public relations and how "back in my day, we needed to hike up a mountain to get a condom in the freezing snow." All the while Yui was pressed up against my back, clutching my shirt, and being really distracting.

I know that we had nothing to be afraid of, and that the old man's suspicions were totally baseless, but with Yuigahama's fearsome weights, uhh, weight pressed up against me my thoughts began to stray.

All of this made it super awkward when the geezer finally gave up on us and went home. I'm used to being in uncomfortable social situations, but this takes the cake.

"Hikki... That was unexpected,eheheh..."

Yuigahama gave her best attempt at a light-hearted chuckle. Stop, you're making it even worse!

"You alright to go home now?"

"Yeah...But what about Gako-kun? Should we just leave him like that?"

"He'll probably wake up with just a light headache and a massive grudge. I don't want to be anywhere close to him when he does, so let's leave quickly."

"O.."

Yuigahama hesitated for a second, clearly wanting to remark on something.

"Ok!"

And so I gingerly picked up my backpack, making sure not to disturb Gako-kun. Actually, I don't have to care about waking him up because I could always just drop the bag again. Fortunately Gako-kun was out for good and didn't even stir when we started walking away.

Rather unfortunately though, Yuigahama also appears to be asleep at the wheel. My captain, my captain! Why do you have to hold on to me so?

No but seriously Yuigahama we're in public now please stop hugging my arm.

"Hey Yui are you ok with this? It's sorta..."

I nodded towards my own arm, and Yui finally realized what she was doing and flushed red. But again defying my expectations, she held on even tighter and began mumbling under her breath.

"Just... Just for today Hikki, please. Let me be selfish."

You're totally being selfish, think of the damage this could cause to my reputation as a loner! I could lose social standing with the people with no social standing. Maybe my loner licence would get revoked and I would no longer be allowed to drive the company car.( A Volkswagen golf with a single seat).

That aside, I don't think that it would be good for Yuigahama either. Someone from our school could see us like this and get suspicious, or...

I didn't know how to voice the frustrations I had. I couldn't put them into words or form coherent thoughts, but I saw the corners of a problem. Yuigahama changing like this probably wasn't a good thing.

"Hikki, what happens tommorow? We're telling Hiratsuka-sensei about this right?"

And this was the crux of another problem. Since we have no hard evidence, this would essentially be our words against Fujio-kun's and Gako-kun's. Maybe Hiratsuka-sensei would believe us, and that's a teneous maybe, but something this serious would be outside of her general jurisdiction.

And even if we got the fact of the matter through, even if they were willing to listen to us, the burden of suspicion and proof would be on us. We went up to the authorities, we needed to provide the proof. And say they believed us, the bruises speak for themselves. Fujio-kun and Gako-kun could just claim ignorance of their actions, or that they didn't intend to be so aggressive during their confessions.

They could claim that they were just about to back off, and we would be none the wiser. And say by some miracle of divine intervention, the school listens to us and believes our side of the story and believes I was justified in fighting. I'd still probably be expelled along with the goon twins because of the zero-tolerance policies freshly implemented.

Of course, the goon twins would be expelled and Yuigahama would be safe at school, but what about after school? In their minds I was already punished, and they had no idea where I lived or where I was. But some say there is no hatred like love scorned, except this would be there is no prepubescent rage like being made to look this pathetic in-front of a "love" interest.

I mean, I don't think they were completely brain dead. They must've realized how much they screwed up, and when Gako-kun gets home I'm willing to bet solid money that Yuighama's metaphorical rejection hurt worse then my backpack.

They would get frustrated with themselves, and then turn that frustration on to Yuigahama.

"Let's not. They weren't much of a threat anyways. I doubt they'll do something like this again."

These words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

But this was the only way to put the burden back on my shoulders, back on the person who deserved it.

"A..Alright Hikki. I trust you."

Those words made me feel bitter and better. Again, I had the faint sense that something went wrong somewhere and that the goon twins weren't the only ones I had to contend with later.

But Yuigahama was such an eager and earnest soul. As she gave me a smile free from all traces of malice, I found myself holding onto her arm, in turn.

Y'know, to comfort her.

After I finished dropping Yuigahama off at her house, and after successfully dodging Yuigahamama by putting emphasis on an imaginary curfew, I arrived home.

"phew.."

My shoulders sagged, tension easing out of them. I didn't realize that I was wound so tightly, and I really didn't realize how much these damn bruises hurt.

"Onii-chan! You're late! Like, really late! What do you have to say for yourself?"

Komachi sprung up from the couch she was napping on, and gave me a grumpy look. Wow, I didn't even see you there. Maybe [Stealth Hikki]'s a heriditary skill, one that had been passed down through the Hikigaya family through generations. That would certainly explain why I don't see dad around here anymore.

"Something came up and I had to stay out for a little, sorry. It's just for tonight though."

Komachi narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"You know Onni-chan" she wagged her finger at me. "In all the years we've been together, I've never seen you stay out late for a good reason, like hanging out with friends. It's always "I forgot my book" or " I was reading and lost track of time " or "I don't want to talk to Dad today, I'm gonna stay at this ramen restaurant until I'm kicked out."

"Being so suspicious of me is seriously lacking in points."

"But I get the points back because I know you so well. I care about you, Scum-nii Chan . Kyaa! There's some extra."

Komachi did her signature squeal. It should be a crime to be so cute and mean at the same time. Maybe I'll run for president with an "imouto regulation platform" and if you didn't have one, you were given a clone of Komachi. On second thought, I'd rather not everyone win the lottery. I've drawn the short stick enough times, now you want to take away the one time I got lucky with Komachi?

Hmmm.. I should probably word that better.

"I'm pretty sure getting points went out the window the second you called me scum."

"Stop dodging the question.."

"I was with Yuigahama, y'know? Stop worrying."

I mean that's technically true. Doesn't that count as going out with friends? Hah, have I defied your expectations my dear imouto? Be astounded! Be surprised! Be awed!

Komachi gave a small frown and looked me up and down.

"So why do you look so roughed up? Did you get in a fight with a cat or something on your date? Were you actually out with Yuigahama?"

Uhh... About that.

"I have her phone number you know. Don't even think of lying to me."

"It's true, honest! Ask her all you like."

"That still doesn't explain why you look like you've been through a blender."

"Stuff came up."

"..."

"..."

Komachi's playful expression dropped and she gave me a long searching look.

"Hmm.. If Onni-chan doesn't want to talk about it, I don't think I could get him to talk about it."

Whew, that's a relief.

Her face lit up.

"I could always just ask Yuigahama-san what happened! And if she doesn't know,

*ominous knuckle cracking*

then I'll just have to use more... straightforward methods."

I'm getting seriously freaked out right now. My little sister can't be this scary! What is this devil pretending to be my little sister and where is my Komachi?

Her gaze softened a tad.

"I got a bath ready. Your face looks even worse then usual so you must be exhausted."

I take that back. God has heard my plea and he is a just god. Forgive me for my doubts, Komachi. Man's heart has no faith and is easily fickle. Let the waters of Lethe cleanse me of all my sins, and birth me anew.

Ahh, there's nothing like a hot bath to relax the body and spirit. But my thoughts kept going back to the events that transpired earlier today.

As I rested the back of my neck on the cold porcelain and stared up into the shower head, I began to wonder

Are people immutable, unchangeable, destined to stick to one character? Or are they fluid, uncertain things that define themselves by their respective anchors? And which is worse?

A/N

It's me, your boy. Huge thanks to everyone who reviewed and favorited and followed and read my work.

First things first, I'm looking for a beta writer/reader(I dunno what they're called). I dunno how the system works and all, but someone to fix my grammar and spelling errors and hold me accountable would really be great. It'd also help get the chapters out a lot faster.

jordonlink7856- Yeah, I'm not very good at creating OC's. That's why I'm stealing from Oregairu. Goon twins should get some development next chapter as proper antagonists though.

Predator7- He does, doesn't he. Feels like he'll be too lazy for that sorta thing though.

EpicMs,TheDarkHollow-Glad you liked it! I was going for realism, because I feel that's sorta central to who 8-man is.

Kou- I don't even know what "quit" means

wildarms13-Your wish is my command

VernoSS-thx bb

This chapter is mostly setup so it's pretty short, but I'll get the stuff rolling in the next couple of chapters. Let me know how I did! How did you like this chapter versus the last one? Anything I should work on? Who is the best member of BTS and why is it Jungkook?