Chapter 1: Without Hesitation, Yukinoshita Yukino makes her decision.

April 2. The start of a new school year. Today was especially noteworthy as it was also my first day of high school. I was already normally used to waking up somewhat early in order to get to school before others; in elementary school, I did it as a precaution, though I stuck with it during middle school and it somehow developed into a habit. Today though, I had gone through the extra effort to wake up even earlier than usual.

As the student representative for the incoming freshmen class, it was entrusted upon me to deliver a speech during today's opening ceremony and it was a duty that I was honored to fulfill. As such, I needed to arrive a bit earlier to school today for my briefing on my part during the opening ceremony. For the most part, I had already finished my speech a couple weeks ago, and I was confident that I was well versed enough on it that I could deliver it with no issues. All that was left was delivering a copy of my speech and go through a quick practice version to ensure that no huge issues occurred during the actual thing.

Overall, it was a process that should take no longer than half an hour. However, there was something else I had wanted to discuss with a certain teacher beforehand. It wasn't an especially impending matter, so it would've been fine to save it for after the opening ceremony, but a part of me wouldn't let myself delay this any longer.

I ate a quick breakfast of eggs and toast before using the bathroom to clean up and prepare myself for the day. After donning my uniform, I did a quick once-over to check that nothing was off. As I looked myself over, I couldn't help but admire my image in the mirror. I never had much of a sense for fashion; like with many things, that was always Nee-san. Despite that, I felt that the Sobu High uniform looked very sharp. Satisfied with how the uniform looked, I grabbed my two favorite ribbons off my dresser, fixed my hair, and made my way out of my apartment.

⁂

The apartment that I currently called home was about twenty minutes walking distance from the school. For various reasons, I lived apart from my family, so the high-rise apartment building was quite convenient for commuting to school. Though I lived within walking distance of the school, it was still possible for me to have a chauffeur from our family come drive me every morning; that was what Nee-san had done while she attended Sobu. Given the opportunity though, I preferred to walk. It was just another one of the many things that that person had given me.

As embarrassing as it was to admit, one my few imperfections was my poor sense of direction. I had spent the week before school had started just walking to school in the morning, hoping to memorize the route. Thankfully, I was able to make to school without any detours or assistance around two days ago, so I was confident I could do it again today. Focusing to make sure I didn't make any wrong turns, I uneventfully made my way to school.

⁂

After arriving at school, I made my way towards the teacher's office. I had been here several times before, both when Nee-san had attended Sobu High and when I had come to take the entrance exam myself. Thanks to that, I was able to successfully make my way there with no issues.

Stepping in, I found a relatively normal teacher's office—desks were lined up in rows, with many covered in paper despite the school year having only just started. Very few individuals had showed up yet, no doubt a combination of just how early it was and that it was only the opening ceremony today. It was likely that even many of the teachers would only show up a couple of minutes before school would start. Perhaps because of that, one particular couple stood out.

It was a student-teacher pair, judging by the uniform worn by one and the clothing of the other. The other student was unmistakably male based of both his uniform and his stature. I couldn't help but wonder just who this person was to also be here so early. As for the teacher, she wore a black vest over a white dress shirt as well as black dress pants and a pair of dress shoes. Her most noticeable feature though, was the contrasting white lab coat she wore. Based off her appearance, she was no doubt the teacher I was looking for. As I made my way towards the two, I was able to pick up tidbits of their conversation.

"-man, did you hear what I said? What you handed in was fine, so just make sure you stick to that, understand?" said a mature, but female voice.

The boy only let out a grunt of recognition.

Sighing, the teacher closed her eyes and put her hands to her head.

"Anyways, it looks like I have another student I need to talk to so you're off the hook for now. You had better attend the opening ceremony, or else." With a lightly veiled threat, she punched one hand into the palm of the other, demonstrating the or else. The boy's body visibly stiffened, but he made no other remarks.

As he turned towards me to leave the room, I caught the briefest glimpse of his face. As the image of his face was processed by my mind, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by a sense of nostalgia, the image of the boy before me overlapping with the one that had saved me so many years ago.

"Do I need a reason to save someone who looks like they're asking for help?"

But… no. There was one thing that didn't match up—their eyes. The boy that had helped me back then—his eyes shined. It's as if they were filled with the very hope that he had infected me with. As for the one that had just passed, I couldn't imagine a greater contrast. His eyes were dark and hollow, and the furrow on his brow only added to the feeling of bitterness I felt from him. Though their faces were similar, there was no way they could be the same person.

It was likely just my imagination. With the proposal I had wanted to bring up, there was no doubt my mind had been thinking of that boy a lot more as of lately. It was unavoidable that I'd want to once more meet the person that had so greatly influence me. Thinking about it, he was the same age as me so it was understandable why I'd be placing his image onto those around me.

"-shita-san? Yukinoshita-san!"

With a jolt, I snapped out of my thoughts. The one who did so was none other than the teacher I had intended to talk to before. She sat there with a look of concern."

"You are Yukinoshita Yukino, correct?"

"Ah, yes," I said, replying back this time.

"Hmm," she hummed, thoughtfully gazing over me. With a satisfied grin, she nodded. "As expected, you're just as beautiful as your sister. Top of your class as well."

The one analyzing me was Hiratsuka Shizuka, a teacher at Sobu High, as well as a guidance counselor. I felt a bit peeved by her instant comparison of myself to Nee-san, but I made no comment. It was understandable. From what Nee-san had told me, she was close friends with a Shizuka-sensei during high school. More likely than not, Hiratsuka-sensei was already probably somewhat familiar with me through Nee-san. She was also the one that would probably be the most interested in helping me with my proposal.

"So," she continued, her analysis over, "what are you doing here so early? School doesn't start for another hour at the least. Even if your taking part in the opening ceremony, there was no need for you to show up this early."

"I needed to turn this in," I said, handing her a copy of the speech I had prepared. Taking it, Hiratsuka-sensei gave it a quick glance, before nodding and slipping it into a folder.

"Was that it? There was still no need to come so early."

"Actually, I wanted to talk to you about the creation of a club."

"A club? What kind were you thinking? Sobu's already got a ton, so your idea might overlap with one that already exists."

"I was going to call it the service club."

"Oh?" Hiratsuka-sensei let out. She leaned forward, resting her chin on top of her folded hands. "What an interesting name. Care to elaborate."

I simply nodded, but I was happy that I had caught her interest. "I wanted to create a club that helps out students in need—somewhere students can go to speak of their troubles without fear of judgement and where I'll do my best to assist them in whatever way possible."

The grin disappeared from Hiratsuka-sensei's face, replaced by a solemn expression instead. Her brows furrowed together in thought as she went silent. That was not the reaction I had been hoping for.

"Um… is there something wrong with my proposal sensei?" I asked nervously. I hadn't planned for the off chance that she would shoot me down, convinced by Nee-san's description of her that Hiratsuka-sensei would help me out.

"Ah… no, it's nothing." She said shaking her head. "You words just now reminded me of someone else. I was simply remembering something. That's all."

Leaning back into her chair, she let her head hang back and let out a sigh. I was worried by what that meant, but the smile returned to her lips.

"It's certainly an interesting idea. However, there's some details that'll need to be worked out which will take a while though. For now, just head to the gymnasium, Yukinoshita. You still need to get ready for the opening ceremony after all. Come back after school's over and I'll go over your plan in more depth with you then."

"Yes." Though I tried to keep my voice neutral, I couldn't help but let a small piece of my excitement out, though I hardly cared much either. It was the first step. Giving a short bow, I left the teacher's office and made my way to the gymnasium where the opening ceremony would be held.

⁂

The practice run had gone up until about fifteen minutes before the actual ceremony would start. The rest of the time had been spent making sure all the equipment was working properly and that everyone was is position. Students slowly filed in, but the gymnasium had become relatively full as we approached the hour. Older students filled in the first few rows by class followed by the incoming class of freshmen. Normally, I would be among them, but it was decided that I would be behind stage for a smoother experience. Up on stage with me was members of the faculty including the principal and all the teachers as well as the student council president. Strangely, Hiratsuka-sensei was missing though.

The bell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts and signaling the start of the school year. I had no time to worry about Hiratsuka-sensei; for now, I had to focus on my own task. Stepping up to the podium first was the principal. After welcoming the incoming freshmen, he gave a rather uplifting though rather textbook speech to motivate the students. I suppose after doing something for long enough, you find shortcuts to things. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a template he adjusted for every new year. His speech was met with a light round of applause, though the murmuring from the front only furthered my suspicions.

The student council president was welcomed up next. Shiromeguri Meguri, I believe her name was. She was only a year my senior, yet she here she was giving a speech for the opening ceremony which meant that she was elected last year, while she herself had been a freshman. Honestly, even having watched Nee-san my whole life, I was impressed by what Shiromeguri-senpai had accomplished.

"Good morning, everyone. To the juniors and seniors, I'd like to welcome you back. As for the freshmen, Welcome to Sobu High. Seniors, I won't nag you about this too much since I'm sure you're more aware than anyone, but it's an important year for you at Sobu High. It's a bit early, but make sure you study hard, and I wish you the best on your college entrance exams. To my fellow juniors, we might not have to worry about college just yet, but we'll be deciding on our focuses this year, so don't slack off. And to the freshmen. As I'm sure you're aware, this is a prestigious academy. Though three years may seem like a long time, the years go by in a flash; make sure you don't fall behind."

Shiromeguri-senpai continued on with her speech, but loud footsteps as well as a noticeably angry, though hushed voice drew my attention backstage. Though the backstage was dimmed, making it hard to see too well, I could make out two figures coming through one of the back entrances, one pulling on the other. From her voice and the white lab coat that reflected the lights of the stage, I deduced that it was none other than Hiratsuka-sensei who had been missing earlier.

"Just stand next to her and wait for your turn, got it?!" she asked, her irritation leaking from her voice. I had to assume she was talking to the other person she had pulled along with her, as there we were the only three here and I had done nothing that could have provoked such displeasure. They wore a Sobu High uniform and judging by it they were male. Their face, however, was a bit hard to distinguish, so I had no clue who it was, nor why they were here. Their only reply to Hiratsuka-sensei's question was a grunt. Hiratsuka-sensei seemed less than pleased, but she headed over to where the teachers were lined up on stage, slipping in on the end, hoping not to attract attention. With that over, I turned my attention back to Shiromeguri-senpai who was wrapping up her speech.

"Though Sobu High is a school that puts emphasis on your grades, I'd like to remind you all that you'll only ever be in high school once. Don't forget to enjoy yourselves and I wish that you all make unforgettable memories while you're here."

Shiromeguri-senpai's speech was met with a thunderous roar of applause, though I noticed a lot of that whooping was coming from the males; even many of the freshman boys had joined in. Regardless, it was a sign of her charisma and it spoke levels about her abilities to lead the student body. At the very least, she was more well regarded than the principal.

As the applause died down, Shiromeguri-senpai began to speak again.

"As many of you are aware, every year, we invite the top performing student on the entrance exam to act as the freshmen representative and give a speech during the opening ceremony. This year was a bit special though. Two students managed to score perfect scores on the entrance exam! Since we had both a boy and a girl, we've decided to let both give a speech. To start, please welcome, Yukinoshita Yukino!"

Two students? This was the first I had heard of it. I suppose that was what the boy to my right was doing here. I was curious as to why I hadn't been informed, but I had no time to dwell on it as I had been called to the stage. I made my way center stage, to the podium the other two had spoken at previously. Shiromeguri-senpai wished me good luck before moving herself off to the side, leaving me as the focus of the stage. I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves, and began.

"Good morning, staff and students of Sobu High. It's my honor to be one of the representatives speaking to you here today. As we gather here, on this fine spring day, we take a step forward in another chapter of our lives. For some of us, it's a beginning, the start of that chapter, and for others, it's a step closer towards the end. A year isn't a long time; as we grow older, they only seem to fly by that much faster. This beautiful spring will soon make way for an exciting summer, and then, perhaps a relaxed autumn will pave way for a melancholic winter. In just twelve short months, we will have returned to this point again. However, just because our time here might be limited, that doesn't make it null. Laugh, smile, and cry. As students, our first and foremost priority is studying, but there's more to life than that. This spring… and this year to come—it's something we'll only ever experience once. So, whether it's studying, playing, making friends, or making memories, jump forward without looking back. This year that we'll spend together—let's make it a good one—one that we'll fondly remember for years to come."

My speech was met with a brief silence, before the crowd once more erupted into a loud chorus of applause, dispelling my fears. I couldn't help release a sigh. No matter how much I practiced, I simply wasn't a people person. Though I was confident I could speak in front of crowds, that was the extent of my abilities. There was no guarantee that I could make my words reach them. Thankfully, I managed to pull it off. I was glad that it was over, but I was also glad that I had gone through with it. Shiromeguri-senpai came over, shaking my hands and offering congratulations on how well my speech had gone. I was still drained by the experience so I simply nodded and handed back the mic, taking that as my cue to return backstage.

As I gratefully headed back to my original position, the boy waiting with me earlier walked past towards the center of the stage. As he neared, I was finally able to distinguish who he was; it was none other than the boy who was in the teacher's office this morning. It certainly explained why he had been here so early. I couldn't help but wonder why he'd showed up so late to the ceremony if he had arrived so early though. We passed each other on the stage without so much as a glance, but Shiromeguri-senpai's next words drew my attention.

"Now for your second freshmen representative. If you could be so kind, please welcome, Hikigaya Hachiman!"

"My name is Hikigaya Hachiman. Like I said before, we're in the same class, so do try and remember me in the future, okay?"

No… way. My head whipped around faster than my thoughts could rearrange themselves and I found my focus centered on the boy who had just passed me. As he stood before the podium and readied himself, I was able to really focus on him for the first time. His face—his nose, his chin, his brows—they were all similar to his. He was taller, obviously, and though he stood slouched, I couldn't help but feel he was at least half a head taller than I. Despite our lack of contact for several years, I couldn't help but feel that the Hikigaya Hachiman that stood before me now felt remarkably similar to the one I had met so many years ago. Yet there was one main difference between the two, one so large that part of me refused to accept that they could possibly be the same person. His appearance was so rough... His expression said that he was less than pleased, and the soft eyes that had worried about my well being were filled with anger. Just… what could have caused such a change?

"Oi, Yukinoshita!"

A sharp whisper snapped me out of my thoughts. I couldn't help but jump in surprise and I looked around for the source of my shock. Standing very close to me was Hiratsuka-sensei who looked both concerned and annoyed. She was making gestures and I realized that when I had stopped to turn around and stare, I had still been on the stage, in sight of the audience. Feeling my face flush red, I quickly made my way off the stage, only hoping that I hadn't been staring for too long. My embarrassment would have to wait though. With me off the stage, Hikigaya-kun began his speech. I took my face out of my hands and looked up from where I had been crouching on the floor; it was very likely that I could glean some information about this Hikigaya-kun from his speech, and perhaps what had happened to him as well.

"I'll make this quick. No need to bore you with nonsensical speeches on the magic of friendship and teamwork. You could get that from Weekly Jump if that's what you really wanted."

I couldn't help but feel that last part was a direct jab at me, but there wasn't much I say from my position. Meanwhile, Hiratsuka-sensei, who was only standing a few meters away from me, at the end of the stage, looked a bit worried as well. Hikigaya-kun cleared through before beginning again.

"Youth is a lie; it's nothing but a crock—a fabrication created by hypocrites to cover up the failures of their life. These people interpret everything in their environment as an affirmation of their own beliefs—their failures but a part of the 'teen experience' and simply a happy memory to be remembered."

Hikigaya-kun continued his speech, but it was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the discomfort of the crowd. With each word he spoke out and every spiteful statement he made, the murmurs of the crowd grew only more apparent. The staff had worried looks on their face, and while Hiratsuka-sensei had her face down, I could feel a cold aura radiating off of her even from where I stood. I turned my attention back to Hikigaya-kun who was still speaking as if nothing was wrong. Where was this whole thing going? He wasn't serious… was he?

"Yet despite the fact that you tote around your failures as symbols of your own 'youth', you conclude that the failures of others are nothing more than defeat. You with your lifetime of failures, would mock others—those who tried harder and flew higher only crash down because of the scale of what they had tried to accomplish. That, is what makes you hypocrites… but you would never accept that as the truth."

At some point during his speech, Hikigaya-kun had switched from a general form of address to one more personal, singling the whole school out as his target. I couldn't help but notice the tint of anger that dyed his voice with that shift of address.

He coughed, as if he had needed to regain the attention of the student body who had been focused solely on his words. With a sneer and a thumbs down, he continued.

"To those of you who were planning on happily spending your days here, idiotically trying to enjoy yourselves and make memories, I only have one thing to say—Go kill yourselves."

With that final proclamation, he gave a small bow, and made his way off the stage. The gymnasium was once more filled with silence, no doubt from the shock. What had followed, however, was the loudest uproar that had occurred since any of the speeches had been made.

"What the hell was that?!"

"Why don't you go kill yourself, you bastard!"

"Who the hell does that guy think he is?!"

As Shiromeguri-senpai and the principal tried desperately to calm the raging crowd, Hikigaya-kun returned to his earlier position by me. He stood coolly, as if unaware of the chaos he had just caused or of the hatred he had just earned. I couldn't help but stare slack-jawed at him, my face unable to hide the shock of what I had just witnessed. A certain teacher only furthered my astonishment.

"HACHIMAN!"

With a rage brimmed scream, she came running backstage, her right armed level with her shoulder and bent at a ninety-degree angle. Using the momentum of her run, she jumped up and smashed her inner arm into the crook of him neck, taking them both to the ground, though Hikigaya-kun, who hadn't been expecting it, had taken noticeably more damage from their fall. I believed that was referred to as… a Lariat? Regardless, Hiratsuka-sensei's sudden demonstration of wrestling moves on another student did nothing to ease my shock, and I could only continue to stare as Hiratsuka-sensei got up and effortlessly dragged out the still downed and out Hikigaya-kun though the backdoor from which they had first entered.

⁂

I raced through the hallways, currently disregarding any school rules in my attempts to get answers just one second faster. Though they had less than a minute's head start on me, I had yet to see any sign of either Hiratsuka-sensei or Hikigaya-kun. Most likely, Hiratsuka-sensei had dragged Hikigaya-kun off to the teacher's office once more to have a word with him. It was the most logical assumption. As I rounded the corner, I was able to make out the sound of two voices, confirming my assumptions.

The recent mess of events had left my mind jumbled. Without thinking, I loudly pulled open the door of the teacher's lounge to the surprise of Hiratsuka-sensei and Hikigaya-kun. My interruption had effectively halted their previous conversation, their focus now on me.

"Yukinoshita, did you need something? I know I told you to meet me after the ceremony was over but, as you can see, I'm a bit occupied right now."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I realized I wasn't exactly sure what I had wanted to say. I had made no plans before arriving here. I had simply wanted to meet the boy who had saved me once more. No… there was no time to be embarrassed; that was exactly why I was here right now. Swallowing my breath, I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Hikigaya-kun, do you… Do you remember me?!" The last part rushed out a bit faster than I had intended as my voice shot up a pitch. I could feel my face heat up, though I could only hope that was from the effort of running here.

"" Huh?!"" My question was meet with shock from both of them.

"Hikigaya, you know Yukinoshita?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked, responding first. Most of her earlier fatigue had evidently faded, only to be replaced by curiosity. In response, Hikigaya-kun turned towards me, I suppose, to see if he remembered me. As his eyes met mine, I was forced to look to the side as I felt my cheeks grow warmer, but he continued ignoring my struggle. After looking me over, he closed his eyes as if deep in thought.

"Hmm… You were… who again?"

My knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor.

"OI, HIKIGAYA!"

"What did I do?!"

"No, I'm… fine," I said brushing off Hiratsuka-sensei's concern. Using the edge of a nearby table, I was able to push myself back into a standing position. Truthfully, those five short words now hurt so much more than any of the indirect jabs that had been made at me during the ceremony. I wanted nothing more at this point to go back home, crawl under my sheets, and watch cat videos all week. I couldn't blame him though. True, I may have occasionally though about him, but only as the person who had helped me. I had made no effort to reconnect with him during these years. However, I wasn't about to let some misunderstanding get in my way. After all, there was no way we would understand each other if I didn't say anything.

"My name is Yukinoshita Yukino. We were in the same class during our last year of elementary school. You saved me."

"Oh?" That seemed to have piqued sensei's interest. "That was back when…! Hikigaya! Look. There's living proof in front of you right now—proof that your efforts weren't a waste!"

Sensei had gotten excited all of a sudden for some reason, though Hikigaya-kun had yet to respond. He had lowered his head at some point, making his expression hard to read. When he finally did raise his head, I was met with unadulterated anger. Needless to say, I instinctively backed away.

"SHIZUKA! Please… stop bringing this up." The anger seemed to dissipate from his voice with that shout, the rest of his words barely making it out. Grabbing his bag, he quickly made his way out of the room.

"Hikigaya… Hachiman!..." Hiratsuka-sensei chased after Hikigaya-kun but stopped at the door, ending her pursuit there. Letting out a sigh, she returned to her desk and slumped into her chair. I stood nervously, unmoving. I had no doubt that that outburst had been caused by me, though how I had caused it, eluded me. Remembering that I was still here, Hiratsuka-sensei turned towards me.

"Yukinoshita, I'm sorry you had to see that. Hikigaya is… he's not actually a bad person, y'know? He was a really kind child, though I'm sure you'd know that since you came looking for him all these years later," she stated, letting out an awkward chuckle.

I nodded, but I had a question of my own.

"Um, sensei, is it possible that you know what happened to Hikigaya-kun?" Evidently something had happened that had changed him. One thing that had bothered me all day was the closeness of these two. Several times throughout the day, they had slipped up, calling each other on a first name basis. If anyone was likely to know about what had happened, sensei was as good a guess as any.

"Hmm…" she hummed, closing her eyes. Reaching into her coat pocket, she pulled out a pack of cigarettes, before taking one out and lighting it. I wasn't a fan of smokers, and we were still inside as well, but sensei really seemed stressed out, so I ignored it for now. She took a deep puff of the cigarette before continuing.

"This might come as a surprise, but I've been acquainted with the Hikigayas for a long time. Hikigaya-kun… no, Hachiman is like a younger brother to me. As I'm sure you're aware, that boy loved to help others as a child, but during middle school, something rather unfortunate happened. It's not my place to go into too many details, but needless to say, he changed. Ever since then, he's been like this."

This day had been full of surprises. I had concluded that Hikigaya-kun and Hiratsuka-sensei had some sort of relationship outside of their one at school, but I never would have imagined that they were this close. Hiratsuka-sensei took another puff before continuing.

"I know it's a bit hard to tell, but he really is still the same person. He acts cold and uncaring at school, but when he's at home with family, he really does brighten up… Yukinoshita, you wanted to open up a club that would help others out, right?"

I nodded, reconfirming my resolution.

"Got it. I'll be the adviser for the club, so in return, I need you to do something. Your first request will be from me. Please, help Hikigaya; become his friend."

The helpless look on sensei's face and her desperate plea caused a bundle of emotions welled up within me. I couldn't even imagine what he had gone through to change him so drastically—what he had experience that had made him such a pessimistic and cynical human being. Yet, I also couldn't help but think of how fitting the whole situation was. The boy who had saved me all those years ago—it was finally my turn to pay him back. This time, Yukinoshita Yukino would be the one to save Hikigaya Hachiman.

There was only one thing I needed to say.

"Understood. The service club accepts your request."

Author's Note:

Hello, it's been a while... or not! For once, I managed to update within a somewhat expected interval. (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Midterms are over and I've found a bit of time to do some writing, and while I certainly can't make any promises about the frequency of these updates, here's a chapter nevertheless. Enjoy.