Deadeye
Chapter 3 – A Bonnet and a Pair of Glasses
Karma Akabane. The infamous student that had gotten out of suspension earlier had apparently succeeded in wounding Korosensei by lining his hands with the strips of an anti-octopus knife. He had managed to explode the octopus' entire right hand, making him the second student to actually wound the yellow octopus.
The first, if one does not count my tirade with the rifle.
He had all what my past self would've wanted: good looks, good grades, and everything else in between. It was only put off by the sheer amount of psychotic aura that the guy exuded, and I swore that I would've seen a guy wearing a hockey mask in his place if I was delusional enough to believe so. If he had an advantage over all of us, he lorded it as if he were some kind of messiah. If he believed that we were underneath him, he would relentlessly mock us until we grew tired of his antics and ignored him. This guy has some kind of complex in his head – that I was sure, but trying to find it out was asking if I want to go down to the Underworld and get Eurydice for myself. I would've done it in a heartbeat...if only I was Orpheus.
Better research these kinds of symptoms later in my apartment.
"Hikigaya, you use a smartphone?" I perked up, seeing Nakamura Rio look at me with curiosity in her eyes as she eyed the blue-and-white smartphone that I currently held in my hands, "How unexpected. You're surprisingly rich, Hikigaya. HH "
Woman. First things first, don't call my last name in an informal manner. Any ordinary boy is going to get some misunderstandings about their relationship with you. Also, why are you leaning forward? Why are you leaning into my personal space? I'm sorry, but the law states that I can sue you for sexual harassment right here and now. So get off before I start making good on what I can do.
"I'm just in the middle class. Buzz off", I replied, trying to end the conversation early as the blonde-haired woman in front of me simply laughed whilst holding a hand over her mouth. Since you're not an ojou-sama type, I'm going to assume you're the type to play pranks on people. Which means you're the most troublesome classmate that I have to deal since...when did I last have some sort of interaction with my classmates again?
"Tch", Nakamura said, clicking her tongue as I couldn't help but widen my eyes at her. Seriously? You resent being rebuffed by that much? Should I talk to her just in case? No Hikigaya, she already sees you as creepy – you'll only cement her belief in you. Why thanks, common sense, I already knew that. You're welcome, Hikigaya-san– You damn idiot, that was sarcasm. Learn from past mistakes, you idiot! "Never knew you were this much of a killjoy, Hikigaya."
...It seems that she was too blind to blatantly notice the current threat to her current well-being sitting in front of her whilst mindlessly playing with his phone. Now get the message and leave me alone. Please.
"If killjoy really existed then I would be the death of the universe then", I replied back in a monotone as Nakamura blinked at me, her blue eyes looking at me in confusion before she started to laugh.
"Wha – So you do possess a sense of humor, after all!" Nakamura said as she laughed, holding her sides in order to try and hold herself back as I simply sighed in return and fished out the earphones from my pocket, placing them on my ears as I tried my best to diminish my presence and not get noticed by anyone–
–I ducked, immediately whirling around me as I drew the pistol that I hid behind my back, pointing it towards someone who would dare disrupt my peace as my dead fish eyes met with violent red ones, seeing Karma holding out a rubber knife that failed to touch my nape.
Slowly, I reached out with my left hand towards my ear while keeping the pellet gun trained on Karma, removing the earphone from the left side of my head as I leveled a blank stare at him, "...Way to get someone's attention. What do you want?"
"Just testing out the abilities of someone who took down Karasuma-sensei in a spar", Karma said still with a sneer on his face as he slowly sheathed his rubber knife from who-knows-where, "It looks like you don't disappoint, Hikigaya. How about a friendly spar after classes?"
"No thanks", I immediately refused. Guessing by how he looked thin while wearing a bunch of different clothing like that, he's got to be buff as hell inside. Someone that I don't want to fight head-on in any way possible, "Though, thanks for the invitation. If you want someone to spar, then you could've asked Karasuma-sensei."
"I did, but he refused, saying that I should go and try to spar with you first, Hikigaya", he said, his smile already looking like a predator going for the kill as I couldn't help but smirk inside my head. It's only the moment that victory is apparent that the predator drops his guard, after all.
"Sorry, but I already had an earlier engagement with Nakamura", I said, shocking the blonde-haired girl who was currently trying to annoy the hell out of me as I silenced her with a stare, asking her with my eyes to read the mood and help me out here. I was banking on our common aversion to Karma in order to pull this true, but if my prediction was off for a bit...
"Eh? Nakamura-san, is this true?" Karma said, his devil-like gaze staring at the blonde with genuine curiosity in his eyes as my temporary accomplice nodded in response, shooting me a sly grin in the process.
...I'm now wondering whether I should've really gone through with this plan or not, "Yeah, we're planning on visiting a few game stores, then we're going to separate from each other at the station. Got a problem with that?"
"Nothing, really, but...Oh? What's wrong, Hikigaya?" Karma said, his red eyes gleaming with ill intent, obviously intending to tease me about the made-up situation that Nakamura had made up in an instant. I don't know whether or not that I should be impressed that Nakamura had the wits to do something like that in such a short amount of time or that I should be suspicious that Nakamura had played the part of accomplice a bit too smoothly. It was as if she already had plans for me...
...But avoiding Karma was a priority for now, "Is this your first time going on a date?"
Well, no need to lie to him about it. It's not like they could use it for ammunition anyway, "Now that I think about it, yes."
"Nakamura, are you sure you're going on a date with this guy? I thought you preferred experienced boys", Karma said with a sneer on his face as Nakamura grinned slyly at me. Alright, let me take back my words. You two are the worst. How can you turn my inexperience in dating into a weapon that can be used to wound my heart and pride? Scary. Scary, these two. I need to retreat fast–
"Well, pure innocent boys like Hikigaya have their own charm, after all~" Nakamura said while shooting a smile of pure malice towards me and wait did I just hear that correctly!?
Scary! Nakamura-san, you are scary! Just what are you doing in your life by tossing out those lines in a carefree tone!? Are you a player!? Is that it!? Are you the type to play around with boys' hearts and throw them away once you're done!? Since when did I associate with such a dangerous company here!?
...Right, just earlier. Damn it Hachiman, you're supposed to be better than this! "Well, since there's still a bit of time after we go to that game store, we're probably going to go around a few more places before we part ways at the station, so can you leave us alone for a moment, Karma?"
"Hm? Sure", the red-haired devil said, waving at us with a smirk on his face as he left the room, "I'm going to bother that octopus for some more entertainment, so just keep on talking, you guys."
...Given how Korosensei was pissed at your antics, I'm pretty sure you're going to like his reactions.
"So Hikigaya, are you sure that you should just be spacing out and allowing the girl to take the reins of the conversation?" Nakamura said, shooting a cheeky grin at me as I gave her a blank stare, "I didn't expect you to be such a doormat, but oh well. I guess that's another part of your charm too."
"...Thanks", I simply said in return, causing Nakamura to smile at me as she brought out her phone and nudged it towards me.
"Friends are supposed to help each other out, right?" Nakamura said with a cheeky grin on her face as she forced her phone into my hands, "Give me your number, Hikigaya. We can go to more outings this way, right?"
Friends. Just because I had asked her to help me from my current situation and she had responded accordingly to it, it makes the two of us friends? I'm pretty sure that she would use that as leverage in order to force me on whatever farce that she's going to put me on, and seeing that smile on her face meant that my thoughts were spot-on. How does this make us friends, exactly? This is more of a give-and-take relationship rather than friendship, where unpaid favors are rather common between friends. How is this exactly friendship– "Hikigaya, you're spacing out again!"
I perk up. Was I lost in my thoughts or something? I think it wasn't the case, but I'll apologize just in case, "Sorry."
"Why are you even apologizing?" Nakamura said with an awkward smile plastered on her face as she scratched her cheek, "I just realized that you just like thinking. Sorry if I intruded on your thoughts."
I frowned, "Why are you even apologizing?"
"Hm? I don't know. Weird, huh? Must be something on my mind, then", Nakamura said, trying to deflect my statement as I couldn't help but sigh. No matter what I do against her, I'm hopeless, aren't I? Being played by a woman on a whim...Somehow, I can't help but want to die just at the thought of it.
"Ne, Hikigaya", Nakamura said after a short moment of silence as I slowly inputted my number onto her phone, taking my time to do the same thing on my phone while glancing up towards her, "You're seriously planning on going with me to the game store later?"
"I need some new games for my Vita-chan", I replied in a flat tone as Nakamura blinked at me, "What? I only brought a few games with me from my house, so I'm currently lacking in good entertainment. Oh, and can we pass by a bookstore later? I need to buy a few volumes of some of the light novels that I'm currently reading..."
"Y-You sure are hyped up for this, Hikigaya..." Nakamura said as she stared at me with a weird expression on her face, "Are you sure you won't mind that this is technically a date?"
...My thoughts grinded to a halt for a bit. Indeed, this might be misconstrued as a date. We were talking in hushed tones – especially when Karma was around – but seeing as the red-haired devil would tell the whole class about our supposed talk, even if we chose to not go with the plan, it was hopeless. It was, in any case, a waste of time and resources to cancel the damn thing, especially since I would be technically wasting a day replaying games and rereading books, when I could've immersed myself with something new rather than shut myself in my room in the first place.
"Given what Karma's planning to do with the information that we've given him, I won't", I stated, hammering in the fact that Karma was planning to spread the fact that me and Nakamura were planning on going out – and god forbid what my other classmates would think about that, "Since we're screwed either way, I suggest you just take this chance and get this over with."
"Eh, fair point", Nakamura said as she shrugged, giving me a smirk in the process as she winked at me, "So, when do we meet up?"
"We're literally in the same class", I deadpanned as Nakamura laughed at my expense. Yes, yes, I know it's funny, but someone with enough common sense should've already dragged you out in an alleyway and stab you to death for that joke, "So, later?"
"Got it", she said, swiping her phone back from me as a thin smile formed on her face, one that I could tell was born out of frank enthusiasm. Somehow, I couldn't help but smile lightly given the sight. I was getting too soft. Didn't I tell myself that I needed to extricate myself from others? Yeah you did, past self, but for a certain someone, it's not working. Well, you're in a situation that would normally make people crazy, so I'm actually more curious as to how you're currently staying sane, present self. Simple past self: the fact that I'm talking to you now means that I'm not sane in the first place. Right. See? "Thanks Hikigaya. See you later then!"
Turning back towards me, I watched Nakamura go off towards Nagisa, probably to tease him like what she tried to do with me. Rest in peace, Nagisa. I will always remember you when I graduate from Kunugigaoka.
I could only chuckle at the sight in front of me as I replaced my earphones, the music of PreCure washing my worries away as I slowly drifted off towards the sea of unconsciousness.
[–|–]
"Ow", I said, grunting at the slight pain caused by Nakamura's bag hitting my left arm as I met her gaze, seeing the blonde frown at me about...something. What's her problem now? "What is it?"
"I can't believe that you were going to ditch me out of all people", she said, placing her hands on her hips and leaning forward as if she were an annoying childhood friend that was lecturing someone else. Seriously, I didn't ditch you. I was just finding a suitable spot for me to wait for you just in case that gossiping octopus is around...But then again, he's probably being harassed by Karma again, so I'd like to give that devil my thanks, as much as it pains me to say that thanking the devil isn't really my forte, "Are you seriously the type of person that would leave their date behind just because they're late?"
"Hey, my time is precious. I could've used it to watch more anime and stuff", I quipped back as Nakamura's scowl deepened. Oh come on woman, I'm already wasting my time just waiting for us to start moving, and yet here you are, trying to chastise me for trying to leave my (not) date behind. I mean, the game store closes at eight, you know? You're going to be the one at fault if I can't get the latest Monster Hunter for my Vita-chan, you know? You're also going to be responsible if I can't get my manga and light novels on time, you know? You knoooooooow~
...Damn that sounded annoying. I would've been pissed off if I heard that from someone else, "Hikigaya, come back to earth. You're spacing out again."
Is she talking to me? Yes she's talking to you, common sense. Now go and return back here or I'll force you to do so. You're scary, you know? Of course, I'm Hikigaya Hachiman. What would you expect? "And you're doing it again."
"...Sorry", I manage to eke out, causing Nakamura to sigh at me whilst shaking her head in response.
"You should be", she said, a thin frown on her face as she began walking down the mountain that the satellite campus was in, "Let's go."
I sighed, following after the blonde whilst trying to keep pace, trying not to mind the flash of red and yellow that I saw from the bushes off to my side. It seems that the octopus always has a mind for gossip. Seriously, keep on acting like that, and I'll probably dart my eyes everywhere at once just so that I can see whether someone was watching me or something.
It could be a Skill. Oh yeah, let's go for one-hundred and eight of them. It sounds much cooler than just having five hundred of them, "Say, Hikigaya..."
"Yeah?" Damn it woman, stop interrupting my thought processes! Can't you see that I'm planning for something big and cool here!? At least read the damn mood woman – did you know that it's a must for all people to avoid being an insensitive prick!?
"About Karasuma-sensei earlier..." She said, keeping her voice down just in case that someone around us might hear our conversation – i.e. a certain gossipmonger that tries to pass itself off as a yellow octopus. Wait, so that meant that she also saw Korosensei a while back? "...Did you actually win?"
"Hell no", I immediately replied. I don't want to gather more attention than there is now, "When he just dropped his guard, I gladly went in and took it. Oh, and with a little bit of cheating as well. You did notice me firing a pistol at him, right?"
"Yeah, but like I saw Karasuma-sensei's face during that time, you know? Made me lose against Okuda-san, but still", she said, a sly grin on her face as she glanced towards me, "You should've seen the look on Karasuma-sensei's face. He was like 'Just where did he pull out that gun!?, you know!? It's just so funny!"
As Nakamura laughed, I could only grimace by the loudness of her tone as we made our way out of the campus grounds and towards the city. I mean, does this woman know what 'keeping a low profile' means? I'm pretty sure she doesn't. Or was it because that she already knew that both that octopus and devil were spying on us that it was just useless to keep a low profile? I wouldn't know. As far as I'm concerned this woman seems to be unreadable, "Oh, Hikigaya, checking out your date already? Didn't your parents teach you about manners?"
And there it is. The signature teasing, "They did. Although, they didn't give me any advice on girls like you, so I'm winging it here."
"Hikigaya, you're just so funny, you know!" She said, slapping my shoulder as she laughed out loud, and I couldn't help but wince in pain. I'm sorry, but it hurts. Like, it seriously hurts. Please stop doing that – a simple long-sleeved polo isn't enough to cushion the blows from your attacks. My HP is already falling at a higher rate than I expected, and I might drop dead before we even get to that game store – Ow. Nakamura-san, why are you pinching my palm? It hurts, so please stop it, "...Hikigaya, you're spacing out again. You're going to run into a pole at this rate, you know?"
"Sorry. Just chalk it up to me acting like an idiot, so I'm sorry", I said, a thin frown forming on Nakamura's face as she averted my gaze and stared straight ahead.
"...Hikigaya, everytime you try and apologize you just keep making those eyes of yours worse", she said, her tone completely even and composed as I couldn't help but blink in shock. However, a second later, she already turned back towards me with the usual grin on her face, "That's why we're going to try and cover them up with something that'll hide them."
"A blindfold would be the best, then", I replied before I yelped in pain, my side being hit by a stray blow from Nakamura as I couldn't help but glare at her. Seriously, what the hell woman!? I'm trying to make a joke here!
"The main purpose of a joke is to make people laugh, not to dig yourself deeper in a hole", Nakamura said with a sigh as she shook her head at me, "...Seriously Hikigaya, what were you doing before you were transferred into the E-Class? I peeked at your papers, and to be frank you could've easily competed on Karma's level."
"There was nothing else that I could've done while I shut myself in that room. The net, manga, anime, and light novels can only entertain you for so long until you finally scream in boredom and start studying", I answered her honestly as she stopped and looked at me with shock, and I answered her question before she could put it into words, "Don't ask. I...had a rough time."
"I...see", Nakamura said, now being slightly left behind as she quickened her pace to keep up with me. Now if my mind told me correctly, the game store was just around the corner... "So, want to hit an accessory shop before heading towards that game store?"
"...You're paying, though."
"Tch. Did your parents tell you to always make your date pay for everything?"
"Hey, you were the one that suggested it, so be the one to pay for it", I said, defending myself whilst holding up my arms in a compromise as Nakamura clicked her tongue, shaking her head at me in resignation as we turned the sidewalk, immediately finding the accessory shop immediately as Nakamura grabbed my hand and dragged me into it.
Wait a minute. My father always told me that women shopped far longer than what they're supposed to do. Wait, it's already six-thirty in the evening, and judging by his words that would've meant that we would be exiting by about nine in the evening! And that was just a generous estimate! Wait! Stop! The game store closes by eight, so I can't buy games if I'm being lugged around by a woman in the middle of shopping! Wait, I'm willing to compromise – "Here. Try these on, and tell me what you think."
I blinked, looking at Nakamura with shock on my face as I was met with her glowering at me, "What? Unlike what you think, I shop far quicker. Now go and try those on and tell me what you think."
The second time wasn't just a request like the first time that she said it. It was a command, forcing me to do it unless I wanted some consequence that I'd rather regret. Like holding me here in this shop as she forces me to try everything in the storefront on, for example.
...Nakamura is scary. Women are scary. The lot of them, except for Komachi. My little sister is always cute and brings a smile to the family.
I stood up and went towards one of the mirrors that were set up about the shop, looking at the accessories that Nakamura had forced into my hand as I couldn't help but blink at them. A bonnet and a pair of glasses. Are these seriously enough for me to reduce the disgusting appeal of my eyes down? I like them quite the way they are now.
...Though, seeing that Nakamura's glower intensifying by the minute, I could only sigh in resignation and put the glasses on, the frame fitting my face perfectly. The gray bonnet came after, noting how it fit snugly onto my head as I couldn't help but glance at the mirror in front of me. I couldn't help but widen my eyes at the sight.
The glasses hid the strained and dry look of my eyes, and the bonnet emphasized my eyes by cutting off the parts of my face that one can see. The annoying cowlick that was on the top of my head moved its position – goddamn that hair – and was now sticking out of the bonnet like a horn.
...Somehow, I look like a nerd wearing these. Is this seriously alright? "Nakamura, I don't really think that this is–"
"Ah, it looks good Hikigaya!" My blonde classmate said, her signature grin on her face as she placed her hands on her hips and smiled at me, "Come on, let's go pay for those already and let's go to the game store!"
...It seems that I never had a choice in the matter. I'm sorry father; I'm sorry mother – your son has been played for a fool by a woman, something that you had always feared given my innocent (lol) and trusting (not) personality. Sighing in resignation, I quickly took off the accessories that Nakamura had gotten for me and quickly gave it to her, watching in peace as she quickly went to the cashier and quickly paid for the two items.
...Somehow, I feel guilty, "Here, Hikigaya! Wear them now!"
I sighed, taking the things that she had bought and immediately wore them, my head still slightly irritated at the cowlick moving towards its new position as I couldn't help but grumble and twirl it around a finger. Seriously, it just feels so weird and now Nakamura's laughing, "...What?"
"Yeah", she said, a smile on her face as she nodded at me, "That look suits you better, Hikigaya. Now let's go to that game store and let me see what kind of games that you've been playing to pass your time."
I could only nod in response to my classmate's words as she quickly exited the shop that we were in, with me trailing shortly behind her as we entered the game store that was beside the accessory shop, my sight being greeted by a bunch of shelves with game discs, with the cashier being directly to my right and greeting us for stopping by.
I gave a nod in recognition, and immediately went loose as my feet carried me towards the aisles for the PS Vita games. My eyes scanned the shelves, immediately going towards the area where the games were at a percentage off as my eyes immediately caught the telltale sign of something made by Atlus.
Since I've got nothing to do in the upcoming weekends, I guess I'll spend my time playing slice-of-life anime Pokémon simulator. Needless to say, it was the Golden version of Persona 4 – "Ah."
"Ah", a voice said, immediately shrinking back from the copy of the game as I did the same thing as well, my gaze immediately shooting up to meet the person's gaze as I couldn't help but widen my eyes in surprise, "Kanzaki-san?"
Just what is the Yamato Nadeshiko doing in a place like a game store? "H-Huh? H-How did you know my name...?"
Ah, right. Good job, me. Of course, almost no one recognizes you in this new get-up of yours, so it's painfully obvious that I must look like a stalker to this girl right now. I mean, if you suddenly see a guy wearing suspicious clothing and knowing your name, wouldn't you also assume that someone's a stalker?
Which is why I have to say my thanks again to Nakamura, who just idly trashed through the awkward mood in the air, "Ah, I finally found you, Hikigaya! I was wondering whether or not you ditched me already, but then I see you here in the PS Vita section and wait, Kanzaki-san?"
"Huh? Nakamura-san?" Kanzaki said as she tilted her head to the side, staring at my blonde classmate as her eyes widened in recognition, "Wait, if what you're saying is true, then–"
"Hikigaya Hachiman, the transfer student. Nice to meet you, Kanzaki-san, though judging by the look on your face it would be correct to assume that we haven't spoken yet", I said, immediately explaining the situation to the bewildered beauty of the class, "...I'm sorry – Ugh!"
"Like I said Hikigaya, don't apologize for something that you didn't do", Nakamura said while shooting me a glare, "It's honestly unsettling, and it's kind of weird for other people to see you just apologizing like that, so don't try and do it again."
"What are you, my mother?" I fired back almost immediately as Kanzaki let out a surprised yelp, her amber eyes glancing towards the two of us as I couldn't help but sigh. Right, she was here. Misunderstanding coming in three, two, one–
"H-Huh? A-Are the two of you possibly dati–"
""No.""
"O-Oh, I see", she said, the shock of seeing me in my new get-up still not flushing themselves out of her body as she immediately averted our pointed gazes, "W-Well, y-you were about to get the copy after all, so you might as well take it–"
"No", I said, immediately shutting down any kind of flag that might be forming at the moment. All the boys would kill me in less than a heartbeat if by some miracle I had the chance to do so, "You were reaching for the Persona 4: Golden. I was reaching out for the Gravity Rush."
"I see", Kanzaki said, finally regaining her senses as she hit me with the fakest smile that she had ever given in class, "Then, I'll be taking the copy now, thank you very much."
With a quick swipe of her hand, the Golden copy was now gone from the sales area, and I couldn't help but sigh after Kanzaki left as I took one of the Gravity Rush copies and checked its price. 4, 798 yen. To think that I'd use my money that I saved over three months in order to just buy this game...And it was on sale too. Just how much is this game's actual price?
...You know what, screw it. JoJo's it is then, "Is that really good?"
"No, but beats anything else that might be on this area", I immediately replied in response to Nakamura's query, "The rest of these games are of the average quality, and out of most that I had thoroughly researched last night, only a few titles were enough to get my attention. Sadly, this is the last one that I would be getting, but better to try something new rather than experiencing a risk that could potentially turn out to be a waste of almost 5, 000 yen."
"Oh come on, the potential benefits to taking a risk outweigh the costs–"
"I'm not judging you for your...peculiar taste in games, so leave me alone already", I said with a sigh as Nakamura looked miffed, as if she wanted to say something in return but can't. After all, who was she to talk when she was holding one of the recent Call of Duty games? I would've understood – hell, even respected her if she chose Battlefield, but then again, she chose Call of Duty. Which is the reason why all of these statements are in my head and I'm not flinging them like rapid-fire insults towards the second person who didn't say anything bad about my eyes.
"Ah well, today's a bust, then", I said, gingerly placing the copy of the game disk back towards the pile, "...I guess that we just need to drop by that bookstore and get this over with, huh."
"You say that as if you hate my company", Nakamura said with a slight frown on her face as I simply waved at her dismissively, prompting her to cross her arms and pout at me as she huffed and made her way towards the cashier.
No actually. I don't mind you being here, it's just that I'm in a foul mood since Kanzaki had first gotten that copy of Persona 4: Golden. It means that what I'm going to do for the next weekend is to grind out my dream equipment in Monster Hunter, and anyone who has played the damn game would know the damn pain of getting them.
...Great. Did I just admit that? I just did. Good job common sense, you're supposed to be the epitome of what you're supposed to stand for and what do I get? You could at least say thank you. For what? Flooding my brains with oxytocin so that I can't think straight? I can't hear the 'thank you very much, common sense' in there, you know? You do know that we're currently stuck here in this position because you screwed up and let Nakamura take the flow of the conversation! Yeah, well what are you supposed to do when you get stuck in that kind of situation, huh? Obviously, disengage and spend the rest of lunchtime hanging around in the lot at the back of the classroom, training and stuff.
"Hikigaya, you're spacing out again, aren't you?" Nakamura said with an exasperated sigh as she couldn't help but massage her temples and I'm sorry but I just can't help thinking about stuff when my common sense does not want to help, "Well, we better go to this bookstore that you're talking about. Do you know where it is?"
I nod, "Lead the way. And don't you dare space out while we're walking. You might get hit by a car or walk into a pole, and I am not taking responsibility if you ever suddenly decide to kill yourself. You got that, Hikigaya?"
Once again, I nod, making Nakamura sigh at me in both irritation and relief as the two of us went out of the game shop, my breath catching the moment I stepped outside and breathed in the cold spring air. Well, it wasn't the only reason as to why.
Nakamura held the back of my polo, making me glance towards her in confusion as she simply grinned back, a dangerous glint in her blue eyes, "Insurance that you won't just die on me. Korosensei might blow a fuse if he finds out that you almost killed yourself, after all."
...Like I said, I won't be running into any cars or poles soon, so rest easy.
AN: Well, this chapter was longer than expected. Probably because it's a slice-of-life chapter? Well, more reviews are appreciated, so keep them coming!
Predator7 - The origins of his Self-Defense Training originated from somewhere in this chapter, as long as you can connect the dots. Hell, I think I foreshadowed it from Chapter 1?
Metal Vile - As much of an 'ace' as 8man appears to be, his mental health's not really that holding up strong. Due to the fact that he was incessantly bullied for the rest of his 2nd year in middle school, plus the fact that he had shut himself out for a maximum of about two months, it takes a toll on an ordinary person like 8man. Well, he spent his two months as a shut-in productively in order to mask his darker thoughts, but some way or somehow it's going to be brought to light. Oh, and 8man's the foil for Nakamura in this fic: he's outwardly serious and scathing, but he's more of a playful trickster inside. Plus, he's actually much more innocent (lol) and trusting (lol) than he looks, since he's still not his high school self.
