Not much to say, this wraps up this arc of events. . . . .

Hachiman will play a more minor role after this, so apologies for all you Hikki-fans. We're talking looking at the big picture here.

Though, the Service Club will see some more appearances.

Again, apologies for any OOC-ness you see here. Again, I advise you to read the title of this story before delving into it. I did warn you, a little.


The Day

Hikki bit his lip, hard. This was the class where he was meant to finally take action. He could see Yumiko on the other side of the classroom, nonchalantly staring at him. She was definitely waiting to see if he had the balls to do it.

. . .Well, seems he did, as she scooted off his desk.

Kakeru looked up from his corner desk in confusion.

Minami, who is beside Hina and talking, takes a nervous step forward.

Hina doesn't seem to notice.

Yumiko only raises an eyebrow.

And Hikki feels all the pressure.

Despite being aware that not all of the students were looking at him, the burning feeling of those who did was still evident.

He was losing confidence.

Luckily, he had only three steps from Minami (who hadn't moved an inch after the first step).

Well, here goes nothing. Or for Kakeru, he supposed.

'S-so, Minami, I have something to say.'

Was that how it went? He had always been confessed to, and never confessed to anyone before.

Her rapid nod looked as if it would pop her head off.

'You, you can just say it right now . . . .Hikki.'

Crap. Now is where he drops it.

'Anyways. . . .Would you. . Go out with me?'

Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit. That sounded terrible. Absolutely terrible.

However, Minami was hesitating. She doesn't look directly at the boy, instead only frowning as she tries to say what has to be said.

Yumiko narrows her eyes. If that girl said the wrong thing, nothing was going to go right.

And everyone in the room held their breath. Except for Hina, who was inconspicuously looking away from it all.

But finally, the girl shakes her head a fraction of an centimeter. Barely, but it registers as a "no."

Hachiman tried to pull his best "I just got rejected" look. Difficult considering he was always the one doing that. Rejecting, that is.

But what was he supposed to say now?

Crap. . . .Maybe he should have practiced this.

'S. . .sorry for bothering you. . . .'

That was the worst ending he could have done.

But hey, maybe people thought he was a sensitive guy.

With that, slowly walked off, still the center of attention, as the entire class had fallen silent.

Minami seemed undecided as to what she should do, but finally also stepped back to friends, and Hina.

It seemed the worst was over.

But of course, being the optimist he was, Hachiman jinxed it.

Or maybe it was fate that the whole thing went downhill from there.

As Hikki placed himself firmly on his seat, he heard a loud commotion from Minami's friends.

'You knew Hina liked Hachiman, right? You could have at least have had some consideration after she just confessed to him yesterday!'

Wait, what?

Hina definitely did not confess to him yesterday. . . .

So that lead to only one conclusion: she told everyone else she did.

And apparently, he didn't accept it.

Of course, neither Hikki, Minami, Kakeru, or anyone in the Service Club heard of this.

Until now, with the entire class believing it too. And only with four truly knowing the truth behind the matter.

Hina was quietly sulking in the back of the group, while the rest were reprimanding Minami, who looked very much confused.

'Minami, you've gone too far this time. We never want to see you again! Hina never wants to see you again!'

The innocent (mostly) girl that was accused tried to give out a desperate plea that she wasn't guilty.

'But I didn't eve-'

'No, out!'

And so, before she could protest any further, the girl found herself promptly pushed out of the classroom.

. . . . .Which only lead to the attention of the class back to Hachiman, except this time, with much more distaste at him for rejecting a girl and asking out another right afterwards the next day.

Uncomfortable with this feeling, Hikki didn't even dare look at Kakeru, who he was sure was looking at him too with a expression of disgust. Something Hikki didn't see want to see right now.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see a flash of yellow as Yumiko turned away from the scene.

Grindng his teeth, Hachiman decided to cover his head and wait for the teacher to come back.

But no one spoke for several minutes afterwards.

And even when it began, they were only whispers.

Not that it prevented him for hearing things he'd rather not hear about himself.


Afterschool

'Oi, you guys!'

Hikki ran over to the trio who were leaving from the school gates. The late afternoon was clouded that day.

Time to apologize.

'Hey Kakeru, I'm sorry, you know, but you have to listen to me, that whole thing was a-'

He shakes his head, immediately quieting the babbling Hachiman.

Ōoka and Yamato frown at this, before making their exit as the two face it out in the glow of the dying sun.

'Sorry, Hikki.'

Casting a apologetic smile, Kakeru reaches for the other boy's shoulder.

'I'm sorry we can't do this anymore.'

Widening his eyes, Hachiman shrugs off his hand.

'Do what!? Kakeru, you have to know, I didn't do anything like what they said! You've got to hear me out on this. Hina was going to reject you, alright? And then, I was forced to confess to Minami so Hina would blame me and ruin our whole group, like it's doing right now, okay! And so, I did all that. But Hina, damn her, she just had to have brought up some new thing that she confessed to me yesterday. You were with me the entire day, right!? Even after school, I was busy. You can ask that crazy Service Club, I was there for more than three hours! Trust me, there is no way in hell she could have done what she did and I do what she said I did!'

Panting, Hachiman placed his hand on his knees, sucking in air after that monologue.

'Hikki, that sounds great, but I can't. I just can't.'

Kakeru still tried to laugh it off with his smile, but it was wearing thin.

'Remember out little bet? How if everything went wrong, I would buy you juice?'

Hachiman doesn't react.

No, no, no.

Kakeru pulls from his school bag a small juice box.

'I guess I came prepared, huh.'

He holds it forward to Hachiman.

'Never did think it'd go this wrong though.'

Hikki stares at the drink. He knows what will happen if he takes it.

'Dammit, no! I told you-'

He doesn't finish his sentence before he is struck to the ground by a punch to his stomach.

'Look, Hachiman, just take the damn drink. Don't give me this crap.'

Kakeru drops the container beside the wheezing boy.

'I don't want to see you again, Hachiman. This whole. . .this whole thing with you and. . .'

A pause, but then Kakeru turns away from him.

Hikki can hear him stomp off into the distance.

Coughing in pain, the pulse of his blood doesn't stop.

The rough concrete scrapes his clothes and hands as he struggles get up.

Neither of the two see the other streaked with tears.

But both are coursing with pain.


He stumbles across the road back home, his stomach still jabbing him as if he had just been hit. The drink is in his hand, but he wants to just wants to fling it away.

But it was a parting gift, a parting gift from Kakeru.

Yumiko's face flashes in his vision.

Once again, her words came back to him.

"Social suicide."

"She might not speak to him like she did then."

Evidently, she meant he wouldn't speak with him as the ever-popular Hachiman that he used to be.

It was at that moment, when Hikki grew his hatred of this.

This society, this social norm. He had lived in it for years, he had cherished it, he had been part of it, he had worked for it.

Yet he was now abandoned with the single "mishap of love."

Despite him having done nothing wrong, everyone had treated him carelessly. Yumiko, Hina, Yoshiteru. . . . .

What did he do?

Nothing. But society punished him for that.

And the waves of agony was a sharp reminder of that, as well as the dried tears on his face.

But still, this wasn't enough.

No, no, he wasn't properly kicked out off the high-class life yet.

Pausing a moment to clutch his stomach, he sees a car's headlights blaze to him, and the world, for Hiki Hachiman, goes dark.

The last thing he sees is the juice box next to him, crushed and leaking.

Huh, he chuckles darkly. Just like him.


Damn, what did I just type up?

The sadness factor is really low, I can't make a tragic mood to save my life.

But. . . . well then.

Not all the arcs will be this dark, though.

I'm sorry if it seems rushed in how it's made up, but we have stuff to cover, besides Hikki. Which is actually spelled "Hiki," but spellcheck won that war long ago.