It wasn't good enough, Komaeda thought as he looked at his laptop screen. The word insufficient was boldly lit but the brightness of the screen. Kirigiri had replied almost immediately when he sent him the paper, urging him on to redo the report properly this time. Some rant about 'participating in the program is obligatory' and whatnot made the permanent smile on his face falter.
He let himself fall back against the cushion on his bed, it was Friday night now, and instead of doing something fun like mindlessly watching television or read a book, he was stuck writing a report about the reserve course student, again.
A buzzing in his pocket returned him from his daze, lazily taking it from his pocket as he turned on the screen, looking at the text he just received on his phone intently. He didn't recognize the number, and when he tried to think of who it might be his face fell into a frown.
Unknown number:
Hey.
Komaeda let his fingers glide over the touch screen of his phone, swiftly pressing the letter to form a quick reply at the unknown messenger.
You:
Who are you?
Unknown number:
It's me, Hinata Hajime.
I got your number from Nanami-chan since you wouldn't text me.
I would be nice if you replied, I can see you read my messages, you know.
He ignored the other for a bit, as he clicked on the 'add contact' button. Why did the other have to be so needy, he could've just waited until he would text him when he needed him. He laughed at his thoughts as if he ever needed the other. He typed in a name for him on his phone, something fitting for the other boy.
You:
Why would I reply to someone like you?
Reserve course student:
This again?
Why are you being so extremely difficult anyway.
You:
Because you and I are equal, and it disgusts me
You need to know your place in this society
and stay there
Reserve course student:
Geez, what's your problem!?
You:
You are,
You stained the hopeful class with your normalcy
Bitterness dripped from his texts, this was so unlike him, but he couldn't help feeling such resentment for the other boy. He knew he was being unfair to him, but he stopped caring about that a long time ago. Looking at the text that he was 'typing' still made him irk in curiosity. If he would be able to give him a legit reason to help him, he'd probably oblige. Hinata was being one of the nicest to him since years, and he couldn't help feel a little bad about treating him like trash, but it had to be for the greater hope in the end.
Reserve course student:
It's not like I want to be talentless you know.
I hate being average, to feel left behind in the shadows of the talented.
But just because I don't have an outstanding ability doesn't mean I have to give up entirely, right?
I worked extremely hard to make myself important, and that's how I got into the program.
I feel like I'm finally getting there,
But I can't achieve my goal if you're being a little bitch about it.
You:
What's in it for me?
Reserve course student:
Well, for one you'd be one of the people who helped making the world a better place.
Imagine the possibilities if the project would actually succeed!?
You would participate in the first steps to creating a new hope for the future.
Maybe you would be able to help me create a talent myself or help someone else achieve that in the future.
Just try to think about it like that.
Komaeda stilled his fingers, taking in the words on the screen. Hinata sure was driven to make this work, his willpower was truly fascinating. He stared at the brightness in his hands, looking at the tiny bubble of text. The boy was so hopeful of his future, and maybe, just maybe, he would have that little spark of hope inside of him like the other ultimates had. And here he was being asked to let that glimmer of hope inside the boy shine brightly, he couldn't say no to a speech like that.
You:
Fine
I'll help you, but only if you lick my shoes
Reserve course student:
What!?
You:
Just kidding! (~^▽^~)
But, I'll only help if you promise me not to stand in the way of the other students, 'kay
Reserve course student:
Deal.
You:
Ugh.
Now I have to redo this dumb paper since Kirigiri-sama said it wasn't good enough
Reserve course student:
I don't remember you asking me anything that was on the form to begin with...
You:
That's because I didn't ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Reserve course student:
Then, of course, it's not sufficient enough, what were you thinking!? We're supposed to be a team here, you know.
You:
Now now, Hinata, You've forgotten the first rule of being a reserve course student
Don't look down on the ultimates
Reserve course student:
Hey, don't act so high and mighty all of the sudden.
I thought you said we were equals?
You:
Being equal to trash still makes you trash, you know
Reserve course student:
Don't say something harsh like that? Don't you have any manners whatsoever?
Why don't you send me some of the questions and I'll help you with it?
Like it was supposed to be.
You:
Fine (´Д`)
Sending attachment ' '
He sent him the document of the paper he filled in, feeling a little embarrassed of the horrible job he did on it, as he told him what Kirigiri had mailed a little earlier. They worked on improving the paper and making an actual report this time. Chatting a bit lighthearted in between, rude sentences transitioned into playful banter, making Komaeda laugh at Hinata's overly serious answers. He was actually having fun talking with someone, it's been a while since he didn't have to be afraid what to say in a conversation, since it wouldn't matter if he embarrassed himself in front of a reserve course student anyway.
Reserve course student:
Could we maybe talk normally this Monday?
I'd like to get to know you, especially since we're stuck with each other in this situation.
You:
I guess I don't really have much of a choice here, now do I?
Fine, I'll play along
You better not disappoint me, Hinata
Reserve course student:
I wouldn't dare.
Thank you, Komaeda-kun.
Komaeda shut down his phone, not know what to answer to that. He resent the improved document to the headmaster, hoping, this time, it would be good enough. Deciding he had deserved some time for himself, he grabbed one of the books he was reading on the nightstand and made himself comfortable on the bed, letting his hand glide down the smooth paper of the book. He enjoyed reading since the story would already have a written conclusion when he would start on the first page. He didn't know why, but something that simply made him feel calm, calm knowing not everything could be influenced by his luck. No matter how much he would want the story to end, his cycle of luck would never have an influence on it, and it was very reassuring to him.
He let his mind wander as he read the small, black text in front of him at lightning speed. Reading as much as he had, he became quite skilled at it, devouring books by the hour, only to grab a new one to compel into his satisfaction. He would be worried at how independent he had become of the books if he was able to spend the time with friends or family instead, but sadly for him, that wasn't the case.
He spends the rest of the weekend drowned up by books in his dorm, waiting for school to start again Monday. This wasn't the life he'd chosen, but rather, what he was forced to live.
