Weewah - I'm not that evil!

Hmm I guess everyone got bored with this story. Still, I'll still write until I complete this story or I lost the drive. Onto the next chapter!


が いる - 嘘の山で

I Exist - On the Mountain of Lies

Disclaimer:

Original Story by Watari Wataru


Chapter 7: And so, the the ripples they caused will tear the world asunder #3


Hachiman watched as the silhouette of his girlfriend disappeared behind the transparent door of the apartment, before walked his way toward his next destination. Despite sharing the same building, Ebina and Yukinoshita used entirely different entrance, which logically means they lived on the opposite end of the buildings. The likelihood of them coincidentally meeting is defined by how often they loiter around the apartment grounds.

In a large apartment complex with hundreds of semi-permanent residents like this, sharing the same building is not much of a big deal. Anyone not in the next door could be considered strangers all the same.

Truthfully, he's not eager visiting a girl -one that lived on her own at that- around this time of the night.

But he had to do this now, because his spirit withered for every second passing. By the time sun rise, there will be nothing left.

He had to talk with Yukinoshita now, so he pushed the intercom.

"[Yes?]"

"It's me..."

"[...Hikigaya?]" The faint voice from the intercom sounds completely perplexed, "[Do you have specific business to attend with me? Is Yuigahama with you?]"

"I'm alone, let's talk outside. It's safer that way."

"[Wait...]"

"I'm waiting."

There's no way he will enter her apartment on his own, and he wouldn't take no for an answer.

And so, he stepped outside the entrance hall and wait outside.

There's still leftover tea from the dinner, and he wasn't eager to buy MAX coffee around this time so he settled with inferior drink to fight the coldness of the night as he wait.

"...what the heck were you thinking?" Yukinoshita said behind him with exasperated voice.

"About Yuigahama's plan." He turned around so he could see her directly in the face, "I decide to support her..."

Yukinoshita's expression changed in the very instant.

"...what..."

"I said I'll support her decision." He told her, "I'll apply on the student council position as well."

"But why? Hikigaya..." Yukinoshita approached, her face completely shocked, and her voice were filled with repressed anger. "...I thought you would understand..."

He understand, he understand very well. Unlike Yuigahama, both him and Yukinoshita saw Service Club as more than convenient entity. Even if they don't want to admit it, because such pointless attachment would be illogical. Yukino wanted Service club to be her last bastion of peace, because it was the only place where everyone can be themselves to the fullest.

Yuigahama didn't share the same sentiment.

"Because I want to know... that's why I accept it." He told her, "Yukinoshita, have you tried to understand Yuigahama's wish?"

"That has nothing to do with-" Evasively, she turned her face away form him.

"It has everything to do with this mess." He told her, "...because you're about to abandon her."

"...but that's wrong." Yukinoshita covered her ears, "That's wrong..."

"Does she knows?" he inquired.

In the first place, Yuigahama always been left out. From the beginning until the end, Yuigahama always been the third wheel, because Yuigahama don't understand the relationship they shared.

"She doesn't... because neither of us knows what she wanted the most either." He told her.

The thing she wanted the most, Hachiman still unable to find it.

But maybe... maybe if he can fulfill her wish, he might understand.

"I can't understand what Yuigahama wanted." Hachiman continued, "That's why I'll accept it."

"...I thought you would know better." Yukinoshita grasped her scarf tight, her voice were toxic and full of disappointment. In the first place, accepting a wish without fully understanding the implication can be fatal.

"...suppose I decide not to support her decision, and Hiratsuka-sensei didn't allow me to quit, what are you going to do?" He asked her bluntly, "Would you stop her from being student council member?"

He was fully prepared for that, it would be alright even if he's alone again. In the first place, he always been a loner. Even if Yuigahama and Yukinoshita left him, things wouldn't change. He and Yukinoshita always been strangers that shared a lot of common interest, he and Yuigahama... weren't friends either. Of course, if Yukinoshita become president and Yuigahama become student council member, Hiratsuka will probably kick his loner ass into the council as well. She always been a meddlesome hag like that, and that would be very painful.

But Yuigahama think Yukinoshita as her friend, does Yukinoshita think the same?

"Yuigahama will not stop as long as you move forward, you know her more than I do. And Sensei will probably drag me into the council anyway." He cracked a sad smile, which comes out as creepy instead of emotional. "Yukinoshita, ultimately, the choice is yours."

As she looked at him, the tension surrounding the place began to disappear, replaced by melancholy.

"What is it you wanted... Hikigaya-kun?"

"I want to stop you, but I won't." He said to Yukinoshita again, "This is the best course of action, I know that very well."

"Why do you want to stop me?"

"Don't ask like you don't understand." he chuckled.

"I see." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before she let go a defeated smile. "Hikigaya-kun... are you alright with position of General Affairs Manager?"

"Sounds like a pain in the ass, but whatever." He declared loudly.

"I see." She lifted her cellphone and dialed certain someone's number.

"[Moshi-moshi?]"

Above all else, Yukinoshita's mysterious, lonely smile had returned. "It's me, Yuigahama-san.]"

"[Et-to, Yukinon? What it is?]" The voice came across as uncertain, but still as loud as Yukinoshita can remember.

"Let's go for the election together, shall we?"

And so, the service club decided to fulfill Isshiki's request.

...

Ebina Hina quietly entered the empty apartment without bothering to turn on the lights. Instead, the background light from the curtain-less window illuminated the interior of the three bedroom apartment.

Without paying much attention to the surrounding, Ebina walked through the sterile living room toward her own personal bedchamber, and dropped herself on her western-style bed.

"Hiki...tani..."

She rummaged through her bag and pull out her smartphones out.

She browsed the gallery and stopped as she found Hachiman's picture.

It all happened so fast that she can't really distinguish reality from dream anymore.

Just a bit over a week ago, she decided to give it a shot, blindly asking out the class loner because she felt the timing is just right. She's not even attracted to him, at least, not as much as his female companions did. She just feel that Hikigaya Hachiman had something no one else can give her, or rather, he could give her something she can't bear to ask from someone else.

It has to be Hikigaya Hachiman.

Prior to the Kyoto incident, their relationship always been 'classmates, nothing more'. However, Ebina had been observing him for quite a time before that. During the summer camp was when she actually began to see him in different light.

Beneath his loner attitude, he's a social savant that can read between the lines with frightening accuracy.

... and stupidly suicidal if it means he could save someone.

It happened again in the school festival.

And then... Ebina took advantage of his kindness, because she doesn't want things to change in her group, she asked Hikigaya for help. Even though she knew, it would end with him sacrificing himself once again. Because she had no one else to ask.

Yukinoshita and Yui remains oblivious of her turmoil until the end. It was Hikigaya who can see through her farce with ease, the one who can pull Ebina away from her helplessness. Ebina was about to give up, all hope is lost, she's ready to rip apart the relationship she carefully maintain, and then...

Hikigaya interrupted Tobe's confession, made a fool of himself in front of everyone.

It was like a mockery of shoujo manga scenes unveiled in front of Ebina. The certified loser of the class and the delinquent competing for her affection. It was downright painful to watch.

And yet, Ebina Hina can only feel relief and happiness, for Hikigaya Hachiman had spared her from the pain of cascading status quo.

And rather than apologized like what Hayato did, she thanked him.

It might appear that she asked out Hikigaya out of pity, but no. Guilty as she may feel, it's not out of pity at all. Hikigaya Hachiman deserves no pity, and he knows it very well.

Right now, he's probably inside Yukinoshita's home...

Ebina closed her eyes, trying to ease the painful images from her hyperactive head.

She was jealous, just like she was jealous of Orimoto Kaori that she's not the first girl he asked out.

But... she had no right to stop Hikigaya.

Because no matter what, Yukinoshita and Yui saw him first, and that's why... he held them dearest, more than he held Ebina, his girlfriend.

For him, Ebina probably appear as shameless, hypocritical girl who took a pleasure from deceiving her friends. Their relationship, he probably consider it even more of a farce than what she shared with Tobe and friends. Even so, he looked so happy when she gave him her bento. And she too, she's happy she can share her food with him again today. Instead of sitting alone in a cold, lifeless room of her apartment, she can feel the true warmth of having a dinner with someone.

Even if the relationship was shallow and nothing more than carefully construction illusion, the feelings were real. It might not be love, but it was there...

Beyond that, it's pretty clear that the rift in the service club was caused by Kyoto Incident, which is why, no matter if it's Hikigaya's own decision, Ebina was partly responsible for it. At the very least, she wanted to help salvage the creaking vessel and prevent it from sinking.

Ebina pulled the handkerchief from the box on the lamp table and rub it on her cheek. It's cold, and smell of apples.

It doesn't smell like blood, and it doesn't smell like Hikigaya.

I want Hikigaya...

As Ebina fall asleep, she dreamed the warmth and scent of a man that she embraced.

...

Yuigahama Yui was excited.

The cold wind of November in Japan haven't discouraged her from happily starting her day with wide smile drawn on her face.

"YAHALLO!" She slid open the door to the classroom full of energy and shouted.

"Yo." Miura Yumiko was the first to answer, the blond queen bee of the class were surprised with Yui's sudden change of mood, but decided not to comment. Meanwhile, Ebina perked up and reacted to it with mixed emotion that she tried to repress as usual. "Hallo-Hallo" the bespectacled self-appointed rotten woman waved her hand.

Yuigahama looked at the clock, "Wha, I came surprisingly early."

"You always been tardy, idiot." Yumiko teased her.

"Totally not." Yui said as she crossed her wrist in front of her ample chest.

"Get out of the way." A certain grumpy voice said from behind the cheerful gal.

"Hi-sorry Hikki." Yui jumped out of the way.

"Save that energy for later, you damn well need it." He grinned, Yuigahama's skin turned similar to her hair and huffed. "I-I know that, Hikki you dummy."

"I'm smarter than you though, idiot." He retorted.

"Disgusting." Yui stuck her tongue.

"Dumbass." He countered again.

"YOU CALLED ME STUPID TWICE!"

Yumiko looked as the scene unfolded, whatever it is, seems like the Service Club had sorted it out. Either way, she noticed something... unnatural. She already knew that Yui definitely get excess energy because she managed to complete her objective, but the other member of the service club, the dreaded Hikio Hachiman, looks somewhat off himself.

As if someone doused him with sugar, he's kind of impossibly positive today.

"Hikio, did you got taller?"

The boy glared at her with confusion radiated from his slanted eyes.

"Forget I'm asking." Yumiko rubbed her head and shooed him, he's just as disgusting as usual eh? "Why did I even bother." He responded by a shrug and "Meh."

Meanwhile, Ebina secretly smiled, Hachiman was never especially tall, but his usual posture made him look shorter than he's actually. Straightening himself, he could tower over most of the girls in the class with ease, maybe only 2-3 cm shorter than the school idol, Hayato.

Hmm, same height pairing... not really bad. And she began to uncontrollably deliver her usual creepy laugh.

"What's funny, Hina-chan?" Yui inquired.

"No, I'm just thinking. If Hikitani-kun and Hayato-kun were to kiss, they'll be about eye level."

Both girls turned really pale with the sick imagery flooding their mind. "Gross."

"What is this about me and Hikitani kissing?" Hayama Hayato asked innocuously as he entered the class, already far too accustomed with Ebina's antic to care. The three stooges that is Tobe, Yamato, and Ooka followed suit.

"No one will know who's the top and the bottom." Ebina shouted.

"Bullshit." Ooka commented, "Everyone knew Hikitani will be on the receiving end!"

"No, no, you're wrong." Tobe punched the midget boy on the shoulder, "The story would be interesting if Hayato is secretly the submissive one! Right Ebina-chan?" the delinquent passionately said.

"THAT'S RIGHT!" Ebina nodded, completely and utterly fired up. And as the result, blew another capillary in her nose.

"Over the line." Hayato mocked a frown against his two friends, while Yamato tried to push Ooka and Tobe to their seat quietly as they constantly teased their pack leader about his sexual orientation.

"Now that's alpha." Hachiman snorted as he looked how Hayama was completely distressed.

For some reason though, Hayama put a small note on Hachiman's table. It was so subtle that even the table owner barely noticed as he passed. Hachiman quietly hide it in his blazer's pocket. He tried to peek at Hayama's expression, but all he got was unreadable poker face. Surprisingly enough. Quickly enough, he got distracted by Yui poking and prodding on his spine twice, caused him to straighten up by reflex.

"Hee... hee... yahallo, Hikki."

The warmth of her smile and presence made Hachiman felt like he's hugging a lantern. It was far too lovely, intimate, and seriously uncomfortable gesture, so he shifted a bit to avoid possibility of physical contact.

What's with normalfags* and their fondness for close contact?

"Sup." He answered without even glanced at her.

Yui's voice was almost melancholic, but her face showed no sign of sadness. "About yesterday... than you... Hikki."

Ah, so Yukinoshita already told her.

"Don't mind it." He stressed, "I don't think Yukinoshita is stupid enough to stop us, not when the student council is literally in shambles. It's just happen to be the most efficient way to solve the problem."

"Even so, you convinced her." Yuigahama looked aside, somewhat ashamed. "I have this feeling that you would rather stop us..."

"You hunch is not wrong." He smirked, still not looking at her direction.

"Still, that's why... thank you... Hikki." Yui hunched over and gently whisper to him, "Let's go to the club room together, okay?"

He answered it with a quiet grunt of acknowledgment.

"Well, you should have lunch with us sometimes. I'm sure Yukinon won't mind."

"She'll probably say my presence made her lost her appetite, or something." Hachiman refuted her bluntly. Besides, these two girls probably eat homemade lunch everyday. He and his 200 yen bread simply can't compete, and he'll be drooling at their blissful enjoyment savoring the sacred commodity called homemade lunch.

"Hahaha, figures." Yui backs away in defeat, "Anyway, let's work together for the upcoming election."

"Sure, whatever."

Speaking of which, where is Totsuka today?


* You might heard the term リア充 (Riajuu) in original Japanese sentences. Basically people who are content with their positive social life. Usually thrown by envious otaku and self-appointed loners.