It's been awhile, That's it.
Finally, that cult gives me a break since I worked hard yesterday. After I bought food and drinks in the cafeteria. I'm looking for a spot that is not visible to any prying eyes like the bitch and her clique or anyone who'll report me to that Hiratsuka Sensei's Sole Believer.
I'm not hiding, I really got a rest day it's just that it hasn't been approved as I will excuse myself later.
The first year's classrooms are in the second floor, with her stamina she wouldn't look for me if I go up so the number one spot that is available for me is the rooftop but the cons are that it might be locked as students shouldn't go there.
Risking is part of life, so I'll try my petty luck this time.
Once the gate of Babylon appears in my sight. I prayed that it will grant access to a mongrel like me. Wait, I have the will to be a leopard so I can be called as the aspiring King of Loners.
I touch the knob and slowly rotate it hoping that it won't stop until I made it 90 degrees.
It looks like I had been acknowledged as the door finally opens which presents me my ideal place.
I look at the surroundings and I see none. As expected from the great me, only I have the right to access this place.
I head to the backside of the place that I came from as there's no roof here, I'll just use the angle of depression with the sun as the main point and let the wall be my shade. I do not totally suck at math as I know how to use the lessons in real life, the real idiots are those that did their best effort just to solve one problem without relying on the outer source which is known as the Internet.
I sit beside the ladder as it's another access to go up once more if you want to burn yourself with the UV rays.
It's bliss to be here. Blue sky, cafeteria food that full with meat, toppings and sauce but taste like a loaf of ordinary bread, sterilized milk for calcium which is needed for me to chew this fail as a food, and lastly a fresh air that is currently being polluted by a cloud of smoke coming from tobacco.
"What the fuck?..." I smell something that shouldn't be inhaled. "…can Sensei see the future and is currently preparing to raid me?"
I look up once more and the smoke is now visible in my eyes. As a human being, my curiosity is like everyone, when your instinct told you not to go, you will still go.
That's what I'm doing right now. I left my food and starts climbing. Once I reach the end what welcomes me is not the single lab coat woman but a delinquent that's sitting leisurely without any defenses. She's currently smoking while looking at the blue sky I mentioned earlier.
Just one wind and I'll see the hidden color between those two cliffs but I'm a gentleman, so I'm not interested in those.
"You know smoking is prohibited right?" I said which caught her attention.
"Haa?..." She glares at me with no intention of stopping. "…get lost, feel free to tell the teacher if you want."
*SWOOOSH* A beautiful wind greets us which allows me to see the color between two cliffs.
I nod. "Black, mature."
My words caused her to blush and immediately hide it with her skirt.
"Pure maiden behind a delinquent attire…" I give her a thumbs-up. "…not bad, I like you."
She must be the type that loves fashion and doesn't care about other opinions. A carefree type like myself and Dad.
"Y-You!" She glares while blushing and rushes towards me. I jump from the ladder and land gracefully. She also jumps, well the height isn't that high, to begin with, I just want to think I'm cool that way.
Once she lands, she immediately attacks me. I said that she was a pure maiden right? It's spur at that moment as she can really fight with her fist and there's a lot of force.
I block everything since I can't dodge with those follow-ups.
"Karate?" I ask.
She ignores me and uses a leg attack to kick my head. Is that a spin kick?
I blocked and held her ankle. "It's really black." I immediately avert my gaze.
Seeing it in quite a close distance is much more impactful compared in seeing from afar, even porn mags and videos can't be compared.
If the two can use a comparative word, then this one is superlative.
I released the leg that I caught and raised both my hands. "It's just an accident, a beautiful accident."
She's totally embarrassed now as her face is covered in redness. "Y-You, w-what's your name?"
"Hikigaya Hachiman, Grade 10, Class E and I'm single." I immediately answer to at least lessen her anger.
"I-I don't care if you're single!" She blurts out.
I nod and raised my left hand for her to stop talking. "I already saw it in an anime that when a man saw a woman's underwear, he must take responsibility by marrying her."
I'm currently looking for something but I'm at least a man in the end, so I'll just continue it after marrying her.
"W-What? That's just pure nonsense, why are you believing in fiction like anime?"
"Really?..." I ask. "…wait, you should apologize first from the authors, even though Japan's known for Ramen, anime also give work to those with imaginations."
"Then I apologize but you should forget what you saw." She rebukes.
I nod even though I won't as it's impossible. Asking a pure man like me to forget something worth a reference. It's like you're asking the sun to rise at the west and set at east.
"Alright, I'll forget it Black Lace."
"I SAID FORGET IT!" She's really a delinquent.
"What should I call you then?" I ask which caused her to calm down.
"Right, I'm Kawasaki Saki, Grade 10, Class E."
"We're classmates?" I ask which she just shrugs.
"I don't know."
I nod then walk closer to her. I touch her waist and tickles her.
"H…Ha…Ha…ha…" She's glaring at me while trying to control her laugh.
I sigh and grab my drink and toss it to her. "You stink like a cigarette, drink those and check if it will remove, you should also try not to use it anymore or you'll get a bad ending."
Like the old woman, I know, and she's very near.
"Thank you." She bows and didn't hesitate to drink my sterilized milk.
She's quite calm as long as she's not embarrassed.
*BuzzZ BuzzZ BuzzZ*
I grab my phone and saw an unknown number.
Should I accept, Should I decline. I already said that I'm human and when my curiosity strikes.
I clicked the accept and put my phone near my ears while continuing the plain bread.
"Hello."
[Hikigaya!]
"Speaking of the devil…"
[Huh? What are you spouting?]
"Nothing Sensei, what do you need?"
[Yukinoshita arrived here and told me that you skip club activities.]
"That's a lie Sensei, in a matter of fact, I plan to tell her about excusing myself during club hours."
[So, you really skip?]
"I already told you that I'm not and just having an early relief."
[Haaa, you're lucky that I didn't hand your number to her or else she'll grab you on every place you'll hide. I'll let this slide as you worked hard yesterday but don't ever try to pull this stunt again, are we clear?]
"Yeah, Yeah, it's in the contract as well as your responsibility to make things private in the first place and I won't use this stunt again."
I'll use another though.
[Good, you can handle her later.]
"Yeah, I'll give her the excuse letter."
[You're quite broken Hikigaya.]
"I don't think so."
[You have an essay today to meet me later?]
"Luckily, we don't have, and you shouldn't let Shiori-sensei hands her work on you."
[Hahaha, I don't mind scolding students like you.]
"I'll finish my food and please don't let my number leak, or I'll throw this sim under the river."
[Don't worry, I prioritize my student's privacy.]
She wasn't my teacher though.
I closed my phone and Kawa…Black Lace's gone or so I thought.
"Here." I look up and saw her jumping once more.
She hands me a home-made bread and a can of juice.
"Thanks…" I said. "…it's a lot better than this tasty-looking plain bread."
She nods. "You should at least bring food with you. I'll take my leave now and thank you."
I nod as I sit on the floor and start eating.
Rooftop is the best as everything can happen, to be clear I didn't wish or hope for it only the silence.
…
…
…
To: Yukinoshita Yukino.
Work is something that a student like me can't even fathom. As I had been forced in this environment by the founder: Hiratsuka Shizuka and the Sole Believer: You. As enigmatic as it can be, there are people that are difficult to be converted and to adapt to the rules of the cult. I hope that you would understand this lost lamb.
Yours Truly:
Hikigaya Hachiman
*Rustle*
My proper excuse letter had been crumpled by the hands of the supposed to be a receiver.
"Hikigaya-kun…" She smiles. "…not only you skip earlier but also, have the guts to give me an invalid letter."
I put my fingers in my jaw. "I wonder if my letter is too hard for a smart girl like you to understand."
"Ara, I understand your letter but not your reasoning when you just work within the lunch and club hours yesterday."
I nod. "I see…"
I stand up and get closer to her. "…any leftover? I'm still not full as that food from the cafeteria is useless compared to your bread. Just reprimand me later."
She averts her gaze and grabs the bag that contained her lunch box.
As I thought from the non-glutton Ojou-sama, there is really a leftover.
I frown. "Only one piece missing?..."
I look at her. "…By any chance, is this poisoned?"
That earned a glare from her as she grabs one piece and took a bite then handed me the bread she bit.
I look at her for a while then nothing happened.
"Then you're on a diet, it seems my luck is running today." I eat the one she hands and tries to grab the lunch box to my relaxation spot, but she holds it.
She looks at me while her face flushed. "I will also eat as I lost my appetite earlier when you run from your activity."
I sigh and grab a chair to eat with her.
Food taste depends on how you obtain them.
Like earlier from Black Lace, this is good as well.
After eating which once again the majority enters my stomach.
Yukinoshita stands up and pours some tea to a cup and a paper cup.
"We have that?" I point at the tea set.
"I brought it today as we can't have you rely on your diabetic drink." She hands me the paper cup with tea.
"I see..." I sip the tea and having myself relaxed. "…I'll just take a dose of Max later."
*Knock Knock*
"Yahallo!" A girl with weird language greets us.
"Good afternoon Yuigahama-san. Do you need anything?"
"Um, Yumiko and everyone will have a party, if you wouldn't mind…" She steals glances from me and Yukinoshita.
"…you guys can come as well."
Me? What a foolish question. "I don't want to, just bring this woman and scram." I point at Yukinoshita.
She glares at me then looks at Yuigahama who used her puppy eyes. "I…I."
"Yukinon, it will be fun, and I want to show my gratitude…" She looks at me. "…can you join as well, Hikki?"
"I won't change my mind and you don't need to show your gratitude, a simple thank you is already too much for me." I wave my hand for rejection.
Yukinoshita glares at me who shows my awesomeness to reject while she who should be a veteran can't do anything about the aura this puppy-eyed woman exudes especially now which she is down from what I did.
"A-Alright." Yukinoshita finally gives up.
"Don't worry, I'll leave after club hours, you can ask Sensei tomorrow if you want proof."
"Very well then, goodbye Hikigaya-kun." She said and points at the tea set. "…please clean it for me."
"Sure." Just go! A little job won't hurt.
"Are you sure you don't want to come, Hikki?" Yuigahama tries to invite me once more.
"No, just go and have fun." Yukinoshita sighs at my denial.
…
…
*Knock Knock*
"Sensei, here's the key."
"Oh, Hikigaya?..." She looks at her watch. "…you're ten minutes early."
"No sight of foolish lamb, it won't hurt to have a little early dismissal."
She sighs and accepts the key. "By the way, Yuigahama asked me if she can join the club."
"You're the adviser and Yukinoshita is the president, my decision won't affect anything."
"I'm just asking for your opinion."
"I'm allergic and prone to nice girls."
My words caused her to laugh. "Hahaha, is that even possible?" She points her finger to me which I want to break.
I just wait for her to laugh and after she got a good time then scans my reaction which is none. "Seriously?"
I nod.
"Then grab this opportunity to cure that allergy of yours."
"It won't cure and it's not that serious as long as she knows her position."
"That sounds like a threat." Sensei sighs.
"I'm just stating the possible outcome and I'll apologize in advance if she got hurt in the process…" I slightly bow to Sensei and look at her eyes. "…nice girls can take those on the outside but not in the inside."
She grabs the paper under the book she used. "In other words, I should reject her."
"It's your decision, just tell her that don't cross the line and follow the contract. Everything will be just fine."
"If she follows that, then nothing will change in you." She hands me the application form of Yuigahama.
I grab it and take a seat in this comfortable sofa. "You focus too much on someone who loves himself…"
I read her application form. "…she wasn't that bad…"
Sensei looks at me with her eyes asking for an explanation. "…with her unyielding tenacity that even Yukinoshita can't destroy, I think she can help Yukinoshita rather than me."
"Oh, that's all?"
"You're too fixed in me, I'll really ask or plead to not be your student next year."
"Hahaha, I'll use my connections to have you since I need someone to vent my stress."
"By the way Sensei…" I put the paper on the table and look at her intensely.
"…I wonder if I can use some of the club's budget."
"Hikigaya, there's no budget in that club." She smiles.
"Seriously?..." She nods. "…what are you doing? Go ask for a petition."
She shakes her head. "We can't ask for it as the club is for the benefits of the student not for the school."
"Tch, then at least let me have this comfortable sofa, that rubber mat isn't effective as I got some sore in my back whenever I wake up."
"You really did sleep today."
"Of course, you think I can wait for almost one and a half hours in that room?..." I point at her sofa. "…at least give me this as a reward of what I did for the past days."
"Hikigaya, did you forget that what your club's doing is voluntary?"
"Sensei, did you also forget that I'm asking a reward from you and not from the client?"
She clicked her tongue. "Your reasoning is still sharp, very well then, if you can bring this to the club within a day then it's all yours for the rest of your time in the Service Club." She gives me a smug look thinking that I don't have a potential workforce.
I open my phone and send a message.
"What are you doing?" She asks.
"Summoning someone who can help me to bring this sofa and to remove that cocky face you're showing."
Her mouth opens as she got shocked at how I got a connection in this school. "Seriously?"
"I think you should not belittle your student like that." I lie on the sofa while waiting for help.
…
…
"Hachiman your brother-in-arms has arrived." The noisy one that I summoned showed up.
"…if it isn't Sage Hiratsuka, I excuse myself." He greets Sensei who's annoyed not directed on him but meant for me.
"Let's do this." I stand up and leave my items in the corner.
"Wait…" Sensei gets our attention and looks at Zaimokuza. "…Zaimokuza, he is one of the members that I told you since you'll help him just ask your request personally."
"Fumu, I see, it seems fate brings our bond together not only in the past but also in the present," Zaimokuza said another nonsense.
"Let's talk about it tomorrow, club hours will end soon and just focus on carrying this thing which I can call as my very first friend."
Zaimokuza nods. "Fumu, to think that you'll treat a mere sofa as your friend, I'm ashamed of calling you a comrade but fret not as I also have a friend who is a pen."
I ignore his words and points on the sofa which we both start to carry.
"Hikigaya, bring at least three chairs when you come back."
"kay."
…
…
Zaimokuza and I took a long time transferring the sofa as he took a lot of rest.
I think it's because he takes too much of his energy talking about history. Luckily, I'm quite good at literature which I understand his stories but got lost when he forcefully inserts himself in the process.
We immediately head back to Hiratsuka-Sensei's office and bring four chairs together with the rubber mat.
"You took quite some time." She said.
"I don't want to talk about it anymore."
"HAHAHA, it's because we talk about our past lives which contain our greatness."
Sensei nods. "I see, as long as you two understand each other. Everything's good."
She easily dodged the long conversation and we bid farewell to her.
I also bid farewell with Zaimokuza as I bring my bike today.
We will meet tomorrow though as he reminded me of his request once more while waving his overcoat when turning around while adjusting his glasses.
…
…
To: Komachi.
Onii-chan will stroll around to waste money for me.
From: Komachi.
Okay! Please bring me a souvenir and I'll cook you a good dinner. Kyaa! That's high in Komachi points.
"What's the point of wasting money for myself when you want to have a share with it." I close my phone and head downtown.
I'll just have a quick light meal; I look at the café that It looks like meant for someone like me.
I park my bike outside and head inside.
A quiet place, if the price is affordable then it really is meant for me. I head to the counter to pick.
"Ara, I saw Yukino-chan earlier with Hayato and his friends which I don't find interesting."
I heard an annoying voice but ignores it. "One coffee frappe and three donuts, please prepare the two for take-out."
"Yes sir, Um…" The woman points someone behind my back. "…I think that a beautiful woman is talking to you."
"Don't mind her, she must be seeing a ghost which is standing near us." I hand my money.
A weight suddenly felt on my right shoulder as the woman that seeing a ghost rests her head on my shoulder. "I'm quite lucky to ignore them and get the most interesting one."
I ignore her once more and talk to the woman. "Is there a seat that is meant for one people, I prefer if it's too small that even another single chair can't barge in."
She smiles wryly but shakes her head.
"You're mean Hikigaya-kun!" Yukinoshita starts embracing or choking me from behind?
I grab her hands away from me and turn around. "Color me surprised, if it isn't Yukinoshita-san. I wonder what kind of dumb luck I got to meet you here."
She starts elbowing me after I said those words. "You really know how to hurt me Hikigaya-kun, how about accompanying the lonely and wounded me?"
I block her next strike. "Even though I may not look like it, but I'm a man with a caliber that prefers letting a woman have their own privacy."
She chuckles. "Don't worry, I'm the woman that doesn't like having privacy if Hikigaya-kun is the one who'll be my accompany."
She walks past me and grabs the tray with my order on it and brings it to her table.
I sigh and drag the pitiful me to follow her.
She smiles when I sit beside her and grab my order then took a sip.
I frown at her actions. "You know that what you took is worth a lot for my allowance?"
I grab my drink and took a sip as well.
"Eh? That's how you react?" She got surprised.
"How should I react then?"
She points at the straw that I sip. "Well, we had an indirect kiss since you already sip using that straw."
"Who cares? You wouldn't mind something as small as that right?" I immediately grab the donut which is not packed.
She looks at me for a while then wears her smile. "…Of course not, Hikigaya-kun is too mature for your age and you shouldn't put the donut away as I also want to have a share."
I ignore her demand and took a bite to my dark chocolate donut. "Go buy one and don't bully the things I trade for my money."
She rests her elbow on the table and her cheeks on the palm of her hand then look at me. "How about I buy another one and let's have a share?"
"Be my guest, you can buy more than one and I'll eat it with you."
She chuckles and immediately goes to the counter to buy one or should I say more than one?
"Here…" She smiles and shows three pieces of different flavors.
"…who do you want to eat first and take the opportunity to leave the kiss?"
"You're still at it?" I ask while inspecting the luxury designed donuts. As expected from an Ojou-sama, a college must earn her a lot of allowance.
"Hahaha…" She grabs one of the donuts. "…Ahhh."
She attempts to feed me which I don't mind even if it's another man as long as the main objective which is to eat will be met.
I open my mouth and she feeds me the donut.
I think she is too generous as she left it hanging in my mouth and I won't let it go to waste as I prepared my hands to touch it, but she immediately bites the other portion of the donut that's hanging.
"This is delicious." She said after swallowing the portion she eats.
I frown at her actions. "Can't you let me taste it first?"
I eat the remaining portion of the donut.
She looks flabbergasted once again. "Hikigaya-kun, you didn't even get embarrassed with that?"
"Why would I?" If you show me your panties, then I'll be embarrassed like what happened earlier.
I grab the other donut, but she removes the plate away from me.
"You're really interesting, here it's all yours." She grabs the donut and feeds it to me without pulling any stunt like earlier.
"Free food is really the best, accompanying you have some advantage."
"Hahaha…" She laughs and grabs the last donut which is a flood with coatings and looks the best of all.
There's a saying that saves the best for last. She hands it to me which I eat.
After eating she put her finger near my mouth and get the coating then she puts it in her mouth.
"…It's good, what a shame Hikigaya-kun eat them all."
"I planned to lick it, but you really are too fast."
"By the way Hikigaya-kun, let's put our flirting aside…"
I sip some of my drink and look at her questioningly.
"…you know I saw Yukino-chan earlier with Hayato-kun."
"Yeah, they invite us to join them, but I don't like playing friends, what of it?"
She got amused by my answer. "Well…"
She shows me her phone and it contains a picture being sent.
It's no big deal, it's just me being fed by her.
"…I accidentally sent it to Yukino-chan."
I sip another coffee. "You've got a bad finger, better discipline it later and let it reflect on how troublesome it caused."
"That's it?" She asks.
"Why, there's more?"
"Hahaha, well I saw them earlier."
"You already told me that."
She nods and points her finger. "They are partying in the karaoke bar across this street and look."
I look at what she points and saw a glaring Yuki-Onna walking the pedestrian lane.
I just look at her. "It looks like I'm settling my debt on how I unconsciously used my luck."
Seeing a woman's underwear, Having free bread, juice, and donuts.
I wonder if those are worth enough to handle another annoying interrogation.
I look at the older Yukinoshita. "Since you brought trouble, at least give me compensation."
She leans closer to me. "I wonder what you want." She puts her face near me which means the temperature will decrease faster.
She formed a smile in her light glossy lips.
I grab her chin and face it to the counter. "That's the compensation."
"Hahaha, you really are the best, I wonder if I can also experience a beast." Her eyes looking at me with not a cold nor happy but a pure curious gaze.
"I hope that wouldn't happen."
"Good evening." The woman in the counter shouts.
"Good evening, Nee-san and Hikigaya-kun. It looks like you two are much closer than usual." I turn my gaze on the other side and the Ice woman is already in her absolute zero state.
This café is too good for me but I think it is not meant for me as it's hiding a turmoil behind the silent scenery.
...
It looks like FF eats some letters on what I copy paste from the Microsoft word, what a glutton. I don't know if there are still wrong or mispelled as I reread it for the third time.
