I'm finally back at it ! I finished all of my side work ! I'm up-to-date with all of the romance mangas I had to read (Go Toubun no Hanayome FTW #NinoGang) I'll now do my best to finish my two fanfics before writing my other ideas ! I hope you'll have a good read !

For my return, a nice little sad chapter of course because I'm a sadist !

I was lying on my bed, an arm resting on my forehead. I felt empty. This feeling was so strange, I just didn't know what to think anymore and it's all because of him ! Why did he have to say something like that out of the blue ? I felt dizzy, my chest was tight and my throat was dry. It has already been an hour since I got home and I was still looking at this goddamn roof like it could hold the answer I was seeking ! Hikio what did you mean back there ?! What about my heart and my illusions ? What do you mean ?!

"Aaaaah this is driving me nut ! Why am I so irritated by his words ! I'm a grown-up ! I know what I want ! I want Hayato to notice me even after what happened in Kyoto !"

I was now sitting on my bed, tightening my hold on my plushie. I was confident in what I was saying and yet my words felt empty and delusional. What do I want ?

I laid down once again on my bed. My mind was a mess and it tired me to no end. So much that I felt asleep for a while.

When I woke up it was because of my mom's voice coming from downstairs. It was actually time to have dinner already. I really did sleep a lot there, guess all of what happened today at school was too much for my mind to bear.

As I walked down the stairs I was met by the fragrance of a freshly cooked Tempura. I was drooling already. It's my little sin but I'm a real Ogre when it comes to food.

"Hi mom, sorry I fell asleep" I said while yawning with a hand in front of my mouth.

"Really ? It's not like you to sleep so early Yumi ! What happened to you ?" She said worriedly while I was taking my seat.

"Ah... A lot I guess, first I did this shopping with Hikio and helped him get a new outfit after he helped me do mine. Then I encountered this scary Onee-san while having lunch with him. Following that I wanted to be a bit cheeky to mess with him and it became a real mess. It was tiring !"

"Hmm ? Hikio ? I never heard of that boy, you usually only talk about your clique's friend."

Freezing on the spot I just realized I blurted out this thing so easily. Damn I've been careless. When I looked at my mother with the sticks still in my mouth, munching the food, I was met by the heavily interested look of this damn woman.

I won't hear the end of this... I'm screwed.

"My my my ! My little Yumi is seeing some guy in the back of her friends ! Youth is so nice !"

"Mom !"

"Oh come on don't be like that ! Tell me ! Tell me ! How's he like ? Is he good-looking ? Is he handsome ? Is he popular ? Tall ? Ripped ?" Said the overexcited mother entering an Ebina like state of craziness.

"Mom calm down, you're going overboard again !" I said in a irritated tone.

"Yes, yes. Sorry. So ? Do you really not want to tell me about this guy ?" She said with fake teary puppy eyes.

"Ah... Damn it. Ok fine. You're a real pain sometimes mother you know that right ?"

"Hehe"

"Sometimes I wonder who's the adult..."

"So ? I'm all ears !"

"Well if I have to describe him for how he was until now... he's average. He's not as handsome as Hayato. He's a loner. He's socially awkward. His eyes are that of a dead fish. He's really weird. He's a siscon. He's a pain in the butt too."

Yumiko's mother was listening attentively and deadpanned but smirked at one of the things her daughter said.

"From what I hear he's like trash isn't he ? Why do you bother hanging out with him and learning things about him ? Did he blackmailed or something ?"

Usually I would not retort and laugh it off with her or anyone who dare say something like that when talking about him. It would have been a joke topic back then but right now... How do I put it... It ache in my chest a bit. It was not okay. I snapped a little.

"Stop saying things like that about him ! As trash of a human being as he can be he's a kind guy ! He's always looking out for his surroundings ! Always putting himself on the line to take the damage so that the others will stay happy ! Always listening to other's problems and helping out despise hating to work more than needed ! He may be a totally weird and creepy loner but if anything else he's the most dependable guy I ever met in my life !" I said elevating the tone of my voice more than I imagined.

I was quite shocked by my reaction. But my face grew even more irritated when I saw the smug face of thee woman calling herself my mother full of herself. She won.

"My my Yumi ! So fierce ! I didn't anticipate you defending him that much !" She said clapping her hands together.

I blushed while looking away and pouting.

"Come on don't be like that. Anyway, I'll stop teasing you now. But to me it looks like you really get along with this guy. He seems to be earnest, honest and dependable despite not being top notch like this Hayama. Remember what you just said. 'not as handsome' meaning that you find him quite attractive don't you ?"

"Maybe... He's not that bad now that I helped him get a new outfit fitting him."

"Do you have a picture of him in your phone since you usually take a lot of pictures ?"

"Yes, here you go. I have two. One in the mall and one from school."

Looking at the photos of Hikigaya Hachiman in his outdoor new outfit and the one with the glasses on in the classroom, the mother gasped. In fact Yumiko had taken secret picture of her achievement when he came out of the cabin and she also took a picture of him when they were in a mess this day at school while trying to hide herself behind her phone.

"Yumi ?"

"Yes ?"

"You were kidding when you said he wasn't that handsome right ? Even with those dead eyes he looks nice. And what about this crescent moon pendant, it looks almost like you sun one."

I felt the temperature rising in my cheeks and took back my phone with me and decided to head back to my room without saying a word out of embarrassment.

"I'm gonna take a shower and head to bed. Thanks for the meal but I'm really tired. Good night mom." I said hurriedly.

The mother looked at her daughter climbing the stairs as fast as a cheetah with a warm smile, she was happy that she finally found someone making her act that cute and embarrassed in front of her.

"It sure has been a long time since I last saw her having a smile that warm and genuine. It looks like she's getting over her anxiety." She said while she headed to the kitchen to do the dishes.

I threw myself on the bed. Tired but happy. I just couldn't get this smile off my face. It was strange but this night, I really slept well.

I was on my way to school this morning. It was a bit chilly but still warm enough. Everything was like usual. I got up, had breakfast, prepared myself, put on a little makeup and headed to school. Yep, a day like every other one. Nothing out of the ordinary. Yet something felt off when I reached Sobu.

While I was walking to my class I could feel numerous stare on my back. I heard a lot of people muttering to themselves or whispering among their little group while I was passing by. It felt really strange. I felt sweet on my neck. Why were they eyeing me like that ? What are they talking about ? Did something bad happen ?

Once I passed the door of my classroom I could feel once again all of their stare on my person. I got intimidated for the first time in a long time at school. Their eyes were looking at me with disgust. Avoiding them by looking at my feet, I sat on my chair and then I took some glance at my surrounding. Kawasaki was looking at me with a bit of angst and she was uncomfortable and avoided looking at me.

I felt lonely all of a sudden. Where were my friends ? Looking around me I saw them, Ooka and Yamato looking at me with disgust and disbelief while looking at their phone from time to time. Hayato wasn't looking at me in the slightest and had a face full of regret without any sign of a smile. Tobe did not avoid me that much but he was clearly not cool with me and scratched the back of h is head non-stop while laughing awkwardly. I tried to ask my two best friends.

"Y-Yui ?"

"A-ah Yumiko heh... Sorry I... Hehehe..." She said while looking away before giving me look full of coldness for a second.

"H-Hina ? What's happening ? I'm lost ! Why am I the center of attention like this ?! Why are you all looking at me like this ?!"

"Ah Yumiko... I'm really sorry but something was sent like a viral video on our phones and... Well this will be hard on you for a while I guess." Said Ebina with worry in her voice.

Ebina opened her phone and started to play the video she received. My eyes widened, I felt all heat escape my body. I was frozen. How ? Why ? This video. It was my outing with Hikigaya Hachiman in PALCO. It was a compilation of what happened the whole day. The shopping. The clothes choice. The outfit. The necklace... The glasses. So far it wasn't that bad I guess and it could explain the weird look I got from my classmates. Me and the most hated guy in the school spending time together. It was pretty weird but not something I would have really cared I guess. The problem it that my friends knew I lied to them about the necklace. They knew what I did behind their back.

I already had enough and prompted Hina to close the phone but she insisted.

"No Yumiko... Watch till the end please..."

I obliged and watch the last segment. This time it's my soul I felt escaping my body. It was finished for me. It was our conversation during our little lunch at the mall and our little question game. I was clearly heard saying that I was not feeling comfortable or free around my 'friends'.

At the same moment Hachiman came into the room as if nothing was really happening. He was oblivious but even for someone like him the atmosphere was too much. Kawasaki's stare full defeat. Yui's eyes starting to tear up despite her best effort to appear strong, Hayato angry look. And then me. We both looked at each other. He had a confused look, clearly like me he was not aware until now.

I felt something watery on my cheeks. Looks like I started to cry. I've never felt so lonely. Looking once again around me, I saw that only Hina was feeling bad for me and tried to give me a shoulder to lean on. It was too much for me. I got up and stormed out of the room.

Hachiman POV

I was lost there. I did not know what to do. Seeing a crying girl was too much for me and this atmosphere. What's the deal ? Why so much tension ? I was even more lost when I saw Yumiko storming out of the room. Looking for answers I sent to Saki.

"Yo Kawasaki, what's the deal with those people ? Do you know anything about it ?"

"I- er... I'm not feeling well. I'll head to the bathroom." She said getting up and walking past me without a glance.

"huh ?"

"Yuigahama?" I said turning to her.

"Baka..." She said and looked away with sadness and some tears falling off her eyes.

What the hell's happening ?! Is this a nightmare or what ?

"Hikigaya-kun. Come here."

I looked at the source of the voice and saw Ebina waving at me. I decided to walk to her.

"Do you know something Ebina ?"

"Just look at this before asking any questions..."

I then started to watch the video on her phone...

I was walking in the corridors in search of someone. I knew where she would be. There was two possibility but he first one was not possible. A girl was there but it was not the one I was searching for.

Reaching my secret spot, I opened the door to the outside and faw her, head burried in her knees and hugging her legs. He was sobbing. It always hurts to see a girl crying for me despite my attitude but this time it was hurting even more for some reason. I could relate.

I silently sat down next to her without making any sound and looking at the greyish sky. It will start to rain soon enough...

Sensing someone's presence, Yumiko slowly stopped crying and looked up a little to glance at who it could be.

"It hurts huh ?"

"Yes..."

"Being the victim of the gossips. Being the target and feeling like scum in the eyes of everyone. It really hurts."

"I wonder how you could handle all of that without flinching,"

"… I'm not handling it well. I just learned to live with it. You get accustomed to the pain. It's a vicious circle you know."

"Then why did you always do what you have done ?"

"If not me then who ?"

"… That's so like you Hikio."

"I saw the video after you ran away..."

"This is the end of me."

"I'm sorry for being a nuisance to you life in the end." I said bitterly and angry at myself.

"If only I was a normal person then it would have never happened."

"No."

"No ?"

"I have no regret with you Hikio. You did nothing wrong. What pains me is the end of my 'friendships'"

"Oh... I guess it would have happened sooner or later anyway. Not like this but you would all have evolved to change your bonds."

"Maybe... But still. What are we gonna do now ? I'm kinda lost."

"If you want to show them all how strong you are, you will have to keep being yourself and not giving a damn about them."

"When you say that it looks so easy. It's so out of character for you to try to cheer someone like me..."

"Yeah I guess so... It's just that... I know how loneliness feels. It's the worst. Don't forget Ebina is still there for you. You have a precious friend waiting for you and supporting you."

"Right now I'm not feeling lonely anymore though..." She said resting her head on my left shoulder.

"M-Miura ?!" I said blushing at the gesture.

Looking at her she felt asleep, all of what happened so early in the morning and all this sobbing took a toll on her and she had to rest.

"Well I guess skipping one or two hours won't kill anyone..." I said sighing.

Looking at her, acting like a body pillow, I was dazed by her hair flowing freely in the wind and covering her eyes. Unconsciously I took a strand and put in behind her left ear to make her a bit more comfortable. I was smiling without noticing it.

This girl. Even when she's defenseless and sleeping like this, she's still dangerous.

Suddenly I felt my phone vibrating in my pocket so I took it. It looked at the caller ID. I winced at the name. I felt anger and bitterness building up inside of me. I brought the phone to my right ear.

"What is it Haruno ? Didn't you have enough ?"