Hello everyone. Back with a new chapter, hope I've done well.

And thank you Icehole for the new cover thank you very much.

I can't help thinking about this song below while making this chapter, the lyrics sort of reflects Hachiman's struggle and pain.

Please enjoy and review.

"It's not by fire, but what's forged in flame,

Can drown the sorrow of a huntsman's pain.

This young man he died fair soon,

By the light of the hunter's moon."

The Devil and the Huntsman

Chapter 14: Why do we fall?

Morning came and Komochi, in her school uniform was at her brother's door.

"Oi, Onii-chan." She called as she knocked on his door. "Are you getting ready?" There was no answer from his room. "Onii-chan?" She tried to open Hachiman's room door, but it was locked. "What, are you still asleep in there?" She called out to him again, with no response again.

"Did you stayed up late with video games?" She said from outside his room, still there was nothing coming out of the room.

"Fine whatever, you can sleep all day and get in trouble then Onii-chan. See ya." Komachi headed downstairs and she was out of the house.

Hachiman could not feel anything. He was in complete nothingness. With no sound and no light, just pitch darkness. Hachiman could not even see his own body, there was absolutely nothing around.

Voices soon echoed around, voices of people who wronged him all of his life.

"Hey you, creepy shit. All alone huh?"

"HikiGAYa!"

"Disgusting."

"Your eyes are like a dead fish's"

"Those disgusting scheming eyes,"

"Spineless minion."

"Weird Freak."

"Gross."

Hachiman felt his teeth clenching hard, his breathing hardened.

He suddenly heard someone behind him. "I win."

Hachiman turned around in surprise, seeing it was the man he'd encountered before, with all his mass and muscles to boot. Hachiman was picked up and held up high over the head of the mass of muscles with his two arms.

"Now I will break you." He slammed Hachiman's back right on his knee. Hachiman could not even scream when the sound of breaking bones was made, his back was on fiery pain, consuming all of him, and he was dropped like a sack. The man of muscles was gone, Hachiman kept falling into darkness, into the depths.

He plummeted down into the Abyss.

But then before he could descend any further, a hand reached out from the darkness catching him by the throat. Hachiman could not let out a choked cry, he couldn't say anything, and it was like he was mute.

The hand that caught him felt cold, holding him firm and tight. Hachiman tried to see whom it was, but all he could see was two red glowing eyes, staring right into his soul in the abyss he'd plummeted into.

"Hikigaya Hachiman." He heard a low voice calling to him.

"So much pain, so much anger." Hachiman clenched his teeth at that. "So lonely, so miserable, so sad. You have fallen." Hachiman kept just kept his eyes on the red eyes, he knew who this was.

"Are you weak, pathetic, worthless, empty?!"

The sound of flapping wings soon surrounded him, but Hachiman couldn't turn his head around. The sounds of flapping wings intensified, and soon the sound of high pitched screeching came, swarming all over him. Hachiman could not take it anymore.

Hachiman opened his eyes wide, hyperventilating. He looked left and right, the sunlight shining his room from the window. He was back in his room, back in the same position in the corner of his bed last night. He felt one bead of tear that rolled from his eye. There were a few drops of blood stained on the quilt cover of his bed, he had been bleeding while he was sleeping.

"A dream? What the-" Hachiman tried to take a deep breath, but one strained rib caused a massive sharp pain in him. "Eeeacrrk!" He groaned in pain, holding his side. His chest felt very tight.

Looking around, his phone was at the edge of the bed, he reached for it and check the time. "Oh shit I'm going to be so late if I don't hurry!" He crawled out of the bed. Once he was on his feet, an ankle caused a bit of pain in him.

He had to get school, if Miura Yumiko saw that he wasn't in school, she may get suspicious of him.

Quickly getting another short shower, Hachiman got on his uniform, his chest still felt tight, and his breathing was short, causing him to rub his chest to ease the discomfort. His body was feeling a little cold, but his neck and forehead felt hot.

Skipping with breakfast, he limped to the front door, he was started to get a bad headache. He shook his head to fight off the ache in his head. Once he was out of the house however, he noticed where his bicycle was supposed to be was not there. "Ugh! Goddammit Komachi!"

After about what seemed to be forever to Hachiman, he managed to limp to school. "This is a mistake." His breathing was getting very uncomfortable, and he was getting a bit of a chill in his bones. In the school building he was climbing the stairs, and getting short of breath quickly.

The sound of someone else climbing the stairs was ahead of him, looking up to see it was, he knew whom this was only as the girl who kept to herself by the classroom window. She may look mean at times, but as if that would scare him.

However, exhaustion was beating down on him heavily, he stopped halfway on the stairs, keeping his gaze on Kawasaki Saki to see if she was bothered by his presence, thankfully she was not, even when a gust of wind through the staircase got Hachiman's mind on something he did not think he would see, black lace.

But fatigue was taking his toil, his headache was pounding him. Saki had climbed up top already and was in the corridor, heading for the classroom. Hachiman tiredly followed, straggling behind her.

Once he climbed up the stairs and got to the corridor, Saki had already entered the classroom. Before he went on any further, he controlled his breathing, enduring the tightness in his chest and pain on a rib, ignoring the heat on his face he tried to walk normally.

Now trying his best to appear healthy, he walked down to corridor and entered the classroom. Seeing around the class, Miura Yumiko was not even in the classroom. Other students were getting ready to leave for separate classes. Some had to leave, some had to stay. And Kawasaki Saki was seated at the window looking unfazed.

And Hiratsuka Shizuka was at the front of the classroom. Laying her eyes on Hachiman, she was not pleased at all.

"The problem children are so many in this class. Hikigaya, come here." She said to him, and he did. "Aren't you an ungrateful brat eh? I try to help you out in your career observation, and you repay me with tardiness."

Trying to hide his pain, he tried to look like his normal self. Yui and Saika at the back of the classroom were watching him. "Hey come on, you got it wrong ok? And also you said no promises on the whole career observation deal, so I wasn't expecting anything from it."

"Oh, are you really asking for it now?" Shizuka was looking stern at him, cracking her knuckles. Now Yui and Saika had left the classroom.

Hachiman's breathing was starting to feel fatigued now. "Hiratsuka-sensei. Can you tell me why I am the only one that's getting it from you? I mean she was late too but she gets nothing?" He turned to Saki's direction.

"Don't try to hide by turning the attention on others Hikigaya." Shizuka said to him. Hachiman's eyelids was starting get very heavy, the heat in his head was overwhelming.

Seeing Hachiman's droopy eyes, Shizuka was getting very annoyed. "You still want to go back to slumber land Hikigaya? In front of me? Maybe this will keep you awake."

"Hey, no d-" Before the weakened Hachiman could stop her, Shizuka drove her fist right into his stomach, causing Hachiman to arch forward with a terrible choked cough of pain.

Pulling her hand back, Shizuka wanted to see if her point was coming across, but then she felt something on the sleeve of her lab coat. Seeing what it was, her face turned a bit white.

Blood drops mixed with bits of saliva, courtesy of her punching Hachiman in the stomach.

The liquid on her sleeve was the least of her concerns right now, seeing the student she had just punched holding his side, bent forward and painful wheezing. His body was shivering. His fringe was preventing her from seeing his eyes, and another drop of blood came down from his chin to the floor. Even through this, the rest of the class was not paying attention to them.

"Hikigaya?" Shizuka quietly asked, the student did not answer. Hachiman turned around, with one hand holding his bag and the other holding his side. Turning away from her, Hachiman limped out of the classroom.

"Hikigaya?" She asked again, getting her legs to move to catch up with him, Hachiman was at the corridor, limping down the hall. She made the mistake when she placed her hand on Hikigaya's shoulder. He immediately grabbed her wrist and turned around, holding her wrist tight and hard.

She was completely shocked, the face Hachiman was having was nerve wracking for her. His teeth clenching hard and baring at her with blood stains on it. His breathing was raspy and weak. His eyes, they weren't the same dead fish eyes she was familiar with. Now they looked like they were filled with pain and rage, like a cornered predator with nowhere left to run.

Before he lashed back, he saw who it was. He quickly let go of Shizuka, the pain on his side caused him to clutch it again. His face showed intense pain, stumbling back and leaning on the wall.

"I'm…heading…to the infirmary. You just….tend…to your class." Hachiman wheezed through his sentence, limping away and leaving Shizuka at the hallway, only at a few metres journey however, the strength in his legs was gone. Dropping onto his knees, his vision was getting blurry.

"Hikigaya!" Shizuka rushed up to him, but before she could help him up on his feet, he willed himself up, standing up right again. "I'm fine…just…give me space."

"Let me help you Hikigaya." Shizuka insisted, helping him reach the infirmary, leading him to groan in reluctance.

Soon after, Hachiman was laid to rest on one of the beds in the infirmary. The nurse on duty, Kaseki Hiroko[1] was on a chair seated next to him. The nurse was in her forties taller than Hachiman, with natural tanned skin and black hair tied in a ponytail reaching at the bottom of her shoulder blades. She had an aura of a cooling breeze, yet a caring nature as well.

In Hachiman's mouth was a digital thermometer, and as it made a beep sound, Hiroko took the thermometer out. "38.5 degrees, tightness in the chest, chills, shortness of breath." She noted it down.

"You've eaten anything?" She asked him, and he shook his head. She got up from her seat and took a butter bun from her bag. "Alright you need this more than I do." She said to him.

"Thank you." Hachiman accepted the bread and he started eating. Hiroko went to a cabinet took out blister pack of tablets. Cutting a piece of the blister pack she opened one blister and took out the tablet, it was yellow and oval. She set the tablet on the bedside table, along with a cup of water and an ice pack. "Alright when you're done eating, take the tablet and rest." She told him.

She was out of the infirmary, and waiting outside was Hiratsuka Shizuka. "How is he?" Shizuka asked Hiroko.

"Pneumonia." Hiroko said. "He needs rest and I gave him antibiotics, but it's on him if he wants to see a doctor."

"I...I see."

"Yeah, but Hiratsuka." Hiroko crossed her arms. "What the hell did you do to him?"

"Wh-What do you mean?"

"The kid comes in here, mouth bleeding and like he just got bashed up by some wrestler. Especially since you brought him here, I can safely guess your physical teaching methods bit you in the ass this time." Hiroko face was surprisingly stern for a nurse.

"Hey whoa, it's not like that ok."

"Yeah, sure it isn't." Hiroko was not convinced.

"Hey come on Kaseki-san." Shizuka was not liking the gaze Hiroko was giving. "I thought nurses are supposed to be gentle and nice."

"You hit an ill student, and from what I am aware of this is not the first time you've done so with this particular student. You're not getting any sympathy from me." Hiroko smoothly replied. "Look, I'm no rat. You want this whole incident get swept under the mat and avoid the principal's notice, fine. But I cannot speak for the kid, and let's hope he's in a forgiving mood, for your sake."

Shizuka had a face of regret. "If that's out of the way, I'm taking a coffee break." Hiroko said and left her.

Hachiman on the bed was eating the bread and cursing himself.

"Dear Hikigaya Hachiman.

You. Are. Shit.

Sincerely Hikigaya Hachiman.

Let's recap, you got your ass handed to you by some mountain of muscles while trying to save Miura Yumiko whom you probably scared the crap out of, hell she wasn't even in school today. You got no clues on who those offenders were. And you are late, you are sick and you just got punted by your teacher. You. Are. Shit."

His thoughts was interrupted when someone entered. Seeing Shizuka entering the room, Hachiman sighed as he took his medicine and ice pack.

"Hikigaya." Shizuka said to him. "Are you alright?"

"Uhuh." He said lethargically.

"You sure?"

"Well apart from the fever and getting punched, I'm totally fine." He said sarcastically.

Shizuka inside was ashamed of herself now. "Um Hikigaya?"

"Uhuh?"

She clasped her hand together. "I'm really sorry about what happened. I really hope y-"

"It's ok. It's ok." Hachiman interrupted her, sounding a little on edge. "We'll just let this slide. I think we can both spare ourselves any more of this mess."

She nodded in agreement. "Thanks Hikigaya." But now did she notice the expression on his face, his eyes shifting to the side, along with angled eyebrows and a frown, emitting seriousness and unhappiness. "Is there anything else sensei?" He asked her.

"Yeah, I have to say this. Your eyes." Hiratsuka said.

"Is like a dead fish's. I already heard it from you before." Hachiman rolled his eyes.

"No Hikigaya, I…L-Look when I saw it earlier, y-you look scary, even for me."

"Gee thanks." Hachiman scowled and narrowed his eyes, looking at the side.

"There is it again." Shizuka pointed. "It's like you're just so angry. Like you've too much anger."

Hachiman was silent for a moment, he then said, "It comes with the environment." He kept the ice pack on his forehead.

"Hikigaya?"

"What now?" Hachiman was getting irritable, "Yes, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"What are you angry about?"

"Everything." He answered without thinking. "I-I eh- j-just forget what I said, it's nothing, I didn't mean it."

She sighed. "Are you really not enjoying yourself in the Service Club?" She asked him, deciding not to pry on what he said earlier.

Hachiman sighed, "Why?"

"I'm doing this to help you, I want you to know that ok?" Shizuka told him. Hearing this, Hachiman was a little conflicted with this. There was something in Hachiman that he knew, no one can help him with. She then said, "And I just thought that, while you're there you could help Yukinoshita as well."

Hachiman groaned in irritation now, his mood was dampened. "Of course, it always comes down to Yukinoshita right? The bright, pretty, outstanding and extraordinary student." He said to her.

"Hikigaya please." She pleaded. "She's all of that, true. But if you have to know this, if there is one person I know that can match up to her, it's you."

"You're not saying that we're similar right? Cause we're about as similar as treasure and garbage." Hachiman retorted.

"Look, what I wanted was for you to improve yourself and her in this club. I wanted to help you." Shizuka's face had a slight sorrow in it. "But if you're really not enjoying yourself, then maybe I-"

"If you really want me to stay…" Hachiman paused. "Then I guess I will, since you gone through enough trouble for me, I suppose I owe you one." Shizuka's face brightened up a bit. "Thanks Hikigaya. Really." She finally left him to rest his fever off.

Evening came, and Hachiman was out of school. His fever has reduced but it was still lingering. Despite the slightly injured leg and rib, he decided to get a warm drink before heading home, entering a café. Just as he was about to set his bag down at a table, he heard someone he'd recognized.

"Okay, now it's Yukinon's turn to ask." He turned to see Yui, Yukino and Saika at another table.

"This is a science question. What does DNA stand for?" Yukino asked Yui.

Yui was scratching her face, trying to answer. "Eh Deoxy-Deoxy…"

"Deoxyribonucleic Acid." Hachiman answered as he went up to them.

"Oh! It's you, Hikki!" Yui was quite surprised. "I thought some weirdo was talking to me out of nowhere." Before Yui could stop him, Saika asked. "Were invited to the study group too Hachiman?"

Now Hachiman was noticing Yui's face, which clearly said "Someone we didn't invite just showed up." This was getting Hachiman irritated already.

"You weren't invited to this study group Hikigaya-kun. Do you need something?" Yukino asked her cold tone as usual. It was clear to Hachiman that he was not wanted here by the two girls. Shizuka may had put her faith in him concerning this club, but Hachiman was not having it today.

"No, no I was just leaving." Hachiman coldly said, and he turned and left. Just he was about to reach the café entrance, a couple of students stepped in.

"Oh Onii-chan. I thought you skipped school today." Komachi said entering the café.

"Komachi? Why are you here?" Hachiman asked her, not bothered in asking her about the bike.

"Oh my friend was asking me for some advice." She pointed at the boy beside her. "Hello, I'm Kawasaki Taishi." The boy greeted, in which Hachiman greeted back. He wasn't really bothered by the fact that Komachi was out with another guy, it wasn't any of his business.

"What problem you're having?" Hachiman asked.

"Oh? Since when are you so curious?" Komachi asked.

"Common courtesy." He eyeballed her.

"Ah well it's about my sister, Kawasaki Saki." Taishi said, now noticing Hachiman's uniform. "She's in Soubu High, a second year student."

"You can go ask Yuigahama-san. Pretty sure she'll help you out." Hachiman pointed over his shoulder. "Huh? Who?" Komachi asked.

"The girl whom you received sweets from about a year ago."

"Oh, ohhhh, right her." Komachi remembered now, trying to hide her embarrassment upon realizing that the sweets were meant for him and she took it all.

"Yeah, her. She's in the Service Club, you give them a request for aid on whatever problem you're having now, they'll help out." Hachiman said. "You want to join us?" Komachi asked.

"I'm under the weather, see you." Hachiman left the café.

On his way back, Hachiman's mind was on the previous day, on how he had failed, he'd fallen. How was he going to get back on this? Hachiman was wondering now, the question that he was not able to answer. Why was he doing this in the first place? Why did he bother?

Walking down the streets closer to home, Hachiman still could not find his answers. He felt like he was missing something, something in him that was there, and yet not.

Unknowingly however, on the path he was heading closer to an important place of his. Finally realizing, he stopped and turned to face it. The place that gave him remembrance and memories. The alley, where his life was nearly taken away three years ago by crime.

Hikigaya Hachiman's Crime Alley.

Hope you've enjoyed this chapter, hope to see you in the next one.

[1] Major kudos to any dear reader who knows why I picked this name.