This was actually written before chapter 20 and before I was bedridden. Turns out that there are (calcite) stones in my urinary tracts. Laser or sonic surgery is impossible for a case like this. Lord be merciful, I have to be bisected in this day and age. I'm told to wait for two weeks to see if drugs alone would work without physical removal of the accursed rocks. And the only thing that prevent me from screaming externally is ocassional dose of opium.
Thanks GoukaRyuu for keeping my writing acceptable, man deserves a medal.
Vietanh10e - Normal is good, that means the story didn't went to shit or beyond salvation. I'm never been that decent at writing anything with overarching plot, or building anything resembling a climax or plot twist. If anyone can see the end of this story from chapter 1 or 2, it's fine, the question is whether they enjoy the journey or not. I'll keep writing as long as I have the drive and time to write it. And it's thanks to people like you that I can keep doing it, because critical review is important for me to do my best.
"Today is the meeting, huh." Hachiman slung his scarf around his neck as soon as the lesson ended and everyone began to scramble for their coats, "I wonder what kind of people we'll meet today."
"Ahaha beats me." Yui sheepishly nodded, "Meguri-senpai only said that they're full of eccentric boys."
"Boys?"
"Kaihin-Sougou Student council are all boys or so she said." Yui explained with a low tone, clearly uncomfortable with this fact for some reason Hachiman couldn't comprehend. Then again, Yui IS the student council's PR manager, so having to deal with so many boys she was not close with might disturb her. After all, beneath that unspeakably cheerful appearance Yui had her own issues with people.
"ALL BOYS?!" Ebina shrieked and stood abruptly, and dramatically ran around the windows to look outside. "WHERE?! WHERE?! LET ME TAKE SOME PICTURES! NO WAIT, JUST ONE IS FINE!"
"Restraining order!" Yumiko pointed, she and Yui then scrambled to calm down the rampaging fujoshi.
"Hikki, I'll be there soon so you don't have to wait!" Yui said as she held the unusually excited brunette, "Stop struggling, Hina!"
She can hear from such distance? No, I shouldn't have been surprised. Homo radars are frighteningly dangerous and inaccurate! Besides, what's it matter if they're all boys? Che.
"Damn fujo." Hachiman grumbled as he walked outside with a sour mood.
"What's with the long face, Hikitani-kun." Hayato asked is his usual friendly manner, though with exceptionally disturbing undertone. "Ebina-chan has always been like that; you don't have to feel jealous."
"As if I would be jealous of second rate school savages." Hachiman sneered. Seriously, he was getting on his nerves right now. Also, Hikigaya Hachiman? Jealous? As if! "Also, I'm still holding my trump card, so don't mess with me."
"Trump card, eh?" Hayato chuckled, "It doesn't matter."
"Not important you say, and yet everything you do screams otherwise."
The old Hachiman would have just submitted to Hayato's carefree smile and the influence of his 'normalfag zone'. However, Hachiman's entire outlook had changed a whole lot. In fact, Hayama Hayato was no more flawless than the average boy. The school prince had his own share of dilemmas and dark secrets.
Though some part of Hachiman totally laughed at his crumbling facade, part of him could also understand. Or hell, if Hachiman could feel sympathy, he might feel that way about Hayato. Being infatuated with someone with far superior social prowess would do that to any boy.
"I'm not saying it's not important." Hayato refuted him, "But you can't let what happened in the past influence you in the present."
"How optimistic." And full of lie, not that Hachiman would say it. "Are you telling me you're no longer interested in that person?"
"The me in the past, and that person in the past, they're all gone." Hayato said with a defeated smile, "But I believe the core of our relationship has yet to change. She still the same domineering big sister figure to me."
As if. As people began to change so did their relationships. It wasn't like Hachiman had become blind ever since he and Hina had started going out, and he noticed how things had changed in Hayato's group ever since their dirty little secret began to leak.
Then again, just because the core of a relationship stay the same, doesn't mean it looks and feel similarly just like in the past. In that sense, Hachiman probably could compare it to his relationship with Komachi.
"Looks like you misunderstood, but that's alright..." Hayato chuckled again, "I don't think I can explain it properly anyway."
"You don't need to explain." Hachiman said, "It's not like we're friends or anything. You have no obligation to say anything and I don't have any obligation to listen."
"That's true." Hayato nodded, "I don't think we could be friends either."
Then why are you following me? Is this some kind of harassment? Or is he just bored because Tobe ditched you AGAIN? Seriously now you remind me of that person, and that's an awful thought to behold. Seriously, stop following me!
"So, where are the three stooges?"
Hayato pointed at the intersection ahead. It seemed like the three idiots had quickly bailed out of the classroom before Hayato could even grab his coat because they were thirsty and wanted to get some drinks from the vending machines in the lobby. They were only now just returning. Now it all made sense. Why? Because the location of the student council room was in exactly the same direction only separated by two sets of stairs. Walking in this direction was super convenient.
"I see." Hachiman said in a deadpan tone. That was logical and all, but why did Hayato need to be so friendly with him?
"Well, either way thanks for the company." Hayato patted him on the shoulder, which made Hachiman shiver. Seriously, when did Hayato start to act like freaking Yukinoshita Haruno? That was simply way beyond awful, that was absolutely terrible and disturbing. "What the hell is wrong with you-"
"OH, HIKIGAYA!"
That voice.
Hachiman turned to see the silhouette of a curly-haired girl emerge from the stairs just behind Tobe, Yamato, and Ooka. Sporting a confident and shameless grin, she quickly passed the three stooges, barely even sparing them a glance, and stopped two feet away from Hachiman.
This is why I hate normalfags.
He could at least let Hina get this close, first...because she was his girlfriend. And second...well she was hardly normal.
"Long time no see!" She raised her hand, "I didn't recognize you at first glance because you look kinda cool now. But I guess that's to be expected since, you know...you're with someone really beautiful."
Oi, oi, what's with that?! I'm always cool! That said, Orimoto are you trying to spark a rumor? Hachiman began to feel uncomfortable and sweating profusely as he gripped his bag's strap tighter than ever. And while he wanted to scold her or something, it seemed that even with the boost of confidence he got from having a girlfriend he was still no match for the bundle of friendliness called Orimoto Kaori.
"WOAH HIKITANI! YOU KNOW A GIRL THAT CUTE? INTRODUCE US PLEASE!" Tobe shouted in disbelief.
Thank you Tobe! Can't shut his mouth to save your life!
"Well she was my classmate in junior high, Orimoto Kaori." Hachiman said, trying to act calm as much as he could. "This is Tobe, this is Yamato, and that's Ooka. We're classmates."
Feeling that Hachiman purposefully left him out, Hayato grinned and poked him. "Hikitani."
"Oh, and that sparkly prince over here too, is my classmate." Hachiman sarcastically presented the blond classmate, "Oh and he's not into girls, by the way."
"Oi!" Hayato frowned.
"Well that's true though." Tobe grinned, "Hayato is drowning in girls but he can't be arsed to even look at them."
"Tobe, can I punch you now." Hayato muttered, and he took a deep breath to calm himself. Again. "Hayama Hayato, nice to meet you."
"What? The real one?!" Orimoto shouted excitedly, as if she didn't care that she was in someone else's school and not her own. Orimoto Kaori's ability to break through any barrier sure was frightening. Perhaps that was the reason why Hachiman fell for her in the past and misunderstood her friendliness for some kind of affection.
"I don't even want to be involved." Hachiman sighed, moving to leave only to find the Secretary and the Treasurer escorting a couple of guys with similar uniforms to what Orimoto was wearing. Or at least, a semblance of a uniform...
Seriously does Kaihin-Sougou even HAVE a dress code? What am I looking at? A cosplaying boy band?
When Meguri said eccentric Hachiman didn't expect a group of unruly, handsome boys dressed like a couple of delinquents. They made Tobe look like a prime example of a model student. The Secretary, being a shy girl, looked overwhelmed by the presence of this testosterone brigade even with the Treasurer taking the burden to protect her like her personal knight in shining armor.
"Hikigaya-senpai, good evening." the Treasurer said, "This is..."
"Let's save the introductions for later." Hachiman told him, "Yuigahama and President will be here soon."
"Ah, I understand."
And so, Hachiman and the group climbed the stairs, leaving Orimoto behind because the girl was too immersed talking with the elite Soubu boys to pay attention to him or her school mates for that matter. Seriously for what reason was she here? Was she a part of the student council as well? But according to Yuigahama they were supposed to be all boys. And it looked like what Shiromeguri-senpai said to Yuigahama was true.
Nevermind, stop thinking about Orimoto, Hachiman. Focus.
俺が いる - 嘘の山で
I Exist - On the Mountain of Lies
Disclaimer:
Original Story by Watari Wataru
Chapter 21: Under the snow, blossoming spring sing the tune of death and rebirth #4
"I apologize for making you wait." Yukino bowed slightly as she arrived to the meeting room. "My name is Yukinoshita Yukino, the President of the Soubu High student council."
If it was any other situation, Hachiman would take a cheap shot at Yukino for being late. However, he was not stupid enough to jeopardize an important meeting by cracking jokes, especially at the expense of his superior.
"That's fine with us, really." The man with curly bangs said with absolute confidence. He stood up and offered his hand, "My name is Tamanawa, President of the Kaihin High student council. Nice to meet you."
Yukino looked at the friendly big hand he offered, and though she hesitated, she decided it would be highly impolite not to exchange a simple handshake. She did not want to make a bad impression in their first meeting. "Nice to meet you." She quickly grabbed and released it, barely even touching the proffered hand.
"I expect the emerging synergy from our partnership, based on mutual respect, will be a game changer for our future projects."
Just how thick did he want to lay it on? Hachiman twitched. Also, future projects? What the heck was he talking about?
One by one, the people present introduced themselves. Hachiman thought it was a waste of time but otherwise complied. After all, it was his job to stay silent and observe carefully, aside from handling all the student council's property that is. Let Yukino and Yui do the talking instead.
That aside, it was rather awkward since he had to sit right to the side of Yui and an empty chair. He'd rather sit with the treasurer if he had the right to choose. Alas, Secretary and Treasurer were essential positions, thus they sat to the right of Yukino, leaving the vice president chair completely vacant. Seriously if no one's gonna take that chair, I'll grab the vice president position myself.
"My name is Orimoto Kaori, though I'm not an official member, I was requested as a volunteering helper." Orimoto loudly introduced herself.
You can't be a volunteer if you were asked to do it. Yukino and Hachiman both rolled their eyes while Yui just wrily smiled. "Volunteer, eh, that reminds me of someone else..."
Yui was cut off by the sound of the door sliding open. Everyone's eyes locked on the petite figure of a blond underclassman sporting the Student Council's armband. Judging from her unruly appearance and heavy breathing, she might have actually just run here.
"My apologies for intruding." Iroha bowed three times, "I'm sorry for being late as well, my name is Isshiki Iroha, Soubu High student council's Vice President. Nice to meet you!"
Before Yukino could say anything Iroha sat in the reserved chair and whispered to Yukino. Hachiman just happened to be close enough to overhear it. "I've submitted all the paperwork to Hiratsuka-sensei and she approved it!"
"I see. Then let us continue with the meeting." Yukino sighed. "Once again, I apologize for the circumstances, Tamanawa-san."
"No worries, the more the merrier." Tamanawa smiled and raised his strangely expressive hands. Seriously, his hands just kept moving and moving and it was like people were drawn into him just by him doing that. Almost like it was hypnotic even. "Usually, we would discuss the usual activity of the student councils. But today, I've decided to bring forth a proposal."
Tamanawa handed them a pile of papers. Because there wasn't enough of them, Hachiman had to share one with Yui. The proximity between them made them both blush, but they needed to keep their composure or else it would be even more embarrassing.
"A Christmas Event for the elderly and children in the community center?" Yukino muttered.
The 24th of the December. That was about ten days away, but considering the scale of the event, that was quite a short amount of time with this small number of people. Or at least, Hachiman thought so. He looked at Yui and the strained face she showed meant that she was probably thinking the same. Iroha, the Secretary, and Treasurer didn't seem to look any better. In fact, it looked like Yukino was the only one who responded to the brief skimming of the proposal with an amicable mood.
"I believe working together would be the best for both of us." Tamanawa said.
What an ambitious man. Yui gulped. She looked at Hachiman, who seemed annoyed. "What do you think, Hikki?"
"Why do you ask me? I'm not even in the cabinet." He whispered with an irritated tone.
"Eh, I guess." Then Yui looked at Iroha, who seemed to absolutely regret her decision to become a permanent member of the Student Council. "...Waah, poor Iroha-chan..."
"I believe it would be best if we could read the proposal more thoroughly before making a decision." Yukino clasped her hands, "Would that be fine with you, Tamanawa-san?"
"ABSOLUTELY." Tamanawa spread his hand with excitement, constantly sprinkling his subsequent talk with vaguely correct but inappropriately used English terms. "It would be LOGICAL for you to consider it. The SCHEDULING should fit with your programs as well. You should take our proposal with CONSIDERATION, because of the GRAND SCALE of the event we're talking about and the AMBITIOUS GOAL our committee wants to achieve."
Japanese, you homo-hand*, can't you speak it?! Yui screamed inside. In fact, it seemed that Hachiman and Yukino were the only ones who even understood what Tamanawa was talking about. Though, Yui's inner angel quickly kicked the angry devil in her mind for being so restless. Ebina Hina truly rubbed off on her, if not in the best of ways.
"I believe it would be best for us to move to the usual topics of conversation instead." Yukino smiled so wide it almost scared Hachiman and others. She must be super annoyed with Tamanawa's grandstanding was and pretty much snapping in the politest way possible.
Good job Yukinon. Yui sighed. I don't think I could survive the meeting with Tamanawa-san at the lead.
...
The monthly meeting ended with a surprisingly smooth note, especially with Yukino keeping herself in the lead position. In the end, Tamanawa and others were escorted to the front gate by all the members.
"We'll begin the student council meeting shortly after quarter-hour break; so make sure you're well hydrated and fed." Yukino neatly sorted the pile of proposal copies in her hands, "I'm going to borrow the school xerox for document duplication. I'm sure Hiratsuka-sensei will want to look over it as well."
"Let me help you, President." the Secretary raised her hands.
"Thank you. Let's gather in the StuCo room as soon as possible. If you want you can bring snacks or the like." Yukino nodded.
"That's a good idea." Yui clapped her hands and smiled, "I'll go to the konbini*. Anyone want to buy anything? Let me do it instead."
"Senpai, you don't have to do that." Treasurer said in concern, even though he felt touched by her kindness. The man in him couldn't accept such a proposal. "In fact, since I'm the treasurer, I should be the one who does it."
"If you are considering the use of the StuCo budget to buy snacks, than logically Hikigaya-kun would be the one responsible for it. After all, he also manages the StuCo assets." Yukino jokingly pointed.
"NOT Liquid assets thank you very much. I can manage strategic snack reserves if you wish. However, acquiring them is not my business." Hachiman snorted. Besides, looking at the StuCo budget would make him salivate and Yukino would probably castrate him if he did so much as inappropriately use the budget. "Also, it's rather unbecoming for a President to come late to the meeting, don't you think."
"Unlike you Hikigaya-kun, I have a lot of things to take care off. But of course, a lackey like you wouldn't understand the hardships of a leader figure such as myself." Yukino swooped her hair aside with pride.
"Lackey eh, I shall submit to the rule of the perfect model student. What's best for her Majesty is what's best for us all." Hachiman bowed and moved his hand gentlemanly out of spite. "Your orders, milady?"
"Guys, really, don't fight..." Yui sweatdropped.
"Mou. What the heck were you doing!" Iroha crossed her hands with annoyance. "If you're all so opposed to someone going why don't we all go?!"
"Well, I guess me and Yuigahama-senpai should go." The Treasurer sighed. Everyone decided not to disagree.
"Today's snack budget is 1000 yen, could you add that to the usage account and strap the bills on it? I would like a small-sized melon pan." Yukino said.
"Max Coffee-" Hachiman raised his hand. "Rejected." Yukino and Yui said in sync. But OF COURSE Hachiman would ask for a tiny can of the 210 yen recipe for diabetes...
"Fine, salted fish Onigiri then." He pouted, today's lunch wasn't as fulfilling because Ebina hadn't made bento, even for herself. He missed her bento so much that he actually craved for more salt; his blood pressure be damned. He was practically drinking his own saliva right now, much to his disgust.
After gathering all the snack requests, the PR Manager and Treasurer went on their journey of acquiring the goods with a single 1000 yen note in hand.
"Well then, I'm going back to the meeting room." Hachiman said, "Best to do my job early."
"I'm going to pick some flowers first***" Iroha nodded and ran lightly down the corridor.
Just before Hachiman walked away Orimoto called him again from the school gate. "Yo, Hikigaya."
"I thought you had already gone home." He said without the slightest bit of care. He was saying it merely out of courtesy.
"I just kind of forgot to ask something." Orimoto nonchalantly said, "Are you still going out with Ebina-san?"
"Yeah, more or less." Hachiman answered.
"Hmm, I guess Ebina-san really knows what she's doing." Orimoto replied thoughtfully, "Seriously though, I almost didn't recognize you at first."
Had he changed that much in the last 2 months? Seriously though, he didn't really think about it. He knew his mindset had changed a lot, but a simple haircut wouldn't change anyone's impression that quickly either. Then again, it wasn't like he and Orimoto met everyday. Perhaps she could see what others could not. Even things that he didn't pay attention to.
"Yuigahama-san, Yukinoshita-san, and Isshiki-san too. Plus, you even know Hayama-kun personally. And seriously, his friends weren't that bad looking either. Tobe Kakeru-san looked especially beautiful." Orimoto teasingly winked, "Ebina-san was right; you're surrounded by good looking people."
"It can't be helped." Hachiman said coldly. Seriously, ever since the Kyoto incident those people kept gathering around him. People he liked and people he disliked. And he didn't have the strength to say no either. The kind of rejections he could do would result in disastrous consequences. As long as he only felt a little annoyed and nothing more then that was fine. There were too many things in this world that annoyed him already.
"Why are you talking as if it's a bad thing." Orimoto laughed, holding her stomach, "Seriously, even when you look cool you're still hilarious as usual."
"Good if you find it funny." He snorted.
"Well you've lied to me that you're not close with Hayama-kun before. So as a punishment, give me your number."
Seriously?
"C'mon, everyone else already gave me theirs!" Orimoto begged, "It's not like you have anything to lose!"
Ah, so it was. Orimoto's ability to reach others in the speed of light. Hachiman almost mistaking it for something else, again. Since it was very likely that she already got Hayato's and Tobe's numbers should Hachiman gave his own as well? Would the tragedy of the past repeat? Texting her and then getting no appropriate response, or any response at all?
Had he changed enough to avoid that painful fate this time around?
Besides, he had already gotten four-wait, no...three girls that would surely reply to his messages. So why would he want Orimoto in that list?
"A proposal for a Christmas event?" Hiratsuka accepted the bundle of papers from Yukino and the Secretary.
"Yes. The student council of Kaihin-Sougou asked us to participate in the event they are holding." Yukino nodded.
"Interesting bunch." Hiratsuka said as she immediately skimmed through the proposal with a burning cigarette between her lips, "You know, Tamanawa hasn't been in that position long, only since October. So in terms of experience he's not really that much better off than you."
"It's irrelevant." Yukino said. But even though she said that, this new-found information gave her a new insight as to why Tamanawa looked very awkward when someone else dominated the conversation or even kept up with his pace. He tried to cover his lack of competence by dragging everyone into his tempo. "But this proposal is really a joke. It's written rather messily, and loaded with random English words that weren't even needed or context appropriate. Never mind the content itself is rather aimless and lacking in important points. To put it simply, even at first glance I can tell this proposal is nothing but trash."
It was not any better than the shitty light novel drafts a certain delusional friend of Hikigaya Hachiman wrote, in terms of general quality that is.
"Ouchie." Hiratsuka chuckled, while the Secretary simply winced. "President, Sensei, I'll go first." Secretary bowed out, again.
"Be careful on your way." Hiratsuka waved, "And what do you think about Isshiki joining the council?"
"I can't put any sort of judgment on her performance as VP yet." Yukino held her chin thoughtfully, "If I had to be honest, Soubu High Student Council is filled with exceptional individuals, and their performance frightens me sometimes."
"Even Hikigaya the slacker?" Hiratsuka raised her eyebrows in disbelief.
"He would complete his job early so he could slack off later. As for the issue of job quality, he has it covered with his wicked intelligence. It's not like he is actually doing much, but he has accomplished his work flawlessly." Yukino said in a no nonsense tone. "As for our new member, Isshiki-san's performance as manager is nothing short of exemplary. So, at the very least she has the talent and the drive to accomplish her duties."
"So you find her acceptable." Hiratsuka took a draw from her tobacco.
"If she really wanted to do it I have no reason to forbid her." Yukino closed her eyes, "But why the sudden interest? A month has passed since the election, if she was interested I figured she would ask for it much earlier."
"I don't know." Hiratsuka smiled, "Maybe she found something interesting in the council that she couldn't in the Soccer club? Or something happened in the club that made her come here?"
"So she didn't say anything to you?" Yukino inquired.
"Not really. And like you I don't see any reason to reject her request." Hiratsuka pushed her cigarette into the tray until it stopped burning. "Speaking of requests, anything happen in the Service Club?"
"Aside from general consultation through e-mail we haven't received any live requests in the past month." Yukino answered straightforwardly.
"Then it's been decided." Hiratsuka stood up and took the proposal with a wide grin plastered on her beautiful face, "Soubu High will accept this proposal and join the event."
"Wa-wa-wait...Sensei?" Yukino was too shocked to quickly react. And when she finally managed to move her feet Hiratsuka was already out of the teacher's lounge. "Sigh. There's really no way to stop her if it comes to this."
Well it's not like they had much to do either. So Yukino decided to go back to the room, expecting to find a disgruntled Hikigaya and a panicked Yuigahama when Hiratsuka told them of her decision. At the very least, as both leader of the service club and the student council president, she would have to lead them in the right direction.
It will be alright. She tried to convince herself. I can do this on my own.
Regarding Iroha, it was possible that Yukino could ask Hayato for his opinion. As the Soccer Club ace and de-facto Club president, Hayato would know about Iroha more than anyone else short of her boyfriend, perhaps. So Yukino stopped walking and took a moment to stare at her phone screen, Hayato's number on speed dial.
At the same time Yukino didn't want to intrude into Iroha's privacy. So she decided to pocket her phone and continue her way to the student council office.
There's no need to ask what I don't rightfully need to know. As long as Isshiki-san is performing well her own motive to join does not matter.
* It's been a running joke in manga/anime fandom that large yet delicate hands on a man are very common in yaoi media. Thus the term yaoi hand(s).
** As explained in previous chapters, konbini is convenience store, aka, mini-market.
*** Japanese women's euphemism for going to the toilet.