As Expected He Was More Warped Than Most
The roads of Japan were long and sometimes even treacherous much like that of life. Especially to those that had to drive for long hours on end. Here we are with one such man. He exits the diner he just had lunch in and ponders about his life as he pulls out a cigarette from his pocket, all the while walking towards a small white cargo truck.
Religious folk always tend to say that 'Everything Happens for a Reason'. That it is all the divine will of God. That God loves all of mankind equally and all hardship he puts his children through is but a 'test'. Whether that was true or not he was uncertain. Seeing as how he is a nonreligious person. And upon that a very unlucky person. How unlucky? Well...
A low growl interrupts his thought process as he jerks away from the truck he was supposed to drive all the way to Chiba. He swallows the lump in his throat and looks around to see if anyone else heard it. Fortunately no one else was out in the driveway, the people that owned the rest of these trucks and cars were in the diner enjoying their time. He sighed in relief then scratched the back of his head. "I gotta find a way out of this mess someday. All these necessary business junk is weighing down on my sanity." With that he boarded the vehicle and started the engine.
Many miles away from his current position was a much younger man who was wondering how long it would take for him to fall asleep. The futon supplied to him was definitely comfy but it was hard to fall asleep with all the racket the others were making outside. Hachiman had no idea why they were making so much noise even though all they were doing was cook lunch. His coughing had returned not long ago so it seemed like the cough medicine he had earlier had worn off. Maybe that's why it was harder to fall asleep. It's unfortunate that he was told to have his medicine after a meal.
He opens his eyes and scans the empty log cabin he and the rest of the boys from Sobu were assigned to. It was nothing special. Roughly fifteen square feet. Literally, Fifteen feet from the center to every direction. He was no expert in architecture but this was definitely not enough for Four people to sleep in. Especially if one of them were the type to flail their limbs about while in dreamland. Even so it still did qualify as a home since it still technically provided a roof over their head and a safe haven from the elements. Hachiman definitely did not want to go back to living in the streets. Even if it was for a short period of time like last time. 'A few months is enough for one life.'
"How are you feeling?" his gaze turns to see Totsuka Saika enter the cabin. "Has your fever gone down yet?"
"A little bit." Hachiman replied. "Shouldn't you be*cough* helping out with lunch?"
"We're nearly done. I wanted to come checkup on you." Totsuka said after sitting right next to Hachiman with a smile.
"Ah." Hachiman coughed again. "It's good that you're here." with that Hachiman slowly sat up. Totsuka lent him a hand midway with worry in his eyes. " Help me outside*cough*."
"Are you sure? You should be resting." Totsuka was unsure of Hachimans' decision.
"Hm." Hachiman nodded. "I can't*cough* sleep though. Might as well stretch my legs a little."
With the help of his classmate Hachiman managed to stand up and even walk. He cracked his neck and exhaled. Totsuka handed him over a mask so that Hachimans' fever wouldn't spread to the others. The last thing he wanted is to feel responsible for the elementary school students getting sick. He thought back to a couple of hours ago when he was standing on the raised platform with the rest of Sobu High students to be 'introduced' to all the elementary school kids. Hiratsuka really wanted him to sit down somewhere and rest till they were done but he insisted that he should at least be present for that much. A slight lapse of judgement on his part. Not only because they had to do a little trek deeper into the forest which was very taxing in itself but also because he failed to realize his hidden agenda for being present had no chance of coming to fruition.
'It was stupid of me to expect anything. They were all probably six year old back then at most. Couldn't even remember if they tried.' Hachiman berated himself for his lack of foresight. A let down for sure. But after all this time of repeated failure, his expectation was low from the get go.
"What's going on here?" Hiratsuka jogged to the two of them with concerned in her eyes. She frowned at Hachiman "You should be resting right now."
"Can't sleep." Hachiman replied. "Bored."
Hiratsuka sighed. "You can't get better without proper rest. Totsuka go and help with lunch. I'll deal with this idiot."
Reluctantly Totsuka let him go. Hachiman had enough strength in him to stand on his own. Hiratsuka came to his side and wrapped an arm around him and pulled him closer. "You have to take it easy. You may not realize it but the people that care for you would be sad if something happens to you."
Hachiman was at a loss for words as his eyebrows raised in shock.
"I had no idea... that you had a mature side to you. That actually sounded kinda cool." Hiratsuka found it hard to keep a straight face after hearing that. She noticed the edges of his lips twitch ever so slightly. Her annoyed feeling was instantly replaced by shock when she realized that he just made a subtle joke. But held on to her composure when some of the younger kids started to look their way. The two made their way to the outdoor kitchen where the others were busy making the last preparations for lunch. The aroma was intoxicating to Hachiman because of how hungry he felt. He wasn't able to have breakfast yet. The fever and abrupt travel all the way out to the outskirts of Chiba had left him with no time to grab anything to eat. He was literally running on that water Totsuka had lent him earlier.
"Ah Kotomine-kun. You're awake!" they walked to Yuigahama who turned to greet them. She had a salt shaker in her hand and even wore an apron. The food boiled in a saucepan between to her and Yukinoshita who had yet to avert her eye from the stove.
"You should not look away from the stove at this point, Yuigahama-san. The curry is almost done." Yukinoshita chided. Yuigahama turned to Yukinoshita to apologize. A little too quick unfortunately as the salt shaker in her hand fell from her grasp. The lid of the container came loose as it fell down to the saucepan and spilled all of it's contents into the saucepan and sank disappeared into it. The two girls watched in horror as Yukinoshita quickly tries to pull it out with a ladle.
"What's wrong?" came a worried Hayato into the scene with a few younger girls following him. Hachiman was aware that Hayama was the 'ideal' guy in the eyes of most girls but he didn't expect to see children that had yet to even hit puberty eye a boy with such longing. Frankly it's a little disturbing. And coming from Hachiman that was saying something.
'Kids these days... Why do I feel old all of a sudden?' Hachiman saw the others also taking notice of the commotion. One girl in particular caught his attention. Not because she was doing something extraordinary. But because unlike the rest of her classmates, she was by herself, leaning against something that heavily resembled a chicken coop. Her arms remain behind her back as she watches them with a frown.
"I dropped the red pepper salt shaker into the saucepan. It was totally a mistake I swear!" Yuigahama explains in a panic. Hayama reassures her that no one holds it against her. Hachiman wondered how bold his classmate could get. To answer on behalf of everyone without even asking is rather too presumptuous for his liking.
"Isn't that supposed to be our lunch?" Tobe questions' as he peers into the saucepan.
Yukinoshita managed to pull out the little container and grimaced when she noticed the red pepper inside the container been liquefied. Well, whatever was left of it anyway. The rest had probably dissolved in the curry. The golden brown color slowly take a dark red like hue. "This is no longer edible. We'll have to start again."
"Wait." Hachimans' interference catches everyone's attention. The elementary school girls that were following Hayama hid behind the older boy when they noticed him. Unsurprisingly children still feared him to an extent. Maybe day with Kawasaki Keika had been a fluke. "Don't throw away food *cough*like that. It's just a little *cough*pepper. Nothing poisonous."
"Yea! Spice actually makes curry taste even better if you eat it right!" Tobe chipped in with Hachiman. Hachiman nodded at Tobe who beamed in return.
"Why don't us guys have the this one and you girls can have lunch from the other curry." Hayama added his opinion before turning to the younger boys around them. "What do you say kids? Up for a little challenge?"
"Heck yea! It'll spice things up a bit." a random kid joked. His fellow classmates raised their fists with voices of agreement. Hachiman noticed some of the boys agreed with far less enthusiasm and a nervous look in their eyes.
Even with all the excitement they were singing different tunes less than half an hour later. All the male elementary students were taking heavy breaths with their mouths wide open and sweating profusely. The curry on their food in their plates hadn't even been a quarter way finished. Some even looked like they didn't want to eat anymore. Hayama had trouble maintaining his smile as he too sweats and eats in a quicker pace than normal. Next to Hayama sat Tobe. Tobe quickly chewed on the curry and rice on his plate. He didn't even give his face muscles a chance to relax as another spoonful of curry and rice went into his mouth. A little messy and even a little rude. Fortunately the girls were eating separately away from them. Meaning they didn't get a close up view of the insides of Tobes' mouth. Next to Hachiman sat Totsuka. Surprisingly Totsuka was far more resilient against this amount of spice considering he had yet to sweat as much as the the rest. Hachiman himself only felt a phantom sensation from his taste buds. This amount of spice was something okay. But definitely not enough to actually trigger a response from him.
"Wow Hachiman. You must really eat a lot of spicy foods." Totsuka asked him. Hachiman swallowed and replied.
"Not really."
"Yor nat even sweatin like the rest of us! I'd say that's petti darn amazin' Kotohmin-sa." He heard Tobe speak. His jumbled words only confused Hachiman who had to look up and see Tobe still chewing.
"Don't talk with your mouth full. It's disrespectful to the food." he admonishes Tobe who started choking a little. Putting down his plate Tobe picked up a glass of water and started drinking.
"Sorry." Tobe mutters. Hachiman doesn't reply and continues to eat in silence.
His eyes slowly open as his head turns to his left to witness the trees outside becoming harder to distinguish. He guessed that the sun was setting. Meaning he was able to sleep for about four hours or so. He closed his eyes once more and squeezed them tight to get rid of whatever sleep that still remained. His could still feel his fever , dormant within him but at least he didn't feel too sluggish. Although he did feel a little dehydrated and really tired. He turns his head to the right "You didn't have to stay with me. It's a fever, nothing serious."
"Better safe than sorry. Besides, I'm the one that dragged you all the way out here so it's my responsibility to look after you. Also Kawasaki stepped in when I was needed elsewhere" Hiratsuka added with a shrug. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." a one word reply to a four word question. "But thirsty."
She helped him sit up then handed him a bottle of water. He took it and gulped down most of it. "I really don't want to do this now. But do you think you can stand? There's something Hayama wanted to discuss with all of us grownups present."
He raised an eyebrow at her in confusion but nods at her. He begins to take off his shirt, surprising her. Hiratsukas' eyes widen.
"Why are you stripping?!" she covers her eyes when she noticed him unbuckling his pants.
"These cloths are drenched in sweat. I need to wear something else before my body starts to smell." he paused his action to explain. She turns away from him, her hands no longer covering her eyes. She patiently waited for him to change. The sound of a zipper interrupts the silence that had took over. Because of her back turned from him she doesn't see him pull something out of the pants he wore previously and put it in the pants he wore at that moment. Seconds later he spoke. "I'm done."
She turned to see him wearing a short sleeved green T-shirt and baggy pants. The cross he wore around his necklace elected an eyebrow from her. But she doesn't question him and motions him to follow.
He followed the older woman outside. A couple of minutes later they stumble upon the rest of Sobu High students. Hachiman begins to wonder why they were all sitting together like this. 'Did something happen?'
"We're here. Someone catch him up to speed." Hiratsuka motioned Hachiman to take a seat. Hachiman sat down on the empty seat next to Totsuka who scoots over a little to let Hachiman feel more comfortable. He noticed a plate of curry in front of him. The others had empty plates in front of them.
"What's this?" he asked.
"Dinner." Yukinoshita replied. "We're not allowed to go out of the cabins after dark."
Hachiman was not used to having dinner this early. And his breaks at work were usually much later than sunset. If he had dinner right now then he'll probably wake up in the middle of the night feeling hungry. Habits were frightening in their own way. At least he did feel a little hungry right now and this is still free food so he saw no reason to complain. He takes the spoon in his hand and digs it into the rice.
"There's this girl that's always away from the rest of her classmates. We're starting to worry about her." Once again, a statement made on behalf of the masses by the golden boy of Sobu.
*FlickFlick*
The noise made Hachiman stop paying attention to both his dinner and to Hayamas' words. He raised his head to stare at Hiratsuka who was about to light up a cigarette. Hayama stops speaking when he noticed the 'glare' Hachiman was sending towards their teacher. Hiratsuka froze when she felt his gaze and turns to look at him.
"W-What? I haven't had one since lunch alright? Let me have this one!" she exclaimed at him. Both the older woman and Hachiman miss the look of bewilderment they received from the rest of the students.
'Who's the real grownup here?' they wondered with a sweatdrop.
"Do you really wanna argue over this now." his raised an eyebrow. She flinches at his words then puts her lighter away with a huff. The cigarette in her mouth was still present. She probably intended to light it after they left for their cabins. Satisfied that she was not going to smoke in front of him Hachiman returned to his meal.
"A-Anyway. I want to help her however I can. It's better if everyone is friends." Hayama sounded determined. Hachiman hoped that he doesn't get dragged into whatever this is. But considering that they waited for him to show up and start he was probably already involved somehow.
"However you can? You can't do anything. Just like last time." Yukinoshitas' words come to his ears. The noise of a sharp inhale made by Hayama followed. Hachiman looked up from the curry in front of him to see the look on Yukinoshitas' face. From the corner of his eyes he saw Miuras' nostrils flare as she glared at Yukinoshita.
'First during the chain mail request. Then the thing she said in the restaurant and now this.' Frankly, Hachiman was reaching his limit with this girl. His eyebrow twitched and he even scowled briefly. Something brushed up against his left leg. His eyes move to see Hiratsuka briefly shake her head. So he stays quiet. Holding in statements that would undoubtedly hurt Yukinoshita and rile up Yuigahama. A silent exhale later he did what he has always been best at. Listening.
He listened on as Hiratsuka asked Yukinoshita what she would do to help the little girl. Yukinoshita replied in the typical Yukinoshita way.
Unsurprisingly it was Yuigahama that had spoke in favor of helping 'Rumi-chan'. Surprisingly though, he saw Kawasaki agree with Yuigahama and Yukinoshita also looking like she agreed. Finally Hachiman had the name of this 'lonely girl'. Too bad he still didn't care. With the last bits of his curry finally gone Hachiman stood up.
"Where are you going, Kotomine-kun?" he heard Yuigahama ask.
"To wash this plate. And then lie down." he replied. Picking up the glass of water he put it in the plate then picked it up.
"We're not done here, Kotimine-san. We still need to find a way to help Rumi-san." Yukinoshita attempted to stop him. She even tried to use his sense of responsibility against him. "As Sensei mentioned before. This summer camp is a matter of the Service Club as well. It is our duty to help Rumi-san."
"Oh please." he scoffed. Something no one had ever seen him do. "This is just a side job Hiratsuka-sensei picked up to make a little bit of extra cash. This has nothing to do with the service club. If it did then all of us would have been informed of this before summer vacation and we would have had to pay for our own meals and lodging." a little presumptuous yes. But had he not done something similar in the past he wouldn't have been so sure. However the side jobs had taken their toll so he stopped taking on extra work. But because of finances he ended up having to move out to where he lived today. The rent was far cheaper since his apartment was at such an inconvenient place. He didn't blame the older woman one bit though. Since there was no school she probably didn't have any way of making some spending money. Although he would be lying if he said he didn't mention her 'side job' in front the others to get back at her for dragging him out here. He turned away from them and started walking away.
Hiratsuka visibly flinched at being caught and exposed at the same time. She felt the glares from both Yukinoshita and Kawasaki burning a hole into her head. She turned to explain to them that she just wanted to teach them the value of being responsible with younger kids and the money was not a factor but Hachiman wasn't finished.
"Besides, it's just elementary school. She has plenty of years ahead of her if nothing life threatening happens. And unless she thinks about it everyday in a sense of self pity and hides it with false pride that only ends up making her come off as more annoying than pitiful-" He knew that was oddly specific. Hachiman turned his head to face them and saw Yukinoshita frowning. "-she won't even remember these days in a few years."
Hachiman had tried real hard to fall asleep. But he couldn't. He simply wasn't used to going to sleep this early. Not to mention he had already slept half the day away. When the other boys entered the cabin sometime after him he expected them to ignore him. He was proven wrong when Tobe had invited him to play a few rounds of the card game called 'bridge' with them. He didn't expect that. Seemed like even they were not used to going to bed this early. Hours later at nearly eight PM his classmates had finally fallen asleep.
He sighed. He was supposed to take the rest of his medicine after dinner. And he did. However since it hadn't been long enough since the previous dose Hachimans' immune system went on overdrive. Right now he was sweating more than ever. And since his other set of cloths were already starting to smell he had nothing to replace his currently sweaty cloths.
'What a drag.' At least he felt much better now. If he were to guess then he should be better by tomorrow. But for now... He pulled on the collar of his T-shirt and grimaced. 'I wasn't able to take a bath today, was I?' He couldn't remember the last time he missed a bath.
Exiting the cabin without waking anyone up was easier than he expected. Either he really lacked presence or he was just that good at moving about without making a sound. 'I will get the drop on you one of these days, Kyo-san.'
The sinks in the kitchen area were too small for him to wash his cloths in. Not to mention the tanks probably didn't have much water in them anyway. But if he remembered right. The map they were all shown when they arrived there should be a stream nearby. He sets out, walking through the woods and trees with the moonlight being his only light source. He hears the sound of water running nearby.
"Who's there?" someone asked in worry. The voice belonged to a girl. Hachiman doesn't reply. He makes his presence known.
"Oh." the person sounded disappointed. "You're one of our chaperones right? What's your name again?" he excused her rudeness because of her age.
"Kotomine Hachiman." Hachiman analyzed the stream. The water was too shallow on this side. But by the looks of it it was deeper from the other side.
"What are you doing out here this late?" she asked again. This girl asked too many questions.
"Washing cloths." he begins to take off his shoes.
"A-ah." she seemed off put by his response. "I'm Tsurumi Rumi."
Hachiman stopped what he was doing then stared at her. The girl, Tsurumi took a step back while he stares at her with his empty eyes. "I see." he returned to crossing the stream.
"You're friends have been bothering me today." he doesn't reply to her. When she mentioned friends his thought process stopped.
"What?" he asked. The water was cold. His question even more so.
"The handsome guy with blonde hair. He's tried to talk to me a few times even though I don't want to." Tsurumi says.
"They are not my friends." his words confused her.
"But I saw them talking to you." he crosses the waters before replying.
"They are my classmates, that's it. We are not friends." he notices her face make a confused expression.
"Even though they don't make fun of you?" her question gives him a pause.
"I'm not making fun of you. Does that make us friends?" she couldn't deny that.
"No. No it doesn't." that brought up another question in her mind. She asked him in wonder. Hoping someone with more experience could answer it. "Then... what does make someone a friend?"
"..." Hachiman doesn't expect someone as young as her to understand. It took him some thinking to fully understand it himself. He reiterates the words Satoshi told him many months ago. "A friend is... a person you share your burdens with. A friend is a person that asks you to share your problems. And even if you don't, they force themselves into your problems. So that you won't have to suffer alone. And you would be the same for them... A friend is a person that would stand by you in your time of need, no matter what. A friend would help you even if they get hurt in the process. That is what a true friend is."
"..." Tsurumi Rumi looked at her feet with a frown. She knew she heard him correctly, but the things he said left her confused. Could two people not bound by blood truly be that open with each other? She couldn't imagine doing something like that for someone else. She left then and there without another word, leaving Hachiman alone. Hachiman looked at the water in the stream. It reflected his face. Reminded him of the first time he saw his reflection.
"That's one heck of a tall order for friendship you got there." a new voice calls out. Hachiman places the dirty cloths on the ground. Just outside the range of the water. "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"I should be working right now. Bedtime is usually at One AM." he replies. "Shouldn't you be in bed Sensei?"
"Eh, Was having a smoke till I saw you coming out of the boys cabin. Thought I'd take a look." Hiratsuka shrugged. "Also, I don't think washing your cloths with just water is going to do much."
"Does it matter as long as it doesn't smell or look bad?" he asked without looking. He dipped his shirt the water. Soaking it.
"I don't think you really understand it but you won't be making any friends if you keep your standards that high." Hiratsuka began to take off her shoes. Hachiman was still focusing on his shirt so he didn't see that happening. He grabbed the piece of clothing with both hands and began scrubbing it a little.
"That's fine. I lived this long without friends. And I'll continue to do so as long as it is that way." his reply had made a sad smile appear on her face.
"I don't doubt it." Hiratsuka crossed the river. The splashes made by her feet interrupts Hachiman who looks up at her in confusion. "But it doesn't have to be that way you know."
He says nothing. He had no idea what to say. He waited for her to continue but she said nothing. Instead she picked up his pants and squats down next to him. Words of gratitude escapes his lips when he noticed her washing the article of clothing. Minutes later they were almost done. All that remained was his underwear.
"Take off your shirt. I'll wash it for you." he did as told and handed it to her. The cold night air hits his bare chest.
Hiratsuka took the shirt without looking at him. "Are you sure you don't want to help Tsurumi Rumi?"
"If I don't have to." he replied.
Her head slowly turns to him as she spoke. "Well, if you don't want to. I won't force you to. But it wouldn't hurt to be a little-"
She stopped midway. Hachiman knew he didn't do anything to upset or interrupt her and wonders why she stopped. Suddenly he notices the shirt he had just took off slowly floating away in the stream. He leaps forward and grabs it before he lost it forever. A relieved sigh escapes his lips. "Why did you-"
She grabbed his shoulders and positioned him till he was sitting right in front of her. Because of their positioning he was unable to see Hiratsukas' frown and watering eyes. When she spoke her voice was shaky. "...How... How did this happen?"
Hachiman knew what she talked about. But he didn't answer yet. Not because he didn't want to tell her. But because he didn't really know himself. All he had to go by was what he was told. She eyes the large burn scar that covered the majority of his back. His skin looked distorted, a combination of dark gray and dead pink. She could even see a couple of veins though the recovered skin. They stayed that way for agonizing seconds. The sound of crickets could be heard in the silence.
"The Firefighters said that they found me buried nearly neck deep under the burning building that collapsed on top of me. The doctor told me that I was lucky to have even survived." he didn't know why he told her that last part.
"Why didn't you... tell me before? Not having any parents... Struggling so hard just to get by... And now this?" she just wanted this day to end. All these revelations of the boy whom she had thought so little of till now only reminded her of her failure to have noticed his pain all this time. It had been eating away at her the entire day. 'But this... this just makes it so much worse!'
"You never asked." he waits for her to say something. But she stays silent. Her grip on his shoulder tightened. Her forehead leans forward till it touched his back. He could hear her sobbing.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
He didn't understand why she apologized. After all, she had nothing to do with any of that. But he stays silent as she silently wept for him.
Far north of where the two of them were, a small cargo truck speed through the roads. Trees pass by in a blur to the driver. He held back a yawn. His takes off his right hand from the steering wheel and slaps his cheek. "Don't fall asleep Kaneda. You've drove longer than this. It's only an Eighteen hour drive from Hokkaido. Yup, just a couple of more hours-" a screeching sound came to his ear as his truck started to weave. "The hell!? A flat tire?!" Due to already being sleepy and the sudden weaving Kandea had failed to get the truck under control. The breaks fail to stop the truck as it was speeding too fast from before the flat tire. If anything, it only made things worse. "Gaah!"
The truck broke away from the road and went into the jungle. He had taken this route because of it being less used. Meaning he would have able to go faster and reach his destination quicker. "NONONO!"
The truck crashed into a tree. Breaking it in half. It all happened so quick that the airbags didn't deploy fast enough as Kanedas' head slams against the steering wheel and tree. Knocking him out instantly as blood gushes out of his head and bruises. He wasn't even able to see the engine ignite in flames. The woods become silent once more. A growl interrupts it from within the truck.
*BOOM*
An explosion made by the engine exploding sends shrapnel flying everywhere. Smoke rose towards the sky as the tree the truck had crashed into started burning. The cargo bed was blown a few feet away from the burning tree. It's front blown wide open. A feral snarl could be heard as a furry clawed paw lands on soil.
-Chapter End-
With each chapter it becomes increasingly harder for me to keep Hachimans' past hidden till the 'big reveal' chapter. It also makes it more frightening for me because simply putting it. The more hyped up something gets the easier it is to be let down by it. The ones that do manage to live up to that hype are the true legends of the entertainment world. The ones that surpass it become the ultra legends, lol.
I know a lot of you are angry at Hiratsuka. But honestly it's not her fault. Till now she just assumed he's an average emo kid with trust issues. And that his problems weren't really that big of a deal. Now that she knows more of his past and his struggles she'll be nicer to him. She treats him differently than her other students because in her eyes, he was just a kid that never gave her any respect. Now that she views him more like a man you'll finally be seeing more interaction between her and Hachiman from now.
"Lolis are for patting. Not for fapping." Hachiman approves this message~