I remind myself that sometimes less is more. Be simple instead of forcing complexity. Narration is a never-ending learning experience. I sometimes lose confidence in my writing ability. When I read the previous chapters I notice a lot of things I wouldn't write now in terms of delivery. Sorry for my disappearance. Life has been hectic, changing jobs to eventually go into business with a friend. Working for yourself there isn't really a lot of free time. But we're not here to hear my problems, it's all about the updates. Thanks for the constructive feedback, it really helps going forward. Now back to the wish fulfilment fictional world of overpowered Hachiman.
Apathetic Super Soldier
Chapter 4: False Perceptions
[Disclaimer: These are works of purely speculative fanfiction. It is not intended to infringe on any rights by any of the companies and/or individuals involved in the production of any series mentioned here]
(Chiba)
Sure, everyone would have their own definition. But, do you wanna' know hers?
Maturity to her was the gruelling responsibility of preparing for the unknown future.
Ignoring your short-term juvenile wishes in favour of significant long-term goals. Difficult sacrifices were made out of her bull-headed pride to take care of herself and her coddling affection for her younger siblings. Less free time. A non-existent social life. Abandoned hobbies. Early mornings, late nights.
A hefty price she was more than willing to pay to be able to provide for herself.
The chiming bell to the hotel elevator dinged over tranquil harmonising music, above an overhead display, illuminated a white 'G' signalling the arrival at the ground floor.
Metal elevator doors drifted open; her reserved purple eyes were greeted by the familiar visual of the elegant entrance hall. A spacious room, much bigger than the entire ground floor of her house. Dusted cappuccino ceramic tiled floors, a circular gold chandelier and glass wall mounted lights reflected nicely off the polished surface. Green leather chairs rested by dark, solid wood coffee tables spread out around the room.
On her first day here, she had felt completely out of place and inferior to be in this kind of high-status environment. She wasn't exactly what you would call upper-class. With time she had grown used to – more like stubbornly tolerate - this place and the typical snobbish occupants. Another sign of her maturity.
That's what a majority of her idiotic age group didn't understand. Sometimes you have to work amongst people you hate for the things you need.
In her case she needed money.
Saki walked through the sparsely populated lavish lobby. At this current time, there wasn't much activity. She raised an aloof hand in farewell to the polite female receptionist smiling at her. Once she navigated through the glass revolving doors to the outside world she was welcomed by a pitch-black sky and the bustling, bright city.
Entering the throes of the moving crowd she was quick to throw the hood of her navy terrace jacket over her head, setting a brisk pace while she tied the white buttons of her coat. Chilly nights annoyed her and made the journey all the more bothersome as a numbing wind struck her scowling face like ice, the weather was cold enough her breath created a cloud with each exhale.
A deep breath of relief flew from her lips under the shielding embrace her coat provided. Hiding her uniform and youthful face from view was a habit she'd settled into ever since her decision. Hours past midnight a girl her age stalking the city or anywhere for that matter drew one too many weird glances, none that helped her, she hated to admit, nervousness.
Eagerness to attain her needs made her careless. A stubborn to the bone girl.
She did not seriously consider just how daunting walking the streets at night as a girl could possibly be. Busy high streets weren't difficult as there were enough people around to dispel her anxiety. No, it was in the shady backstreets and barely populated areas that her anxiety came alive.
As much as she liked to believe she was mature and self-reliant, she was extremely embarrassed to admit she took a longer route home at night to avoid paths she found scary. She told no one this. Not her parents. Not Hiratsuka-sensei. And most definitely not her siblings. She'd never dream of burdening them with her fears and doubts.
If she had to pick five secrets to take to the grave, that would be one of them. She couldn't imagine an actual adult making such an inconvenient, timewasting alternate route due to some silly irrational fear.
No thanks to her delinquent reputation - that she never cared to fix - the immature brats at her school probably thought she'd thrive and be comfortable in such environments. Better for her they believe she was unafraid than the shameful alternative.
As she travelled around a corner store her stomach squirmed. Blocking her desired route was a gang of fishy looking men lingering right before the stairs to the Kaihimmakuhari train station. Saki's black ballerinas paused as she frowned nervously and adjusted her white crossbody handbag over her shoulder.
Guys like that pissed her off.
Where did they get off rudely blocking a public path for everybody? For the past few minutes, her body was stuck in a mud of doubt, her irritating pride screamed and mocked her for being a coward each tinkering second she remained motionless. They showed no signs of moving as they chatted and squabbled in an uncivilized manner, scrapping her embarrassing idea of waiting for them to leave.
Why were they even here? Of all the place they could've chosen to dawdle the fools had to pick an essential spot on her path home.
To quell her apprehension, she fed off her anger and marched directly towards the band of scoundrels as if they weren't even there. Saki put on her trusted aloof, but stern, facial expression. Albeit unseen by her hood.
"Can ya' believe he actually went back to pay for it!"
Noisy laughter echoed in the night.
"I knew he was scared from the start!"
"Let's head back to the ba-"
"Wait! Who's that?"
All chatter halted as they all stared at the nearing hooded figure. Much too slender to be a man with small feet in feminine designed shoes, plus their gait was too narrow, lacking the broadness of a male.
Before the suspected woman could completely pass them, a meddlesome hand reached out to yank the hood back.
"Don't touch me, ya' creep!" a cold feminine voice reached their ears.
Four men rose their eyebrows in delighted surprise at the unlikely sight of a beautiful girl all alone at night. Arousal fuelled them as they leered. Her spotless porcelain face was twisted into a harsh glare as she clutched her handbag tightly, agitated purple eyes darted back and forth between the gang circling her.
Disgust welled inside her frightened body as the men that appeared to be in their twenties ogled her in a sexual light.
The one with the spiky hair and slanted eyes grinned lecherously. "Look, guys! We got ourselves quite the looker."
His portly friend flung a heavy arm around her shoulder, pulling the girl close. "What's a pretty girl like you doin' out this late?"
Saki's nose crinkled in disgust as his body odour and stale breath assaulted her. She shoved him as hard as she could with a revolted glare, barely moving the heavyset man more than a step back. "That's none of ya' business, fatso! Ever heard of a shower? Or toothpaste?" she snarled out, her eyes remaining defensive.
The chubby man growled and clenched his fists as his friends laughed and snickered uproariously. His frown danced between each friend in anger. "Oi! Shut up, shut up! Stop laughing at me!"
"She's treating you like a punk!"
"You've never had the best luck with girls."
"That nasty smell was from you the entire time!"
Next to him the tallest man of the group with brown shaggy hair and black ear studs stepped forward sporting a greasy smirk. Saki made a safe guess to assume he was the leader of their juvenile gang as all jibing quickly dwindled at his motion. He met her repulsed stare arrogantly; she did not approve how he practically stripped her naked with his eyes.
"Listen, hot stuff, why don't ya' come with us and we'll show you a good time." Licking his lips with a lecherous expression certainly did him no favours for gaining her already astronomically far out of reach acceptance.
Thinking back on this night, Saki would've smirked at their snubbed faces to her bold retort if she wasn't so angry at them for harassing her and afraid of their, most likely, less than savoury intentions. She shot them a savage grin, praying it was convincing enough to hide her nervousness.
"You gotta be joking? Why'd a girl like me go out with a bunch of immature losers that waste their time loitering the streets at night? You're all just a stupid bunch of wannabe gangsters. I'd rather jump off a cliff than hang around with you idiots!"
Time and time again her parents chastised her for being too headstrong and tactless when communicating with irksome people outside the family. Advising her that she needed to fix her uncouth attitude or one day it would come to haunt her. And judging from the enraged expressions surrounding her, that day had come.
Call her stupid or stubborn, but the feelings of regret never once itched her after her audacious refusal, she could never resist putting meddlesome punks that troubled her in their place.
Saki glared coldly at their supposed leader, seeing no point in giving the rest her attention. "Now get the hell out my way and let me pass." On top of being brutally shut down and disrespected, for this single fearless girl to then order them to move like they were utter trash, the gang had enough.
Yet to respond the tallest man wordlessly met his insulted friends' enraged eyes and a look of agreement passed between them that worried Saki. Her mood did not improve when she heard the galloping sound of her scheduled train leaving, this was not good at all, trains were less frequent at these times - she'd now have to wait another whole hour.
She didn't want to spend any more time alone outside than she needed to.
'I'm not scared, I'm not scared, I'm not scared!'
Right now, her transportation home was the least of her problems.
Beneath the streetlights white glow, his glare shifted to a shady smirk. "You're quite the feisty one, aren't ya?" Saki anxiously shuffled back as they all stalked closer with shared expressions promising something she didn't want to know or find out. "We were gonna' hold back on ya', y'know, with you being a hot chick and all, but I think we need to teach ya' some manners." His nasty gaze moved to his agitated gang. "What do you say, guys?!"
Eager nods answered his goading. Her world spun.
"Hey! Stop!"
All around her she was shoved roughly as they cackled, each taking their share of fondling and groping her through her jacket before barging her again.
Moisture welled in her orbs as their unwanted touches brought feelings of revulsion. She never had the chance to retaliate, unable to regain her footing as they forced her down a vacant alley. She panicked when one of them snatched the strap of her handbag, the silver leash snapped as she attempted to yank it from the portly man's grasp.
Her belongings in her handbag unceremoniously scattered across the pavement, her phone, purse, pocket make-up mirror, house keys and a pink pear-shaped bottle of perfume.
Saki's purple eyes widened in worry. "My things!"
Overcome with the instinctive urge, she rushed to retrieve her items off the street floor.
"Aah!" a pained moan escaped her lips as a heavy smack from the portly man snapped her head aside and stopped her in her tracks, stinging her white cheek red.
"You ain't runnin' nowhere, bitch!" he sneered while his friends hooted him on. Her earlier digging insults still rang fresh in his mind.
Rage bubbled in her as her purple eyes glistened alight with unshed tears, forgetting her fear, Saki gritted her teeth and startled the overweight man at the level of vitriol she emitted from her glare.
Everyone's stunned eyes expanded and winced as they all watched Saki thrust her knee into his crotch before striking him in his eye socket with an immediate right cross so hard, she injured her hand.
"Argh!" The fat man fell to his knees clutching his privates and held his swelling eye as he grimaced. "Wait 'til I get my hands on you, bitch!" he roared like a lunatic with spittle fleeing his mouth, Saki took a cautious step back as her chest heaved and her gaze quivered.
She screamed and thrashed about in wild panic when her hair was suddenly tugged almost pulling it from its roots before their leader silenced her with a solid punch to the gut, she gasped as her vision swam in and out until the tall brown-haired man's scowling face appeared in her field of vision. "You made a big mistake hitting my friend," he spat furiously, raising his fist again.
"L-leave me alone!" Saki fearfully squeezed her eyes shut bracing herself for the pain as his fist travelled to her face.
Like a ghost, an unknown iron grip encircled his wrist abruptly cancelling its flight path.
"Oi?! Who the hell are you- AAHH!"
/~/
Pain wasn't meant to feel good. Logic expressed to her that feeling pain was a natural response from your nociceptor; a pain receptor, sending signals of possible damage through to your spinal cord and brain. Natural pink lips split into an enthused countenance. She ignored the sensations of pain her brain produced to compel her toiling body to stop.
This was good, this felt good.
Afforded sight by beaming floodlights, white lightweight sneakers drove against artificial grass, grappling for grip. Blue fingerless gloves wrapped around two bars; perspiration coated Yukino's porcelain face as she pushed with her curvy legs driving the push sledge loaded with two twenty kilogram plates towards the stopping point.
"C'mon, girl, on to the jumping squats."
Accompanied by laboured breaths, she followed her taskmaster's orders without complaint while she dipped her budding hips and began to jump in repetition, inflaming her developing leg and glute muscles with fatigue. This pain was worth it. Experiencing the increased level of strength in her once skinnier frame was emboldening, she has always been beset with poor stamina, but no more. Abiding Alphard's rigorous regiment had corrected that weakness.
Best of all was her feminine curves growing more pronounced, even with her modest bust size she felt more like a true woman. Alphard implored, downright forced her to increase her daily caloric intake at the dawn of their union. Before her pleased eyes, gradual results began to blossom from her thickening physique, now she found all her current clothes a tighter fit than they were prior to her evolution.
Her excitement was understated when she noticed that her chest had marginally filled out, however minimal it may be, she was pleased despite not being as emotionally hinged on her bosom size as she once was.
Hikigaya Hachiman was half the reason for that.
Resident delinquent of Sobu High. One of the most insufferable arrogant boys she had ever met, one who spared nought a thought towards authority. That same brusque and aloof boy who ruled her once decrepit world struggled to keep his induced eyes off her generous thighs, she remembered, savoured the attention she seduced from him.
Bold enough to have the pleasure of seeing his handsome, melancholic visage twist with frustration at her undaunted sass. Whatever phenomenon was happening between them as they quarrelled was something that electrified her nerves and made her feel alive through all the riotous tension. Sinking her slender fingers to grip his untamed onyx hair, his gunmetal eyes tracing her wet tongue moisturising her pink lips…
"Yukino, Yukino~ That unusual smile on your face looks like trouble."
"E-excuse me?" Yukino flushed as she realised just how promiscuous her wild thoughts were becoming, that brutish boy was driving her conflicted mind insane. Alphard stalked up to the embarrassed girl with a teasing smirk crafted on her face.
"Having impure thoughts about a boy? Your face is redder than a tomato."
"W-what? Don't be preposterous!" Yukino scowled like a petulant child caught with her hand in the cookie jar and crossed her arms, twisting her wiry waist away from her trainer's mocking eyes. "I am simply dehydrated from my workout."
Alphard rose a sceptic eyebrow, not believing her for a second. "Is that right?"
"Yes, that is right." Yukino's grumpy face blinked when cool plastic poked her cheek, she took the offered bottle of water from an amused Alphard. "Thank you."
"So," Curious, Alphard planted her hands on her broad hips. "Is he sexy?"
"Urk!" She laughed as she patted a coughing Yukino's back who momentarily choked on her water. "H-huh? N-no! There is no boy, Alphard!"
"He's ugly then." An indifferent Alphard shrugged facing away from a glaring Yukino, allowing a devious smirk to slither across her tanned face. She raised a dismissive palm shoulder high as if a noblewoman denouncing a peon boy. "Strange how a facially challenged boy would make a cute girl like you blush, perhaps your standards aren't as high as I presume-"
"I'll have you know Hachiman-kun is a very attractive boy and I would appreciate it if you didn't insult him!" Yukino growled, clenching her fists by her blooming hips with righteous anger, her bottle dropped in her rage.
Alphard smirked as she rotated to her. "Oh? Hachiman-kun is his name…!" A glint of recognition sparkled in grey orbs.
"Eep!" An atomic blush exploded on Yukino's exposed face; her hand flew through the air to slap her stupid mouth shut. Always a victim to easy provocation.
"We've got a lot to talk about, Yukino."
The blue-eyed girl gulped at her intimidating approach. She should've never come to this indoor training facility!
"W-wait! Alphard, s-stop!"
/~/
Brotherhood was powerful amity.
You would believe a parent to be the first and foremost biggest influence on a child. In most normal cases you would be correct. However, growing up alongside a similarly aged child can change that outcome. Where he was often recluse and laidback, Izayoi was outgoing and energetic. During free time he would favour the quietness of being alone and getting lost inside a light novel or playing videogames whilst Izayoi would run through the fields, climb trees, even explore forests in search of adventure.
Clean of blood, absent from the anguish of warfare years in the past before either child were aware of what both terms meant they each had a natural affinity to the opposite. He displayed traits of an otaku and Izayoi a riajuu. As such he had once been saddened to believe they would eventually drift apart. Be that as it may, he came to the pleasant realisation that such things were not so black and white.
They both walked the silver line.
Regardless of their preferences, one thing remained paramount, they enjoyed each other's company. Whether it be play fighting, back and forth banter, exchanging naughty secrets, spirited competitions, down to the violent arguments. It even ascended to the level where their influence on each other caused their hobbies to merge. He made Izayoi enjoy the traits of an otaku. They read manga, played videogames, including watching anime while also pantomiming as their favourite shonen characters together. In return Hachiman, yes, really him, enjoyed the outdoors in his spare time. They would run the fields, climb trees, and explore forests together.
'Ugh! I hate nostalgia. Just like when I reminisce about Komachi when we were all young it's making me sound so sappy.'
This is why Hachiman was groaning in annoyance as he watched his brother in all but blood, Izayoi, fall against the wall, broad shoulders shaking with unrestrained laughter whilst cradling his stomach.
"I can't believe it!" he wheezed out with an expression of amused disbelief. "A trained super soldier was afraid of a high school girl!"
Hachiman's eyebrows tightened. "I wasn't afraid, idiot," he growled out which only resulted in Izayoi falling into another fit of laughter. "I'd appreciate it if you could stop laughing at the person who is going out of their way to help you."
Noticing his dark-haired partners souring mood and realising he had come to help him without complaint – well not completely, the blond attempted to regain control of his body. He took a deep breath and delivered an apologetic look towards a scowling Hachiman, yet he struggled to remove the mirth from his glinting purple eyes.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry, but you have to admit it was a little funny. I mean… I just wasn't expecting a high school girl to be able to scare you of all people," Izayoi argued in defence of his amusement in between light chuckles.
"For the last time. I was not scared." Hachiman crossed his arms sporting a grumpy frown. How many times did he have to tell the unbearable blond for him to get it through his thick head? "This is exactly why I don't tell you things like this."
"C'mon, Nii-san, you know you can tell me anything." Izayoi looped his arm over his frustrated childhood friend's shoulder, giving him a curious stare. "But seriously, how bad can this girl be?"
"Look at this and tell me if this isn't a bit crazy." Procuring his iPhone from his charcoal jean pocket, a self-satisfied Hachiman revealed her contact information to a flabbergasted Izayoi, his purple eyes flared as the realisation hit him like a church bell waking a drunken man slumbering at the top of a church tower. Scanning the columns stuffed with her personal details. Most people, schoolmates in this instance, when exchanging contact information would typically only provide their mobile number, possibly an email address too. But this… this was thorough.
"Wow." Izayoi shot a cautious glance at the onyx-haired boy. "This girl really spared no detail."
"See, I told you!" A still stupefied Hachiman's thumb flicked through the rows of her file containing her; mobile number, email address, home address, yes, her literal home address, house phone number, even her date of birth. Just in case that wasn't enough she believed it necessary to provide him with…!
Why did you send me this?
To be utilized as my profile picture in your mobile device, Hachiman-kun. Is the image not satisfactory? Shall I take another?
No, that won't be necessary, the photo is fine.
I am pleased. You can confirm that you will use the image then?
Red flags had pillowed in the paranoid wind of his mindscape as read her text.
It's already up, just as you wanted.
I am glad to hear it, Hachiman-kun.
"Is that her?! You didn't tell me she looked like that!" Intrigued by this Yukinoshita Yukino interest in his brother, Izayoi pointed to the image of a girl possessing flowing obsidian hair and beautiful features. Sky blue eyes, unblemished alabaster skin, pouty pink lips circling pearl white teeth. She boasted a traditional aristocratic, Japanese beauty that wouldn't be amiss from a priestess. The blond wasn't aware that he was seeing the rare sight of Yukino smiling like an innocent angel, outfitted in a blue and white striped, round neck, shoulder pad t-shirt as she took a selfie in what appeared to be a park. "She looks waaay better than that last girl you were with."
"She does." Admiring the frozen shot in time, he wondered if she had taken that photo solely for him, Hachiman nodded his agreement. "But you can see now why she unnerves even a super soldier like me. The way she stares at me, like, like- I can't even explain it." Locking the screen Hachiman sighed stuffing his hands in his pockets as a musing Izayoi removed his arm from his shoulder.
"Hachiman." He gazed up at the serious tone and expression on Izayoi's face as the blond crossed his arms. "I can only go off what you told me but, it sounds like this girl is extremely infatuated with you. That's why it's unnerving you. You're not used to that."
Surprise did not come to him when Hachiman gave him a look of disbelief. "You can't be serious, Izayoi?! That evil witch of a girl hates me, she insults and taunts me in every conversation we have and we argue all the damn time."
"Insults, taunts and arguing? That's just how insecure, hormonal teenage girls show their affection."
"When I warned her not to play with fire, do you know what she told me? She said she's not afraid to get burnt! What kind of high school girl says that?!"
"A freaky one. The sexual tension is much worse than I thought."
"She's crazy, Izayoi…"
"So? You're crazy too!"
"Unlike her, I have valid reasons."
"Let me get this straight." Shaking his head at his brother's denial, rolling his exasperated eyes. "She hates you but" -He raises one finger. "She gave you a fricking hickey." A second. "She said you can't leave the club when you tried to leave." A third. "She asked for your number of her own accord." A fourth "And the part that makes me most proud of you, she grinded her ass on your-"
"I believe you've made your point," Hachiman grouched, eyebrows scrunched in frustration. That was still a sore spot, a reminder of his loss of control. "I'll admit there is an… attraction between us, but that's it." Infatuation though? The very thought sounded ridiculous.
"Alright. Fine." Izayoi shrugged, letting Hachiman's childish stubbornness slide over his lifetime of experience dealing with him. "You stay in denial then, just know I won't hate to say I told you so when this high-born Yukinoshita chick is bouncing on your di-"
"We've wasted enough time, just knock on his door."
"Heh!"
Izayoi wrapped the back of his knuckle thrice upon the grey, security flat door. "Open up, we know you've been watching us the entire time." The blond grinned as he waved a lazy hand in front of the security camera built into the door, observing them both when they came close to its vicinity.
Hachiman chuckled, wondering if the blond would lose his patience again. "What if he keeps his door locked like last time?"
Purple eyes peered behind to meet amused gunmetal grey, a savage grin appearing on his face. "Then I'm breaking through his window this time."
"Izayoi, that won't be necessary so please refrain from causing damage to my property... again."
Their attention was taken by the intercom system coming to life, projecting an exasperated flat voice. Obviously annoyed with the presence of the volatile Izayoi.
"Then open the door and let us in." Izayoi rolled his eyes in impatience.
A tired sigh carried through the intercom; Hachiman smiled at his frustration.
"The door will unlock automatically in five seconds."
True to his word the sounds of bolts unlocking were heard through bullet and blast-proof door. Key features including thirty millimetres of front steel shield followed by three millimetres of thickness galvanised steel. This was the kind of standard you would be accustomed to seeing at an airport or a bank.
Hachiman weighed the idea of purchasing a similar door for his own home, despite knowing that such a purchase would make his mother and Komachi nervous at what kind of people he was expecting to obstruct or defend from their home.
"Finally."
Faster than a blink of an eye, Izayoi was through the door. Hachiman casually followed after the hurried steps of the blond as he shut the door behind him once they entered the humble abode of their missing host. They removed their sneakers at the genkan before feet covered in socks carried them across dark-grey laminated flooring to a door on the right side of the dark hallway.
Inside the screen lit room sat an overweight twenty-something man with thick spectacles upon his chubby face, outfitted in a baggy green t-shirt and loose red jogging bottoms. Stationed before him, was a huge, 49-inch ultra-wide 4k monitor, displaying an awaiting online lobby on Call of Duty. Hachiman long since remembered the days when online servers were once the safe haven and sanctuary for the lower-class of the social hierarchy. Loners, outcasts and otaku alike. Gaming now was a major industry with ever-growing popularity and mainstream appeal. That popularity resulted in the gaming environment being overrun with riajuu of all walks of life.
Swirling in his comfortable leather gaming chair, leaning his chin-length brown hair covered by an orange baseball cap against the padded headrest.
"What do you need from me this time? I was in the middle of a game."
"No need for the attitude, I come in peace." The purple-eyed boy raised his arms in surrender, a teasing grin lined his face.
"The last time you came in peace, you had to buy me a new front door," he remarked in an even tone, the darn blond had spartan kicked his old door with the strength of Belgian horse that exploded into splinters throughout the hallway. Granted – still didn't justify the damage done - he had been purposely ignoring him for twenty minutes. But can you blame him? On that rare occasion, he had female company, the adorable Yuki-chan had visited. She had been so scared that day, he had to reassure her that he – unfortunately – knew the intruder.
Izayoi seemed genuinely apologetic, if only for a moment. "Accidents happen, am I right? Besides, I replaced the one I destroyed with a security grade one."
Hashida Itaru's brown eyes regarded them, or more specifically Izayoi with an irritated scowl. Obviously pissed off that they'd interrupted his gaming session. Understandable, as Hachiman hated any intrusion when he was gaming online also. Itaru's eyes also revealed his surprise at his appearance.
"Hachiman? What are you doing here with this maniac, your mercenary profile has you listed as off duty?" He exchanged fist pumps with both teens as they gathered around him.
He shrugged his response, he asked himself the same question again when he could be relaxing in his comfortable, quiet bedroom gaming himself. Breath of the Wild wasn't going to complete its self. Maybe even watch an anime, that was the better choice during a school night. He wanted to check out a new series Izayoi himself suggested. Rise of the Shield Hero. Apparently, the protagonist resembled him. Yeah, forgive him for being dubious on that claim.
He jerked a lazy thumb towards Izayoi who sported a faux offended expression at being labelled a maniac. "Izayoi asked me to come along and give him a hand… to be honest I think he just wanted the company." He shot a mocking smirk to the blond, Itaru snickered.
"Lost fools." Izayoi scoffed at such a poor attempt to embarrass him before spreading his arms grandly like a street preacher. "And so, what if I did? Am I not my brother's keeper? Is it so wrong of me to enjoy thy brother's company?"
Itaru groaned for the both of them. "Not this again."
"Izayoi." Taking the emotive high road was a crafty, unsporting angle that he wasn't going to even entertain. "Please stop acting like Oyama Reiji."
"Heh." He grinned back to Hachiman's glare. "The truth hurts doesn't it?"
Hachiman waved a dismissive hand. "Just do what you came to do."
"That's what I'm waiting for," Itaru muttered a sardonic shade to his tone.
"Right, right." Washing away his jovial demeanour that gave way to his current task, he grimly turned to an intrigued Itaru. "I've been given the mission to capture, dead or alive, a rogue colonel of the Japanese Armed Forces named; Katsuki Taibo, who is wanted for desertion and the illegal production of chemical weapons sold on the black market. I need your help finding his location."
"Hmm. Katsuki Taibo." The resident nerd swivelled in his chair, facing his screen with a cocky grin. He minimised his game and began typing away faster than a gyaru texting in a group chat. "You know his full name that makes this too easy." Windows minimised, then enlarged under his adept control, revealing to the trio a file displaying the target's latest information. "It says here that he; Katsuki Taibo, fifty-four, 182 centimetres tall, eighty-six kilograms, was last sited a month ago in Narashino laboratory overseeing the development of chemical weaponry. Courtesy of our ball of sunshine Hachiman, he blew that plan sky high in his demolition mission." Itaru glanced at the laconic boy in question. "Anything to add on that?"
"Like I told Izayoi." Hachiman shook his negative. "No. I was only required and paid for a demolition job. Nothing further, I only briefly engaged his men in combat before I evacuated the premises." Per contract stipulations, he didn't get paid for overtime for this assignment. He wasn't going to risk his life any more than necessary on high-ranked missions without substantial monetary gain.
"Don't be so modest." Izayoi produced a frown of annoyance from Hachiman when he elbowed his side, releasing a cynical scoff. "I've seen the police forensic report of the now called 'Narashino Lab Bombing' and you left quite the everlasting impression on those men." Although he knew his intentions, he could do without the reminder that his hands were never short of blood.
Mirroring his macabre thoughts, a dark grin streaked his face. "You know just as well as I that our line of work has collateral losses."
"That I do." Beside him the blond nodded; haunted purple eyes connected with gunmetal grey. They found a twisted sense of solace in the fact their hands were the same colour. Until their curious gazes transferred toward the screen when it began shifting as the only seated man cleared his throat loudly to break the flow of conversation.
"Anyway." Rather than hear any further talk of this sombre subject, an anxious Itaru wisely proceeded forward with the situation at hand. "I input his details into the facial recognition database and I'm currently searching through all recorded and live CCTV footage in a hundred-mile radius. Public… and private." This degree of access was without question illegal. A necessary evil for their profession.
"Nice!" Izayoi rubbed his hands together, excitement clear on his features. "Not many people can hide from big brother." The light from the 49-inch curved screen bathed over the trio. Granting them a crisp Full HD visual.
Hachiman frowned as he gazed at the revealing footage of a muted society. "I haven't looked at a camera the same ever since I saw how easily you can hack into them."
"Please." Itaru rolled his eyes mockingly at his paranoia. "You're worrying over nothing. There aren't many people that can do what I do without being detected accessing the encrypted deep web."
Izayoi grinned, his keen eye scanning each feed transition. "Hachiman wouldn't be Hachiman without his trademarked paranoia." Making the computer whiz chuckle in agreement. Quicker than an ALFA-X bullet train his supercomputer drove the feed locking on each passing face on every road.
"I'd much rather be paranoid than negligent," he said with an irked grunt.
Although, he wouldn't deny the benefits, if Hachiman were being honest, having that level of surveillance in a metropolitan city was a utility that could easily be exploited by those with unsavoury means. Which shadowed under the guise of security and protection for the public, most Japanese denizens wouldn't lend a distrustful eye towards the inherently invasive nature of a security camera.
With the cyberworlds, exponential growth and accessibility for the common man, in this field of interaction, the security of your privacy fell upon you. A minute example would be him ordering Komachi to cover the camera on her laptop where she often left it idle. He ignored her bellows and insults claiming him to be a paranoid hermit. He didn't arouse anger. For his little sister was blissfully ignorant to what depravity he'd witnessed in his line of work.
"Success!"
After seven minutes of waiting in silence, it was broken by Itaru's cheer. The screen finally zeroed in on the rogue colonel Hachiman encountered. In the frozen image he was seen wearing a casual, green army cap and a brown high-collared jacket. Entering an unassuming apartment building in a hurry. His weathered features were caught gazing up at a camera for less than a moment.
It was enough.
The spectacled man gleaned all the necessary information Izayoi required as his acute eyes lapped his screen with the speed of a track and field star. The duo stood behind him shot him looks of surprise when he slammed his elbows on his glass desk, burying his head in his hands. Dramatically sobbing. "Not that I want this guy to get away, but... wow, sometimes I hate your devils' luck," moaned Itaru, he then furrowed his eyebrows at the confused blond. Wondering how this spiky blond bastard always got lucky breaks.
"Devils' luck?" Izayoi traded looks with an also confused Hachiman. "Itaru, what is it? Did you find out where he is? Is he still in Japan?" He placed a concerned hand on the chubby man's shoulders.
In no hurry, he rotated his head to face a waiting Izayoi. "He's only twenty-five minutes south from here," he finally supplied.
Izayoi blinked. "You've gotta be kidding?" Laughter erupted from his lips. "That makes my job so much easier."
"Where is he exactly?" asked Hachiman. Tempted to roll his eyes at the blond's riajuu fortune. He had targets that had skipped countries several times over before he even accepted the contract. Talk about divine intervention. "I'm not trying to spend the entire night outside."
Now recovered, Itaru corrected his posture and cleared his throat. "He's in the city, Ichiharashi, in the town of Yawatakitaicho. I'll send the exact coordinates of his location to your device." His fingers scrambling over his keyboard.
"Sweet. Hachiman and I will head over there now." Izayoi's mercenary phone pinged in his pocket. He smiled. "Thanks for the help."
Itaru rotated to face them and delivered a firm nod. "Even though you piss me off, we're still subordinates." Behind his back his monitor began to shift again, searching for any peculiar activity through the live CCTV's channels.
The conversation before him filtered to the back of his mind until they sounded submerged underwater. Hachiman narrowed his eyes upon the screen zooming in on four men surrounding what appeared to be a girl. Like heckling Hyena's circling a lioness lost from the safety of her pride. He knew that area, he recognised it. They weren't far from here.
"Hachiman."
Anger festered within himself as even without sound it was obvious, they were harassing her. Taking advantage of her vulnerability for their disgusting selfish desire.
"Oi, Hachiman!"
Upon her hood being yanked from her head, his thudding heart suddenly lurched with enough strength to escape his ribcage.
'Silver hair!'
Surged by emotion the traumatising ability, total recall pounced and afflicted his burning senses.
Ocean churned air caressed his ivory skin and untamed raven hair as the wind grew restless. Clouds that are drawn grey loomed over his home city of Chiba. The apparent possibility of rain assured him he wouldn't be disturbed on the roof. Lunchbreak was a hectic affair after all. He stood atop the water tank to overlook the charming conurbation from his high vantage point.
He slotted one hand in his pocket, whilst with practised coordination, his stiletto switchblade danced in a twirl between his fingers. His flat gaze observed the casual display of skill for a minute before a sigh strolled from his mouth. Boredom was a loyal partner to his attendance at school. A mandatory curse cast on every eligible child.
The sound of the door to the roof opening reached his ears. He scowled. Against his assumption, he was disturbed.
Lengthy bluish hair possessing faint purple highlights, ponytail wrapped in a purple scrunchie strolled into his vision. She turned, revealing her listless expression, her uniform haphazardly worn. An open blazer and a collared shirt, tied into a front tie knot at the bottom, with one too many buttons undone than what was considered appropriate.
Hachiman rose an amused brow at the apathetic girl presenting a tantalising view of her bountiful bosom. Tall, shapely legs that looked as if they had never missed a leg day carried her to the water tank.
Due to his silence or maybe her obvious absentmindedness, she was yet to notice his presence.
He observed her release a yawn, shielding her mouth. She lazily blinked twice as her violet orbs drifted on his position.
Hikigaya Hachiman.
A fellow pupil of Class 2F. Or infamously known as the worse delinquent of Sobu High was staring right at… her.
Kawasaki Saki.
She squeaked in obvious fright at the unexpected company. Before having the embarrassing realisation, she had just… squeaked.
All hope of not being heard evaporated as she saw the side of his lips upturn. As if she had just eaten a Yatsufusa pepper, red swam up from her neck to her face. Saki regained herself in good time, clearing her throat awkwardly. She shot a glare toward the stoic boy. She cared not for the frightening rumours. She was not afraid of him like the other idiots.
Stilted silence followed as neither had evaded eye contact. Saki sent a cautious glance to the blade pirouetting in his skilful grasp. Whilst he was in no particular hurry to shield the illegal weapon from her view. Like her awareness was inconsequential. Like the very thought of him being in a culpable position didn't exist. Barring a grievous crime, she wouldn't tell. It wasn't her business. But the level of irresponsibility disgusted her.
The girl's teeth clenched.
Amongst the two taciturn teenagers, the raving wind was the only talker which irritated Saki further as the whistle and wine of the wind resembled laughter at her earlier loss of composure.
Despite her glare imploring him to move from her designated territory, her place of solitude away from the school populace. He remained, steadfast. The blade still in play. He broke eye contact and took a casual walk around her water tank, aware of her following eyes. Seeing him as nothing more than an intruder prowling around her area. Eventually, he aligned himself opposite her, casting a bored gaze on her vexed form. He knew what she wanted.
The nerve!
Quicker than her eye could follow his switchblade vanished from her sight with a flick of the wrist. She gasped when he hopped off the eight-foot-high water tank, disregarding the use of a ladder. Shamed, she conceded to his charge. Forced to take a step back lest she collides with him. Nigh soundless he landed inches before her with the grace of a feline.
'Reckless showoff!'
Saki was considered tall for a Japanese girl, however, the aloof boy before her were of the few that loomed half a head over her. She held back an anxious swallow when eyes that reminded her of an aquatic predator gave her a pointed look. A look that made her taunted pride roar in defiance. Pretty features crinkled into a scowl.
It was strange, but she understood the unspoken statement from her fellow recluse. She could have her territory back.
But only because he 'allowed' it.
Without a word exchanged between them he swept past her. Leaving Saki stewing alone in anger, having half a mind to chase him down and give him a tongue lashing. Ready to challenge his statement. People like him that never took life seriously, pissed her off. She growled, she spun on her heel and left. She hated to admit that she didn't even want to go on the water tank any more. At least for today.
He tainted it.
She knew she was being childish but she was too angry to care.
"Arrogant jerk!"
"Hachiman! Oi!"
Present clarity returned to a concerned Izayoi shaking his shoulder yelling at him. Whilst Itaru narrowed his eyes in worry. He had been out of it for the past three minutes.
"Hachi-"
"I know that girl being attacked!" he suddenly blurted out, pointing a finger at the screen.
Izayoi and Itaru both blinked then sighed with relief at him finally responding before they turned their attention to the monitor. True to his word a girl was being attacked by four men.
"Oh shit! You're right." Itaru gasped, frowning at the miscreants in action.
"You know her?" Izayoi scrutinised the bluish-haired girl and the surrounding area. "That's the Kaihimmakuhari train station."
"Hey!" Hachiman grabbed Izayoi's shoulder with urgency, snatching his gaze off the screen. "I need your car, Izayoi. I'm sorry I can't come with you but I need to help her."
"I understand, you don't have to apologise." Izayoi smiled. Not hesitating for a second he handed him his key fob, he then gave Hachiman a good-natured shove toward the door. "Now go! I'll sort my mode of travel with Itaru. We'll catch up later on."
Hachiman gave him an appreciative nod, showing a rare smile to both men. "I owe you one." He glanced at the seated man who nodded at him. "Later, Itaru."
"See ya, dude."
/~/
"Ahhh!"
Hachiman's cold eyes gleamed with vindictive glee at his cry of anguish reverberating the area. The man's wrist joint snapped under the crushing pressure of his hand. The trio surrounding them cringed at the horrifying sound emitting from their leader. With the painful grip on her tresses gone, a dazed Saki crumbled to her shins upon the pavement, blinking the tears out of her violet eyes. She cradled her aching scalp with a wince, relieved her face wasn't struck.
She gazed up in nervous confusion at the menacing man standing protectively in front of her.
"Who hit you?"
A relaxed Hachiman's eye peered over his shoulder; scanning the emerging pink welt on her left cheekbone marring her otherwise unblemished alabaster skin. Saki was lucky to hear the enigmatic stranger over the drumming of her heart. Freezing under his domineering gaze. She swallowed a glob of salvia when she realised, he was speaking to her. The calmness in which he asked the question did not fit the serious mood, leaving everyone nervous and perplexed.
What kind of person would just snap a man's wrist with frightening ease and proceed to speak in a casual natured tone?
Before she was able to respond the corpulent man who had struck her growled. He eyed his unresponsive friends, enraged at this asshole that had injured his pal and these idiots who were too scared to do anything. He was only one man and there were three of them. They could take him.
Ignoring the whimpering of their so-called leader, sobbing over his wrist. Hachiman's eye transferred to the overweight man when he stepped forward. His aggression intentions clear.
"Hey, asshole! I'm gonna make you regret hurting our friend!" He cracked his chubby hands with a nasty sneer. His confidence seemed infectious as his two buddies seemed to regain their metal. Saki watched with mounting horror as the trio charged her unknown saviour.
Using great strength, Hachiman hurled the man with the broken wrist into his two advancing friends, he screamed in terror as he flew through the air. He impacted them with a heavy thud, knocking them all to the ground like bowling pins. Leaving them in a tangle of groaning limbs.
Unfazed, he patiently waited for the rotund man's slow approach.
Hachiman then ducked under a sloppy haymaker and jabbed. Like a javelin.
Crack!
Despite not having a lick of remorse or sympathy for her assaulter, Saki cringed at the crude sound of his nose cartilage succumbing under the force of the brutal blow.
"Arghh!"
Saki and the scared still trio watched in revulsion as he screamed as blood gushed from his nostrils like a fountain, painting the pavement red. His hands rushed to his nose in a futile attempt to stem the blood flow. In his turmoil, he was unaware that Hachiman had shifted his position. He grabbed the whimpering man by the back of his neck, his snivelling increasing at the sheer force immobilising him.
Once again Hachiman linked his impassive sight on Saki.
"Which one hit you?"
Shaken at the violent scene, her shaken stare snapped to the stoic director of the action. She tried to recall why he seemed so distantly familiar. She rose an unsteady hand and pointed at her once tormentor now reduced to a pathetic husk of a man at the mercy of her unrecognised protector.
"I-It was h-him."
She stuttered out, almost worried for her abuser now she had identified him. Almost. Violet eyes glazed over as she observed the cowering man and her apparent dark knight. Tendrils of corruption stroked and prodded her judgement. A dark side of her enraged soul savoured his turmoil. Excited for more retribution to come.
He deserved it. They all did.
She had not troubled them. She was simply trying to go home. She had told them to leave her alone. She was a good girl that only done what was best for her family, her precious siblings. What gave them the right to harm her?! To sexually assaul- Let them suffer…
"T-tell him to s-stop, we're s-sorry!"
Inebriated on secondhanded power, cold as ice, with no sign of remorse, Saki regarded his pathetic bloodied face. Meeting his desperate pleading eyes with an empty stare. Locked behind a door her kinder side was horrified at the diminutive pleased smile slowly aligning her scarred face as he released a gut-wrenching cry of agony when her dark knight dislocated his shoulder.
Hachiman gave Saki an odd quick look, seeing a visage that looked foreign on a teenage girl before he turned to the quivering man. He pushed him toward his shaken friends. They stared at him like he was some kind of freak. An abomination.
He scowled. "If I ever see you dogs trouble her again, what I'm doing now will pale in comparison if I even see you in the same street as her."
"M-monster!"
Hachiman grit his teeth, watching the quartet scramble away, the smartest choice being the nearest hospital.
Alone in the alley, silence championed above the boy and girl. The only sound being Saki's laboured breathing, struggling to come to terms with what she had just witnessed. Down to how she reacted. A look of panic overcame her, trying to deny what happened. She had enjoyed his pai-
"Are you alright?"
Hachiman stepped toward the distressed girl on the ground.
"Get away from m-me!" He watched impassively as she scrambled to her feet and became defensive, hugging herself in a poor attempt to bolster her fractured confidence. Wild, suspicious violet eyes scrutinised his form up and down many times over. "I'm f-fine! I don't n-need you or anyone else's h-help! I-I can take care of myself! I'm not s-scared, I'm a big girl. Y-you didn't need to c-come and s-save m-"
"Kawasaki!"
The clearly hyperventilating girl gasped when he suddenly addressed her by shouting her name, placing firm hands upon her slender shoulders. Up close, she tilted her wet gaze upward and choked back a relieved sob when recognition finally dawned on her. Despite not being deemed friends, barely even acquaintances. Plus considering the dire circumstances, her subconscious mind relaxed at having a familiar face in her presence.
"H-Hikigaya?" hopeful, she tested his name on her tongue, her glistening eyes wide on his youthful, yet solemn features. Still shocked at the bizarre turn of events.
"Yes." Hachiman nodded, his confident eye scanning her for any further damage. "It's me from high school."
"T-thank you!"
Now without a shadow of a doubt concerning his identity, Saki clung to his black hoody like a drowning woman clutching a lifeline. Burying her fears of the thwarted incident into his chest. Silent sobs wracked her shaken form as Hachiman wrapped his hesitant arms around her. She felt so small and vulnerable in comparison to the grim disposition she exuded at school. He peered over her bluish tresses to eye the drying blood on the pavement and her scattered belongings.
It was only natural she reacted like this after what she experienced.
In spite of that, he still remembered the dark look that shadowed over her vacant orbs. She was remorseless. Only for a moment, he saw behind her curtain of order drawn back by the depravity of man. A veiled, wicked version of the scared girl crying on his chest right now. One that reminded him of another girl.
Minutes after, Saki in an impulsive movement sprang from his chest taking two steps back, embarrassed shame on her red cheeks. She hastily wiped her wet eyes with the sleeves of her navy parka jacket.
"S-sorry."
"Don't be."
Hachiman mentally showed his relief. There she was. Already trying not to show weakness, her pride driving forward.
She took several deep breaths and steeled herself. She was safe. They were gone. She repeated. Hikigaya Hachiman saved her.
Saki's curious eyes observed him walk over to her belongings and collect each item. Now she could see why she didn't recognise him. He looked different outside of his school uniform. She damn near thought him a young adult - with his height and muscles - until she saw his boyish face up close and of course his distinct sinister eyes.
They always reminded her of a shark whenever she caught herself watching him stalk the hallways at school.
Unwitting, Saki checked him out from head to toe. Wrapped snug around his well-built frame was a black hoody with a large white medusa head on the chest. Still wet from her tears, she flushed. Covering his legs were slim-fit, charcoal biker-style jeans, held tight by a black leather belt, presenting a silver medusa head buckle. On feet, he wore unusual black sneakers with a white chunky midsole. She had seen them before in a FUDGE fashion magazine she had read; Versace Chain Reaction's.
He actually looked… good. Real good.
Just when did the hermit Hachiman become so… so stylish? As an aspiring designer, Saki liked to believe she was well-versed in fashion. Big and small. But she didn't need to know that to see his outfit was very expensive. What kind of enigmatic, super delinquent was he? Was he some kind of drug dealer? Is that why he was out so late too. And those crazy fighting skills he had. She had assumed his irresponsible delinquency stretched no further than the safe confines of school.
That wasn't the case. His territory spanned much larger than a water tank. He handled those guys with ease. Like he had done it many times over.
Frustration knocked on her door to deliver more questions than answers. At his approach, she stiffened, not from fear, but suspicion. He ignored her reaction and returned her belongings, being kind enough to store everything in her white handbag. She spared a second to lament the sight of the broken strap on her handbag done by that fat bastard, only to feel soothed at the memory of his ugly busted nose. 'Gods! What is wrong with me?"
"Thanks."
She gave a stiff nod of gratitude, shivering when their fingers partially touched in the exchange. The awkward remembrance of her earlier breakdown still lingered fresh in her mind. She hoped and prayed he wouldn't tell anyone what happened. She wouldn't be able to bear the shame.
"Are you okay getting home?"
Saki was surprised at the offer and was also silently relieved he wouldn't just go on his merry way like she had expected him to. Even so…
"I'm fine, okay." She glanced off to the side, avoiding his piercing gaze. "I can get home on- ahh!" she unexpectedly cried out as her right hand flared up in pain, her eyes moistened at the stinging sensation.
Her watery vision lifted toward a concerned Hachiman who had immediately approached at her weep and lifted her wrist with a gentle hold. He was way too close; he smelt good too like fresh wind and timber. Who was this guy?! Growing fuzzy-headed she noticed his complexion was a darker shade than her own. He scanned her swollen right hand with a trained eye. Her once smooth skin, now bruised and swollen red around her knuckles. "Looks like you were the one to give that guy a mean shiner," he drawled in his heavy timbre.
Grey and purple connected.
Despite herself, Saki preened above her pain; a tiny tilt of her lips showed her resilience. "Told you I could defend myself."
Hachiman shook his head in amusement. Stubborn to the bone. "I don't doubt that." Saki became shy at that answer. He shifted his attention back to her hand. "Be that as it may, you need to go to the hospital immediately to check if it's been fractured."
"No." Saki shook her head adamantly, removing herself from his grasp. "I can't do that. I don't…" she trailed off, purple eyes veering to the side.
Hachiman sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "You don't want your parents to find out."
"Y-yeah." Saki reddened as she dipped her head, pale blue hair shielded her embarrassed face from view. Was she that easy to read?
"Fine." He nodded understanding that everyone had their secrets. "So, what're you going to do? If you leave without getting it checked, you may develop a serious infection or permanent deformity."
The poor girl cringed at his frank delivery, the weight of her choices growing heavier by the ton. She wanted- no, needed to get it examined. However, she didn't want to risk the chance the hospital would contact her parents or the authorities. That's if she told them the truth of her being attacked. And she hated lying, she'd rather omit the truth but that was a whole other task. Too many uncertainties.
She scowled at her right hand that plumed like a small balloon. "I-I don't know…"
Seeing his fellow loner so frustrated at her helplessness made him internally groan. He couldn't very well leave her alone out here after what she'd just been through.
"Listen." He gained her keen attention as he ran a lazy hand through his curly raven hair. "I've got a place we can go to sort your hand out, no questions asked."
Saki narrowed her expression, sceptical and cautious. "Are you serious? This better not be a silly joke. Where and how far?"
"Of course, I'm serious." He glared at her and true to the headstrong character she responded in kind. "By car, it's twenty-five minutes away in Fujimi."
"Downtown?" She grimaced when she tested the irritated skin of her left cheekbone using her undamaged left hand. He probably thought she looked like a complete mess. Spurred on by feelings of insecurity and her dependence on someone else, her tone came off a bit snappy. "I don't know if you noticed but we don't have a car, genius. Unless we call a taxi." Saki mentally facepalmed at treating her dark knight as such. Blah! Was she really calling Hikigaya her dark knight? When did she become so corny?
Reading trashy romance novels will do that to a girl. In this instance you couldn't even blame her, the cliché scenario in which she and Hikigaya met tonight was almost too ridiculous for Saki to process. A man rescuing a woman from being attacked was a trite age-old plot line, poor writers utilized to force two characters together in a union of love. This was the real world though. And coincidences happen.
She was too mature to even humour the belief that maybe for once she was a warrior maiden saved by her dark knight. Ugh! The same boy she spoke so rude to.
Luckily, for her sake, he never took offence to her brash tone. If anything, he smirked. One that irked her and made her feel funny inside. "Kawasaki." His deep-toned voice was dangerous, making her heart compete for gold in the high jump with no training. He tilted his head at her peeved scowl. "Who said we didn't have a car?"
"Hikigaya." Saki set her lips in an unimpressed flatline at his bravado, disapproval painted on her pretty face. "Should I be concerned about somethin?" She placed a good hand on her hip.
"That depends…" Casual as can be, Hachiman shrugged as he began walking away down the street further into the night.
"H-hey, where are you going?! Wait up!" Saki panicked as the alley in the area of the train station instantly became chillier without him, she reacted negatively to every shadow, noise or movement. "Hikigaya!" In an impressive display of speed, she sprinted after him and clutched his built arm tight enough to crush grapes to paste. "Don't d-do that again. Okay!" she growled indignantly before Saki exhaled with heavy relief at the comfort and assurance her dark knight provided to her wellbeing. "Oi, Hikigaya?"
"As you wish, my maiden of beauty."
She squeaked. Awkwardness ensued for Saki at his particular choice of words.
"S-shut up, you… idiot."
Amused, Hachiman eyed the frightened, but strangely flushing girl wrapped around his arm like a hungry python, her scared face pressed into his shoulder as if trying to meld herself on to him. To point that the ample swell of her bust was no longer foreign. He allowed his entranced eyes to linger on her gorgeous face for a brief spell. The mild welt on her left cheekbone done nothing to detract from her beauty. He imagined how soft her hair would feel wading his hand through her endless stream of silky pale blue tresses. 'Stop.' He faced forward.
"Do you trust me?" he asked as calm as the smoothest waters, unaware that Saki was eating off his confidence. "Because I'm trusting you tonight too."
"I do," she muttered daringly, hiding hidden intentions of sating her curiosity as they strode the avenue like a couple after a dinner date. He felt and saw from the corner of his vision, Saki nod into his shoulder. She leaned back to lock her purple eyes with his stoic grey, facing him wearing a stern countenance. "I trust you, Hikigaya."
They both had secrets neither wanted revealed. Quid pro quo.
Chapter End
It's okay to like the outlandish stories and the sensible ones. I like apples and oranges. It seems sometimes people make us pick one or the other.
[Oh yeah, I happened to stumble across a fanfiction that had scenes that were remarkably similar to mine, at first, I didn't mind because it's very close to canon anyway, but then it got way too specific to the words and topics I used. I wouldn't mind as much if the person at least gave a shoutout or mention. Not even a favourite or follow of the story he blatantly plagiarised from. The story is "Hachiman Becoming Better" by Jasserru, the content similar to mine was mostly in chapter 2. The story is actually decent in my opinion but do not just outright copy dialogue. Luckily it begins to branch out into its own thing, to my knowledge at least.]
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