Yahoo~ Here come the new chapter for you.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I am annd sorry for some awkward part. I still tried to figure out how to balance and make the flow around them.
Anyway, Thanks for all of your support guys! Hope you will have a nice day and enjoy!
OooOooO
Sport is one of the most stupid thing human had ever invented especially the one that need to be played in a group. Up until now, I still wondering, how did they found physically excruciating and mentally exhausting activity to be fun? What kind of painful life they have to deal with to feels so much joy in this torture?
Huh? You musclehead buffoon feels offended by my statement? Deal with it.
It was indeed a torture no matter from where you look at it. Let me ask, did you find the pain and the jeers when you slipped on the floor to be fun? Did you find the shame when you passed the ball to the opposite team to be exciting? Or did you find the peer pressure when you hold the ball at the last second to be joyful? And not to mention, you're basically surrounded by a bunch of sweaty dudes, goddamnit!
If you found all of that fun, then you're one hell of masochistic guy who's technically addicted to high from adrenaline. Good luck with Ebina-san asking you to be her model and reference.
And to put it even worse, I was currently (forced to) playing the so called sport for popular jocks, basketball. Yeah, like hell I would enjoy playing the game that filled with a lot ton of superficiality and disgusting coolness like this.
"Hachiman, catch this."
But suddenly, my train of stupid nonsense stopped by the sight of beautiful angel who's throwing a basketball at me. Forget anything that I said before, bless you for eternity whoever person that invented this sport.
And unfortunately, as if fate has played a cruel joke on me, a sudden impact hit the back head with a thud and sent me stumble down to the floor. Great, not a second and I began to hate basketball again.
As I was face-planted on the floor, I could hear Totsuka's panicked gasp before she— Agh, damnit— 'he' rushed to my side. "Hachiman, you okay!?"
"I hate basketball..."
"Uh, What? I couldn't hear you, Hachiman."
"Hachi-kun!" And then the another person who is genuinely sweet to me come to my aid. Ah, is this heaven? I wonder how this world could possibly withstand two angels simultaneously without being reduced to dust by their overwhelming presence.
I then sat up from my current pathetic position and look at the direction where some loud squeak coming closer toward me. Shiki's worried face then come to a halt before hitting mine in a second. Wait, too close! But it seems like my mental warning didn't affect her (which is obviously) as she keep observe me to find any damage on my body.
"Oi, I'm not gonna die just because a ball hit my head. My body isn't that weak, y'know." Leaning backward, I pushed her shoulder away slightly.
"You're one to talk for someone who's paranoid as heck to me." I sighed at her remark.
Ignoring her for a second, I noticed Totsuka giggling on the side while watching our little antic. Dear god, I was truly die aren't I? I mean I was surrounded by angel y'know.
"You two are really close, huh. Hachiman, Mori-san."
"Well, I was her cousin after all."
"Ah, nice to meet you. My name is Mori Shiki. May I know your name?" Shiki then proceed to start a conversation with Totsuka despite the fact that they're a total stranger and she was currently still in a match. Sasuga Shiki.
"Ah, nice to meet you too, Mori-san! My name is Totsuka Saika." With cheery smile, Totsuka introduced himself to my cousin. Mother earth, you alright? The situation where to angels meet each other would be really impactful to you, so please tell me if you need something.
What? You need insulin...? Oookay...
"Mori-san, the ball!"
Suddenly, the girls who are in the same match as her called her to get back to the match. She then glanced at them briefly from her shoulder, before frowning coldly. I can see why she's upset now. When the ball hit my head, I think some of them have secretly laughed and when I look closely, they're the same people who follow around Sagami from the cultural festival, whom currently became an outcast due to that incident.
Well, at least she can see who her real friend is and who is not. Though, she looks really pitiable now playing the ball all by herself in the corner...
Setting that thing aside, my name was apparently once again became a source of gossip throughout the school after the lunch break incident and resulting in the normies having an interest on me, much to my dismay.
After a few moment of taking a breath, Shiki then stood up before unzipping her track jacket and reveal the slightly wet Sobu's sport shirt. I and Totsuka who watched her taking off the green jacket casted a questioning look, but she still didn't said any single word. Instead, she catches me off guard by throwing the jacket, which feels cold to touch because of her sweat, at me. Nope, I swear I didn't smell ANYTHING. *sniff-sniff*
"What are you doing, Mori-san?" Totsuka said, replacing my place to ask her.
"Nothing. It was a bit hot here." Yeah, damn, it was a bit hot here. I wonder why. But before I could recover from the *ahem* heat, she then brushed her bang backward and tie her pink hair in a ponytail [1]. "And I think I need to become more serious now." And she was practically growled there.
Goddamnit, how could my cousin became so cute yet so cool at the same time!? And it seems like I wasn't the one who got *sniff* affected by her as Totsuka and some other girl blushed as they saw the moment she said that last sentence.
She then makes her way toward the match, leaving us all flustered on the spot while watching her away. Damnit, *sniff* why did I keep smelling her jacket *sniff*, you're just hiding your weird grin behind this jacket, Hachiman. Don't lose your control! *sniff* ughh... Fuck it. Forget about that.
"Wow. Mori-san is... really cool isn't she." Totsuka paused, eyes sparkling and cheek flushed like a girl watching her crush, "And it seems she was really athletic too." He then continued after witnessing Shiki jumped highly before slamming the ball to the basket, making the two members of basketball club dropping their jaw. *sniff-sniff* Damn.
"Well, she's wilder when we're still a child back then." I commented with muffled voice behind the cloth that still covers my face.
"Ah, by the way, Hachiman. I think if the class wanted to add Shiki-san in the team, we need your permission first. So, can you let Shiki-san join the team for the sport festival?" Agh, how cunning but sorry my dearest angel. My will to protect my cousin is bigger than my desire to bang- *ahem* to comply your request.
"Please." Guh... that hit pretty hard.
"Well, its okay if you-"
"No, no, no. As long as I can still look after her, it's fine for me." God, I hate you and love you at the same time for bringing Totsuka to this fucked up world.
"Ah, thank you, Hachiman!" Forget about what I said before. O kami-sama, I really, really love you that I wanted to give you a smooch right now.
Talking about sport festival... I just hope Shiki will gonna be on the opposite team so I don't to put an effort into it. And then I wish nothing will happen at there. I think I also need a camera and a set of tracksuit. Oh, I think I also need-
My train of thought suddenly stopped as I heard a thud and saw Shiki slipped on the court. I threw away her jacket toward Totsuka and run to see if she got hurt or something. That's it; I definitely need to watch over her next time.
OooOooO
To the members of the Service Club:
Your new activity as the Service Club will be to offer consultation trough e-mail, titled:
The Chiba Prefecture— Wide Advice E-Mail.
I ask that all the members invest their most sincere efforts in resolving the issues of consultees.
From the service club advisor,
Hiratsuka Shizuka.
"Whoa, was Hiratsuka-sensei ever this proper...?" Well, I kinda see why did you said that, but aren't that too mean for our dearest lonely teacher, Gahama-san?
"Oh, she usually received a consultation e-mail like that," I commented. "It's shocking though she could be a proper adult in there considering what she's normally like." I felt a chill on my neck as I imagined the train of e-mail (read: threat) she always sent to me or the phone call when I ignored her.
After then, I realized that the temperature of the room dropped slightly. I blinked my eyes confusedly as the three girls gave me a suspicious look. Wait, what happened?
"... You're talking as if you exchange messages with Hiratsuka-sensei regularly, Hikigaya-kun. Care to explain?" Yukinoshita said with chilly voice while the other two girls seemingly shared the same amount of curiosity.
Why are they so serious about this? It wasn't like I have something with Hiratsuka-sensei, y'know. "I wouldn't say we're exchanging messages. It's more like Hiratsuka-sensei sent me a spam or notification from online store or some really long useless things."
Well, I think I won't tell them the part where she threatens me because it was probably a bad idea. Heck, I don't even want to start the part where she vents out her frustration over her inability to gain a partner and start crying for a whole hour in a phone call. Well, those are technically something not worthy my time so I'm not completely lying.
"Is that so?" Unfortunately, the person who could detect the lie when I speak was currently in the room. Goddamnit, Shiki. How could you become this scary with your intuition!? And not to mention I wasn't lying! So please just drop it already!
But before anyone could push the matter even deeper, it seems like a divine intervention has saved me from whatever thing these girls prepared for me. Honestly, I don't know what I expected from them but I certainly sure I don't want to know that.
"It seems like we already got an e-mail." Yukinoshita muttered, gaining everyone attraction that have been pointed on me.
"Wow that was quick." Shiki commented as she leaned closer toward the laptop, making the little ice queen tensed a bit.
"Ehh... What is it?" Now Yuigahama held the girl shoulder and make her even more uncomfortable from the lack of her personal space.
"Yuigahama-san, you're heavy..." What exactly the weight you're talking about Yukinoshita-san?
Knowing if I expressed my curiosity over the interesting topic would lead to a really bad situation; I decided to ignore it and focused my attention on the e-mail, "what'd we get?"
And as if answering my question, Shiki's mouth slipped and she muttered, "What the hell?" Well, that wasn't a proper answer but I get the gist that this is something that rather troublesome.
"Uhh... The sender goes with 'homooo-san' as nickname... And what is that smiling emoticon."
Alright, now I know who the hell is that and I think my interest on reading whatever thing this person has wrote have been gone to oblivion.
"You don't have to read that." I stopped her.
Both Yukinoshita and Shiki then nodded, "Agree." And muttered with dead stare at the e-mail.
"H-hey let me read it too!" But Gahama-chan keep pushed with puppy eyes, visibly weakened Shiki and Yukinoshita. Well, I wasn't surprised about Shiki since she was weak to these kinds of people, but Yukinoshita too? Wow.
Both of them then moved away, opening the way for Gahama-chan who wanted to open the cursed knowledge. May your soul be saved, Gahama-chan. You will be always in our memory.
She then proceeds to read it loudly so the four of us could hear the damned e-mail.
Request of Advice from homoo-san:
Ever since the cultural festival, the relationship between two boys in my class (H-kun and H-kun.) was too shippable!
I don't like where this is going.
HxH! Ahhhh... they're really intense! They are definitely the best pair for my story! I usually think if they both were a close friend would be good, but I think the way they keep distance to each other was so intense and naughty! So filthy!
I always think that the first H-kun would be better on the bottom from how good he is, but after witnessing how cute the last H-kun could become... Gah! My nose can't stop bleeding! HELP! HE WAS TOO CUTE!
But I can't make my mind where this is gonna go. So, which way should they take this? And how can I make this ship happen!?
Pardon me, but what the hell is HxH? Hunter x Hunter? What does it had to do with this? And shippable? What is this? A dangerous human traffic where they only targeted boy?
"Hachi-kun, promise me the thought would never cross your mind."
"What the- what the hell, shiki!? What are you talking about?"I stared her in disbelief and met her very concerned and pitiful gaze.
"Just promise me."
"Okay! Okay! But where and how the hell you can get that conclusion!?" I shouted in disbelief at her and now everyone looked at me pitifully.
Ignoring my question, Yuigahama with an indescribable emotion stared at me, "so, what are we gonna do with... this...?"
"Don't ask me. I think whichever thing we gave them would only lead to hell."
"Frankly speaking, we're certainly accursed to face upon this..." Yukinoshita pinched the bridge of her nose before looking at the two girls, "please be honest, do any of you could find a solution for..." She paused and briskly glanced at me, "...this problem?"
Wait, why did they think I was the part of this sick fantasies?
"The only thing we could do is to prevent Hachi-kun having any interest on the matter..." Shiki then continued with a hopeful gaze as she clapped her hand.
"...I'm so sorry for you, Hikki." Yuigahama then did the same thing with her.
"Actually, could you please stop assuming one of the H-kun is me?"
"Yes, Mori-san, Yuigahama-san. We could not forget about one thing." Yukinoshita said, completely ignoring me. "That's the thought of Hikigaya-kun having a relationship with anyone is most likely baffling. Forget about human, I highly doubted he could have any kind of relationship even with the cat, dog or worst..." she paused for dramatic effect, "chicken."
"Alright, all of your opinions are certainly interesting for some people and now I was sure that the entire universe has bullied me simultaneously, but what next? Aren't we supposed to answer this abomination?"
Then they put their hand on their mouth with surprise on their face as if they realized something important.
"Oh yeah, I actually forget..."
"Yeah, we should answer it especially since Hikki asked."
"Then I suppose it would be better for you to answer it, Hikigaya-kun"
Why would it need to be me? Is there is some certain relation between me and this sick request? I swear I feared for myself to the chance I would get shipped overseas just by getting the obligation to answer this, so could you guys be kind and answer it for me?
"Just do it Hachi-kun. I'm just wanted to make sure..." Suddenly, Shiki held my hand and stared at my eyes with a convicted gaze. You're enjoying this aren't you, Shiki?
Ugh...
With that, I bring the laptop closer and start typing grudgingly.
Response from the service club:
We wonder if by some chance this HxH is entirely a fragment of your imagination.
We could be entirely wrong, but please consider the possibility. The Chiba Prefecture— Wide Advice E-mail can only convey information via text, so please consider this the limits of medium.
I afraid I almost broke the Enter key as I slammed it with my finger. But still, damn, I would never expect I could write a really great reply like a pro psychiatrist. Hey, actually maybe working as psy- nope, actually, forget about. I need to interact with someone and solve their problem for being a psychiatrist so it's a big no no.
Wait, I think I heard about online consultation or something like that which could be done in home.
Retreating myself while holding the warm can of godly beverage, or the Maxx coffee to be quick, I begin to think about the profession once again. Only to be stopped by Shiki who snatched the golden can from my hand. What the hell, Shiki?
"I swear you would get sick, literally, from this if you kept drinking it. Look, I'm just wondering, how could you be this gloomy and broody while your favorite drink is basically a sea of sugar?" The last part feels more like exasperated statement rather than a question to be honest.
Woman, I would be really sure if I've ever get diabetes, the biggest reason of it will be Totsuka, err... you, then Totsuka, err... second is Komachi then in the third will be Totsuka.
"Oh, we got another one." Yuigahama called us. "I'll read it! Oh, it's from Yumiko."
Looking at the sender name, it was indeed from Miura Yumiko judging from how boldly she shows her identity by using 'yumiko[insert star emoticon here] (sorry, idk how to put it here lol)'. She's the queen after all, an apex predator of the school food chain and of course lacked in defensive instinct but this was still pretty dangerous. In information-reliant society especially in internet, exposing your personal data is really dangerous. I'm telling this not from personal experience, maybe.
Luckily this is still within the school. Though, I figured I should I still need to inform her of that danger. "Yuigahama, using your real name online usually didn't end well, so you should tell her that."
"It just a name though..."
"Well, this isn't so bad but she's got to keep it in mind, or it'll get really troublesome."
"Hachi-kun, why did you sound so experienced in this...?"
"Knowing him, it would be most likely that he have been experienced the danger in this realm, Mori-san." I clicked my tongue at Yukinoshita's comment, "Prove? He doesn't even use his real name in his class."
"Hey, don't blame me. It's just that they don't remember my real name." I shot back and she then gave me an apologetic look with fake gasp.
"Oh... I'm so sorry, Hikitani-kun." Shiki then patted me as Yukinoshita gave me her apologies.
But slowly, I could feel Shiki leaned closer toward my ear with perfectly hidden murderous intent that could only sensed by me. She then whispered, "don't worry, I'll do something to her."
Oi, chotto a minute. You're not gonna kill her aren't you? Right? Please answer, you scared me now. Mom, I think your niece was a killer and I was scared shitless now. Retreating away from me, the same genuine smile was once again plastered on her face.
Scary. How could she become very honest yet very scary at the same time?
Ignoring her sudden turmoil, I called out Yuigahama, "Yuigahama, read the e-mail."
"Ah? Um..." She begin to read it out loud so we everyone could hear it.
Request of advice by 'yumiko[insert star emoticon here]':
Sagami being kinda annoying.
Brief and straight, now that's what I mean about the higher status. Geez, the queen hath spoken; we mere peasants shall follow her order.
Yuigahama smiled awkwardly at it, "Ah, ah-ha-ha... but this is kinda not like Yumiko. I mean, she usually would say to the person who bug her out."
Hoh, she's like that huh. "Oh, so was indeed that kind person huh. Well, I think my guess about her was true." Wait, you analyzed her personalities in a span of week and make a right guess? Wow, Shiki is clearly far OP-er than me.
"So she was just like Yukinoshita, huh."
"Please never compare us, Hikigaya-kun." Yukinoshita glared at me in great displeasure and disgust. I wonder where exactly she directed those emotions. "Anyway, Yuigahama-san. Please continue the e-mail."
Upon further inspection, it seems like Miura's e-mail was longer than I thought. Wow, I didn't expect she could break out of her haughty and arrogant character. Realizing the explanation part was on there, Yuigahama then proceed to read the e-mail again.
She's, like, depressed or something. She's being a downer and making thing awkward. It was so annoying and making my eyes sore everytime I saw her face look like Hikio.
Now talking about her attitude, damn, she's basically telling us to banish Sagami out of her sight. What a tyrannical queen indeed. But who the hell is this Hikio guy? As long as I remember, the only person who had 'Hiki' in their name is only me and although as much as I appreciated how it sounds better than hikki, hikitani or hikifroggy, it still didn't please me much damnit.
"Hikio..." Under her breath, I could hear Shiki muttered something barely audible that only I could hear while having contemplating look on her face. "It's... Kinda cute."
Dear god, please don't. Hachi-kun was already embarrassing enough and I'm sure as hell if she come up with another nickname, I will probably went to bury my own head on a rabbit hole.
Ignoring Shiki who probably still planning a murder attempt using nickname on her head, I looked at Yukinoshita who folded her arms casually, "...in other word, she was unhappy with Sagami-san condition and possibly concerned about her well-being."
"I think so. This is kinda what Yumiko will do. She's really a good person, y'know." Yuigahama muttered while smiled warmly.
Now if I thought about it again, it was most likely that Yuigahama's words were true. Even after their little confrontation in Totsuka's request, Miura still continued to stay as her friend.
Usually, a conflict within a faction, which only tied with fakeness and lie, between two or more people would result on more oppression to the losing side or creating a rift inside the group or even an air of hostility that could choke everyone. And afterward, whoever failed to seize power would have no choice but to leave before associating themselves with the next rank down, or worst, they'll be forced to walk the path of loner.
But how could Yuigahama was still a member of the royal group? Her own communication skill was, of course, the part of it. Maybe she got Hayama's quiet support, who hates a conflict. But more than any of that, Miura's personality was actually playing a biggest factor in here.
Tolerance is required of one who would reign, particularly a tolerance to avoid getting caught up in an unimportant matters or meaningless troubles. From there, I can start to see the reason she reign as queen.
...which is why this request e-mail was probably not pure out of kindness and she may probably have her own complicated feeling. She finds it genuinely annoying, but she's also concerned, but then again it was annoying, and directly addressing it herself would be really annoying. What the hell, that's so convoluted and annoying.
"Anyway, what happened to this 'Sagami'-san we're talking about?" Suddenly, I could feel the room fell completely silent as my two oldest clubmates stiffened upon hearing Shiki question.
Without missing a beat, I filled the silence and answered Shiki as she was looking at them in confusion. "Basically she was the Cultural Festival committee chairperson who could only slack around and weighing the entire committee down, though fortunately, the festival itself still could be saved. But I couldn't say the same for her dignity after I confronted her to give the closing speech, which ended up miserably for her."
Mori Shiki is a person who was simply impossible to be deceived and lied to, at least for me. Everytime I lied, she could perfectly found the truth after little research of the matter here and there. Therefore, the only right thing to do is to tell her the truth or at least give her the half of it. The last thing I wanted from her is her rampaging around the place just because I got hurt. It seriously gives me a chuckle, no joke, but the thought was also terrifying that I don't want it to be happen.
Truthfully, my cousin is just too cute and overprotective for some... 'reason' as I always expected.
Returning to the clubroom, Shiki was currently giving me a distrustful and suspecting sharp stare that could, probably, effortlessly won against that of Yukinoshita's. But I didn't shift away nor falter under her gaze; instead, I met them and clash it with my own challenging stare as we ended up in silence conversation.
After, probably, a minute passed, she finally giving up and let out an irritated sigh and dissipated the tension that apparently has made Yuigahama stiffen up and apparently put Yukinoshita unease. I then relaxed for a bit and leaned my back on the chair.
"Fine, I guess I'm gonna ask anyone else at what happened on your little... 'problem."
"It was not a trouble if I don't see it as one." I commented, but it seems like she completely ignored me as she began to ask a few questions to our little airhead.
After a moment, she put her hand on her chin while thinking about something.
"So, I think I'm gonna ask Sagami-san herself, and probably Hayama-san... too." As Shiki mentioned about, I felt my brow twitched slightly while irritation filled my heart. Though, good luck for you Hayama. She may look innocent with that knee-length skirt and cutely pure look, but she's much scarier than you ever thought, especially the fact that she genuinely never tried to hide it.
Hm? What with her checking glance and blush?
Before I could think further about her sudden blush, she drifted the topic back to Sagami. "So, how was Sagami-san actually been after that incident?" She asked at the three of us, especially me and Yuigahama.
"Um, how I should I put it...?" Sensing that Yuigahama was rather evasive on the topic, I answered the question for her.
"Well, she's been generally acting fine, but everyone else is often tiptoeing around her and she sometime ended up being alone as if she was ostracized from her old group. Heck, I could even say that she was slowly entering the path of loner." The memory of her at the basketball court this morning resurfaced in my mind.
"That would be pretty obnoxious, and pretty pitiful." Yukinoshita muttered with disapproving look.
If the situation was just because the awkwardness from the atmosphere after the incident, this could be solve pretty easily by just ignoring it. But the situation seems like escalated internally in the group for whatever reason and the former solution was out of question right now. The only answer for this were either let her down the rank and joined a lesser group friend or improving their current group. But I highly think that the latter was most likely harder and bring a lot more pain in ass to do.
Shiki sent another stare at me, however this time, it was more like asking an approval over something that I've quickly catch upon. I told her, telepathically (lol), to stay still and watch it for now.
Wow, is this is some kind of communication way that only I and my cousin could do? Cool! Wait- no! Bad Hachiman! Purge this kind of cringy, chunni thought! Thy dark history hast been destroyed long ago! Thou must resist it!
Ugh...
"At any rate, let's learn a little more about Sagami-san's and her friends' behavior, as well as the situation within the Class F before we deal this appropriately. I could speak directly with her, but that would likely worsen the situation..." After clearing her throat, Yukinoshita spoke her conclusion to us.
Well, usually I will argue that we don't have the obligation to do this or this sort of things will resolves on itself with times. But since Miura has made a rather-not-so-specific request about this, I think I'll keep my mouth shut and observe the situation.
Now that I think about this, I start to kinda feel bad to her.
"Ah, does this mean this is the first request I will worked in as member of service club!?" With pink sparkling eyes, Shiki beamed enthusiastically.
"Ah, that's right! Mori-san, if you need something feels free to ask me!" Yuigahama patted Shiki's shoulder, who are significantly taller than her, with proud face and smug smile.
"Oi, oi, what with the senior aura coming from you? Shiki, don't feed her ego even more, her head will explode!"
"I'm on your care, senpai!" Ignoring me, Shiki saluted at the pink bubblehead and made the smile on her face widened even more. Yukinoshita who watched it sighed exasperatedly while pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Okay! Everyone, let's work hard on this tomorrow!"
OooOooO
So how was it? Are you excited? I finally come with a plot! (although only for a single arc)
So yeah, basically the few chapters coming next will be around the plot in volume 6.5. Does that mean Sagami will get a character development? Fortunately or unfortunately, yes. I don't know man, even though she got a good development in 6.5, she's still a bitch lol.
Anyway, sorry for the lack of fluff in here (I... think...?). I wanted to experiment with the balance of the current club and unsurprisingly, I found it quite hard to fit in shiki's character lol. Maybe it's because I used too much part from the actual novel...? I don't sure, maybe I need to get away from the novel writing style so I didn't feels to awkward with their character.
Yea, some part will mostly be changed from the 6.5 but basically it will still mostly same.
Hopefully, you guys still enjoyed this chapter as much as I do when I wrote it.
'Till next time, reader, farewell...
[1] For shikimori manga reader, you might know what is this referenced. Yeah, the chapter 19, damn she basically looks badass