Yahoo~
Here's a new chapter. Sorry, took it quite long to write. I hope you enjoyed it. And here's a cookies for you
-oOo-
From the past life and even now, I was a person who grew to dislike whatever higher being beyond mere human understanding and their infamous 'divine intervention' (read: prank) since it mostly bring bad thing to the entirety of my life. Thus that's why, except for certain circumstance, I was an atheist.
But then I changed my mind.
If someone told this to my younger self, he would most likely slap you in the face if not looking at you like you have lose it or something.
But surprisingly, I have now changed my mind.
The reason? It was simply because one Yukinoshita Yukino.
To whomever sadistic, psychopathic, maniacal genius, sick asshole out there who give her this certain kind of personality trait, I fucking love you.
It was started when Hiratsuka-wai-sensei ended her lecture by giving the class a group assignment, which produced a simultaneous groans, that for certain but obvious reason, were pretty subtle and almost inaudible. Honestly, I can't blame them; she's just too cute and too precious to hurt.
Now where exactly is the connection between this and the said snow princess? Patience, young padawan.
You see, now where the chaos begins.
People would most often see someone by their first lasting impression about them even if they already know that said person inside and outside. And that impression was hard to replace especially if it turned to be true rather than just their cover.
And Yukinoshita happen to be one of those cases as everytime I heard the name of her, the word intelligent would usually come first before I knew her hidden self more.
Now you see, due to the fact that I bring my personality and every single memory of the event in my past life, it would be weird if all of my habits, whether it's good, bad, worse, or worst didn't get carried along with it.
So, it would be bound to happen that I will regard Yukinoshita in the same way since she seems to be not so different from the past!yukinon by their haughty demeanor and royalty-like attitude.
Oh god how wrong I was and poor unprepared me took the damage by full force. It was honestly kind of a torture to hold myself to not cackling like some madman in the middle of the classes.
"A-are you satisfied enough, you beast!?" God, the way her red face looked like she was in constipation while being at the edge of tearing.
"Don't worry Yukino-chan, if you having a problem, I and Yui-chan will help you!" At the side, Hayama with his tail wagging back and forth (I seriously need to visit a therapist) as he gave her one of his brightest smile, which is pretty common to see in daily basis.
But instead of giving the desired effect, Yukinoshita's face contorted even more sourer as tear threatened to fall from the corner of her eyes. Honestly, I would react the same way if someone who acted so childish that they looked like a dog offered me a help in academic subject.
Hayama could only look at me, clearly troubled and confused at what to do about this girl and quietly asking me to do something about it. Unfortunately, or fortunately in my case, I was too busy holding back my laughter and Hayama could only look at other, mainly Yuigahama and Miura who are equally clueless as him, the latter seemed more panicked. At the very least they tried to help compared to the asshole that I am.
"I-I'm sure if you s-s-study hard enough, you w-will be able to-to-to... Beat Hikigaya-kun!" Your help is really appreciated, Miyu-chan, unfortunately, you don't even sound so sure with what you said.
"I don't know how most people study with themselves, but I will help, Yukinon!" Your intention is really admirable, Gahama-chan, but I don't think you're helping either.
Seeing that everyone could never help to heal her wounded pride, Yukinoshita could only glare a dagger and roared her last pitiful bark at me, "y-you... b-beast, unforgiveable! Demon incarnate!"
"Oi, oi, don't blame me y'know! Hell, I should be the one who feel betrayed for thinking you're some kind of genius from the way of your talking!" Wheeze almost escaped my lips.
Yes, you read it clear and right, Yukinoshita Yukino, the girl who aced Soubu's entrance exam in my past life, was apparently the most dumbest person in here despite her seemingly high intelligent look.
At first, I was unaware of this and asked for her opinion the most while we worked together. I noticed the strange look Yuigahama and Hayama gave me or the bright, prideful smile adorned Yukinoshita's but I paid them no mind at first. Then I realized something was wrong when Yukinoshita spewed nonsense the more we talked and to top of that, she was sweating bullet as if she was panicking.
I asked if something was wrong but she shrugged it off by playing cool, which is too painfully easy to see that she was clearly not okay. Eventually, I asked what is wrong with her to the two and what they say replaced the overflowing thought that usually filled my mind with spotless white.
She was lucky the state of my brain was used to process the information for the entirety of the classes and I had only laughed once I realized the school has ended.
Now we're currently at my parents' café, which luckily provided a private room for visitor who preferred more secluded and away from the presence of other people.
Seems like my parents in here didn't went into modern corporate slavery rabbit hole and instead, they choose to open up a bakery and café at the same time, a rather popular and successful one in fact. Which would sadly lead toward the direction where I will undoubtedly get enslaved by my mom.
"Stand up and help us, brat! We got quite a batch today." Cue to my thought, my mom had smacked my head and barked the order already. I had no doubt that this woman was the ancestor of violent people, probably bakugos or fujimuras, but that left up a can of worm since as far as I know, she don't have any relative. So how the hell any of her children, which just me and Komachi, probably have that kind of offspring was completely unknown to me. Hopefully, this is not a future and just a mad rambling from mentally questionable man to increase the words count.
"And stop teasing that girl already." Yukinoshita looked at my mother as if she was the lord and the savior.
"By dear god, you're clearly driving her nuts. What are you, demon?" she muttered nonchalantly while watching Yukinoshita tightly hugging a panicking Miura while looked like a storm have paid a visit on her as she repeatedly muttered "I could never marry anymore." into Miura's shaking shoulder.
"Most likely. But then again, if I was a demon, you should be the female version of Lucifer, which is practically weird since dad is literal angel." My gaze was still leveled at the comical sight as I offhandedly give her the piece of my mind regarding our bizarre family.
"Fair enough, now lift your ass." Out of nowhere, she pulled what seems like a waiter uniform and throws it right at my face.
"H-haha, the beast got his punishment from the holy saintess..." I could hear Yukinoshita muttered that between choke, sob and victorious laugh while Miura was close enough to tear up at the very close proximity and cluelessness at the situation.
Crap, looks like I broke her for some reason. Not that I feel sorry in the slightest though.
As I stood up, I looked down at my... group, friends group, "Yuigahama, I think I will leave the work to you, sorry." She gave me a warming smile and an affirmative nod.
Oh, I forgot but there was also another thing that made my mind went blank before. It was because the fact that I recently acquired the information about Yuigahama being some kind of genius and aced the entrance exam casually.
As I went to change my clothes, I couldn't help but replace the image of the haughty and mighty Yukinoshita with her current crying form that remind me to certain blue haired idiot while I sandwiched her head with two breads.
Heh, dumb sandwich (imo dumb sounds better). Ramsay would be proud to me.
-oOo-
Komachi hated wearing uniform, and luckily, her mom didn't berate her ass as hard as how she scolded her brother. As long as she wears the same color as the uniform, she was given the leeway and her dad even encouraged her to pick some much more cute clothes.
She obviously didn't listen to his request and instead, she chose a boyish garment rather than something cute, which is something that was as common as seeing people living unless they got killed (I'm sorry not so sorry, happy shirou day).
She was now sporting a white hoodie, shirt beneath it, a black apron and a pair of black jeans. Her white shoes squeaked as she waved gracefully around the table and crowd, taking order here and there before giving it to her dad.
This is was how her everyday life, or at least what similarly is. Seriously, what's up with everyone filling the café today? She swears that there was no empty table in here right now.
"Good job for today, don't you want to take a rest?"
Suddenly, she heard a voice from behind her before she looked behind, and promptly got caught on her own breath. For some unfathomable reason, she could feel other girls, especially three in particular, agreeing with her that this is quite a sight to behold.
Nothing was weird with her brother, it's just the usual same bored look on his face and his hair was still messy with gravity defying ahoge on top of her head, swaying in the manner that screamed nothing but cute. But now she realized how much clothes can change someone appearance and how much her brother has changed ever since that day where he got a streak of bad luck in less than three hours.
It was just the most commonly used waiter suit, like white shirt, black waistcoat, black pants and a bowtie but there was just something that tell her to just sit down and look at him for the entire day.
She was then snapped out of her reverie when he flicked her forehead. "I know I look stupid, but don't just stand there without saying anything please."
"Y-Yeah, y-you look s-stupid! So w-what huh?" Good job, Komachi, now you're the one who looks like total idiot.
He blinked in confusion as he stares at her, wondering what wrong with his little sister. And it just only helps to make her feel even more stupid as her complexion become red like ripe tomato.
"J-just get to your w-work, damnit! I n-need a break! Yeah, b-bye!" After getting herself into sticky situation and don't know how to fix it, she could only frantically retreat herself without any elaborate, leaving a confused Hachiman who silently staring at her disappearing figure.
He then turned his gaze toward the crowded café and could only sigh. It will be a tiresome day today, hopefully, Hachiman from this world have the necessary skill in serving industry.
-oOo-
Oh no, he's hot!
It was the only thought that flashed in her mind as she tried to hide her flushed red face behind the menu while taking a peek at the boy she had quietly 'followed' once or two, well, more than that but keep it a secret between us.
A sense of guilt tugged her to stop some times, but due to his effort to lift it, it was pretty weak already and she could at least not apologize at him for the entirety of time when they talked.
She was still a wrecking nerve around him though, but it was for different reason. If she thought about it again, it always succeeded at turning her head into tomato. The sign was obvious ever since he saved her from walking the path of self-loathing.
Haruno was falling in love with him and it was the really hard kind of head over heel that she was now having a sleeping trouble not from guilt but from anxiety, giddiness, impatient to see him at lunch, and mostly, once again, anxiety.
"I don't know what are you doing here, Haruno-san, but your disguise is suck. Anyway, what is your order?" A voice managed to force a squeak out of her mouth.
With fear and apprehension gripping her heart tightly, she turned around and found the boy who recently occupying the most of the space in her minds, Hikigaya Hachiman. Wait no, scratch that, it was probably has been long since filled with him to the brim and that's why he haunted her nights.
Her face grew red uncontrollably and the dizziness from the blood rush to her head didn't help either. Under his gaze, she could only squirm weakly, trying to break free the invincible shackle that had the hold of her body.
She got caught following him, and it was by him of all people. Now he will hate her for not only hit him with car but also clinging to him like some sort of stalker.
"Oi." He snapped his finger, pulling Haruno from dwelling into negative thought even deeper. "You alright? I will give you another chat session if you keep thinking something stupid, y'know."
She shudders at that while a certain memory resurfaced back.
-
"Um, did you buy this cake?"
They are currently still in her class even though the two had decided to meet at his lunch spot. Well, it was because the rain still poured harshly outside and they both agree that eating under the rain isn't exactly enjoyable. Luckily, Haruno's classmates have already grown used with the boy and his bizarre antic that popped here and there.
But that question from Haruno apparently managed to ignite the interest back into a full blown raging blaze. Especially for certain people whom rather enthusiastic about the two.
The action Hachiman had pulled was obviously managed to gather a lot of attention. A man saved a girl, who actually had hit him in gruesome way [dramatized, from her self-loathing and depressed state instead of hating her? There was no way it didn't look romantic, not even the manliness boys in the class could manage to hold their gleeful giggle due to this, let alone those who were passionate in romance story. It was just too romantic as if it was a story out of a crappy novel.
The image of a knight in shiny armor who pulled a dirty woman out of a filthy mud in the middle of chaos despite his crippling wound always come in mind about this particular two.
And now he didn't only cook her lunch everyday but also brought her a cake? Now that was nigh impossible to not just melting on spot upon hearing it.
"Well, I made it."
'No way.' The entirety of class squealed inside their mind. 'Haruno was so goddamn lucky for having this guy.'
The said girl could only stare at him with mouth agape, closed and opened constantly without any word coming out, while her face reaches unhealthy shade of red, something that become common sight in this class recently.
"but." He paused, and everyone stopped their mad shipping, "it doesn't mean it will taste good since I just tried doing it quite recently. So you're kind of my lab rat here."
Then a sadistic smile appeared on his face, giving a bad feeling to everyone in the class, "beside, I think torturing a girl by making them fat was a good way to stop you from sulking."
The whole class shared a hard shiver as their collective mind, especially the girls in particular, agreeing for one thing.
This guy is no knight in shining armor. He was a demon- no, wait, demon himself would claimed that he was a big fan of this guy.
He was a monster.
-
"Anyway, what's your order? I need to take care the other customers too, y'know." Hachiman's voice snapped Haruno out of her mind.
She then began to frantically rake the menu on her hand for particular dish while trying to keep it natural, which sadly and hilariously failed before she even attempted to do that since the menu book on her hand was upside down.
To top of that, she had only realized that obvious fact after a good ten seconds, in which give more than enough time for the boy to enjoy it in his mind since he had noticed that before he approached the totally not suspicious girl. That was also the reason why she got found out rather easily, well, that and her ridiculously laughable disguise.
Seriously, who would even consider using a bright orange jacket to follow someone? And what's up with the cap inside the room anyway?
Haruno could only bury her face into the menu book and hoping it would swallow her whole, which only served to increase the amusement of the boy.
He will hate her. It was obvious to her. He will hate her for her stupidity and her clinginess. Forget about making him love her, she doesn't even sure he would want to be involved with anything about her in the future.
Suddenly, her chain of negative thoughts inside her mind was stopped when she felt a hand pressed on top of her head and bring a sense of calmness and warmth to her heart.
She then lifted her head and saw that a hand was stretched toward her. It was Hachiman hand.
"Geez, I'll give you a recommendation, so don't looks like that."
With that, Hachiman left her froze on her seat while watching him walking away from her seat. And it took a good five seconds to elicit a reaction from her, in which the reaction was violent combustion that took the complexion of her head from pale into bright crimson. H-he was unfairly too kind that it made her reconsider about chasing him due to the lack of her worth.
Unaware to both, there was several pair of eyes that had seen the whole ordeal.
Shiromeguri Meguri and the rest of her group that dedicated to observe the couple(?) and become their fanclub had to put a lot more effort to not let their excited squeal escaped their tightly shut lips, excited they were but they still have the decency in public. But it still was too damn illegal to be that cute and romantic at the same time even though the one that did the most of the hardwork was the boy.
But they hardly care about that, heck, that mere fact had make the whole thing even better and more romantic since he was the supposed victim of her crime. This was seriously not reality anymore. There's no way that they're not living in some kind of fantasy when something like this happened almost in daily basis.
And even though they envied Haruno's position, they were content enough with seeing this adorable and heart-melting sight in the front row.
Unfortunately, one person didn't share the same thought as her mind was filled with fury, hatred and envy. Actually this person didn't belong in the fanclub Meguri had formed.
"How dare she!? Not only she had hurted my lord, but that filthy bitch also had the gall to fall in love and tried to pursue him by wretched method! I wish I could just purge the sinner into ash right now!" It was the thought of that certain person as her knuckles turned white.
Too many witnesses. She couldn't repeatedly bang the bitch's head unto the hard surface of floor and getting away like nothing had ever happened. Not to mention, the most important reason was this is one of his parents' source of happiness and staining it with blood would also mean she had rudely insulted him.
She had to endure, everything was already planned by her and the only thing she need right now was to calm and patience as it was the key of everything.
And calm she did, though, she gained it by certain method.
Method in which where she just stared dreamily at her lord, her master and the man she loved the most in this accursed land of human. Her mind was filled with ton of fantasies where she imagined they both live together after she had redeemed her sins toward him and their everyday was filled with nothing but happiness.
Unlike Haruno, she was pretty goddamn skilled and talented in his action that no one would ever suspect her about doing anything suspicious.
Unfortunately for her, years of experience dealing more than handful similar situation had alerted Hachiman's instinct. Let it be known that even though Hachiman's past life was quite lonely, the numbers of not really sane woman that got attracted by his unnoticed charm and ton of seemingly selfless action he had done was quite a lot.
And it gives him a considerable amount of problematic situation with dangerous ladies, in which some of them didn't leave him unscathed. And due to the nature of human or living being itself, he had adapted to it quite extremely and gained some sort of super sense to such future problem.
He looked around, trying to find any suspicious person in the café. Haruno was out of question due to her skill, or the lack of thereof, was nothing but a joke. So far, there were nothing worth note but he still held up his defense since he knows better to trust his sense despite being a logical man.
Then he found it and he would admit she had impressive skill. Their eyes met for a second, second where he could see so much emotion ranging from surprise, joy, lust, realization and horror in the extremely short moment.
Before he could even approach the girl, she quickly stood up and fished out a medical mask to cover her face. He could see her leaving some papers and coins on the table and then quickly rushed away from the place.
Hachiman could only sigh in resignation as he finally arrived at her table and stares at the money she had left with worry. She was skilled and smart, hopefully from experience in only stalking as she didn't strike him as fighter, but she was smart nonetheless. She choose the seat that was closest to the door, hide most of her face with only angle to not gather any suspicion and not openly hide herself from anyone else.
It disturbed him.
And the only thing that he know about her were the fact that her curly hair was brown and rather short while her eyes are brown, yep, it was pretty much common sight in here.
But there's one possibility that suddenly popped in his mind. Possibility that bring him such look of horror on his face.
'No way, not in chance, there's no fucking way that is her version of this world. Goddamnit, I'm thoroughly fucked.'
But he wondered, if she was truly the girl he had caught red handedly before, then what is her reason and most importantly would she be danger anyone around him?
And what happened so that she become like that? As far as the memories were right, there was really nothing worth to note about his middle school life except for the fact that he was quite eager to help anyone even outside the school. Which also explain why he always has the urge to help other and actually did it without any motive or whatsoever nowadays.
Hachiman could only hoped for the worse and put extra effort in observing his surrounding next time. It would be no good if he was caught off guard, and even though he don't want to admit it even in his mind, the ordeal has blown quite a hit on his pride.
Shoving the thought for later, he went back to his (forced) workload of serving people. Fan of solitude he may, even though he was now more inclined as silent riajuu much to his dismay, but die young from getting chewed by his mother wasn't really a thing he wanted to try.
-oOo-
Afternoon has long been passed already and the sun was ready to set. Yet, she still stayed in the café despite the embarrassing situation she had been caught within. Despite how quiet the café currently was compared to the quite handy number of people that had crowded the place a few hours ago and even if her sister, who seemed quite angry and teary for something, and her group of friends had left and bid Haruno their farewell, unexpectedly Yukino was the only one who tad bit reluctant to do so.
She still stayed in the café. It just, felt better for her to stay at there, ignoring the number of people who steadily decreased as night grew closer. Haruno don't know why though, it felt like her impulse and gut feeling keep her staying on there while her brain didn't give her any reason to leave the place. Perhaps her own body have worked together to fool herself or it was just some sort of sick hallucination, but she keep listened to it.
Once in a while, Hachiman would approach her seat and shared his mindless thought to her before she answered and it quickly turned into a short chatter between them. It was pleasant, though the brief duration was still disappointing, it still didn't feel bad either.
Slowly but surely, her nervousness and guilty sense around him faded little by little each time they got caught in a conversation. She couldn't help but notice that this place gives her an unexplainable calming atmosphere and there was no one who would mind them unlike in class, or at least there was no one she was aware of.
His family was also surprisingly less hostile toward her. Haruno thought his mother would at least look at her coldly, but no, she never did so and she supposed that her stern was just a usual sight around here. His little sister, Komachi who strike Haruno as a hot-blooded person, but she unexpectedly just give her a warning and telling her that the girl still not yet trusting Haruno.
Then she could heard Komachi muttered under her breath, "stupid aniki, always helping other and didn't at least put a bit care for himself." It was barely audible, but she still catches what she said and wondered what is the meaning of that.
(I suppose it's better to put an AN. here, sk that was basically some glimpse of thisworld!8man and there would possibly a lot of them in the future. Nothing was too different between them, at least I hoped, but compared to 8man, this version might be much more helpful to other people as he was desperate for some company.)
Time then passed like it was nothing and she only realized that when the café was almost empty. A few creak from wooden chair being scraped against the floor reverberated inside the room. When she looked toward the source of such noise, Hachiman was making his way toward her already.
"Thanks for waiting, I guess..." She responded with a hum.
Neither of the two had ever said anything after he greeted her. And it's filled the air around them with a very stiff awkwardness as she honestly wondered, why exactly did she still stay in here?
Heat began to crawl unto her face as Haruno got caught once again in a pretty uncomfortable situation. And why it always had to involve him!?
A soft chuckle that sounded like music in her ears came out of Hachiman's mouth as he looked at her with amusement. She was sure that he's a sadist, she certainly had no doubt about that, but she hoped that at least he won't tease her to death when they start dating.
That's if he for some reason accepted her feeling even after what she had done to him. Not to mention, she still remember that she need to take the 'confession step' first before even thinking about all above.
But dating him, huh. It would definitely feels like living a dream...
'Waking up as he told me 'good morning, sleepyhead' ... Then we will cook the breakfast together... Then we will watch TV or playing some game or just watching a child that suspiciously similar to us-'
"Hachiman to Haruno-san, are you there?"
Her wonderful daydream was abruptly stopped as he repeatedly snapped his fingers in front of her. Blush once again rose unto her face as Haruno realized what she had thought before.
Seemingly unaware of Haruno's turmoil, or just generally ignoring it, Hachiman then spoke again.
"Anyway, since you're still here, let's walk a bit. I wanted to talk and rest right now." He said, rolling his shoulder a bit as if emphasizing his tiredness.
"T-then why don't you just go home and rest?" Curse her and her own stuttering. At least she sounded a bit more clear and not just spewing some inaudible murmur now.
"Like I said before, I wanted to talk. Now, follow me."
Wordlessly, she followed him without raising question as to where they're going while he closed the café. They then walked together on the street's pavement under the darkening sky. The setting sun was facing them, and, she was going to be honest, it was really beautiful.
For some reason, she then sees his pace slowed down until he was exactly on her side. Her heartbeat then increased quite worryingly as they walked together on the empty street. She never know that she could get more panicked being around him even after the embarrassing first lunch session with him.
After a few minutes of walking side by side that accompanied by pleasant silence, they finally arrived in front of an ice cream van. Without saying anything, he ordered two cones of ice cream, which one of them was choco-chip while the other was vanilla and chocolate mix.
Haruno could only blinking confusedly as he handed her the vanilla-chocolate cold confectionery, then telling her something about holding it for a moment while he pay for both. Though, before she could give him back the sweet, he flatly told her.
"It was for you."
"Wha-"
But before she can complaint her protest, he suddenly held up his hand in begging way. She quickly realized what he meant and began to frantically fumbling for her clothes and bag, searching for money.
As she finally felt the rough texture of cash money, she grasped it in her hand and put it onto his open palm. A satisfied smile adorned her face as joy filled her heart. It may seems a little weird that she was the one who paid him with a very happy look instead of accepting it fully free.
But it was very expected for Haruno to be like that.
She had finally gotten the chance to do something for him. She wasn't just being a burden. He had given her the chance to do what she want, and she gladly accepted it. It feels like some heavy weights on her shoulders have been lifted up and brightens her day even more.
"Well, follow me again. I want to show you something." She without a doubt followed him even if where he was heading currently was hell.
But for some reason, she couldn't help but feel uneasiness, fear and anxiety filled her heart. Everything had been went so well today, even if the majority of was never being planned by her nor she had expected it to happen. Then why does this feelings bubbling inside her heart?
Soon, she realized why her feeling telling her about something bad was coming.
It was the place where the whole thing started. The place where terrifying feeling such as guilt appeared in her heart and began to torture her whole being. Where she lose her confidence And the trust to her own self. The intersection where their path crossed, and terrible thing happened.
She remembered it all. The way he flew. The sickening sound of bone-cracking and pained grunt. The thud that came once he had met with her car in intimate distance.
Fear soon gripped her and took over her breath. Her gaze darkened, everything around her began to become hazy and blurry.
But her panic attack stopped when she felt a hand gripped her free hand tightly. Looking on the owner of the holder, she turned her gaze toward the boy on her side.
"I know what you're thinking." He started, "'this is hell. If I could break in time, anything bad won't ever happen. I wouldn't injure him, I won't hurt him' and something like that." There was a pause.
"It was just like me." She blinked, clearly don't understand what he meant.
"Long time ago, I was always told to see anything from the brighter side. I was like the current you. Always being pessimistic and blaming myself for something I regretted and could only moan pitifully while others are walking forward." He looked at the sky in reminiscent.
"Everyone who knows me always said that I was a very logical person and stoic in demeanor, yet what I ever did was anything but rational. It was laughable how I desired anything but do nothing in exchange and then complained for it."
"Eventually, I realized my stupidity, or someone had snapped me out of that delusion if I'm being honest. And she was being physical at that time, which for some reason, I can still feel the stung from her punch right now." Melancholic smile appeared on his face as he fondly rubbed his right cheek.
"All I ever done was running away. I was too coward and my dream was just a delusion. It was pathetic, pitiable even as no one would even found it to be funny. And so, I tried to change. I tried to do something I would never imagine before, thanks to that person." He walked in front of Haruno who keep listening to him, back facing her as he didn't want to let her know a tear was threatening to spill from the corner of his eye.
"Sadly, I still failed to grasp anything in the end. I had lost it, no, shove it ungratefully would be perfect to describe how stupid I am. Luckily, it didn't stop me as I still how she had genuinely spoken her words and how hard her punch. I regret it, sure, but there was no point to cry for the spilled milk. Everything has been happened, and it would be better if go forward."
Haruno was completely unaware for the origin of his rambling, but he was remembering his past life right now. Hikigaya Hachiman was a pitiable human despite his seemingly superior perceptive on the world. He always refused to solve all of the mess and only run from his own problem, or stagnate in place at best.
It was also why he had lost two of his precious people, friends. If he hadn't too scared to take an action, he wouldn't end up in military or any other direction he would take if his grandfather hadn't forced him violently into military.
And in between the service club's disbandment period and before his entry to said program, his life was so dull and empty that it was painfully agonizing for him to breath every each passing second.
Then that woman barged into his life.
Yukinoshita Haruno was the one who saved him, even if she found his lack of action as disappointment.
It was unpredictable. The person who he saw as a manipulator and heartless person was actually the one who saved him. Never have he ever had that kind of idea before. And yet, it happened.
She told him how tragic his life and how idiot he was. He, of course, snapped at her and they quickly got into a heated argument. She hotly told him what he needs to do to make sure that not everyone would be end up grieving pain. Told him how all of this was fault and how delusional he was.
It was the first time he had seen her snapped, the perfectly made mask of Yukinoshita Haruno snapped and let her emotion took over herself. And it ended up with a punch on his face.
After he got home, he quickly locked himself in his room as her every single word seeped into his mind. Week eventually passed and he had realized how true she was. And he doesn't know what to do anymore.
Surprisingly, he willed himself, albeit reluctantly, to ask her.
"Stop wallowing about it. For a logic monster, you're far from rational. Everything happened and the only thing you could at least do is to move forward."
It was all she said. And when he asked her why she helped him, she told her that he had reminded her for herself.
A friendship then grew over years between them even though they were separated by distance. And the two would have married if not for several reasons, including the obvious refusal of her parents.
It was sad and such a shame, really, but they were more than happy to spend their time with each other. After all, they both are just two animal licking each other wound who also pulled each other away from their own demise. And they had spent their time with each other company quite a lot with a date and sometimes a night together.
Perhaps if he hadn't died yet, he would bring her to escape together from Japan, and then they will live together in small family somewhere far away from the danger of his life or the convoluted life of city noble. Something he regretted so much, but he needs to push forward or else she will come here and pound him to death.
Snapping out of his reverie with a chuckle, he saw the current Haruno having a confused look on her face.
"But... um..." Haruno was genuinely confused at what to respond about his life's story. She was glad that he seemed to trust her enough to give him something that personal, but she was still clueless about the connection of it with her current situation.
He glared pointedly, without any malice behind it, at her and it scared her that what she said didn't satisfied him enough.
"I just gave you such melancholic tale and you just responded it like that." Her heart sunk as she heard his (fake) disappointed sigh. She wasn't yet to found out that he was messing with him.
He then getting closer to her, making her heart beat faster in fear And Anxiety. But it was all gone when he flicked her finger, eliciting a pained gasp out of her mouth as she held the red spot with her free hand.
"What I mean is, you should stop wallowing on it, bitch. It will never get you to anything but only a pain and misery that not just affected you but everyone around you. It's your fault, yes, but does that mean you need to bitch it about it? Of course not, in fact I hated it. I hated when you keep looked that pitiful, I hated when you couldn't smile, when you don't want to be happy.
That's why, be happy about it. Look at the brighter side! If not for that, we would never meet. I would never be someone you knew, I'm just an unassuming face you will find in the hallway and it will be the same with you."
His glare softened into a gentle stare while his thin-lined lips were turned into a tender smile that could melt her on spot. It was the very first time he had ever spoken to her harshly, scolded her without that playful tone of his. But there was no malice behind them. Only a concern and care, a genuine care about her whole wellbeing.
Everything he said rang true in her head. It was the cold fact that she refused to believe for she always believed that her deed was unforgivable. Tears were on the very corner of her eyes and it was hard to hold it.
"That's why, don't regret because it was a fault, but be happy because it all happened."
The dam broke as she watched him smiling so beautifully while the sunset veiled him in brilliant light. Each of his words resonated deep inside her heart, and opened it to spill it's contain.
She cried. Ice cream in one of her hand and the other wiped the flowing stream of her tear. She continued to cry in front of him while her sob filled the empty street.
Suddenly, she could feel a hand gripped her wrist, the one where she held the cold sweets. Lifting her head, her red eyes watched Hachiman questioningly but he only opened his mouth and swallowed a good chunk of her vanilla-chocolate ice cream before continued to eat it while still on her hand.
Standing completely stiffened like a statue, her cry had been stopped by his unexpected action. She dares not to move, even when his tongue brushed against her finger, which always managed to sent shivers down to her spine, as he caught the melted ice cream that slowly rolling down on the cone.
Nothing escaped his watch even the one that has made contact with her hand. She was completely frozen on spot. Heat on her face was extremely increased while she hoped that he didn't hear her loudly beating heart. This entire situation was weirdly sensual in a way and it tortures her to the very core.
Eventually, he stopped when the last piece of cone was being held by his mouth and escaped her grips. Her hand was a bit soaked, whether it was from saliva or the ice cream, she doesn't want to know except if she wanted to gain a malfunctioning brain in her head. Her weak legs were barely have any strength to prop her after all, she doesn't really need any prove about the possibility where her brain can be turned into mush.
"Now we're even, right?" Ignoring the growing embarrassment, she dared herself to look up at him and saw his playful smile on his face.
Her eyes widened for a moment, but it quickly replaced by understanding. Her twitching lips for some reason gained back it strength as she smiled back at him. Joy and happiness was dripping out of it.
"Yes, we're even." Since it was the best moment of her life.
-oOo-
Man that was long...
Hopefully you guys liked it.
Anyway do you liked Reincarnatedhachiman backstory? I hope you do. Funny enough, it was just a fleeting idea that passed my head out of nothing as I got quite a writer block and stack of painstakingly lot assignment. I was honestly never expected this chapter would grew this long.
Not like I complained about it though. The sweet at the end is just, ughhh... Man that packed quite a punch. I bet I will need some insulin after this.
So Yukino Alter was finally make it appearance huh. Heh, I doubt no one would expect she will become like that. Poor little yukino who just become a gag joke of mine.
Regarding mamagahama, like Wally had said, I also planned to make her some sort of supporting friend, kinda like drinking buddy but he's still minor. That's why she will make her appearance whenever hachiman got into quite a problematic situation. The story of the thisworld!hachiman would come again later, especially at the stalker arc.
That being said, I wanted to ask you guys which one I need to choose now.
1. Saki-chan can't communicate (SakiSaki arc)
2. Stalker-san's cat and mouse game (Stalker arc)
3. Do your best, miyu-chan! (Yumiko arc)
4. Hiratsukawaii-Sensei was cute as ever (Sensei arc)
5. Loosen up, sagami san! (Sagami arc)
All right, I think that's all that I wanted to write next so please give me your choice about which one I need to work after this.
Noth out, bye-bye~