Chapter 1: Hajime Hinata

The Ultimate Imposter, known by his classmates as Byakuya Togami, was one of the students attending the school trip on Jabberwock Island. In order to graduate from this so-called "school trip", all of the students were required to create strong bonds with one another and collect "Hope Fragments" in order to strengthen and grow their own hopes.

Twogami, unfortunately, wasn't the best at "friendship", as he was a lot more reserved than most of his classmates, and he usually spent most of his time alone studying, reading, and of course, eating food, hence his heavy build. Finding someone who shared the same interests as him could be a little difficult, due to the different types of personalities of his classmates. Getting along with some of them could be considered quite a challenge, but as their leader, Twogami realized that he had to make an effort in order to earn the trust of his classmates. According to Usami, the class's teacher, the school trip was to last fifty days, which meant each student had fifty days in total to collect as many Hope Fragments as they could. The class also had certain goals every week, and if they all met their goals, they would be rewarded "Trip Tickets". Trip Tickets were tickets that allowed a student to take another student on a trip to one of the many areas on Jabberwock Island. Going on a trip with another classmate was a good way to grow close to that student and help strengthen bonds and grow hope. At first glance, Twogami believed this to be an extremely easy task, but as it began, he wasn't as confident as he first thought.

Twogami had fifteen different people to collect Hope Fragments from, but the tricky part was deciding who he should talk to first. Typically, Twogami was not the type of person to initiate an event with somebody else unless asked. This is why Twogami thought this wasn't going to be so easy.

It was the very first day of the school trip and after all of the rules were explained, it was time to start socializing with each other. Twogami began walking around Central Island, deep in thought.

"Hmm.. who should I talk to first..? Should I even try? Should I just wait for someone to talk to me?"

Twogami was uncertain what to do. As he looked around, he already saw some of his classmates already talking with each other. He could tell that some of his class were quite outgoing indeed. After about ten more minutes of walking, Twogami got tired and needed a break. He decided to sit on one of the benches in Jabberwock Park and focus more on his thoughts. The day was still far from over, so he still had plenty of time to find someone to talk to.

Still lost in thought, someone ended up sitting right next to him.
"You don't mind if I sit here, right?"

Twogami scrunched his nose and adjusted his glasses.
"Hmph. You've already sat next to me, so I guess I don't mind, I suppose."

With his arms folded across his large chest, Twogami didn't even make the effort to make eye contact with the person sitting next to him.

"So, Byakuya, right?"

"That's Mister Byakuya Togami actually, commoner.. And I forgot already, what's your name?"

"Ah, it's Hajime. Hajime Hinata."

This time, Twogami looked Hajime right in the eyes and examined him.

"Ah, yes, Hajime. I do remember now. Our introductions from earlier. Unfortunately, I probably can't recall anyone else's name unless I think extremely hard about it."

"Oh, is that so? But anyways, mind if I ask you a question?" Hajime said.

Twogami sighed with slight frustration.

"If you must ask, then fine. What is it?"

"Why are you sitting by yourself? Shouldn't you be out trying to collect Hope Fragments?"

Twogami scoffed.

"Hmph. Such a silly question. Of course I'm going to collect Hope Fragments… eventually. Everyone needs alone time now and then, wouldn't you agree?"

"Ah, right. Sorry."

Twogami ignored his apology and sighed.

"Since you bothered asking me a ridiculous question like that, how about I ask you a question of my own? Why is it that you yourself are not gathering Hope Fragments, hmm? Why aren't you out talking to anybody?"
"But I'm talking to you, right?" Hajime said.

"Hmph. I suppose so. But why me?"

"I don't know, to be honest. I guess I was having trouble finding who I should talk to first. I mean, I'm still kind of suspicious of this whole school trip thing, you know? Like, something about it makes me feel uneasy."

"Hmm.. I happen to feel the same way, actually." Twogami responded.

"Great minds think alike, right?" Hajime said.

"Don't be ridiculous. My mind is way above that of a commoner…"

Hajime sighed.

"So yeah, to answer your question, I was looking for you because I felt like you'd be kind of easy to talk to, I guess? Well, actually, I don't know, but.."

"What do you mean?" Twogami asked, a bit interested.

"Well, I mean judging by our introductions, I think a few people kind of look up to you already. They see you as a really cool and reliable kind of a guy, you know?"

Twogami smirked with confidence.
"Well, that doesn't surprise me. It's only obvious people would go on and on about the Ultimate Affluent Progeny, right?"

"Well, yeah…"

"I wonder then.. Why has nobody else approached me other than you, Hajime? Perhaps they've realized that talking to me would be too much for them to comprehend. Hmph. Commoners are quite foolish, wouldn't you agree, Hajime? Oh wait, you're a commoner yourself, aren't you?"

"I don't think that's it. I'm sure a lot of people want to get to know you, but I mean, there's a lot of us, right? We have fifty days to get to know each other so it doesn't really matter who you start with, right?" Hajime said.

"But didn't you say you were having trouble trying to find someone to talk to first? But now you just said it doesn't matter who you start with, right? So that's basically a contradiction to your own point…" Twogami sighed.

"Yeah, I know, but I was speaking generally, I guess. It's just a lot easier for others than it is for me. That's why I decided to talk to you. People think you're cool, so I just wanted to see how you were for myself."

"I see. So then, what do you think of me, Hajime?" Twogami asked.

Hajime sighed.
"Well, it's a bit early to answer that question, we haven't really done anything together yet except talk, right? Maybe we should do something together. I'm sure we can have a good time together, Byakuya."

Twogami adjusted his glasses.

"Hmmm.. very well, then. I'd rather do something than just sit here like a duck all day, wouldn't you agree, Hajime? Then what is it you'd like to do?"
"That's kind of the thing. I'm not so sure.."

"Such incompetence.. As expected of a commoner. Inviting me to do something but not even having a plan beforehand? Fine then, I'll think of something."

Twogami sat there for a little bit, thinking about what the two of them should do together.

"Talking to you has really made me hungry. How about we go and get some lunch, Hajime?"

"Hmm.. alright. I guess I could eat something myself. Should we head to the hotel restaurant?"
"Indeed. There's bound to be plenty of food there. Now, what are you waiting for Hajime? March!"

"Gah!" Hajime exclaimed rather frantically to Twogami's sudden forcefulness.

The two of them eventually made their way to the hotel restaurant. They were the only two there, well aside from Teruteru Hanamura, the Ultimate Cook.

"Ohoh, if it isn't Hajime and Byakuya. Hungry? I got some nice meat cooking. What kind of meat do you prefer? I prefer mine to be extra meaty and juicy… sometimes even… hard.." Teruteru smirked suggestively.

Twogami shook his head in frustration.
"For a cook, you are quite the vulgar one indeed. However, meat does sound rather good to me. So, what kind of meat? Beef? Pork? Chicken? Answer me!"

"Why, it's pork today! So, are you interested in tasting my delicious cooking, gentlemen?"

"Hmph. Very well. What do you think, Hajime?"

Hajime nodded.

"Yeah. Guess I could go for some pork.."

"Then it's decided. You there! Teruteru, was it? Serve me and this commoner your best pork, and make it snappy!"

"Ooh, yes sir! I just love your forcefulness.." Teruteru said as he quickly slipped into the kitchen.

After a few minutes of waiting, Teruteru came out of the kitchen with two plates of his finest pork chops.

"Mhm.. doesn't that smell good, guys? My famous pork chops! Dig in!"

Hajime and Twogami grabbed their silverware and started cutting into their pork chops. Twogami slowly shoved a forkful into his mouth.

"Ngh!"

Teruteru gasped.

"I-is there something wrong?"

Twogami ignored his question and quickly began wolfing down his pork chops like there was no tomorrow. Teruteru and Hajime just stared at him with concern in their eyes due to his voracious eating. Twogami ate and ate until there was nothing left except bone on his plate.

"Hmph. To answer your question, there is only one thing wrong! There isn't anymore.. Teruteru, this was quite a wonderful piece of pork, even if it was cooked by a commoner like you.."

"Well, there is some more in the back if-"

"WELL, WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO EARLIER?! BRING IT OUT HERE AT ONCE, THAT IS AN ORDER!"

Teruteru quickly dashed into the kitchen to grab another platter of pork chops.

"What's the matter, Hajime? You haven't eaten your pork chops yet. Go on, try it. It's really good. Anyways, I suppose Teruteru has earned the right to be called the Ultimate Cook. Unfortunately, his vulgarity is quite unappealing.."

"I'm actually not really that hungry anymore.." said Hajime.
"I see. So you don't mind if..?"

"Go ahead.."

Without any hesitation, Twogami grabbed the pork chop from Hajime's plate and ate it as quickly as he ate his own.

"I'm back!" Teruteru said with another plate of pork chops.
"Excellent. Bring it here."

Hajime sighed.

"You're.. still hungry?"

"Well, of course I am, I haven't really eaten much today.."

And so, Hajime and Teruteru both sighed and continued watching Twogami devour the pork chops in front of him. After lunch, Twogami and Hajime went back to Jabberwock Park for further conversation.

"So Hajime, since we've spent a little bit of time together, what do you think of me so far, then?" asked Twogami.

"Well, uh… you sure like to eat, huh?"

Twogami sighed.

"Hmph. That is simply a fact. You're not really giving me an opinion.."

"Well, I still need to get to know you more, right? It's only our first day, so you can't really expect me to have an opinion of you yet.. The same goes for you too, right? You don't really think much of me yet, do you?" Hajime said.

"I guess not. To me, you're just a commoner in my eyes, as is everyone else. However, perhaps that opinion might change. Eventually…"

Hajime nodded.

"Yeah."

"Hmm.. today wasn't so bad after all. At least I got to talk to someone.. But who should I talk to next.." said Twogami.

Twogami thought about it a little bit. Although he did happen to communicate with Teruteru in the hotel restaurant, he didn't think he would get used to his vulgar comments.

"Hajime. I have a question for you."

"Sure. What's up, Byakuya?"

"Who were the people who thought I was cool and reliable?"

"Wait, you're asking me that? I'd assume you wouldn't care what commoners think and-"

"Do not misunderstand. Of course I wouldn't care much of what a commoner has to say.. But it's not always that way. Tch. Nevermind, it's not really important.."

"No, no, it's okay, I'll tell you. Well actually, it was mainly one person…"

"One person is better than nobody, I suppose. So, out with it. Who?"

"Uhh, the Ultimate Musician, if I recall. Ibuki." Hajime said.

"Ibuki?"
"Yeah, Ibuki Mioda. She kept going on and on about how cool and reliable you seemed and uh some other things but I probably shouldn't say-"

"No, it's fine, Hajime. You might as well tell me."

"Uhh, well she said that she really wants to touch your belly and give you a million hugs and she wants you to join her band and hold hands with you and-"

Twogami shook his head and facepalmed.

"Please.. Say no more. What ridiculous things she has in mind.. I can only tolerate so much.."

"So.. I guess you're not going to talk to Ibuki, right?"

"No, I never said I wasn't. She just sounds extremely exhausting. Make no mistake, I'm going to collect fragments from every person on this island.. She'd just be my very last option.."

"I see. But actually Byakuya, maybe she should be the next person you talk to."

"Interesting opinion.. And why is that?"

"Well, it's pretty obvious she likes you a lot, right? Maybe if you got along with her and spent time with her right away, you'd end up liking her too maybe. And anyways, this whole school trip is about strengthening our bonds and collecting these Hope Fragments, right? So I'm sure you can create a super strong bond with Ibuki, considering how much she likes you already. And she hasn't even talked to you yet, has she?" said Hajime.

"Hmm. Well no, she hasn't.."

"Well, then there you have it. You should spend some time with Ibuki next, Byakuya. Of course, it's your decision, that's just what I think you should do next."

"Hmm.." Twogami thought to himself.

"Hajime. I have some thinking to do. Alone. I appreciate the fact that you came to me first, I suppose.. If you want to hang out again, just let me know." said Twogami.

"Yeah, sure. It was nice talking to you too, Byakuya."

At that moment, the both of them heard a little beep. It was their E-Handbooks. Byakuya and Hajime both looked at their Report Cards. It featured themselves and all of their classmates basic general information. It also had a star on every person's page. A total of six fragments could be collected for each person.

"Hmm.. it seems that we have both collected a Hope Fragment, Hajime."

Hajime smiled.

"Yeah."

Twogami covered his mouth with his hand to cover a slight smile.

"Well, I'd better get going. I'll see you around, Hajime."

"Right. See you, Byakuya."

And with that, Twogami headed to his cottage. Although it was still pretty early in the day, Twogami decided he didn't want to continue socializing any further for today. Besides, he had already gained a Hope Fragment, and he wasn't in too much of a hurry to collect them all yet. But more importantly, Twogami had a lot of different thoughts in his mind. Who should he really hang out with next? Should he really take Hajime's advice and hang out with Ibuki, the girl he had never even interacted with yet, but she admires him greatly? There were also others he could talk to as well, but..

"Hmm.. maybe I will take your advice, Hajime.."

After thinking, eating, and reading on his own for the next few hours, nighttime soon approached. Twogami had an idea of what he was going to be doing the next day.

But for now, Twogami's first day of collecting Hope Fragments has come to an end.