Chapter 14-
Summer Camp Arc, Part 2: Ghosts from the Past.
Rumi's POV:

Well, I'm finally here. Running away is no longer an option. Well, realistically speaking, it's not like it was an option while we were on the way here either. Ah, well. I collect my bag from the trunk and start to make my way towards the resort's front gate. I can actually see some other kids from my class there. Turning around, I look at Mom and Dad.

"Try to have some fun, Rumi chan! We'll see you in a week. And don't forget: give us a call if you need anything."

"Okay, Mom."

Waving goodbye, I turn, take a deep breath, exhale, then make my way towards what will most likely be an unpleasant experience.

I reach the gathering spot soon enough. I can see a lot of kids of different ages here. Many of them are elementary schoolers like me, but I can also see middle and even high school students. Everyone mostly seems divided into groups, most likely on the basis of which school they're from. By that logic, I should be sticking with the others from my school. Except, they shot me a couple of dirty looks and then went back to ignoring me. Well, that was fine, I guess. I can see our homeroom teacher up ahead, so at least I won't be left behind without knowing where to go.

With that fact to fall back on, I decide to look around and try to observe the people from the other schools.

Almost right away, my attention is drawn to one of the loudest groups, if not the loudest. Most of the noise is from a guy with long hair that seems to be dyed orange. Is that what a normal high schooler is like? Well, at any rate, he's energetic, and people seem to be laughing at what are hopefully his jokes. But he doesn't seem to be the centre of attention. If anything, most of them seem to have gathered around another boy.

Now this one is probably what most people would think of if they heard the phrase "male teen idol". He's tall, looks athletic, has light blonde hair, and he's good looking. He also carries himself with an air of confident friendliness. Doesn't seem like an arrogant jerk. Whatever the case may be, he exudes charisma, and it's clear that he's the one around home that group is centred.

This seems to be backed up by the fact that there's an intimidating (and pretty) girl right next to him. Now I'm not an expert on this, because I'm just twelve years old, but I think what she's doing right now is called "guarding one's territory".

High schoolers are weird. And scary. But mostly weird.

That group is pretty big. If I look carefully, I can see that not everyone standing there is really part of it, but they're all gravitating towards it anyway, probably because it constitutes the majority. It's amazing how that works, to be honest. Even in high school, no, especially in high school, popularity and charisma drive in everything. Looking at tight knit they are, I feel doubts forming within me. Can someone like me ever really change my circumstances? Won't middle and high school be just more of what's been happening so far? It isn't hard to imagine the ones who ignore forming up a clique like that. And if you were a loner before… chances are, you'd remain a loner.

My thoughts are about to properly hop on this depressing train, when they're derailed by another voice. It's not particularly loud, but something about the tone makes it stand out.

"- absolutely unheard of. I cannot believe you'd even suggest something like this."

"I'm just saying, maybe it's not a bad idea. People who can land 80 percent health combos should be given an extra 30 percent on all exams, since that's how much they're above the average."

"Preposterous. I suggest you reduce the amount of time you spend on video games, Hikigaya kun. You're starting to rot."

These voices were coming from people who were clearly not a part of the other group. The one speaking with rather formal intonation (and cruelly turning down her companion's proposed gamer's advantage), was… me?

Okay, that must have been confusing.

She obviously wasn't me. But looking at her, in all fairness, without even being arrogant, the first thought that entered my head was that she looked like a more grown-up version of myself. Slender, long black hair, very pretty. She seems for some reason to be more on the reserved side, which made it all the more incredible how animatedly she was talking to the other speaker.

Said speaker, who was righteously standing up for all gamer-kind, was…

I blinked a couple times.

Now I don't mean to sound like a hipster, or someone who tries to be different for the sake of being different. But the blonde idol-looking guy earlier? He's probably the one most people would point at if you used what a cool kid looked like.

But me?

I'd point to this guy.

He was dressed casually in a simple pair of cargos and a black sleeveless vest. Well built and muscular, he seemed to have the kind of physique I saw on MMA fighters. His hair was a bit messy, but purely due to how at ease he looked, it actually came across as stylish and graceful.

Also, he was a gamer.

I had no idea who he was. But this guy? He was cool.

It wasn't just the beautiful ice queen and this stylish bad boy, though. There was another girl with them, and she was every bit as good looking. Unlike her almost ethereal companion, she looked far more earthy, more like a girl-next-door. But there was a brilliant, kindly charm to her.

Why on earth would these people want to join that other group? There's no reason for them to.

They were having all the fun they could want in their own little world, and seemed perfectly unconcerned with what anyone else around them might be saying or thinking of them.

The thing is, if you have to desperately make yourself and your clique exclusive, if you have to go out of your way to ignore and make fun of others, or call them "cringe", aren't you just what the Americans call edgy? Aren't you just a tryhard? You might be popular and all that, but I can't bring myself to look up to you.

On the other hand, this trio with their effortless confidence, looked like they'd give the time of day to anyone who approached them. They didn't seem to be going out of their way to look down on anyone. They were secure in themselves, and that is the sure sign of power.

"80 percent combos in Tekken are not easy. I know more people who score 80 percent on a math test than people who can do a Perfect Electric Wind Godfist", said the boy.

The dark-haired girl face-palmed.

"You are hereby summarily banned from all educational councils. Seriously, Lowlife kun. Just stop."

"Hey, come on now, you two. Be nice," said the resident good girl of the three. I noticed she was quite close to the boy, and he wasn't trying to widen the distance.

Are those two… going out?

I felt myself blushing.

Again, I reiterate, I'm only twelve years old. A lot of the girls in my class talk in hushed whispers about boys, but no one has ever had the courage to actually "confess" as they say, and none of the boys have done it either.

So I'd never really seen a "couple".

This is… are they not uncomfortable being that close in public? Is this guy actually some kind of skeevy player?

I mean, that other girl seems to be pretty close to him too.

Urgh.

I take back what I said. High schoolers are all the same.

And just because you play the same video game as I do doesn't mean you're okay.

What was I thinking?

There's no way I could be like them.

I actually judged by appearances? Stupid Rumi.

He's probably just like everyone else.

I shake my head.

Never give yourself false hope.

The teacher's calling us. I guess we're going to our rooms or something. Quietly, I follow.

Yui's POV:

There are a LOT of people here. I knew this was a big event, but I had no idea it'd be this big. Also, it's kinda weird seeing Sensei get treated with so much respect. Apparently, she's a responsible adult. But I guess stranger things are true. In any case, all of that has nothing to do with me. Hikki doesn't stare at Sensei anymore. And he isn't trying to keep a distance from me anymore. Maybe… maybe he's ready at last.

I look at him.

He really does seem a lot happier now.

He smiles more, and it's like he's opened up to us.

That makes me happy.

"Oi, Yui, you OK? You've spaced out or something."

I come to my senses and realize he's looking right at me.

Close! Really close! My face is getting red.

This isn't the place for this, Hikki! At least wait till we get to our room.

Wait, hold on a second. We won't be sharing rooms at all, will we? Girls and boys will probably be separate.

"I'm not entirely sure what you're picturing, but that lewd expression on your face can give the fujoshi a run for her money."

!

I hit him several times on the arm, but he laughs it off. He always makes these weird jokes!

"Stop making fun of me!" I said.

"But I'm not. You look super cute."

Hnnnggg!

Critical hit. Must recover.

It's exactly at this point that Yukinon chooses to come in.

"Cease and desist at once, Hikicreep kun. Your behaviour is atrocious."

"What? What did I do?"

"Stop trying to corrupt this girl. Yuigahama san, I suggest staying far and away from him."

Hikki rolled his eyes.

"Whatever. My mere presence elevates the style rank of everyone in the vicinity."

"That… doesn't have anything to do with- oh, never mind. Everything is a video game reference to you."

"No, not really, but it frustrates you, so that makes it entertaining.

Yukinon narrowed her eyes dangerously, and I could feel the temperature dropping. Hikki seemed totally unconcerned though.

"Besides, I think you secretly like hanging out with me."

That catches Yukinon completely off-guard, and she averts her face.

Wait, did that really just happen?

Looking at her, it's hard to make out the expression on her face. Is she… blushing?

…

Nah, no way, that's impossible.

Yukinon and Hikki get along fine, but she'd probably throw up in her mouth at the thought of looking at him that way.

Feeling a little relieved at that for some reason, I decide to change the subject.

"Hikki, stop picking on Yukinon."

"All right, all right."

We walk in silence for a while, till we come to the lodge houses. There are quite a few of them.

"All right. I'm going to call out your names. Just fall in line as I do so, and I'll tell you where you'll staying," Sensei said from the front.

Over the next few minutes, we were divided up. All of us girls would be in one house, and the boys would be in another. Since there were quite a few schools here, this would be a good way to make sure there was enough room for everyone without any overcrowding, while everyone still got to stay together with people from their own schools to avoid any confusion or discomfort.

Once this was done, Sensei dismissed us, and we decided to go get settled in. The house was quite comfortable. There were enough beds for everyone, and it was spacious enough that we wouldn't end up huddling together or anything. Most of us just decided to either put our luggage on or under our beds. After all that was done, we headed back out to the common area to meet up with everyone else.

We arrived in the courtyard at the same time the boys did. Some of the other schools were already settled in, so they were waiting there. We'd just arrived, but it was likely some or the other activity was planned for the day.

I spotted Hikki with the rest of the boys. Totsuka chan was there, and so was Zaimokuza, and he was chatting with them. They all looked relaxed on the surface, but it was clear that there was some tension under the surface. Something had happened. I immediately looked at Hayato, because I knew he didn't like Hikki, and the feeling was mutual. If something really had taken place, it involved those two for sure.

As we walked towards them, I waved, and he waved back.

"There really are a lot of people here, huh?" I said.

"So it seems," he agreed.

Before I could say anything more though, we were interrupted by a voice I was unfamiliar with.

"Arre, is that Hikigaya?"

The change that came over his demeanour almost instantly was alarming.

For a brief moment, I froze up.

Hikki doesn't get angry like regular people, you see.

His eyes were beyond cold.

I've seen false smiles many times, from many different people.

But never before had I seen one like that which he was wearing at that moment.

Whoever this person was, who had just spoken, Hikki knew her quite well.

And he didn't like her one bit.

"Orimoto. It's been a while, huh?"

Orimoto? So that's her name.

I looked at her.

She seemed like… pretty much a hundred other people I'd met? A little loud, big smile on her face.

"It is you!" she said excitedly. "I almost didn't believe it. Woah, you've changed a lot! Were you always this big! Hey, Saito, come check this out!"

At the mention of this Saito person, Hikki's smile grew.

I really wanted to shout out a warning to whoever he was, to run.

Because Hikki's smile was saying only one thing, and I could hear it clearly.

"I will destroy your happiness."

At Orimoto's words, a group of boys came over. Right away, I could tell they were bad news. Orimoto herself seemed either unaware or indifferent to this fact. I could tell that it wasn't really her Hikki was angry at. It was the rest of them.

"What's up?" said one of them, probably Saito.

"Check this guy out. You recognize him?" said Orimoto, gesturing to Hikki.

It took a moment, but recognition dawned on his face.

"You… I remember you. Damn, I didn't think I'd ever see you again, after that accident."

He chuckled. It wasn't a pleasant sound.

"How's your friend doing? He still like jumping from high places?"

My eyes widened. I reached out a hand to grasp Hikki's to make him calm down.

And that was when I realized.

He was already deadly calm.

He didn't swear, or trash talk, or do any of the things he normally did, and that should have been a sign to anyone who knew him that this wasn't going to end well.

Still with that smile on his face, Hikki answered, deliberately putting on a timid voice. It was so obviously fake, that I realized instantly that he was insulting Saito's intelligence, right to his face.

"Haha, that's a long story, but it's all in the past now."

"Oh, is that so? Maybe we should catch up and talk about it."

And that was when his attention turned to me.

I didn't like the look in his eyes one bit.

Hikki noticed my discomfort, and this time, he wrapped his hand around mine.

Orimoto still seemed blithely oblivious to whatever it was they were talking about.

"Eh, did you two always know each other so well?"

"We've met once or twice," said Saito. "What'll it be, Hikigaya? We get together one more time for old time's sake?"

Hikki smiled.

"Sure. We're at camp together. We'll be seeing each other all the time."

Saito and the rest of the group smirked.

"All right, all of you! Pay attention!"

So came the call from the camp instructors, and we had to end the conversation there. The next several hours went by partaking in camp activities, and by the time it all ended, it was late evening, and we'd already had dinner.

We were supposed to go back to our lodge houses and sleep.

But that Saito fellow's words were still in my head, and I was afraid. He was bad news. There was something wrong about him, and I wasn't comfortable just being in a house with him around. Yukinon had been there during that confrontation too, so she knew what I was worried about. She assured me that she had Sensei on speed dial, and had even called her family to inform them. But I was still scared.

We were in the dining hall, and were supposed to be going back to the houses.

Hikki came over, and quietly whispered in my ear.

"Sleep easy. You'll be safe."

And, miraculously, somehow, hearing it from him was able to put me at ease.

10:00 pm.
Hikigaya Hachiman's POV:

Exactly 20 of them. I remember every one of those faces, because they're the exact same people who were there that day.

I looked up and silently thanked God.

It's not everyday that one gets a chance like this.

Incidentally, camping activities today were interesting. We chopped firewood and everything. We're staying in houses, so we didn't really need to fix tents or hammer stakes into the ground or anything. But where there are axes, there are sledgehammers. And since this a camping trip after all, I was carrying a sturdy pair of leather gloves with me, on the offhand chance that I need it for something or the other.

That's good, because I do need them tonight.

I put them into my pocket, and get off my bed.

"Hikigaya, you going somewhere?" Totsuka calls out, lying on his own bed and fiddling with his phone.

"Yeah, just gotta go do some business."

"Is that a way of saying you need to take a dump?"

"... You know what? That works. It is waste disposal, after all."

"Fucking gross. Get outta here, man."

With that conversation concluded, I exit the house, and make my way towards the tool shed. The good thing about a bunch of teenagers stuck with friends in houses is that they're so busy having fun, they're never going to look out the window to check what one solitary figure might be upto moving around after dark.

The tool shed isn't far, and it's unlocked too. That's good. I mean, if it ended up being locked, I'd probably improvise by grabbing a branch (there are plenty lying around). But hey, never question good fortune. Moving inside, I look around a bit and spot a sledgehammer. Slipping on the gloves, I grab the handle and lift it up. I check the weight. It feels light enough. Can't really judge it by the same standards as a dumbbell though. The objective is not just to lift it.
I take a few practice swings, and find that it's comfortable. I also try out a few different grips, since the situation might call for it.

Satisfied, I heft it over one shoulder and move out, closing the shed door behind me.

Fighter's tip: Taking on multiple opponents alone is stupid. It's not a fair fight, and you never know what weapons they might be carrying. They'll play dirty for sure. It's a situation you should avoid for sure.

I'd trained to be able to handle twenty people in a brawl if I needed to. But that was assuming we were all barehanded. And I knew that that might not always be the case. Besides, even if I was good enough to beat twenty people at once, I knew from experience that all it takes is someone getting in one lucky shot, and everything ends badly from me.

So fighting that many opponents at once was a no-no.

But what if you have to do it anyway?

Fighter's tip: When up against multiple pieces of trash, play dirty. Attack when they aren't expecting it. And make sure to bring something to even the odds.

Giving a bunch of bullies the impression of frailty was easy. Just pretend to be scared. They probably thought that after what happened last time, I wouldn't want any part of them. And I furthered that impression with my performance earlier today.

So right now, they were probably at ease, thinking they had one guy to bully and two girls to molest.

They're probably in their house right now, laughing, joking, making plans.

The trap's been set.

I know which house they're in, because I made sure to look which one they were going into.

I make my way over to it, making sure to stay low. I'm able to reach the outer wall of their house. Circling around, I place myself out of the line of sight from as many of the other houses as possible. I try to stick to the shadows. Finding a good spot, I decide to sit down, and wait.

After several minutes, the light coming out from the window goes off.

It's time.

I get up, and stretch a little, loosening up my joints, and take a few more practice swings. Satisfied, I walk around to the front door, and knock a few times.

"Who the hell is it at this time of night?"

I knock again.

"All right, all right, I'm coming."

The door opens.

And I thrust the head of the hammer right into the gut of the one who opened it. He doubles over in pain, and I thrust it again, at his head. He goes down, limp right away. His body hits the floor with a thump. I leap over it and get run right in. Can't give them a chance to realize what's happening.

It's still dark, but my eyes are better adjusted to it, since I was outside.

One of them's sitting up in bed.

I switch the hammer to a baseball bat grip, and swing it right at his ribcage.

A crunching sound echoes through the night, along with a choked cry of agony.

That's right. You can't scream with a crushed lung.


"Nomu? What's going on?"

Another one's just starting to realize something's wrong. I don't give him a chance. Swinging the hammer vertically, I bring it down with all the power I can muster, right on his thigh bone.

Before he can even shout, I step forward and smash him in the head with my fist.

"Shit! There's someone inside!"

"He's got a hammer- aaaaaarghhhh!"

Chaos had broken lose.

They were off their beds now, but it didn't matter.

I was wide awake, they were drowsy.

And I was much faster than them.

Time and again the hammer connected. I didn't really care what I was hitting.

As far as I was concerned, this was pest control. If a couple of insects died, I was completely fine with it.

But as it turned out, Saito did survive.

Funny thing. All this time, I thought maybe Saito hadn't wanted to knock him off that edge. I even thought maybe there was a chance he regretted his actions. But he'd shown today that he didn't.

Yet.

He was about to regret them.

He was the last guy on his feet when I had taken everyone else out.

What are the odds of that?

There was no screaming. Everyone else either had a crushed ribcage, or was unconscious.

"H-Hikigaya! What the hell is wrong with you?"

I tossed the hammer behind me, out the door.

Saito hadn't taken a single blow from it.

Which was good.

"If you can fight, you should do it," I said.

He looked at me with fear.

Walking over to the door, I closed it, and shot the bolt.

And then I turned to him.

"Come on then."

He looked at me, and hesitated.

For a while, I wondered if he'd try shouting for help.

He looked out the window.

And then he rushed at me.

Stepping forward and going into a low stance, I rammed my fist right into his groin.

He doubled up.

Without pausing, I rammed my other fist into his throat.

He was choking and spluttering with agony.

Taking a step back, I swung my leg in a roundhouse kick that connected clean with his stomach, causing him to bend over.

Grabbing the back of his head, I brought my elbow down on the base of his neck with every last ounce of power I could summon.

I felt something give way, and he fell to the floor heavily, writhing and twisting in pain.

He couldn't even speak.

"Is this it, then?" I said, as I looked down on him. "This is it? With this pathetic level of strength, you walk around acting like you're a big deal?"

"Hi-Hikigaya… that's enough…"

"Enough?"

Fire was flowing through my veins.

I crouched down and gripped his throat.

"We're going to talk about old times, now, remember?"

"Please…"

I saw for a moment in my mind, Kazuya in his hospital bed.

And then I snapped.

"You're a worthless piece of garbage. You are going to live the rest of your life in fear, knowing that if you even look at me or anyone I care about again, I'll find where you live, and I'll end you."

My initial strike to the base of my neck probably cracked a disc or two. Time to break a few more.

I lifted him up by the throat.

Guy weighs maybe 70 kilos at most. I've overhead pressed more than that.

Turning him around, I slide an arm around one of his legs, and the other around his throat, sling him over my back, and lift him up.

"Hikigaya!" There's alarm in his voice now. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to make sure you never walk again."

"Hikigaya! Please… I'm sorry… please stop!"

"His name was Kazuya by the way. Kamishiro Kazuya. Remember that."

I lifted him off my back, above my head, and brought him down, back-first, on my knee.

This time, he did scream.

Looking up, I thanked God one more time for letting me do this.

And I looked at the heavens.

"Just this one time, I used a flashy move, for you."

Looking around at the destroyed pieces of human garbage around me, I addressed them.

"I'll tell you all the same thing I told him. I ever so much as see you looking at anyone I care about, or at me, I'll end you."

The absolute fear in their eyes told me they got the message.

Done here, I decided to walk out. I needed to retrieve that hammer and put it back where it belonged.

It was only once I was outside, and my battle instincts had subsided, that I realized I'd made a mistake.

Someone was out there, and she would know what had happened inside.

"Hello, Hikigaya kun", said Yukinoshita Haruno.