After the weekend ended, The next day back at school was weird. My classmates shot me gazes with various mixes of consternation and curiosity. Their interest in me only grew when the teacher that I had corrected came into class and didn't even spare a moment to reprimand me.

It's amazing; with the money that I had already donated, the school's director made him apologize to me for being out of line. It was frankly a bit much, but I imagine Aoi was hoping I'd donate more to the school because of it.

So I sat in class, trying to avoid any more unwanted attention. That wasn't easy when one of the most popular freshmen and the student council president interrupted your history class to talk to you.

I stepped outside, my lips downturned into an unimpressed frown. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

Shiromeguri smiled. "We wanted to talk about Yukinoshita's upcoming election plans. Her sister, Haruno, has informed us that in no uncertain terms; that should Yukinoshita win the presidency, all funds granted to Soubu High from the Yukinoshita foundation would be halted."

For a moment, I considered offering to make up the difference. Hell, I could probably convince Kaguya to form a Shinomiya Corporation charity branch. Good idea; I'll stash it away for later.

I also don't particularly care about the election. I'll see how Yukino feels before making any final decisions, but for now, I remain nonplussed. If anything, I'm grateful. I'm selfish like that; I want the people that make me happy to stay near.

Shiromeguri fiddled with her braids as she spoke. "Also, this kinda puts us back to square one in terms of Isshiki here." She gestured to her left with the hand not twirling her braid.

I looked at the somewhat sneaky kohai. Who seemed like she was trying to make her eyes as big and pathetic as possible. "I just don't know what to do."

I kept my face as kind and brotherly as I could. "I think that you should face it head-on. Accept the responsibility and do it so well that no one can look down on you. If you start now, you can have the excuse of saying that you're trying your best despite being a freshman and a soccer club manager."

She still didn't look convinced, so I doubled down. "Trust me. I ran the school festival, and it's really not that hard."

Shiromeguri coughed. "But Hikigaya isn't exactly the best example for the difficulty of running things. He was top-ranked in the national exams this semester."

"You were!" Iroha exclaimed, taking a moment to scrutinize me. As if some detail in my appearance would corroborate my test scores.

"Yeah, but it was more luck than anything. I had one of those pencils that you could roll to get an answer." I replied, taking on a slight slack-jawed expression trying to mimic the attitude and demeanor of a doofus.

Shiromeguri giggled. "Well, I'm afraid that I must head back to my class. Please watch over her, Hikigaya!" She called out as I jogged away.

I turned awkwardly to the younger girl that I was now left alone with. "So, which way is your class? I'll walk you."

She rattled off a room number, and I walked alongside her. "So, Senpai, why did you transfer to Soubu?"

I shrugged. "Why does anyone transfer anywhere? Convenience. Source: Me." She giggled at my statement and turned to me, making another concerted effort to widen her eyes.

However, before she could get a word in. I took the chance to cut to the chase. "What are you going to ask from me?"

She was taken aback for a moment before she squawked. "I wasn't going to ask you anything. Geez, you're so rude. And arrogant."

I looked down at her. "Let me guess." I imitate her voice in a falsetto high pitch. "Senpaiiii, if I become president, will you take responsibility?" I switched back to my normal voice. "Or something along those lines with a similar intent."

This time she was more cautious when she reacted. "If I'd asked, what would you have said?"

I replied without reservation. "I'd offer my help and support within reason."

She leaned down, looking up at me cutely as a smile bloomed over her face. "That's good enough for me."

I didn't react, instead pointing ahead. "Well, we're here. Have a nice day. Good luck with your candidacy. Feel free to come back and discuss campaign strategies if you'd like advice."

I walked away. Before Hayasaka, Isshiki probably would have sent my heart racing. But now, I detested facades, and she wore them. Or maybe it was easier to deal with an obvious facade than to go your whole life without really knowing someone. Could someone ever truly be known?

I let out a distressed whine before composing myself. This wasn't a pressing issue, and I wasn't currently in a relationship, so I'd cross those bridges when I reached them.

I reached my classroom once more before quietly taking a seat. The teacher spared me a glance but didn't bother to comment. I didn't know if it was because I'd been summoned by the student council President or that word of me vs. the English teacher had spread. Though I could hardly care about it, either way, I got what I wanted.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Magnificent solitude in a classic delinquent move I walked up to the roof to sleep away the last period. I just couldn't be bothered. If someone wanted to bug me about it, then I'd stop; but before that, I felt no inclination to cease or desist.

I opened the door and lay in the sun. Letting the whispers of the wind lull me to sleep.

When I awoke, the shadows were longer. Judging by the amount they'd extended, it was probably about club time. I rose to my feet and spun my neck. My spine made several distinct sounds of popping and cracking.

I ambled my way toward the clubroom, lazily greeting Yukinoshita and Yui. Both quietly observed me as I sipped from a disposable cup of warm tea.

Eventually, I grew tired of the silence and broke it myself. Something that I hated doing. "Alright, why are we so awkward now?"

Maybe this could be fixed in a minute, and I could enjoy some peace. Yui replied. "I know I said that we wouldn't push you, but we're still curious. What did you have to do with the election?"

"Well, that's the textbook definition of pushing me. Besides, does it really matter?" I wearily rubbed my temples.

"Of course it does, Hikigaya." Yukino said.

If this mattered. If they couldn't forgive this, then if they found out why I quit Shuuchin. They wouldn't ever even look at me.

Everything we had built together as friends would be ripped from my fingers. I felt afraid, and that fear led to anger. Combined with my repressed emotions from Hayasaka.

I snarled. My tone was nasty, but my volume remained the same. "Why am I always the one who has to reveal their deepest secrets? It's not like you guys spill your guts to me."

"But, Hikigaya-" I cut off Yukino, trying to protest me.

"Why don't we talk about you and Hayama then? Would that be fun for you?" She grimaced, and I chuckled bitterly. "Because that's how talking about my past feels."

"Hikki, you're being a prick," Yui replied, her eyes narrowed and her mouth frowning.

"Oh, I'm such a prick for being a-" Yukino cut our conversation short. Dinging a teaspoon against her mug.

"If that's what it takes, then so be it. Please sit." Her voice was soft and raw. I faced her as Yui pulled her chair next to Yukino and lay a comforting hand on hers. The ice queen shot back a grateful smile. I was glad they were happy, but something cold and empty roiled in my chest.

"Hayato was my friend growing up. The Hayama family was close to mine, so by extension, we were too. I even had a bit of a crush on him growing up." She blushed but found no scorn from Yui or me and continued.

"When we reached elementary school, I thought things were going to continue in a halcyon blur. But I started to get bullied, and he did nothing. He chose the classmates he had known for a few months over a friend he'd had since he was in diapers. That was that. I was done with him. After that, no matter how many times he tried to apologize, I never accepted."

She took in a shaky breath, and Yui moved even closer. Now wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "It only made me more unpopular. After the first few times failed, he started doing it in front of the student body or our families. Each time I rejected it, people thought. 'Poor Hayato trying to be friends with a bitch who won't let him live down one mistake.' Everyone thought I was cold and aloof, so I became that."

Tears were flowing freely down her face. Quiet sobs escaped her lips. Before, I'd felt righteously angry. Now, I only felt like a prick. "I'm sorry, Yukinoshita. I was out of line. I'll leave if you want me to."

Yui rolled her eyes. "Hikki now is the time for a hug, not an apology." Yukinoshita looked at me with hesitantly hopeful eyes. A sight that I couldn't say no to.

Even if they could never accept the monster that I was, doesn't mean that I don't care about them.

I cautiously approached and gently wrapped my arms around her. Her sniffles were the only sound in the room.

When she had stopped crying, I removed them. Awkwardly lumbering back to my seat. Yui sighed and met Yukinoshita's eyes before they both giggled. Their faces were so close that their noses were almost nuzzling.

I stood up, uncomfortable at the voyeuristic pleasure I took from seeing two of my friends happy. "I'm going to head home. I'll tell you two the election story tomorrow if you want to hear it."

"Oh, come now, Hikigaya. After that emotional display, I feel I've earned the right to hear your tale." Yukino teased, though her eyes were still slightly red-rimmed.

"Okay, but promise me that you won't tell anyone else." I requested.

They both nodded tersely. "So the company that designs the tamper-proof mail in envelopes wanted to sue the people who deliver it for the higher than agreed upon margin of error. Ultimately, nothing came of it, but I was sworn into a million NDAs before I was allowed to review the case materials."

"Wait, that's it?" Yui asked when I stopped.

I smiled. "Yep. The only reason I didn't talk about it was that they could sue the shit out of me if anyone found out what I told you."

I tried to slip out the door before Yukinoshita could respond. Alas, I wasn't faster than sound. "Hikigaya, we weren't going to judge you. We were concerned about you. We're your friends."

For now.

I didn't reply and left in silence. Her last words still swirled in my mind.

Unfortunately, my day seemed to have no intention of getting better. Outside the school, Haruno Yukinoshita leaned against a fence.

In retrospect, it might have been smarter to ignore her, but the principle of reciprocity was powerful. I was grateful that Yukinoshita's bid for the presidency was stomped before it could begin.

I liked how things were. So for that, I stopped and indulged her. "Hachiman, it's good to see you."

"Haruno, you always seem to get more beautiful." I smile, enjoying the subtle insult. I never returned the pleasantries. Hence, I didn't think it was nice to see her.

It would've gone over most people's heads, but Haruno wasn't most people. By the way that her smile widened, I knew she caught the subtle dig and was amused by it.

"I'm feeling peckish. Care to join me for some tea?" She asked. I'd already had a cup, so I turned down the offer.

"I know a good cafe about a five-minute walk from here. Care to join me?" For once, it wasn't a power play or some fourth-dimensional chess. I was hungry, and that cafe was good.

"Sure, if it has your endorsement, I'm eager." She replied, offering me her arm. I blushed, and her smile widened. I took the offered arm and set forward. I adjusted my pace so as not to pull Haruno off of her feet.

As we walked, I was content to enjoy the silence. However, Haruno had different plans. "Do you know what kind of relationship the three of you have?" She asked, toying with a strand of her hair.

I smiled insincerely. "Let me guess. You're going to say something about codependency or parasitism." For a moment, the mask cracked, but as soon as it did, she smoothed it over once more.

"Wow, you're more perceptive than anyone that I've ever met before. Color me impressed." She gave me a friendly nudge.

I wonder how a normal boy would've felt in this situation. Walking arm in arm with a beautiful older girl.

I know I should've felt something, but I didn't. It was just a minor inconvenience. That was all. I'd blushed at the forwardness, but that feeling was fleeting. I now felt nothing.

I wanted to feel something, but I didn't. We reached the diner and were greeted by Mika. She smiled and ushered us in, making small talk and commenting on how big and strong I looked.

Haruno laughed and introduced herself. After we were seated, she started chatting. Despite my inhibitions, I found myself enjoying it. After she'd glanced around and determined that no one worth impressing was present, she relaxed slightly.

The views that she expressed about society were cynically optimistic. We'll be alright because we do what benefits us, and helping others benefits us. Those sorts of things, some of which I agreed with and in other areas, I pushed back.

I found myself wrapped up in the conversation. Swapping light stories about people we'd met and the places we'd been.

Before I knew it, the sun had set, and it had gotten dark. I was relaxed and cozy in the warm booth, especially after the several appetizers Haruno had split with me - though I'd eaten the lion's share.

As we prepared to depart, I took a chance. "Would you like me to walk you home?"

Her eyes widened, and she nodded eagerly. "I was just going to call my chauffeur, but this seems way better. I'm staying at Yukino's apartment right now."

I walked with her and asked a question that had been nagging at the back of my mind. "Why did you stop Yukinoshita from trying to become president?"

She sighed. "And I thought you were bright."

I chuckled, but a bitter tone pervaded the sound. "Never bright enough, apparently."

"It would've been boring. If you became president, you'd have my full support, but if Yukino did it, she would've ended up relying on you."

"I see." It was about what I expected, but I was conflicted. Was she a nice sister, a mean one, or something in between? I just didn't know.

I had an iota more tact than to pursue that line of questioning. At least for right now.

"Hikigaya!" I stopped. I probably would've whirled around except for the fact that Haruno's arm still lay in mine. So first, I had to extricate as she tried to do the same. Which led to a few seconds of unfortunate limb tangling.

I turned to face Kaori Orimoto. The third to last person I wanted to see (after Hayasaka and Miyuki - actually fourth, tack Hayama on there. I wanted to sock him in the face after hearing what he did to Yukino).

"OMG, how have you been?" She asked before her eyes turned to Haruno. "Wait, are you on a date?"

And with that, my day's trajectory plummeted further down after tentatively climbing.

…..

We were all seated around another table. Now for actual dinner. Haruno, after hearing that I knew Orimoto, pounced on the opportunity to invite them both for dinner. She took us to a chic nearby restaurant; apparently, we had a reservation after she called an old friend.

Orimoto and her friend Chika - ironic, I know - were suitably impressed by Haruno's feat. I resisted the knee-jerk reaction to say that I could've done the same to a fancier restaurant and gotten us a better table.

I had the urge to show everything that I had. To prove that I wasn't some incompetent dork, but I restrained myself. I knew what I was worth, and my friends did too.

Orimoto didn't matter.

Her opinion didn't matter.

Her friend's opinion of me didn't matter either.

Maybe if I kept telling myself that, I could believe it.

…..

I gently traced a circle on the expensive tablecloth. We were by far the youngest and most casually dressed. The other patrons were several decades older and clad in clothing, an order of magnitude more expensive.

After the initial novelty had worn off and we'd secured our drink orders and several appetizers for the table.

I would've texted Komachi to let her know, but she was now trapped in remedial etiquette lessons. She believed I had hired a teacher I had found online when in reality, this was one of the most prestigious etiquette coaches out there. She had been the one to teach the Fujiwara sisters the proper way to conduct themselves.

Komachi believed that etiquette was just this strict, but the reality was that she probably did everything well enough the first time. The coach had been left with strict instructions by me to drill my sister until she was perfect.

So perfect that no one could look down on her or call her low class. I couldn't fight her battles for her, but I would give her as many advantages as I could.

"... and that's how Hikigaya ended up asking me out even though I barely talked to him before." Orimoto finished her humiliating story, and I resisted the urge to curl up into a ball.

Haruno had listened raptly. Occasionally interrupting to ask a clarifying question. Orimoto was always more than happy to elaborate. Finding new things to mock about my past self.

How I was awkward around others. The pimples I'd had. My awkward voice cracks. My stupid attempt at growing out my hair.

Before this diatribe of slang and girlish laughter could continue, the waitress arrived with our appetizers. If tipping were common, I would've tipped her twice the price of the meal.

Instead, I paid with a grateful smile. Of course, this was what Orimoto chose to focus on. "You know. You smile a lot more now than you did in middle school."

I didn't really answer, instead going with a classic politician's agreement. "I suppose so."

The response method with the lowest levels of commitment. Something that I'd seen used masterfully by Toyomi when I was her Vice President.

"Hikigaya. Is she your girlfriend?" Orimoto watched me intently, brown eyes dancing with condescending amusement.

"No. She's a friend's sister." I was curt. This whole affair was grating on my nerves. I didn't want to be here.

Haruno gave me a hurt pout. Though something warm twinkled in her eyes. "And after everything that we've been through together. I'm hurt. Don't I deserve to be called a friend, at least?

I snorted contemptuously. "You want me to call you my friend, but you never said if you consider me yours. Sneaky as always."

Haruno laughed. "I don't know how sneaky I am since you see through me."

We were interrupted by two parties this time. The waitress cleared our empty appetizer plates and laid larger ones on the table. Also, an attractive older woman in a fashionable outfit approached.

She had lines etched into her face from the hardships and tragedies of the years. I should know; I caused most of them.

Seeing her approach made me cringe. I knew what was coming but didn't want to face it.

"I'm so glad to see you enjoying yourself here, Hikigaya. Paying for your food with blood money. You're a monster." She turned to the other occupants of the table. "Do you know what this man has done? Because of him, my daughter and grandchild are dead."

Her voice rose in pitch. All other conversations at the restaurant had stopped. Everyone discretely or without a hint of stealth, staring at the happenings in our corner.

"You should be in jail, you son of a bitch." A server tried to lead her away and had his arm clawed by her long nails. A burlier one emerged from the back of the kitchen.

I said the same thing that I always did. "The only thing that I did was write his pre-trial defense. I didn't force him to do what he did. I am in no way responsible for actions taken." This set her off, and she tried to lunge forward.

The big server caught her and pulled her back. She screamed and yelled some more, but I tuned her out. I stood up and, with a frosty expression, pulled several bills from my wallet and slapped them on the table.

"This was a mistake." I left, the restaurant silent around me. Now that they knew what I had done.

A/N: 8man and Haruno. A duo so contrarian to each other that they almost work well together. Cooking up a Youjo Senki story and/or might release a shorter story inspired by "Beyond Two Fools". For anyone reading my Oregairu x Kuroko story. As far as we can go, should be updated by next Wednesday. Fall from grace should have an update by the end of the month, and Hunting For Purpose will be updated by Friday.