AN: Welcome back, everyone! It's been a little while since the last chapter, which is partly due to my own laziness, but also due to getting ill and spending an entire weekend (and a couple days after that) in bed. That was now a pleasant experience, let me tell you that, and it delayed my writing schedule (if you can even call my haphazard system that) quite a bit. But, the most important thing is that I am now back.
On another note, as of writing this AN, Checkmate has surpassed 20k viewers! What took my (previously) most popular story over a year, Checkmate has managed to do in a measly three months. Yet again, I thank you all for the support, and I hope you'll stay for the ride.
Now, it's high time we get this chapter underway!
Chapter 4 – The Opening Moves
"So, I thought about this yesterday at home, Hikio… And I think I figured out what I'm going to do to compensate you for your help."
"...Didn't I come here so you could come up with something to do regarding the situation with your clique? Why not spend your time thinking about that?"
"Hmph, I did think of that! Just, like… I couldn't come up with anything good, so I wanted your input first. And your compensation is important as well! Or are you saying it isn't?"
Miura pouted at me as she stuck a bit of food into her mouth, her olive-green eyes glaring at me, and I let out a sigh. It depends entirely on what the compensation is… I lifted up my can of MAX and took a swig as I looked away from Miura, gazing towards the empty tennis courts in the distance. This whole deal with Miura is a big mess, and with the rumour about her going around as well, it's only going to get messier… Maybe accepting her request and getting involved was a bad idea after all… I suppressed another sigh and bit into my bread as a cool breeze flew past, signifying that while the days were getting longer again, winter was not yet releasing us from its grasp.
"...Alright, go on, then. What's my compensation for helping you?" I asked after a few moments of silence had passed between us, glancing at the blonde on my right.
"Well, I was thinking that we could like, go eat at a restaurant some day, or something." Miura replied, beginning to twirl a strand of her hair around her finger. "Of course, I'd pay, since it is like, your compensation for helping me." Hearing Miura's proposal, I perked up and turned to face her fully, the concept of free food already making my mouth water.
"Food is best when it's free, so I won't say no to that." I said, and Miura met my gaze with hers. "As long as you keep to that promise, I'll stick around for a while and try to help you." Miura did say that the minimum I needed to do was talk with her, so that's an easy way to net me some free food. Maybe, if my househusbandry doesn't kick off, I could become a psychiatrist. Nowadays, you can even have meetings with patients online, so I wouldn't even have to meet with people in real life. In fact, I could work from home, so I could be a househusband at the same time. How's that for not planning my future properly, Yukinoshita?
"Thanks, Hikio. You helping me with this means so much." Miura said with a smile. I still didn't quite understand why she thought so highly of me, but I didn't pay much attention to it any longer. Once she got Ebina and Yuigahama to help her, my work would be done, after all. "So, how about tomorrow, then? You don't have anything going on, right?"
"What makes you an expert on what my weekly schedule is?" I asked in turn, letting a bit of irritation leak into my voice. You already steal away my lunch breaks, is that not enough? Though I guess it is free food she is offering…
"So, do you have something tomorrow, then?" Miura raised an eyebrow in question, her face telling me she already knew what the correct answer was.
"...I don't." I averted my gaze from Miura, seeing a small smirk appear on her face in the corner of my eye. Damn this woman. "Though I do have club after school, as usual. I doubt Yukinoshita would let me skip out, however." And I don't particularly fancy telling the girls I'd be spending that time eating with Miura. I don't think either of them would make any wrong assumptions, but it would mean having to tell them about her request.
"That's fine, I can wait. So, shall we like, meet up after you finish with your club?" Miura asked as she lifted her own can of MAX to her lips.
"I don't mind, but could we do it… somewhere not close to the school?" Miura lifted an eyebrow again as she looked back at me with a confused expression. "I mean… There's already a rumour about you brewing here, about to spread at any moment, so we wouldn't want to cause another one to damage your image even further." Miura's green eyes widened for a moment, before she looked away from me, slowly lowering the can in her hands back down.
"...Yes, that… would be troublesome." Miura said quietly and bit her lip, opening and closing her mouth a couple of times as if she was about to say something. "I… Never mind. I can… text you the address of the place we go to tomorrow, so then you'd just have to go there after your club finishes?" The blonde then asked and turned her gaze back to me. Sounds fine, but… there is a slight problem with that.
"Good idea, but you don't even know my number or e-mail address." I replied, while Miura looked back at me blankly.
"Well, just give me your phone, then." I blinked once as I stared back at Miura in silence while she held out her hand with an expectant look on her face. What's with that sudden blunt request? We barely know each other, woman. "I'll add my contact info into it. What, don't tell me this is the first time a girl has given you their phone number?" Miura's expression turned unamused, her eyes looking at me with both pity and disappointment. Please don't give me that look, it'll make me feel really bad about myself.
"No, it isn't. I just didn't expect you to ask so suddenly." I replied and fished my mobile phone out of my pocket, unlocking it and handing it to Miura. "Here. I guess it won't hurt, if I'm going to be helping you with this." Maybe then we won't have to meet as often face-to-face, so my lunch breaks will be free again. But, then she might pester me in my free time… Ugh, this request is going to be a pain.
"You're really just giving it to me like that?" Miura asked as she took the phone from my hands while reaching into her own pocket, presumably for her own phone. "You're not worried about me going through your stuff?"
"Why should I be? I've got nothing to hide in there. It's just a phone." I replied and sipped on my MAX again. I only use it to text Komachi or our parents, maybe occasionally for a mobile game. I don't even have to charge it that often, given how little I use it. Besides, the internet is a wonderful place full of all sorts of interesting things – no need to save or download anything when it's all in the cloud.
"Huh. So, you don't mind if I go through your picture folder?" I saw Miura tapping on the album icon, and nearly choked on my coffee.
"Oi! That's invasion of privacy!" I protested angrily after managing to swallow the liquid stuck in my throat and tried to nab my phone back from Miura, but she was quicker and moved her hand out of my reach.
"But you just like, said it was okay, right? Or maybe you do have something to hide after all?" A grin spread across Miura's face as she swiftly began to navigate through the album with one hand – still keeping the device out of my reach.
"I don't have anything to hide, but that doesn't give you the right to go through my personal belongings – or in this case, photos!" I placed my can of MAX on the ground as I tried to reach for my phone again, careful to avoid accidentally – and possibly inappropriately – touching Miura in the process, but her outstretched hand was too far away.
"Reaaaaaaally?" Miura grabbed my wrist with her free hand, then scanned through the picture album on my phone with her eyes, her expression turning to disappointment soon enough. "Well, this is boring. It's just a bunch of cat pictures. Where's all the saucy stuff, Hikio?"
"There is no saucy stuff, Miura. Now, are you going to violate my privacy more or will you actually do what you were supposed to?" I glared at Miura as she turned her olive-green eyes back to me, and after a few moments, she sighed and let go of my wrist, lowering her other arm in the process.
"Fine, fine, whatever." Miura said as she navigated from the album to my contact list. "Oh, wow… I don't think I've ever seen a contact list this short..." Miura said as she scanned through the admittedly short list of contacts, her eyes locking onto one name in particular. "Yui..? What's with that weird name you've got her saved under?" I didn't even have to look at my phone screen to know what Miura was referring to, and instead let out a sigh.
"She added herself to my contacts like that, don't blame me for it." All the normie emoticons nearly make my stomach turn every time I see it, but I haven't bothered to change it… Also… I guess there's a – very small – sentimental part of me that doesn't want to change it. Gah, just thinking about it makes me want to end it all. When did I go so soft?
"Yeah, that sounds like Yui, alright. I don't see Yukinoshita here, though..." The latter part of the sentence Miura muttered quietly, and I didn't see any reason to react to it. We haven't exchanged contact information. There's really been no need for it – Yuigahama would act as the messenger if she's needed to relay something to me, though the amount of times that has happened I can count on one hand. "...And there we go." Miura said, beginning to tap away on her own phone now as well. The speed of her fingers is astounding… I guess being a normie does that to you… "Right, here." Miura handed my phone back to me, and I looked down at the contacts list, where a new contact was now saved under the name 'Yumi~'. I… expected something a bit 'more', but I guess Miura is a tad more reserved than Yuigahama is. "What was with all those cat pictures, though? Do you like cats, Hikio?"
"That was Kamamura, our cat." I replied, navigating back to the picture album and scrolling through it. "Or, I guess I should rather call him 'lord of the house', since that's what he seems to think of himself as." I turned the screen towards Miura, showing her a picture with Kamakura sleeping on the couch peacefully. "Most of these are taken by my little sister, Komachi, though, either with her own phone and then sent to me, or just straight up with my phone whenever she sneaks into my room and steals it from me when I'm not looking. Kamakura wouldn't let me take pictures of him even if I tried – and believe me, I have." I locked my phone again and placed it back into my pocket, glancing at Miura and seeing a slightly forlorn look on her face.
"Must be nice to have a cat… Or any pet for that matter. You and Yui are both lucky in that regard. My parents would never allow me to have a pet." Strict parents, huh? Or maybe one of them has an allergy… Well, it's not like I really care.
"Owning a pet is not something to be taken lightly. They are living beings, after all, and require appropriate care. But, once they are given that, they become better companions than any human ever could. Well, with the exception of Kamakura – he's too much of a snob for that." In the corner of my eye I saw a smile play across Miura's lips as she looked at me, rather intently. "In any case, now that we've got that out of the way..." I continued and looked at my watch. There's not much of lunch break left… Well, let's make best use of the time, then. "...You said you wanted my input on your thoughts, right?" I turned to the blonde on my right again, and she nodded to me in reply.
"Yes, I… Well… To be honest… I didn't really like, come up with anything… I still think Hina will be someone I should talk to about this, but how do I convince her to help me? If this all goes wrong… It could mean the end of our clique." Miura looked down at the remains of her bento, her hold on her chopsticks tightening. It's going to face its end regardless if it works or not – if it works, the clique will stay, but it won't be the same, though that will be mainly in a good way, I suppose. Perhaps not so much for Hayama, but that remains to be seen.
"Ebina… knows more than she lets on, let's say that. She's been absent this week, but if she were here, she'd be the first one to realize something happened between you and Hayama. In a way, it's a good thing she's ill, as it gives you some breathing room and time to think." Miura turned her gaze back to me as I started my explanation. "It would be best to talk to her at the earliest convenience, to explain things to her yourself – from your perspective – before she puts two and two together herself. That will give you the best chances to easily convince her to go along with your scheme. At least, that's what I feel." Miura's face scrunched up in thought for a few moments, her green eyes scanning my face for… something.
"How… much do you know about Hina? Is there like, something she's told you?" Miura questioned from me.
"Sorry, client confidentiality." The blonde's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything else. It's been a while since that request, but… Ebina seemed like she's almost as secretive as Hayama, so without knowing how much she's told to her friends, I can't go around telling others what she told me. "Anyway, you could go and see her today. Since she's sick at home, you'd have the chance to talk with her privately."
"That's true… Though, I'm still like, not quite sure what exactly I should tell her. Oh, and Yui said she was going to visit Hina today, so that ruins any chances for a private conversation." Miura picked up her can of MAX again, but stopped to simply stare at it instead of drinking.
"Even better. You need to talk with them both anyway, so this will be your chance for it." Miura shook her head, then turned her gaze to me as she bit her lip.
"But if Hina doesn't want to help me, that could cause a rift between her and Yui, who I know will likely help me regardless if she understands the situation or not. I'm trying to fix our clique, not break it further." Right, I hadn't considered that… Yes, I suppose Ebina might want to keep the status quo intact – perhaps she has plans of her own after high school – and would thus decline Miura's request for everyone to be more genuine. That would certainly affect her current relationship with Yuigahama and Miura.
What can be done, then?
Miura's situation is tricky, to say the least. While Yuigahama would be the easiest to convince, she is an airhead, and might not realize the full gravity of what's' going on. Then again, she can read people relatively well, and she has some "social intelligence", for a lack of a better term, so she might do the opposite and understand everything right from the get-go. Still, both Miura and I agree that Ebina would be the best starting point. She's extremely perceptive when it comes to their clique, capable of reading the mood even better than Yuigahama, and it's highly possible she knows of Hayama's "mask" as well. She also cares for her friends, and knows how fragile the clique can be at times. These are all good reasons as to why Miura should reach out to her first, as getting Ebina on her side will be half of the fight done if she wants everyone to be more open and become true friends.
However…
"Maybe if it was you, Hikitani, we might be able to go out just fine."
Ebina is afraid of opening up to others. Or, perhaps "afraid" isn't the right term, rather, she believes she simply can't open up to others – except me, according to her own words after I solved her request back in Kyoto. I know she's a fujoshi, but maybe there's something else as well? Something else beneath that surface of hers that she doesn't want to show to other people… She did say she was "rotten", but back then, I thought she was simply referring to her love of BL… If there is something she's keeping hidden from the others, a skeleton in her closet, she might not want to go along with Miura's plan. But, on the other hand, if Miura can convince Ebina to open up to her friends, that could become the ace up her sleeve into having the others do the same, to become real friends, unafraid of petty arguments or secrets. Ebina does care for her clique deeply, that much I can tell, so if Miura can convince her that her plan can succeed… She would likely go along with it.
Of course, this is all but speculation, and there are a million other outcomes for what could happen when Miura tells Ebina about her plans, but I believe these to be the most likely ones.
"...Well, you definitely need to talk to Ebina first, that much is certain." I spoke out to break the silence that had formed between us, turning to look towards Miura. "And you will need to do it soon."
"What should I say to her, though? Just tell her Hayato rejected me and now I want to make everyone be more open with each other?" Miura's green eyes were pleading me, and I had to avert my gaze from them quickly enough, the meek look on the fearsome Fire Queen's face being unexpectedly cute. Is this what they call 'gap moe'? I've witnessed glimpses of it with Yukinoshita before, but now seeing it from Miura too just confirms how terrifyingly potent it is as a technique…
"If you're not comfortable telling her about the rejection, you don't need to, but wanting to be more open and yet still keeping secrets would be a little contradictory. For starters, you should tell her what you've realized about the true nature of both Hayama and your clique. Ebina should understand the latter, possibly the former as well – explain if she doesn't, and..." I paused for a moment to think, recalling the few conversations I've had with the silent meganekko. I don't think we're that close – in fact, I'd say we aren't close at all, passing acquaintances at best – but she should know that my skills of perception are unparalleled. "...You can tell her I know of Hayama's mask and his true self, that should at least – hopefully – let her know it's true, if she isn't aware of it herself already. Once you've made sure she understands the situation, tell her that you want to break the status quo and change things, before the bonds you've made crumble away at graduation. That because you genuinely care for the people you've become 'friends' with, you don't want to lose them, and want everyone to be able to be open and genuine with each other, without fear of breaking the dynamic." I paused again, feeling Miura's gaze boring into me as she listened intently, almost as if in a trance. "You'll need to convince her that it's possible to fight the stagnant status quo and emerge triumphant, that it's possible for things to change. Then, it will be all up to her, though I get the feeling Ebina will likely help you, if she thinks you can succeed." Seeing that I had now finished, Miura shifted her gaze frontwards again, seemingly in thought for a few moments, before she let out a sigh.
"...It all sounds so simple when you say it, Hikio." Still not looking back towards me, a small smile – very much akin to the self-deprecating ones I often made – appeared on Miura's face. "And I couldn't even come up with that much on my own… I'm so useless..." The blonde I knew for her fierceness now looked so fragile that a passing breeze could break her, and I felt it tugging at something within me, an uneasy feeling appearing in the pit of my stomach. But, knowing that empty words would do little to help, I stayed silent, instead simply watching the girl that a small part of me was telling to give comfort to. "Haah… what am I saying..? Sorry, Hikio. I know it's not like me to be this pessimistic, this whole thing has just stressed me out." Miura lifted her gaze to look back at me and allowed another small smile to appear on her face, though this time less self-deprecating than before. "Thanks, Hikio, for helping me with this."
"You can thank me with that promise of free food you gave me." I replied and picked up my can of MAX, shaking it a little to confirm the amount of coffee still within it. "So, what are you going to do? I've given you my advice." I lifted up the can and began to drink down the last of its contents, noting that the lunch break was about to end. She never told me what she said to her clique to not make them suspicious that she's not eating with them again… Well, it's not like most of them would really care, but Hayama will definitely be intrigued.
"I'll… I'll do like you said. I'll talk to Hina and tell her about everything. But not today. I'll visit her tomorrow, so we can like, talk with just the two of us. Yui… I'll tell her after I've gotten Hina on my side." I saw Miura biting her lip, the look on her face screaming uneasiness, but she quickly shook her head and took a deep breath, causing that look be replaced with one of determination. "She'll help me with this. Hina wouldn't abandon me. I know it." Miura met my gaze with her own as I lowered the now empty can from my lips, the fire I was used to seeing now having returned to her olive-green eyes.
"Well, it's good to hear you now know what to do, I guess. Just don't get overconfident. Despite what many would say, a little bit of realistic pessimism never hurts." The blonde looked away from me for a moment, but she didn't say anything and her expression remained the same, so I continued. "Ebina isn't your only problem right now, though. Has Hayama spoken to you about the rumour he requested our help with?" He said that he would speak with her about it as soon as possible, but… Based on what Miura and I talked about yesterday, he hadn't done so yet.
"Oh, yeah, he pulled me aside for a few moments earlier today to tell me about it – although I like, already knew, thanks to you. He said he wanted to talk to me more during lunch, but… I excused myself so I could come here." Miura explained, a small – perhaps guilty – smile appearing on her face. So the Fire Queen now holds speaking with me more important than alone time with Hayama? I am flattered. Truly.
"Did he tell you if he's done anything to suppress the rumour? It doesn't seem to have reached the ears of the majority yet, though I feel that is just a matter of time." Miura thought for a brief moment, then shook her head slightly.
"We didn't discuss much – that was likely the reason he wanted to talk with me during lunch. He did tell me that he's been saying that the rumour is false to anyone who's asked him about it, encouraging them to do the same if they hear someone else spreading it." Getting his underlings to do his dirty work for him, huh? I guess it is a sound strategy for keeping the rumour in control without bringing attention to it. Though I can't help but notice the similarities between our plans… What he's doing is not much different from my plan of fabricating another rumour and spreading that – in fact, that is exactly what he's doing. His rumour is just the direct opposite of the current rumour: nothing out of the ordinary happened between Hayama and Miura on Monday. "What… do you suggest we do about the rumour, then? Your plan was to make up another rumour and then spread that, right?"
"That's right. It is the most efficient way of ensuring the rumour about you doesn't take off – if the rumour replacing it is scandalous enough. Then again, how much do you trust Hayama with this? I do recall saying that the rumour doesn't just threaten you and your place in the social hierarchy, but his peaceful life as well. Hayama will do everything in his power to prevent it from spreading, to save his own hide." Miura's gaze dropped downwards as she thought about my words, her hand balling up to a fist.
"I… would want to say that I trust him, but… I'm not so sure any more. What should we do if he doesn't take care of the rumour?" I was about to comment on her usage of the word 'we' in this context, but stopped myself as I remembered the free food I had been promised. I shouldn't provoke the wrath of the Fire Queen like that. I do not want to be on the receiving end of that Hell Flame.
"If – or more accurately, when – the rumour really picks up, there's not much that be done any more. All you – and Hayama – can do at that point is to try to douse the flames by confronting the rumour head-on, like he did back when people believed him and Yukinoshita were going out. Preventing the rumour from getting to that point in the first place, though..." I paused for a brief moment, thinking the situation through in my head one more time. "...Hayama seems to be doing okay so far on that front. I suspect whoever first saw you on Monday and started the rumour must have been a guy, who then told about it to his friends, and then it reached Hayama's ears. Since Hayama hasn't been swarmed by lovestruck maidens, we can assume that the rumour hasn't spread to the gossip mill that is the female population of Soubu High quite yet."
"Hey! That's..." Miura retorted at first, but stopped herself, then looked away from me as a small tinge of red appeared on her cheeks, beginning to awkwardly twirl a strand of her hair with her left hand. Looks like even she can't argue against that. "...Continue."
"Right. Anyway, from that, we can come to the conclusion that the rumour is only circulating among the male population, who, alongside not being prone to spreading rumours and gossip in the first place, would gain nothing from spreading a rumour like this. In fact, since most of the guys at Soubu High are jealous of Hayama, they'd want to keep it hidden that he's rejected the only girl keeping all the others from surrounding him. In that regard, unless someone had a… thing for you, Miura, they would be glad to hear Hayama's counter-rumour that no such thing occurred." Miura stayed silent even after I finished, and I turned to look towards her to see the blonde gazing down at the ground again, though she was now motionless. "If… you want to do something to help him quench the rumour, I feel the only way to do so is to start another rumour yourself and get it to spread among the girls." Miura stayed silent for a few more moments, then lifted her gaze to look at me.
"And like you told both me and Hayato… that rumour would have to be something nasty for it to be effective with our limited time." I nodded in reply to the blonde, and she averted her gaze from me again.
"The rumour wouldn't have to be true. As long as it could spread quickly enough and then stay alive for long enough, it should be enough to let the rumour about you die. With the weekend coming up soon enough, it should disperse by next week. For it to work, the new rumour would have to take root by tomorrow, I'd say. Of course, there are issues when considering the subject of the rumour, who would either have to be… willing, or simply capable of dissolving the rumours on their own, but we don't really have the time to think of such luxuries." I explained, taking a quick look at my watch. Nor do we have the luxury of spending much more time here. Have the lunch breaks been shorter ever since I – involuntarily, mind you – started spending them with Miura? I'm quite certain that I am not having fun, so that definitely isn't the reason why time seems to pass quicker than before...
"By tomorrow… Could I… talk about it with Hina? She might be able to come up with something." Miura looked towards me again, though my gaze was fixated on the distant tennis courts.
"You can, but it might be tight. It depends on how well Hayama can keep the rumour under control. Who knows, he might manage to get rid of it completely by the time next Monday rolls around, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared in case he doesn't." Miura thought for a moment, then gave me a slight nod.
"Right. Thanks again, Hikio." Miura flashed me a smile, then pulled out her phone, her eyes widening slightly as she did so. "Oh, wow… Lunch break is almost over. I got so engrossed talking with you that I didn't like, pay any attention to the time..." The blonde began to hurriedly pack up her bento with one hand and chugged down the rest of her MAX with the other, while I simply gathered up what little trash I had, continuing to silently gaze into the distance. "You're not gonna go, Hikio? Or are you waiting to go back to the classroom with me?" I spared a quick glance at Miura, who had a cheeky grin on her face.
"Not a chance in hell, woman." Miura scowled a little at my remark, then let out a small sigh. "I think I'll stay here a moment. My serene lunch breaks have been recently invaded by a certain someone, so my alone time here has been severely limited."
"Don't be like that, Hikio." I felt Miura's fist colliding with my shoulder, though there was little to no force put into the punch. I still don't understand why normies seem to insist on so much physical contact… "You can't complain about the company, can you?" Miura's fist uncurled and I felt her placing her hand on top of my shoulder, gently squeezing it and causing me to nearly jump. As I turned to face her, I was met with a sly smile, the expression on her face speaking of some attempt at being coy.
"Yes, I can in fact complain about the company. I would much rather be without it." We stared at each other for a few seconds, before Miura burst out laughing, pulling her hand back to wipe away a tear that had appeared in the corner of her eye. It wasn't that funny. It wasn't even meant to be funny. Why are you laughing so much?
"Haah… Your blunt honesty is so funny, Hikio." Miura said with a big smile on her face after she finished with her laughing fit, then stood up with a stretch. "I'd better get back, now. Yui is probably like, already back in class and is wondering where I am. I'll see you later, Hikio. Oh, and I'll call you tonight, okay? Thanks! Bye!" Not giving me any chance to protest, Miura began to make her way back inside, and I let out a sigh after watching her enter the building. I'm starting to get the feeling she's just doing this to make fun of me for her own amusement…
Having been left alone, I turned my gaze upwards, towards the gathering clouds, and another cool breeze went past, causing some snow to lightly rain down on me from the roof above. Normally, I would have used the time I got to be alone with my thoughts for monologuing and planning, especially given my current situation with Yukinoshita and Miura's request, but for now, I just wanted to sit there in silence. Closing my eyes, I let my thoughts clear and took in a few deep breaths of the crisp winter air, then stood up from where I was sitting and shook off the snow that had gotten on my clothes. My life really must be turning for the worse when quiet moments like this are becoming a rarity… Hopefully things go well for Miura with Ebina, that should take some of the load off of me and I can have my quiet lunch breaks back. But, I get the feeling it might not be as simple as that… And I also need to do something about my feelings for Yukinoshita…
Suppressing a sigh, I took one final deep breath, then began to make my way back to the classroom, mentally preparing for the rest of the day.
The door to the clubroom suddenly opened, bringing me out of the book I had been engrossed in, and I lifted my gaze towards the door as a single figure entered. Though, I did not look to see who had come in, but rather out of common courtesy, as the lack of a knock beforehand meant the new arrival wasn't someone with a request, leaving only a handful of possible choices for their identity – and I had a fairly educated guess who exactly they were even before my eyes landed on the person who had entered. And my guess had been correct.
"Good afternoon, Hikigaya-kun."
"Yo."
I mentally sighed upon hearing his deadbeat reply, but didn't let it show. While it does seem he is incapable of learning proper ways to greet people, it has become a trademark of sorts for him, so it wouldn't do good to just forcefully strip it away from him. Hikigaya closed the sliding door behind him, but stood still for a moment as his eyes scanned the clubroom.
"If you are looking for Yuigahama-san, she will not be in attendance today, as she has fallen ill. I presume you noticed her absence in class, yes?" I asked as I placed down a bookmark and closed the book I had been reading, keeping my gaze locked on Hikigaya as he still stood by the door.
"I know. She sent me a message this morning, saying how she must have caught something from Ebina when she visited her yesterday." Hikigaya replied, then began to walk over to his seat. Right, of course. Yuigahama-san sent me a similar message as well, so it would make sense she would also inform Hikigaya-kun… It mildly annoys me that she has managed to get his contact information, where as I have not, but that isn't a big deal, and can be fixed any time. Hikigaya-kun just has to muster up the courage to ask for my phone number. "Funnily enough, Ebina herself was back in school today, having been ill for the start of the week. She and Miura were chatting quite a lot in Yuigahama's absence." Hikigaya continued as he took a seat at the far end of the table.
"Oh? So you admit to having leered at the girls during class, then? Perhaps I should inform Hiratsuka-sensei of this misconduct immediately." I said as I stood up from my seat and made my way to the side table, beginning to brew some tea.
"I didn't say anything of the sort. I never leered at anyone, just..." Hikigaya paused, and, finding it curious, I turned back to look at him, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before he averted his eyes. "...I overheard it, that's all. It's pretty difficult not to, what with them being the loudest clique in the class." I continued to gaze at Hikigaya for a few more moments as he reached into his bag and pulled out a book, before turning my attention back to the tea. Well, that is certainly believable, but… There was still something odd about that. Hmmm… It wouldn't do good to have Hikigaya-kun be unfaithful, so perhaps I should use this chance I have been given to my advantage…
"I do not know how much of your words I can trust, Hiki-petty-criminal-kun, but I will let it slide this time. If such things are brought to my attention a second time, however, I must do my civic duty and report your transgressions to the proper authorities." I glanced back at Hikigaya with a smile, and he rolled his eyes in reply while opening up his book. He truly is so cute when sulking… I'll have to restrain myself, I wouldn't want to scare him away. That's right, I need to ease him into the correct atmosphere, so that he can then reveal his feelings to me. Or perhaps I should be the one to take the initiative..? No, it must he Hikigaya-kun. He needs to realize how much he loves me, and then confess to me. Ah, just the thought is making me feel all warm inside… No, you need to calm down, Yukino. There is no rush, and I believe Hikigaya-kun wouldn't want to jump straight into it either. Calming myself down, I turned back around and made my way to my seat after finishing up the tea preparations, then sat down and looked towards Hikigaya. "In any case, without Yuigahama-san here, today will be just like the early days of the club." Hikigaya shifted his gaze from his book over to me, but otherwise kept still. "Just the two of us." I allowed a small smile on my face as I kept my eyes locked with his, noticing them widening slightly as my words sunk in.
"Ah… Y-yeah, I guess so." Hikigaya quickly looked away from me, scratching his cheek awkwardly, and I could almost swear I saw the faintest hint of a blush on his face. Hm? Is he… embarrassed at the thought? Hikigaya-kun isn't one to care for such things, though, which would point towards… I had to forcefully suppress the smile that nearly appeared on my face, and I almost felt like giggling. Could it really be? Oh my, Hikigaya-kun, you don't need to be so shy! If things really are like that… If they really are going as I've anticipated… There's no need to hold back. Just say the words, and we can be together, just the two of us, forever. "Unless..." Hearing Hikigaya's voice again, I was pulled out of my thoughts, and I mentally calmed myself down again. I can't get too far ahead of myself. Certainly, it is only a matter of time before Hikigaya-kun realizes that only I can stand by his side, but I cannot make the assumption that he has already awakened to that realization based on one reaction. "...We get another request. I mean, then it wouldn't just be… us two. Who knows, maybe Hayama will run back here with his tail between his legs and beg for our help again." Hikigaya faced me again, and any signs of the possible embarrassment I believed I saw were gone – if they even were there in the first place.
"Well, I'd personally hope that isn't the case." I don't want anyone disturbing this rare chance of getting to be alone with Hikigaya-kun. "While I don't hate Yuigahama-san's company, a quiet moment is nice every so often." I briefly wondered if I should try to push it and say something else, but decided against it. There was no rush, and I should take this time to enjoy myself.
"In that regard, we are in agreement, Yukinoshita. My own quiet moments have had a drastic reduction in their amount recently, so this is a welcome change." Hikigaya said and stretched in his seat, then continued in a lower tone, as if muttering to himself. "...Today was the first time in a while I got to eat my lunch in peace… Damn that woman..." I felt myself tensing up, and questioned whether the murmur I had heard from the other side of the table had been just my imagination. What did… Hikigaya-kun just say..? Lunch, and a… a woman..? No, I must have misheard. Right, that must be it. But…
"What… do you mean by that, Hikigaya-kun?" My voice came out colder than I had expected, but I couldn't help it. The idea that some wench could be spending time with Hikigaya-kun behind my back, even if it wasn't due to his initiative – no, especially if it wasn't due to his initiative – made a feeling that resembled anger well up in me. Hikigaya-kun belongs with me, and me alone. If there is someone who doesn't understand that, I will have to make them understand.
"E-eh?" Hikigaya turned his gaze to me, the expression on his face telling me of his confusion, before he seemed to realize what I was referring to. "O-oh, I… Just Hiratsuka-sensei. She's been… grilling me about various things this week, like my career plans. Though, I don't see what my lunch breaks have to do with you, Yukinoshita." As usual, Hikigaya regained his composure quickly, and I felt myself relaxing at his answer. If it is just Hiratsuka-sensei, then there's no problem. While I have noticed that she is quite… physical when it comes to Hikigaya-kun, her relationship with him is purely that of a teacher and a student. I would hope she learns to refrain from her 'choke holds' after Hikigaya-kun and I get together, though.
"Knowing that no girl would willingly spend time with you, I was worried you might have blackmailed a girl into eating lunch with you, that is all. It is relieving to know that it was just Hiratsuka-sensei, since you'd have no chance against her even if you did try something." Hikigaya scowled at my words, while I simply smiled at him. I am thankful for his reputation, though, as it prevents any vultures from swarming him. I almost feel sorry for them, as they are missing out on so much. My Hikigaya-kun is such a wonderful person, but all they see is the surface and look away. I guess it is good of them to do so, though, as it leaves him all for me.
"...Some of the stuff you say can be really harsh, you know?" Hikigaya said with a sigh, and I suddenly felt a jolt of guilt flash through me, something about the tiredness in his voice making me feel bad for him.
"Ah… If… If I've gone too far, I... apologize." I averted my gaze from Hikigaya, but felt his eyes on me again. I do enjoy our banter, and I know he does too, but… I don't want to actually hurt him. He has received so many bruises from the world already, and my aim is to heal them, not cause any more…
"I-it's fine, really. It takes more than that to get under my skin." I turned back and locked eyes with Hikigaya, who, surprisingly, kept his gaze on me this time. "I've endured worse in the past, anything coming from your mouth is nothing." A small, self-deprecating smile appeared on his face, and I felt it stabbing at my heart. The world has hurt him so much, and he needs someone to heal those wounds… Don't worry, Hikigaya-kun. I will heal your wounds. I'm the only one who can. A swirl of emotions began to churn within me, and I felt the urge to say something to the black-haired boy at the other end of the table.
"I..." I opened my mouth, but didn't know what I wanted to say. I know I need to take things slow, but there are things I must do in order to help with Hikigaya-kun's realization, as well as things I need to say to him, things that are impossible to say with our usual back-and-forth. But… Now with just the two of us here… I suddenly felt very nervous about being alone together with Hikigaya, but mustered up the courage to speak. "...I want to say that… I know I say a lot of things that could be interpreted as mean, but… I do… value what we have, Hikigaya-kun. I couldn't say this if Yuigahama-san was around, but… I appreciate everything you do, even if your methods are often questionable. You are… important to me. B-both of you, that is." I had to look away from Hikigaya, my embarrassment getting the better of me. Who knew saying something like that would be so hard… I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. Hikigaya-kun has to take responsibility for what he has done to me.
"That… I..." After a few moments of silence, I heard Hikigaya's voice again, and turned to face him again, being met with the most adorable sight of a blushing Hikigaya. "...I know. And I… don't hate… being here in the club." Hikigaya rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he tried his best to look away from me, clearly at a loss for words, before letting out a small sigh. "...You're breaking your Ice Queen character too often, Yukinoshita." I smiled, knowing that I had managed to fluster him.
"Would you say that is a bad thing?" Hikigaya looked back at me silently for a few moments, then returned his gaze to his book.
"...No comment." I almost felt like chuckling, but kept my amusement inside, apart from letting the smile stay on my face. Well, at least I am closer to my ultimate goal now than I was before. Being more open with Hikigaya-kun will lead to him also being more open with me, at least I would hope so, so he can better understand that we are meant for each other. It is only a matter of time until everything is as it should be.
The relationship between myself and Hikigaya was odd, to say the very least. The easiest way to describe it would be to say that we are clubmates, but despite what our frequent squabbles would infer to an outsider, we are closer than that. But to say we are friends would still be incorrect. No, our bond is much more unique than that. I do not know what Hikigaya considers me as, and even I have a hard time coming up with a term would sufficiently describe our current relationship, but there is one thing I know for certain.
We are meant to be together.
I didn't hold Hikigaya Hachiman in much regard when he first stepped into the clubroom last year, and it took a long time before I held even a modicum of respect for him, but as the days turned to weeks and then to months, we developed our unique relationship. We weren't simply clubmates, but neither of us could call the other our friend. And, eventually, I realized that I loved him. I was, of course, sceptical at first, but soon came to the conclusion that my feelings were the real deal. It was after that when I realized that there was more to it than just a high school girl's crush. I needed someone to stand with me and support me, and I know Hikigaya had to be that person. And I also knew he in turn needed me.
Hikigaya has suffered at the hands of other people, and society as a whole – in his own words. He doesn't speak of his scars, but I know they exist, and they will not heal with time. He needs someone to heal those scars for him, and that someone is me. I have realized all this, but Hikigaya has not – or at least, if he has, he doesn't show it or act upon it. That is why I am trying to make him understand that, to understand that I need him, and he needs me, that we must be together.
However… There are obstacles. There always are.
Hikigaya has, unfortunately, attracted the attention of others, despite trying not to. Other girls have noticed what lies beneath that stoic shell of his, and want to get a piece of it. But I will not let them. For everything that is inside, belongs only to me. Luckily, these insects are currently few and far between. Yuigahama is not brave enough to act upon her feelings, so she poses no problem. The only real threat is Isshiki. I do not know what the sly vixen truly thinks of Hikigaya, but she is far too eager to work her charms on him for my liking, even if it is simply due to wanting to manipulate him. If it escalates too far, however…
...I might need to resort to some drastic measures to make her aware of her position.
As I was brought out of my thoughts by the low sound of the kettle telling me that it had finished its job, I became suddenly aware of the exact contents of my thoughts, and was slightly disturbed. Certainly, it makes sense to get rid of any obstructions in the way of mine and Hikigaya-kun's happy life, but… When did I start thinking in such an… extreme way? Realizing that Hikigaya was looking at me with a raised eyebrow, no doubt because I was still sat in place, so I quickly stood up and began to ready the tea, bringing out our cups. No use thinking like that right now. I just need to have faith in Hikigaya-kun, so I don't need to resort to doing anything regrettable. After pouring the tea into the cups, I set the kettle down and walked over to Hikigaya, placing his cup on the table in front of him.
"Here you go, Hikigaya-kun." For a moment, I hesitated before letting go of the cup, reminiscing of the feeling of his hand brushing against mine, but pulled back before the incident could repeat itself. While I would love to feel his touch again, it would likely only make the atmosphere awkward again, and I don't want to break the calm we have now.
"Mm. Thanks." Hikigaya's reply was a little absent-minded as he flipped the page on his paperback with one hand and reached for his cup with the other, his gaze still glued to the page as he brought his tea to his lips and blew on the liquid to cool it. While Hikigaya-kun's passion for reading is one of his more lovable traits, his chosen form of literature is questionable. I didn't know exactly Hikigaya was reading, but having briefly seen the cover artwork – featuring an attractive-looking girl – I could surmise it was what he called 'Light Novels', something, which – according to my own research – was a form of literature that catered to a very specific audience: teenagers and young adults, mostly those who are male. Fanservice was plentiful, while the story was lackluster. Of course, I knew not every Light Novel in existence was like that, but the ones I had come across certainly matched that description perfectly. Still…
"If you don't mind my inquiry, what are you reading?" I had to admit, the focus he was putting into reading had sparked my interest somewhat, and it gave me a good reason to speak with him.
"Hm?" Hikigaya lifted his gaze, freezing in place once his eyes met mine as I leaned slightly forwards over the table, still holding onto my own cup of tea. "O-oh, it's… Wait, since when were you interested in what I read?" Hikigaya leaned back in his seat and averted his gaze from me, while I circled around to his right, standing next to him.
"Am I not allowed to be curious?" I asked as I scanned over the open pages with my eyes. This seems like… a battle scene, perhaps?
"Well… I guess not. Just that… Why all of a sudden like this? I thought you didn't like Light Novels." Hikigaya sipped on his tea, fixating his gaze back down on his book.
"You were so engrossed in reading that I couldn't help but be interested. And, while you are correct in that I prefer proper literature, I am always open to new experiences. Unless what you are reading is something utterly revolting, that is." I blew into my own tea cup and took a sip as well, while Hikigaya furrowed his brows a little, then let out a sigh.
"I can't deny that some of the things authors come up with for these novels can be… 'utterly revolting', as you put it, but you shouldn't just dismiss the entire industry like that. Light Novels offer and experiment with new ideas and new ways of thinking, breaking the societal norms we have about what's okay to write and what is not. Of course, there are plenty of cliched works as well, and entire genres that are questionable or overused, but… Don't judge a book by its cover." Hikigaya explained as he closed the book, keeping a finger in to mark the page he was own, letting me see the cover. The title seems rather short, compared to the ones I've seen before… And at least this one's cover doesn't just have a female character in a provocative position to help sales.
"If you say so. I assume he is the main character, then?" I asked and pointed at the male character on the cover, holding up what looked like an ornate shield as he stood in a protective stance next to the female character I had briefly seen before, and Hikigaya gave a small nod in reply. "What's the story of this one? I can guess that it must be a fantasy novel of some sort."
"More or less, yeah. To be more specific, this belongs in a popular genre called 'Isekai'. The genre has works from one end of the spectrum to the other, but the main gist is always that the main character – or characters – have been transported to an alternate world, whether by death and reincarnation or some other means, and then have to survive in a new world with the knowledge they have. Medieval fantasy settings are the most common, but there are futuristic and modern ones as well." I leaned closer as Hikigaya spoke, feeling my heartbeat rising steadily at the close proximity, but I did my best to keep my calm – and my hands to myself. "This one in particular has the main character transported from the modern day into a fantasy world against his will, where he has to now play the role of a hero, protecting the kingdom he was summoned to from monsters. However, it doesn't take long after his arrival that he is falsely accused of a crime he didn't commit and gains the resentment of just about everyone." Judging by that explanation, I can see why Hikigaya-kun would enjoy the story… I mentally shook my head to clear my thoughts, knowing that the last thing Hikigaya wants is sympathy.
"Right, I see. Sounds interesting, if I do say so myself." I said and took a quick sip of my tea, while Hikigaya placed his own cup on the table. "So this 'Isekai' is like Eric Flint's 1632 novel series? Although, that one is more about time travel rather than alternate worlds… Destiny's Crucible is similar, though, with the theme of having to make do with the knowledge you have in a world both alien, and yet eerily similar to our own." I looked upwards in thought as I recalled information about the novels I had read with similar plots, while Hikigaya looked back at me with a confused – or perhaps surprised – expression. "Have you not heard of them? Though, I suppose they are both western literature, and not particularly famous outside of their respective genres of alternate history and science fiction. I only stumbled upon them on accident myself, when I was reading the works of some more well-known western writers. So, I'm not surprised you don't know them." Hikigaya averted his gaze from me, and looked like he was about to reply, when something in his pocket suddenly vibrated, interrupting him before he could even begin.
"What do you want now, Komachi..." Hikigaya said with a sigh and pulled out his phone to check the contents of the message. Knowing the message is from his sister is either amazing intuition, or – most likely – simply due to that being the only possibility. I cannot imagine Hikigaya-kun having the phone numbers of many people outside of his family, besides Yuigahama-san. Not wishing to intrude upon his privacy – though a part of me was curious – I stood up straight again and turned my gaze to look outside the window. It wasn't snowing, but the wind was blowing flurries of snow off the roof of the building, which then danced past the window before falling to the ground. It is still cold now, but spring will be upon us soon, and with it, our third and final year… Mother would have probably wanted for me to spend my third year studying abroad, and the me from a year ago might have agreed to doing that, but now… I shifted my gaze back to the black-haired boy sitting next to me and smiled. ...I have something keeping me here. Well, technically, he isn't keeping me here yet, but that will soon change. After a few moments had passed, I noticed that Hikigaya was frozen in place with a blank expression, his gaze glued to his phone's screen.
"Hm? Is something the matter, Hikigaya-kun?" My voice seemed to snap Hikigaya back to reality, as he quickly turned to look at me, then back at his phone, before he locked it and hastily placed it back into his pocket.
"Nothing, Komachi's text just surprised me, that's all." Hikigaya brushed off my question, and I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Before I could voice that suspicion, a second interruption suddenly appeared in the form of the clubroom door sliding open without warning, nearly slamming against the frame and causing both of us to jump.
"Yahhallo! Senpai, are you here? Have you-" Both Hikigaya and I turned towards the door, and I felt my mood instantly turning sour as I found myself looking at the honey-coloured eyes of none other than Isshiki Iroha, Student Council President and number two thorn in my side – after my dear sister, of course. Surprisingly, she seemed to have frozen in place immediately upon entering, and blinked a couple of times before continuing. "W-wait, did I interrupt something?" Yes, yes you did. Now go, leave and never set foot here again. I had to resist the urge to grab onto Hikigaya and shout those words at Isshiki, but swallowed down my growing irritation and straightened up, placing my tea cup on the table. "I-I can come back later… B-but wow, I-I had no idea you two had that kind of relationship… Ahahaa..."
"Don't misunderstand, Isshiki-san. Please, come in." I politely said to the younger girl, glancing at Hikigaya afterwards. I would have thought Hikigaya-kun would get ahead of me in setting Isshiki-san's misunderstanding straight, but…
"A-ah, alright. Phew, I was scared for a moment there, Senpai." Isshiki said as she closed the clubroom door and strode towards the two of us. And why is that, Isshiki-san? I hope you learn to know your place. "But, I should have known someone like you would have no chances with someone as amazing as Yukino-senpai!" Isshiki said with a bright smile as she placed her hands on the table and leaned forwards, and I felt my hand twitching at his words. Oh, you misunderstand, Isshiki-san. Hikigaya-kun is the only man who would have any chances with me, for we are meant to be together. That means there is no room for you in the equation. "I bet you she was scolding you for something, right?" Hikigaya seemed to finally get over his stunned state and let out a sigh, leaning his head on his palm.
"What do you want, Isshiki?" He asked in a tired voice, and I felt a small sense of relief within me. At least Hikigaya-kun shares some of my resentment for Isshiki-san, though he is still far too easily swept up in her schemes and demands. "As you can see, Yuigahama is not here today, so if its her you want, you'll have to leave empty-handed."
"No no, I'm not looking for her today. She's sick at home, right?" Isshiki waved her hand dismissively, then glanced between the two of us with a raised eyebrow.
"That is correct, Isshiki-san." I replied, crossing my arms as I did. "So, do you have a request?"
"Hmm… Not really, no. I came here to see Senpai." Isshiki shifted her gaze to Hikigaya and smiled at him, then jerked away from the table, taking a step backwards. "Ah! It's not what you think, Senpai! I didn't come here for you, I just needed to talk with you, so I apologize for getting your hopes up, but I need to focus on the Student Council right now, so I don't have time for relationships, so sorry again." Isshiki bowed quickly, and while her words caused some of my irritation to well back up, I could easily tell it was all an act. I cannot grasp her true motives at all… Which makes her that much more dangerous.
"Yeah yeah whatever." Hikigaya said and picked up his tea cup, while Isshiki stood up straight again. "So, what is it that you want from me? And if it's manual labour, you can forget it right now."
"Not today, Senpai. I just wanted to ask you about Miura-senpai." Hikigaya was about to drink from his cup, but stopped abruptly as his eyes widened ever so slightly. Miura-san? Does this… have to do with the rumour we were told about? But… Why ask Hikigaya-kun?
"...Why would I know anything about Miura? You're better off asking from Yuigahama." Hikigaya replied as he slowly set his cup back down on the table, and I tried my best to read his expression, but it betrayed no emotion, nor did it give me any insight into his thoughts. I suspected back when Hayama-kun requested our help in dealing with the rumour that Hikigaya-kun might know something more about it that we didn't, but… Even if that was the case, how would Isshiki-san know about that?
"Hm? Well, it's because you've been talking with her, have you not?"
And it was at that moment, when my confusion turned to anger, that I felt something almost snap within me.
AN: Fiiiiiiinally, I'm done! As I said at the beginning, this chapter was delayed massively by my illness, so I do apologize. The next chapter will definitely not take as long as this one did – I'm estimating right now that it will be out later in March.
I had originally intended this chapter to be even longer (with a different kind of cliffhanger to end with), but with 10k words and five weeks since the last update, I figured I should leave that for the next chapter. Oh, and in case it wasn't clear to someone, the first and second halves of this chapter don't happen in the same day. I thought I made it fairly obvious by referencing Yui's visit to Ebina, but it never hurts to clarify things. I like making things slightly confusing or vague on purpose, but when I don't mean for that to happen, it can become a problem.
Before I start rambling, I'll leave you off with saying to wash your hands! Don't get ill like me, lol.
Until next time, cheerio!
