AN: Hello again, everyone! It's been a bit of a while, has it not? The newest chapter in my other currently ongoing story took me a lot longer to write than I had planned, so consequently this chapter was delayed as well. But, do not worry, for I have no plans of ever abandoning any stories, and I am always working on something as I alternate between stories (I update my profile regularly with info on what I'm working on currently), so this delay should hopefully be a one-time thing. But, it is always possible that I manage to top off my ineptitude and laziness at some point in the future, so I won't make any promises. I thank you all for your continued support and patience – you're going to need a lot of that second one with me, if you hadn't guessed already at this point. But, quality quantity, eh?
Now, I think I've kept you all in suspense for long enough, so let's get the show on the road!
Chapter 6 – Warmth of Another
Click
I gently tugged on the door after hearing the lock click, making sure that it was indeed locked. It wasn't like the clubroom had anything valuable inside of it, unlike many of the other clubs here, but I couldn't very well just leave the door open just because of that. After finishing my confirmation, I adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and placed the key into my pocket. Right, time to go return this to Hiratsuka-sensei.
The halls of the special-use building were quiet and empty as I made my way through them. It wasn't out of the usual for the building to be this calm and serene, as the Service Club was rather far from everything else, but it was even more quiet now as club hours hadn't ended yet. The only sounds in the hallway apart from my own footsteps were the occasional muffled bits of conversation that came from some of the classrooms. Unsurprisingly, I didn't meet any other students on my way to Hiratsuka-sensei's office, apart from a group of first-year girls giggling amongst themselves as they walked down the hallway, away from the faculty wing of the school. As I passed by them, I noticed a couple of them quieting down as they stole glances at me, and once they were behind me, hushed whispers reached my ears. Seems my reputation is quite far-reaching, though I was already aware of that. Though, perhaps Isshiki-san has something to do with even the first-years knowing of me. Hmph, she really did manage to interrupt mine and Hikigaya-kun's quiet moments at the worst possible time. What she said about Miura-san, though…
I hadn't said it out loud back then, but there was something nagging at me about Hikigaya's explanation. Certainly, I did find it difficult to imagine him having a conversation with Miura that lasted longer than a single sentence, but the fact that Isshiki had heard it from Hayama was the most intriguing part. If what Isshiki said was true, then Hayama had some reason to think that Miura had been speaking with Hikigaya – without anyone else knowing – which would indicate that he had noticed something out of the ordinary about her behaviour. Something, that could have been influenced by Hikigaya. He has a very unique view of the world, and thinks differently from many people, so his influence on a person should be clear as day to see. But I still find it hard to imagine for her to be able to speak freely with Hikigaya-kun... Though perhaps speaking is not necessary. If Hayama-kun has indeed noticed something different about Miura-san, something that he thinks might have changed due to Hikigaya-kun's influence, Miura-san could have gotten whatever that is from simply observing Hikigaya-kun. She has seen how he operates on multiple occasions, so the idea is not too far-fetched. However, that does raise the question of what would have triggered her choosing to act in this new manner, or do whatever it is that has made Hayama-kun suspicious of her. Could something have truly happened between them, like Hikigaya-kun believes? Although… that is not the most concerning thing. I felt grip on the strap of my bag tightening. If this hypothesis is true, then…
...Miura-san has had her eye on Hikigaya-kun. My Hikigaya-kun.
Before I had realized it, I was standing in front of the door to Hiratsuka-sensei's office, and I shook my head to clear away my thoughts. I would hope that is false, as I do not want to resort to any drastic measures regarding Miura-san. Still, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on her, to see if she truly has been influenced by Hikigaya-kun in some way or another, and if she has, where that influence has stemmed from. But, that is something I can return to at a later date. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself, then gently knocked on the door to Hiratsuka-sensei's office.
"The door's open, come in." A muffled voice that I recognized as Hiratsuka-sensei came from within, so I opened the door and stepped inside.
"Good afternoon, Hiratsuka-sensei." I greeted as I entered the familiar office and looked towards the desk at the other side of the room, where Hiratsuka-sensei was sat down, leaning back in her chair with her legs propped up on the desk as she held a stack of papers in one hand and a lit cigarette in the other. As she heard my voice, she shifted her gaze from the papers to me, and her expression turned to one of surprise.
"Yukinoshita? What are you doing here? Did Hikigaya finally start his life of crime or something?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked as she lowered the stack of papers onto her desk and took a drag from her cigarette. I have reprimanded her about that unhealthy habit of hers in the past, but it seems she hasn't taken my advice to heart… Well, I know it can be difficult to stop smoking just like that, but I get the feeling Hiratsuka-sensei hasn't even tried.
"No, not yet. You'll know when it has happened when you hear the sirens outside." I replied with a smile of amusement, and Hiratsuka-sensei grinned in return. "I came to return the to key to the clubroom. We ended early today." I fished the key out of my pocket and walked over to her desk, prompting her to take her legs off it and sit straighter in her chair.
"Oh, is that so? May I ask why?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked as I handed her the key.
"Hikigaya-kun had an errand to run for his little sister, so he requested to leave half an hour early today. Since Yuigahama-san was absent today, and we hadn't gotten any requests, I saw it acceptable for us to end a little early." I explained as Hiratsuka-sensei stubbed the remains of her cigarette into the ashtray on her desk to extinguish it. At least she has the courtesy to not smoke with her students around.
"Alright. Usually you'd have to receive permission from your club advisor – in other words, from me – but I trust you kids enough to let it slide." I nodded with a smile in reply. "An errand for his sister, huh… Komachi-chan really has her little finger wrapped around him, doesn't she? It'll be highly amusing when she comes to Soubu at the start of the next year." Hiratsuka-sensei continued as she glanced back at the papers on her desk, her gaze lingering on them for a moment before she pushed the pile a little a farther away.
"If she can pass the entrance exams, that is, but I have faith in her. Komachi-chan is proof that Hikigaya-kun's bad points are not to be blamed on his genes." Hiratsuka-sensei grinned again, but her expression soon changed to a compassionate one. "I only hope that he won't let his 'obsession' with his younger sister drag her name through the mud." I smiled to myself in amusement, but the smile disappeared when I saw Hiratsuka-sensei staring down at her ashtray with an awkward smile.
"I know you have a sharp tongue, Yukinoshita, and I've seen you two bicker like an old married couple before, but… I do think you should turn the dial down a little." Hiratsuka-sensei looked me straight in the eye, and I felt a jolt of guilt go through me. Ah, I didn't… mean it that way… "Hikigaya acts like he doesn't let that kind of stuff get to him, and I know he's tough enough to handle some insults, but when they're coming from someone who's actually close to him… No-one can weather it forever." I felt my heartbeat rising slightly as Hiratsuka-sensei referred to myself and Hikigaya being close, but managed to keep my cool.
"...Sorry. I… Hikigaya-kun is very… important to me, so I would never… actually..." I averted my gaze from Hiratsuka-sensei, and saw her smiling out of the corner of my eye.
"It's okay, Yukinoshita." I looked back at Hiratsuka-sensei, locking my eyes with hers. "You two enjoy your banter, I've seen that, but I think you two should just… talk sometimes. Be honest with each other." Be honest… "You two are oddballs who don't fit in with everyone else, so you've got to make sure you stick together." I smiled at Hiratsuka-sensei and bowed to her briefly.
"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei." She can be a surprisingly good counsellor sometimes… Perhaps I have not given her enough credit.
"It's nothing, Yukinoshita." Hiratsuka-sensei stretched as I raised my head again. "Now, as for Hikigaya's 'obsession' with his little sister, as you put it… Well, he'll just say it's his instincts as an older brother, but I think it's a little deeper than that. He's protective of her, like many older siblings are, but for him, it doesn't just end there – even if he himself doesn't realize it." I raised an eyebrow in question at her words. What does she mean by that? Seeing my confusion, Hiratsuka-sensei continued. "He's not protective of Komachi-chan just because he's her brother, he's protective of her because that's the kind of person he is. But, he won't have his sister around forever, and he can't always be there to protect her. He needs someone else to be with, someone else he cares for to protect." Hiratsuka-sensei's smile widened a little as she stared me in the eyes. Someone else to protect… Of course! Yes, that makes sense. That someone else is obviously me. How did I not see it before? Just another reason why we are meant to be together… "Well, that's just what I think. I could be wrong, but I doubt that. And if Hikigaya doesn't find anyone who fits the bill, he's always welcome here! He's always making me worried for his future, so he might as well let me take responsibility to secure it." Hiratsuka-sensei let out a small chuckle as she leaned back in her chair again, clearly satisfied with her joke. I would certainly hope she is only joking. It would not end well if she was not. I quickly shook my head to clear my thoughts, before speaking again.
"We'll have to see about that. Oh, speaking of worrying about his future..." Hiratsuka-sensei lifted an eyebrow in question. Hikigaya-kun did mention today that she had been an annoyance to him recently… "...I know you are his teacher and all, but I don't believe pestering him about his future on such a regular basis will have the desired effect." I do not see Hiratsuka-sensei as a potential threat to mine and Hikigaya-kun's future, but it wouldn't do good to have him spending too much time with other women. And if having his lunch breaks to himself makes him happier, then that can only be a positive thing. And perhaps then… we could even have lunch together… My pleasant thoughts were interrupted once I noticed the confused expression on Hiratsuka-sensei's face, as if she didn't understand what I was talking about.
"Huh? Well, er… sure. I do the things I do for him, of course, and this is my job, so..." Hiratsuka-sensei replied as she rubbed the back of her neck, still looking quite confused. That was an… interesting response. Does she not see that she could have been an annoyance to Hikigaya-kun? He is usually quite vocal when something doesn't please him… "Did he… say that himself?" Hiratsuka-sensei asked carefully, her tone of voice telling me that she was genuinely concerned about the fact that she might have done something to upset Hikigaya. Teachers shouldn't really play favourites, but it seems Hiratsuka-sensei cannot help but doing so with Hikigaya-kun… I'll allow it or now, as long as it doesn't interfere with us.
"Yes, he made an off-hand comment about how today was the first day he had gotten to be in peace, since he has had less quiet moments by himself than usual." I replied. She should know what I am referring to, unless the 'woman' who had been interrupting Hikigaya-kun's lunch breaks was someone else… But I don't want to believe that Hikigaya-kun would lie to me like that.
"Hmm… I suppose I didn't scold him as much today… Well, I'll talk with him tomorrow. Communication is key, after all. I might even apologize to him if he truly feels like I've been an annoyance – and if I'm in the mood for it." Hiratsuka-sensei smiled widely at me, and I gave her a smile of my own in return. Well, it seems I don't have anything to worry about for now. Oh, while I am here, though…
"This question may be a bit unexpected, but… I don't suppose you've noticed anything different about your class this week?" Hiratsuka-sensei raised an eyebrow in question, so I continued. "We received a request from Hayama-kun on Monday, but rejected it, and Hikigaya-kun believed that due to the nature of his request, something must have happened between him and Miura-san. I am lead to believe they are part of a rather notable friend group in your class, so something happening between its members should have a noticeable effect, no?" Hiratsuka-sensei looked upwards in thought for a few moments, then closed her eyes as she crossed her arms over the chest.
"You're asking difficult questions from me, Yukinoshita. While it is my job to keep the class in check and monitor them as a counsellor, with something like that, you'd be better off asking one of the students. I assume you've already spoken with Yuigahama about this?" I nodded as Hiratsuka-sensei opened one of her eyes to look at me. She did say that Miura-san was acting differently on Monday, but it didn't seem like it was particularly difficult to notice. "Well, neither Miura or Hayama has come to me with anything, and I can't remember anything particularly sticking out, so… I can't say. Want me to keep an eye on the two of them?"
"That..." I was about to continue with 'won't be necessary', but stopped myself. Certainly, we did not undertake Hayama-kun's request, so this was just a bit of curiosity on my part regarding Hikigaya-kun's thoughts on the matter, so there's no need for Hiratsuka-sensei to go out of her way for this, but… Could I use her to keep an eye on Miura-san? Not being in the same class as them would make any attempts at doing so significantly more difficult, but if I could utilize Hiratsuka-sensei for finding out whether Miura-san has somehow been influenced by Hikigaya-kun… No, that won't do. Unless I specifically told Hiratsuka-sensei to do that, I wouldn't get any usable information from her. "...won't be needed. I was just a little curious." Hiratsuka-sensei nodded to me in reply.
"Alright. Well, thanks for bringing this to my attention, at least. Miura and her friends have a nice dynamic going on, and it would affect the whole class if something happened to it. Hayama doesn't really talk with me much, but Miura… I'll see if I can steal a couple of minutes of her time at some point." Hiratsuka-sensei reached out for a notebook on her table and ripped out one of the pages, then took a pen out of her coat pocket and wrote something down quickly. "I won't tell her that you were the one who told me about this, Yukinoshita. While some of them require special attention, I do care for all of my students. Besides, it's been a little while since my last talk with Miura..." Hiratsuka-sensei seemed to get lost in thought as she stared off into the distance, her expression turning more serious again. "Ah, sorry, I got a bit distracted there. You only came here to return the key, right? I won't keep you here any longer." Hiratsuka-sensei looked back at me with a smile, reaching into her pocket for what looked like a lighter.
"And I won't keep you from your work any longer, Hiratsuka-sensei." I replied, and her gaze flicked briefly to the papers she had set aside when we began to talk, a wry smile appearing on her face. "Goodbye, and I will see you again tomorrow." I then continued with a small bow.
"Yeah, see you, Yukinoshita." Hiratsuka-sensei raised a hand as she leaned back in her chair, and I turned to leave her office, hearing the click of a lighter behind me as I closed the door. It is her office, so I won't comment on it.
I let out a small sigh as I exited, then adjusted my bag on my shoulder. Right, I guess I'll use the extra time I have for a bit of grocery shopping.
If there exists some form of higher being in the universe, like the many different religions from around the world seem to believe, then that being must be extremely sadistic. There is no other explanation for why such a "benevolent" and "loving" being would inflict plight upon plight on mankind, over and over again. Some say that these things are simply punishment for man's transgressions, but what of the seemingly innocent people who receive these "punishments"? Saying that they have done something "wrong" to have warranted something bad happening to them is an incredibly self-centred way of thinking, and it makes this supposed deity seem like a narcissist, forcing punishment unto those who have done something only they personally believe to be worthy of punishment. But I digress.
The main point is that I do not see anything benevolent in a higher being that unjustly punishes those who do not deserve punishment. Such as myself. All I am doing is living my life without disturbing others or causing them any trouble – that is my oath as a loner. What could I have possibly done to deserve this?
"...Hikigaya was totally a creep back then, but he doesn't seem to be that bad now. Still a creep though. Although… We got a lot closer during christmas, didn't we, Hikigaya?" The culprit behind my currently rapidly souring mood nudged me with her elbow, and I sent her a small glare in return, though the girl did not seem to notice it. If by 'got a lot closer' you mean you invading my personal space by forcefully sitting next to me in a restaurant without my consent, then yes, we did get closer. Except that didn't happen during christmas, but rather right now.
"Oi, be careful, I'm eating here, Orimoto." I scolded the girl on my left and looked down at my food, placing a bit of chicken in my mouth. Definitely tasty, but the company is causing my appetite to disappear – along with my will to live. Very slowly, but surely.
"Aww, don't be like that!" Orimoto ignored my pleas and leaned a little closer, staring hungrily at my food. "That looks really good, Hikigaya. Maybe I should have ordered the same thing… Oh, right!" Orimoto quickly turned her gaze to the other side of the table, where Miura and Tamanawa were sat, her gaze locking onto the blonde. "You two ordered the same thing, right? What's up with that? That's like, so adorable. Are you sure this isn't a date?" Orimoto spoke so quickly that even the social butterfly that was Miura Yumiko seemed to have trouble keeping up. Though, she is more of a queen bee than a butterfly… Or maybe a wasp. For a moment, Miura's eyes met mine and narrowed ever so slightly, and I felt a shiver going through me. Scary. Why are all women mind-readers? That is such an unfair advantage.
"It's nothing too deep, Orimoto-san. I just liked the sound of what Hikio ordered, so I wanted the same thing. Turns out he does actually have good taste." Miura replied to Orimoto. So she still won't admit the truth…
"Oh, that is like, totally surprising. Can you believe what he suggested when we had a double date last year? He said – sorry, just the memory is making me laugh." Orimoto said and stifled her giggles, then continued. "He suggested that we'd go to Saizeriya! Can you imagine?" Miura shifted her gaze back to me briefly and raised an eyebrow, and I shook my head in return. Well, at least you two will be able to bond over having laughed at my restaurant preferences. To be honest… I almost expected Miura and Orimoto to get along better, but Miura seems… I don't know, tense? She isn't being as chatty as I would expect her to be when around someone like Orimoto… Then again, the past couple of days have showed me that Miura is not exactly as I thought her out to be. Perhaps she can't handle someone like Orimoto either.
"Well, I can in fact imagine Hikio making a suggestion like that." Miura replied with a small smile on her lips. "Though, I have been to Saize a few times, and the food is not bad. I can like, see it having its own charm." Ah, perhaps I have been too hasty in my judgement. We'll make a Saize regular out of you yet!
"Hmmm… I guess…" Orimoto looked upwards in thought and furrowed her brows, but quickly looked back at Miura with a smile. "Hey, so like, what exactly is your relationship with Hikigaya? He said you two are classmates, but that he's also helping you with something?" Miura glanced at me, her gaze lingering on me for a few moments before she replied.
"Well… I guess you could say that we're fri-"
"We're classmates. That's it, Orimoto." I cut off Miura to correct her, and Miura turned to look at me with a small glare. Is that anger from having cut her off? I would assume so, but… Her expression looks… hurt. "And I do remember telling you about the club I am in. I am helping Miura with a personal issue of hers in exchange for compensation." I continued and gesture towards my food.
"Really? But she calls you with such an… affectionate nickname. You gotta be closer than just classmates." Orimoto shifted her gaze between myself and Miura, who was now looking down at her own food, her cheeks slightly red. I let out a sigh and massaged my temple, then looked towards the fourth person at the table – Tamanawa – who had been largely silent the entire time, having stopped trying to get into the conversation after the first few failed attempts when Orimoto had either interrupted or ignored him. I feel kinda bad for him, for having to put up with Orimoto on a daily basis. Then again, he was the one who asked out Orimoto to come here today, so he is the person to blame for me being in this predicament. Tamanawa's eyes met mine, and a pained smile appeared on his face.
"...I think I'm going to go to the toilet, while we're still waiting for our meals." Tamanawa said and stood up, sensing a break in the conversation as neither Miura or I had said anything in reply to Orimoto. The brunette spared him a quick glance and a smile, but her attention was back to Miura and I quickly.
"...But we aren't, Orimoto. Our… relationship, if you can call it that, is that of classmates, and currently, one between a client and a… service provider, if you will. This is her paying me compensation for my services." I explained to Orimoto and returned to my food. She's being very insistent on not getting that into her head. We both agreed that what is in the past stays there, but I still can't stand Orimoto…
"That's just what you think, Hikio!" I looked to the other side of the table and met Miura's glare, which caused me to flinch back. "Have we not gotten closer as well during the past few days? Or are you saying that the things I've told you mean nothing? I don't just open up my heart and my worries to anyone, you know..." Miura averted her gaze from me, and her expression elicited a reaction from my older brother instincts. She has shown me a side she hasn't shown to others, her weakness, but… It's not like we're that close. Well, I guess she has put her trust into me… I kept looking at the blonde for a few moments, and it was clear that she had been hurt by what I had said. Don't show me such an expression, woman! Gah, fine, whatever!
"...Sorry." I said quietly and looked away, seeing Miura shifting her gaze to me in the corner of my eye. If Miura really thought we were closer than what I thought, she deserves at least this much. Haah… I knew this whole thing was going to be a pain… "...But I do think we need to make some things clear, Miura." I turned my gaze back to Miura and saw a small smile on her face as she raised an eyebrow in question. "You've put your trust into me, but… we aren't exactly friends. I don't know what you see in me to have come to that conclusion." Miura's eyebrow twitched in what seemed like irritation.
"Why are you just so… Argh!" Miura slammed her fist onto the table, causing both me and Orimoto – who had been quietly observing us – to jump. Uh… did I accidentally poke the tiger..? At least Miura doesn't carry a wooden katana around. "Look, Hikio, I don't give a crap about what you think of… us. Sure, a week ago we may have been nothing but classmates, and I totally thought you were a creep, like Orimoto-san says you were back in middle school. But now, having gotten to know you… You're much more than that, Hikio. And I am… glad to be able to call you my friend." Miura smiled widely at me, and I felt my heartbeat rising as I looked into her eyes. I've said it before and I will say it again – that smile is a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Can she be incarcerated for committing war crimes already so I don't have to worry about dying to a heart attack any time soon? Seriously, being as pretty and attractive as Miura or Yukinoshita should be illegal… "Sorry you had to see this, Orimoto-san. Hikio is just like, so dense about some things." Miura said with a sigh to the brunette next to me. Don't talk like you know me, Miura. You're the dense one here, for thinking we were friends. Miura's eyes met mine again, her brows furrowing, and I quickly looked away. ...I'm starting to really think she is actually a mind reader.
"Ahahaa… It's fine! You two really seem to get along well!" Orimoto said cheerfully. How did you come to that conclusion? Well, I guess we 'get along' better than before, but… Haah… This is a pain. I let out a sigh and ignored Orimoto for now, looking back at Miura instead.
"...Fine, then. Do as you please, Miura." The blonde smiled triumphantly, and I resumed my eating. I'll be done with her request soon enough anyway, I think. Ebina will be able to help her much more than I can. Speaking of which… "Oh, by the way, Miura… When are you going to tell Yuigahama about… you know. You've got Ebina with you now, so she'll be the next step."
"Oh, um… I think… I'll try to see if I can visit her tomorrow. I just hope she'll be able to understand everything about the rumour and the things with Hayato..." Miura replied as she twirled a strand of her hair around her index finger. For some reason, I found my eyes being drawn to the motion she was doing. It reminds a little of that thing Yukinoshita does when she moves a strand of her hair behind her ear while reading… Before I realized it, I felt my heartbeat increasing as I imagined Yukinoshita sitting in Miura's place, and had to shake my head a little to clear away the image. Love is scary… I'm starting to hallucinate now.
"Hm? Did you say Hayato?" Orimoto seemed to perk up again, drawing both mine and Miura's attention to back to herself. "As in, Hayama Hayato? Do you know him?" Of course she'd jump back in at the mention of Hayama.
"Yes?" Miura looked at Orimoto with a confused expression, glancing at me briefly before continuing. "He is a… classmate, so of course I… know him." So you're calling me your friend, but Hayama doesn't qualify for that title any more? Well, I guess it's understandable, given what happened. Still, it is surprising to see how much Miura has changed in such little time – although she did tell me that this has been a long time brewing. "What I'd like to know is how you know of him, Orimoto-san."
"Oh, Hayama Hayato is like, super popular, did you not know?" Miura's eye twitched at Orimoto's words, but she didn't say anything. Oh, she knows that better than anyone else. "Well, people know him even in Kaihin – at least most of the girls do." Orimoto let out a little giggle, then nudged me in the side with her elbow. "You remember that 'double date' we went on with him and my friend Chika, right, Hikigaya?" I wish I could forget, but alas, that is not how our memory works. "Man, that was so fun… We should go out like that again at some point!" Yeah, no, let's not.
"When… When was this?" Miura asked from the other side of the table, narrowing her eyes at Orimoto. Ah, right… Hayama probably didn't ever tell Miura that he'd been out on a date with two girls from another school – for understandable reasons.
"It was last year before christmas. I can't quite remember when, though… It was right after I met Hikigaya again for the first time since middle school when he was at that cafe with the pretty older girl." Orimoto replied, and I saw Miura's eyes flicking to me briefly at the mention of me having been at a cafe with Haruno. It wasn't with her there willingly, though. Nor on that 'date', for that matter.
"It was the day you were out shopping with Ebina. We saw each other at that clothing store." I said to Miura, recalling the events of that day. "You fell down and I caught a glim-" I stopped myself before I remembered the details of our encounter any more vividly, feeling a sudden heat rising to my cheeks. T-they were a nice shade of pink, though… Wait, no, bad brain! "Ahem. S-so, yeah, it was back then." I scratched my cheek awkwardly and didn't look directly at Miura, though luckily she didn't seem to have caught on to what I had almost said. I only hope her mind-reading powers don't see through me…
"I knew you felt familiar, Orimoto-san!" Miura said with a louder voice and pointed a finger at Orimoto, who now had a surprised expression on her face. "I saw you with Hayato that day! Figures that he wouldn't tell me the truth about it… He just brushed the whole thing aside when I questioned him." Miura pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed in exasperation, and I noticed Tamanawa walking back towards our table in the distance.
"Hm? Wait, so is he your friend or something?" Orimoto asked from Miura, who was now back to twirling a strand of her hair with her index finger. "Or is there something more?"
"It's… complicated. And it doesn't have anything to do with you." Miura replied, glancing to the side briefly as Tamanawa got closer. "Just… whatever you think of Hayato, I'd give up now. He's not the type of person you think he is." I couldn't stop a small smirk from appearing on my face. And to think a week ago she would have probably been praising Hayama… Well, that's just my assumption, as I don't know how long she's been suspecting that something has been off about him.
"Oh, it was just my friend, Chika, who was interested." Orimoto waved her hand at Miura dismissively. "And… he did kind of say something… unexpected at the end of the day…" Is she referring to Hayama's disgusting pity? I guess it was drastically different from his tone prior to that. "Anyway, I'm starving! Why are they taking so long with our orders." Orimoto changed the subject as she leaned on the table just as Tamanawa returned, taking his seat next to Miura.
"I'm sure they'll be done soon, Kaori." Tamanawa said to the brunette with a small smile. "This place is rather popular, and there seems to be quite a few customers tonight, but I'm sure the staff is professional enough to be able to handle the higher amount of orders. After all, it wouldn't be good for their business or public image if customers complained about slow service." Tamanawa was making odd motions with his hands, which Orimoto seemed to be entirely focused on, rather than what he was actually saying. Some people just never change, huh? At least he's not trying to use big words too often any more.
"Yeah, you know it, prez!" Orimoto seemed to get some newfound hope for her situation as she sprung up and raised her fist above her head. Some people definitely never change. I let out a small sigh and shifted my gaze to Miura on the other side of the table, who looked back at me with amusement.
Shortly afterwards Tamanawa's guess turned out to have been correct, as he and Orimoto received their meals. And despite finally receiving her food, the brunette didn't show any signs of stopping the conversation – I am thoroughly amazed at how someone can talk so much while simultaneously eating. Tamanawa managed to pitch in a few times, and even dragged me into the conversation by asking about Isshiki and the student council (How should I know anything? If you're genuinely curious, ask Isshiki herself, or another member of the student council, not me), but mostly it was just the girls talking – though Orimoto definitely dominated the conversation. I didn't pay that much attention to what she talked about – choosing instead to focus mainly on my food – but the topics seemed to mainly revolve around studying at Kaihin (and how it differed from Soubu), random girly topics, Hayama (though Miura always steered the conversation in another direction whenever he was mentioned) and Orimoto poking fun or laughing at me.
Name: Hikigaya Hachiman. Special Skills: Making girls laugh. At me.
Sigh.
I wasn't really bothered, but it did seem like keeping the past in the past didn't mean much to Orimoto, as – apart from her much closer proximity to me – nothing had changed since middle school. To Orimoto, I was still the creep who everyone made fun of, even if she now thought a little more highly of me. It wasn't really anything serious, though, just her bringing up embarrassing things from middle school that I had long since forgotten and didn't even know she was aware of. One thing I did find interesting, however, was that she didn't mention my confession after I initially revealed it to Miura (and Tamanawa, I guess) at all, and she seemed to be actively avoiding talking about the things that followed after it. I guess in that regard she really is keeping what happened between us in the past. I should probably be thankful that she has at least that much decency. I don't want Miura's pity should she hear of all the things I've been through and had to endure.
Soon enough, I found myself finishing up the last of my food, and I saw that Miura was close to having eaten as well. Normally, I would now pay and take my leave, but… Miura seemed adamant about paying for this, so I should wait for her. Of course, I won't say no to free food, but… I didn't expect her to choose a place like this. Despite the company, the food tasted quite good, so I can only imagine how much it's going to cost, and that's making me feel a little bad for her. While Miura and I were already finishing up, Orimoto and Tamanawa were still in the middle of their own meals. There's no need to wait for the two of them, though. I'll need to hurry if I want to make sure that I'm home before Komachi is. I glanced at my watch, noting that it had taken a little more than I had initially expected for us to finish our meals.
"Miura." The blonde on the opposite side of the table lifted her gaze to meet mine and raised an eyebrow in question. "I want to try to get home before my sister does, so..." I gestured towards Miura's food with my chin and gently tapped on my watch with a finger.
"Are you telling me to hurry up with my eating?" Miura asked with a scowl. "I'll have you know that I plan on eating at exactly the pace I want to, Hikio." Despite her words, Miura seemed to begin eating a little quicker than before, though that could just be a coincidence – a very suspiciously timed one at that. If you're going to hurry anyway, you might as well say it.
"Suit yourself. I'll just pay for my part of the meal and leave you to finish up." I glanced around the restaurant to see if I could spot a waiter to receive the bill from, but Miura spoke again before I could call one over.
"No, you're not allowed to do that, Hikio." I turned back to Miura and met her stern gaze boring into me. "This is my treat to you, so you won't pay a single yen for this food." Since when did she start to think she could exert power over my own decisions? I glared at the blonde, and she returned my glare to me ten-fold. Uh… Maybe I shouldn't provoke the Fire Queen that much, after all. Miura may have changed and turned out to be a different kind of person than what I thought before, but the fire is still there, and I don't fancy getting burnt.
"Fine, fine, whatever." I said with a sigh and leaned backwards. "Just… Don't take too long." I'd rather get home before Komachi than try to weather her endless questions. I could come up with a quick lie to hide the fact that I was out eating with Miura, but… Lying to my sister is kind of… Well, I should be forgiven, right?
"Huh? You're leaving already, Hikigaya?" Orimoto asked and turned to face her. "But I was having so much fun with you! I wanted to spend more time with you, since we happened to meet like this!" Orimoto leaned closer to me, and I leaned further away in response. I was not having fun, though, Orimoto. "Let's hang out some more, we can have Miura-san come with us. Your sister can wait, right?" The brunette casually placed a hand on my shoulder, like it was the most natural thing in the world for her to do at that moment.
"Don't you mean you had fun making fun of him?" Before I could retort, to everyone's surprise, Miura spoke up – quite loudly, may I add – with a cold voice. "Is that why you want to stay with him? You've already caused him trauma, and yet you keep up this… bullying?" Tamanawa and Orimoto were shocked expressions on their faces, and while that was my initial reaction as well, I quickly felt my own face twisting into a scowl. Trauma? What the hell do you mean, woman? That Orimoto rejected me back in middle school? Please. It might have been bad then, but calling it a trauma is blowing overboard. Don't act like you know me, Miura.
"Miura-" I tried to speak, but Miura stopped me with a raised hand. What, are you Arnold Schwarzenegger now?
"Don't, Hikio. I know what you'll say, but I won't let you." Miura shifted her gaze from glaring at Orimoto to me, her expression softening. "You don't value yourself enough, so you don't speak up for yourself and just endure everything. I know this from having listened to Yui for the past like, year, and now I've also seen it myself first-hand. But… It's not possible to endure everything forever. I know that." I was about to retort, but something in Miura's expression stopped me from doing so. She has no right to speak like she knows me, but… Don't tell me she's now speaking from experience?
I had suspected that there was something in Miura's past that she wasn't telling everyone else – something she wanted to forget – ever since she opened up to me and said she didn't want to be alone. If there truly was something… traumatic that happened to her, then I could understand her having some credibility in talking about having to endure the cruel, harsh world. But that didn't give her any right to speak for me.
Sure, I have endured the cruelness of the world for years. It's what has moulded me into who I am right now. But since Miura is obviously not like myself, she most definitely has not gone through everything I have. Thus, she cannot speak as if she knows me. Besides, all of that is in the past, and should stay there.
And as for Miura herself… What do I care? If there even is anything traumatic in her past, I won't stick my nose into it, and I'd expect payment in kind.
I say that, and yet…
I didn't speak up against her.
I simply looked into her olive-green eyes, something deep within them preventing me from retorting against her. There was something there that told me the girl had been hurt, and not just by Hayama. And for some reason, that made me feel something towards Miura. Something, that I felt for very few people on this planet.
Compassion.
That meant I supposedly cared for her. And knowing that made me uneasy, as so far, the only people I have cared for have been those very few close to me. Komachi, and the girls from the Service Club. Hiratsuka-sensei, in way, as well as Totsuka and Kawasaki, to some degree. And, as much as I hate to admit it… Zaimokuza. Miura was not someone I would have ever thought I could care about enough to feel compassion towards.
And yet here we are.
"Um… Miura-san..? What… are you talking about?" The first one to break the silence was Tamanawa, whose gaze flitted between the rest of us, the confusion clear on his face.
"You can keep your mouth shut, prez." Tamanawa flinched back at Miura's reply. The Fire Queen was in full force, and was not accepting any backtalk. "You act all friendly with Hikio, but fail to see what he actually wants. You keep laughing at his expense and don't understand what kind of person he actually is, what he's actually worth. I'm not just going to sit here and watch Hikio endure everything. You can only pour so much water into a kettle before it overflows." Orimoto had been looking at Miura with a dumbstruck expression, but now shifted to look at me, only to avert her gaze immediately after our eyes met. Miura… Why does she… care about what happens to me all of a sudden? I won't 'overflow' from just Orimoto laughing at me. I don't… need your pity. I looked away from Miura, feeling my fist clenching in frustration – both at Miura and at myself.
"I didn't… I never… Hikigaya…" Orimoto spoke quietly, stealing small glances at me. "But, like… I thought he was okay with it, you know? Reminiscing… about the past. He didn't speak out against it..."
"Don't just assume things like that. Just… Ugh, I'm done with all this! Waiter!" The three of us stared at Miura silently as she called over a waiter and asked for the bill, paying for both of our meals before grabbing her coat and bag, then standing up and walking to my side of the table. "Come on, Hikio. We're leaving." Miura reached out a hand past Orimoto, who was staring at me wide-eyed.
"Huh? Miura, what do you-" Before I could finish, Miura grabbed my by the arm and pulled me past Orimoto, who continued looking at the two of us with shock and confusion as Miura dragged me away with barely enough reaction time to grab my things. What…
What the hell just happened?
I only let go once the two of us were standing outside in the cold. It had gotten dark enough for the street lights to have turned on, but luckily it wasn't snowing. The cool air cleared my head somewhat, and I realized what a scene I must have just made, dragging Hikio out of the restaurant like that.
I'm never going to eat here again.
For a moment, I wanted to scream, but managed to calm myself down, and after a few deep breaths, I turned to Hikio, who was standing just behind me, still staring at me with an expression I couldn't quite read.
"...What was that all about?" Hikio asked quietly. I wanted to answer with 'I don't know', but that wouldn't be true. I knew full well why I snapped at Orimoto.
"What do you think? I got fed up with her making fun of you like that. You looked uncomfortable with each mention of something 'funny' from your middle school days, but didn't speak up, so I had to." I replied to Hikio and crossed my arms, while he narrowed his eyes at me.
"I don't need your pity, Miura. I don't know why you feel so strongly about this, but nothing that Orimoto says is going to get to me. So please… Just… don't. You don't need to do anything like that." I clenched my fists and took a step towards Hikio, bringing my face close to his.
"It's not a matter of if I need to or not, but rather if I want to or not. And I do want to." Hikio stared at me in the eyes, his mouth slightly ajar, and his face tinted slightly pink. "I will stand up against anyone who makes fun of you or talks crap about you, because I… I care about you, dammit!" Hikio's eyes widened a little, while I glared at him. God, he's such a dense idiot…
"...If that was a confession, could you… not have picked some other time for it?" I felt a blush rising to my cheeks at Hikio's words, and grabbed him by the shoulders to push him away while I hung my head low so he couldn't see my face. How can you say that with a straight face?! Gah, this guy… Suddenly, a devilish thought entered my head, and without even thinking about it, I had slid to him and brought my face even closer than before, staring deep into his surprised eyes.
"If you want to interpret it that way, maybe we can make it so." I whispered and heard Hikio inhaling sharply, before he quickly backed away from me with a blush on his face. Got him~!
"...Let's not. I would not like for history to repeat itself due to me misinterpreting something yet again." I raised an eyebrow, confused at first, but it took me less than a second to realize what Hikio meant. His confession to Orimoto… Hmph, that was her fault anyway, for leading him on. I tried to gauge Hikio's expression to see what he was feeling, having been reminded yet again of that event, but his deadpan expression was impossible to crack. "Anyway, if your opinion of me truly has changed so much in such little time…" Hikio rubbed the back of his neck as he trailed off.
"You can blame yourself for that, for doing so much for me in such little time. You turned out to be so much more than just Yui's weird loner friend." I smiled at Hikio to convey that I didn't mean anything bad with the statement. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again: You've done more for me during these past few days than anyone has ever done for me."
"And I still think that's an overstatement. And… you really don't have to go as far for me as you did back there with Orimoto. I can take care of myself." Hikio glanced back at the restaurant doors, and I let out a sigh.
"Well, you'd better get used to it. You're my friend now, Hikio, and I take care of my friends."
"But what we have currently is not friendship, it's a professional relationship between a client and-" I took a step forward again and glared at Hikio. Why is he so stubborn about such a stupid thing?
"Don't you dare finish that sentence! You. Are. My. Friend. Got it? And who says 'professional relationships' can't become friendly ones? How about Yukinoshita and Yui? Wasn't that just a 'professional relationship' before you became friends?" I pointed a finger at Hikio's face, and he averted his gaze from me.
"Friend is such a strong word, I wouldn't..."
"Only you think that."
"Yukinoshita would likely beg to differ."
"Well, you two are both smart weirdos anyway. Look, the point is, being friends isn't that complicated, and you don't need to be so weird about using the term. We are friends, Hikio, and I will make you admit that, if not now, then in the future." I kept glaring at Hikio, and after a few moments of silence, he let out a sigh. I feel like I'm being a little hypocritical here… As someone whose main 'friendships' for the past two years have been built on nothing but lies, I probably shouldn't lecture Hikio about friendship… But I do have Yui, at least, and Hina as well. And… I have had friends in the past, of course…
"Fine, whatever, I'm not going to argue with you abut this any longer, Miura." Hikio's voice interrupted my thoughts, and luckily so, as some things I had long since locked away nearly began to resurface. As Hikio was about to speak again, his phone vibrated in his pocket, and he took it out.
"Who is it?" I asked, not able to resist my curiosity as to who could have sent Hikio a message. It's probably just his sister, right? Wait, why do I care anyway?
"It's from Komachi – for real, this time." I didn't quite understand what Hikio meant with the latter part of his sentence, but didn't press the issue. "...Oh. She's home already." Hikio glanced at his watch, then sighed again. "Well, there goes that plan. I'll have to come up with some excuse..."
"Excuse? Why not just tell her you were out eating with a friend?" I asked from Hikio, and he looked back at me blankly.
"First of all, Komachi knows me well, so she wouldn't even believe something like that coming out of my mouth. Secondly, when she realizes I am speaking the truth, she'll question me endlessly about who it was, and will assume that it was either Yukinoshita or Yuigahama, after which she'll go 'Kyaah! My big bro is finally growing up and going on dates with girls! Good luck, Onii-chan! I hope you score big! Hah, cheering on you must have been worth a lot of Komachi points!' – or something along those lines." I didn't know Hikio's sister personally, but I got the feeling that his impression was quite close. What the heck are 'Komachi points', though..? "And if I just so happen to tell her that it was neither of them, but rather you, Miura… Well, that is a door I do not want to open. So, in conclusion, making up a believable excuse is a much better option than telling her the truth. Ah, it pains me greatly to lie to my cute little sister, but it has to be done. I hope you can forgive your Onii-chan!" Uh… What?
"Are you a siscon or something? That was like, creepy." I took a step back from Hikio, who frowned at me, crossing his arms.
"I am not a siscon. Someone without younger siblings could never understand." Hikio replied defiantly, and I let out a little giggle. Who would have thought being with him could be so enjoyable. Just then, the wind started to pick up, and I suddenly realized that I hadn't even put on my coat when we stormed out of the restaurant, and shivered. "So, uh… Should we get going then? Do live very far?" Hikio asked from me as I fumbled around with my coat, thankful that I had at least taken my things with me before running out.
"What?" I asked in turn as I looked at him while he put on his own coat. Why is he asking me that? We both stared at each other for a few moments, before Hikio spoke again.
"I'll… walk you home. It's gotten dark already, and since Komachi is already home, I might as well, given that I have no need to rush home any more." Hikio replied, and I kept staring at him, suddenly feeling my cheeks heating up.
"O-oh, I see. Sorry, I didn't expect you to say that..." I looked away in embarrassment. I don't think Hayato ever offered to walk me home… Or any guy for that matter… Stop doing these things, Hikio! They're not good for my heart! "I… don't live too far away. I mean, like, not too far from the school, but from here..."
"So is having common manners really surprising..? Haah… Whatever. I'll just get my bike." All I could do in reply was to nod, and after receiving my confirmation, Hikio walked over to the bike rack. I watched in silence as he unlocked his bike, then walked it over to me. "Lead the way."
I nodded to Hikio again, then began to walk down the street in the direction of my house, with Hikio walking his bike beside me. Under any other circumstances, I would have likely tried to strike up a conversation, but right now, I was unable to come up with anything. I couldn't even look at Hikio, as every time I glanced in his direction, I could feel my heartbeat increasing and had to look away. He was being so nice to me, and yet he didn't even seem to notice it. Walking me home, offering to pay his meal even though it was supposed to be my treat, and not to even mention the whole thing about helping me with my selfish request to rebuild my friendships. If someone had told me last year that the weird loner of the classroom was this much of a gentleman, I would have assumed it was a joke and laughed. But, here we are, just the two of us, walking to my place after eating together at a restaurant. If I didn't know any better, I'd have called it a date. I stole yet another glance at Hikio as he silently walked next to me, letting my gaze linger on his gloved hands, firmly holding onto the handlebar of his bike. I wonder how warm it would feel to hold those hands…
…
Wait, what am I thinking?
I quickly looked away as I felt my cheeks heating up yet again. Ugh, what is he doing to me… I only just got rejected by Hayato, so I can't really be falling for another guy so soon, right? Especially not Hikio. Right, I'm just an emotional mess, and I'm clinging to the first person who has shown kindness to me. That's all this is.
…
…
...Right?
I peeked at Hikio again, and this time, I froze, as our eyes happened to meet. I stopped in my tracks and turned away from him, covering my face in embarrassment. What is he doing to me? It's just Hikio. He's just walking you home because that's the polite thing to do. Stop thinking so much! Just ignore the fact that he's the only guy to have ever done something like this for you, and everything will be fine.
"...Miura? Is something wrong?" Hikio's voice caused me to nearly jump, and I took a deep breath before turning to face him again. Hikio had stopped just a couple of steps ahead of me, and was looking back at me with a raised eyebrow.
"N-nothing." I replied quickly and walked past him. "My place is not too far away now." I kept walking, not daring to look back at Hikio, and after a few moments, I could hear the sounds of his bike again as he resumed his own walking.
"Alright. You're not cold, are you? You were looking at my gloves for a little while." H-he noticed? Damn it, how perceptive can you be? And yet, you're completely clueless as to what your 'common manners' do to a girl… No wonder Yui speaks so highly of you.
"I-I'm fine. I can at least keep my hands in my pockets, but you don't have such luxury." I replied, gesturing to his hands.
"I suppose." Our first conversation ended with Hikio's short reply, and I wasn't sure if I thought that to be a good or a bad thing. I need to think of something else… Like…
Orimoto Kaori.
What exactly was her deal? She seemed to insist on being a little too close with Hikio, considering she has rejected him in the past, and especially since she was literally on a date with another guy. Could she now be the one to fancy him? I'd like to think that she wouldn't have laughed at him so much if that were the case. Hikio must have been on the receiving end of things like that for a long time… Having to endure laughing and whispers behind his back, all alone… He must be strong for having endured this long. I guess he doesn't really give a damn about what other people think, which helps, but… No-one should have to endure that in the first place.
Because eventually, even the strongest branches snap.
I don't want to see that happening to Hikio. That's why I spoke my mind to Orimoto. But it wasn't just because she was making fun of Hikio – whether it was on purpose or not – but because of something else as well. Her closeness to Hikio irritated me. I used to feel the same thing whenever another girl was trying to be all chummy with Hayto – jealousy. But that had stemmed from my crush on Hayato, so what about Orimoto, then?
Do I really like Hikio?
He's not bad-looking, but I don't think of him in that way… And yet he's making me feel strange with all the things he's doing for me. We've only really properly known each other for… not even a week. Can you really fall for someone in such a short amount of time?
As I mused over my thoughts, I noticed an all-too familiar building a little ways away from us. I took a deep breath, then exhaled, before stopping and turning to Hikio.
"This… will be enough. My house is just over there." I said as Hikio stopped as well. "I… Thanks, Hikio. For walking me home. This was… very sweet of you." I then continued with a smile, ignoring the heat that was rising to my cheeks again.
"It's nothing, Miura." Hikio replied with a shake of his head, then glanced at his watch. "Well, I guess I'd better head home too. If I turn here, I should be able to quickly nip by the convenience store and make it home pretty quickly..." Right, his sister is waiting for him at home… Must feel nice to have someone waiting for you…
"I'll… see you tomorrow at school, then." I said, and Hikio nodded to me.
"Yeah. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
I raised my hand and waved at Hikio as he turned his bike around and began to make his way across the street, briefly glancing back at me before he disappeared behind the buildings. Is it just me or did it just get a bit colder..? I shivered a little, then let out a sigh and shook my head, beginning to make my way over to my doorstep. I stopped briefly before heading in, looking up to see a light coming from the second floor. Looks like they're home… I took another deep breath and pushed the door open, then closed it behind me as I stepped over the threshold and into the house.
It didn't feel any warmer inside than it had felt outside.
"Tadaima." I said, stopping briefly to listen.
No response.
As expected.
I shook my head in attempt to clear away the oppressing mood, then took off my coat and shoes, placing them in their respective places on the coat hanger and shoe rack. When I turned on the light switch in the entrance hallway, a figure suddenly appeared from around the corner, his disinterested gaze boring through me as I quickly forced a smile for him. Father.
"Welcome home, Yumiko."
Perhaps it would have been warmer outside after all.
AN: And that's a wrap, folks. A big apology for the delay in this chapter, and thank you all for being so patient with me. Summer vacation is just around the corner, and while I have a lot planned (including another writing project), I should have a lot more time to write. I won't make any promises, but I'll try my best to keep updates a little more frequent than they have been. Just remember that perfection requires time ;)
Until next time, I bid you all farewell, and cheerio!
