WARNING!
HEAVY SPOILERS FROM MY MAIN FIC SINCE THIS IS AN ALTERNATE ENDING TO CHAPTER 36 AND IS WHERE IT DIVERGED FROM THE MAIN FIC!
ALL THAT HAS HAPPENED FROM CHAPTER 36 DOWN ARE STILL CONNECTED TO THIS ALT ENDING!
December 9 2021
An Unexpected Tryst at the Rooftop
Sickening Sweetness
"Hey! Hey! Did you hear? The Second Year in the StuCo was sent to the infirmary!"
"Hikigaya-san? Why what happened?"
"He ate too much during home economics and had a stomachache right after. The boys had to drag him out of the room, it caused quite a stir when they saw him like that in the hallways."
"Eh? Is that so? I hope he gets better then. I say that he should use this as an excuse to take a break. A few of my Senpai says that he skips lunch just to finish work in the StuCo."
"Such a hard worker… I wish I was like that…"
A group of my fellow Second Years finally walked past me. I was headed for the faculty room to deliver some papers, but immediately stopped when I heard the topic of their conversation, flipping through the papers as an excuse. I look outside to the school grounds, the track and field as well as the football yard.
After our little…verbal exchange, Hikigaya-kun and I have not spoken to each other. It has been roughly a month and a half. After class hours, he refuses to come if Yuigahama-san is not with him and avoids being alone with me. When Yuigahama-san goes to the lady's room, he stands up and goes with her without a word. I try to talk to him when the chance presents itself, but he does not even open an eye to my direction. When I pester him he stays completely silent either reading a book or using his phone. I try telling him that I'm sorry for being rude and that it will never happen again. But the words always get stuck in my throat. He is very upset with me…
My legs start moving on their own as I start walking to the school clinic. It is located on the ground floor of this building and would take no less than five minutes to get there. The hallways are mostly empty since it is still school hours, making it seem like I am the only person in school. The silence is only broken by my footsteps and the muffled sounds of classes going on in the classrooms to my left.
It didn't take long for me to arrive, and I soon find myself standing outside the door to the clinic. The school nurse seems to be out and the place is clean and immaculate as always. The sliding door opens without a sound, but what I did not expect to hear were the sounds of giggling girls.
"Hehehehe! I can't believe he did it! Lol, what an idiot! XD"
"Madman! The absolute madman!"
"Uwaaahh… At this point, I don't know if I should be impressed or embarrassed for him…"
I don't know where they are because there are curtains around each bed, but I think they are in the far end of the room right beside the windows which were open and let the air in. The three giggled again and then I hear a groaning sound shortly after.
"S-Screw you three… I win the bet and that's all that m-matters…" It was Hikigaya-kun's voice. He sounds in pain, making all kinds of noises as the bed creaks beneath him. Despite clearly being in a state of discomfort, the three girls continue to tease and poke fun of him. Something that made me frown. "The e-ends...justify the means...!"
"You shouldn't have forced yourself to eat it tho. That's like, stupid of you to do, to be honest."
"What Minami said. For a smart guy, that was really unintelligent lol."
"Uwaaah… I was creeped out when he opened his mouth as wide as possible to eat that bun. He looked like a snake unhinging his jaw or something…"
Hikigaya-kun sometimes fires back, but it was few and far in between. They might sound like they are bullying him, but I don't sense any malice in their words. He even laughs with them a few times, only to groan out dramatically to startle and scare the girls. They must be his friends who I have never met before, classmates most likely since they all seem to be very familiar and relaxed around each other. I stay completely still while listening to him joke around with them as they start talking about all sorts of things. An all too familiar pang of envy throbs in my chest. A feeling that sometimes occurs in the clubroom when he and Yuigahama-san talk to each other casually as friends. From the many times I have seen him in school, he is very fond of Yuigahama-san, as well as the blonde girl and the one wearing glasses. Sometimes putting his arm lazily around their shoulders when he is with them or with Hayato-kun and his friends. He also does not mind it when Hayato-kun or his other loud male friend does it to him.
I realize that…Hikigaya-kun is growing as a person…
On the other hand, I'm still-
The school's bell rings, snapping me back to reality. The sound also interrupts the conversation between the three unknown girls and Hikigaya-kun. Without even thinking about it, briskly turn around and walk out the door, not bothering if they can hear the sounds that I make.
After classes…
After classes end, for sure. I'll give it to him...
After saying goodbye to Yui and the others, and also telling her that I'm not going to club today, AND getting an earful from Yumiko and Sensei for what I did earlier at Home Economics Class, I pack up my bag and was the first one who got out of the classroom after our last period. My belly is still bloated after eating so much, but at least the medicine that the school nurse gave me worked. Mm, drinking a nice cup of hot tea sounds nice. I can't wait to go home.
Just as my thoughts drifted to who knows where I feel someone take my blazer from behind and temporarily stop me from walking. I turn around and see the three girls responsible for my current state. They grin cheekily, my girlfriend's in particular glow with smugness.
Scary… How scary… How did they get here so fast?!
"Sumiya-san, may I ask what is it that you want?" I give extra emphasis to her surname since we still haven't decided if it's okay to address her by her first in public.
She giggles. "Hehehehe~! My my, Hikigaya-kun. Didn't we agree earlier that we'd meet up and go somewhere after classes~?" Her two friends mimicked and take a step closer to me, and I looked down on the three of them with an arched brow.
I put a hand on my hip and switch my balance to my other leg, going into full Riajuu-mode that I copied from Yumiko. "Haaaaaaaaaaah? I don't, like, remember saying that-" Yuuko's grin suddenly widens, and I instantly feel something off. Every atom in my body screamed at me that danger was imminent.
"Naomi! Minami! Go get him!"
"Roger!"
"On it!"
I was caught off guard when they decided to go in for the kill. Ehime-san and Sagami-san took hold of my arms and made me face away from the classroom that we had just gotten out from. "O-Oi! What's the big idea?!" I tried to squirm and break free, but they pressed my arms against them, which in turn made me instinctively stop when I felt their soft chests. The two of them hold me in place while forcing me to walk like a criminal on my way to be publicly hanged. Yuuko appears from my right, winking at me while walking backwards.
"Ha-chi-kun~! You're coming with us, whether you like it or not~!" She whispers only loud enough for the three of us to hear.
"Stop making a fuss Hikigaya-kun. Just be quiet before we get violent."
"Yeah. Give it up already before you embarrass yourself even further." Ehime-san and Sagami-san say with harpy-like grins, looking like they've finally found a suitable meal to feast on. I click my tongue and grit my teeth, and after a few moments of contemplation, I eventually relax. They loosen their hold on me but still won't let go of me.
"Alright, fine. Whatever, do what you want." I make a defeated sigh as the three girls giggle. I fix my posture and walk normally with the three girls, except that two of them are holding each of my arms. I think I could easily slip away and make a mad dash, but my school shoes aren't made for running. Not to mention that they might start screaming and make a scene. The four of us made for a strange scene as we walked through the hallways. A few female students blush and whisper amongst themselves when they see us. I see a few familiar faces from my class last year, the people that I've worked with and the club members that know me.
I give them a stiff and awkward smile when they raise their eyebrows at me. It may have been a smile, but I was screaming for help on the inside.
Shiromeguri-senpai… Hiratsuka-sensei… The school principal who is strangely afraid of my Father… My bird friends who I have befriended through the principles of Ivan Pavlov… Godzilla… Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann… Amuro Ray… Anyone, please save me!
We walked like that until we reached the lockers where we switched our shoes. It was surprisingly devoid of any students which made things easier on my end. While my captors were off changing their shoes, the hairs on the back of my neck raised in alarm as I sensed a presence make itself known from my left. I straighten up and turn to the stranger.
A pair of blue eyes study me quietly. It was her. The last person that I wanted to meet. No, scratch that. I don't even consider her existence until going into the clubroom. Just looking at her made my somewhat happy mood immediately come spiralling down.
"…"
"…"
I eye her for a second before turning around and heading for the exit. She mutters a single word, and I use up all of my patience just to hear what she has to say. I'll give her a few moments at least.
"Hikigaya-kun…"
"…" I stare dully at her, waiting for whatever nonsense she is going to bring up next. The girl roughly two meters away from me is unnerved by my glare yet she clenches her fist. She held an envelope of sorts in her other hand. I look at her feet and see that she already had her outdoor shoes on, meaning that she had arrived here first and must have been waiting for me.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry up." I spit out, too loud for my taste.
She takes a step back and visibly flinches from the tone in my voice, looking down while holding her arm. She was staying in the shadows which made it hard to see the expression that she's making. "I… May I ask if you are free tomorrow?"
I wasn't expecting a question like that from her and I let go of some tension that I've been holding.
"Why?"
I see her nervously fidgeting with her hands, the one holding the white envelope. I put two and two together and summarize that she must be intending to give it to me. I should have realized it sooner, why else would she come here carrying an envelope other than to give it to me in person? She could have placed it in my locker, but perhaps she doesn't know where mine is located. She must have also considered that I might take the envelope and throw it away without opening its contents, and if I did, I could have discarded it in the garbage bin.
"If it is fine with you, I would like both of us to sit down and talk…"
"We are already speaking, no?"
"Privately… In my home." She says quietly in a small and meek voice. Every word that she says only appears to make her seem smaller. My tone and body language don't help in making her effectively deliver what she wants to say. I could ease up, but I can't even if I wanted to. But then again, I don't want to do that. I don't want to make things easier for her.
She never gave me that respite.
"I have…some things to discuss with you… If only you give me a chance… Please…" Her voice was barely audible, yet her words were clear.
Another surprise and I nearly burst out laughing from how ridiculous she sounds and how pitiful she looks.
Is this a joke? Is this a bloody fucking joke? Is she for real? Did she hit her head or something? Did she seriously come here with that in mind, thinking that I'll just willingly waltz into her place? Who the hell does she think I am? She should know her place if it's not clear enough yet. What's she going to do? Poison my food? Stab me when I turn my back to her? Suffocate me with a pillow? I have no desire to go with her, nor hear whatever she wants to say to me. Having someone like her around me is enough to nearly make me snap and go insane. It's actually a miracle that I haven't yet. I've had enough of her lies and icy cold venom.
Before I could give her a piece of my mind, I hear familiar giggles from behind me. Three figures loudly talking and laughing emerge from the opposite corner where the orange setting sun made a silhouette of them.
"Oh! Hikigaya-kun! There he is!"
"Quick! Get him before he escapes!"
Just like earlier, Ehime-san and Sagami-san latch onto my arms. Yuuko walks towards us like a villainous Ojou-sama, saying that I will never escape from them no matter how hard I tried.
"Ahahaha~! Come on now! We still have lots of things to do before the day ends!" She exclaims and is echoed by the two girls on my side. However, the three of them turn to what I was focused on and see a black-haired girl looking at us with an expression of surprise. Yuuko is the first one who reacts to the unexpected appearance of a stranger.
"Oh, sorry! Were you talking with him?" She says and gestures towards the exit while exchanging glances with Ehime-san and Sagami-san. "Come on guys. Let's give them some privacy. We're just gonna wait for you at the exit Hikigaya-kun. That okay with you?"
"No, we were just about done." I quickly say. Three pairs of eyes look at me curiously at the manner of how I replied.
I turn to Yukinoshita, who looks absolutely stunned and her mouth slightly agape at their sudden appearance. Wide eyes looking intensely at the arms interlocked with my own as well as the three strangers. In a single span of a moment, I think she forcibly burned the image into her mind just from the look in her eyes. Her other hand was already tightly holding the ends of her blazer, and the envelope had disappeared.
"I'm sorry Yukinoshita-san. But as you can see, I'm quite busy." I gesture to my sides and say with a sickeningly sweet smile uncharacteristic of me. She looked like she was going to say something. Or it may have gotten stuck in her throat. Whatever, I don't care.
Without waiting for any kind of reaction from her, I lead Yuuko, Ehime-san and Sagami-san out of the school building. All while they were scratching their heads in confusion and frequently glancing at me. It might have been because I have three girls more or less following me around, but I feel strangely good about what I did. Not to mention feeling empowered and in control. It only furthered from the fact that just my presence and glare was enough to unsettle and leave the girl shaking in her shoes.
That may have been the scummiest thing that I've ever done…but I have to admit…
Seeing her devastated and dejected expression on that pretty face of hers was just…
Exquisite
Ah... I could get addicted to the euphoric feeling... Ahahahaha...