.
.
.
His face hidden, in between his arms
With a chair he sat
And table used
In this space, in this room
He slept
He continued sleeping
With the sun, bright, shining down
With dust, slightly seen, as if glittering in the light
And a breath so light, none could hear it, it was simple, soft
.
.
.
Finally
"Nnnnnn"
A groan
Slowly
Open
Close
Open
Close
His eyes continued doing just that
And with his final blink, they now stayed open
His head pulled up, a look up above, a look up the ceiling
And back to his level, he looks around
Nothing different, nothing from a while ago
Then...
*Yawn*
"Haaaaaa"
A tired and monotone voice ensues
Standing up, fully awake
A final look
(...Bye...)
And stepping out
A door closes
.
.
.
Closed and locked, the only sound here, now, properly, it returned to how it was
Walking and walking, out of that quiet area
What met him was
*Chatter*
*Hey, have you heard? Sakamoto did it again"
"Really!?"
"Y'all wanna go to karaoke?"
"Yeah! Yeah! Let's! let's!"
*Sob*"My sister saw my browser history..."*Sob*
"It's okay man, it's ok, why didn't you go incognito?
"I forgot!"
*Chatter*
A large crowd appeared
A look at his wrist
3: 38
(It's already 3?)
Gushing out from the now open walls
Students galore
(Not good, not good)
(I have to get out of here, otherwise...)
He thinks to himself, an escape
A look to the left, a look to the right
Where can he go? He thinks with all his might
An empty corner, from his sight
His shadow so little
Footsteps so subtle, so light
His destination almost reached
But...
*Thud*
A blunder
From which did it come from?
In front of him, someone
He bumped into something
A figure soft and fragile
And, below he looks
A girl
A schoolgirl at that
(Bad! This is bad!)
'I touched nothing!' Surely he thought so
To mediate, he speaks for assurance
"Ah sorry, are you okay?"
And with a soft voice, it was answered
"Yes, yes, I'm fine"
Said, with a soft, gleeful smile
"Jeez, you should really watch where you're going y'know"
From beside, another, it wasn't him who was scolded, rather her
"Hehe, well, sorry about that, goodbye mister"
"Ah, yeah"
A goodbye, different directions they now walk
From his back, the figure of those two girls slowly shrank, yet the talk of the two, not yet ended
"Hey, is that person from here?"
Said with curiosity, a hint of suspicion, caution
"I don't think so, I haven't heard of a new teacher"
"Uwaaahh, don't tell me, someone suspicious?"
Panicking, as such idea comes
"I don't think so, I don't know why, but somehow, I didn't feel uncomfortable around him"
"Woah, older men? Really?"
"No, it's not that!"
Their voices now shrinking as well
Unheard, inaudible, he didn't hear them, he only continued walking
Separate ways they went, he now reached the silent hall
Walking and walking, an exit he searched
And now, a flight of stairs found, down he goes
From those stairs, what he went to, an exit
Outside, now he was outside
"Uhhhhhh"
Shot to him, irritating
Faced with the afternoon sun, a beverage, he needed
He looks and he looks
From somewhere, from a corner, he spots
A vending machine
He approaches
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
In front of him were the options
Glistening, condensating
Iced tea he chose
Popped out and there, a bottle appears
Picked up lazily and opened quickly
The blazing sun touched him no longer, this refreshment was his shield
Not only that, but the wind, the wind that didn't bring heat, fresh and free, this wind was, the air that enters, it was that feeling that felt blissful
As it fluttered about, a breeze felt, his hair dances between, and eyes closed, sight was not needed
A moment enjoyed, it lasted mere seconds
(Maybe...a bit of fresh air is good)
Thinking so, his final sip came, a finished drink
To the trash bin
Walking and walking, an open field he now spots
Figures running about through this field, boys
Loud movements, what were they doing?
With a clang, metal struck and shoes roaring
Baseball
(Hm, lively, aren't they)
His figure stayed, only watching
(It's said that being collective and all that is the best option...thinking about it...what made it be like that? You're expected to do this and that with others...others that aren't the same as you, so...it'll only end in ruin, no one can truly read someone and adapt, not like they'd want to...)
(Pride...ideals...all of it get in the way...and thus, no work can be done, everyone does things differently, it's better to just do it with just you, that's more than enough, better even, they get to do it by their rules...that'd be the right way...I think so too...but maybe, it isn't so bad...well...)
(At least that was the case for me...)
Only a viewer, he stood and sights the field
His own entertainment
Yet it all changed
From the distance, those once lively boys, eagerly playing...stopped, they stopped
And, weirdly, their eyes glared to him
All of them
(Eh? What's wrong? Are they looking at me?)
Continued, they glared him daggers, from far away, yet he saw it, he felt it
(Eh? What? What's with that?)
(You're scaring me...all of you)
Panicking, the state of his mind, even more so when...
Approaching him, they started, all of them
16 boys in the distance, their direction, is him
(Eh? Why are they coming here?)
(I'm scared)
*Shish*
*Shish*
*Shish*
The gravel and sand, shaking below
With that, the only sound
And now
Only a few meters separated them
A tense space
And the first to speak, was among them
"Who are you?"
The first word, it came from a boy
Sporting a uniform for their game, a boy with average hair, brown eyes, and a normal stature
Perhaps lean, but a body of no useless muscle
"Hey, Tanikawa, you shouldn't act like that!"
Another boy beside him, a warning?
Now, his turn came
"Who am I? Before asking for someone's name, you should give your own"
He said so, he alone on his side, compared to more than a dozen to face him
Yet, his composure straight, not broken, he makes his ground
Even if outnumbered, from the outside, it seemed as if he controlled this space
His tall figure alone cemented itself
The boys, a pressure felt inside them, as they look above, his eyes so sharp, a hole could be made
Some would irk, some would shrink, as the figure in front of them showed no hole, and authority it called for
An accepted defeat, one makes to speak
"Fine, class 2-E, Tanikawa Haruto"
"Good"
Even his face showed a hint of satisfaction, as he received what was supposed to be given to him
(No matter what, a brat should learn etiquette)
"Now then, why ask for my name?"
His question is clear, the boys staggered
"W-well...what is your relationship with Komachi-sensei!?"
Out of his lips, hesitant at first, yet now well said
(Oi, did you just...)
Voiced clearly, another boy made to join
"Yeah, and why was she hugging your arm really tight?"
"Answer us this! We saw you entering the gate together!"
"You're different from the other one, did she find a new one?"
"Don't you dare hurt Komachi-sensei!"
A flood of words, these boys riled up, they voiced and voiced, loud and loud
(Oh...these brats...)
(They must be the ones she was talking about)
The once quiet, among the loud boys, an action made to stop it all
*Don!*
A swing nonchalantly, even restrained slight
A chop to the head, a karate chop...to the head
"Oww!"
Who was hit? The victim, Tanikawa
His head lowered slightly, some pain felt
"That hurt! What was that for!?"
As he waves his hands in casual, his voice changed to apathetic
"First off, that's what you get for calling Komachi so casually"
Their eyes popped, surprised!
-He just called Komachi-sensei Komachi!
Such a thought went through all of them
With eyes glinting hostility
"Secondly, I'm not what you think I am"
Blank, their minds, they look to each other
"Eh? What does that mean?"
Asked by another boy
His turn, so nonchalant, he answers:
"Greetings, I'm Hikigaya Hachiman, I'm Komachi's brother"
.
.
Bloodshot eyes, those boys...then...
'""'""'""'""EEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"""""""""""
This quiet field now sounded a little more...chaotic
And the attention of some from afar, caught, merely onlookers
"Ehhh!? Really!? Then...about the hugging..."
"She does it all the time"
"Together...walking...?"
"She dragged me here"
"Eh!?, is that so?"
Tensions leaving, relief inside the boys, calmly, now they thought
A heavy anvil placed on them, and a perfect 90 degree, hey now:
'""'"'""'"""We're very sorry!""""""""""
"We made a wrong assumption, we apologize!"
His hand, waving off, a nonchalant answer
"It's fine, it's fine, it's not like any damage was done"
He shrugged it off
Confused why, yet no longer a priority
The boys, relieved as their apology... seemed to be accepted
"Then, why were you here?"
A curious one from the crowd, only an innocent answer
His answer...
"Ah...uhhh, just visiting...I used to go here..."
"Eh? Then...that means..."
"""""""""Senpai!"'''''""''''''
With vigor, they roared, as they bowed, a straight 90 indeed
"Oi Oi, I'm a little too old for that"
"Even so, what we did was really rude, especially to a senior!"
A troubled smile, no, half smile, he makes that type of smile
"Its fine, no, really, stop the bowing, stop the bowing"
(This is troubling)
"Okay, okay, its fine, all is settled, ok? All is settled"
His hands made to look, as if pushing, to calm this storm, slowly, his hands were pushing
Their bowing continued, but then...
*Fwiisssssssssshhh*
What sound, what sound was made?
A baseball, a baseball from the sky
Where did it land? On one of the boys' face...or it should have
*Dud*
The ball, tightly gripped in between skin
The ball, nestled tightly in a hand, his hand
"That was dangerous"
He himself whispered
From far away, a shout came
"We're sorry Senpai! Are you guys ok!?"
From the field, a group of boys, their practice caused this
"Hey! Watch it! Taniguchi!"
One of the boys' screams at their Kouhai
"Sorry!"
The voice from faraway said
"Sorry about that...ehhh...Hikigaya-senpai"
Panicked in tone, said by one of them
"By the way, how did you do that?"
The ball, already on the ground, yet, their sights still on his hand
"Stray balls, you guys should be careful"
His only words
"Hikigaya-senpai, do you play?"
"Uhh, yeah, a little"
(Also, stop with the senpai)
Brightly lit, all of their eyes
"Then, Hikigaya-senpai, do you want to join us?"
Enthusiastic, shown in their eyes
"Ehh, I don't think so, it's been so long, and also, shouldn't you all be busy with Kōshien?"
"It's okay! Actually, we'd be happy if you joined us in practice!"
"I don't know..."
"Please!"
Their pleads, determined
So were their eyes
.
.
"Fine, just a bit"
'""''""""Yeaaaaahhhhh!""""""""
"Thank you! Hikigaya-senpai!"
"Yeah, yeah, and also, stop with the senpai"
"Ehh? Then what about Hikigaya-san?"
(Good enough)
And off they go, something physical, an activity for Hachiman
.
.
.
"Thanks for the hard work"
Not loud, nor quiet
A space of professionalism and maturity
Cramped with papers and files
A room of working adults
The staff room
"Thanks for the hard work, Hitomi-sensei"
Komachi greets
"You too, Hikigaya-sensei"
"Nnnnnn, finally, finally, summer break!"
Her arms crossed and stretch wide, what a feeling
An action, this Hitomi person makes
"I can't wait to go home, anyway, Hikigaya-sensei, have you heard?"
"Of what?"
"The rumors, the r-u-m-o-r-s, at the gate, they saw you with a guy, a tall guy, a different guy from Kawasaki-kun you know? Now, explain"
Tensions rising, her eyes are smiling
"What's the deal? What happened with you and him? Details! Details!"
The answer to that is:
"Hahahahaha!"
A giggle, somewhat a laugh, tears almost pour from her eyes
"W-why are you laughing?"
One hand hugged her sides, one hand near her eyes, the tears that almost came, taken out, a huge smile on her face
"Well, first off, nothing happened with me and Taishi-kun, second, that was my brother"
Her nonchalant answer, this Hitomi's eyes popped
"W-what? You had a brother?"
"I've never heard of this, even way before"
"Well, it's not like there was any point in talking about it, he went away for a while...a long while..."
Slightly of melancholy, her last words, and with that, she returns and brings back a smile
"But now, he's back"
"Woah, how long is he going to stay?"
"...I've never asked, but, I'll know"
A continuous flurry
"How old is he?"
"Two years older than me"
"Is he single?"
Her temple rubbed, and with sadness, she, with a burdened heart says:
"Unfortunately, yes"
As this Hitomi hears
Her eyes glitter
A smirk, a silent smirk, somewhere
"Hey, Komachi-chan, would you mind...giving him word of me?"
"I don't know"
"What!?"
Loud, confused, loud
Now, this Hitomi pushes to Komachi, her body quickly sticking to her's, these two adults, act as if children
This Hitomi's face, pushing against Komachi's very own
No men are allowed to view this
This Hitomi, desperate looking, her arms spread all throughout Komachi's sides, hugging her
"Why not!? He's free! I'm free! Don't you want both of us to be happy!?"
Over and over, she shakes and shakes
Annoyed, Komachi made to make distance
"This is when you really use the friend card, don't you? Also, get away, you're squeezing me really t-tight! I c-can't breathe!"
"In the first place, my brother's the problem!"
"What?"
Only a moment, and this Hitomi stops, her arms retract, and now, unglued to Komachi's face was her own
"What do mean?"
Komachi, her breath was somewhat rough, truly, she was in a tight pinch
"My brother...ever since he was in high school, he never thought about something like that, I've been trying really hard, but every time, he just ignores it"
Hitomi listens, as Komachi's voice was somewhat meek
"It can't be helped since he had bad luck before, but, I just want him to forget about that..."
"I keep telling him to get over it, since it's for his better...but...well, I can't blame him..."
Awkward and pained, as if a past ought to be buried...
Hitomi, somewhat shocked
"Plus, he'd definitely be put off if I push too much"
A silent area
As this little sister had done many, a brother who won't allow himself
Such an effort, to strike a balance
A brother who will never pursue, and if pursued will retract
Such a hassle of a person
Yet, he's her brother
And so it can't be helped
Hitomi thought so too, as if a troublesome pair she had stumbled, as if it wasn't her place to be selfish
Hitomi now makes a little smile
"Fine, then, if you say it like that...then...not today, huh"
The understanding Hitomi, Komachi's friend
Consolidated? Komachi makes an assured smile
"Thanks, Akari-chan"
This satisfying air, fluffy, fluffy
"Although...about my brother..."
It was about to go to ruin
"If you really want to, you have to get in line"
"Ehh?"
Confused, this Hitomi
"What, if he was to snag one, I want the best, that's why...I've prepared some... candidates"
A smug face, as her fingers lay on her chin, a terrifying expression from Komachi
"Hehehe, taking care of him is a big hassle, I wonder who would take it"
Bewildered, the space of before was gone, with Hitomi's eyes twitching in confusion, weirded out?
For this Hitomi, in her mind, 'Let's stop for now' is what it was saying
.
.
.
.
.
*Clang!*
A clash, of metal and a ball
"Woah, awesome!"
*Clang!*
Another one
"Ok, I think this is enough"
"What?! Hikigaya-san, one more! Just one more!"
"Hey, I'm tired, you guys should focus on Kōshien"
A little frown, yet it was inevitable
And to push for more, is not right
And for this boy, one choice left
"I see, well then...all of you! Come here!"
Saying so, all the boys run, to them
And so
*Bow*
With him in the lead, with his words
"For taking your time, thank you very much!"
"""""""""Thank you very much!"""""""""
The sun starts to set, whilst the wind blows their hair
"Yeah, I didn't mind, it was a little fun, I'll admit"
His back faced to them, he moves
"See you later"
""""""""""Yes!"""""""""
.
.
.
.
They walked
"So, how was school?"
"You shouldn't use that line on me, Komachi"
"I wanted to"
"Ufufufu" Komachi giggled
*Step*
"But, anyway, how was it? Really"
Evading her gaze, a turn from his head
"Hmmm..."
Thinking
"Not bad"
*Step*
"I got to read to a bit, I also had a good nap-oh..."
Something that shouldn't have been said
"What? You come to school, and one of the things you do is sleep? Really, Onii-chan!"
"It was a really good sleep"
*Step*
"Where did you even do that?"
"There"
A silent face that said nothing, only that single word
"There?"
Komachi...she understood, her brother's choice, she understood
*Step*
A mini smile, it appeared, so subtle, so little, a satisfied smile
"Well, I'm glad for you"
(Glad for what? All I did was sleep)
"Then, what else did you do?"
"Not much"
"I see"
Quiet, quiet, quiet
No new words came
But, a big bomb drops
"Sorry Komachi, I assaulted a child"
"Police!"
"Idiot, not in that way, I hit one of your students, in the head"
"Huh!?"
Her eyes stare, big they go
"Someone from the baseball team"
"Huuhh!?"
Bloodshot now
"Hey! Hey! You can't pick a fight with kid!"
She continued her complaint
"I didn't bring you to school just so you can attack my students!"
A comply from Hachiman, arrogant, yet meek and uncertain
"...Maybe it was too much?"
"It is!"
"In the first place, why'd you do it!?"
His face, away from her sight, and answered:
"They didn't use honorifics"
.
.
"What?"
"That's it?"
Instead of another complaint, instead of a loud scolding, what came was...
"Pufu...pufhahhahaha!"
A loud laugh
Her arms held her sides, her informal appearance, it continued
"Oh...oh...Onii-chan..."
Her tears almost drop, stopped by her fingers
"Onii-chan...thanks..."
Flabbergasted, he was, a soft voice from her!? No violent reaction, only a fond "Thanks"
(Eh? What's wrong? She's supposed to get angry right about now, right? What happened to her? Did her job really break her? If so, then I'll definitely-
"Onii-chan"
His thoughts, they all stopped as his focus remained on her, her voice that remained fond
"I was really scared...scared that if you ever came back...you'd have changed, you might've forgotten about Komachi...I'm happy...you're still the same lazy siscon brother that I know"
"E-eh...remove the siscon part?"
"Don't ruin it"
(Ugh)
And for him, to reassure again, he turns with eyes closed and casually confident
"Well, don't worry...I'm still the same, I'm still gonna eat all your delicious cooking"
A bridge, a foot bridge, they now climb the stairs
The trees that surround here, with these leaves falling, and they, rising
Her face in true amazement, her lips to almost open, only to be speechless
"Hahaha, what's with that?"
She giggled, slight, her enjoyment is true
*Step*
"Well...if that's the case, just this once...I'll cook something special"
(Yes, yes, yes)
A little grin
Exited, deep inside, so unguarded, his eagerness is quite naked
"Wait...I'm just going to call mom"
*Step*
*Step*
Her bag made to be ruffled, the ruffling...it did not stop
"Huh?...wait"
*Ruffle*
"What?"
*Ruffle*
"Eh?"
"What's wrong?"
He questioned
"My phone...oh, where is it?"
Flustered, she rummaged her bag, more and more
Perhaps a realization
"My phone...I left it in the staff room!"
A panicking state
"Well, do you want me to get it?
He asked, if possible, he would get it
In haste, Komachi said
"No, I'll just go back, wait here"
"Sure"
Immediate steps, she hurries down the stares
Her figure shrinks until no longer seen
.
.
.
Alone in this bridge, he now was
Slanted slightly, his posture
Against the rails his body faced, his arms firmly on top of them
Down below, the passing cars, the wind that caresses the cheeks, no more was the heat, only, a blissful chill in feel
He heeded no mind to such, even with the pleasure of the breeze, he is still kept to his thoughts
("Onii-chan...thanks...")
(There's nothing to thank me about)
(I don't know, I wasn't there, it's scaring me a little, these past few year...I really missed out huh, a lot, and for her, for her, she thinks I see still her as the same, the same as before, so, what was it again? Proving oneself?...)
(Really...everyone around me, while it's true that I can't truly understand her completely, especially now, I can at least try, she wants to tell me she's fine...but, to her...that's the same as saying she doesn't need me anymore, which...I hope isn't true, she also knows it would sound that way...who's the worrywart now?)
(Well, no point in overthinking, I'm just here Komachi, whether you like it or not...I'm here)
.
.
(Well, all I should focus now is dinner)
The sun, the bright yellow is gone, now tinted with summer orange, this day is coming to its end
Enjoyable, these few minutes, it comes to an end
At the middle of this bridge, this...Inage Rikkyō bridge
There...he stands
Alone
.
.
.
Minutes pass...
And it felt unmoving
.
.
Yet it all changed
*Step*
*Step*
*Step*
From his left, a sound heard
Made to turn his head, of his volition he turns
Wondering what it was
Confused
From his peripheral, there, a figure
A woman
The woman as well, her sights move to him, and in this moment
Their gazes meet
"Hmm?"
.
.
"Haaah"
Confused
As if speechless, only a slight noise, he makes, subtle
His movement stopped
The both of them stop, only to stare straight to each other
.
.
A realization
.
.
.
It was her
Who's that Pokemon?
Kiryu