Hachiman's POV
If somebody had told me that I would actually be spending time with other people, other than Komachi, and enjoying it, I would label them as crazy and avoid them forever after calling them an ambulance to check their brain.
Really. I was prepared to just spend my life being alone, maybe hopefully get myself into a house husband role of a wealthy woman where I would stay at home and take care of the kids.
After all, youth is something that society spouts to give people a convenient excuse for their shitty life decisions they made when they were young. That they should enjoy it while it last before they become an adult where you are treated as a cog in society's machine. I hated the society which labeled me as an outcast and I was contend to hate it back while expecting nothing to change.
I was proven wrong. Twice.
*Warning - indirect mention of suicide*
My first year in Chiba Academy proceeded as I expected, even though I had hoped otherwise. Being a loner, getting ignored by other people, and getting ridiculed when I was in the room with them. With Komachi not here to keep me balanced and along with the nightmares…
I kept trying to do it but always putting it down for reasons.
It's funny that the night I was close to doing it, the next day I met her in school. The transfer student who came here to search for her dad.
*Indirect mention end*
I had already labeled her off like the rest of my classmates and was prepared to deal with the new annoyance in class…
Then she talked to me.
She looked like a nice girl. I hate nice girls. The result should have been expected.
Yet she proved me wrong.
She, Kiana, didn't look at me with disgust. She didn't shy away from my eyes or my words. I gave her chances and chances to prove my thoughts right. That she was faking it. That she was just being nice to me and she would leave me.
Every. Single. Time. I was proven wrong.
She wasn't a nice girl. She literally didn't care about anybody else in our class. She was brash. An idiot. A blunt idiot even when I tried to find any fault in her words, she meant it. Headstrong. Likes to use her physical strength to get what she wants. By all accounts, I should have been repulsed by her and avoided her like the plague.
Yet I didn't. Well, she would have kidnapped me if I tried anyway.
Then there was Mei.
Someone who was in my class since the first year. Someone who was lavished with praises, someone who acted like the school was for her, someone who was faking kindness, someone who had everything that I wanted.
My second time being wrong.
Mei wasn't who I thought. She was genuinely kind to other people. Helping everybody who asked, cleaning up the classroom after everybody had left, and more. No matter if there are people to watch her or not.
She didn't flaunt her status. It was her fake friends that did it. All of them got close to her, regardless of the rumors, to try and bet that they will become important to her so that she will help them.
Then they turned their backs to her when they found out her father was in jail.
It was strange how her father immediately went through court then into prison all in a short time. It just reeks of him being framed.
Yet, no one questioned it. No one stopped to think that something was wrong. That this was all too swift. Mob mentality and prejudice are a scary combo.
Anyway. Mei was somebody who liked to be physical when she found anything bothering her. Evidenced by the fact she likes to slap me and throw stuff at me. Light stuff that doesn't hurt but still.
Again, on all accounts, she is a person I would absolutely avoid. But I didn't. On second thought, Kiana would have dragged me along with her so that was a moot point.
Then Mei almost turned into a Herrscher… Or was it already complete? No idea since the books never showed a person that only got half of them transformed. I need to go to the library soon.
Learning that there is an alien invasion going on while the public is unaware… I was unaware… Made me want to laugh and cry at the same time at the sheer thought. If those mechs hadn't come out from god knows where and Mei hadn't tried to kill me with her transformed state.
I didn't want to ask her anything until I confirmed what she said was true. I don't trust her, even though Kiana vouched that she was trustworthy, albeit with some curses along and that she lied to her about what they did for a living… I still can't bring myself to trust them. Not yet. Hopefully that will change.
…Oh. This is interesting.
"The family who administers the role of the "Knight", the Kaslana family were born with great Houkai adaptability and excellent combat abilities. Patriarchs are usually the most powerful members of the Kaslana family tree. Famous member of the Kaslana descent is Siegfried Kaslana."
…Kiana said her father's name is Siegfried… Right…? Does that mean she was lying that she didn't know anything? Or maybe her family tried to shield her away from that world… I don't know. My Human Observation skill isn't leveled enough to see through professional actors. Highly doubt that she is one but better safe than sorry.
Well… I'll give her the benefit of doubt. Wait, could Mei also be lying that she didn't know anything…? No. She is just the daughter of the guy who manufactures and sells electronics. She didn't deserved to be the object of hate by all those people…
"Ok. Enough with reading and my thoughts." I close the book and get up from the seat to stretch, "Bathroom then sleep." Checking my phone reveals to me that it is 4 in the morning. Welp.
A long yawn comes out as I shamble my way to the bathroom at the end of the hallway then stops as I hear something falling in one of the five sleeping rooms here.
"Oi. Mei. You alright there?" I lightly knock on her door, yet she doesn't respond, "Mei?"
I was about to shrug when I hear her voice, "Hach-Hachiman… Please come in…" The words barely register as I quickly open the door, though I would have commented how she doesn't lock her door if this was any other time.
With the light from the hallway coming into the room, I see Mei curling under a blanket. On the floor. At the corner of the room. Her face looks like she had seen a ghost with how pale her skin is and shivering like a leaf.
After closing the door, I was about to turn on the light but decided not to since I can see fine in the darkness and slowly walk over to her.
"Oi, Mei. You alright?" I quietly ask, or maybe I should have said it loudly?
"Ple-please give me your hand…" I hear her quiet request, making me blink but I still give her hand, to which she latched onto like her life depended on it.
"This is real! You're real!" She sobs, making me panic as I drop to my knees.
"Mei, another nightmare?" She had nightmares back in my apartment. She tried to play it off but every night I could hear her sobbing, yet I chose not to help. This time will be different.
I see her head slowly moving up and down, "Th-this one… Was about… Me ch-choking you… This time I went through with it. Then I did it to Kiana… Then to Bronya then to every one of my classmates. I remember the faces Hachiman! The horrified and loathing faces! Please make it stop!" She holds her head while shouting those words and repeating the last two over and over.
I grit my teeth as I squeeze her hand in mine while my other hand reaches for her shoulder, "Mei! Get a hold of yourself! This isn't the nightmare! I am here! Alive and breathing! Kiana is sleeping opposite of your room! Bronya I have no idea where." I rock her back and forth, yet she keeps on repeating those words.
Screw it.
I go in to hug her while tightening my hand with hers, in hopes of stopping her breakdown. I can feel her freezing before slowly relaxing into the hug. She lets go of my hand, only to put them over my shoulders to bring us closer.
I just pat her back, like how I do with Komachi whenever she cries, while not saying anything. I just ignore the wet patch on my shoulder and the sobbing sounds while hugging her tighter.
Yeah. I decide that both of them might be lying to me but I trust that they aren't. I guess it's the privilege of being my first friends.
…Hold on, are friends this open and carefree with each other…?
Welp, just a short look into the workings of Hachiman's mind. All of what are said here are intentional. Anyway on to the comments!
BorderLand - stick around to find out your answers since you won't get any spoilers from me (unless you give me cookies and milk)
