A/N: So this is my first attempt at a fanfic. And writing a long story in general. Bear with me. I imagine my structure and wording could use some major work so all criticism is welcome/needed. I started writing the first iteration a couple months or so ago but due to technological issues, I lost all my previous work and was forced to rewrite. Over the course of all that, I gradually rebuilt it into something else. This is the start of what I ended up with.

Disclaimer: I do not own Katawa Shoujo/Oregairu or any of their assets.

Updated regularly.

Edit: Rated M for constant swearing, and other M related things, blah blah blah...

"That seems like a little much," I muttered grimly.

"It seems like the most fitting solution for your... uh.. precarious situation." The doctor replied.

This was merely the 5th doctor I've seen, I can't even bother to remember their names anymore.

I figured there was no reason to learn names if they'll just swap out personal doctors like there's no tomorrow.

A few weeks ago I was involved in a violent incident concerning a botched robbery. It's hard, sometimes, to recall the specifics of that chaotic night. I'm unsure if it's my brain simply rejecting the memory entirely to cover my own fuck up or if there is something more wrong with me than I originally surmised.

o—o

It was an ordinary and uninteresting night; I was on my way to resupply food and essentials for school. Considering I constantly tend to ignore that kind of thing, I thought I'd need to switch it up a bit. I typically do most of these things at night, as I tend to be uncomfortable around crowds.

I made my way to the most convenient store. I nodded at the attractive girl working the till as I entered. It occurred to me at the time - she was in my class.

I was in the back eyeing up their excellent selection of alcoholic beverages when I scarcely heard the door in the front open, paying no attention to it.

I knelt to get a better look at the bottom row of drinks.

As soon as I did, I heard shouting near the cash register. My head snapped in the direction of the frantic voices. Staying low, I made my way along the shelves to get a more precise angle of what was happening.

You could tell right away they were definitely not in their rational minds. One had, which seemed to be, a rustic-looking revolver while his partner-in-crime investigated the aisles with a...? Switchblade? I think that was it. Either way, a small knife.

At the time, I chuckled under my breath, wondering what the worst thing a junkie could do with it. My overconfidence unwittingly made me extremely careless. I'm fairly in shape and have been in more than my share of scraps growing up. Nothing this life-threatening but rather equally chaotic. Still, there was a familiarity with everything that was happening.

As I watched the tweaked-out man round his way around the aisles, the adrenaline kicked in; getting closer and closer to my corner, I was mentally prepping myself to KO this dude as quickly as possible.

Before I finished hyping myself, I had frozen as I realized someone noticed me.

The cashier. She didn't utter anything but her gaze still told enough. In the reflection of the freezer door, I saw the gunman looking in the corresponding direction and must've put two and two together.

Still, he didn't have an exact angle on me.

I panicked regardless and rushed the knife-equipped robber. I flung my full weight into him while desperately trying to restrain his armed hand. He was unprepared for any sort of retaliation as I ran him into a glass door of the nearby freezer, shattering it in the process.

Believing that did it, I shifted my attention to the villain in the front. He honestly had no idea who to point his antique weapon at. Me or the cashier, opting to keep it trained on her. Thinking about his gun like that conveyed a dumb notion to me.

What are the odds it doesn't even work anymore?

I took one look at the petrified cashier and knew I had to get her safely out of this worsening shit show one way or another.

What's one guilty life compared to that of an innocent one? And lord knows, mine is indeed a guilty one.

I took a step towards the front. Then another one. Then another one after that.

Three steps.

It took three steps to get him to try and kill me.

As soon as I took that third step, his arm snapped from her to me.

Time slowed to a crawl, I had no defence except for my theory about his obsolete weapon as his finger slowly squeezed the trigger, every emotion I ever felt was running through my body.

I looked on as the hammer drew back more and more.

Is this comeuppance? Karma?

It didn't matter.

I didn't care. Partly out of spite for myself and partly out of acceptance.

As an author, I greatly respect once said, 'Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.'

So send me forth onto the next part of life, be it the end of it or not.

I closed my eyes, accepting whatever fate awaited me.

.

.

Then I heard the oddest sound.

It wasn't the normal sound of a firearm discharge.

Instead, it was like a cluster of firecrackers going off simultaneously.

I heard an agonizing scream...

I opened my eyes one after the other, to see the robber holding the mangled, bloody mess that is now his hand, dropping to his knees.

Looking at the distorted smoking gun on the ground, it seemed as if my assumption was right. I couldn't help but feel like I just rolled a nat 20 on a death saving throw.

The sensation of relief rushed over me as I motioned for the cashier to leave but she seemed in disbelief about how events just transpired. I couldn't blame her, I could scarcely believe myself.

She looked back at me as her face shifted from shock to relief to horror all in an instant while opening her mouth. I hear the crunch of someone stepping on glass. My eyes widen when I realize.

She screams."Behind yo-!"

I turn while trying some vain attempt to get my arms into a defensive posture. I'm greeted with an extremely quick, thoughtful slash to the eye. I return the thought with my fist with as much power as I can muster before the pain takes over completely.

The overflowing stream of red flooded my vision as I fell.

Then nothing, just darkness.

o—o

Arrogant moron.

I lift my head to look back at the doctor, shaking myself from my consuming thoughts. "You're the medical professional here." I try shifting the sarcasm out of the statement. The guy literally is a medical professional, but I subconsciously state things sarcastically. Unpleasant habit.

"Indeed and I'm sorry to say, we got more than just pills to talk about." He replies sternly.

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh? Lay it on me, doc."

"After we treated your eye as best as we can, we noticed your elevated heart rate began slowing to a crawl and eventually stopped altogether. In essence, you went into sudden cardiac arrest. Luckily, you were already with us so we were able to resuscitate you. This was extremely irregular so we conducted some tests," He explained.

How the hell...?

I didn't say anything but simply waited for him to continue.

"You haven't been keeping yourself very healthy, Mr Shiro"

I sigh. I could've told you that.

"What makes you say that?" I inquire, trying to at least appear concerned.

"Well, for starters..."

Agh damn it. Here we go.

It was an extensive and lengthy discussion about how they discovered my shitty lifestyle led me to have a heart attack AT the hospital which in turn, is a result of C.H.D... coronary heart disease. Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. So basically blood flow to my heart has the potential to slow or even stop. The plan is to take some basic treatment steps following an impromptu operation.

Yay, free healthcare. I love Canada.

But it probably won't be enough.

Couple that with the fact I'm now blind in one eye. I'm told I'm next to disabled.

That's not a very pleasant thought. The following conversation makes me a bit uncomfortable.

"So, I'm told the police had to look through your background. Considering your involvement in the whole thing." He stated, looking over a folder.

"Oh."

"Strictly out of necessity, I'm told. But ..." He spoke looking up, waving his hand dismissively.

"Oh, because that's so relieving," I muttered sarcastically, even though it kind of was. In a sense.

Wait, did he say but?

"Hm. Anyways, your fami-"

Woah woah woah, what.

"What family?" I interrupt.

"Your aunt? The one living in Niigata?" He inquired.

Niigata...? Where the hell...Japan? Sonuvabitch. I never thought about that. But how the hell could I? Damn near everything, relating to any of my blood-related family was completely obscure to me. Aside from the very apparent fact I'm half-Japanese but that never gave me anything concrete to work with. "This is the first I'm hearing of it."

"Really? Hm.." He inspects the folder more closely, flipping through it.

"Oh..!" He exclaims, alluding to his discovery I've been an orphan for as long as I can remember. His face bears a more sullen look as he looks at me, making me grimace a bit. "..I'm sorry, I-"

I wave my hand. I don't need pity. "Don't be. You didn't know."

"I should have." He counters. I glance over the folder in his hands to check his name tag.

"Look. Dr Lexus. I appreciate that, but for real. It's cool. I am, however, curious as to this relative I'm only just now discovering for the first time in my life." I speak, meaning every word of it. He seems more genuine than everyone else I've encountered here.

"Right. Right, of course. Just let me... find..." Dr Lexus trails off, looking through the folder again.

"Here we go. Father's side. Younger sister. Mai Shiro. She's about 31 by now, according to this. No real specifics, though." He continues.

Niigata, Japan.

Wait.

"No real specifics? What the hell does that mean?" I asked curiously.

"Apparently, this is second-hand information from your father. Given around the time of your birth." He elaborates.

Intriguing. I love a good mystery.

I stretch, still confined to my hospital bed for a couple of days.

"Bearing that in mind. You're 18, part-time job, living on your own but maintaining a decent education. That's fairly impressive." He says.

"It was easier until I had to leave the orphanage," I say, chuckling at my joke.

He glances at me. I shrug.

He shakes his head but grins "Back to the point, you don't think you'd do too badly in a new environment, eh? Say. A foreign one?"

What exactly does he know?

As if reading my mind. "You were still on the mend, but I spoke to a few of your teachers and your therapist." He stops.

Gah, we were doing so well too, I flinch upon hearing my therapist being mentioned.

"Oh relax, it's nothing sinister." He states bluntly.

That is a fact I suppose. And he took the time to look into my background. I'm unsure if that's heartwarming or unsettling. "So what'd you speak to them about?"

"Just your interests and what you're good at. It seems you produced the extra effort whenever possible. Also, I was unaware of your fluency in Japanese."

Oh. It really wasn't sinister. "Well, I figured my family would've wanted that much even if they're seemingly non-existent."

"That's good to hear. I spent a few years in Russia trying to do the same" He goes on.

"You don't p-peg me m-uch as a-a..." What the fuck is wrong with my words.

"Russian?" He smiles."You wouldn't be the first one to think so. Россия снова поднимется." He chuckles.

"W-what?" It was Russian, obviously. I'm stupid.

"Oh it's just some Russian," OBVIOUSLY "what was I talking about..? Oh yeah. I believe, plainly speaking, it's in the best interest of everyone if we transfer you."

"Why?"

"The whole town is on edge after what happened. That kind of thing doesn't happen often. Not in this fashion anyhow..." He carries on describing why my presence here would endanger myself, and provoke a certain pair of degenerates.

My defunct eye twitches.

Ow, that hurts. I guess I gotta have my other eye be the one that twitches. If that's even possible. Maybe it's something you could train your brain to subconsciously develop for you. Like a Pokémon. Or is it something that I can't even control?

The thought doesn't sit well with me. Although that might just be the shit hospital food, I've been stuck with. Eck.

I'm also having a bit of an existential crisis. Challenging a deranged robber to shoot me marks my first brush with death. But the whole C.A.D issue caught me off-guard, it probably shouldn't have considering the junk I eat and my smoking habit. I honestly believed my partially physically-active lifestyle would've offset any sort of health-related problems like that but I guess that turned out to be wishful thinking.

Going into sudden cardiac arrest marks my second brush with death.

Why does it feel like life is trying to put me in the dirt? Some would be surprised if they heard I was religious.. to a certain degree, but this mostly stemmed from being raised in an orphanage with a side of Catholic families to boot. With time, I came to realize the impossibility of 'higher powers' and all that jazz but this whole situation felt like something is actively seeking my demise.

Be it fate, or something else.

My logic-oriented mind couldn't accept that and come to one solemn conclusion.

Fuck that.

It's through the will of humanity that people can make their own lives.

Everyone is in control of designing their fates, whether intentionally or not. Sure, some things are simply out of our control but at the end of the day - isn't it up to the individual how they handle it?

I realize the good doctor is still explaining, I tune out my nonsensical thoughts to focus on what he is divulging.

"..going with Yamaku Academy." He finishes. I want to inquire what that is. But I get the feeling that's what he just told me. I nod.

"Really? I genuinely thought it would take some convincing but alright. I'll get the wheels in motion and get back to you. Just rest up for now." He explains. Moving for the door.

Wait, shit. I was agreeing to go? Oh well. Whatever happens, happens. It's not like I have anything here except for some interesting memories. And my eye. Sort've.

"By the way..." Dr Lexus says near the door

I glance over. "Hmm?"

"No smoking, Keegan. Doctor's orders." He stated with a wave. Closing the door.

Well, we'll see. A new start could be nice. I lay back, closing my eyes. Hoping to sleep easily.

o—o

I wake, sometime later, to the sound of the door opening.

I elevate my head lazily to perceive a familiar face.

"H-h-hi.." She stammers out, her hazel locks of hair flowing in a mesmerizing sight as she shuts the door behind her.

The girl from the store, I realize with my mouth slightly agape.

I don't know why I'm shocked. I guess I wasn't expecting visitors at this time?

"H-hey, I wasn't expecting anyone. You're f-from the store right?" I ask nervously.

She takes a seat by the bed.

"Y-eah. That's me. A-an-d f-f-fr-o-" she yet again stammers.

"Class?" I finish.

She nods with a smile. Cute smile.

"I ju-s-st... I-I-I wa-nt-t" She gets back to being nervous.

I think she's trying to thank me. I wave to halt her.

"Ah. Don't mention. It'd be completely inappropriate to leave the damsel in distress." I joke. Sort've. It, unquestionably, would've been a dick move if I bailed back there.

She merely looks at me with that cute smile of hers. "S-s-sti-ll."

Do I make her that nervous? Does she just feel that bad? She shou-

My thoughts interrupt themselves as I realized something.

"I feel shitty for this, but I don't think I ever caught your name. No one really told me much about what happened after." I confess.

She relaxes "Maria. M-maria Sanders."

I extend my hand. "Well Maria, I'm Keegan. Shi-" I tack on the last part.

Instead of shaking, she goes for a full-on embrace. Wrapping her arms around me, I think I'm feeling wetness on her cheek.

"I know," is all she says.

"Uhhh" I let out a vague noise. I feel awkward. Most girls tend to keep me at arm's length. Well. Aside from hoes trying to get an easy gram off me or trying to get to know my previous 'associates' but I learned how to deal with 'em. Now, normal girls on the other hand are where I typically fuck up. My lack of social grace can be astonishing sometimes.

She pulls back, wiping her eyes "S-sorry! Sorry. Thank you. Thank you. I-I've just never been in a-a situation like that before."

"Me neither," I admit a half-truth.

Maria looks at me now with a seriously baffled look. "B-but th-en... why w-would you..." she trails off.

I shrug. "I don't know what came over me. I saw you. Then, I guess I just knew. I had to do something."

She goes back for a hug. This is pleasant.

"T-thank you." She whispers.

"Don't mention it." I glance at the clock, and she does too.

10:46 p.m.

"Well, it's late. You should get home." I say, pulling away.

"Y-yeah. You're right." She says, wiping the remains of tears away with her sleeve. She starts heading for the door. I recall something.

"Hey," I say as Maria reaches the door.

"Yeah?" She asks, shifting her head.

"How'd you know my name?"

She blushes and looks away for a second. Then looks back with a smile that could warm the North and South poles.

"I've... always known," she says, vacating the room.

Huh. I didn't think I could feel satisfied with myself. This is a development. I thrust the thoughts out of my head and flop back down on my not-so-comfortable hospital bed and drift off to an inconsistent sleep.

Edit: This beginning bit is now it's own separate chapter (prologue) and also how I plan on writing dream/flashback sequences btw, my bad if it's confusing/dumb

Guest: Appreciate the review, my guy. I'm glad it's not outright trash. The thought process was one of annoyance and compromise. The concept was much different than what I got going now - no crossover or anything. Just O.C in Katawa Shoujo. After my 3 month setback, I figured I needed something more to keep the idea alive, to me personally, and I found my answer with a pretty underused (but obviously lovable) character being placed in a situation such as Hisao's.

Guest1: I don't think there's such a thing as harsh criticism for amateur writers yo. Unless you're sensitive or something. As I said above, I need all the (useful) criticism I can get and yours is indeed helpful. I need to see the flaws to improve. So cheers, bruv.

ABear: Yeah, I've noticed that. It's funny cause I originally only had it listed under Katawa Shoujo when I first posted this story. I switched it because I didn't feel right leaving it as a regular story. Unsure about switching it again. With how I'm planning this story, the crossover aspect becomes much more prevalent later on. So I figure 'may as well leave it as it is'.