~Two Different People, Similar Lives~
After the Service Club request yesterday, we moved on to the next day, and as usual, Hachiman walked to the meetup point where Yoshiteru and him walk together to school, but today. It wasn't Yoshiteru, it was a kouhai…
"Akari, why are you here? Where's Yoshiteru?" Hachiman asked.
"YoYoYo! Hikigaya-senpai!" Akari said.
"Eh, weirdo." Hachiman said.
"You're the one to talk, Hikigaya-senpai. Girls get grossed out when you're around or when they see your face." Akari said that it really hit Hachiman's heart.
"First of all, it is true. Second of all. Answer my question, where's Yoshiteru?" Hachiman asked Akari again about Yoshiteru.
"Ah Yoshiteru-senpai? He had morning practice so he had to go early." Akari said.
"Y'know, I know about his morning practice schedule. So tell me the real reason why he is not here" Hachiman said.
"Mmmmmm, Fine, I'll tell you,I asked Yoshiteru-senpai where you two usually meet and I asked permission if I can walk with you alone because I wanted to discuss something. Yoshiteru-senpai said okay, so he just walked alone to the school. I met him earlier when I was waiting here for you, Hikigaya-senpai" Akari said the real reason why she is here instead of Yoshiteru.
"I see, since Yoshiteru has gone ahead of us. Let's go, I don't want to be late." Hachiman said.
"Okay!" Akari said.
After that, they walked to the school together, but Hachiman was walking a lot faster compared to Akari, this made Akari question Hachiman…
"Hikigaya-senpai, why are you walking ahead of me? Come here, walk beside me!" Akari said.
"I am saving your reputation by walking ahead of you, so be thankful." Hachiman said.
"Hikigaya-senpai! Walk beside me!" Akari said once again.
After that, Hachiman decided to walk beside Akari to avoid further disruption to other people and then Hachiman asked Akari something…
"Akari, weren't you supposed to talk about something? I mean that was your reason why we're walking to school together." Hachiman said.
"Oh right, I was supposed to tell you that you can only order one meal, Hikigaya-senpai," Akari said.
"Eh, that's it?" Hachiman said.
"Yeah!" Akari said in a cheerful way.
"You could have told that to me, when we're at the school gates or when I am in the classroom" Hachiman said.
"Your reputation could shatter, y'know that right?" Hachiman said.
"Hikigaya-senpai, it's fine, don't think about that. It's not like I have a reputation or friends to have it be ruined, y'know? That's why let's just have some fun and talk!" Akari said.
After that, Hachiman didn't talk or respond to it and just walked quietly and listened to Akari talking… And after a while, they arrived at the school gates…
"Akari, we're here. Go to your class now," Hachiman said.
"Okay! Hikigaya-senpai, I'll go to your class and call you at lunch time!" Akari said.
"Yeah, yeah. See you later" Hachiman said.
After that, Hachiman and Akari split apart and went to their classrooms. Akari had no one to greet. Meanwhile, Yoshiteru was waiting for Hachiman near the shoe lockers…
"Yo, Hachiman! Sorry for not telling you about Akari planning to walk with you!" Yoshiteru said
"Don't worry, it's fine. Though, tell me next time if Akari plans to do this again." Hachiman said.
"Sure! But why though?" Yoshiteru asked
"Akari is a young high school girl and with her cuteness, she could be spending her time making friends with her class. Instead, she spends her time walking with me. If it was me from middle school, he would be in love with her. I don't mind Akari. It's just hard to trust someone, especially if it's with a girl like her." Hachiman said
"I see, I understand. For now, just finish the day with Akari with you, you never know. You might learn something about her and all of that." Yoshiteru said.
"She did promise me lunch so I am taking her word for that, because food tastes best if you don't have to pay for it or work for it." Hachiman said.
After Hachiman and Yoshiteru's finished their conversation about Akari. They walked to their classroom, they arrived and saw Yuigahama and Shizuka in front of their classroom…
"Morning, Yuigahama-san and Shizuka-san," Yoshiteru greeted.
"Morning, you two," Hachiman said.
"Good morning to you two as well." Shizuka said
"Good morning!" Yuigahama shouted.
"Why are you here, Hiratsuka?" Hachiman asked.
"I am here to say that there will be no club meeting for this week. That is all," Shizuka said.
"Ehhhh! Why?" Yui asked.
"Apparently one of my seniors at my part-time job got into an accident. It'll take at least a week from now for them to recover, so I'll be doing most of their shifts for this week." Shizuka explained the situation.
"I see… I hope they're doing fine!" Yuigahama said.
"Sorry for the sudden announcement, but for this week. Take a break and rest from the club activities." Shizuka said.
"Okay!" Everybody said.
After Shizuka's announcement about club activities, they all returned to their classrooms and proceeded on with their classes…
After the string of classes were finished. A loud scream came from the hallway, an energetic voice screaming, "Hikigaya-senpai!" down the hall. Hachiman already knew who it was…
"Yo! Hikigaya-senpai! It's time for lunch!" Akari said in Hachiman's classroom.
Many people stared at Hachiman and started gossiping after Akari started calling him. After that, Hachiman stood up and walked to Akari and they left the classroom quietly…
"Hehehe, Hikigaya-senpai, are you embarrassed?" Akari started teasing Hachiman.
"No." Hachiman said.
"Not embarrassed, but mostly concerned. Why are you spending this much time with a loner like me?" Hachiman asked Akari.
"Hikigaya-senpai, don't you get tired asking that question?" Akari replied back with a question of her own.
"Not really," Hachiman said.
"Well, let's just go to the cafeteria then!" Akari said.
After that, they went to the cafeteria. Akari ordered and paid for her meal and for Hachiman's meal as well, as part of their deal. They talked, but mostly Akari who was speaking while Hachiman was just responding with Akari's conversation…
After they finished their meal, Hachiman thanked Akari and Akari walked back to her classroom along with Hachiman. When Hachiman was in his classroom, Akari asked Hachiman…
"Hikigaya-senpai, can you walk with me after school?" Akari asked.
"Why? Can't you walk by yourself?" Hachiman said.
"I can, but I choose to walk with you. Hikigaya-senpai!" Akari said, while making it sound cute to Hachiman.
"What if I said no?" Hachiman said.
"Come on, Hikigaya-senpai! You walk with Shizuka-senpai sometimes!" Akari said.
"Geh-" Hachiman made a weird noise.
"Fine, I'll walk with you every now and then." Hachiman said.
"Yay! You promised so you better keep that!" Akari said in a joyous manner.
"Yeah, I will." Hachiman replied.
After that short exchange, Akari said goodbye to Hachiman and proceeded to her classroom. Meanwhile, Hachiman has gone inside of his classroom and there's still people looking at him after Akari called him earlier, but he ignored it and acted like he wasn't in the room. After he sat down, Yoshiteru approached Hachiman…
"That was really brave of Akari." Yoshiteru said.
"Yeah." Hachiman said and left it at that.
Yoshiteru didn't continue talking about Akari, as he noticed Hachiman doesn't want to talk about it, and walked back to his seat, proceeded with classes…
After classes, Hachiman proceeded to leave his classroom and walked to the school gate and waited for Akari… However, Hachiman waited for a while, and proceeded to think of why he fell for a trick of a girl like Akari again. After that, he walked by himself like always. Until a familiar scream was heard by Hachiman again…
"Hikigaya-senpai! Wait for me!" Akari screamed at Hachiman.
Hachiman was genuinely surprised with Akari's arrival, he thought he was bamboozled again. But his view of Akari has changed slightly…
"Hikigaya-senpai, I saw you walking by yourself and leaving! Care to explain?" Akari started interrogating Hachiman.
"How about you explain yourself first, I was waiting here for quite some time now." Hachiman countered Akari's question.
"Geh- Sorry! One of the teacher's asked me to carry the handouts and I was supposed to message you, but I forgot I didn't even have your LINE ID, hehe…" Akari said.
"It's fine, it's good to know that at least, you tried contacting me." Hachiman said.
"Hikigaya-senpai, how about giving me your LINE ID, so this doesn't happen again?" Akari said.
"I am fine with that." Hachiman then gives Akari his LINE ID.
"This is the first time I've had a LINE ID saved on my phone." Akari said.
"Why?" Hachiman asked
"I'll tell you later, but first we should eat! I am starving!" Akari said to Hachiman.
"Sure, and I'll pay for your food as well." Hachiman said.
"Ehhhh, Hikigaya-senpai, you're so generous today!" Akari said happily.
"You paid for my lunch earlier and you were handling heavy handouts, so some food would help you right?" Hachiman asked.
"Yeah, I've been hungry since earlier." Akari said.
"Let's goooo!" Akari said.
After that, Hachiman and Akari walked together to find a place to eat nearby. Akari saw a cafe and Hachiman was fine with eating at the said cafe, so they went inside the cafe…
"Hikigaya-senpai, can I pick anything?" Akari said.
"You can pick anything that's not above 500 yen." Hachiman said.
"That's not even enough for any food!" Akari said angrily.
"It was a joke, pick anything you want." Hachiman said.
"Then I'll get pasta!" Akari said.
"Okay." Hachiman said.
After that, Hachiman ordered food and while waiting for their food, he asked Akari again about the LINE ID…
"Akari, what did you mean about what you said earlier?" Hachiman asked.
"Oh that? Haha, yeah I've never had anyone in LINE. Only my parents, as to why I don't have anyone on LINE. Well because no one wanted my LINE ID. Even if I asked people, they would simply say. "I'll give it to you later." After that, no one would even try. So I just gave up entirely." Akari said.
"Why did people avoid you in the first place?" Hachiman further asked.
"It might be because of my looks. I was praised for being cute, and even had an idol agency approach me. I didn't want to become an idol. I just wanted to have a normal girl life, but at my middle school. A rumor about me was spreading about being approached by an idol agency. I thought people would be supporting my decision about declining. But no, they weren't. They were mad and pissed off, some of them wanted to become idols and tried but failed. Meanwhile, someone who didn't even want or tried to become an idol, got an offer. So I just stayed quiet for the rest of middle school, and now we're here." Akari explained deeply her reason why she has no one around to be with her.
"Then continue to stay quiet, if you're happy with what you're doing right now, then don't change it. Being silent will never be misinterpreted by anyone." Hachiman said.
"Yeah, I am fine with what I am experiencing right now! I mean I am having a date with Hachiman-senpai!" Akari said happily
"Oi, don't spout weird things or someone might misinterpret it." Hachiman said.
"I mean, Hikigaya-senpai. I don't mind dating you…" Akari said.
"Oi. One more time, I won't pay for your food." Hachiman said.
"Sorry for teasing you, Hikigaya-senpai! I will stop now, so please pay for my food!" Akari begged and apologized.
After that, the waiter served Akari's and Hachiman's food and proceeded to eat. Akari immediately rushed to it, because of how hungry she was. Meanwhile, Hachiman took his time eating his food, while checking Akari. Akari was genuinely a sweet and cute girl, who could possibly have better things to do than spend time with Hachiman, that's what he thought. Then Hachiman asked another question…
"How about joining the tennis club, any reason for that?" Hachiman asked.
"Hmmhemhem-" Akari speaking while food in her mouth.
:"Swallow your food first." Hachiman said.
"*Gulp*, Well, it's because of Yoshiteru-senpai. I heard from some rumors about Yoshiteru-senpai in class, how he was fat, had eighth-grade syndrome, and generally a weirdo and then became a slim and athletic person. I wanted to change how he was able to change. So I came down to the Tennis Club and asked one of the members why he joined. They told me and after that moment, I joined as well." Akari explained another reason for her joining the Tennis Club.
"If you're enjoying what you're doing, then keep doing it. Change or not, it's yourself that counts." Hachiman said.
"Eh, Hikigaya-senpai. Trying to sound cool?" Akari teases Hachiman once again.
"One more time, I am not paying for your food." Once again, Hachiman threatened Akari.
They continued eating and this time Akari made sure she was quiet so Hachiman could pay for her food. After that, Hachiman paid for the food like he promised.
"Thank you again! Hikigaya-senpai!" Akari said whilst walking out of the place.
"No problem. It was for me to not have anything on you." Hachiman said.
After that, they continued to walk to their homes, they stopped at an intersection where Akari needed to turn to go to her house. And then, out of nowhere…
"Akari, your house is near now righ-" right before Hachiman finished talking, Akari suddenly hugged Hachiman…
"Akari, what are you doing?" Hachiman said.
Since Hachiman deep down is still a high school boy at heart, he was confused and afraid of taking it out of context.
"I am marking my friendship with you, Hikigaya-senpai. Thank you for being friends with me!" Akari said while slightly tearing up.
Hachiman soon patted Akari's head, as he thinks it's the right way to make a girl calmer.
"Akari, you have a senior in the tennis club as a friend, you have a competent club president as a friend, and you have one of the cutest girls in the school as a friend. You are a normal high-school girl, so don't worry about it" Hachiman delivered a speech, internally, he cringed hard at himself. Until Akari started laughing…
"Hikigaya-senpai, what's with you acting cool?" Akari said.
"It's not acting cool, it's me giving you a proper response about people around you." Hachiman said.
"Whatever you say, Hikigaya-senpai" Akari said
Soon after, Akari stopped hugging Hachiman and said their goodbyes as they both went off their seperate ways to their homes.
After a week had gone by, near Hachiman's classroom, we saw the Service Club members gathered around and Shizuka announced that club activities will resume after her co-worker's accident. Hachiman also saw Akari talking to some of her classmates. Hachiman felt relieved in some way after seeing Akari getting along with some of her classmates. Now after that, all of the club members left and went to their respective classrooms, and classes began…
After the string of classes ended, the bell rang and it was time for lunch. Hachiman was supposed to have lunch with Yoshiteru, but a kouhai decided to steal Hachiman away from Yoshiteru…
"Yoshiteru, help me!" Hachiman shouted.
"Hachiman, I am sorry. I can't defy a kouhai request." Yoshiteru said.
"Come on, HIkigaya-senpai! It's just lunch time, why wouldn't you want to eat lunch with me?" Akari asked.
"Well, you've spent pretty much most of your time eating with me! Go eat with your classmates!" Hachiman said.
Akari let her hand off Hachiman's arm, and she became silent, and then said…
"Hmm, fine." Akari said while her cheeks puffed out.
"Thanks," Hachiman said.
After that, Akari went to her same classmates that she talked with earlier before classes started, while Hachiman had a slight smile when he saw Akari having fun for herself without having any worries, and then Yoshiteru asked Hachiman why didn't he go with Akari.
"Hachiman, why didn't you go with Akari?" Yoshiteru asked.
"Well, just look at that. Akari is talking to her classmates and even having lunch with them. She isn't by herself anymore. She can still be with us, but you can never be with the same group forever, that group may fall or have conflict. It'll be a miracle for a group if it stays together until their deaths. This is for Akari to have someone besides us." Hachiman explained why he didn't eat with Akari.
"Now you say it, I never saw Akari talk with anyone, she was quiet during tennis practice, and only spoke when it was about the club." Yoshiteru said.
"Yeah, anyway. Can we just eat lunch now?" Hachiman said.
"Yeah let's go, I am starving!" Yoshiteru said.
After that, Hachiman and Yoshiteru went to their favorite lunch spot and proceeded to eat lunch. After they ate, they headed back to their classroom and started the last string of classes. Classes have ended, and it was time for Club. Yoshiteru had tennis practice, so Hachiman had left Yoshiteru and gone to the Service Club and there he saw Shizuka sleeping on her desk, just like how they first met…
Hachiman sat down and waited for Shizuka to wake up…
After a while, Shizuka woke up and started stretching and just noticed Hachiman was just right beside her…
"Hikigaya! Why didn't you wake me up!" Shizuka was mad.
At least, it wasn't as violent as when they first met…
"You looked tired, so I just left you to sleep and have a rest." Hachiman said.
"Yeah, but I literally gathered everyone to say that there will be a club meeting. But here I am falling asleep with no more time left for any activities. Where is everyone to begin with?"
"Well, Yui came in after I arrived and told me that she had a surprise karaoke party with her clique so she couldn't come to the club, and proceeded to apologize for 2 minutes." Hachiman said.
"Haha! That's definitely Yui!" Shizuka said.
"Yoshiteru had tennis practice so he can't meet today as well. He told you, but I think you were dozing off and didn't hear it." Hachiman said.
"Haha- Sorry about that!" Shizuka said.
"Yoshiteru doesn't mind, as long as I tell what he's doing." Hachiman said.
"How about you? Why are you still here? I would have thought you would have gone home with Akari-chan by now." Shizuka said.
"Oh, it seems like a jealous Shizuka-san has appeared. It's okay, Shizuka-san, I'll be here with you." Hachiman said in a semi-monotone voice.
"It's not like that! It's just I haven't been able to express much of myself lately, so I kinda missed talking to you-" Shizuka said.
"Woah, another Shizuka has appeared, this time sh-" Hachiman stopped and then Shizuka said…
"If you continue that, I'll put this fist into your face." Shizuka said.
"Okay-" Hachiman said.
"Answer my question, why are you still here?" Shizuka asked again.
"Well, why would I leave? I am part of the Service Club" Hachiman said.
After that, Shizuka was dumbfounded by Hachiman's response and just laughed and just said…
"You know what, let's walk home together! You've been treating Akari-chan for a while now. How about treating a cuter girl like me?" Shizuka said.
"I'll walk with you, and I won't treat you. Akari had already asked me to eat with her so many times. I barely have any money left." Hachiman said.
"Well, since you were here and didn't skip out. I'll treat you to a bowl of ramen!" Shizuka said.
"Alright." Hachiman said.
After that, they both left school and gone to a ramen shop that was close to their school and was pretty cheap but was delicious.
It was the start of one of the many times that me and Shizuka had eaten at that place, during our time dating each other and marrying each other. For at that moment, we have gotten a bit close to where we are right now.