Chapter 17

The weather had become cooler as autumn rolled around.

I find myself at a crowded nightclub to meet an old acquaintance,if I can even call her that.

We were classmates in elementary school she was pretty quiet and timid girl from what I can recall.

This is now unexpected.

She has long blonde hair with curls and attractive body with curves which is already gaining attention of some of the guys here.

She is wearing a red dress which is a bit revealing but is fashionable among normies in parties.

Damn,I am talking like Hachiman but then again their lifestyle is alien to me.

I did feel out of place while wearing my casuals though.

"So what would you like Rikka?"

Oh!She was ordering the bartender for me.

"Fruit juice is fine Yuri.

I can't stand anything alcoholic."

This girl asked me to hang out for some reason after we hadn't met for years and I simply had no reason to decline.

We got in touch on the internet purely by chance yesterday and asked if we could meet up.

I thought she was inviting me to hang out with her friends out of courtesy but to my surprise,here we are sitting next to the bar table without any other company.

Did she wanted to say something important to me in person?What am I even supposed to say?

"So how have you been?"she said after taking sip from her drink"You left school so suddenly,our home room teacher just told us you were not well and would no longer come

There were also rumours that you did something but I didn't believe them"

There were rumours about me?Do I feel loved.

"Technically I still am but that will not stop me."

For someone who invited me here she is being very quiet and in deep thought.

"So are you going to tell the real reason for meeting me here?"

That caused her to look up to me in surprise.

"Wouldn't you rather hang out with your friends on a weekend?"

Or a boyfriend...I Wouldn't be surprised if she has one.

She let out a chuckle

"Am I that obvious?"she said softly

Well anyone would feel suspicious but I wouldn't tell her that.

She sighed as she stared at her drink.

"My boyfriend and I had a fight"

I see now,it is awkward to talk about it with your friends so you chpose to speak your mind with an old acquaintance who will not affect your daily life.

But still...

"And I don't know how to approach you about your...condition?"

Wait,why has she brought me here again?

"Why do you want to know?"

I said with a bit of anger.

The fact that literally everyone I knew just forget about me and never even paid a visit did hurt me but I got over it.

What am I even supposed to say?'Yeah,the doctors told me that I might die if I keep going out in the sun so I should lock myself up in my room for my safety.'

She seems to think hard for an answer.

"I know I should have tried to stay in touch to you.

You were my friend before I could barely talk to other people.

It was selfish of me to have you listen to my problems"

I stopped her before she could apologise.

"Don't worry about it.

We both have a lot of catching up to do."

So we talked about all sorts of things.

I told her about my plans to join high school and she seemed excited and promised that she would show around Kaihin High where she was attending.

Eventually,we agreed to meet again as we were on our way home.

"Want me to accompany you home?"Yuri asked and I shook my head.

"No thanks,I need to get some things from the mall first."

She smiled as she put on her coat.

"Well,thanks for everything."

Thanks for what?

"Hey,wherever you have boyfriend trouble,I'm the go to person"

I said while suppressing a sarcastic tone.

Seriously,I'm the last person to ask about stuff like that.

She shook her head

"No,I mean...it felt so refreshing to say whatever I want without always trying to judge the mood.

I was hoping if we could hang out with my friends sometime."

I shrugged

"I'll be busy with admission tests and such but call me if something is up"

I waved her goodbye and we parted ways.

Well,this had been an interesting day.

I guess other people as forgetful after all.

Because we hadn't talked in a long time didn't mean relationships reset or delete or whatever Hachiman said.

Then again he is a special case,Hahaha!

Alright,that was a bit mean.

I found my target and went inside the store.

I need some new clothes so I can make myself presentable when going out.

T-shirts and pants are not my thing so I chose a rather modest dress instead.

I did my purchase and on my way home...

"Rikka-san?"

I blinked and looked at who called me.

Wait,it's that blonde guy from my brother's school.

"Ah!What a coincidence."

What's his name?Right,Hayama.

I could tell he has a face girls swoon over as he smiled,but I'm in kind of a hurry so...

"You're right"

I was about to keep going when he said

"I was here with my friends but they have gone home while I needed to look for something."

That's nice and all but why is telling me this.

Is he trying to have small talk with me?

Our last meeting wasn't exactly pleasant.

"That's nice"

Really,I'm not interested

"Are you going somewhere?I can accompany you if you want."He said and I was slightly suspicious.

"Why?"

He's being rather insistent.

He dropped his smile a bit and I think he understood I was trying to avoid him.

"I'm just trying to be polite to Hachiman's sister."

"Since when did you care.

He didn't have anything nice to say about you."

He took a deep breath and looked at me.

I admit his face is kind of attractive.

"You're right,what I had been doing was wrong"

I blinked,he didn't seem lying or something.

"I had been pretending everything is alright and should have told others his intentions even when I didn't approve his methods.

If you want I'll tell Sagami-san to stop speaking ill of him"

I don't know if it would help Hachiman or not.

He takes being pitied upon harshly,and same is for me frankly.

"You'll have to ask him that,but in my opinion he'll probably tell you to mind your own business."

He told me to at least let him accompany me to the outside and I didn't care.

As I was on my merry way He stopped me for one last time.

"By the way Rikka-san,our class is going on a school trip to Kyoto soon."

"Yeah I know,he didn't seem too excited though"

Honestly,Komachi seemed more excited and she wasn't even going.

"That sounds like him"he chuckled and it didn't insulting towards him.

"Well I've got to get back for studying.

I'll be joining high school soon and I kind of wish to get into Sobu High although I know it wouldn't be easy."

"Really?"

"Yes really,so goodbye"

I waved and walked away as dealing with him was getting tiresome.

I guess this is what Hachiman feels when people bother him when he doesn't feel like talking.

Except that's it's pretty much everyone outside of family.