Chapter 1 - The past
"Oi Hachi come drink with me"
The old man was grumbling once more. Finished with the day's work and with a day off tomorrow, the old man would delve into his favourite pastime.
Complaining. Of course, it wasn't always like this. When Neia and I were still young, he would never complain out loud in front of us. Sometimes I would hear some mutters, but never directly towards us. Not that he was complaining about us either, he was quite a loving and doting father. Or at least to Neia.
Somehow it seems that our relationship didn't turn out so well along the way. Perhaps it's because I never followed along in his footsteps. Jobs passed down the family line are a hallmark of old society, one limited by lack of education and social mobility. Just look at the various surnames that westerners would have. Shoemaker, Cobbler, Smith, and so forth. Yet even back then not all children quietly followed along with their parents wishes. But this society was still stuck in the old society. And no matter how much searching I did there were no colleges. At least none that would take a son of a Ranger like me.
"Hachi~ You gotta stop staring into space. C'mon, you're a man now so come drink with your pops."
I felt him ruffle my head around, knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Not yet old man, but fine. Let me leave a note for Neia."
"Che. She'll be fine. She's finally a part of the squires now! Can you believe it? Little Neia! She passed!" He made an exaggerated motion of wiping away tears. Wait.
"Oi are you actually crying."
"Ahh shaddup. I just want little Neia back. The one who always jumps around happily when I agree to teach her Ranger things."
"She's all grown up hasn't she..." We both look on wistfully, reminiscing about the cute little girl in our family.
"Come on Hachi, we'll talk more over drinks!"
Before we could make it out the door my mother popped her head out of the kitchen. She was a homely looking woman, rather slender but very fit. Even without makeup her skin seemed to shine. She didn't look like she was in her 40s at all.
"Don't you two make any trouble again, you hear me?"
Apparently we were loud enough for our voices to carry over into the kitchen.
"Yes Mother."
"Yes Dear."
We answered in chorus. We looked at each other before shrugging and heading to the local pub.
The night was not quiet. My father was only one of many guards who have returned home from their shifts. Like my father, they all ended up desiring something to sate their thirst. Especially since drinking was forbidden during service.
"Oh Platoon-Sergeant! Out for drinks?"
The stubby man threw a quick salute before relaxing. My father simply nodded and continued on his way. I gave a quick bow before following. He simply
"What did he do to piss you off?"
"Hah? Ah, eh. I'm not pissed off."
"You normally treat those under you with more attention."
"Bah, he was just a whiner. Always complaining about this or that. Couldn't shut up like the rest. Remember Hachi, the fastest way to get stuck with consecutive guard duty on the highest tower is to piss off your commander."
I nodded. Typically nothing would bother my father. He must have somehow shifted the topic to where Neia would come up. My father did often become rather irritable at being reminded that he couldn't spend time with Neia.
Reminds me of a certain salary man. The more things change, the less they do I guess. Hope you're doing well, Oyaji (1).
We entered the pub. It was rather small. No, rather, it felt small due to the amount of people crowding it. Every table was filled as men heartily drank and bickered. Some in the corner were probably gambling, judging by the fight that broke out over paper slips.
"Ah, Hachi! And Pavel-san. Here, I've saved a seat for you!"
Calling out to us was a young girl with light brown hair and sunny blue eyes. She was dressed in simple barkeeper clothing, easy to move around in and matching the colors of the wood that surrounded her.
"Ahh, thanks Neruni." My father thanked her. She always knew when we would show up it seems. Everytime my father has come back and dragged me to the pub, she would always have a seat waiting for us near the back.
"So, what would you like to drink? The usual? Or looking for something stronger?"
"Just the usual please. Mother doesn't want father to cause any trouble."
"Ahaha, last time you sure got rowdy."
"Cheh, that bastard insulted my daughter."
"He doesn't even know what Neia looks like."
"He still said he looks like me!"
"Ahahaa! I'll get your drinks for you. Please wait."
With that, she turned away.
"Hey Hachi, what do you think of Neruni?"
"Sigh. You ask the same question every time. She's like a sister to me. Nothing more."
"Bah, I saw your eyes follow her rear. It is looking finer and finer, right Hachi?"
I was a male. Sue me. "Wait how would you know that unless you also looked? You pervy old geezer. I'll tell mother."
"Oi don't call me a geezer."
I stared at him.
"Gah, fine. Please don't tell your mother. I was just looking out for you anyways. You'll have to settle eventually. And she doesn't seem to have any objections either."
"I don't feel quite comfortable with someone who I have grown up with." Neruni was one of my first friends, and we typically end up doing a lot of things together. She was like family. And no matter how much of a siscon I am, family is still family.
"She'll get stolen you know?"
"Who's the bastard? They'll have to beat me to get her."
"Ha look at you. If only you'd channel that into making her your wife."
He took a swig of his personal stash. Can't even wait for Neruni to return with drinks? What are you, a drunkard?
"Besides," He said, wiping his mouth "As if taking you on would be hard. I seriously worry you know, will you even make it through national service?"
The Holy Kingdom is stuck defending it's ridiculously long borders against the never ceasing Demihuman invasions. As a result there's conscription for all children who come of age. As father said, I was unusually weak in comparison to the norm. While others grew stocky as they aged, I seemed to have retained my Japanese genes and become rather lanky. Even so. "It's just normal service. Nothing really ever happens."
"Don't underestimate them." My father was suddenly serious. Oh shit did I trip a death flag? "They'll get you just when you think you're safe."
I nodded. "I'll be fine because of your teachings then."
He gave a soft smile at that, before slapping me on the back. "Ha, that's more like it. You're definitely my son. Those eyes don't lie."
I really do wish you didn't pass those eyes on to Neia though. They seriously don't fit a young cute girl like her.
"Just wish you'd had that thought when you were still young." He muttered, more to himself than to me. Wait, I'm still young and spry.
"I'm back! Thanks for waiting." Neruni returned, laden with mugs and a plate. "Foods on the house!"
"Ohh Neruni, here, come sit with us." He said, patting an empty seat. "You're not that busy right now, right?"
"Oi don't bother Neruni. I'll tell mother you're flirting again."
"Again? What!? I've never!"
"Go on Neruni. You're probably busy. Don't let this old man hold you up."
"Ahaha, it's fine it's fine. I was hoping to spend some time with Hachi anyways. You rarely show up these days unless you're dragged here."
Don't say that! Too late. My father was already grinning happily and making disgusting faces at me. Coupled with his disturbing eyes it only served to look like he was constipated.
"More writing?"
Neruni smiled. She was pretty cute when she did that. Ah, no wait. "Yep! I'm done with the last set you gave me!"
"Oh. Good job. I expected you to take a little longer. It's good that you're taking it seriously."
"Hehe, how else will I get to spend time with Hachi? Ah wait, did you call me stupid?"
Oh no she was pouting. Somehow I had become weaker to pouts. I don't think it's because Neruni is cute, but rather perhaps it's because there's no Komachi to temper out my desires? Having Komachi grin at me every day would make everything pale in comparison, so I would react less.
Before I knew it I was patting Neruni on the head. Ah shit. Out of the corner of my eye I could see my father giving me the thumbs up. It's not like that, I swear!
"I'll wait for you after work!"
"Ah!? The little miss made a move on Hachi?"
Her exclamation was rather loud, and other patrons of the pub had heard.
"Hachi will never take the little miss from us!"
"You mean you'll never take Hachi from us!" When the heck did I become a mascot.
"I'll support Hachi and Neruni! If you've got a problem you'll have to take it up with me!" My father declared to the room. It was silent for a second, before they all roared into action.
I couldn't help but blush in embarrassment as the pub became unreasonably rowdy. There was nothing I could do at this point, so I might as well enjoy this drink. My father was laughing uproariously as he pushed back
Bitter. I could really do with some MAXX coffee right now.
(1) Oyaji is old man in Japanese. I've made a distinction with Oyaji from old man because in Hachiman's mind his past life is Japanese, but his present life is a different language.
A/N Shit I didn't expect this. Seeing your positive responses to the short story, I decided to start writing some more. Somehow it ended up as this much. This one is set a bit before chapter 1. I've also tried my hand out at writing an OC. Not a very interesting or fleshed out one mind you, but one that I felt was needed. Then again I might have wanted my own version of Nephi and Enri. God damn it even the name is almost a combination of the two! I didn't realize until I finished writing this! I don't know if I can continue more after this chapter, I seemed to have used up a lot of my creative juices. Nothing is planned out once again, so I'll be running into plot problems. I have tried my best to set up some stuff for the future, but I doubt I'll be able to remember them. Oh well, we'll see how it goes I guess. I hope you enjoy.