Chapter 4, things are getting in place !
Hachiman's POV
The bell rang. I got up from my seat. Damn I was hungry, ten more minutes and I would have died of starvation. That's what I get from getting up late. I couldn't get any food. I'm not that kind of cliche protagonist who would run with a slice of bread in his mouth toward the school. Worst case i would have choke on it and humiliate myself in the middle of the city. Best case I wouldn't be able to run because I wouldn't have been able to breath with this brad in my mouth. Anyway, I came with my bike, so I can't go fast with only one hand on the handlebar.
Snapping out of my thought process after the horrible growl of my stomach, I started to walk toward a vending machine to get my usual lunch. The corridor were a bit crowded but people disappeared quite quickly. They all rushed to have lunch with their clique and friends or to the cafeteria. Such a waste of money when you could bring your own food or get the necessary calories from a vending machine.
I was almost ready to insert my money to get what I wanted when I felt a tug on my left sleeve. Surprised, I turned my head to my left to see what or rather who was trying to get my attention. My face met a pair of brown and green eyes staring at me. Those same hypnotizing eyes I saw yesterday and this morning. What does she want ? I'd really like to eat and now is not the time to ask for help or try to act friendly.
Crap I must have stared too long, she hid her face behind a sketchbook. A bad habit of mine. Girls are dangerous when they do this kind of thing. I space out easily so doing things like that make me kind of slow to react. Hmm this sketchbook is different from the one yesterday. Is the old one a lost cause to fix ? Not that I care. Wait, what is she doing with her right arm ? It's moving.
Suddenly she turns her book around : 'Would you like to have lunch with me ?'
I look at her with a bewildered look.
"Huh ? Me ?" I said pointing a finger at myself.
She blushed at my reaction and panicked while turning around her sketchbook in her direction to scribbled something really quickly and turned it around once more, still hiding her face.
'I said I owe you for yesterday and I have forgotten my lunch since I was late, so, I want to treat you to the cafeteria since you were gonna buy it from the machine to repay you.'
Oh so that's it, she's a klutz. She's socially awkward. Well who am I to say no to that offer, I'm starving and free food is the best food.
"Well, put that way I can't say no. Free food can't be turned down."
She beamed, or at least I think. That or she is relieved that I said yes because she probably hard no other idea on how to make it up to me. The only thing I saw were her closed eyes when she lowered the book. Those kind of face you see in anime and manga when the girl smile out of happiness. Never thought those kind of expression actually existed.
"Even though, I didn't really do anything, do you didn't have to make it up to me you know."
She shook her head negatively.
"Hm hm." She said by making some noises from her mouth starting to lead the way.
3rd POV
They weren't that far from their destination so in the span of five minutes they arrived. Entering the room, they were met by a wave of loud noise from all the chatter in the room. Kuwahara was eyeing the menus, not really knowing what to take and starting to get confused. Hikigaya looked at her sighing.
What a klutz. Thought Hachiman
"Let me recommend you the bowl of rice with the curry, it's the cheapest one with the best amount of nutrients. Quantity and quality."
She nodded and went to the cashier. She pointed out what she wanted and Hachiman followed saying he wanted the same. Like promised, Naho paid for everything, it was cheap and had a lot of food as he said.
Taking their plates, the both of them started roaming the room with their eyes to find a comfortable table. They wanted a silent location, far from all those people. Finding a little spot, Naho tugged on Hachiman sleeve and pointed it out to show him. Nodding they decided to head there. On their way some people looked at them quizzically. Hikigaya looked from the corner of his eyes from time to time in order to spot any familiar head. He didn't want this to spread too much. It was already strange for him to eat in the cafeteria but it was even more strange that he went in with a girl. Hachiman was about to let out a sigh of relief when his eyes crossed the a pair of emerald ones he knew all too well despite him. He started to feel tensed. Miura Yumiko kept eye contact for some seconds to make sure she saw what she saw and she just looked away to resume her meal with Ebina Hina.
Thank you Miura for not saying anything. But I feel uneasy for some reason. It's like a bad omen or something.
Both of them finally reached the location in the corner of the room next to a window.
"Err..."
"Hm ?"
"It's only a table for two..."
"Hm ?" She tilted her head in the same time, oblivious at what was implied.
"Never mind... Let's eat."
We took our seat in front of each other and started our meal. At the first bite, Naho was in delight. She started to eat like a real ogre. Hikigaya could only look at the girl, dumbfounded. He found it amusing and wanted to tease her a bit.
"You know, eating like that will make you fat and have a hiccup in no time."
She blushed out of embarrassment at the remark and put down her sticks for a moment and pouted.
"Looks like you didn't eat something that good in a while though."
Expecting some kind of reaction, Hachiman looked at her and saw that she had lost her funny face and put her blank face on again. He understood that he had touched a sensitive spot.
"S-sorry about that, it does not concern me. Let's just finish the meal and go back to our respective activities."
Nodding, Naho resumed eating in a slow pace in complete silence. It should have been a comfortable silence for two awkward students but the atmosphere was heavy.
Finishing their meal, Kuwahara had regain her smile a bit and stretched herself. Opening her eyes after the this, she saw the back of Hachiman waving good bye at her from the distance. He had already taken his plate and bag. Naho felt confused about his sudden departure but when she looked at the table a bit more, she saw money on it, it was the same amount as the price of the menu.
Naho's POV
Why did he have to go that fast ? I shouldn't have reacted as much to his sudden remark. It's still a sensitive topic for me but I made the lunch uncomfortable... And why did he left enough money to reimburse me ? I said that I wanted to pay him lunch to be even !
Sigh... What a strange guy. He's kind yet harsh. Gentleman enough to make him a pain. What a loner... At least we're even.
I decided to leave after he had gone out of the room. Taking my bag on my right should and my plate with both my hands. I headed to the counter to give my dishes to the staff. Sadly for me a strong voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Hey."
I turned my head in the direction of a beautiful girl with long silky blond hair and green eyes. She's in my class but I don't know her name yet. She's with her friend I guess. A bespectacled brown hair girl.
"What business do you have with Hikio ?"
Hikio ? That's his name ?
Confused, I tilted my head to the side to show that I didn't understand. I couldn't write or draw anything with this plate.
"The guy that just left. What business do you have with him ? It's really weird that a new girl coming to our school is already eating lunch with him at the cafeteria." She said with venom and getting up.
I felt like a big snake was in front of me, I was scared and couldn't say anything even if I wanted to.
"Now now Yumiko, she can't answer you."
"What do you mean Ebina ?"
"I saw it yesterday when she interacted with Hikitani. She's mute, she can only communicate by writing."
"Seriously ?" She said surprised and looked at me with concern.
I nodded, not quite confident with the results.
"Woah that must be hard, come, sit with us, we'll have calm talk then. Sorry about my reaction."
She's scary but she looks like a kind person I guess, I'm not too sure, she's still scary.
I decided to take one of the empty chair on the round table and we were now forming a triangle. I took my notebook out of my bag with a pencil. I decided to ask first
'What's his name ? I didn't have the time to ask him yet. Is it Hikio or is it Hikitani ?'
"Ah no, Hikitani is just a name we gave him, it's Hikigaya Hachiman."
"I prefer Hikio, it's easier of the tongue... So. How did you end up having lunch with im so fast in our third year when you don't know anything about each other ?"
Embarrassed I decided to write a vague answer.
'He helped me a lot yesterday... And I decided to pay back his help.'
"That's not really an answer there girl. Tell us, we want to know !" Said the two who were getting excited on possible gossips.
The fastest and best way I could find to explain what happened was through drawings. I'm quite good at doing fast sketch. So I decided to use my talent to depict the scene. Both of them were confused by what I was doing behind the back of my book and suddenly I put it down on the table and they were amazed.
"Whoa you're good ! So I guess this girl under the rain was you and the guy sharing an umbrella with you was Hikio right ?"
"Hm hm"
«My my, what a gentleman Hikitani is ! But I'd prefer if it was with Hayama-kun !"
A fujoshi. I knew something was wrong with this girl.
"Please Ebina hold it...»
"Ok ok sorry !"
"Still Kuwahara, this setup there. It's kinda romantic don't you think ?" Said Miura with a smug look on her face.
I felt my cheeks becoming warmer. Sure it could be seen that way when I look back at the thing but I didn't think about this until now. I was frozen on the spot. Now this looks like a huge misunderstanding. I decided to frantically wave my hands and head in a negative way before regaining my composure.
"Hahaha your reactions are cute ! Of course it's impossible. Who would fall for that creep anyway."
Huh... That was a tad too harsh there.
'But it looks like he's a really kind and dependable guy at first.'
"… Yeah... I know, sorry. In fact he's really nice and dependable like you said. He even helped me despite how mean I was to him last year. He had nothing to win from it but still, he helped me and my friends in his own twisted ways."
It was now kinda silent.
"A-anyway, it's almost time to go back to class. Let's go Kuwahara. By the way, can I call you Naho ?"
I nodded happily and followed them to class. Maybe I could become friend with them ?
We arrived in the classroom and took our seat. Hikigaya was here and slouched on his desk. He really is a lazy guy after all. The perfect loner. The afternoon class were quite boring compared to yesterday but I am not the best at studying so I have to really focus not to fall behind.
The final bell finally rung and I let out a sigh of relief while packing my things. Something caught my attention and I had to glance at it. I saw Hikigaya leave with Yuigahama-san the classroom.
"Let's go to the club Hikky !"
"Yeah yeah..."
Club ? This guy's in a club ?
I went to Yumiko's seat and wrote something on my book.
'Hikigaya's in a club ?'
"Hmm ? Ah yeah. He's is the service club with Yui and this Yukinoshita girl, miss perfect.
Interesting...
3rd POV
Yui and Hachiman entered the clubroom and were greeted by the formal greeting of Yukino and the delicious aroma of the tea cups. Taking their seat and doing their usual things, the atmosphere of the club was as peaceful as ever. Yuigahama being glued to Yukinoshita and talking about random things while Hikigaya is reading a light novel. Everything was balanced and perfect in appearance but they was still something that bothered every member. A thing they will have ot face one day or another. They still decided to let this topic in the background in order to live their last year with good memories.
"I see that you're here Hikigaya-kun. I must say that I was surprised to see you today considering the rain of yesterday and your ineptitude at doing things fast."
"Do you assume that I'm as slow as a snail ?"
"You said it Hikisnail-kun."
"I'm alright, thank you for your concern. We aren't all escorted home in a limousine. Some of us are mere commoner milady."
"That's for sure, trash must never be mixed with silk towels."
"Tchh give me a break already, it's only the second day of the year and you're already insulting me."
"I didn't know that hikigerma had feelings. I must register it in our documentation."
"Hrm..."
"Come on Yukinon let him breath, he's already on the ground."
Yuigahama, why are you stabbing an already dead man...
Suddenly the door was slid open.
"Hello there !"
"Senseï, knock before you enter."
"Yahallo Hiratsuak-sensei !"
"Yo. I didn't know you liked western movies."
"Tchh. Anyway i'm here to talk to you about something guys. You are aware that we have a new student, Kuwahara Naho."
"Yes pretty much" Said Yukino.
"Well I have a little request for you all. Even though it's my job to look after her from the distance, can you keep an eye on her too ? I know that she already interacts with Yuigahama and Hikigaya."
"Why should we ? She's bad news ? She doesn't look like trouble at first sight ?"
"Yeah she looks like a kind girl despite her look." Said Yui.
"I never saw her so I can't say anything."
"No no don't worry, she's a nice girl and a good student that works hard. It's just that she had trouble in her previous schools."
"Schools ?"
"Yes, she's been in various cases of harassment and bullying due to her muteness. I didn't said anything about it in class because it was her wish as well as her father that I kept silent about it. She wants to have a normal life and does not want to be felt sorry for because of her handicap. Still her previous classmates were making fun of her and that's why I'm asking to low key watch her."
"I guess we could do that sensei. But if something happens you'll take actions and do the work. It's not for us to do justice."
"Yeah yeah ! Okay then I'm going, bye bye !" said Shizuka going out of the room.
"I didn't know Naho-chan was bullied before ! That's like totally sad you know !"
"Sadly Yuigahama-san, it's more common than you can imagine. Being different is painful in this world."
"Couldn't agree more with you Yukinoshita..."
The door was slammed opened in a loud noise.
"Yahallo Yui-chan ! Yukino-chan !"
Letting out a cute gasp, Yukinoshita regained her composure and greeted the waited person.
"Hello Komachi-san. Please refrain from barging in like this next time."
"Yahallo Komachi-chan !" Said Yui hugging Hikigaya's sister
"Yo."
"Come on Gomi-chan, i'm your cute little imouto, greet me properly !"
"Yeah yeah... Hello Komachi, best little sister in the world."
"Gross..."
"Hikky that's seriously gross."
"Siscon."
"Leave me be !"
The three girls started to enjoy their chat loudly. Hachiman had a smile on his face behind his book. He liked the scene in front of him but he would never admit it.
"So ! Here's my application ! Yukino-chan ! I should now be an official member of the service club !"
"Hmm Everything's seem to be official from my point of view. Welcome to you Hikigaya Komachi. May you show your creepy brother the way to reformation."
"Oï, don't use my sister as a mean to control me !"
"Neh heh heh Gomi-chan, i'll finally be able to use my Komachi points to make you a true gentleman with the girls."
"Ugh..."
They all laughed together at his expense but with no evil intent. What could happen now that the sly Komachi is able to spy on her brother everyday ?