Sorry for the delay. I hope you enjoy this chapter.


A (not so) small change in one's life.

Chapter 4


There is nothing more welcome than a little sister waking you up on Monday. I am dead serious. Your eyelids slowly and painfully lifting up. Your ears almost bleeding, because of the constant noise that a loud as hell sister is emitting. Your whole body being shaken as if it was a can of MaxCaffee.

"Komachi, please stop!" I begged.

"Niichan. You will be late!" she said with a smirk on her face.

"I have to wake up my dear oniichan, 'cause I am the best little sister the world has ever seen! HA! That scored me a lot of points, ain't it?"

"It would if not for the latter part where you were praising yourself" I answered her coldly.

"But if it's true then it's only my duty to say so!" she retorted with an even bigger smile plastered on her face.

I gave up. She really is cute. I can only think about one being being able to surpass her. I smiled in a weird manner. I smiled because of her. I mean, because of him. Totsuka-chan. Err... Totsuka. She is an angel in the world of hideous animals called humans.

"So? How late am I?" God please! Don't make it 15 minutes before classes.

"You have 30 minutes before your classes!" Surprisingly it wasn't that bad. If I dress up hastily and eat the breakfast even faster then I won't be tardy. I can avoid the wrath of Hiratsuka-sensei.

There is no room for hesitation. I must run.

"Roger that Komachi. I am gonna dress up and wash myself, so could you go out for a moment, please?"

"Aye! I'll be waiting for you downstairs"

I mobilized all my brain cells to minimize the time required for dressing up as well getting washed and ready. I grabbed my bag and ran downstairs. Komachi was waiting for me with a can of MaxCoffee and a pair of toasts. This is why I love her so much. My little angel.

I sat down and started to eat these toasts while taking a sip from time to time. She was sitting in front of me. She was grinning. That's not a good sign. Not at all.

"So, oniichan. I've talked to Taishi-kun and.." This cockroach. This pest. This parasite. This poor excuse for a human being.

"Oniichan you're scaring me. Don't make this twisted face."

Don't talk to such a … person then, Komachi.

"And?" I said with a sharp tone.

"And he said that you were helping his sister carry heavy bags. That you walked her home!" She said while having a thousand watt smile.

"Well done my trash oniichan! Nice move!" She said and then winked cutely.

"I approve it. So, what did you talk about the two of you?" What should I tell her? We didn't talk much. In fact we were walking with a neat silence as if it had been our third companion.

"Well, we didn't really talk much…" I took a glance on the watch on the wall.

"Crap. I've gotta hasten. Let's go Komachi" I said and stood up. This time I successfully changed the subject. Well done Hachiman.

...

*Knock Knock*

Here I was sitting in the service club's classroom, while taking delight in the delicious tea served by Yukinoshita. Now that I think about it, I've been feeling weird today.

You know the feeling that you think someone observes you? By someone I mean a girl obviously. You know the feeling when that someone seems to be interested in you? Yeah. You know exactly what I am talking here about. This delusion. Due to my deep experience in that matter I've developed a 'countermeasure'. I've become immune to this kind of antics made by one's mind. I haven't even thought about any of these since the times of my middle school.

I mean, I surely had some ideas popping up in my mind, but I had always instantly kicked them out. This had never really failed.

Yet… Yet today I have been thinking about it for much longer than I would desire.

Let's start with the lunch break.

I was sitting just the same way as always in the classroom. My head on my desk. Thinking about some random stuff. Obviously I did some observations - how could I not? I mean, I need to have my observation skills in the perfect state. It's also a kind of exercise for my brain.

I would lie if I were to say that I hadn't been looking at Hayato's clique, but I was certainly not staring at Yuigahama's assets, even if they might have looked for some reason even bigger today.

So, here I am certainly not observing Yuigahama. As I am deeply lost in … thoughts someone approaches me. Heh. I guess that it's just someone passing by. I don't even bother to turn my gaze from Hayato's clique. They're quite interesting. I mean they've got a hierarchy with Hayato being the king and Miura being the queen. However I can see that Hayato isn't really interested in Miura. That's more than obvious. Even more obvious is the fact that Miura is interested in Hayato. I can see how Hayato fearing for theirs group breakout is making many evasions and tricks in order to not lose the status quo. From my standpoint it's all just futile.

It's all superficial and with no value at all. Surely, they feel better with this bond they're having. That's only natural for people. They need it. But for me it's just futile. Hayato must know deep inside that this status can't continue on forever. It will break one day and they will be left with nothing but sorrow. Still he decides to sustain it for as long as possible. One could admire him for his struggle. For his understanding and persistence. I am not.

*Cough Cough*

What now? Is someone here sick or something?

*Cough Cough*

This time I turned my head to the person that was standing close to me. Let it be Totsuka, Let it Be Totsuka, Let it be Totsuka…

"How long were you gonna stare at Yuigahama, huh?" said Kawasaki with a slightly harsh voice.

Tch. So it's not Totsuka after all… And what's with her aggressive tone?

"I wasn't really watching her…" I tried to defend myself.

"Of course you weren't." She said with a clear hint of doubt. Why is it even bothering you, woman?

"Well is there something I can help you with?" I asked coolly and changed the topic.

She flinched slightly and hesitated. Her face was painted with a pink tint yet she didn't avert her gaze.

"I wanted to thank you for your help last time." She finally said shyly.

"You're welcome." I said with the intent of ending the conversation. I didn't help you for any gratitude, you know? I don't need it. I did it for myself in a way, because I would have felt bad otherwise. I guess it's just a mechanism instilled in me by my Mother and Komachi. And what's most important is that I don't want you to thank me if you feel uncomfortable with it. You don't have to force yourself.

Kawasaki didn't notice my slight hint. She just stood there with her left arm holding her right hand's ankle. She then turned her gaze to the floor and almost instantly went back to looking at me. I was sure that she would have just walked away, so I looked at her face without any fear of our eyes meeting each other. It didn't go as I expected. Our eyes met and I blushed immediately after. After all I am not used to eye contact, it's not like I found her watching at me beautiful or something of this sort, though I must say that she looked adorable with a slight embarrassment on her face.

"And as a token of gratitude…" She said and then took out a blue plastic box with a neat red ribbon.

"Here." She said while awkwardly laying the box on my desk.

I can feel now this weird sensation down in my belly, could it... I banished the thought out of my mind, even before it could be fully formulated.

"I've just made too much for me and my siblings, so I thought…"

"And I thought that I could repay you this way." She finished her sentence and then slightly bowed her head. Her eyes were moist and full of insecurity?

Well, free food is always appreciated. If it's Kawasaki then I am sure that it is tasty and not poisonous as it could be with Yui's 'cooking'. After all she prepares food for her siblings.

"Yeah, well I think I'll gladly accept it." I said carefully.

"Actually you might have saved me, for I don't have anything with me today and I'm a little bit hungry right now… So, thank you."

She sighed and then smiled warmly. Her face was yet to be freed from the reddish embarrassment, still she seemed to be less uptight.

I've undone the knot and opened the box. It was a typical lunch box that kids in Japan would take with them to school, yet it seemed to be prepared carefully and with an affection. She really must love her siblings.

Just after I've opened the box and was preparing myself to take the first bite Kawasaki interrupted me.

"Wait for me. I'll be soon back." She said and rushed to her place.

What is this girl doing?

She then took her chair and placed it near the other side of my desk. Be careful, women! If I were not an experienced loner I would surely fall in this trap.

She then sat down and took out another bento. She opened it and then looked at me quizzically.

"Aren't you worried about the others?" I asked.

I meant it. Really. There were already plenty of our classmates looking at us when she started conversation with me, but now that she is sitting in front of me almost everybody is staring at us.

I am not liked, actually I have a rather bad reputation, so you shouldn't, you know, sit in public with me.

"Does it concern you? I don't care if you'd ask me." She said as if she read my thoughts. She looked at me intensively. I on the other hand averted my eyes.

"No… If you're ok with it, then I am ok too, I guess." I said shapelessly.

"So… Well. Itadakimasu!" She said and I echoed.

"Itadakimasu..."

I dig in. It really was tasty, but what's more important, it was free. After all to eat something without having to waste your money on it is something wonderful.

"So, how is it?" Was it just me or did her voice tremble slightly?

"It's good." I couldn't really think of a better reply.

"I am glad."

So, the small talk has ended. It seems two loners aren't that good in chit-chatting.

In order to not think about anything unnecessary I focused solely on eating my lunch. It was good indeed. After a long moment of silence she looked at me again. This time I managed to not avert my gaze. She was pretty. Her blue eyes were different than Yukinoshita one's and they might have been less elegant, but they were nonetheless interesting.

"By the way Hachiman. What were you doing there on Saturday?"

I don't feel like telling her about the gym. Heck. I don't want to.

"I just happened to be there. Just so." I answered coolly.

"Well…" Her voice trembled.

"If you were to go there every week from now on, just so you know it's a habit of mine to go there on Saturdays. So, you could help me each time…"

Don't get flustered, if you get I will also. Why am I feeling this sensation in my belly again?

"That is if you're not entirely exhausted after your 'workout'." She said impishly.

So she knew it…

"So you knew it, Saki-san…" I said with a great embarrassment hidden in my voice.

Her eyes widened.

"You can go with just Saki." She said and averted her gaze again.

She then looked back at me.

"Yes I knew it, after all you had a bag with you and I saw you coming out of the gym."

"Were you stalking me or something?" I asked rather jokingly.

"No, you idiot." That was rather harsh for just a small joke…

We finished our lunches and then the break ended and so did our conversation. The whole next lesson I couldn't help but wonder if maybe… And I kept refusing my thoughts. After all I am an experienced loner and I do learn from my past mistakes...

That was the lunch break, but now that I think about it it wasn't the only case.

After and during my lunch with Saki I got totally the feeling that Yuigahama was watching me, in fact I could say that she was intensively watching me. I did check if I had something on my back, but it seems I didn't. This sensation was nagging. I almost felt like these many times in middle school when I had let my delusions control my reasoning.

So, when the last lesson ended I let everyone go out of the class and waited for the classroom to be emptied. Normally I would not be disturbed, but this time there were a few people who wanted to bid goodbye with me. Kawasaki and Totsuka. It was just a casual goodbye, though the smile of Totsuka was angel like.

Then the classroom was empty and I decided to go to the service club.

I had already made my 25'th step when Yuigahama joined me.

"Yo." I said.

She didn't answer me and that was weird. It was awkward for her not to talk constantly about some nonsense. It was rare to see her quite.

After a few minutes of walk, when we were already near our service club she started a talk.

"Hikki… Why were you eating lunch with Kawasaki?" She said with a very quiet tone.

I didn't answer instantly.

"Just so." I answered trying to keep my composure.

"It didn't seem to be just a... " She didn't finish her sentence, because we found ourselves in front of our service club.

"You seemed to be having…" She said and stopped as we went into the classroom.

"Yo."

"Yahallo."

"Good afternoon."

After those greeting a silence has emerged. Yukinoshita was sitting on her usual spot surveying us closely.

"Mind if you elaborate your thought, Yuigahama?" She asked. Was it just me or was she looking at me with a cold stare. What is it Yukinoshita?

"Ehehe." Yuigahama laughed awkwardly.

"I was just saying that Kawasaki-san seemed to be very close to Hikki when they were having lunch together."

"Oh…" said Yukinoshita showing a difficult to guess emotion on her face.

"It seems Hikipervert-kun has already shown his true colors and is now trying to assail pure classmates." She added with a sharp voice.

"Just give me a break. It was just a token of gratitude of hers. She wanted to thank me." I tried to defend myself.

"Thank you for what?" Yukinoshita demanded an answer. Her cold stare was piercing me through. I felt as if I was a wrongdoer that was interrogated by some cops.

Now that I think it's not my duty to tell them anything. Why are they interrogating me? Actually, why is Yukinoshita interrogating me? So I replied out of the whim.

"I believe this is none of your concerns. I don't see a need to tell you anything."

As I said it I felt a weird satisfaction.

Yukinoshita was rendered speechless. It seems she didn't expect my harsh reply.

"Now, now. Yukinon, I'd love you to make me a tee, ok?" It seems Yuigahama has once again saved the mood from becoming awkward.


So, that's it. The 4th chapter. I hope it wasn't very short, nor very bad.

I want to say something.
I want to reply to a review of Seamus Dubh.
Well at first I felt broken after I read your review. It was painful indeed. As the first thought I wanted to reply in a childish manner, saying something like "if you don't like it don't read it" or something along these lines, but I realized it was childish and stupid. Not only was it childish but also hypocritical. I wanted you readers to write reviews, so I should accept any of them. Accept might not be the best word. I have to read them, but I can disagree with them. I don't agree with a lot of your review. Firstly even if there are many male characters it doesn't mean that they're visible in the fanfictions. They're hardly seen anywhere. They are mentioned, they are seen sometimes, but! Their 'screentime' is limited. I also believe that your list of cardinal errors is bad. Why bad? Because it's limiting. I don't see why there should be any rules like these you mentioned. In fact I've seen a lot of fanfics breaking your rules and I've liked what I've read.

But what's most important. I don't mind if you don't like what I write. I write it for myself. Of course, your reviews, your approval or disapproval means a lot to me. But after all I write what I want to write and I do it for my sake. If I get to the point that I don't see a reason to write anymore I shall halt. For now I have a plan for this fanfic and for the sequel of it and I want to stick with it.

So, if you like what you read, read it then or not. If you don't, read it then or not. It's your choice. I encourage you to read it and write a review even if it's harsh or critical.

I also want to thank everybody for his review and also followers. It means a lot of to me.

Once again I encourage you to write reviews pointing out my wrongdoings and mistakes. Keep in mind though, that the plot is already somehow decided, so the outcome is known to me. You won't probably change it.