The next chapter is out. Almost out. Because it's the first part. The second part is yet to be written. Although it's only the first part it's so far the longest 'release'. I hope some of you will find, maybe not pleasure :d, but will enjoy reading it. Though the word enjoy is controversial too. Well... You know what I mean. This time, not only Kawasaki fans, but also Iroha fans might hate me and this chapter... After a longer thought I believe there is no rule... Everybody might hate me xD Well, as I vainly said( once or twice )it's all part of the plan, so bear with me. It is meant to be a good story after all the bad chapters. Though I know how it sounds the only thing I can ask of you is to give the whole story a chance... BUT! I can't force you. So, you decide...

Either way, read in ;)


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

Chapter 8 part 1


"Words are the source of misunderstandings."

Though I vowed, though I swore… Though I promised myself I wouldn't commit the same error over and over again. Though I earnestly kept myself in check… Eventually I failed and forgot about the meaning of these words that the prince said. Oh… How pathetic I am…

After the *ahem* incident with Iroha we decided to go back home. It was already late and the longer we stayed the colder and darker it would be outside. I took the keys to the teacher's room and left it hanging on the appropriate hook. Iroha waited for me outside.

When I got to her things got awkward…

Here I am slowly nearing myself to the silhouette of my girlfriend? I guess we're now a couple no matter how much the beginning of our relationship may be anticlimactic and simply lust-driven. I somehow feel ashamed of myself, I have always considered myself different than all these other boys that were so easily manipulated by the charms. I have always thought that I wouldn't be pulled by the whirl of desire. Yet the primitive lust took control of my mind and body.

Obviously this doesn't mean that our relationship is doomed to be a fake and superficial one. We may still learn about each other and make the future be as true as possible. That's what I want. I guess after surrounding myself with these walls I have finally found myself willing to fall in love. I know I am not in love with her. However I think I wouldn't oppose the idea of falling in love with her. I think it could be a good thing.

Iroha is looking at me with half closed eyes. Her cheeks are red, be it because of the overwhelming cold or simply because of the freshly made memories.

Her eyes are beaming with warmth and satisfaction? She pouts.

"You're slow, Senpai! Don't make your sweet Kouhai wait for you."

Though her voice wasn't always the one I was glad to hear I find her somehow cute.

"Yeah, sorry Iroha." I reply automatically.

"Therefore! You'll do what I tell you to do. As a puni.. No as a recompense!"

You totally wanted to say punishment! I am sure of it.

Her eyes are beaming with excitement. She then leans over and grabs my hand with hers.

While having a puppy-like pouted look on her face she says:
"That's your punishment for having your girlfriend stay in the cold for too long."

I twitch at the word girlfriend. I am certainly not accustomed to the sound of this. I'd rather we didn't use such words too soon and too often. I don't know why, but somehow I don't want others to hear that, I don't want our relationship to be a show for everybody. I don't want to 'boast' about it…

However, she was incredibly cute the way she said it. I couldn't help but smile and let my dark thoughts disappear into the depths of my mind.

She then intertwined her hand with mine.

I can immediately feel my cheeks blushing, so are hers. Somehow I can feel the warmth coming from her and this warmth is slowly spreading throughout my body and mind.

I smiled widely. This time I am sure it's not a creepy smile, but a gentle one. I smiled at the vixen that was holding my right hand.

"Senpai, you're kinda cute like this."

"You're embarrassed as well." I pointed out looking at the slight reddish tint on her cheeks.

Our eyes met, my heart raced.

"I guess so…" She chuckled.

She then grabbed my hand even firmer and we proceeded to walk.

Just as I was about to enter my home a thought struck me. Iroha had already parted ways with me, because it seems our houses are in opposite directions, so we didn't walk together for too long. I don't think that it's something bad, but I was nonetheless a bit downcast. However now that I am stepping inside of my house I start to think whether or not I should tell about it Komachi.

Somehow and I don't really know why I've got a temptation to tell Komachi. However after a longer thought I decide to not tell her. I don't know, maybe it would be just too… vain? I don't know, it's also the fact that my being with Iroha is not something very stable. I mean who knows what might happen in a few days…

So with my mind made up I walked into the living room and I immediately found myself right in front of Komachi. What was it, were you waiting for me or something?

Her eyes were sparkling.

"Oniichan, did something nice happen? Tell me, tell!"

Could it be that she knows? Nah, it can't be.

"Nothing, really." I shrugged it off.

"Onii-chan don't try to deceive me. I know how you normally walk into the house. Your footsteps are just like the footsteps of a bitter old man, something like when our Dad is coming back from work."

I guess I know what she means by it. It's not my fault, it's all in the DNA for damn sake!

"But today! But today you were different, you were walking ever so happily. So, what was it!? Yukino-chan? Yui-chan? Which one of them?"

"Calm down Komachi. It was neither of them." I answered with a calm voice.

"So it was Saki-chan? I knew it, truth be said I have been recently thinking that she might be the best one for you. Huhu, so it's finally the time. " She said whilst having a clever look on her face.

"No Komachi, it was just a nice day…"

"So it was a nice day. Fum fum. It seems you won't spill the beans. I've got to call Taichi then."

How DID you come to that conclusion!? Why that rodent. I knew I should have done something with(to) him.

"Don't call … that thing… *ahem* him please. I've already told you. And besides, Saki was absent today." I said it as calmly as it was only possible after having thought about Rodent-kun.

"So, she wasn't there… But Saki. Fufu… Saki?" There appeared a impish smile on her face. She really is cute even when she teases me. Or maybe even moreso when she teases me?

Either way I've decided that the best course of action would be to simply let her speak and not react to it.

"Ok... Gumi-chan I'll let you go, for now at least. I've got to learn too." She said after a while of silence.

So the interrogation has ended without any major problems. I sighed and went upstairs to my sweet room.

This time when falling asleep, Hachiman had a wide grin on his face...

"Hachiman"

This familiar voice…

"Hachiman!" I am surrounded by darkness.

I turn my head around and then I see her.

She walks towards me in a slow pace. She is dressed in a white gown. White? I think it's black now. She walks, yet I can't hear any footsteps. It seems as if she was floating.

She is now right in front of me, yet I can't distinguish any features. Black hair? No… More like… flaxen? She hugs me gently. I can see a tear falling down from her eye. She trembles…

"Hachiman… I love you…" She whispers into my ear. Her hair changes one more time. Now it's bluish. Her eyes, though I can't distinguish the colour are filled with a great longing and sorrow.

"Hachiman, I beg you… " Her voice trembles.

"Don't fall in love with…" Now her voice is much more imperious. There is no hesitation in it.

I woke up once again with cold sweat running down my spine.

This dream. It's become quite scary.

I took a breath in and then let it out.

I shouldn't think about it. It's just a stupid dream…

Day like everyday, when you think that being in a relationship changes every day from now on then you're wrong. Half of the class is not even acknowledging my existence and I don't have anything against it. It's much easier this way. The bell rang signalling the beginning of the lunch break.

I unwittingly looked at Saki's chair. It seems she isn't absent today.

I wonder what was the reason for her not being present yesterday.

As I was looking at her she turned her head towards me and our eyes met. She blushed and averted her gaze instantly. She then stood up and headed towards…

"Senpai, senpai!" A loud gaudy voice resounded throughout our classroom. Iroha was here. She was having a sly smile and was holding two bentos in her hands. She looked at me, while only once changing her gaze to something behind me.

She then ran towards me and grabbed my hand.

"Come senpai, let's eat lunch together." Though her cheerful voice might have seemed kittenish I could hear a hidden bidding inside of it.

I could also feel the stares of Yuigahama, Miura, Saki, Totsuka and even Hayato on me.

"Senpai, don't let your girlfriend wait for you!" Iroha pouted and even though it was super cute I felt kinda awkwardly. I don't want her to just make a show out of us being together. Why can't she be more discrete?

The moment she said the word girlfriend I could hear one phone and one bento falling down. I looked at the source of first sound. It seemed Yuigahama's phone had slipped out of her hand.

I swear you should be more careful with it.

I looked at her and saw a mixture of surprise, sadness and disappointment(?) in her eyes. Our eyes met but she immediately averted her gaze and then picked up her phone and with a forced smile said something about going to the toilet. Miura sent a glare towards me.

What? I didn't make her drop the phone.

As Yuigahama accompanied by Miura went out of the classroom I could see a tear on Yuigahama's cheek, or was it just me?

I wonder if something bad happened to her. She seemed a bit devastated.

With the commotion being no longer here I looked at the bento on the floor. It was near Saki's chair. It seemed it had slipped out of her hands too. All the rice had fallen down on the floor and it was a real mess down there. I decided to go and help her. As I was close to her I said.

"Saki, let me help."

Her face twitched. She looked up at me with a sad smile. Her eyes were hollow and her smile looked nostalgically.

"Don't worry. I'll clean it up myself." Her voice was calm, too calm...

I shook my head.

"I'll help you, Saki."

Suddenly, I could feel a firm grip on my shoulder. I turned around only to see a mad Iroha looking at me.

What happened? I just wanted to help her...

"Come, senpai!" She grabbed my hand and forced me out of the classroom.

...

In the classroom with Hachiman and Iroha no longer being there, some could see a kneeling figure of a beautiful girl weeping tears while holding a second bento, this one was decorated in a caring fashion.

Her tears were falling on the red ribbon that enveloped the box. Yet no one really knew that that bento wasn't prepared for her…

No one did know that she had woken up sooner in order to prepare an extra bento.

No one did know that she couldn't have given it to someone on Monday, because she was taking care of her ill little sister.

No one did know how much pain she felt at that moment…

Iroha and I are sitting in a desolate corridor on a bench. I do not really know where it is as I was just following Iroha and all my thoughts were focused on the warm feeling of having our hands intertwined. It's quite peaceful and I do enjoy spending the time like this. It seems I am changing even more rapidly than I would have thought…

"Senpai, how does it taste?" Her eyes were full of hope and expectations as she asked. She was making the puppy look again. However, it seems it's always effective on me.

"Well, quite good." Though truth be said I did like the one Saki made more. This one is more flashy than tasty… However I couldn't say it aloud. Instead I've decided to address a matter that was bothering me a bit.

"Say, Iroha. Why were you so…" I started, but couldn't find the proper word.

"So?" She put a finger on her lips with a curious look on her face.

"So loud... I mean why bother saying that we are together in front of the whole class. You know that I don't like the attention being drawn to me…" I uttered these words with a slight bit of guilt, after all there was no ill intent behind her doings. She simply wanted to eat lunch with me, but I create problems that might not even exist…

"I did not have any ill intent and besides what's bad with showing my affection towards you…" she said and her sad voice made me feel like the bad one.

"It's not bad, but be more discrete with it… Please."

"Okay I'll try… Senpai, could you do something for me in return?"

"I'll try too, what is it?"

"Don't call Kawasaki-senpai by her given name. I feel then as if you were trying to get away from me… I don't want you to focus on other girls, let's find happiness together. Without any hindrances."

Her eyes were pleading, but I didn't feel that it was right. It simply felt wrong.

"I don't know… I mean I can assure you that I am not interested in any other girl than you right now. Won't it be enough?" I asked tentatively.

"No!" She said with a strong voice.

"No… Senpai…" This time her voice was more delicate… She leaned towards me. I could feel her breath on my earlobe.

"Senpai, please don't think about other girls. You just need me…" She whispered gently into my ear and my heart started to race crazily. Woman, we're at school somebody might see us.

"Iroha, it's not the place for this." I sighed.

"Senpai, you're not romantic at all…" She pouted.

Suddenly, I could hear quiet footsteps resounding through the corridor. They were behind me and as I tried to turn my head to see who it was, Iroha suddenly embraced me. She then neared her lips towards mine and landed a kiss on them. I was once more almost entirely lost in the passion. However I had still got my senses. We were in a corridor and there was someone who might have been watching us. I tried to liberate myself.

*dang* Something had fallen down. It sounded like keys. I had finally freed myself from Iroha and turned my eyes towards the person that dropped the keys. However there was no one.

Was it just me? Am I hearing things?

"Mou.. Senpai! Why did you try to escape from your *Girlfriend*" She pouted.

Why did you stress the Girlfriend noun so much? Well, there is no one here so it doesn't really matter.

"You'll have to do as I wish." She then simply laid down her head on my laps.

"I *love* you Senpai." Is it just me or are you stressing the word love again?

Though the obvious answer would be "I love you too"; I hesitated.

I couldn't really know if I loved her or not. Certainly she was now a very important person in my life. I wouldn't really be surprised if I really loved her and only realized it in a few days. But, now… I don't know. I can't say it with honesty. It's that I wouldn't believe it to be true.

"Senpai, do you love me? Say it. Please…" She begged as she tugged my blazer. What is with those puppy eyes.

I don't know if I love you. I don't want to say it…

"Senpai… Please…" I could see tears nearly falling down. I…

"Fine… I love you Iroha." I uttered these words with a great hesitation and I couldn't really be happy with what I did. I somehow didn't find it to be true.

I expected her face to become blessedly pleased, but I did not expect to see a look of triumph on her face…

...

Nor did Hachiman realize that they weren't really alone in the corridor. There was an eminent silhouette hiding behind a pillar. Her hand, because it was a girl, was covering her mouth as if in an attempt to prevent herself from uttering any sound. She was cowering either in fear of being detected or for the pain she felt.

Hachiman did not see the tears that had fallen down throughout the whole incident. Nor did he hear the quiet sob that the person made when Hachiman finally, compelled by Iroha's bidding, uttered the words Iroha wanted to hear.

The first class after the lunch break was quite weird. I could feel many eyes being focused on me and even my Stealth Hikki couldn't really help with it. Especially Hayama and Miura were looking at me intensely. While Miura was sending me death glares, Hayama seemed to be rather pained and troubled by something. Yuigahama, however was just looking at me with a hollow smile. Her eyes were expressionless, yet her lips were still formed into a smile.

I wonder if it was because her phone broke or something. I think I might ask her next time.

However, one person didn't look at me even once. I don't think that it's something bad, really.

She was simply focused on the blackboard. Oh? I haven't said who I am talking about yet. Saki..I mean Kawasaki was entirely focused on the things our teacher said.

I was slightly worried of the fact that her pencil was trembling whilst she was writing down something. I'll try to ask her about it later.

Even though the first class was weird… The second class after the break was already normal. I guess Stealth Hikki started to work again.

And so the time had passed until it was time for me to go to the club...

I took a breath.

After a second of hesitation I went into the clubroom. A pair of eyes looked up at me.

"Yo." I said. I don't know why, but somehow I was kinda nervous.

"Yahallo." The usual greeting didn't sound as bright as I remembered it.

"Good morning." The voice of the Ice Queen, was not frigid, but simply inertly lukewarm. Never had I thought that I would prefer the usual ice cold tone.

Also… Morning?

"Morning? As I see it it's already afternoon." I tried to…

"Ah… I see. You're right." Said Yukinoshita without even looking at me.

After I took out my chair I sat down.

Silence, dead silence was the only thing that surrounded us. Yuigahama was playing with her phone, while Yukinoshita was reading a book.

So her phone isn't broken. What was it with her rushing to the toilet then?

Not being able to stand the awkward silence I tried to start a conversation.

"So, how was it?"

Yukinoshita didn't move one bit, nor did she say anything in reply.

Yuigahama on the other hand looked at me and then said.

"What was?" Instead of a cheerfully annoying voice it was simply plainly calm. Emotionless.

"You were doing some YuiYuri things together? Remember, you said you had to go earlier somewhere. So, how was it?"

"YuiYuri?" This time I managed to make Yukinoshita cease from reading her book. She looked at me with a disgusted look on her face having her right eyebrow raised.

So cold.

"I am scared to think what kind of things we do in your fantasies. You lecherous man…" She added after a while.

"Hehe." Yuigahama chuckled lightly.

The mood had lightened a bit, but soon all three of us were again surrounded by silence.

I sighed and took out a light novel.

It seems today is a bad day for everyone. Or could it be that it was their reaction after… Nah. Why would they be like this? It's not like any of them had any special feelings for me. I won't try to delude myself, they did not hate being in the same room with me They enjoyed my company. But love? No. Certainly not. Could it be that they're scared that I might neglect my duties as a Service Club Member? That might be it. They do not want to address the matter, but I can't see any other option for them behaving like this.

"Well.. You know, regarding the current situation." I don't know why I chose to use these vague words…

"I won't neglect my duties as a member of the Service Club." I said with a hasty voice.

Yukinoshita looked into my eyes. They were cold. She then forced a smile.

"I see."

Yuigahama added then more cheerfully.

"Yeah, it doesn't change anything. The 3 of us will have always fu-…"

Yet she was interrupted in the mid of her sentence.

"Senpai!" Though I know I shouldn't, I almost cursed Iroha for this timing. Couldn't you read the room, or something?

She smiled impishly and then went towards me.

Yuigahama's mouth was left agape. She didn't finish what she had tried to say. Yukinoshita cleared her throat.

"Good afternoon, Iroha." This time she used afternoon. Correct! However I had the feeling that her tone was cold even for the Ice Queen.

"Yahallo, Yuigahama-senpai. Yayallo, Yukinoshita-senpai." Iroha as if scared by THE Yukinoshita said frantically.

"Yahallo." Yuigahama said sheepishly.

With the greetings settled Iroha seemed to have made a decision. She put a sly smile on her face and then took out a chair and sat very close to me. Too close. She then rested her head on my shoulder.

"Senpai, you're so soft…" She whispered loud enough for everyone in the room to hear it.
She then leaned even further towards me to the point where she was almost lying on me.

Suddenly a frigid voice echoed throughout the room.

"Isshiki-san. Please, do keep in mind where you are. This is not the place for this kind of behavior." Yukinoshita looked disgusted as she hissed these words. She then looked at me. I could sense that in her gaze there was a kind of regret and disappointment. It hurt.

"And you… Don't behave like a dog that simply does the bid.." Her voice was getting much more powerful.

"Now… Now. Stop Yukinon. You shouldn't…" Yuigahama intervened.

Yukinoshita sighed and then want back to reading her book.

"Mou. Yukinoshita-senpai you're no fun. I simply want to have fun with my boyfriend." Iroha said these words clearly stressing out the word boyfriend. Truth be said I was mad at her for this. What did she try to accomplish?

Yukinoshita looked up. She put back her book and then said:
"Go out if you can't behave properly." She said these ward calmly yet with a cold voice.

"Iroha, stop it please. She's right." I added.

"Mou…" Iroha pouted, but then moved away a bit from me.

And so… The atmosphere thanks to Iroha's antics was very tense. After the club session ended we all parted our ways. Well… Iroha wanted me to stay a bit, so we stayed on the school-ground, whereas Yukinoshita and Yuigahama went somewhere.

...

We were now alone.

"Why? Why were you like that?" I demanded an answer. I was really angry.

"What do you mean? I didn't do anything bad. In fact I should ask you the same thing. Why didn't you defend me from her? Why didn't you defend your girlfriend from an aggressive club president." She shouted at me. Her eyes were glassy.

"What? That's not the case. She was right, you shouldn't behave like this." I tried to defend myself.

"Why? Because you like Yukinoshita so much? Didn't you promise you wouldn't look at other girls? Didn't you say you were only interested in me?" She pleaded.

"I said so…" I admitted with a low voice.

"So why weren't you defending me? Why did you team up with Yukinoshita, do you know how much it hurt?" There were first tears falling down from her eyes. She was crying. Crying because of me.

"I… It's not…"

"It's not what?" She shouted.

She then hugged me tightly and having her mouth near my ear whispered gently.

"Please, be with me. I love you, you said you loved me too… So, don't look at them. You only need me." Her voice was weeping.

She hugged me even tighter and cried. I didn't say anything. I only did hug her in return


That's it. How did you like the chapter? Is it even possible to like it? Heh. So, what's with the dream? Is it a prophetic one or a warning? Who is the girl in said dream? What will Hachiman do? Will his relationship with Iroha change, stay as it is or simply cease to exist? So many questions, I am curious to see your guesses. The end of part 1 of chapter 8. The story is slowly coming to its end. Slowly, but it's hard to estimate how many chapters are yet to come. I think that at least twice as what I've already written. Once again I ask you to write reviews I really like to read them and see my story in many different perspectives. The harsh ones are welcome too(well I've got a handkerchief prepared, so I am prepared to cry :)) I try to reply to your reviews either by creating my own review(this is limited to the first few reviews) or by PM.