December 2016 AN:

Yahallo Everyone! Just like chapter 4, for new readers you can go ahead and enjoy the chapter, old readers can stay and hear me rant like usual in my ANs.

Well, I'm sure if you read chapter 4 you'd know by now that I've changed the relationship between 8man and Yui. I realized that I shouldn't have made them so close to one another as this would bring up future plot holes and other problems on Yui's side in general. Just like with Yukinoshita, I didn't fully understand the nature of Yui's problems and simply decided to hash out a cute alternative to feed my ego. In the old version, I basically destroyed whatever future drama that could unfold between 8man, Yui and her problematic priorities which is her main flaw. With this change, I'm hoping that it would create more opportunities for me to portray more character growth. I hope you all understand.

And Yui-fans, sorry if you liked the older version of their relationship, but this needed to be done.

Well, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 5: Nice girls are actually Angels of Death

One year ago

I once heard that being admitted into a hospital can be pretty depressing.

Of course, why wouldn't it be?

The fact that you had a problem so bad that you had to be admitted in a hospital in the first place is pretty depressing enough. If you're in the ER or the ICU then it gets even worse. People could be dying right beside you and all you're thinking about is hopefully you'll make it out alive.

Thankfully, the situation wasn't that bad for me. Sure, I fractured my right tibia, but fortunately enough nothing broke. Even the doctor said I took the hit like a champ, and by hit I meant getting hit by a limo.

Yeah. A real limousine.

But getting back to the topic about hospitals, it can be pretty depressing, but also very boring.

You'll be waiting in there bored out of your mind with nothing to do but read a random magazine. The only times when you'd be free of this silent boredom was when visitors came. Being such an upstanding guy, I had a pretty long list of people who'd come to visit. Mom, Dad, Komachi, Shishou, some guys from the gym…

Ok, it ain't long but quality over quantity I guess.

Oh, and I guess there's-

"Hikki, are you listening?"

"Hmm? Yeah, I'm listening."

Big brown eyes narrowed suspiciously at me, scrutinizing the validity of my words.

"Really?"

"… Really."

"Ok, then tell me what I was talking about?"

Ok, there's a fifty-fifty chance that it's either about her dog, or something about school.

"Uh… your dog?"

"Wrong!"

Damn it!

"Hikki, you were totally not listening!"

She pouted her soft pink lips at me, the sight causing my heart to jump a beat.

"Well, I can't help it. Don't blame the listener if your story was too boring to keep my attention."

"Boring?! It wasn't boring! I was just telling you about my time in school today!"

"Woooow, schoooool. I'm so intrigued. Continue to waste whatever brain cells I have left on your incredible time in compulsory educational torture. Please, don't let my enthusiasm bother you."

"Hikki, you meanie!"

For my brilliant sass I was treated to a barrage of hits by the angry she-puppy. Her brown hair which was tied in a sideways bun bounced with every harmless swing of her small fists. As I suffer under such abusive actions, I took a moment to take this whole scene in.

This girl was part of the reason I'm in the hospital in the first place. The accident is pretty simple to explain.

Girl walking hyperactive dog. Handsome guy biking to school for the first day.

Dog gets free of his leash, runs onto the road.

Scary limo driving faster than should be allowed, imminent road kill just seconds away from happening.

Boy decides to be a hero, saves dog.

Boy gets sent to the hospital.

The end.

…Oh, and girl visits boy and becomes friends.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry."

"Hmph! You better be!" She huffed and crossed her arms, her face still angrily pouting.

I couldn't help but smile at the sight. It must have looked pretty out of place since she started to fidget and look away.

"W-What is it?"

"…Nothing."

I noticed the clock and saw that it was already late afternoon.

"I think it's about time you get home."

"Hmm? Ah! It's that late already!"

I watched as she checked her belongings before making her way to the door. She stopped just as she reached the exit before turning back with a smile.

"I'll come by again tomorrow."

"Don't trouble yourself. You should go hangout with your friends instead of wasting your time here."

I saw the smile on her face droop at my words. I could already feel the regret building inside me. Her lips remained in that neutral line for a moment longer before returning into a smile, albeit slightly smaller with a hint of melancholy.

"But I am hanging out with a friend."

Those words shot straight through me. A one hit critically super effective kill.

For a brief moment, Yuigahama's image was replaced by another brunette, one unlike her in personality and charm. The image caused a brief pang in my chest.

"Anyway, I have to go. Bye-bye, Hikki!"

I watched her go without a word, still too stunned to say a thing. I slowly turned to my room window, the sky a burnt orange. The sky was the same colour on that day.

"Friends, huh?"

My first day of high school

"Hey, is that him? The one the rumors are about?"

Whispers

"Yeah. Seems he missed out on the first few weeks of school because he got into a gang fight. I even heard he got hospitalized for it."

Rumors

"He looks like he's part of a gang or something. Yakuza?"

Prejudice

"Maybe. Just stay away from that guy. Who knows what he'll do to you."

Nonsense

No matter how many days, months and years of this, I am still awed by the pure stupidity and ridiculousness that is the teenage mind. They believe in what they want to believe and go to great lengths to have others believe in them too, and it doesn't even matter if its truth or lies.

I continued on my course to what I hope to be a quiet sanctum away from the crowd of Neanderthals. It should be just around this corner…

Ah, here it is.

The small corridor was like a hidden pocket, situated a ways away from the main hallway. The only rooms available were unused classrooms acting as storage, the blank labels above the doors signified as much. I moved to a window and opened it to let the breeze in. The sight below made me sigh.

School had finished less than half an hour ago so crowds of students can be seen in the courtyard. Some were going straight home, others with their friends to outings, and then there were those dedicated to club activities. I watched as people interacted, had fun, and bonded with one another.

I felt a sense of confliction build inside me as I continued to stare.

I should be used to this already. I didn't have a problem being ostracized. The idea of living a normal school life had long since been buried under years of being shunned and self-enforcement.

But there had still been a small lingering hope that things would be different. That there was a chance my high school life would strike a change.

Pffft, yeah right.

After all that I've been through it was ironic how optimistic I just sounded. I'm sure an angel of death will come to remind me of the horrors of real life.

"Ah, Hikki!"

Holy shit!

I turned to see the familiar sight of one Yuigahama Yui, a.k.a the angel sent to kill me.

"Yahallo! It's been a while!"

Don't you smile at me! I won't be deceived by you, no matter how pretty you are!

"Y-Yo…"

As Yuigahama came to approach me, I noticed that she wasn't alone. Two other girls were with her, both none too pleased at the sight of me. It seems that Yuigahama remembered she wasn't alone and turned back to her company.

"You two can go on ahead without me. I'll catch up in a bit."

"A-Are you sure, Yuigahama-san?"

"Yeah, it doesn't look ok to just leave you here, Yui-chan."

Yuigahama stopped and whipped here head back and forth between me and her friends. She smiled awkwardly after realizing the tension in the air, "I-It's fine! I'm just going to talk to Hikki. Nothing's going to happen."

They didn't look convinced but eventually decided to let it go, "A-Alright. Call us if anything comes up, ok? See ya in a bit, Yui-chan."

The two girl started to leave but not without turning back with looks of concern. When they were finally out of sight Yuigahama turned back to me.

"Eheheh… sorry about that, Hikki."

"… Nothing to apologize for."

An awkward pause came between us as neither of us knew what to say after what just happened.

"U-Umm… how's your first day of school?"

"… Meh."

"Meh? What does that mean?"

"Well let's see. Classes are just as boring as like I remember in middle school. The people around me are as brain dead as ever. And the ridiculousness of the teenage mind continues to exceed my lowest expectations. So all in all? Meh."

Yuigahama had a look of surprise on her face, probably from the amount of words spewing from my mouth. That look was quickly replaced by one of disgust, "Uwah, that's totally gross."

"I know. Society is pretty gross."

"No, I meant you, Hikki. It's so gross how you could say all that with such a straight face."

"I'm more surprised that you're actually playing the straight man for once."

Another pause, but this time I knew what would happen next. Her lips formed a small smile which slowly turned into a grin. Soon enough, mirthful giggles started pouring out of her and I too joined in with a chuckle.

Things started to smooth out after that. We talked about a few things. How my leg was doing, what do you think of the school, have you made any new friends…

… That last one was a joke.

When Yuigahama's phone started ringing it signaled that our time together was up.

"Ah… mm… I got it. Be there in a few." Yuigahama ended the call before giving me an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Hikki. Looks like I've got to go."

"Well, better get going. Don't want your friends to think I kidnaped you or something."

"They wouldn't think that!"

Of course not. They'd think I did something worse.

Yuigahama suddenly gained a contemplating look, "Hmm… hey, Hikki, why don't I introduce you to my friends?"

I couldn't help but stare at her incredulously. What kind of ridiculous suggestion is that?

"You're kidding me, right?"

"I'm serious! Why? You don't like my friends?"

More like it's the other way around.

"Yuigahama, I know you're an airhead, but you can't have missed out on what's been circling around the school today have you? Particularly the not so nice ones about a certain new student?"

"I-I have but-"

"So why are you even suggesting introducing me?"

"I-I just thought that we could all get along."

"I can tell your friends and I will get along as well as oil and water."

"Hikki, I know you're having a hard time so I'm trying to help you. If I introduce you as my friend and explain that the rumors aren't true then everything will be fine!"

I couldn't help but feel a bit of pity at her desperate attempt to convince me. It wasn't that I didn't want to believe in her. If everything goes her way, then my faith in humanity will be restored.

But we all know what would really happen.

Yuigahama would introduce me as her friend, her circle would put on fake smiles and awkward laughs as if accepting the idea but we all know that's far from the truth. If her so called friends were to be more obvious with their dislike they'd just make some excuse to leave the gathering early.

The next day, Yuigahama would suddenly find herself miraculously a loner.

Everyone around her would just pull away from the deranged girl who had befriended the delinquent transfer student. She'd be forced to see all the connections she made in the beginning of the school year crumble away. Even if she wanted to make new friends, her social standing was already tarnished. The ruthless winds known as teenage society and prejudice would just blow your fragile straw house of connections down.

"Hikki?"

I stared at Yuigahama who was patiently waiting for my response. Yuigahama who looked hopeful and eager that I would accept her offer. Yuigahama that didn't know how much of a colossal mistake she was about to make.

Yuigahama, who's image suddenly overlapped with another.

Slowly, another brunette took her place. One that was all too familiar. One that brought a heavy pang of regret in my chest.

Orimoto Kaori was now smiling up at me, a smile that had hints of sadness and melancholy.

The message was clear.

Are you going to give this girl the chance that you didn't even give me?

"Hikki, are you ok? You look a bit pale and your forehead suddenly started sweating."

Sure enough I had actually broken into a cold sweat, a bead of which ran down the side of my face.

Yuigahama's large brown eyes stared up at me in concern.

Brown eyes that looked so damn similar.

The more I stare into them, the more the pang in my chest grows. I processed the reason for this pain and quickly found the answer.

Guilt.

I broke a friendship to save a good friend from being ostracized.

And here I am contemplating a friendship that would lead another into the same horrid world as mine.

It was obvious to me now what I have to do.

"Yuigahama…"

She continued to look up at me in concern. I squashed whatever doubt that wanted to build inside me.

"W-What is it, Hikki?"

I'm sorry… but it looks like your wish isn't going to come true.

"… I think it's about time we put an end to this."

Present Day

"Hikki! Hikki!"

"Huh-what?!"

I felt a tug on my right sleeve and turned to the person responsible. Big brown eyes stared up at me and the face they belonged to was puffed out and pouting.

"Hikki! I've been calling out to you for like five minutes! You were spacing out on me!"

Really? Spacing out for five minutes? Pfft, I've done way worse.

"Well, maybe it's because somebody was going on and on about some random crap about uhh…"

"You totes can't even remember! How do you know it's just random crap if you don't even know what I was talking about?"

Ok, sudden sense of déjà vu here.

"Well, what were you talking about?"

"I was talking about all the fun Yukinon and I are gonna have on our lunch date!"

"… I rest my case."

"Hikki!"

Cute pouting airhead's aside, Yuigahama and I were currently on the way to class. We had bumped into each other a while ago and decided to just stick it out. I'm not much of a talker but Yuigahama does enough for both of us.

"What were you thinking about?"

"Hmm? Nothing much. Just a trip through memory lane, I guess."

"Heeeeh? What was it about?"

The day I trampled on our sprouting friendship. Sounds pretty bad if I say it out loud.

"The countless times my body was close to dying."

Now that sounds totally fine out loud.

Yuigahama was flabbergasted, "Why were you remembering something like that?!"

"Yesterday you tried to kill me with food poisoning. My body has somewhat managed to survive but my brain is still reeling from the trauma. I should charge you for attempted murder."

"My cookies aren't poisonous! Yukinon ate it just fine! Hikki's stomach is just weak!"

Take that back, woman! I worked hard for these abbs!

I was about to make another retort when I notice how close we were getting to our destination. Our class was now just a hallway away. As if in sync we both stopped in place at the same time. We stood there for a good moment before glancing at each other.

"You go ahead first."

"I…umm…"

Come on, don't suggest something stupid like going in together.

"…ok."

Good girl.

Yuigahama started walking ahead of me towards the classroom. When she reached the door she turned to flash me a somewhat sad smile before going in. For just a brief moment, the image of a familiar brown eyed brunette was placed over her. I quickly dashed the hallucination away and frowned in worry.

It seems that my eyes love to play tricks on me. Maybe I should invest in some glasses?

But jokes aside, these hallucinations were something that worried me greatly.

Orimoto and Yuigahama.

Two different girls, but very similar.

It was scary how life just finds the best ways to torment my poor soul. I was thoroughly convinced that Karma had decided to make me her bitch the day I met Yuigahama. To send a girl that reminded me of someone I had cared for in the past to haunt me in the present. I had thought that breaking that budding friendship would spare me this torture, but it seems that my reprieve had come to its end.

One would say that I would hate Yuigahama for involuntarily causing such grief on to me, but the truth can't be any farther from that.

After all, both Orimoto Kaori and Yuigahama Yui are nice girls.

And I like nice girls.

Lunch was a simple affair for me. As a loner, I have no obligation to any group whatsoever. I would usually have my lunch in a spot where I can be alone, preferably at the spot I dubbed, my 'Best Place'. Unfortunately for me, today I'm forced to eat in class due to Mother Nature's need to piss every once in a while.

"Aww, come on, Hayato~."

"I can't come today. I have to go to club."

My eyes drifted towards the so called "Popular Group" in class. These riajuus were as typical as always, talking loudly and lively as if in their own world. The leaders of the group, Miura and Hayato were the center of attention as always.

"Can't you skip for one day? The double scoop Ice cream at Forty-One is really cheap today. I want to eat choco and chocolate."

"Eheh, they're both chocolate!"

"What~? They're like totally different! Gosh, now I'm starving."

"Sorry, but it's just not happening today. Don't eat too much or you'll regret it, Yumiko."

"Doesn't matter. I'll still gain like, zero pounds."

It looks like it was time for Yuigahama to act her role of Miura's groupie, "Totally, Yumiko! You gotta be a goddess or somethin'! You got the legs of a model! Anyway, I-"

Miura was already glowing with praise, so much so that she didn't even let Yuigahama finish, "Really~? But isn't that Yukinoshita girl in a league of her own?"

"Yeah, Yukinon is def-"

"Yukinon?"

Uh oh. Looks like you slipped up there.

"Oh, but you're way prettier, Yumiko!"

You get a 4/10 for that last second save, Yuigahama.

"Well, whatever. I can go with you if we go after my club." Hayama, was that just brilliant timing or a calculated move? Either way, Miura looks satisfied.

"Okay, Hayato~. Text me later."

My focus was back on Yuigahama, who looked like she was having trouble saying something. From what she said earlier, I believe she has a lunch date with the Ice Queen; a lunch date that she was currently running late to.

"Um… I'm heading somewhere for lunch." Her comment had the whole group's attention on her.

"Oh, that so? Then get me some lemon tea. I forgot to bring anything to drink today." Oi, Miura, there's a limit to how obtuse a person can be.

"B-But I won't be back until fifth period begins. Or well, I don't got much time during lunch anyway, so I can't really…" Damn it. Don't trail off at the end, woman. You're practically inviting her to challenge you.

"Huh? Hey, what's up with you? Haven't you been spending a lot less time with me lately, Yui?"

"How should I explain this… I couldn't like, help it… I'm happy that you offered though…"

"Stop beating around the bush because you're making no sense! We're friends aren't we?" I'm sure you meant follower and master, Miura. There's no way this is friendship.

"Sorry…" Yuigahama looked like she was about to give up. If this keeps up I don't think I'll be able to-

"Oh come on, why are you apologizing? Just spit it out already!"

BAM!

The whole class got startled by the sudden bang. I slowly uncurled my fingers from the fist I used to slam my desk. No one said anything or even moved. Everyone had their attention on me.

I glared in annoyance at the blonde bitch. I could feel my irritation hitting close to its thresh-hold.

"Oi, would you just shut up already? You're whining is ruining my lunch."

There were collective gasps all around as my words sunk into everyone's empty skulls.

"W-What the hell is your problem? Nobody's talking to you."

Miura wasn't that type of person to approve being looked down upon. She glared at me with the eyes of a snake, emphasizing the amount of poison in her words. To a normal person it would have been an instant K.O, but to me?

"Hooh? Is that what you consider talking? I'm quite out of the loop when it comes to social norms but I didn't think screeching and wailing is what's considered talking these days."

The bitch's face took on an ugly and angry red, "Hah? The hell are you talking about?"

"And here I thought you dyed your hair. I didn't know you were a natural blonde."

Miura got even angrier and abruptly stood up, "You're not making any sense, loser!"

"Looks like that saying went way over your head. I would say 'read a book', but magazines don't count."

Miura looked ready to burst a vein, "Why don't you mind your own-"

"Shut up, woman. Your constant whining already ruined my lunch, now it's just grating my ears."

My command for silence had the effect of beating her anger down. Her face was now making a rather odd twitch, as if she was about to cry.

Good. Maybe seeing her in tears will sate this boiling feeling inside me.

"Ok, that's enough, you two. There's no need to cause an uproar in class."

And here comes Hayama Hayato to save the day. The knight in shining armor moved so that he stood in-between our line of sight and sent me a disarming smile.

"Hikigaya-kun, sorry about ruining your lunch. How about I buy you a drink and we can all put this behind us?"

How nice, a piece offering. The prospect of free MAX coffee was tempting…

But if it came from a faker like you it would just ruin the taste.

"…You're such a nice guy, aren't you, Hayama? Everybody's Hayama Hayato, coming in to save the damsel from the big bad delinquent." I smiled as I said this.

A smile that quickly died as it appeared.

"Don't patronize me, Hayama. I'm not one of your sheep. If you really want me to believe you care then you should have cut in sooner. You let one of your so called friends shit talk on another and didn't even lift a finger. So why give a damn now? You got some hidden agenda here? Maybe you're only acting now because everyone is watching?"

Hayama and practically everyone in class were taken aback by my words. They were all looking at me like I had just committed some great sin. What the hell is wrong with you people? Was this guy so much of a god to you all that the sight of someone openly opposing him is too hard to comprehend? You're all just mindless sheep.

"…You're right, Hikigaya-kun. I should have helped Yui before things got out of hand. I-"

"Oh, please. Stop with the hero act. I'd rather listen to Miura whine all day than hear this crap. You think it's all about you? Your whole gang is equally as bad. A bunch of puppets just following along yours and Miura's strings."

I moved my glare onto the three idiots and Miura's shadow, "Oi. Do any of you have even give a damn? Or are you all just happy to be background characters?" my words had hurt them right where I wanted it to. Now they couldn't even look at me.

"Hikigaya-kun, that's enough! Leave them out of this!"

No, Hayama. This isn't enough. This is far from enough.

"Stay out of this, Hayama. You were fine with sitting it out in the beginning. Go back to doing what you do best, being a nice looking statue for people to ogle at."

Miura finally had enough of me talking down to the object of her fucked up affection, "Take that back! Just who do you think you are anyway?!" Damn, my ear drums are about to burst. I'm starting to wonder if the reason they all don't give a damn is because they can't hear jack shit due to Miura making them deaf.

"I'm starting to realize why Yuigahama hangs around you, Miura. She's a dog person, you know? So I'm sure she couldn't help but pamper over such a huge bi-"

"HIKKI!"

The sudden shout surprised me. Heck, it surprised everyone.

All eyes were now on Yuigahama. The girl whom I had gotten into this mess for was now glaring daggers at me. Oi, what's that look for? I'm doing all this crazy shit for you.

"Hikki, that's enough. You-You don't have to do this anymore. Just… let me handle this, ok?"

And leave you to get shit talked again? No way am I going to just-

"Please."

Her eyes went from angry to pleading in a heartbeat. I knew the second I saw those eyes I'd lose.

...Damn it.

I slowly stood up and made my way out of the class. I let out a tired sigh once I got out and into the hallway.

"Did you have fun, Mr. Delinquent?"

I looked up in surprise at the person who had addressed me. One Yukinoshita Yukino stood in the middle of the hallway with her usual amused smile on her face. I didn't say anything yet since the rest of my class suddenly decided to follow me out of the red zone. Each and every one was giving me curious or unnerved glances. I turned back to Yukinoshita when the rush had ended.

"It's rude to eavesdrop on other people's classes."

"It's hardly called eavesdropping when you could hear all the different animal calls and growls from across the hall. I'm curious to know what kind of ecosystem that allows such wild animals to coexist."

"All you have to know is that Hakuna Matata doesn't exist in there." [1]

"Oh, so does that make you the meerkat or the warthog?"

"Please, I'm a lone wolf, remember?"

"And what exactly chased the big bad wolf out of its cave?"

With the class empty except for the gang of fakers, I could easily hear the conversation Yuigahama was having inside. I smiled as the girl was finally voicing out her own opinion.

"I got barked at from the puppy I was trying to save."

"How, terrible. This is why cats are far superior to dogs."

"How the hell did you even connect cats into all this?"

"Everything is connected to cats."

"What happened just now… I'm sorry."

Yumiko looked at me like she didn't understand what I was saying.

"Why are you apologizing? That delinquent is the one-"

"Hikki isn't a delinquent!"

I glared at Yumiko to make my point across, but she looked more surprised that I shouted at her.

"Hikki isn't a delinquent. He may say mean things, he may look scary, like really scary… but he's a nice person."

"But Yui-"

"Hikki isn't the problem here. If I hadn't been so wishy-washy then he wouldn't have had to say those mean things to you and everyone else."

"That… that doesn't make any sense."

This was my chance. If I don't say what I want to say… then Hikki would have done all that for nothing.

"… I like, always have this compulsive need to fit in. I'm always obsessing over how to please others. I've always been like that. It gets really hard for me to make my point across, you know? But looking at Hikki and Yukinon really made me think. They speak their minds and don't really care what others think, but they still look like they're having fun. Especially Hikki, that guy totes doesn't have any delicacy at all, but that's what makes him cool, I guess.

I've been thinking for a long while, that maybe I was doing it wrong by trying so desperately to fit in. So that's why I'm going to make myself clearer to everyone. I have things I really want to do, but it doesn't mean I don't like you anymore…

So… can we still be friends?"

"Looks like she can speak her mind after all."

"That girl could always do it. She's got no problems mouthing off to me."

Yukinoshita eyed me for a moment before smiling, "Hmm… maybe it's because you're as emotionally obtuse as you look that she has no qualms in doing so?"

Oh stop it you, you're gonna make me blush.

"Well, it sounds like everything is settled so I'll be taking my leave. Do tell her that I'll be waiting in the clubroom as promised."

You could just wait a moment for her couldn't you? Aaand you're off. What an impractical woman.

And just as predicted, the door to the class suddenly slid open and out came Yuigahama.

"Huh?! Why are you still here, Hikki?! Did you hear all that?!"

"You're the one who practically chased me out. Where do you think I'm supposed to go?"

"Hikki, you eavesdropper! Creep! Stalker! Pervet! And, uh… creep!"

What an exquisite repertoire of insults. I am in awe at such play of words.

"Sigh… you are so not worth it."

"You reap what you sow, dummy! How could you say all those mean things to my friends?!"

"The same friends who practically shit talked and ignored you?"

"Well… uhh… you still didn't have to like go that far!"

Would have gone even farther if you hadn't stopped me.

"Can you honestly tell me they didn't deserve it? After all the shit they put you through, did you expect me to not get pissed?"

"Hikki…"

"In my eyes they aren't worth the attention. I don't understand why you even bother with them."

"…Hikki should know why…"

Of course I know. It's because you're too god damn nice.

I let out a sigh and pinched the bridge of my nose, "You're a lost cause, you know that?"

"Mou… even if you say that, Hikki helped me out anyway."

What do you take me for, your scary guardian angel?

"That wasn't my intention. I did it to keep the piece."

"…Tsundere."

Oi, who taught you that word?! I bet it was Yukinoshita!

"Sigh… Well, we're now stuck in a bigger problem."

"What problem?"

"Are you serious? No wait, you're serious. Well, if you don't recall, little Ms. Blabbermouth… you practically screamed that ridiculous nickname you gave me for the whole world to hear. I know there's a lot of stupid in this school but I'm sure a few of our not-so-stupid-but-still-quite-stupid classmates will pick up on that fact. And when they do they'll make a connection between us. Who knows what kind of stupid rumors will pop up because of this?"

Surely this would get her brain running. I'm literally spelling it out for you. You can't play the airhead card this time. So I waited for another one of her ridiculous response.

… and waited.

… and waited.

Ok seriously it's rude to leave a guy hanging. What is she-

Oh.

Is it considered healthy when a girl's face gets redder then an apple and glows as bright as a street lamp? Was it bad that I could feel my own face getting hot? Was it wrong for me to think she looks freaking adorable right now?

"Hi-Hi-Hikki is a big dummy! Stupid! Pervert! Creep! Stalker! Molester! Ah-Ah-Uh… IgotagoYukinoniswaitingforme!"

She ran off faster than SEGA's forgotten blue mascot. [2]

I palmed my face and let out yet another tired sigh.

"HIKKI!"

I quickly looked up and saw Yuigahama at the end of the hallway.

"Thank you for standing up for me! You're the bestest!"

Damn it, why don't you just shout it out to the whole world?! Would you like me to get you a microphone?! Just go already!

When she was gone from my sight I let out the longest sigh of the day and proceeded to slide down to a crouch on the floor with my burning face in my hands.

"That girl will be the death of me."

The smile hidden behind my hands was there, but it slowly started to slide into a frown as my thoughts go into more concerning things. I wasn't wrong when I said the rumors will start to fly. I could see my classmates coming back from lunch, all whispering about the nature of our relationship.

Most of my worries were for Yuigahama. Her reputation would surely take a turn, most likely for the worse. But then again, things were different than in our first year. She's already established a solid foothold as one of the more popular people, and she hangs around the group that has the most popular guy in school. No doubt any attack on her would also affect the group as a whole.

That is, if they even bother about it.

As for me, life will continue like it always has. Stare and whisper all you want haters, your opinions matter nothing to me.

…Though speaking of staring, I've had the feeling that someone's been staring at me for a while now.

I turned to where I felt that heavy stare and found my sights on the other side of the hallway. For just a brief moment, I saw long blue-silver hair disappearing from around the corner.

Think of the past and it might come to haunt you. But then again, would it even be considered haunting if the past doesn't want anything to do with you?

December 2016 AN:

Well, like it or hate it, review or pm to send me your thoughts. Like always, have a great read and a great day!

Reference:

[1] Lion King reference. Childhood Disney movies will forever be the best.

[2] Sonic the Hedgehog reference. When embarrassed and flustered, Yui's gotta go fast!