Isshiki Iroha wants me to take responsibility?
Loners never actively went out in pursuit of accompanying others. That is literally the opposite of a loner. We keep our sociological footprints down to zero by using the famed method of not talking to anyone and not being associated with anyone.
But I'm ready for that to be changed.
Answering the knocking on the door, a mature woman with fluffy blonde hair appeared. Her skin not as pearl white as Isshiki's was but her light beige sweater made up for that.
"Yes, who is this?"
Still dressed in uniform, I speak out the lines I rehearsed 21 times on the way.
"Hello. Sorry to intrude on you miss but is Isshiki home?"
That was spoken with such clarity. If house-husbandry doesn't work out, I can be a professional actor!
She casts me a suspicious look.
"Huh? Really?"
What's that disapproving tone for? So what about my messy hair, slouched back and overall non-pleasantness!
"Uh yeah. I brought snacks and stuff..."
Her initial suspicions were tossed out in favor of glee. She cracked an excited scary smile.
"Ahh OK! She never mentioned a boyfriend!"
Even her Mother? Assuming she is anyway.
"Woah. No, I'm just...her errand boy I guess you could say?"
"Yup! Sounds just like her to do so! Knew her taste in boys wasn't as bad as I thought just now!"
This woman was way too carried away with this!
"Come in then. Do you want me to make hot chocolate for the both of you?"
"Umm if you want to I guess."
"Then it's decided!"
Taking my shoes off at the front door, I smell a sweet fragrance in the air.
It smells nice in here. Like peach actually.
"Isshiki's is the first door to the right on the stairs."
"Ri-OK."
"And don't think of doing anything up there...
Or you'll find your jugular slit. Capiche~?"
I swallow hard. Now I know where Isshiki gets it from. Why are other parents soo scary?
Walking up the steps, I sneak peeks at the portraits that line the walls. Isshiki looking mischievous in the middle along with her mother and her brute of a father. If only I know of the dangers I'm getting into...
Right, first door on the right.
Making tepid knocks on the door; I ask.
"Isshiki? You in there?"
A muffled voice answers.
"Huh? Senpai? You're here?"
"Yeah, it's me."
She opens the door, dressed in dark blue pajamas. Woahh?! Wait, this is a bit indecent right?
You're mother might really slit my throat in my sleep you know!
"Are you making passes at me? Ya know, what makes you think I'm that kind of girl senpai? Ahh before you get your hopes up, I find it creepy and repulsive so there's no chance of us doing that kayyyyyy~."
Rejected again!
Anyway, I'm not that indecent! I'd like my throat to be intact after all! She looks much better then before, fresh new bandage patch on her cheek. Much more professionally done.
"Like I'm here to be that shameless.
Anyway, it'd be a shame if these snacks went to waste."
She then had a sudden change of opinion.
"Ahh well that would be a crying shame! That chocolate is begging to be eaten!"
Remember, you can always buy out good feelings and thanks with materialistic gifts and acts!
"You know what senpai, just give me the snacks and you can go home!"
"Whaaa? I mean what?"
"Duuhhh just messing with you senpai. You're so easy to fool sometimes..."
Before I had time to think about what she really meant by saying that. She invited me in.
"Come on in."
Her room is covered in that same sweet peachy fragrance. There was no particularly girly colours. Her walls and floor were varying cutesy shades of blue.
Her bed-sheets had different types of flowers showcased and stuffed animals littered her shelf. A piece of her childhood to linger on.
It was actually like my sisters room funny enough.
"Surprised?"
"I dunno...I expected it to be more...Pink?"
"Pink's overrated senpai."
Didn't take you for the underground type Iroha.
"Well, why are you standing there? You can sit down you dead-weight."
Settling the rustling bag to the floor, I scan the room. Where was there a chair?
Isshiki crosses her eyebrows, obviously annoyed.
"What are you looking for? The bed's right there."
"Ri-right I knew that."
"You might be going blind senpai. Soon you'll outlive your usefulness! Then I'll have to find a new senpai!"
That thought leeched it's way into my thought zone.
It pisses me off and I can't explain why...
Whatever, dismissing the thought. I sit on her extravagant bed.
It feels awkward to sit on a girls sleeping zone but I persevere and eventually lose myself on the relaxation of the bed. Mann it's soo comfy!
"Senpai, don't you dare fall asleep. You'll corrupt everything around youuuu!"
What? They're inanimate objects though. Anyway if I did corrupt people, you'll be a voodoo zombie by now.
"Right right. Well what do you want to eat first? There's chocolate chipped biscuits and-"
"The biscuits."
That was quick. Didn't even let me finish Isshiki.
Rummaging through the numerous supplies I bought, I bring out the packet and open it.
"Ahh but eating them now would be a problem. Crumbs shouldn't be on the floor after all."
She immediately sits up and jogs out the room.
"I'll get the plates K! You better not forget yourself senpai!"
Better not forget myself? What did you mean by that Sly-shiki?
Left with just me and my thoughts, I relax evermore so on her bed.
Man, my past self would be crying tears of joy from this notion. Maybe that guy would've seriously confessed and received only another rejection.
My phone rumbles, my sister would no doubt try to pry.
Komachi: Where Are U Onii-chan!
Hachiman: At someone else's.
Komachi: Gahama san or Yukino-san?!
Komachi: 0_0?
Hachiman: Neither.
Komachi: Saika's? If you're that side of the fence onii-chan you can tell me!
Wai-what? Well it's true I have peculiar thoughts...
However so, I couldn't respond as Isshiki came back with plates balancing mugs of hot chocolate. Her slow steady movements betraying her energetic playful nature.
"Sorry, I kept you waiting. I...
Talked with mom for abit."
And I'm sure pulling off a balancing act had a small hand to play.
Quickly, I relieve her of her responsibilities. Claiming the plate and hot chocolate as my own.
"Thanks but you coulda called me down you know. I'm your henchman after all, think of it as outsourcing for manual labor."
The confused look she has answers that question.
"Wha? That doesn't make sense senpai, but I suppose you are a good diligent henchmen."
"Well like you said. I'm like a Labrador eh?"
She smiles in earnest agreement. Well if it's like that then I suppose we're both content.
Sipping the hot chocolate slowly, my tongue basks in the hot pleasure. The room felt really warm and I wasn't sure if it was the clothes, hot chocolate or the body heat.
Perhaps all of the above.
Breaking out the biscuits, I divide them between our plates and we both start eating. Enjoying the delicacies of crunchy biscuits with chocolaty bits melting in our mouths.
"Wahh so tastyy~!
Ahh but this is not good for my body. Not at all!"
All good things come at a price. (cept the literal price tag I paid to get them. Gluttony is a sin after all.)
That's why I tended to stay away from good things as I know a price would have to be payed after. That was the law of the world after all.
Stretching my bones, head relaxing on my hands I inquire about her pain.
"Man, you girls have it bad huh."
She has a curious look as if I hold the answer to a hidden secret. I'm not Li Shengshun you know nor the black reaper for that matter.
"But you boys do sports 'n' stuff to burn it all off right?"
"Nope. Take me for example. I'm just blessed with good metabolism."
"Meta-what? Pfft, that's just stupid senpai."
If only you knew Isshiki. If only you knew.
"Search it up then you can be jealous."
She pouts making an exaggerated cross expression.
"Sennnpaaiiii. You really shouldn't be making girls jealous. Seriously, I'll have to teach this dog some new tricks then..."
No way I'm a dog. If I die, please reincarnate me as a cat. Any kind will do!
I could be lazy and not have to do anything for my life except for live, eat and sleep. Kamakura has it easy.
"Well you could teach a cat tricks aswell you know?"
"What does cats have anything to do with this?"
Hmph, I guess the joke was too subtle for her.
Her cheek wasn't though. It was hard to look someone in the eyes when half the cheek was covered.
"How's your injury doing by the way?"
"Ahh this?"
Stroking the bandage, she explains.
"It's starting to scab over now. Still...
I...
Never did thank you for treating me so..."
I didn't deserve thanks. I was just doing what a common human being should do after all.
"No need. Paramedics don't want thanks for treating a patient. They just want their wages so they can go home."
"Are you asking me to pay you senpai? You really are the lowest of the low."
"When did I insinuate that?"
She giggles heartily. Something she normally does but it sounded different in her domain.
It was abit higher pitched the usual.
That...
It was slightly cute. Just a bit. Maybe...
Feeling the blood rush to my cheeks, I quickly distract her.
"So what's that paper for on the table?"
"Oh that? It's my homework for Japanese."
Evidently I killed the mood with the resulting silence after. So she didn't like that subject huh?
"Well if you want, I can help you with it. I scored 3rd place on Japanese after all."
She bounced up and down on her bed eyeing me like I'm a lifesaver.
"Really? Wow, I thought you were much dumber but that makes it easier for me~!"
Urghh don't underestimate me Isshiki-san. My looks don't betray my street smarts and general smarts.
"Well when you put it like that, I suppose I can't help you."
"Wahh! Senpai please don't be this cruel! You'd never leave someone to drown would you?"
"Depends on the person."
"But not me right?"
She looks at me with moist eyes, pale hands gripping her bosom and the echoing words.
"Please senpai."
I can't resist that. No one could.
"Oh OK OK...
I suppose I have no choice..."
Lazily standing up, I bend to pick up the papers to read up on the task.
Create a romance story huh? Noo...This stinks of Shizuka-sensei.
This must be a new form of self-torture huh?
Poor-sensei.
Cringing at the thought, Isshiki speaks up.
"With good grades like that, you could get a good job.
Shame you want to be a house-husband ya knoww."
No, I'm pretty happy about that.
But hold on...
"I don't remember ever telling you that..."
She freezes up, obviously caught in the spotlight.
"I uhh...
No wait you did tell me! Yeah! You mumbled it to yourself and I heard! That's right yeaah!"
Something about that doesn't ring true to me but I accept it regardless. I had a bad case of mumbling to myself. I'd have to be more careful.
"Well, same goes for you. Being student president would look good along with some decent grades."
"You think so?"
As opposed to just saying so?
"Yeah. It shows you can handle a leadership role. That's an attractive trait for employers."
"Attra-tractive?"
Woops, wrong choice of words.
"Senpai, is that another pass at me? You're getting quite brash but I'm sorry. Flattery doesn't mean you're my type~!"
Sad to say but I'm way too used to this now. She's now rejected me more times then all the girls I've ever asked out.
"Senpai, whats wrong?"
Snapping out of it, I realize I was stuck in a somber trance.
"Ahh it's nothing. It's n-not l-like I was interested in y-you or anything..."
"Oh then is it someone you like?"
Eh? Casting a suspicious look to her, she explains.
"Well, you looked like that and you did help me with Hayama sooo I could help you."
Woah, doing that for me? She's too considerate! As much as I appreciate the thought, I'd have to reject her offer. I don't wanna be stuck with a desperate bitch anyway.
"Nah, I'm good. Anyway, not interested in anyone...Yet."
In relief, she sighs.
"That's good then. I mean not good! Not good at all!"
She waved her hands in a stupor while saying that.
Decide what you need to say before you say it! I swear my heart stopped then...
"Ahh but I did make some progress with Hayama."
Say what? The thought of that unexpectedly made me alert.
"What? How? When?"
"Hmm? Well yaknow during that problem? Yaknow...
Me and...
Well anyway, when he was holding me. He held my chest...
So technically that's second base right?"
He touched her there? That guy has no shame. What a prick...
"You look jealous senpai! Wahahaha~!"
Tch.
"I just hold no respect for guys that take advantage of a situation like that. Honest mistake or not."
"Never knew jealous boys could be so cute."
This sneaky bitch is pushing the line now.
Or I'm just in a bad mood. I knew what I was getting into after all.
"Well putting that aside, I'll do your work while you pester me."
"It's worked so far right?"
Thinking back on our partnership, yeah. That was how it worked heh.
I get cracking to work having to write from a girl's POV. I was mindful not to take any liberties from real events. After all, I don't want the ending to be her getting rejected in Destiny-land. I had the plot in mind, a girl is sat with her friends. However, she feels no true connection with anyone until she meets an evil disturbed boy. I just hope Shizuka doesn't find out I (or Isshiki) pulled a reverse on Aku no hana!
While lost in my thoughts, a weight is rested on my leg as I laid down back against the wall on her bed. Did she have a cat in here?
Looking down, I notice Isshiki, eyes closed and head on my lap! Please, can you stop that! I have hormones that could go out of control!
"Isshiki, what are you-"
"I'm pretty sleepy senpai and the pillows are too far."
Her throat distorted her voice making it seem almost croaky.
"You could just ask me, they're right next to me."
"Well I'm comfy now so it's too late."
My blood pressure is probably spiking to an all time high. The sheer boldness of her!
Unsure of what to do, my brotherly reflexes kick in and I stroke her hair.
For a few seconds anyway then stop out of sheer embarrassment.
"Mhnn why'd you stop?"
"Huh? It's OK with you?"
"I don't mind it. Feels good actually..."
I stroke her fluffy hair. It was like petting a cat, I could almost hear her purring.
"Hey senpai. You know that thing you want?
That "genuine" thing? Where do you think you'll find it?"
Oh? That? I believed it could be anything...
Like chasing an ice-cream van was a pursuit for happiness or just feeling content was happiness.
"I dunno where to even start looking to tell you the truth."
We sat their like that for nearly 10 minutes in silence. I quickly got used to it.
Like any good thing, it'll eventually end. So I take my time to remember this moment.
With her eyes closed, she speaks.
"Hey senpai. If nothing works out on my end...
Do, do you umm...
Would you mind...
I mean I wouldn't mind choosing you."
What did she mean by that? To clarify I speak up.
"Wait? What for?"
"I mean I...
Never mind. I wouldn't mind choosing you to do the work is what I'm trying to say."
I shut up to bask in my warning thoughts.
"Ahh it's late now, senpai!"
She sits up in a emergency maneuver then panics.
"Ahh yeah. I stayed for longer then I needed to."
"And you didn't even get my work done! Senpai! I'm disappointed."
But that was because of you! Needlessly distracting me with all sorts of near-intimate things!
"All you have to do is finish it off."
An odd silence is in the air, with that I remember.
"Oh, are you coming to school tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I'll try."
By saying that, she has left herself room for both decisions. She's not obligated to choose only one. She can stay at home or go at her leisure. After all, she never promised to come didn't she now?
"Well, I'll see you there then."
Leaving, I see her mother who was cleaning up with a vacuum cleaner.
"Ahh, had a good time Isshiki?"
"Ahh sort of..."
She blushed and looked towards me.
Was there some unspoken agreement between her and her mother? After all, that was the case with mom and Komachi.
"Well, cya soon errand boy~!"
"See you senpai!"
Waving goodbye, I head home.
I wasn't sure if she was playing or not...
That sounded like a near confession, but it was hard to differentiate Isshiki's true and fake sides sometimes.
I just don't want to make the same mistake again. Confess and ruin our little partnership completely. It'd be best to keep what we have, freeze it in time as a museum piece or something.
As annoying as she was sometimes...
It was a pleasant thought.
She was one piece of work.
I can see where she gets it from though. Like mother and daughter.
I feel bad for her dad. He has quite the handful to live with.
And so I made my way home.
"Onii-chan! You was at Saika's wasn't you?"
"I never said I was."
"You're sexuality doesn't matter to me Onii-chan! If you tell mom and dad, they'll probably understand!"
"But Komachi-"
"Komachi will support your decision! It's your life after all!"
"But I'm straight Komachi."
"Maybe dad will have trouble with it but he'll always listen to me!"
"And not to me? Wow. What a relief."
OK, This fic is nearing it's end. Just to warn you I have an assignment for college due in so that takes priority for now so you may have to wait longer then usual for next chapter. Reality is evil that way lol.