I ended up going with my fams in the end, and that's why I didn't update for like 4 days. After I got home, we decided my sister is staying for a while, and she likes to hog the laptop so I won't have as many chances to write as I did when I started. If you were expecting a 10k chapter in compensation for the long wait...sorry. I wasn't writing much of anything at all since I posted my other story.
This chapter may be subject to revision later. I wrote some parts after everyone went to sleep after a night of drinking. I'll let you guys know in a review if it gets updated. It'll probably just be changes in the flow/pacing, rather than the entire direction of the story.
Also, one thing about the formatting. From now on I'll be using a slightly different format for the change in perspective. A minor change, nothing serious. Just letting you guys know. I'm doing this because I'm considering using more POV changes.
(Hachiman)
There's a saying I recently learned in English class. It goes; 'hope for the best, prepare for the worst'. In my opinion, terrible advice. Hoping for the best would be to subconsciously set an expectation. An expectation that can and will be betrayed. You can tell yourself that you're ready for the worst, but that's simply not true. If you are really expecting the worst, you wouldn't hope for the best. Conversely, while you had your head in the clouds thinking about the best possible outcome, you failed to realize that you never truly prepared for the worst. It's a philosophy that sets it's followers up not only for failure, but also the greatest possible disappointment. It's ironic, because one might think the purpose of this phrase is the exact opposite of that. Yet another example of how this world is full of lies.
In short, I am expecting to suffer today. But the reason I am expecting disaster is not because I decrypted some obscure foreign philosophy. The reason I am expecting to suffer is something much more justified.
Isshiki Iroha has just made a request to the service club.
Her request is strange to say the least. For once, it's something other than becoming the student council's goons. This time, Isshiki seems to have a personal request. Supposedly, she wants to move on with her love life. That is to say, she wishes to lay her feelings for Hayama to rest. Now this is a great idea, but most girls have the integrity to deal with these things on their own. Show a little more independence from time to time you knooooow.
She intends to do this in a rather questionable way. She wants to go on a date with another guy, because she feels that she's been having unrealistic expectations about the concept of a relationship with him, and wants a more normal experience. She selfishly decided to nominate me for this bothersome chore. She had some cheap excuse like "If it's Senpai, I'll probably be deterred from dating for a while." Lies, Isshiki. I already know the real reason; you don't want to reveal your horrid personality to your classmates because you know the truth will spread like wildfire and your facade will be ruined for your entire highschool life.
As for her motive, her reasoning was more flimsy and vague than ever. Supposedly, she had a conversation about her love life with a total stranger yesterday, and has since been questioning herself and the way she feels. First of all, why would you share those kinds of details with a stranger? Secondly, was it always that easy to change your mind? How can someone so manipulative be so ironically defenseless? If I'd known it was that easy to change your mind, I would have done it long ago, and saved myself a huge amount of trouble. Trouble like this awful request you're making right now.
A strange request, a questionable method, a suspicious motive. Again, I'm smart to expect the worst.
That's if the request even goes through at all. Yukinoshita has always disapproved of Isshiki's irresponsible behavior, and it's no secret that Isshiki's usual requests often get on her nerves. This time, though, it seems her patience has run out.
"Absolute nonsense, if I ever heard it." Yukino says in blatant disapproval.
As if expecting this from the start, Isshiki flashes a malicious grin that I've become far too familiar with in recent times. "Oh yeah? What makes you say that, Yukino-senpai?"
A challenge, versed as a question.
Yukinoshita folds her arms and legs, and leans back in her chair. "To begin with, your request is entirely irrespective of your motive, which is questionable in itself. There is nothing to suggest fulfilling your request will achieve the outcome you claim to desire." Yukino answers formally, almost condescendingly.
Challenge accepted.
She continues to argue her point. "Furthermore, the method is fundamentally flawed. You intend to go on a date formulated entirely by yourself, based on your own ideals of what you think a date should be. How could this possibly help you disillusion you from your own fantasies regarding the concept of dating?" Damn, Yukinoshita. You could be a Lawyer.
Isshiki seems undeterred. "Maybe, but there's no reason not to try!" She beams.
Uh, if you know something will be a complete waste of time, isn't that a good reason not to try?
"I can't have you sidetracking my clubmates. There is always the possibility of an actual request being presented to us today." Yukinoshita defends.
"This is an actual request, you knoooow?"
I used to hate it when she did that. Now it lightens up my mood whenever I hear it. You knoooow.
Isshiki continues. "Besides, I already asked Senpai. He cleared his schedule for me earlier, right Senpai?"
I decide to make a point of my own. "Well yeah, but if it was something like this in the first place, why did it have to be a club request?"
"Because, Senpai!" She argues brilliantly. "I wanted to be sure you'd do it. I know you well, don't I Senpai?" She asks cutely. Dammit, she's not Komachi. She's not.
"I suppose you do. Fine then, let's get going." I drawl in resignation.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're spoiling Isshiki-san." Yukinoshita seems intent to win this case.
Isshiki interjects. "It's fine, Yukino-senpai! I just want to borrow Senpai for today."
"Hikigaya-kun, I am the President of the service club, and I am denying this request." Still, Yukinoshita persists.
"Then just let me have Senpai! You two can manage one day without him, right?"
Yukinoshita seems to have reached her limit.
"Hikigaya-kun. I'm asking you to stay." She presents an ultimatum.
"Senpai, I'm asking you to come with me." Isshiki counters.
Oh come on. This isn't fair. How could I ever make a decision like that? If either of you cared about me, you wouldn't selfishly ask me to choose like this.
"Hikki." Yuigahama speaks up. It seems like she was looking for a chance to speak for a while now.
"I think you should do it." She says. A surprising decision, because I was expecting her to side with 'Yukinon' like she always does.
Isshiki feeds on the support. "Yeah! Yui-senpai gets it!"
"Yuigahama-san, what are you saying?" Yukinoshita appears baffled.
"Yukinon, this request is important." Yuigahama's tone is a little more serious than it usually it. It catches me by surprise.
She turns to me. "It's important for people to find out how they really feel, right Hikki?" She smiles in a comforting way. My heart skips a beat. Honestly I thought she'd be the last person to say that.
I think I just found a little of that courage I was looking for. But I still need much more.
Finally, she turns to Isshiki. "Iroha-chan, I hope we can fulfill the spirit of your request!" She beams enthusiastically.
The spirit of a request. Was it me or Yukinoshita who coined that term? It refers to the underlying issue hidden within the request. Rather than fulfill the request itself, we aim to resolve the problem that brought forth the request in the first place. Using our classic example, a man is hungry because he is unable to fish. Rather than provide him with a fish, a simple, temporary solution, we should aim to teach him to fish, so that he can provide for himself in the future, thus fulfilling the spirit of his request.
But what was the spirit of Isshiki's request? For Yuigahama to understand it and not me, it must be a girl thing.
Isshiki reciprocates the positive energy. "Un! Thanks so much Yui-senpai!" Her smile is bright and innocent. It's easy to forget her abusive and rotten personality when she's like this.
Yukinoshita of course, crumbles under the pressure of Yurigahama's yuri beam. "Very well. Hikigaya-kun, are you up to fulfilling this request?"
I sigh. It occurs to me that I would have been able to avoid doing anything if I had just sided with Yukinoshita. "Alright. Let's go Isshiki."
(Tomoko)
The school bell rings, and I'm out of here. I kind of want to socialize with someone...anyone, but I don't have the courage to approach my classmates out of the blue. As much as I like hanging out with Hikigaya, I think he has club right about now, and I'm not desperate enough to bug him when he's busy just to occupy my time.
So I head out of school. Or at least, I try to. I'm caught before I can escape.
"Kuroki-chan!" I turn to find the source. Oh no.
It's the gorgeous, rude, sparkly, fake-ass celebrity they like to call Hayama-kuuun~!
I suddenly don't really feel very social at all.
"Ah, Kuroki-chan. Are you leaving school already?" He asks politely.
Of course I am, dumbass. What the hell does it look like? You're supposed to be a smart person, aren't you? How the hell did you not figure out what I was doing? Or are you trying to subtly insult me, like 'oh? you don't have anyone to hang out with, loser'? How fucking ru-
"Um, yeah. I guess." I reply timidly.
Ugh, how pathetic. I wish I were more like Hikigaya.
"Well, I'm not busy either. You wanna hang out?" Again with that polite tone.
In the first place, when did I say I wasn't busy? I just said I was leaving school. Go away, man.
"U-um, I'm not...really sure." I manage to sputter out.
"Aw, come on. I want to make up for my bad first impression earlier today." He's being so pushy. I wasn't expecting him to be like this at all. Then again, I'm not really sure what I expected.
"I don't have any money..." I lie to him. Please get the hint.
"Then I'll treat you. Please, I insist."
I lack the courage to refuse him any more. I'm worried if I do, it might get confrontational. So I just nod my head and look at the ground.
"Great! Let's go, then." He beams and then starts to walk off. I put my head down and follow.
(Hachiman)
Isshiki ordered me to go home and change. We're supposed to meet up in town. I get home, and Komachi is already there. Oi, go and join a school club or something. You're always complaining that I have too much free time, yet you have the freedom to just go home after school?
"Ah, Onii-chan. You're home early. Did you have a fight with your club?" She asks rudely. Why do you always assume the worst of me?
"Nah, we got a request. It requires casual clothes." I reply curtly. Komachi will definitely inflate the issue if I give her too much details. I don't want the bother, and I don't have the time.
Unfortunately, it may be too late for that. "Eh? You're going on a date with a girl!?"
"What the- how did you figure it out from just that!?" I ask in astonishment.
"EH!? So you really are!?"
Dammit I've been had. Dimwit, nincompoop, Yuigahama!
"I don't have time for this." I attempt to flee to my room.
"Oh no you don't mister!" Komachi runs up and grabs my arm. Hey, that's dangerous to do to someone rushing up the stairs!
"Look, I really don't have time for this."
"Then at least let me help pick your clothes!" She compromises.
I sigh. I do that a lot these days. "Fine, but in return you can't ask me anything until I get home. Deal?"
"Deal!"
So we go to my room. Let it be said that I will never understand a woman's tastes. I thought I had found some acceptable clothes, comfortable and functional while still being pretty cool in my opinion. Komachi was breathing fire when I tried to insist on my choice of clothes. She went through my entire wardrobe, and in the end she picked out some lame clothes that our Mom had bought me one day out of the blue. It's weird because it's not something she usually -ever- does. I wonder if there's a problem with our family that I'm not seeing.
Whoa, getting sidetracked again. Anyway, Komachi chose some lame clothes but argued that her sense of fashion was better than mine and she knows what girls like in a guy. I didn't have anything clever to say so I just accepted it.
"So, Onii-chan, who's the lucky girl?" She tries to ask in a casual tone. Nice try.
"Nope. We had a deal."
"Awww! Come on! Give me something, Onii-chan! Please!" She begins to beg.
"Fine. It's someone you've never met before. That's all you get."
She appeared to be shocked by that little tidbit. "What!? You already have Yui-chan and Yukino-chan and you have someone else still? Onii-chan, you're becoming a scumbag!"
Ouch, Komachi. Ouch.
"Whatever. I'm going now bye!" I tell her quickly and blitz out of my room and down the stairs.
"Tell me everything when you get home!" She yells. I'll pretend I didn't hear that, so that I can deny it later.
(Tomoko)
On the way, Hayama tries to make small talk.
"So, Kuroki-chan, how's life at your new school?"
It was fine, until you started talking to me. "Um, it's pretty good...I think."
"That's good. You joined any clubs or anything like that?"
"Um...N-not really."
"Well, what are you into?" He prods invasively.
"Oh, lots of things. I just can't find the one for me." I lie. I knew I was gonna start lying eventually. Here we go again.
"Oh? Cool. It's good that you're doing well." He smiles that fake smile of his.
"Yeah." I say curtly.
Eventually, we get to town. Now what, dickhead? Did you even have a plan or are you just trying to bother me?
"Ah, we're here. Hey, guys!" He shouts, waving his hand in the air. Wait, is he calling to someone?
I look where he's waving. A group of people, including Miura begin to approach us.
FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK
I have to get the fuck outta here pronto. Hayama you bastard, you set me up.
The group reaches us, and I can't even look at them.
"Hayato. What took you so long?" She casually greets Hayama. "Hah? Why is she with you?" she asks almost accusingly.
She's definitely referring to me. It's not like I want to be here either.
There's a brief silence. I think that was my cue to introduce myself, but I couldn't get my gaze off the floor.
"Ah, guys, this is Kuroki Tomoko. She's a new student." Hayama picks up my slack before it gets awkward. For them, that is. My awkward flag already flying high. And it's on fire.
"Kuroki-chan, these are my friends." When prompted, I force myself to look up.
Hayama continues. "This is Yumiko, Hina, Kakeru, Ooka, and Yamato." He points to them as he names them.
Oi, are those first names? I can't use first names you idiooooot!
"..."
I can't even speak. I'm nervous as all hell. The silence is blanketting the atmosphere and it's getting awkward.
Miura -A.K.A. 'Yumiko'- speaks up. "Ah, wait. I remember you. You're that girl who was hanging out with Hikio."
"Eeh? That Hikitani-kun?" The other girl -Hina, I think- asks in fascination.
"No way! That guy never wants to hang out with anyone!" The guy with the gross red hair follows up.
"How did you do it?" One of the other guys asks. I didn't get the names of the last two. Must be minor characters or something.
Hayama chimes in. "Yeah, I thought it was amazing too. What's the secret?"
Is Hikigaya some sort of rare Pokemon? Why are they all so interested in him?
"U-um...I dunno. I can just sort of talk to him easy. E-Easily, I mean." I correct my sputtering nonsense.
Hina presses the topic. "So you knew him before?" She asks with a bit of enthusiasm. Seriously, what's with the morbid curiosity surrounding Hikigaya?
"Um, no. I just kind of took his lunch spot on my first day and we just somehow got along."
Kakeru, the gross hair guy, also seems to be interested in Hikigaya. "You're kidding! So you just, like, clicked with him or something? That's nuts bro!"
Superbly articulated, bro.
"I guess." It's gradually getting easier to talk to these people. "Um...Why is Hikigaya so interesting anyway?" I make an inquiry of my own.
Hayama is the one to answer. "He's helped us a lot over the past few months. We all want to get along with him better, but he hates socializing." He smiles as he says it, but there's something in his tone that's not all that happy.
"Yeah. He's a good guy but, his personality is like, such a drag." Miura says in something of a bored tone.
"I keep hearing that, but I don't really see it. I think he's easy to talk to."
"Actually, Kuroki-chan. I wanted to ask about that. When we met earlier, you actually got him to laugh." Hayama says.
For some reason, when he says this, most of his group, save Miura, goes 'eeeehh!'. What the hell is so amazing about that, you idiots?
"Uh, yeah I guess that happened. Why do you ask?"
"I've never seen anyone do that before, ever. How did you do it?" Hayama asks with far too much enthusiasm.
Before I can answer, the glasses girl makes a fuss. "Buha! Real HayaHachi! Oh my god!" Her nose begins to bleed. Dude, have some fucking self-control, that's so gross.
"..." I can't help but stare at the spectacle she's making. She's squirming and squealing and dripping blood on the pavement. This is some next level fujoshi shit right here.
"Ahaha! Sorry about this. Hina's real eccentric when it comes to BL." Hayama makes an attempt to defend her dignity. It's in vain.
If I'm being completely honest, HayaHachi does sound kind of hot. Especially with the way Hikigaya acts all 'tsun-tsun' and the fact that Hayama's a celebrity. I think I could get behind that. But I wouldn't just express my humiliating fantasies in public, jeez.
"Oi, Kuroki. You into Hikio?" Miura asks. With her commanding tone it almost sounds like an accusation.
Oddly enough, it's not something I really thought about. He is the first guy besides family that I ever felt comfortable with, and he might even be the last. Yet, for some reason I haven't even entertained the idea of having him as a boyfriend.
"No, I don't think so." I answer honestly.
"You sure? Because you like, totally perked up when I mentioned him."
Huh? Oh shit, I guess I did. That's strange. Maybe it's because it's a common topic we were interested in. Usually I have nothing to talk about with the social types, and the conversation would die pretty quickly. That, and my social anxiety sometimes disables my voicebox.
"Hm. I didn't even notice." I say.
"Well, you can't have him. A friend of ours is like, totally into him." She says with finality.
"Yeah, he totally belongs to Yui-chan!" Hina seems to have recomposed herself.
Wait, there's a second girl who's into Hikigaya? Riajuu bastard!
"I know right?" Kakeru chimes in.
"Uhh...Okay, then. If you say so." I comply.
"Well then, shall we get going?" Hayama changes the topic.
"Un!" The two insignificant boys grunt in approval.
The group begins to walk off. I'm suddenly nervous about what we're going to be doing today. I drag myself along at the back of the group, as if I were a reluctant dog on a leash.
(Hachiman)
"Ah, Senpai! Sorry I'm late, did you wait long?" Isshiki approaches and asks a cliche question.
"Yes you did. Which is outrageous because you were the one who engineered this farce." I reply blandly.
"...You said something lame like that last time too. Zero points." She huffs.
That's right, I remember. We did something similar to this before. Isshiki dragged me around like a pig carcass and insulted everything about me under the pretense of a date. And then she had the nerve to use the receipts as blackmail material afterwards!
"Which reminds me, haven't we already done something like this before? How is it different now?"
"Aah jeez! It's just different okay! Shut up and take me on a date, Senpai!" What a fantastically presented answer, Isshiki. You could be a laywer.
"You're the one with the master plan. You'll be the one taking me out today."
"Ah! Good idea Senpai, you take this." She hands me a slip of paper. I unfold it and take a look at the contents. It appears to be a timetable.
"Now you're in charge of the date, Senpai!" She beams happily.
Once again, Isshiki, your logic is horribly flawed.
"If I'm going off of your schedule, how am I at all in charge?" I ask monotonously.
Isshiki appears to get frustrated. "Naargh! Jeez, Senpai. Just play along will you?"
"Fine." I drawl.
"Hey Senpai." She changes her tone quickly. "You'll take this seriously, right? This is important to me."
It's rare for Isshiki to drop her bubbly facade. I can't help but wonder just how much this request means to her. My mind briefly returns to what Yuigahama said earlier.
"...Yeah. Let's go, Isshiki."
Okay, yes. Tomoko opened up too easily to the clique, but I'm trying to show the start of her growth out of her social anxiety. She has been talking more with her classmates, remember? The topic of Hachiman served as an icebreaker, allowing for a decent first impression. Maybe you can expect some cringy awkwardness in the next chapter.
As for Hachiman's side, I couldn't tell you what to expect. What happens at the end of his 'date' will affect the course of the entire story, so I have to make a decision on what's going to happen.
Update: I now have a solid plan for how to end the next chapter. I won't spoil anything, but let's just say it'll be a chapter with some character development.
Also, I'd like to address something. I posted another story here (Obsession) and it was very well received. I'm happy as an amatuer writer that I could write something that appeals well, but I must insist that this story right here takes priority over the other one. Furthermore, I have nothing planned for the next part of Obsession as of yet.
I'll probably be doing things like this occasionally. When I cook up an idea for a new story, I'll pump out the first chapter just so I don't forget the idea. But again, I want to finish this story first, or at least get to a comfortable point.
To be honest, it's not like I have an ending in mind. It might turn out to be one of those stories that just keeps going to absurd lengths. I wanted to try and flesh out most of the characters in different ways. I haven't even gotten close to touching on Yukino and Yui's characters. They might even get their own arcs.
I was partially drunk when I wrote the Tomoko/clique scene so the flow might be all fucked up. It might be revised later. Let me know if the pacing is weird.
IDK.
Review my story or I punch your face in half with my foot.