A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own Oregairu or any of the characters. The rightful owner is Wataru Watari and his team. Highly recommend reading the LN.

Hello there! I come with chapter 10. Never thought I would get this far honestly.

I think I'm motivated by the wrong thing, and that's to finish this story so that I can start on the next one. My policy is don't start another story before you finish the one you're currently writing. (Unlike a very specific person on a different website.)

I have lots of different ideas that I would like to get started on soon, so I'm kind of rushing but trying to give this story as much quality as possible.

Edit: 6/20/2023. I have realized that I strayed way too far from a story that I would like. The plot, while having so much potential, was poorly executed by me and I apologize. This just means a guaranteed rewrite of this fic later, when I have more experience and won't be making shit stories. Doesn't mean I'll give up on this thing though! I'll give this absolute shit of a poorly executed story a shitty ending and a proper rewrite. Thank you all who have supported this story and somehow liked it even though this story could be done so much better. This is a formal ish apology and you all don't even need to accept it. I hope to move on from this story and make better ones later on that at least have better plot than this one. And when the time comes… I'll do a rewrite.

This story is gonna be disappointingly short because I myself am disappointed at myself for not realizing how I made this fic so much worse than it should have been in the hands of a good writer. Quality has been thrown out of the window since forever.

Now…

Chapter 10! Commence!

Chapter 10 – The Trial Of Friendships.

Waking up early has been a habit of mine. Mainly because at the old house I used to live in, if I slept even 5 seconds late, I would be in big trouble.

Sometimes, I don't even sleep at all. I guess that's the reason why my eyes look 'rotten' according to Yukinoshita.

Not my fault! Though it's become a habit. I have gotten busted multiple times by waking up Yukinoshita. Actually it was one of those times that Yukinoshita decided to put me in therapy to hopefully improve my mental state.

A caring parent is what I have thought her as. But something inside me denies that she's just a caring parent.

It's still night time, and I'm still outside. It's around 3:30 AM. Sigh, a sleepless night it is.

The moon above still showers me with moonlight. It's so bright, in the darkest of times. There's a quote that I heard once, and it's stuck with me since then.

"The moon has scars too, but look at how it shines even in the darkest of times."

It's kept me alive along with other external factors that I one day could escape the hell I had endured for so long. And I finally have.

"A nice quote. May I ask where you got it from?"

I jump to my feet at the sudden voice, I look to my left and see (well, hear in this case.) Yukinoshita standing there, probably looking straight at me.

"First of all, where did you even come from? Second of all, why are you even here? Third of… well third, How long have you been here for?"

"I came from the cabin because I was not able to sleep well, I walked around here because… Anyway I have been here for quite some time. Maybe 2 hours."

"What were you doing those 2 hours?"

"I… won't say anything."

"Hey! What did y-!"

I shut up as Yukinoshita vaguely glares at me. I say vaguely because I can't really see it all that much but the feeling is still there!

But I could sense that she was lying. It was a somewhat new skill I picked upon. A lie detector of sorts specifically for her.

"You're lying. You sleep like a log at times. At home, I could make the loudest of sounds and you would still be asleep. But anyway, what are you really doing out here?"

"I really can't put anything past you… Well, Miura-san and I had a little conflict. I spent thirty minutes refuting her arguments and made her cry somehow."

"Sounds just like you, sometimes, you take things a bit too far. Not like I could say anything on that before, but after living with you and seeing what you're like at home, I think you do take things a bit too far."

I look at her, well, try to, and speak out.

"You got OCD or something?"

I snicker at the thought of Yukinoshita having OCD, it's actually likely for her to have it now that I think about it.

"If you think that I have OCD, then you have-."

"Okay, stop right there. No more of that. This is what I meant by you taking things too far."

She seems to have taken to silence, as it might have just dawned on her that she was hurting people.

Though, I never really knew what she really thought…

"Okay, here's the schedule for today."

I got no sleep last night. Yukinoshita didn't either. We both just sat next to a tree and talked about things and shared interests until we realized it was morning and everyone was going to wake up.

Wait, we have a schedule?

"We're doing a test of courage followed by a bonfire. The kids'll be on free time during the day. Use that time to prepare."

A bonfire. My worst nightmare.

No one would dance with me of course, but not because of me looking ugly.

They didn't even know I existed…

So, I was just sitting in the corner contemplating about my existence while everyone was doing the so called Oklahoma Mixer.

I'll be honest, at that time, I did a good job of not crying.

"Hm? What are you doing here?"

"Oh. You found us."

"Us?"

I look to my right to see Tsurumi Rumi sitting near a tree. I can see why this place really is nice, there's a river for somewhat cool air, and there's shade. What's not to like about this place on a hot summer day?

Yukinoshita relays to me the details of Tsurumi and why she had pretty much given up on trying to be friends with them again.

Society truly is shit. They say the world changes when you change but that's just you coming to terms with things and trying to stay positive, basically like Hayama. God I hope I'm never like him.

"Well then. Good luck with the Test of courage."

I wouldn't call it a test of courage.

This was a test of friendships. If you're friendships really are worth keeping.

That's my plan.

I tolerate this no longer. I have to act now.

"They said 'monsters' for the test of courage, right? They look like they were bought from Wish."

"This's, like, some cheap cosplay."

And then there's Ebina with an actual costume like an exorcist.

"Upon Takamagahara!"

"Aren't you taking this a little too seriously?"

"I can get off on exorcist stories too! Abe no Seimei! Ashiya Douman!"

"I see…"

Totsuka with a REALLY COOL looking wizard costume that I am very jealous about.

"Do wizards count as monsters?"

"If you REALLY think so, and stretch the term 'monsters' then, yeah."

"But it's not that scary, right?"

"You look cool already, it doesn't need to be scary."

Seriously, like an MMORPG game…

What type of spells or skills does he have?

Ice Lightning? Or Fire Poison?

But something else catches my attention.

"You seem to be thinking about something."

I look up.

"Holy shit."

Yukinoshita was in a blue like sky colored kimono. It looked really good on her I admit.

"That kimono looks too fitting. Mentally and Physically."

"What do you mean by that Hikigaya-kun?"

Oh shit. I fucked up.

"You look good. What else can I say? It matches your icy personality too."

I really don't know HOW I managed to not stutter while saying that.

Oh yeah right, she's asked me for opinions every time she dragged me out to the mall.

Also, she's definitely an Ice Lightning Mage.

"Anyhow, how are we going to solve the problem with Tsurumi-san?"

"I think Rumi-chan needs to talk to the other girls."

"Rumi-chan might get beaten down if she tries though."

Yuigahama with a panther like outfit decides to respond. Why does it look like that?

I get a karate chop to my head and look at the perpetrator, who decides to pout while trying to give me a glare.

"That kind of failed. Try again."

"So do I need to apply more force then? I can knock you out anytime you give me the green light."

"Nnonoonononononononoononononononoonono please don't."

Hayama looks at our antics with a jealous look. Huh? Why are you giving me that look?

He sighs before continuing.

"Then what if she talks to them one at a time?"

"Nothing will change. They might play nice when she's around, but they'll act the same way behind her back. Girls are a lot scarier than you think, Hayato-kun."

"Yeah. I know that all too well."

It seems Yukinoshita did not take kindly to that unintended insult and pulled on my ear.

"Ow! Owowowow! I didn't mean you! Please stop!"

"Good. I almost thought you were referring to me there." She said so while pouting.

That was so cute! Holy shit!

"Wait. I got an idea." I said, coming to a bit of realization.

"If it's coming from you, then I'm not sure we should entertain it." Yukinoshita says, obviously to try and push my buttons.

"If the problem is human relationships, there's only 2 ways to fix it. Mend it, which won't work. And the other…" I leave them hanging. I know they can find out by themselves.

"Is?"

"Break it apart." My lack of patience kicks in, and I unintentionally reveal my method.

Damn. I thought I could hold myself together.

"If we try to mend the relationship it would only end in a fail. So that's why using the second method is better. We have a test of courage coming up. A trial of fear so to speak. When people are scared, they tend to do everything they can to survive. Ever heard of the phrase "Every man for themselves?" That sums up what might happen. They expose their true nature, thus breaking the relationship apart, setting it back to zero."

I said way more than I needed to, like a word problem in Math. But it should get the point across.

"How are you so sure that this is the only way?" Hayama asks, obviously not wanting to entertain my method.

"It's our conditions. We have a girl we barely know, a few hours to figure it all out and a friend group that's determined in taking her down. That leaves mending a relationship in these few hours out of the question. This is a last resort if you think about it. I bet you all can't think of anything else that wouldn't fail considering these circumstances. This is our only shot we have."

Hayama looks down, knowing that I'm right. He solemnly nods.

"Alright. I'll explain the details."

It's nighttime now. The test of courage has started.

Now that I think about it, what we are going to be doing won't make this a test of courage. This would be somewhat of a test of friendships, but really I don't think so.

This, still is, a test of courage as if ONE of them is a real friend, then just maybe it's possible to mend the relationship.

However, we don't have time.

"There's the signal."

It begins.

I'm gonna be honest. I didn't expect this to go this well.

They already singled out Tsurumi and they just need to choose two more.

Now they're all blaming themselves.

This is what I meant.

They really ARE fake friends.

"10…9…8…"

The time counts down.

Now all we need to do is pop out an say, "Haha, suckers! Gotcha!"

"7…6…5…4…3…2…1…"

There it is.

It seems Tsurumi didn't want to do anything. She was just gripping her camera tight.

She's aware.

They're the type of people that would only care if someone saved them for 3 seconds and then not care for the rest of their lives.

It seems she's taken the saying "Treat others as they treat you" to heart. But not completely of course.

"Haha, suckers! Gotcha! You can move on now. We gave you a sweat without those lame costumes, soooooooooooo that was my plan accomplished! Let's go!"

My god. My social voice is absolutely ridiculous. I want to scream into my pillow again.

The kids shakily move on. I had planned this out accordingly. The reason why I put on a somewhat social voice was just to alleviate the fact that they really were in a test of courage and that they didn't report us for making kids cry.

Some could say I thought this out brilliantly.

Others could say they hated the idea and thought they could do better.

I ignored all of that.

I did what I could the best with the little amount of time we had.

Over time, Tsurumi, and the others will realize.

This was the best plan anyone could come up with, what with all the dire circumstances.

And it's because I'm unique. It's because I'm special, that I was able to do something about this situation.

"That was a good idea to think of. Thought it might have not had the solid foundation I would have hoped." Hiratsuka-sensei walked up to me and said.

"It's the best idea I could come up with. No one would be able to do it. Only I could." I say back, knowing that Hiratsuka-sensei already knew.

"I am impressed you got so much done in such a short time, a few hours at that. You and your methods were low. But it's because of that, that you were able to take this idea to solve an intricate problem."

Time passes, they all walk by. Tsurumi too, walks by me not even looking at me. But I didn't do that idea for praise. I did the best I could, and she will realize that over time, just not now.

"Thanks for waiting! Here! Fireworks!"

Fireworks suck.

MAX Coffee is better.

Speaking of MAX Coffee, I got one from Hayama.

It's time for the talking to ensue.

"Sorry to make you the villain. We needed that."

"I don't really mind. I don't really feel that bad about it. But…"

"Hm?"

"I just remembered that when I was a kid, I witnessed a similar situation, but I just stood back and watched."

What kind of thing happened for him to just stand back and watch?

"Oh yeah. I wonder how things would've turned out if we'd gone to the same elementary school, Hikitani-kun."

"I don't know. That would depend on what happens to me there. Most likely, I would be another loner."

Hayama chuckles and responds.

"Well, I think things would've turned out completely different. Maybe, if we met before our elementary school days. Maybe, just maybe, I could be friends with Hikigaya-kun."

The childhood friend type huh?

Maybe, that could happen.

In a different universe.

A/N: I keep this chapter short and disappointing, directly reflecting me. I've thrown out all quality out of the window in favor of just finishing the story. IIRC, I have 3 chapters left before the ending and an unknown amount of time before the inevitable rewrite of this fic.

Also, you see what I did there? At the ending? That's what we call, 'Foreshadowing'.

Okay bye.