Hello again. How is your day going? Mine is fine.
Here is chapter 6 in all of it's glory! I hope it's to your liking!
Chapter 6 "School day and meeting a strange guy."
It was sunny in the morning…birds were singing and the dazzling sun was shining on the blue sky…
And yet…
Where all this fucking rain came from?
Black clouds covered the sky and water came down them.
I couldn't have lunch in my favorite place, which is located behind the school near the tennis courts. I mean I could… but I don't want to be rained on.
What the hell?
Now I have no other choice than have lunch… in the classroom.
Surrounded by…
"Hahaha!" "That's so funny!" "Should we exchange xp points?!" I hear yells and loud conversations taking place in the classroom.
Nothing more than noise.
Why do I have to endure this, God?
There is so much noise that I can barely hear my own thoughts. The only place of solitude that I have after my room.
Is it really necessary that they talk loud? Do they think that makes them appear smarter or something?
I want my favorite place back!
I didn't have any choice but eat my lunch in a foul mood.
.
.
.
Society is not really that different from animal kingdom.
They are pretty much the same…
The both have a 'Hierarchy'.
Animals have the food chain. Carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, producers and decomposers.
Humans instead have a social Hierarchy.
From the bottom are Loners like me, normal people that you find everywhere without anything special, the somewhat special people who at least have some talent and the one who stands at the top of this pyramid is…
…
…Huh…
I don't know his name so let's call him 'Sparky Guy'.
Sparky Guy apparently is the king of the food chain knows as Sobu High.
His clique is the most popular on the 2nd year and around all the school. His clique is the one who reigns this place known as Sobu high.
It was made of the blonde who looks like a prostitute, the somehow crazy woman with glasses, the orange-haired idiot, and extra number 1 and extra number 2 and… Yuigahama Yui.
So she was in my class after all…
I was chewing a bread while reading a light novel. If wasn't that great but it served to kill time until class starts.
So, I was enjoying myself…or at least trying to.
The clique of sparky guy was loud as hell. Is like they wanted everyone to know the contents of their conversation…
"Nah, I can't do it today. I have practice." Said Sparky guy.
"Can't you just spare a day? Double scoops are on sale today~~. I want a chocolate-cocoa double scoop." Whined the blonde girl.
"Aren't those both just chocolate?" Then they erupted in laughter. Hey people, be quiet. You are bothering others (me).
"Ehhh? No, they're completely different! Plus, I'm really hungry right now." The one raising her voice was sparky guy's partner, the blonde with queen complex.
She looks like your typical gal, she had blonde hair with ringlets. She had a pretty face but her retarded behavior was a big turn-off.
"Sorry, but I'm gonna pass for today." Sparky guy said that Miura looked at him blankly.
And then Sparky Guy made a declaration with a super full-fledged smile across his face: "This year we're aiming for the Kokuritsu, after all!" Kokuritsu… The National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo?
"But, still, Yumiko. If you eat too much, then you're gonna regret it." Sparky guy advised.
So her name was Yumiko…
"Ya know, I never get fat no matter how much I eat. I guess I'll have to go and eat lots today too. Right, Yui?" She said with a proud smile on her face.
"Ahh, yeah, Yumiko sure has really good style… But I have plans right now, so I have to-"
"I know, right? Today I'm going to have to go eat tons and tons!" When she said that, laughter erupted around her.
The hell? Was that really funny?
I looked at Yuigahama… I could tell immediately that she wanted to have lunch in another place…and the other place where she would have lunch is…
"Just warning ya, don't eat so much that your stomach explodes." Sparky guy said with a bright smile…
What the…Are his face muscles paralyzed? Does he never get tired of smiling? It's kind of creepy if you ask me.
Would you trust someone who smiles all the time? I wouldn't. They always have some kind of mental problem or/and are psychos…according to the mangas, at least.
I would rather stick with someone who I know someday will stab me in the back. I can be prepared.
"Like. I. Said. No matter how much I eat, I'm fine! I don't get fat. Right, Yui?" She asked (demanded) Yuigahama for an answer.
That's a lie. People who stay thin while eating like pigs only are in mangas. In real life, we have something called body mass index.
"Ahhh, Yumiko really just has amazing style. And her legs are so pretty. But seriously, I have to…"
"Ehh, really? But that Yukinoshita girl has crazy legs too, right?" I agree. Yukinoshita's legs are in her own accord beautiful… Must be compensation for her almost nonexistent chest…
If it wasn't for her personality, I would consider in actually feeling embarrassed of being alone with her in a room.
"Ah, that's true. Yukinon's legs are pretty crazy…" Said Yuigahama, sheepishly.
"…"
"…Ah, but, I mean, Yumiko definitely stands out a lot more!" Yuigahama replied, flustered while waving her arms.
When Yumiko shoot a glare at her, Yuigahama quickly tried to save herself.
It's like seeing feudal society all over again.
Seriously… what kind of person treats his 'friends' like that…?
Well, calling them 'friends' would be stretching it a bit...
"Well, actually, I think its fine after all… If it's after practice, I can go with you." Sparky guy might have sensed the tense atmosphere because he stepped in...
The queen seemed to brighten up, smiling. "Okay then, just email me when you're free!"
Yuigahama let out a relieved sigh…
She then made eye contact with. She looked at me and she seemed to make up her mind about it. She took a deep breath. Preparing herself mentally to ask.
It's painful to watch, really painful. You need all this effort just to go have lunch somewhere else?
Being alone, you don't have to worry about trivial things like pleasing some idiot who thinks she is the ruler of a kingdom…
Seriously, if this is the truth of the so-called 'friendship'…
I want to be left alone, pretty please.
"Umm, I… have to go somewhere for lunch, so…" She asked, hesitantly.
"Oh, really? Then make sure you buy some of that stuff when you get back—you know, that lemon tea? I totally forgot to bring something to drink today" Uwah.
"A-Ah, b-but I might not get back until the fifth period, so lunch might have ended, and, umm… y'know…" She tries to say something else but the nerves won over her.
When Yuigahama said that, Yumiko's face hardened in an instant. She looked like she had just gotten bitten by one of her pets. Yuigahama had probably never talked back to her before.
"Huh? Wait, wait, what's going on? You know, Yui, haven't you been staying late after school a lot nowadays? Is it just me, or are you not hanging out with us that much these days?" The blonde retorted at Yuigahama, who looked flustered.
"Ah, well, you know, umm, there's just some things I'm dealing with, and, umm, it's just some personal stuff, and I'm really very sorry, but, umm…"
Yuigahama was completely flustered, but she tried to respond. You shouldn't have lied like that… Just say you're in a club or some-
…ooooh…
She can't…because she doesn't know how they would react. Like she fears if she would laugh at it or ostracized or such.
The human brain tends to overthink about social matters. Like thinking that because a girl is nice to you, you immediately understand it as if she has a crush on y-
Wait, that's the opposite.
Whatever.
I see that Yuigahama's response seemed to have the opposite effect. Yumiko began to tap her nails on her desk, seeming irritated.
"Well, then how should I know what's going on? If you want to say something, then just go ahead. We're friends, aren't we? Hiding things from friends, you know… That's not good, is it?"
Yuigahama quickly looked down at the floor.
At first, Miura's words sounded just and proper. In fact, her words only seemed to reinforce the friendship between her and Yuigahama.
They were friends, companions, so they could share everything with each other that's what Miura was saying. But her words carried another implication: 'And if you can't share with me, then we're not friends'. Such nice words.
How beautiful.
"I'm sorry…" Yuigahama timidly apologized; she was still looking at the floor.
"No, no, no, that's not what I want to hear. There's something you want to say to me, isn't there?" She roughly demanded, her tapping intensifying.
Yumiko wasn't trying to make conversation, and Yumiko wasn't asking a question. She just wanted to make Yuigahama apologize so she could attack her.
It was so stupid…
If you want to make a show, do it in private…
...Should I help her?
No. It's not really my problem so why should I bother?
For starters, I don't even understand why she is friends with them…
Is funny to be a slave for someone who doesn't care about you?
Is it fulfilling to be in such shallow relationship?
If that's how is going to be, it would be the best if Yuigahama stopped being friends with her.
As I chewed my bread, I can notice that it tastes like nothing… My right eye twitched…
…Hah…
Enough…
If you are going to ruin my lunch…
I stood up and directed my look at Yuigahama, who looked astonished.
"Hey, Yuiga-" I tried to call her out, but an unpleasant voice got in my way…
"Shut the hell up."
Gahama. That's what I wanted to say, but before I had the chance, Miura sent a demonic glare my way.
I sneer at her. That glare of yours looks adorable in comparison of what I have seen. What I would expect from an idiot like you…
I ignored her. No worth found on getting riled up by something like that.
"Yuigahama san, did the mail of Yukinoshita get you?" I gave her a look that conveyed 'Play along or die'. If I took the annoyance of getting you out, I will success.
"Eh?! Huh…" She looked at loss. Looking between me and Miura, sweat started dripping from her forehead.
"She is going to be upset if you don't go now." Hush.
"Hey! I was talking to her!" The blonde said to me. 'Who the hell do you think you are to interrupt me?!' is what her look conveyed.
…Heh…
"Talking? You know how to talk?" I tilted my head as I said that.
"Hah?" She narrowed her eyes at me in a threatening manner.
"What you were doing was yelling, you idiot, and also, if you want to act like a monkey, do it on your own free time." I glared at her
"H-Huh?!"
"You were attacking and forcing her to say your opinion. Seriously, if you want to play queen do it when you're alone with your pets and stop ruining someone else lunch. Seeing you act like a Neanderthal is making my food tasteless."
"Wha-?!"
"It seems that you don't understand that you're being an eyesore…" I put my hand on my chin and made a thinking face "What I'm trying to say it's…" I smile at her. The first time I bothered to look at her in the entire conversation.
"Stop being a bitch and be quiet."
Silence…
"I don't really care about your problems, but please, there are other people present. Have some little respect, didn't your parent taught you about that term?" I mocked.
Awkward silence erupts in the classroom.
Before I knew, half of the classmates were leaving with excuses like 'I'm thirsty' or 'I'm going to the bathroom'
The blonde monkey was shocked...it seems that this was her first time being talked back in such manner.
She was biting her nails and throwing glares full of wrath at me…
I met them with an indifferent look. Good, I did my job.
"Let's go, Yuigahama san." She winced as I called her name out.
Yuigahama was still standing still, with a shocked look on her face…she was gripping her skirt as if she wanted to say something.
I let out a sigh…
"My lunch is ruined…" I muttered, dejected.
I went outside the classroom, thinking…
So much trouble for this…is worth it?
.
.
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As I was walking out, I see a black haired girl leaning against the wall. That cool and composed look could belong to anyone else but…
"So you were here…" I said to Yukinoshita Yukino, who looked at me with her cold, blue eyes.
"You…were worried about Yuigahama san?" She asked with a disbelieving tone.
What the hell?
"Hah? Didn't you hear? That blonde bimbo ruined my lunch with her annoying act." I answered, "I just put her back in her place."
"...Thank you, Hikigaya-Kun" Her eyes softened. Don't thank me...especially with that small smile.
I lean against a wall beside her and hear what is going on inside.
"… Umm, I'm sorry. You know, I get a bit uneasy when I can't get along with someone… Or you could say I just get really self-conscious all of a sudden… so maybe you're annoyed by that." I hear Yuigahama's voice explain.
"…"
"Uhhh, well, how should I put it? I've always been like that. Even when I played house pretend with my friends, I wanted to be the mom but another girl wanted to be those, so I ended up being the dog…"
"I have no idea what you're trying to say." Yumiko replied, uncaringly.
"Y-Yeah, I guess so, haha." I hear Yuigahama's awkward laugh. "Well, I don't really know what I'm saying either… It's just, umm, when I saw Hikki and Yukinon I realized something. Even when there's nobody around them, they still look like they are having fun… the two of them say what they are thinking, and even though they don't usually get along, they seem to mesh somehow…"
"…"
Every once in a while, I could hear something like sobs from inside the classroom. Every time that happened, I could see Yukinoshita's shoulders twitch. She widened her eyes just a little and tried to look inside the classroom without turning her head.
"If you're that worried, why don't you go in there?"
"That goes for you as well." she retorted at me.
"I don't really care, but I don't have anywhere else to go." I replied.
"It's interesting how someone can say something like that with a straight face. You basically said that you don't have any friends." She said with an amazed look.
"I think we have been here before." I recalled our discussion back at the club.
"After I saw that, I started to think that maybe it was wrong for me to always desperately try to get along with everyone… I mean, to be honest, Hikki is seriously a Hikki. He doesn't care about what people think and do whatever he wants but... it looks like he is just being himself." I heard Yuigahama say.
Yukinoshita looked at me…
"What?" Do I have something on my face?
"So I thought, maybe I shouldn't try so hard, I'll just take it a bit easier… Or something like that. But it's not like I hate Yumiko or something. We can still get along after this, right?"
"…Hmph. I see. Well then, whatever. That's fine." Yumiko replied, with a soft tone.
"…Sorry again. Thanks."
"… Well, what do you know. She can stand up for herself." Yukinoshita made a small smile
"…Is it really okay?"
"What do you mean?"
Being in a superficial relation that could crack with the minimum pressure. I think Yuigahama deserves better than something like that.
"…Nothing, talking to myself" I was looking at the ceiling. I should stop divagate when I am in public…makes me look like a madman.
I don't really care what people think about me, but it could be troublesome if they confuse me with a mental patient…
The door of the classroom opens and a pink haired girl appears from the inside.
"Eh? Hikki and Yukinon?!" She exclaimed, taken aback. She was getting redder and redder as she continued to look at us.
"You two were eavesdropping?!"
"No." "Yes." Yukinoshita looked at me with a furrowed brow. Don't really see the need to lie like that. It's painfully obvious what we're doing.
"Unlike Hikigaya-kun here, I was waiting here for you as you said that we would have lunch." Replied Yukinoshita, diverging the Yuigahama bomb at me.
Clever.
Yuigahama glared at me and started to explode. "Uwah Hikki you are gross! Stalker! Weirdo! Um umm… so gross! I can't believe you! You're seriously gross. You're seriously, truly gross."
Why am I the only one being attacked? Isn't Yukinoshita here too? Is this a gender thing?
"Whatever…" I began walking off. Not in the mood to hear this.
"Wait, Hikki?! Where are you going?" She hurriedly asked me.
"To the library, my lunch is ruined and don't have nothing else to do." My freaking lunch…
"Would you like to have lunch with us?" Hah?
"No… and I think Yukinoshita was eager to have lunch with you." Yukinoshita's cheeks reddened. "This is a girl's thing so…I kind of would be the third wheel or something."
"Eh is that true Yukinon?" Yuigahama asked with a smile on her face
"…" She looked embarrassed while throwing glances back and forth between Yuigahama and me.
Just be honest…
I tried to walk away but she still had my sleeve.
"Let go." I replied, coldly.
"Eh? Ah!" She then looses the grip of my sleeve.
"Well see you later at the club." I nodded and turned the opposite way.
"Hikki!" What now?
"What is it?" I asked annoyed
"Thanks…for standing up for me" her cheeks were flushed and gave me a glazed look. "I really appreciate it."
"…No problem."
"See you later Hikki!" "Goodbye, Hikigaya-kun." I saw the two of them depart to the club room.
I see the two of them leaving, with Yuigahama invading Yukinoshita's personal space…
I turned and headed to the library. The other place where I could find silence and tranquility.
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It was the next day. When I headed for the club room, I was surprised to see Yukinoshita and Yuigahama both standing in front of the door. For some reason, the door was ajar and they were peeking inside.
"What are you two doing?" I asked them.
"Hyah!" The two of them jumped in shock and turned to me in haste.
"Hikigaya-kun… You surprised me…"
What is going on?
"Could you not suddenly call out to us like that?" Yukinoshita gave me an irritated glare. What?
"Be more attentive to your surroundings." Rule n°1 of stalking. "What are you doing?"
"There is a suspicious person in the room." Said Yuigahama as she looked warily at the door.
"Really?" I then open the door with an uncaring expression on my face.
"Uwah!" Yuigahama was surprised by my action and took a step back.
When I open the door, we were meet by a breeze and flying…Papers?
"Ku ku ku, to think we would meet at a place like this… What a surprise. I've been waiting for you, Hikigaya Hachiman." A chubby guy with gray hair that is in a short ponytail was standing in front of me. He was slightly overweight and he was wearing a trench coat over his blazer indoors.
Why? I don't really know…but it gives off a creepy feeling. Not probably the best person to say it but-
Wait.
This guy… feels somehow familiar.
"Hikigaya-kun, that one over there seems to know you…" Yukinoshita, who was hiding behind me, looked suspiciously back and forth between me and the mysterious guy.
"He seems to know me…" I replied absentmindedly.
"To think that you would forget your old partner… How low of you, Hachiman." He admonished me.
"He's calling you his old partner…" Yuigahama said creeped out by this guy if the glares filled with disgust says something.
I think I know this guy…from where, though?
"Indeed, old partner. You still remember, do you not? How we braved those hellish times together…"
Hellish times together? That means that we were paired up together in some kind of task…
Oh…
I remember now.
"We were paired up in gym class?" I asked him.
"Hmph. Customs as evil as that may only be called hell. Pair up with whomever you like, they say? Ku ku ku, as if I desire friendship with this ephemeral body of mine! …As if I ever wish to experience a parting that will tear that body apart! If that is love, then I have no need for love!"
…
His name is…
"Why are you here, Zaimokuza?" I asked this guy over here, the only person, after Hiratsuka-sensei that is around my presence rather repeatedly.
"Hng, so you uttered the name engraved in my soul… Indeed, it is I, the master fencer general, Zaimokuza Yoshiteru!" He flashily fluttered his coat, and as he looked back in our direction, he put a gallant expression on his chubby face.
The stares that Yuigahama and Yukinoshita were giving him was of complete disgust.
"Hey… What exactly is that supposed to be?" Yuigahama clearly looked irritated and was glaring at me.
What? Why are you glaring at me?
"This person here is Zaimokuza Yoshiteru, my current partner in gym class." I explained to them.
"Your friend there seems to want something from you, doesn't he?" Yukinoshita used the word friend in an offensive fashion
"He is not my friend. I don't have any friends" I answered with a straight face. They looked at me with thunderstruck looks.
"Hmph, I would have to agree. Indeed, I do not have any friends too… I'm seriously alone, sniff." He then made a derisive, sad laugh that creeped out both girls.
Uwah…
"Mwahaha, by the way, Hachiman. This is the service club, is it not?" Oh no…
Please no…
"Yeah, this is the service club." Yukinoshita answered in my place.
When she did that, Zaimokuza looked over at Yukinoshita for a brief second before immediately returning his gaze to me.
"…I-is that so? Therefore, if Hiratsuka-sensei spoke true, Hachiman, you have a duty to grant my wishes, do you not? To think that after so many hundreds of years you would once again return to my service… This must be the work of the Hachiman Great Bodhisattva."
Why are you sweating like that?
"It's not like the service club is here to grant your wishes… We just help you out a bit." Yukinoshita answered for me, again.
"…H-hm. Then, Hachiman, lend me your hand. Fu fu fu, now that I think about it… We are equals, are we not? Equals who, just as in times of old, will seek to conquer all that lies under heaven!" Now, why are you trembling?
"Whatever happened to that whole 'servant' angle?" I asked with my eyes narrowed in doubt.
"Ah-ahem! Such trifling matters do not concern people such as us! I will make a special exception in this case." Zaimokuza coughed in a completely ridiculous way, perhaps to try and cover up his mistake.
"Uwahh…" Yuigahama seemed seriously repulsed. Her face even seemed a bit pale to me.
After saying that, Yukinoshita pulled on my sleeve and whispered in my ear.
"What is going on? What is up with this master fencer general whatever?" Yukinoshita's face was pretty close and was giving a pleasant scent.
"You are invading my personal space. Back off." She complied with an embarrassed face.
"What you are seeing now is just a case of chuunibyou." Is really obvious, you know.
"Choo-nee-byou?" She tried to articulate the word, only to fail. It was pretty cute to see that if I may add.
Hm. It seems that I overestimated you, Yukinoshita-san.
Mwahahaha…I am superior!
"Is some kind of disease?" Yuigahama joined our conversation as she broke my mental gloating.
"No, is a case of delusion" I explained to them. "It's like creating a desired backstory and putting a play based on that."
"In his case, he seems to have used Ashikaga Yoshiteru, the thirteenth-generation shogun of the Muromachi Bakufu, as his basis. It was probably easier that way since they share a given name."
"So why does he consider you his companion?"
"He probably took Hachiman and turned it into the Hachiman Great Bodhisattva. The Seiwa Genji worshiped him fervently as a god of war. You've heard of the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, right?"
I looked a Yukinoshita who was impressed by my knowledge. She tilted her head at me.
"…You are quite informed."
"I like to read all kinds of information, it's one of my hobbies." The other one being too violent for you to know.
…now that I think of…I don't really have any hobbies apart from those…
"Zaimokuza's way of bringing up every little piece of historical trivia gets really annoying, but at least he's basing his character on real history." I said tiredly.
Hearing that, Yukinoshita glanced briefly at Zaimokuza and questioned me with a genuine look of displeasure on her face.
"…You're saying there are ones worse than that?"
"Yes."
"So, just for my personal reference, what kinds of people are those?"
"Have you heard of Shinjuku Slasher?"
"Shinjuku Slasher?"
"He was a serial killer in Shinjuku who killed people by beheading them. It seemed that he was under the delusion that they were 'demons' threatening the balance of the world and he was a savior who slew the demons, because of this, his murders were too random and the police couldn't catch him. Later he was found beheaded on his bathroom." I explained them "It seems that he saw himself in the mirror and saw a demon."
Yuigahama looked terrified and was shivering because of the story and Yukinoshita looked also terrified but to a less extent.
Truly, the only monster are us. Capable of doing such things based on our own lies.
"Anyway…the case you are looking now is the most inoffensive kind of Chuunibyo. You should feel grateful."
"I thought you understood him because you were the same" Are you insulting me?
"I like harsh reality over a false fantasy every day."
Yukinoshita looked at me… and made a small smile.
"I see…" she then walked towards Zaimokuza.
What was that?
"I think I understand. You're here so we can help you cure this sickness; am I correct?" I face palmed.
"You are wrong, his state of mind has nothing to do with this." I answered for Zaimokuza, who looked at me gratefully for my intervention.
"What do you mean?" she asked me.
I then walked to one of the many papers on the floor and picked up.
"This is the reason to why he is here." I then passed the paper to Yukinoshita, who examined it…
"Hahaha! ...as expected of my partner, I didn't have to say anything for you to realize, truly, this is the proof that you value our struggle in those hellish times!" Zaimokuza spoke with quite a lot of emotion in his voice
Not to rain on your parade but I just happened to take a glimpse of it before…
Yuigahama looked at the paper that Yukinoshita was holding.
"What's that?" I could almost see a question mark floating above her head as she tried to read the page, but she finally gave out a long sigh and passed the papers back to me.
"What's this?"
After I read the paper, I answered. "It's a draft of a novel."
In response, Zaimokuza cleared his throat as if trying to reset the conversation.
"I am grateful for your keen insight. Indeed, that is a manuscript for a light novel. I intend to apply to a certain novel competition for new authors, but I have no friends, and so I have no second opinions. Read that, if you would." He told us with an arrogant tone.
"For some reason, I get the feeling that there was something really sad in the middle of that…" Yukinoshita said troubled.
"There are sites where you can put this kind of stuff up and ask for feedback, so why don't you just try one of those?" I asked him.
"No use. Those people have no mercy. Too much criticism. I would probably die."
What a weakling. You can go die for all that I care. Bothering the service club (me) for this…
I glanced to my side and let out half a sigh. I met Yukinoshita's gaze; she had a blank look on her face.
"Yukinoshita is probably going to be harsher than the people online, you know?" I genuinely warned him…
He sweatdropped a bit…
.
.
.
I was chaining my bike in the depots on the entrance.
*Yawn* I covered my mouth.
Damn…
Even when I'm in my 'other activities', it isn't as tiring as reading this piece of paper…Maybe because I used all of my willpower to force myself to read this atrocity.
Someone should bury this in the desert on Mexico, beside that E.T game made by Atari.
I can feel someone sneaking behind me and took the precautionary measures. I dodge the incoming object and grab the assailant, holding him in a chokehold.
"Who are you?" I asked in a cold voice.
"Uwah…Hikki I can't breathe…" Oh… it's just Yuigahama. I knew I have seen those boobs somewhere…
She was currently tapping my arm as surrender.
I let her go. I saw her trying to catch a breath and after that, she turned to glare at me.
"*cough cough* Hikki, were you trying to kill me?!" Yuigahama was upset.
"Of course not. Isn't your fault for sneaking on me like that?" I replied, unconcerned.
"Even with that…" Her glare diminishes a bit…
I decided to change the subject. "Anyway did you read the manuscript?" I asked her.
"Of course!" She made a thumbs up.
"Of course not. You don't look sleepy at all, so that means that you were sleeping instead of reading" I reprimanded her. If you throw a blatant lie like that, try to be consistent.
"I'm sorry." She whimpered.
"No, it's okay. It's good to see that one of us had a good night of sleep." I aphetically replied while walking away.
"Uwah, you are angry!" She followed me, using her sad dog eyes.
No, I'm not…maybe I am.
.
.
.
I opened the clubroom door and was greeted by the sight of Yukinoshita nodding off.
"Good work last night."
Even after I called out to her, Yukinoshita's gentle, even breathing continued; she was still asleep. Her almost-smiling face was a far cry from her usual stern, sharp and un-cute demeanor.
I almost felt as if I could just stay and watch her sleep forever. Her black hair, gently waving back and forth; her smooth, almost transparently white skin; her huge teary eyes…
"*Thud*" I kicked the table, making a loud noise.
"Ah!" she gasped and opened her eyes in a hurry.
"Good evening." I smile at her.
"You…" she glares at me. She then let out a kitty-like yawn and stretched grandly, extending both her hands above her head.
"From the looks of it, you also had a pretty hard fight last night, didn't you?" I asked her as I was sitting on a chair.
"Yes, it's been quite a while since I've worked all night… After all, I've never read anything quite like this. I don't think I can bring myself to like this sort of thing very much."
"Yeah. It was also pretty bad for me." Yuigahama had the nerve of saying that.
"You didn't even read it. Do it now or face punishment." I threatened her.
At my words, Yuigahama let out a grumpy groan and took out the manuscript in question from her bag. There wasn't a single crease in her copy; it was in perfect condition.
She really looked bored out of her mind when she was reading it… I watched Yuigahama as she read and began to speak.
"It's not like all light novels are like that. There are definitely a decent number of good ones."
"You read… these things?" Yukinoshita asked with distaste in her tone.
"Of course. Some of them have a really interesting plot." I paid no mind to that and answered normally.
"…" I hear her mutter 'if he reads them, maybe it can't be that bad'.
I heard a gruff knock on the clubroom door.
"This one begs your pardon…" Zaimokuza once again spoke in an archaic fashion and entered the room.
"Well then, let's hear your impressions." Zaimokuza docked himself into a chair and crossed his arms arrogantly.
There was a sense of superiority coming from God-knows-where on his face. It was an expression overflowing with confidence.
Poor little guy… he doesn't have any idea.
"I'm sorry. I don't really understand these kinds of things too well, but…" Yukinoshita started off with that, but Zaimokuza responded completely calmly.
"I don't mind. Even ones such as I occasionally wish to hear the opinions of the common folk. Speak your mind."
"I see." Yukinoshita responded shortly and took a deep breath, steeling her resolve. "It was boring. In fact, it was almost painful to read. It was boring beyond imagination."
"Oofgh!" First Blood!
His chair rattled as he rocked backward in it, but Zaimokuza managed to find his balance and sit upright again.
"H-hmm… Well then, for future reference, would you kindly inform me: which parts of the work were boring?"
"First off, the grammar was a mess. Why did you reverse the word order of sentences so much? Don't you know how to use particles? Didn't they teach you that in elementary school?"
"Nghhh… I believed that style would be better at engaging the readers with the work…"
"Shouldn't you only think about things like that once you've managed to write past the bare minimum standard of proper Japanese? Additionally, your abuse of furigana is far too often. Here you write 'nouryoku' but have the furigana 'chikara' above it… No one pronounces it that way. Furthermore, you wrote 'Genkou Hasen' here, which is more-or-less 'Phantom Crimson Slash,' but you wrote above it 'Bloody Nightmare Slasher.' Where exactly did the 'nightmare' come from?"
"Ufghh! O-Ooo… You're wrong! All the supernatural battle novels lately have used lots of furigana…"
"That's strictly for your own self-satisfaction. It isn't going to reach anyone else. Do you really want others to read this? If you really do, then you also have to make it less predictable. I could tell what was coming in the story from miles away and there was no sign that things would get more interesting. And why is the heroine stripping here? There's absolutely no lead-up to it."
"Hnghhh! B-but novels that don't have that kind of thing in them don't sell… so you have to… That is…"
"Also, the narration is too long and has so many convoluted kanji, so it's just really hard to read. Also, please refrain from trying to make people read an unfinished story. Before we even talk about literary style, maybe you should go and get some common sense."
"Pnnghyahhh!"
"Ok let's stop right here, Yuigahama is your turn." I told Yuigahama to share her 5 minutes experience.
"Eh! Me?!"
Yuigahama seemed shocked, and Zaimokuza faced her with a pleading expression. His eyes were tearing up. Yuigahama probably saw that and pitied the poor fellow, so she seemed to try and think of some compliment she could pay him.
"U-umm… Y-you sure do know a lot of complicated Kanji…"
"Uwaaagghhhh!" A sad cry could be heard in the room.
"You finished him off…" it's impressive how this girl can hit the target without even aiming. Is she some sort of genius sniper?
"W-well then… Hikki, go ahead."
"G-gnnghh… H-Hachiman. You understand me, right? The world I created, this vast landscape of light novel magnificence… You understand it, right? He pleaded me to say something positive to save some of his self-esteem.
I nodded and Zaimokuza looked at me with eyes of absolute trust.
I understood him
"So, just who did you rip-off to write that?" I asked him nonchalantly.
"Hnghh?! B-bbnggh… Gurgle…"
Zaimokuza writhed back and forth on the floor but stopped once he crashed right into the wall. His empty eyes stared up at the ceiling, and a single tear streaked down his cheek. It was the look of a man who was ready to die.
"You have no mercy…" Yukinoshita was taken aback, looking at me with eyes that were round like plates.
"It had to be said-"
"…Hey, you…" Yuigahama was poking me with her elbow, puffing her cheeks.
I let out a sigh…
I prefer killing criminals over this…
.
.
.
We were at the entrance… the sun was already setting on the horizon…
"…Would you… read my work again?" He asked, solemnly.
…
He faced me and Yukinoshita with fire in his eyes.
"You…"
"Are you a complete masochist?" Yuigahama asked with disgust in her eyes
"Do you really want to do that again after everything you went through today?" I asked for confirmation.
"Of course. That certainly was quite harsh criticism. That certainly did make me think that I wanted to die, that I'm unpopular and have no friends anyway… Or, rather, that made me want everyone else to die."
"However… However, those words still made me happy. To have something I wrote for fun read by someone else, critiqued by someone else… That is definitely not a bad thing, having my work read definitely makes me happy."
Having said that, Zaimokuza smiled.
I see…
"Sure. I will read it." I answered.
He nodded "When I finish a new novel, I'll bring it here."
And then he was off.
.
.
.
It was gym class
"Hachiman. Who do you think is the most popular, most amazing illustrator out there right now?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You can think about that after you win the prize."
"Hm… Fair enough. The bigger issue is where I should make my debut…"
"Seriously, why are you assuming that you're going to win?"
"…If it sells well, then maybe they can turn it into an anime and I can marry a seiyuu…"
"That's enough… Just stop it. Write the manuscript first, okay?"
Seriously, what do I care about your dreams?
My gym class conversations with Zaimokuza began to go more or less like that.
.
.
.
In the location of an abandoned building.
There were severed arms, legs, torsos all over the ground. Blood was sprayed all over the place. A putrid, unbearable smell was concentrated on the room.
"hun hun hun~~" A humming tune can be heard in the dark place with the sound of a meat cleaver hitting against the table.
There was a tabloid in one of the walls…
There were pictures of a certain person on it…
Killer Killer…
Or rather…
Hikigaya Hachiman.
A person approaches the tabloid, with a singsong smile on her face.
"Why don't we play a game~~" the person says
"Kira-chan!"
It's time to introduce the first major antagonist that is going to be a threat to both Hikigaya Hachiman and Killer Killer. Criticism is always appreciated, of both kinds.
Take care of yourselves, max says goodbye (=_=)