Some answers to some reviews:
Guest (About Kidnapping): Anon-san, I may just be a novice writer but have some faith in me. Even I wouldn't screw it up that bad. If something is left unfinished, be sure that the next chapter would give more light about it.
Another guest: Thanks for the heads up. I already fixed it.
Monkey999Boy: I agree, moralfags and justicefags should get BTFO. And no, he is not.
Wildarms13: Thank you very much, I will do my best on the next arc!
wHYaREyOUeVENrEADINGtHIS: SakiSaki fags, assemble!
Dragonballaca: I haven't read Death note so if I offended you, I'm really sorry! I also thank you for your support!
Murr34Hurr: Me too. I blame anime for not spreading enough SakiSaki.
Here is next chapter!
Chapter 10 "A new beginning."
A figure could be seen in the darkness, gasping for air. Her breathing was uneven and ragged. Her eyes were dazed and sweat was coming down her face.
"Did your victims felt this when you took their eyes away?" The person in front of it asked, nonchalantly.
Calling him a man would be inaccurate. His face was covered by a hoodie, but his voice sounded young.
He was brandishing a knife on his right hand and walked slowly at the figure on the floor, who was reeling back on fear.
"Ah…ah….a…." She stood up from the floor, facing his assailer with an ice picker. "Are you that serial killer who only targets…?"
The young man looked at her with a frown. "Where...?" he muttered. "Well, if that's the reason you think I am here, what does that make you?"
"Why…?" She glared at the young man with furiousness. "You're just like them!"
"Thinking that they can judge me whatever they like!" Her tone grew more distortion and savage. "Those eyes…THOSE EYES!" She screeched. "WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE THOSE LOOKS?! SO UNFAIR! SO UNFAIR!" She screamed as she lunged at the young man with her ice pick on her left hand.
She didn't even saw when his hand was on her neck and only recorded that he was on top of her, with his left hand covering her mouth and on his right hand…
The ice pick.
"Mmh! Mhmhm!" She emitted muffled sounds as she tried to free herself. Now that she was close to him, he could see his eyes.
His eyes were those of a dead fish. They were detached like doing this was an everyday routine.
"Don't worry…" He said with a reassuring smile. "It's just like the old say." His voice was detached.
His smile twisted in a wide, almost tenebrous smirk. "What the eyes don't see the heart doesn't grieve." And the only thing she saw after that…
Was the blur of the Icepick reaching her for eyes.
After that, she only heard the muffled sounds of her own screaming.
After that, she didn't feel anything else.
.
.
.
Sobu High School.
Class 1-F: Hikigaya Hachiman.
Prospective Career: Stay-at-home husband.
Prospective Workplace: My Home.
According to the ancient, to works is to accept defeat.
Labor is the act of putting oneself at risk to receive compensation. It goes unsaid that people would always choose maximum paying with minimum effort.
Young girls proclaim that 'I want to be a bride!' not out of cuteness but survival instinct.
That's why my choice of being a Stay-at-home husband is perfectly reasonable. If you, as a teacher who educates the next generation, rejects my beliefs, you'll be rejecting society's beliefs.
And you also would be picking fight with the movement of equility of gender. Be prepared.
My wish for this workplace tour is to familiarize myself with the environment that a Househusband will see every day by staying at my home.
QED.
.
.
.
The sound of my teacher chewing her tobacco resounded in the teacher's room. She sent a withering glare at me.
"Hikigaya, you know where this is going, right?"
"Of course. You can't counter-argument good, solid facts so the only thing that is left is for you to accept my workplace, right?" I replied while nodding to myself.
"So you don't know…" The intensity of her glare augmented as those words left her mouth.
I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I will rewrite it."
What kind of society is this where a person can't speak his mind about his ambitions and dreams?
…Oh.
"That goes without saying…" She pinched the bridge of her nose. "Geez…and here I thought you'd change a little…"
"You read my essays. You should already be aware that that won't happen, ever."
"I try to read them but it only depresses me. What are you, Chrona?" She asked, with the face of someone who's having a headache.
"That's your problem, not mine."
"Anyway…" She looked at me again with a stern expression. "What's the purpose of this shitty answer of yours?"
"You're not supposed to swear at your student…"
Hiratsuka-sensei puffed out smoke from her cigarette and glared daggers at me. "I understand what a messed up personality you have, but I thought you'd grown up a little. Didn't spend time with the Service Club influence you at all?"
"I thought it was rather the opposite." I replied, aloof.
"And I also told you that you'll have a chance of improving yourself." She replied in the same manner.
"My motto is: Always adapt but never change!" I imitated Komachi's smile but only a twisted, creepy smile came to my face.
"You haven't improved," Hiratsuka-sensei said after a pause. "You've only gotten more pathetic."
"I get the feeling I'm nowhere near the level of pathetic as you are…" I muttered, remembering the facts that she is single, drinks till noon and sleeps on her free time.
"Uh?" Oh, the black mist is back!
"Geez…" she said finally. "Anyway, resubmit your Prospective Workplace Tour Survey Form. When you've done that, I want you to count up all the survey forms as a penalty for hurting my feelings."
"Wow…you're rather weak, Hiratsuka-sensei, if that is all that It took to hurt your feelings." I just retreated when she glared at me with sharp eyes, which reminded me of a rabid beast that found a resisting prey.
There was an overgrown stack of papers in front of my eyes. Sorting through each sheet one at a time was grueling, like working at a bread factory. Or maybe as a lifeguard.
Being alone with my female teacher was not exactly a heart-throbbing development, rather the opposite. Being stuck here with a middle-aged woman who's only cute characteristic is that she is really, really sad and pathetic.
I sighed as I sat in the chair and started to count the papers.
.
.
.
At Chiba Municipal Sobu High School, there's an event called a "workplace tour" which happens when you're in your second year of high-school.
Usually.
The higher-ups apparently decided to hold the workplace tour for the freshmen this year. Something about testing a new educational project or something to ingrain the concept of work into younger students.
Trying to brainwash youth to desire work at such early age huh, MEXT? (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.)
The survey forms are used to determine the occupation students are interested in learning more about and then the school actually send the students to that workplace. It was part of the new-fangled education program to instill in every student's heart the desire to work for a company. It wasn't such a big deal, really. Every school probably had an event just like it.
Sobu High dedicated to preparing students for university. The majority of students hoped to advance to university and many of them actually did so. It was something they kept in mind from the moment they entered high school.
Whether it was because I'd calculated that university was a four-year moratorium from the start, my so-called "outlook towards the future" was lacking. I'd already thought clearly about what I was going to do when I grow up. I was definitely not going to work…but since I really doubt that was going to work…(pun not intended.)
"Seems like you're thinking some good-for-nothing thoughts…" Hiratsuka-sensei rolled her eyes. "I don't know if you already decided but are you entering the science division or the humanities division?" she asked.
Isn't too early to question that? Never mind as I already decided.
"Science." I replied, without taking my look out of the papers.
"Hoh?" She inquired.
"Even if I want to be a house-husband, is already a given that I want my children to have a decent life and seeing how society is, I really doubt it that one person can make enough money by himself." I sighed. "Unfortunately, I will have to work. And being on the science side, I can get more decent paid jobs."
"Hikigaya…" Hiratsuka-sensei was gaping at me with a strange emotion in her eyes. It could be described as awe and praise.
"Already said that my second choice of work is for the mafia!"
"…"
"Yeah, as to why that's a secret~!" I tee-heed at the end and dodged the punch directed to my head.
"On other note, how is my request going?"
"No comment." I answered. "You should be more direct with what you wish, Hiratsuka-sensei, maybe that's why men don't get a hi- Ohlookabird!" I directed my look at the window.
That was close. I have to remember that even if she can't punish me physically, she still can assign me more homework than a normal student should have.
"You…" She growled at me.
"N-now, don't be like that." I tried to save myself. "I'm sure that there is someone out there for you!" It probably could have a better effect if I hadn't such a strained smile on my safe.
If no one does, I wouldn't have any other option then take Hiratsuka-sensei for myself.
I mean, she is a working woman that has a decent salary (decent enough to buy a 2005 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.) so money wouldn't be an issue. And she sleeps until noon on holidays so it would be easy to sneak out of the house…of course, assuming that I haven't ended my quest.
As I go back to count surveys, I note that there isn't any insult or comeback at me. Weird.
I turned to Hiratsuka-sensei, who was looking at me with a frozen expression. The cigarette that she was smoking was on the floor.
I raise an eyebrow. "Is something wrong?"
"A-ah…" She avoided my inquisitive look and looked at the papers on my desk. "I-Is everything done…already?" Huh? I just started, why do you ask that?
The face of my teacher was heated up. She was caressing a strain of her hair while avoiding my look but there was sometimes that she would sneak a glance at me. Not that she knows but…
Huh?
As soon as I opened my mouth, a loud voice interrupted me. "Ah, there you are!"
She was shaking her head in a bad temper, her bright hair (which was all bunched up like a dumpling ball) turning back and forth. It was Yuigahama Yui, who had become my acquaintance lately.
She looked between Hiratsuka-Sensei and me. "I-I'm interrupting something?" She tilted her head.
"N-No!" "No." Both of us replied at the same time. One with more intensity than the other.
Hiratsuka-sensei, after she recomposed herself, addressed Yuigahama. "Sorry, I'm borrowing Hikigaya from you."
"I-it's not like he belongs to me or anything! It's totally okay!" Yuigahama denied vehemently, waving her hand. I got an 'it's not like I need him anyway' sort of nuance from that.
"What do you want?" I asked her, with apathy.
The person who answered was not Yuigahama, but the girl who suddenly appeared behind her. Her black hair (which was tied up in twin-tails) bobbed up and down, matching her abrupt movement. "You never come to the club room, so she went looking for you. Yuigahama-san, I mean."
…Why twin tails?
"I figured as much." You have a knack for stating the obvious, Yukinoshita.
To have a higher word coun- I mean, explain the readers.
Yukinoshita and I were in the same club - the Service Club - for now. She was the leader and president of said club. And in the course of our activities, when we're not taking requests, we were at each other's throats. Basically, we just had this hopeless, never-ending squabble going on between us where we poured salt onto each other's wounds.
Her beliefs differ of mines, (Sarcasm alert) and like the good chump she is, she tries to force hers into mines.
Upon hearing Yukinoshita's words, Yuigahama folded her arms and scowled. "I went around asking everyone where you were," she complained. "Everyone was like 'Hikigaya? Who's he?' It was sooooo weird."
I sighed. "Yuigahama-san. Everyone knows that the only person who knows me here is seated beside me." I looked at Hiratsuka-sensei, who avoided my look, again. "So instead of wasting your time, waste the brain cells that you have on your head in coming up with something like that." I deadpanned.
"You don't have to be so rude!" She frowned as she yelled me with anger.
Well, at least now I know that no one knows about my existence. Not quite sure if feel good about it, as in that I can ditch class without anyone identifying me, or sad, for obvious reasons.
I looked at her, and she looked as she had something else to say so I prompted her. "Do you have anything else to say?"
"I-it's no big deal, but…" Yuigahama started playing with her fingers in front of her chest. "Th-that is, um…" she said shyly, puffing out her cheeks. "T-tell me your cell phone number? Y-you see! It's weird having to go around looking for you everywhere, and plus it's embarrassing… whenever someone asks me about our relationship, I just - no."
Her face went red as if the mere recollection that she had gone looking for me was unbearably embarrassing. She averted her eyes from me, folded her arms tightly in front of her chest and turned her head the other way. And then she peeped at me through the corners of her eyes.
"Weeeell, it's not such a big deal, really…" I said as I took out my cell phone. As soon as I did that, Yuigahama pulled out an enormous, sparkling cell phone of her own.
"What's with that giant brick of a cell phone?" I couldn't hold it. I mean…
Yuigahama jerked. "Huh? Isn't it cute?" she insisted as she showed me her cheap looking cell phone strap. Some soft toy that looked like a mushroom hung from the strap and jingled as she shook it. It was supremely depressing.
"Uh…" I scratched my head, awkwardly. "Is…good?" I tried to avoid looking at her.
"Well, whatever," said Yuigahama, obviously annoyed. "You can synch your phone up with mine, right?"
"Nah. I have a smartphone so I can't." I replied while looking at my smartphone.
"Huuuh? So I have to type it out?" She groaned. "What a pain."
"I don't need that kind of function as no one ever have asked for my phone number. Here." I handed my cell phone over to Yuigahama, who took it nervously.
There was a pitying glance from Hiratsuka-sensei and a bewildered look from Yukinoshita.
"For saying something like that so easily…as expected of Hikigaya-kun." Yukinoshita said while assessing me.
"Hikigaya…" Hiratsuka-sensei said, evidently moved. "Th-then will you exchange numbers with me? As she said that, she swiped my phone off Yuigahama's hand and started punching her number in.
Her level of pity for me was off the charts.
"Don't ever look at me like that." I smiled, smug. "It's just that I didn't find usefulness in having more contact numbers apart from my family and amazon."
"Whoa! Serious?! And wait - Amazon?!" Yuigahama asked, shocked.
After that, Hiratsuka-sensei gave my phone back to Yuigahama.
"I-I'm typing it out, huh… that's okay, I guess. Wait, I'm amazed you'd hand over your phone to someone just like that." Yuigahama asked, amazed.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked. "If it's about what's inside, don't worry. The only contacts I have are my sister, my parents, and amazon."
"Amazon again?" Yukinoshita looked dubious.
Amazon! Cuz when you need someone, he is there!
Oh, if you're wondering where is Blade/master's contact phone, I already memorized it on my head. Can't have the number of an information broker on my phone.
Yuigahama began typing away on the phone I'd given to her with an impressive speed. "You're so fast at typing…"
Huh? This is nothing. Maybe your fingers are shriveling 'cos you've got no one to text?"
"Huh…probably." I replied, absentmindedly. What is this sense of foreboding that the phone is-
"No way…" I head Yuigahama mutter. I looked at her and…
Her eyes were hollow, devoid of any emotion. She looked like she was trying to comprehend something but failed at it.
"Hm?" I asked. I'm pretty sure that I erased all the archives related to my extracurricular activities, not before copying it to a hard drive, of course.
"Hikki…who is [Your Onee-san ;)]?" She asked, glancing at me with a vacant look. Yukinoshita did the same, looking confused.
But of course…
Then, her eyes snapped open. "Hikigaya-kun." Her voice was cold and emotionless. "You may look like trash, but even I thought that you wouldn't fall as low as that." Hey?! What are you implying?!
"Now, before you start misunderstanding…" Too late for that. "That number is…huh…" I tilted my head. "An acquaintance?"
"Why are you asking us?" Yuigahama recovered her usual demeanor.
"No, I mean, that person is just too troublesome to call even acquaintance. She basically stole my cell phone and forced her number on me." Oh, even thinking about that person gives me a headache.
"Troublesome?" Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes.
"Anyway, just ignore that number." I told. "And give me back my phone."
"Ah, uh yeah." She handed my phone back to me.
[ YUI ]
I typed in my cell phone and overwrote the name displayed.
[Yuigahama Yui]
"Uh?! Why did you change it?!"
"In every way, I read this, it only reeks of spam." I replied, annoyed. "And how that could be listed?"
Hiratsuka-sensei cleared her throat conspicuously, glancing sideways at me. "Hikigaya, that's enough. Thanks for helping out. You can go now," she said as she lit up the smoke in her mouth without even looking.
"Okay." I had the faint suspicion that she was doing this out of pity but never mind, the gift is appreciated.
"I will go home, then." I stood up as I felt that Yuigahama grabbed my sleeve, looking at me with a reproaching gaze.
"You mean club, right?" Yukinoshita said in commanding tone.
"Ah…fine." I picked up my schoolbag and slung it over my right shoulder.
It would probably be another ordinary time-wasting day with nobody approaching the club for its services. The only problem would have to resist the urge of put Yukinoshita on her place when things get out of hand.
Just as I was nearing the door, I heard a voice behind me. "Oh, right. Hikigaya. I forgot to tell you this before, but you'll be going in groups of three for the upcoming workplace tour. You can choose your own groups, so think it over."
Uh? "…oh man. I really don't want my classmates coming over to my place." I said with a vacant face.
"So you're really that bent on having your workplace tour at home, huh…?" Hiratsuka-sensei shuddered in the face of my steely will.
"I thoroughly despise the idea of choosing my own group." I declared.
"Huh? What kind of crap are you-"
"What fools you are." I mocked them. "A superhero is always a loner, you know. And superheroes are cool. In other words, 'Loner = cool'."
"Indeed, there are heroes who do say the only friends you need are love and courage." said Yukinoshita.
"I know right? Hey, you're pretty genre savvy." I thought you would only read Shakespeare and stuff like that, Antoinette.
"Yes, I'm interested in this subject. Just when did you realize as a child that you had no love or courage or friends, I wonder?"
"Mmm…when I was 7?" I replied indifferently.
"Heh?" Yukinoshita questioned.
"Never mind that…can we go now?" I sighed, tired.
.
.
.
October.
A month has passed since all that clusterfuck with the Artist. Nothing major after that has happened, don't know if thank god for that or feel uneasy.
I still can't find the girl that kidnapped Komachi. The police doesn't know that I saw that girl before, on the tennis court but the person that I saw and the person that described Komachi were totally different.
While mine had long, orange hair and eyes of the same color that made her stand out, the one that Komachi saw had short, dark hair with brown eyes.
I did recognize the uniform that Komachi described. Kaihin Sogou. A high school campus near my place. It may be close to my home but I didn't apply as there was a possibility of meeting one of my old classmates…well, one of them, at least.
I both asked Blade/Master if he found anything about the girl and went there myself (disguised) but in the two of them, we didn't have any fruitful results.
It's like she is a ghost or something.
No point in worry about things that are out of my power…for now.
My other research has been even more than that.
10 years. 10 freaking years.
And no clue about the perpetrator.
I'm questioning myself if I suck at finding people or is just that those people are good at hiding.
For my self-esteem, I will go with second.
Though if we talk about worries…
.
.
.
We were in the clubroom, doing our things.
Yukinoshita and I were reading, she was reading some English book and I was reading a physics book. Damn, I must look smart like this.
Yuigahama was playing with her phone, like she always do when she is not chatting with Yukinoshita.
Those two got along better than I thought. Their interaction were borderline Yuri material. So scary.
She was holding her phone in one hand with a vague smile floating on her lips, but she was sighing deeply - only so softly it was inaudible. I couldn't hear the sound of her sigh, but I realized how deeply she was exhaling from how much her chest heaved.
"What's wrong?"
The one who said that wasn't me - it was Yukinoshita. It seemed she had realized Yuigahama's strange behavior without even looking up from her book. Perhaps she had heard that sigh.
"Oh, uh… nothing, I guess," said Yuigahama. "I just got this weird text, so I was all like whoa."
"Hikigaya-kun, unless you'd like to end up in court, I suggest you stop sending those obscene texts immediately."
So she was assuming that this was a sexting case and that I was the culprit. What the hell, Yukinoshita?
"I'm not the culprit." I replied, aloof. "Where is your proof?"
With a smirk, Yukinoshita flipped her hair over her shoulder. "You just proved my point. Those are clearly the words of a criminal. 'Where's the proof?' 'What a brilliant deduction; shouldn't you become a novelist or something?' 'There's no way I can stay in the same room as a murderer.'"
I was about to open my mouth but desisted. I just shook my head with a smug smile. "No, that's just too retarded that I won't dignify it with an answer." I looked at her with a bored look. "You'd make a fantastic detective." I said sarcastically.
She frowned. "Oh, then, you're not the culprit?" Obviously irked at my remark.
"Tell them, Yuigahama." I crossed my arms in an entitled pose. Man, I must look like the scion of a powerful conglomerate. (A/N: This one is easy.)
"Ah?" Yuigahama replied. "Oh…well, I don't think Hikki is the culprit, y'know?"
Yukinoshita's hand, which was in the midst of turning a page, stopped suddenly. "Where's the proof?" she asked with her eyes alone. Man, did she want me to be a criminal that badly?
She wasn't off the bat, though.
"Hmmm, well, you see, the text was about my class. So that means Hikki's got nothing to do with it."
I am in your class, Gahama-san.
"That makes sense," said Yukinoshita. "In that case, Hikigaya-kun couldn't have been the culprit."
Whatever. Believe what you want.
"Weeell, I guess these things happen from time to time," Yuigahama said solemnly as she closed her phone lid with a snap. "I won't worry about it too much." It was like she was speaking from deep personal experience.
She said 'from time to time', but I never got a text from that sender, just so you know.
Being a friendless loner is the best! No one can stop us! No one can bother us!
And with that, Yuigahama refused to touch her phone.
I had no way of guessing what was in that text, but I could tell immediately that it wasn't pretty. Yuigahama was a fool, to say the least, and so she probably also had a side of her that got unusually down-hearted over things.
What kind of nasty stuff was written there? I will never know, as I don't receive that kind of emails.
Oh, well, this doesn't concern me.
As if forcefully shaking her depression away, Yuigahama leaned back against her chair and stretched.
"…there's nothing to do."
I flinched. Please, oh merciful god, tell me that the universe wasn't listening. Tell me that the universe wasn't listening.
…
Good.
Yuigahama then looked like she realized something. "Guys, have you heard about that popular rumor on the net?"
"Rumor?" Yukinoshita asked, looking away from her book.
"Yeah, like there was some kind of serial killer roaming around Chiba."
…Yeah, fuck you too, God.
"I didn't think you were interested in this kind of things, Yuigahama-san." I asked her with a curious glance.
"N-no, it's not like that, don't look at me weirdly like that!" Yuigahama waved her hands at me in denial. "Like, Yumiko was the one who send it to me!"
"…Who?" That name doesn't ring any bells.
"Ah…" She looked like someone who gave up. "Anyway, like, there is some serial killer there that kills only other serial killers." What a weird way to say it.
"Like a vigilante?" Yukinoshita asked, with a strange glint in her eyes. It looked like a child that found something interesting.
Now that I check, the book that she was reading was a mysterious genre.
"Uhn." Yuigahama nodded. "I can show you the link if you want!" She told her with a smile at the prospect of doing something to take away her boredom.
"Why don't you use the computer?" Oh, man. That computer must have been drowning in the dust as we haven't taken it for a while.
We're really sorry, persocon-chan!
After turning the green laptop on, Yuigahama entered a URL on the navigator and opened some shady-looking page.
The serial Killer Killer who only kills other killers, Killer Killer.
Again, what's with that way of spelling?
"Kira Kira?" Yukinoshita pronounced carefully. "What a stupid name…" Hey!
"Hehehe…sparkling!" Yuigahama laughed stupidly at the sound of my alter ego. (Killer Killer is pronounced as Kira kira, which is an onomatopoeia to spark in japan.)
"Anyway, let's take a look." I said.
'One of the most popular rumors around the net is the existence of Killer Killer. A vigilante that hunts and kills serial killers and another kind of offenders. Sources say that the local police force has been holding information about certain crimes that involves the participation of this serial killer…'
Most of the article was elaborated, but I also found some exaggerations.
Bullshit, so to speak.
I didn't really kill an entire Yakuza group…just killed the leader without being seen.
I am not affiliated with any Yakuza, Mafia or any underground organization like that. That would mean doing work.
No, I don't have a hare- who the fuck did write this?!
Incoherencies began to appear as long as we read the article. After a while, we closed the laptop.
"So, what do you guys think?" Yuigahama asked us with an expectant glance.
"Well, I do find that rumor unbelievable."
I agree.
"There were inconstancies on the article…" Yukinoshita explained. "And even if it was a vigilante, why would the police hold information about him?"
"…Isn't it obvious?" I feel the need of correct her.
"It's not." She shot back, with her characteristically cold look. "He is using justice as a pretext to justify his wrongdoings." Ouch.
She doesn't pull any punches, as expected of Yukinoshita. But I'm not mad. She is actually right.
Though I don't use justice as a justification, it's people that dubbed me like that.
But there is something I can't let it pass.
"Yukinoshita." She widened her eyes at my serious tone. "'There are people that don't deserve to live with normal people. This is a common thought that happens on everyone's minds at some point."
"If a vigilante like this appeared, what would people think?"
"Well, even the case you say is true, the people would still have faith on the legal system." She replied as a matter of fact, but I could see that she was put off by my sudden seriousness.
Of course. But that's not because they have faith in the system.
Is because if they go through, they would be criminals. They are just cowards that are afraid of being judged and cheer people who actually moves and do things for their selves.
But I'm neither.
'Vigilante justice' is often rationalized by the concept that proper legal forms of criminal punishment are either nonexistent, insufficient, or inefficient.
Vigilantes normally see the government as ineffective in enforcing the law; such individuals often claim to justify their actions as a fulfillment of the wishes of the community.
In other words, people that were unhappy with the way that the legal system handles justice and decided to take matters into their own hands, whether is just common displeasure against the crime, self-perceived justice against an injustice done to them or just seeking the attention of the masses.
There were people like that.
Simple.
Justice, huh?
What's justice in the first?
Justice is the legal or philosophical theory by which fairness is administered. The concept of justice differs in every culture.
An early theory of justice was set out by the Ancient Greek philosopher Plato, who defined that justice is the having and doing of what is one's own; a just man is a man in just the right place, doing his best and giving the precise equivalent of what he has received.
Advocates of divine command theory argue that justice issues from God.
In the 17th century, theorists like John Locke argued for the theory of natural law.
Thinkers in the social contract tradition argued that justice is derived from the mutual agreement of everyone concerned.
In the 19th century, utilitarian thinkers including John Stuart Mill argued that justice is what has the best consequences.
There are other shit-tons of theories and definitions of what justice is and has been since B.C.
But they have something in common.
Fairness and righteousness.
People have the common misconception that they, as flawed individuals, can administrate justice in their own terms and conditions. Truly laughable.
The other reason to why the system is so flawed is because the law force created a law not to only deal with criminals but to protect their integrity.
Laws to put themselves 'above' the trash of society. Fools…
How do you expect to clean the dirt getting dirty? Redundancy aside, they don't realize that with those laws, they only trap small time criminals while the bigger and dangerous fish is comfortably watching from the shadows.
They said that goods guys always win and catch the bad guys. But in reality…
To catch bad guys you need worse guys. They aren't afraid of getting their hands dirty to solve problems.
Permanently.
Summary: Law doesn't work. As it is made from humans, is far from perfect. The law can be corrupt and it is corrupt. That's why I choose to believe in simpler laws.
My laws.
A life for a life, a murder for a murder.
It's the principle that I base myself when I choose for victims: Payback.
"What a narrow viewpoint…" I muttered.
Mm…now that I remember, her father is a member of the prefecture diet so is probably not a surprise that she staunchly believes in justice and law, after all, her father is one of the people in charge of it.
As Yukinoshita was about to retort, all of a sudden, rhythmical rap on the door could be heard.
Someone was knocking on the door.
"Come in." She didn't even look at me at all as she uttered her reply.
"Sorry for intruding." It was a cool male voice, the sound of which would instantly put you at ease.
.
.
.
"Sorry about the bad timing. I've got a bit of a request for you." Putting his Umbro enamel bag down on the floor with an extremely natural "Is here okay?" he pulled up a seat facing Yukinoshita. Everything he did exuded easy-going charm. "Man, I had a hard time getting my club to let me go. Club activities are postponed before exams, so I figured I had to come see you today no matter what. Sorry."
Sparky guy-I mean, Hayama Hayato entered the clubroom. I could tell that Yuigahama was surprised about seeing him here.
I was…uh- Why now of all times, when I'm about to go home?!
He said club activities were hectic, but our club had done jack in an entire month. Maybe we're just special.
"Enough." Yukinoshita said flatly, cutting off the boy's cheerful chatter. I got the feeling she was acting somewhat sharper than usual. "You came here because you wanted something, did you not? Hayama Hayato-kun."
Hm? What's this?
Yukinoshita was more sharp than usual on her retorts and there was an undertone on her phrase…did something happened between them?
"Ah, you're right. You call this the Service Club, don't you? Hiratsuka-sensei told me that I should go here if I needed advice, so…" Hayama replied, without being affected by Yukinoshita's cold words. As expected of someone like him, I guess.
"Sorry about the bad timing. If you, Yui and the others have plans, I'll come again another time…"
Upon hearing her name, Yuigahama let out a strained smile. "No big deal. I don't mind at all. You're the next captain of the soccer club, Hayato-kun. It's no wonder you took so long coming here!"
Huh.
But the only one who thought that way was Yuigahama. Yukinoshita was unimpressed and I was staring at him with disinterest.
"You too, Hikigaya-kun," said Hayama. "Sorry, I'm taking up your time." He clapped his hands in an apologetic manner.
"What do you want?" I asked him with an impassive face.
"Ah. Well, about that," Hayama said, slowly taking out his cell phone. Pressing the buttons nimbly, he accessed the text messages and showed me the screen.
Beside me, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama craned their necks to peer at the screen. With three people crowded around a screen the size of your palm is annoying and not good for the sight. Yuigahama let out a soft, "Ah…"
Yuigahama took out her own cell phone and showed me.
Her text had the exact same message as the one from before. You could say it was filled with objectionable content. And it wasn't just one text either. Every time Yuigahama moved her fingertip, she scrolled through a whole laundry list of spiteful words with no end in sight. Were they all spam accounts? I wondered. The texts from every single address were solely dedicated to badmouthing individuals.
"Tobe belongs to a gang that hangs around at the arcade picking on people from West High." Or, "Yamato is a three-timing douchebag." And even, "Ooka played roughly at a practice match just to take out the other school's ace player."
Oh, so it was that what had her depressed.
"Chain mail, I see." I wasn't the one who pronounced those words but Yukinoshita, who had been silent up until now, intoned.
As the name suggests, a chain message is a kind of text that goes around like a chain. At around the end or so, there would be a prompt to "pass this on to five people" or something like that. They're like the "cursed letters" of the olden days: "If you don't pass this on to five people in three days, you'll get cursed", blah blah. It was pretty much that brand of text.
Hayama smiled bitterly. "Ever since these started circulating, the atmosphere in class has been getting more and more strained. Plus, I'm mad since those are my friends they're talking about."
Hm…
There's nothing as horrible as an evil whose face you can't see. If someone insults you to your face, you can insult them right back. Or you can channel your pent-up anger and stress towards other things. Such heavy emotions are a major source of energy, which you can use for positive things. But when those feelings of anger, envy, and pettiness aren't directed at you, you can't muster any strong emotion. You can only feel vaguely uneasy.
"I want to stop it. It really doesn't sit right with me, after all," Hayama insisted, before adding cheerfully, "Oh, but I don't want to turn this into a witch hunt. I want to know how to solve things peacefully. I'm wondering if you could help me out."
He smiled and all of a sudden, the room was brightly illuminated. What the hell?
Yukinoshita scratched her chin in thought for a while, and then she opened her mouth. "So basically, you want us to set the record straight?"
"Mmm, pretty much."
"Then we must find the culprit," Yukinoshita declared.
I actually snorted. Yeah, that's pretty much the answer that I was waiting from Yukinoshita.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, her blue eyes boring into my face.
"No, I mean, didn't you hear him?" I pointed at Hayama, who wore a shocked face.
At that, Yukinoshita, who's cold expression was the complete antithesis of Hayama began to speak slowly, as if carefully choosing her words.
"Sending chain messages… that is a despicable act that tramples over a person's dignity. While they hide in the shadow of anonymity, they slander others for the sole purpose of damaging them. Spreading the slanderous words is no less of an evil thing to do. A healthy curiosity is one thing, but to continue spreading slanderous words… unless you eradicate the root cause, there won't be any results."
"I can feel that there's a story you want to tell us?"
"Really, I wonder what's so amusing about spreading messages to show contempt for someone. And I do not think there is any merit in what Sagawa-san or Shimoda-san did…" There was an actual story?!
"So you took care of them all…" Yuigahama said with a rather strained smile while looking at Yukinoshita with a glance that you would use on your father when he found your porn.
"In any case, a person who commits such a despicable deed undoubtedly deserves to be eradicated," Yukinoshita went on. "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth vengeance is my creed." At that sentence, I widened my eyes.
"Oh, we learned that it in world history today! That's from the Magna Carta, right?"
"It's Hammurabi's Code." I corrected Yuigahama. How could you confuse England with Babylonia?
"I'll look for the culprit. I believe all it will take for them to stop is for me to have a word with them. I'll leave everything that follows to your discretion. Or is that not to your liking?" Yukinoshita's tone didn't really leave room for arguing.
"…uh, that's fine," Hayama said resignedly.
Yukinoshita stared closely at the cell phone Yuigahama had placed on the desk. Then she put a hand on her chin in contemplation. "When did the messages start circulating?"
"Last weekend. Right, Yui?" Hayama answered, and Yuigahama nodded.
"So it suddenly started last week, I see." Yukinoshita mused. "Yuigahama-san, Hayama-kun, did something happen in class last week?"
"Nothing comes to mind…" said Hayama.
"Yeah…" said Yui. "It was just like normal."
The two of them said as they exchanged looks.
"I'll ask you just to be thorough, Hikigaya-kun," said Yukinoshita. "Did you notice anything?"
…
…
…
"Now that you say so…there was that workplace visit." A shoot in the dark.
"Huh? Really?" Hayama asked, confused.
Hayama turned his gaze towards Yuigahama. When he did, Yuigahama laughed sheepishly. "Er, you see, when you make a group for this kind of event, it affects your relationships afterwards. Some people take it really personally…"
Hayama and Yukinoshita looked at the slightly gloomy Yuigahama with puzzlement. Hayama had never been excluded and Yukinoshita had no interest in such things, so neither of them understood.
Think…more like remember. There were 4 men that time that this idiot came to the tennis court.
4..
4..
4.
"But you'll be going in groups of three for the upcoming workplace tour."
"Ah." I muttered in recognition. "Yuigahama-san, I didn't think you could think like that." I looked at Yuigahama with praising eyes.
"The way you say it annoys me!" She yelled while shooting me a glare.
"I don't get it…" Yukinoshita asked, with an analyzing look. "What did Yuigahama-san think?"
"She already knows who the culprit is." I answered as if it was obvious.
Hayama and Yukinoshita's look widened in surprise as they looked at Yuigahama. "E-EH, No!" She waved her hands while looking at them with apprehension. "Is just that I may have an idea of who did it!"
"Tell us." Yukinoshita asked.
A dejected expression formed in Yuigahama's face. "Mmm, well you see, basically, someone who's usually in the group is gonna get excluded, y'know? Only one person from a group of four is gonna get left out. And that person is gonna be super bitter about it." Her voice quivered with emotion.
Thinking about it in this case, it was probably so that they wouldn't get left out. In our class, Hayama was part of a group of four boys. Therefore, if they had to make a group of three, someone would miss out.
Not wanting that to happen, they had no choice but to kick someone out. That was probably what the culprit was thinking.
"…So there's no doubt the culprit is among the three of them."
As soon as Yukinoshita stated that conclusion, Hayama let out an outburst. "H-hang on a sec! I don't want to think the culprit is among them. And don't the texts say bad things about all three of them? It can't be one of them." He said with a strained smile.
"Don't be an idiot." I reproached him. "Everyone is guilty until proven otherwise."
"Isn't 'Everyone is innocent until proven otherwise'?" Yukinoshita asked with a dubious look.
"It's obvious they did that so no one would suspect them. If it was me, I would've avoided slandering one of them centering the suspicion onto him or just badmouth a 4 person, putting all the blame on him."
"Hikki, that's really horrible…" said Yuigahama.
"Is logical thinking." I answered.
Hayama bit his lip in vexation while his fist was trembling. He had probably never imagined something like this before: that there was hatred right under his nose, or that dark emotions were swirling underneath the smiling veneer of those whom he trusted.
Fool. Relationships can't be only sunshine and rainbows. As a coin, they have two faces and if you can't accept that…
Then you're a hypocrite. Well…you're a hypocrite already.
I find it a pain to deal with that so I avoid to form relationships of any kind.
"For now, could you tell us what you know about those three?" Yukinoshita probed Hayama for information.
At that, Hayama looked up with resolve brimming on his face. His belief in his friends remained in his eyes. He probably held on to the lofty belief that he could clear up the suspicion that had been cast on his friends.
"Tobe's in the same soccer club as me. His bleached hair might make him look like a bad guy, but he's the best at getting everyone energized. He always gets involved at the school festival and the sports festival. A nice guy."
"An easily excited person whose only talent is making noise, I see," Yukinoshita declared.
Silence. Hayama was lost for words.
"Hm? What's wrong? Go on." Yukinoshita gave Hayama a strange look for falling into silence so suddenly.
Regaining his momentum, Hayama launched into his next character description.
"Yamato's in the rugby club. He's calm and good at listening. He's a chill guy who puts people at ease by not saying much, I guess? He's the silent, caring type. A nice guy."
"So not only is he slow, he's incapable of making his own decisions… right."
Incapable of mustering any words, Hayama scowled in silence, but then with a resigned sigh, he continued. "Ooka's in the baseball club. He's easy to get along with and he's always helping other people out. He's always polite and respectful to his elders and his juniors. A nice guy."
"An opportunist who worries about his reputation, then."
Hayama wasn't the only one who had been speechless this whole time.
I sighed. "We're here to help…" Ugh. "No need to crush the little guy's spirit, Yukinoshita-san." I admonished Yukinoshita, who looked back with a confused look.
"But isn't it the truth?" That look of 'I did something wrong?' isn't helping here.
"…well, yeah, but…"
"Hikki, you're doing the same…"
Hayama smiled at Yukinoshita with an expression that was angry and regretful and anxious all at once. Yukinoshita had her ways, but Hayama had his ways too. In the end, he could only see her words as trash-talking. He was a good guy, but his point of view differed too much from ours and he didn't want to rat out his friends.
Yukinoshita seemed to realize this too. "Hayama-kun's descriptions aren't much to go on… Yuigahama-san, Hikigaya-kun." She turned her inquisitive gaze on us. "What do you think of those boys?"
"Er, th-there's not much to say…" Yuigahama said, looking at the side.
"I don't really know those guys, you already know that." I said.
"Then could you look into them for me?" Yukinoshita said to Yuigahama. "The groups are being decided the day after tomorrow, correct? We have one day to figure it out."
"…um, okay." A slightly uncomfortable expression came upon Yuigahama's face.
I suppose for Yuigahama, who was trying to get along with everyone in her class, this wasn't an action she was inclined to undertake. You had to be exposed to the very people whose faults you were out to expose. It was a relatively risky action for someone who was part of the community.
Yukinoshita seemed to realize that too because she lowered her eyes gently.
"…sorry, it's not a terribly pleasant thing to do. Please put it out of mind." she insisted.
So there is a soul under all that ice, huh? Only true for Yuigahama, thought. She treats everyone else like trash, including me.
"I'll do it. I don't really care what my classmates think of me." I said, which caused Yukinoshita to glance at me.
She smiled thinly. "I'm not holding my breath."
Woman, please. If I can figure out serial killers who had evaded the police and Japan legal system, you think I would have problems with brainless jocks?
I nodded at her.
"H-hang on! I'll do it too! I-I just can't let Hikki handle it on his own!" Yuigahama insisted with a red face. The next instant, she clenched her fists. "And plus! There's no way I can turn down one of Yukinon's requests!"
"…I see," Yukinoshita answered shortly, looking away sharply. Whether because of the sunset glow or her embarrassment, the color rose on Yukinoshita's cheeks.
Hayama was watching the two girls with a bright, invigorating smile on his face.
"What a nice friendship." He remarked, with a longing smile.
"I guess…" I said, offhandedly. What's with this guy talking to me all of a sudden?
"You too, Hikigaya-kun!" He smiled at me.
"…"
.
.
.
I went to my home after that. I would like to pass time idly chatting with my coworkers about how our day was and stuff. (If you haven't noted, he is being sarcastic.)
"I'm home." I took off my shoes and walked to inside. Komachi must be at school and my parents must be at their jobs. Meaning that I'm alone.
Yay.
I slumped on the couch and turned on the TV. It's time to laze around!
Unsurprisingly, the news is the first thing that appears on the TV. I wonder if there's some kind of ethereal hand that makes me see the news.
"On the crime section: The police have found the body of Takanashi Rika, a 30-year-old woman on a dump yard, completely bandaged from feet to her head! The most macabrous detail is that her eyes were extracted like could this be another streak of the serial killer known as 'Blinding picker'?!"
'What the eyes don't see the heart doesn't grieve.'
I scratched my head with a bored look on my face.
She is the Blinding picker, reporter-san. God, where do the people get those names?
Takanashi Rika, a 30-year-old woman with an extreme persecution complex. When people looked at her, she immediately interpreted as if they were mocking her, insulting her, belittling her…
At some point, the stress accumulated got over her and killed a coworker in an anger fit. After that, she probably felt something when she looked at the empty black space where her coworker's eyes were before because she keeps doing it.
Killing.
She only killed three people until, *cough*, she suffered an accident.
I will just say that it was painfully easy.
"There are also the series of assaults done to people on…" Hm?
"2 students have been bashed in the head in the span of 2 weeks. Fortunately, they have only come with non-lethal injuries but their descriptions about the perpetrator are amazing: a figure wearing a dark cloak and a crow mask while brandishing what it seems was a bandaged hammer was the one who attacked them."
Huh… I may look into this but I already committed a crime a few days ago. I'll wait for a while if the police don't catch him before that.
Either way is fine,
After all, people like them plague this society full of lies. Finding someone else is rather easier that you think, you just need to pick the signs that they give and woala!
You've found your next pray.
.
.
.
The next day in class, Yuigahama was all fired up.
Instead of going to her usual place at recess, Yuigahama held out some bread and a canned drink for me. Together, we started our elaborate strategy meeting.
"I'll ask around for now… s-so you don't have to push yourself, Hikki. In fact, you don't have to do anything at all."
"Oh, cool. Much appreciated. What's got you so motivated…?" I asked. She wasn't taking any half-measures.
"Th-this and that, you know? 'C-cos Yukinon asked me, yeah!"
Her devotion to Yukinoshita was rather touching. "It's good to be motivated, but what are you actually going to do?"
"Hmm, I'm gonna try listening in on the girl's talk. When it comes to stuff like the relationships in class, the girls go way more in-depth. And they get really into it when you bring up someone you both dislike."
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, basically?" I inquired. "I have heard legends about this but females are fearsome creatures, aren't they?"
"It's nothing evil like that! It's just complaining - or more like exchanging information?" She yelled first and then asked.
"Hm." I replied, apathetically.
"Anyway! You suck at that stuff, Hikki. Just let me do it."
"Yeah, you're right… sorry. I'll leave it to you." I said while inclining my head. "Good luck, I guess."
"Mmm! Yep!" Yuigahama declared with fighting spirit, before approaching the girls that were friendly with Hayama's group. She walked up to the blonde's group. "Sorry I took so long!"
"Oh, Yui. What kept you so long?" Miura, the leader of the group, answered lazily. Was it my imagination or was she gazing at me before?
Nah. Probably my imagination.
"Hey, ya know, Tobecchi, Ooka-kun, and Yamato-kun have been so weird lately. They've been kinda all like, you know. I mean-"
Never mind her, she's already done before it even begun. You need to dance around the subject and direct the information flow to the desired topic.
Even I, who only speaks with less than five people, know about that Yuigahama.
So in the end, it was up to me to do it.
But that said, mingling with my classmates and asking around was out of the question for me. So what should I do to get information from people?
Just watch.
That's all.
Hayama and the others were hanging on the window seat. Hayama was leaning against the wall, surrounded by an orange minion, tall minion, and short minion.
"Yo, man. Our coach started hitting stray balls to the rugby club! Not good! And they were hard balls too!"
"…yeah, our club advisor flipped his shit."
"What a pain in the ass! Y'know, the rugby team is still good. Our soccer team sucks. Maaan, it's bad. It's really bad when the ball flies out in the outfield. It's fast and furious!"
The usual stuff that they talk about. How do I know the usual stuff?
The fuckers can't keep their voice at a normal volume.
"'Scuse me, sorry," Hayama said as he left his seat and looked in my direction.
"Oh, I was just wondering if you figured something out." He asked with a polite smile.
I ignored him and looked at the state of his group when he left. The three of them were playing with their phones listlessly. And occasionally, they would all glance in Hayama's direction.
I sighed.
"Did something happen?" Hayama asked, puzzled.
I looked at him with an even look. "Nothing. It's just that everything was as I thought it was."
"Huh?"
.
.
.
The people who gathered in the clubroom after school were Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and me. Oh, and Hayama too.
"What did you find?" Yukinoshita pressed Yuigahama and me for our information report.
Yuigahama laughed sheepishly. "Sorry! I asked the girls if they knew anything, but I got zilch!" she apologized meekly.
Yukinoshita lowered her head and peered down directly at Yuigahama. But she did not seem particularly mad. "Is that so? In that case, I don't mind."
"On the contrary, today you found out that the girls had no interest and were not related. That makes it purely a problem concerning Hayama-kun's group. Yuigahama-san, you did well."
"Y-Yukinon…" Yuigahama's eyes clouded over with emotion.
Yukinoshita neatly dodged Yuigahama's hug. Yuigahama's forehead hit the wall with a thump and her eyes welled up with tears.
Astonished, Yukinoshita nursed Yuigahama's forehead. At the same time, she looked at me. "So, what about you?"
"I found a solution for Hayama-san's predicament." I replied with a knowing smile.
Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, and Hayama all leaned forward. Doubtful eyes, expectant eyes, interested eyes - as I received their gazes, in turn, I let out a single cough. As if on cue, Yukinoshita asked "Really?"
"That group is Hayama's group."
"Huh? Aren't you stating the obvious?" Yuigahama said vehemently as if I was an idiot.
"Uhh… Hikigaya-kun, what do you mean?" Hayama asked, confused.
"I phrased it wrong." I looked at him. "I meant 'Hayama's' in the possessive sense. In other words, the group belongs to Hayama and exists for his sake."
"Nah, I don't really think it's like that…" Hayama said, but that was only because of his lack of self-awareness.
"Of course not. It only shows when the person who carries the conversation, you, is absent." I explained. "Those three stop getting along at all as soon as it's just the three of them. To put it simply, they all like Hayama as their 'friend', but the others are 'friends of their friend'."
Hayama merely went quiet, as if reflecting on my words. But this was one thing
Hayama couldn't fix. To him, they really were his friends. But that relationship didn't extend between all three of them - they just had to make do with each other.
Being someone's friend meant bending over backwards for them.
Hayama was currently stuck in that quagmire. He was surrounded by friends, but on the other hand, you could say he was trapped by them. Running away wasn't an option either.
"Assuming you're correct, Hikigaya-kun, their motives only become stronger." Yukinoshita put a hand on her chin in contemplation. "Perhaps there's no way to determine who did it out of those three. The situation can't be controlled unless the culprit is removed. All the more reason to suspect those three…"
"You're wrong." I cut her off with a raised voice, making her flinch.
What I said to you since I entered this crooked club went out from the window? I thought exasperatedly. Seriously woman…think a little.
"Rather than get rid of the culprit, let's get rid of the problem." I proposed. "Let's get rid of Hayama-san."
"U-Uh?!"
.
.
.
In the classroom, the names of all the classmates were listed on the blackboard. Each grouping consisted of three names, and they were written down to indicate the groups for the workplace tour. The three girls sitting next to me giggled and smiled at each other as they went up to the blackboard and began writing down their own names, having promised each other beforehand.
As for me, I was sitting on my desk while playing with my phone. That's how I deal with these situations.
I was waiting for the winds of fortune to shift and for the homeroom teacher to say, "Yes, yes, I know you all hate Hikigaya-kun, but it's not good to leave him out! Not good!"
Ah…beautiful memories.
Anyway, as the saying "Good things come to those who wait" goes, all a loner has to do is wait around half-asleep the whole time until two classmates who can't find a third person resorts to calling out your name. And that's how our happy little group gets formed!
Of course, there is also the factor that they don't know my name, as previously stated…
"Morning, Hikigaya-kun!" I heard someone call my surname. That's fast, I tell you, thought, they usually ask for my name first, as they don't have any clue about it.
I raised my head to look at a silver haired boy with a feminine face, wearing the gym uniform.
"…Totsuka-san?"
"What's up?" I asked. Totsuka held onto the sleeves of his gym clothes tightly and gazed at me with upturned eyes. "A-about the group formations…" he began hesitantly.
"Mm?" Oh, yeah.
The majority of groups had been picked, so it was about time for us loners to make an appearance. There were difficulties even in groupings among loners, and if I made a late start, I'd end up being forced to group with two people who got along well. It was time to look for the losers by checking the names on the blackboard.
As I watched them, I heard a sudden voice. "Can I sit here?"
Without waiting for my reply, he sat down next to Totsuka. At the sudden appearance of an unexpected newcomer, Totsuka threw an anxious look in my direction and muttered, "Er, uhhh…" It was super cute.
And boy, that was wrong. It's amazing how he makes me question the veracity of my sexual orientation.
"Thanks to you, we settled things peacefully. Thanks, man." The newcomer smiled cheerfully. It was Hayama Hayato.
"I did nothing." I replied with a disinterested look. So why the hell was this guy talking to me like he knew me from years?
"Give yourself some credit. If you hadn't said what you did, they might still be fighting." Or so, he claimed.
But in truth I didn't do anything. Heck, less than nothing.
"I've always wanted everyone to get along, but I see now that I cause conflict too…" Hayama muttered with a lonely.
I thought…
How can he be so naïve?
No…is not that. He sees and knows but decides to feign ignorance.
Well, no matter how pointless is that, I'm not going to meddle.
Is not my problem.
"Those three were surprised when I said I wouldn't get in a group with them. I think it'd be nice if this could motivate them into becoming real friends."
"You really think that?" I answered while reading my novel.
"Thanks. Oh, and you know, I haven't decided on a group yet, so how about we go together?" Smiling, Hayama held out his right hand in front of me.
"No, thanks." I rolled my eyes.
"E-Eh?!"
"Don't misunderstand me, is not that I wouldn't like to group with you, but…" Yeah, I think is exactly that thing.
You kind of disgust me…
"H-Hikigaya-kun?" I heard Totsuka ask beside me. "What about me?"
"Huh?" I blinked. "I thought you'd already decided." I thought it was obvious.
Totsuka may be on the tennis club but he is also fairly popular on the class, if what Yuigahama told was true, so he shouldn't have any difficulties on finding a group.
Why me?
"I mean…" He looked hesitant. He then braced himself and clung to my cuff of my blazer tightly. "I decided to go with you from the beginning, Hachiman."
I blinked again at his gest. I was probably with my eyes widened at the sudden physic contact, his upturned eyes with a slightly worried expression was…
"Fine." I replied, absentmindedly. I stood up, gently shaking Totsuka off my cuff. "Let's talk about where we are going later."
I had to get out of here. N-Not because I was being shy, no sir!
Totsuka was just a mass bomb of destruction. The moe wave penetrated my entrails.
As I was opening the door, I didn't look to the person in front of me and crashed into…
Her.
Yeah, I mean, men don't have two soft pillows like her. For the record, he felt them when she crashed into my chest, not because I touched them.
This isn't To-Love-ru!
Anyway, I was looking at the girl that was sitting on the floor. She had blue-ish hair, purple eyes and I noted that there was a beauty spot under her right eye.
I also smelt the faint essence of tobacco the micro-second we were glued.
The current girl was glaring at me with venom. It I had to classify her glare between all the glares I have been subject to…
I would say that it was between the cold Yukinoshita and the angry Hiratsuka. Also, for some reason, she felt quite familiar.
I shake those thoughts out of my head. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked the girl while extending my hand.
'Always be courteous to women!' My mother said with a smile. 'Or be prepared to eat shit from your ass!'
Yup.
The girl reluctantly took my hand, her glare softening a little.
Just a little.
"Watch where yer going." She reproached me in an aloof manner. Um…my brain bells are still ringing in recognition. Who is she?
I was about to ask her if I have met her before but scrapped the thought out of my mind. "I will." I made a slight bow and retreated.
Not point in picking a fight as I was the one who was at fault. And also, is such a pain.
Also, I was pretty grateful for the sight of black lace. Yeah, it was visible while she was sitting on the ground.
I will treasure this moment for the rest of my life!
.
.
.
I was in my room. Surprisingly, Kamakura-sama decided that I was worthy of being on his presence so he was sleeping in my room.
Shocking, I know.
Anyway, I was reuniting some data about that crow guy that appeared on television.
It wasn't really someone that I would kill.
Something that his targets have in common was that they were school delinquents or at least exhibiting delinquent behavior.
At least, according to their appearance on TV and some testimony from the witness. I think he was either a new vigilante or a really fed up idiot.
There was a very thin layer of difference between them.
A vigilante would at least have some respect for civil lives who are unrelated to the matter. At least, some of them.
A really fed up idiot was what the name says. They would go around bashing heads or something along those lines for their own desires. Whatever an innocent person gets in the way is no difference to them.
Welp, is not like I have a say in this matter.
This guy was just too stupid. The police would catch him in no time, even I think that they weren't that incompetent.
Maybe… I could take a little vacation. Focus my energy on finding the girl that put me in a spot a month ago, just to cut loose ends.
And…
He closed his eyes, trying to remember.
…
…
…
It wasn't of any use.
The only things I could remember was the strong smell of blood penetrating my nostrils, the deafening screams that makes my ears hurt, and my body going numb in total darkness.
I blocked that incident from my memory. All of these years, that was the only thing that I could remember.
I was expecting that something surfed from that while killing people. Thinking that the smell of blood would stimulate my brain.
But nothing.
I gave up…for today.
Closing my eyes, little by little, I went to the realm of dreams, hoping that I will find some kind of answer inside it.
Or at least dream something pleasant. Anything.
.
.
.
The man arrived at his house, breathing raggedly and sweating profusely…
Under the crow mask.
He takes it off, revealing a middle-aged man who collapsed on the couch, gritting his teeth in anger.
Only to smile afterwards. A big, pointy smile comes across his face.
"Ahaha…" He laughed quietly. "I did it again!" He said with pride.
"I have defeated another one!" His look was vacant. Vacant of any light.
"They are getting my message! They are afraid of me! They respect me!" He chanted repeatedly. He was laughing maniacally.
A bloodied hammer could be seen beside the couch and a black cloak was covering his body.
It was then when his phone ringed. He flinched at the sudden noise, taking his phone on his ear.
Only to remember at the next second that the ring was for messages. He opened his mail to see a message in his inbox.
"W-what is this?" He opened the message…
'The evangelist of murderers: Killer Killer.' Was written in the subject space.
"W-What is this?!" He exclaimed, a little loudly.
A serial killer that only kills other killers.
A vigilante that watches Chiba in the search for criminals that escapes the law's grasp.
Already punished 34 criminals in the span of three years.
"T-This…!" the man exclaimed.
Before, his eyes were a black canvas, a pit of emptiness.
But now, they were lighted with awe, admiration…and purpose.
He went to his computer to research more about the subject…and was fascinated. There was someone out there too…
Someone that took out the trash of society.
Someone like him.
.
.
.
Society is unaware of plenty of secrets.
You could blame the government's control over the mass media of broadcasting whatever they want, or at least, what the paranoids say.
But truthfully, they are just easy manipulated. People are ignorant because they want to.
Like innocent lambs, their attention has to be caught by something interesting.
People, individually, have a self. Capable of expression their selves with absolute autonomy.
But put them in the vast sea known as mass and they'll become another faceless being without self-awareness, will or mind.
Puppets.
The old government took advantage of that and manipulated the masses with television, radio, newspaper.
Keep them under control with controlled information that they released.
But in modern society, that's not a reality anymore.
With the internet, everyone has the opportunity to learn.
With a tool like that, everyone could access information, post information, exchange information.
Broadcast information.
Blogs.
Chatrooms.
Chain mails.
That people wanted that knowledge, is entirely another case.
This day, on the area of Chiba, many phones ringed, vibrated and notified…
"You got mail~"
As they looked into their cellphones, a range of emotions could be gauged from its viewers: Suspicion, Curiosity, Indifference, Confusion and much more…
We could use God as an example here.
Not everyone believes in his existence but is ingrained in their minds that there is something above them…
People may not believe in it immediately or not believe at all but there will be the lingering doubt about his existence…
The existence of a Serial Killer on Chiba.
A serial killer who only kills other killers.
The evangelist of murders…
Killer Killer.
Not too much action this week, just that 8man becomes famous around Chiba. How will he take it?
As always, your criticism is my way to improve so don't hold back.
PD: I like writing the killer word!
PDD: You know, it would be awesome if someone could do an Oregairu x Abnormal Kei-Joshi crossover. That would be nice…