Chapter 4:

Judging from the deep orange tint in the sky, darkness was approaching. Luckily I was almost home, so it didn't both me too much. In fact it's something that wouldn't really have registered with me normally, but I'm desperate for any distraction I can find.

As I looked out at the sun, its outline became blurred and then fizzled into the ground. It seemed like a good metaphor for the day actually. When I woke up the sun was glaring directly into my eyes. The light immediately gave me a killer headache. It felt as though it was the first challenge of my day. "Go back to bed Hikigaya, you can't possibly withstand today if you can't even handle me." As its light disappeared across the horizon however, I felt the passions of the day likewise fade and sizzle out. After all, I'd managed to talk to just about everyone who mattered on the subject. I'd gone out and conquered the demons instead of running away. Somehow it felt like an accomplishment to even still be standing. Looks like I win, eh sun? Come back tomorrow if you want to try again.

Now I just to get my act together and make myself look presentable. Easier said than done however.

I rounded a corner and saw my house down the street. So close to my sanctuary, and yet it wasn't really sanctuary today. It was just where I'd go to get a checkpoint and new equipment for my next battle. Just saying that made me feel pretty worn out.

No, bad Hachiman. You have to try today. Remember that there are no checkpoints, every hurdle you encounter has to be dealt with individually. There are no re-dos unfortunately. I suppose it wouldn't really be any fun if I could just keep replaying a section until I got it perfect. Now that I think of it, I'd probably die of boredom retrying some of the harder sections. Though, I would like some retries, maybe not infinite however.

As inane thoughts crowded my head, I put my bike away and strode towards to door. Upon entering I was greeted with an unexpected barrage of noise.

"Oniiiiiii-chan!"

Oh, and what exactly was this? Not that I was opposed to a little sister showing her brother due deference, but I was certainly not used to it. This little sister of mine gets away with far too much disrespect now that I'm thinking of it.

"Yo."

"Onii-chan is it true!? Do you really have a date tonight?"

Oi. How is it possible that she knows? There's only one explanation for this. Yuigahama, you traitor! I can't believe that she was so quick to tell Komachi about this. Actually, that's not surprising at all if I think about it. Yuigahama knows I probably wouldn't tell Komachi about this right away. It's not as though I don't want her to know, but I am a little worried that she'll get her hopes up too high. I don't want to disappoint my precious little sister. Now I'm under so much more pressure.

"Yeah" I sighed. "It's true alright."

"That's not how you're supposed to say it! You should be happier! Finally someone is making a move on my garbage Onii-chan! I'm so proud of you!"

Hey, come on now… some of that really cut deep you know.

She's right though, I need to try and stay positive. After all, someone actually asked me out. For it to be Orimoto of all people, there's almost a sense of karmic justice to it.

"So who was it Onii-chan? Yuigahama didn't tell me who after all. Give me some details!"

"Ah. Actually it was a girl named Orimoto Kaori."

Komachi went through a series of emotions very quickly. It started with confusion, her brows arced upward and she bit she lower lip, seemingly trying to remember where exactly she knew that name from. Judging from the way her jaw dropped, the second was pure and total shock. Quickly after she tilted her head down, her arms shaking. When she looked back up, she looked at me with confusion and… was that disappointment?

"Hey, Onii-chan. That wouldn't be the same Orimoto who hurt you so much in the past? It isn't, right? You're not going to let yourself get hurt again… are you?"

I'd say that I'm fairly resistant to being shocked by the world around me. Understanding the rotten core of humanity has lead me to accurately predict a great range of behaviors. In general, this means that I'm ready for things that most other don't see coming. Unfortunately it seems I was totally unprepared for scenes like the one in front of me.

My little sister's face, all scrunched up, seemingly about to burst into tears in just a moment. It was one of the most touching things I've ever seen. I know that we may argue and bicker at times, but it was this sort of moment that reminded me why family is so important. She wanted to protect me, to keep me from making the same mistakes again. She was perhaps the only one who had any idea how much Orimoto's rejection had hurt me in the past. She'd watched as it shifted who I was, into who am I.

Truly, I have an amazing little sister.

My first instinct was to try and shield her from the damage of an affirmative response. To make sure that she didn't have to worry about me any more than she already did. Such a heartwarming response on her part though has earned her the truth. Not that I'd really want to lie to her in the first place.

"Yes Komachi it is the same Orimoto. This time however, you don't need to worry. This time is different."

Strange, the conviction in voice was real. I really believed that this was going to turn out okay, and maybe even turn out well. I think that conviction convinced even my doubtful little sister. She relaxed her expression, and it morphed into a quizzical one.

"Why would it be different this time Onii-chan?

"Well for starters this time she asked me out."

Komachi considered this and gave a short nod. Indicating for me to continue, she stayed silent.

"Well… honestly, that's the only concrete fact that I have to go on. But there's something different this time, something good. I can't explain it in words, but I have this really good feeling. Besides, I've learned from the past and I won't repeat the same mistakes this time."

She nodded at me, her expression hard to read. In a strange way it reminded me a lot of how Yuigahama looked in the clubroom after I told her and Yukinoshita the news. It was a smile that didn't light up her face like it usually did. This being the second time I saw it, I think I understand it better now. She was happy for me, but there was real concern over how this would turn out. I got the sense that her concern was different from that Yuigahama's, but still directed towards me and my well-being. At the core of it, they were worried I'd go back to way that I was. I couldn't blame them, it was certainly something that had crossed my mind already.

"Well… if you say so Onii-chan. Now let's get you prepared! We have a lot of work to do before… wait when is your date again?"

"I need to be at the station by eight."

"Tonight!? Onii-chan, why didn't you tell me this sooner? We don't have nearly enough time!"

And just like that, I was bustled off to my room by my sister in a mad rush.

"Onii-chan, put this on! No, not that! Come on, I need your help if we're going to get this done in time! Noooo! You can't wear that undershirt, it doesn't go well at all with the shoes you're going to wear! Are you even trying garbage Onii-chan!?"

After a valiant struggle I found myself dressed in, what seemed to me, a horrifyingly bland and boring outfit. Komachi, surveying her work, however seemed to approve. She gave me the thumbs up.

"Alright, you actually look halfway decent Onii-chan! Oh that was worth a ton of Komachi points!"

"Saying that I look halfway decent, is just saying that I don't look ugly. Are you saying that I normally look ugly?"

"Well you don't really have any fashion sense Onii-chan…."

Oh, right in the heart. Komachi, I think you should consider joining the JSDF as a torturer. Your strong suit would be breaking the will of any enemies of the state. Actually, I feel like that's the sort of manga I might read. A cute little sister character who is also a torturer. On second thought, I can't see that sort of manga not being creepy. I take it back, I wouldn't read it. Well… I wouldn't tell anyone I was reading it.

"Gee, thanks for the confidence boost right before I go."

"Don't worry, if she liked you before she's gonna go nuts for you now!"

That's a weird smirk to have Komachi. I don't think I like where your thoughts are.

"Alright, I'm off. Wish me luck."

"GOOD LUCK ONII-CHAN!"

And so I trudged to the station, it's time for the final boss.

I found my smile falling off my face as Onii-chan left. What was he thinking? I remember what she did to him, so why can't he? There's something wrong here, I know it. No one can be so hurt, and then just let it go soon. I remember being so confused as to what was happening with him. I'm ashamed it even took me so long to remember who she was.

Onii-chan, something is wrong here. I don't know what her plan is, but I refuse to believe that anyone who would put him through all that could possibly be a good person. I know that they can't be. So even if he's blinded by old feelings I won't let myself be hoodwinked. Don't worry Onii-chan, Komachi will protect you.

I'm sorry Onii-chan, but understand that I'm doing what's best for you.

How much time before Hikigaya's … date? Ugh, the very concept of him going on a date fills me with a sort of existential dread. How confused must the poor Kaori girl be if Hikigaya is the one she's interested in? Especially since I doubt she's seen his, remarkably few, positive character traits.

BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Oh, and who might be texting me? I would assume it's Hikigaya to tell me that he's been canceled on. Don't worry Hikigaya, I won't tease you too mercilessly. I won't let you forget either though.

Yukinon, emergency! I just got a text from Komachi, apparently Kaori is REALLY bad news!

'Bad news'? And just how bad are we talking about Yuigahama? Given that I can actually read your message for once, I'll assume you're very serious about this.

Apparently Hikki already confessed to her in the past. Komachi says that she turned him down and broke his heart! She said that he changed after that. I asked for more info but she told me to ask him! T_T/ Yukinon, we have to stop her before she does something awful to him!

He... confessed to her? Of course, this is the final piece of the puzzle I was missing. I knew there was something fundamentally wrong with this situation. It must be that Hikigaya has been blinded by past feelings, and he's letting it cloud his usual rational judgment. How can we deal with this?

The best option would simply to be stop the date all together. We could confront them at the restaurant and drag him out by force. We could even cause a scene if necessary.

No, that's too similar a thought to what he would do. I won't stoop to that level to save him. I'm afraid of what he'd do after that as well. Would he hate us?

Stop. Don't think about that now, I can't get distracted.

The second choice would be to quietly shadow them, and to try and gather evidence as to exactly what she's planning. It would also us to console Hikigaya should something bad happen. That would be ideal actually, perhaps we might even change him for the better from all this.

I could picture the scene now. A despondent Hikigaya quietly weeping into my shoulder. My hand gently brushing his hair, soothing him. Him looking up into my eyes, reaching out to me. His desperation to have something, anything to hold onto. He wants me to be that something…

A blush slowly spread across my cheeks. What was I thinking? Hikigaya, my… whatever he was to me, needed me now. Yuigahama, my… friend, needed me now as well. I had to take action.

Yuigahama-san, don't worry I have a plan. Do you have the location of the date?

Little time passed before a response.

No she asked and said he didn't have a plan! She did get that they were meeting at 8 at the station.

Damn, this made things more difficult. Leave it to Hikigaya to not have an adequate plan in place for the date. For this Kaori girl to be perfectly fine with that left me even more suspicious. Why would she agree to a date with him, especially with no plan in mind?

That's fine, we'll need to meet at the train station at 7:55 then in order to make this work. Can you do that Yuigahama-san?

I didn't even have to wait for a response.

Yes! Don't worry Yukinon! ( 0_0 )

Good, looks like she's serious about this.

Desperately trying to chase the embarrassing thoughts from earlier out of my head, I finished my preparations in silence. I strode out the door, trying not to think of what it must have been like to be confessed to by that stupid boy.