As Expected He Was More Warped Than Most
Every living creature needed to 'eat' in order to survive. Be it as small as an amoeba or as large as a whale. Everything needs to eat. Unlike most creatures though, humans need to 'earn' their food. And that's exactly what he did. Hachiman placed the box he was holding down on top of a similar box and wiped the sweat off his brow.
"That's the last of em." he mutters to himself. Unbuttoning the first two buttons on his shirt and pulling it lightly he fanned air into his cloths to cool himself off.
"Good work today, Hachiman." he turned around to face the person that called out to him and nodded.
"You too, Takeshi-san." he says, buttoning his shirt back. "That should be all for today?"
"Yup. Just gotta load em in the trucks tomorrow and we'll be done with em." The man known as Takeshi nodded at Hachiman. His squinting eyes locked onto the younger man. Hachiman often wondered if he was actually able to see things like that. "You wanna tag along for dinner? My treat."
Hachiman thought about it for a second then nodded at the older man. "I will take you up on that offer Takeshi-san. Will Satoshi-san be joining us?"
"Satoshi went home already. You know how newlyweds are." Takeshi-san smirks at him knowing with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
A few minutes later the two men were in a late night diner. Placing their orders they waited for the food to arrive. Takeshi sighed, leaning back on his chair and stretched his arms. "Business has been great lately. At this rate I might actually be able to-ah sorry about that. I know you're plenty busy with your own problems at school."
Hachiman frowned visibly, noticing the man that took their order peeking at them from behind the counter. More specifically, at Takeshi. It wasn't everyday that you saw a Japanese man with such dark skin. "Takeshi-san, please don't talk about that. I would rather not have one of our co-workers find out about my other 'occupation' and ask questions."
"Yes of course. Sorry about that." Takeshi apologizes. "But really though, how are things going on over there? I hope you've come to terms with the president of this club you have joined."
"It has only been a day Takeshi-san. But yes, I did apologize to her like you told me to." Hachiman replied to his boss. "For some reason she has seemed to taken a liking to insulting me based on my looks. Which is rather boring to listen to considering they have already gotten stale and predictable."
"Is that so? Well, maybe you could use this as a practice for tolerating the egoistical types. Or maybe you can try to make friends with her. Maybe she's just a Tsundere?" Takeshi shrugged.
"Tsunderes don't work in real life. At most they would be considered a person with borderline personality disorder." Hachiman perked up a little when he noticed their food on the way. "From what I've seen so far, she fits into the rich girl archetype rather well but that could just be due to being an actual rich girl... How are you even aware of these anime tropes?"
"Heh. When you have nine younger siblings you're pretty much forced to watch anime with one or two of them almost every other day of the week." Takeshis' smile fades for a second. "I certainly hope this doesn't affect their future though. At least Goro grew out of it pretty quickly." Hachiman didn't disturb as his boss reminisced for a moment. "Wait, your club president is a rich girl? Who?"
"Yukinoshita..." Hachiman breaks his chopsticks in two. "Come to think of it, I don't believe she had actually introduced herself to me yet."
"Yukinoshita? Must be someone related to Yukinoshita Constructions. Heh, Small world." Takeshi chuckled while breaking his own chopsticks in two. Hachiman did so as well. Their chopsticks landed on their meals.
"Itadakimasu."/"Itadakimasu."
Kotomine Hachiman was tired. And frankly all he wanted to do right now was sleep. Even a few precious minutes would have been okay. But here he was, stuck inside the Teacher's office again with Hiratsuka sitting in front of him with an expected stare.
"Sensei. I understand that you're desperately seeking male attention but please don't involve me in your problems without a good reason." he spoke with no hesitation. He watches as her face forms a sneer and was thankful for the camera present on the far corner of the room.
"That's not what I called you here for brat." she looks annoyed at him. "I just wanted to talk a little."
Hachiman didn't say anything so Hiratsuka continued.
"What do you think of Yukinoshita?" she asks him and waited for his response as he seemed to think for a second.
"What is there to think? She's always egoistical and rude. The only redeeming quality of her would be that she's smart. But you've known her longer than I have, so you no doubt already know this." Hachiman answered. But judging by the look on her face she seemed... disappointed in his reply? What was she expecting?
"Hachiman... Those that are gifted in certain areas are often in the receiving end of scorn from others. Yukinoshita would be one of those gifted people. You've seen how beautiful and smart she is and that is not a good combination at her age. She may not admit it but she does wish for the company of others, regardless of what her words and actions may imply. All I'm saying is that you shouldn't let your first impression of her be your final judgement of her character. Cut her some slack is all I'm asking." Hiratsuka closed her eyes with a small sigh.
The hypocrisy of that statement was not lost to him but he did not voice his opinion. "But why?"
Hiratsuka blinks at him in confusion. "What?"
"You say that she is the victim of unfortunate circumstances and tell me to cut her some slack But over these last two weeks sensei, I have yet to see her making even the slightest of 'kind' gestures towards me aside the occasional 'hello'. Even after I had apologized for the things I said to her two weeks ago when you dumped me in that club. Has it yet to occur to you that she herself is to blame for the views others have of her?" He saw Hiratsuka frown at him but continued anyway. "If people truly disliked her as much as you say then do you think her habit of insulting them would make them like her? One does not twist the knife in hopes of mending the wound sensei. The way I see it the only one to blame for her 'misfortune' is herself." Hachiman' gaze doesn't shift as Hiratsuka's face showed clear signs of disappointment.
"I... had hoped that these past to weeks would have changed you even if a little. Had the time you spent with Yukinoshita and Yuigahama not taught you empathy at all?" his stoic expression does not change the slightest. She sighs, her shoulder slumped as she looked at him once more. "I understand that it's a little hard for you to get along with her. But can you at least try for me?"
"Sensei..." he blinked. "You seem to have misinterpreted something. It's not that I 'don't get along' with Yukinoshita-san. That would mean I myself hate or at least dislike her. That is not the case. Simply put, I do not have any feelings toward her at all so. If she were to up and leave suddenly I would even bother asking why and where. As far as I am concerned, she is but a temporary person in my life. What I said to her that day may have been harsh but it has nothing to do with how I view her. I was only stating the obvious. If anything, it's Yukinoshita-san that seems to have a problem with me."
Hiratsuka's blank stare caught him by surprise. As did her sad little chuckle right after. Her downcast eyes made him raise an eyebrow at her. The woman must have really wanted them to 'get along.' "But if it means that much to you I shall try to 'get along' with her better... or at least as much as she permits."
Her expression changed as she looked up at him with hopeful eyes. The hope faded when she noticed his own was empty as usual. "You know... Sometimes I find it unsettling that you can say things like that with a straight face..." Someone calls her from behind and she gets up from her chair to meet the other teacher that called out to her. But as she did that, she did not notice the boys face as he looks down at the tiled floor.
"You are not the only one sensei." The words come out of his mouth in a hushed whisper. The lack of volume in them made it impossible for her to hear it. Not to mention she was too far away to hear him anyway.
A couple of minutes pass and he began to wonder if he should leave. At the last moment he hear her calling him. He looks up to see her with one of her hands stretched out to him. The palm opens to show... about seven hundred yen? He looks back at her to see her smiling at him. Another female teacher not far behind, giving Hiratsuka an odd look.
"Go and get me and Tanaka-sensei something to drink from the vending machine. If there's money left grab a drink for yourself." she told him as he takes the money from her. "Just remember to bring those here before lunch is over."
Without another word he exits the room. The walk to the vending machine was uneventful. As usual no one talked to him or even looked at him. And before he knew it he was choosing which drinks to buy. He decided to go with the two he usually saw his co-workers drink. Fortunately it turns out he had just about enough money for a drink for himself. For a second he wondered if he should just keep the money but Hiratsuka did tell him to grab one for himself. He looks around to view his options till a bright gold can caught his attention. The name of the drink was written in large English letters.
'MAX COFFEE?' he wondered for a second. He was still feeling just a tad bit sleepy after all. Maybe this would get rid of that tiredness. Putting in the coins and clicking the button for MAX COFFEE he pulled it out of the machine. He got up and went to his usual spot to have his lunch. He was a faster eater. Simply because he had no reason to eat slowly. There would be plenty of time for him to deliver the drinks for the two teachers before lunch ended.
*C-CRACK PSSSSSTH*
The can was opened and he took a sip. The sweet taste of the drink slid down his thro- wait...
He could literally feel his brain stop working for a second. Before going into overdrive as the realization set in.
'Sweet?...'
His eyes widens to an extent he had not felt them before. He brings the soft drink can to his eye level as he felt the flavor slowly fade from his mind. He took another sip and then another. Within seconds the entire can was empty. His stomach may protest now but he did not regret his actions even a little. If anything...
He felt the corners of his lips twitch slightly as it slowly curls upw-
"Kotomine-kun!"
He turns to see Yuigahama walk up to him with a smile on her face. She asks him what he was doing here and his only response was showing her his lunch bag and empty can of MAX COFFEE. He asked her what she was doing here seeing few ever really came to this part of the school. Even during lunch.
"I lost a bet against Yukinon. Loser had to buy a drink for the winner." Yuigahama gave him a cheeky smile then sat next to him. "She didn't want to at first but I outsmarted her! I was like 'its okay if you don't think you can beat me in rock-paper-scissors' then she got all fired up and hook line and stinker!"
"It's hook line and sinker, Yuigahama-san. How did you even manage to get into this school." Even Hachiman couldn't help but feel disappointed in Yukinoshita falling for such a childish and blatant taunt. 'I take back my previous statement of Yukinoshita-san being smart Hiratsuka-sensei.'
"Yuigahama-san! It's rare to see you here." before Yuigahama could say anything to Hachiman's statement a girl wearing a boys PE uniform. Short white hair and a face even Hachiman couldn't forget easily.
"Sai-chan! Hi!" Yuigahama jumped from her position next to him to greet the newcomer. Kotomine just stared at the empty can he still held on his hand. Wondering how much it would cost if bought in bulk. His wallet would suffer for a while and lunch would be lighter than usual but it would be more than worth it.
"Kotomine-kun." 'Sai-chan' or Totsuka Saika as he knew her brings his attention back to her. "I was wondering if you were interested in joining the Tennis Club, since you're good at Tennis."
"He is?"
Kotomine wasn't sure what the girl in front of his was saying. He was sure that his form was pretty okay but that was about it. No one ever played with him and his usual PE partner had to play football because there was enough people on tennis during gym class. "I'm sorry but I am already in a club."
"Eh? W-Well, If you're already busy I guess there's nothing I can do about it." Totsuka looked sad at his rejection and Hachiman found himself finding the saddened visage of Totsuka a lot less preferable than the regular visage of Totsuka. Even though she was wearing the male PE uniform. Speaking of which.
"Can I ask you a question?" Totsuka looked surprised at his sudden attempt to start a conversation. "Why are you wearing the boys PE uniform?"
"That's because I'm/He's a boy, silly!" both Yuigahama and Totsuka answered. Hachiman blinked once as the godly drink in his hand fell from his grip before his brain stopped working again. This time though. It lasted more than a second.
Somehow his brain started working again but Hachiman still couldn't completely focus on anything else. His mind still couldn't completely wrap itself around the fact of a 'boy' looking more like a girl than most of the girls in their entire school. So... He's a boy that looks like a girl...? Like an... anime trap characters? 'But isn't that just an anime trope?'
"Kotomine-san." He hears Yukinoshita say his name. "Have you seen Yuigahama-san yet? She is usually here by now."
Ah yes. The only energetic girl in their little 'club'. Why she wanted to join this place willingly was beyond him. Among the two girls she was the only one that attempted to pull him into their conversation relentlessly. It took all his effort to finish his homework during club hours while responding to whatever it was that Yuigahama and Yukinoshita conversed of at that moment.
He shrugs at her without sparing a single glance at her. Yukinoshita for her part seemed rather dissatisfied with his response. "Hoh? Has the bare minimum human interaction you receive from others not given you the knowledge to use your words when responding to a question?" she intentionally avoided calling him any names lest her words get ignored.
"I see no reason to use my words for a question I have no answer to. However..." Hachiman checked his note and continued to write again. "However, if I were to question your manners as you did mine moments prior, I would ask if you had the knowledge required to properly introduce yourself. Seeing as how you still have yet to even tell me your name."
Caught by surprise, Yukinoshita opened her mouth to retort but quickly realized he was right. She most certainly did not properly introduced herself to him. Coughing into her left hand and suppressing the blush of embarrassment she moved till she stood in front of him on the opposite side of the table he had placed to use for his homework. "I apologize for my tardiness."
Hachiman closed his books, paying full attention to her now. His unwavering, expecting and emotionless gaze makes the young girl in front of him feel like a small child that feared being scolded by her mother. Yet she pushed on.
"I am Yukinoshita Yukino. Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." she gives him a small smile.
Hachiman watches her in silence for a couple of seconds and Yukinoshita couldn't help but wonder if she messed up somewhere in that introduction. That was until he nodded at her. He did not say anything in return to her introduction and on normal circumstances she would have certainly been offended at his lackluster response but a part of Yukinoshita couldn't help but feel happy for being acknowledged. She went back to her seat as if nothing happened and continued to read her novel while Kotomine went back to finishing his homework.
Seconds later though the Service Club door opens and enters two girls. Two girls? No wait. A girl and a Totsuka Saika... When did Totsuka Saika become a gender?
"Eh? Kotomine-kun? What are you doing here?" Totsuka looked surprised at his presence.
"This is the club that I told you about. I am a member here." was his reply. "And you would be here for?"
"The tennis club has lost a few members this year cause of the third year students quitting to focus on their studying and the others are too new to the sport or not motivated at all. Somehow I ended up being club captain before I knew it. Even though I'm not really that good at it myself. So if I were to get better, the others would be willing to..." Totsuka trailed off and even Hachiman felt the need to go and place a comforting hand on Totsuka's shoulder. Would that actually comfort Totsuka? Hachiman did not know even the slightest.
"So you're request is to become better at Tennis and improving your physical status correct?" Yukinoshita crossed her arms. "I suppose that does fall under the service club's category of work. Very well then, we accept your request."
'Now if only I can get them to change that stupid name.' Hachiman thought to himself. "And how do you intend to fulfill that request? Last I checked you can't even walk to this floor without needing to rest."
Yukinoshita shot him a cold glare that took both Yuigahama and Totsuka aback yet he remained without flinching. "My athletic prowess hold no relevance to the training regiment I have in store for Totsuka-san."
"As expected of Yukinon! To have already come up with a way to train Sai-chan!" Yuigahama chimed in to be included in their discussion.
"And what would that be?" Hachiman asked as he put away his homework that he managed to finish while the others were talking.
"Well for starters." Yukinoshita began. "Running laps around the track nonstop for thirty minutes. Then practice swings for thirty minutes-"
'I was wrong Sensei.' Hachiman thought while Yukinoshita continued. 'She is not smart at all. And calling her an idiot would be insulting to idiots.' Training nonstop without breaks would do more harm than good. He looked towards Totsuka and Yuigahama who also heard Yukinoshita's training regiment. And by the rate their bodies were losing color they might actually die in a few minutes. Totsuka looked terrified even!
"Don't mind her, she's rambling nonsense again." Hachiman told Totsuka. Yukinoshita shot him another glare which was promptly ignored.
The next day the group found themselves in the tennis court of the school after class. Hachiman yawned as he watched the girls help Totsuka train. His training consisted mostly of physically taxing exercises such running and riding a bicycle to improve his stamina. Kotomine even let them use his bicycle for it. Obtaining a steel stand to raise the rear tire so that it could be used as a makeshift indoor bike was a little hard but not impossible. And stretching every five minutes to avoid muscle cramps with resting in between.
"Breath through your mouth Totsuka-san." Yukinoshita told Totsuka. "Breathing through your nose will create additional tension in your face muscles, causing you to lose your stamina faster."
'So she is that kind of smart.' Hachiman thought, taking a sip of the sweet nectar known as MAX COFFEE. Unlike Yukinoshita, Yuigahama and Zaimokuza who had came for reasons he did not know yet, he refused to exert any physical effort for this. He needed to be in top condition for the ride to work then actually work. Also he didn't want to work if he didn't have to, not that anyone knew that. Also, was there a reason Yuigahama and Zaimokuza wore their PE uniforms?
"What are you here for again?" he asked the large boy sitting next to him.
"I managed to convince the gym teacher to let this count as gym class for myself." Zaimokuza answered him. Sweat poured down from his brows showing how much he 'exercised'.
'So he had the same idea as me.' Kotomine thought. Unfortunately since this was a club activity for the service club the gym teacher denied his request. It didn't help that Hiratsuka backed her fellow teacher up on it. That woman had a knack for making things more tiresome for him it seems. Nevertheless it only served as another reason as to why he was adamant enough to not work like the girls.
"Waaah! Look Hayato, they're playing tennis! Let's go join them!"
Hachiman ignored the high pitched voice and took another sip of his MAX COFFEE. Still wondering if he should just buy an entire carton to save some money because he was definitely going to be drinking this every other day or so. But can the mini fridge in his apartment actually hold that many soft drinks along with left over meals?
"Then how about a match? If we win we can stay here and help Totsuka too. And if we lose we will leave."
'... What?'
He looked up to see Yukinoshita glaring at a blond haired girl who returned the glare with a smirk. Another blonde boy was right beside her and a bunch of more people were behind them near the entrance to the tennis court. He couldn't help but wonder how much he was thinking about MAX to miss the development of this situation.
"What's wrong? Scared that you'll loose?" the new girl. Miura Yumiko if he remembered correct continued to smirk at Yukinoshita who still continued to glare at her. Knowing Yukinoshita she would instantly fall for this trap considering her prideful nature. And at this rate Hachiman could see himself getting roped into playing as well. Seeing Yukinoshita's lips part to accept the challenge Hachiman 'flung' into 'action'.
"Irregardless of your feelings on this matter." his sudden intervention in the situation caught everyone by surprise. Especially Zaimokuza who was sitting next to him. The poor boy almost fell down from the bench he shared with his comrade seconds ago. "It does not change the fact that we are here with explicit permission from the Tennis Club advisor and you are not. Therefore I have to ask you to leave before teachers assume we're slacking off and everyone gets in trouble for it."
"Hah? Who the hell are you to deny our challenge? We're already talking to your club president so you should like stay quiet." Miura makes what he assumed was an intimidating face but he was not affected even the slightest. Instead he walked towards the blonds.
"Being club president does not give her the power to break the rule. Nor does it make what I said incorrect. Leave this place so we may work in peace." Hachiman stands his ground. The blond boy whom he recognized as Hayama Hayato got in between the two with one hand raised at each of them.
"Now now. No need to bite each others heads off." he said with the same smile Hahiman always remembered seeing on his face. "Kotomine-san. Is there truly no way for us to play with your team? It's just going to be a friendly match."
"A friendly match does not have stakes Hayama-san." Hachiman's 'cold' answer made Hayama flinch slightly and put almost everyone on edge. No one noticed the eyes of one Yukinoshita Yukino widening slightly when she noticed Hayama flinching.
"W-Well Kotomine-kun isn't wrong. Why don't we go and get permission then come back tomorrow for a friendly match. Right Yumiko? Hayato?" one of the boys that was standing behind in the group of students suddenly came up. A strained smile on his face as he placed a hand on both Miura and Hayama's shoulders. He looked like he really wanted to leave as soon as possible. An odd boy, Kotomine remembered doing a project with him at the end of last year's classes, Tobe Kakeru would be his name. One of the many people in school that never seemed to be able to look at Hachiman straight in the eye. And something made Kotomine believe it was not due to his 'dead fish eyes'.
Hayama seeing his friend's distress decided to let the matter go. He knew he could easily handle an angry Miura Yumiko. "Yumiko. Why don't we go to that ice cream parlor again. Didn't you say you didn't get to taste-"
Hachiman stopped paying attention to them. It wasn't necessary. He returned to the bench he was sitting on. The atmosphere became tense for reasons he didn't understand but nothing Hachiman paid heed to as he began drinking his MAX COFFEE. "Yukinoshita-san..."
The person in question almost jumped when she heard him say her name. And turned her attention to Hachiman from Saika who had returned to riding on the makeshift indoor bike. Everyone returned to doing the thing they were before Hayama's clique came into the picture but they were paying attention to Kotomine and Yukinoshita.
"Being prideful of your abilities is fine for the most part..." Yukinoshita's breath was stuck in her throat. "But It does not remotely qualify as a reason for being petty and dragging others down with you. You'd do well to remember that."
Her name is Hiratsuka Shizuka, age 27, single. Currently she was laying down on the couch of her living room. Binge watching anime while slowly drinking beer. A ringing noise caught her attention as she picked up her phone and checked the caller ID. Grimacing she accepted the call and put the phone near her ear.
Then instantly pulled the phone away from her ear. The sheer volume coming from the other side made even though the phone was held away from her ear made her wince. But she shrugged it off and placed the phone near her ear again. "What do you want Haruno? It's late."
"What?" she raised an eyebrow even though she knew the caller couldn't see it. "What do you mean you found me a suitable boyfriend?... What do you mean you hit him with your car?!"
At this point she was standing up with an incredulous expression. Her shock fades and she sighs in relief. "Well, as long as he's alright I guess. What? You already dropped him off to his home? O...kay then? Why are you telling me this?" a twitch of her eyebrow. "Go bother one of your other friends or something. I'm too tired for this..."
She heard another whine from the other side before hanging up.
-Chapter End-
HachimanxMAXCOFFEE FTW? Anyone? Just me?(If I remember right, there's actually an anime where soda cans turn into girls. Maybe someone out there can make a fanfiction using that as a reference for HachimanxMAXCOFFEE?) Oh well, If any of you wanted to know, Takeshi-san is pretty much Brock from Pokemon. Similarly, Satoshi-san is Ash Ketchum, also from Pokemon. They won't be making too many appearances so don't worry but they will have slight significance in Hachimans' life. On another note! Did anyone notice that Tobe does not have a character tag in this site? Even that friend of Orimoto Kaori in the "double date" episode has one! Poor Tobe. Press F to show your sympathy.
Changes from the original: Hachiman narrated as Hachiman instead of Kotomine like later chapters. And a couple of lines removed+added. Dialogue between Hiratsuka and Hachiman tweaked.