As Expected He Was More Warped Than Most
"Let us finish these before we continue." Hachiman reminded his fellow teens of the deserts(meal in his case) they had in front of them. They enjoyed their desserts while talking to each other of random things, Hachiman just listened in silence. Only pitching in when he his name was mentioned. His thought process was blank. The others seemed to be enjoying their desserts. Suddenly he felt as if he was being watched again. His eyes wondered around to find his supposed stalker again to no avail. Finally a thought crossed his mind. Was this stalker closer than he thought? Perhaps...
His head slightly turned to his left and... There!
A mop of short black hair. Her name was... Hikigaya Komachi...? Yes that was the same she introduced herself with. But why would she be...
Another thought crossed his mind, however he needed to be sure of this before jumping to conclusions. Keeping this in mind for later he kept eating his meal. The waitress returned when they were done and picked up the empty plates. He told the woman to bring him the bill, the woman replied in kind with a simple 'yes' and returned to the kitchen.
"So to recap. Kawasaki Saki has turned into a delinquent and you need our help to have her return to how she used to be." Yukinoshita reminds everyone of their objective. Everyone nods. Except one little girl who had a sullen expression on her face.
Hachiman discreetly poked the little girl next to him making her squeak slightly and give him a confused look. Pulling out something from his pants pocket he handed the object to her without looking at her. She took it without hesitation and examined the object.
It was a small plastic fish. A toy he 'won' a few days back from a candy he bought the other day, to see if sweets would give him the same feeling as a sip of MAX COFFEE. It didn't work unfortunately and the toy ended up staying in his pocket. Mostly because he forgot about it.
All of this was done under the table so no one saw or said anything. Hachiman paid attention to what they were saying... Wait, whats that about animal therapy?
"Are you even aware of what animal therapy is?" he questions Yukinoshita. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"Of course I am aware. Animal therapy is the usage of animals to help people cope from a variety of physical or mental traumas. Various animals are used for this." Yukinoshita finished with a smirk.
"Would you repeat that middle part." he tells her.
"What are you implying." this time Yukinoshita glared at him. She was certain of what she said to be correct and also certain that he heard her.
"Yukinoshita-san." Totsuka sensed the malice Yukinoshita was sending towards his classmate. "I believe what Hachiman is trying to say is that Kawasaki-san is not mentally nor physically hurt. If she was I don't think she would be coming to school at all."
Yukinoshita realized her error, albeit a little too late. She hid her embarrassment well enough though. "I-I see. However it is best to give it at least a try no? You never know, it might show us Kawasaki-san's soft side."
'This bonehead is the best student in our entire school. This country's future is screwed.' Hachiman never thought he would want to facepalm this badly."I fail to see how that would help us with this request. Or... anything for that matter. As it stands the best course of action would be to find the reasoning for Kawasaki Saki's recent actions and then find way to make sure that she no longer finds it justifying her actions."
"Oh! Like the chain mails?" Yuigahama perked up. "Find out why she does it then get rid of it? "
"Exactly."
"Then wouldn't it be better to just follow Nee-chan to where she goes till you find out what she does?" Taishi asked. Looking at the older teens for their reaction. Hachiman silently agreed with the younger teen as he nodded while the others only gave the two males a disapproving frown. Hachiman raised a confused eyebrow when Yukinoshita shot down the younger boys idea.
"Why not?" his was genuinely confused.
"That would be the same as stalking, Kotomine-san." Yukinoshita stated. "It's not exactly what one would call moral. Not to mention it is an invasion to privacy."
Everyone agreed with her, Hachiman saw her point and knew that by all accounts that she was right. Yet...
"Invasion of privacy? The fact that we are intruding on her personal life without her consent is an invasion of privacy in and of itself." she flinched, once again getting caught with a faulty suggestion. Hachiman turned to Taishi. "No offense to you kid. You maybe her brother but you have no right to involve yourself in her problems if she doesn't ask you to. Especially if you haven't even confronted her about it yourself."
Taishi's shoulders fell down dejectedly. Yuigahama frowned at Hachiman. This time though the person that replied to him was someone else entirely.
"You don't need permission to help if your loved ones are unhappy."
They all turned to Komachi who looked a little embarrassed with all the attention she was suddenly receiving. "I-I mean that not everyone will ask for help and that doesn't mean we shouldn't help them. Also its a persons job to look after their family! Yeah!"
'So its a family thing. No wonder I don't to understand it.' Hachiman thought to himself then sighed. "Fine. Then how do you propose we go about this? Slowly gain her trust then convince her to stop? A long term investment for a single client?"
"Hmm.." Yukinoshita realized that spending to long to help a single client would interfere with possible future clients."I suppose you are correct. Taishi-kun, You wouldn't happen to know what your sister does at those hours would you? Anything that would give us a-?"
A familiar rhythmic beeping interrupted her. Yukinoshita glared at Hachiman who stood up, excusing himself from the group.
"As I was saying." Yukinoshita said after rubbing the bridge of her nose. "Can you tell us anything about what she could be doing?"
Taishi closed his eyes, racking his brain for anything that would help in this situation. "Ah I remember now! I managed t get a glimpse of a text she got a while back. The sender was 'Angel' or something like that."
"Angel? Like a fairy?" Yuigahama asked.
"I don't think so Yuigahama-san." Yukinoshita turned to her friend. "Those kind of things only exist in books and myths."
"Then could it be that 'Angel' is actually a place instead?" Totsuka asks.
"That could be it. But what kind of place would call itself Angel?" Komachi asks.
"A brothel perhaps." Hachiman suddenly enters the scene making everyone jump. The teens flushed pink at what he implied. All traces of blood left Taishi's face as he looked like he was about to faint while Keika looked at him confused. Yukinoshita looked annoyed at him, probably because it reminded her of the first day they met.
"Ha-chan?" Keika tugs at his untucked shirt. He turns his head to meet her eyes. "What's a botel?"
Aside from her mispronunciation of the word Hachiman opened his mouth to reply to her. "A brothel is where men and sometimes wom-"
*SPLASH*
Hachiman stopped when he felt his shirt. Now wet, hanging onto the black t-shirt underneath which was also rapidly gaining moisture. His pants wasn't in much better condition either. He gave Totsuka a questioning look with a raised eyebrow. Totsuka only gave him a meek smile before jumping.
"Ah! Sorry Hachiman! My hands slipped!" Totsuka quickly apologized. Pulling out a towel quickly from his bag he started to wipe away whatever water he could from Hachiman's body. Once again caught off guard by the sudden physical contact Hachiman was trying hard to not take a step away from Totsuka. However...
'For a man he smells... surprisingly nice.' Hachiman was unnerved at his own thoughts. A slight twitch of his eyebrows later he took a step back from his classmate who apologized again.
"Sorry to say this, but something has come up. I'll have to take my leave now. Don't worry about the bill I already took care of it" Hachiman told them. "If you come up with an idea and need my help, just give me a call."
"K-Kotomine-kun, I don't have your number." Yuigahama stutters a little. Hachiman raised an eyebrow at her and she turned away from him. Her cheeks slightly pink.
"Didn't Yukinoshita share it to you?" Hachiman asks.
"It would be rude of me to give away your personal contact information without your permission." Yukinoshita said. Hachiman could only stare at her.
'This girl...' Hachiman wasn't sure how to feel about the situation now. Never actually being this irritated at someone, not even at those that had inflicted physical harm to him in the past. "Yet you see no problem to obtain my phone number without my permission."
Yukinoshita was not backing down. "I had gotten permission from Hiratsuka-sensei. If you have any problems with it I suggest you take it up with her."
"Duly noted." Hachiman does not mention that the older woman was not his guardian nor that he already firmly scolded her about it. He pulled out a pen and wrote down his number on the last napkin on their table. "There." He turned to leave.
"U-Um!" Hachiman stops, turning around to see Komachi who suddenly stood up. Taishi was confused as to why his classmate would suddenly stand up like that. "T-thank you for helping my friend. He really appreciates it Ko...tomine-san." Taishi, thinking that she was thanking Hachiman on his behalf also stood up and thanked Hachiman. Hachiman said nothing and simply nodded.
"Bye Ha-chan!" Keika waved goodbye to him with a smile. Totsuka and Yuigahama does the same. With that he left the family restaurant.
Hachiman kept looking forward. The strength of the wind that was hitting against him when his pedaling stopped. The tires of his bicycle slowly lost momentum as they no longer received power from the crank. He dismounted from the two wheeled vehicle and walked the rest of the way to the bike rack in his apartments premises. Locking it in didn't take too long. He looked around for the person that he was supposed to meet in front of his house. But no one was around.
"Might as well go inside and lay down for a bit." he mused. Back pain had a tendency to creep up on him when he least expect it. But considered his occupation it wasn't much of a surprised. Pulling out the keys from his pocket he inserts it in his door and unlocked the lock. A sudden weight was added on his back, the scent of cherry invades his nostrils. Something... soft... was on pressing onto his back. Softer than the arms wrapped around his torso. His eyes widen slightly as he stands frozen stiff, his right hand still holding onto the doorknob to his apartment.
"Hachimaaan-kuuuun! You're finally back!" was the cry of a familiar cheery voice. Yet... something felt different.
"Haruno-san. What are you doing?" he manages to ask the woman still clinging onto him.
"Hugging you~" she says, he tries to choose his next words carefully.
"So... I see... But why?" the door opens. The short, empty hallway greets them in silence. A familiar silence that both were used to but never complained of.
"No reason." she said, letting go of him. She noticed the darker shaded bits of his clothing "Why is your pants wet though?"
"An accident." a mischievous grin spreads across her face when he said that and even though he didn't see her face he added. "Not that kind of accident." they enter his apartment together. Standing side by side while taking off their outdoor shoes. He noticed something in her hands. Is that-?
"Is that beer?" he asks. She nodded. They both took off their shoes. She finally commented on the bag in his own hand.
"You're a student?" she asked him. He nodded before going deeper into the apartment. She followed, due to the untucked white shirt guessed he was a college student. High school students had a mandatory blazer with the school logo on it. "You go to class in the morning and work all the way till midnight? Isn't that tiring?"
"It is. But if I don't work I don't eat. It's as simple as that." he replied nonchalantly. She makes an 'ah' sound in understanding.
"Parents don't help you with money?"
"Don't have any."
She stays silent after that. Processing his words and not moving for a couple of seconds then continued inside after him him.
"So why did you want to see me?" he asks her. "I was preoccupied with something when you called."
"I just wanted to have a drink with you." she said. Placing the cans of beer on his small table. "My usual drinking partner is busy around these hours and I was bored."
"I'd rather not drink at this hour myself." he admitted. He had drunk alcohol in the past. Drinking beer was a common thing among coworkers on certain occasions. Considering that he was of age according to his fake ID he had been taken to bars on said certain occasions. One of them being the new years party not too many months ago. He shakes his head lightly. Not wanting to remember that night. Or at least certain parts of it. The taste was not an issue and even though it helped a little with headaches and cold atmospheres it did not sit too well with his stomach the day afterward. That was why he didn't drink alcoholic drinks unless it was offered to him by someone else. He headed towards the bathroom to change into something more comfortable. But the thing Haruno said stopped him in his tracks.
"Please? It's not like you have work today." she whines. He slowly turns to her with a raised eyebrow.
"And how do you know that?" he asked her. She grinned at him.
"Turns out the shipping company you work at is often hired to ship materials around the country by my family's company, Yukinoshita Constructions." she explained. "I so happen to find Kesseki Takeshi's number on our business log and asked him for your work schedule."
Hachiman slowly nodded as his lips parted. "Well... That's rather..." he wasn't even sure what to say to that. Haruno waited for Hachiman to continue. This was the moment where Haruno would decide if there was more to Hachiman than what met the eye. "... Persistent of you. " Haruno's brows quirked. She sensed no fear or unease from that statement. Nor from his expression.
With Hachiman gone Haruno took another look at Hachimans apartment. Compared to her own 3LDK apartment in the city this was far less impressive with its single dining room that was connected to the kitchen. No noticeable bedrooms meaning the 'dining' room doubled as a bedroom and a single closet.
"Don't have any."
Those three words resonated in her mind as she ponders how an orphan managed to obtain a job, college and an apartment by himself. She had to admit that she was a little impressed. Even for her such a thing would become taxing over time.
'It all makes sense now.' she thought. Believing his personality to be tied to his life as man struggling just to get by. Yet something was amiss. There was something else to him but she couldn't see it. His reply to her earlier stalkerish statement made her sure of it. '... How intriguing.' She couldn't remember being this 'interested' in anyone before.
A couple of hours later it was almost seven PM. Neither brought up Hachiman's past again. For now Haruno fiddled on her phone while Hachiman watched anime on his TV with a can of beer near them both. She was rather insistent on it and he eventually gave in, a single beer can shouldn't be enough to get him drunk anyway. He glanced over at the woman on the other side of the table and decided to let his mouth ask the question in his mind. "Haruno-san."
"What is the real reason you came here today." he asked, normally they would meet up randomly while he was going home from work. Today would be the first time she had actually contacted him through a cellphone and ask him to meet up in front of his own home. She stopped what she was doing and met his questioning gaze. They stared at the other for seconds in silence. Then she turned her head away with a soft sigh.
"Hachiman-kun. Someone very close to me has accused me of doing something horrible." she frowns. A face Hachiman never saw on her. It was odd to see, the ever smirking Haruno making a face like that. There was also something else that he could not quite identify but he let it go for now.
"Did you do it?" he asks.
"Nope." she shakes her head. "I can see why she would think I did though, after all I did cause her quite a lot of trouble when we were younger."
'So she is talking about her sister.' He wondered what Yukinoshita would accuse Haruno of. Something cruel... Didn't Zaimokuza say the exact same thing today? Thinking back now, what could have Zaimokuza of all people do that would be cruel? Could it be... the chain mails? no that can't be, right? It was a thought for later.
"I see. And that relates to you coming here how exactly?" a coy smile on her face.
"I wanted you to cheer me up!" a million watt smile. Again something was missing. Hachiman looks around then uses his left index finger to point at himself.
"Me? Of all the people you know you wanted me to cheer you up?" he asks, something unfamiliar built up in his chest. He recognized this feeling. The feeling of hope.
"Of course! You're the most interesting person I know!" she states as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. That unfamiliar feeling disappeared without a trace.
"Ah"
Haruno left not long after that. Only one person would be having dinner in this room tonight. Left to his devices Hachiman entertained the thought of having dinner early and going to bed early. There was nothing else to do today. All of a sudden his phone rang and he raised an eyebrow and said. "Three phone calls in one day. That's rare."
Taking a better look at the screen he raised an eyebrow before he pressed the accept button. "Hello Yukinoshita-san."
"...Is that so?... I see... What is this place called?... Now? At this hour?" it was half passed eight. Not too late but still not a time he would want to be outside without a good reason. He sighed "Understood. I'll be there in an ho-." He was interrupted by Yukinoshita who told him to wear 'proper' attire. He wasn't fully sure what that meant. Regular outing cloths or a tuxedo with tie and everything? He didn't have a suit of his own, nor a tie. But there was someone he knew that did. He searched though the Names list in his phone
"Oooh hey Hachiman! What's up, kiddo?" the person on the other side chirped.
"Satoshi-san. I need a 'proper attire'..."
The conversation that came afterwards was one he would remember for a long time. He rarely asked anyone for anything. So it was awkward for him to explain why he needed said 'proper attire'. But he managed to get a tailors address from the older man. Where he would be able to rent a tuxedo.
"Good luck, kid." a chuckle from the other end. Oh yes, the older man also got the impression that he was going on a date for some reason. He knew he should have been feeling bad for asking Satoshi for this, considering that Hachiman was not able to make it to Satoshi's wedding due to being sick, but he didn't. A wedding where he was undoubtedly supposed to wear a tuxedo. He thanked Satoshi then hung up.
The tailors shop was in the populated area. And fortunately it wasn't too far from 'Royal Okura Hotel'. Where Kawasaki Saki supposedly spent entire nights doing who knows what. He stood outside a tall building that had a large neon sign of the words "Royal Okura Hotel' written on it.
"Where are those two.." his patience was wearing thin. He didn't come out here at this hour in order to stand and do nothing. Those days were past him. He ran his right palm through his hair making it face backwards. Then unbuttoned the first button on his shirt to breath better and straightened his back, getting caught as an underage teen at a place like this spelled trouble. Feeling a tap on his shoulder he turned to face Yuigahama and Yukinoshita. Both wearing dresses that brought out their beauty. "You're late."
"Kotomine-kun." Yuigahama's tone showed disappointment. "That's not how you should greet a lady."
Hachiman's eyes shift to look behind them but didn't notice the 'lady' Yuigahama mentioned.
"Let it be Yuigahama-san. Kotomine-san is preoccupied with trying to look like a Yakuza than remember proper etiquette. You're pulling it off rather well. Let us enter before the police come to take him away." said Yukinoshita. Always the one to make an unnecessary comment that provided nothing to the conversation.
"Kotomine-kun! Did you know? Yukinon had a lot of cloths like these in her house that she has all to herself. Isn't that amazing?" Yuigahama gushed. Yukinoshita hid her embarrassment under a mask of indifference.
"It's not as amazing as you think. I only happen to have opportunities to wear these types of clothing sometimes." Yukinoshita dismissed whatever they were thinking. And that it did. Although Hachiman wondered why someone like her would be living alone. Shouldn't Haruno also be living with her?
"Family circumstances? I see... Every family has them."
'So that is what she meant.' He said nothing and entered the building. The other two quickly followed. A few gazes were sent their way but none of the strangers said anything. The elevator was up ahead, right in front of them. The trio entered then Yukinoshita pressed the button with 24 on it.
"What is this 'Angel Ladder' supposed to be?" Hachiman asked, breaking the silence.
"According to the website I found online. It is a bar that serves a variety of alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks." Yukinoshita explained.
"Does Kawasaki-san work here or something?" Yuigahama asked.
"That would explain why she gets home so late at night." Hachiman answered. "But it's against school rules for students to work late night jobs." That was merely him stating the obvious. He didn't disapprove of her actions. Kawasaki Saki, despite Yukinoshita's label of 'delinquent' was actually pretty smart. Often scoring higher than him in tests. Surely she knew the dangers of working at late hours.
They elevator kept going up, at the 9th floor the elevator stopped and another person entered. An older woman. Appearing to be in her early thirties, wearing a dark blue dress that exposed a good portion of her assets. A generous bust that rivaled Yuigahama's and undoubtedly bleached red hair. The woman's eyes met Hachiman's for a moment as she entered. Hachimans fingers twitched slightly upon that. She smirked at him before noticing the two girls standing behind him. A lump on Hachimans made its presence known to him.
"Good evening." she says, turning around. Her back now facing the teens she pressed the button for the 21th floor. If her front showed only a little, her backside showed the rest that would be allowed to be seen in a public setting. Even from her current distance from him, he could easily smell her perfume.
'"...A-Ahh" Hachiman stutters a little. Yuigahama frowned and Yukinoshita rolled her eyes. One was not pleased while the other was not amused.
'Typical men.' Yukinoshita thought. The silence brought by the unease in the air was noticeable. And it left along with the woman. The elevator door opened one more time as they reached the top floor of the hotel. The three of them entered.
"Waah."
He wasn't sure which one of them awed at the sight before them. Probably Yuigahama. The interior of the bar looked amazing and music from the piano being played by a blonde woman gave the entire room a piece of serenity. Couples drinking wine while talking with their partner without making much noise. Even though this was such a 'high class' place, the amount of people that were here seemed to be rather on the single digit side. Could this place be one of those invitation or reservation only to enter places perhaps? The necessary dress code would make more sense that way. How did Yukinoshita manage to-oh right. Daughter of the wealthiest family in Chiba.
"There she is." he heard Yuigahama say quietly. True to her words, there was Kawasaki Saki, standing behind a bar counter as she wiped an empty beer glass. They walked up to the bar and took a seat.
"Kawasaki Saki." he called out to her. The girl in question looked at him with confusion.
"I'm sorry. Do I know you?" she asked. And as usual Yukinoshita jumped at the chance.
"One of your own classmates don't recognize you. It seems efforts to maintain a 'civilized' relationship with all of your classmates have failed." Yukinoshita smirked ever so slightly.
"Yukinoshita... Yuigahama." Kawasaki recognized both girls yet his own face seemed to escape her mind. Was Kawasaki Saki a long lost sibling of Yukinoshita perhaps? "So you must be also from Sobu... wait a second... your that jerk from the school rooftop. The hell you want now Kotomine."
Hachiman frowns a little but not from being unrecognized. That was nothing new to him. But from Kawasaki's lack of secrecy. 'Isn't she here working here in the guise of an adult? If someone heard her she could easily loose this job. Or is this not that important to her?'
"Oh dear? Have you already upset her somehow Kotomine-san? That's a new reco-"
"Why are you here?" Kawasaki asked when Kotomine took too long to answer. An empty glass in her left hand being cleaned by the towel in her right. No one noticed Yukinoshita's eyes narrowing at Kawasaki for cutting her off.
"Your brother is worried about you coming hope like really late at night." Yuigahama answered. Hachiman felt a headache incoming. He was sure of it this time.
"I don't know what Taishi told you but its nothing for you to worry about." Kawasaki placed the cleaned glass next to the other cleaned glasses. "I'm not hurting anyone here so leave me alone."
"In the fairy tail of Cinderella, her magic breaks at midnight. It's not midnight but unfortunately yours breaks right now." Hachiman felt that headache coming closer now. Faster than a speeding bullet.
"Hoh? Then I think I'll just live my happily ever after that." Kawasaki smirks. Hachiman wanted to bang his head on the smooth bar counter. He didn't think he could ever have such a feeling. Honestly speaking, he didn't like it.
"I wonder about that, My little Mermaid." it was Yukinoshita that smirked this time. The cringe meter within Hachiman was nearing its breaking point. Hachiman didn't even know he had such a thing within him. "I think only suffering and despair awaits you."
"Suntory Umesyu Please. Four ice cubes."
The two girls stopped their conversation. Two of them looked at Hachiman confused while Kawasaki was surprised more than anything else.
"What's that?" Yuigahama asked. Yukinoshita herself was left just as confused.
"It's wine made from plum. Commonly known as 'Umeshu'. A rather strong type of liquor." Kawasaki explained. She turned to Hachiman with a scowl. "Oi Kotomine. Why did you order that. We don't serve alcohol to minors here."
"If I am to suffer watching you two make idiots out of yourselves by trying to sound 'sophisticated' or whatever it is you're achieving by talking like that. I might as well get drunk. At least that way it won't look like I associate with you." Hachiman's answer made both Yukinoshita and Kawasaki scowl at him. 'Even Zaimokuza is tame compared to this.'
"Guys. Let's not resort to insults." Yuigahama attempted to save Hachiman from being verbally torn apart by the other two. Kawasaki made an annoyed 'tch' and Yukinoshita controlled her facial expressions. "Kawasaki-san, I work part time to make some money myself but is it really necessary to work this late while also lying about your age?"
'Sympathize with the other faction to gain their trust in order to eventually win them over. A smart move, I wonder if she even understands it.' Hachiman thought. Yuigahama sent him a brief glare. He was sure that he didn't say that out loud. Was this what they called woman's intuition?
"Doesn't matter, I just need the money." Kawasaki's reply was short and reasonable.
"I'm sure your parents would raise your-"
Kawasaki interrupted Yuigahama before she could finish and glared at Yuigahama. "I'm not doing this for pocket change. Don't lump me in with those people."
"Hey. Don't talk like that to her. She made a valid-" Yukinoshita interjected.
"Your dad is in the city diet isn't he?" Kawasakis' question came across as a statement instead. "Someone that has always had everything handed to her can never understand things like these. So do us all a favor and stop acting like you do."
As rude as it was, Hachiman couldn't help but agree with his other classmate and even though the headache persisted he had pushed back the urge to smirk when he noticed Yukinoshita stiffen, her palms clench and eyes widen in anger. Problem was that he wasn't the only one that noticed.
"Hey! You can't say that! Yukinons' family is none of your business!" Yukinoshita was a little surprised when Yuigahama stood up for her.
"Then mine is none of your business either."
"It's late. You two should go home." Hachiman had enough of the theatrics. "You can talk to her later or something." He kept the next bit to his thoughts though. 'Please just leave before you break the remaining bits of my sanity.'
Yuigahama and Yukinoshita stood up. One placing a comforting hand on the others back to show support. Midway they stopped and turned. "Kotomine-kun?"
"I'll be staying here a little longer." he told them. They stayed there for a few seconds, looking at him in confusion till Yuigahama smiled and ushered Yukinoshita to leave with her. Hachiman was thankful they didn't order anything that he would have ended up paying for. Kawasaki raised an eyebrow at him then snorts.
"What? You intend to try win me over with sweet talk? Sorry kid this ain't a fantasy where prince charming sweeps the girl away and rides into the sunset." Kawasaki snorted.
He gave her a blank stare without saying anything. A couple of minutes go by and Kawasaki stated feeling a little uncomfortable. "I was serious about-"
"Is something wrong?" a new voice enters their conversation. It was an elderly man in his mid sixties who wore a very fancy looking suit and walked with the help of a cane. "A couple of lovely ladies just left looking quite distressed." he gave Kawasaki a questioning stare. Kawasaki froze for a brief moment before returning to her work.
"No sir. They simply did not fancy the services we had to offer." she bowed at him. Hachiman figured he was the manager of this bar. If not the owner of this hotel. The manager turns to him.
"What of you sir. I hope everything here meets your standards." the old man politely asks. Hachiman does not instantly reply. Kawasaki had her back turned away from them as she placed the clean glasses in their shelves. Her current position also obscured the panicked look on her face from the two men behind her. Dread filling her being as she expected Hachiman to blow her cover.
"It does. However I do find the service lacking somewhat. I have ordered a Suntry Umesyu nearly five minutes ago and your bartender here has yet to present it to me." Hachiman turned to the older man, telling him his opinion.
"My apologies sir. This does not usually happen. Kawasaki-kun, you heard the man." the manager orders his employee.
"B-but Manager-" Kawasaki was not able to finish her sentence.
"Hachiman-kun, is that you?" another new voice enters their conversation. The voice belonged to a man who entered the scene. The edges of his spectacles reflected the lights hanging from above. "It is you! Fancy seeing you here."
"Citron-kun. You know this person?" Kawasaki heard the manager say. She knew the name of the person but never met him personally.
"Yes Manager. He works at the shipping company I was the mechanic of before coming here." the man, Citron explained with a smile. "Though I do admit it is rare to see him in these types of settings. So well dressed no less."
"I see. Well then, I'm sure you two would wish to catch up. I'll leave you to it." the elderly man's offer for Hahiman and the newcomer to 'reconnect' was rejected.
"No can do manager. The upgrades to the hotel are really important. We should finish discussing them as soon as possible." the old man smiled at Citron's enthusiasm before nodding. "I'll catch up with you later Hachiman-kun. Wish you were there at Satoshi's wedding." the two entered the elevator. Kawasaki let go of the breath she was holding with a long sigh.
"I'm still expecting that Umeshu, Kawasaki-san."
She blinked then gave Hachiman a deadpanned stare. "Funny. I'm grateful to you for not tattling on me but that doesn't mean I will be serving alcohol to you, a minor."
Hachiman pulled out his wallet and for a moment Kawasaki thought he was gonna bribe her. Instead he pulled out a card and placed it on the counter. It was an ID card. Kawasaki blinked, her mind not believing what her eyes presented to her. A question crosses her mind, one that she was not expecting as she returned the card to him and turned around to make him the beverage he ordered previously.
'Why does he have a fake ID card? To buy beer? No, so far he doesn't seem like the type for such things.' she thought back to the rooftop incident where he could have easily blackmailed her. And now where he could have easily told the manager that she was not really an adult. 'Didn't that Citron guy mention Kotomine works in some sort of shipping company? Why would he work a physically demanding job like that?' too many things didn't add up. The questions were gnawing at her mind. However, the person that could remedy that was sitting directly behind her. So her current problem was,
How to ask without looking like she was prying?
She placed the glass in front of him. The ice cubes rubbing against each other and slowly melting from both the atmosphere and being dipped in the liquid plum. "Here."
Hachiman was left unsatisfied. He had explicitly meant four cubes of ice. What he got was the standard two cube instead. But he accepted what fate had given him and grabbed the glass with his right hand and brought it closer to his lips. A sip was taken.
"..." Kawasaki kept staring at his face to see any distortions. A curious look was sent his way. "..How does it taste?"
"Hm?" he looked at her with his empty eyes.
"You know... the wine." she asked nervously. Even though she worked as a bartender, she had never drank a single drop of liquor. It was natural for her to be curious.
"I don't know." he answered truthfully. Kawasaki's face fell at the disappointing answer.
"What kind of answer is that?" she asks him annoyed.
"An honest one." this time she growled slightly then sighs. Thinking of a different approach.
"Okay then... Why do you not know how the taste of the drink that you are drinking RIGHT NOW."
Hachiman pauses, tearing his eyes away from hers and took a moment to think how to answer her question. "A few years ago I had a meal. After the first bite all of my taste buds instantly died."
"... What kind of meal permanently kills a persons taste buds?" Kawasaki was stumped. Looking at the blank expression he gave her, he was not joking in the slightest.
"Extremely Spicy Mapo Tofu. It's a Chinese dish. I still eat it from time to time." Kawasaki facepalmed, wondering what kind of lunatic would add that much spice in a single meal. A sigh escaped her lips. The very notion was more ridiculous than it sounded. Seeing no other options she asked the question troubling her mind.
"You work late night shifts with a fake ID. Why?" he meets her stare once again. It was differently worded compared to what Haruno asked only hours ago. The answer was the same though.
"If I don't work I don't eat. It's as simple as that." Kawasaki frowned this time. A striking contrast compared to her usually scowling or not caring face.
"What about your parents?" Again a differently worded question. It received an answer like the one before it. "Don't they feed you?"
"Don't have any." This time Kawasaki stared at him wide eyed. At first she believed he was lying. Thinking that he simply had a fight with his parents. But looking at him now as he slowly drank the alcoholic beverage in his grasp without a single care in the world, she knew he was serious. Her stomach churned. If the large beer glass in her hands did not have a handle it would have surely fallen down on the floor by now.
A buzzing noise pulled Kawasaki out of her thoughts. She silently watched as Hachiman pulled his phone out and raise an eyebrow at it. He placed the device next to his ear.
"Hello?" He asked, seconds later his other eyebrow rose as well. He pulled the phone away from his ear and... offered it to her? "It's for you."
Confused as to why someone would contact him to talk to her she reluctantly took the device from him. Placing it next her ear she spoke. "Hello?"
Hachiman watched her, finishing off the rest of his drink. He saw her eyes widen, a panicked expression stricken across her face. His phone fell from her grasp. He stands up alarmed, looking behind the counter to see if his phone was damaged. It was old so it was likely to break easy."Hey that's my phone." he looked up to ask her why she did that. But didn't say anything when he noticed tears forming in her eyes.
No less than five minutes later, Hachiman found himself standing on the ground floor of Royal Okura Hotel. With Kawasaki racing forward and exiting the building in a hurry, looking around from left to right in a frenzy before running away from his line of sight. He walks outside, she was no longer there. He looked around and did not see his bicycle where he left it. A twitch of his eyebrows showed that he was not pleased with this development. Looking at the empty parking space and the broken bike lock on the concrete floor, it wasn't hard to piece things together. His bicycle was stolen. When that happened he couldn't speculate. But by now the thief was probably long gone along with his bicycle.
"Such Misfortune..." he mumbled, disaster certainly had an odd sense of timing. First Kawasaki's problem and now this. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and headed towards his next destination. If he manages to help Kawasaki along the way then so be it otherwise it doesn't matter. Children tend to get lost quite often after all, sometimes kidnapped even.
He kept on walking, giving his surrounding glances every so often in a lazy attempt to spot the familiar blue hair of Kawasaki Keika nearby. There wasn't anything of the sort. The train station was not far from his current position. He would be able to take a taxi from there to his apartment. Good, he was getting tired after walking all this way. Even at this late hour there was a few Taxis still moving about. He stands in front them, trying to decide which driver to pick by eyeing the least sleepy one.
"Are you sure its this way Oji-san?"
"Yeah, yeah."
He turned around to look at where the familiar voice came from. And there she was, standing fifty or so feet away from him with a man old enough to be her father. He was not her father, that much Hachiman was obvious. Who in the world called their father 'oji-san?' "Kawasaki Keika."
The girl turned his direction. The man next to her froze. "Ha-chan! Oji-chan, this is Ha-chan! Sa-chans friend."
The man gave her a wry smile "Oh? Is that so?"
"What are you doing here this late? You should be home." Hachiman walks closer to the pair. The man takes a step back from him when he got a better look at Hachiman.
"Ha-chan! I was looking for Sa-chan since she was late for dinner then Oji-chan came an told me he would take me to her." she smiled at him then the old man. Hachiman raised an eyebrow then stared straight at the older mans eyes with his dead fish eyes. The man took a step back in fear. Hachiman's unblinking eyes sent chills through his body. The man swallowed.
"Y-Y-Yea! But now that Sa-chans friend is here I'm sure he can help you better than me. Take care Keika-chan!" the man left her side and quickly walked away in a rush. Hachimans gaze followed the older man who looked back once only to get caught doing so and started running till he was no longer in sight. Hachiman turned his gaze towards Keika who tilted her head to the side.
"Ha-chan. Will you take me to Sa-chan?" she asks.
"Come." Hachiman utters before heading towards the closest bench with Keika following closely behind him. While walking he pulled out his phone and sent a text to Kawasaki Saki. She had given her contact info to him in case he found her. "Your Onee-san is on her way."
Keika looks down with a slight pout before pulling something out from her only pocket in her dress. Hachiman recognized the object, it was the plastic toy fish he had given her earlier today. Looking back quite a lot happened today didn't it. Minutes passed in silence. The only noise made was from Keika playing with the toy.
"Ha-chan, I'm tired."
He saw her rubbing her eyes and yawning. "Then go to sleep."
He knew he told her to sleep. But he did not expect her to lean towards him till her head rested on one of his thighs. He wasn't sure if it was the alcohol he had today or something else. But for a moment. A brief moment, her blue hair turned black. Hachiman shook his head, rubbed his own eyes a little then looked at the child sleeping on his lap again. Her hair was blue. He didn't know why he did it but his hand ended up on her head. Slowly rubbing her head as she slowly drifted off into slumber.
Kawasaki still hadn't arrived, Hachiman saw Keika shiver a little. It was getting a little cold. Too bad he had no- wait. Taking off the jacket of his without waking her was harder than he expected. Putting it on her was far less in comparison. The minutes rolled by once again as the large clock outside the train station hit eleven thirty. Time does go by in a flash when you stop keeping an eye on it. The noise made by a person panting reached his ears. He turned his head to his right to see an out of breath Kawasaki Saki with her palms resting on her knees.
"Where?..." she asked, he turned his gaze to the child sleeping on his lap. She followed his gaze and noticed her. A smile on her face as tears kept spilling. She knelt in front of him, a hand caressing Keika's sleeping face.
"Thank you-"
Before he could respond. She hugged him. The sudden contact from a girl like Kawasaki had surprised him. The amount of not violent physical contact he received today had just exceeded the amount he received this entire year. His eyebrow twitched a few times as he felt her face rub against his stomach. Forehead touching the cross underneath his shirt and her... appreciation... brush against his third leg. The alcohol was definitely kicking in.
"-so much."
-Chapter End-
Good lord this is a long one. A couple of days late but just look at this chapter, its almost twice as big as the usual ones. I had considered the option of splitting this into two halves but I honestly wanted to finish this in one go. Now then, I'm not one to spoil things but I'm left with no choice. NO, Hachiman will not be fighting our favorite 'pro-abortion' ginger. I don't want him getting killed lol(but there will be 'fighting' in this fanfic. Later of course, not gonna tell ya when (; ).
For all those that were annoyed with the FFN website last week, your anger is completely justified. The FFN only writer community were despairing at the thought of their work getting lost with the 'invisible update' problem/glitch. I even heard some people saying that old deleted fanfics somehow resurfaced and already published/updated work/chapters disappearing. Didn't happen to myself though but everything looks fine for now at least.
Changes from the original: You know the drill. Some spelling errors fixed. A couple of lines added+removed and tweaked. Hachiman and Haruno's conversation at the beginning altered a little.