As Expected He Was More Warped Than Most
The morning sun peeked through crevices between the clouds, its warmth and light awakened many of the stray cats and dogs along with birds from their slumber. Store owners had started to open their businesses and begin their day and gradually progress towards the end of the day. However one person had yet to begin his day. That person was Kotomine Hachiman. Hachiman was lying comfortably under a silk blanket, the smooth fabric was made for maximum comfort and Hachiman was enjoying every bit of it. However even with all the comfort it provided the blanket could not have stopped Hachiman's... contemplating... mind.
Regret didn't have any specific definition. One could say that regret is what one would describe as his or her action in the past, recent or distant, that they would rather not have chosen to go through with. Others would say that regret is the feeling of 'sadness' or 'disappointment' in something, usually themselves. It could also be used in speech to indicate the feeling of remorse for the fate of another creature or object. And the worst part? As humans they were bound to repeat the same mistake at least one more time after the original. Think of it as stubbing your toe against your bed or ordering that one item from the menu that you're not supposed to eat due to medical reasons. You silently berate yourself, curse the gods for your misfortune and then tell yourself you'll never do it again. You may even go through unnecessary measures so that it would not happen again, only to do the exact same thing again without realizing it till it was too late or even do it intentionally and still curse yourself afterwards. If you're the depressive type you'll blame yourself, hole up in your room for hours on end with no regard to your responsibilities while wallowing in the endless abyss of self pity. He stared at the unfamiliar wall he was facing. The pink floral patterned wallpaper was there to fit to the 'mood' of the room he was in. Despite everything Hachiman did not regret it in the slightest. He knew what had happened and what he had sacrificed for it. And sadly... he would likely do it again. 'Looks like I've developed a bad habit.' But hey. The body wants what the body wants.
That is not to say that he did not regret any of his actions of course. There were a few things in his life that he wished he could have done differently. Perhaps if he did then he would not have been in his current state. But for the record, he blamed this all on three people. The first would be one Yukinoshita Haruno. Next is Kawasaki Saki with her black lace underwear and to a lesser extent, Totsuka Saika... Maybe the alcohol he had consumed was also to blame a little bit.
A warm breath tickles the back of his neck. "You know..." He stays silents. Words could make this situation worse if he wasn't careful. Right now he couldn't possibly be careful enough. "When you called me last night. Almost at midnight if I may add. I was very surprised. But it was a pleasant surprise so I didn't really mind." a feminine voice breaths into his ear teasingly. He doesn't respond to her.
The tips of three fingers lightly brushed against his waistline. The palm it belonged to slowly trailed from the bottom of his spine all the way up to his upper back causing goosebumps to spread across his body. "You know, even if most people would find a turnoff. It has always enchanted me. Like a mural of veins and warped flesh... I'm glad that you and I met that night."
The blanket above their bodies moved, the hand slowly slithers from his back to his front as the sensation of something small and soft coming to contact with his back multiple times. Judging by the sound she made upon hearing his reaction to her action, she was pleased with it.
"What do you say?" she whispers into his ear. "A couple of more rounds?"
He turned to face her with his back now on the bed they were on. Strands of her long red hair came in contact with his cheek, slid past it and fell on the pillow his head was using for support. Her body moved under the covers till it was directly on top of his own. "I... I don't have the money for another session." she smirked at him. Her light green eyes sparkling with excitement.
"That's fine. I'll just make an exception for my favorite client." she said before putting all her body weight on his own body. How he became her 'favorite' was beyond him considering this was their second time like this.
"W-We did not get enough sleep last night." his argument was weak. His body heat was rising. His Heart started to beat faster. He saw her pouting at him.
"And who's fault is that?" her smirk returns. Her head turns a little till it rested on its side, still on his chest. Her soft cheek resting on his chest. "Think of it this way. My dress has a lot of wrinkles now thanks to you. Dirty even. Isn't it your responsibility to make it up to me?" Said dress was not far from them, lying on the floor. Its blue color made it hard to notice with what little light came into the room because of the closed curtains.
One of his arm rose from his side and wrapped around her back underneath the blanket. His blinked once as he contemplated her offer. It didn't take long to decide. Driven by his base desires he answered. "I suppose... you are correct."
She smiled at him, one hand slid up to his cheek, caressing it gently. Her eyes remained locked with his dead fish ones. His free hand brought the blanket over their head, effectively hiding them both from the world. Irregardless of whatever that was about to happen. One thing was for sure.
Hachiman's savings took one heck of a blow this month.
Monday rolled around rather quickly. No one else had contacted him throughout these past couple of days. So it was all spent relatively in peace. Hachiman wondered why it felt odd though. And it wasn't until Monday Hachiman remembered that his bicycle was still stolen. Getting to class was gonna be rough, to work even worse. By the time he made it to school first period was almost over. He slid the door open, catching the attention of the entire class and an irritated Hiratsuka Shizuka. For some reason she looked more annoyed than usual.
Her narrowed eyes stared at him. He stared back with no reaction to her angry stare. You could probably hear a pin drop in the entire classroom with all the silence there was.
"You're late." she stated. Then waited for his answer.
"I know." he nods. She holds back a sneer but controlled herself.
"WHY are you-... you know what? Just meet me after class." she rubbed the bridge of her nose the sighed loudly to show her annoyance. He ignored it for now and walks to his seat. From the other side of the room Kawasaki Saki stared at him a little longer than the rest of the students. Due to not having any friends in school she thought no one would notice. One person did however. And that was Yuigahama Yui.
Yuigahama was curious as to why Kawasaki would stare at Hachiman like that. And the feeling in her gut told her she wouldn't like it. Hiratsuka continued the lesson, her irritated scowl not leaving her face. At this point Hachiman began to think if there was something more to her current mood than his tardiness. Even she was not that petty... Hopefully...
The rest of the classes were not a blur. Hachiman remembered more than he normally would. And he could only think his... extracurricular activity... at the very beginning of last weekend was to be credited for it. He certainly felt more refreshed since then. The lunch bell rang, Hachiman did not move from his seat. He was really hungry but he wasn't able to-
"Oi." he hears someone speak. He looks up to see Kawasaki Saki standing in front of him. He raises an eyebrow at her with a questioning 'hn'. She fidgets a little when she realized he wasn't about to verbally respond. A pink hue noticeable on her cheeks "I made an extra bento by mistake. You uh... want it?"
"...That makes no sense." his reply caught her off guard. "How does anyone make an entire bento by mistake?" it was literally impossible, especially if you make bentos everyday or have been making them long enough till it becomes more of a habit than anything else. Not to mention it was a waste of food. Although something about this situation felt eerily familiar to him.
She was about to take a step backwards but steeled herself before she could. Her signature scowl returns to her face. "Do you want it or not?"
Well, it still does qualify as free food. "Sure." He stood up and followed her outside the classroom. Neither caring of the astonished stares they were receiving. Seconds after they left the entire room erupted into hushed whispers. One Yuigahama Yui stared at the door with a blank stare. The bento in her own hands that was meant for herself was clenched tight in her grasp.
"Hey, since when did those two get so close?" she hears a student ask. A girl with dark brown hair.
"Dunno. I thought they didn't even know each other." another student replies then giggles, she had greenish black hair. Yuigahama couldn't remember either of their names at the moment. "It's one heck of a gossip material though. Imagine all the rumors."
"Is it just me or does those two actually look good with each other." Miura was the one to say that.
"Nooo. My HayaHachi ship is sinking." Ebina muttered in despair, not that anyone paid attention to it.
Yuigahama had heard enough, shaking her head to collect all her bearings she headed out for the Service Club where Yukinoshita was waiting. When she opened the door she was graced with the sight of Yukinoshita reading a book, an unwrapped but unopened bento sat comfortably in front of her on the table. The purple cloth used as a mat for the bento was similar compared to the one Kawasaki had offered Ha-
"Is something wrong, Yuigahama-san?" her trance broke as she noticed Yukinoshita giving her a questioning stare. "You seem more out of it than usual today."
Yuigahama pouts at her friend. "More out of it than usual? That's mean Yukinon!"
"Sorry." Yukinon apologizes with a small smile. "Let us partake on our lunches before they turn cold."
Yuigahama smiled, taking her seat next to Yukinoshita and asking her what she would trade for a certain part of her lunch. Yukinoshita replied after taking a look at her lunch. They talked of random things as usual. Until Yukinoshita asked her that question.
"Have you noticed any changes in Kawasaki-san today?"
Yuigahama almost choked on the food she was chewing on. In fact she still hasn't even managed to get her breath back. Yukinoshita rubbed Yuigahama's back, handing her a bottle of water to drink from. She took it and drank from it. A relieved sigh later she apologizes to her friend.
"No-Nothing changed with Kawasaki-san." she nervously replied. Yukinoshita was obviously not buying it.
"Yuigahama-san..." Yukinoshita trailed before changing the subject. "Did you study from chapter four to eleven like I told you to?" Yuigahama flinched, looking away with a nervous laugh. That answer made Yukinoshita sigh.
Hachiman ate from the bento in his hands. It looked okay. Nothing fancy, much like his own cooking. He couldn't say anything about the taste unfortunately. As of now there is only two things in the entire world that had provided stimulation to his taste buds. One would be the unnecessarily spicy Mapo Tofu. And the other being the unnecessarily sweet MAX COFFEE. He caught Kawasaki glancing at him. For the fourth time. With no one around to hear them speak in the school rooftop he decided to call her out on it. He finished chewing and swallowed. A sip was taken from the MAX COFFEE resting beside him to aid his dry throat.
"If you have something to say, just say it." he asks. There was tension in the air and he had absolutely no idea why. It was getting on his nerves.
"Thank you." Kawasaki looks away. "For... you know... saving Keika."
"Don't be grateful." Hachiman answers, she looks at him confused. "If I had not stumbled upon her with that old man at the station-" she tensed. "-I would not went out of my way to look for her. It was purely coincidental."
"Even so, you still decided to help even though you didn't have to. That's good enough for me." Kawasaki replied with a soft smile. She was right. He would probably remember that night for a long time to come, unfortunately he didn't really want to remember the rest of it. Lest he ended up in the same type of situation again so soon. "... I have a question." he said nothing, she took his silence as a confirmation to continue. "Why did you tell me that?"
This time he looked at her with a raised eyebrow. His chopsticks rested in the bento she made while still being held by his fingers. "I told you more than one thing that night Kawasaki-san. You'll have to be more specific."
"You know... about you not having any..." she clearly felt uncomfortable bringing it up.
"Parents?" his first guess was not having taste buds. But that shouldn't be a subject anyone would feel uncomfortable talking about. "You asked. I answered."
A simple thing. A question is asked and an answer is received. Is that how it worked? Even on such personal things? Kawasaki was stumped. She did not expect an answer like that. "What if I tell people?"
"Then I can do nothing about it." He was used to it. Having to accept the fate he is given. He returned to the bento.
Kawasaki didn't answer. She didn't know what to say. Now that she thought about it, what she was expecting him to say in the first place? An angry outburst telling her not to pry into his personal life? That would have been understandable, she suspected he was under the influence of alcohol then. A heartfelt retelling of his past? A little emotional for someone like him but also understandable. Seeing the person directly involved so detached to his own unfortunate circumstances was discouraging. It gave her no ground to work on nor any way to continue the conversation. To think she considered herself unfortunate due to the financial issues in her own family. Even though her parents struggled to keep all five of their children well fed and even educated, they were still content because they had each other. Something that would have been heavily impacted if not for what Hachiman did. She took her eyes away from her classmate's sitting form who ate the bento she made in silence. Wondering how she could truly show her appreciation for what he did for her.
"If it bothers you that much. Think of it like this." he suddenly said. "We have a secret of each other that we don't want too many people knowing. A trade of confidential information to keep each other from going out of line." She took a moment for his words to sink in. Her brows furrowed.
"Why don't you want too many people to know?" another possibly personal question.
"My student file has the parents field filled out with names of people that are not my parents. If word got out I would be accused of forging false information and be sent to jail. I would loose my job and my future would be ruined." he replies. She flinched at the response. Another question just arose.
"Why did you forge your parents name?" she regretted asking that question.
"I don't know who my biological parents are. The people that came to the orphanage I was in didn't want to adopt me. The caretaker said something about my eyes making them feel uneasy. My middle school admission form needed those fields filled." He replied. Now that he thought about it.
"Now that you mention it..." she shuts her mouth with her left hand. Realizing it was rude of her to comment on his eyes right after hearing that. If he was upset that she was about to indirectly mock his eyes he did not say it. She almost didn't want to ask him of her next favor.
"Can you keep it a secret?" she asks him. He looks at her again. "Can you... not tell anyone about what happened that night?"
She didn't want unnecessary attention to herself or to her family. That much he figured. A part of him even sympathized with her. He too didn't want too much attention to himself. So he saw no harm in accepting her 'request'. He nodded. Another awkward silence followed. For her at least. This time Kawasaki breaks it, he doesn't understand why she was so keen in talking with him all of a sudden. They were still strangers.
"I won't be working late hours anymore. So you and your friends don't have to get on my case. I'll find a new job after I get paid." He understood why she would do so after getting paid. Money is still important. He'll have to tell the other two at club today. Hopefully the next one won't end with him spending so much money. One thing needed to be made clear though.
"They are not my friends."
A couple of hours after that Hachiman was in the counseling room with Hiratsuka Shizuka right in front of him. She still looked annoyed.
"So.. why were you late today?" she crosses her arms.
"I forgot my bike was stolen and had to walk from home." he replied. She narrows her eyes at him.
"And when did that happen?"
"Last Friday night. Yukinoshita had me and Yuigahama come to the city to enter a high end bar like cafe at night so we could complete a service club request. By the time we were done it was late, I suspect my bike was gone while we were inside." her narrowed eyes widens in shock at his answer.
"A bar at night? But you're all underage! What was Yukinoshita thinking?!" Hiratsuka facepalmed. "What would have happened if they ended up drunk and woke up somewhere without any cloths or money on them. Or worse, got kidnapped!"
He was a little annoyed that she mentions them and them alone. This woman played blatant favorites towards certain students too much. Or at least didn't seem to hold him on the same regard as her other students. As a teacher shouldn't she be fair to all her students? Or was this another double standard thing?... He won't hold it against her this time because technically he was the one that ended up in her aforementioned hypothetical situation instead of them, but unlike that hypothetical situation he woke up without cloths or money, willingly. And someone else was almost kidnapped. "I was just following orders from Yukinoshita."
She rubbed the bridge of her nose with a sigh. Then buried her face in her palms "I know... Sorry I'm just a little irritated. I went to a family member's wedding yesterday and literally almost everyone started asking me when I was going to get married... Damn people have no respect for my feelings and privacy."
Hachiman... really did not want to hear her whine about her private life even though he did 'pity' her a little. There was nothing to gain from it. "Apology accepted." She looks up to glare at him this time.
"Why do you have to be so mature about things?" she pointed at him like he did some heinous crime. "Why can't you be like other kids. It would make dealing with you a lot easier. Even Yukinoshita is less mature than you." He was fortunate that Yukinoshita was not here to hear that. Considering her competitive attitude... The results might cause him a headache even alcohol couldn't fix.
'Mature huh?' he thought. He didn't really think so. This was just the only way he had always been. But if she said so then he would have to take her word for it. 'Is that why she treats me differently compared to the rest of her students?'
He blinks at her then closed his eyes and looks down, his expression not changing. A light bow. "I'm sorry for being this way."
"Well there you go again." She sighed again. However, this time she placed one hand on his head. He tries to sit straight but her hands gently push his head down as she rubbed his head a little. He wasn't sure how to interpret this situation. But felt something warm in his chest. It wasn't the same as the one he felt when Hayama Hayato was despairing... This one hurt... "I didn't say that its a bad thing. Its just that... you should to act your age. A kid like you doesn't need to act like a grown up."
He frowns a little, his head was still bowing so she couldn't see it. "Sensei. I can't take those words seriously from someone that doesn't know how to act her own age." A vein popped on her head as a fist quickly descends on the back of his bowing head.
"Ow" he mumbled, now sitting straight.
"Cheeky brat." she muttered before leaning back against the furniture she was sitting on. "So, this request that had you all running around late at night. Did you manage to complete it? Who was it from?"
"Yes we did. And it was from Kawasaki Taishi. Kawasaki Saki's younger brother." he replied. The dull ache on the back of his head slowly fading.
"Oh really? Is it about her coming to school late?" she asks.
"It's related to it." he said. "Kawasaki has told me not to tell anymore more than that." She raised an eyebrow at him but did not question him.
With that over, he headed for the service club. He still needed to tell them that Kawasaki Saki was going to quit her night job in a few days. They were surprised at first and asked how he convinced her. Truthfully speaking, He didn't. But Kawasaki wanted to keep that night a secret. So he told them he didn't know why she was going to stop. Which wasn't necessarily a lie. Just that she was going to stop and that was that. He answered their questions without sitting on his chair.
"I have something to do today so I'll be heading off now." Hachiman turned to leave.
"Wait." he turns to see Yukinoshita narrowing her eyes. "You just got here. You can't leave just yet."
"I have to buy another bicycle. Mine was stolen at Angel Ladder that night." he sees a look of realization on Yukinoshita's face for some reason and Yuigahama gave him a look of sympathy. "There's a store selling them for a 20% discount that ends at five today. If I go now I might be able to buy one." he saw that when he was coming to school. A lucky break that he needed to make the best use of.
"A-ah I see. You are excused then." With Yukinoshita's approval Hachiman left. He wasn't able to see Yukinoshita looking at her book with regret on her face.
"I'll see you tomorrow at class Kotomine-kun!" Yuigahama waved her goodbye.
On his way an unexpected meeting occurred.
"WELL, if it isn't my BROTHER IN ARMS!" there were still other students around. They spared a single glance at them, mostly cheeped out and rest gave them curious looks. It didn't last more than a couple of seconds when they realized it was Zaimokuza that shouted. Zaimokuza appeared in his field of vision. Waving his arm at him with a beaming smile. "I thought you had club after school?"
"I do. But I have to buy a bicycle because my old one was stolen a couple of days ago." he explains. Zaimokuza grimaces on his behalf.
"Ouch. Your wallet must be wailing in pain." Zaimokuza places a hand on Hachimans shoulder. Presumably to comfort him. He shrugs off Zaimokuza's hand. The two walked side by side through the halls.
"Hey." Hachiman's often gym partner whipped his head towards Hachiman dramatically, staring at him with undivided attention. Hachiman rarely started a conversation with Zaimokuza. So this must have been important. "There was a chain mail being spread around in 2-F up until recently. You were the one that started it, weren't you." that was not a question. No matter how he thought about it. That was the only thing he could think of when Zaimokuza mentioned doing something cruel the other day.
Zaimokuza flinched, looking around nervously to see if anyone heard what he said. Luckily for him Hachiman usually spoke with a low and calm voice. So no one noticed his earlier statement. "Ah. Nothing ever gets past you does it? As expected of my most trusted advisor." Hachiman didn't reply. They replace their outdoor shoes in the locker with their indoor shoes. "Yes, I was indeed the one that had committed such a heinous deed." Zaimokuza rolled his eyes at his own words. "However, they had ruined my scheme- I mean plans! Kyouya-sensei caught wind of Hayama's clique clashing with the Service Club. Someone told him that I was 'slacking' off and he retracted his offer of considering my aid in Totsuka Saika's training a substitute for gym class credits. That is why they needed to be punished." he had a scowl on his face that would have surely impressed Kawasaki.
"But you were slacking off." Hachiman remembers Zaimokuza doing almost nothing when Totsuka's training was in progress.
"HRRK!" Zaimokuza takes a fatal blow. His walking stops. "You were supposed to destroy the normies Hachiman. Not join them! You have taken their side over mine!"
"I haven't taken any sides. Only stated facts." was Hachiman's curt reply.
"... I must say though. Their reaction was entertaining to watch." The edge of Hachimans lips twitched slightly when Zaimokuza said that. Hayato Hayama's despairing face back in the Service Club came to his mind.
It was indeed entertaining to watch.
-Chapter End-
FFN Guidelines: *Looking at me suspiciously*
Me: *Looks away, whistling innocently*
FFN Guidelines: ... I got my eyes on you.
What? Did you think I would have you guys read sm- I mean RESEARCH MATERIAL during NNN? Nah, this is still T rating. At best you'll see an F bomb very rarely or something. But a little serious now. Post nut clarity is a pain especially if it hits your bank account a little. Our 8man here has witnessed it first hand. Everyone has a guilty pleasure or two. This mysterious woman is an OC. Not a character from another franchise, a complete OC. Will she be making another appearance? Maybe. Don't expect her to be a major part of the story though.
Changes from the original: You know the drill. Some spelling errors fixed. A couple of lines added+removed and tweaked.