(A/N): I really tried, but I can't write a full Shuuchin arc. I will write a vignette to accompany each chapter and reveal a bit more about Hikigaya's time at Shuuchin. Sorry to any disappointed readers. I planned a Drabble of cool moments but couldn't weave them together properly. From the reviews as well, others can tell that my quality had dipped quite significantly.

Two years ago … (Winter of Middle School 3rd year)

"Come on, Ai!" Her friend pouted. "It's my birthday can't you make an exception just this once?" She smiled apologetically and seemed genuinely regretful.

"No, my boss won't let me. I'm so sorry but have a great b-day, girl."

"Alright, it just would've been nice to have you there." Her friend wandered away, and I made myself known with a cough.

Hayasaka turned, her blonde hair whipping. "My god, Hikigaya. They need to put a bell on you."

I ignored her complaint. "Do you want to go to your friend's birthday party?"

She squinted. "What does that have to do with-"

I repeated the question. "Do you want to go?"

She hesitantly nodded. I don't know why I did what I did. Maybe it was because she was a friend, and I didn't have many of those. Or maybe it was the quiet moment of suppressed disappointment that I could relate to. It was the same one I wore for many years when my parents missed another school event or got more excited over Komachi's achievements than mine.

"Then, be ready at six. I can distract Shinomiya for the rest of the night." I turned to leave.

"What are you planning?" She called out.

"Nothing big. I was given two tickets to a new exhibit opening at the national museum of nature and science. It's on the mechanics of movement."

Hayasaka smiled. "Thanks, Hikigaya."

"I'm always willing to help a friend."

~/~

Later that night …

Kaguya had been uncomfortable since we had begun our evening. Every time that I made a joke or shared a story, her smile seemed to cut a thinner crescent.

When we reached her house and saw Hayasaka there waiting for us, I realized the truth. Kaguya's eyes shined when she looked at someone that she cared for. But they didn't shine when she looked at me. Instead, they glinted.

Cold and hard, like an industrial diamond, they observed their quarry. The way she looked when examining a proposal or the food she was served. Nothing more than an asset.

I bade them both goodnight and commanded the driver to take me home. At this point, it didn't matter if she was using me. It was better than being alone.

~/~

"Hayama, thanks for coming with me." Tobe smiled stupidly. I was beginning to hate that grin of his; the man smiled as he threatened to burn down the social garden I had cultivated. I would almost hate him if I didn't know the kind of person that he was.

He was so stupid and oblivious that he had no idea how delicate our little group's ecosystem actually was. Tobe probably viewed us through the lens of a group of friends that came together naturally.

What a bunch of bullshit. The roles were as such. I was a farmer, the master of the operation, and the rest of the group behaved by my design. Yumiko Miura was my scarecrow keeping treacherous birds from upsetting the balance of my domain. Yui Yuigahama and Ebina Hina were my rose bushes, superfluous additions to my possessions as a means to add color. They served as companions to Yumiko and evened the gender balance of our group. An approximately even gendered group was a quintessential part of the ideal high school life that I had crafted for myself.

Yamato, Ooka, and Tobe, well, they were my animals. I had selected the pieces because I liked their look, but they always knew who was in charge between us. I may joke with them and lower myself to their level, but that never has and will make us equals. Yamato, the big one, my ox, dumb but reliable, was the most steady element in the group. Ooka, a rat, cowardly but cunning, tried to maneuver into my group, and I let him, just another addition to the group and another that made me look good.

The boys in the clique enhanced my qualities in contrast to their shortcomings. Ooka made me look more handsome and braver; Yamato made me look smarter and more charismatic, and Tobe made me look more mature and distinguished.

Speaking of Tobe, he was my dog. Eager to please and loyal to a fault. Also dumb and loud but again, all that did was make me look better. Sure they each had an area in which they could almost match me, but they just fell short; Yamato was a pretty good athlete, Ooka was a good student, and Tobe could make people smile. However, they were the best that an average person could be.

But the farm was beginning to fall to ruin. My scarecrow had turned her eyes toward me, wanting more than to be an accessory. One of my rose bushes had started to grow wild, not yielding to my gentle attempts to tame her once more, while the other hid darkness in her depths. The rat in my farm threatened to ruin everything with a single chain mail, my ox blundered through my lands, causing trouble, and the dog was entranced by the beauty of a rose bush chasing for a prize that did not exist. The idea he had if Ebina was just that, an idea.

My paradise was threatened. The affront to my control was the worst offense of them all.

I wonder what they would think of me if they knew what I thought of them. To me, they were like the dolls kids pose for tea parties, something to be used and discarded when it wasn't convenient anymore. That was the difference between Haruno and me; she was like a spoiled child, tossing things away when they were no longer fun. I was like a deprived child holding onto things until they became impractical. I didn't have her gifts and wasn't spoiled for choice the same way that she was.

I wonder if that's why she started thinking that I was boring. Maybe it was because I couldn't find new 'toys' fast enough for her.

Just like I couldn't understand why Yukino was suddenly interesting again. Was it because she had made friends?

Was it this Hikigaya boy? What made him so special? What gave him the right to blow up my spot like that?

He was the catalyst for change. Before he arrived, Yui was barely a blip on Yukino's radar, and now, suddenly, they were the best of friends or something. I know that it was selfish, but I always assumed that Yukino would tire of loneliness at some point and let me in once more.

I wouldn't disappoint her again if she gave me one more chance. I had thought myself more patient, but she had proven me wrong. She adapted to solitude and left me by the wayside, never looking back.

Now I had to convince a boy I hated with all my heart to save my group. I don't know how I would do it, but I would. Hayato Hayama does not fail.

~/~

Tobe opened the door for me. Good boy, maybe I should give him a treat. I smile and thank him. Getting a smile back; well, it is said that pets mimic their owners after all.

I looked upon the three of them. Yui was working on a laptop, Yukino was sketching something, she was using a small knife to shape the lead, and Hikigaya was texting on his phone with a small smile. In fact, they were each wearing contented expressions if you looked at them. Hikigaya and Yui had small smiles, while Yukino, if you looked closely, her eyes were softer, and the corners of her mouth slanted up slightly.

They looked up, and the peaceful satisfaction vanished. Hikigaya and Yui wore neutral expressions, while Yukinoshita's eyes expressed her displeasure. I tried for a charming grin focused on Yui. Of the three of them, she was the most susceptible. Both Yukino and Hikigaya scorned the accepted social food chain that would make them smile back at me.

But Yui didn't smile back, nor did she first look at her club mates. She made the decision not to smile. Yui Yuigahama was making independent decisions; what the actual fuck?

I kept going and greeted them all. "Hello Yui, Hikigaya, Yukinoshita." Yukino's glare told me exactly how she wanted to be addressed.

"Hello, Hayama, Kakeru." Yui was the only one that responded. Social niceties are still in her wheelhouse. Though her use of our last names was odd. Since the end of summer, she had slowly started to pull away.

I cared little about her; however, creating an imbalance was unacceptable.

Yukino just watched, sipping on tea. Hikigaya didn't even look up, still busy on his phone. Tobe stepped forward and pleaded. "I need your help. I want to confess to Ebina." Yui gasped a little, Yukino narrowed her eyes, and Hikigaya kept on working on his phone.

That was Yumiko's power move when she talked to Yui or Hina. Just like a Senior Executive making you wait before a meeting, it was a way of showing you that you were below them. Only worth a minimum amount of their attention.

But even Yumiko knew to look up when I was around. I may let her think that she was a queen but the king still ruled. Her position was also less secure than she thought it to be. If Yukino wanted to be with me, then I would drop Yumiko in a second; no hesitation.

"I hardly see how this is a matter for the service club. We help people learn to help themselves and don't just do things for people." Yukino was cold as ever, dismissing Tobe's request.

"Please, you guys did such a kickass job on the festival. People say that you guys are like geniuses." Tobe clasped his hands together.

I clenched my fists. When he said 'you guys,' he really meant Hikigaya. Yui was nothing special, and Yukino was nowhere near this capable. So he was saying that Hikigaya was capable of providing help that I couldn't.

Maybe we don't need Hikigaya. Is he really that special, or maybe he just got lucky? No way he's some kind of genius. More likely, he just has a well-connected family member.

I calmed down and unclenched my fists. I'll let Tobe ask him and then get to see as he fails. He really isn't better than me.

Hikigaya looked up from his phone for a second. "Man, stop begging; it's unbecoming. Since you asked so nicely, I'll offer some free advice. Before you confess, ask yourself if you value a potential romantic relationship more than the friendship and group dynamics you have now."

The room was silent, letting Hikigaya speak, his timing was dramatic, and I even found myself listening. Tobe was the most enraptured, every ounce of his attention on Hikigaya. This was fine; I could've said the same things too.

"When you confess, it is like introducing energy into a system. No matter what change will be created by this action. Things you didn't even know that you had will be gone, and you can never get them back. You may gain nothing and lose much if she rejects you. Someone will always have to sit as a buffer when you go out to eat. Any texting between the two of you will be awkward, and there'll be nothing that you can do to change that. Are you prepared to accept rejection? To table how you feel in consideration of her? These are things that you need to consider before you confess." Hikigaya kept on texting while giving this lecture.

How did he get this good at it? Who taught him? His manipulation was so effortless that he needed only words. I had to use expressions, body language, and other tricks to mimic the effect of his bored soliloquy.

"Also, if I were you, I would examine why I like said person in the first place. How much do you really know about her and whatnot? Especially for intra-social group confessions. Don't risk everything good for a pretty smile or a kind word. Make sure that whatever you feel is genuine. By genuine, I mean not just real but also immutable. Teenagers have a tendency towards mercurial affections; l speak from experience here, avoid falling for that trap." He finally looked up as he finished his speech. "Or don't. That was just my two cents, and I'm unfamiliar with your specific circumstances. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor."

Nobody spoke, stunned not just at how he spoke but his behavior afterward; like that was just a bit of friendly advice and not a deep lesson on social dynamics and ramifications. Yui and Yukino seemed approving of what he said but not particularly awed. I gave a nod of agreement but acted like it wasn't that shocking.

But, Tobe was wide-eyed and slack-jawed, acting like Hikigaya was rare like Mr. Clean with hair. Meaning once in a lifetime special.

"Thank you, Hikigaya. You're right I should get to know her more before I confess; it's important to know why you like someone. Thank you." Tobe beamed before walking out of the room. I smiled and waved while following suit.

I should be happy. My domain was safe. But it took all my effort to hold a smile and respond politely as Tobe raved about how much of a genius Hikigaya was. But Hikigaya had beaten me, not by a little but by a lot. And I had no idea how to catch up.

~/~

I looked up from my phone after Hayama and Tobe left. Their conversation had been much less interesting than what I had been texting about. Hayasaka had asked if I would like to attend her ballet recital, and I agreed.

Then I had been arguing with Chika about optimal monopoly strategies. She had used terrible logic about how she had beaten me a few times to prove therefore my mathematical approach was garbage. I told her to wait for game night, and I would demonstrate how much better my strategy was. We had then argued about what game to play and who would bring it as both Chika, and I cheated. For us, that was a part of how we played games. It actually made things way more interesting.

Certainly more interesting than Tobe's desire to confess to that Boy Love enthusiast. We had to heavily alter her play to make it appropriate for school audiences. I think Hiratsuka lost the will to live after reviewing it for the fourth time.

At least the orange-haired dumbass seemed happy enough with my little ramble. I shared some of my confession experiences and tailored them to fit him.

I didn't know who Orimoto really was when I confessed, and I didn't consider what it would mean for everyone when I confessed to Hayasaka.

Yui patted me on the arm. "That was good advice, Hikki, but it sounded like you spoke from experience."

I hope at least these two were too nice to make fun of me when I told them about it. "Yeah, I was. I was pretty pessimistic because I'm 0-2 in terms of confession."

I braced for the laughter.

Instead, I got.

"That was brave; I don't know if I could work up the nerve." From Yukino.

And a "Thanks for trusting us, Hikki." Courtesy of Yui.

There was not a hint of sarcasm or mockery, just genuine support. It felt amazing.

"Yui, how are your online classes going? What are you taking right now."

"Oh, I'm writing a paper on belief in American Exceptionalism in the 20th century and how it influenced their actions during that time…"

~/~

I stood back idly with Yukinoshita. As the crowd swarmed the bulletin board where results were posted. Everyone was already emailed a pass/fail result, but precise scores weren't disclosed at the time.

Yui had dove into the crowd, eager to find out how she had done. She was soon swallowed by the mob, and any shouts of success or whines of despair that she produced were drowned out by a sea of teenagers doing the same.

I turned to Yukinoshita, leaning in close to be heard over the cacophony surrounding us. "Why aren't you running in? Are you not interested in your results? Or maybe you failed?" I teased with the last sentence, very much doubting that Yukinoshita had managed to score that poorly.

She didn't even bother rising to my taunt. "I know that I did well. And the bustle of crowds is not my preferred surroundings." I almost cracked a joke about how it must've reminded her of that night that I almost died but quickly caught the insensitive humor before it could leave my mouth.

We watched Yui push through the throng of people; I probably would've waited for her to return and then congratulated her on her improved grades from last semester. She had been working very hard, and the results would be evident, though somewhat tempered by the fact that she had to split her attention between online classes and standard school work.

I felt a tap on the shoulder and lazily turned just enough to get my vision on the interrupter. Saki Kawasaki gestured with her head inclined sideways - the universal gesture for "Do you want to get out of here?''

I spun to face Yukinoshita to tell her, but she was watching and gave me a nod which I returned.

I followed the quiet girl until we reached an abandoned hallway. There she fidgeted with her hair for a moment before straightening her shoulders. "Hikigaya, will you come over for dinner?"

I cocked an eyebrow, surprised by what she said. She hastily amended her statement when the implication dawned on her. "My parents want to have you over to relook at the contract. They're bringing over their own attorney. They want to meet the man to whom I owe ~ ten million yen."

I nodded, not particularly put out by the request. The parents were only performing their due diligence when investigating a teenager who was owed so much money. They probably assumed I was related to the mob or a rich kid trying to toss their daughter the bone. Either way, I couldn't blame them for their caution.

Besides, the first assumption was correct for all intents and purposes; as for the second, I can't deny that she made appearances in a few of my lewd late-night fantasies.

She smiled gratefully and hurried away. I watched her hips sway with interest but turned my head away once she glanced back.

I could already tell. This dinner was going to suck.

The original agreement was in my safe. Wedged between a bottle of absinthe and the wall. Time to dig it out.

~/~

Kaguya's father was still an intimidating man. Even as his body began to break down, and more machines had to be wired in. His gaze was still piercing, and his mind still shrewd. In the occasional private moment, I'd wondered if that had fueled Kaguya's attraction toward mean-eyed men.

Though that line of inquiry was one to which I wasn't sure I wanted to know the answer. He smiled as he saw me, specifically what I'd brought. I held up the bottle of high-quality sake along with two saucers to drink from.

"Hey, Shinomiya. Want a drink?" I grinned impishly. We both knew that he had been forbidden from drinking, and we both knew that he would ignore orders from the doctor in the face of such a fine drink.

"Bring it here, Hikigaya." He rasped, through the tubes in his mouth, reaching out a spindly hand. "And tell me why you came to see me."

I approached. "As perceptive as ever Gan'aan."

"Don't patronize me, boy, and don't use my first name; you're not my wife." He snapped. I had to take a breath to calm down. Even on the brink of oblivion, he was still sour and callous. No surprises there, I guess.

I poured out a saucer for him that he took in, shaking hands. He slapped my hands away when I reached out to steady the cup for him. So be it, he can spill all over himself. See what I care. He sighed contentedly as he sipped the alcohol, and I neglected to comment on the portion that dribbled from his lip. I'd let him keep some semblance of dignity for the remaining days he had left.

"So, boy; tell me who you've sided with?" He croaked out, Pushing the saucer aside and electing to sip straight from the bottle. I could still respect his mind, sharp until the end. Even if I'd overstepped and been demoted back to 'boy' once more.

"Kaguya. And I take it that you know why I'm here?" I took out a folder from my backpack and held it up.

He laughed, an ugly sound when you only have one lung left. More like a strained bark of a dying dog than anything, but it was loud and honest. "Boy, tell me why you think I'd leave every share I hold to a schoolgirl."

"Because she would be the best leader the conglomerate has ever seen." My voice was quiet, but the only sounds it had to compete with were the rhythmic beeping of various monitors.

"Excuse me." Gan'aan's voice was a whisper.

He was prideful, extremely so. The conglomerate had flourished under his watchful eye, so for me to say Kaguya would be better than him meant I was ignorant, stupid, or had a mountain of trust in his daughter. He knew that the first two weren't true, so me saying this was a massive vote of confidence.

"She is as savvy as you are but slightly less prideful. She is more willing to defer to experts, leading your real child, the company, to even greater heights. Kaguya also has me supporting her, and you know what I can do. I mean, honestly, there are only two real choices: Oko and Kaguya. Un'yo and Seiryuu would be no good as leaders; even a blind man could see that much. Oko is a follower, not a leader. He worked well as one of your lieutenants because he carried out your vision, but he has never been independent. On the other hand, Kaguya made choices against your wishes because she is an independent thinker."

He still didn't look convinced, so I pressed on. "Kaguya may be younger, but she is more prepared to lead than Oko. She's the one who always has a design in her head before she begins. She knows where she wants to go and is honest about where she is. Trust me. I'm throwing my lot in with her because I believe in her abilities, not because I'm being emotional. I'm not some middle school girl doing a favor to her BFF." Knowing he respects that, I tried to sound as cold and calculating as possible.

"I see. You've made some interesting points. I shall call my lawyers and have my will redrafted. You may show yourself out." He waved a hand at me, and I left. Sticking around any longer would only invite his ire.

He seemed convinced but of what I don't know.

~/~

The Kawasaki home was clean but messy. That was my first impression when Saki opened the door. The floors had been mopped, but things were scattered about. Someone cared enough to clean regularly but didn't have the energy to reorganize each night. It spoke perfectly of what I gleaned so far. She worked hard for her family but was constantly tired and didn't have time to be a neat freak.

I could respect that. As a fellow working older sibling, the tug of war between your employment and home life was a constant source of stress. "Ah, Hikigaya, you are quite punctual."

I nodded. "Well, it'd be rude to be late, and I don't want to make a bad impression." I glanced at her outfit, an apron with her hair tied back. "Were you cooking? Sorry if I came at a bad time."

She glanced down and waved her hands in denial. "Oh, I was just helping my Papa in the kitchen. Please come in, and take off your shoes. Mom will be home soon."

I stepped inside with the caution of a first-time guest. "Thanks for having me over. Would you like any help in the kitchen?" I offered.

She shook her head. "My little siblings are in the living room; they'll entertain you while we finish cooking."

I nodded and slipped off my shoes before padding into the living room in my socks. In it, Taishi and a young girl that I assumed to be his little sister were playing a furious round of MarioKart.

"Big bro, no fair the blue shell is such a cheap move. The young girl complained as her character was dive-bombed and then thrown into the air.

"Sorry, Keika. All is fair in love, war, and MarioKart." Taishi replied, totally concentrated on the game. Neither one had noticed me yet, and both were startled when I chuckled from the doorway. I should've waited until the round was over, but I couldn't help it. The sheer degree of seriousness that the pubescent boy conveyed when he spoke was hilarious. It almost sounded like a line from one of those silly animes that I never had time to watch.

I turned to the little(r) one. "Hi, my name is Hachiman Hikigaya. What's your name?" I knelt down to her level.

"I'm Keika, and I'm seven." She announced, volunteering her age unprompted. Not uncommon for children her age, however.

Taishi was quietly observing me, and I tried to smile. I lent some money to your family; I'm not the president. No need to act like making eye contact will lead to me taking the money back. Keika turned back to the game. "Haachan, do you want to play?" The last time that I played MarioKart was with Ishigami.

"Okay, but I might not be any good." I connected a third controller, and the screen split into four equal squares, with the fourth quadrant randomly showing various points of view. It only took about a minute to shake off the rust, but I still managed to lose to Keika. I mistimed a jump or crashed my kart whenever I did too well. She was just a kid; no need to be mean.

"You're lucky that I went easy on you." I pouted in mock grouchiness. She stuck her tongue out at me.

"You're just mad that I'm the best racer in the world." She proclaimed with her arms stretched skyward. I exchanged an amused glance with Taishi, who had also managed to drive himself off a ledge whenever he came a bit too close to winning.

"You're a little rascal." I grinned. "How about a rematch?"

Taishi stood up. "I should finish up some homework that I've been struggling with. Hikigaya, can you watch her while I do that?"

I looked at him warily. I was no good with kids, Komachi being the exception. I had no idea how to handle them. My mind raced, calculating ways to keep him here. "Say. Why don't you bring it down here, and I'll help you out with it?" He blinked.

"Uhh, okay." Not very confident in myself, which I can understand.

But I know for a fact that I can help. There's no pre-college subject that I don't have a decent handle on. "Which subject is it?"

"Advanced Chemistry." He declared, looking quite proud of himself. I suppose that he had a right to be; not many middle school students were taking it.

"Are you taking it through your school?" I was quite surprised. As far as I knew, only Shuuchin was running a middle school class.

"No, I'm taking it through a community college. I have a scholarship." I smiled. He was a good worker, that's for sure.

"So, do you want to be a chemical engineer or something?" I asked, he was a smart boy, but with his family's current financial situation, I doubted a Ph.D. was in the cards.

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm hoping to graduate with a degree as soon as possible."

"That's an admirable goal, Taishi. If you'd like, I could arrange an internship with you. Get you some real lab experience. Hell, it might differentiate you from other applicants when you're trying to get a job later." He waved his hands about to refuse, and I realized the issue. "Don't worry; you won't owe me a thing for this."

Before he could respond, I turned to Keika. "Would you like to play a board game?" When she nodded eagerly, I grinned. "Why don't you pick one, and we can play?"

She skipped off searching for tabletop games, and I turned back to Taishi. "What times can you be at an internship?"

"Depending on the commute, from 4 to 7 after school." He replied, concerns assuaged he now seemed excited about the opportunity.

"Excellent!" However, a call from the dining room interrupted us before we could continue this conversation.

"Foods ready!" A masculine voice called, not shouting per se but curated to cut through the cacophony children seemed to bring.

I walked alongside Taishi and behind a pouting Keika, who had just selected chess for us to play. The lock jiggled, and in stepped a woman who looked as if Saki had been aged forward twenty years. Even the demeanor seemed relatively similar. She slid off her black wedge heels and left them by the entrance. They were the shoes of an office woman, worn and professional, showing the results of constant polishing.

"Sorry, I'm late, darlings." She kissed Taishi's forehead, smiled at me, and tossed her purse onto the couch. She then scooped Keika up into her arms and lifted her giggling daughter. She must work out; it's not an easy feat for a woman that size.

She turned back to me after setting her daughter back down gently. "So you must be Hikigaya? I'm sorry for running late. On the way from the last house that I was showing, the traffic was horrendous."

I let a little warmth spread through my neutral expression. "It's no issue. As someone who has dealt with his fair share of painful commutes, I know the feeling."

It was meant to be a joke, but her expression settled into something akin to distrust and nervousness. "Let's just sit down."

I observed the table first when I entered. Hoping to deduce where I would be expected to sit. Upon examination, each place setting was uniform, so I pressed against the wall and let the other members of the family take their seats first. Hopefully, by process of elimination, I could determine it without being forced to ask.

Once Taishi began to give me an odd look, I caved and chose to ask rather than risk offense. Their father was the only one I hadn't seen yet, but I didn't want to create unnecessary enmity by sitting in his chair.

He was balding and appeared about a decade older than his wife. Looking closer to fifty than forty while she looked closer to thirty than forty. Though, I assumed that at least some of that was due to lifestyle. A faint odor of cigarettes wafted with him as he sat at the head of the table facing me.

My position was fine, while an overly cautious part of my mind whispered that I was furthest from the exit if I needed to make a hasty escape. They began to dole out portions of food and pass the plates around. I was pleasantly surprised to see a French-inspired dish of roasted duck with cream sauce. We also had a potato puree and a spring salad.

All of the food looked delicious, and after a quick 'Itadakimasu,' we began to eat. Unfortunately though, before I could even take a bite, the Kawasaki parents got down to brass tacks. "Hachiman Hikigaya, you are quite the infamous man." The dad began, tapping his fingers on the table like we were in a crime movie.

"I suppose, though I hope you have a point to make," I replied, taking the chance to savor a bite of the food. "I must say that the duck is fantastic. Where did you learn French cuisine?"

His cobalt eyes hardened. "Don't try to change the subject with me, boy."

My blood boiled. How dare he call me boy? I didn't come here to be talked down to. I stood up gently. Mindful not to frighten Keika. She was just a kid. I can let her stay unaware of the world's cruelty a little longer. "I apologize. I realized that I had a prior commitment that I needed to attend to. The food was lovely; please have a nice evening. Regarding the money, the terms I set are favorable, and I won't ask for any more than the agreed amount. If you want to void the contract with me too and pay back the money instantly, that would also be acceptable." I took three rapid strides and cleared the living room. I was halfway out the door after sliding on my flip-flops before Saki came racing after me.

"Hikigaya, please wait. My father didn't mean to offend you. If you come back, he'll apologize." She pleaded, her eyes wide.

"It's alright; I don't need an apology. But I also don't need to sit here and be talked down to again today. I'm just going to go home." I turned away and began to leave.

(A/N)2: in this story, I feel that the main difference between Hayama and Hikigaya's perspectives is that Hikigaya is unaware of how others feel about him and doesn't believe that he is special, whereas Hayama understands how his friends think about him but doesn't think their feelings are important. He views most people as two-dimensional constructs only important in how they relate to him.

Hikigaya and the gang are tired after organizing the other festival, so Shiromeguri doesn't ask them to do the sports festival.