Chapter 16 Part 1: And So, He Returns From Whence He Came
Foreword: I hope you all are doing well this new year. I'm Mayflower Productions, here with a shorter installment of Infinite Loner. It's been a while since I released a chapter so short, but I have an explanation. Chapter 16 in its initial form was way too long, and I still had some unanswered plot points from last time that needed to be answered. I made the executive decision to combine a few different ideas to create what you see today. The conclusion of this arc will come at a later date... In other news, this story is approaching 100,000 words. Hooray! I would like to thank everyone for reading Infinite Loner, and I hope you will continue enjoying the story in the future. And now... Infinite Loner Chapter 16 Part 1: And So, He Returns from Whence He Came.
Disclaimer- I do not own Infinite Stratos, Oregairu, or any other intellectual properties that may appear in this story. Please don't sue me.
Infinite Loner- POV shift, line break "How could you..."- Dialogue
Interlude: Regardless, Orimura Ichika Remains...
"I wasn't expecting you actually to show up today, Ichika." Two boys sat in a room, their faces laser-focused on the television before them.
"Uh, you're the one who invited me over, though." They were in the middle of a daunting struggle...
"Ichika, you just don't get it." A round of their favorite pastime, Infinite Combat, the most popular IS fighting game around.
"What?" Outside their conversation, the only sound that could be heard was the vigorous mashing of controllers, as the two teens each vied for the upper hand.
"*sigh* I thought IS Academy would have dominated your schedule, yet here you are." One teen with ruby-colored hair and a bandana asked his friend about any previous responsibilities. The two hadn't seen each other for a while, so they were currently reacquainting themselves.
"Well, it's been a while since I visited the house, and you live nearby, so..." The other boy whose charcoal-black hair and amber eyes were glued to the game, responded.
"Ok, you're not the sharpest guy out there... Now take this, my ultimate attack!" An opportunity emerged, and the redhead, Gotanda Dan, seized his chance to strike.
"No, my hitpoints!" The ravenette, Orimura Ichika, complained, losing the initiative in their squabble.
"So, how is it?"
"Huh?"
"I mean living every man's dream of attending an all-girls school? Kazuma was really jealous when we learned about you stumbling upon that IS." Dan pivoted their discussion towards other matters, mainly Ichika's high school life. Their mutual friend complained mightly once he learned the fate of Brunhilde's younger brother.
"I don't think he understands what I'm going through at the Academy. It isn't a walk in the park, you know?"
"Enlighten me then, the honorable Ichika-sama... Tch, I can't believe I fell for your feint."
"Tsk, tsk, your first mistake, Dan, was underestimating my skills. Just because we're apart doesn't mean I've grown soft. Now, what were you saying?"
"IS Academy."
"Oh, yeah about that, in all honesty, it's a mixed bag. Sure, all my classmates are beauties in their own right, but sometimes they get a bit annoying."
"In what way?"
"Four words, Orimura Ichika Fan Club."
"You, have a following? Are you kidding me? Hah, hah, hah! That's the best joke I've heard all year!"
"Dan, I'm not joking, I was walking to the cafeteria one time, and they swarmed me like a hive of bees while chanting my name. It was horrifying."
"You're serious?"
"Yes."
"Maybe it's not all sunshine and rainbows, but from what I've heard there are at least some familiar faces sprinkled in, like that one girl... you said she did kendo..."
"Houki, Shinonono Houki, my first childhood friend?"
"Yeah, her. Weren't you two separated for a while? How is the reconnection going along?"
"I guess everything's fine; she helped me out with some IS stuff earlier on and she sometimes gives me a bento (Translator's Note: boxed lunches)." Ichika absentmindedly explained without considering the ramifications of his words.
"A girl makes you a handmade bento, and you feel apathetic about it?"
"What's the big deal, Dan? I'm grateful for what Houki does, and besides, she said the lunches are only to help her practice cooking. It's not like I'm fleecing her for it."
"Even after middle school, you're still hopeless... Speaking of the past, doesn't Rin also attend the Academy?"
"She transferred into the class next door, why do you ask?"
"So she knows about your whole arrangement with Shinonono?"
"Why wouldn't she, we all usually eat lunch together."
"*sigh* You're such an idiot, Ichika... But how do you like this, the 10-hit waltz of Blue Tears?"
"Woah, I didn't see that one coming, I couldn't even react in the Rafael Revive. Actually, now that you brought up, familiar classmates..."
Unbeknownst to the two boys, the door behind them is flung open, revealing, "Onii-chan, have you seen."
"Ever heard of knocking, little sister?" Dan turns to answer the new arrival.
"What's the point; it's not like..." Her voice trails as she spots the unusual presence of one...
Orimura Ichika, "Sorry for the intrusion, Ran." He apologizes for his sudden appearance at the Gotanda household.
The girl glances down at her casual dress of loosely fitting shorts and strokes her unkempt scarlet hair... 1, 2, 3. A heavy blush begins to overtake her face as she stutters, "I-Ichika-san, what are you doing here?"
"I had to visit the house and was in the area." He replies, unaware of Ran's embarrassment.
"Oh, you weren't ready for "Ichika-san's" surprise visit, Ran?" However, Dan understood the situation and teased his sister.
"Nii-san," Ran, upset at her brother's efforts, glared at him through a thin smile.
"I wonder what's up with those two?" Yet within the sibling's storm, one man sits there oblivious to it all, as just like Newton's Gravitational Constant, he never changes.
Infinite Loner
"You wouldn't believe how glad I was to have a reliable friend at IS Academy," I explained to Dan, as we had just finished eating lunch in his family's restaurant and were relaxing with cold glasses of tea.
"N-now who would that be Ichika-san? Y-you're obviously not referring to Rin, aren't you?" Ran had also joined us, and asked me for an elaboration of my statement. I don't understand why her voice is so strained, almost as if she's holding in something. I hope she isn't sick.
"Oh, poor little sister, I think you know exactly who Ichika is talking about. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots."
"Smash!" I heard a loud noise.
"Ouch, what was that for, Ran?" Dan looked hurt as he nursed his leg.
"Oh, nii-san, you're such a card."
"No one even says that anymore... you must really be in denial then."
"You two are as lively as ever. If only the whole quartet was here."
"Quintet, you're missing someone, Ichika."
"How could I forget, it was you, Kazuma, Rin, me, and..." I trailed on the last member of our middle school group.
"Hikigaya-san, wasn't it?" Ran answered in that same forced tone.
"Yeah, even though he wouldn't admit it, Hachiman was part of our group for a bit. I remember all the times we visited this restaurant together." I warmly remarked. Those were good times, the first year of middle school.
"Now that's a face you don't see very often. How have you been, Ichika?" Another person joins our table, Dan's grandfather... Now that I think about it, excluding high school and studying for the entrance exams, I haven't had much time to myself recently. Well, summer vacation is just around the corner, so I don't have to worry.
"Oh, you know, I'm hanging in there. I had a day off from the Academy, so I decided to stop by after checking up on the house." Speaking of my previous residence, there was so much dust building up when I got there. It took almost an hour to clean it all, I guess a lot can happen in a few months.
"So that boy isn't with you today? I thought you male pilots were inseparable."
"I thought about bringing him along, but he seemed to be occupied with other matters." The Detective Club immediately came to mind as I spoke. They always have something new going on whenever I visit. Apparently, Mary tried to investigate the mystery behind... what's her name, Miss Casual's sweatshirt, just the other day. I wonder if she found an answer?
"I see then. What a shame though, he and Ran always got along so well."
"Jii-san, don't say it like that!" Ran whined with a little color dusting her face. She must be really embarrassed, huh?
"What, you don't want your precious Ichika-san learning about your true nature..." Dan interjected, with a teasing grin.
"Wack!" Ran used the platter that held our drinks and slammed it into her brother's face, and he doubled over... Ooh, that must sting.
"Hah, hah, hah." I started laughing at his crumpled state. It was always a treat to visit the Gotanda household and listen to their lively discussions. Sometimes I felt a little jealous of Dan and Ran, or even Komachi and her brother, for having such an intimate relationship as siblings... It's not like I hate Chifuyu-nee or anything, but the age gap between us definitely limited those friendly interactions. Even to this day, I feel as if I'm nothing more than a burden to her, first the Mondo Grosso incident, and now IS Academy, where I can't fend for myself. If it wasn't for Hachiman, who knows how weak I would be... Come on Ichika, we can't go there, it's time to step out of his shadow and prove that with the tournament coming up. Charlotte is depending on us, after all.
"Ichika, are you in there?" I heard a voice call out to me... Dan was trying to gain my attention, and he recovered from his earlier blow. That's some endurance you've got there, I wish my energy consumption was that impressive... Byakushiki is so thirsty.
"Yeah, I was just thinking about something," I replied... Geez, I almost lost myself monologuing. Who am I, Hachiman?
"W-what could that be I-Ichika-san?" Ran stutters while voicing her thoughts. Why is she acting so reserved all the time?.. Hold on, now that I think about it, she's only like this around me. Does this mean Ran thinks of me as a stranger?
"You don't have to be so stiff, Ran. We've known each other forever." I attempting reassuring her by flashing a small smile. I'm not the best at reading people, but a gesture like this should ease her worries, right?.. Man, I wish Hachiman was here... Dang it, I keep falling into that routine.
"N-no it's not like that, Ichika-san. You might be my senpai soon so I have to show you the appropriate respect."
"Hey, I'm the same age as Ichika, so why don't you treat me nicely, or even Hikigaya for that matter? You're nothing but a..."
"Nii-san, I'm sure that Hikigaya-san wouldn't appreciate your talking behind his back, now would he?" Ran's eyes hollowed out as she stared at Dan... Her gaze felt weirdly familiar, almost reminding me of my classmates in IS Academy... But why?
"So, what do you mean by senpai, Ran?"
"W-well, you see, I plan on attending IS Academy next year, so..."
"Oh, you're trying to get into that school too. Well, if that's what you want, good luck. If you need help with studying for the exam, you can ask..."
"Ask..." She repeated in anticipation of my following words.
"Hachiman, as he's surprisingly good at teaching."
"Oh, I see... Tch." Is it just me, or did Ran click her tongue while replying? It must be my imagination, right?
"*sigh* Why are you always so hopeless, Ichika." Dan sighed in resignation.
"Huh, what are you talking about, as Hachiman got like a perfect score on the written exam. He's qualified." I stated, completely confused. Hachiman was a reliable option to turn to for extra help. I, on the other hand, am a horrible teacher.
"I guess some things never change."
Regardless, Orimura Ichika Remains... The Protagonist.
Infinite Loner
Interlude: The King of Misfortune
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!"
"Achoo!" Three girls sneezed in unison as they stood outside a familiar high school gate. Their immaculate white uniforms, and deep frowns, separated them from the surrounding crowd.
"Well, well, if it isn't the infamous Hikigaya-kun."
"Yukinoshita Yukino." The object of their disdain was a pair of teens; one a girl with red ribbons tied in her long hair, and a boy wearing golden sunglasses and grasping a bulky gauntlet. Yes, it was clear that the three girls were locked onto...
"Hachiman."
"Hikigaya-kun."
"Hachi-kun." The unfortunate loner of IS Academy, reluctant Detective Club member, and holder of the Undefeated Champion, a new third-generation IS... Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Do you see how recklessly he's acting, partially deploying his IS in public? I thought I trained him better than that." The first observer, a girl, wearing a green ribbon, noted with her eyes drilling into Hachiman's back. 'Just because we don't work together anymore, doesn't mean he can do something to tarnish the Academy's reputation. Someone needs to keep him in check... like me.' She thought.
"I am also quite disappointed with his behavior. A class rep should not exercise such negligent care in conducting himself. Not to mention associating with that unsavory... creature." The second observer, a blonde who carried herself with a slight haughtiness, shared the same disapproval with Hachiman. However, her focus was directed more towards the unathletic boy wearing a trenchcoat standing beside the male pilot. 'I am appalled to see him associate with such riff-raff, it will stunt his development into a positive contributor to society... This leech only confirms my fears that a more active approach is necessary with the loner.' She concluded.
"Hey isn't that Yukinoshita-san from Class 1-3? What she's doing here? Don't tell me Hachi-kun is cheating on me?.. That would be unacceptable." Finally, the third observer whose brown twintails swayed slightly in the wind, coldly asked her associates while glaring at the girl standing before Hachiman, Yukinoshita Yukino. 'This is bad, they're all starting to swarm him. I stop looking for a second and Yukinoshita of all people is interested in him. I'm supposed to be his number one, and I won't allow anyone to get between us... Heh, heh, heh.' Unlike the others, she felt threatened by the Yukino's appearance, fearing that her childhood friend would be taken away by the Ice Queen, so her thoughts reflected such worries.
"We can't let this stand, right? Hachiman is violating Academy regulations and betraying our trust."
"Yes, Hikigaya-kun must be stopped!"
"Now that's something I can get behind!" All three observers came to the same conclusion, intervention, and they confidently marched towards their target.
Oh, Hikigaya Hachiman, your seemingly abysmal luck still hasn't hit rock bottom just yet. It's as you like to say, "Fukou da."... Fukou da, indeed.
[Interlude End]
Infinite Loner
"My ally, there appears to be a storm approaching our location," Zaimokuza noted as he cowered behind my back... I know he isn't the most outgoing person out there, but why is he using me as a shield; in terms of our social skills, I'm not much better than him... Well, at least he's honest about his intentions. More so than I ever was... If I had half a mind, I would have ignored Komachi's request when it involved leaving IS Academy. The outside world is horrifying, especially when paired with my annoying classmates.
"*stare*~." And the Ice Queen is still glaring at me. She's been like this for a while after noticing my presence... It's almost as if she's looking through me to the school gate in the distance, but why? Is something bothering her?.. And before anyone claims the contrary, I am not interested in Yukinoshita. It's just that if I can figure out her issue, she might let me go... Regardless, my dilemma is partially self-inflicted, as I glanced down at my right arm and noticed its bulky attachment. Why did I even partially deploy the Undefeated Champion again... Oh, right, Komachi told me to, and as a great onii-chan, I can't deny any of her requests.
"Is there something on my face, Yukinoshita? I thought the Shades covered up my fish eyes."
"*sigh* Bakagaya-kun, how about you use your rotting brain for once? I know it's difficult for someone like you, but please try your best." Hold on, why are you exasperated? My entire day has been a catastrophe if you couldn't tell. I just wanted to laze around for once, but of course, the Rom-com Gods believed otherwise... *sigh* This is why I avoid Yukinoshita at all costs, as she somehow wove subtle insults into every conversation... And that small smirk she wears, it's almost like she enjoys tearing me to shreds. Is the Ice Queen a sadist?
"Hikigaya Hachiman, we're here to get you..." Again, that frigid breeze returns. Where is it coming from?..
No, no, no. This can't be happening. I turn to face Kanzashi ("Did you pick up anything?") my gaze asked... And she shook her head in denial... So they found me without IS... At least I can go down with my brother in arms... Huh, where did Zaimokuza go?
"We shall meet again on the next battlefield, Hachiman!" That delusional chuuni abandoned me... *sigh* The worst part is that I can't really blame him for doing such a thing. If our positions were reversed, I wouldn't help him either... Heh, never change Zaimokuza, never change.
"Fukou da..." As always, I'm infinitely alone.
Infinite Loner
"If I'm not careful, IS Academy will overwhelm me one of these days," I complained as I walked off the Academy monorail, with the day nearing its end. Thankfully my return ride from Chiba was not hectic since all my classmates decided to leave me alone after what happened at Sobu.
[Flashback]
"Without further ado, we will be taking our leave."
"Wait, where are you going, Komachi? We just reunited for the first time in months. Do you not want to spend some quality time with your onii-chan?"
"So it's true that he has a sister complex. You were right, after all, Rin."
"When am I ever wrong, Charles?"
"Oh, I must have missed telling you. I already made plans for today... Oops, I'm such an airhead... Teehee~."
"With who?"
"Everyone here, silly."
"Hold on, so you would rather talk with the ojou-san, Senpai, and the Ice Queen than me?"
"I do not appreciate your unkind assertation that I am unlikeable, Hikigaya-kun."
"This coming from the same person who has how many friends?..."
"... The way you phrased the question is imprecise... There are many definitions to the word "friend," some of which I may meet..."
"Hmm, do I hear zero?... Woah, why are you pinching me, Komachi."
"Minus 100 points! I don't like how you are bullying poor Yukino-san."
"Bullying? She does worse to me on a daily basis."
"That doesn't matter, gomi-chan!... And I will see you later. Come on, ladies, let's go."
"What are you waiting for, Dunois?"
"But I am not a girl."
"Sure, and Ichika is emotionally intelligent. We're leaving."
"Well, today was fun, Senpai. Hopefully, I'll see more of you soon... as the bridge to meeting Orimura Ichika."
"They are gone... I am alone. I never thought such a moment would ever arrive."
[Flashback End]
They even kept Komachi and that mysterious girl, Isshiki, company, apparently going "window shopping," so I could rest easy. Despite their numerous flaws, the ojou-san, slave-driver, among others, could take care of themselves without a problem... Still, it was hard to see Komachi walk away without her onii-chan's help. I almost cried. Alas, that is just life at work, as the chick spreads out its wings, flying farther from the nest. Don't worry, Komachi, even if my chaperoning is obsolete, I'll take care of pest control. You can't count on me!
As for how I spent my day, I obviously shadowed the girls at the mall, so I could inspect their treatment of my little sister... Ok, that was only a secondary motive, as I mainly wanted to purchase some new light novels and manga to read. The book store just conveniently happened to be located near the department stores they visited... I'm not stalking Komachi; who do you take me for, Cecilia Alcott? Hah, hah, hah... they barely passed my tests.
After a few hours of perusing the shelves and enjoying a quiet lunch at Saize, the miracle of globalization that offers affordable international dining, I left the mall and returned home to organize my spoils. Obviously, no one was there to greet me except Kamakura, who took one sniff of me and scratched my face. I can't believe you, Kamakura; I thought we were friends now... Apparently, he didn't share that opinion.
I felt nostalgic walking into my room and seeing that nothing had changed. All my plans for being productive failed as I sat on my bed and immediately fell into a deep sleep. When I arose an hour ago, my body felt like it coursed with energy, not too dissimilar to the effects of a Senzu bean... I wish I had a supply of those; they would make the Demise Club a lot more tolerable.
And so I gave Kamakura one final salute as I ran out of the house to catch the next monorail; I feared that waiting too long would lead to me running into my classmates and my stress consequently rising.
This brings me to the present as I passed IS Academy and made my way to the dorms. The setting sun showered the path before me, lined with trees and bushes in a warm light... Now that I look at it, the landscaping department worked well planning out their design; there are numerous potential hideouts if I'm ever followed... Oh yeah, it also looks nice or something.
Hopefully, I can make it to my room without any trouble, which is highly dependent on Orimura-sensei being unaware of my exploits at Soubu. I can only imagine what would happen if she found out... *shivers*. I'm not interested in running laps until I collapse.
"You're wasting your talents here, Instructor!" If I'm not mistaken, that sounds like an upset child-soldier. That is something I have no interest in seeing, but... I activated "Stealth Hikki" and dove into a bush beside me. If I continued walking, I would likely trigger some annoying flag, but I won't do such a thing.
"Hmm, enlighten me," through my improvised shelter, I saw an unenthused Orimura-sensei roll her eyes at the child-soldier. It appears that I've stumbled upon a secret discussion. *sigh* My luck is just the worst.
"The students here treat IS like a fashion statement and are clearly unworthy of your teaching. Those other "National Representatives" are but children compared to everyone back home. We need your instruction in Germany again!"
"I see you've become someone important in our short absence. A naive girl deluded with thoughts of being "a chosen one" at the age of fifteen."
"Why are you even teaching in such a Far East backwater?"
"I have my reasons."
"Is it that miserable younger brother of yours who dashed your hopes of repeating as Mondo Grosso champion?" Mondo Grosso champion, why does that sound familiar? ("Third years since they were scouted for vacancies in National or Corporate Representatives or entry into the prestigious Mondo Grosso competition, which is basically the Olympics with IS pilots."). Oh, how could I forget, it was that highly televised fight for the world's best pilots. It was also where nee-san earned her title as the "Brunhilde," and Ichika had his... incident.
"That is part of my decision." Huh, what is nee-san implying by that statement? I thought her whole world revolved around Ichika, like the planets around the sun? You could say that she's Ichikacentric? Get it, because...
"Don't tell me you're staying in this miserable school because of him? He's a waste of space that amounts to nothing before me."
"*sigh* You just don't understand, Bodewig. Ichika is my strength, not a weakness; I wouldn't be the person I am today without him." Is that a rare smile from the stoic Orimura-sensei? Incredible.
"Instructor, he's holding you back! Why will you not understand that?" Bodewig exclaimed, her face nearly breaking into tears... I really shouldn't be here.
"It appears that you still hold onto that flawed notion of strength. I thought the brat would have at least changed that part of you... Come on out, I don't believe your sister would appreciate her precious onii-chan becoming a stalker!" Nee-san barked towards my location. How did she know that I was watching? "Stealth Hikki" should be undetectable.
"*rustle* I just wanted a quiet walk back, Orimura-sensei." I groaned while moving out of the bush.
"H-Hachiman..." The soldier stuttered, clearly surprised at my sudden presence, her face still flustered. *sigh* I know that my eyes are not the most visually appealing, but please don't cry, Bodewig, you'll make me feel bad.
"Tears aren't very befitting for a soldier, you know~?" I tried to break the tension with a joke.
"...Stupid, moronic, heartless, Hachiman!" And she ran away, blushing up a storm while chastising me... I understand that she had a sheltered childhood as a soldier but, how is "Hachiman" an insult?
"That was unexpected, Hikigaya."
"I know, right, to think that Bodewig was a snow maiden."
"So, brat, I heard something interesting today."
"Uh, what could that be, Orimura-sensei?"
"Two words... Soubu High."
"Before you jump to the nuclear option, nee-san, I can explain."
"20 words or less." Nee-san glared, clearly expecting me to answer. Ok, less than 20 words...
"It was all Komachi's fault. She lured me into a trap and weaponized her cuteness. I couldn't resist." 18 words. I did it!
"You're seriously going to blame your sister, Hikigaya?"
"Yes." I'm sorry, Komachi, but I am not willingly suffering any of nee-san's punishment. Not even my onii-chan instincts can stop me... Yes, the laps are that terrifying.
"*sigh* You're such a mess, Hikigaya." And from that sigh, my plan succeeded, and I can live to see another day. Hooray for Hachiman!
Ok, now that my well-being is taken care of, "Nee-san, can I ask you a question?"
"It's, "Orimura-sensei" on campus, but what?"
"Why did you pair me with Bodewig? What good would come from it?"
"...I saw a few similarities between you two and thought that your presence would sand off some of her rough edges."
"Sure, we're both loners, but what else do we share in common? I had a "mostly" normal childhood (read: complete disaster), and she was raised to be a weapon. There is a clear separation there."
"Don't overthink it, Hikigaya, just know that I had my reasons and that your mission is to help Bodewig. You've seen her warped personality, and I fear that it could explode at any moment." So Orimura-sensei is expecting me to be her puppet and do her bidding, just like Senpai tries to... Now I get it.
"Before you leave, Orimura-sensei, I have something else to ask. For the upcoming tournament is friendly-fire or team damage enabled?"
"Yes, it is. Why do you ask?" Ok, that makes things a bit easier.
"Oh, I was just curious; well then, I'll be excusing myself." I turned to walk away towards the dorms... If I couldn't escape being a tool, I may as well take matters into my own hands. Nee-san wants me to help Bodewig, and knowing her, she expects results. Unfortunately, she didn't specify how I was to achieve that end...
"Heh, heh, heh. I guess it's showtime for Plan B." My face darkened as I spoke. Once I start down this route, all my built-up goodwill at IS Academy will evaporate. I'll return to being a friendless loner, hated by the masses. However, it's better if things end up that way. I never needed friends and superficial relationships that crumble under any pressure. "An experienced loner learns to not fall for the same trick twice," rings true in my mind. I stood alone for the better part of a decade, so what's the big deal of adding another three years?..
In the end, the Monster of Logic returns... *sigh* I really do hate myself.
Author's Note: Even though it was considerably shorter, I enjoyed writing this chapter, and experimenting with new techniques. What do you think of the third-person sections, are they horrible, amazing, or something in between? Please write a review so I can refine my writing or follow and favorite, you know the drill. I'm unsure of the next chapter's release, but if you want more of me check out my other story, Catastrophe, which is a more light-hearted tale. I may also be retroactively updating previous installments of this story, so be on the lookout for them. I've been Mayflower Productions, thank you for reading Infinite Loner and until next time, I'll catch you on the flipside.
Preview:
"So Charles, what do you think of this outfit?"
"It looks fine, but why am I here? B-boys don't visit this part of the department store."
"You worry too much... I also have the slightest feeling that this dress would suit you more so than me."
"W-what are you talking about? I'm a boy, Tina."
"You're telling me that you would have rather joined Hachi-kun than us? Who knows what boring things he could be up to?"
"Is it just me, or does that boy near the book store look familiar? I have seen those yellow sunglasses somewhere..."
"Where is he, Yukinoshita-san?"
"Why... Komachi?"
"*sigh* It could be my brother."
"Hikigaya-kun may have his countless flaws, but voyeurism should not be one of them."
"Well, onii-chan is, you know..."
"A sis-con."
"Has an unhealthy attachment to his younger sister." All members of their group sigh in unison, reaching the same conclusion.
"Yes, and so he is afraid of me being seen with boys. Occasionally he shadows my trips to the mall, claiming that he's looking for new light novels..."
"Hachi-kun was like that in middle school too. He never willingly wanted to hang out with me, and I had to drag him away from Komachi."
"I know, I know, it's pathetic, but that's just the type of person onii-chan is."
"Next time on Infinite Loner- Chapter 16 Part 2: And So, He Returns From Whence He Came."
"Achoo! Why does it feel like someone is talking about me? Is it Komachi praising her amazing onii-chan?"
"And that is why I need all your help to fix my brother. Please continue interacting with him, everyone. He won't survive in the workforce, the way he is now."
"*shiver* No matter where I go, that breeze follows... How annoying."
Chapter End