Hachiman POV

My childhood… It can be summed up as your everyday sob story that you read online, especially if you were to read those… Doujins that Japanese love to make featuring ntr. A mother that got stolen by dicks, a spineless father that focused on himself only, and 2 kids that were caught in the mess.

How ironic that the people here, the very people who produce that shit, would stigmatize you if they find out you were in a ntr situation, even though you were the innocent victim.

…Well, it wasn't all bad… I met people who I was fine with, had something to focus on, and… Yeah…

…Now… One of those people… The girl that I met at that stupid box… The wild child that grew up to be a beautiful refined girl that wouldn't lose out to the likes of Yukinoshita…

Came back.

…Yeah…

Why did you come back?!

"Shiro Lilly -Yearning Wild Princess."

"49/100 – desire (requirement to upgrade not met!)"

"Shiro Lilly grew up alone in the streets. She was switched at birth with another baby, with her new parents abandoning her when they found out she was not theirs. She grew up on the streets, relying on dumpster diving for food and water, even though she had to occasionally fight other dumpster divers over acquiring essentials. She was later found by her real parents –"

…I don't want to read it again. Please… Please let me just treat you…

As a fond memory… Nothing more than that.

Even though… I really hate you for disappearing like that… You, you… You were one of the reasons that pulled me whenever I felt like giving up… To introduce you to Komachi as a surprise… To comfortably bring you into the house…

But now… Now, just why did you come back… I -

"…Hachiman…?"

I blink then look around to see that I had stopped in front of the library… Even though I wanted to go to the cafeteria. I know that the place would be full but I'm starving and –

"…Hachiman…"

…Yeah, stop trying to run away Hachiman… When has running away actually solved a problem… Rather it just makes things worse. Source = kid Hachiman.

I take a deep breath, exhale, then turn around to face my childhood acquaintan – friend, rather somebody that looks familiar, yet at the same unfamiliar. I see her slight flinch as she looks away from me in the exact way that reminds me of when we first met… She crashing into me.

…Fun times.

"Hey… Looks like you haven't lost your ability to smile, Hachiman."

…Huh? I'm smiling? Oh… Guess I was.

"Heeeyy, don't hide your smile… Come on, smile more."

"…No."

"Awwww… Remem – I mean, you look cool when you smile!"

A small version of her pops out beside her, this one grinning, "Smile more! You look cool!" Yelling in her broken Japanese way… Me futilely teaching her how to correctly talk… Her throwing random junk whenever she didn't like me teaching her…

My mouth opens by itself and spews out words, faster than my brain could stop them, "Why did you leave?" I quickly close my mouth in a vain effort but the damage was already done.

Immediately, I see her whole body flinching with her face falling. She doesn't turn her face to me but only takes quick glances while her mouth quivers. She opens and closes her mouth over and over with her tongue sometimes popping out until I hear the quietest word.

"…Sorry…"

…Why did I say that?! I already know the fucking reason! Her fucking parents found her and took her back! That! Done! The reason! There is no need to make her feel guilty over something she has no control of!

I

"I'm so… So sorry I disappeared, Hachiman… I-I-I… I! –"

I interrupt her by holding up my hand, "Let's… Just forget about it." Then quickly turn around to resume walking.

This is the most logical course of action to move on from an awkward interaction. Both of us will descend into quietness, then continue on with the tour of the place. She's going to be fine here. She's -

The feeling of something grabbing my hand interrupts my thought, then a force pulls me back, causing me to almost trip but something stops my fall.

"Oof… You've gotten heavier and stronger than before…" I hear her quiet and soft voice that almost made me instinctively relax, yet I quickly widen my eyes then try to get away from her.

"H-Hachiman! P-plea – oh fuck it! Calm the hell down, Hacchin!"

…Huh?

"Finally calmed down! Jeez, I should have talked to you like this in the first place! Not as a stupid elite member of a stupid high class bullshit."

…Oh right, I forgot… Shiro likes to use swear words as if she's a sailor. The bio didn't say that and the sight of her acting refined and prim just kinda… Made me forget.

I blink at her then she sighs, "…I'll let go now but please don't run."

I slowly nod at her, prompting her to release her hold on my head then I quickly move away from her chest. I let out a sigh of relief then I look up to see her lightly smiling at me.

"You're… Still the same Hacchin I know…" She quietly mutters, probably not intending for me to hear but I do…

I do… Same, huh?

Before I can say anything, she continues in a normal yet slightly hesitating tone, "I… Know that I disappeared all of a sudden… A-and you have every… Right to hate me b-but! Please, please know that I didn't mean to!" Her eyes start to glisten at the end, causing a slight stab of pain in my chest.

I open my mouth to say something but she continues in a more desperate tone with tears streaming out, "I-I, my parents found me, Hacchin! Not those stupid fakes that abandoned me but my real parents! I was just sleeping then I hear voices then stomping then-then-then –"

This time, I interrupt her by pulling her into a hug… A hug I just feel like it's the correct decision. Her tightening over me makes me even more convinced.

"I-I-It was hard! I had to learn everything in an unknown territory! Piano, dancing, everything! I had to become the perfect daughter for my parents! Somebody fit to be their daughter! I-I-I-I –" Her voice turns into incoherent sounds that for some reason stabs right into me as she burrows into my shoulder.

"I… I'm just glad you haven't changed…"

…Just for this time… I'm thankful for the system getting rid of other people here…

I don't want people to see her face right now…

*PHFPHFPHF*

A/N

oooooohhh boy, apologies for the almost 1 month gone... Uni life really sucking my soul up. Welp, with that out of the way, Shiro is coming in with her own bag of luggage! Life just doesn't like leaving people with no baggage, eh? Oh, right, if you want to know what Shiro looks like, go over to my wattpad or ao3 side to see an AI art of her (I suck at drawing and I don't have money to pay an artist). Anyway on to the comments!

nhehvnuki - indeed

ptyre - wow, I... I'm really speechless. I really like the guy's works and to have one of my reader be reminded of him... Just... Wow

- here you go

Baixiaochung2910 - *gentleman's bow* a pleasure

CMY187 - good to see you back. Always love reading your reviews

CrazyxEnigma - yep. Yep. Yep and lol. Yep