"...Hikki."

…Who the hell was Hikki?

Did she mean hickey? Did I have a hickey? I suddenly became self conscious of my appearance. I started rubbing my neck, feeling for anything out of the ordinary, but I didn't find anything to be concerned about.

Wait, in the first place there was no one around to give me a hickey—not unless Komachi suddenly became a bro-con. Or maybe Kamakura couldn't wait for me to die and started taking bites out of my body prematurely. Damn cat wasn't cute at all.

"Uh, Hikki?" I wondered aloud.

"Oh! Um, sorry, I didn't mean to call you that!" the girl spoke fervently. She rubbed the back of her head nervously, causing her hair to sway. "Um, I just wanted to, like, ask about something…"

"I'll grab a chair for you, uhh…"

My words trailed off into awkward silence as I realized I had no idea who this girl was. She was like an undiscovered Pokémon in my Pokédex, and thus I had no name to call her by. Her typing was probably normie/gyaru, but other than that, I had no info on her.

"No, I'm okay. I won't be here lo—wait, you don't know who I am?!" the mystery girl cried. "We're in the same class!"

"We are?"

Once again, I had never seen this girl before. It wasn't necessarily her fault—she was in no means forgettable with her flashy and attractive appearance—I just never paid attention to anyone in my class. The only time I spoke to the people around me was when we were forced to do group activities, but even then my assigned partner would just go on their phone and ignore me as if I had Adolescence Syndrome. If only I had someone to yell out their love for me in front of the whole school…

"Not knowing the people in your class—how typical of you," Yukinoshita chided, looking up from her paperback. "I believe you're Yuigahama Yui."

"Y-you know me?" A pink hue covered her cheeks like makeup. Apparently, being recognized by Yukinoshita was quite the honor as long as you were anybody but me.

"I know some people outside of my class." She snapped her book shut and laid it flat on the table. "You said you have something to ask us, correct?"

"Oh right! Sorry, I got distracted. So, like, um…" Yuigahama squirmed and fidgeted, her eyes averted from Yukinoshita and I as she tried to find her words. After a moment, she stopped squirming and raised a fist to her chest with a determined gaze. "Are you guys really d-dating?"

My mouth stayed shut; Yukinoshita answered for us.

"We are."

The fist she'd raised dropped to her side lifelessly. Her determined gaze relaxed into downcast eyes that stared at the floor.

"I was too late."

Her lips moved, but from where I was sitting, whatever she said was too quiet for me to hear.

"Is there something—"

"Um!" Yuigahama suddenly interrupted Yukinoshita, looking me straight in the eyes with newfound determination that startled me. "Um… can you help me bake some cookies?"

Huh? What was this sudden shift in topic? I was completely caught off guard by her request.

"Oh, uh, I don't really have any experience with baking. And if you're expecting us to bake them for you, it kind of goes against our M.O., so…"

She frantically waved her hands in front of her chest. "N-no, I know you guys don't do stuff for other people. Hiratsuka-sensei told me that you follow, like, a rule?" Her pupils shifted up as if trying to look at her thoughts. "Like, don't give people rotten fish…?"

"The saying goes, 'Give a man a fish and he's fed for a day, teach a man how to fish and he's fed for a lifetime,'" Yukinoshita corrected. "If you're looking for someone to teach you how to bake, I can assist you. I'm quite confident in my abilities."

"R-really?!" she exclaimed. "Is that okay?"

Yukinoshita nodded and stood from her chair. "Let's head to the home economics room."

"Yep, you guys go have fun." I picked up my book and started to read again, but stopped when I didn't hear any footsteps. I looked up and saw the two of them staring at me. "What? It's not like I'd be of any help anyway. I've never baked before, and as club president, I should stay in the room in case other people come."

Yukinoshita sighed in resignation. Score for Hachiman—my ability to make up excuses to avoid group work was top notch.

"I-it's okay!" Yuigahama stammered. "Actually, it's better if he isn't there with us! Wait, that's not what I meant…"

"Urk…"

I sank further in my chair as the two of them left the room.

X X X

Just as I was getting engrossed in my book, the door rattled open. Every time I tried to read, I'd get interrupted—just what was up with that?

Hiratsuka-sensei strode into the room, her white lab coat flowing behind her like a cape. Her eyes darted around the room until finally resting on me. "Where is everyone?"

"Knock, will you?"

"You don't deserve it." She crossed her arms. "Where's Yukinoshita and Yuigahama?"

"At the home economics room. Yuigahama wanted some help baking cookies." I closed my book. "Shouldn't you know that? You're the one who sent her here, right?"

"I did, but she wouldn't tell me her request. She kept saying it was too embarrassing, so I got fed up and sent her to you guys." She looked at me incredulously. "So why aren't you with them?"

"I don't know how to bake."

"So you're completely free right now?"

I knew what was coming with that question: mom would always force me to do chores if I said "Yes," so I needed to come up with a believable answer to get Hiratsuka-sensei off my back.

Like I said before: my ability to come up with excuses to avoid group work was top notch. I confidently cleared my throat.

"I'm in the mid—"

"Great, follow me."

Without waiting for me, Hiratsuka-sensei left the room as quickly as she entered, leaving no space for negotiation like the tyrant she was. I sighed and followed after her, making sure not to lock the door behind me.

"Where am I being taken this time?"

"The student council. They always have more work than they can handle, so I'm sure they'll make use of you one way or another."

When we reached the council room, Hiratsuka-sensei didn't spare a second to knock: she just slid the door open. I grimaced as I followed behind her confident gait that made it seem like she was simply entering her living room.

"Hiratsuka-sensei!" Shiromeguri's head popped up from a desk. "I didn't know you were coming. How can we help you?"

"I actually came here to help you." Hiratsuka-sensei vice-gripped my skull and forced me forward like I was an unwilling sacrifice to a ritual—which I was. "I found Hikigaya slacking off, so I wanted to see if he could do anything for the student council. And by anything, I mean anything. Clean the toilets, scrub the floors, rearrange papers—whatever. As long as it's work."

"Why don't I get a say in this?"

Hiratsuka-sensei gripped my skull even harder.

Shiromeguri approached me with methodical steps and leaned forward, studying my expression. Suddenly, she lit up and straightened her posture.

"I have the perfect job for him. We have a few posters we've been meaning to hang up at the information boards, but we haven't had the time."

Hiratsuka-sensei smiled. "He's all yours."

She shoved me forward. I almost bumped into Shiromeguri, but she sidestepped and I caught myself on the desk. When I turned around, Hiratsuka-sensei was already leaving, probably off to read whatever manga she kept at her desk.

"Slacking off? I don't think that's very good for a club president," Shiromeguri said teasingly.

"I wasn't really slacking…"

It's true that one of the reasons I stayed behind was because I didn't know how to bake, but the other one wasn't something I could say out loud. It was just that for some odd reason, I felt it'd be better if I wasn't there with them.

"Where are the posters?" I asked, looking around.

"I almost forgot! Give me one second."

Shiromeguri walked over to a cabinet and kneeled, the sound of rummaging papers entering my ears. After a moment she stood up and started to clumsily walk back with a stack of posters in her hands. I met her in the middle and took the stack from her.

"Thanks so much Hikigaya-kun! If I could, I'd spare some time to help you, but…"

"It's no problem." I looked at the topmost poster. It was advertising some sort of joint event that I wasn't interested in. "I just need to post one at every information board, right?"

She clapped her hands together. "Yep! Please make sure to get to the main ones, like the one outside the school and in the lobby."

I nodded and left the room to the cheerful wave of Shiromeguri.

X X X

When I finished hanging up the posters, club hours were already over. As I walked back to the clubroom, I passed students heading in the opposite direction, leaving their respective clubs and heading home. Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were probably done with their baking by now.

The familiar nameplate came into view as I turned the corner. I didn't lock the door when I first left as I didn't know when I'd be back—their things were still in the clubroom after all.

To my surprise, I saw Yukinoshita and Yuigahama inside the clubroom when I opened the door. Yuigahama had gotten out a chair and was on her phone while Yukinoshita appeared to be dozing off. She was almost smiling, completely different from the poker face she usually wore. It was almost enough to make my heart race. Almost.

Yuigahama looked up from her phone and smiled. "You're finally back."

"What're you still doing here?" I turned my head briefly to Yukinoshita. "And why is she asleep?"

Yuigahama laughed apprehensively as she stood and walked over to me, her hands behind her back like she was hiding something. "She got really tired helping me. It was tough baking cookies—I kept messing up with everything, but she still kept trying to help me. S-she was honestly kind of scary…"

I grimaced. "Yeah, I can imagine…"

The corners of her mouth curled up.

"But I still had a lot of fun."

Suddenly, she shoved a bag of cookies in my face. "But, um, the reason I came here today was to make these for you. I-If you weren't there back then, I don't know what would have happened to Sablé. So I baked these as thanks and stuff…"

I was completely blindsided by her thanks. I'd never even spoken to Yuigahama until today, so I had no idea what she was talking about. I racked my brain for any memories that could have involved her, but the neurons that made up my search engine Error 404-ed.

I pointed at myself. "Me? I think you have the wrong person; I don't remember doing anything for you."

She chuckled nervously, then gave me a somber smile that squeezed my chest with guilt. "It's okay if you don't remember. I just wanted to say it."

I didn't know what to reply with; all I could do was accept her sincerity.

I looked at the cookies. The desserts were dark and misshapen, appearing to be burnt. The only redeeming feature wasn't even edible: it was the colorful ribbon that sealed the opening of the bag.

If these were the final product, I shivered imagining what the before looked like.

But I accepted them nonetheless.

I tried my best to smile.

"Thank you."

She returned my smile with one of her own.

"A-anyway, I'll get going now. I hope you guys stay together and… are happy."

With that, Yuigahama shuffled out of the room and disappeared with a turn behind the wall, leaving the sleeping Yukinoshita and I alone.

"What just happened?" I mumbled to myself.

"You really don't remember her?"

I almost jumped hearing that frosty voice. I looked over at Yukinoshita to find she'd woken up. She stretched her arms and yawned, not unlike Kamakura whenever he woke up from his naps.

"Since when were you eavesdropping?"

"When Yuigahama-san offered you her cookies." She narrowed her eyes. "And it wasn't my intention to eavesdrop. I just felt I'd be interrupting if I awoke during your conversation."

"Is that so…"

I didn't have any distrust in her words; I understood completely where she was coming from. In between breaks I would always put my head down to sleep since I didn't have anyone to talk to. But once the people around me started talking to each other, I felt I had no choice but to keep my head down even after I'd woken up.

Yukinoshita yawned again, her eyes producing tears as a byproduct. She used a finger to gently wipe away a tear.

"What did she do that made you so exhausted?"

Yukinoshita brought a hand to her forehead like a visor, partially obscuring her eyes as she rubbed her temple with her thumb. "I won't speak ill of her. Instead, I commend her ability to stay committed despite the insurmountable odds that faced her."

"For a commendation, it sounded pretty backhanded…"

"Nonsense." She furrowed her brow. "And where did you run off to while I was working hard to solve her request?"

"Hiratsuka-sensei came to check on the request, but when she saw me reading alone, she forced me to help out the student council by hanging up some posters."

"So you became their errand boy for the day."

"Shut it."

Yukinoshita smiled slightly as I took tired steps to the end of the table and fell in my chair. I looked at the empty kettle. I thought about making a second cup of coffee, but decided against it in the end.

I turned my head to Yukinoshita. "What you said earlier—when you asked if I really don't remember her—it's like you knew what she was talking about."

"I can make an educated guess."

"Shoot."

"She was attempting to thank you for saving her dog during the car accident."

"Right, the car accident…" The day of the entrance ceremony, I was so excited for a new start in life that I left my house an hour early. While I was riding my bike, I saw an air-headed girl lose control of her dog when an expensive-looking limousine appeared out of nowhere on a collision course with the dachshund. I courageously jumped from my bike and shielded the canine with my body, suffering a debilitating injury that knocked me out of school for three—wait a second, "How do you know about the car accident?"

I never spoke a single word to anyone about the car accident besides from my family. Good deeds were their own reward: I didn't feel the need to go around bragging about it. It's not because I didn't have any friends to brag to, okay? Honest!

"She told me her reasons for giving you the cookies when I questioned her insistence on waiting for you." Her lips curled downwards into a frown. "I believe she thought I was jealous…"

I scoffed. If only she knew the truth.

"And…"

Yukinoshita bit her lip like she was recalling a painful memory. She took a breath and finally let out a phrase.

"…I was there when the accident happened."

I blinked, taking a moment to register her words.

"You were?" I finally said in surprise. "I don't remember seeing anyone else on the sidewalk besides old grannies." It was early when the accident happened after all: most students hadn't left their beds yet and were still in dreamland, or were just getting up for the day.

She shook her head. "Not the sidewalk."

"Where then…?" I mumbled to myself.

After I got hit, I was in so much pain that I couldn't focus on anything happening around me. In fact, I wasn't even sure if I had properly shielded the dog—I only learned it was safe once I was at the hospital. And then the weeks that followed turned into a blur: no one visited me except for my family, so I spent almost all my time reading manga and watching videos on the internet. Actually, while no one visited me, apparently a lawyer representing the owners of the limousine visited my house to formally apologize. I think my parents might have mentioned it offhandedly while I wasn't paying attention. What was the name of the company again? Yugioh? Yamaha…? Something to do with…

I looked up into the eyes of Yukinoshita. "…Yukinoshita Construction and Development."

Her eyelids widened for a split second.

"You were in the limousine," I pieced together.

"Y-yes, I was."

I turned my head towards the wall; I couldn't help but let out a wry smile. What a shitty coincidence. The universe was probably laughing right about now.

"Are you not going to say anything?"

I returned my gaze to Yukinoshita. She was staring at me with a troubled expression, seemingly unnerved by my reaction, or lack of one.

"If I say I despise you because of the accident, are you going to return my list and set me free?"

She blinked, apparently caught off guard by my question.

"No," she said simply.

"Then there's nothing for me to really say, is there?" I sighed. Actually, if she suddenly became nice to me because of the accident, I might've been more pissed.

I looked out the window in thought. "It's not like you were in control of the wheel—you were just sitting in the back. You might as well have been a bystander, no different from the grannies on the sidewalk."

Honestly, I didn't feel any resentment towards Yukinoshita for the car accident. If you think about it from the beginning, it was the airhead's—sorry, Yuigahama's fault for losing control of her dog. Despite not being in the wrong, Yukinoshita's family had paid for my medical bills, so there was zero financial strain on my family after the accident. It's not like I had any regrets from saving that dog, either. If I went back in time, I would've made the decision to save that dog again; it's not like being in the hospital made me miss out on much anyway. Even if I had gotten to experience those first three weeks of school, I probably would've still ended up a loner. What mattered most was that the dog was safe and Yuigahamam's family was happy. Woah, I sounded a lot like a hero there, didn't I? I'd make for a great protagonist.

"Besides," I continued, "I have a better reason to hate you."

Her eyes widened once again, then relaxed into a soft smile as she let out a laugh. The tips of her fingers covered her lips in a faint attempt to conceal her small giggles. Hey, just what was so funny? I really meant what I said.

Finally her laughter subsided. She gazed at me from the spaces between her fingers like a cat peering from between blades of grass.

"Yes, I'm sure you do."

X X X

"Komachi, I'm home!"

I threw my bag to the side and fell on the couch like a corpse. I relaxed and let myself sink into the cushions, my weariness getting absorbed like water to a sponge. I only noticed how tired I was when I had to bike home. If I knew Shiromeguri didn't actually expect me to get to every single information board across the school, I wouldn't have pushed myself so hard.

"Woah, Bro actually sounds tired for once."

I lifted my head to see Komachi leaving the kitchen. She was dressed in her usual green tracksuit, the one she changed into every time she got home without fail, and grasping a steaming mug of probably coffee.

She sat next to my stretched legs and jabbed my calves repeatedly with a finger. I twitched with each pierce despite trying to ignore the sensation.

"Go get changed if you're going to lay on the couch."

"I wouldn't mind a leg massage," I joked.

"That would get me a lot of Komachi points! But sorry, I have to get started on dinner."

"That's too bad… or good? What're we eating?"

"Just curry. We have some curry base and I want to get back to studying soon."

Suddenly, I felt rejuvenated. The weariness in my body was replaced with concern. "If you want to study I can make dinner—you know curry's no problem for me."

I knew she had a lot on her plate: Komachi's midterms were coming up and she was also studying for entrance exams. I knew just how stressful it could be—after all, I went through it myself. Back then, Komachi had just entered middle school and our parents were never home, so I ended up doing most of the household chores while simultaneously trying to cram in enough hours of studying. If I could help it, I wouldn't want Komachi to experience the same thing I did.

I sat up from the couch but she immediately shook her head.

"It's okay," she assured. "Komachi wants to take a break from studying anyway. And Bro is tired from…" She looked at the ceiling in thought. "…the host club?"

"The Service club. What kind of school would Soubu be if we had a host club?"

She shrugged. "Komachi's just happy that Bro's club seems real. I was beginning to think you were lying to do some weird things after school…"

"Is going on after school escapades more believable than me being president of a club?" I said, irked.

She smiled dazzlingly. "Yep! Now go get changed."

Komachi ran back to the kitchen as I dragged my exhausted legs off the couch and climbed the stairs. I tiredly crossed the hallway and entered my room. With a quick flip of the light switch my room was illuminated and I changed into a fresh pair of sweats and a plain t-shirt before heading back downstairs.

Despite having the fan on, the savory aroma of curry permeated out the kitchen into the rest of the house, making me ever more conscious of the black hole that loomed in my stomach. I distracted myself by watching some tv. Before long, it was time for dinner.

"Thanks for the food," we said in unison, and we began to eat. For a while, the only noise in the dining room came from the silverware as we ate in comfortable silence.

"Oh yeah, Bro, you said your club takes requests, right?" Komachi said absentmindedly, breaking the silence.

"If you knew that, why did you accuse me of being in a host club earlier?"

She gently knocked the side of her head with her knuckles. "Oops! Komachi only remembers the important things!"

"I think that's pretty important…" I grumbled. "What would mom and dad think if you told them? My reputation would go down the drain."

"How can your reputation go down if it's already zeroed out?"

"Haven't you heard of negative numbers?"

She stared at me blankly, apparently not finding my joke very amusing.

"Anyway, can I give you a request?"

"Mhm. Even if I weren't in the club, I'd help you out. Woah, that scored high in Hachiman points, didn't it?"

"You'll score higher if you agree even after what I'm about to tell you!"

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"So my friend has a sister—Kawasaki Saki—that goes to your school," Komachi said, completely brushing aside my concern. "But apparently, she became a delinquent after the start of her second year! She's been staying out late every night, and every time my friend asks her where she's been, she treats him really coldly."

"…Him?"

"Yeah! And guess what? He overheard a phone call from a place with the word 'angel' in the name! Sketchy, right?"

"…He?"

"You're making a really gross face right now, Bro."

I relaxed my facial muscles I didn't realize were tense.

"So anyway!" she continued heartily, "He's been wondering how to turn her back to normal. Since you go to the same school, Komachi thought you'd be able to do something!"

I didn't reply immediately. Instead, I scooped a spoonful of curry and deposited it into my mouth. I chewed for a few seconds, stared at the plate in thought, and finally swallowed.

"Sorry, but I can't do anything about it."

Her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Huh? Isn't the whole point of your club to do stuff like this?"

I shook my head. "Not really. Our whole M.O. is to promote self growth. Your request is just asking us to solve the issue for you."

"Then do it as a personal favor!"

"Sorry, but can't do that either."

Komachi stared at me irritably. "But you just said you'd help me out."

"Yeah. Keyword: you. I don't know your friend, let alone his sister. You can't just expect me to get involved in another person's family matters so easily."

Her expression became downcast, my words coming out harsher than I met them to be. I felt a twinge of guilt. I sighed and rubbed the top of her head softly, like I used to do when we were kids.

"Look, Komachi, I'm not trying to be difficult on purpose, okay? There's just things I can and can't do."

She kept her head down.

"…Bro," she finally whispered with a meek voice.

"Yeah?"

"There's other people in your club, right?"

"Hm? There are," I answered, not knowing where she was going with her question.

Her head suddenly popped up, my hand sliding to the side as a bright smile lit up her face. "Then I'll just ask them for help! You'd probably just screw up anyway, Bro."

I felt my blood run cold as she continued to glow. Komachi going to the Service club? That meant she'd meet Yukinoshita. If Komachi somehow found out that I was "dating" her, that'd just complicate things. If you couldn't tell from her request, Komachi had a meddlesome personality; I have no doubt she'd bombard me with questions and then pass on information to mom and dad who'd bombard me with even more questions.

I sighed. Without meaning to, Komachi had checkmated me into helping her out. "Look, I'll help you out, so… just don't go to the club."

"Really?!" she exclaimed. "Thanks Bro!"

I could do nothing but nod glumly, resigning myself to my fate.

"Hey, didn't you say you wanted to get back to studying? Finish up; I'll wash the dishes."

Komachi hurriedly finished her food and put her dishes in the sink. She gave me a brief thanks before running up the stairs to hopefully resume her studies, and I quietly sat alone at the table.

I planted an elbow on the table and rested my head against my palm. The dirty dishes on the tabletop stared back at me.

What a mess.

X X X

The true purpose of those in authority is to delegate work. While they may make decisions, they don't actually do any of the work themselves. They simply assign work to those under them while preparing to take the credit for the fruits of their underlings labor. While those in authority may fight and deny it, it was undoubtedly true. Source: me. Every experience I've had with authority followed the pattern outlined above, and so far, I haven't had any reason to doubt it.

That's why my intention to have Hiratsuka-sensei talk to Kawasaki wasn't laziness, but simply doing my job as president of the Service Club. In the first place, this seemed more like a request for a counselor. Baking cookies and hanging up information pamphlets was more in line with our expertise, not dealing with delinquents.

Besides, Komachi's request was to just turn her back to normal. How it got done didn't matter—Kawasaki just needed to go back to however she was before second year.

Once classes were finished for the day, instead of getting the clubroom key, I asked to talk to Hiratsuka-sensei privately in the staff room. I sent a message to Yukinoshita during the walk, telling her that club was canceled. A prompt vibration in my pocket told me she'd seen the message and responded.

Hiratsuka-sensei closed the door behind us and sat on the small sofa across from me. She reached inside a breast pocket and pulled out a red carton of cigarettes, then quickly pulled out a white stalk. She promptly lit it with a lighter. Pale smoke began to climb the air toward an air vent.

"So? What'd you want to talk about, Hikigaya?" she began, her voice rough and tone anticipating some sort of confrontation.

"Uh, this isn't really about me."

"It isn't?" she said in surprise. "You should've led with that. I lit a cigarette because I thought you were going to piss me off by saying some nonsense about quitting the club."

"It's about someone else, so I didn't want to tell you anything while we were still in the classroom in case people overheard…" I said as I stared at her cigarette. Did I really piss her off that much?

She smiled. "Makes sense. Awfully considerate of you."

"I think that's just normal, though," I thought aloud.

"Mhm. Anyway, tell me what's going on."

I proceeded to parrot everything Komachi had told me the day before. When I finished my explanation, Hiratsuka-sensei put out her cigarette on an ash stray and stood.

"I get it. A student working late into the night is definitely concerning." She smiled confidently. "Don't worry, I'll handle it. Just watch how an adult operates."

"Right now? She's probably heading home already."

"Kawasaki has a habit of napping after classes end; there's a good chance she's still in the classroom. If we leave now, we'll probably see her there."

We left the staff room and speed walked to the classroom. When we arrived, I quietly looked inside. Hiratsuka-sensei was right: Kawasaki was still at her desk. Her head was buried into the crook of her arm as her silver-blue hair spilled down her back into the seat.

I turned around and nodded to Hiratsuka-sensei. I stepped to the side and she entered the classroom, closing the door behind her. I leaned against the wall as I listened in on their conversation.

"Kawasaki."

A pause. Then, I heard a tired, husky voice.

"…Do you want something?"

"I heard you've been getting home late. What're you doing so late at night and why?"

"Who told you that?"

"My source needs to remain anonymous. Answer my question."

Kawasaki breathed a heavy sigh. "Who cares what I'm doing? I'm not bothering anyone."

"Your activities could cause an incident at any time. And you're not bothering anyone? What happens if you get picked up by the cops? Your parents and I will be getting a phone call. Have you thought about their feelings at least once?"

Another pause. It seemed like Hiratsuka-sensei had struck a critical hit.

Finally, a hostile voice broke the silence.

"I don't care about their feelings. And you don't even have kids, so how would you know? Why don't you get married and have kids first before lecturing me?"

"Gagh!" Hiratsuka-sense let out a high-pitched screech like she was a wounded animal. A thump like she had fallen to the ground followed after.

"You need to worry about your own future before worrying about mine. Like finding a husband."

Stop, stop Kawasaki! She's already dead!

The sound of footsteps increased with each step until the door slid open. Kawasaki stepped out into the hallway, her bag strung over her shoulder. She looked me in the eye and glared.

"Tch."

She clicked her tongue and walked away without looking back.

I ran inside the classroom to see Hiratsuka-sensei on her knees and her hands planted on the ground. Droplets of moisture emblazoned the floor just below her face as her hair hung from her head.

"H-Hiratsuka-sensei, are you okay?"

"D-don't try to c-comfort me H-hikigaya," she said between sniffles with a meek voice. "Y-you wouldn't know how I feel."

She slowly stood up with a hunched back. Her eyes were red and moist with tears still forming at the corners of her eyes. "I-I'm going home now."

"O-oh, alright. Good-bye!"

I watched as Hiratsuka-sensei trudged out of the classroom like a zombie. Someone marry that woman already.

I waited until I couldn't hear the clicking of Hiratsuka-sensei's heels anymore before I left the classroom. I stepped into the empty hallway.

"Hikigaya-kun? What're you doing?"

A cheerful voice called out my name, startling me. I turned around to see a twin-braided girl standing with her hands behind her back.

"Shiromeguri…"

AN:

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