Love. It's a concept I haven't quite figured out yet.

If I were to ask Yukinoshita, she'd probably shoot me a dirty look and insult me repeatedly, before she "enlightens" me. Saying something like, "Love is a psychological attachment to someone or something, though it is highly unlikely that a decrepit being such as yourself would ever experience it."

'…Bitch.'

Not that she'd be wrong in saying this, but I imagine our other club member would disagree and put in her own two cents, saying stupid stuff like "Love isn't just that! Love is…it's a lot of things! You feel happy around what you love, warm too! You never want to leave their side, and umm…your heart can't stop itself from beating fast?"

'…That doesn't sound like love, and more like some heart disease.'

Yuigahama's way with words aside, none of the answers given to me by my imaginary clubmates were wrong per say, but they weren't really what I was looking for.

Their answers were what they thought it was, but what is love to me? …I feel like I almost referen-

Smack.

"Oi." I glare at the pouting Sayori, as I rub the back of my head.

"Hachiman." She says my name with a massive amount of distaste, which only further annoys me.

"Stop using my name like an insult."

"Hmph!" She turns her head away, acting how a child would.

Staring at her, I just sigh. "Damn it, woman…" I mutter under my breath, as I run a hand through my hair. "Fine, I'll just ask. What's got you in such a good mood?"

"Gee, I wonder." She starts, her tone of voice being dryer than any desert on earth. "Maybe the fact that you don't bother listening to me? Like, ever? Honestly Hachiman, are your internal monologues that interesting?"

'...I'm not arguing about this.' Taking a deep breath, I exhale once more. "You're right. I'm…sorry."

My apology seems to have an effect on Sayori, as she stops walking beside me. Stopping myself, I turn back to face her. I'm unable to voice my confusion, her eyes sparkling with wonder as she looks at me.

"Woah…"

"I'm not some unicorn, woman, so stop staring at me like I am." I just continue walking, not really in the mood for her eccentricities.

"Wuh-Wait!" Back at my side, she slaps my arm, much to my ire. "Mou, Hachiman, you're pretty sneaky."

"What?"

"If I didn't know you, I probably would have fallen for you there."

"..."

"..."

"...Shut up, S-Sayori." I sigh again.

"..." Thankfully, she doesn't say anything else and we continue our walk back home in silence.

Outside The Hikigaya Household

"Are you coming over tonight?" I ask, debating on what to make from my limited amount of dishes that I can make.

"But I've been coming over all week, are you sure?"

"What's another day?" I'm honestly surprised she's being so considerate when free food is involved.

"If you say so…I wouldn't want to be a bother."

I stare at her, confused by her sudden self consciousness. "You aren't. We're…" I stop myself from speaking, as I see a bit of my little sister in this girl's sky blue eyes.

Reaching out, I run my hand through her messy hair. "You're not a bother, we're like family."

"...Yeah." Despite my reassurance, Sayori didn't return to her usual self.

Sighing one last time, I reign in both my big brother instincts and my hand as I start heading inside. "Don't be late, or I'll feed Kamakura your portion." I wouldn't, Kamakura was very picky, and I doubt his stomach would agree with human food.

"Eh?!" But, I enjoyed seeing her reactions to my empty threats. "Mou! Stupid, Dummy, Hachiman!"

Night

Having just finished my dinner, I observe the situation before me. Sayori playing with (read: bothering) Kamakura, and Kamakura doing his best to escape.

"Come on, Kama-kun~...Come to big sis Sayori."

An older, grown up Sayori comes to mind, but I purge the image faster than it appeared. 'I could never imagine this woman as a "big sister".'

"Oi." Grabbing her attention, Kamakura takes the chance to escape, not before looking back at Sayori with fear in his eyes.

"Hm? What is it, Hachiman?"

"...Save them…"

"...We have the entire weekend to ourselves, right?" I ask, just to make sure she's free.

"Um, yeah?"

"...Let's…" Despite my best efforts, I find myself with the words stuck on my tongue. Taking a deep breath, and then exhaling, I try again. "Let's go somewhere."

"Hachiman? Is everything alright? You've been acting weird all day." Sayori approaches me, placing her hand on my forehead as she looks me in the eye with concern.

Slapping her hand away, I scoff. "I'm still sane, woman." Suprisingly. "So, is that a no?"

"...You're not dying, are you? …Please don't die, Hachiman!" She says on the verge of crocodile tears, as she shakes me by the shoulders.

"Oi, I'm not above hitting you." I threaten, releasing myself from her grip.

"Yeah? Then, stop acting so weird! You're like, actually scaring me!"

"Whatever. Suit yourself."

"..."

"..."

"...I never said no…" I resist urge to sigh, and instead look back at her.

"Hmm." I nod, making sure not to show any emotion on my face.

"You're still acting strange."

"...You have a key, lock the door. Be ready tomorrow morning." Walking out the dining room, and out into the hallway, I make my way upstairs and into my room.

Closing the door behind me, I sit down on the floor with my back to the door.

In a rare moment of weakness, I allow myself to to break. "...F-Fuck." I curse. 'I hate this…I hate it.'

Even if this place is real, that didn't change the origin of the people here. She was…the childhood friend who had feelings for the main character. A character archetype I had seen many times before, and obviously saw in her.

…and I was leading her on.

'I hate…myself.'

Mall

"This one? Or, how about this one?" Sayori holds up two different sundresses, one blue, the other orange.

"...It's late november. Do you have any idea how cold it's getting?" She continues holding them up, obviously unsatisfied with my response. "Seriously? ...Fine. The blue one would match nicely with your eyes, but I would say orange suits you better despite that."

I revel in the surprised look she sends my way. Who knew you'd pick up these things after a while? Ah, but I have my little sister to thank for that.

"Okay! I'll get both." This girl…why even ask then?

"Why? You won't get the chance to wear them until a couple months from now."

"Well, they're super cheap! It's a seventy-five percent discount!"

"Let me guess…I'm paying?"

"Yep!" She says, popping the p in an annoying fashion.

"Wonderful." I dryly comment.

My complaint didn't actually hold any weight, seeing as it refilled itself everyday. I'm assuming I had the devil named Monika to thank for that. So, I was complaining for the sake of complaining.

"Oooh…Hachiman! Look! Look!" Sayori immediately pulls my arm the second we're out the store.

"I'm looking." Following Sayori's other outstretched arm, I find myself staring at a thirty-one, or Baskin Robbins. "Is your head full of rocks? What part of late november is so hard to understand?"

"Pleaaase~?" As if that'd work on m-

Jingle~

"Two mint chocolate chip cones." I order.

"Any toppings?" The worker asks, with a shake of my head they start on our cones.

Park

Carrying the bags from today's…outing in one arm, I use the other to enjoy my cone. 'Nothing like eating ice cream in already cold temperatures.' Looking to my left, I notice Sayori having the time of her life eating.

Her eyes seem to find something as she turns back to me. "Hachiman, Hachiman…"

"What?"

"My feet hurt, let's sit." She says, making the best pained expression she can.

"Here?" I ask, looking around at the ground.

"No, dummy. On a bench." Finding one wasn't too difficult, so we took our seats and quietly enjoyed our respective cones.

Sayori, ever the glutton, finishes hers first. " Hachimaaan…" She groans out, leaning in my direction.

"Here." I stuff my cone in her face, much to her own enjoyment. Anything to keep her quiet.

"Fanks!" Or not.

For some reason, Sayori had stopped eating, but remained silent. I didn't bother asking her what was wrong, and instead took this moment to rest my weary feet. 'Five hours of nonstop walking and standing…please forgive me, body-san.'

"Sayori?" Hm?

"Hmph?! Nachuki?"

"Oi, you'll ch-choke at this rate." I warn her, slightly uncomfortable with my choice of words. Turning my gaze to the one who addressed Sayori, light pink orbs find my own.

"Who's this?" She asks, and since she hasn't said anything rude yet, I decide to give her an answer.

"Hikigaya Hachiman." I respond curtly.

"...Wait, you're Hachiman?" She knows me? "So you're the one Sayori always talks about." She comments to herself, but we hear her just fine.

"Koff, koff!" Sayori suddenly coughs.

Looking back at her, I just sigh. "Didn't I just say to be careful?" Reaching into one of the bags, I pull out a pocari bottle I bought for myself. "Here."

No longer choking, Sayori thanks me. "Natsuki, what a surprise…" Sayori awkwardly starts.

The pink eyed, and haired for that matter, looks between us with a questioning look. "I'm…not interrupting, am I?"

"You're not."

"Umm…" Oi, don't make this more complicated.

A realization seems to dawn on the girl, before she sends a pitying look towards Sayori. "I think I get it now…Uh, good luck Sayori-senpai."

She nods in my direction, but quickly leaves. 'Good luck? What did she mean?' Despite my questioning her words, the biggest question on my mind was, 'Why was she in her uniform? It's Saturday.'

"Hachiman?" Snapped out of my thoughts, I glance in Sayori's direction.

"Yeah?"

"Could I…" She pauses, obviously deep in thought. "Nevermind."

Checking our surroundings, I finally look at her once I find nothing. "Sayori?"

"Wh-What is it?"

"Are you depressed?"

To Be Continued..?

Canon Omake - That Which Doesn't Reach The Eyes.

Staring into the mirror, the same lifeless orbs stared back at me. "Have to smile…for his sake." The pathetic attempt at a smile collapses upon itself, and all that remains is a pathetic waste of space.

A waste of space that monopolizes her friend's time, and doesn't let them do what they want.

Selfishly making it all about her, and-

Ring~ Ring~

Checking my phone, I read the message I just received.

8man

Made breakfast. Get over here before it gets cold.

Shooting a "kay." I look back at the mirror, the same dead eyes stared into my soul, but a small, yet genuine smile graced my features.

"Remember. It's all for him."

Omake End.

Hm…This is surprising. I've demonically inspired today, believe it or not.

Yep. I wrote this all on Nov 13. Crazy, right? …Crazy?

Now, I forgot to mention this last chapter, but on an even earlier chapter, I said flashback chapters wouldn't last too long. So, that was a fucking lie.

The current loop Hachiman is in is his last, and by the time we go back to him, we'll be…30~50% done with the story. Yeah, but that could change you know?

Oh, and before I forget, please, please, please, let me know of any spelling mistakes, incorrect word usage, or missing words. And I'm talking about all my chapters, past and future ones.

The Omake occurred…at some point in loop 2, before Hachiman popped the question.

Hachiman obviously hates going through with the Sayori route, but would rather sacrifice his ideals than the life of others and his past life with his family and acquaintances.

BTW, fucking hated the beginning. I will never like writing out his monologues. But also, what is love?

Natsuki showed up?! Pog.

Other than that…this is usually the part where I place the last chapters reviews. But not this time. I'll hold off until next chapter. Bye.

Bye bye.