Turning back to look at the…the guy's retreating back, I can only open and close my mouth repeatedly. "...Ah." With him no longer here, I curse him. "That…bastard. What the hell's his deal-"
Click.
"Natsuki? What are you..?" Looking back at the door, I find Sayori-senpai peering out through the now half open front door. Though, her eyes are not on me, but looking past me. "...Hachiman? Why…" She whispers, so silently that even I don't quite catch what she said, but even I could tell she was being…uncharacteristically quiet.
Taking the moment of silence to my advantage, I give her a good once over. Doing so, I make an effort not to wince. To say she looked bad, would be an…understatement. Her hair looked like she slept for hours on end, but her eyes disproved that idea, having dark bags under them. …The less said about her, the better. 'That asshole…he did this?!'
"-tsuki. Why are you here?" Sayori's unfeeling voice rings coldly in my ears, a clear difference to her usual happy go lucky tone.
"Ahem. Sayori-senpai, where have you been? Are you alright? …Did that bastard do some-"
"Don't call him that!"
Hearing Sayori-senpai yell at me, strikes me in my core, reminding me of… "...Sayori?"
Realization seems to dawn upon her, as her angry glare is soon replaced by frustrated frown. "...Sorry. It's just…Hachiman isn't to blame for, well, this. It's all my fault, it always is." She reveals, leaving me far more confused than before.
"What? I don't understand. What happened on saturday? What happened in that park? Tell me, please." I ask, now feeling an extreme concern for her.
With a shake of her head, she denies me the answers I need to fully understand what happened. "Thank you, Natsuki, but I'd rather not say." Looking back over at the fence, she smiles sadly. "Please, leave."
This… "Like hell I will!" I argue. "I'm not about to just let you suffer here alone, and not do anything! We're friends!"
The Genuine Route
"-We're Friends!"
Holding back a snort at the anime-like declaration from the pink haired literature junkie, I instead focus on my fellow eavesdropper. "I'm surprised you haven't said anything."
Still dressed in the school uniform, much like Hara and I, is the Club President, Hayashi Monika.
"Well, should I? You obviously went against my wishes, and now our night of planning has become pointless." She starts, obviously exaggerating her displeasure. "Buuut, here we are. Natsuki's too stubborn to give up on Sayori, and in turn Sayori will have no choice but to return to her usual self, for the most part. Which, while not fixing the issue, will push things in the right direction." She smiles, putting her hands behind her back as she leans in closer to me. "Good job, Hikigaya-kun. Would you like a reward for your hard work?"
"Yeah. Back up, you're too close." I tell her, my discomfort obvious as I lean away from her.
"Mou~, you're so boring." She complains, but straightens her posture.
"I'm fine with that, I prefer leading a life of boredom than one of excitement." Her eyes widen, looking at me with…I don't actually know. "...What?"
"You're a good liar." Her smile falls, a serious expression forming. "Do you want to-"
"You're getting off topic. What is it you want, Monika?"
"...Just be careful, okay? You saw her, she's obviously not well, so watch your words." She frowns, upset by our current predicament with our upperclassmen.
"Right." I nod, a shudder going down my spine. "Anything else?"
"You need to forgive Natsuki."
"...I'll keep that in mind."
"You can be so stubborn. You're similar to her in that, but…she didn't and still doesn't know any better. You do."
"Is that all?" My patience tested.
"...Yes. See you soon, Hikigaya-kun."
I grit my teeth. "...Wait." I call out to her retreating form.
"Oh? Are you going to walk me home? Or, even better, are you offering that I can stay the night? Well, Hikigaya-kun? What is it?" She teases, smiling mischievously, but her heart's not in it.
"...Funny." I sigh. "Just…be careful too."
My "concern" seems to put her in a stupor, as her mischievous look is replaced by a stunned expression. "Ah. Ok." She nods stiffly, before turning away, beginning to leave again.
"Who was that?" I hear from behind me.
Tearing my eyes away from the retreating form of Monika's, I meet the creeped out eyes of Hara Natsuki. "...How should I know?" She doesn't recognize her?
"Well…You were talking to them, weren't you?"
"No. Why would I be talking to a complete stranger?"
"Hm…" She stares at my face for longer than I'd like, but I don't crumble under the gaze of someone so short. "Who are you calling short?!" The gaze immediately darkens.
"W-What?" I stutter out, freaked out by her sudden mind reading. "...I didn't say anything, woman." I finally say, with my composure returned.
"...Hmph. Whatever." What is she, bipolar?! "...Listen, I'm–sorry! Okay?!" What is she, bipolar?! Wait, I said that already. "Look, I…You were right. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, especially when I had no idea what actually happened."
"...What did she tell you?" I ask, finding my voice after a momentary pause.
"Well…" Her hesitance made me prop up an eyebrow, curious as to her reasoning behind her sudden and out of character hesitant tone. "I can't tell you everything. I promised her, but I know it isn't your fault-err…mostly."
With a sigh full of frustration, I bite down the desire to make a comment, and instead just respond with a nod.
A silence overtakes us, as we stand in the cold. The last of the sun's rays illuminating the both of us in an orange hue. "It's getting late." I make the obvious observation.
"Hm…" She hums, lost in thought.
"Let me walk you to the station."
"...Eh?"
Chiba Streets
Standing at a crosswalk, we both wait for the light to turn green. Observing my surroundings for a moment, I begin to recognize where I am. 'There.' Just across the street was a place I frequented, Saize.
Simply gazing on at the storefront reminds me of my hunger that I had to ignore up until now. "Oi, Hara." I grab her attention, and somehow her displeasure.
"Ugh, don't call me that. It's just…nevermind. Just call me Natsuki, got it?" These girls are way too pushy about the first name basis.
"Fine. Anyway, I'm getting something to eat." I tell her as we cross, and begin to make our way over. "You want something?" I offer as she continues to follow me, even as we enter the restaurant.
"I…I didn't bring any money." She says, with some embarrassment.
"That's not what I asked." Arriving at the counter, there isn't a line, so we're first in line to order.
"Hello, Dear Customers~. What can I get you both?" Ignoring the obviously fake and forced cheery greeting from the cashier, I make my order.
"A number eight, two drinks, and..?" Turning back to face Ha-Natsuki, I find a conflicted look on her face.
"I…Are you sure?" She leans in to whisper, much to my discomfort.
Good gods, woman… "...Yes, I'm sure." My patience was at an all time low, but I refrained from making a scene or snapping at her.
Letting her order, I pulled out my wallet, which had been filled to the brim by the magical club president. 'I…I blame you for all of this, Zaimokuza.'
Waiting for her to finish eating, I stare out to the sidewalk where salarymen and everyday civilians walk by. '...Ones and zeroes. What a wonderful way to think.'
"Don't think too hard about it. I would clarify, but even I don't understand a few things."
"Then how are you so sure this will work?"
"I never said it would, I just said it should work."
"If it doesn't?"
"We'll cross that bridge, if we have to. Come on, a little optimism wouldn't hurt."
"Hey…"
Looking back at the pink haired brat, her eyes meet my own.
"You…didn't have to do this." I raise an eyebrow at her words.
"It was my idea to eat." I refute.
"But, don't you hate me?"
"Whether I like you or not doesn't matter. We're both working to help Sayori."
"That's not my point! Why aren't you mad?!"
Glancing around, I notice the few looks we're getting. 'Ones and zeroes…' I sigh. "Stop yelling, or you'll cause a scene."
"Tsk! You won't accept my apology, but you won't get mad either! Are you just being petty?"
"...If you're trying to piss me off by making a scene, I'm just going to ignore you." I turn my head away, looking back out into the Chiba streets.
'What the hell is this brat even trying to achieve by doing this? She punches me, and now expects me to forgive her?'
Glancing over at her, our gaze meets. It only lasts for a moment, before her eyes widen in shock and she looks away. '…Damn it, why'd she have to tell me this girl's past?'
Sighing for what feels like the hundredth time today, I give her what she wants to hear. "You're right, I don't like you. You're illogical, brash, and immature."
'The way you look for others' praise pisses me off, and I think I'd rather not talk to you if I could. But…'
"But, I forgive you."
Her eyes meet my own once more, her expression twisting until it settles on resignation. "I…You…You're a real piece of work, you know that?"
"So I've been told."
Doki Doki~
Exiting Saize, I make a left to the crosswalk which would take us to the station.
Looking to my side, I notice the lack of the pink haired annoyance. Looking back, I find her at the entrance of Saize, her eyes meeting my own. "What are you doing? The station's this way." I ask, as I walk back.
"...Yeah, it is." She doesn't move from her spot. "...Listen, Hikigaya-senpai…" Her tone was different, I could tell, it would be impossible not to notice. "I…I can't…" Her voice breaks.
"What?"
"Could I stay at your place? …please."
"No." Her pleading didn't elicit any pity from me. "Go home."
"You…You don't understand…" She grabs onto my sleeve. "I don't want to retu-"
Getting a good look at her, I finally take the time to notice how…disheveled she looks. I didn't pick up any bodily odor from her in the time we spent together, but her clothes obviously have had better days.
'Damn it…Now is not the time to grow a heart, Hachiman.' I shake my head. "Why me? Didn't you say it yourself? I don't like you." …Why am I making that argument? She wouldn't-
"I don't care! Please, Senpai, I can't go back to him. He'll h-" Her teary eyed look falls as she cuts herself off.
"...Fine. You can stay in the guest room." Even now, I can't say no to crying women.
Hikigaya Household
Locking the door behind me, I turn to face the girl I ended up bringing home. Our eyes met briefly, only for me to walk past her as I shuffled out of my shoes. "I need to make tomorrow's lunch and Sayori's dinner, so make yourself at home or whatever."
Getting into my home's kitchen and living room mix, I start rummaging through the cupboards for the needed ingredients. One of the other dishes I could make, that wasn't curry, was Omurice. I wasn't a pro at it though.
Reaching into the fridge, I pull out the carton of eggs I would soon use. '...When did I become Sayori's personal chef?' Shaking my head at the passing thought, I get into the motions of preparing the meal.
Cracking enough eggs for four into the bowl along with the other ingredients, I start to whisk it. After a couple moments of whisking the eggs, I place the bowl to the side so that it can rest.
'Now, to the hard part.' I inwardly sigh. 'Actually…'
"Oi. Hara." I call out, not turning as I turn on the rice cooker.
"Wh-What?"
"Your rent's due."
"Uh…Wh-What?"
"Do you know how to dice onions?"
"I…I can? Wait, why?"
"Fried rice."
I promptly ignored her after I answered her, so I could continue the process. With the rice already cooking in the rice cooker, I begin with the now unfrozen chicken breasts I had left out this morning.
Grabbing the few breasts in the container, I place them on the cutting board and begin cutting them into smaller pieces as evenly even as I can get them to be.
"That…doesn't explain anything."
"There are onions in the cabinet below the one I got the salt and pepper from. Dice two of them if you can. There should be a knife and extra cutting board in the sliding cabinet next to the sink."
Leaving her with those instructions, I finish up with the chicken and move onto the next step.
Waiting for her, which wouldn't take long, as she was already halfway done with her first onion. Once finished with the first, she reaches for the next onion, but I stop her. "Nevermind. One is more than enough." Placing the diced onion in a bowl, I put it to the side for now.
"Get some butter from the fridge door." Crouching down, I pull out the pan I used the week before and place it on the now lit stove.
"Here." Taking the stick of butter from her hands, I cut off a fourth and waited for the pan to heat up before sticking the piece in.
Once melted, I throw the pieces of chicken in and cook them for three minutes at most, before throwing in the diced onion and a little bit of the salt and pepper.
Stirring them, I notice a slight issue. "The rice!"
"Here." Dumped into the pan, is the freshly cooked rice, courtesy of Hara.
"...Thanks." Stirring them once more and adding a little bit of ketchup for taste, the fried rice turns out nicely and without much issue…thankfully. 'Now for the last part…'
Breaking my focus, I noticed that Hara was done making five omelets, one more than I had planned. "The omelets are done. …Oh, so are you."
Outside Sayori's House
Knocking twice, I place both tupperware containers at the feet of her door. Turning around, I take in a deep breath, and take a seat at her doorstep.
Staring up at the sky, none of bright stars greet me tonight, only a cloudy expanse.
"...You must really care about Sayori, if you're cooking her meals."
Reminded of my guest's words, I sigh. 'Do I care about her? Is that why I make her meals everyday? Why I brought her to the mall? Why I asked her that? Because I care about her?' I shake my head, convincing-no, confirming the cold truth. 'Of course not, I…I just want to get home. I-I don't care about…'
'Then why are you still sitting here…' That passing thought repeats itself, over, and over, and-
Click.
"Hachiman?"
To Be Continued…
Canon Omake
The Literature Club was silent. Deathly so. Perhaps it was due to the fact I was alone? Natsuki as always hid herself in the closet, and neither Sayori or Monika had arrived.
There was beauty in it. A peaceful moment where I could be alone with my thoughts. Thoughts of the near past, last week to be exact. Where I met him.
My Dark Prince.
A Dark Obsession
"You alright?"
The concern was clear in his eyes, his grip on her arm softening after a few moments. Yet, in those few moments I took the chance to absorb his perfection into my mind.
Slide.
Sliding open, I glance over at the door. As expected, Monika, our president, enters.
Glancing back down at my book, I hear someone I had not expected to.
"This is it?" Looking back at the door's direction, what I saw froze me in place.
It was him.
He was as charming as the day I first laid eyes on him. I could hardly contain my emotions as he entered our clubroom, but it was all ruined once Natsuki dragged him over to a desk. '...Ugh. She can be so selfish.'
Refraining from making a verbal comment, I instead approached Monika, who suspiciously entered alongside my prince. 'No, Monika is too…, to be of any threat to my relationship with my prince.' Shaking that assumption away, I notice the frown on Monika's face. 'She isn't a threat, …right?'
"...Yuri? What is it?"
…Nevermind that. It's unimportant. "Is he..?" I'm unable to finish as Monika cuts me off, with an equally annoying answer.
"-Not yet. Hikigaya-kun is going through a…trial phase. So, don't go scaring him of-"
"You asshole!"
Immediately looking in his direction, I find a sight that makes my blood begin to boil. Natsuki was currently holding my prince by the collar.
'This bitch! How dare she touch my-' Then, our eyes met, even if only briefly, but he wanted my help.
Taking a step forward, I'm suddenly stopped by Monika. "Yuri, whatever you're thinking of doing. Don't."
"Wha-"
"Apologize to her! She's your best friend, damn it!"
Natsuki's words stop me before I can move past Monika's attempts at not escalating the situation further. 'Her? Who? Best friend? They don't deserve that title! Only I ca-'
"This isn't going to wo-"
Time seemed to slow as a fist connected with his jaw.
"Hikigaya-kun!" I hear from my right, but at that moment I can only look on in concern.
"Bastard!" She…How? Why? "Just because I don't know what exactly happened, doesn't mean I don't know. I mean, it's obvio-'
"Natsuki!" I yell, finally finding my voice. "...How dare you?!"
"You're taking this guy's side?! He hurt Sayo-"
"Enough, you two." Monika finally intervenes, but it's too late in my opinion.
'Sayori's his best friend? No, unimportant.' Shaking my head, I decided to take a more proactive approach and comfort him…
"That's it?! You're just going to run away?!"
Stopping, I glare at the brat. "Shu-"
"Natsuki, Enou-"
"I mean, you broke her heart, so I guess it's no surprise you're a coward." …What?
"Heh. Is that what you think happened?" He asks, sending a tingle down my spine just from his tone. "...Nevermind. Monika. Thanks for the opportunity, but I'm not interested."
"Hikigaya-kun!"
Slam.
He was gone, and it was her fault. '...Wait, Monika? He called her Monika? But, I thought…'
Tea Time
Now that both hindrances were out of the way, I felt my nerves start to affect my speech. "H-Hikigaya-kun?"
"Hm? Yeah?" His voice was like honey to my ears.
Trying to meet his eyes, I immediately look away, lest my face burns up any further. "S-So, you're really part of the Literature Club?" Please say ye-
"Sure? I mean, I haven't submitted a form yet, but I'm gonna trust Monika has it handled." I should be ecstatic about the confirmation of my question, but I have another sour feeling in my heart once he addresses our president like that, again.
"Oh? Are you close with Monika?" Please say no…
"We're passing acquaintances at best." He grumbles.
"Then, why do you refer to her by her first name?"
His eyes narrow at my questioning, and I feel vulnerable under his gaze. "Why does it…" His voice trails off, aa he looks away and adopts a thoughtful look. "...It doesn't matter." He shakes his head. "She and I aren't close, but I'm not one for formalities either."
"Then, please! Call me, Yuri!" …Did I just… "Ah! Wh-What I mean is…" I was too forward! Now he'll hate m-
"...S-Sure."
"Eh? R-Really?"
"Y-Yeah, Y-Yuri-senpai."
If my face wasn't already red, I imagine I look like a tomato now. 'I think…I'm in love~.'
End..?
Hello. I rewrote this chapter. On 10/26/24
As I rewrote this, I couldn't help but think…Am I cooked? This story has a lot of rizz, but tons of skibidi as well.
…Ugh. That fucking sucked. The tiktok gen alpha brain rot is only getting worse.
