The Unlikely Duet
Foreword: That's right, Mayflower Productions is in the building! Let's get this early Christmas party started!... This installment took a while, but I hope it's worth the wait. I'm also trying something new with this chapter. Sugar's nice and all, but what about some spice?... Oh, what's this gift?... Unlikely Duet Chapter 7: Divide and Conquer.
Unlikely Duet- line break, "I should have gone to the hotel."-Dialogue
Disclaimer: I do not own Bocchi the Rock, Oregairu, or any other intellectual properties that may appear in this story. Please don't sue me.
Chapter 7: Divide and Conquer
[Hachiman POV]
I want to spend some time today honoring a great friend. They were warm and easygoing to everyone they met, and their presence will be sorely missed. Thank you for everything you've done, summer vacation and I'll never forget until we meet again. It wasn't such a major commitment either when compared to the present.
"Come on everyone, settle down!" The class representative ranted from the teacher's lectern, trying to corral uncooperative students. Our break had been over for weeks, leaving that abysmal project a distant dream. I miraculously finished the assignment before the vacation ended, only costing me a few sleepless nights. Thanks to my efforts, I didn't have to worry about failing the year anytime soon. My graduation was almost guaranteed, sans a few surprise math or science tests. I might now have time to think about my high school plans. Or at least I would have, if not for our school year's next major event... The cultural festival.
It was supposedly a cooperative event where the class worked together towards a shared goal. An idea would be devised, teams formed, long hours spent realizing the vision, and eventually life-long memories made. From that perspective, cultural festivals seemed productive and harmless, an almost noble endeavor. We ultimately lived in an organized society where every person played a part in keeping things orderly. How could you not like cultural festivals with such an ideal premise?
Unfortunately, reality wasn't so kind. My track record with cultural festivals wasn't the greatest—Scratch that, they were the bane of my existence. Cultural festivals sucked up any positive memories around them, leaving voids in their wake. The class project, the school-wide stalls, and student-run performances led to the grand finale: the legendary nighttime bonfire dance. I hated them all. My wide-eyed naivety died at a cultural festival. Taking its place was the apathetic and cynical Hikigaya Hachiman you see today.
Therefore, no one could blame me for tuning out of class. It's not like I had any bold ideas or a burning desire to lead. To my peers, I was the ultimate slacker and perhaps the class's black sheep. My name didn't inspire much confidence or enthusiasm if anyone remembered it. Even if I made a suggestion, I doubt anyone would care. Besides, the class rep and I didn't see eye-to-eye—In no small part thanks to her being... You know what, this tangent isn't worth discussing.
I sighed and rested my head on my desk, waiting for this mindless meeting to end. Hopefully, no one expected anything from me this year. For the next few weeks, I would become the sort of background character you could find anywhere. I would only contribute the bare minimum to this project while silently decrying its faults. Not much could stop me on this front, aside from—
"..." I craned slightly from my perch, feeling a weak but reoccurring gaze. Every few seconds, the sensation would grow stronger before suddenly decreasing. It was as if the other person couldn't decide how to continue. To speak or not to speak, that is the ultimate question. Regardless of the specifics, we eventually shared a glance: dead fish meeting blue eyes. Was it a bird or a plane? No, it was my classmate, the reclusive yet passionate Gotoh Hitori.
She had challenged my preconceived notions countless times before, forcing me out of my comfort zone—There was something about our dynamic I couldn't rationalize. Even though she would be better off without me, she never walked away. Not after our first encounter, before summer vacation, during the amusement park visit, or at that festival.
Given all that precedent, this cultural festival could continue the trend. The winds of change were already blowing. Perhaps Gotoh-san could rekindle my love for group activities and revive my floundering social life. The road getting there probably won't be straightforward, and be awkward, but I wouldn't count her out. I've seen stranger things before... Your photo being plastered all across a ceiling. Anything could be possible.
There was only one roadblock preventing that idealistic ending. The creature of habit and Monster of Logic...
Me.
Unlikely Duet
[Hitori POV]
"H-Hikigaya..." I trailed, trying to gain my classmate's attention. There was so much I wanted to say. A torrent of words was on my tongue: a greeting to start the day, a thank you for his finishing our school project, requests from my sister, and questions about music tastes, among others.
"..." Regrettably, I was unsuccessful as he turned away from me, burying his head in his arms. I couldn't take that first step forward, and break the ice between us today—or any moment since that festival.
[Flashback]
"...I-I'll see you later, right?"
"...Yeah, I'll see you later, Gotoh-san!"
"Good night, Hikigaya-san."
"Good night, Gotoh-san."
[Flashback End]
Once school resumed, Hikigaya-san kept his distance. It was like our relationship had reset to where it was before the break—Scratch that, before the radio incident.
Aside from his subtle nods every morning, we had zero interactions. Outside classes, he would sit at his desk, open a light novel, and read silently. From a distance, he was the same Hikigaya Hachiman as always: the loner unfazed by the world around him. I knew that and more after all these weeks around him, yet whenever I tried approaching him, I lost steam and failed at the last moment.
"..." Like so many other days, we had reached something of a stalemate, so I decided to give up trying to talk to him. After all, it wasn't like I was anyone worth conversing with—If not for my lying alter ego, what was I even good for?
I shook my head, recentering myself. The constant failures haven't been the best for my self-confidence. I was the type of person who considered speaking to a convenience store worker an accomplishment. I'd probably be in dire straits without my channel's steady growth. Ego-surfing was quite literally keeping me going! I was like a shark at this point: if I stopped scrolling, I might die!—I was only half-joking too, teehee~!—I still can't pull it off. Tch.
"Gotoh-san~!"
Oh no.
Unlikely Duet
"Some people just don't get it, Gotoh-san!"
"..."
"Everyone's a critic until they need to give an idea! It's so annoying, Gotoh-san!"
"..."
"I never asked for this position, it was forced upon me. I'd gladly accept if someone asked to trade this class rep role. It's like an albatross around my neck, Gotoh-san!"
"..." How? Considering my other setbacks: the communication hangups, unresolved tensions with my seatmate, and subtly deteriorating self-worth, where was the time? The school day was over and like clockwork, Gotoh Hitori would quickly return home. I was like an NPC (non-playable character) with a pre-programmed movement pattern. It was rare for me to deviate from my routine. I had such a rhythm that—
[Flashback]
"I-I'm back, Mom."
"You're late today, Hitori-chan. Did something happen?"
"Actually—"
"She made a friend... she made a friend... she made a friend..."
"I missed a train."
"Oh—The dream's dead for today—Was there a delay?"
"No, The car I was outside had a group of popular girls near the door. I didn't want to spend my trip next to them, so—"
"Hitori-chan... Did I make a mistake after all?"
[Flashback End]
The smallest variation was noticeable. I used so much repetition when learning music that it bled into the rest of my life. That made this outcome all the more unbelievable.
"Gotoh-san, are you listening?"
"I should have never turned around." I returned to the same cafe from before, sitting in the same spot, dragged here by the same person, OK—or rather, Orimoto Kaori-san. Utilizing some form of popular girl dark arts, she disrupted my orbit and I was helpless to stop her. The brunette then rambled off a laundry list of complaints she had with our classmates. She was tasked with organizing our cultural festival project as the class rep. I knew none of this information since class affairs weren't my specialty. Everything I heard was breaking news to me.
"..." Not taking my silence well, Orimoto-san stopped talking and stared at me. Her brown eyes scanned me, trying to piece together a picture. What exactly it was, I couldn't say. A few moments later, I found an answer.
"Gotoh-san, are you okay?"
"H-huh? W-what are you talking about?"
"Today's Gotoh-san isn't the same as usual. You're lacking that "hilarious" factor from before."
"Hilarious factor, huh?... Would it go up if I started telling jokes?" I muttered, not feeling too confident about my remark.
"Perhaps it would, Gotoh-san. Regardless, is everything alright?'"
"Of course everything's fine. I'm running at 110% with never-before-seen momentum. I'm so motivated that the world should look out for Gotoh Hitori because she'll blow everyone away with her—!"
"You've started rambling, Gotoh-san."
"..."
"Having trouble in paradise, are we, Gotoh-san?"
"..."
"Are things falling apart?"
"..."
"I'm right on the mark, am I?"
"N-no."
"Bingo!" Orimoto-san smiled at my conflicted response.
"..." I struggled to maintain eye contact or an even expression.
"Don't worry, Gotoh-san. I know exactly how to handle your dilemma."
"Is it by helping me sort through my thoughts: like an informal therapy session?" I asked, feeling unusually hopeful about her advice. Orimoto-san was a popular girl, after all. They're like my polar opposite and therefore perfect, so she probably can do anything!
"No!"
"N-no?... Was my suggestion too overbearing? How can I rectify this slight upon my family's honor?"
"Instead, you can become my assistant, Gotoh-san!"
"H-huh?" I stammered, completely taken aback by our conversation's sudden shift.
"Let's plan this school festival together, Gotoh-san~!"
"I w-want to go home, Guitar Man..." I sulked after hearing her outrageous claim. I was an anxious nobody helpless without her guitar. I could barely organize my room, let alone a high-stakes school event. How was I qualified to become a secretary?
Unlikely Duet
Ding, dong~!
"Hey, hey, hey, everyone! It's that time of the day again. Classes are over, so our cultural festival meeting's starting." I stood behind Orimoto-san, partly out of fear and embarrassment. A student my age shouldn't have issues facing their classmates, yet here I was, cowering in the brunette's shadow.
"Kaori, who's that girl to the side?"
"Yeah, Orimoto. She looks familiar." They already noticed me! What do I do? What do I do? I internally panicked, not knowing how to respond. Even though this outcome was guaranteed, I never thought ahead. Previously, I relied on Hikigaya-san—
"..." Who couldn't care less about me... He blankly stared at the teacher's podium, disinterested in my presence. Perhaps there was a hint of emotion across his face: subtle displeasure, shock, or phantom pain when I walked in with Orimoto-san, but it had long since vanished.
"I guess some introductions are in order." Orimoto-san sighed, peeved that our peers did not recognize me. "Say hello to your class festival secretary, Gotoh Hitori-san!" She exclaimed, grabbing my hand and raising it high, drawing everyone's attention towards me.
"U-uh—I'm Hotoh Gotori and it's a pleasure working with everyone!" I bowed deeply while blushing and my words slurred, unused to addressing such a large crowd. It was so unnerving that I flubbed my name, probably the most important part.
"And we're glad to have you, Gotoh-san." Orimoto-san beamed.
"We're counting on you, Gotori-chan!"
"Let's have a great festival Secretary Gotori!" Others quickly followed with encouragement.
"Now let's get down to business," Once the class's chatter quieted, the class rep, Orimoto-san refocused on other matters. Listening to her engage the class, I only had one thought on my mind...
Will my sudden promotion end well?
As of now, I, Hotoh Gotori don't have an answer.
Unlikely Duet
"Gotoh-san, what's our timeline looking like right now?"
"I-if we maintain our current pace, we'll finish setting up the event right before the deadline."
Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news! This is your eyewitness correspondent Hotoh Gotori, coming to you live! Shockingly, nearly two weeks later, things haven't fallen apart! The age of meritocracy is finally here! Despite having no relevant experience, I approximated a competent secretary!
In other news, our class decided on a classic theme—the haunted house—and transformed our classroom into a graveyard. We had dedicated teams for costumes, lighting, sound, acting, and backgrounds. Orimoto-san, manning the helm, split the class into groups, letting people choose where they joined. I served as her gopher, never straying too far and focusing on the facts, only occasionally interacting with the teams... Thanks for that, social anxiety!
"We're cutting it close. Where's the bottleneck?"
"...The background department." I flipped through my documents, checking each team. My hands then froze reaching the slowest group, before clenching on the papers.
"Gotoh-san, why do you look like you've seen a ghost? Ignoring the obvious subtext." Concerned by my mood change, Orimoto-san walked over to me.
"U-uh, i-it's not a big deal!" I stammered, hastily shuffling my papers, not wanting her to learn the truth.
"I doubt that." Orimoto-san must have perceived my anxiety, narrowing her gaze.
"..."
"Gotoh-san, do you have the group member list?"
"..."
"Gotoh-san."
"Yes." I eeked out, unable to ignore her question any longer. I then handed Orimoto-san the corresponding file. She scrolled through each line until reaching the background row.
"Of course, it was his group." She sighed, her expression bitter, unlike her usual energetic self.
"..." I looked down at the floor, pouting.
"Hey, Gotoh-san, let's go on a walk," Orimoto-san suggested, her eyes lacking some light.
"Okay." I nodded, eerily aware of where we were going.
We then visited an unused classroom near our mobile command center. We would have used our homeroom, but there was too much work being done over there. Peeking slightly through the door, we saw countless black sheets spread across the floor. They were the base for our haunted house's background. Normally those would have been enough, but we voted on adding tiny green stars to the sheets for extra flare. Considering how large the background team was, that change should have been no problem, despite its meticulous nature. If anything, they should have been ahead, not behind schedule—but they weren't.
"..." Since the background team was one person: a black-haired boy with a cowlick and sharp eyes. He alone took out the roll of stars and painstakingly stuck them on the sheets. He couldn't finish until he lined the bottom edge of the countless set pieces.
"!" Unable to withstand the cruel scene, I reached for the door, wanting to help him.
"No." Orimoto-san pulled me back, dragging me away from the classroom before he noticed.
"Why, Orimoto-san?" I questioned, unable to understand why she left him there.
"The world's not a nice place, Gotoh-san... One's compassion could become another's pain." She replied, turning slightly, frowning at the room we departed.
Little did I know, those were the last words she said to me that day... ones whose meaning I mulled over and over...
[Flashback]
"You're a nice brother, Hikigaya-san."
"No, I'm not nice... I would never want to be that."
[Flashback End]
Were popular girls perfect after all?
Unlikely Duet
"Now who's ready to haunt up this festival?"
"We are!"
"Let's show everyone we're made of the fright stuff, alright?"
"Yeah!"
"..." It was showtime: our cultural festival day. Orimoto-san was amping up the class before our first set of visitors. I stood beside her, nearly blown away by her gravity. She was like a band's guitarist captivating the crowd with an exciting solo. It was the kind of presence you couldn't ignore... at a surface level.
Thanks to our previous conversation, I struggled to view Orimoto-san the same. Her words combined with his memory echoed in my mind. They had become an earworm: burying their way into my thoughts... If she couldn't approach him, what chance did I have of doing anything?
Feeling somewhat dejected, I observed my classmates, unsure how to continue. Were things completely hopeless and I should give up with a smile? Or is there another path: one where I struggled, and faced failure, reaching for a nearly impossible outcome?
I was split down the middle thanks to two people. They were nearly opposites, embodying glittering generalities and somber realism, yet both left an impression on me. It was a case of divide and conquer, just waiting on a definitive winner.
Hopefully, today's cultural festival will provide an answer—I definitely needed one.
Unlikely Duet
"Don't forget the refreshments... don't forget the refreshments." I chanted to myself, balancing a platter of cups and barley tea. As the class gopher—secretary, Orimoto-san had tasked me with supporting the troops—our classmates. Our class's exhibit was popular, so we had larger crowds than expected. I guess people wanted some simple scares this season. The high visitor count likely wasn't easy for my peers as they worked in our warm room since the seasons had not fully changed, summer playing one last song before their tour ended. Thanks to that, our classroom felt somewhat murky, I didn't want to hang around too long there, so I sought to leave.
Therefore, I leaped at Orimoto-san's lifeline. Contributing to the class's well-being by talking to no one? Sign me up for that! I just had to maneuver around this crowd and reach the finish line to score a productive cultural festival memory. We are on the verge of greatness, Guitar Man! Things are finally coming up for Hitori-!
Splash!
"Hitori the Fail..."
"!" Without warning, I slipped on a paper clip, pouring barely tea all over a woman's shoes—and she looked angry.
"I-I am—"
"Hah? Are you talking to me?"
"S-so s-sorr-y—"
"Tch. I don't want a mumbling mess, I want an apology! What do you think this is, a joke?"
"I d-didn't m-mean to—"
"This was such a waste of time. I waited in this long line at this dead-end festival for what? Having my day ruined by some incompetent, completely socially inept idiot, who can't even—"
"..." I felt the world start to close in around me. My heart rate spiked, my vision swirled, and my breathing hitched. The woman's lips moved, but I couldn't hear her. It took everything I had not to shut down right here and now. The overwhelming negativity the woman exuded was nearly unbearable.
Why was she so mean to me? It was an honest mistake—If I could tell her those things, perhaps the situation wouldn't have escalated this quickly. Everyone was probably looking at us, but no one dared to act. I'm not judging their choice either. Who would defend the useless girl who was lower than a water flea?
"Sorry about that. It was all my idea, not hers. If you want to blame anyone, it's me." Out of nowhere, an outsider appeared, stepping between myself and the woman. Their black hair could have been anyone's, but seeing their back I knew—they were a known presence, someone I've come to rely on—almost to their detriment.
"H-Hikigaya-san?" I uttered, not believing my eyes and fighting vertigo.
"Oh, really, huh? So you're the hapless, irresponsible, willfully ignorant idiot who ruined my day? Someone so stupid that they task butter fingers over there with refreshment duty." The peeved woman trained her sights on my peer.
"Denigrate me all you want, but leave my classmate out of this." Who showed no reaction to her venomous words.
"Big words from such a puny brat. You probably want to look like a Prince Charming, but you're just a lowly frog."
"Please leave overlook this mistake." My classmate suddenly broke their dialogue, bowing deeply, their forehead nearly touching the floor.
"..." Everyone around us was shocked by the sight... Why? Why is he doing this? I'm not worth the hassle, let alone the reputation hit of throwing away your pride.
"Tch— I don't care anymore! Enjoy your ridiculous stall, loser!" The woman mulled over her next words, similarly floored by the bowing student, before leaving, huffing.
"..." Everyone around our class's attraction was silent, lacking the courage to speak. After all, I made an egregious mistake for which someone else took the blame, yet no one was glaring at me for causing this mess. If anything, everyone was uncomfortable with my savior—
"Gotoh-san?... Oi, Gotoh-san?" Hikigaya-san, who looked unusually panicked.
"H-huh?..." The world gradually lost color, as my senses dulled.
"Orimoto, take care of Gotoh-san! I think she's—!" I saw my classmate frantically gesture, dropping their cool persona.
"That's no good Hikigaya-san. Worrying doesn't suit you..." I muttered, my consciousness fading—I was as vulnerable as ever; I guess that was today's answer.
Unlikely Duet
"Uh, my head hurts... That's one too many post-performance crowd surfs." I groaned, blearily opening my eyes.
"You're finally awake, Gotoh-san. I guess someone really needed their beauty sleep." I heard a soft voice to my side. That doesn't sound like Guitar Man or my endless number of fans. What's going on? I glanced around, regaining my bearings. I was in a white room, lying in bed—What? Did it finally happen? Was I sent to social prison for one too many awkward interactions? Three strikes and I'm out?
"Not even six seconds conscious and you're already distracted. I guess that's just Gotoh-san for you." My eyes landed on a brunette I could recognize from afar, Orimoto Kaori. I wasn't arrested, but resting in the school's infirmary... Besides, what social prison would have roommates? Loneliness is probably the best punishment for those guilty of not reading the room.
"W-what happened, Orimoto-san? My head feels strange. Was our class's stall a success?"
"Cutting right to the chase, are we, Gotoh-san?" Orimoto-san lightly laughed, nonplussed by my question.
"I w-wouldn't want to waste your time, Orimoto-san... I've probably already overstayed my welcome with someone like you."
"Well, there's a long or short version explaining today. Which do you want to hear first?"
"The short version if you don't mind," I replied, my impure intentions rising to the surface—I had spent all day outside and needed to return home. The people! They expected guitarhero, and guitarhero must deliver!
"I'm sorry for roping you into my mess, Gotoh-san. I got too caught in the atmosphere and couldn't do a thing. You didn't deserve to be yelled at like that." Orimoto-san admitted, bowing slightly, not flashing a smile.
"But I wasn't the one who suffered the most—Hikigaya-san did."
"It always circles back to ol' fish eyes, huh?" Orimoto-san sighed. There it is again, the class rep's greatest sore spot. Sure, I can't read people, but I can recognize patterns (music literacy for the win!). Judging from her current mood, there's more to Orimoto Kaori and Hikigaya Hachiman than meets the eye.
"I-I've always wanted to ask, but, Orimoto-san, how do you know Hikigaya-san?" I uttered, mustering the courage to face the brunette.
"You don't know anything, Gotoh-san?" Orimoto-san asked, dumbfounded with my question.
"No." I shook my head.
"That Hikigaya, forcing me to do these things..." She muttered something unintelligible to me.
"Orimoto-san?"
"Sorry about that, Gotoh-san. I mulling over how to explain things."
"The short version please."
"Unfortunately, my story is an epic tale with countless twists and turns. It can't be summarized in twenty words or less."
"The short version please."
"Now where do I begin? There was once a boy—"
"Short—"
"Gotoh-san!"
"Sorry, it was a force of habit. Please continue." I apologized, realizing that my brain was still partially asleep. Today, let alone the last few weeks, had too much real-world stimulation; combined with guitarhero responsibilities, I wasn't at peak efficiency.
"I'll forgive you this time, Gotoh-san. Now where was I..." Therefore, I listened closely to Orimoto-san's next words: especially when they revolved around the mysterious Hikigaya Hachiman. The enigma I knew nothing about, but could read me like a book.
Unlikely Duet
[Hachiman POV]
"..." I stood out on the rooftop, overlooking the school grounds below. The cool evening wind blew through my hair, yet I couldn't care less. Compared to everything else I experienced, a chilly breeze didn't phase me. Perhaps I had developed a cold weather tolerance. It would be the perfect trait for me... a cold-hearted and detached person.
"..." Thinking about my previous actions, I wanted to blare my lungs out of regret but restrained myself. I had this entire school festival planned out weeks ago. I would become the perfect background character, never drawing attention to myself. I would ignore my classmates, and my classmates would reciprocate the gesture. It was a foolproof strategy: one difficult to squander, yet—I did just that, betraying my expectations.
All the logical reasoning in the world was useless against raw emotion. I saw Gotoh-san distressed, and immediately leaped into action, throwing caution aside. She never asked for my help, but I involved myself anyway. I could have misread the situation, overestimated my self-importance, or made countless other mistakes. It wouldn't be the first time I did it...
[Flashback]
"...So what did you want to tell me, Hikigaya?"
"Y-you never treated me like the others."
"Huh?"
"You always went out of your way to talk to me. T-that made me so happy."
"Of course I would, it's only natural!"
"A-and how you act like it's no big deal— I admired that too."
"So where is this going?"
"I l-like you! Can you p-please go out with me!"
"!"
[Flashback End]
And to think that was a year ago. They say time heals all wounds, but I don't feel much better reminiscing about those days. Looking back on it now, I'm no longer embarrassed, depressed, or even bitter— just numb to the entire experience. I started middle school looking for one thing: friends, yet many months later, those hopes morphed into something else. An idea I barely comprehended back then, and understand less now: romance.
"What was I even thinking?" I bitterly remarked, clenching my fists. Thanks to my naivety, I confessed and ruined everything. Besides, if I couldn't explain my feelings, she obviously wouldn't humor some halfhearted efforts. Thanks to that, the flimsy house of cards came crashing down and Hikigaya Hachiman remained a friendless loser.
The end.
"H-Hikigaya-san! Don't do it!" I heard a shrill yell behind me.
"Huh?" I muttered, confused by the sound. It was early evening, during the cultural festival's final event: the bonfire. Anyone with something resembling a social life would be down below, frolicking with their peers, holding hands, and chanting to their normie idol that smites loners. Festival visitors would probably join them to take in the sights, and perhaps reminisce on their youths if they were older. Therefore, no one should be roaming the empty school, let alone stumble upon the rooftop, but I was still found anyway.
"Everything's my fault, you don't need to suffer in silence, Hikigaya-san!" An unsteady hand latched onto my arm, dragging me away from the rooftop's railing.
"Suffer in silence." I echoed, slowly digesting the phase and its loaded subtext.
Did I enjoy cultural festivals? I said it before, and I'll repeat it for good measure, no.
Was I introspective? If this monologue wasn't a resounding enough answer, I don't know what is.
Did I hate my past self? Yes. He was an idiot who missed the forest for the trees. However, his loss was ultimately my gain, as I woke up from an endless daydream, and saw reality for what it really was—flawed, unfair, and a sweet kiss of death to those who underestimated it.
Considering those prerequisites, was I suffering in silence? I couldn't confidently say. It's like asking if a fallen tree makes a sound in a silent forest. It's all in the eye of the beholder.
"H-Hikigaya-san!" The unsteady grip on my arm tightened. I guess time's up, then.
"..." I turned to meet the sensation, my movements feeling slower than usual.
"H-Hikigaya-san!" My eyes met a shocking sight: a teary-eyed Gotoh Hitori. Her pink hair had loose strands in every direction, her blue eyes puffy, her skin paler than snow, and her uniform's sleeves damp. She looked miserable; as if her entire world had collapsed.
"..." I couldn't understand why she was so upset. Not being around whatever invisible gloominess and misfortune I radiated should have fixed everything. She was disappointed in my sudden defending of her earlier, or displeased by my disliking the "glorious" class representative. Perhaps my blatant disregard for teamwork angered her. I did shoulder the background department's work, slowing down everything. But no one cared, and I didn't want to be bothered with coworkers. Regardless, her mood had countless explanations, yet they each had flaws. These signs pointed to a different answer— one I wasn't comfortable confronting.
"L-look at me, H-Hikigaya-san!" I could see my classmate emotionally unravel, feel her shaking grasp on my arm, and hear her frantic calls, yet my mind was elsewhere... I was the problem, right?... She did hate me, and I was her antagonist, right? Her sadness wasn't—on my behalf, right?
"..." I shuddered as the conflicting ideas clashed in my head.
She hates me... She hates me not... She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not... She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not... She hates me... She hates me not...She hates me... She hates me not... She hates me...
"I'll be your friend!" She hates me not...
"...G-Gotoh-san... Y-you're joking, right? T-there's no way you'd want anything to do with m-me." Reflexively, I made a self-deprecating comment, speaking my true thoughts. I couldn't take anything at face value. The situation had probably spiraled from what she intended... making mistakes in the heat of passion and the like.
"I'll be your friend, Hikigaya-kun!" My classmate's grip on my arm finally steadied as she repeated her previous words and stared at me. She had that look. One I had seen twice before. Her crystal blue eyes were looking at me—and only me. This wasn't a prank, a penalty from a punishment game, or something else. She was serious...
Gotoh Hitori wanted to become Hikigaya Hachiman's friend. Hikigaya Hachiman: the same idiot who misunderstood common courtesy for intimacy, had the personality of an uninspired light novel protagonist, and never stood out in a crowd. Hikigaya Hachiman: hopeless without his sister, whose future goal was to become an unproductive adult, leeching off his wife as a househusband, and saw youth as a lie. She considered all those points, yet—still wanted to be my friend.
"You'll definitely regret saying that, Gotoh-san. I'd recommend you pretend today never happened and move on from me. I'm just a gloomy cynic who hates everything youthful." I sighed, running a free hand through my hair, trying to calm myself and remain logical.
"I'll be your friend regardless, Hikigaya-kun..." She whispered as we stood beside each other near the rooftop's door. We were both physically and emotionally exhausted from our dramatic outburst.
"Why? What's so special about me to you? I'm just the kind of unremarkable student you can find anywhere."
"You noticed the girl lower than a water flea's grand radio plan."
[Flashback]
"And now for this week's recommendation... We have Class 3-1's Gotoh Hitori-!"
[Flashback End]
"You're insane, Gotoh. Literally insane." I grimaced once I recognized her reference. Of all the potential foreshadowing, it had to be that day, huh? Just my luck... Such misfortune.
"But I'm now your friend too, Hikigaya-kun." She smiled, her grin brighter than the night sky.
"I guess you are, Gotoh... I guess you are." I sighed, any residual tension leaving my body... the Monster of Logic had failed.
My final middle school cultural festival was wrong, as I expected.
Unlikely Duet
Author's Note: That's right, I added some dramatic flair. Considering when Unlikely Duet takes place and Orimoto Kaori's inclusion, some tension was inevitable. Even though Hitori's and Hachiman's relationship ended on a high note in chapter 6, it was fundamentally surface-level. They're both reserved and barely know anything about each other. Their dynamic facing a few hurdles should surprise no one. Maybe I took things slightly too seriously, but I'm not a perfect writer. I just felt more motivated than usual while finishing the chapter, wanting their conversation to reach a fever pitch before finally cooling off. Hachiman's emotional baggage weighed heavily on him, and his interactions with Hitori probably didn't help his mental health. Add in a stressful cultural festival, and you've got yourself Chapter 7. The next chapter won't be as depressing taking our duo outside the classroom yet again. It will also be a Hachiman chapter since I don't want another three-month hiatus. In exchange, a certain band member might appear. Place your bets, and stay tuned to see who's right.
I've been Mayflower Productions and thank you for reading Unlikely Duet.
Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or New Year wherever you are!
I'll catch you on the flipside in 2025!
Preview:
Text Conversation: The Misunderstanding
UNLIKELY DUO
Hikigaya Hachiman is now online
Hachiman: "Something's been bothering me, Gotoh."
Gotoh Hitori is now online
Hitori: "How could I be of assistance, Hikigaya-kun?"
Hachiman: "Didn't we have a heart-to-heart earlier? Drop the formalities already."
Hitori: "I-I'm sorry, Hikigaya-kun. I'm not used to things like c-chatting with friends."
Hachiman: "Then what were all our earlier texts?"
Hitori: "Easygoing correspondence between peers?"
Hachiman: "Are you messing with me, Gotoh?"
Hitori: "I thought about trying to be "hilarious" like Orimoto-san. I guess it didn't work."
Hachiman: "You've got the wrong audience for that. Regardless, why were you so weird on the rooftop?"
Hitori: "Weird? How was I weird? I didn't upset you or anything, right? Things aren't ending here, right? We just reconciled after a big fight. The band can't break up so soon. We didn't even take a commemorative photo for our friendship."
Hachiman: "You wouldn't print enough copies of it to plaster your ceiling, Gotoh?"
Hitori: "Of course not, Hikigaya-kun! You're such a funny guy!" Did he just read my mind? Is he going to steal all my guitarhero ideas? Don't do that, Hikigaya-san! My internet personality is all I have!
Hachiman: "I'll just say it before you can deflect the topic again. Why did you rush towards me telling me to "not do it"? What grave mistake was I about to make?"
Hitori: "..." I can't tell him the truth. I thought he was about to jump off the railing. After hearing Orimoto-san's tragic retelling of his past, and his selfless defense for me, I thought he had nothing left to lose. As such, he was on a one-way course with a bad end. Hikigaya-san always struck me as the tragic hero type, after all.
Hachiman: "But I guess whatever the truth is doesn't matter. Perhaps, I'm just overthinking things as usual. My brain couldn't rationalize someone unconditionally wanting to help me. Spending a year viewing society as a zero-sum game has its downsides."
Hitori: "Hikigaya-kun..."
Hachiman: "In any case, thanks for today, Gotoh. I genuinely appreciated what you did for me. Sorry if my heroics weren't the greatest."
Hitori: "No, I'd like to thank you, Hikigaya-kun. When I was cornered, you came and saved me. Human language lacks the scope to quantify the depth of my gratitude."
Hachiman and Hitori: "Next time on Unlikely Duet- Chapter 8: Chance Encounter."
Hachiman: "Beyond human language, huh? I guess your Japanese scores prove that fact."
Hitori: "I look forward to studying with you, Hikigaya-kun."
Hachiman: "Hold on, when did I become your tutor, Gotoh?"
Hitori: "That's what friends are for, right?...Unless I'm unworthy of the honor... (T_T)"
Hachiman: "Stop trying to guilt trip me with an emoticon, Gotoh. I'm your friend, not a miracle worker!"
Hitori: "(T_T) Futari's been talking about you. She's wondering when—"
Hachiman: "Whatever! I'll help you study! We can hash out the details later. It'll probably be after the school trip though."
Hitori: "(^_^)"
Hachiman: "How do you even know what those are? We've both never had friends!... Whatever, good night, Gotoh. I'll see you around."
Hitori: "Good night, Hikigaya-kun."
Gotoh Hitori is now offline
Hachiman: To think I made a friend today... with a girl no less. The universe works in mysterious ways. Hopefully, it won't make my life any more troublesome... Eh, who am I kidding? This Unlikely Duet's full of surprises. What would be another one?
Hikigaya Hachiman is now offline.
Chapter End
Unlikely Duet down. Next stop...Endless Memory