Chapter 5 - What Do We Want?

…

Hikigaya Residence

7:30 AM

…

"Then…" A small, faint voice was heard in front of Hikigaya as he ate. "Did something happen?"

He raised his gaze.

His dead-fish eyes settled on her—his sister, Hikigaya Komachi.

And a sigh slipped out.

Ever since he had come back from Kyoto, he had been quieter than usual. His sister had noticed. Of course she had. Fifteen years living under the same roof carried weight.

His eyes were lower than usual. His posture, even more hunched.

But he did not want her to carry his problems.

"Nothing at all," Hikigaya answered naturally. "It's always the same. My life is like watching paint dry—boring." He tried to form a smile, but all that came out was a rather unpleasant grimace. "They say no news is good news," he finished.

Komachi's expression changed.

She tilted her head. She was listening to her brother, but he was not the same.

He sounded tired.

"What's wrong, Onii-chan?"

"Nothing, like I said," Hikigaya answered again. "Nothing's going on."

Komachi lowered her plate. "Hey, you know something…?"

"Nani? About the peas? Yeah, they're a little dry…" Hikigaya replied, hoping to dodge the subject.

Komachi furrowed her brow.

"Onii-chan, you're always prone to saying the dumbest things," Komachi said, without taking her eyes off her brother. "But you're even dumber when you're feeling bad…"

Hikigaya smiled at the declaration, somewhat condescendingly. "Oh, really?"

"Hey… did something happen with Yui-san and Yukino-san?" Komachi asked what she had really wanted to ask from the very beginning.

Hikigaya lowered his spoon. "Did they tell you something?"

Komachi shook her head. "I just thought it might be that."

"Mmh," Hikigaya managed to murmur as he brought his bowl to his lips.

"Then what did you do?" Komachi asked again, more insistently.

"Isn't it strange that you're assuming I did something?" Hikigaya replied, a little annoyed.

He knew what his sister thought of him.

She could say he was an idiot, disgusting, Gomi-chan, a Hachiman. But that did not mean it did not hurt. He endured it. She was his sister. He would do anything to make her happy. But having her accuse him without knowing anything irritated him more than he would have liked to feel.

Komachi continued.

"There's always a chance you did something wrong without realizing it, Onii-chan." Komachi looked straight into her brother's eyes. "Well, I'm listening. You can tell me everything."

Komachi leaned closer to the table, resting her elbows on the white wooden surface, while showing a smile mixed with tenderness and the stubbornness that characterized the Hikigaya women.

However, Hikigaya was not going to fall for such an easy trick.

"It's easy to say…" he murmured, remembering that moment. But immediately, he raised his voice and changed his words. "No, actually, never mind."

Komachi did not seem to care about the discomfort her brother was showing, so she kept insisting.

"Come on, tell me. Don't be shy. Tell me what happened."

Hikigaya felt an itch on his neck.

The same one he felt whenever he looked at that guy's smile.

Then it spread to his arms.

His jaw tightened.

He wanted to get rid of that itch.

So he did not think.

"That's enough. You're being annoying."

Hikigaya's words were enough to make Komachi's eyes widen.

The young girl frowned. "Did you have to say it like that?" Komachi's irritation showed clearly in her words.

Hikigaya's eyes drifted away.

"How else could I say it?" he replied, still eating. "You're being annoying."

Komachi's eyebrows showed even more anger.

"Ah, I see." Komachi stood up from the table. "I won't ask again."

"I'd appreciate that," Hikigaya answered, returning his eyes to his food.

The door opened.

"I'm leaving. Lock the door when you go," Komachi's words sounded plainly through the room.

Hikigaya nodded. "Mmmh."

Komachi closed the door.

A few seconds later—

"See?! Something did happen!"

Komachi shouted from behind the door.

Another sigh escaped Hikigaya.

…

Sōbu High School

8:03 AM

…

Hikigaya looked at the usual group.

Hayama, Miura, Ebina, Tobe, the other two, and Yuigahama.

"So this is what he protects, huh?"

Hikigaya said to himself as he watched the blond boy. Watching him talk so naturally. With confidence, and a nearly perfect smile. Chatting about the fashionable topic of the day.

It could not have looked more pathetic to him.

While Hikigaya was sunk deep in his internal monologue, someone interrupted him.

"Good morning, Hachiman," Totsuka said.

Hikigaya turned his head toward the sound. "Mmh, good morning."

Totsuka looked surprised.

"What is it?" Hikigaya asked.

"Ah, n-no, it's nothing," Totsuka answered. "I'm just surprised you greeted me in a normal way."

Hikigaya nodded at his words. "Yeah, well. I guess." Hikigaya's eyes traveled back to the group. "Normal…"

The word slipped out without him thinking.

He opened his mouth slightly to continue, but the sound of the door came first.

"All right, class, everyone to your seats," the teacher said as he entered the classroom, rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt and setting his briefcase down on the desk in front of him. "Take out your books and open them to page twenty-two…"

The noise of chairs moving around nearly deafened him.

And, as always…

Everything returned to normal.

…

3:57 PM

…

The day ended, classes were over, and it was time for the students to go to their clubs.

This time, Hikigaya did not wait for Yuigahama. He did not want another awkward moment to pass between them.

He did it for him… or for her.

He did not even know.

Yuigahama saw this. Her eyes lowered, waiting for what to do, but she only watched as he crossed the door without doing anything.

A few minutes later, Hikigaya walked down the school hallway. Students chatted among themselves, a couple ran past him. Others were blocking the stairs he climbed as he headed to the second floor.

He checked his phone, and the time read sixteen thirty-two.

Another sigh escaped him, this one more exhausted than the last.

…

Hikigaya stood in front of the door. He had taken a few minutes on purpose.

He truly did not want to come today.

When his hand reached the handle, he heard voices behind the door with absolute clarity.

"I hope you like them."

He heard Matsuba's voice.

The itch returned.

"Thank you, Matsu-kun!" Yuigahama shouted.

He had already arrived.

"Mmh, yes, thank you, Matsuba-kun," Yukinoshita spoke this time.

Hikigaya noticed a certain polite tone in Yukinoshita's voice, which seemed terribly strange to him.

It was like watching the sun rise in the west instead of the east.

"Did you know there's a place near Inagekaigan Station that also sells really delicious crepes?" Yuigahama commented cheerfully.

"Oh, yeah!" Aisaka answered. "They're delicious. We know the owner, right, Haru-kun?"

Matsuba nodded, bringing his cup of tea to his lips.

Hasegawa nodded as well.

"Mmmh."

"We should all go together!" Yuigahama shouted, excited.

"Yes! It could be a club activity," Aisaka commented. "We could help Tamayo-san sell crepes."

"Yeah, that's a great idea, Aiko-chan!" Yuigahama's voice spoke again. "Yukinon, you should come too."

"Of course," Yukinoshita replied.

"You're coming too, Hajime-kun," Aisaka said.

"Of course," Hasegawa answered.

"Matsu-kun, you—"

The sound of the sliding door interrupted the room's atmosphere.

Hikigaya slid the door shut behind him.

A suffocating silence rose in the room.

The corners of Matsuba's lips lifted.

Hasegawa stared at the table uncomfortably.

Aisaka ate while making as little noise as possible.

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun." Matsuba's mocking voice made itself present. "I didn't think you would come."

Hikigaya only looked at the floor with a faint frown, refusing to answer the obvious provocation.

Yuigahama realized everyone was eating.

"A-Ah, Hikki, do you want some—"

"No, no, no, Yuigahama-san," Matsuba stopped her. "I brought something else for Hikigaya-kun."

Hikigaya watched Matsuba walk toward what appeared to be a pair of wine-red sofas. It looked like a small sitting area.

"How did he get those in here?" Hikigaya said to himself.

Matsuba returned with a brown box. "It's for you," he said, handing it over while raising the corners of his mouth in front of him. "Taiyaki for the one who fulfilled the request."

(Taiyaki: a traditional Japanese fish-shaped pastry.)

Hikigaya looked at the plate, then at Matsuba.

"I'm really starting to hate him."

Even so, Hikigaya accepted it. "Arigatou… Matsuba," Hikigaya said, taking the plate. "Free food is free food."

Matsuba widened his smile.

"Dou itashimashite."

Hikigaya withdrew, ignoring Matsuba, and took a seat beside Yuigahama before opening his small book.

The sound of birds was the only thing heard in the clubroom.

Yukinoshita finished wiping the corners of her mouth with her handkerchief. Yuigahama finished her food. Meanwhile, Hasegawa only had a few bites left, and Aisaka cleaned herself with some napkins.

As for Matsuba, he had his back turned to the group while pouring himself more of the tea Yukinoshita had made.

His smile reflected pure satisfaction in the pale brown liquid.

Because of the situation, and he hated to admit it, but also because of Yukinoshita's tea.

It was delicious.

The exact point between bitterness and sweetness.

The tick-tock of the clock was the only thing that could be heard.

Yuigahama looked from side to side, but no one did anything, so she decided to speak.

"By the way, everyone is acting normal, right?"

Aisaka watched as Yuigahama tried to change the atmosphere. "That's a good thing, isn't it, Yui-san?"

Yuigahama nodded with a stoicism that died the second she looked away. "Yeah, well… um, they—"

"Yes," Hikigaya answered, cutting her off. "From what I could see, nothing out of the ordinary happened."

Yukinoshita's eyes were reflected in her tea. "That is good to know," she replied.

"Actually, I was kind of nervous," Yuigahama spoke again, wanting to return to the subject so she could weigh it properly. "I thought something would happen." Matsuba's smile instinctively stretched as he heard her. Yuigahama continued. "But I guess there's nothing to worry about." When she finished, she looked at the others.

Hasegawa nodded. "That's good…" he said without much concern, pushing his chair back and balancing on it.

Meanwhile, Aisaka smiled. "They seem like good friends."

Hikigaya could not keep the slight frown from appearing on his face after hearing Aisaka's statement.

"I'm not sure I understand them," Yuigahama's voice filled the room this time.

Her hands moved to her legs. Her fingers played with each other.

Her eyes got lost in the tips of her fingers.

Yukinoshita, who had stayed on the sidelines, looked at her clubmate and spoke.

"The thoughts and feelings of others are things we can never truly know," Yukinoshita's eyes gradually lowered more and more. "And even if we could know them, what good would it do if understanding them were another matter entirely?"

Her words made Matsuba stop turning his back to them.

The boy's golden eyes narrowed as he looked at Yukinoshita.

Hikigaya, Yuigahama, and Aisaka looked at Yukinoshita.

They had not expected an answer like that from her.

However, Hasegawa saw this, and from the corner of his eye, he saw that smile of Matsuba's that made him shudder.

"What is he looking for… what is he doing… what does he want from them…?"

Hasegawa muttered to himself.

"You shouldn't worry too much about that," Hikigaya added, without taking his eyes off his book. "After all, we're the ones pretending to be normal most of the time."

The words came out. He had not truly wanted to say them, but he had to.

Yuigahama lowered her gaze even more this time.

"We pretend to be normal too?" she answered, a certain sadness slipping into her voice.

Her eyes lowered, her smile fell, her enthusiasm vanished.

"Normality…" Yukinoshita took up the word. "That is what normality means to you, isn't it?" Yukinoshita's words fell heavily. "Deep down, you are saying you won't change. Is that what you mean?"

Hikigaya did not answer.

His silence entered the room.

"You are—"

Matsuba's hand rested on Yukinoshita's shoulder.

She turned her neck toward him. There was no blush, only surprise.

Hasegawa's eyes widened slightly in shock.

Aisaka did not know how to react. She was somewhat stunned as well.

Yuigahama opened her mouth in surprise.

Matsuba squeezed her shoulder lightly, as if he feared hurting her.

He saw how her hands clenched beneath the table.

Yukinoshita came back to herself. "I…" she said.

"Yukinon! Hey…" Yuigahama tried to say something, but could not.

And the sound of the door once again flooded the clubroom.

"I'm coming in!" Hiratsuka-sensei entered the room. "I have work for you," she said as she walked in and looked at the two new members. "Oh, look, new faces…" She looked at Hasegawa, Aisaka, and— "Who the hell brought all of this in here?"

Hiratsuka-sensei's eyes widened when she saw a dining set inside the clubroom.

Then her eyes went to Yukinoshita.

Yukinoshita only sighed and looked at Matsuba.

"Hiratsuka-sensei!" Matsuba raised his voice euphorically, walking toward the woman. "I wanted to do some remodeling." Matsuba's charming tone rose. "I felt bad after causing someone to break a window. So I took the liberty of decorating the place. It was missing a bit of color, don't you think…?"

Matsuba stood only a few centimeters away from Hiratsuka, leaning slightly toward her.

"Uh-huh…" Hiratsuka-sensei responded awkwardly.

She did not know what it was about that boy that always made her feel on alert.

"Tell me, how is your car?" Matsuba smiled even more. "I hope it's doing well."

Hiratsuka-sensei smiled with a certain annoyance. "Ah, yes. Thank you, Matsuba…"

Hikigaya noticed Hiratsuka-sensei's discomfort, but decided to address it later.

"And well, what does our beautiful teacher desire…?" Matsuba said, waiting to see the red tint rise to the woman's cheeks.

"M-Mmmh…" Hiratsuka-sensei took a moment to speak. Being called beautiful had thrown her off. "Anyway—ah, you can come in now!"

Matsuba smiled after receiving the blush he had been seeking from the older woman.

The door opened again, and a girl entered. A girl with gray hair tied into two pigtails.

"Hello, good afternoon," the girl said, positioning herself in front of them.

Yukinoshita recognized her. "Shiromeguri-senpai."

The girl in question smiled. "It seems I need your help again."

Shiromeguri Meguri. A few months ago, she had requested the club's help during the previous Sports Festival.

And after she took a few more steps inside, another girl arrived behind her.

"Iroha-chan!" Yuigahama called out.

"Yui-senpai!" the girl, Isshiki Iroha, replied. "Good afternoon."

"Yahallo! It's been a while, Iroha-chan," Yuigahama spoke again.

Hikigaya looked at the girl. Her hair was almost the same shade as Matsuba's, but with dull eyes that lacked his shine. In fact, when he first saw her, she looked like she could have been his sister. But when he glanced sideways at Matsuba, he only saw him smiling at both girls with an almost normal expression.

He did not know them at all.

Hikigaya's eyes returned to the girl.

Isshiki looked at Hikigaya and smiled at him timidly.

Hikigaya returned a smile of irritation.

"This girl is a problem waiting to happen."

The loner thought.

…

Now the table was full.

"Candidate for student council president?" Yuigahama spoke toward the center of the table.

Yukinoshita was analyzing the request.

Matsuba drank tea, now seated to her right.

Hasegawa yawned, Aisaka listened attentively, and Hikigaya kept his eyes on his novel.

"Yes," Isshiki answered. But as she did, her eyes traveled to the two boys closest to her. "I know what you're thinking. You don't think I'm a good choice."

Hikigaya, who had been looking at the girl, shook his head. "N-No, not really."

"I wasn't thinking anything," Hasegawa answered with a certain boredom.

But Isshiki continued explaining herself in a way one could call childish. "I get it. Everyone always tells me I'm slow or clumsy."

Hikigaya immediately analyzed the girl.

"This girl must be the kind other girls hate. She reminds me of a certain girl from middle school."

But while Hikigaya was lost in his introspection—

Hasegawa spoke.

"Maybe you are," he told Isshiki.

Isshiki's eyes widened slightly in surprise, and she forced her smile, though a clear irritation peeked through. "Y-You think so…?" she asked awkwardly, though she did not stop smiling.

Hasegawa could only sigh, glancing from the corner of his eye at Matsuba, who merely smiled while drinking tea.

He was not interested.

"Well…" Yukinoshita's voice made them turn to look at her. "What exactly is the problem?"

Shiromeguri took the floor. "Well, as I said, Isshiki-san is a candidate now, but…" She breathed in to clear her voice. "How should I put it? We want her not to win the election…"

Yuigahama nodded with an uneasy look. "So you don't want to be student council president, Iroha-chan?"

"Yes, exactly that," Isshiki answered.

Yukinoshita only looked at the two of them. "If you do not want to, then why are you among the candidates?" Yukinoshita asked.

Isshiki smiled. "The thing is, I didn't volunteer. They nominated me."

Hikigaya, who had only been listening, already had a clear idea of this girl.

"What is she? An idol?"

Isshiki continued explaining. "I think it's because I stand out a lot. I'm the manager of the soccer team, and I also get along well with Hayama-senpai and his friends."

Hikigaya's thoughts returned.

"No… she's just a girl who makes herself seem perfect to others. That attracts envy and resentment from the other girls. They probably did this to mock her once she loses the election."

The loner continued analyzing her.

Isshiki kept speaking. "So I ended up building a good reputation without realizing it."

"That seems like quite an elaborate plan for a joke," Yukinoshita said. "After all, to run in the election, you need more than thirty votes."

Yuigahama shouted. "That many!" Yuigahama cleared her throat. "I'm surprised."

"I'll have a talk with the culprits," Hiratsuka-sensei said, making the students look at her. "Matsuba, I nee—"

At an abnormal speed, Matsuba was already heading for the clubroom door.

"Of course," he said enthusiastically. "Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll go teach my dear kouhais a lesson."

"Talk," Hiratsuka-sensei directed a serious look at him. "I want you to talk to them."

Matsuba raised the corners of his lips, but his eyes reflected annoyance. "Mmmh…" His voice deepened. "That won't be nearly as stimulating." But he quickly returned to his cheerful tone, looking at his clubmates. "Well then, don't wait for me, all right? Once I'm done talking, I'll go home. I have something important to take care of. See you tomorrow, my dears!"

Matsuba left the clubroom.

Yuigahama spoke.

"Ah, Sensei, where is Matsu-kun going?"

Hiratsuka-sensei looked at Yuigahama, then at Yukinoshita.

"He handles requests in a different way. He'll make sure this does not happen again."

Yukinoshita nodded.

Hasegawa, who had been staring at the table, furrowed his brow.

"That guy…"

Aisaka gave a knowing smile. Meanwhile, Shiromeguri smiled awkwardly, since she understood. Isshiki only looked from one side to the other, confused.

Hikigaya noticed the silence that had fallen, so he spoke.

"If she doesn't want to win, then just let her lose. I don't see a more obvious solution."

Shiromeguri turned her head toward Hikigaya. "Technically, yes, Hikigaya-kun. But there's another problem. Isshiki is the only candidate," Shiromeguri answered him.

So Yukinoshita spoke. "What you mean is that we need to make people lose confidence in Isshiki-san."

Isshiki answered immediately. "But if I lose like that, it could make me look bad."

"Do you know who will be giving the campaign speech?" Hikigaya asked.

Isshiki answered. "No."

"Then that makes it simple," Hikigaya concluded.

Yuigahama looked at Hikigaya. "In what way, Hikki?"

Hikigaya sighed.

"If we want Isshiki to lose the election without being harmed by it, we can have someone else write her speech. That way, once she loses the vote of confidence, she can blame the person who wrote her speech. She can distance herself from it, and that's it," Hikigaya said without taking his eyes off the floor. "The day after the speech, she can point to whoever wrote it, and she won't be affected."

Hikigaya turned slightly toward the others.

Yuigahama looked at him with a face full of shock.

Aisaka looked down, knowing what it meant.

"It could work," Hasegawa answered, and nothing more.

Then Yuigahama began to speak. "I don't like how that sounds…" Her eyes fell downward. She did not want to look at him. She knew the answer. "And who's going to write that speech?" Yuigahama continued.

Hikigaya avoided Yuigahama's gaze.

"Anyone willing to do it."

Hasegawa watched the situation. He wanted to intervene somehow, to take responsibility. Hikigaya had already done it once. It did not seem fair to him. So he could do it—but Yukinoshita beat him to the words.

"I cannot approve of this method," Yukinoshita broke the silence.

Everyone looked at her.

"And why not?" Hikigaya asked challengingly.

"Because…" Yukinoshita leaned forward desperately. "There is no certainty that your plan will work. A bad speech could also end up harming Isshiki-san." Yukinoshita's words did not seem to have the effect she had expected on Hikigaya. "Even if she lost for that reason, do you think there would not be another election…? Besides…" Yukinoshita continued. "The others have no interest in the student council." Yukinoshita's voice began to crack. "Interest in the election is so low that even if the results were published, without counting the real votes, no one would say a word about it." Yukinoshita's words started to rise. "So, for our objective, there are other solutions…"

She stopped.

She was standing.

At what point had she stood up? Both her hands were stretched out on the table.

When had that happened?

Everyone was looking at her.

Hikigaya was, in some way, surprised.

Yuigahama seemed not to recognize her friend.

Aisaka was also staring at her in surprise.

But Hasegawa was not. Now he understood why Matsuba was here. He looked at her, then at Hikigaya.

"Yukinoshita…" Hasegawa muttered to himself.

Then his eyes went to the loner, who had not stopped looking at Yukinoshita.

"I'll have to talk to him. He has to know."

Everyone still had their eyes on Yukinoshita as she began to lower herself back into her seat.

"Yukinoshita," Hiratsuka-sensei's voice echoed through the room.

She nodded.

"Forgive me. That was very inappropriate of me," Yukinoshita cleared her throat. "The only plausible solution I can see is supporting another candidate and making sure that person wins."

Hikigaya spoke. "If there were someone with that objective," his words made the group turn toward him again, "wouldn't there already be other candidates?"

"But…" Yuigahama spoke this time. "What if we find someone who will do it for us?"

Hasegawa took the floor. "But who would actually be willing to do that?"

Aisaka nodded.

The silence made Hiratsuka-sensei take the floor.

"All right," she began. "It doesn't seem like we're going to find a solution today. We'll resolve it tomorrow."

…

Shiromeguri and Isshiki had left the clubroom.

"Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukinoshita spoke. "Could you stay for a moment?"

Hiratsuka nodded with a confused look.

Then Yukinoshita spoke again. "I want to know… who won the bet?"

"Bet?" Hiratsuka answered, still confused.

Hikigaya saw his teacher's face.

"She forgot…"

"The bet to determine who is better suited to help others," Hikigaya answered. "Whoever can solve the most problems gets to make the loser do whatever the winner wants."

Hiratsuka's eyes opened wide.

She had forgotten about that.

"You made that kind of bet?" Yuigahama asked.

Hasegawa raised his eyebrows.

"Wow…"

Aisaka stayed on the sidelines, keeping silent.

"Ah, right!" Hiratsuka pretended to remember. "Well, you've both been working well most of the time. And in my opinion, all of you are doing fine."

Hiratsuka looked at Hikigaya's and Yukinoshita's faces. Neither of them looked satisfied with that answer.

"Ah… I don't have an answer yet. But if you want, I can give you one based on my own biases."

"That is fine with me," Yukinoshita insisted.

Hiratsuka sighed. "All right. Based only on the results…" Hiratsuka looked at the loner. "Hikigaya. You are one step ahead. But if we take the long-term process into account…"

Hiratsuka looked at Yukinoshita.

"You would be ahead."

"So there is no clear winner?" Yukinoshita replied.

Hiratsuka nodded. "Exactly."

"In that case, there is no problem if our points of view differ, correct?" Yukinoshita asked.

Yuigahama looked at her friend. "What do you mean, Yukinon?"

"I mean that he and I do not have to use the same methods," Yukinoshita concluded.

"Yes, that's right," Hikigaya answered this time. "There's no reason to force the other person to use your own methods."

Hiratsuka listened to her student's words.

"Then what will happen to the club activities while this is being resolved?"

Without looking up, Yukinoshita answered. "The club members may choose whether or not to participate."

"That's one way of putting it," Hiratsuka replied with a crescent-shaped smile.

Ever since she had arrived at the club, they had been acting strange.

Hikigaya still had that same cynicism, but Yukinoshita… she had never seen her student act this way before. Much less heard her suggest lying in the student council election.

Hikigaya checked his phone.

"It's time to go…"

He thought to himself.

He stood up and walked toward the door.

That was when Yuigahama noticed. It had been so quiet that she had not realized.

"I thought…" Yukinoshita's voice sounded through the room. "That we hated superficial things more than anything else…"

When Hikigaya heard it, he simply stood still for a couple of seconds.

He swallowed.

And even so, he crossed the door.

Hasegawa watched the loner leave.

"I hope he walks slowly…"

Hasegawa thought, since he was going to follow him.

Hiratsuka watched as Hikigaya left without closing the door.

…

"Did something happen?"

Hikigaya turned toward his teacher's voice.

"Something?" Hikigaya answered, stopping. "Something like what?"

Hiratsuka-sensei nodded. "Okay, I see."

She took a moment to take him in. To see how he had grown. He had become a little taller, his hair slightly longer.

But he still had that attitude.

"You're a good kid," Hiratsuka confessed. "You've helped quite a lot of people."

Hikigaya frowned. "Where is this coming from?"

Hiratsuka winked at him. "What can I say? I like favoritism," she answered. "And you're my favorite."

"That's not something a teacher should say, don't you think?" Hikigaya replied.

"My policy is to help my favorite students improve," Hiratsuka answered.

"Mmm," Hikigaya replied. "Then try not to act according to that."

Hiratsuka placed her hand on her student's shoulder.

"Be careful," she said. "If you keep up that attitude, the only thing you'll end up carrying with you is misery. And on the day you truly want to help someone, you won't be able to."

Hiratsuka stroked Hikigaya's cheek for a few seconds.

When she lowered her hand, their eyes met.

Hikigaya turned his back to her and continued on his way.

…

Isomaru Suisan Chiba

6:21 PM

…

"Thank you for your purchase."

Hikigaya listened to the girl, and simply nodded in thanks.

He began walking through the place to find a seat.

"Oh, a face I haven't seen before."

A sweet, feminine voice spoke, with a charm that could make anyone kneel.

Hikigaya turned and saw her.

Yukinoshita Haruno. Yukinoshita's older sister.

She waved at Hikigaya, and all he could do was keep walking quickly toward one of the counter seats, as fast as possible, pretending he had not seen her.

When he reached his seat, he heard her voice again, closer this time.

"How mean," Haruno said. "There was no need to run away like that, rude boy."

Hikigaya could only furrow his brow.

…

"Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita-san spoke in that same enchanting tone as always.

Hikigaya, who was holding his book, answered. "Yes…?"

"Tell me something interesting."

Hikigaya's eyes stared straight ahead in annoyance.

Haruno laughed. "I love that irritated reaction," she said while stretching both arms upward. "I knew you'd react like that."

By accident, Hikigaya's eyes landed on Haruno's chest, but he immediately looked away.

"Well then…" Haruno spoke again. "How are things going with Yukino-chan?"

"Fine, I guess," Hikigaya answered.

Haruno smiled. "Mmmh, I'm glad to hear that." Haruno leaned a little closer. "And? Have you made any progress?"

"Progress?" Hikigaya asked, confused.

"You know, progress. Didn't you go on a school trip? Did nothing happen?" Haruno replied.

"You're pretty well-informed," Hikigaya answered.

"Yukino-chan sent me a few souvenirs."

Somewhat curious, Hikigaya made a guess. "Did she use a delivery service?"

"I suppose she didn't want to see me…" Haruno said, looking away from Hikigaya.

"But she still bought you souvenirs," Hikigaya said. "How devoted."

"Oh, I don't think that's it," Haruno confessed. "She hates me, but she doesn't want me to hate her."

Hikigaya noticed the small emptiness her words left behind.

But Haruno continued.

"Oh, maybe she's just really focused on exams and doesn't want to waste time on other things." Her voice shifted to a livelier tone. "I suppose you're focusing on entrance exams too, right?" Haruno pointed at the book Hikigaya was reading. "Doesn't it bore you?"

Hikigaya, who had been looking at Haruno, returned his eyes to the book she was pointing at. "No, not really."

As he said it, what had happened that day came to mind. In some way, he pitied her.

"Maybe she's a little overwhelmed. And there's also that student council election stuff."

"Ah, I see," Haruno answered, this time letting a smile appear. "So Meguri is finally going to retire…" she said, resting her cheek on her hand. "Knowing how she is, she asked Yukino-chan to be the next president, didn't she?"

Hikigaya shook his head. "No, she hasn't."

"What…? That's boring," Haruno said, changing her tone. "So Yukino-chan won't be student council president?"

"No…" Hikigaya said simply.

Haruno stayed silent for a few seconds, long enough to make him look at her.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

"No, well. It's just that I was never president," Haruno took a moment to breathe. "How boring."

Her charming, honeyed tone disappeared.

Hikigaya looked at her immediately.

He watched how her face changed in the blink of an eye.

Her tone of voice, her posture, her… gaze.

Haruno noticed Hikigaya looking at her and turned to face him, only to smile.

Hikigaya, now somewhat used to it thanks to a certain brown-haired boy, did not react. He simply returned to his book.

"Eh? Hikigaya?" another feminine voice said. "Oh, it is you! It's been a long time," the girl continued.

Hikigaya looked at the girl.

Wavy dark-brown hair. A blue uniform.

"O-Orimoto…" Hikigaya barely spoke.

Hikigaya did not stop looking at the girl, now Orimoto.

"I thought I had managed to bury my middle school classmates in the deepest part of my memory. But her name, Orimoto Kaori, came out without me even thinking. I guess I never fully erased it…"

Hikigaya told himself, remembering those years.

"Wait," Orimoto said. "You go to Sōbu High?"

Hikigaya looked away and shrank into his seat.

"Y-Yeah," he answered.

Orimoto laughed a little. "So you're smart, huh? I didn't know that."

"Well, you barely talked, so this is new to me," Orimoto said, still smiling. She turned to look at Haruno. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No," Hikigaya answered.

His eyes remained fixed on one point.

He did not know where to look.

"Right? I figured. It'd be impossible for her to be," Orimoto laughed.

Hikigaya shifted forward in his seat while letting out a forced laugh.

"Why am I forcing a smile…? Why not just… what the hell… I'm pathetic…"

Haruno turned toward Hikigaya.

"Is it possible this girl was a friend of yours, Hikigaya-kun?"

Hikigaya turned to look at Haruno.

"Is it just me, or did she say that like she was surprised I had a friend?" Hikigaya thought to himself.

He took a breath and answered. "She was one of my classmates."

Haruno laughed softly, covering her mouth at Hikigaya's answer.

"I'm Orimoto Kaori," the girl said.

Haruno looked at her. "Mmmh." She gave a thoughtful smile. "I'm Yukinoshita Haruno."

Then, after a few seconds, she looked at Hikigaya.

"I'm Hikigaya-kun's…" She stopped for a moment, thinking. "Hey, what exactly am I to you?"

"How would I know?" Hikigaya said.

"Well, it would be strange to say we're friends…" Haruno said, looking upward. "So…"

Haruno leaned closer to Hikigaya, pressing her body against his shoulder.

"Why don't we say I'm your girlfriend?"

Hikigaya moved away from Haruno without feeling embarrassed or anything like that because of the comment.

"Wouldn't it be easier to say you're my senpai, or something?"

Even so, Haruno leaned a little closer. "Mmmh." She made a fake pout. "You're so boring!"

Yukinoshita-san turned now to Orimoto and the other girl beside her.

"So, you're Hikigaya-kun's former classmate? Tell me something about him."

Orimoto laughed at Haruno's words.

Haruno continued.

"Something like his love life! That's it! This Onee-san wants to know about Hikigaya-kun's love life."

Hikigaya's eyes opened wide with deep concern.

His hands began to tremble. Sweat started sliding down his forehead.

An itch rose across his scalp.

He inhaled and exhaled, again and again.

None of the three girls even noticed Hikigaya's condition.

"Now that I remember, he once asked me out."

"Seriously? No way!" replied the girl accompanying Orimoto.

Hikigaya's jaw tightened.

"Tell me more," Haruno answered with greater enthusiasm.

And so Orimoto continued.

"I remember we hadn't even talked, and then out of nowhere he asked me out. I was so surprised."

The oxygen was cut off.

He tried to control it, thinking.

Words rushed into his mind as quickly as possible, trying to fill the noise inside his head.

"Talking… nothing… we sent messages… whether out of pity or whatever, she gave me her number. I used every kind of excuse to text her and waited for some stupid reply that was never going to come… but I guess she has no idea about that… or she simply doesn't remember…"

Sweat began to fall.

His words were not working.

His thoughts were not working.

His breathing grew shorter and shorter.

None of them noticed.

But then a new voice arrived.

"Hikigaya," a boy's voice sounded from his left. "Are you feeling all right?"

The loner turned toward the sound of the voice.

"Hasegawa," Hikigaya only managed to say, trying to calm himself.

Haruno turned toward the new face. "Hikigaya-kun? You know him?" Haruno's charming tone returned.

Orimoto and the other girl looked at Hasegawa.

Hikigaya tried to speak. "He… h-he…" But he swallowed.

"Yes," Hasegawa answered after hearing Hikigaya's difficulty. "I'm Hikigaya's friend. Hasegawa Hajime."

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun." Haruno's charming tone did not leave her. "I didn't know you had friends."

Haruno turned back to Hasegawa.

"I'm Yukinoshita Haruno. Nice to meet you."

Hasegawa looked at Haruno and noticed the resemblance instantly.

"So she has an older sister," Hasegawa sighed. "Wonderful."

Haruno tilted her head in confusion. "Sister?"

Haruno understood immediately.

"Ah, you must already know Yukino-chan."

Her enchanted tone rose.

"Well, be careful. Yukino-chan is for Hikigaya-kun." Haruno's words became even sweeter. "Onee-san will get angry if you try anything, Hasegawa Hajime-kun."

Hasegawa almost burst out laughing at the direct threat.

"You don't have to worry about me, Onee-san," Hasegawa answered without the slightest trace of fear or intimidation.

Seeing that she had gotten no reaction from him, Haruno laughed out loud.

"Ha, ha, ha," Haruno kept laughing. "Hasegawa-kun, Onee-san likes you."

Hasegawa looked at her with annoyance.

He already had more than enough dealing with one lunatic.

Two became impossible.

"Yeah, whatever," he answered Haruno, then turned to Hikigaya. "Hey, we need to talk."

Hikigaya furrowed his brow in confusion. "Talk…?"

"Hikigaya, you have friends!" the girl shouted again, quite surprised. "Woah, how weird! What would our old classmates say, right?"

Orimoto took a few seconds before addressing Hikigaya again.

"Oh, Hikigaya! If both of you go to Sōbu, then you must know Hayama-kun," Orimoto interrupted.

By muscle memory, Hikigaya answered. "Y-Yeah, you could say that…"

"Who…?" Hasegawa tilted his head in confusion.

"Really!" Orimoto answered excitedly. "Did you hear that, Chika? He could introduce us to him!" Orimoto told the friend beside her.

The girl smiled distrustfully. "Eh? No, better some other time."

Hikigaya looked at Orimoto, then returned his gaze to the floor.

"Hey, look. I don't really know him. We're not friends, or anything like that…"

Orimoto showed a disappointed expression, and so did the other girl.

"A-Ah, right, that makes sense," Orimoto said, a little awkwardly. "It would be weird if you were."

"This could get interesting!" Haruno shouted enthusiastically. "All right, ladies, I'll introduce you to him."

Haruno placed her phone against her ear, and after a few seconds, she spoke.

"Hayato? Can you come to where I am right now? I'm at Isomaru Suisan, near the station."

"What is she plotting?" Hikigaya thought.

Hasegawa, who had been sighing, spoke again.

"Hikigaya," he said for the second time. "It's important," he clarified, out of patience.

Haruno turned to Hasegawa. "Oh, you can stay too. It'll be entertaining."

Hasegawa seemed to hear him for a second…

"Entertaining… huh…"

Hasegawa shook his head tiredly.

"Careful what you wish for, Onee-san."

…

"See you, Hayama-kun," Orimoto said as she walked toward the exit of the restaurant.

The other girl said goodbye as well. "Bye-bye, Hayama-kun. I'll message you."

Hayama and Haruno returned their farewells.

Unlike Hikigaya and Hasegawa.

Who kept staring at their food.

"Why did you do this?" Hayama changed his kind smile for a serious expression as he spoke to Haruno.

"Because it seemed fun," Haruno answered in her cheerful tone.

Satisfied.

"Again…" Hayama replied. Then he looked at Hikigaya and Hasegawa. "And why are they here?"

"You'll be surprised," Haruno answered. "Apparently, Hikigaya-kun liked the girl with curly hair."

When Hikigaya heard those words, he shuddered at the memory still inside him.

Hasegawa saw it.

He understood the feeling.

And it made him clench his jaw.

However, Haruno continued.

"I'd love to see Yukino-chan's face if she found out about this."

Yukinoshita-san took a breath and looked at the other boy beside Hikigaya.

"And apparently, Hikigaya-kun has a friend. Hasegawa-kun, he is—"

"I know the blond guy," Hasegawa instantly cut Haruno off, fed up with her tone of voice.

Haruno was surprised. "Really? But you said you didn't know him when the girls mentioned him."

"I didn't remember his name…" Hasegawa confessed. "I thought it was the other one. Doesn't matter…"

Hasegawa remembered the moment he had met Hayama and Tobe.

Tobe's anger at him mispronouncing Hasegawa's name had made him pay so little attention to them that he ended up mixing up their names.

Hayama sighed and looked at Hikigaya.

Haruno tilted her head, somewhat confused by that last part, but ignored it.

"So then, since when have you and Hikigaya-kun been friends? Also since middle school? Do you have stories about Hikigaya-kun too?"

"I've known him for less than two weeks," Hasegawa answered, tired of the meaningless conversation.

"Two weeks? And you're already friends?" Haruno asked again, though this time she did not seem to want an answer.

"Men. You wouldn't understand," Hasegawa replied without flinching.

At that, Haruno tilted her head slightly with a hint of irritation.

"He's a member of the Service Club," Hayama interrupted before something happened.

Haruno turned to Hayama with a serious expression. "Ah, yes…"

Haruno smiled again in a way that made the atmosphere shift.

"Haha, Shizuka-chan didn't tell me anything about that."

Hayama nodded.

He did not want to talk anymore.

It would only add more fuel to the fire.

The blond boy did not want that.

Hikigaya still had not stopped staring at the table in front of him.

He was completely exhausted. He felt like his muscles were not responding. His eyes blinked several times, more than usual. His throat was dry.

Everything in him was wrong.

And the night was not over yet.

"Well then!" Haruno stood up with her usual smile. "It was nice spending time together, somehow. So I'll be going now."

After finishing those words, Haruno leaned close to the side of Hikigaya's face.

"Thank you…" she whispered. "For going out with me, Hikigaya-kun."

Though the words were spoken directly into Hikigaya's ear, Hasegawa was able to hear them.

Their eyes met.

She smiled.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Hasegawa-kun," she said, winking as she straightened up. "This Onee-san likes you."

Hasegawa only tilted his head in acknowledgment, not giving it much importance.

Haruno turned around with a certain elegance, now leaving the three students in silence.

It did not take long before she crossed the door.

"What a woman," Hasegawa finally said.

Hayama stayed on the sidelines as always, closing his eyes.

Meanwhile, Hikigaya inhaled, somewhat tired.

"It seems Haruno-san likes you," Hayama said, looking at Hikigaya. "Both of you, actually. It's impressive… I've never seen that before…"

From the corner of his eye, Hasegawa looked at Hayama, whose gaze remained still, and could only sigh.

Hikigaya furrowed his brow. "What? Are you an idiot? It's obvious she's only messing with me."

"Even so," Hayama answered. "She doesn't tease people she isn't interested in."

Hayama took a moment, then spoke again.

"She's kind to those she likes. Those she doesn't care about, she ignores. And those she hates, she destroys…"

Hasegawa smiled with minimal, silent astonishment at Hayama's babbling.

"That sounds…" Hikigaya said. "Terrifying…"

Hearing that, Hasegawa could do nothing but smile ironically.

"If that's terrifying, I don't even want to think about what they'd say about him…"

Hasegawa spoke again, standing up, and continued.

"All right, Hikigaya, come with me."

Hayama watched as Hasegawa got to his feet.

"You mean Matsuba-kun, don't you? Right, Hasegawa-kun…?" Hayama asked seriously.

Hasegawa simply nodded, unconcerned.

Hayama sighed.

"What does he want?"

Hikigaya turned to look at Hayama, a little surprised.

This time, his tone had changed.

His gaze had changed.

He no longer seemed like Sōbu's charming prince.

But Hasegawa could not have cared less.

"Why don't you go and ask him yourself?" Hasegawa answered. "I'm sure he's eager to hang your head somewhere in Sōbu."

Hayama's mere condescending way of asking had irritated Hasegawa.

It was normal.

For Hayama, having others run his errands was normal.

He asked, and others brought things to him.

"Come on, Hikigaya," Hasegawa said as he walked toward the exit of the restaurant.

Hikigaya, hearing only that, nodded, ignoring both of their words.

Now the only one left in the restaurant was Hayama.

"Shit…" was all the blond boy could say.

…

2-chōme-15 Shinjuku, Chuo Ward, Chiba, 260-0021, Japan

6:43 PM

…

"She really was a bitch," Hasegawa said, breaking the ice.

Hikigaya's eyes widened at how naturally he said it.

"Yukinoshita-san?" he asked, surprised.

"What?" Hasegawa instantly thought of Yukino. "No, I mean the other one. Orimoto," he answered, laughing. "For the older Yukinoshita, there's a different kind of word."

He said it with a faint smile. It was contagious, because Hikigaya smiled too.

However, Hasegawa noticed that Hikigaya was struggling to smile.

"Hey, relax," he said, placing his hand on the loner's shoulder. "You can laugh. No one's going to chase you with torches or throw you into a bonfire."

Hikigaya nodded, yet his eyes never left the ground.

"They would if they could," he joked with a small smile.

Both of them laughed at the comment.

Hasegawa's laughter faded, and his voice returned to its natural tone.

"That Orimoto…" he said, this time a little more seriously. "She's the girl from your stories, right? The one with the messages, the phone number, and all that."

Hikigaya looked away, but he knew lying would be pointless. So he resigned himself.

"Y-Yeah…" he answered.

Hasegawa nodded understandingly. "Don't worry. I've had bad streaks too," he said, giving his shoulder a light punch. "No one is exempt."

Hikigaya certainly felt a sting of pain. Not much, but enough for it to hurt a little. And a faint blush grew on his cheeks. Talking about this kind of thing with another man… or with another human being, had never happened before.

So he only forced a grimace.

"I-I guess," he answered. Then, trying to avoid the subject, he continued, "And what did you want to talk about?"

Hasegawa slipped his hands into his pockets, inhaling the cool evening air before letting it out.

"Everything," he answered generally. "The club, what's going on. How uncomfortable it's become."

He took a second to breathe, then continued.

"And Haruto…"

Hikigaya nodded. He understood. Things had become uncomfortable. But the club was something he really did not want to talk about.

And as for Matsuba, he did not fully understand.

What could they talk about regarding Matsuba?

About how irritating he was…

"Nothing is happening with the club," Hikigaya returned his eyes to the road in front of them. "Yukinoshita and I just don't agree. Nothing special," he answered, giving it no importance. "And what about Matsuba?"

Hasegawa noticed the obvious attempt to avoid the subject, and simply nodded. Maybe he would bring it up again some other time. So he chose to prioritize Matsuba instead.

"You saw it, in the club," Hasegawa said.

Hikigaya furrowed his brow, not understanding what he meant.

"Saw what?"

Hasegawa noticed the confusion, so he continued.

"When you and Yukinoshita had that exchange. Of words," he reminded Hikigaya. "Before that teacher and the other two came in."

Hikigaya nodded. "Ah… yeah…"

He remembered how Matsuba had touched Yukinoshita's shoulder. Nothing he had not done before arriving at the club.

"You saw it," Hasegawa repeated, without taking his eyes off Hikigaya. "You watched Haruto put his hand on Yukinoshita's shoulder."

"Yeah…" Hikigaya answered uncertainly, still unsure where he was trying to go with this.

He remembered that moment. It had been strange.

He had not mentioned it, but he had not paid much attention to it either.

Matsuba always ignored everyone's personal space.

What had been strange to Hikigaya was that Yukinoshita did not push him away.

Hasegawa looked at Hikigaya, but this time his eyes became deeper and more serious. Serious enough to make Hikigaya tense instinctively.

"He had never done that before," Hasegawa confessed. "To anyone."

Hikigaya's eyebrows furrowed even more this time.

"What do you mean?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hasegawa answered. "He's planning something."

Their steps began to slow.

Hikigaya did not know how to understand the situation. "Planning something? With Yukinoshita? Like what?"

Without meaning to, he swallowed.

"Planning something…" Hikigaya answered, confused. "Something like what?"

Hasegawa shook his head.

"I don't know…" he answered honestly.

The street crossing made both of them stop. A green light made them barely visible, along with the lights of the cars.

"But it has to do with Yukinoshita," Hasegawa continued. "Since I've known Haruto, he's never been interested in anyone for more than two days, though Aiko-chan is an exception."

Hasegawa kept explaining.

"So when the time comes, you'll have to do something…"

"Wait… what? Do something…?" Hikigaya asked, bewildered.

His thoughts attacked him.

"Something… like what? What could Matsuba do with Yukinoshita?"

Hasegawa, a little surprised to hear Hikigaya's shock, answered.

"You'll have to help… protect her," he replied, without taking his eyes off the road ahead. "She likes you…"

Hikigaya blushed at how easily he said it.

"Y-Yukinoshita… likes me?" His stuttering was more pronounced than he expected.

The traffic light changed to bright red.

Hasegawa smiled when he saw his companion's red cheeks. "Oh, come on. You haven't noticed?"

"Y-Yukinoshita doesn't like me," Hikigaya choked on his own saliva.

"Of course she does," Hasegawa answered, somewhat understanding of Hikigaya's denial.

The loner quickly shook his head.

Hasegawa sighed at his clubmate's innocence.

"What? Didn't you hear her when she said there was no need for you to be the scapegoat?" Hasegawa said incredulously. "She even mentioned electoral fraud."

Hikigaya, still reluctant to accept Hasegawa's words, reasoned through it, and without meaning to, stopped shifting.

"That was to make the request more efficient."

Hasegawa turned to look at Hikigaya. "Sure. And the last thing? The last thing she said when you left."

Now both of them stood on the sidewalk, no longer walking.

Hikigaya remembered what she had said before he left the clubroom.

"I thought we both hated superficiality…"

Yukinoshita's words spoke inside his head.

"Hating superficiality?"

Hasegawa nodded, and a small smile drew itself across the dark-haired boy's face.

"That, man, is practically a confession," Hasegawa smiled warmly at Hikigaya. "A weird one, but still."

Hikigaya blushed again.

Hasegawa spotted a bench and a vending machine nearby.

"Come on. My treat."

…

The two students sat on the bench, each drinking something different.

Hasegawa was drinking his black coffee, and as he did, he glanced sideways at Hikigaya's drink.

"Isn't that way too sweet?" Hasegawa asked as he looked at Hikigaya's drink.

A can of MAX COFFEE.

"Life is bitter," Hikigaya looked at Hasegawa. "At least coffee should be sweet…"

Hasegawa smiled. "What a mantra…"

Hikigaya slightly lifted the corners of his mouth as he took a seat on the bench across from him.

When he took the third or fourth sip, the memories came.

He could not remember the last time he had felt comfortable with another human being.

Aside from his little sister.

So many years had passed.

"Mmh," Hikigaya cleared his throat. "So, Matsuba. What does he want with Yukinoshita?"

Hasegawa sat beside Hikigaya, adjusting his jacket.

"Honestly, I don't know," he answered, leaning forward. "Lately, Haruto hasn't been acting the way he should. He's different. He's leaving too many things to chance. And ever since he was absent for those six or seven months, he's been acting strange."

When he turned to look at Hikigaya, he was met with a bewildered expression.

"I mean stranger than he already is…" he clarified, while both of them nodded in unison. Then he took a sip of his black coffee. "And add Kaihin to that."

Hasegawa mentioned the school.

Hikigaya looked at him in confusion. He did not know much about other schools, but he did know about Kaihin High School. Almost all of his former classmates had gone there.

Example: Orimoto.

That blue jacket and skirt belonged to that school.

"Kaihin?" he asked, giving it little importance. "What about that school?"

"You didn't know…" Hasegawa turned to look at him.

Hikigaya, still drinking from his can, shook his head.

So Hasegawa answered.

"Haruto took control of Kaihin not long ago, before he disappeared," Hasegawa replied, massaging his temple. "And as if that weren't enough, Sōbu, now Kaihin, and not to mention half of Yurinoki-dori."

Hikigaya furrowed his brow, lowering his drink.

"Seriously…? W-Wait, what you're saying sounds ridiculous. Control Kaihin? Is he in a gang? Is he a delinquent?"

For a second, Hasegawa went blank.

"Hikigaya, how much do you know about gangs here in Chiba…?"

He lowered his gaze to the can in his hands.

"Ah, well, not much… as far as I know, I thought there weren't any…"

Hasegawa's face was almost blank, his brown eyes exchanged for a pair of black dots.

"I see," Hasegawa nodded.

Hikigaya furrowed his brow slightly.

"Why is he looking at me with pity?" the loner thought.

Hasegawa straightened himself and returned to normal.

"Okay, I'll simplify it. There have always been gangs here in Chiba, Kyoto, Tokyo, everywhere in Japan. For a while now, people have stopped calling them gangs," he clarified.

"I see…" Hikigaya answered faintly, paying attention.

"Good…" Hasegawa nodded, continuing. "Currently, in our prefecture, there are eight leaders. Counting Haruto. That's what they're called. Leaders."

"Matsuba… a delinquent. No. A leader sounds even stupider in my monologue. I think I'll stick with: thug," Hikigaya thought.

He brought the can back to his lips, but answered first.

"That's not many."

Hasegawa nodded, looking ahead with a distant gaze.

"That's partly thanks to Haruto," he commented, turning back to Hikigaya. "There used to be many more."

Hikigaya lowered his can after hearing that statement.

"What do you mean? Matsuba did something to them?" he asked, confused.

Hasegawa picked up a wooden stick and began drawing a map of Chiba Prefecture.

He started marking the largest districts.

Mihama-ku, Narashino, Yotsukaidō, Inage Ward, Wakaba-ku.

"Before, gangs were spread out by the hundreds. Some were small, some weren't. Each one had its piece of the city. It all started at Higashi High. They said a brown-haired boy who never stopped smiling began challenging the leaders of the biggest gangs in Chiba. The ones that controlled bars, clubs. But no one took him seriously. And before we realized it, the leaders began disappearing without a trace. People thought it was the police finally taking action, but it wasn't."

Hikigaya could not believe it.

He hesitated to ask, but he believed he already knew what the answer would be.

"It was Matsuba?"

Hasegawa nodded, letting out a long sigh.

"Yes…" He brought his hands to his face and rubbed it. "Haruto was the reason the gangs were reduced. When he arrived in the prefecture, everything changed. He did whatever he wanted here in Chiba, and turned Higashi into his kingdom."

Hasegawa stepped on the cement beneath him.

"This ground, this place," he gestured with his hands. "Mihama-ku. It's part of Haruto's territory. The reason nothing ever happens here is because of him. Haruto doesn't belong to a gang or group. He has always acted alone. Entire gangs, minor ones or ones just starting out, never mess around here because they fear Haruto. And the gangs that already have their bases don't come here because of a pact between them…"

Hikigaya's brow furrowed even more.

Hearing Hasegawa's words felt surreal to him. Or, rather, fantastical.

Thinking about it felt ridiculous.

"When he arrived, everything changed…" he repeated to himself.

Hasegawa lowered his can.

"I belonged to one…" His words came out almost as a murmur. "It was a gang. One of the old ones. It doesn't exist anymore… but I managed to leave before Haruto arrived…"

Hikigaya turned toward him.

It did not really surprise him.

It had been obvious.

"Sounds like it was rough…" he answered.

Hasegawa nodded, grateful for Hikigaya's understanding.

"It's not something I'm proud of, Hikigaya. I needed money, you know… My father had abandoned us. My mother… my sisters…"

He lowered his head, letting his irises fall toward the cold ground.

"I wish I could've done things differently, but I don't regret anything…"

Hikigaya nodded. All he could do was listen.

He could not tell him he understood completely, but there was something both of them could agree on.

"Regret… I know the feeling…" He let out a sigh.

The vapor-filled air dissolved in front of him.

"So Matsuba controls all of this…?"

"I'm afraid so…" Hasegawa answered, nodding as he brought the can to his lips.

Hikigaya himself could not believe it. He knew Matsuba could be a headache. But not to this magnitude.

Because if what Hasegawa said was true, then he would have to warn Yukinoshita about who she had brought into the club.

"If Matsuba forces Yukinoshita to do something…" his thoughts spoke before he did.

"If he hurts her…?"

Immediately, he felt a knot in his stomach, a hollow ache for some reason he did not understand.

"It'll be my responsibility…"

But he knew how stubborn she was. The only thing she would do was call him Hikki-overreacting-kun.

He would have to think of a way to keep him away from her.

"If that's the case," Hikigaya said. "What do we do?"

Hasegawa shook his head. "Nothing. You can ignore that."

"A-Ah, but you said he controls this place, right? We have to warn the others… the police or something… don't we?"

Hasegawa smiled faintly at how innocent that sounded.

"I see your heart isn't as black as you make it seem," he answered with a smile.

Hikigaya frowned, annoyed. "Go to hell…"

Hasegawa let out a smile and placed his hand on Hikigaya's shoulder, shaking him in a friendly way.

"Relax, that's not our problem."

He brought his eyes to the loner.

"What we need to worry about is Yukinoshita… and deals."

Hikigaya furrowed his brow in confusion.

"Deals?"

"That's right…" Hasegawa nodded slowly. "That's what Haruto always looks for in someone. Making a deal," he clarified. "If Yukinoshita caught his attention, then…"

Hasegawa looked at Hikigaya.

"You have to do everything possible to make sure she doesn't make a deal with Haruto."

"M-Me?" Hikigaya stammered. "No… I don't think…"

"Yes," Hasegawa affirmed. "Listen, Haruto takes deals very seriously. If he makes one with Yukinoshita, and she refuses, or she can't keep it, he'll hurt her."

His eyes went to the ground.

"Listen. No one told me this. It isn't some stupid rumor. I saw it."

Hasegawa turned to Hikigaya.

"I saw him break a boy's fingers for not holding up his end of a deal."

Hasegawa looked back at the ground.

"He broke his legs, Hikigaya. I saw the boy being taken away by his mother in a wheelchair. If there's one thing Haruto hates, it's people not respecting agreements. This is serious, Hikigaya."

Hikigaya took some time to process it.

He swallowed.

He had never thought Matsuba would do such things.

A thug, yes… but breaking someone's legs over a deal…

No.

Would Matsuba be capable of hurting Yukinoshita?

"Why are you telling me this?" Hikigaya said, looking at Hasegawa. "Aren't you his friend?"

Hasegawa coughed. "Friend? Why do you think I'm here? Mmh…"

Hasegawa took a deep breath.

"Why do you think I attend the club? Out of kindness as a friend? No, no."

Hasegawa leaned back against the bench.

"I owe him…"

"You owe him…" Hikigaya repeated, clearing his throat. "What do you owe him…?"

"Isn't it obvious? I made a deal…" Hasegawa confessed.

Hikigaya nodded, and a few seconds of silence passed.

"You probably heard about it…" Hasegawa began. "It was my return for third year. But I did something stupid."

He turned to look at Hikigaya.

"You have no idea how much I regret it."

A few more seconds of silence passed before he spoke again.

"Sōbu was about to expel me. I was ruined. There was evidence, testimonies, and other crap."

Hasegawa looked up at the sky.

"Then, a few hours later, he arrived. Matsuba Haruto, the most feared person in Sōbu. I thought he was just an idiot with a stupid smile… and he said: Don't worry, I'll make everything disappear…"

Hasegawa remembered that moment as if it had been yesterday. Matsuba's smile made his blood boil, but what made it boil even more was his own naivety for accepting so easily.

"I accepted without hesitation," Hasegawa continued. "And he just smiled."

When he remembered that smile, his blood ran cold.

With a sigh, he continued.

"I really thought he liked me…"

Idiot, pathetic, naive…

Those were the only words that described Hasegawa.

Hikigaya's thoughts moved as fast as they could, analyzing Hasegawa's words.

"I'm sorry," Hikigaya barely said. "That must be hard…"

The loner spoke without expecting anything.

Hikigaya watched Hasegawa again.

The small gestures, the way his hands played with the can, his pauses.

His breathing.

"There isn't much I can do now…" Hasegawa said. "As long as I owe him, he'll do whatever he wants with me. I won't always be able to help you…"

Hasegawa answered.

"The three of you…"

Hikigaya moved his head, confused. "The three of us?" Hikigaya clarified. "What about Aisaka-san?"

Hasegawa smiled. "Aiko-chan will be fine. Haruto appreciates her in some way."

"Are they friends?" Hikigaya cleared his voice. "Since you two joined the club, Aisaka has been kind of strange. She acts like Matsuba's servant… So are they friends?" he asked again.

"No idea," Hasegawa answered honestly. "She was already with him when I met Haruto…"

Hikigaya nodded.

For a second, there was silence.

But then—

"So that's why…" Hasegawa returned to the main subject. "You have to stop Yukinoshita from making a deal with Haruto. You don't know what he'll ask of her or force her to do…"

Hasegawa took a breath and looked at Hikigaya again.

"And I'm telling you this because I like you."

Hikigaya's eyes widened in surprise.

"Y-You like me?" Hikigaya answered, somewhat incredulous and nervous.

"Of course," Hasegawa nodded. "You and those two girls seem like good kids."

Hikigaya cleared his throat after hearing that.

"But what can I do…?"

Hasegawa sighed.

"Talk some sense into Yukinoshita," he said while taking a sip of his drink.

"B-But that's almost impossible," Hikigaya answered. "Especially now."

"They care about you…" Hasegawa replied.

Hikigaya turned to look at him. "Eh?"

"They do. Both of them care about you," Hasegawa answered immediately. "Yukinoshita and Yuigahama."

"I-I, n-no—"

"Man. They do," Hasegawa interrupted him at once. "They both care about you."

He took a moment to clarify what he meant.

"Look, if you really think they don't, that's fine," Hasegawa said after a second. "But at least consider that they feel some affection for you."

Silence fell again.

Hikigaya still could not believe it. He wanted to say something, to contradict him, or use what he knew best.

"Mmmm…"

His silence became unbearable, even for himself.

He tried to use his logic.

But nothing came.

"If you can't think that for yourself…" Hasegawa continued. "No one will do it for you…"

And silence fell once more.

…

Hikigaya Residence

7:06 PM

…

Hikigaya crossed the doorway of his home.

When he closed the door, all he could hear was the sound of the lock. The house seemed completely empty, but the light beneath his sister Komachi's bedroom door said otherwise.

He sighed.

How much longer would this last…?

His sister was no longer speaking to him.

Yukinoshita would not let him use his methods.

Yuigahama kept hiding behind her smile and avoiding the subject.

And now, Matsuba…

"What am I getting myself into?"

Hikigaya remembered Hasegawa's words.

"…Sōbu and Kaihin, leaders, gangs… this is ridiculous… even for me…"

He thought about what he would have to do.

The first thing was obvious, just as Hasegawa had said: make sure Yukinoshita did not make a deal with Matsuba.

"But… how? How am I supposed to stop Yukinoshita from doing that?"

Hikigaya was reflecting on it when, from the corner of his left eye, he saw white light spill out.

It was his sister Komachi leaving her room. Her brow was now furrowed as she walked toward the bathroom, completely ignoring her brother.

Another sigh escaped Hikigaya.

…

Sōbu

7:03 AM

…

Hikigaya was walking when Yuigahama greeted him.

The moment she saw him, with that usual cheerfulness of hers, she headed toward him.

"A-Ah, Hikki," she said with a small stutter. "Good morning."

Hikigaya looked at Yuigahama for a moment.

"It seems yesterday is still fresh…"

He thought to himself.

So, after a few seconds, he spoke.

"Morning…"

But as he said it, he kept walking.

It was not because he wanted to ignore Yuigahama. Hikigaya had too much on his mind. And although the loner did not want to admit it, going to Yukinoshita was his priority.

Yuigahama noticed Hikigaya's uninterested manner. Her face fell a little, but that did not stop her from following him.

"Are you coming to the club today?" Yuigahama asked.

Her voice sounded discouraged, though small shades of hope could still be heard.

"It's just…"

Yuigahama's voice stopped for a few seconds.

"Matsu-kun and Hasegawa-kun said they won't be able to attend…"

Hikigaya's eyes opened slightly in surprise, though he did not lose sight of the hallway he was crossing.

"Hasegawa won't come…?" Hikigaya thought. "Why? Does Matsuba know about the conversation we had? No. That would be impossible."

Hikigaya inhaled deeply before speaking.

"Why?"

"A-Ah, Matsu-kun said he was going to look for the people who played that cruel joke on Iroha-chan. And a date… or something like that. And as for Hasegawa-kun, he said he was going to pick up his sister from school…"

Hikigaya's thoughts flooded his mind.

"A date… Hasegawa has a sister. Ah, right. He mentioned it last night…"

Hikigaya cleared his vision.

"He's also an older brother. Maybe that's why we get along… I guess."

His imagination clouded his mind, but he quickly shook his head.

He could use this to make Yukinoshita see reason, but he needed Hasegawa's help.

But it could also put him at risk.

"Hikki?" Yuigahama's voice pulled Hikigaya out of his mind.

Hikigaya reacted to the worried sound in Yuigahama's voice.

"Yeah…" Hikigaya answered, avoiding the question Yuigahama was about to ask about his condition. "I'll go to the club."

Yuigahama's expression changed in an instant.

"O-Oh, that's good!"

Her joy was more than obvious.

"Hey, today I talked with Iroha-chan and Yukinon, and we came up with a plan."

When Yuigahama was about to say the next part, her voice dropped a note.

"But I don't want you to think we're doing it behind your back."

"Don't worry," Hikigaya spoke again. "I'll go and listen."

Yuigahama's smile returned to her face.

…

Service Club

4:32 PM

…

Hikigaya was once again staring at the door of the Service Club.

This time, he felt more comfortable. Perhaps it was because he knew Matsuba would not be there.

"It's been a while since the last time I argued with Yukinoshita. But now this is beyond me. It isn't the same anymore. The only thing I have to do is make Matsuba stay away from Yukinoshita, or the other way around. But between her and me, if nothing has changed, then that's perfectly fine with me."

Those words came to Hikigaya as he lifted his head and looked at the sign of his club.

"Maybe you're right, Hasegawa, when you say she might feel some kind of affection for me. But liking me… no… I know she doesn't…"

The words kept coming, spilling from his mind without stopping.

"Me, being liked by Yukinoshita, the most beautiful girl in Sōbu…"

Until the sound of the door made itself present because of him.

"How stupid…"

When he entered, he saw Yukinoshita at the table, as always, seated at the head. Yuigahama was beside her, Aisaka to her left, and Isshiki on the other side of the table.

"You came!" Yuigahama shouted, being the first to react.

Aisaka quickly went to the table where the teapot was and poured tea into a plastic cup.

Hikigaya ignored this and went to sit in his seat without saying anything.

"Here, Hachiman-kun," Aisaka's voice made him turn.

Hikigaya showed no blush or anything equivalent. He simply felt it.

"Thank you, Aisaka-san," he answered, bringing the cup to his lips and enjoying the sweet taste of the tea.

"Wow, this tastes way too good, and it's sweet…"

The loner thought to himself.

Without looking at the newcomer, Yukinoshita arranged the papers she held in her hands.

"All right, let us begin."

"First, the best option we have, Iroha-chan, is to make someone else want to become student council president," Yuigahama said. "That way, you could lose the votes without being hurt by it."

"Mmh…" Isshiki nodded. "That would be fine, but I'd like the person I lose against to be amazing."

Aisaka nodded. "Yes," she answered. "That's why we made a list of names that could help us."

Yukinoshita took a sheet of paper and handed it to Isshiki.

"We also included examples of what you can say and promise during the opening speech and—"

"The fact that you're making a campaign for this supposed candidate means they're going to be nothing more than a puppet, doesn't it?"

Hikigaya could not help but speak.

His words made the four girls in the room turn to look at him.

"And that's supposed to be better than my method…" he muttered to himself.

The four girls fell silent, and seeing that, Hikigaya spoke again.

"Imagine your candidate wins," he continued. "What will they do with all the responsibilities that come with it?"

Yuigahama hesitated.

"T-That's why we have to look for someone capable."

"That only makes things harder," Hikigaya countered immediately. "Your plan loses its meaning if you don't take the future into account."

The loner inhaled.

"It won't work."

"Then what meaning does your method have…?"

Yukinoshita spoke.

Her words made the sound in the room disappear.

Hikigaya turned to look at her, as did Yuigahama, Isshiki, and Aisaka.

"Strictly speaking, it could avoid the worst possible scenario," Hikigaya answered. "If she loses the vote of confidence, she could withdraw without being harmed by it."

Hikigaya's words echoed throughout the clubroom.

"She only has to blame someone. In this situation…"

"In this situation…" Yukinoshita repeated, annoyed. "No. You are wrong."

Yukinoshita's blue eyes looked directly into Hikigaya's.

"You always try to avoid the problem."

Hikigaya remembered.

Kyoto, Tobe's request, and his fake confession.

"And what's wrong with that?" Hikigaya replied.

"I believe I remember you calling that meaningless superficiality…" Yukinoshita answered, irritated.

The room fell silent.

"Um…" Yuigahama tried to say something, but there was nothing she could say.

Aisaka stayed on the sidelines, since she did not know how to act in this kind of situation.

She did not understand why Hikigaya was like that.

Throwing himself out as bait so the other students could insult him.

All for the sake of a request.

What need was there to sacrifice himself for a stranger?

"Hachiman-kun…" was all she could say, with pity.

Aisaka did not understand.

"I'm leaving…" Hikigaya said as he stood up.

The four girls watched as the boy left the room.

The sound of the door was the only thing that could be heard.

EXTRA:

Matsuba Haruto's Important Date, Part 1

…

Matsuba Residence

8:45 PM

Three days after Matsuba joined the Service Club.

…

Matsuba was in the comfort of his home, sitting on the engawa. [1]

His eyes were closed. His posture was straight.

His legs were crossed beneath him.

He inhaled and exhaled.

Then the smell of freshly baked cookies reached his nose.

His smile widened.

"Haru-kun~ Would you like something sweet? I need help!! I think I made too many~ ♡" a feminine voice came from the right side of the hallway.

"Of course!" Matsuba shouted, standing up in a single movement and slightly cracking the wood beneath him. "I live to help, Ōsuki-san."

Matsuba Ōsuki, Matsuba Haruto's stepmother.

A woman with a kind face and dark brown hair, unlike Haruto's. Her smile was contagious, the kind that made you feel loved just by looking at you.

Matsuba lowered his head slightly.

Ōsuki was not exactly tall, but she was not short either. Still, she did not hesitate to stand on tiptoe so her stepson would not have to hunch over. When she saw him eating the cookies, she found it strange to notice a certain joy in Haruto's smile.

Something different.

Ever since she had known him, he had always smiled.

She could not remember the last time she had ever seen him sad, or crying, if ever.

The first time she met him, he had been six or eight years old.

She had moved into his home a week after divorcing her husband, Matsuba Satō.

She had heard very little about Haruto from his father.

"A very cheerful boy," she managed to remember from her time as his secretary.

Compared to the son, the father was completely different.

So Ōsuki had made it her mission to detect every kind of smile her stepson had.

To know when he was happy, euphoric—because those were not the same. Excited, when his eyes shone. Serious, when he did not show his teeth as much. Annoyed, when the corners of his lips stretched wider and his eyes became downward-facing crescents.

And now, he looked excited.

"So, did something happen at school?"

Ōsuki asked as she set the tray aside, took a handkerchief, and wiped Haruto's cheeks. She was curious. Lately, Haruto only came on weekends or on some weekdays like this one, since he stayed with his maternal aunt because she lived closer to his current school. The last time she had gone to drop off some documents, she walked with him through the hallway, and a few murmurs had worried her a little.

"Dark Prince."

But surely they were just teenager things. A new manga, or anime, right?

Haruto widened his smile, taking the handkerchief to wipe himself.

"I joined a club."

Ōsuki's eyes lit up with genuine emotion.

"Oh, that's wonderful, Haru-kun!"

She let out a few small hops and soft claps.

"And what club is it? Sports? No, no, no, you don't like touching others… Ah, yes! Kendo Club, surely that's it."

Ōsuki spoke too quickly, even for Haruto, who only smiled while waiting for the right moment to speak.

"It makes me so happy, Haru-kun, that you're participating in school activities."

She inhaled nostalgically, wiping small tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Finally! Good news," Ōsuki thought. "I was afraid the transfer to another school would affect him and he would become withdrawn and not make friends… though that wouldn't be entirely bad, since he'd come home more often… Ah, what are you thinking, Ōsuki!"

Her eyes wandered over Haruto's face.

"Ha, ha…" she laughed, somewhat awkwardly because of what she had just thought. "Would you like me to pack those tamagoyaki rolls you like so much?" she asked, returning to her usual cheerful tone.

Haruto showed a somewhat confused smile.

"Sure," he answered. "And by the way, it isn't the Kendo Club…"

"Oh…" Ōsuki blinked, somewhat confused. Her head tilted slightly. "If it isn't kendo, then what is it?" she wondered to herself. "Ah, Haru-kun doesn't like being touched. Reading? Literature Club? No, that bores him. Soccer? No, sports are too easy for him. Debate Club? No, he would scare everyone with his ideas… Tea Club?" [2]

Unconsciously, she brought her index finger to her chin.

"Then… what is the club you joined about, sweetheart?"

Haruto's eyes lit up.

"It is the Service Club."

Ōsuki's eyebrows slowly rose. She had never heard of a club called that.

"Service Club, huh…"

She stayed thoughtful. Then a brief image of Haruto helping someone came to her mind.

"Helping… that sounds wonderful, Haru-kun. Will you be helping the community? Or is it something like the student committee?" Ōsuki spoke excitedly.

"HAHAHA."

A pronounced laugh came out of Haruto.

"Not at all. It's about helping students."

"A-Ah… so it's something like advising other students?"

Ōsuki relaxed without knowing exactly why.

"That's good too, Haru-kun~" she commented with a slight smile.

Then she tilted her head briefly.

"Can you help them kindly? Like a good senpai~?"

Her words came out with her contagious joy, but there were tiny contractions in her face, as if she understood a dense cloud of nerves.

She knew Haruto could sometimes be…

Different.

"Hahaha," Haruto's laughter greeted her. "Of course. I love helping."

Ōsuki sighed with relief.

"I'm glad you say that… I thought—"

"It is marvelous to watch them fall again and again into the same pit of humanity's misery, and to admire their desperate faces when they fail."

For some reason, Haruto's voice deepened, and the rays of sunset struck directly against his golden irises.

"There it is…" Ōsuki thought.

She knew her stepson.

She was used to him expressing himself that way.

She had never tried to correct him during his childhood.

When she worked part-time at a daycare while she was still a student, she had a motto.

"Never leave a child alone."

That one was not hers. It belonged to the daycare.

Her own was: Never correct a child if he is not hurting anyone.

Ōsuki was certain that her stepson was a good boy. Once, while she was shopping for lunch, she saw him buy food for a stray cat with his own allowance.

She—

"Haru-kun…" she said softly. "I know that sometimes you're a little different."

Haruto instinctively tilted his head to the right, stretching his smile.

"A-Ah, I mean…" she cleared her throat. "I mean, why do you like watching your classmates fail so much?"

Her question was spoken tenderly, trying to understand her stepson's motives.

"Isn't it obvious?" Haruto said in a cheerful tone. "They are participants in my world. And my world is a WORLD of entertainment…"

Ōsuki sighed, this time in resignation.

She brought her hand to Haruto's hair and caressed it.

"Haru-kun," she complained with a bit of childishness. "That's a little cynical…"

She knew what her stepson was like.

Cynical, arrogant, prideful.

But in the end, he was a boy with a good heart.

She tried to believe that.

And now, the only thing she could do was stroke his head.

"By the way, Haru-kun," Ōsuki spoke again. "Do you have club activities tomorrow?"

She had forgotten to buy a few groceries. And that way, she could have more quality time with her stepson.

"Why?" Haruto asked with a slight smile.

"Well, I only wanted to know. I thought maybe we could go together, like before. Of course, only if you don't have anything important to do. Oh, if it affects you…" Ōsuki gestured with her hands, showing a certain shyness.

"Of course, Ōsuki-san," Haruto answered cheerfully.

"Oh, that's wonderful, Haru-kun!" she commented, clapping with delight. "Then I'll wait for you at the school entrance at four. We can stop by for the tea you like…"

She winked.

"But only if you behave well today at the club."

Then a small grimace formed at the corners of her mouth.

"But are you sure it won't affect you if you don't go? I don't want you to get kicked out of the club because of me…"

"HAHAHA, don't worry, Ōsuki-san. I'm the vice president. I can do whatever I want…"

Haruto's smile widened in an almost abnormal way.

But Ōsuki did not even notice.

"All right, all right," she said, bringing her hand to Haruto's hair and stroking it. "It's a date."

…

Chapter 5 Note: What Do We Want?

Let us begin with the end at the beginning.

Introducing Matsuba Ōsuki, Haruto's stepmother.

Appearance: slim, fair-skinned, light honey-colored eyes, dark brown hair, a kind face, height: 1.68 meters, measurements—do you seriously think I'm going to tell you those? Moving on.

She is a simple woman. She married Haruto's father after he divorced—though she was not the reason for the divorce—a few weeks later. The story was like many others. An aspiring office worker fell in love with her superior, and that's all she wrote.

She is a woman who would describe herself as simple.

She does not have great ambitions. The only thing she wants is to have a family. That was her dream when she was a student. She achieved it. What comes next? Only she knows. Maybe it will be explored in season two, but I'm not sure.

Now, let us talk about Hachiman.

I have not added his internal monologues for two reasons. The first is that I feel they would cut the flow while reading. If you have noticed, this is more dialogue than explanatory paragraphs. And between the dialogues, I add the notes or descriptions. However, there will be monologues when there is a scene change.

Hachiman and Hajime:

Their relationship. This was my original idea. The fanfic was going to focus on them, and on how Hachiman gets a real friend. Of course, later I changed that for reasons I will not reveal yet.

Continuing.

The purpose is to make them friends, as originally planned. Hajime, if you have noticed, will be a great ally for Hachiman in the future. You know Hachiman is not very good with others. He always tries to read between the lines. And he is good at it, but lately he has not been able to read the new characters. His ability will be polished as the chapters go by.

Like in this one.

Hachiman never tried to read Hajime's intentions.

And I feel that this is for the best.

A simple friendship is what Hachiman needed to put his feet on the ground and see that not everything needs to be solved.

Haruno.

Here, our lovely university Onee-san with too much free time makes her first appearance. She meets Hajime in a short and quick interaction. I was not trying to make them talk that much. There will be time for that later.

Hayato.

He now feels more pressure. Now, speaking canonically, it is believed—or thought—that Hayama likes Yukino. Now, in this story, that is the case. The blond boy is in love with her. And, of course, a person in love will do whatever it takes to protect the one they love.

End of note.

…

Trivia:

…

[1] – Engawa

Japanese: 縁側

English: Exterior wooden corridor that surrounds or sits in front of a traditional Japanese house.

Spanish: Pasillo de madera exterior que está alrededor o frente a una casa japonesa tradicional.

[2] – Anime Reference: Amagami SS

In that anime, there is a club dedicated to tea. What I wanted to imply is that Ōsuki attended that school in her youth. Therefore, the events of that anime have already happened. And perhaps one of its characters may have a small crossover appearance.