491AN: Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand how many of you thought this update would come on a much later date?
Surprise everybody! OMG, he updated twice this month! TWICE!
Yeah, surprised myself I could finish this so quickly. Anyway, I just want to quickly talk about a few things beforehand.
First, I'm quite surprised that there were so few reviews last chapter. I know it wasn't my best and I haven't updated in forever, but if you would all be so kind as to give me some more constructive feedback as to why? I only had a few reviews that actually talked about it so I don't really have a clear view on how it did.
Second, please don't hope for another update soon. I mentioned in the last chapter that I have finals at the end of May. The only reason this came out so fast was because I found a big burst of motivation after I posted the last chapter, and I also wanted to make up for my long hiatus. I'm taking this time to tell you that the next update won't be up until probably late June or July. (Also my editor needs a break. Been working him like a horse for the past few weeks XD)
Oh and before I forget. My editor has finally made an account on FanFiction! His name is appropriately called... Editor-san.
(I know. that name disappointed me too. =3=)
He made that account because he might want to reply to your reviews. Hope you guys will give him a warm welcome.
Well, that's all for now. Enjoy the chapter.
Especially for you Saki-fans. XD
Chapter 7: When the going gets tough, the Tokyo-Chiba railway line shuts down. According to Yuigahama Yui
When Golden Week ends, each day starts to get hotter than the last. It's also when students with too much free time on their hands cause huge commotions, which makes the days feel hotter than they need to be. I may be the cool, hardboiled type, but even I'm not invulnerable to the heat. And so, in my search for somewhere just a bit cooler, I turned to uncharted waters.
Out of my sheer desire to defend myself against the heat, I aimed for somewhere with a more ventilated setting. My destination: the stairs to the roof. The route was cluttered with desks, so a single person could only just squeeze through.
If it was a normal day, then the door to the roof should have been locked tightly. But today, the padlock was opened and swaying in place. I guessed that some people from another class had gone to the roof to show off and make asses of themselves ‐ you know that saying about smoke, fools and high places?
My first impulse at times like this was to show them up by stacking three desks and two chairs to block their way. But then I realized that it was awfully quiet past the door. How strange. As far as I knew, male and female riajuu both hate silence. It's the same concept as animals being afraid of fire. They interpret silence as boring, so in order to convince themselves that they're not boring people, they talk and squawk and jabber on incessantly.
From this serene silence, it really seemed as if none of those riajuus were up there. Could it be that no one was there at all?
The wide, blue sky and the endless horizon awaited me past the door. Gazing into the hazy, far‐off sky and gazing into the future were pretty much the same things to me. So it was the appropriate place to fill out a certain Prospective Workplace Tour Survey Form I had on hand. The workplace visit loomed over me like the fixed date of an exam.
On that sheet of paper, I listed my prospective career as 'house-husband' and the workplace I wanted to familiarize myself with was 'home', placing a satire filled monologue down in the reasons box as the icing on the cake. I was perfectly sure this would piss Hiratsuka-sensei off but honestly it was too good of a joke to pass up. It didn't even take two minutes to write it all down.
…but then‐
The wind blew. It was the kind of wind that brings purpose, the kind that heralds a fateful meeting after school. The single sheet of paper with my fake dreams written across it flew out to meet the future as if it had become a paper airplane.
I might have been using flowery descriptions, but I was basically talking about the paper I'd just been writing on just a second ago.
Oi, screw you, wind, you piece of crap. I haven't even written my name down yet. Now I can't patent that thing.
As if teasing me, the paper fluttered to the ground, only to jump high once again.
…meh, can't be bothered. I'll get another paper and rewrite it.
Shrugging, I started walking away ‐ and that's when it happened.
"This yours?"
With a start, I searched my surroundings for the owner of that slightly husky and vaguely languid voice, but there was no one around me. Solitude was normal for me, but that's not what I'm referring to right now ‐ I couldn't find any trace of another person on this roof.
"Where're you lookin'?" I heard the voice from above.
It was from the place that protruded into the sky even further than the roof did ‐ the ladder that reached up to the water tower.
The owner of the voice was leaning against the water tower, peering down at me. As she played with a cheap‐looking lighter in her hand, our eyes met. I'm sure the surprise on her face mirrored my own the second we saw each other's faces.
Her long, bluish-silver hair fell all the way down her back; her collar ribbon was untied, revealing the curve of her chest; the unnecessary parts of her shirt cuffs were loosened up; her long, shapely legs looked made for kicking. But what caught my attention were her ambitionless eyes, which gazed vacantly into the distance. The bags under her eyes really contributed to that washed‐out look. Honestly, it looked like she hasn't gotten any decent sleep in years.
We stood in that moment for what felt like a good long while.
"…hang on a sec," she sighed, as she put her hands on the ladder and climbed down swiftly.
…but then‐
The wind blew again. It was the kind of heavy wind that sweeps away all worries, the kind that determines one's destiny. The single line of fabric which contained the hopes and dreams of men yielded to the divine wind, burning itself into my eternal memory.
I might have been using flowery descriptions, but basically I saw her panties.
Oi, good job, wind, you're the best!
Saki let go of the ladder halfway down, landing lightly on her feet. As she turned around I noticed a hint of pink dusting her cheeks.
Oh, she's glaring at me. How nostalgic. But black lace, huh… you're as bold as ever.
Her fluster slowly disappeared as she took a moment to glance over my paper.
"… So you're still pulling these cynical jokes of yours." Though her voice lacked any tone, I could still detect the barest hint of amusement.
"Well, it was too hard for me to pass up. Consider it a little payback to Hiratsuka-sensei for the amount of times she rants at me."
"The woman annoys me too but you do know you're practically signing your own death warrant with this, right?"
"Relax, she knows it's all in good humor… right?"
She gave me a dead pan stare as if saying, why are you asking me?
"Sigh… you're an idiot."
Hey, now that's just plain mean, not to mention untrue. My grades are nothing to laugh about, ok? 3rd rank in Japanese literature and good grades across the board for the rest!
Except math. Math can go screw itself. Differential equations? What's that? Can I eat it?
"Hey, you're monologuing again. Snap out of it, you idiot."
"Wa-Oh, yeah… sorry about that. My off-switch is still faulty." [1]
I sheepishly scratched the side of my head as I said that. My breath caught itself when Saki suddenly smiled softly at me. It must have been ages since I last saw such a pleasant look on her face.
"You're the same as always, Ha-"
Her words came to a sudden abrupt halt. Saki's smile instantly disappeared, replaced by silent shock at her little slip up.
This… this was probably the first time in two years I almost heard her utter her nickname for me.
Being in the same class for the past two months, there were times where we would cross each other's path. In those moments we would either just ignore each other or just interact as little as possible.
Not once have we tried to call out to the other. It was probably best since we got to avoid situations like this.
Well… until now that is.
Saki was the first to break out of her stupor. She let out slow but deep breaths, just like how her uncle taught us as a method to calm ourselves. As soon as she was done she looked at me with an almost inhumanly blank face. None too gently, she proceeded to press my survey form against my chest. I grabbed hold of the piece of now crumpled parchment the second she let go. Without saying another word, she turned around and disappeared into the school building, never once looking back.
I stood there for what felt like the longest time, just staring at the spot she stood only moments ago. I sighed heavily and concentrated on releasing the tension from my body. At the same moment, the bell signaling the end of recess rang out from the rooftop speakers. Taking that as my cue, I turned my feet towards the door too.
"You could have at least let me say thank you." I muttered.
I let out another big sigh as I left the roof with thoughts of bluish-silver, painfulmemories and adult lingerie.
Midterms were a period of time which all students found annoying (Then again, all exams are annoying.). Just two months into the school year and already we have to double down on our studies like our lives depended on it. I mean, sure you can argue that because the exams only covers two months' worth of syllabus it shouldn't be too hard, but don't forget that we have almost six to nine different subjects to take all together! That's a shit ton of tests! Worse was that almost all of them have nothing to do with each other! Who the hell designed this bloody education system?!
A-Ahem… getting back to the topic at hand. Since midterms were around the corner, our resident airhead decided it was best for the service club to hold an impromptu study session. And by best I meant best for her, since she obviously and desperately needed the help. So now we, with the addition of Saika, were all in a café cramming away for the coming exams.
"Okay, it's your turn to ask a question next, Yukinon,"
"Right, a Japanese question then… Complete the following expression: 'When the going gets tough‐'"
"…the Tokyo‐Chiba line shuts down?"
Oi, how can you get this simple phrase wrong? Don't you riajuus watch movies and TV shows all the time?
"Incorrect… next question, then. This one is more about geography. Name two of Chiba's local specialties."
Tick tock, tick tock. The hands of the clock ticked away. Yuigahama gulped. "Miso peas… and boiled peas?" She had a deadly serious look on her face.
"Hey. You think all we do is grow peas in Chiba?" I accused.
"Shut up, Hikki! If you're so smart then what's the answer?!"
"The correct answer is 'Chiba's famous customs: festivals and dancing.' Please relocate to another region of Japan if you can't remember this." By the way, being the proud Chiba-man that I am, I'm quite proficient in dancing myself.
"Booooo! No one likes a smarty pants, Hikki!"
By that logic, everyone should like you… wait…
"But, Hachiman, you're actually pretty good at studying. I'm amazed." Receiving praise from Saika. Quick, somebody call a medic! I think my heart stopped beating!
"Indeed, it surprises me as well. Who knew someone as brutish looking as you could be so book smart?"
"You shouldn't judge a book by its cover, Yukinoshita. Stereotyping won't do you any good."
"But I can't help it if that book looks like a necronomicon."
"Neko comic con?" [2]
I couldn't help but sigh as Yukinoshita began to correct Yuigahama while oddly becoming interested in the prospect of such a convention. This was how our so called group study session descends into: Yukinoshita would ask a question, Yuigahama would get it wrong, I'll correct her, humiliation of her stupidity unfolds and Saika laughs heartily like he was watching a sitcom. Honestly I don't blame him, but Yuigahama's empty head can only amuse you so many times before it gets stale.
"Oh, it's Onii‐chan."
That voice was familiar to me. A voice I hear every day since I was only two years of age. Not only that, the voice had called out to a moniker I am all too familiar with. On reflex I turned my head towards that voice. Lo and behold my assumptions had been right.
There, standing at the entrance of the café was my one and only little sister, Hikigaya Komachi. Clad in her middle school sailor-uniform, she waved at me with a cheerful smile that lit up her face.
"Komachi, what are you doing here?"
"Well, a friend was asking me advice on some problems," Komachi said as she turned her gaze to her side. I finally noticed she hadn't come here alone. To my great surprise and rapidly rising annoyance, standing beside her was a boy.
Now, I'm not the most easily angered of individuals. But being the son of Hikigaya Genji, Chiba's number one daughter-con, there were things that my Dad tried to instill in me since Komachi's birth.
Number one; love and cherish your family. Number two; always take responsibility of your own faults and actions. Number three, never mention a woman's age. And lastly and most importantly, number four…
Kill any and all NUISANCES around Komachi IMMEDIATELY, at all costs!
"Saika, pass me your fork."
The second I said that, everyone in my immediate vicinity gave me a wide birth. Saika was quivering in fear and trying to hide the fork he had been using to eat his cake.
"H-Hachiman? I-I don't think-"
"No fork? Good. Blunt objects make it slower."
Yuigahama was hiding behind Yukinoshita who was clutching her phone to her chest. No doubt the police were already on their way. I'll tell them it was worth it.
"H-Hikki, y-you're scaring us."
"H-Hikigaya-kun, r-remember that violence doesn't solve anything."
It's too late. I'm already on the move. My hand was already gripping a nearby chair but before I could use it to clubber the fool quivering behind my sister, said sister decided to get in my way.
"Gomii-chan, stop fooling around! Don't you recognize him?" [3]
"I have no memory of dead men."
"Urgh, you're as bad as Papa! Just calm down and take a good look already."
Komachi quickly pulled the insect from behind her so he could face me. I withheld my urge to kill and took a moment to imprint the image of the boy I was duty bound to maim and murder.
Greyish-blue hair, aquamarine eyes… hmm? Why does this insect look familiar?
"N-Nii-san, d-don't you remember me? I-It's me, Kawasaki Taishi."
And just like that, my world began to go through another roller coaster ride.
"Taishi… it's been a while…"
"Ahahah… yeah, it has…"
If awkwardness was a tangible thing then the whole café would be drowning in it right now. It didn't help that I had an audience that had no shame in watching things unfold.
"Ne, what do you think is going on, Yukinon?"
"A meeting between in-laws, perhaps?"
"Umm, I think it's best to give Hachiman some privacy, you guys."
I did my best to ignore them. There were more important things happening in front of me.
"You've grown. You're not so scrawny anymore."
"Not as much as you, Nii-san. Compared to you, I still look like a kid."
"Well, if the men in your family have anything to say then you'll have nothing to worry about."
Good. This was good. I can feel the tension leaving already.
"Actually, Nii-san… there's something I have to talk to you about."
"Uh, Sure. What's up?"
"It's about Nee-chan."
Aaaand here it comes again.
"Lately, Nee‐chan's been coming home late and she doesn't listen to what our parents say at all! She gets angry at me and tells me it's none of my business when I say something to her! You're the only one I can rely on now, Nii‐san!"
"Oi, oi, calm down, Taishi. I can't understand if you give it to me like that."
"While I hate to interrupt, conversing in front of the entrance is making it hard for other customers to come in. Might I suggest you all sit down?"
I turned around to find Yukinoshita and the others standing behind me. I turned to the door and sure enough there was a couple awkwardly waiting for us to move aside. After we apologized to them we decided to bunch up together into the booth we had been studying in.
Komachi wasted no time projecting a businesslike smile as she greeted her seniors. One of her special traits since young was being able to fit right in wherever she went, often to a baffling degree.
"Hi there! I'm Hikigaya Komachi. Thanks for being there for my brother."
"You're Hachiman's younger sister?" Totsuka said politely. "Pleased to meet you, I'm his classmate. My name's Totsuka Saika."
"Oh, you're so polite, how charming. And oh my, what a cutie. Right, Onii-chan?"
"He's a guy."
"Haha! Funny joke! Hahaha, what are you saying, my silly brother?"
"Err… um… I am a boy…" Totsuka said shyly as he turned his face away, blushing. My androgynous friend, you're not really proving your point here.
"Uh… really?" Komachi asked, nudging me with her elbow.
"I wasn't sure at first either but he's a guy. He's cute, though."
"Y‐Yeah…" Komachi stared straight at Totsuka's face, only half‐convinced. As she murmured stuff like, "What long eyelashes you have. What pretty skin," Totsuka blushingly looked away from her gaze, fidgeting uncomfortably.
I wanted to gaze at Totsuka's adorable form forever, but when he made eye contact with me as if saying, "Help meeeeeee…" I had to tear Komachi away from him.
"That's enough for now. Anyway, this is Yuigahama and that's Yukinoshita."
Komachi finally looked at the two of them after my brief introduction. When their eyes met, Yuigahama laughed nervously. "I-It's been a while, Komachi-chan. Do you remember me?"
It took a moment but after a flash of recognition, Komachi's face burst out into a big smile.
"Yui-san?! It's been so long! It's great to see you again!"
As Komachi leaned over and grasped Yuigahama's hands with her own, I swore I could see sparkles light up around her. I'm sure if it wasn't for the next timely interruption, my sister and Yuigahama would have initiated in a long, headache inducing conversation.
"…are you done yet?" Yukinoshita interjected calmly, having waited patiently for quite some time.
It was amazing how just the sound of her voice made Yuigahama and Komachi shut up and pay attention to her. Her cold voice was extremely quiet and subdued, and yet the message got across, loud and clear. Komachi opened her eyes wide and sat rooted to the spot. As she beheld Yukinoshita, she was spellbound for a moment.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yukinoshita Yukino. Hikigaya‐kun is my… what is Hikigaya‐kun to me, I wonder? He is not my classmate, nor is he my friend… I am loath to admit it, but he is my acquaintance, I suppose?"
"Why are you saying that so uncertainly and why are you so ashamed to know me?"
"You see, I was wondering if acquaintance is the proper term. The only thing I know about you, Hikigaya‐kun, is your name after all. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I don't want to know any more about you than that. And yet still I call you my acquaintance."
"Sigh… Something like 'fellow student' or 'club member' is good enough for now."
"Indeed… then allow me to correct myself. I am loath to admit it, but I am his fellow student, Yukinoshita Yukino."
"That still sounds like you're ashamed to know me, woman."
"But that's the point, Hikigaya-kun." She said in amusement.
There was a sudden pause in the air before Komachi said anything in response to Yukinoshita's greeting.
"… I see. I think I pretty much get what kind of relationship you have with my brother, Yukinoshita-san." Her tone was oddly neutral and her face settled into a rather calm look. To anyone else, it looked as if she was just acknowledging the older girl, but to me it was something different. There was a hint of cold anger in my little sister's eyes that I found completely surprising.
"Umm, is it ok for me to introduce myself now?"
The sudden question from Taishi had me blinking for a brief moment from experiencing such a weird reaction from Komachi. "Huh? O‐Oh…"
Taishi had a complicated expression on his face. He had been pouring out his heart to me just a brief moment ago, but now was patiently and probably frustratingly waiting for his turn to speak.
His words to me from before were delivered in a somewhat hurried panic, but I had gotten the gist of it. A matter concerning Saki that would make him worry to that extent…
… This could be bad.
"Excuse me, I'm Kawasaki Taishi. My Nee‐chan's an eleventh grader at Soubu High. Her name is Kawasaki Saki. Recently, Nee‐chan has been… how do you put it… a delinquent? She's turned rotten…?"
"Kawasaki Saki‐san…" Yukinoshita uttered that name and cocked her head slightly, which showed how little she knew about Saki. But Yuigahama, who was in the same class as us, clapped her hands in recognition, "Oooh, Kawasaki‐san, right? She's kinda the scary delinquent type."
"Are you friends with her?" I asked.
"We've talked, I guess, but we're not really friends…" Yuigahama responded delicately. "And hey, that's not something you should ask a girl. It puts us in a hard position."
Even with girls, there were the groups, cliques, unions, guilds and what have you. Anyway, from the way she spoke, it didn't seem like Yuigahama's group had a particularly good rapport with Saki. Then again, I'd be surprised if anyone had a good impression of her.
"But I've never seen Kawasaki‐san get along with anyone…" Totsuka remarked. "I feel like she's always staring blankly out the window."
"Well, that's pretty much what she's like." My comment brought on some confused looks from my schoolmates but I paid it no mind. My thoughts were focused on Saki and what I remember on how she acts in class. Her eyes always had that far off look to them. It was as if she wasn't looking at anything in the classroom, but rather at some faster‐moving place beyond her line of sight. Don't ask how I know. I-It's not like I take notice of her or anything!
"So roughly when did your sister become a delinquent?" Yukinoshita asked Taishi suddenly.
He reacted with a start. "Y‐Yes!"
It should be noted that he was nervous not just because Yukinoshita was scary but because a beautiful older girl was talking to him. It was the correct reaction for a boy in middle school. If I were a normal middle schooler I'd probably be like that too. But when you become as jaded as me, you'd realize that she was just plain scary.
"Er, uh… it was probably around the time Nee‐chan entered Sobu High since she was a super serious student back in middle school. She was relatively nice back then and often made dinner and stuff. She didn't change much even when she was in her first year of high school… she changed only very recently."
"So it was when she entered eleventh grade, huh?" I asked, to which Taishi answered in affirmation. I could feel myself getting tenser, my thoughts going to more… personal reasons as to why this was happening.
Yukinoshita began to ponder Taishi's words, "In regards to changes when she became an eleventh grader, does anything come to mind?"
"Umm… I believe Nee-chan changed classes this year? It was after she entered class F."
Damn it. Please don't say what I think you're going to say, Yukinoshita.
"In other words, it was when she became Hikigaya‐kun's classmate."
…
…
…
Everyone at the table, baring the two younger ones, perceived my silence with looks of surprise.
"You're silence makes it seem as if you agree with my statement, Hikigaya-kun. You do realize I meant it in jest?"
"Is something wrong, Hikki? Usually you wouldn't have let Yukinon get away with something like that."
I didn't answer the girls just yet. My mind was still mulling the idea that I might have been the cause of Saki's delinquency. It was a low chance, but the possibility was there.
Saika, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, decided to confirm something.
"Hachiman… is Kawasaki-san perhaps…"
"…Yeah, she's the one."
"Oh. It all makes sense now. I was a little confused since Taishi-kun was calling you 'Nii-san' the whole time, but now I understand."
"Well, I didn't expect today to become like this. Guess you know a little more about me now."
Yuigahama and Yukinoshita got more and more confused as our conversation went on.
"What are you two talking about?! I totes don't understand at all!"
"Hikigaya-kun, I believe an explanation is necessary. I don't like to be kept out in the dark like this."
Looks like I'm pulling the cat out of the bag.
"Well… how do I put this? There's no easy way to explain but essentially, Taishi's sister and I-"
"Used to date."
…
…
…
There was a deep silence that enveloped the group. It was like no sound was able to penetrate this bubble of tension that suddenly surrounded us due to my idiot sister's sudden joke. While Totsuka and Taishi looked surprised, the reactions of the girls in front of me were the real icing on the cake.
Yukinoshita looked appropriately shocked, disbelief written all over her. Yuigahama… Yuigahama looked like she was frozen in time. I couldn't see even a twitch of muscle from her. Seriously, it was starting to worry me. Those blank eyes of hers were staring straight into my soul!
"Umm… you guys do know that was a joke, right?"
Thank you, Komachi, but I believe the damage to their brain cells has already been done.
But it looks like I was proven wrong as a miracle happened in that instant. As if a spell had been broken, all life had returned to the occupants of the table. Komachi, has all that Precure turned you into a magical girl? Remember not to make deals with talking albino cats, ok? [4]
"Ahahaha, nice joke, Komachi-chan! I-It really took me off my seat!" the only thing I saw flying from your seat was your soul, woman.
"Indeed. The shock value was quite immense. My disbelief had rendered me speechless for a moment."
"Oi, you guys are taking this whole thing way too far. Is it that hard to believe in the possibility of me dating before?"
"Please, Hikigaya-kun. I believe we've had enough of this farce. Let us get back to business, shall we?"
"Y-Yeah, it's really starting to get annoying, Hikki!"
The only thing annoying here are you two idiots!
"Eheheheh…. Well, it's not like I was joking completely. Onii-chan and Saki-nee are childhood friends so it isn't that far off from ex-lovers. In shoujo manga terms at least. Um… guys?"
I'm sorry, Komachi. The second you said 'childhood friend' we lost them.
For now, we decided to take a small break as we wait for Yuigahama and Yukinoshita to free themselves of their self-petrification.
"Nii-san, are all high school girls this weird?"
"Only the pretty ones, Taishi. It's always the pretty ones."
"So let me get this straight, Hikigaya-kun. You and Kawasaki Saki-san used to be childhood friends, but due to circumstances in the past your relationship with her has worsened to that of nonspeaking terms, am I correct?"
"… essentially, I guess."
"Hmm… I see."
Maybe it was my eyes playing tricks on me, but I could have sworn I saw a brief moment of sympathy from her.
"Umm… Yuigahama-san, are you ok?"
"I-I'm fine, Sai-chan! J-Just a bit shocked is all, eheh… heh…"
While I was expecting some negative reaction from such a reveal, the severity of the mental damage especially on Yuigahama was quite a surprise to me.
"Still, this is really a big surprise, Hikki. Why didn't you ever tell us?"
"People don't just go about revealing their pasts to others at the drop of a hat… especially…"
Especially if it's about unpleasant memories…
"But what happened must have been quite serious to ruin your relationship to this extent, Hachiman."
Saika's words made me involuntarily flinch. I unconsciously reached up a hand to my left temple, tracing the scar right above it.
"Yeah… you could say that."
I was probably showing a pretty pathetic face right now because everyone was suddenly giving me looks of worry. I felt Komachi place a comforting hand against my arm.
"Onii-chan…"
"It's fine. I've come to terms with what happened a long time ago… but I'd rather not talk about it. Let's just move on from this topic."
Surprisingly enough it was Yuigahama who obliged me. She turned to look at Taishi, "Umm, Taishi-kun… when you say your Nee-chan comes home late, just what time does she come back? I get home relatively late and stuff too. It's not so unusual for a high school kid, y'know?"
"…Oh, huh, about that." Taishi looked away, flustered.
I see how it is. He was being shy because an awfully sexy older girl was talking to him. I couldn't help but give him a teasing smirk to which he caught and blushed from embarrassment.
"Y-Yeah, but coming home at five o'clock and stuff is too late," he went on.
"Oi, that's already the next day…" In that sense she'd only get around two hours of sleep, if any. No wonder she's always late to class. It also explains why she looks so god damned tired these pass several weeks.
"And your parents don't say anything to her when she comes home at th‐that hour?" Totsuka asked Taishi worriedly.
"No. Both our parents work, and we have a younger brother and sister, so they don't really yell at nee‐chan. Plus, it's just so late they rarely see her around anyway… well, I guess bringing up so many kids means you've got quite a lot on your plate," Taishi answered, relatively unshaken.
The mentioning of Taishi's younger siblings had reminded me of Keika. Last I saw her she was still deemed the youngest in the family. I remembered just when I started high school that Shishou was jumping in glee as his sister, Taishi's mother, had successfully delivered his new nephew.
"On the odd occasion we do come across each other, we end up fighting, and whenever I say anything, she gets really stubborn and says, 'It's got nothing to do with you'…" Taishi's shoulders drooped. He was greatly perplexed.
"Family issues, huh…" Yukinoshita said. "Every family has them."
For a brief moment, her icy blue eyes seemed to cloud over with hurt. It was the first time I've ever seen such a complicated expression on her face. But almost as quickly as the pain appeared it was replaced with her usual look- cold and withering.
"And that's not all… nee‐chan gets all these phone calls from a weird place."
At Taishi's words, a question mark floated over Yuigahama's head, "Weird places?"
"Mmm. From Angel something‐or‐other, probably some kind of store… the manager guy talked to her."
"What about it is so weird?" Totsuka asked.
Taishi suddenly banged his fist against the table. "I mean think about it! Angel?! It's probably a totally sleazy store!"
"Huh, I don't get that vibe from it at all…" Yuigahama said somewhat hesitantly, but I totally got the vibe.
See, the thing is, my horny teenage boy senses were tingling. Try imagining this "Angel" word displayed in Tokyo's red‐light district. See what I mean? The perverted factor just went up by fifty per cent. Without a doubt, this was one sleazy store.
I'm starting to get even more worried now.
"Hey, calm down for a sec, Taishi, I get what you're trying to say. I understand everything."
Delighted at being understood, Taishi gave me a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Nii‐san!"
"In any case, we need to come up with a plan," Yukinoshita said. "Even if it's not a dangerous store like Hikigaya-kun and Kawasaki-kun seems to believe, the fact that she's working until dawn is troubling. We need to find out where she's going and stop her."
"Yeah, but if we do manage to stop her, she might start a new job somewhere else, y'know?" Yuigahama said.
Komachi nodded in agreement. "Out of the frying pan and into the water."
"…you mean into the fire," said Yukinoshita.
Oh, my little sister. I ask of you, please, don't bring shame to the Hikigaya name. You're English needs a shit ton of work. Look, you're making Yukinoshita feel embarrassed for you.
"In other words, our only option is to simultaneously treat the symptoms and eradicate the root source," Yukinoshita concluded.
"Hey, wait a minute here. You guys don't have to do anything, you know? This is something I should take care of myself."
"I beg to differ. Kawasaki Taishi-kun here has earnestly vented his concerns to us with his request. Add to the fact that his sister, Kawasaki Saki-san, is a student of our school. I believe it is within the Service Club's line of work."
"Yeah, but even if you say that, all club activities are suspended for the midterms."
"A matter as dire as this simply cannot be ignored. Since we are acting in the benefit of a fellow student I'm sure the school wouldn't mind."
"Yes, but I mind."
I stressed my words as hard as I could, almost to the point of sounding a bit harsh. Yukinoshita was ready to spout another argument but I held my hand up to stop her.
"Look… I get that you guys want to help… but this is something I believe I should do on my own. Saki's change is something that concerns me greatly. While it's doubtful that I am the reason, I'm not going to depend on all of you to fix a mistake that I might have caused."
My words placed everyone into silence. They all had difficult expressions on their face, as if wanting to say something but couldn't. Saika was giving me a worried look while Yuigahama looked about ready to cry. Yukinoshita… was giving me a hard stare, almost searching even.
"Onii‐chan." Someone poked me incessantly in the back. When I turned around, Komachi was smiling broadly at me.
It was Komachi's smile whenever she asked me to do something for her. A long time ago when Komachi wanted to have my Christmas present, she had this expression on her face too. Why did I have to be such a caring older brother? There was no way I could fight against Komachi, who held the strongest trump card known as our parents' sympathy. Damn it, she wasn't cute at all…
"Onii-chan, I know you feel partly responsible for this somehow but I think it's best if you get some help with this one."
I was about to argue with her but even Taishi was ready to counter me.
"Nii-san, please don't feel like you did anything wrong. I know you had a falling out with Nee-chan that night a few years ago but this time isn't your fault. I'm sure something else is happening and I need all the help I can get right now."
I didn't want to accept it. I really didn't. But with such heartfelt words from my real sibling and my pseudo-sibling, it was an obvious perfect K.O for this overly caring big brother.
"Sigh… fine. We'll do this together."
"Alright! Operation getting Onii-chan and Saki-nee back together is a go!"
"That's not the issue here!"
Funnily enough, I wasn't the only one shouting that last line.
The Kawasaki Saki rehabilitation program started the next day forth.
AN: Soooooooooooooo... what did you guys think?!
I know this isn't much in regards to pacing but unfortunately (or fortunately for some of you) I have to extend this arc for maybe 3 or 4 chapters. It's going to be long. Like reeeeaaaaaaally long. (Editor-san sheds tears)
I honestly don't have much to say, but please leave more constructive reviews... and I'm also sorry for leaving you guys for the next several weeks on an incomplete arc. This is just me keeping you guys on my hook XP
Well, till next time everybody! This is Kitsunelovers94, signing off. Have a great day!
Reference/Translation:
1) Hikki's off-switch for his brain. A reference to chapter 2 regarding his joke about men being able to turn off their brains whenever they wanted.
2) Neko comic-con. Referencing America's famous comic-convention. Neko: Japanese for cat.
3) Gomii-chan, literally translate to trashy big brother. One of Komachi's favourite nicknames for her brother.
4) Precure is a very old and famous magical girl series and also a favourite of Hachiman's and Komachi's. The talking white cat is a reference to Kyubey from Madoka Magica.
Omake:
"By the way, Taishi. How long have you and Komachi been in contact with each other?"
"Uh... Nii-san... w-why are you asking me that with a f-fork in your hand?"
"Ignore that little detail. I'm just a little concerned you see. I haven't seen you in almost two years and now you're all grown up into a healthy teenage boy. I'm not one to split hairs but... you can't blame me for being a little bit concerned, right?"
"U-Uh, y-yeah, I c-can't blame you for that, N-Nii-san. I-I mean, Komachi-chan has grown really cute and I uh-"
"Hooooooooooooooooh? You think Komachi's cute, huh? Well of course she is. She's the cutest little sister in the world."
"Y-Yeah um-"
"Say, Taishi... would you like to come over to our place? It's been ages, right? C'mon, it will be just like old times. I'm sure my folks would love to reconnect with you... especially my old man. Eheh... ehehehehehe..."
"S-Someone... h-help me..."