"Koma-Chan. We're home." Aren't I supposed to be the one to say that?
"Ichi-nii. Onii-Chan." Komachi came downstairs to give what both males believed to be a greeting, but instead, they gained a glare.
She was angry about something. That's for sure. "Um. Komachi. Is everything okay?"
"Where were you two? Why were you guys late?" she directly asked. I opened my mouth to say something, but Ichigo was ahead of me.
"Oh that. We were doing some club stuff. Hachi and I are now in the Tennis club." Komachi blinked twice and then looked at me suspiciously. My feelings are getting hurt by your doubt you know? "Before that, I baited and provoked every sports club into a match so that they had no choice but to considered my offer." Komachi's glare subsided and it was now replaced with genuine curiosity. She kind of looked like a puppy.
"Seriously?" she replied. "Did you win?" You're doubting the most athletic guy we have ever met? Ichigo can easily go pro and come home with a hundred gold medals. How could he lose?
"Yep. It was easy. I didn't even break a sweat." The funny part about his last statement was that he really wasn't joking or being cocky. He truly didn't break a sweat. After the matches, Ichigo grabbed nine water bottles with our ones and chugged it down like his stomach was like a black hole or something. This theory was further supported by the fact that he spent another ten to fifteen minutes drinking from the water fountain.
I'm starting to think that Ichigo was less human-like since there was no way that the level of activity he went through couldn't produce sweat on his body and his belly didn't change shape. Does having eight abs cancel out any change to your stomach? That's a plausible theory, but it doesn't explain his water consumption.
I think I'm gonna stop myself here. The day I understand Ichigo is the day I will become a normie or an optimist. It's way too tiring of a task.
Yawning my way to get clothes for the bath, Ichigo and Komachi went to the living room to continue their conversation about Ichigo's adventure in school. I used to be envious of their relationship because Komachi seemed closer to Ichigo than me. It's not like I could help it. I was a kid with a naive mind. Then one day, the realization hit me as a truck would in order to send me to another world. Ichigo longed for this kind of relationship.
He has always been a natural elder brother. I call it his big brother mode. During this mode, he would treat others as if they are his real younger siblings and interact with them with that mindset. I have experienced this mode many times in my life, but Komachi is the only one who gets to see this side of him permanently.
Ever since the accident, Ichigo looked like someone took his soul and left his corpse behind. He acted like a zombie for a while and Komachi and I did everything we can to make him feel better. There was probably not a day in my childhood that I left him alone after that incident and eventually he came around. Our relationship got tighter and Ichigo had this resolve that I never did comprehend until my later years of middle school.
Komachi and I may have replaced his late younger sisters, but I could occasionally see him blank out whenever he is reminded of them. For example, the after school walk on my first day of school. There was a trio of siblings playing in the park and they looked like what Ichigo's late family could've been. Ichigo momentarily paused to watch them before he turned and continued walking. Because of my observant nature, I didn't miss it and I sighed in my head for him.
Some deep dark part of me was actually grateful for what Ichigo went through and it made me sick. How could I feel like that? It was too selfish of me and yet here I am, being thankful for his loss because it let me be his best friend. What kind of cruel creature am I?
The bath did little to clear my thoughts but had greatly reduced my fatigue. By the time I got out of the bathroom, it was completely dark outside. Arriving in the living room, Ichigo looked like he came out of a bath as well. With me joining them, we talked about some casual topics that I could participate in until we heard the door open. I went to check it out and surprise was the perfect word to describe what I was feeling.
In front of me were my parents that I probably have met a few dozen times throughout the year. It's pretty normal for me to not interact with them as much as others since they have to work long hours on their job from morning to night. While I'm not as close with my parents as other individuals are, I still somewhat care about them. Honestly, I think our relationship would've been much more distant if it wasn't for Ichigo always being there. That's another thing he helped out with. Man. What kind of good deeds did I do in my past life for this lucky star to shine on my home?
"Welcome home." I had to say something. No matter how much my mind told me to just wave and leave.
"Oh? Hachiman. You're meeting us? That's pretty rare." It was all coincidental mom.
"Hachiman. Good to see you too." At least he had a normal response.
"You guys should hurry up and get cleaned. We have a guest to entertain." I said before walking away. Mr. and Mrs. Hikigaya looked at each other and followed their son to meet the guest. Once they saw who it was, Mrs. Hikigaya rushed to Ichigo and hugged him. Mr. Hikigaya joined them a few seconds after.
"Oba-San. Oji-San. Good to see you two again." Ichigo put his arms around them.
Mrs. Hikigaya spoke with a trembling voice, "Ichigo, you've grown."
"Mhm." Ichigo hummed in acknowledgment.
"It's been a while hasn't it, Ichigo?" The sincerity in his voice was very clear.
"Yes."
Komachi and I viewed the scene with happy emotions. I don't know what Komachi was thinking about this, but I saw this from another perspective. Ichigo was gaining the parental love he desired. Was I jealous? Not at all because If anyone deserved this, it would be Ichigo.