Hayate opened his eyes to the start of his everyday school day, the only difference being he was preparing to confess his feelings to his long term crush, Izumi Matsumoto. He quickly got ready and headed to his kitchen to grab a quick breakfast.
"Are mom and dad already gone?"
His sister was making their lunches and was already finished with his.
"Yeah, they did say they were leaving early today."
"Okay then! See you later!"
He always ran late and barley made it to school on time but today he wanted to get there as early as possible to make plans to confess his feelings.
"Wait! You forgot your lunch!"
Chie threw his lunch at him out of the kitchen window. He jumped up and caught it then continued on his way. On the way he ran into one of his friends, Katashi Mizuno.
"Huh, you're never this early. Did something happen?"
"I've decided, I'm going to confess my feelings before summer starts. Might as well try to get a girlfriend before summer so we can be together all the time!"
"Really? So, when are you going to confess?"
"I plan to confess in 3 days."
"That's specific, why don't you just confess today?"
"In 3 days I get my paycheck from my job then I plan to throw as much money at this as possible."
"You always go overboard on things, try not to take it too far this time around. Don't want to scare her away."
"Don't worry! I plan to not go completely overboard but I must go at least a little overboard, it is part of my character after all."
"It's your fault if she runs away."
"I hope that doesn't happen! In fact I know it won't happen!"
Hayate started hitting Katashi's chest out of spite which made him give a small, barely audible laugh.
"And you should probably hope you succeed, this is our last summer after all."
"Man, we're already 3rd years…It sure doesn't feel like that."
"I mean if you fail miserably then I guess there's always Christmas to look forward to."
"Thank you for you're words of encouragement. Is there anything else you'd like to add to those great words?"
"Nope."
They continued talking until they reached school where they split up to do their own things. Hayate was going to interrogate one of his friends who already had a girlfriend. He reached his classroom and he was on his phone writing his books as normal. He finally noticed Hayate and looked up to look at him.
"What you need?"
"I'm here to interrogate you."
"…Excuse me?"
Hayate turned 2 desks to face each other and told Higura to sit in one of them.
"So, what is this interrogation on?"
"I'm planning on confessing my feelings to Izumi, you have a girlfriend and you've been threw this process before, right?! I really need you're help!"
"Hmmm, well considering everything that happened between us we just ended up going out. I don't think I can help with an actual confession."
"Well lucky you, I have to actually put effort into getting together with my crush!"
"Is this spite or something?"
"Yes and no. I'm going to interrogate someone else, you're no help."
"Okay then, hope you succeed in you're confession and interrogation."
He put the desks back and walked out of the classroom as Higura continued to write his novel on his phone.
Hayate continued on to his next friend who was the student council president, Sota Shirai. He burst into the student council chambers and as normal he wasn't there.
"Why couldn't he be an actual productive president? Haaaa…Guess he's a no go…I don't have anyone else I can interrogate…Alright, guess I'll just have to do it all on my own!"
The school day and he went through his daily routine. At lunch he went to the back of the school where he ate with Sota and Katashi. He didn't have time to interrogate Sota so he was safe from the dating questions. He was thinking of spying on Higura since he went to eat with his girlfriend but decided that he wouldn't want to ruin their privacy. The rest of the day continued on its normal route as it always did and after school Hayate went to his part time job as a convince store worker.
"As usual business is pretty slow…"
His co-worker, Yoko Fukuhara, hit him on the back of the head lightly to get his attention.
"Be sure not to doze off, if the manager catches you don't expect mercy."
"But isn't the manager your uncle?"
"Yes, that just means he knows us better and has better connections with both of our families."
"…That's true. Actually shouldn't you be re-stocking?"
"Just stalling time so I wouldn't have to do it. Seems like I couldn't do it good enough."
She smiled and walked off into the back room to get boxes so she could re-stock the shelves to the convenience store. Hayate went back to waiting for a shopper but soon after she entered the back room a man came into the store.
"Welcome!"
"…"
'Must not be the talkative type.'
He watched the man walk around the store before he came to the counter holding a bag of air heads. He placed them on the counter and scanned it.
"Your total is 148¥."
"…"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a gun and held it to Hayate's chest.
"Woah woah! Chill out!"
"Give it to me."
"Y-Yeah! Just don't shoot!" 'Yoko better not come out, I don't want her caught up in this…'
He reached towards the register then he heard the door to the back room start to open.
"Hey what were yo-Woah!"
The man looked over to Yoko and she quickly shut the door. Hayate grabbed the closest thing he had next to him and hit the guy on the head. The man stumbled and dropped his gun after being hit. Hayate jumped to try and grab the gun but the man managed to grab it first and shot Hayate's left hand.
'Shit! How am I gonna get rid of this guy?!'
Suddenly sounds came out from the front of the store, the police had arrived and it made the man freeze in place allowing time for Hayate to take his gun and point it at the man. The man face clenched up and he quickly got up and ran away. Some of the police broke off to follow the man while the rest of the police stayed behind with Hayate and Yoko.
"I called the police, I hope you didn't-Oh my god your hand!"
His hand was gushing blood from the middle and he could barely move his fingers because of it.
"Yeah, it hurts. I'll say that much…And thanks for calling them, you know how weak I am, I'm surprised I was even able to do this much…"
They bandaged his hand and he was brought to the hospital soon after. He was kept in the hospital overnight and the next day, after that his friends were able to visit him. He made the situation much better then it could have been since he didn't want to worry anyone.
"What are you going to do about writing? You're left handed, if you can't move your fingers, how?"
"I'll just learn on my right hand. With enough practice I'm sure I'll get used to it!"
"…If you say so…"
He was finally told that his left hand would be barely usable anymore and that he would be able to leave in about a month's time.
The day came and he went back to his house where he continued on with his daily life as if nothing had happened. His manager sent him his check and so he went out and picked out a gift for Izumi, he decided that he wouldn't go as overboard as he was originally intending. The next day he was ready to go back to school and brought his gift for Izumi with him. He left early again and met up with Katashi on the way again. They talked as if nothing had happened just a few days prior and they reached the train station.
"So, it was almost a month ago when you were originally meant to confess. When is your rain date scheduled for?"
"Today."
"Today?"
"Yeah, I'm not going to let something like this hold me back! I'm going to succeed in my conf-!"
He felt a pair of hands push his back which caused him to stumble forwards making him fall towards the railway. He turned around before falling over to see the same man who shot his hand with his hands pushed outwards. It was as if time had slowed down, he could see Katashi starting to reach out and yell, people starting to wear shocked faces and the man starting to laugh.
'Huh? It can't end here…I still haven't confessed, I still don't know how she feels…'
Hayate was looking back at everyone at the train station as the train was about to hit him. His face showed no anguish, anger, bitterness, disappointment or fear. He only had a face of pure sadness and regret. He started crying as he knew his final moments were about to come and he would never be able to see his friends again. Finally he was hit and mangled spreading blood all over the platform.
The always cheerful Hayate Kawasaki had been murdered.