Late one night, Hikigaya draws at his desk with a happy expression on his face. He works hard and diligently when suddenly his phone begins to ring. He picks it up and answers happily.
Hikigaya "Yo."
Alice "Hey Hiki, could you come to your balcony for a sec?"
Hikigaya looks surprised for a moment before getting up and walking to his balcony.
Hikigaya "Sure."
Alice "Thanks."
He steps outside and looks around.
Hikigaya "Okay, what now?"
Alice "Look up."
He looks up only to find Alice falling through the sky, screaming with a scared look on her face before colliding into Hikigaya with a loud thump. They both groan on the ground.
Alice "Thanks for the catch.."
Hikigaya "Sure.. no problem.."
He then looks at her with an upset look.
Hikigaya "Hey, wait a minute! Didn't Shiori tell you no flying yet??"
Alice giggles awkwardly while rubbing the back of her head. They both stand up as Alice gets an excited look.
Alice "Come on! I'm really starting to get the hang of this! Let's spar!"
Hikigaya "No way. I'd crush you 50 different ways from wednesday."
Alice "Crush me?.."
She says softly with a blush as Hikigaya gets upset.
Hikigaya "Stop that you perv!"
He shouts as she snickers.
Alice "You know, getting hands on lessons from my super idols is really beneficial for more than one reason."
She blushes smugly as she thinks of Shiori guiding her closely with her hands along Alice's body causing her to blush intensely. Hikigaya sighs.
Hikigaya "You're making me really not want to train you now."
Alice "No! I'll behave, I promise!"
She begs with her hands together. Hikigaya looks at her for a moment.
Hikigaya 'She's so excited about her powers.. She's really making an effort to achieve her goals. Just like all the others. Maybe I should step up too?'
He thinks for a moment with a soft look before relenting.
Hikigaya "Fine, but only for a bit, I've got stuff to do."
Alice "Yes! Time for Watchdog training! Super quick, no problem!"
Hours later, as the sun begins to rise, Hikigaya tiredly walks back into his room, dragging his feet. He collapses on his bed with a groan.
Hikigaya "So much for a quick session…"
He grumbles before giving himself a moment to relax. The moment doesn't last long however as Riku calls for him downstairs.
Riku "Hikiii!"
He groans again as he gets up and heads downstairs to the child. Riku smiles at Hikigaya with excitement on his face.
Riku "Ready to train me some more?"
Hikigaya exhales a bit before smiling tiredly at him.
Hikigaya "Question is, are you ready?"
Riku laughs a bit before rushing outside with Hikigaya following him. A few hours pass as Hikigaya cracks his back while coming back inside. He goes back to his room and sits at his desk as Shiori steps into his doorway.
Shiori "Hey, thanks again for helping my brother. I know he's a little overly excited about getting trained."
Hikigaya "No worries, it's fine. The little guy has a lot of energy though. Can't imagine how he's related to you in that field."
He says playfully as Shiori giggles a bit.
Shiori "Also, how's the character sheet coming along? I don't want to make the meeting before it's all put together."
Hikigaya looks a little disappointed in himself as he looks at the papers on his desk.
Hikigaya "Yeah.. they're not done yet but I promise I'll get them done soon. I'll work on them at school tomorrow."
Shiori "No, no, it's okay! I was just.. I was wondering how it's going. Take your time. I'll leave you to it then."
She says softly with a smile but Hikigaya can hear the disappointment in her voice through her words.
The next day during school, Hikigaya draws intently as Samuel speaks. He draws and draws as his eyelids begin to droop for a moment but he shakes it off and continues working. After a bit, Ryuji leans to him and taps him on the shoulder.
Ryuji "Hey, Hikigaya, do you mind coming by the restaurant for a bit after school for the next few days?"
Hikigaya looks at him surprised.
Hikigaya "Mr. Kagen already stepped down?"
Ryuji "Not yet but with the transition, things have been a little crazy and we could use the help."
He says honestly. Hikigaya thinks about it for a moment, torn between his friend and his art for Shiori.
Hikigaya "Mm… Okay, sure, I think I can do that."
He agrees with a conflicted smile. Ryuji smiles back.
Ryuji "Thanks man, you're the best."
Later that night, after his shift at the restaurant, Hikigaya gets home, worn out from the past few days. He collapses on his bed before turning and looking at his desk where his art supplies lay. He stares at it for a moment before pushing himself back up with a determined look and getting back to work on the sheets.
The next morning, Riku gets up bright and early and rushes to Hikigaya's room, knocking on the door excitedly.
Riku "Come on Hiki! Let's get some practice in before school!"
He shouts, startling Hikigaya awake at his desk. He looks at the time and reads 5 a.m. He grunts a little as he gets up and changes before going down to practice with Riku. At school, Hikigaya sleeps at his desk as Shiori looks at him out of the corner of her eye.
Shiori 'I guess working on it at school is a no go…'
She thinks softly, not blaming him but still disappointed due to her excitement for her book.
Samuel "What say you, Mr. Oshiro?"
She calls on him purposefully as he lifts his head up, a piece of paper stuck to his face.
Hikigaya "Wha? Sorry, I was busy."
He says, eyes half open. Samuel raises an eyebrow at him with a smile.
Samuel "I can tell. I know school is almost over but these last lessons are the most important before the big test. Please pay attention."
She scolds softly as Hikigaya gets an embarrassed look and nods. Later that night, as Hikigaya is coming home from his shift at the restaurant, tired and worn out, Alice approaches him from behind with a big smile on her face.
Alice "Hey Hikigaya! Mind if we did a little training tonight?"
She notices his uniform as he looks at her.
Alice "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were working tonight. We can do it some other time if you want."
Hikigaya "No, it's fine. It's only for a bit as Ryuji gets everything in order."
He says while cracking his back.
Hikigaya "I got time. I think I can do that."
He says as Alice smiles.
Alice "You're the best!"
She says as Hikigaya smiles tiredly at her.
The next day at school, Sugawara approaches him.
Sugawara "Hey, could you help me out later? I got some stuff I want to get for my business but I don't think Haru can carry it all…"
Hikigaya "Sure, I think I can do that."
He answers while drawing on the sheets.
Sugawara "You're the best!"
The next day at lunch, Hikigaya stares at his lunchbox for a moment before being snapped out of it by Ryuji.
Ryuji "Could you do a couple more shifts? Sorry to ask again."
Alice "You'll still have time for me though, right?"
Hikigaya "Sure, I can do both."
He says with a tired expression. Shiori looks at him for a moment before looking down softly. Later that night, Hikigaya works hard at his desk after a training session with Alice, tired and bruised a little. He rubs his eyes, fighting back fatigue and blinking rapidly trying to maintain focus. His door then opens as Shiori steps into his room, closing the door behind her. He looks at her surprised.
Hikigaya "Shiori, it's really late, why're you still up?"
She looks a little conflicted but not upset with him.
Shiori "Hiki… I scheduled the meeting for tomorrow morning. It's.. okay if you don't have the character sheets done, I understand how long it can take to make good art."
Hikigaya is shocked and upset.
Hikigaya "N-no! I mean, that's fine but.."
He stutters out before looking at her soft gaze.
Hikigaya "I promise, I'll finish them tonight."
He says with determined and tired eyes. She smiles a bit and nods softly before exiting his room and going to bed. Hikigaya looks at his sheets before immediately getting back to work. Come the early morning, just before the sun begins to rise, he gently places a folder down by her door with dull, exhausted eyes. He slowly falls back to his room before closing the door, attempting to get some rest before the start of the school day. A little later, Shiori comes out of her room ready to go with her bag when she notices the folder. She picks it up with a warm smile before hugging it tightly to her chest. She then makes her way out of the house and off to her meeting.
A few hours later, Hikigaya runs down the street in frantic panic in his school uniform, all messy and undone.
Hikigaya "Damnit damnit damnit! I'm late and on the day I need to study most! Shit!"
He rushes to school and slides across the front entrance. In class, now hours after school has started, everyone sits and studies, Shiori included. Lucy taps her on the shoulder.
Lucy "Hey, I knew you were gonna be late because of your meeting but have you heard from Hikigaya?"
Suiyoubi "Yeah, I can't remember the last time either of you were late."
Shiori looks surprised before looking at his empty seat.
Shiori "I have no idea. I was out before he would've needed to leave for school. I just assumed he'd be here before I got back."
She gets a slightly worried look.
Shiori "I hope he's okay.."
She says softly when suddenly the classroom door swings open. Everyone is startled a bit as Hikigaya stands in the doorway, panting and sweating from his run.
Hikigaya "I'm… here…"
He says between breaths, making his way to his seat.
Samuel "Well, a few hours late is better than not coming at all. I hope you've come prepared for serious studying."
He nods as he plops down in his seat.
Shiori "Hey Hikigaya, are you okay?"
He gives her a thumbs up before completely passing out at his desk.
Lucy "And he's out."
Sugawara "He's really been doing a lot lately. I hope he's okay.."
He says softly as Haru nods. A little later, while the class studies, Hikigaya gets up from his desk and approaches Samuel at the front. Shiori watches him and listens as they speak softly. Hikigaya asks something as Samuel shakes her head with a smile before speaking softly.
Samuel "Alright but you better actually study. Take this packet, it'll make it easier."
She hands him the small packet as he takes it and begins heading out of the class. Shiori notices the look in his eyes and gets a concerned look.