[-Continuation-]
[-Few Days Later-]
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[-Gym Class-]
[Hachiman's POV]
A few days had passed. Nothing had changed.
Well, I have been getting a few stares when I enter the class in the morning since that incident. Other than that, nothing.
Even my pairing in the gym class didn't change. The gym was the last class of the day. It was the sixth period. I had been paired with Zaimokuza.
"Hachiman. Who do you think is the most popular, most amazing illustrator out there right now?"
"Just because I called you 'writer' the other day, don't get ahead of yourself. Did you forget how pathetic you were when you read those comments? You can think about that after you win the prize."
"Hm… Fair enough. The bigger issue is where I should make my debut…"
"Seriously, why are you assuming that you are going to make it?"
"…If it sells well, then maybe they can turn it into an anime and I can marry a voice actress…"
"That's enough… Just stop it. Write the damn manuscript first, okay?"
My gym class conversations with Zaimokusa began to go more or less like that. That was the only thing that had changed.
.
.
[Evening - Service Club]
[Hachiman's POV]
"Hachiman. What is the meaning of this?" Zaimokuza asked, as he scooped up a chair and slammed it outside the door.
"Didn't I already say that? I am putting some stickers on the signboard." I said, hopping onto the chair and taking out a packet of stickers from my pocket.
"Stickers? What is the description behind such childish actions?"
Dude, stop calling me childish with that mouth of ours.
"Well, counting your request, the Service Club completed two [Quest] successfully." I said.
"So I decided to put something as a symbol of our succession."
"Hahaha! Wonderful. This great one now understands your thoughts. I agree with your idea of keeping track of such rare accomplishments as aiding this great one. You are indeed worthy of standing beside me." He proclaimed grandly.
Stay Patient… Hachiman. Don't get mad.
You witnessed it for yourself the other day. He is not a lost cause entirely, not yet at least.
After fulfilling his request, I waited exactly two days to give him time to fully recover from the wounds to his 'heart' before checking on his progress.
I had to sacrifice a whole precious Sunday of mine at the library instead of attending to my own important matters, just to assess his skills for myself... and to make decisions about my future plans based on it.
And all I could conclude after this little experience of mine was that he can 'write' alright. Forget about the content or context.
I mean, he can write non-stop for hours, a skill many professional writers would envy.
But if only what he wrote made a bit of sense. Hmm, perhaps that's too much to ask for.
For now, I need to be patient and focus on improving his writing quality over quantity.
Returning to the task at hand, I handed him a bundle of stickers and said, firmly. "Shut your mouth and catch this."
"T-these are?!" Zaimokuza shuddered as he held a specific sheet of stickers in his hands, facing the sky, with absolute shock written on his face.
The 'specific' sheet he was holding is the only one that is in total contrast to other game-related and a couple chibi sticker sheets.
The sheet has sticker images on it of a girl wearing different costumes : cat girl, bunny girl, maid uniforms, wedding dress, and more…..
The stickers themselves also appeared to be rare pieces of art to be available on one sheet and for weebs like Zaimokuza….
They are nothing short of [Top Tier Treasure] Die-Cut stickers.
....so I am not surprised to see Zaimokuza's envious eyes.
"HachiMAAAN!! W-where did you find such treasure?"
Hehe, maybe I can use this to help him make some real progress in his writing skills.
I chuckled at his enthusiasm. "Well, you can have that sheet for yourself."
At my words, Zaimokuza's face lit up, and he exclaimed, hugging my legs. "Thank you, Hachiman! You really are the best comrade I could ever ask for."
"Hey, idiot, leave me. I might fall." I reprehended.
"Forgive my disrespectfulness, Hachiman." He growled, his eyes narrowed into slits as he balled his fists and then bumped them together.
"Allow me to express my thanks in a more dignified manner."
The man's rough exterior aside, I couldn't help but smile at his antics - even though they were far from conventional.
"What prank are you trying to pull off this time around Hikigaya?" A sharp voice cut through our noisy chatter.
I didn't need to look to know who it was.
HOoo, she is here…
"Nothing much." I replied with a shrug.
"Just some minor club stuff that needed the Vice President's assistance." I turned and added, looking at Yukinoshita standing in front with her bag on her shoulder.
The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting an orange-pink glow across the sky that filtered through the trees. Insects buzzed lazily around us, while leaves rustled gently in the breeze.
It was already a gorgeous evening, but with her presence, it became even more enchanting, a moment carved into my memory forever.
"So. Basically, useless stuff." She said it with a dismissive tone, rolling her eyes as she stepped away as if giving her silent approval.
…well, it looks like she heard my conversation with Zaimokuza.
Me, being the usual thick-skinned person I am, was also least affected by her sharp tone. I proceeded with sticking the first sticker on the signboard, taking care with each one to ensure it was perfectly straight and square.
It was a picture of a gaming joystick.
Thankfully, Yukinoshita waited outside while I was standing on the chair blocking the entryway into the club room.
For the second sticker, I took out a different paper strap from my left pocket. It was filled with a wide variety of animals in their chibi form.
With a deep and thoughtful look, I searched through it with the objective of picking the best one out…
Then, with an expression of confusion, I called out to someone nearby.
"Yukinoshita. What do you think I should get for the second sticker…?" I asked, puzzled, as I showed her the strap.
Suddenly, someone who didn't need to comment began his signature stupid and irritating laugh. "HahaHaaHhhaa....! Hachiman. What? Why are you asking something so…. so…. useless. Yeah, it is useless… and unneeded …..and unnecessary…yeah…that's right!!"
"What is there for you to be bewildered about when the outcome has already been decided by fate?" He pointed to a sticker featuring a 2D girl dressed in a maid outfit with a voluptuous figure.
For a few moments, I was captivated by her se*y-... cough, cough.
I mean cuteness.
"..??..!!..." I felt a sudden, ominous glare directed at me, making me come back to my senses.
I searched for the source of this hostile energy, and I discovered it was coming from Yukinoshita. She was not pleased with what was happening.
S-sh*t…!!
"Zombie. One more word out of you, and I will tear these apart."
"....awh!!" Zaimokuza, surprisingly understanding the source of my fear, retreated immediately.
"S-so. Y-yeah." I faced her again.
"Which should I choose? A cute baby elephant or lion? There's also this dog....or...C-A-T."
"...UuMm." As soon as I said 'cat', a faint glimmer flashed in her icy eyes, yet nothing else changed in her expression.
"Why am I asking? ...*(:shake head) You are clearly not interested in such 'insignificant stuff'. My bad. I forgot." Smirking inside, I acted tough, and I turned back around.
"Cat..."
Right then, a tiny whisper reached my ears from behind me.
"Did you say anything…?"
"...Cat. Go with the cat…"
"Okay." I chuckled.
.
.
[To be continued….]
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Author NOTE :
Honestly, I am not sure if what I am doing is right or wrong, but I guess I had to since, even if not now, at least in the future, I am planning to try to make a living by writing, which is like an almost impossible task, but I am gonna give my best shot.
So, on my path to accomplishing that task, I am asking if any of you guys would like to support me on Patreon. Of course, only if you have liked my work so far, even though I haven't uploaded much.
Anyway, try dropping by 'p@treon.com/WrightBrothers'. I already uploaded '10 chapters'.