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[-Continuation-]
[-Right After School(:clubroom)-]
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[-Hachiman's POV-]
It is almost evening.
I am walking back home… not alone though.
There are two people accompanying me on a small detour in our minds.
Unlucky as it might be, it is not Yukino… neither Yuigahama either.
They both kinda flanked me.
Apparently, Yukino is visiting her parents today, to present the souvenirs she bought during the field trip.
However, for some reason she only mentioned it to me and Yuighama as we left the school premises, with additional heads up that she might not attend school tomorrow.
I can't help but feel a bit uneasy about her delay in detailing this to me.
I just hope everything goes alright.
Part of me wanted to insist on accompanying her, but she was unusually firm about handling it on her own.
Stubborn as always.
So, I put off my concerns and decided to respect her decision.
As for Yuigahama? She just left with Yukino until their paths diverged, leaving me to these guys.
Anyway, I have got my own things to deal with today.
My long break is officially over, and it is time to get back to work on the project with Ryota and, you know, make some money, I guess.
The pre-production phase for the next project is moving fast - faster than I expected, honestly.
So, today's plan is pretty straightforward - head home, freshen up, and then meet Ryota.
Simple enough, except for one small detail, the meeting spot.
Thankfully, it's not his rundown apartment this time.
I am not going back there.
And honestly, it's not just the apartment itself, it is more about where it's located.
Chiba.
I feel like that place is cursed and has too many coincidences for them to be real.
But at that time, I have come to the realization that it wasn't Chiba itself that was cursed, but it was ME that was cursed.
Anyway, for now, I have decided to avoid Chiba.
Something about the place just feels off.
It's like this nagging feeling that if I step foot there, something bad is waiting around the corner.
So yeah, anywhere but Chiba, thanks.
That led to an interesting proposal with Ryota.
He suggested. "Why not visit the company building instead? I can set up a workspace for us there."
My first reaction?
No way. Absolutely not.
But, of course, I eventually gave in.
Ryota can be pretty persuasive when he wants to be.
He even mentioned something like - It will be a good experience. Besides, it's about time you met the team and its people you have been working with in person.
I couldn't argue with his logic.
Still, the idea of stepping into the corporate space of unending deadlines and expectations of people with whom I only have interacted through emails and conference calls made my palms sweat, to say the least.
The entire 'meet the team' scenario felt like a mere formality, a task to complete, yet I understood it as a necessary evil.
Lost in thought, I almost missed the commotion erupting beside me-
"...and then, the protagonist meets his end, pride gleaming in his eyes even as the sword of betrayal pierces his chest! His childhood friend, once a trusted comrade, now stands revealed as–"
How could someone say something that cheesy, and not feel the slightest bit embarrassed?
However, I didn't need to look to know the source of this unasked street performance.
The only person who could pull that off without a care in the world was our writer, Zaimokuza Yoshiteru, alias - Zombie.
"...and the END!"
He declared, striking a dramatic pose, his hands framing the imaginary scene like a movie director, thumbs and index fingers forming an impromptu camera.
Meanwhile, I, along with the person walking beside me, Hayama – yes, that Hayama, continued on, ignoring his theatrics.
Surprised, right?
You should be.
I was just as taken aback when he suggested-
"Let's walk home together today."
I even made a face that could only be described as pure disgust at his line.
But somehow, the two of us ended up walking together for a while as we ignored Zaimokuza's antics.
"Hold on, comrades!" He called out and jogged to catch up when he realized we weren't engaging.
Hayama, who had been maintaining a polite silence, finally spoke. "Is this... normal? Do you always have to deal with such, ah, passionate displays?"
I shook my head, exasperated but not surprised. "Usually he is not this... energetic, but today he seems really fired up."
As we both conversed, Zaimokuza slid between us, making me step aside slightly to create some room.
"Well? What did you think?" He demanded, his eyes darting between us with eager anticipation. "Was it not a tale worthy of the ages?"
I began with a flat look, then my voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Why on earth would the protagonist die with a smile while being stabbed in the back by his supposed best friend? That's not pride, Zaimokuza. That's just idiocy."
Far from being deflated, Zaimokuza's grin only widened. "Ah, but can't you see the poetry in it? Betrayed, yet smiling in the face of death, secure in the knowledge that he lived a life of honor!"
Hayama, apparently deciding to join in the critique, offered a dry chuckle. "Or perhaps he is smiling because he knows he will finally be free from your endless monologues."
Zaimokuza gasped dramatically, clutching his chest like he had been mortally wounded. "Such cruelty! And from one I considered a potential ally!"
This was going to be a long walk. I felt another sigh building up in me.
Just then, my eyes landed on a cozy bakery across the street, its warm lights serving as a beacon of hope.
"Hey, Zaimokuza." I interjected, cutting off what was sure to be another lengthy monologue. "Let's stop there for a bit."
Zaimokuza's eyes lit up at the suggestion, but he quickly adopted an exaggeratedly regal tone.
"Are you sure, my good comrade. This lord's generosity has no limits. So, choose your treats wisely, for they shall be bestowed from my newly acquired professional treasury!"
I shrugged, already moving towards the crosswalk. "Whatever you say. I am going for it."
In case you are wondering what's happening here, Zaimokuza is treating me today.
For what, you ask?
Well, he just earned his first payment for a writing project he published.
It wasn't much, honestly.
For the effort he put in, which I have witnessed firsthand, the amount seemed almost laughable.
But he was happy, and that's what really mattered.
So, in this jubilant spirit, he decided to treat me as a token of gratitude for my assistance in his writing process.
He even thought about inviting Yukino and Yuigahama, but, as you can see, that plan fell through.
As we entered the bakery, I made my way towards the display case, and grabbed two chocolate doughnuts and a cheese roll.
Zaimokuza, predictably, ordered the same for himself.
As I glanced at Hayama, who was eyeing the pastries with polite interest, I made a split-second decision.
"I have got Hayama's share." I told Zaimokuza, fishing out my wallet.
It seemed only fair to not put Hayama's buyings from Zaimokuza pocket - since he was, after all, an uninvited guest I had invited to this outing, despite the fact that it was only because the dude had something to talk about.
As we settled at a small table by the window, a thought struck me.
I hadn't treated Zaimokuza when I received my first paycheck, had I?
Maybe I should consider giving him something interesting next time. I made a mental note.
"So, Hayama, how is it going? Is your group holding up well?" I asked, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled.
This is the first real conversation we are having since the field trip - which, despite only being three days ago, felt like a lifetime with all the chaos swirling around.
Also, Isshiki came by today as promised, just to say she still hasn't made her decision and needed more time.
Obviously, I gave her space, knowing that pushing would only backfire.
Hayama's response pulled me back to the present-
"The group sustained together thanks to your help."
I nodded, a non-committal Good to know escaping my lips.
But Hayama wasn't done. "What about you? How are things on your end?"
Ah, there it is. This is what he was aiming for all along.
He definitely knows I am dating Yukino.
Is it Haruno? Most probably.
Haa, I should have seen this coming. I sighed.
Before I could give a suitably vague response, Zaimokuza interjected-
"Hey, hey! Don't leave me out! What's this secret conversation about?"
"You mean you don't know?" Hayama asked, feigning surprise.
His expression conveyed a hint of amusement, as if to say - I thought you guys were best friends. Guess not.
Zaimokuza's reaction was immediate and dramatic. "Hachiman! This scoundrel seeks to tarnish our sacred bond of friendship!"
His eyes sparkled with an unshakeable trust. "Tell him! Assure him that there are no secrets between us!"
"..." I just looked at him with a blank face, not sure how to respond. Zaimokuza's trust felt overwhelming at that moment.
"Right…" My voice trailed off. "There's definitely …nothing I am keeping from you."
Zaimokuza grinned, oblivious to my hesitation. "Ha! See? That's the spirit! I told y-?!"
I cut him off, the words tumbling out before I could reconsider-
"It's just that I am dating a girl. No big deal... right?"
At the end, I tacked on the right part, hoping for a quick affirmation - something to downplay the magnitude of my admission.
For a moment, Zaimokuza nodded absently, his smile unwavering. "Haha, of course it's not a big deal."
For a fleeting second, I thought I had gotten away with it.
??But then, like a computer processing a complex equation, Zaimokuza's brain caught up with his mouth.
"It's just dating a gir-!?" He froze mid-sentence. "W-wait... what... girl? Dating?!"
His eyes widened, and he almost tipped backward in his chair, flailing for balance.
Fortunately, Hayama, ever the calm one, reached out and steadied him before he could crash to the floor.
Zaimokuza sputtered, clearly struggling. "Hachiman…! You?… dating? A girl?"
Each word came out higher pitched than the last, as if the very concept was beyond his comprehension.
I shrugged, trying to play it cool, but the growing panic in his expression was infectious. "Yeah… like I said. It's not a big deal."
"Not a big deal?!" Zaimokuza practically shrieked. "It's an enormous deal! Who?! When?! How?!"
As Zaimokuza's rapid-fire questions hung in the air, a sense of déjà vu washed over me.
Hey. Hey. Hey.
Two W's and one H.
The exact same line of questioning I had heard just yesterday.
The memory flashed through my mind.
Haruno's piercing gaze, her shocked expression, and those same words delivered with an almost predatory curiosity.
Who. When. How.
An involuntary shiver crawled up my spine.
I had a bad feeling about this.
Like I had somehow triggered a foreboding parallel... something ominous.
That unsettling sense of déjà vu, as if history was about to repeat the performance, that I really, really didn't need right now.
My eyes darted to the door.
Someone is gonna burst in at any moment.
It's going to happen. Just like last time.
I could feel it, like some cruel twist of fate.
Someone I wasn't ready to deal with, but that person would stroll right through that door.
And then, like clockwork, the door swung open.
I turned slowly, almost dreading what - or who - I might see.
And just like that–
Wait. Why is that person here?
I stared, my mind bracing for the worst possible scenario.
But then...
It was just - Minami Sagami… and co.
Ah. Just some side characters.
All that mental preparation, all the anxiety gnawing at my insides, and for what?
This useless [Intuition] skill of mine - always failing when I actually needed it, but sure loves to run wild in most unrequired situations.
I let out a long, defeated sigh, slumping back into my seat.
"False alarm." I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.
Meanwhile, Zaimokuza, blissfully unaware of my internal drama, settled back into his chair.
He adjusted his glasses with a theatrical flick of his middle finger.
Our seating arrangement meant that Zaimokuza and Hayama faced me, their backs to the door.
They hadn't seen Sagami's entrance, and in their ignorance, they continued their animated discussion.
"This betrayal…" Zaimokuza groaned.
I shot back dryly. "Weren't you the one going on about dying with a proud smile even after being backstabbed by your closest friend? You should be fine with this."
Hayama finally spoke, his expression carefully neutral. "So, you proposed to Yukinoshita? Congratulations, I suppose."
"..." I shot him a sidelong glance.
His face seemed stuck in an awkward state, as if he was still processing the information and couldn't decide on an appropriate reaction.
Zaimokuza, however, was far from finished. "You mean that ruthless, cold-blooded. She is the one my comrade has betrothed himself to?!"
Before I could even begin to respond to his over-the-top accusations, a flash of red caught my attention.
The girl Sagami passed by our table, and to my surprise, she offered Hayama a small, almost shy wave.
Hayama, startled at first, waved back, flashing his signature smile as if nothing was out of place.
I sighed internally - this was going to turn into one of those situations, wasn't it?
I was more than sure she heard Zaimokuza.
.
….
[To be continued…]
(Author: Any suggestions on what the next project can be?)
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