Senior year... My last year of high school. Finally, I can escape this aura of "love" and youthful energy. All these mistaken souls saying they're in love. It's all annoying to me. Oh well, it's the beginning tone the mid of spring and the school year seems to be on its last coast on this up and down pathway of youth.

The day had ended hours ago. It's my fault that I didn't catch that,"Could you stay and help with a few things?" meant,"Could you stay and lock up while we leave prematurely without any notice." The sun was really low in the sky now, almost creating a depressing atmosphere. Wow, I was convinced that the school couldn't get anymore depressing. Nothing else to do but look back and reflect.

Yukinoshita and Yuigahama... For the longest time, there is something I felt I was missing, something I wasn't catching. And to now, it still seems that I'm not catching something, although now I have an idea. From Yuigahama rubbing my head and running her fingers through my hair, to Yukinoshita asking me to save her one day...I had some suspicions. I mean, I am a decently handsome guy. I had the slightest thought, although I would never admit it, that eventually one of them would start to like me. Well, never for once did I think BOTH might start to like me. I felt a little bad, but at the same time, I didn't say anything about it. None of them would do something out of the ordinary unless the other wasn't around, which was basically never the case. In fact it seemed that their presence around me started to increase more often, as if to ensure nothing did happen. A little odd. Neither of them actually focus enough to say anything, so until one of them, or both, say something...I'll just remain the "clueless" party.

One of these days, maybe something interesting will happen.

I was just outside the faculty room door now. I just had to return these keys and go home, finally I could get some well deserved rest. Normally at this time I'd just figure the door was locked and I'd have to go wonder around more to find a teacher to give the room keys to, however this time I noticed the door was unlocked. This worked out great for me! Maybe today was starting to finally work out. A little too late however...

I knocked on the door three times. No response. The door was unlocked, there had to be somebody inside. Or did they just forget to lock things? Either way, I had to go in. I slowly slid open the door and entered the room. The one thing that fought my attention was the white, lab coat-like, coat slumped over a desk. Her head rested in her arms on the desk and she didn't even bother looking up. Wow, Hiratsuka-sensei seemed really tired, I guess, today. Well she was the one directly concerned over the Service Club, as she was the club's moderator. The room keys indeed do go to her. Unfortunately for me, that inevitably means having to interact with her. I sigh.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, the club has been adjourned for the day and I've finished locking up. Here are the keys."

At the first word I said, she jumped a bit, startled, as if she was doing something she didn't want a certain crowd to see. She looked up to me, but then quickly turned away.

"Oh, Hikigaya-kun," she cleared her throat,"Very well then, see you tomorrow."

No sarcastic remark or anything, just as simple,"See you tomorrow." A little strange but a welcome change. Under normal circumstances, this is the part where I'd be drilled straight in the stomach. I accepted this change and began to walk away. Something was definitely different. Something was definitely wrong.

Not my issue.

"I'll be off then."

"See you tomorrow, Hikigaya-kun," she responded in a now normal tone, with the slightest hint of a sniffle.

I opened the door and paused for a moment. Then I slowly shut the door. Not once did she look this way, so I can give the impression that I had left the room. A sniffle and a slight whimper from Hiratsuka-sensei, still no motion. She was now slumped back in her chair to the point her raven hair was actually resting on the floor.

She finally turned around back to her desk. Tears in her eyes. She caught glimpse of me and was immediately shocked.

"Hikigaya?..."

"Hm."

She got up from her swivel chair and began walking towards me, fists clenched tightly as she wiped the tears in her eyes.

I crossed my arms in an X form in front of me. Not this again...

Instead of a devastating blow to the gut, I was pulled into the embrace of a Boa Constrictor. Her strength is still killing me even when she doesn't intend to. Her hug was suffocating me.

"Sensei, you're killing me..."

"Shut up and stay there," she sniffled,"you stayed to see what's going on and saw what was going on, now I'm not letting you leave me."

"Sensei, it's getting late, I should probably get going-"

"You're the one *sniffle* who said his family couldn't care less about when he returned."

I sighed. She remembered the crap I said before.

"Fine, I'll stay. But, can we sit down?"

"Yeah..."

She went to her desk and I guess I have no choice but to stay.

She removed her white coat and vest and tossed them onto her desk. I sat in the chair beside her. She immediately collapsed back onto her desk, resting her head in her arms again.

"What's wrong Hiratsuka-sensei? Moping over how you're still-"

She slammed her hand on the table looking towards me with a murderous look. However this time her eyes grew soft and she turned away instead of knocking the wind out of me.

"What is wrong sensei?"

"It's unfair, Hikigaya-kun. Life is unfair. That's what's wrong, life is unfair. No matter what I do, life is unfair to me. Now, even I start realising things, but it doesnt matter since if I were to pursue my realisations, it would land me in some major trouble. Why couldn't I have been born ten years later..."

Been born ten years later...hm. The age must be getting to her. I don't know why it bothers her so much. She's only around twenty nine or thirty. There is only an eleven or twelve year age gap difference between us.

"Life is always unfair, it has more downs than it does up. But maybe it does this for a reason. In the rare occasions where everything works out just fine, we look to the brightness and enjoy to the fullest the moments of joy we are given. It also forces us to overcome our problems. To think of how to solve our problems and make things work out."

"And make things work out...hm..." Sensei whispered quietly. "Hikigaya-kun, you're in the service club."

"And?"

"I have a request, and I want you and only you too deal with it."

"Help you with," I corrected and sighed,"but what is it?"

"First, you can't tell anyone about my request or what happened tonight understand? I will kill you if you do," she said in a condescending tone.

"Y-Y-Yeah...I won't say anything!"

"Okay...Hikigaya-kun...I need your help... Your help to solve my problem."

"Which is?"

"Loneliness..."

What in the- What in the world? Loneliness? How could I help her with that?! And why me of all people? Don't tell me... I mean I am a decently handsome guy but-

"Hey," she called looking straight at me," don't get any weird thoughts. Teacher and student relationships are forbidden. They would ruin me. Don't get any weird ideas Hachiman. Or you'll get it."

She was right. That is impossible. Me? Hm. Yeah right. Wait did she call me Hachiman?

She sighed. "I'm feeling better already just talking to someone who understands."

Understands? Is that an insult to me?

Seeing Hiratsuka-sensei in a vulnerable state earlier and now, in a different light. It was kind of cute. I stood up and retrieved her white coat.

"Hey, I love that coat, don't do anything to-"

Before she could finish I draped it over her back.

"Fine, I accept your request. It'll get better eventually, but I really must be going. See you tomorrow, Sensei."

She sat in silence for a moment as I began walking out.

I heard her stand up and keys jingle just as I reached the door.

"Hikigaya-kun, I'll drive you home."

So that's the first chapter of this series. You'll have to excuse the OOC moments for Hachiman, I can't really put myself in his character mindset that well and it will translate into the story, so ahead of time...My sincerest apologies. Anyway, these two. Totally ship. I'm Pro-Yukino between Yui and Yukino, but 8man x Hiratsuka is definitely the ship that always caught my attention. Especially after watching how those two interact with each other in the anime. So here's my story for those two. Reviews are appreciated. Look forward to more chapters!