Chapter 1: Hikigaya Hachiman Took the Third Option

"To work is to lose."

There was a time I wanted to be a house-husband. I wanted to spend my days away lazing about the house, doing the chores only when necessary, cooking when necessary, and perform all other such responsibilities handed down to the homemaker of the house, when necessary.

But such a life was not for me.

I even considered pursuing becoming a salaryman. I was always amazed at how my dad could do what he did day in and day out with little-to-no complaint even if he wasn't happy. I couldn't help but feel it was so noble of him.

But such a life was not for me.

In the end, the life of a salaryman - no matter how noble or honorable his intentions are – is to choose a life of corporate slavery. I have an excellent source to base such assumptions: my father.

I have seen him toil away his days on the nine-to-five daily grind only to face overtime due to some incompetent coworker unable to get his act together or some other such reason. I remember the times late in the evening where he would return home in a drunken stupor, having belted out his frustrations in a night of karaoke, drowned in a sea of beer or whiskey. He would sometimes struggle to make it into the main hallway and I would have to come down to help him up the flight of stairs and lead him to his room.

Sometimes, in a drunken dialogue, as I carry him up the flight of stairs, he would lecture me,

"Hachi...my boy...listen to me...as your father...to work is to lose...don't ever try to lose..."

And I can only nod in silent understanding.

Believe me dad, I took your words to heart.

To work is to lose...and yet...here I am into my first year of university studying my ass off at Chiba U trying to become a teacher.

It was not until towards the end of my second year of high school that I decided to take up the teaching profession. Hiratsuka-sensei had asked the Service Club to help a group of students struggling to brush up on their Japanese so they can pass their make-ups.

They passed with flying colors.

Sensei was so impressed with the results, she could not help but ask.

"Hey Hikigaya. Ever thought of becoming a teacher? Those students you helped found you to be a great help. They liked that you had explained things in a simple, clear and concise way. Yukinoshita was far too confusing and Yuigahama wasn't much help."

"No." I quickly replied.

Sensei took another long drag of her cigarette. What a horrible habit. Sensei, you ought to quit smoking!

"Look, give it some thought okay? I think you have a talent for this. I know you still have another year left to choose, but please think about it. It's your future, you know?"

"Yeah..."

"As your teacher...and as a friend...I only want what's best for you. I trust you enough that I know that you'll do what you feel is right."

And so, I decided to become a teacher. I enrolled in the Faculty of Letters: Division of Japanese Studies at Chiba University with the intention of becoming a Japanese Literature professor. As for my living situation, I am renting an apartment above Tobe's restaurant. Surprisingly enough, Tobe and I struck up quite the friendship in our third year and he even helped me get a part-time job in his family's business.

As for everyone else? Yukinoshita decided to study abroad in Harvard and as far I know, she is taking several political science courses. Yuigahama stayed here in Chiba, taking up psychology as a major. I see her every now and then since work and school had created numerous conflicts in our schedules. Hayama went to Keio under a soccer scholarship and is studying Law. Tobe is working full-time at his family's restaurant. Totsuka is at Waseda University with a tennis scholarship as a nursing major. I honestly can't say what happened to the rest of my class. I lost track of what they've been doing.

Not that I really cared anyways. Relationships are always fleeting. Except for Totsuka. Relationships are always fleeting, but Totsuka is always Totsuka!

Speaking of Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, after I had helped them get over their personal issues and they helped me overcome mine, they had both confessed to me in separate occasions prior to our third year.

I declined.

It wasn't as if I was completely opposed to the idea of striking up a romance with either of them. Most guys would be absolutely envious of my situation and I can't blame them. They are two gorgeous women with absolutely beautiful personalities. But, after all we've been through, after all our trials and tribulations, could I really throw our dynamic out the window? To put one under the bus just so I could pursue the other?

I couldn't do that. I could never do that. I cared about them too much. Deep down, I truly loved the both of them.

So I took the third option.

My thoughts came to a halt as I realized my Japanese class had just been dismissed. I looked around the room and note that I recognize absolutely no one from my high school. I can't help but realize that the world truly is a large place. Many of these people came from all parts of Japan. I'm fortunate I didn't have to run out of town just to pursue a quality education.

My so-called "rotten" eyes had locked onto a sea of green and those green orbs belonging to a woman with slightly wavy auburn hair and glasses. It seems she had been staring at me for some time already. I had recognized her from another one of my general education classes that I'm going to attend later today. How could I miss? She was quite the beauty.

She held her gaze and looked at me with such fire with a hint of annoyance and frustration and yet, she seemed oddly familiar. Still, I couldn't help but think...

'What? Even in college I'm seriously that much of a creep? Geez...give me a break...'

It's a good thing my phone rang and gave me an excuse from continuing our silent battle. I felt as if our staring contest lasted forever! I opened my phone and received a text from Yuigahama.

"Hikki! My class just got canceled and I know you're on your break, let's have lunch! Meet at the cafe in ten minutes?"

Thank god I got Yuigahama into the habit of writing proper messages. Back in high school, reading whatever she had sent was absolutely painful.

"Sure. Sounds good. See you soon."

I finished packing my bag and proceeded out the hallway. I heard a voice call out to me from behind.

"Hey Hikio! It's rude to stare! Can't you at least bother to say hi!"

I turned and went face-to-face with the woman I did battle with back in the classroom. Her face expressed annoyance.

As it turns out, the woman was none other than Miura Yumiko.

A/N: Another writer joins the HachiYumi fray! The two are quite the fun bunch to write. It's interesting to try and create a dynamic between the two given what little we have of them in comparison to the two main girls. As far as the two main girls are concerned, I'm actually in the Hachiman x Yui party...though Yukino sometimes makes my ship waver...