Okay, so this chapter is going to be told from Hachiman's perspective. It's not much about Yukino so I decided this was for the best.

By far, the worst part of any day is the morning. It's the time when you are the least energized and the most irritable, and it also happens to be the furthest point from the end of a working day.

It goes without saying that I'm not a morning person. Ironically though, I'm usually among the first to get to class. It's less noticeable that you entered the classroom alone if there wasn't anyone to see you do so.

Erm, not that I care what others think of me. It's just that loners don't like to stand out.

Besides, even people who don't know a thing about me should be able to tell just by looking when someone is not in the mood to socialize. Especially when I have my face wrapped in my arms, laying flat on my desk.

"Hikitani-kun."

The nerve of this guy.

I read somewhere that if you stay completely still for a minute or so, riajuus will be unable to see you and will eventually leave.

"I know you're listening."

Hm. Maybe I got Hayama confused with some other stupid creature.

"What do you want?" I finally answer, lifting my head just to shoot him a nasty glare.

He takes a deep breath. "Can we talk?"

"Mm-no."

He scowls. It's almost funny how much it aggravates him to see that being nice doesn't work on me.

"Can we please talk?" He almost begs. His tone doesn't match his sour expression.

"Can you please go away?" I mimic his tone of voice, as well as his expression, as if to mock him. I wonder what this conversation would look like to anyone watching. Probably pretty funny.

"Ugh." He scoffs bitterly. "You're unbearable, you know that?"

I roll my eyes in response. He sighs, and seems to forcibly soften his tensed face. "Hikigaya-kun. I just want to talk for a bit."

I drop my head back down into my forearms. "Can it wait?"

"... Until when?" I hear him ask.

"Until I'm awake, maybe?"

"After homeroom, then."

"Whatever. Just buzz off for now." Without looking up, I flick my wrist at him dismissively.

He doesn't respond, but the clattering of his shoes tells me he went back to his seat. Yuigahama starts up a conversation about nothing, and I just focus on her voice without listening to what she's saying until homeroom begins.

"This better be good." I find myself having been led to a currently unused stairway. The reason it is unused it because class has already started, which further exacerbates my desire to not waste my time here. I may not be a model student, but I'm at least above truancy.

Hayama doesn't respond. He just faces the wall with his arms folded like a weirdo.

…

Are you serious, Hayama? Is this some stupid prank of yours?

"Hey. Make your point or I'm leaving." It's not so much a threat as it is a declaration. Academic obligations are one of the few instances where I actually have places to be, and I'm not too happy to be blowing off my education just to stand around staring at the back of Hayama's head for no apparent reason.

"I'm sorry." He breaks the silence with something weird. Sorry for what? For wasting my time with this nonsense?

"Elaborate." I demand him.

"It's not your fault she's this way. I shouldn't have attacked you the other day."

I sigh. Hayama's really such a simple person. It's so blatantly obvious what he's up to. Is this how Harun-... Yukinoshita-san sees him?

"I don't even care. Is that all?"

He turns around to face me. He looks offended, shocked even. I suppose that wasn't the response he was looking for.

"You don't care?" He mutters, as if it were a surprise that I can't be bothered to hold a grudge for stupid things.

"Not in the slightest."

"B-but I attacked you. I punched you in the stomach!"

"Hey!"

I heard a furious shout from behind me. When I turned to the source, I found Hayama, glaring like he was death itself and was looking for someone in owing of a life. And he was looking at me.

After a brief moment of intense staring, I decided this was rather uncomfortable, and not something I wanted to deal with. I had to go to my club, anyway.

"Don't you fucking walk away from me, you bastard!" I heard rapidly approaching footsteps and they were like alarm bells ringing in my ears. Turning as fast as I could, I saw Hayama sprinting at me with a terrifyingly angry face. I tried to take off and run, but I was too late. I had gotten one step away before he grabbed me by my shirt, and violently yanked me towards the nearest wall.

I felt winded the moment my back slammed up against the wall. I tried gasping for air, but my lungs weren't ready to cooperate just yet. Looking up at Hayama, his twisted face implied that I might actually be in real danger.

"What's so fucking good about you, huh!?" He screamed right in my face. His breath was hot and I felt disgusting the moment it touched my face.

Panic was starting to set in. My eyes were widening and my knees started to shake.

I tried to reason with him. "L-listen, Hayama. I don't know what I did b-"

"Shut up!" He cut me off. "All they ever talk about is you! Both of them! I hate you so much!"

What in the world is he talking about? Who's talking about me? Yuigahama and Yukinoshita?

He's so unhinged right now and I have no idea how far he's willing to take the situation. I should definitely avoid speaking unless I have to.

Trying to apply his words into a context, I could only conclude that he was either taking about the service club… or I don't even know who else.

No choice, I have to ask."W-who's t-them, bro?" Overcome with fear, I accidentally called him 'bro'.

Whether it worked or not, his tension seems to unravel, even if only a little bit. His face is still scrunched up in rage, though.

He sucks in a deep breath through his nose. "... Yukino-chan and… and Haruno."

In my current state of mind, it takes me a tad longer to process what he's talking about. The Yukinoshita sisters? Talking about me? I'm more confused than ever.

"Look, it's not my fault th-"

HUAK!

He punched me hard in the abdomen, and I fall to the floor.

…

…

…

Suddenly, the fear is completely gone. Replaced by… not quite rage, but more like irritation. Ignoring the pain, I stand to my full height.

His face softens immediately.

Body language, show him you're in control.

I glare at him as I walk forward.

The eyes are the bluff. Let him know you won't back down.

He steps back and he looks like he's bitten off more than he can chew.

His mind is weak.

It's funny how much the little muscles in a person's face can express at once. He probably doesn't look afraid to most people, but the forcibly tensed eyebrows makes it obvious he's looking for a dignified way to back down. The tensed cheeks means he wants to still look mad, but I have him now.

And he knows it.

"Get the fuck out of my face." I tell him monotonously.

He hesitates for a moment.

"Tch."

He tries to walk off calmly with his hands in his pockets. It's obvious he's spooked.

What an idiot. He probably could have beat me to death with his strength, but he was so easy to read that intimidating him was a breeze.

It was too easy. Almost boring, even.

Now, to have a word with Yukinoshita.

Yeah. I remember that. I ended up not telling anyone I got punched because I thought it would force the situation above a controllable level.

"So? I told you, it's fine."

"... I really am sorry. I wasn't in my right state of mind back then, and I did a whole bunch of things I'm still regretting." He almost looks actually remorseful as he says it, but the little telltale signs give away his true intentions.

Such a faker. The reason he's apologizing now isn't because of his conscience, or at least not primarily. He wants to apologize because he will need my help for something in the near future and he wants to raise my opinion of him beforehand.

I think I already know exactly what he wants too.

"Right." Even though I can see right through him, I see no harm in playing along. It's not like I could gain anything from holding his own pettiness over his head.

Actually, I probably could. But I don't see the need for it, and manipulating people isn't exactly a favored activity of mine.

"Can I go now?"

He smiles that ever-friendly smile that people seem to adore. "Sure. I'll see you around, Hikigaya-kun."

I'd rather you didn't, actually.

At the end of yet another boring schoolday, Yuigahama and I are strolling through the old school building to the club room. We're having a very one sided conversation. As in, she blabs about whatever she feels like, and I just listen to the sound of her voice.

"And then Hina-chan lost her footing or something, and totally tripped over right in front of him!" She laughs and laughs. I have no idea what the punchline was about, but the sound of her laughter brings a smile to my face anyway.

While she's babbling about her recent escapades, I find myself lost in thought.

The sound of Yuigahama's voice is like a remedy for my overactive mind. Maybe it's the simplicity of her words, or perhaps just the innocence in her voice. Her melodic laugh, or the soothing chime when she hums a song she likes, it helps distract me from myself. Sometimes, listening to her voice as I doze off in class, I can almost remember the feeling of innocence, before I knew how cruel this world could be.

They say ignorance is bliss. It really must be nice.

"Hm hm~" she giggles mischievously.

"What?" I ask defensively.

"You were smiling."

"Oh. Is that not allowed? My bad." My grin widens, as if I were mocking her.

She laughs again. "Absolutely not! I'm going to have to write you a ticket for being happy in a public place!" She makes a mock stern expression, and wags her left index finger with her other hand on her hip.

Even though her little joke was beyond lame, she still somehow manages to get me to chuckle for a second and we laugh together.

"So what were you smiling about?"

When she asks me so innocently, I almost blurt out the truth. But to tell Yuigahama that the sound of her voice makes me happy would be a mistake with dire consequences. For starters, it would definitely sound like I were hitting on her. Even the most dense generic harem MC could mistake such a statement as flirting.

That, would bring up further issues within the service club. Yuigahama's attitude towards me would change because she already… just because. This would, in turn, affect her attitude towards Yukinoshita. The atmosphere of the entire club would be compromised and facing either of my clubmates would become difficult.

Something so precious could be destroyed just because I was a little too honest. This is how the world works.

In a situation like this, genuine relationships… might be impossible.

I wipe the smile off my face immediately. "Nothing." I answer dismissively.

Yuigahama seems to be mildly concerned about my sudden change in attitude, but she chooses to say nothing. I don't think she really minds, she probably just thinks it's 'a Hikki thing' as she likes to say.

Before long, we're at the club room. Yuigahama opens the door. Yukinoshita is sitting there being her pompous self as always, reading a novel with her legs folded. Yuigahama greets Yukinoshita with her stupid obnoxious greeting, and the club officially opens.

Yukinoshita's been different lately. She was always a very dignified person, but lately, the way she carries herself has changed. It can't be helped, of course. I can only imagine what it's like to be her in this situation. Luckily for me, I never rely on anybody, so nobody could ever let me down. But Yukinoshita… she lacks direction.

So then what am I supposed to do for her? Should I be her guide? Should I give her direction? Should I confront her sister behind her back? Should I do nothing?

Though I'm not sure what the right answer is, I am sure of one thing. Yukinoshita is fragile. More so now than ever. She doesn't have what it takes to handle this situation alone, especially not with a tyrannical foe like Yukinoshita Haruno.

It seems like nobody else has the capacity to handle that woman. So it's probably up to me.

Goodness, I love the weekend. Honestly, the best part about not having prior obligations is that you don't have to stress about meeting them. When you know you have somewhere to be or something to do, you toil away the whole day, thinking about how much it's gonna suck. Especially for pain in the ass requests from your obscure after-school club.

Luckily, no such requests have been made. And my phone is off, just to be sure.

So, what else could I possibly do but annoy my adorable little sister with pointless mundanities at random? Nothing else, is the answer.

"Oi! Komachi?"

My call echoes throughout the house, unanswered. A quick scan determines that I am in fact, alone. Huh. Where's Komachi, then? Oh, right. I forget she's a social person on the outside. The only acceptable riajuu in the Hikigaya-kun household.

Still, even without Komachi, I have a whole day to myself.

*knock knock*

Dammit.

Groaning in disappointment, I traipse towards the front door. This better not be a salesman, I swear. Opening the door, I realize that I probably should have checked the peephole before I answered.

"Good morning, Hachiman."

Shit.

"What are you doing at my house? Don't you have an orchestra to conduct or something?"

She swoons. Visibly swoons.

"Awww. You remembered I'm a conductor!"

"It was on TV." I didn't lie. She really was on TV. But truthfully, I would have remembered anyway. After all, this person has seriously made an impression on me lately.

I try to dispel the memory of my first kiss before I start to blush.

"Whatever. How did you even find my house?"

She giggles. "Are you really asking me that?"

I realized it was a stupid question as soon as I said it. Of course she would find my house. Someone like her could probably have more information on me than I do.

I instinctively break eye contact. As I thought, this person is far too powerful for the likes of me.

"Hey…" her ever-present grin fades. "I know… that I've done wrong by you. I want to make things right."

There was no puppy dog eyes, no childish pouting. Just a flat declaration with no attempt to exaggerate the relevant feelings.

Briefly, there's a strange feeling that overcomes me. It's overwhelmingly refreshing for someone to be so honest. The feeling is indescribable. It's almost like…

No, it's not. Just because she operates on a higher mental level than most people, doesn't mean she's capable of what I want. Besides that, she's a terribly selfish person. Even her request to make amends is inherently selfish. She wants to apologize not because of her conscience, but because she wants… ugh, me.

And in the first place...

"I'm not the one you need to apologize to, and you know it."

She sighs. "I know. But if you could never forgive me, then there's no point. So I came to you first."

That's rather backwards logic. Wouldn't you normally seek the forgiveness of the person you wronged first?

But of course, 'normal' logic doesn't always apply to people like her. Or me, I suppose.

"I'll forgive you when those people do."

I expected her to smile and laugh, or something befitting of her. What I didn't expect, was for her to snarl.

"Why do you care about them so much?" She practically hisses, distaste apparent in her voice.

"Why do you care about me so much?" I counter. Maybe I'm being a little defensive, but that's justified, I think.

"Because you understand me like nobody else does!" She raises her voice a little. I feel a little taken aback by the declaration.

"I'm not the person you think I am, Haruno." It might have been a mistake to use her first name like I used to. Before she went off the rails.

"But you are! You're the only one who will ever see me the real me!" It seems like she's sulking. "Even I don't know who I am anymore…" she looks so sullen and pitiful. Despite my better judgement, I can't help but feel empathetic.

But could something like that really be called love? It sounds like she needs a therapist more than a partner.

I'm not sure what to say in response at first. "You know… I doubt I'm the only person in the world who could ever understand you."

The moment I say it, I realize I could have said something better. I could have told her I don't know anything about her at all, and that it was a misconception on her part.

Her lip almost seems to quiver. "I don't want anyone else! You're the only one I want by my side! Why can't you see that?"

She absently stares off to the left. Tears gently begin to form in her eyes. What am I supposed to say? This is uncharted territory for someone like me, you know!

"Do you know," she begins with hitched breath "what it feels like to feel alone all the time!? Like nobody will ever understand you?"

"Better than anyone…" I mutter absently.

She turns to face me. Her eyes fiercely grip my own, and I find myself unable to look away.

"You feel it too." She looks up at me, and something alien flashes across her eyes.

"I... no, I-"

Before I can defend myself verbally, she invades my personal space and initiates… inappropriate physical contact involving facial parts.

My second kiss is even scarier and more intense than the first.

And I'm terrified that I lack the strength to break this one.

Hi. I did this on my phone. it's a tad short but I feel like this is a good place to cut the chapter.

Thanks to everyone who suggested I use Google docs. It works wonders.

You know I love you baby. Review plx