Okay, okay.

Before you all fuck me up and flaming my beautiful ass for making a crossover fic in the original archive, hear me out.

I did this intentionally – of course. Reason being the crossover archive doesn't...really have much people in there than here, in the original archive (I think). So, I wanted to post this here because you guys might be interested in this kind of fic. Also, the only thing that crosses over here is just a character I've come to cherish; Nishimiya Shouko – no other characters are added in (except for her family). Although the ideals and prospect of the two is like day and night, their situations were the same. They both are people who wanted to be a member of society, but was rejected because of their "special" qualities.

I thought this might be interesting, putting the two together and see how they go. Personally, I think this is one of my dream ships. Don't take this seriously by the way, that's just my opinion and if you don't like it, why the fuck are you here then? I'm not saying this ship is better than the ships in both respective series. I'm just saying I like the idea of them going at it together.

Moreover, I think it'll be fun creating a story for these two, having that childhood friend romance/friendship vibe and all. Though, I'm a bit scared in creating this because...well, the OreGairu fandom is filled with talented writers and I'm not one of them. BUT! This is a step I have to take, a risk that may as well cost me my hobby. That was an exaggeration by the way, don't worry.

So!

What should both Hikigaya Hachiman and Nishimiya Shouko be?

Should they just be friends?

Should they simply be lovers?

Or should they create a relationship beyond the boundaries of the superficial, aiming for that genuine thing that might as well be either best of good friends or ultimate soulmates?

Well, then. I already challenge myself by creating this so here I go!

(Also, Hachiman in this first chapter is totally OoC. This is just exclusive for the first chapter because I don't really like this Hachiman much and it was hard for me to write while imagining the scenes. This is very painful for me to write and read. But well, this Hachiman was still a naïve, hopeful, innocent child so I think that's just natural.)

Prelude:

"Rejection and Acceptance"

Hachiman stood alone, watching all the other kids getting together forming groups while he didn't know what to do. Frankly speaking, he wasn't a very approachable person and that is evident with him standing alone not knowing what to do. The kids here didn't like him, why? Because his eyes were that of a dead fish's, a creepy eye which gave him an intimidating or ugly appearance. Was it a burden, a curse?

Perhaps, perhaps not.

But that is a topic to discuss for another time.

The situation right now is the problem to solve.

Currently, Hachiman looked around to look for any groups that might accept him. However, when he stares at each groups, they avoided making eye contact. He blinked, shocked and confused. He knows it, what they were trying to say when they avoided making eye contact with him. It was a sign.

A sign that they won't accept him.

He just looks down onto the ground, the hope deep inside of him died out. Why? Why did they not want to be friends with him? His eyes? But didn't the teacher said that people shouldn't be judged by their looks? What happened to that moral? What happened to them saying "Of course!" and various other agreeing replies? Was it...was it all a lie?

A façade worn to be accepted by the mass?

What a shallow, bleak world.

And to think that he actually looking forward to school and make friends only to be thrown out...what a foolish and delusional expectation indeed. No one accepted him merely because of how he looks, his superficial cover that wouldn't tell the whole story. These kids weren't the people he would make friends with but what other choice is there then? Remain alone?

That...might be suitable and better.

Of course, Hachiman didn't have these thoughts because he was still immature. He couldn't think of anything as complicated as this given his age and even with his high academic abilities, he still wouldn't be able to comprehend what was happening to him completely. He could only thought of one thing though:

What would he tell Komachi? What would he tell to his beloved imouto (little sister)?

Oh, crab balls!

What would he tell her!? She had been looking forward to know how his first day in elementary went! She was expecting a good and happy answer! She might not be happy with this development and as a respectful and cool Onii-chan as Hachiman is, he didn't want to let down her expectations!

Arghh!

Just as the child was pondering on his thoughts, a girl shyly went towards the creepy-eyed loner and grabbed the hem of his shirt. Hachiman was pulled out of his thoughts, froze as he fears for the worse. He slowly and shakily turns his body like some horror movie, expecting a teacher to scold him for being unsociable only for his dead-fish eyes to meet with a pair of sad, depressed eyes that somehow still has kindness within them.

She had pale-peach short hair that was just a teeny-tiny-bit messy, it wasn't really straightened much as it's a bit curly. She had those matching eyes, those eyes that Hachiman...didn't really liked. It somehow irritates him just by seeing it. She wore a pale-pink shirt that has a name badge on her left side of her chest but he couldn't see it clearly. Her skirt was a bit long and yellow in color with patterns that adapts to different shades of yellow. Her shoes were the girls' version of indoor shoes, stockings were white. Overall, she looks pretty normal.

However, Hachiman blinked in confusion, he didn't know who this girl is. "U-Um, do you need something?" Hachiman asked.

She responded by looking up to him with eyes widened, her cheeks were blaring in redness as she vigorously shook her head with her mouth closed tight and her short-a bit messy hair bounces. She rolled her eyes, seemingly trying to think which was weird. Did he not heard what he said? What's with the strange reaction?

What comes next were a shock to the loner.

She took out a notebook which, as Hachiman can clearly see, seemed to be for...communication purpose? Written? Why can't she just talk to him normally?

She started to write down, Hachiman actually had to wait for a bit until she finished – curious as to what she had wrote down. "Hello, my name is Nishimiya Shouko." She turned the notebook and faced it to him, showing the words as Hachiman continued to read. "Sorry for the inconvenience, but I can't hear so you would have to speak to me through this notebook."

Hachiman's eyes widened, "You can't hear?"

She blinked, didn't caught on and just tap her pencil on the notebook, repeating the words. "I can't hear."

"O-Oh..." Hachiman took out his pencil and motioned her to hand him the notebook and she did as he write in the notebook before he presented it to her, "My name is Hikigaya Hachiman, nice to meet you." It says before Hachiman started to write more, "Do you want to be in a group with me?"

Once she saw what he wrote, her eyes widened and she vigorously nodded with a bright smile. Hachiman blinked, taking it as a yes. He wrote on it once more, she was waiting in anticipation as her cheeks were reddened due to how excited she was. Like him, she was also rejected by her peers because she was deaf. They even refused to talk to her through this notebook so Hachiman was the first person to actually interact with her "normally". The fact that Hachiman willingly talked to her gave her quite the impression as she has a good feeling about him in the future.

Hachiman showed her the notebook book saying, "Want to sit there so we could start working?" He pointed at the empty table for two.

She stares at the table for a few seconds before facing back at the dead fish-eyed loner with a cheerful nod. He lets out a sigh as Hachiman was thankful that he could at least teamed up with one person which seemed to be someone in a similar situation to him. Still, he couldn't explain why he was irritated with her presence alone.

And during that day, the two worked on a project that was better than the other groups due to Shouko's creativity and Hachiman's high intellect...

A few days later...

Back home, Hachiman had to lie to Komachi, saying he had lots of friend when in reality, he doesn't even have one let alone having more. He really felt guilty telling her that as she was looking forward to know how he progresses each day, wanting to hear how he spends his time with his "friends". He couldn't resist that puppy eyes of her, even his father would give a million yen just so he could stop it from crushing his heart. Really, her cuteness goes beyond Human understanding but it was annoying with how she constantly used it against Hachiman.

The following days were even more annoying with Shouko following Hachiman wherever he goes – perhaps she doesn't have any friends like he does but even then, he would be fine alone. She kept following him, trying to talk to him through that notebook of hers as if they were friends or something. Hachiman tries his best to ignore her but she just won't leave him alone! And also, she kept making that gesture with her pointing at him then herself before she clasped her hand together, it was really weird! And she does that to almost everybody!

Really, very annoying.

One day, however, Hachiman was met with an "opportunity".

While he was packing his things, Hachiman was confronted by the first group that rejected him. "Ne, ne." A girl started, Hachiman just awkwardly eyed her in suspicion as he was surprised by their sudden approach. "What's with that girl?"

"Yeah." A boy followed. "She's very annoying, right?"

Hachiman gulped, unsure how to respond to them. "Y-Yeah." He stuttered for a bit.

"Just because she's deaf, she thought she could do anything. What a nerve." Another girl added in.

"Ne, Hachiman was it?" The boy, who seemed to be the leader of the group, started. "Do you know her?"

"A-A bit..." Hachiman replied, avoiding eye contact with them.

What's with them? Why are they acting so familiar with him? Did...did they changed their minds about him? Do they finally want to become friends with him?

"Oh, really?" Hachiman reluctantly nodded, "Are you two friends?"

Hachiman shook his head, "No!" He quickly denied, raising his volume before he realized his outburst and regained his composure. "I-I mean, no. We're not."

The kid looked at each other, smiling mischievously. "Is that so? Then, if you don't mind do what we told you to, we as well wouldn't mind being your friends Hachiman-kun." The leader said which caused Hachiman to raise his head in hope, seeing them smiling.

"R-Really?" Hachiman asked and they all nodded, a few were facing somewhere else as they stifled their laughs.

"Of course! That is, if you do what we say." The leader's smile widened.

"O-Okay..." Hachiman nodded.

It was at this time, Hachiman finally had his eyes opened wide – wider than anything, acquiring eyes that could see through superficiality, eyes that will let him see through these shallow people. However, that didn't happened until he did a few things they asked for him. The things he did and they indirectly did that caused him to not ever forgive them or himself. The thing that caused him to bear an unfathomable hatred towards the superficial and their manipulative words of lies.

And all it took, was a sincere and genuine kind person asking him to be friends with her...

Two weeks later...

Hachiman did all they asked.

He wrote horrible insults on Shouko's table, messing with it. He hid her shoes, sometimes even threw them into the trash bins to dirty them. He messed with her things, her notebooks and all of her studying tools like her pencils. He did very terrible things to her but he didn't care, he was irritated with her as well.

Plus, he'd get "friends" when he did this! And she left him alone, finally!

They all "willingly" hanged out with him – eating in the cafeteria, having chats with them.

It wasn't all for nothing!

Admittedly, it was bit hard not to get caught but he was sure that his "friends" wouldn't rat him out.

He sat with his "friends", they all chat while Hachiman just follows what they were saying. They were talking about the Masked-Hero Seiya, a show they all have watched sans for Hachiman. He didn't know what it was so he could just force himself to laugh with them whenever they did so and nodded to everything he didn't understand, which is literally everything. Their nonsensical talks continued until his eyes set on the one particular girl they had asked him to do things to.

She seemed down, much downer than he first met her. Her eyes were downcast, she didn't seemed very energetic.

As Hachiman saw her like that, his heart...it feels like it had been crushed. No, it was different crush from when Komachi attacked him with her cute puppy eyes. This felt different, like he didn't liked to see it one bit. But why? She irritates him, her very presence had annoyed him the very first day they've met but...no, it wasn't her presence that greatly irritates him.

What was it?

He didn't understand.

"Hachiman-kun." The leader called.

"Yes, Makabe-san?" Hachiman replied, snapping off from his thoughts.

He smiled, "We want you to do something for us. It's what friends are for, right?" Hachiman nodded and his smile widened, the other kids in the group mischievously grinned. "Do you see that ear thing in Nishimiya-chan's ears?" Hachiman blinked and took a look, he faced back to the leader after and nodded, "We want you to get that for us."

"E-Eh?" Hachiman narrowed his eyes, "What is it for?"

"You don't ask, Hachiman-kun. As friends, you should just trust us and do as we say. Or are you not our friend?" The leader pressed on, smiling as Hachiman backed off in fear and shook his head in denial. "So? Can you get it for us?"

"Yes, of course!" Hachiman said in determination and they all faced each other, smiling. "I'll do it!"

"I knew we could count on you, Hachiman-kun." The leader said as they all went back to chat, leaving Hachiman to ponder on how he would get Shouko's ear aids.

Later that day, Hachiman was helping his teacher in carrying her things. They both went inside the teacher's staffroom as she leads Hachiman onto her table among the other tables that was placed together. She sat down and Hachiman places her things on her work table.

"Thank you very much, Hachiman-kun." The teacher smiled softly and Hachiman nodded. "You can go now."

As he was about to turn away, his eyes set on a familiar sight he had seen somewhere. He blinked and stared at the pictures lined up on his teacher's table, some kind of signs in each pictures using hands. The particular one that got his attention was the one with clasped hands. He swore he had seen it somewhere before. Where could've he had seen it?

The teacher blinked and follow the line of sight her student was staring, seeing him looking at the particular picture of hands clasping together, grabbing both palms horizontally. "Ah, that? Are you wondering what that means, Hachiman-kun?" The teacher asked, Hachiman reacted a few seconds later by blinking in confusion before nodding. "That means "friends" Hachiman-kun. It is used to ask for friendships for people who use sign language."

"Is that so, sensei?" He asked and the teacher smiled, nodding softly.

"Yes." She seemed satisfied for some reason.

Hachiman politely bowed, "Thank you very much for satiating my curiosity, Yuuno-sensei."

"Nah, it was nothing." The teacher waved it off.

"If you excuse me," Hachiman bowed once again and finally walked off.

That sign really disturbed him for some reason.

Once school ends, his "friends" went back home while he stayed back. The reason he stayed back is because he knew Shouko stayed back as well to clean off her desk. He silently slid the door open a bit, taking a peek inside to see Shouko was currently wiping of her desk clean. It was a pity sight to see, but that wasn't the case for Hachiman. He was still irritated to see her.

If so, then why was he felt...different earlier?

Bah!

That shouldn't matter.

What matters now is that he has to get those ear aids from her. For his "friends", he would do anything.

He slid the door completely, then went inside and started to sneak up behind her. He didn't know why but this was really nerve wrecking. He was sweating like crazy, and the temperature wasn't even that hot to begin with. It was actually quite cold given the expensive fans in the school. He gulped, slowly taking steps after steps with hands brought up to the front to get her ear aids. His heartbeat was getting louder by each step, like he was walking towards his doom.

S-Should I really do this?

He took a step.

But Makabe-san and others asked me!

Another step.

They're my friends!

Another more step.

A good friend will do anything for friends!

And one more step.

And friends were supposed to be with each other to the end!

At that very moment, he stopped.

Friends were supposed to be with each other to the end...?

Realization finally hit him like a tons of bricks that weighs tons of trains. Everything came to an abrupt halt, all the world around him deafened as his eyes went wide.

Were his "friends" really his friends?

He sat with them in the cafeteria, they asked him to get food and drinks for them and he happily complies. Once he did, he sat with them but their chats doesn't seem to involve him. More like, they were ignoring him and let him be there, sitting and eating relatively alone.

When were they stayed with him when he was faced with a problem?

The teacher called Hachiman because he and his "friends" were cleaning the garden but it was in a messy state due to them playing water like the child they are. His "friends" asked him to take the blame and told him that "friends should help each other out if they have trouble!" and that they should sacrifice themselves.

When did they worked together like how friends are supposed to?

The project that is done in a group was supposed to be divided then why is he doing it alone? He thought that friends are supposed to work together but all they said is "we know you could do it alone, friends are supposed to trust each other and we trust you, Hachiman-kun".

Were they even actual friends...?

"My name is Nishimiya Shouko. Sorry for the inconvenience, but I can't hear so you would have to speak to me through this notebook." This girl...she was going around making those weird signs. She was trying to befriending people but was rejected. She really irritates him.

Then, it finally all came together.

He didn't have friends, he never had one to begin with. They were only tricking him, they were just messing with him and using him to do bad things to her. They weren't his friends in the first place, they are just fakes. They are shallow people he shouldn't make friends with. He knew that they were lying to him, he knew they were deceiving him but all of those doubts were all removed due to his hope. His hope has been blinding him from the start. He thought it already faded but it didn't, there was still that small glimmer inside. And he let himself interact with these fakes and threw away what is more precious. He "befriended" them, blindly choosing their side.

Now, he knew they will cast him aside one day – like a child bored with their toy.

But even so, all he has was this deaf girl who would willingly talk to him through a notebook, even if she was shy at first. She was trying to befriend him but he rejected her, thinking that she's "weird" and different than from other kids when in reality, he was just the same as her. What irritates him about her is how she still tries to make friends even though it's impossible, that no one would befriend her. He was irritated that she still hadn't give up and smiles even after all the bullies and things he did to her.

What really irritates him about her is how she resembled him much of himself, someone who seek friendship even though he was already rejected.

They were the same.

Both were rejected members of society. Both have "special" attribute that made them different and unlikeable. Both were placed in circumstances that should've been done in a group. Both refused to change, refused to put on a façade. Both tried to fit in inside the mass but was rejected. Both were...searching for something.

Unconsciously, Hachiman let out tears.

What had he done?

This girl was the only one who would gladly accept him, without any ulterior motive.

What makes him so different than her when they were just the same?

Isn't he just as shallow as the people around him?

Why was he trying to fit in when he could've stayed with her, forging a bond far stronger than the superficial or even artificial bonds around him?

Why didn't he just befriend her...?

Hachiman was ashamed with himself. The things he did to her...he couldn't forgive himself or the people who manipulated him to do so. Once his thoughts came to that "Makabe" and his group of friends, a new feeling lit. It was nothing he had felt before. It was nearly the same as he was irritated with Shouko only on a much new level.

Was this anger?

Rage?

Yes...he hates them. He absolutely detests them. The things they made him did...never in his life had he ever felt this much feeling radiating from him towards people – not even his family. No matter what, he despises them from the bottom of his heart.

His vision was blurry, he finally realized the tears he had willed up. He wiped his tears off and lifted his head, seeing Shouko still cleaning her desk. What should he do? He was too ashamed to speak to her for the things he did.

No.

He shouldn't be.

He should make up with her.

If he didn't, he won't be able to create a far better relationship with her.

He needed to set aside his shame and faults, be brave and make up the things he did.

He must be honest with her.

Yes, that is right.

Hachiman, be honest and apologize to her!

He gulped and then...hugged her from behind. The girl in question was surprised at his sudden embraced but stayed, cheeks blaring at the warmness of his body and his arms. He blinked, realizing that this wasn't what he was supposed to do and immediately latches off, rubbing the back of his head as he avoided eye contact.

Shouko turned around, cheeks still had that hint of redness in it and tilts her head in confusion, why did he hugged her?

He took a sharp inhale and then bowed, "I'm very sorry." He apologized before realizing that she can't hear.

He stood right back up and quickly took out a notebook and a pencil and started to write on it. The classroom was silent, two kids were inside as the only thing that echoes through was the sound of someone writing with a pencil. He gulped and then showed it to her.

"I'm very sorry." The notebook said as she continued to read. "I was the one who did this to you...all of it. I wanted to apologize."

Her eyes widened for a good few seconds, awkward fills the classroom before she merely smiled and nodded.

Did...did she just accepts his apology? Did she forgive him for the things she did to him? Why? How...how can she just easily forgive and accepted his apology? If it was him, he wouldn't ever forgive such a thing. He would reject them just like how they rejected him. But this girl...she was kind.

This kindness of hers truly knows no bound.

He started to write again, "Also-" But then, he stopped.

His memory started to refresh itself. The gesture she did and what the teacher told him, she...she was trying to say that she wanted to befriend with everyone! No wonder he had seen that sign language from somewhere before! She was trying to communicate! She was actually asking everyone to be her friend but they didn't understand. Now, only he understands and he intend to befriend her. It isn't to just repay all that bad things he did – no, he wanted to see if they could create something meaningful.

Hachiman showed her what he wrote as it only says, "Also..." He places back the notebook and the pencil onto his bag before facing her and pointed his index finger toward her, "Can you-" After that he pointed himself, "-and me-" He then grabbed his palms horizontally, forming the same gesture as she did with him and everybody else. "-be friends?"

Her eyes went wide once more, tear started to willed up in the corner of her eyes.

"E-Eh!?" If Hachiman has a weakness, it would be a crying girl. Naturally, he reacted to it quickly and tries to calm her down in panic. "H-Hey, don't cry!" He said, hands didn't know what to do and so, he only did what he thought was the perfect solution; he hugged her once again. "U-Um...don't cry, alright, Nishimiya?"

Of course, she wouldn't hear this. But she knew what he was trying to say with this action of his. He wanted for her to stop crying, perhaps he thought he did something wrong. But it was actually the opposite, she was happy. Really happy.

For the first time, someone asked her to be friends.

For someone who has been rejected, it was such a happy occasion.

And it was someone the same as her.

They stayed like this for a few minutes, she didn't want to let go and Hachiman was afraid that letting go might cause her to cry again.

Under such a sad circumstance, two childhood friends became actual friends and embraced in a warm comfort. Where would this lead to? They don't know, none of them know. All they could do is expect. And both knew, Hachiman more specifically, the bond they will create together outshines the shallow bonds that filled the planet. Even though Hachiman will be rejected along with Shouko by society and the people around them, together, they will witness...

The Shape of Something Genuine.

Prelude End:

"Rejection and Acceptance"

So, how was it?

Yes, yes. I know.

I kinda hate the Hachiman here but he's a hopeful boy. He's still a child so I need some character development for him to be the way he was supposed to be which was at the time he was about to do something he will absolutely regret. That character development might as well as made him hate riajuus and society much more than he was in canon.

Speaking of, I didn't think I did a good job with it – did I? I want to have confidence I did but...I don't' know. I always loved stories that has good character developments but somehow, I don't know how to properly execute it (I think). Hope I did a decent job at it though, I'm still new to writing.

Anyway, with that being said, what do you guys think?

Was it good?

Do you guys want another chapter?

Let me know your thoughts by leaving reviews! I love reading them!

Soreja, ma-ta-na!