Subsequent Imaginations

Chapter 1

To genuinely understand something, one must be able to first differentiate between 'simply knowing' and 'truly understanding'. There is a vague but distinct gap between the aforementioned that only few people have the opportunity to comprehend. A deep contemplation on the said topic or fierce awakening from the slumber of believing the contrary are two ways I assumed were the likely situations. As for me, it was the latter and let me clarify that while the results may seem quite useless, it is enough to trigger the birth of a new mindset.

That simple awareness that I attained after all the drama that happened previous year, I can say without doubt that I have changed. I used to be comfortable assuming that I can assess the intent of other people, by reading between the lines and uncovering the worst in their actions. Little did I know that I was wrong in many ways. I was able to get to know what the person might be thinking but not all the background emotions involved. The true reason why a person does anything can only be understood if one were to assess their intent in the said person's shoes, while counting their past, future ambitions and current possible mindset as probable factors. It is complex to delve into the psyche of people and determine their true intentions, and that is what I underestimated. I failed to understand people correctly and instead of improving my method of approach, I just justified my failure to be a natural consequence. I realized all of these after my proclamation- 'I want something genuine' - in front of my two club mates, and the events that transpired afterwards. It was honestly embarrassing, and while cringing my life out replaying the scene in my mind I tried to contemplate where I went wrong. And thus this led me to stumble across this thought.

It was difficult at first to change my entire viewpoint but slowly and surely I started to 'understand' people around me. Said people being the Service club president- Yukino Yukinoshita - and the pink-dyed resident airhead- Yui Yuigahama. I was able to finally deduce why they were upset with me during the fake confession event, which bothered me for quite a while, after I tried to see it from their point of view.

I was quite unsettled for a period of time as my life-long aim to not change had been crippled. But soon I was able to accept the cold truth that- "Changes are inevitable, and we humans are no exception" - as said by Hiratsuka-sensei when I reluctantly asked her advice. I was surprised I didn't regret it.

Then slowly the time went by and as we entered our third year of high school, all the three of us were able to understand each other better and were truly able to enjoy our time together. No drama, no dissatisfaction and no clash of ideals, just peaceful interactions…

Well at least, that is what I hoped, but these days those two are deliberately trying to figuratively murder me by insulting and making fun of whatever I do. There has to be some justice right?!

At first it was only Yukinoshita living up to her name- The Ice Queen - by sharpening her tongue against my poor self-esteem. But nowadays even the 'nice girl' Yuigahama has joined forces with the club president and are set on to kill me from inside as if their life's on the line. What did I do to deserve this treatment?!

As the situation involved my life figuratively and literally being in danger I had to take the matters seriously and come up with a solution. So I tried to use my newly learned skill - "to understand their actions from their point of view"- and possibly come up with an effective counter to it.

So over the course of one week I set my plans into motion and carefully observed their actions, subtle facial expressions, body language and 'tried' to come up with the reason for their combined assault. I 'tried' but I was still a novice in this skill but nonetheless I was able to come up with some probable possibilities. They seemed laughably simple but I had to work with what I have lest I succumb to their proverbial onslaught.

My first assumption is that the two girls are quite bored since we rarely get any clients to provide 'service' and since we three were able to somewhat get close to each other, they tried to quench their boredom by verbally attacking me. I know this is painfully mediocre and clearly doesn't show any traces of the self-proclaimed observation I made over the week, but as I am stressing on the fact that I am still a novice in 'truly' understanding others, this is the best probable possibility I was currently able to come up with. Period.

That aside, now the next step in the procedure is to somehow address the problem I have deduced and make them focus on something else other than my already-dead self-esteem. I asked my sister, Komachi, to give me some ideas to tackle the conundrum since she is a girl and the only person who I believe might be able to come up with a good solution, and also as she is my dearest and cutest little sister.

….

"Hey Komachi, I need your advice on something," I asked one evening when we were casually watching T.V after dinner. It was detrimental to my ongoing investigation if I were not to get any effective methods in dealing with my predicament and I had to use everything within my capabilities to do it. So I was able to muster up enough reasons to finally seek my sister's aid.

After eyeing me for a few seconds with a blank expression, she replied- "Sure onii-chan, what is it ?," in a voice expressing somewhat pleasant surprise and a hint of suppressed amusement. I internally thanked my parents responsible for Komachi's godly existence as my little sister.

I continued- "Suppose you were bored and had to spend an hour with your friends, what would you do to make everyone invested in something?"

"That's oddly specific," she muttered silently as she donned a stereotypical thinking pose. I was glad she didn't delve more on the nature of my question.

"Well, typically," she continued- " I would suggest a game that we all could play if the occasion permits it, but otherwise onii-chan, I need to know the situation to have a good answer." I thought for a moment and decided that I might have a reasonable way to carry on the next step of the procedure, also keeping in mind I should not trouble Komachi any further. So I answered- "Hmm.. , I think that's good enough… Thanks by the way."

"Anytime onii-chan, but I'm surprised that you approached me by yourself for help," pausing for a bit she continued- " though I am quite curious... what's the occasion onii-chan ?" she asked tilting her head and eyeing me curiously. I didn't want to go into the specifics and also didn't want to lie to her so I tried to naturally satiate her curiosity and said- " Well you could say it's related to the club." I hoped she would buy the half-truth I sprouted and to my silent relief she did.

"Oh is it… ," she went on and soon lost herself in the ongoing T.V show without questioning me further but I could see that she still did not fully take it. Well, as my quest was fulfilled I calmly started to think of the next set of actions and finally dethrone myself as the target of my fellow club mates. The rest of the evening went on normally.

…

After a careful contemplation where I factored in all the possible ways I could execute my plan, I was finally able to get a set of carefully planned fully-functional ways to set my operation into motion. I hope so at least. Well, nonetheless the days where I will attain my well-earned peace in the Service club without my club mates mercilessly berating me seemed more like a possibility and less like an unattainable dream.

I smirked internally and voiced my thoughts to no one particular as I was in my room still awake in the dead of the night - "Operation Subsequent Imaginations… Sounds like a good plan.."

A/N

My first fanfiction. Hope you guys like it. Do Review.