Hey guys, I know I told you all that I'm gonna be on a hiatus but here I am.

Actually this is a translated version of a story by Yuuzan12, I had this typed quite some time ago but received the green signal from the author just recently. So I'm able to squeeze in this story between my revisions while having my coffee.

Hope you guys enjoy this.

(8man PoV)

Hikigaya Hachiman.

Inspired perhaps from my birth date, the 8th of August, 1998 this was the name given to me by my parents. The name of a man who has been detested by many and used by others, but the problem isn't in the name but in the person who uses it…is it not?

I have gone through a long thought process to come to my current reasoning. At first I was just someone who wanted to be accepted by society, over the course of time I became a problem that sought attention of the people around him; which led me to slowly become a tool, one people could readily use and throw after 'it' served its purpose.

However there was one thing I always sought, even if it lasted only for a moment…I sought something genuine.

My desire however eluded me, as I was a loner…and a coward.

But even in this bleak world, two names resonated with my own, those being of the two people named Yuigahama Yui and Yukinoshita Yukino. Although I could not bring myself to call them my friends, they were people who were now held significant importance in my life.

In the moments that I realized this, I could not help but notice one thing, I had realized that something that changed. The something being my own self.

I had known it for a long time, and yet refused to acknowledge it, to accept it or believe in it. I refused to concern myself with any reason that could possibly make me believe in the change. It was not only due to the fact that the acceptance would destroy our relationship, but also because it would condemn me to be his equal, of the man I hated so much for his false persona and facades.

Why you ask? It was because I had come to realize one thing.

Our relationship had stalled,

And like Miura I had wanted it to last just a little bit longer.

But one incident changed everything, and for better or for worse the repercussions would not be felt only by me.

That was the day when Yuigahama wanted Yukinoshita to surrender.

We had been out, the three of us. We had just exited the aquarium and Yukinoshita was about to tell us of her request when we were assaulted by a man. Before any of us could react he grabbed Yukinoshita's arm and threatened her with a dagger. Yuigahama panicked and I was not able to do anything more than stand there dumbfounded as he voiced his demands.

"Give me everything you kids have!" He hissed as his dagger lingered menacingly on Yukinoshita's skin. Not wanting to take any risks Yuigahama and I began to empty our pockets, our cellphones, money, Yuigahama's ring and even my subway card. The thief extended his free hand to collect his loot, but in her panicked state Yuigahama dropped her belongings.

Loosening his grip on Yukinoshita the thief bent down to collect all he could, the stretching however proved to be too much as Yukinoshita was able to free herself from his hold. Taking advantage of the moment I threw myself at him, the weight of my body causing him to lose his balance and fall.

Yukinoshita, now freed from her captivity ran to Yuigahama. Holding each-others hands for comfort the began to flee the scene of crime to a safe spot.

Standing up I attempted to emulate them and make a run for it. However my actions were not as successful as the thief regained his bearings and reached for me almost immediately, the force behind my actions threw me on the cold ground as he swung his dagger at me. Luckily I was able to dodge the arc of the blade as it scraped beneath my right eye, an inch to the north and I could've ended up as one-eyed for the rest of my life.

My self-defensive instincts activated as I was able to kick him in the torso and make a run for it. I ran in the direction they did, but my pursuit refused to yield any result. I could still feel the thief hot on my tail as I quickly devised a strategy. Making a sharp turn I exited into the market street which was bound to have a huge crowd, the presence of law-enforcement agencies worked to my advantage as the police were able to easily subdue and arrest the guy.

Following protocol I was taken to the police station and given first-aid treatment for the cut on my cheekbone. I recorded my statement with the officer-in-charge as I spoke about the incident, but not for a moment could I take my mind off those two.

Where had they gone?

Our cellphones still lay there in the alley, lost in the snowy landscape. I knew no way of contacting them unless I went to Yuigahama's house, the place where they were most likely to be.

I requested the police to take me there to check on my well being and the officers readily agreed.

When we arrived at the house I could not bring myself to enter, instead I took a peek from the window to see the two of them smiling slightly as they wiped each-others tears. Yuigahama's mother watched them from the sidelines as she stood quietly with a hanky in her hands.

That was when I realized, I had never been a part of them.

Yuigahama joined the club to be with Yukinoshita.

Yukinoshita did everything in her power to make sure Yuigahama returned to the club.

In the cold winter, they had fled and left me alone.

I had always been excluded, and always claimed to not notice as I did not care.

But now I was sure of one thing.

Neither of them cared about me.

Making my way back outside I told the officer that both of them were alright. On the way back I borrowed his phone in order to ask Komachi to come and pick me up from the station. In my present state I was too shaken to even walk home on my own.

As I waited in the confines of the police station my gaze lingered outside, I could see a sea of people going about with their lives, workers leaving after a tough day, couples smiling at each other, people waiting for their loved ones. My thoughts manifested as I reflected on my own life, sitting here in the police station waiting for my sister to pick me up because of an emergency.

She would come because she had to.

My thoughts led me to the darker depths of my own mind as I pondered upon various possibilities.

What would happen if Hikigaya Hachiman did not exist?

If I did not solve the problems of other people, probably someone else would.

What if I did not concentrate in solving the requests made to the service club? Would someone else have done it?

Would Yuigahama have done it?

Yukinoshita?

Anybody of those we have helped?

Zaimokuza, Hayama, Tobe, Miura, Sagami, Totsuka…the list extends.

Maybe they would have, but I never let anybody else take the helm. Afterall if I was the one to do it, then the result could never be worse, better, but never worse.

Everytime the club's relationships were strained or broken it was my fault, it was the result of my methods.

Realizing this, I do not wish to do the same anymore; I do not want to sacrifice myself for the sake of others.

But if I do change, what will happen?

Our relationship will be destroyed, and yet everything will continue.

I find it in myself to accept it, and to believe in it. I will no longer be like him, not anymore.

I will be part of this new someone, who will in turn be a part of me.

What I do from now will not be for the sake of others, but for me.

Hopefully, this way I will find what I seek.

If this is correct, then there is no reason for the Hikigaya Hachiman everybody knows to exist anymore.

Hope you guys liked this, I actually smell potential of a great story here to be frank.

All credit to Yuuzan12 ofcourse, but note I'm not just doing literal translation here (credit hungry)

See ya guys after my exams!