CH8 – Waking up on Sundays is trouble

*AN: Well, that took longer than I thought. I blame life in general, and the fun I have reading all the other fanfics on here. But I'm back, and will continue with the story. Hopefully another fun chapter.. thanks for reading & enjoy.*

To work is to lose. It is my motto, and one of the few principles I still uphold, five in fact (there used to be eight but I got cynical). More of us anti-work people should join, protest and overthrow the working normies of society. Alas, doing so would be work so it will likely never happen.

The only thing worse than working is having to get up early to then go to work. Especially on a weekend, that sacred time that is supposed to be free time. Alone time. Bliss. But alas, not today. The only thing that slightly alleviated this particular problem was the fact that the one waking me up was Komachi. She truly is Chiba's, nay, the world's nr1. Sister. "Onii-chan, you need to get up". She sounded way chirpier than anyone or anything had a right to before, say, noon.

"Komachi, while I love you dearly… why have you disturbed my sleep?". I asked while I rubbed my eyes.

"Onii-chan, you are so hopeless! This way Komachi will have to take care of you for the rest of her life – not that she wouldn't. Oh, that must have earned me so many points right there."

Sensing that I was perhaps not quite awake enough to appreciate her efforts or her genius in stating that, she sighed. "You have to meet up with your.." and here Komachi smiled innocently and made inverted comma's with her hands "… practice girlfriend onii-chan, remember? Now, wake up".

Oh crap. That was today was it? Could I call in sick? No… Isshiki would just track me down – besides, with the way things were going right now, Komachi might just rat me out to her. Or worse, let her into our house. Maybe even my room. Oh god. If that happened, I would never hear the end of it from Yukinoshita, Hiratsuka-Sensei or Isshiki herself for that matter. May as well resign myself to my fate.

As Isshiki and I had explained to Hiratsuka Sensei last week in a desperate and, surprisingly successful, attempt to escape her wrath and accompanying fist-of-justice, I had promised to spend today at my conniving Kouhai's place in an attempt to get to grips with the huge caseload of Student Council work. "Let me get this straight Hikigaya, you are voluntarily going to Isshiki's house to help her out with her duties?" she had asked.

Upon my affirming this, she looked unbelievingly at Isshiki, who nodded. Apparently Sensei was convinced by this (Which, admittedly, slightly hurt. Why believe that flippant fox and not me? While I am no Yukinoshita Yukino who always tells the truth, I rarely lie, never openly, and certainly not when I could get caught, especially not to Hiratsuka-Sensei). I was quickly dismissed, after which Isshiki was taken aside by Sensei who wore a look that I can only describe as predatory, with a sort of gleam in her eye. Isshiki later told me not to worry about it. Sensei had made her promise to send a picture as proof of our study session though. Apparently this was Hiratsuka's way of, as Isshiki quoted her, "making sure that lazy idiot does not try and weasel out of it last minute with some lame excuse". What can I say? My homeroom teacher knows me well. In any case, we got away from our encounter with Hiratsuka Sensei intact and without any trouble, Totsuka be praised!

Luckily I had Komachi to help me with my preparations, or I would never have been done in time. As it was, my sister literally shoved me out of the door at 10.20 with a "Have fun Onii-chan, go get her!" and closed the door right after. Such betrayal, forcibly moving me away from the sanctuary that is my home. This might be the first time I would have to dock my sister some points.

I lounged around for a few minutes, musing on the fact that while I was unlucky enough to be forced outside of my home, I was still lucky enough to be in the world's greatest city of Chiba. Someone should write a book about how great the city truly is. I would do it, but it would be work. While pondering the moral dilemma of work vs sharing Chiba's magnificence with the world, suddenly, a wild Isshiki appeared. "Good morning Senpai".

"Y-yo".

Arms crossed in front of her chest, which emphasised certain very attractive features I tried not to notice too hard, she testily replied "Is that the best you can do Senpai? Especially as I came out of my way to get pick you up this morning?"

It is too early for this sort of thing woman. In fact, it is too early for anything. Can you not see this obvious fact? Still, I managed to hold back from saying that one. It would take up too much of my energy right now. Additionally, it might be dangerous to say so. Ok, attempt nr2. Remember not to glare.

"Yo Isshiki, good morning?"

After a brief silence, the fox replied. "It'll do Senpai".

Crisis averted. Master of communication, that's me. I'd have to tell the Ice Queen about this. On second thought, I'd better not tell Yukinoshita. I would have to explain what Isshiki was doing with me on a day off and everything. Far too much trouble. Yes.

"But next time a cute girl is picking you up, you should try to sound slightly less grumpy Senpai! Oh, and also, don't make it sound like a question. Surely having me here makes the morning good, wouldn't you say so? Hehe".

"Sure, sure, have it your way Isshiki".

"Of course Senpai, don't I always?"

Well, Isshiki did have a point there I suppose. If only because resisting her was futile.

"Yes, you do. Now, shall we go?"

"Senpai, did you want to see my house that badly? Are you hitting on me again? While I really want you to come home with me right now, you must really not make it so obvious or I will have to refuse on principle, tee-hee."

A less experienced loner might have been hurt by another rejection, but not me. In fact, by now I had learned to tune out everything after "hitting on me". Life was easier. Plus, listening took up a lot of effort. Not listening did not. I would win the Nobel Prize for energy conservation at some point if there was any justice in the world. Heh. Good one. As if. But seriously, someone nominate me already.

"Yes, yes, I am hopeless – let's go already. The earlier we go, the earlier we will be done and I can return to my beloved Komachi."

That earned me a scowl and a "Gross, Senpai!"

No-one ever understands me, with the possible exception of Kawa-something.

"Sen.. senpai?"

Isshiki was tugging at my sleeve, an unusually hesitant look on her face.

"Do you really hate being with me that much that you want to return as soon as possible?"

"Well, if I'd have to choose between hating and not hating… I'd pick not hating I guess".

Apparently my answer was satisfactory, as, with a comment of "That is such a Senpai-like thing to say", Isshiki's normal demeanour quickly returned.

"Come on then Senpai, that Stuco work is not going to complete itself hehe".

Damn it, why am I doing this? If I'd just said no, I could have avoided doing all that work. Then again, at that moment I really had not wanted to hurt my cute kouhai. She looked so… genuine. How unlike her usual behaviour. Well, she did say that she would only show her real self to me I guess.

During our walk to Isshiki's house my thought process was only sometimes interrupted by the occasional comment. Apparently my junior had now recognised that I truly did need some time to get all my faculties in order this morning. After 15 minutes, Isshiki made me wait on a bench and told me she'd be back in a moment. With resting being my natural state, this came easily to me. After no more than ninety seconds, which for Isshiki was remarkably close to the estimate she had given me, she returned.

"Close your eyes Senpai"

I threw my kouhai a very sceptical look.

"Just trust me this once Senpai, you won't regret it".

Ah well, I was already out of the house on a day off and scheduled to do someone else's work. How much worse could it get? I obeyed and closed my eyes, admittedly slightly anxious. This was Isshiki after all, anything could happen. A moment later, I felt something cold pressed to my lips.

"Ta-daaa, Senpai. Look what your cute girlfriend got you as thanks for coming with her today. Am I not the best?"

When opening my eyes, I was greeted by the sight of a beaming Isshiki right in front of me, holding a can of Maxx coffee to my lips.

"How is that Senpai? I still owed you one, remember? I bet you forgot. Ha-ha. Wait. Why are you not responding? Did you perhaps think I would do something else? Hmm? Perhaps even a kiss? Hmm? Gross, Senpai! While I would not mind at all if you initiated that kind of thing, I am not so easy as to do so myself, so it'll have to wait for now, hehe."

"Isshiki Iroha, I don't really got that last bit, but I would like to genuinely thank you for this delicious coffee. You are really an amazing girl you know." There, I can show gratitude. For a can of Max I can. Get it? Haha.

"…. Se… Se….. Senpai….!" With that Isshiki turned around and would not look at me anymore.

Oh crap, I think I broke Isshiki. What did I do this time?
Romcom gods, please give me back my peaceful life!

*AN: Done. Hope everyone will be albe to forgive me for not posting for so long, apologies. Many thanks for the reviews & messages that kept coming long my last update. This chapter could have been longer to be honest, but I wanted to release it on 16-4 as a present to Iroha-chan for her birthday. Slightly late but as she got to tease 8-man some more in this she will hopefully not mind too much. More to come soon I hope!*