ZeroXSEED here, and I decide to reupload this story in celebration of Oregairu Volume 13, that is, the penultimate volume of Oregairu novel. At first I was extremely skeptical after the dissatisfying conclusin of Volume 12 and massive hiatus. Now that the book is out... it was great, and hopefully Volume 14 can follow the pace and quality.

Despite losing steam, I think some of you would still prefer to be able to read it, and so I decide to upload whatever already written until certain point.

Looking back there are a lot of things that I can do much better, but some of which was completely bonkers. So I decided to remove vast number of chapters just in case I would continue into an entirely different direction and plotline.

I don't know when I will update this, nevertheless, for those who enjoy it and those who still have faith, happy reading.

For the New readers who haven't read the previous version: This is a continuation fanfic of my other Oregairu AU "As Expected, My High School Girl Debut is Wrong." To understand the context of this fanfic I suggest you read it first.

"Relationships can always be reset."

Hikigaya Hachiman always believed in that sentence, that sentiment, that no relationship in the world was immutable. If you think a relationship could fail, then you just have to break that relationship off and go back to being strangers.

He always did that for his own convenience.

His complacency and his own comfort, in the solace of loneliness, he avoided any struggle and challenge by sacrificing his youthful high school life.

At least that was what he had convinced himself of. In the attempt to avoid fighting against the unjust world, he would avoid following the rules of the world altogether.

And now, the world had enough of his bullshit and punished him for his arrogance.

Hikigaya Hachiman stood alone in a corridor. It was his own house, yet it felt so alien, unfamiliar. The shape, color, scent, all so recognizably similar.

And yet, in his own house, he was nothing but a stranger.

"Who are you?" Komachi asked, "You're not Aneki."

Komachi looked him over with slight interest, and yet, a massive amount of caution.

It hurt.

If there was anyone in the world that he truly treasured, then it would be his one and only little sister, Hikigaya Komachi.

And yet, Komachi looked at him like he was a stranger.

A trespasser in their house.

Something was not right.

"Na, Komachi, is this some kind of game?" He asked, beads of sweat began to pour down his chin, "It's me, your Oniichan."

"Stop right there! Don't get any closer or I'll call the police!" Komachi warned.

As someone who knew her for at least fourteen years of his life, Hachiman could always tell whether Komachi was being serious or just joking.

She was not joking.

And he wouldn't like to risk his life for this.

"I'm serious." Hachiman raised both his hands, one of them holding his student I.D. "I'm Hikigaya Hachiman, your one and only Oniichan."

"Is that ... Soubu's student card." Komachi lowered her guard a bit, her face was filled with horror and confusion. "You're really..."

"It's alright, there must be some mistake." Hachiman didn't, however, actually relax. "Besides, what do you mean by 'Aneki'? Did one of our cousins come to visit or something?"

Komachi approached him, but for some reason, he took a step back.

Something's not right.

"Why are you running away?!"

"You look super scary, Komachi-chan."

"Alright. If you really are my older brother then you should know the answers to these questions."

"This is a bit cliche isn't it?"

"It's the only way," Komachi grunted.

And then, barrages upon barrages of questions were thrown at him unprompted. Some of them made little to no sense, but he tried to answer as honest as he could.

He answered them all if he knew, and said he didn't know whenever he was clueless.

Then Komachi pinched his cheek.

"It's not a mask."

"Of course it's not, you dumbass." He groaned and rubbed his aching face.

Komachi sighed, and then smiled cheekily. "Then I believe you."

"I see, about damn time I guess."

"Let's wait for Mom and Dad to come home." Komachi said, "You haven't eaten anything, have you? Let's have dinner, Oniichan."

"What are you saying, Mother and Father, won't come back until-"

"What's that?" Komachi eyed him suspiciously.

"Nothing."

Hachiman could barely taste the dinner, even though it should be as delicious as always. After all, it was something that Komachi cooked, of course it would taste good.

Maybe it would, if not for the unsettling undertone filling the air.

"Just to be sure..." Hachiman asked, "This is not a dream, right?"

More like a nightmare, but still.

"You want me to pinch you again?"

"No thanks, that's more than enough."

Hachiman piled the plates as if it was something most natural to him. Komachi intently watched as he went to the sink, found that the dishwashing soap was empty and then took a fresh one out of the cabinet.

"But really, if this isn't a dream, how come you don't recognize me? Am I supposed to be dead or what?"

"No, you're not. More like ... changed."

He put the clean plates on the drying rack then sat down at the dining table again, facing her. "Changed?"

"Yeah." Komachi stirred the milk tea in her cup, "Someone named Hikigaya Hachiman isn't supposed to exist any longer."

"See, I am supposed to be dead then." Hachiman almost gave up, but then she corrected him again.

"I said that's not it. I said you're changed."

Hachiman furrowed his eyebrows. However, if there was anything he had always been proud of about himself, that would be his intelligence. It takes two and two to make a conclusion.

Hikigaya Hachiman no longer existed.

Komachi had a big sister, not a big brother.

"So did I supposedly undergo a sex change and became your Aneki?"

"Well, not entirely true." Komachi said, "Or maybe close enough. Either way, starting last year, Hikigaya Hachiman become Hikigaya Hachi."

"Hachi?"

"Yes." Komachi took a sip out of her cup, "She didn't go to school for a year, and only this year did she become a freshman in Soubu High."

He didn't believe her.

It must be a joke or something.

"If you think I'm joking..." Komachi walked into the living room and took something off a shelf and gave it to him.

Hachiman found the album and saw himself sitting side by side with...

"Hiratsuka-sensei." He muttered.

"This picture was taken two weeks after your accident." Komachi said coldly, "Keep looking."

They were numerous, dozens of photos inside the album. And though it was subtle, every single one carried a story all on its own.

Until he finished, with shaking hands and sweat on his face.

Then he looked back all the way to the first picture to compare.

In the last picture, the person identified as the older Hikigaya sibling was noticeably more feminine-looking than the first picture.

Even though they had an identical face, he could notice it. How could he not? It was his own face, the second thing about himself he always proud of.

"No way..."

Komachi then gave him a magazine, which he recognized as Sensible!

It was a popular teen magazine in Chiba, though Hachiman never read it personally he had seen a lot of students did.

There were a few of them, and of the models shown in these magazines, Hikigaya Hachi was there. And even Kawa-who was that again? Anyway, one of them was literally filled with Soubu students.

If this was a prank, it was too elaborate for something Komachi would do on a whim.

But he still refused to accept it.

"It's the truth." Komachi muttered sadly, "To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this myself."

"Mixed feelings..."

"It's not easy to find out that your brother, who you've live with for thirteen years turned out to be your sister all along." Komachi wiped at her tears, "And now, suddenly, another one just appears like this. I'm confused."

"Ah..."

Komachi might be unusually mature and level-headed for fourteen years old, but she was still a fourteen year old girl in the end.

With this level of confusion, who wouldn't cry?

"Hey, you're really Hikigaya Hachiman, right?" Komachi asked, somewhat warily.

"Ouch."

He smirked gently as he struck Komachi's signature wide forehead with his finger, "That's not how you should address an older brother."

Besides, in this modern age, one could always resort to genetic testing to prove their identity. Until now, he never thought deeply about how science could be so convenient...

"We're home."

"Ah, welcome home!"

"We're coming hurriedly because you said to hurry, Komachi. What happened?" The mother grouchily asked.

She twitched when she saw the person who was sitting beside her daughter.

"Hmm? Hachi? What happened? Something went wrong with your departure?" The father asked obliviously.

"That's not Hachi." The mother walked closer, "You're ... Hachiman?"

"Yo." Hachiman raised one hand awkwardly, "I'm sure this might come as a shock but I'm just as confused myself."

His deep voice was decidedly masculine and mature enough that there was no mistake about him not being her daughter in disguise. She rubbed her aching forehead in frustration.

"...We actually have a son?!" The father happily shouted. His red face and wobbly movement pretty much showing that he was drunk.

Her wife smashed her handbag into his face, "Dumbass."

"Yeah, I thought so." The father mumbled in disappointment.

"So, can anyone tell me where to start?" The mother immediately sat in one of the chairs around the table.

"When I woke up, I was sleeping in the room above. Because the room was locked from the outside, I kept calling for Komachi and she opened the door and ... well I am here now."

"The windows were locked and there was no sign of trespassing either." Komachi said, "I'm the only person that Aneki entrusted the key to her room with. If he forcibly got in, it would be really obvious."

"So, how old are you?" The father asked, "And in what grade?"

"Seventeen, second year." Hachiman shortly answered, "Is there something strange?"

"Yeah, like ... after the accident, did you get ... changed?"

"No, as far as I can tell." Hachiman said, "Three weeks after the accident I just resumed school as normal. What about ... her?"

"I see." The father nodded, "Hachi spent a year out of school undergoing various therapies, including her gender reassignment."

"So the other me..." Hachiman slipped up, then corrected himself. "I mean, she's a freshman now."

"An old freshman, but yes."

"I see."

Hachiman was at loss.

When he saw his parents, he hoped everything was just a big fat joke. But...

Everything pointed to him being the delusional one.

He was a stranger in his own home while sitting in the middle of his own family.

"Komachi, why don't you help him a little?" The mother said, "He'll need a place to sleep and a change of clothes after all. Maybe some of Hachi's old clothes can fit?"

"I wonder if that's true. Oniichan is even taller than Aneki."

"Is he?" The mother was skeptical, "Well I hope he stopped slouching, it was unsightly. Don't let those good looks go to waste."

Hachiman winced.

She was as brutal as he remembered. After all, she was always berating him for the smallest thing.

But...

Even if it hurt, deep down he was happy.

Even if they don't remember him, they were still the same people he remembered. He felt a little at ease, at least.

"Let's go, Onii." Komachi grabbed his hand and pulled him upstairs, knowing that their parents had important things to talk about.

The father sighed.

"What do you think?"

"Too real to be fake, yet it is unbelievable." He said.

"He..." The mother hesitated, "Reminds me of Hachi when she was still in Junior High. That slouching, that frowning, those dead-fish eyes..."

"I'm trying to be rational, but for some reason I just keep thinking it couldn't be anyone else." The mother shouted in frustration, "What should I do?!"

"Well, if you're that concerned we can always go to the hospital and have him checked."

"And then what?"

"What else?" He raised his eyebrows, "If he's really our child then he's our child."

"...You're just happy you get to have a real son." She was ticked off and popped veins everywhere, "Did you just happen to impregnate another woman when I wasn't looking?"

"Don't be an idiot! How could he be anyone but your own son?" The father, unusually, also felt a little irritated.

Usually, he never talked back to his wife at all. But this time around, she was over the line.

Twenty years of knowing her. Eighteen years of cohabitation. Seventeen years raising a daughter together. And only now she suspected him of adultery?

She didn't even complain all that much when he was reinstated to the old position of an Idol Producer. Being surrounded by young girls and beautiful young women didn't phase her.

And yet, she suspected him of having an affair and another child of high school age now?

How irrational.

"Sorry."

And for the first time in a while, she apologized as she cried. "I'm sorry..."

"I understand."

He hugged her tightly to calm her down. For tonight at least, he wouldn't let her get even an inch away from him. After a long day of hard work and this sudden revelation, she needed all the comfort she could get.

やはり, 俺の関係の値はリセットされました
As Expected, My Relationship Values had been Reset

Disclaimer:

Original Story by Watari Wataru

Chapter 1 - Identical Strangers

"Yah, good thing she still had them." Komachi managed to rummage through Hachi's wardrobe and other storages. A couple of old pairs of underwear and plenty of boy's clothing that had been kept as mementos.

Most of it would be somewhat undersized, the newest pieces there were at least one and half years old.

That said, Komachi also pulled out a couple sets of new tracksuits. They should fit him well at least.

"Is it really okay? She won't get mad, will she?"

"No way. She'd be too shocked to care." Komachi said, "So, what do you think about the room?"

"Way more cramped than I remember." Hachiman said, "In my old room this doesn't exist."

Hachiman referred to the makeup table.

"Aneki always complained about it. She said she didn't need one since she doesn't wear makeup."

Hachiman noticed there was a photo attached to the mirror.

It was of Hachi with two girls who looked a bit younger. Her classmates? Anyway, they were both petite looking and cute. In contrast, Hachi towered over them and her confident smile made her look older than she actually was.

One had strawberry blonde hair and the other had brown hair woven into two short braids.

"That's Isshiki Iroha and Fujisawa Sawako, her classmates and probably best friends as well."

Friends ... huh?

Perhaps, it wasn't just the gender difference that set them apart.

"Have you met them before?"

"Not as far as I remember."

"I see." Komachi said, "Aneki has a lot of friends. I'm sure you'll get along with them as well."

He scoffed, "I wonder about that."

Komachi did notice his odd behavior. In fact, she noticed all too well. It her frightened her a bit.

It was really the brother she remembered, but also noticeably worse.

His eyes were even less lively. And his expression ... when he saw the picture of Hachi and her friends...

It was full of disappointment and contempt.

If perhaps...

If perhaps Hachiman never met someone like Hiratsuka ... then...

Komachi's heart stopped beating for a moment.

"What is it Komachi? You look pale. Do you feel sick?" He put his large, manly palm on her head.

It was warm, gentle, and caring. It felt just like the hands that Hachi had. The protective and loving hands of an older sibling.

Komachi held his hand while blushing. "Umm, I'm fine."

With a hand like this, how could Komachi assume the worst of him?

"I see. Sorry about the-"

Hachiman was about to pull his hand away, but Komachi held it.

"...we're really brother and sister, right?" She asked intensely, "This isn't just some weird dream, right?!"

He decided to pull her cheek in return, which made her let go of his hand. "OW."

"I wonder if it's some kind of weird cosmic comedy we're experiencing." He smiled, "But I know, this isn't a dream."

"Ah ... ahahahaha." She blushed again, "I'm sorry. Anyway, let's prepare your bed right away."

Hachiman was still weirded out now that he had to sleep in the guest room. However, there were subtle differences between his room and Hachi's room, and those differences made him even more uncomfortable.

It was unsettling and uncanny, Hachiman couldn't help but play a twisted form of spot-the-difference.

It was his own insatiable curiosity that was creeping him out, and that was saying something.

Still, whether it was physical or mental fatigue, Hachiman managed to get an easy, dreamless sleep.

...

"It's a 100% match."

That was what the doctor said when they finally got the results of the DNA analysis.

All sense of doubt and anxiousness seemed to disappear from everyone's collective faces, though they weren't surprised by the result at all.

"I told you it was obvious enough." The father remarked.

"Well, I guess we don't have to worry much about that for the moment." The mother sighed.

Hachiman actually felt a little miffed. Still, it couldn't be helped. Real life was not an anime and you simply couldn't just assume the simplest answer was the correct one.

Fact: he had 100% genetic compatibility with both his parents.

"Even if one says that I'm still an outsider."

Aside from his Student I.D., Hachiman lacked any sort of legal identification.

"Well, technically you're not." The father said, "We still have the old Hachiman's birth certificate, so we could simply fix the family registry."

"That's true." The mother said, "I think my biggest concern is school. I don't think Soubu will let you in using the same exact documentation twice."

In harem anime random girls like some seductress demon or alien from outer space could somehow enter school without any problem. Sometimes without any semblance of legal support existing.

No reason was ever given on how they could accomplish it. Especially in Japan, where entering a school as a student was hard enough work with the proper documentation.

If only life were that easy.

"I guess I'm a bit late to say this, but don't you two need to go to work?" He asked.

"Meh, just one day missing won't hurt. We did say we were going to get some medical checkups after all." The mother waved her hand dismissively.

Deep down, Hachiman felt like he was about to cry. His new parents actually treated him better than the old one? This joke went a little too far.

He blushed strongly in response. "Thank you."

The parents blinked and smiled.

"I wonder ... should we ask for their help?"

"We might not have a choice in the matter."

Hachiman frowned in response. Why would they look so worried? Are they dealing with some dubious people? Yakuza?

"At the very least, I trust Hiratsuka-sensei to deal with it." The father concluded.

"Yeah, she helped Hachi a lot too." The mother agreed.

"What's Hiratsuka-sensei have anything to do with me?" Hachiman asked, seriously intimidated.

"Don't worry. You'll just have to answer her questions honestly." The mother patted his shoulders, "If things go smoothly you might just be able to go to school starting next month."

Hachiman was suspicious.

Extremely suspicious.

But it wasn't as if he had any choice in the matter. He couldn't bear to be a NEET*, he would lose any shred of dignity he still possessed. So if possible, he wanted to go to school as well.

For the rest of the day he ended up waiting in a family restaurant for Hiratsuka's appearance.

"I apologize I couldn't come as soon as possible, I was being held back at school." Hiratsuka bowed.

"No, it was our fault for asking a favor of you so suddenly." The parents bowed back in response.

Hiratsuka didn't look all that different from the last time he had met with her. Or at least, the one he remembered. She was still a tall woman, only maybe an inch shorter than himself. Her hair was long and unkempt.

And she still wore her labcoat everywhere.

Hiratsuka looked at Hachiman with curious eyes.

"For all intent and purposes we believe that he is biologically our son. But the circumstances have been a little ... weird, to say the least." The mother handed over the medical examination envelope to Hiratsuka.

"I can certainly see the similarity." Hiratsuka confirmed, "May I conduct the interview right away?"

"Please do."

"Stay straight and don't wander off, Onii-chan." Komachi pumped up her fist in encouragement.

Had his little sister always been this cute? He wondered about that somewhat.

"So, Hikigaya-kun wasn't it?" Hiratsuka sat in front of him and smiled. It wasn't her usual laid-back grin, but a professional, controlled smile.

A smile delivered in a way to make Hachiman both relaxed and also ready.

"Have we met before?"

"You are Hiratsuka-sensei. You're a teacher of Soubu Municipal High. Homeroom teacher of Class 2-F. Single. Your age is-"

"I see you know a lot about me." Hiratsuka cut him off, Hachiman didn't get so much as a twitch out of her expression, "But if I have to be honest, this is the first time we've met ... from my perspective."

"So, are you sure we have met before?" She asked again to clarify.

"Yes." Hachiman said, "You forced me to join the Service Club, whose membership was solely comprised of a girl named Yukinoshita Yukino. Later on, Yuigahama Yui would also join voluntarily, making three of us the members."

"Oh? And why I would I have forced you?"

"I..."

Hachiman took a deep breath, his eyes sharpened as he clasped his hands to cover his lips. "You believed it would be in my best interest because I avoided socializing with other students. But the same could also be said of Yukinoshita Yukino. Service Club activities necessitated both of us to having regular contact with other students."

"Well, so far your story is believable." Hiratsuka said, "But unfortunately for you ... neither of those things remains true."

"What do you mean-"

"Yukinoshita Yukino no longer secludes herself socially, and the Service Club is no longer active."

Hachiman's legitimate shock couldn't possibly be more obvious, even if he was trying. His jaw was agape, his eyes wide open. In fact, it was as if he was in physical pain at that moment. Hiratsuka couldn't help but feel a sense of pity for him.

"I couldn't verify whether it was a true story or a delusion, but it was a perfectly plausible scenario." Hiratsuka told him in a no-nonsense tone, "However, the reality is that ... Yukinoshita was elected to be the new Student Council President last June. Service Club activities stopped then, though it was never officially disbanded because Yukinoshita was busy. Yuigahama was never a member and could not care less."

"I see." Hachiman lowered his head in disappointment.

There was no place left for him in that group he guessed. Yui had simply remained in her old group with Hayama and others. As it should be, naturally.

Their relationship truly had been reset.

"Oh, but it's not as if they've had a falling-out or anything. I believe they're very close friends who hang out regularly even with no club to attend." Hiratsuka clarified.

"...?"

"Either way, I will have to assume your story about a Soubu High School experience is unreliable."

Hachiman looked like he was about to pass out at any moment, with how unhealthily pale he looked.

"Don't worry, I'm not dismissing this case yet." Hiratsuka assured him, "So, let's talk about your experiences prior to your enrollment at Soubu instead."

Hachiman didn't know if it could get any worse than being asked about his painful, old junior high days.

"If you're not sure if you remember right, tell me clearly right away." Hiratsuka told him gravely, "I realize you may have suffered a lot of embarrassing and humiliating experiences, but I absolutely need to confirm whether you're the real thing or not."

"I ... I see." Hachiman nodded.

For the next two hours Hachiman was asked various questions and answered them with clarity, those vivid memories coming back something fierce.

It taxed his mind and body enough that he kept drinking every fifteen minutes or so, if only to retain his sanity. And how many times did he go to the toilet? He actually lost count.

"And that concludes it." Hiratsuka nodded with satisfaction, "I can verify your explanation was completely on the case."

He couldn't say if he was relieved or not. Still, Hiratsuka could tell he wasn't lying?

"For the next week and the week after that you'll undergo numerous tests." Hiratsuka said as she stood, "Academic tests, to make sure you're more than ready to enter school as you are. If you pass then you may be able to resume your schedule as normal."

"And if I fail?"

"Wait until next semester and start as a freshman."

He would be really old then. Too old for his own comfort. So he needed to pass these tests no matter what.

In all honesty, he wasn't too excited about school on his own. But there were too many mysteries that needed to be resolved, and going to Soubu High was the only way to accomplish that.

"I can't do that." He told her loudly.

"I know. If you're as smart as I think you are you should be able to pass the tests with flying color." She patted his head gently, which made him shut up due to embarrassment.

He never knew Hiratsuka could be this cool. No, he always thought she was really cool, but most of the time it was always her lame side that she showed him.

Come to think of it, wasn't it because Hachiman never took her seriously like now?

After all, life is all about giving and taking. And as much as he could be stubborn, he did realize that he was almost always the one who instigated their comedic skits.

Maybe it was the tension, the gravity of the situation that forced him to take everything seriously rather than chucking out rude, half-assed jokes at every opportunity to lighten the mood.

"Still, you really do resemble her." Hiratsuka sighed, "When I first met her she was also one gloomy, cranky person. But don't worry, you'll change your tune quickly."

"...Change, huh?"

He had asked that question too, back then. It was aimed at Yukinoshita.

He stood up with his usual, slouching creepy posture. However, Hiratsuka could see a massive amount of grief in his expression.

"Back when I first meet Yukinoshita, I told her I didn't want changes to be imposed on me by others. I told her changing yourself was the same as running away. Why should I change myself? I asked her that question and she said..."

Yukinoshita Yukino's pained, vulnerable image from back then was burned into the depths of his heart. With her pale, trembling lips, she struggled to let her words out.

But her eyes were full of conviction.

It hadn't even been a week and he already missed her, even if he refused to admit it.

The bond they shared, it might not be friendship or romance. But he still craved for it.

Even if Yukinoshita lied to him, he would still try and reach for her.

"If you don't change yourself, your problem will never go away. If you don't change yourself, then I won't be able to help you!"

"That was what she said." He finished.

"So, do you agree with that assessment?"

Hachiman closed his eyes for a moment.

"I don't think I was wrong," Hachiman said before opening his eyes again. "But thinking again, I don't think Yukinoshita was wrong either."

"Oooh..." Hiratsuka raised her eyebrows, amused, "As in?"

"If I want something, I have to pay for it. Not changing myself means I'm not giving up something I have. But, I get nothing in return. In that sense, we were both right in the end."

Hiratsuka burst out laughing for a moment.

"Oh my God! I thought it was just my ears deceiving me. But you really are two of a kind."

"Pardon?"

"You and the other Hikigaya. You two have different attitudes and outlooks, but your core personality is identical." Hiratsuka stood up and pointed to his chest, "The two of you are the same in here. Only, she treads a different path."

"...She paid the price?" He guessed.

"Yes."

"I see." He scoffed, "This is not something I've talked about with my family, but I presume there was a summer camp early in August."

Hiratsuka finally showed a little surprise on her face, which seemed to satisfy him as he continued. "In that camp, there was this little girl, Tsurumi Rumi. What happened to her and her group?"

"Tsurumi Rumi ... left her group in the end."

"How did that happen? Did the other Hikigaya ... breakup her group?" He asked hesitantly.

"No." Hiratsuka said, "Tsurumi Rumi was abandoned by her group. Remembering the pep talk she got Tsurumi decided to gather people who were in the same situation, forming her own unique group in the process."

"I see..."

In the end, Hachiman realized he had made a mistake.

By trying to break up Tsurumi's fragile clique, he only made it stronger and made Tsurumi even more ostracized. He miscalculated, thinking that human beings had a set pattern that could be read.

That human beings are rational and not prone to spontaneous actions. Even if those actions may jeopardize their own situation.

Tsurumi decided to sacrifice herself for her friends, even though they had decided to cast her aside like garbage. This was not something that Hachiman had expected.

Or maybe, deep down he expected it to happen.

It was the price he paid for his arrogance.

For causing the other Tsurumi Rumi anguish. Maybe this was his punishment after all.

Thinking he could always reset his relationships, all his relationship had been involuntarily reset.

"I look forward to your guidance, Sensei." He bowed.

* NEET = Not in Employment, Education or Training. Pretty self-explanatory.