POV Hikigaya Hachiman
A melody started playing in the room, but not even three seconds passed before the alarm was turned off with a practiced movement. A quick glance at the clock showed 05:50. I never thought that I would start getting up at such an early hour on my own, but over the past month it has become a routine.
Slowly crawling out of the warm bed, my gaze meets another tenant of my room.
— Good morning, Hachi, — the wolf only wagged his tail in response, letting out a quiet growl — a kind of greeting.
My parents and Komachi were very surprised when I brought him home. At first, they were negative about the idea of keeping a dog, but, as Sai said, the mythical beast was very smart. Demonstrating to the family complete obedience to commands and Hachi's intelligence was able to change their minds. But, as everyone knows: initiative is often a punishable matter. I was given the condition that all care for the new member of the Hikigaya family would fall entirely on my thin shoulders. From that moment on, the wolf began to live with me.
— Let's go for a run, — I changed into a tracksuit and quietly left the room, then the house. Ahead of us was a half-hour run around the neighborhood.
Previously, I had to do exercises to rehabilitate myself after the accident. I never overdid it, stopping at the minimum to maintain my body in normal condition. However, with the appearance of a new friend in my life, a lot began to change. There is a saying for such a case: "If you gaze long into the Abyss, then the Abyss will begin to gaze into you", or "live with wolves, howl like a wolf." — Although this does not quite apply to me, since I only communicate with these very wolves, and do not live together, but such contact was enough to get the effect.
Daily correspondence with or without reason, frequent meetings for friendly walks could not help but affect such a recluse. His freedom-loving and cheerful character made me feel slightly envious, but Silence did not belittle me, did not treat me arrogantly or dismissively, like the others. No, he saw me as a friend and behaved accordingly. During conversations, the dragon often criticized my gloomy outlook on life and too much attention to the opinions of others, often giving advice. Most of them were too radical, but some turned out to be suitable for me. Like, for example, playing sports. Every man wants to have a gorgeous physique, and I am no exception. The sight of many girls around him unable to take their eyes off Sai's pumped—up body only added motivation.
— Ha... ah... ha... — a hundred meters before the house, I slowed to a walk to catch my breath. I glanced at my watch to see how much time had passed. — 6:25, and I started at 6:00. A minute faster than yesterday. At this pace, I'll soon be able to do it in twenty minutes. Not too bad for five kilometers.
Entering the house, I quickly poured food into a bowl. While Hachi is having breakfast, I'll quickly do a couple of sit-ups and push-ups, and then take a shower. Fifteen minutes later, my tired body was in the kitchen. A good house husband should be able to cook well in order to please his passion after a long day at work. So I decided to improve my culinary skills, while reducing the workload on Komachi. My sister is also very busy with her student council right now. And don't forget about final exams and preparing for admission.
— Wake up, Komachi! — My parents have long since gone to work, and my scream will not wake anyone except my sister. — Breakfast is on the table. I'm off to get ready.
After petting the cat on the way, who was watching the wolf following me with hostility, I went to my room. After changing into my uniform, it was time for my last day of torment. After making sure my sister was present at the dinner table, I went to school for the final day of the festival. How much trouble I had to endure up until this day.
***
When the time came for the first meeting of the organizing committee, I, like many others, had no desire to take the position of leader. The initiative of my classmate, Sagami Minami, was even more of a shock. In class, she did not show such zeal, when she was forced to join the most popular group of the class. Maybe she wanted to become better? A quick inspection showed that Sagami did not decide on this herself, and the stupid girl was simply advised by her friends sitting next to her. Later, she will probably regret such a decision, but this is not my problem. Everyone learns from their own mistakes, and I have long since made mine.
As practice has shown, you should never say never, or I am just very unlucky. A couple of days later, the newly appointed chairman visited our club. Minami realized that she lacked the necessary skills and, at the insistence of Hiratsuka, went to the volunteer club, where she would definitely be helped. There was no desire to help at all, but no one was going to ask my opinion. Yukinoshita decided to take on Sagami's assistance on her own, becoming her deputy. After that, life in the organizing committee began to boil, clearly demonstrating the differences between the girls. Even among the reporters, whose main duties would mostly begin during the festival itself, the workload was heavy.
It was after the first tense week that Silence decided to hand over Hachi to me and shock me with a video. But our meeting did not end there. We went to the arcade, where we met Zaimokuzu. To my surprise, Sai easily got along with my friend Yoshiteru. At their first meeting, he acted as usual, telling a schoolboy who he really was. Usually, no one would believe this story without any evidence, but my friend thought he had met a comrade. Zaimokuzu, an experienced chuunibyou (a person living in his own fantasies), accepted as an ally the evil dragon that accompanies the reincarnation of the god of war Hachiman. This impudent lizard also accepted the samurai warrior as an ally, and then explained the difference between an evil dragon and an ordinary dragon. After this meeting, I got a new stylish hairstyle and promised myself never to play with Silence for wishes again. The bastard probably cheated with magic, but I have no evidence.
The change of image attracted a lot of attention to me, which I usually tried to avoid. However, one look from me, which from dead became more like a fierce one, according to Sai and Komachi, was enough for no one to bother me with questions.
Although it could not affect everyone. Hiratsuka called me to her office for a talk.
— And what is the reason for these changes, Hikigaya? — the young woman habitually lit a cigarette, taking a drag. — It is usually not in your style to do such unusual things.
While she was enjoying the long-awaited dose of nicotine, I was contemplating her attractive legs, clad in business trousers, which she threw one over the other. I will blame Silence for such a reaction to my teacher. This mythical lizard constantly made hints and teased me about my relationship with Hiratsuka. And if you call a person a pig a hundred times, he will start to grunt. Therefore, even if I did not want it before, my view of this undoubtedly beautiful young teacher began to change, and the incident during the summer vacation added embarrassment to our conversation.
— Doesn't it suit me? — Instinctively ran his hand over the short-cropped side of his head.
— No, no, it looks cool. Like the transformation of the main character of a novel after gaining power — although the analogy seemed unusual for ordinary people, Hiratsuka was an otaku. Her assurance calmed me down. — But was there any reason for that?
— Maybe I wanted to please the beautiful girl I was interested in, — I will probably regret it later, but... — And since you appreciated her (the hair, not the girl), then I am glad.
An awkward silence fell. My whole face was burning, and my month-long supply of courage was exhausted, but the blush that appeared on her confused face was worth it.
— Hikigaya! — an angry-embarrassed look and clenched fists.
— Yes, sensei, — one thought in my head - "will she yell or not?"
— Shut up!
— Okay.
After finishing her cigarette, Shizuka broke the silence by bringing up the topic of the organizing committee. Since the preparation work had just begun, there was nothing much to discuss, so the conversation smoothly moved on to the new anime of this season and the new issue of Shonen Jump. (A magazine containing a collection of new chapters of manga, weekly or monthly)
The following days passed calmly. In the classrooms, people were busy preparing for the upcoming festival. We were also not far behind, organizing all this chaos into a more orderly form. Peace lasted until an unexpected guest appeared in the organizing committee room. The student council president invited Haruno Yukinoshita, the previous chairwoman, thanks to whom the festival was a resounding success, to visit them.
The committee meeting turned into an entertaining performance. The younger sister was angry and tried to kick the older one out, while the older one veiledly mocked the younger one. After Sagami Haruno appeared, manipulation made our stupid chairman accept an idiotic plan to get back at Yukino.
However, while watching the show, I was able to confirm Silence's theory. The elder Yukinoshita would periodically glance at me with a searching glance whenever she thought I wasn't watching. Ha! I have much more experience in secretly observing people than she does. It must sound suspicious if someone overheard me. So, the girl really is connected to the supernatural faction.
With the decision to "enjoy the festival with the class", the number of people coming to the committee gradually decreased. When the people confirmed that there would be no punishment for missing, only a few "live" members remained. Of the original fifty people, only a dozen came to the meetings. And all this time, preparations continued, but the workload on the remaining people was incredible, and the deputy got the most. Yukinoshita, who had taken the reins but had no full decision-making power, was practically single-handedly leading the small team.
Unlike the rest of the reporting team, I attended meetings regularly, but I only did my own share of the work. My team leader's attempt to dump his own work on me was met with a strong misunderstanding on my part, if you can call a rude message and a promise to introduce his face to the pile of papers he was going to foist on me. No one expected such a passage, and we became the center of attention. Seeing the looks directed at us, the teenager restrained his impulse, only throwing the papers on my desk, angrily leaving the room.
The festival deadline was approaching incredibly, as was the stress of the accumulated work. In the third week, Yukino did not show up at the meeting. Many decided that the girl had abandoned them too, giving in to the pile of work, but the resulting panic was stopped by Hiratsuka. The teacher told me and the student council president about Yukinoshita's illness.
If we were more friendly, I would probably go visit the sick girl, but fortunately, that's not the case. I have no desire to communicate with this thick—headed and stupid girl. She is to blame for her situation and is reaping the results of her own actions.
First, she accepted Sagami's request without consulting any of us. Second, Minami asked for help as the student council president so that she could grow above herself, at least that's what the girl herself said. However, Yukinoshita usurped power, taking the reins into her own hands. She did not help or teach Sagami in any way. By showing the huge difference between them, she only made the situation worse. In comparison, the girl seemed like an incompetent idiot. The third point follows from the second, our "snow queen" was unable to stop the vengeful decision of the chairman about free attendance. Without full power, she had to just accept Minami's stupid and destructive idea. So it's no surprise that Yukinoshita eventually broke under the weight of it all and fell ill.
I don't know what happened during Yuigahama's visit, but when Yukino returned, she seemed less tense. Against this background, the unexpected news was the rejection of the previous slogan. Because of this, the entire organizing committee was called together.
The meeting room was once again filled with noise and hubbub, just like in the first days. The teenagers discussed among themselves the options for a new slogan. The funniest thing was that it was the absent ones who loudly spoke words about unity and mutual assistance. When Sagami put forward her option, I could no longer hold back.
—Ha! — In the silence that ensued for the vote, my chuckle was heard by everyone.
— Did I say something funny? — Our chairwoman, writing down everyone's suggestions, stared at me with irritation. — Do you have something to say?
— Yes, I do. — Did she really think that I would shut up in indecision because of the looks of the people around me? Naive. I read the last slogan with undisguised sarcasm. — "A festival where everyone relies on each other." Ha! Our case is closer to "One for All", when everyone dumped their responsibilities on someone. Sacrifice one for the benefit of the rest.
— What nonsense are you talking about? — the girl was indignant, to approving murmurs. — Are you saying that you are the victim on whom all the work fell?
— No, of course not. I am not going to be a victim — I will not allow anyone to make me one again. — By my words, I mean all those poor souls who got part of the work that was supposed to be done by those who were absent. Who are they supposed to rely on when most of the people ran away, hiding behind excuses? How are they supposed to enjoy the festival if someone else's work was dumped on them? — After these words, most of the teenagers did not dare to meet my gaze. — Personally, I don't intend to do someone else's work, but unlike some people, — Sagami felt uneasy under my close attention, — I came here and did my part of the work, and didn't sit in class, where I also didn't do anything useful. That's all.
— Hahaha! What a selfish person you are, Hikigaya—kun, — Haruno's laughter broke the silence.
This was the first time this girl had addressed me directly, so I couldn't lose face.
— I learned from the best, — pride was evident in every word spoken, attracting the interest of the elder Yukinoshita. — However, I am far from my scaly friend. Here he is, the true embodiment of selfishness and pride. Just like a real dragon.
I got a hit. Haruno choked and stared at me with wide eyes. This look was worth the fact that the others were looking at me with mockery and bewilderment.
— Ahem! — Yukino is clearly enjoying her sister's embarrassment. — Hikigaya.
— Yes, deputy.
— If you don't have a suitable slogan, then don't disturb the meeting.
— Good.
Since that day, the number of absent members of the organizing committee has become almost zero. Everyone has taken up their work with renewed vigor, but for some reason, everyone has taken a dislike to me.
— Really, why? — Hiratsuka asked with a grin when I was invited back to her office to talk about the sins I had committed. — All you did was insult and humiliate most of the people gathered there. And at the same time, you put yourself above them. There is absolutely no reason to hate you.
— That's what I'm saying! — Completely ignoring the sarcastic tone, I agreed. — I should be rewarded instead. Not everyone can motivate so many people.
— You're a blockhead, Hachiman. — the woman lightly hit me on the head with her knuckles. — At all times, the best way to unite people was a common enemy. Although you did not openly threaten them, you did a good job of hitting the pride of hormonal teenagers.
— I only told the truth. It's their fault that they can't accept this simple fact.
— That's why you're an idiot, — she took a sip of coffee from her mug with a tired smile. The same drink was handed to me. — It would have been easy for you to remain silent and leave the situation unchanged.
— But wouldn't we have failed the request in that case? Right now, the committee is working for the good of the school again, and Sagami is getting the experience she wants to help her grow.
— If there wasn't so much venom in your words, I might have believed you, — Shizuka just smiled at my lousy acting. — You don't care about this competition with Yukinoshita and the requests anymore, do you? — She didn't need an answer, she saw right through me. — You know, you've changed. The current Hachiman is not like the Hachiman at the beginning of the school year.
— Is that bad?
— No. I guess that's what growing up is.
— Sensei, you didn't react to the events at the organizing committee, but wouldn't you have had problems? If things had continued like this, we wouldn't have been able to prepare for the festival.
— Haha! Don't worry about me. If things had really continued like this, I would have taken matters into my own hands. Under my demonic iron fist, you all worked without sleep or rest until we got it done. Hahaha!
— Ha! You haven't changed a bit, Hiratsuka-sensei.
***
The festival at our school lasts two days. The first day is exclusively for the students, giving them the opportunity to enjoy their own work. It's more like a beta test, allowing them to understand what to expect and correct any shortcomings that arise.
Today, the school's doors will be open to everyone. Friends and relatives of the students, as well as applicants and ordinary people, will attend our cultural festival.
The attitude of the other committee members towards me leaves much to be desired, so I volunteered for a solo mission. Armed with a camera, I went to the school gates. There, sitting at the entrance, the physical education teacher and the health protection group are recording guests. It is the meeting and pictures of arriving people that is my goal.
Half an hour later, a young black—haired couple was caught in my lens. Those because of whom my life has undergone some changes. Those whom I can undoubtedly call friends.
END POV