CH. 41 - A Familiar Face Returns

Sugawara sits alone in his home on his couch. He’s watching TV with a little smile on his face when thoughts begin to cross his mind. His smile slowly drops a little as he turns and looks out the window. 

“You’re thirteen now. It’s time for you to start taking care of yourself.” A woman’s voice says in his head before a man’s voice speaks too.

“We are going to leave this home to you. You better take good care of yourself and do everything you’re supposed to so that you may grow and one day take your place among the-”

Sugawara grits his teeth in frustration and starts turning up the volume on the TV. 

‘I don’t want to think about it…’ He thinks as he falls over on the couch, now laying on his side. His face looks slightly distraught or hurt. He lays there for a moment before there is a rustling at his door. Then it suddenly slams open as Haru comes barreling in. 

“Suga!” He yells with a large smile on his face. Sugawara instantly sits up with an excited look.

“Haru!”

Haru jumps over the couch and tackles Sugawara to the ground. He lands on top of him and kisses him for a few moments. Sugawara blushes as Haru pulls back. 

“Hi baby.” Haru says softly with a warm smile.

“H-hi..” Sugawara stutters back. Haru sits back as Sugawara sits up. “Did you bring it?” Sugawara asks while blushing hard and giving Haru a shy but longing look.

“You know I did.” Haru answers back while blushing too. “Buh Dum!! Here it is! The all new Micro Computer Set!” Haru lifts up a box with a children’s build-your-own computer set inside as Sugawara shouts.

“Yeah!” 

They set it down at the table as Sugawara begins to open it.

“By the way, why did you want me to get this for you? There were a bunch of them left because they’re not very good as micro computers haha!” Haru laughs.

“I was bored and felt like making something.” Sugawara answers, sorting the parts in front of him.

“If that’s the case, why don’t we play Digbuild? It’s much easier for me to understand.” Haru laughs as Sugawara focuses. They spend the next little while hanging out as Sugawara builds the box with Haru lending a helping hand when Sugawara needs it. Eventually, Sugawara finishes his build and gets Haru’s attention.

“There. All done.” Sugawara says. Haru smiles as he looks over.

“Alright, now let’s see how bad this computer is-” He is caught off guard when he doesn’t find the computer in front of him. He instead sees a small robot. “Woah… what is that?”

“I made a robot.” Sugawara answers with a proud smile.

“A robot?! That’s so cool! What does it do?”

“It does this.” He smiles at Haru then flicks a small switch on the back of the robot. It then starts to do a little dance. Haru’s eyes grow wide with amazement as it dances.

“It dances?? How did you make that out of the dumb computer??”

“It was a very complicated procedure. Well, for most people anyway.” Sugawara says smugly as he puts a finger under his nose. 

“You really are amazing, Suga.” Haru says passionately. Sugawara sees Haru giving him a look of love and admiration and blushes in response.

“I don’t know about amazing. I just wanted to impress you with a dancing robot. Technology just seems to do what I need it to, so it was easy.” Sugawara blushes and embarrassedly tries to be modest after being so smug. 

“Well, consider me impressed! I love you, Suga!” Haru gives him a big hug as Sugawara’s eyes begin to swirl and steam pours from his blushing head as he fumbles his words. Haru giggles as he hugs Sugawara tightly. 

Some time later, at The Outlets, a large, popular outdoor shopping center. Three girls walk down the sidewalk as they talk. It is the same three girls who had approached and threatened Shiori in the restroom at school before, with Amy taking the lead. 

“Did you see Shiori and those losers made a club at the festival?” Ichika says.

“Ew, did they?” Hina asks.

“They did. I also went ahead and let Shiori know how hideous her eyes are in her own club room.” Amy says with a mean smirk.

“You didn’t! Haha, that’s so good!” Hina says as they laugh, sitting down at a table by a fountain.

“They have a couple new friends now. Who were they again?” Ichika asks.

“You mean that video game obsessed nerd and the airhead slut? Yeah, I noticed.” Amy answers as Hina speaks up.

“Should we treat them the same as the others? I’m just asking cause they’re new and all, they probably have nothing to do with-”

“Anyone who wants to be friends with her will be punished. It’s their fault for associating with that bitch.” Amy interrupts her aggressively as Hina and Ichika look at each other with slight looks of concern for Amy. She notices and gets angry. “What? Do you guys have a problem with that?” Amy asks rudely.

“No, not at all.” Ichika says back.

“M-makes sense to me!” Hina answers nervously. Amy stares at them for a moment but then looks to the side. 

“I have a plan to humiliate each and every one of them, starting with Shiori. And it’s the perfect plan.”

“Ooh! So exciting! Finally gonna get your revenge!” Hina cheers.

“How does this plan go?” Ichika asks.

“Shiori and that moron Hikigaya are on this weird probation at school. They have to behave themselves, or they could be expelled for bad behavior. So I say, during the sports festival, we get Shiori to lash out at us and we pretend she hurt us badly. That way, one of the teachers or even Principal Ai will see and have them expelled.” She says with a mean smile on her face. Ichika looks a little shocked by the plan.

“Woah, you want to get them expelled? I understand humiliating her for what she did to you, but isn’t that a bit too mean?” Ichika asks.

“It isn’t mean enough. She ruined everything, so I’m going to ruin her.” Amy says with an aggressive smile as Ichika and Hina look at each other again with concern.

Back at school, the group is enjoying some outside time with their new friend, Suiyoubi, when they are approached by another individual. He is a young man, about a year younger than they are. They notice him step to them and stop talking. They stare at the boy for a moment before Lucy speaks.

“Can we help you?” She asks, a little defensive at the strange approach. The boy smiles a bit.

“You’ve already helped me plenty.” He says back. They give him a confused look before the boy smiles a big, excited smile, pointing at his face. “It’s me! Tsuki Yamada! It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Shiori?” He says, looking directly at her. The group all turns and looks at Shiori, who is still just as confused.

“Who?” Shiori asks genuinely. Tsuki looks shocked for a moment before he gets bummed out at her response.

“What do you mean? Tsuki Yamada! You know, from Holden Manor?” He says while waving his arms around in an attempt to get her to remember. She shrugs as Hikigaya gets a look of realization.

“Oh, the screaming kid who got lost in the woods and needed our saving. Remember the big blue beast thing?” Hikigaya asks her.

“Oh yeah, I remember that fight, I forgot he was there.” Shiori says, remembering now. Tsuki gets an upset look at her not remembering him that night. 

“Yeah, thanks for the refresher, Hikigaya…” Tsuki grumbles under his breath with a glare at Hikigaya.

“Oh Tsuki! Look at you! It’s only been about a year, but you’ve already grown so much!” Chizuru says, getting excited to see Tsuki again, who has grown a good bit since the last time they saw him. He laughs, blushing a bit at her compliment.

“Haha, yeah, I guess I hit a growth spurt over the past year.”

“Yeah, that’s cool and all, but why are you here?” Sugawara says harshly, obviously upset at Tsuki getting taller while he didn’t.

“Oh, well, I never really got to properly thank Shiori for saving my life that night.” He comes closer to her and gets down on one knee while taking her hand. Shiori gets a look of discomfort. “I never really got to show how much I appreciated your help. Thank you, Shiori.” He says passionately to her, causing her even more discomfort. Hikigaya leans over and looks at him.

“You do know I also helped save your life, right?” Hikigaya asks.

“Oh yeah, thanks, Hikigaya.” Tsuki says bluntly and emotionlessly. Hikigaya has a blank expression before rolling his eyes.

“Yeah, whatever.”

Tsuki then lets go of Shiori’s hand and stands up with a big smile on his face.

“Back when you saved my life, I realized something… I’m in love with you, Shiori. So please go out with me!”

Everyone begins to freak out as Hikigaya almost chokes on his juice. They all look at him, including Shiori, with shocked faces.

“EH!?!” They all scream.

“Woah, woah, woah, slow down there, pal. This is like our second interaction. What even gave you the idea that you’re in love with me?” Shiori asks, pulling back from him a little.

“I don’t need an idea, I just feel it inside of me. I want to be with you and only you!” He says proudly. Shiori sweats with a frustrated look on her face. 

“Look, I don’t know what you thought was going to happen by coming down here and saying all that, but it’s not going to be what you thought. We are not getting together, and I highly doubt you love me.” She says, shutting his feelings down outright, unsure exactly how to react to this confession.

“Oh, that’s fine…” Tsuki lowers his head a bit as the others get a slight look of relief, thinking he understands. Suddenly, he snaps his head up with a look of determination. “I’ll just have to earn your love then!”

Their looks of relief change back to disappointment as he says that. Hikigaya exhales loudly as he stands up. 

“Look, man, you’re free to do as you please, but right now, we should probably head back to class. Come on, guys.” Shiori quickly takes the opportunity and leaves with him while the others follow close behind. Tsuki just stares as they all walk away until Hisana is the only one left. She stands and stares at Tsuki as he looks at her with slight confusion.

“I don’t know you. You’re cute.” She says.

“C’mon.” Kitaro groans as he leans back and grabs her arm, tugging her away. Tsuki stares at them as they leave before glaring and singling out Hikigaya in his sight.

“Hikigaya…”

After school, Shiori and Hikigaya are by their lockers getting their stuff and normal shoes out when Hikigaya drops a small pack of pencils that spill out a bit.

“Damn..” He groans.

“Ah, let me help you with that.” Shiori says, trying to be supportive.

“No, it’s okay. Go meetup with the others, I’ll only be a second.”

“You sure?”

Hikigaya nods as she listens and walks away. He leans down to begin picking them up, revealing Tsuki leaning next to him against a wall. As soon as Hikigaya finishes picking up the pencils and putting them back into the locker, Tsuki speaks.

“Hikigaya, wait.” He says. Hikigaya looks at him a little surprised.

“Oh, it’s you again. Sorry, but I just sent Shiori off and I gotta catch up.” Hikigaya turns to walk away, obviously not wanting to talk to him, but stops at Tsuki’s words.

“I know what you’re doing.” Tsuki says. Hikigaya turns to look at him, sarcastically amusing Tsuki.

“And what could that be?” Hikigaya asks. Tsuki smiles at him.

“I know you like her. You want her all to yourself. You feel threatened by me.” Tsuki says. Hikigaya’s eyes widen ever so slightly at his words, but this quickly subsides as Hikigaya looks at him casually.

“Even if I did like her, which I don’t, how would I feel threatened by you? She barely just met you.”

“Yet here you are, still arguing with me on it.” Tsuki says back. Hikigaya gets irritated at his comment but doesn’t dispute. “It’s pretty clear to me why you feel threatened. I’m smarter than you, more good looking than you. Sure, you might be stronger and have known her longer, but in the end she’s going to pick me. I’m just better for her in every way than you are. So you need to back off and get used to seeing me around cause I’m not going anywhere.” Tsuki says almost like a warning. Hikigaya looks at him for a moment, a hint of frustration in his eyes.

“Wow, pretty confident, are we? You sure you know all that?” Hikigaya responds mockingly. Tsuki clicks his tongue in frustration and walks past him but stops right next to Hikigaya.

“For what it’s worth. I really do appreciate you helping save my life, but she’s mine.” Tsuki walks past him and out to meet the others as Hikigaya stands there looking down. The others all get surprised looks when they see Tsuki approach them instead of Hikigaya. 

“Hey guys! What’s up?” Tsuki says while waving his hand at them.

“Where’s Hikigaya?” Shiori asks.

“Oh, he… couldn’t make it.” Tsuki lies.

“Couldn’t make it, huh?” Shiori raises an eyebrow at his response.

“Yeah, he said he had to rush home early. Sorry, but hey, at least I’m here. I could walk you home instead?” As Tsuki says this, he grabs Shiori’s wrist and begins walking in an attempt to force her to walk home with him, but he doesn’t even take one step before getting stopped when he realizes that Shiori doesn’t move a bit. She stands completely still, and he is incapable of moving her at all. 

“First of all,” She yanks her arm away from him effortlessly. “Don’t ever grab my wrist like that again. Secondly, I don’t think you understand. We live together. He wouldn’t ever leave without me.” She gives him an intense look as Tsuki sweats a bit. Suddenly, Hikigaya comes walking towards them from behind. Shiori looks at him then back at Tsuki with a look of ‘I told you so.’

Hikigaya still looks down as he comes up to Shiori, grabs her hand and begins walking home with her, pulling her along. She has a look of surprise but goes along with him, not fighting back at all as they leave, holding hands. Tsuki just stares as they walk away. 

“You know, you could always walk me home.” Hisana offers. Kitaro rolls his eyes as he grabs her shoulder and begins walking away, dragging her along.

“See you guys later.” Kitaro says as he waves goodbye to the group. Hisana just smiles and waves too before walking on her own. The others all do the same as they begin to walk away. Tsuki watches as they leave when a hand gently lays itself on his shoulder.

“If I were you-” Chizuru speaks softly. He looks at her and sweats a bit as he sees her with her eyes closed and a soft smile on her face, yet her aura is intense and intimidating. “I would be a bit nicer, yeah?” Chizuru says. Tsuki nods slowly as she keeps the same expression. “Good. See ya!” She says as she lets him go and runs to catch up with Lucy, Ryuji and Suiyoubi. Tsuki watches as Lucy bumps Ryuji with her hip and they laugh. 

‘They are some weird people…’ He thinks to himself before looking down. He stays there in silence for a moment before rubbing the back of his head and grunting in frustration. “Man, this wasn’t a good start at all!” He stops and looks down before looking ahead. “Whatever. This is only the start. I’ll earn their trust and get them to like me eventually. Just wait, Shiori.” He gets a confident smile and begins walking home by himself.

As Shiori and Hikigaya walk home, they walk in silence. Shiori looks at Hikigaya with a slight look of concern. She then looks down at their hands, where he holds hers firmly yet carefully, not letting go. 

“Hikigaya, are you okay?” She waits for his answer, but he doesn’t speak. Shiori pauses with a look of uncertainty but asks again. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, stop asking.” He answers sharply. She can tell something is deeply bothering him.

‘I want to help, but I… I don’t know what to do…’ She thinks to herself before lowering her head a bit and staying silent as they walk home.