Hello, reader-san.

To you who's come to read the following story, I bid you a good day/evening/night.

We are here with the fifth chapter! Woop. Woop.

I'm about to answer some reviews on chapter 4 before we carry on though.

diceWW : Oh god. Am I dreaming? Haha, I wish you'd have seen my reaction when I got the notification of your review. I'm happy you dropped by, I read your stories years ago now and boy did I enjoy myself. Good times, good times. Anyways, I'm thankful for your contribution here and I do agree with you: I've put a lot on the plate. This is a bet I wanted to make. This is precisely what I want Hachiman to go through. He's relying on logic and strategic thinking, when solving problems like we do in maths; I want him to be confronted with so many things at once he'll be at a loss sometimes. Of course, this makes it harder to read for you guys. I'm aware of that. If anything, know that it's mostly over. Everything is laid out for now, and Hachiman is doing his best to tackle one thing at a time.

prietar : Iroha or Yukino's route, huh? Why not Yui or Kaori? Hahaha. I'm evil.

jminator : Who knows... :3

BlackPsych : Welcome back! Our boy Hachiman coming out strong in this one indeed! He kind of was kneeling when she saw through him, but her plans were too much for him to simply nod at. As you mentioned, he's going out of his way to protect someone who just became an even more influent person to him. There is no way he wouldn't act at this point. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!

The wind blows over the two of us, her long and silky hair seem to be wavering in slow motion as my brain puts two and two together. Her expression states she heard everything, or at least enough to understand I was speaking with her sister on the phone for a Service Club matter.

Hikigaya-kun asked nee-san for help, not mine.

This is what transpires from her reaction, clear as day. If I were to consider the timing, situation and people involved, I can affirm this is the worst possible thing to happen to Yukinoshita.

First, she still hasn't let go of her complex towards Yukinoshita Haruno. Second, we still have that matter left unsettled between the both of us. And finally, her own worth as a member, heck even as the president of the club, is contested by the scene she witnessed just now.

And to say I wanted to currently avoid piling up problems, this is ridiculous.

"Yukinoshita…"

I'm at a dead end, I don't know where to begin. I just mutter her name, casting my look away from her.

"I was looking for you. Yuigahama-san said you went somewhere alone for something related to the club… I figured you'd come here. Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop."

No… why are you the one apologizing…? You know damn well our roles should be reversed.

"I'm sorry, this wasn't in the plan. I just went out of options and… there were some complications. You know how Isshiki is, she wouldn't want to ruin her image so I couldn't ask you guys…"

I can feel myself panicking. I make no sense. This is not good.

"And here I thought you'd changed for the better, Hikigaya-kun."

Her bitter tone makes me shake inside, out of anxiety.

"You reverted to your previous self, the one who doesn't care about the consequences as long as the job is done. I…"

Yukinoshita struggles with herself, her words having difficulty to come out. Her face reflects disappointment and sadness with such intensity I can only feel the same way myself. An ephemeral memory comes to my mind this very moment, something I wish wouldn't have popped out of nowhere like this.

We were about to reach the falling part of the roller coaster ride, our transport slowly taking us there. That's where it happened.

"Hey, Hikigaya-kun."

I was wondering what she had to say just before the crucial moment of our ride so I turned my gaze towards her and replied.

"Hm?"

The white coat enveloping Yukinoshita emphasized her pale beauty in the cold night around us as she locked her eyes into mine, reaching the deepest parts of my soul. I still remember the feeling it triggered in me, as if it was just a few hours ago.

Reaching for my hand, she spoke in a very soft-spoken voice. I think it was the first time I heard Yukinoshita speak with a tone filled with such emotion.

Her smiling visage on the verge of bursting into tears, she uttered these words I would never forget, even if I wanted to.

"Save me someday, okay?"

…

And now, here I stand in silence in front of the one I somehow have to save. Yukinoshita is holding her sleeve and speaks again; the way she does it conveys how hurt she is.

"I wrongly pushed my expectations on you. I should have known better, my past experiences do not lie."

No, wait…! I have to say something.

"Listen to me please, don't make hasty decisions now…! I'm sorry, I really am. I'll explain everything to you in due time, I promise. I swear it, Yukinoshita."

I'm totally panicking now. I don't want that! Not after everything we went through together! I was so close to… to reach a conclusion as to what I wanted from all this! I may still be indecisive on some points but I was closing in on it!

"It was a mistake, I shouldn't have done that. I agree with you, this was dumb of me. I apologize with all that I am, please don't make it sound like you just want everything to regress to how we were one year ago."

I stop avoiding her gaze. I want her to see me as I am right now. I want Yukinoshita to feel how genuine my words are, that behind them, there's something real.

Her figure stays still but her face betrays how shocked she is. I can't blame her for that, I'm also in shock to hear myself talking right now; it's probably the first time in my seventeen years that I've felt so desperate for something.

"Give me one last chance to redeem myself. I need to do this, as the one who failed you… who failed to understand in time what you wanted me to do back then."

"H-Hikigaya-kun…?"

I proceed to bow before her in a posture which leaves no place to doubt the sincerity of my sentence.

"Stop it… This is embarrassing. Please hold yourself up straight…"

I do as she says, in all seriousness. My face has been displaying it for a while now, and I keep my sight upon her person.

She adds something else, after a short sigh.

"There isn't much time left for the three of us in Sobu High. I'm not so cruel as to sever our relationship now, nor does the situation require it. This would be overdramatic. Besides, I'm not entirely clean myself…"

She says that, her eyes downcast and a very sad smile invites itself on her beautiful features.

"Please come back to the club when you're done. We will be waiting for your report. And I…"

Yukinoshita begins to walk away, leaving her words hanging but I reach for her wrist. I have no purpose for doing this, there's no reasoning behind it but I… felt like doing it.

And now I do.

"And I what…?"

I want to force it out of her. I'm tired of playing hide and seek with each other; Yukinoshita, Yuigahama, Isshiki… I want all of us to reveal our cards before it's too late.

She doesn't feel the need to face me, her back is still the only thing in my sight, but she answers nonetheless with a serious tone withholding a hint of hope.

"Yukinoshita Yukino will wait for you, Hikigaya Hachiman."

I'm taken aback and feel a pull on the wrist I'm holding within my hand. Stunned, I just let go as her words slowly sip into my head.

Her gracious silhouette disappears before I know it, leaving me speechless for a moment. Her light perfume is being blown away by the gusts of wind dancing around me, and such is the way nature found for me to stop standing there in a daze.

It's 4:00pm and classes are over. Putting my coat on, I'm about to leave the school grounds and think up of a quick plan to get Isshiki to meet me but I cross path with Yuigahama, on the way out of our classroom.

"See you tomorrow."

"Say… Are you avoiding us? Like you did before?"

As she asks the crucial question, I see that her look lacks the usual glint of happiness and excitement which makes it a Yuigahama original. Noticing this makes me feel a pang of regret.

Remember, Hachiman. One problem at a time.

"I hurt Yukinoshita earlier with my 'way' of dealing with things. I think she needs you more than I need you lecturing me. I will be back when I'm finished with Isshiki's problem, I promised Yukinoshita I would do that. I naturally promise to you as well. Trust me."

She runs a hand in her peach colored hair, arranging it as I finish my phrase, before pushing her index from the other hand against my left cheek while staring straight at me.

"I won't let you get away from us again, Hikki."

"…!"

Is it me or did she just entirely discard what I said about me hurting Yukinoshita?

Also… her eyes denote a glimpse of something I thought I would never see in Yuigahama. No, I must be clearly mistaken. I'm way too tired, forget it.

"I'm not going anywhere. See you."

"Bye bye~"

We leave the room but go our separate ways after we're finished with our salutations. I'm a bit anxious since I know about what the girls will be talking of, but there is someone in dire need of explanation.

We both do, in fact.

In the hallway leading to the exit of the school building, I notice I'm passing in front of Isshiki's classroom; it's weird of me to consider it but I definitely became more conscious of her lately. Not just because of what happened, even before that. I've been taking this route to get out of the building for a moment now, and I didn't even bother to take note of it.

I take a momentary pause in front of it, but still closer to the windowed side of the corridor. I think I've pretty much come to an understanding of what is going on and why she reacted that way, the problem is elsewhere now. Where do I stand in the midst of this?

No. I don't care about this. I don't want to. This wouldn't be a step forward at all. Merely stating where my piece is on the board is not enough.

The question I want an answer to is…

Where do I WANT to stand in the midst of this?

And that question is more difficult than any kind of test I've had to take in my life so far.

I suddenly snap out of it when the door noisily slides open and I watch Kimura Souji, A.K.A Little Hayama, appearing in front of me. He holds a stack of handouts, notes and books in his arms and seem like he was ready to break into a sprint. His blue eyes widen ever so slightly as they meet mine.

"HIKICHIYA-SENPAI!"

Geh.

Who is this again? I look around me, as if he doesn't address me with this appellation.

"I'm talking to you, of course! You've come at the right moment, you know that?"

I don't have time to deal with you though, Souji. Yes brat, I'm referring to you by your first name. Why would I ever respect you, uh? I won't reconsider even if you beg me.

"Here, take this!"

He then forces everything he was holding into my own arms. I barely maintain all of this and keep it from falling to the ground.

"Oi. What do you think you're doing?"

I reply harshly but the kid grins at me, before playfully hitting my ribs with his elbow. When did his pea-sized brain consider it would be ok to do this with me?!

"Come on, Hikichiya-senpai. I know you came here to take Iroha-chan's notes since she's absent today. What are you acting all tsundere for? Also, are you still trying to intimidate me? I swear I won't chase after her anymore, don't worry."

WHO IS A TSUNDERE AGAIN? I dare you to utter these words once more.

"Don't call me a tsundere, disrespectful punk. And don't come close to me; I don't want people to think you could be my friend."

Mostly, I don't want them to think I'm so hopeless I need to use my status as a senpai to get a friend. I have some self-respect: I don't need a friend like you.

"As men who were charmed by the same girl, we can obviously get along! Don't be shy, Hikichiya-senpai. You see, I found my new love already so… you can bury the hatchet, okay? Oh, I'm so awesome, anyone would want me as a friend! Hahaha."

He really is a narcissist. This guy must never come in contact with Komachi, not that it could happen but still. I'd rather not.

Wait did I just jinx it by thinking of this?! Please God hear my prayer and make it so I never thought of the possibility.

Anyways, back to the main topic.

"I'm not that petty. But no, we definitely won't get along so give it up. I'll take care of this though."

I raise the stack of papers and books in my arms, to illustrate what I was referring to.

"Don't say that, you never know what can happen in a relationship. Well then, I gotta go. See ya later Hikichiya-senpai!"

He shoots a thousand watt smile at me before walking away. From the direction he's taking, I can safely assume he's going to his club activities. I can't help but wonder which club he is a part of, but my curiosity quickly vanishes like it came.

Thank you, Souji.

You just gave me the perfect opportunity for me to meet Isshiki.

Do you want to know what's worse than actually being blind?

It's something happening to most of us in our lives: you think you're certain of having a clear view of the situation you're facing, just before it dawns on you that you've been staring at some illusory scenery.

You wish you were just blind to it all from the beginning because you'll be let down every time by how harsh reality is.

You then engage in a spiral of mixed guilt, regret and shame. You sustain it for a period of time depending on your mental fortitude.

The time has come for me to face the cold hard facts.

I'm not certain I can confirm anything as far as I'm concerned, but the phantasm called normality is slowly tearing apart as we approach graduation-day.

I'm seeing masks dropping left and right and taking in account what each person reveal as this happens, starts to become worrisome.

Tiring even.

Properly reevaluating everyone's true selves takes time and energy: it takes time to accept what they really are, think, feel and want. The energy part is because thinking all over again about what's the best course of action takes its toll on me.

Isshiki Iroha is in love with Hikigaya Hachiman.

Can anyone else vouch for this? I don't know.

What I do know is what happened during that moment, that instant when there was only her honey eyes and mine being locked, our true selves exposed to each other. And it's that span of time which spoke to me, which gave this intuitive statement a push in that direction.

Isshiki initiated this, and I followed. Blindly. In and of itself, my action wasn't wrong at that point. It became wrong when I gave someone in love hope of something they don't believe in themselves; this is precisely why she had tearful eyes and froze at that last step. Thinking Souji stopped us is a misconception, and that's also what destroyed Isshiki's heart.

She knew that if she had the resolve and had reassurance of the reciprocity of her feelings, she would have gone the whole way even with this kid's interruption.

A tiny part of her, at that very moment, hoped for me to clutch the opportunity. She had the hope I wanted this just as much as she did, that our hearts were completely in sync.

It's not a surprise to say it wasn't the case. I still have things to figure out, and I couldn't commit to do that. It would have been wrong.

It wouldn't have been genuine.

But then again, preserving the status quo between us is not possible anymore, not after such an experience. We both know our relationship is about to take colors; it'll be black, white or any nuance of grey in-between, but we have to give up on it being colorless… and harmless.

I add the number I got from Yukinoshita Haruno earlier today to my phone directory, giving it the name of Isshiki Iroha.

Now out in the street, and determined, I press the call button.

After a few rings, I hear a voice making me shiver. A voice I heard not so long ago, using a calm and polite tone I'm not used to. Get a grip, Hachiman. Now is not the time to get cold feet, this train has already departed and I won't get off of it midway through.

"Hello, this is Isshiki Iroha. May I ask who is on the phone?"

And thus begins an unprecedented ordeal we both have to weather.

"IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT'S TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!" as would Bruce Buffer say.

I don't know what to add.

Oh yeah EDEN got his new album released today. I listened to everything while writing, it felt pretty good.

I'm curious to hear about you guys so don't hesitate to share your thoughts, as usual!