AU INFORMATION

The AU elements in my fanfic are as follows:

Hachiman knows Zaimokuza before high school.

Hachiman meets the female lead (Evil God) during his last year of middle school.

Hachiman joins the Service Club a year earlier (during his first year of high school), which means the entire timeline of the universe shifts back by a year to keep things consistent. As a result, Hachiman meets his clubmates in the same year he has his accident.

The Advanced Nurturing High School is located near Chiba in the Oregairu Universe.

The further you read into the fanfic, the more things will be left unsaid due to the mystery aspect of the story.

I leave a few words for our Loner Prince.

AHEM.

Anyway, fanfiction.

The sanctuary for people who want to take characters they love and throw them into situations that make absolutely no sense. Alternate Universes? Sure, why not. Want to see a medieval knight version of Zaimokuza? Go for it. Make Yukinoshita a warm and fuzzy kindergarten teacher? Bold choice, but okay. The point is, fanfiction is the ultimate playground for imagination—or, depending on your perspective, the ultimate form of procrastination.

Now, let's talk about OOC. Out-of-character. The mortal sin of fanfiction, apparently. Some people act like changing a character's behavior is the end of the world. But let's be real here—none of this is "in character." We're already moving characters from their established canon into worlds where logic and common sense take extended vacations. If you're reading a fanfic and expecting everything to align perfectly with canon, you're kind of missing the point. It's like complaining that the free samples at the grocery store aren't a five-star meal.

Fanfiction isn't about perfect character accuracy or strict adherence to lore. It's about fun. WOW, WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!? Maybe you're a teenager using it as an escape from school stress. Maybe you're an adult who just wants a break from taxes and responsibilities. Whatever the case, the whole idea is to enjoy the ride. So what if my AU self seems more like a socially functioning human being? What if I fall in love with someone else? What if it's unrealistic? Let me live the dream for once!

At the end of the day, the world doesn't end if a character cracks a joke they wouldn't normally tell or if a story adds a touch of romance to a character who probably wouldn't even notice it in canon. Fanfiction is a place where we can explore "what if" scenarios, even if those scenarios would make the original creators raise an eyebrow—or file a restraining order.

So, if you're reading this fanfic and thinking, "Hachiman wouldn't say that," or "Yukinoshita wouldn't act like that," well... you're probably right. But instead of getting hung up on that, maybe lean back, grab some snacks, and enjoy the chaos. After all, canon will still be there waiting for you when you're done.

...And let's be honest, canon can be kind of overrated anyway.

~Hikigaya Hachiman.