And Again, I Contradict Myself

There's a certain point in every high schooler's life when the vague, looming specter of adulthood starts to take form. Like fog condensing into something almost tangible, the thought of future employment begins to cling to the edges of their mind. At first, it's distant like a whisper at best, easy to ignore.

But, like every inconvenient truth, it gets louder.

It's the career counseling forms thrust into your hands with an enthusiasm that's almost too eager, or that one teacher who can't resist reminding you that "You won't be able to slack off like this in the real world." The message is the same no matter how it's wrapped: work is inevitable.

And for some, it arrives sooner than expected.

These are the students who rush out the homeroom door the moment the final bell rings, not to meet friends or join some club, but to head off to their part-time jobs. While the rest of us drift aimlessly through adolescence, they're already paddling against the current, fighting for something that no one really seems to care about. Responsibility. Independence. They get all this admiration for it, sure, but it doesn't change the fact that they're alone.

And in the end, they become the ones who leave social events early or turn down invitations. They fade into the background, their presence like ghosts in a classroom, existing on the fringes of the high school experience. In other words, they have it worse than the loners, because at least the loners aren't pretending to belong somewhere they clearly don't.

Maybe it pays off in the end, though. Maybe the discipline and grind shape them into the well-rounded, reliable adults everyone's always talking about.

Or maybe they just end up being really good at stacking shelves. Either way, it's a win for the system, I guess.

ㅤ

ᛚᛟᚾᛖᛚᚤᚲᚤᚾᛁᚲᚨᛚᛋᛟᚢᛚ

ㅤ

I watched the ice slowly melt in my glass, pooling at the bottom like a metaphor for something, though I wasn't sure what.

Across from me, Yukinoshita Yukino held her usual impeccable posture, sipping tea in a way that somehow managed to exude quiet judgment.

Her eyes met mine briefly before she set the cup down. "I thought we agreed to meet here to study. Yet somehow, Hikigaya-kun, you appeared uninvited."

"What can I say?"

"Your habit of brooding in silence is as unappealing as ever," she said, not even bothering to look up.

I raised a brow. "I wasn't brooding. Just thinking about how nice it is to be surrounded by such warm, friendly company."

Yukinoshita's icy tone didn't waver. "I'd be more inclined to believe that if you hadn't ordered food the moment you arrived."

"Energy is important for learning."

"I'm sure you tell yourself that often." Yukinoshita set her cup down delicately. "I see you've mistaken sarcasm for charm. Again."

"It's a survival mechanism. You'd know, right? I imagine living with that personality requires some degree of adaptation."

Her eyes narrowed slightly — the kind of look that usually preceded either a sharp retort or homicide. Possibly both.

"A-Ahaha, let's not start another war at the table, okay? We're here to relax!" the only person who could diffuse tension with sheer awkwardness. I half-expected her to wave a white flag made from napkins.

Before Yukinoshita could deliver what I assumed was another biting remark carefully wrapped in elegant wording, Yuigahama jumped in with a nervous laugh.

Saika Totsuka, sitting beside me, nodded. "Yeah. It's nice when we all get together like this."

There it was. That voice—like a cool breeze on a summer day, calming yet completely distracting.

"See? Totsuka gets it," I said, leaning back in my seat with the confidence of someone who'd just been validated by the universe's kindest soul.

If Totsuka had lived in the Sengoku era, armies probably would've laid down their weapons just to avoid making him sad.

Yukinoshita glanced at Totsuka and gave a small nod of approval, the kind she rarely handed out. "Unlike certain individuals, Totsuka-kun has a way of creating a pleasant atmosphere."

"Are you saying I don't?"

"I'm saying you have the emotional presence of an abandoned construction site."

Ouch. Not inaccurate, but still—ouch.

Yuigahama let out another nervous laugh, waving her hands as if to fan away the metaphorical flames. "C-Come on, it's not that bad! Hikki's… you know, reliable sometimes."

Only sometimes? I might as well slap that on my résumé.

Yukinoshita offered no further comment.

"Totsuka is just MVP." I said.

Totsuka smiled shyly, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. "It's not like that… I just think we should enjoy our time together, that's all."

There it was. That radiant innocence. A reminder that angels did walk among men or at least among vaguely misanthropic loners like me.

Before I could further bask in the glow of his purity, the entrance bell chimed. I glanced toward the door and felt my internal peace shatter.

Komachi.

And next to her…

A boy.

A boy with dark hair with an uneasy expression, standing behind her.

I narrowed my eyes. Is this… an invader? A threat to Komachi's innocence?

They approached the table, Komachi waving brightly. "Onii-chan! What a coincidence!"

I leaned forward slightly, eyes locking onto the interloper. "Yeah. Real coincidence. Who's this?"

Komachi grinned, completely oblivious to the hostile atmosphere. "Oh, this is Kawasaki Taishi-kun! He needed some help, and since I'm a responsible and awesome person, I figured I'd bring him to the Service Club!"

Taishi offered a polite nod. "Nice to meet you, Hikigaya-senpai."

I stared at him, unimpressed. Senpai already? Bold strategy, brat. But I see right through you.

Yuigahama blinked, tilting her head. "Taishi-kun… aren't you Kawasaki-san's little brother?" She said his first name casually and I recoiled in disappointment.

Taishi's face brightened immediately before it fell as quickly. "Yeah. My sister rarely talks about school. She's always busy with work, so I thought I'd ask Komachi for advice."

I see. Wait, who is Kawasaki?

I sifted through my mental files, flipping past various background characters. Kawasaki… Kawasaki… Nope. Drawing a blank.

Yukinoshita's gaze slid toward me, her expression betraying mild amusement. It was the same look you give when a cat repeatedly fails to catch a laser pointer.

"What is it now, Hikigaya-kun? Don't tell me you don't even know the names of your classmates."

"I know some of them," I replied defensively. "But memorizing every name feels unnecessary. It's not like we're in a detective novel where everyone turns out to be relevant in the final chapter."

Yukinoshita gave a soft sigh, like a teacher whose most hopeless student just misspelled their own name on a test.

"Truly inspiring," she said in exasperation. "Your dedication to social awareness continues to impress."

I crossed my arms, deciding it was best to pivot the conversation away from my glaring deficiencies. "Don't need to know every detail. I already know how this plays out."

Yuigahama tilted her head curiously. "Plays out?"

I gestured loosely toward Taishi. "Give it a few years, and he'll be trying to act cool around girls while awkwardly fumbling through conversations. It's a rite of passage."

Taishi's eyes widened in protest. "I-I wouldn't do that!"

Sure, brat. That's what they all say before they suddenly find themselves quoting manga lines in real-life romantic situations.

As Taishi shuffled nervously behind Komachi, I kept my eyes locked on him like a hawk circling its prey. Not that I wanted to be dramatic, but I've seen enough to know exactly how this trope goes. First, they show up with a smile and polite manners and then before you know it, they're accidentally bumping into each other under cherry blossoms.

Komachi's too smart to fall for something like that… probably. But I wouldn't put it past the brat to attempt a confession after school, dramatically silhouetted against the sunset. They always pick sunset. Classic rookie mistake. You should confess under normal lighting. Sunset just adds unnecessary tension.

Komachi patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Taishi-kun. Onii-chan's just being weird."

"Hey. I'm right here."

As Komachi introduced Taishi to Yukinoshita and Yuigahama, I could feel my clubmates' glances flicker toward me, probably waiting for some scathing comment.

For now, I'd tolerate the invader. But if he got any funny ideas…

Well, I suppose even angels like Totsuka can't prevent divine retribution.

Komachi guided Taishi toward an empty seat at our table.

Yuigahama gave him a warm smile, instantly easing the tension. "Don't worry, Taishi-kun! We're happy to help."

Of course, she's happy to help. Yuigahama practically radiates sunshine and rainbows. If she ever became a Pokémon, she'd be some kind of electric fairy type. Overly friendly, and effective in battle against people like me.

Meanwhile, Taishi still looked nervous, like he'd accidentally wandered into the final boss room without saving.

I don't blame him. Yukinoshita may look calm, but if she catches even a whiff of incompetence, she'll tear him apart faster than a salaryman devouring convenience store ramen at midnight.

Yukinoshita's gaze settled on Taishi. "So, what exactly do you require Service Club to help with?"

"W-well… it's about my sister. Lately, she's been coming home really late. Sometimes not until after midnight."

Coming home late? Sounds less like a problem and more like some serious trouble for us. Should we really take this request?

I glanced at Taishi, noticing how his grip tightened around his sleeve. His concern wasn't just surface-level.

"She never used to do that before," Taishi continued, "Ever since she started attending Sobu High, she's been acting… different. And when I ask her why, she just brushes me off."

His brows furrowed with concern. "I get that she's busy with school and all, but… it's been months now. I just feel like something's wrong and she is working in some suspicious place."

Yukinoshita quietly considered his words.

"This doesn't sound good," She whispered. "It seems that every family carries its problems."

I shrugged. "I wouldn't know anything about that. Komachi and I have the most perfect sibling relationship in the world."

"That's right! Onii-chan's practically the gold standard for big brothers!"

Yukinoshita blinked before looking in my direction, amazed. "Is that so? I always wondered why your little sister hasn't reported you to social services yet."

Bitch.

Totsuka smiled softly. "I think it's nice that you and your sister get along so well."

Ah, there it was. Totsuka's unshakable kindness. Truly, if angels walked this Earth, one of them was sitting at this table, unaware of the divine light radiating from his presence.

Komachi beamed at Totsuka. "See? Totsuka-san gets it! Onii-chan may be weird, but he's still the best!"

"Thanks, Komachi. I'll remember that when you need me to do your math homework."

Her smile froze for a second. "Uhh… what I meant to say is that Onii-chan's a little too good sometimes. You know, for my own good."

"Hikki..." Yuigahama stared at me like trash, while Yukinoshita pinched the bridge of her nose, clearly done with the entire conversation.

"Enough," Yukinoshita said, turning back to Taishi. "Your concern for your sister isn't unreasonable. However, if she refuses to discuss it with you directly, there may be a reason for her secrecy."

Taishi nodded quickly. "That's why I thought maybe the Service Club could help?"

Yuigahama perked up at that. "Oh! Yeah, I think we could try asking Kawasaki-san ourselves. Maybe she just needs someone outside the family to talk to!"

"I doubt she'll respond kindly to anyone prying into her business," Yukinoshita replied, though there wasn't much resistance in her voice.

I let out a sigh. "This sounds like a recipe for unnecessary drama. But whatever, I guess we're doing it anyway."

Yuigahama gave me a light nudge. "C'mon, Hikki. It's for Taishi-kun. And I'm sure Kawasaki-san's nice once we get to know her."

Are you sure? Where is your logic even coming from?

Komachi clasped her hands together dramatically. "Onii-chan, you're supposed to be the cool older brother type here. Helping out other siblings is like your duty!"

"Don't try to guilt-trip me with moral responsibility. That only works when I'm half-asleep."

Despite my protests, I knew how this would end. Yukinoshita already had that determined look. The one that said she'd accept the request regardless of my input.

"Fine," I whispered to them. "But if this turns into some convoluted family soap opera, I'm blaming all of you."

Yukinoshita ignored my complaint and addressed Taishi directly. "We'll look into it."

Taishi bowed his head quickly. "Thank you! I appreciate it."

I glared as Komachi grinned and patted his back reassuringly.

Well, I guess this is happening. Another day, another request. And with my luck, at least I hope Kawasaki's probably leading some secret double life as a ninja or vigilante.

That would explain why she stays out so late.