章節 40: First Year of Highschool (4)
Seventh Month.
Intimacy determines the closeness in interpersonal relationship: with friends, lover, and families. Intimate is the state where one is close enough to someone, one can relate with them in almost everything.
To get to this state, one has to be familiar with person they want to be intimate with first.
Friendship is a term used to describe a relationship between two people with mutual affection, but not in a romantic way. A friend is much more than an associate or an acquaintance; they know us better.
To be a friend, one needs to be familiar with the person they want to be friend with first.
The two terms of the above are connected by the same thing: familiarity. In a different case however, familiarity also become the reason people stay away from each other.
Familiarity creates friendship, friendship creates closeness, and closeness creates intimacy. But in some instances, the process is reversed or not even get completed.
Some people become familiar with each other, after they became friends; some people become friends, after they got intimate with each other; and some people became friends, but never gets familiar with each other.
Some people even claim they get more familiar with each other after getting intimate.
Whenever Chris thought about it, he got even more confused with how human relations work; it's weird.
People are strangers when they met. But after an introduction and a couple of relatable stories, they became a friend? Are they familiar with each other? No, they only know a few things about each other.
How can they consider themselves a friend, just because they can relate with some things? It doesn't mean they have gotten familiar with them, don't you think so?
Then again, no one knows to what extent a familiarity stretches.
One may argue that one became friends to know each other. But the simple question is, "Can you become a friend with someone if you don't know them?" The obvious answer is no.
Therefore, Chris' puzzlement was left unanswered. Which comes first, friendship or familiarity; intimacy or familiarity? No one could answer him. Every answers the people gave him were all the same: it just worked.
He was not satisfied with that answer. It made no sense to him, someone whose life had been dictated by logic, a Monster of Logic.
However, It is to his surprise, oafter living as Hikigaya Hachiman, the people who gave him the absurd answer weren't wrong.
How does human relations work? It just worked—quite literally.
"Good morning, Hachiman."
"Yo, Ninja-san!"
Gasp!
The students are surprised Kawasaki Saki can interact with someone—Hachiman no less.
Saki is a lone she-wolf. She keeps most of the things to herself; no one can understand what is going on in her head.
The unknown evokes fear, and fear begets hate. Thus, the students stay far away from her.
Hachiman is slightly surprised too. Despite being acquainted with the masculine Saki through the feminine Saki, the former has never greeted him for all this time.
It is for this reason Hachiman finally believes the shit those people have said to him about human relations: it just worked!
Imagine his surprise when Saki even asks to have a lunch together with him, in private. He is a bit reluctant to accept it, since he has agreed to have lunch with Saika today.
However, Saika's willingness to forfeit his chance made Hachiman accept Saki's invitation.
Upon arriving to the rooftop, the two quickly sit themselves. Apparently, Saki has made a bento for him. Therefore, while she is preparing the food, Hachiman is given the time to think to himself.
'Will my Angel, Saika be alright? Saika's disappointed eyes managed struck my cold heart. Can't help it, I should make up with Saika later!'
No, Hachiman is not gay. That's just his way to express his care towards his first genuine male friend. Compassion knows not gender!
Of course, he is just being hypocritic. He would never do the same thing if Saika didn't have his lethal cuteness.
"What are you thinking about?" Saki asked.
"My father's last word."
Saki is slightly taken aback. "Oh, I—I am sorry for being insensitive." She bowed her head at the end of her word.
"Nah, it's alright." Hachiman waves his hand mildly. "Do you want to hear what he said?"
Saki quickly shakes her head; she thinks it won't be good to hear about such a private matter. However, Hachiman doesn't give a shit about her consideration at all.
"He said: 'Son, are you still holding the ladder?!' Too bad he didn't make it." Hachiman shakes his head in disappointment.
Saki blinks her eyes, before contorting her face. Doesn't that mean Hachiman was the cause of his father's death? What kind of a son he is?!
However, Hachiman quickly explains the misunderstanding.
"Don't worry though. I was joking." Saki sighs in relief. "My father died of an accident."
"What kind of an accident?" At her slip, Saki quickly covers her mouth.
Again, Hachiman doesn't mind it. He answers, "He accidentally stopped breathing."
"..."
Well, nothing is really explained, but Saki gets his point: he doesn't know how his father died.
Ignoring Saki, Hachiman looks at the food presented before him; all of them look delicious.
Since he is hungry, he quickly digs in. "Yosh! Let's eat!" He picks the shioyaki salmon with his chopsticks, and puts it into his mouth.
"This is good, to be honest. You prepared the salmon well. It's not too salty, and the skin is pleasantly crispy." He nods his head appreciatively.
Looking at that, Saki also starts eating. A few minutes of silence after, Hachiman opens his mouth again.
"What do you want to talk about, Ninja-san?"
"Why do you call me Ninja-san?"
Hachiman quirks his eyebrow. "Hoh? That's what you want to talk about? It's simple. When I think about Kawasaki, I think about Ninja. I would like to ride Ninja as much as—"
"Stop! Stop with your stupid joke!" Saki is blushing for some reason.
Hachiman looks at her in mild interest, while calmly eating the bento she has made. "That's not a joke, honey. It's a statement."
"S-Statement? W-What do you mean by that...?" Saki trails her words off.
Bringing his face closer to Saki, Hachiman says seriously, "I mean, will you allow me to ride you?"
Saki is blushing heavily at this point, and she doesn't know what to do. Hachiman said it like he really meant it. It is so pure and straightforward, she can't bring herself to slap the soul out of him.
Luckily, Hachiman quickly saves her from the conflicting thoughts.
"Of course, even if you agreed, I wouldn't do that. I don't want to get killed." Hachiman shrugs and resumes eating.
Saki instantly lost her blush, then blinks her eyes. She strangely feels disappointed. She feels like there is something missing, but she can't tell what.
"So, what do you want to talk about?"
It is only at Hachiman's call, is Saki awaken from her daze. "Y-Yes? Oh, about that ... I want to thank you about your help." Saki bows her head. "The payment I got is more than enough to help my family's financial situation."
Hachiman stops eating, then looks silently at Saki. "Don't thank me. I am just using you to my advantage."
Due to Hachiman's recommendation, Saki is hired by Asako as her assistant. However, Hachiman has also made a prior agreement with Saki: "Take extra care of her, and I'll pay you more."
"You maybe think the money I pay you is a large sum. But at this point, money is nothing to me. I can give Asako as much money as she wanted, but I can never give her the more important things that she needs: time and care."
Hachiman tilts his head. "As her friend, I have promised her to be always there for her. But, I can't; I have my own life." Pointing his finger to Saki, he continues, "Therefore, I use you as my way to fulfill the moral obligation my word has caused me."
"'Thank you,' is not a suitable word in this situation." After saying this, Hachiman resumes eating.
Saki silently stares at Hachiman, before sighing softly to herself. "Every dirt indeed has some gold," she mutters. "You are not really a bad person, huh?"
The lunch is silent, but not awkward.
...
Eighth Month.
Winter has come, and snow starts falling. Just a week ago, every students had their final exam. The result is out today, and everyone is expecting a good score.
While Hachiman aced his exam as usual, the other students also surprisingly got a good grade. Therefore, everyone is happy their hardwork paid off. They are glad they can enjoy their winter holiday in peace.
Soon enough, Christmas came.
Hachiman and his family are celebrating Christmas in his apartment. Of course, Shizuka has already become a part of his family. Therefore, she is also together with them; she stays with Hachiman anyway.
While Hachiman is cooking in the kitchen, Maiko, Komachi, and Shizuka are chatting in the living room.
"Time flies really quick, huh?" Maiko muttered. "Just a year ago I was joking about having Shizuka-chan as my daughter-in-law... Who knows it will happen so quick!" Maiko wipes her imaginary tears emotionally.
"Uwah, Kā-chan has become a drama queen!" Komachi exclaimed.
Maiko retorts, "What are you saying? As my daughter, this trait also runs in your blood!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
The mother and daughter went back and forth like that for a few more times, before eventually bursting out laughing. Shizuka, who is watching them from the side, also smiles warmly at the interaction.
"Woah, what excites you two so much?"
Hachiman comes back to the living room with a big plate of roasted turkey in his hands. He puts it on the table, before sitting himself down.
"We are excited at my newly built Cafe!"
At Maiko's word, Hachiman smiles. "I'm glad you have finally decided to quit your job, and enjoy your life."
"What can I say? My son loves me too much, he nags me everytime about it!" Maiko smirks.
Just a few weeks ago, Maiko finally decided to quit her job and opened a cafe per Hachiman's suggestion. Hachiman is quick in his action, and quickly prepared everything for her.
Hachiman gulps his Kvass. "Indeed." He smiles.
"Uwah, disgusting! Onī-chan, disgusting!"
"What are you talking about my lovely sister, Komachi? I know you have feelings for me. There is no need to be jealous; I love my family equally!"
While Komachi is blushing, Shizuka quickly slaps the back of Hachiman's head.
Smack!
"Idiot, don't say something that can cause a misunderstanding!"
Hachiman turns to Shizuka and quirks his eyebrow. "Really? How can an honest display of family affection cause a misunderstanding?!"
"The way you do it, dumbass!"
Silence briefly filled the room, before everyone bursting out laughing. The talk continues for a while, before they decided to eat Hachiman's godly cooking.
The season is supposed to be winter, but they feel warm. That night is a pleasant night for the family.
Christmas passed, and not long after, new year comes.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票