CHAPTER 4

'The question is: what I want to change by? But is changing really the right thing to do? People say that once you change, your world will change for you. That isn't correct, and yet people believe that and change themselves to match the expectations of others. They throw away all their likes, dislikes, hobbies— everything— all to be accepted. Therefore, I have decided not to change for someone because I am satisfied with myself, even if others aren't. The world will not change to a more otaku accepting society so why change if people wouldn't acknowledge your existence anyways? That's why the question should be: how will you change the world?"

"Miyuki... Did the Humanity Club change you at all? Now I'm feeling all depressed inside!" Suzuki-sensei enunciated through her gritted teeth, holding out my new and improved essay with a glare.

I sighed loudly in agreement as I put a chip in my mouth. "I swear. Why do such losers have to be apart of that club? I'm telling you that you should disband it before it gets worse there. It's not beneficial at all."

   Instead of taking my words into account, my homeroom teacher held up a fist instead. A really dark and malicious aura surrounded her, and colour drained from my face at the sight of it.

"Do you really—"

   I held up my arms in defence and squeaked to stop her, "No! I'm sorry!"

"I believe that they will be able to change you but you aren't letting them! Why be so stubborn to change? Don't you want friends?" she asked and I played with the Pocky in my mouth.

"Friends only lead to drama, stress, and multiple problems. I'd rather not get involved with 3-D people if I don't have to."

Suzuki-sensei sighed at my discord. "Friends lead to kindness, teamwork, and fun. C'mon, give them a chance."

"They're a pain to deal with so no," I replied instantly, checking over my nails. "Being a loner is completely fine by me. There's perks to being alone all the time. And I don't have to worry about impressing anyone. Everyone should come join my side really."

Suzuki-sensei deadpanned. "First of all, that statement is completely untrue, and second, friends are a lot more than you think. You're just telling yourself you enjoy it, but nobody likes isolation, Miyuki." She smiled. "Make some friends, mingle a little more, and you'll understand."

With a frown, I looked up at her and pursed my lips. "You just want me out of your room during the breaks, right?"

"Oh, I'm glad you understand that!" My homeroom teacher wiped away a sweat and relaxed in her seat, completely chipper to know that I saw right through her as usual. I leered at her before rolling my eyes.

One hell of a teacher I've got there. And she says I was the devil. Please, nobody could ever be as corrupted as her...

Before I could retort something to oni-sensei over here, the door to her office opened, revealing a familiar redhead.

"Oh, Suzuki-sensei, Takeda-sensei wants to see you," Hinata said, entering into the room.

The brunette didn't waste any time to get up on her feet and head towards the doorway. "Hinata, watch Miyuki for me so she won't escape her detention," she said quickly before her departure. "Who knows what other excuses she'll make up by the time I come back."

I glowered after her. She treated me like some kind of pest...

If only I could throw her into Attack on Titan and allow those titans to eat her alive. Hearing her screams of terror whilst being chased by those horrific things will be music to my ears. Then, I will stay at a good distance away with my 3-D maneuvering gear, laughing at her and telling her "I told you so! Anime prepared me with this equipment in case titans came and invaded the world but of course you wouldn't know about it because you slandered it your entire life! Eating your words now like how that titan's eating your head huh? You wanna come join this side now, huh?"

A sadistic laugh escaped my mouth, and Hinata paled while Suzuki-sensei rolled her eyes before leaving without a care.

"Y-Yo... Hoshino..." I turned my head towards the doorway to see a shivering Hinata, his complexion still as white as snow. I raised an eyebrow at how freaked he looked. What was up with him?

"Why are you standing over there?" I asked.

Hinata flinched before shaking his head and robotically approaching me. He took a seat next to me, his gaze obviously avoiding me and aimed towards the ground.

I snickered to myself, loving myself even more now. Sure I'd been able to weird people out, but now I was able to scare them too.

Such an occurrence deserved a t-shirt and admiration from every other yandere out there.

"You're a cutie aren't you, Hinata. Now, now, don't be so scared. I'm not gonna eat you~" I teased, taking out my phone. Hinata blushed before nervously fiddling with his fingers. An awkward silence loomed through the air.

   I eventually peered over to the apprehensive redhead and sighed, putting away my cell. "Can you do something for me?" I spoke up.

   He jerked his head towards me, startled. I shoved my essay sheet in front of his face.

   "Data," I said. "I need you to tell me what exactly is wrong with this paper so I could rewrite it, again. Suzuki-sensei isn't telling me what to change so it's hard."

Hesitantly, Hinata took the paper and nodded his head. I waited as he finished reading the sheet. Just after a couple seconds I could already notice the horrid look crossing on his face. "Hoshino..." he started, "uh...why is your paper so depressing?"

   "Depressing? I only wrote what was natural right?" I questioned dubiously, titling my head to the side.

   He sighed, pointing to places where I went wrong.

"High school is suppose to be something exciting and fun, especially when you're hanging out with your friends. That's why you're suppose to write what exactly you like so much about the present—high school. It's that kind of essay."

"Exciting and fun...?" I repeated blankly.

   High school was supposed to be like that? I'd never once thought of my life to be anything but lonesome... I wonder when I became so cold at heart?

Hah, just kidding. I was never going to change myself just because of whatever the hell Hinata had said. Being alone was great, and there was absolutely nothing wrong with my personality. There was no need for me to change!

   But of course, when it came to this school, nobody could comprehend why.

"Do you get it now?" Hinata asked, grinning from ear to ear as I took the paper away from him.

I snorted at his reaction. "But talking about that to someone who doesn't have or never really had any 'friends' makes it really complicated to understand."

   Hinata's eyes widened at my words. "Oh, is that right? Then, maybe I can show you!" he suggested, smiling big.

   Surprise got the best of me.

"Miyuki-chan, right? How about I become your friend?"

   At the unwanted memory, anger enveloped my entire expression and I scowled. "I don't need friends," I spat, standing up to my feet, "I don't need any sort of relationship."

   Before I could leave the room, he grabbed my arm to stop me. "N-no! I meant I want to show you the enjoyments of high school life! It'll be nothing more than schoolmates showing each other around!" he told me quickly.

   My anger faded away and I frowned. Seeing how much he'd go out of his way for me honestly made me feel exhausted. But...

   "If that'll make you stop smiling, fine," I relented, avoiding his eyes.

   Hinata's face lit up instantly, and he nodded vigorously. Once he realized his huge smile, he instantly clasped his hands over his mouth. "Oh, oops."

——————————————————

"Sorry for the wait!"

Fitted in a blue dress shirt overtop of a black undershirt and dark-washed jeans, Hinata's bright grin as he approached me was almost like the finishing piece to his casual look. I couldn't help but feel a tad intimated in my black sweatshirt and sweats.

I wasn't going to sugarcoat it, but I wasn't fashionable at all. I didn't care about anything other high school girls would be fawning over daily. Mainly because, I didn't care what everybody else said about me. Judge me all you'd like but sweaters were the most comfortable thing to ever wear, and I absolutely adored them.

"Should we go?" Hinata asked and I nodded.

As we were walking down the bustling streets, I peered over to others walking down the pavement and to the couples who were acting all lovey-dovey. My gaze returned to Hinata beside me before realization dawned on me.

Wait... If I was out with some boy on the weekend... did that make it a... I quickly shook my head to rid the thought. No, before I considered that, he even said it was a simple "showing the ways of a high school student." But wasn't love part of it...

Dammit. If only this could spark off the start of a reverse harem life centering around me.

I hit myself in the head for thinking such a splendid thing. I'd be the best heroine there ever was! Ugh, someone should already be writing about this. An otaku fangirl who gets a chance in that life because of the club she was forced to join! Or was my life just a comedy? Would people be laughing at me is this were a story?

"Want to get some ice cream?" Hinata's words broke me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I blinked, and he pointed to the nearest shop.

"Ice cream," he enunciated. "Wanna get some?"

"Ice cream!" I literally screamed, bobbing my head and down vigorously. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Before Hinata could say anything to my shocking reaction, I had already ran to the shop.

"Cookie dough ice cream please!" I stated my order to the person by the register and I glanced over at Hinata. "And you? What do you want?"

Not knowing how to react, Hinata's jaw was slack. "Uh...chocolate?"

"Chocolate too," I said, and the guy gave me the two delicious treats after Hinata gave him a bill.

"Thanks, Hinata," I giggled, staring at the ice cream in awe, "You're a nice guy, you know that?"

"You seem happy," Hinata noted, a small smile tugging up the corners of his mouth.

"It's because I rarely get to have any ice cream."

"Why?"

I looked away nervously.

"W-well... it's sort of embarrassing..."

Hinata gestured for me to continue and I took a deep breath.

"Whenever we get ice cream at my house I get carried away and eat the whole tub myself due to the anime marathons I have so my brother banned me from ice cream!" I spoke extremely quickly and before Hinata could speak, I pointed to the nearest shop, "Oh! What's that? Let's go in there!"

We went around to different places around the city and I guess you could even say we got to know each other better. I would say that I had 'enjoyed' myself, but that was only because Hinata was genuinely a happy guy so I couldn't dare stay pessimistic around him.

Hinata's laughter escalated after listening to me ramble for the umpteenth time, "You really could talk about anime forever. Why do you love it so much?"

I snorted in defence. "Why?" I repeated as if it was the stupidest thing I've ever heard— which it was. "Why wouldn't I? Why don't you?"

Hinata swallowed hard. "I have watched a few, but—"

"What?" I shouted, "What kind—"

Hinata forced a laugh, in an attempt to change the subject, "More importantly, Hoshino! I don't get why you don't have friends. You'd actually be really popular! And it's not like your anti-social either."

I resisted the urge to comment at that because my attention was still on his words from earlier. "No, tell me what exactly you watc—"

A loud, booming sound cut me off and both of us avert my attention to where it was coming from. My eyes widened when I saw fireworks illuminating the night sky.

"I had no idea they had fireworks today!" Hinata cried stepping in front of me and gazing at the wonderful sight in awe.

"Fireworks..." I mumbled, staring up at them also. I peered over to the smiling redhead, fawning over the fireworks.

'I don't get why you don't have friends. You'd actually be really popular!"

Hinata's words from earlier resounded within my mind, causing me to frown. I sighed before muttering under my breath, "It's not like I can't get friends, I choose not to... Friends are..."

Hinata spared me a curious glance. "Hmm? Did you say something Hoshino?"

I spun on my heels, stuffing my hands into my pockets. "No. I'm going home." I hurried off in the direction where I lived in and Hinata flinched at my action.

"Huh? Why? Let's watch them together!" he called after me and I glanced back at him, smiling slightly.

"Thanks for today! See you tomorrow, Hinata!" His eyelids shot up in great surprise and I made my way to my loving home; the only place where I wasn't pressured to change.

Shaking my head, I sighed to myself. Friends, huh...

I didn't need them.

I laughed to myself as a certain 2-D character came to mind.

Yup. Only Hikigaya Hachiman understands the perks of being a loner.