COTE: A Man On A Mission II Love is War?

Chapter 68



Hikigaya Hachiman's romance?

It must be a failure!

....well, this is actually true.

'It should be said, the faces of my old classmates in junior high school, have already been thrown into a forgotten corner of my memory....'
  
But after being mentioned by Sakayanagi, the name [Orimoto Kaori] emerged easily.

The other party was probably very surprised, because I suddenly confessed.....and then she didn't say anything in response at all.

Even text messages were sent.

Regardless of whether the email exchange was a sign of pity or charity on her part, but for Hachiman who was in junior high school.....

'Whenever I find an excuse, I will send her a message, and think.... that my relationship will fluctuate depending on whether there is a reply.

Only, she will definitely not know about these things, let alone remember them. 'This is probably an inexplicable arousal because of teenage hormones!'

'After realizing the truth, it becomes my dark history that I want to throw into a black hole....'

Because, the other party might not be aware of him at all. 'That's why,  I hate gentle girls!

As long as they say hello, I will subconsciously think wildly.

As long as we send text messages to each other, my heart will still be agitated.

I will giggle at her call record all day long....
  
But now Hachiman knows that the girl who is gentle to him.....also behaves similar to other people.

Expectations again and again.....failed again and again.....'I don’t know when it started but.... I no longer have hope!'

Therefore, he hates gentle girls, because no matter what...they will always be misunderstood.
 
“This is really a pessimistic thought!” Sakayanagi decided to console him, and change his self-deprecating way of thinking, only....“But, the matter of the test paper has just been written off."

Originally, she hoped to obtain Hikigaya-kun's past, but instead found that.....it had turned into a dark youth literature.

'Therefore, what kind of person was Kaori Orimoto, who had previously caused Hikigaya-kun to blunder and even distort his concept of love?

'It can actually twist people to this point.....' “I'm sorry that I touched on something sad for you today," Even though Hachiman just described not liking gentle girls, Sakayanagi still chose to be that person, “But I don't think, it's the right thing to completely deny all girls like this!"

"Are you indirectly trying to frame yourself about being a gentle person?" Only, Hachiman wasn't deceived by this kind of pillow talk.

"What do you think?" She just showed a cute smile in response, and blinked her eyes at him. Although Sakayanagi looks cute, even like a baby angel.
  
'But, I must warn you, this girl is probably a little devil!' And, because they probably have nothing else to talk about, Hachiman left this place, not paying the bill as usual.

But, he still glared at another Class A, student, who was listening to this private talk the entire time.

“.....” Kamuro-san. She just kept her mouth shut about this matter.

But Sakayanagi, was still inside the private room.
  
"Speaking of which, did Kamuro-san have any interesting love stories when she was in junior high school?" She was probably interested in other people's love affairs, now that Hachiman has piqued her curiosity.

So, she started asking from the people around her. Only, these words made Kamuro-san frown.

Because, even though, it looks like just a normal question asked by a girl, who was very interested in knowing about such things.....but for Kamuro-san...When I was in junior high school, my parents were artists and painters, that's why I was also given training.

Only, she did not want to inherit the family business unlike those boys from the CW.
 
Rather, Kamuro-san was actually quite rebellious in junior high school.....she went straight to join the track and field club.

Her old life, is probably about sweating and running. 'So, what is love? Rather, what are boys?'

________________
  
Probably because of talking about his past with Sakayanagi, Hachiman is more rational today.

After returning to the classroom, he found Horikita eating alone.
 
Sigh...'Although she has been enrolled for more than two months, this girl still makes her own lunch.'

Today's bento is also quite delicious, and I can smell the aroma that whets people's appetite. Certainly.

Only, when Hachiman looked in her direction, she didn't even take a peek, and just used her right hand to move her bento away from that carnivore's gaze. 'I have no intention of sharing today.....'

It caused, Hachiman to just watch the other person eat in silence. And Horikita is indeed a very unique girl.

When a boy stares at her, she continues to do her own thing....not even a single change on her beautiful face.

Only, when he watched his deskmate, put the lunch box away, "Although it's rather sudden, can I ask a question?"

"...What's the matter with you?" Suzune looked over, feeling quite disturbed. She has no intention of letting Hikigaya-kun to eat her today.
  
But, there are also rumors among the girls that...a boy named, Hikigaya-kun confessed his love to Ichinose.

Only as a person who doesn’t know much about this bizarre attitude of girls, Suzune didn't know much.

'....Rather, I am not very interested in other people's affairs.' Yeah, sorry for making this sound like, it was your fault....

'It's okay, I just didn't want the readers to make a poor judgement on my abilities.' Horikita Suzune is, indeed worthy of being called a real straight person.
  
'But, among the girls I knew, Horikita was the first one who didn't look at me strangely today.' Hachiman looked at her and thought about something.
  
"When I met your brother at the vending machine, what was the reason for your dispute at that time?"
  
This girl is the younger sister of the Student council president, Horikita Manabu.
  
Generally speaking, nepotism is a handle that can be used to open the back door, but if not done properly, it can easily become a weakness...
 
For example, Even though they are blood siblings, Great power comes with great responsibility, and so this little sister, Horikita Suzune, has to be more careful.

'Otherwise, being taken advantage of by someone with ulterior
motives.... may bring trouble to my brother!' At the same time, she will also be involved, which will make both of them very distressed.

And this is what Hachiman was concerned about.

This scared little chicken, always had to be on guard against her potential enemies.
  
Therefore, the identity of the current Student council president is just useless for the time being.

Only, What Hachiman wants to confirm is that....her weakness was exposed in Sudo's previous fight.
  
Capitalized coward.
  
If this is not addressed, Horikita will just be busy fishing for most of the time, leaving all the work to his other Secretary's head, Kushida-san! 'How repulsive! Do your own work?!' She didn't want this.

Even if the President did his best, to hide their taboo relationship from others, when it would be a matter of the Student council, people will definitely notice his sister's weird behaviour.

Hachiman's class already had enough bombs, and he didn't want to set off another one. 'So today, I decided to become a bomb disposal agent! Isn't that cool?'

But, even if he wants to probe into her heart, Hachiman still has to pretend, "If you don't like it....don't have to answer."

“...Let me think about it,” Only, Suzune did not refuse, so she might as well say...'In fact, I also needed someone to talk to' "...Nii-san, he -"
  
She said slowly, while looking down, and her bento laid aside, “he probably hates me....No, it should be said that Nii-san doesn't take me seriously..."
  
It was a tragic relationship between two cold siblings. (Just like Killer frost and Caitlin Snow)

'What the hell is this?! Author-san, are you sure, you know the truth?'

'Isn’t Horikita's brother a sis-con just like me?!' Hachiman was quite surprised by this statement, this was really quite heavy talk.
  
'But, your brother spent 1 million points to give you a lecture, and even transferred 100,000 points to me....'  

And you're still talking about, how the other party hates you? Don't care about his sister at all?!' This kind of talk was now making Hachiman, the older brother, feel quite pressured.
  
"My presence will always lower the evaluation of Nii-san... that's all." But his deskmate wasn't about to stop pushing, Horikita Suzune seemed to have sentenced herself to death.

'When I was seen by Nii-san during Sudo-kun's trial....I only feel that I am incompetent....' That's why, Suzune was so cowardly, and....even lost her appetite.... that crunchy looking tempura was just locked away behind the plastic bars.

“.....” Hachiman, who was eyeing her food, the moment he took a step inside Class C.

'Even, though Horikita looks weak, and pitiful....I'm also feeling sad now.' This is a question that needs to be thought about.

If Horikita is judged purely based on her academic and sports performance, overall ranking would definitely be among the top students.

But Hachiman also knows that, she has always adhered to her own path.

'For example, she brings her own lunch every day.' This earned Horikita, his praise.
  
Because, Hachiman's future goal is to be a housewife......'I have a favorable impression of people who can cook.'

And this girl is a bookaholic, always study 8 hours a day.

'It's 10 hours actually....' Right, Hachiman had been to her dormitory before and, there was a schedule taped on the wall instead of a poster displaying a scary girl licking her candy, which seemed to have creeped Kamuro-san out.

The arrangement is roughly like this.
  
In addition to the study time in the classroom every day, Suzune has to make up 4 additional hours.

'That means you have to read for 10 hours a day! Not even, Yamauchi can shake his dick for that long....'
  
And still day after day. How terrible!
  
Today, Hikigaya-kun was originally inspired by Sakayanagi to recall the events of junior high school, which made him a little sentimental, but now..... 'I suddenly felt that, I could give this chicken a hand....maybe, this one will start to fly?'

"Horikita, what do you want to achieve in this life?" Hachiman felt....if he asked her some questions like this, there are high chances of drilling a hole into this wall.

As an older brother, he looked at his partner with utmost attention..

"You ask me what I want to do..."
However, Suzune suddenly clenched one of her hands into a fist, "I... I want to make Nii-san recognize me..."
  
"Ever since childhood, no matter what I wanted to do, Nii-san had already ended it all before me... so, I couldn't help but feel inferior. And because of this, I knew that I was not in that person's field of vision. That's why, I want him to look at me, and seek for the unknown, in front of his sight......”

“Really... In other words, you are imitating his way of living?" 'Rather, I have now crawled my way into Horikita Suzune's heart...
  
And, it turned out, this seemingly aloof girl is actually so childish inside.

She is just an individual, among many people who have a capable sibling, and because of this.... Suzune has lost her presence in the family, she didn't have much ground to stand on.

I envy that cool person, and want to be more powerful just like them.

Only, 'Do you really have to be that smart?'

'Is it, that difficult to recognize that you are not a strong person like him?'

'Why, force yourself to complete an almost impossible mission?'

'If your brother can be a Nobel Prize winner, there's no need to force the younger one for doing the same....'

But, human nature is also very strange.

You envy others, but perhaps, the other party is the one who was jealous of you this whole time, but you didn't know it.

However, regarding the jealousy of rich people, they will definitely not envy humans without money.
  
Only, this Horikita Suzune is also a little different. She wanted this for herself....to become outstanding just like, Horikita Manabu.
  
It's her choice, not her parents's request.
  
“Horikita...you are probably alone, but, what about the guy named, Horikita Manabu?......Your brother is a man of both sides and has many friends.....And, if I hadn't forced you to contact Kushida, then...." Hachiman crossed his arms, then slightly leaned his body on the chair, and looked at the dark-haired girl from above.

"You can't learn this at all!"
  
"...Huh? Hikigaya-kun, are you here to quarrel with me?" Suzune was choked by this boy, she didn't like this remark very much....it may have wiped out her whole existence...calling her trash, "I just like to be alone since elementary school, no, to be exact since my kindergarten days.....And, I don't think it was such a bad thing...”

Hachiman has already heard these lines before, and he was also slightly thinking about it. 'Is it really bad to be alone?'
  
That's only justifiable for the strong....who can survive alone, but for the mute people....they need to stay together from being exploited.

But, Hachiman did not ridicule her opinion.

Because, it's not that Horikita Suzune is closing her heart.... it's just she didn't want to waste her time getting along with others.

In other words, she doesn't feel that such animal-like behaviour, would benefit her. 'That's why, I won't feel anxious, even if I don't have any friends....'
  
There is no shame in this, I don’t even feel like I’m being ostracized. '

'Because, I actually enjoy living inside my own world....' Suzune feels quite happy inside by doing so.
  
'Indeed, Horikita-san is absolutely right about this, Loneliness cannot be used to describe people like us.'

'I was quite similar to Horikita-san, during my previous schools....there was no one who shared my hobby of reading books..... That's why I didn't pay attention to random people either, whose faces I'll most likely forget in a few days.......'

Hey, what the fuck is going on here?

'Being lonely, and isolated....these words are just the final conclusion of outsiders, when they see us alone....'

Cut Cut Cut!

Shiina-san, please stop taking over like this...I want to complete this chapter today... there'll be more story time for you later......

'This world is not absolutely gentle.'

Hachiman had a feeling that...his seat mate, definitely came to the wrong school.....because as she slowly realised the nature of this school, her type was not suitable for living here.

"I'm not arguing with you....just wanted to point out some of the mistakes that you may have made,” At this point, even if Hachiman tried to argue, he felt like she wouldn't believe him, and cut their talk right there, "Both you and Horikita-nii are two different people. Starting from the personality, he has a lot of friends, right? And to become like him, you need to change this aloof prospect....but I don't think you can do it, and there's a high chance of losing your own w-

"... Hikigaya-kun, don't misunderstand me, I hope that I can..."
  
"Do you want to copy him?" But, once Hachiman decided to provide therapy, he wouldn't cancel their limited time, even if the patient wanted to break his door.
 
"Nii-san, has always been my goal, so I wanted to become like him.... but if you ask me, whether I want to copy his attitude in life....this kind of thing," Suzune's expression showed a confused look..... apparently, she has reached a dead end. 'I just don't know, what to think any more...'

“Can you please repeat your ques-

“.....” Hachiman. 'This girl has actually gone astray.....'

_________

Author's Note

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