Heya.

Hope you like this.

(Classroom: Play)

(8man PoV)

"He cast his fragrance and his radiance upon me." (Hayama)

"I understand," I pulled Hayama a bit closer, "You were too young afterall, too young to know how to love him."

The hell is with this role!?

"Tonight…do not come." (Hayama)

"I shall not leave you!" I spoke.

Honestly…this is weird.

"We have no other choice! Give up on me!" (Hayama)

"I shall not leave you!" I spoke again.

Alright, now even the untouched lines from the book are sounding like BL stuff…and why the hell are all the girls in the audience squealing like that?

…

"So in the end you chose him over me," I spoke, Hayama slumped in my arms. "But it is alright, we shall meet very soon."

I then looked towards the spotlight, "Afterall when I drew the muzzle I forgot to add the leather to it."

…and CUT!

FINALLY!

I unceremoniously let go of Hayama who crashed onto the ground. Finally done with my obligations towards this accursed play I was now a free bird.

Run home Hachiman! Vita-chan and Precure DVDs await you!

…but as the Chairman I have to stay until the end of the festival.

Curse that single middle-aged violent woman!

I got off the makeshift stage and loosened my collar, while Saki had done good work with the costume the woollen collar and the thick jacket made it rather hot for me.

If we didn't have air conditioning in the classroom I'd be sweaty mess by now.

"Good work everyone," Miura spoke as the lights came back on, "Here you go."

It was just water, but after having been on the stage for more than an hour I would gladly take anything. I took the water from Miura's hand and greedily gulped down the cool liquid. Putting the bottle down I saw that Tobe and a few other guys were trying and miserably failing to get the crowd of spectators to leave.

That was until Kawasaki intervened. After that the girls ran away like a tentacled monster was chasing them…

…alright, that was a bit too specific.

"Hikio," Miura called me, I turned to look at her to see an annoyed look on her face.

…don't tell me I spoke the thing about tentacled monsters out loud.

I'm Dead!

"You dropped Hayato," she spoke, gesturing towards the blonde guy who was rubbing his head.

It wasn't even a 2-feet drop dammit.

"Just be glad I held on till the end," I spoke, "Even the untouched lines sounded like something out of Ebina's fantasies today. Honestly I'm surprised myself that I was able to pull it off at the end."

Miura relaxed a bit at my explanation.

"Well, I guess that is an achievement," she spoke, her features morphing into a smirk, "Though are you sure about that? I mean you seemed pretty into the whole thing on stage…"

Ebina has certainly corrupted her quite a bit.

"Please," I shuddered, "No more play talk. The squeals of those girls were nightmarish enough."

I don't want to know what those girls were thinking…though the looks they kept shooting me and Hayama were indication enough.

*Shudder*

For all the pain and humiliation I endured, Miura had a hearty laugh at my expense.

"Man Hikio you're so worked up," she smacked my arm, "Anyways good work, we had a housefull show and we're a hit! There's people outside who are calling for a second screening right now!"

NO.

"No," I spoke in the most authoritative voice I could muster, "I am not doing…that again."

"Yeah yeah," she spoke, "We don't have the time either. Anyways Yui and a few others have gone to get something for lunch, so rest up for now. We're going to the main stage to prepare for the song so see you later."

I nodded to her, honestly interacting with Miura Yumiko was not something I had ever envisaged doing.

It simply…happened.

I don't know if it was the fact that she helped me when I collapsed, or that she was tasked with making sure that I memorised the lines for the play…but we had certainly developed a certain ease during our repeated interactions.

I didn't consider her to be a friend…yet. I considered friendship to be beyond me, but I suppose…I could consider something like that in the future.

With that she left, I contemplated turning around and checking on Hayama but chucked the idea immediately.

He deserved it for going along with all that Ebina out us through.

Damned people pleaser.

I unbuttoned my jacket to gain access to the cool air, looking around I found that Ebina was lying in a pool of what I assumed was her blood. An unearthly grin adorned her face as she mumbled something while still leaking more blood from her nose.

Just how much blood did this girl have? I mean with the amount of blood I've seen her let loose in the past few days…

"Onii-chan!"

(Komachi PoV)

Onii-chan has certainly changed a bit in the past few weeks.

Its just not that he is coming home a bit late, or that he is wearing glasses…but something beyond that.

I remember the time from a few years ago, Onii-chan was would move about in his room wearing a cape. He used to hold a stick in his hand and would proclaim himself to be the 'Blade-King' or something.

I thought it was silly, but still kind of cool. Then he came home one day claiming that he had finally found a girl he loved and that he was going to proclaim his 'eternal-love' for her in the coolest way possible.

…

Then everything changed.

Onii-chan till then had 2 personas: The out-of-home mode when he would stay quiet and reserved and rarely spoke and the in-home mode when he would do silly things and laugh with me when we watched Precure together.

After that day both seemed to disappear, onii-chan was more…sad and rarely talked. He started staying quiet even at home and his eyes got even more bad than before.

Then there was a time in between when onii-chan cracked the Sobu Entrance test, he started to look happy and Komachi hoped he would stay that way.

But then…the accident happened. Onii-chan became quiet again.

A few weeks ago, he came home grumbling something about a committee and being the boss, Komachi didn't pay it much mind.

Then onii-chan started changing again. He started grumbling more but there was a bit more…life. Onii-chan was angry quite a few times but he never really seemed sad after that. I preferred the angry onii-chan over the sad one.

Then he said that he was going to perform in a play, and I just had to go.

The play was…dreamy. I've never seen this side of Onii-chan before.

All in all, I was really thinking that onii-chan could get toether with Yui-san or Yukino-san but I must say…

Komachi wouldn't mind having another Onii-chan either.

(8man PoV)

"Yo, Komachi."

"Boo," Komachi pouted, "You must use a proper greeting onii-chan."

"Far too spent for that," I spoke.

…

Wait a sec.

"Komachi," I hesitated before asking, "Since when are you here?"

"What? Onii-chan was in a play, so I came to cheer for you! Ah, that was worth a lot of Komachi points!"

Noooooooooooooo!

"Y-You-"

"Saw the entire play onii-chan," she grinned, "You know, Komachi wouldn't mind if…"

I followed her gaze to a mop of short blonde hair leaving the room.

"…and I'm sure mom and dad wouldn't mind either. I mean-"

Not wanting to stretch the topic at all I got down to her level and pulled her cheeks.

"Mmmm-ouccch!"

"Just stay quiet about that," I spoke, "Or I'll tell dad you threw away his saké stash."

Komachi's eyes widened at my threat.

"What!? You'll tell on your little sister? What kind of brother are you!?"

"One that knows how to use knowledge to his advantage," I spoke, "Now scram before I add to the story and tell him that you took it to 'try out' things with your friends."

Komachi pouted again but seemed to back off.

Cute.

I wish I could say that, but I'd just come off as a creep.

Come to think of it no one would call it creepy if any of the girls called her cute…I call gender discrimination on this.

Yes, males should have the right to call other females, especially little sisters cute and not be called creepy. That would be complete and total equality.

I turned to see that it was only the two of us in the classroom, that was not counting Yuigahama who seemed to be just staring at us from the doorway.

"You can come in Ms. Yuigahama." I spoke.

"Ah," my voice seemed to have shaken her from her trance, "Yahallo Komachi-chan! Hey Hikki!"

Now that I think about it, why am I the only person that doesn't get a 'Yahallo!' from Yuigahama? Is the greeting reserved just for the members of a particular tribe?

The riajuu tribe maybe?

"Yahallo Yui-san!" Komachi moved to her, "What's in the bag?"

"Ah," Yuigahama said, "I went out to get something for lunch. You know you can join us Komachi-chan-"

"Ah, I just remembered there's a bunch of things I want to see, so I'll be going," Komachi spoke as she completely cut into Yuigahama's invitation, "So I'll be leaving, bye Yui-san! And Onii-chan make sure that you haveyour lunch bye!"

That little brat.

I sighed and plopped myself onto a chair, Komachi's attempt at matchmaking was so obvious that it was a bit disturbing. No doubt Yuigahama is frozen in her place, its like she has seen Medusa herself.

"Yuigahama," I called out to her, while I was used to Komachi's antics, they had no doubt left Yuigahama baffled at the sheer audacity of her attempt.

I mean me and Yuigahama…I didn't really need to say anything here. I've known enough about nice girls.

"Ah-uh," Yuigahama recovered enough to finally respond to me.

"Lunch," I spoke, tapping on the desk, "You people put me through enough with this play."

Yeah, so now give me the free food you bribed me with yesterday.

"Oh," Yuigahama recovered enough to move towards the desk, she put the box on the table, then surprisingly she pulled a chair and sat next to me.

Well…I'll just accept her company then. I've grown better at dealing with the whole 'being with people' thing in the last few weeks.

"See," Yuigahama opened the box, "It's honey toast."

Wait, it looks like bread.

I took a part of it and put it in my mouth.

Yup, this was bread. Born and raised as bread; the quality of it left much to be desired though. The outer portion was hard, the honey had not seeped through the whole thing so by the 3rd bite I was just eating a lump of poorly baked bread.

Was this some sort of harassment? I was sure I did all that of required of me in the play…

"Yum! This is so good!"

…and it was then I realised that the being known as Yuigahama Yui would never have an appreciation for fine food. I wasn't much better in that department myself, but having to cook for Komachi and my own being for quite quite a few years over had made me into a bit of a foodie. This aspect had kept up even though Komachi had taken up most duties in the last year or so.

Yuigahama smiled as she took another piece and I followed; I was expected to show up at the main stage in some time, was too tired to go out to get something else, and it'd be plain rude to just stop eating.

I mean sure the toast wasn't heavenly but I was brave enough to eat Yuigahama's cookies; nothing could beat that bane of all culinary arts.

"Uhh," I turned to notice Yuigahama give me a pointed look, "Is something on my face?"

"Nothing," she spoke, "I just thought you said something very mean about me."

Can all women read minds?

…can I learn this skill too? It sure as hell beats the whole 8man-sense. I wouldn't even mind-

…

"-us in too!"

Yuigahama and I turned, the source of the noise seemed to come from the next classroom. Wordlessly I got up and moved towards the door. Peering through I saw a group of teenage guys arguing with the people from the next class who were running a 'maid café.'

"C'mon man! We've been waitin' for like hours!"

"Yeah! Let us in you wimp!"

Now that right there is a reason as to why you should not run such things, atleast without adequate muscle protection to deter the behaviour of such hornballs.

…

"Things seem to be getting a bit crazy," Yuigahama spoke as she looked from the doorframe, I simply nodded in response.

The committee had designated mobile squads of 4 people each to keep the decorum in place throughout the day; but it seems we are still short-staffed.

…and considering that these people would probably start rioting soon, against all my primal loner instincts I put on my committee armband and moved right into the centre of action.

"Is there a problem here?" I asked, a bit surprised by how level headed I was.

…

"…and please keep one person outside to ensure that people don't jump the line." I spoke, the Class Representative bowed a bit before thanking me for my help and moved inside to help his class. The commotion was taken care of, and the extra crowd was controlled when I gave them the permission to use another empty classroom temporarily as an extension.

Good grief, I should be paid for this stuff.

I moved back to where Yuigahama was standing.

"Wow Hikki," she spoke, "That was so cool!"

What's with the starry look in your eyes?

I mean I didn't really do much at all, those teenagers were just bunch of spineless minions who cowed down once I took off my glasses, and the only reason this even happened was because no one in that class was smart enough to manage a simple line of customers.

Plus the only reason I intervened was that I couldn't allow anything to go bust due to the sheer amount of effort I had put into this goddamned festival. I was unable to slack off even a bit as others working under me would follow and then I would immediately be assaulted verbally by the ice-queen and physically by the still-single tyrannical queen of orcs.

…I think Hiratsuka-sensei will probably skin me alive if she even heard a whisper about that nickname.

Plus, anything goes wrong here and it'll be me and Shiromeguri-senpai facing the music before the Principal. It's a scenario I wanted to avoid above all else.

"Not really," I played it off, "Now c'mon, I've got to get to the main stage soon."

"Ah yes, Yumiko was saying that they were going to perform too! Lets go!"

…

(Scene Change: Main Stage, Backstage area)

I looked with slight awe at the closing act, the 'amateur' orchestra conducted by Yukinoshita Haruno was certainly the real highlight of the day. All members were dressed like they had come to their debutante ball in Paris, and from the current display they had some real skill to back them up.

My misgivings about her personality aside, Yukinoshita Haruno was a real multi-talented proper lady.

"Amazing," I turned, the words had come from the most surprising of sources.

"Surprising to see you praise her," I spoke, from the little interaction I had witnessed between the sisters they certainly weren't that chummy with each other; especially Yukinoshita herself.

"Is it," she spoke, "I'll have you know I rate nee-san very highly," she looked towards the stage again, "I wanted to be like her afterall."

'You don't have to'

I bit back my statement before looking at Yukinoshita, a few weeks ago I would've told her that she was alright the way she was. That she didn't need to change herself, and that she did not need to be like her sister…but I could not say it now, it was not my place to say anything.

Afterall, I really needed to practice what Dr. Suzuki told me last weekend.

(Flashback)

"…so I see. Have you been following a steady sleep and eating schedule?"

I nodded in response.

"Good," Suzuki-san spoke, "Now I am going to give you a new exercise to practice. This one though relates purely to your mental side and should not require any change in routine."

"The name of this exercise," Dr. Suzuki spoke, "Is steady detachment, and it's a technique I want you to practice as much as you can for the next 3 weeks."

(Flashback End)

I remembered the time I had first sat on a plane. I was really young and we were going to visit my grandparents in Hokkaido during the Golden Week.

I still remember the pretty air-hostess who gave me candy, and I listened with rapt attention when they gave the mandatory safety instructions as mom said it was important that I listen.

Never figured that the silly ritual had life lessons hidden in them.

'Please wear the oxygen mask yourself before trying to help others.'

When you are travelling over 30,000 feet in the air in a giant metal tube; things can go awry quite fast. So the plane provides safety measures such as oxygen masks to be used by all those aboard in time of crisis. Not wearing the mask when there is a lack of oxygen in the plane can result in breathlessness, nausea and can render you unconscious quite fast. A primary reason as to why wearing a mask is mandatory to access your lifeline.

More importantly, it is important to wear your mask as fast as possible, as it isn't as easy as it would seem in the time of crisis. The simple act of wearing a mask can be daunting when in the face of any unforeseen adversity.

While trying to help someone at such a time is a noble deed, not wearing one first causes more problems;

For one, when you are yourself suffering and clearly not in the correct physical or mental state, you are going to be sloppy. So you will be operating with decreased efficiency.

Secondly, providing help in such a state meant that you could very well interfere and ruin it for the guy you are trying to help. Who knows that the guy might as well be able to wear his mask by himself, and in your noble desire to help you are just slowing him down, all the while compromising on your own safety by not wearing one yourself.

In both scenarios, you are ruining both yourself and the person you are trying to 'help.'

In the first scenario, if you wear a mask yourself you will have a steady supply of oxygen and will be much better positioned to provide help to someone else.

In the second scenario, you'll take a bit of time to wear the mask. By the time you're done you'll be better positioned to check if the intended person actually requires your help or not as he has had the time to help himself before you interfere. Who knows he might even do a better job than you, then you can ask him for pointers.

So, in the end wearing a mask yourself first is beneficial to all concerned parties.

If only we could learn from it so easily.

We human beings are strange creatures. In life, we generally act selfishly, we grovel, steal, lie and backstab each other constantly to obtain fickle things…such as social standings in groups.

But in the end, I have to guess that doing all that makes us feel guilty. Not the real kind, but the kind that you feel when you are looking at the picture of starving kids in some poor country while stuffing your mouth at a restaurant. You feel guilty and quite unsecure about yourself for having so much, abandon food for the evening and maybe share a few posts on social media or make a small donation to some charity online.

All in all, you just want to feel better about yourself by just doing something.

Then you feel better, and that's done. You feel more secure about who you are.

Truth to be told, you don't really make much of a difference anyway. But most people are just unwilling to accept the fact that they are mostly helpless in the face of adversity, and want to show that they can do something about any given situation. It provides a boost to the ego, and it does feel good to know how much you can change everything and everyone around you.

All this, because you feel insecure about who you are and want to feel better about yourself. So you search for something even your own being can accomplish, preferable in someone else's life so that you can feel omnipotent, even if it is fleeting.

Afterall, looking inside of yourself and admitting that there is something wrong with you is a scary prospect not many are willing to face.

So you bury your issues, and find issues in the lives of others to solve. All in the hope that somewhere along the line you might become brave enough to face yourself…but that day never arrives.

Not anymore, for me atleast.

I know that society is twisted, but blaming it hasn't really done any good for me…

…and therefore, I admit this. The being known as Hikigaya Hachiman is not perfect, and really needs to put on his oxygen mask.

Till then, I'm in no position to lecture anyone.

"I see," I spoke.

What Yukinoshita Yukino thought now was something personal to her, something I had no business delving into. For now I just absorbed what she said.

"Pres," another voice called from behind me, "We're on for the prize distribution now, the voting results have come in."

"Okay," I spoke taking the sheet, "We'll stay on schedule, count to 20 after the band is off stage and then we'll proceed with the announcement."

The light went off as all members of the orchestra started getting off stage, I just looked on as a few really good looking college girls made it past me.

Are they models or something? Because-

"Pres," a voice crackled through the radio, "You're on in 10."

"Affirmative," I spoke, pushing my hormonal thoughts aside, "backstage staff on standby until the announcements."

"Got it pres."

With that I clutched the paper and walked back to the stage, a few more minutes and I could finally call it a day.

"Good evening to all present here," I spoke the rehearsed lines Shiromeguri-senpai had helpfully supplied "On behalf of the Festival Committee I convey our sincere gratitude to everyone who made today possible. I hope that everyone here will take home good memories of today."

There was a faint cheering at my words.

"…with that I will announce the results of voting," I spoke, "The most popular performing group for today was…"

…

Phew!

The spotlight on my face finally shut down, and I was allowed to somehow trudge to the backstage where everyone seemed to be ven more exited than before.

Just how much energy do you Riajuus have? Go explode already.

I glanced over to see Haruno excitedly poking at Yukinoshita, who was trying and miserably feeling at chasing her off with one of her trademark glares. Seeing me return Haruno seemed intent on dragging her over to where I was.

Someone please help…I'm too tired to make a run for it.

"Heya Pres!" A random guy from the volunteers group smacked me on the shoulder, "Good job! C'mon we've set up a bonfire and all!"

I didn't really want to partake in a Riajuu escape…but what the hell I'll take it!

Anything beat dealing with those sisters. So I just let myself get dragged off the crowd from the backstage to the athletics field. The volunteers group had pulled no stop in the post-festival celebrations, the cool evening breeze fed the rather large bonfire; there were snacks and cold-drinks too.

Generally I would've just slunk away from something like this…but an attempt to do the same right now was set-off by the still-single middle aged tyrannical queen of orcs who just pulled me right into the middle of the chaos when I had activated Stealth Hikki and was about to approach the gate.

I hope that someone atleast bought Maxx Coffee, all that speaking has made me really thirsty.

…unfortunately they didn't, and the cola tasted really weird.

I probably shouldn't have another bottle, considering the red adorning the faces of the others I'd actually blurt Hiratsuka-sensei's nickname in front of her and probably never wake up again.

Soon the speakers were moved outside, and people began to gather outside near the bonfire; from the looks of it there was going to be a dance now.

The best time to escape was now.

Activate Stealth Hikki! Times 3!

"Hikki! The dance is this way!"

Dammit!

I resigned myself to the fate of being within the vicinity of people...just a few more hours, tomorrow was a holiday and I'm not going to even leave my room.

I just hope I don't have to dance with the air this time.

…and timeout!

I thank each and everyone of my readers for their support, especially those who review. You guys are the best!

I know I haven't been able to respond to all those who review, time has been a real constraint and I hope I'll be able to do that again soon.

Bye!