Apathetic Super Soldier

Chapter 1: Another Hill to Climb

[Disclaimer: These are works of purely speculative fanfiction. It is not intended to infringe on any rights by any of the companies and/or individuals involved in the production of any series mentioned here]

On a Sunday night, he imagined most teenagers would be at home on social media, playing video games, doing extra revision, eating supper, even loitering the streets wasn't too farfetched.

In the recesses of his mind, Hachiman had to question himself if this profession was really worth it. Cramped in an air vent for the umpteenth, the dusty confined space forced his frame to crawl on his hands and knees. He tried to move with a cat's poise, lest he alerts the whole facility whilst stuck in this flimsy air vent. In moments like this, the weight of his equipment was troublesome.

It was a blessing his acute eyes provided him with sight in the grips of darkness. He didn't want the disgusting unfortunate scenario to touch something nasty. Like gum or a dead rat or something. Okay, maybe he was being childish. So, he liked to stay clean, kill him.

As he turned a corner he withheld a cringe as his hypersensitive nose was viciously assaulted by the scent of urine. Great. It seemed his entrance inside were the toilets. Isn't that pristine. Underneath him there was an unoccupied cubicle, he ignored the rust-coloured water in the toilet.

His black tabi boots landed soundlessly upon the floor from his drop. Hachiman froze and narrowed his eyes beneath his mask at the sound of boots shuffling in the neighbouring cubicle. He pushed open the door allowing enough space for his eyes to peer outside. The restroom looked like your average dirty toilet at a train station, grey tiled floors, white walls, misplaced tissue, except the green-uniformed man, armed with an AK47 standing sentry.

No surprise there, Hachiman was already briefed that the enemies would be heavily armed.

Rain glided down his armoured form atop the roof as he eyed the facility from a crouched position. Vibrations from his pocket alerted him to his device, he pulled out a futuristic, six-inch touchscreen phone. He moved underneath a water tank, granting him relief from the rain and the screen flashed blue, displaying an indiscernible figure.

"Shark, you have been granted permission to dispatch enemy personnel by any means you see fit in accordance to the mission parameters," the voice on the line was disfigured, abnormally deep.

Hachiman's wry smirk was hidden behind his helmet. "Oh? I'm allowed to get my hands dirty again?"

There was a moment of silence before there was a response. "Within reason, caution is advised, Shark. Enemies will be heavily armed."

"Roger that." He locked off and pocketed the device without pause and reached for his grapple gun.

Tonight was meant to be a simple operation, keeping guard of a facility was an easy role when there was a low chance of enemy engagement. Therefore, the man spun around startled, eyes widening when he laid eyes upon the ridiculous sight of a man casually walk out of a cubicle. He immediately raised his assault rifle when he noticed how intimidating this figure was.

Garbed in a grey and white Kevlar armoured suit, the shark-finned helmet concealing his face had two mean shark shaped eyes and a flat-out frightening painting of sharp white teeth, even the air ventilators were styled in the shape of gills where his cheeks would be.

It didn't help his nerves at the fact that this shark-themed monstrosity was also armed to the teeth, katana and all.

"Stay where you are and put your hands in the air!" his frantic order grabbed the attention of the three other guards as they exited their cubicles. Two from behind him and one behind the intruder. They were just as confused as he was until their collective sights landed on the aquatic predator dressed man. In an instant, the three green outfitted men copied their fellow guard and held him at gunpoint.

He was surrounded.

The guard behind grew frustrated with the stationary man's incompliance, a harsh frown drawn on his visage.

"This is your last warning, hands in the air now!"

When the shark-man finally spoke his voice sounded distorted as if coming from an old radio. "Take it easy, guys. I just needed to use the bathroom." He slowly raised his hands in the air.

Growing angry at the light-hearted intruder, the most aggressive guard behind Hachiman snapped. "Do you think this is a-

Panic rattled them when they were suddenly engulfed in darkness.

"Shit!"

"Where is he?!"

"Don't shoot, you might hit me!"

Before they could retaliate, a boot planted itself in the aggressive guard's chest, that propelled a fully grown two hundred pound man off his feet. He splintered right through the cubicle door, his unconscious body smashing a dent above the toilet.

Movement blanketed by the darkness and without pause, Hachiman threw a sharp left hook that shattered the guard in the middles jawbone that flung him to impact the wall harshly. Aided by his night vision he saw as bright as day as the last two guards fretted about.

He grabbed the man's head and thrust his knee into his gut, he choked and crumbled to the floor. Then he spun his elbow with incredible force that cracked the last man's nose as he crashed against the floor with a river of red flowing from his nose.

Four men unconscious in six seconds, he wondered if that was a record. He rummaged through a guard's uniform and stole his ID pass.

'Thanks, buddy.'

Hachiman didn't pause to admire his handy work and walked out of the bathroom and entered the dreary hallways. He needed to locate the control room, this is the part that required patience. He knew from experience it was sometimes difficult to gather information when you went in guns blazing.

He slid behind a brown box when a duo of armed guards walked by.

"What is it that's so important that we have to be here all night?"

"Hey, we can't complain, we knew what we signed up for."

"Hmm, at least the money's not bad."

Their conversation drifted out as they grew further away, he gave a double glance peep before he popped out again and resumed his search. After five minutes of following complicated signs, evading camera's and avoiding scientists and guards he finally stumbled upon the steel door to the control room, the bold font sign was a dead giveaway.

As soon as he slid the ID pass on the card reader, Hachiman unveiled a suppressed MP7 from his back, held one-handed and took cover beside the door frame.

Hachiman rolled his eyes as the door slid open at a snail's pace, it was annoying how they were much slower compared to elevators. He gave a peek inside to discover only two operators were operating the dim control room, two weary men reclined in front of a hub of screens, coffee mugs were on the desk and an in-use ashtray and a half-eaten box of doughnuts.

They both looked completely exhausted, he wouldn't be surprised if they had been here for more than ten hours, on a weekend at that. So, you can imagine their dismay when they hopped up from their seat at the armoured man resembling a great white shark entered the room and held them at gunpoint.

"Move a muscle without my permission and you're dead."

At the distorted voice's order, they nervously nodded their heads as one, their hands froze in the air.

"Please, just don't kill us!" the one with the gruff beard and spectacles begged.

Hachiman approached them with a leisured pace, further scaring them, he slowly placed the barrel of his gun to his temple, Hachiman watched indifferently as he shook like a leaf whilst sweat built at his forehead. Fear was a powerful tool, a double-edged sword. It could bring the best out of you or your worst, in his experience it was usually the latter for most humans.

"Do as I say and you both get to leave out of here unharmed, do we have a deal?" Well mostly.

The spectacled man seemed to be the designated speaker as he spoke for both of them. "Yes, we have a d-deal."

Hachiman's warped chuckle spooked them out. "Good, good, what's your name, sir?" to the two men his well-mannered question didn't seem appropriate for the situation.

Hachiman saw the man was understandably hesitant and nervous to reveal his name. "Uhh, I…"

"You're testing my patience, sir." To make his point he tapped the barrel of his MP7 against his skull.

At the terrifying reminder that his life was in the hands of this lunatic, he cracked. "M-my name is Kaito!"

"See! Was that so hard?" They had a feeling this man was smirking behind his mask.

"N-no, sir!"

Hachiman spotted the screen he was searching for and removed his gun from the shivering man to tap on the screen displaying live HD footage of the room filled with gas storage tanks as tall as the ceiling. "You see this room?"

The man nodded his head a dread of recognition shined in his eyes, he knew that room. Now he understood what the man was after.

"Ahh, I see you understand." He tapped his MP7 on the man's shivering head as if to applaud him. "I want you to grant me access to that room."

He hesitated again and wasn't sure if he should move. "Do it now, Kaito!" He jolted, his glasses almost falling from his face at the sudden order, he scrambled into place and began to hastily input the necessary access codes.

"How long is this going to take?"

"Umm, a couple m-minutes!"

Hachiman turned his attention to the second man who had yet to speak to see him still shaking in place, his arms tiring from still being raised.

"You there?"

The bald-headed man grew more nervous when he noticed his attention was on him. "Y-yes!"

"You can sit down." Hachiman offered nonchalantly, he almost chuckled at the gobsmacked expression on his face, he probably anticipated something much worse being asked of him. Just as he collapsed in his swivel chair, Kaito had finished.

"The doors to Laboratory Zero-Four have been unlocked, but you will have to be quick as the fail-safe system automatically locks them after two minutes."

"Great work, Kaito. Goodnight."

That was the last of his voice the two men heard as they were immediately knocked unconscious. Hachiman stalked through the hallways with conviction as he blitzed like a jungle cat past laboratories and offices until he finally located Laboratory Zero-Four, standing sentry were two guards armed with UMP45's.

He threw a flashbang into their line of sight.

"What the fu-"

White flooded their vision before it brusquely flipped all black. Hachiman stepped over their bodies and swiped his access card on the reader.

CONTROL ROOM AUTHORIZATION GRANTED

LABORATORY ZERO-FOUR ACCESS GRANTED

He entered the spacious bottling room and gazed at his objective in elation, he disregarded the stairs and hopped the railing and fell fifteen feet and landed nimbly on his toes. He reached into his sachet and procured ten mines, he made sure to attach each sticky mine on each gas tank securely, when he arrived at the final one, his acute ears were attacked by the blaring sound of an alarm.

He heard heavy footfalls of armed men approaching, at least fifteen. He was aware of the potential gunfight and didn't want to risk getting blown up by a stray bullet, so he moved away from the gas tanks.

A sudden twitch hit his acute ears and he seamlessly unleashed his MP7 and let bullets rain just as the first man stormed through the door.

Bullets riddled his form, ripping muscle tissue askew as he collapsed.

"Man down! Man down! Returning fire!"

The men behind took fire as Hachiman was forced to seek cover, they used their comrades' suppression fire to storm the room. Hachiman slid behind some machinery as they circled around his position. Hachiman snuck a peek at the time on his touchscreen watch, 1:16, he breathed a sigh of relief.

He realised the absurdity of the situation, the last thing on his mind shouldn't be if he is able to make it back home in time for school. Not when he was currently surrounded by twenty or more armed men, with more most likely on the way.

His comfort came from experience and his belief in his skill and abilities. He would make it out this alive. His attention was drawn to a man dressed in a militaristic camo uniform with a field cap, his hands clasped firmly behind his back, a wall of stern determination.

"Come out, spy!" his powerful command boomed out as his soldiers stood ready. "We have you surrounded!"

Hachiman braced himself for a prompt exit through the conveyor belt, he activated the mines and immediately all hell broke loose as the building shook and rattled, the explosive force from the explosion blasted the soldiers off their feet, fire sprang to life, dragging all its reaches to scream, the toxic chemicals released amidst the smoke created fatal effects as men suffered corrosive injuries and burned to death.

The brown uniformed man roared as he shoved the heavy body of a dead soldier off him, his face covered in charcoal and blood from a cut eyebrow, he glared at the almost missed figure as he fled down the conveyor belt tunnel amongst the hysteria.

He saw the toxic fumes wafting in the air, fearing for his life, he retreated out of the facility and cut his losses.

From the distance Hachiman saw the torrent of smoke and fire irradiate in a strange beatific fashion from the facility, the sounds of fire trucks and ambulances wailed loud in the night. He fixed the collar of his black dress shirt and smoothed out his black slim jeans as he shut the door of the taxi, he placed his metal briefcase on the seat beside him.

"Drive."

/~/

(Home)

Hachiman watched the taxi drive away leaving his neighbourhood in the silence of the night. The tweeting noise the crickets emitted was a comforting contrast when compared to the ear ringing sound of gunshots, men screaming and explosions. He decided to enter his house quickly if the neighbours saw a sixteen-year-old kid loitering outside his home at… Hachiman glanced down at his touchscreen watch… as he was saying at 3:24 in the morning it'd paint a bad image.

He wasn't surprised when he heard paws opposite his front door when he put his keys through the hole. Hachiman smiled as he opened the door, greeted by the sight of their family dog welcoming his arrival. Their fawn Japanese tosa was an undoubtedly massive dog, large broad head, long and squared-off black muzzle. 160 pounds of muscle.

Shutting the door behind him, Hachiman bent down to his knee and gave strong pats on the elated dog's head and stomach.

"Hey, Takeo, you miss me?" he whispered down to the whining dog, Takeo circled around him continuously in a protective manner, sniffing at the new scents he'd brought into the house.

Tail wagging erratically, Takeo followed Hachiman's heels as he entered the kitchen to make a glass of juice and a quick snack, he easily navigated his home without the assistance of lights. As he prepared for bed Takeo sprawled himself out on the floor of his room and was out within seconds, he chuckled at the sight.

With great relief, he collapsed onto his mattress. Only for his touchscreen phone to vibrate, he answered it instantly. "Shark here."

"On behalf of our agreement you have been wired 2.2 million yen on the successful completion of this mission, totalling at a pay 4.4 million yen. Dismissed."

Hachiman grunted as he locked his phone and immediately drifted off like Takeo.

/~/

(School)

"What am I meant to do with this?"

Here at the end of school Hachiman stood again in the sparsely populated staff room, his arms clasped firmly behind his back, before the very same teacher that would not leave him be. Any time he showed a hint of slacking off this woman was on his heels without fail. No surprise she wasn't impressed with his most recent essay, the disappointed, exasperated glare she sent his way attested to that.

Not that he cared, it was his damn opinion.

Seated in the swivel chair, the woman of his annoyance, he could admit Hiratsuka Shizuka was rather physically attractive. Beautiful purple eyes, long eyelashes and full lips, lightly coated in red lipstick. A fairly tall, busty woman possessing long black hair that flowed down to her shins, a curvy figure of a mature woman that he was sure was used to fuel many male students' teenage boy fantasies.

He didn't doubt this despite the fact she wasn't even dressed in the subtle provocative manner some professional women usually do, you know, a little cleavage here, a little leg show there, even bare shoulders were enough to garner male attention.

He wasn't here to judge, do you.

Outfitted in a knee-length white jacket that reminded him of a lab coat, a white-collar shirt underneath a black V-neck vest with a loosely worn blue tie. On her bottom, she wore loose-fit black trousers held by a black leather belt, finished off with brown two-inch heeled shoes.

"Tell me, Hikigaya." His sensei raised his essay as if it was his badge of shame, her frustration was visible in the crease in her well-kept eyebrows. "What exactly was the assignment I gave the class?"

He gave her a blank look as if she was losing her memory to old age. "To write a reflection on 'our' high school years."

"Then why did you write this drivel?" Shizuka turned to his paper in disgust. "What possessed you to write this essay?" She crossed her shapely legs and threw his paper down to her desk, where it lay next to her yellow coffee mug and an ashtray that had one too many cigarette buds for his liking.

They say cigarettes were meant to be a stress relief, well just how much stress was she under that required that many cancer sticks? Is this why she was always so hard on him? Was he some kind of sick release for her to unload her personal frustrations on?

"Good grief."

Hachiman gave her a weird glance, it seemed like she was responding to his thoughts. She sighed like the world was on her shoulders and ran her hand through her hair. He stubbornly sharpened his gaze at her in a confrontational manner when she suddenly remained still and scrutinized him through half-lidded eyes in a way that he detested. It brought up angry memories.

"Your eyes look just like a cold-blooded shark's."

He arched an eyebrow at this daring woman, she was already throwing direct insults at him. Personally, he took it as a compliment, great white sharks were his favourite wild animal. Intimidating, powerful, stealthy, a true apex predator that commanded the respect of the ocean.

From her perspective, she probably meant it as cold, lifeless, a pariah, a social derelict. A person that brings discomfort and trepidation to all in their vicinity.

Doesn't mean he won't play the fool just to piss her off.

"Do they look like they can scare off older single women?"

He internally smiled at her predictable reactions, her expression looked stunned then shifted to a moment of depression and then the most delectable, anger. She shot up from her chair like a viper and threw a surprisingly sharp straight-right that flew inches past his face at decent speed.

Hachiman was actually impressed with her striking technique, she got her hips and shoulders into it and all! He'd bet money she could possibly beat up most unfit male teachers around here.

Albeit in comparison to the blooded foes he fought it was laughable and didn't phase him in the least. In the belief that his lack reaction was due to fear, she thought she was successful in scaring him as she glared. "Didn't your mother ever teach you that mentioning a woman's age will get you killed?"

"My mother was never that insecure," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?!"

"I said my apologies. Besides that, I'm not redoing-"

He held his tongue in confusion as she wordlessly removed her fist and took a step back and stared up at him as she held her chin. She suddenly smiled in a way that he was sure many men didn't get to witness with a hum.

"Come with me for a moment."

He would be lying to you if he said his mind didn't go to the gutter for a second. Can you really blame him? Despite her being a thorn in his side, she was freaking hot!

/~/

His hopes were actually rising as he followed the perfumed scent of his sensei through the empty hallways and up the stairs to where it grew more secluded, most students and teachers already left for home. Lucky kids… or maybe he was?

He trailed behind the click of Hiratsuka-sensei's heels, a sudden spark of displeasure hit him at the white jacket that shielded the woman's rear from his view. His perfectly natural perverted thoughts were broken when they happened upon a door.

He peered over her shorter head as she slid the door open, instinctual his sharp eyes immediately traced every detail of the whole entire room. The chairs and tables stacked neatly at the back, including the boxes of different sizes. It looked like a makeshift storage room. Warm breeze billowed at the curtain from the open window, where a lone black-haired girl sat reading a book, her long ribbon decorated hair tussled gently by the wind.

Dressed in the Sobu High female uniform, a black blazer over her white shirt, sporting a red ribbon tie and a plaid skirt. Shielding her slender, feminine legs were thigh-high socks possessing a white stripe at the top.

When he entered the room behind the elder woman, the girl raised her head at the intrusion.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'm pretty sure I asked you to knock before coming in."

If he didn't know already Hachiman could already tell this girl was from a high-class family just from how refined her vernacular was. Wait a minute, 'asked?' This isn't the first time Hiratsuka-sensei has barged in, seems like something she would do.

Hiratsuka-sensei raised a palm helplessly as she approached. "You never answer when I knock, though."

She received a flat look from the seated girl. "That's because you do not wait for an answer before barging in." See, he called it! So predictable.

Finally, his presence was actually acknowledged as the girl turned her blank gaze to him but directed her question towards Hiratsuka-sensei.

"So, who's the weirdo?"

Hachiman furrowed his eyebrows in annoyance. Yep, this girl is a bitch alright. Was she related to Hiratsuka-sensei, they have a habit of casually hurling insults at people. Who was he kidding? It was probably just him in particular. He knew this girl, almost everyone in the school did. Located in the International Culture Studies Department, Class 2-J.

In his opinion, a hell zone where ninety percent of the class consisted of girls, all popular – wouldn't shock him if most of them were gossiping bitches - and averaging high grades.

He winced at the idea of being amid them, even worse he was before the worst of them.

Yukinoshita Yukino.

Hiratsuka-sensei threw him a curveball when she jerked a thumb at him whilst smiling at Yukino. "He wants to join your club."

"Huh, join what now?" His face shifted to a look of bafflement, first, he never once said such an asinine statement. Secondly, there was only one bitchy girl in here, what 'club?' is she talking about?

Hiratsuka-sensei's lone eye glowered over her shoulder at him, meeting his glare of stupor. "You will join this club as penance for the shamble of an essay you turned into me." Damn was she taking this personally? "I don't care about any questions, concerns, objections or dissenting opinions you may have."

Then she dismissed her attention on him like he was a passing thought and turned to face an observing Yukino. "Anyway, as I'm sure you can see, his soul is just as cold and lifeless as his eyes."

Hachiman shoved his hands in his pockets, shut his eyes and blew a bored breath from his nostrils, the insults sliding off like water off a duck's back.

"That's why he stands before you like a pitiful loner. While he's in your club I'd like you to mend his twisted misanthrope mentality. This is a personal request from me." After all that, now he's starting to see why she's single in her mid-twenties, a lesser man would've crumbled at the weight of such derision.

"I refuse."

Hachiman's attention was drawn to Yukino who cradled herself in a vulnerable manner, giving him a repulsed stare.

"Looking at that guy's vulgar and scheming eyes makes me fear for my life."

This time he responded to her jibe, his deep tone a noticeable difference compared to the females higher pitched one, making his words more impactful.

"That's under the assumption that prepubescent-built females are my type, which they are definitely not."

Initially, Yukino was stunned at the bite back then she immediately felt incredibly insulted at the slight against her body as she glared at the smirking boy.

"I'll have you know-

Hiratsuka-sensei quickly interjected before thinks could boil over. "Relax, this guy is quite calculative and has self-preserving instincts." She crossed her arms as she smiled reassuringly at Yukino. "He definitely won't do anything that could get him in trouble with the law. Don't worry, he's a shark out of water at best."

Except this shark didn't tell you, he was capable of breathing and walking on land.

Swallowing her rebuttal for Hachiman's hurtful words, Yukino frowned thoughtfully at the elder female's words. "A shark out of water, huh? I see." She faced the woman stoically. "Well, I can't deny a request from a teacher, I will do as you say."

Hachiman watched the relief exhale from their sensei as her red lips stretched. "Good." She ambled to the door, throwing a hand in the air. "I'm counting on you, Yukinoshita."

Silence strangled the room as soon as the door shut, the birds tweeting outside offered some positive ambience.

Since he was stuck in this predicament due to his punishment, he went and got himself a chair, deliberately placing it at the other end of the room as far away from the witch. He was well aware of her eyes glancing at him over her book. At least this beats Hiratsuka-sensei calling home and getting his strict mother involved, his seldom-seen father would dismiss it and remain uninterested in petty school affairs unless he completely fell off academically.

Growing curious of the witch he finally broke the silence. "What is this club, anyway?"

She huffed as if annoyed at his question and turned her harsh stare at him. "Take a wild guess."

Hachiman hummed with a disinterested air, lazing an arm behind his chair. "Since Hiratsuka-sensei brought me to you to 'fix' me, I'm assuming you offer some kind of help to people."

She gave him an expression of surprise before she cooled her features. "You are close, the point of this club is to do what we're doing right now."

"Ok, where are you going with this?"

She shut her book and turned her head to face him. "Hikigaya-kun, how many years has it been since you last spoke to a girl?"

"I fail to see how that's relevant." Business wise he'd speak to different women all the time, but personally, maybe a month ago? Where did this chick get off by giving such a wide measurement of time frame?

"There are those who, out the goodness of their heart, provide for those in need." Alarm bells began ringing in his head, he was starting to understand this girl's angle. She rose from her seat and took two purposeful steps towards him. "Society calls them volunteers. We extend an open hand to those in need. That is why this club exists." Her hands held her elbows in a dignified pose as Hachiman was weirded out as the wind conveniently blew her hair in a dramatic fashion.

"Welcome to the Volunteers Club," she greeted levelly, she closed her eyes in a way he imagined royalty would. "I've been requested to assist you, so you're my responsibility. I will help you solve your problem. Be grateful." And then she ruined, she just can't help her conceited self.

"You fool, I have no problem just because I refuse to conform to a frivolous high school social hierarchy." He rose tall from his chair, towering over her. "I'm talented you know, I rank first in all major subjects, above you if you can recall." He got the reaction he desired as the grip on her arms tightened. Oh, Little Miss Helper has an ego. Till this day he still cherished the social outcry that permeated the school when everyone discovered Little Miss Perfect came second place to the forgotten lone wolf. "I chose to be alone, not everyone desires the attention of fickle crowds."

"The fact that you proudly believe your solitude was solely based on your choice is kind of amazing," she sneered with her arms crossed. "Weirdo. You're creeping me out here."

"Believe what your deluded mind wants, you witch."

Her next action just proved his point when Yukino literally smiled in a way that resembled a witch, even her hand rose eerily to rest under her chin. "From what I can gather, the reason you're all alone is that rotten nature of yours and twisted sensitivity."

"And what about you? You're all on your own reading, maybe you have your own problem, you have good looks, good grades, yet for some reason, you're a loner as well. After speaking to you for five minutes, I can understand why you have no friends because you're a self-righteous, cold-hearted judgemental bitch, that insults and ridicules people at the drop of a hat. Your heart is probably encrusted in ice, at the very least, I'm not in denial about my loneliness."

The stillness in the air that followed his scathing remarks let him know they hit home as Yukino raised a hand to clench her shirt and gave him a venom-filled glare, her shaking hand made him realise she was battling the urge to slap him. Like he'd allow that to happen.

"You're an insufferable, shameless man, you do not understand a single thing about me, creep. If you do not change your gross rabid ways your social life will forever be despicable."

Hachiman's snort drew a sharp dirty look from Yukino, this girl clearly wasn't used to having her own medicine thrown back at her. It was hilarious how easily she was rendered to an emotional state; her shoulders shook and her eyes grew watery. He was just defending himself.

As expected the woman he knew that was outside the entire time made her convenient entrance, that was the only reason he verbally held back, he would have continued until he made Yukino cry. Just to make it known, he was not a spineless doormat.

As his father would say, 'the hammer that strikes the hardest, leaves the biggest impression'.

If you let someone push you around, be it verbally or physically, without a retaliation, you unwilling create the precedence that it's acceptable and they'd be more prone to doing it again and again, consequently outside onlookers witnessing your inaction to the conflict would make them subconsciously look down on you. And if a future conflict were to arise with them, they'd have no respect for your possible response.

Alternatively, if you retaliated in an equal or greater level, this would create the precedence that attacking you will definitely have repercussions, if you knock out the guy who punched you first in the middle of the mall, the onlookers would know you are more than willing to fearlessly return the favour for better or worse.

That is why Hachiman would never feel guilty for aggressive self-defence.

Hiratsuka-sensei ambled into the room in her usual carefree fashion. "Yukinoshita, I'm coming in!"

Yukino turned her irritated attention to the unexpected interruption. "Knock!"

"Yeah, sorry." Hiratsuka waved a hand disarmingly. "Looks like you're having trouble fixing Hikigaya's problem." Standing beside the girl she faced the object of their problem with a smile as he stood tall in a wall of defiance.

The young girl shut her eyes in frustration and raised her palm towards the boy she found to be volatile and abrasive. "It's because he doesn't even realise he has problems."

"Ok, this whole situation is ridiculous." Both females diverted their eyes to the lone male comfortably leaning with his back against the wall, his hands stuffed in his pockets, resting a foot up. When he spoke, his deep voice was filled with conviction and confidence that had both females develop an inkling of doubt in their previous assessment of his character. "I do not need to change who I am for anybody, I definitely don't need people telling me who 'they' think I should be. Assimilating to the majorities social expectations for their collective comfort and complacency is weak. I am not a follower, damn it."

He pinned them in a rock-like stare, that screamed resolutely.

Yukino clenched her fist and bit her lower lip, her expression seemed momentarily conflicted as she recalled a personal situation. "You're just running away," she muttered. Hiratsuka gave an offset smile that withheld the sombre thoughts that drifted to her head from Hachiman's words. 'Am I weak for succumbing to my family's expectations of my marital status?'

Hachiman slipped his hands out his pockets and crossed his arms, giving the aggravated girl before him a belittling gaze. "No. Changing the very core of who I am to simply 'fit in' would be running away from reality. You must be able to accept who you were and who you are today." Only then you can move forward.

Hiratsuka-sensei's gaze shifted from Hachiman to Yukino as the grip on her knuckles tightened. "That…" she whispered, her vision then shot up to pierce Hachiman with a passionate stare that partly took him off guard. "That doesn't solve any problems and it won't help anyone either." He didn't expect such strong feelings in her words. In any case, he still believed this sheltered rich girl was naïve, she just didn't understand.

Hiratsuka-sensei sighed and raised her hands in a peaceful gesture. "Calm down, you two," the mediating voice of their sensei washed away the smoke of a heated argument as their eyes regarded her. She lifted her fist to her mouth and cleared her throat and then rose a single index finger in front of her. "In cases where two opinions collide, it's a time-honoured tradition in kids' manga to settle things in a battle."

Hachiman groaned, palming his face irately. "Is it every day with this woman?" his mutterings were heard by the girl next to him as she gave him a mixed look of curiosity and confusion.

"What do you mean?" Yukino asked.

"What I'm trying to say is." Hiratsuka-sensei smiled with her eyes closed emphatically and in her dramatic exuberance suddenly whipped an index finger in the air to point at the two gobsmacked pupils. "This is now the stage to see which one of you is best equipped to serve. The winner can order the loser to do anything they want."

'This is probably why you're single, teach.' Hachiman gave the woman a look like she crazy, why on earth would she word it like that? He glanced over to Yukino expectantly awaiting the disgusted vulnerable reaction.

"I refuse." Right on time, she frowned fearfully and Yukino took a nervous step back from him and hugged herself as if shielding her body from his 'depraved' eyes. "I fear for my life if he's my opponent." It was unreal to Hachiman how some girls were so predictable, it made them dangerously easy to control and manipulate.

Hachiman stepped off the wall and took two steps towards the girls, giving a sharp look to the eldest one. "I'm blaming your subtext wording for this moment."

She sent him a sheepish smile, before grasping her chin, closing her eyes. "So, even Yukinoshita Yukino has things she's afraid of." Her sight opened to knock Yukino with a teasing smiling. "Getting cold feet now, are we?"

"Very well." Yukino closed her eyes calmly. "I don't like falling for such an obvious provocation." She then stared hard at her sensei. "But, I accept this battle."

Hiratsuka-sensei gave a pleased smile and pointed at Yukino. "That settles it."

"In case you forgot, I haven't agreed to the terms yet," Hachiman's sudden interjection took both girls amiss and his sensei gave him a disbelieving look.

This was ironic and contradictory of their views on his character, because wasn't Yukino and Hiratsuka-sensei just saying that he was too dysfunctional and rotten to fit in and adjust into society, yet they both just assumed he'd just wordless go along with their agreements without his input or say like some compliant civilian, only a pussy would do that.

"Huh?!" Hiratsuka gave him a stunned look and stepped towards him. "You don't agree with the terms, Hikigaya?"

Hachiman tilted his head and gave her a dubious expression. "Oh, so now you want my opinion?"

She placed a hand on her wide hip and her demeanour shifted stern. "Don't get an attitude with me, brat. In case you forgot, this is your punishment."

"Nah, I'm through with this disrespectful bullshit."

Yukino wordlessly observed the confrontation from the background as Hachiman grunted and rudely turned his back on their teacher, flinging his bag over his back as he marched out of the room. Hiratsuka-sensei's visage shocked Yukino as a multitude of emotions exploded on her face, disbelief, upset, worry and concern, insulted and finally anger as she stormed after the boy.

Yukino sat down breathless and nervously held her beating chest. Shocked to witness a cool-headed woman she admired and saw as infallible relieve such emotions for this boy, what did she see in him?

"Do not walk away from me, young man!" In the departed hallways, painted in the orange hue of dusk, a white flapping jacket's ends and the clicking heels of Hiratsuka-sensei's two-inch heels reached Hachiman. Just as he took a step down the stairs, she grabbed him by the arm roughly, forcing his torso to face her and her glare to meet his. "Where the hell do you think you're going?! Do not ever turn your back on me like that again!"

"I'm going home, I'm not some gutless fool that will stand around as I get insulted."

Hachiman's challenging, aggressive demeanour honestly was a knockout punch she didn't see coming, she had seriously underestimated his bark and bite and mistook his passivity and indifference for being docile, tame or complaint. Regardless she was still incredibly livid and he will still serve his punishment.

"You're coming back now, Hikigaya." Disbelief fanned her fumes of anger as he ignored her and still had the gall to attempt to walk off, only to be impeded by her as she increased the grip on his arm, which proved astonishingly difficult as she struggled to grasp her whole hand around his rock, solid muscle and manage his unanticipated strength. "Do not make me force you, Hikigaya. That is a road you don't want to go down."

"Unhand me, sensei," he demanded with a harsh glare over his shoulder.

"Not unless you come back now and serve your punishment!" Her undivided firm attention on the boy in front of her. Her glare increased on her pretty face as she grew impatient. Hiratsuka confident in her physical abilities, tried to pull him up the stairs, only for her to be startled as he whipped around and took a step up himself, forcing her lighter frame to stumble back.

As she prepared to give him a tongue lashing for his recklessness, her tongue died in her throat accompanied by her anger.

Hachiman loomed directly before her, forcing her gaze up several inches to meet his cold eyes, at the close proximity she suddenly felt very small, despite the additional height her heels provided, reality struck her like a cold shower as his well-developed, athletic build visibly dwarfed her womanly frame by thirty pounds or more. His uniform clung to his broad frame nicely.

She eyed Hachiman differently as she gulped and her hands suddenly grew clammy, unaccustomed before such youthful overflowing, unbridled, tumultuous testosterone.

He radiated with aggression and dominance focused strictly on her in a way no man has ever done. Her instinctive femininity reverting her to a timid, pliant woman.

"Tell me. Why should I come back to a place that constantly ridicules and undermines me at every turn?"

Uncharacteristically, Shizuka felt chills run up her spine as his deep punching voice reverberated around her like an alpha male. In a nervous movement that she'd regret later, a lone hand fiddled a lock of her tresses as she avoided his eyes.

"I'm sorry," she murmured with her head down, stunning Hachiman for a moment at her meek display of remorse. "You're right, we shouldn't have continued insulting you, it was wrong. Can you please just come back for me?"

Hachiman's eyes softened and he gave the woman a gentle look as he sighed and ran a hand through his untamed raven hair, mentally fatigued of the whole situation and he thought being a mercenary was hard.

"I'm sorry too." The way Hiratsuka's eyes shot up from the floor and stared up at him in shock was pretty adorable, damn it, he was getting soft on her. "I shouldn't have cursed and turned my back on you."

Everyone has a smile or positive expression they reserve or hide away from the people they believe or feel do not deserve it. Therefore, his jaw mentally dropped at the relief filled heartfelt smile he received from his sensei.

He had a feeling there were not many people she smiled so beautifully for in her life. Perhaps he was wrong to assume she remained on his case for negative reasons in her personal life. Even the way he made her eyes light up radiantly when he gave his own carefree smirk back made him quizzical.

"I'm very happy about that, Hikigaya-kun." She quickly reached out to grasp his left wrist possessively, reassuring herself he wouldn't make a fast break again. Factoring in his resolute defiance and unpredictable violent outbursts to intentional provocation.

She realised now Hikigaya's case was more dangerous and difficult than she previously judged, she was going to have to be more involved than she was before. Her doubts on Yukino being able to influence him had all but doubled, tripled even.

She bit her lower lip anxiously, this meant more to herself than she initially believed, she was still rattled by his behaviour, her reflections hit the curb when she felt something resembling a watch on his wrist, hidden by his blazer sleeve. Hachiman titled his head in amusement at the woman when her eyes drifted to his wrist, that he kindly gave her the liberty to hold out of some weak feelings of fondness for her.

Her perfume struck his sensitive noise when she stepped into his personal space without relinquishing his wrist and placed her other hand on his sleeve to curiously pull it back.

A quiet gasp of breath left her mouth when she eyed the expensive craftsmanship that adorned her student's wrist, she recognised the brand of the watch immediately. Forty-four millimetres in size. A polished and satin-black stainless-steel finish, clasped with a black strap.

Whenever she hit the city and dolled up fashionable with her glitzy, high-salary girlfriends, they always dragged her along to some expensive club in the middle of the night to get drunk beyond their minds. And never too far were the high rollers, the men with more money than sense, she had seen men in the VIP section sporting this expensive brand of watch.

"A Hublot…" she whispered so low that Hachiman may have missed it if his ears weren't better than a hound dog.

"Is something wrong, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

She perked up and her shoulders jumped at his concerned question, still holding his wrist, her sight jumped from his watch to regard him inquisitively. As if just remembering whose wrist this watch was attached to.

"Where did you get this watch, Hikigaya?"

Hachiman smirked mysteriously down at her. "What do you mean? I obviously brought it from the jewellery store."

She intrusively moved closer in proximity as she fired a serious slash irritated expression at his playful elusiveness. "You know what I mean! How can you afford such a thing?!"

Ignoring her kissable red lips inches from his face, Hachiman held her questioning gaze for a moment, then glanced at his watch in disinterest. "This little thing? It didn't cost that much, the guy who sold it to me told me it wasn't even top of the range. 'Hublot Big Bang Steel' I believe the name was. Enough about that, weren't you supposed to bring me back to the clubroom?"

From her gaping mouth, it was obvious to him she had completely forgotten about the Volunteer Club and Yukino. "My goodness, how could I forget!" Although she wanted to continue questioning him she let it slide for now as she pulled down his sleeve, shielding his watch from view and dragged a brooding Hachiman down the hallway by his wrist heading to the clubroom.

"Is this really necessary?"

"Hmm?" She turned her head to give that smile to him again over her shoulder though this time her beauty was enhanced by the setting sun bathing her features brightly making her red lips and purple eyes shine at him. "Yes, I believe it is."

/~/

(Home)

Around the world, after a completed day of hard, stressful work or school the sight of home brought joy and comfort to peoples lives. Hachiman was amongst that current part as he shut his front door to all the problems and concerns of the world. Not all is well in the world because home also harbours beings that bring annoyance, irritation into our lives, these were the thoughts that pestered his mind as his little sister greeted him.

"Onii-chan! You're finally home!"

A fourteen-year-old girl who partially resembled him, possessing short raven-hair and cheerful blue eyes, bolted out the living room door and literally leapt off her feet like an Olympian at him. Thanking himself for taking his trainers off quickly, he caught his sibling easily out of the air as she giggled uncontrollably. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Komachi clung to his body as he effortlessly carried her weight to the living room/kitchen.

"Where were you Sunday night? Are you in a gang? Do you sell drugs? Am I going to be kidnapped because you couldn't afford to pay back some mobster you owed money to? Would you even try to save me?!"

Hachiman managed to wash his hands in the kitchen sink, despite the human body hanging off his form.

"I was out doing a job for father's company. No, I'm not in a gang and I don't sell drugs and you're not going to be kidnapped and I would do everything in my power to rescue you." He gave her arm a meaningful squeeze at the last part. He meant it.

Komachi dramatically raised a finger to her eye as if wiping a tear away as her bottom lip playfully trembled. "Oh, my dear Onii-chan is so sweet and protective of me! The absolute best little sister in the world!" She pressed her face into his neck and hugged him tightly, her legs wrapped around the side of his waist.

"Haa-haa, very funny, Komachi." Hachiman gave her a fond smile and turned his gaze to look around the living room. "Where's Kamakura and Takeo?"

His little sister clambered off him and placed an index finger under her chin as she stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. "Uh, Kamakura went out and Takeo wanted to go in the backyard."

Komachi plopped herself on the purple sofa as Hachiman removed and rested his blazer on the armrest before joining his sibling. "Did you feed them both?"

She smiled cheekily at him, kicking her legs about playfully. "I sure did, I should be rewarded for my responsible deeds."

"I'm not rewarding you for doing something you're supposed to do."

"Why not?! You always get me the coolest gifts!"

"That's exactly the reason why. I always end up spoiling you."

"Aww." Komachi pouted, her bottom lip sticking out. She leaned her head sadly on his shoulder. "Onii-chan is being mean again, you lose ten Komachi points!"

Hachiman shook his head with an amused smile. "Whatever, I'm going to take Takeo for a walk before dinner. You wanna' come?"

Komachi jumped excitably and yanked at his arm. "Yes, yes, yes, let's go now!"

Hachiman groaned dramatically as he was made to rise from the comfortable sofa. "Chill, sis, why the rush?"

"I wanna' race Takeo in the park again, remember I beat him last time?"

Hachiman tilted his head at his hilarious sister. "Uh, that was only because you dropped dog treats as you ran to distract him."

"H-huh." Komachi blushed and instantly stuck her tongue out and dragged her lower eyelid down at him. "Ahhh! That's a big no-no. You lose one-hundred Komachi points for being a tattletale."

Hachiman poked his finger on her cheek, giving her a mean look. "Hey now, I'm not a snitch."

She returned a mean look back. "Yes, you are!"

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are!"

"No- arghh! You always do this, Komachi!"

His sister laughed uncontrollably that had her clutching her stomach, finding her laughter contagious a smirk ambushed his features as he ruffled her hair.

"Let's just go."

"Okaaayyy!"

/~/

Three hours later after Takeo had taken his eventful walk and he made sure Komachi had eaten dinner, done her homework and showered and gone to bed. In his weights and weapon infested bedroom at 23:34 sweat coated Hachiman's lean, ripped form as he repeatedly pushed his body upwards in a handstand position, his muscles grew tight at the growing exertion.

After completing his set, he nimbly flipped to his feet and jumped to grip the bar drilled to his ceiling and began continuous pull-ups. Hachiman performed several more callisthenics workouts, targeting every muscle as he finished up.

In the end, he had his forty-inch LED tv displaying the sports channel, specifically a Japanese Football League game, due to his father's influence he developed an avid interest as a young child in athletics.

He appreciated the athletic and technical ability it required, it was a marvel to watch a nimble striker outmanoeuvre a defence with superior ball control, a slick boxer feinting a jab to land a left hook, or a skilled basketball player pump faking a defender and using a crossing over on the next to lay it in the rim.

He wondered if these world-class athletes have as much pride in their abilities as he did his, did they find it equally as invigorating as he did own?

He lounged at his desk drinking water from a sport bottle his sister bought him, on his desk lay a few forgotten weapons that he needed to hide, a pair of knuckledusters, an army switchblade and aluminium nunchucks and a taser. He tried to keep his sister from harm's way, if she were to accidentally hurt herself with his weapons, he would never forgive himself.

With the game ending, he left his room to have a shower.

/~/

Alone in her apartment at night was a circumstance she had regrettably grown used to, yet her mind was far from the usual relationship dilemma of her seemingly eternal single status. She shut the screen of her laptop down and sighed, she'd found the answer she was looking for, despite this she only had more questions that she craved to have answered like a heavy whale on her mind.

She didn't understand how he was able to afford a 1.7 million yen watch, she roughly knew of his parents, they were not poor, but she firmly believed they did not have that kind of money lying around to just buy a watch for their son.

She doubted she could comfortably afford that watch without a loan.

What was Hikigaya doing to earn that kind of money? Her heart grew fearful of the darker possibilities and the dangers he might be around.

She chastised herself for overreacting as she laid back on her double bed engulfed in darkness, her curvaceous body sensually dressed in a silk, purple nightdress that hung low, revealing a tantalizing amount of cleavage. Her bottom ended at mid-thigh exposing sinfully thick, smooth legs. Outside her usual attire, her body oozed sex appeal that was every bit desirable.

Shizuka's heart restlessly thumped in her chest, her palm jumped as if to catch it before it flew out her ribcage when the vivid memory of Hikigaya's eyes piercing her soul down reared its head, she'd been surprised by her own reaction, she felt intimidated, scared.

She always believed she was a strong woman, she usually felt she was capable of handling any physical altercation, she was a black belt in karate after all. She chewed her lip nervously, it meant nothing to him, he simply marched into her and she was sent tumbling off balance like some prissy damsel.

It got worse when she lost the ability to even speak from his mere presence, as much as she didn't want to admit it, it was unbecoming of a woman of her age. She felt threatened by him, her own little favourite student, but she realised today he was anything but that, at least shy of six feet, she wondered around eighty kilograms in weight. At only sixteen!

But the guilty thoughts in the recesses of her mind consumed her conscience like a possessed demon that made her want to rip her hair out, she clenched her white covers and gritted her teeth. No. No! NO! Sweat coated her as her heart rate spiked frantically, her toes curling. She writhed fitfully in her bed.

Admit it, you were excited. 'No.'

Look how easy it was for him to whip the mighty Hiratsuka Shizuka, you, into a submissive woman. 'No.'

So young, so angry, so strong, you dripped with arousal at the sight of him. 'Lies.'

You imagined it, didn't you? Right there, the young rageful stud taking, you, his dear sensei in the very hallways where students and fellow teachers walk. Giving you what you desire. 'Stop.' Giving you mind-blowing orgasi-

"Stop!" she screamed as she rose from her bed fearfully, hair matted to her face and her eyes fretted around the room, her heavy chest heaved excessively. A glance at her bedside digital clock told her she had fallen asleep for two hours. "That never happened." Her verbal denial was ignored by her physical reaction as her nipples were aroused and the bottom of her nightgown was darkened from her nether regions release.

'This can't be happening to me!"

Chapter End

Man, I was hesitant to even write a My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU fanfic, due to the extremely complex and multi-layered characters. That's without factoring in the dualities that arise when they communicate amongst each other. But, I could not resist the temptation.

I love this show, except with how Hachiman was unfairly bullied and excommunicated. When he was younger he had a genuine interest to gain friends, yet he was mocked and belittled, simply because Hachiman was awkward and naive when he interacted with other kids. His eyes were actually normal back then too. As a teenager he endured heaps of scorn and hatred through no fault of his own, it was no surprise he developed such a warped outlook on youth. Especially when you consider, Hachiman evidently lacked consistent and decisive parental guidance to provide him with clarity and stability in his social trials of youth. That would have assisted in affording him some semblance of ambition, to overcome his social misgivings and instead focus and hone his incredible intelligence and pragmatism towards individual success to achieve his respectable dream. A house husband!

Everyone was lucky Hachiman had the mental fortitude to withstand and bear his helpless, forlorn ruminations and urge to go down a darker path that other bullied kids have taken. Granted, I also believe Hachiman should have defended himself more, at least then everyone would remember his name as someone not to take lightly. No, Hikitani or Hikigay bullshit would be barked then. Being feared, beats being tormented any day. Isn't it funny no one really forgets the bullies of school.

My Hachiman will be decisive, bold and lionhearted, he will not tolerate any disrespect and has resolute confidence in his ideals and methods. He is not one easily swayed and possesses the strength and martial skill to back it up. Nevertheless, do not disregard caution, he at times is prideful to a fault and may succumb to carnal and self-indulgent desires, uncaring of consequences.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed it, I was always plagued by doubt and indecision when it comes to writing stories.

Please review!