Thorofare Trail, Shoshone National Forest,

Wyoming, USA.

Loneliness is a strange feeling.

One would think that a professional loner such as I would be most familiar with the concept. Truth is, despite lacking in social contact as much as the next light novel author, as a civilized human being I am always surrounded by other members of my own species. No, the whole "alone in a crowd" concept does not count, by the way. There is a distinct difference between living alone among a society and being alone with only yourself to speak of within a kilometer radius, and even then, distractions exist; books filled with characters that provide a facsimile of human interactions and microcosm of artificial communities, and then there's the internet; no one can escape its grasp.

Yes, I can safely say that I, Hikigaya Hachiman, was never truly alone in my 17 odd years of my life, nor did I have any incentive to change that precarious balance between absolute loneliness and excessive human presence. So, imagine my surprise when past-me decided to – and to quote the thought process of me at the time – "get lost alone at somewhere foreign" and asked my parents to help, and dad's response was to send me to America?

Kami, now that I've thought about it, it sounded so flakey and random!

Perhaps it was when the monotony of life got to me and reached a critical mass, and my brain decided that it needed a big change. Maybe it was because I've been staying in one place for way too long, and the only "foreign" place I've been to in my entire life was Mount Fuji. Nevertheless, here I am, thousands of miles away from my Japan, hiking in a foreign land with only a map and a compass – no digital devices for navigation whatsoever! – on my way to my new job as a Ranger.

What? I wanted a change of pace, so I might as well make some money out of it, right? Opportunity cost, people! Besides, working here over the entire summer should cover the flight cost alone; diligent upper-class wage slaves my parents are, even they would do a double take at the exorbitant cost of flying to America. I can solve all that by doing, what, literally nothing the entire summer? The work to revenue ratio is off the chart!

After my parents gave me the go-ahead, I spent the last few days of the school year with Komachi, tell Yukinoshita and Yuigahama about dropping off the grid for the summer, and within the first day of summer break, I was onboard the plane to Wyoming.

You know, despite the romanization of the "wilderness therapy" that the Americans like to harp about, I can really see the appeal of it. Shoshone national forest is a – and I can't remember the last time I thought of this word – beautiful place. The mountain ridges and low pollution skyline creates an incandescent, glimmering starry night. The fresh air distracted me from my thoughts. The freedom of being truly alone amongst the forest is liberating, no human contacts and concepts of superficiality and social posturing were left behind and gah! I might never leave this place!

Within two days of hiking, I fell in love (never have I ever said this) with this forest.

If others were to see my face right now, they would probably run away instantly upon the sight of my creepy, rotten grin.

Of course, the hike eventually comes to an end, and thus I arrived at midnight and stood tiredly outside the watchtower I was supposed to stay in for the next few foreseeable months. Honestly, as far as side jobs go, I can say without a shadow of a doubt that this one might as well be heaven compared to my typical ones. But first, I need sleep.

I looked down at the hand-made sign near the stairs leading up the tower. Two Forks Lookout Station, it stated in an obvious manner. I can almost feel the sarcasm embedded into the sign by the person who carved it. Duh.

With uncharacteristic hesitation, I took my first step on the stair, and slowly ascend to what will be my new room.

I opened the door.

The best word to describe the room was… rustic. Every part of the building was made from wood. What little metallic objects there were in the room are either so old its more rust than metal, or unusable.

At least the pre-installed extension cord looks like it still works… nice as the view may be, but even I wouldn't be able to survive without my Vita-chan and e-books for more than a week.

There were remnants of objects that belonged to the previous owner(s). Several of those American university sports team flags I sometimes see in western media, sheets of paper filled with writings, graphic posters hanging on the wall, and various other unidentifiable objects from the darkness of the night.

A button panel was blinking on the wall, with a yellow paper note taped at the side in English writing: "Generator Switch. Turn on upon arrival."

I pushed the red button.

A small humming noise can be heard outside, and the lights within the small cabin turned on, illuminating the room in bright orange-yellow light. The room looked bigger than it was before. I looked at the bed sheets sitting on the mattress, put down my bag, and began organizing the room into a livable state.

"Hello Two Forks Tower!", a cheerful woman's voice called out from behind me while I was wrapping the mattress with the sheet. I looked behind me and saw a yellow radio I must have glossed my eyes over.

That must be the supervisor my dad told me about.

Lethargically, I walked towards the table, and slowly reach out to the radio. Just as I pick it up, however, she called out again.

"Two Forks Tower, this is Thorofare Tower, come in." the voice called again in a more business-like tone. Ah.

My supervisor is one of those people, huh? I narrowed my eyes. With one of my 108 talents, Character Extrapolation, I can infer that this woman is one of those people who, like Hayama, put up a cheerful front for the best possible first impression, but instead of always being friendly all the time, these people, at the first sign of "incompetency" (in their mind, and this woman was just impatient), they lose that front immediately and be more neutral in their behavior. A façade, just like Hayama. Or maybe its just neurotic mood swings.

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into her with too little information. You'd think I would've learnt that by now, from my experience in the service club… Yeah, maybe I need more time before making judgement on someone, Yukinoshita would have a field day with me.

I replied automatically, "Moshi mos- uhh… I mean, hello?" I stuttered, not used to speaking English through wireless means. I have been going to cram school for English since a kid, along with Komachi, but aside from speaking with teachers, I have never spoken to strangers in English before, especially foreigners.

"Hey there!", the woman replied, regaining the previously cheerful voice, "You're the kid I was supposed to take care of? What was it…" paper rustling can be heard, "He-key-gai-ya Hachiman?" Uh…

What do I say?

"Uh, that is close enough, I guess. Is your name Delilah, by any chance?", I inquired.

"Yep, that's me. I was your father's friend, back in the day", Delilah explained.

"Well, I… uh, then it is nice to meet you, Delilah-sama" I awkwardly greeted back through the radio.

There was a pause.

"So, I think I'll go to sleep no-"

"So what's your problem?"

What?

"What?"

"Your dad told me how you needed a break from reality, so he sent you here. And nine times out of ten folks out here are pretty messed up in the head and needed said break from reality. So what's wrong?" Damn, what did dad say to her? And I thought an opportunity to open up a bit to my father about my school social problems would be healthy for me! How the hell am I supposed to respond to that?

Strangely, this reminded me of my first meeting with Yukino, in some twisted sort of way, which is why I shot back what I would've said to Yukinoshita if she were to say that:

"Then what's wrong with you, huh?", yeah, that'd shut her up. Human beings have a natural tendency to avoid unpleasant memory and would normally seek to deflect the topi-

"That's a great idea! Go ahead!"

My eyes twitched. Bitch, a great idea with be me setting everything in my room up and sleeping for a day! Would be what I would say if it weren't for the filial piety indoctrination installed inside me.

At this point, I was exhausted from the hike, while simultaneously being assaulted socially from some gaijin woman over the radio.

Needless to say, my defense crumbled.

"Fine… what do you mean by that?" I said tiredly, giving up the idea of pushing back, and just automatically follow along with whatever this pushy woman wanted.

"Well, you take a stab at what's wrong with me." hm, American culture use idioms a lot, so it means… guessing the problem she had to have gone here?

Welp, when faced with potentially walking on social landmines, being blunt is the best option. Source: Me.

"Okay. You went here because everyone at home cannot stand your charming personality, which after this introduction, does not surprise me at all." I said in the driest voice possible.

"Ouch! And here I thought Japanese were supposed to be super polite and reserved. I was going to say "like father like son" somewhere down the line but clearly it has skipped a generation." She replied sarcastically. Lady, if you think you can insult me with effect, then you clearly have never met someone like Yukinoshita.

"Ugh… may I sleep now, please? Now that that's over?" please let me sleep come on Delilah.

"Nope! Now, it's my turn…" oh my god. Can't imagine what will come out of that head of hers.

"Well, from what your dad had told me" I'm going to make Komachi bully you after this, dad. "I think you are a loner, from what I can tell. You sound like that guy from my high school days that always sit somewhere inconspicuous and observe people, and occasionally say some pretty insightful but simultaneously super creepy stuff." If this was a shounen anime I would've popped a vein on my head, "and now someone said that to your face and you got pissed off and got violent. So you're here to cool down before coming back." She finished with an unusually satisfied tone.

"So was I right?"

There was a long silence.

"Good night, Delilah" fuck it, too lazy for honorifics right now.

"Hah! Good night. Welcome to the job." She said, right before I hang up the radio.

I slowly sat on the newly made bed, and lied down.

"This is gonna be a long summer, huh?"

I lose consciousness a few seconds later.