Chapter 4 Hikigaya's daily routine

In May, Chiba was still at the tail end of spring, featuring moderate temperatures and a gentle breeze. However, Hikigaya had no intention of enjoying the fleeting spring scenery before the rainy season set in. 

For Hikigaya, writing was always a painful endeavor. He thought the first chapter of "Confessions" was uniquely crafted, consisting almost entirely of monologues by Yuko Moriguchi. Reading it felt like enduring a long class meeting. Hachiman struggled to refine the sentences, striving to make them as delicate, unhurried, and eloquent as the original.

As a result, the first chapter ended up exceeding 20,000 words, and it took him over a week to complete just more than 10,000 words. If he were writing online novels at that pace, he would have starved to death.

"Ni-chan, stop staring at your phone! We finally get together for a meal; why don't you talk more?" This childish voice belonged to Hikigaya Hachiman's beloved sister, Hikigaya Komachi. Although they were siblings, their personalities were fundamentally different. Hikigaya's dead fish eyes and poker face radiated an aura that pushed people away, while Komachi often wore a natural smile and had an innate charm. Even though Komachi had yet to enter junior high, she already possessed all the qualities of an excellent student.

"Let's order first," Hachiman said with a smile as he patted Komachi's head and addressed their parents.

At that moment, the Hikigaya family was dining at a family restaurant not far from their home. Hachiman's parents had noticed that their typically taciturn son had been spending more of his time on his phone, occasionally looking up to think and muttering to himself.

"Hachiman, tell me the truth: Have you fallen in love with any girls recently?" Mrs. Hikigaya asked firmly.

Her perspective was a bit outdated; at this point, Hikigaya was no longer preoccupied with love. Hachiman was momentarily taken aback but quickly gathered his thoughts. Recently, when he was home, he typed on his computer, and when he left, he used his phone. Given how slow and frustrating the typing process was, he did indeed look like a shy boy in puberty, exchanging emails with a crush.

"Uh, actually I..."

Hikigaya wasn't sure where to begin. He needed to explain his plan to write a novel and submit it for publication because, at his age, he required parental approval to pursue such projects once the novel began serialization or was published. As his guardians, his parents would need to be involved.

"Who is it? Who is it?" they asked eagerly.

"It's okay, Hachiman, just speak up!" came the encouragement.

"Brother, do you really have a crush on someone? Is it your classmate?" Komachi chimed in.

The family was alight with curiosity. In their eyes, their usually quiet son—Hachiman—finally seemed to be taking a significant step in his life.

"Dad, Mom, actually... I'm writing a novel and want to participate in the new writer's award for the monthly magazine 'All Readings'..." Hachiman hurriedly confessed.

"Ehhhhhhhhhhh?!" their voices pitched up in surprise.

After that, he spent a considerable amount of time explaining his specific plans, which sounded daunting. Normal parents would likely be hesitant about their 14-year-old son pursuing a writing career. However, after Hachiman assured them that it wouldn't interfere with his school performance and promised to show them the content of his first submission, his parents reluctantly agreed to put their concerns aside for the moment.

Once he had convinced his parents, Hikigaya Hachiman felt his writing efficiency reach new heights. 

Before the submission deadline for the All Readings Newcomer Award on June 20th, Hikigaya typed out the last paragraph of the first volume in his document: 

"I have been living with Ai Mei's father since the incident. We were going to get married. I want to live a peaceful life with him from this spring break until the end. Please have a meaningful spring break, everyone. Thank you all for this year." 

I have to say.

... ...

Hikigaya Hachiman handed the first volume he had written to his parents and watched with pride as their expressions grew more excited with each twist in the plot. As Mr. and Mrs. Hikigaya put down the manuscripts one after another, they looked at their son with mixed emotions. In that moment, Hachiman seemed a little different in their eyes. Even Mr. Hikigaya, who frequently read novel magazines, had to admit that his son's novel was undeniably a masterpiece.

"Hachiman, your novel is too dark," his mother remarked, recognizing the unsettling nature of the story. She wondered why her fourteen-year-old son would create such a vicious conspiracy.

"This is just the beginning," Hachiman thought. The defining characteristic of this book was its pervasive darkness, and it could even be considered refreshing. The ruthless counterattack against those protected by the Minor Protection Act meant that the story wouldn't worsen the reader's spirits; in fact, it would offer an extremely satisfying reading experience. In the simplistic moral worldview of the public, it seemed only reasonable that evil people should be dealt with by other evil people.

"Really? In fact, plots like Mr. Moriguchi's revenge would rarely occur in real life. I believe that's the essence of novels. In reality, the students who committed those acts might easily escape punishment. Only in novels can they truly face justice."

"You have a point," Mr. Hikigaya replied. "Mom is just giving her perspective as a reader. Your novel is genuinely wonderful, Hachiman. I'm very proud of you. To write such a novel at the age of fourteen is impressive. It seems a great writer is emerging from the Hikigaya family."

"Brother! I want to read the novel you wrote too! It's not fair to only show it to Mom and Dad!" Hikigaya Komachi exclaimed, eager to see her brother's work.

"No, Komachi," Hachiman countered, holding the manuscript high above his head, relishing the moment as Komachi jumped to reach it. 

"You're just trying to keep it from me. What's the difference? I'll be a junior high school student in March next year!" Komachi insisted.

Hachiman's parents shared the sentiment that Komachi, being in elementary school, should not read such dark literature, and they coaxed her away together. 

"I remember you mentioned the magazine was called All Readings..." Komachi tried hard to recall the title her brother had mentioned at the restaurant.

"Since no one will let me see the manuscript, I guess I'll have to use my pocket money to buy magazines and read them," she thought silently. Naively, she believed that her brother's novel would be published in next month's issue. In reality, the results of the Newcomer Award from the magazine All Readings would not be announced until the November issue, which was still over four months away.

"When Confessions is published, I'll give Komachi a collector's edition," Hachiman thought, feeling the pride of being an ultimate sister-con.

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