22 Climbing The Stairs (End)

Today is Valentine's day. Maybe, because of this reason, there are many couples flooding the road. These guys are so fickle. They are being romantic only when it is Valentine's day.

On Valentine's day, they become more lovey-dovey than usual. On Valentine's day, couples look sweeter than usual. On Valentine's day, a broken relationship can be mend with a box of chocolate.

They call Valentine's day as the day of love. Then, what is love? Is it only an occasional thing? What is the difference between love and stocks then? They both go up and down. Sometimes, they are all time high. Sometimes, they are time low.

With that said, I righteously declare love is a sign of hypocrisy!

Therefore, lovers are hypocrites.

No, I am not salty because I'm single. I have many chicks chasing after me. We are different, mind you?

"Huuh... Now that I think about it. Won't I get many chocolates today?"

I have arrived at school with my Saber-chan. In case you haven't figured it out yet, Saber-chan is my Honda CBR 900RR Fireblade. Saber is derivated from CBR.

No, you don't have to point out how bad my naming sense is. I'm aware of it since long ago.

When I enter the building, I'm greeted by the people's eyes. Males and females alike have their eyes planted on me. While the boys are looking at me like they want to eat me alive, the girls are looking at me in anticipation.

I don't know that simply joining Basketball Club makes you popular.

"Hachiman-kun, good morning!"

I know who is the voice belongs to. I'm already familiar with her voice. When I turn around, I meet the face of Saki.

"Yo, Saki. Looking good today."

"R-really? Thank you!"

I don't know what Asako has done to her, but she has changed a lot. She no longer walks with shrunk shoulders and lowered head. She is no longer shy, and she can express herself way better than before.

Well, I guess Asako's shamelessness managed to boost her confidence. She has even changed her hairstyle. Now, she ties it in a ponytail, and it looks good on her.

She can finally show the world her cuteness.

"Oh, Hachiman-kun. I have something for you..." Saki reaches into her bag, and fishes out a red box. "Happy Valentine's day, Hachiman-kun!" I receive the box Saki presented to me. "Thank you. I will pay you back in White day."

Saki merely smiles, and we head to the class together. Along the way, we receive some glance from the people. But, to my surprise, Saki completely ignores it.

Wow, Asako has successfully upgraded her.

"Good morning, Hikigaya-kun!"

"Good morning, Hachiman-san!"

"Good morning, Hachiman!"

Upon arriving at the class, I am quickly greeted by my classmates. Today, the boys are not in a good mood. None of them want to face my way. Therefore, only my female classmates greeted me.

Luckily, none of the girls swarmed me and shoved me their chocolate. I'll be annoyed if that is the case.

Upon sitting on my chair, I put my back on my desk.

Thud.

However, when I heard that sound, I quickly figure something is wrong. The sound was not as loud as I expected. There must be something in my drawer that blocked the sound.

Lo and behold, upon checking my drawer, there are many letters and chocolates. When I raise my head, the girls exclaim in unison, "Happy Valentine's day, Hachiman-kun!" Then, they turn their head away as if nothing happened.

For once, they call me the same way. But, that's not what surprised me. These guys know how not to piss me!

I feel like I am possessed, I feel the need to smile. Smiling softly I did, and words come out, "Thank you, I'll pay you guys back on White day." Something's wrong with me these days.

When the school ended, my phone rings. Looking at the caller's name, it's someone I am familiar with.

"Hello, Mommy."

[Bastard, can't you not piss me for a day?]

"Oh, come on! I know you like it."

[Don't drag me in your sick fantasy.]

"Wow... That was a good come back."

The one behind the phone laughs, and I consciously smile. This girl, Shizuka, has always managed to poke those tightly sealed emotions of mine out.

[Do you have time today?]

"You know that I will always have time if it's to meet you."

[Tsk! Corny brat. Alright, then. Let's meet at 3 in my apartment.]

"Oh, no! Please, don't violate me, Mommy!"

[You want to die, huh?!]

As I expected, it's always good teasing Shizuka. While I'm chuckling, Shizuka grumbles to herself, before ending the phone call with a curse. I stop chuckling, when the call ended.

My face lost its contracted muscle — I lost my smile. Looking at the corridor's window, I can see my reflection on it.

My face is completely devoid of any emotion. It is as straight as a sheet of paper. Looking straight into my eyes, I can see the emptiness, coldness, disinterest, and loneliness.

I can't imagine Shizuka can make this face of mine smile.

...

It's 2.50 in the afternoon, but I have already arrived at Shizuka's apartment. I usually never come faster than the promised time — even if it's only a minute. I am always on time. However, today, I feel lost.

By the time I realized it, I'm already standing in front of Shizuka's door. I know she isn't home yet, so I am standing in front of her door like an idiot.

Well, not really. I am waiting while listening to a song with my airpods.

[I know you're somewhere, somewhere~ I've been trapped in my mind, girl, just holding on~]

After hearing Japanese songs for half a year straight, I got bored of it. Therefore, I am back to listening to English songs! Of course, I will also sometimes listen to Japanese songs too.

"Oh, you're here already? I thought you would be late."

I turn my head to the source of the voice, and find it is Shizuka.

"Oh, you're late? I thought you would be in time." I replied.

"Tsk! Don't irk me kid, you won't like it." I merely shake my head, and smile softly, again.

When Shizuka is busy opening her door, I am frowning. How can she evoke my emotion that easily? Does this have something to do with my soul integration with Hachiman's body?

I can't find an answer for it. I have no time to think about it, as Shizuka is already urging me to enter.

Click.

The door is closed, and I'm already inside.

For someone who is rich enough to afford an Aston Martin, Shizuka has a fairly humble apartment, in my opinion.

I quickly take a brief observation on her apartment room. It is way tidier than when I came here for the first time. Her apartment was too fucking messy!

She was lucky she had me to help her clean it at that time. Therefore, her apartment is now pleasant to the eyes.

"Go sit in the sofa. I'll make you some hot chocolate." I look at Shizuka carefully. "You won't poison me, will you?" Contrary to my expectation, Shizuka isn't irked. She turns her head to the side, and clicks her tongue. "Tch! He knows."

Now, that is what I call an epic comeback. I hope she is not serious, though.

"You are surprisingly witty today, Shizuka."

"No, you are just surprisingly quiet today."

"I guess..."

Shizuka looks at me incomprehensibly. My mind is in disarray, I can't even read Shizuka. Something is puzzling me, and I can't put my finger on what it is.

I sit myself in the sofa, and quietly wait for Shizuka. It takes only a minute until I can smell a fragrant smell of chocolate. Shizuka comes to me, put a glass of hot chocolate on the table, and sits herself opposite me.

"Warm your body with this."

"It's my first time seeing someone giving me a hot chocolate instead of a chocolate bar on Valentine's day."

"Th-this is not what you think, brat!"

I chuckle. I didn't think she would be flustered because of that. Does that mean she will give me a chocolate right after this, or not at all? Well, it doesn't really matter.

I take a sip of the hot chocolate Shizuka made, while savoring the fragrant smell. It is comforting.

Slurp.

For someone who is not good at cooking AT ALL, Shizuka, surprisingly, makes a good hot chocolate. I think it has something to do with the quality of the cocoa powder.

Still, I have to give her credit.

"So, why did you invite me to come here?"

"W-well... That is..." Shizuka starts squirming like a maiden in love. She is acting as if I'm going to propose to her. "J-just wait here!" Shizuka leaves the sofa, and goes somewhere.

Slurp.

Rather than thinking where she goes, I better enjoy this hot chocolate. Chocolate highly contains tryptophan that our body changes to serotonin, which is a mood-enhancing neurotransmitter. Therefore, chocolate calms one's mind.

Shizuka comes back with a red box on her hands. "H-here." She gives me the box. "H-happy Valentine's day. It's a friendship chocolate! A friendship chocolate!"

I chuckle, and keep the chocolate in my bag. "Tsk! You are popular, aren't you?" Shizuka managed to peer into my bag that is full with chocolate, it seems.

Right after that, we talk about many things — mainly about how much Shizuka wanted to curse those couples.

When we got bored of it, we play games. She has surprisingly many retro games, and we both enjoy playing them.

When we are hungry, we stop playing the game, and I cook something for both of us. For the entire time, Shizuka is having the day of her life. However, I know she is holding something back.

Night came, and we are currently sitting on the sofa, while watching Shizuka's favorite Shonen Anime. We are sitting side by side. Shizuka is too focused on the anime to notice she is leaning herself on me.

"Hey, Hachiman. What do you think about love?"

"We are watching an action anime, and love is what you are talking about?"

"Tch. Just answer me!"

"Well..." I shrug. "I have no idea about it. Someone ran over me, I got amnesia."

Shizuka scrunches up her nose. "Hey, I'm sorry I have run over you! But, at least I took responsibility of my action!"

"How so?"

"I have paid for your hospital bills, I bought you a new phone, I bought you laptop, I accompanied your loner ass for the whole summer, and I treat you for many times."

"Wow... So, you are treating me that way merely out of obligation?" I asked in mock hurt expression.

"Tsk! Why are you being dramatic?" Shizuka looks to me weirdly, before turning her head away. "I-it's not only b-because of that." She replied shyly.

"Hoh, and what is that?"

"S-shut up!"

I chuckle once again. Then, my mind recalls something, someone's words.

"Empathy, intimacy, curiosity, compassion, respect and envy. Harboring all of that and more towards just one person, is what I call love."

"Is that what you think about love?"

"No, it is someone else's."

Technically, it is Shizuka's from the other timeline.

"Ha-ha. Very funny." Shizuka looks to me with completely unamused face.

I smile softly. "For me, love is not something I quite understand. To feel love, I have to empathize. I feel many things, but hardly empathy. However, I know a way to make sure whether I empathize someone or not."

"How?" Shizuka asked in curiosity and puzzlement.

I merely smile, and reach into my pocket. Inside, there is a folding knife that I always bring with me for self defense. I fiddle with it, and look into Shizuka's eyes deeply.

My way of making sure whether I empathize with someone or not is easy. If I can easily jab their eyes without feeling any repulsion, that means I don't empathize them. But, if I feel even a slight repulsion, that means I already empathize them.

With eyes full of curiosity, Shizuka looks to me. At this moment, I'm already picturing myself jabbing my folding knife to her eyes. She will cry and look at me in disbelief, while crying tears of blood.

My hand grabs the folding knife tighter. I am still picturing the scene of me cutting her head of her neck.

When the scene ended, I finally reach a conclusion. My hand lets go of my folding knife.

I can't jab Shizuka's eyes. I empathize her.

Taking my hand out of my pocket, I take Shizuka's hand in mine. She is startled, but she quickly regains her composure, when she sees my face.

"I respect your principal, I sometimes envy your nonchalance, I feel curious about you, and I empathize you. Therefore, I can feel the compassion budding in me towards you, and I want to be intimate with you."

Shizuka is completely bewildered. But, I don't have any intention to explain myself. Bringing her hand to my cheek, I rub it tenderly.

"Now, I can finally solve my puzzlement. Shizuka, I love you." I chuckle to myself. I couldn't believe I could say that.

"Y-yeah, me too."

If volcano is a living thing, she is currently in front me. Shizuka's face is as red as a burning magma, ready to be shot outward.

I have been afraid to climb the stairs of life — to admit I can feel love — because I expect myself to fall right after climbing — my love life is bound to be a failure. I kept that principal in my last life, and I was left with a regret.

I have decided to do differently in this life, and I got an unexpected result. I don't know what will happen to our relationship in the future, but I want to properly grasp her hand this time — the person that I love.

Shizuka has managed to give me a heart, and I will present it to her. Corny? I know. but it's Valentine, so it's fine.

Today, Shizuka and I step into a new zone. Today, we are climbing the stairs of life.