Home and School

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[-Continuation-]

[-Few Days Later-]

[-Hikigaya's Household-]

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[Hachiman's POV]

The hands of the clock were pointing close to 1 o'clock.

"Uuhgggg…!" I groaned and stretched out my hands.

"Damn it! Is it already this late?" I cursed out, looking at all the random papers scattered across the study table.

The papers are filled with the concept art of various [Level Screens and Boards] of multiple levels in [Candy Crush]. Not just concept boards but details like total [Moves] and [Power Up's] allocated to complete each level, the maximum number of bonus moves one can get, map environment designs, and other crucial elements related to maps of different levels.

Now, why am I doing all this when I already sold out the concept to some company?

…well, as I mentioned, the game is still in the pre-production stage, and even though I was not allowed to participate in the development of the whole game, I requested that I design the [Level Screens] and [Boards] for them.

It's not something difficult or a big deal.

In fact, I already designed around [150]-Level boards when I submitted the game concept to the competition. All I have to do is do the same with another thousand or so levels.

…yeah, no big deal.

Except for the fact that I need to work daily for my death.

But I do get compensated for the work I am putting in. Of course, it is only when they are satisfied with my output, but I doubt it is very unlikely to happen, as they are more than satisfied with my initial designs.

Am I being arrogant here? Shouldn't I, though?

I mean, as of now, I have successfully submitted [900]-Level boards in a total of nine batches, with each batch consisting of [100]-Levels.

And, mind you, all of them were accepted pretty smoothly.

Currently, I am halfway through the tenth batch.

Meaning the first version will have a total of [1000]-Levels. I believe it should be sophisticated for the game's first launch.

Hmm, I am sure I could finish the tenth batch in a couple of weeks or so.

"However, the midterms are right around the corner too…" I muttered.

"Should I set this aside for now and study for one or two hours?" I wondered to myself.

"....*YaaawN~, Nah. First off, I should get a coffee before deciding on anything else." After a slight pause, I got up from the chair, as I figured I would still be staying up for one or two more hours, either studying for exams or continuing what I was doing.

"Here I come, my all-time favorite MAX Coffee!!" I tried to motivate myself by giving myself a loud cheer.

With heavy feet, I dragged myself down the stairs and into the living room. The coffee was right where I remembered it.

?Hm? However, as I was walking into the living room, I was greeted by an unexpected sight - My Little sister Komachi, napping on the sofa.

"If I remember correctly, her midterms were coming up soon, just like mine, but as usual, she didn't have a care in the world."

The privilege of being a second-born, and a girl at that... Oh, how I envied these so-called lucky creatures.

"Well, not my problem." Muttering to no one in particular, I quickly pushed those thoughts away and reached the kitchen with the goal of finding MAX Coffee without switching on the lights.

After a few minutes, I came out of the kitchen with coffee in one hand and took a few steps towards the stairs.

"..." I gave one last look at Komachi, who was still sleeping on the sofa with her stomach and belly button exposed.

"But if she catches a cold, that's definitely my problem." With that being decided, I covered her with a nearby bath towel for now.

"...ehww~" In reaction, Komachi mumbled something in her sleep.

After completing my job as Big Brother, I moved to my room as planned, and after an hour of staying up to the same work, I went to bed to get myself some rest.

Definitely, with the idea of waking up after three hours of sleep, but alas…

I forgot to set an alarm.

So instead of waking up to the sound of an alarm, I woke up to my sister's shout in an obnoxiously loud voice.

"Crap!! I overslept!" Her yells could be heard all the way to my room upstairs.

"I only planned to sleep for an hour, but then I slept for five!"

Ignoring her tantrums for a moment, I looked at the small clock on the table, which shows [07:39].

Carp! I overslept too…

Wait! Wasn't that obvious? I mean, Komichi and I both leave around the same time…

Yep, it looks like someone's stupidity is starting to rub off on me. Who though? Lately, I have been meeting a(:single) handful of people.

…an orange head popped into my imagination.

"Big brother, why didn't you wake me up?" Another shout from my sister cut through my thoughts, blaming me for her mess up.

"Ms. Hiratsuka is gonna chew me out for sure." I muttered in a defeated tone.

Recently, I haven't been giving Ms. Hiratsuka many opportunities to lash out at me, but now that she has one, I am sure as hell she's going to make the most of this.

And so my morning began like any other day - with chaos and mishaps.

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[-Same Day-]

[-Grade 11, Class F[:Hachiman's Class]-]

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(Hachiman's POV)

Ms. Hiratsuka scowled openly at me. "Now then, before I punch you, I will ask you why you were late, just to be nice."

She'd already decided to punch me, huh? But I, too, have made the decision that I am not tolerating this student abuse anymore. If she really does punch me this time, I am gonna seriously try to dodge it.

…which is nothing new, as I always do.

"Hikigaya, you are not thinking of doing something stupid, are you?" She questioned me, sensing my hidden intentions.

"Nope. Not at all." I lied without blinking an eye.

"You better be. So come on, tell me why you are late." She demanded

"There is a quote I read recently - 'Work Hard Today to Not Work Tomorrow'- and I was really moved by it. So yesterday I studied like hell–?!!"

[Warning - ?!!]

[Danger Detected!!?]

[The Unknown Boss is Angered.]

As I was still in the middle of my explanation, I abruptly stopped and glanced at Ms. Hiratsuka because my intuition warned me.

…she had a distant look in her eyes for some reason.

"That's not - 'Work Hard Today to Not Work Tomorrow,' Hikigaya. It is - 'Work Hard Today for a Better Tomorrow'." She said it in a deep voice, spelling it out clearly for me.

Is it now? But-

With an ignorant look, I denied her claim. "Aren't they essentially the same? What's the big dea–"

But I was interrupted as Ms. Hiratsuka's fist came at me at a fast pace, aimed at my liver with precise accuracy.

[Warning - ?!!]

[Attack Incoming !!?]

–fushhh!!

Already having decided what to do if such a situation were to occur, I prepared myself to dodge the punch to my left, blocking her trajectory.

?..? Um, but to my surprise, the punch stopped before it hit .

"A written apology by lunch time…if not…" Ms. Hiratsuka made threats in a menacing tone.

Feeling the weight of her words and observing her serious demeanor, I gave in. "Yes…"

"That's good." She complimented.

But you better not regret this, Ms. Hiratsuka. I will write a written apology, one that you will not forget for a long time.

I thought to myself while this time I carefully controlled my expression, making sure not to show any of my true thoughts.

Then she clacked her heels against the floor and faced the classroom's backdoor while completely ignoring my presence.

"..." I followed her gaze and noticed a lone female student standing there with her schoolbag in hand.

-Kawasaki Saki-

Isn't she the girl the former 'me' in this series proposed to in the most awkward way possible, without even realizing it himself?

Gotta say she is quite the looker. I mean, she has good curves.

She even has a certain charm to her movements, and the air she carries around her is almost identical to Yukinoshita. However, she definitely falls way short of standing on an equal footing with her.

…Or maybe I am simply being biased. I mean, like, I care.

"Kawasaki Saki. Are you fashionably late too?" Ms. Hiratsuka called out to her with a wry smile on her face.

"Hm-uhm." However, the girl named Kawasaki Saki only answered with a silent bob on her head.

Then she walked right past me and made for her seat.

And at that moment, something clicked in my head. "So no return apology. Or no super-ultra-fast punch to the stomach this time, Ms. Hiratsuka. I deem justice."

I am always a believer in equality…

How unfair, Ms. Hiratsuka, a person of your status, treating your students with discrimination.

Hearing my nagging towards Ms. Hiratsuka and understanding it was regarding her, Kawasaki stopped in her tracks and turned back casually, looking over her shoulder at me.

"You have something to say." I asked nonchalantly, watching her stare at me.

"..." Not replying to my question, she left with a disinterested and mildly annoyed look.

Yeah, I am not interested in you either…

The feeling is mutual.

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[To be continued…]

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