Uneasy daily life

Everyone else doesn't matter, because I'm a lone wolf, and my only weakness is Komachi... No! Just thinking about Komachi makes me imagine her meeting someone, holding their hand happily. For Komachi's future, I can only and must accept the scene of her staying away!

It hurts and I'm numb!

Let's look at Yuihama, who has regained her spirits, in the distance.

She's afraid of losing her relationships with her friends... and it's precisely because of this fear that she's so sensitive in this regard.

In the class's "normative group," it's obvious that she always tries to fit in with the topics, which is a way of socializing to please others.

Because she was afraid of losing her friendship, she stammered when she confronted Yumiko Miura a few days ago.

What about Yukinoshita? I don't quite understand. If I could live such a smooth-sailing life, of course I'd immediately lie down, eat and wait to die!

The only thing I can sense is that... Yukinoshita isn't as 'perfect' as she seems on the surface.

As for the minister himself—being a corporate slave is really tough, and the job is terrifying.

Hachiman Hikigaya continues his amazing human observation activities today.

Bai Ying was having a tug-of-war with the laptop screen, forcing herself to stare at the blank interface. Occasionally, she would struggle to type a few lines of text, then modify them, becoming increasingly dissatisfied, until she deleted them all at once, and then continued to stare blankly at the blank screen.

This tug-of-war process repeats itself.

Burn your soul, me!

I have burned to ashes...

Please let me rub my hand against Yukino's, maybe my emotions will suddenly surge up, or I can just admire it, as long as we don't touch each other it's not a big problem... just kidding!

I just took a look, touched it, rubbed it, and took it—and that's how I embarked on the path to becoming a wanted criminal!

Bai Ying skillfully completed the logical loop, suppressed the urge to 'slack off', and continued to fight against the blank document.

"Speaking of which, aren't the Aid Department and the Service Department places for solving the difficulties of clients?"

Yui Yuigahama put down her phone, rubbed her dry eyes, and asked in confusion, "Why is no one coming over at all?"

"Because it's a tiny, relatively unknown club," Hachiman Hikigaya remarked casually, glancing down at his book. "It's rather strange that you actually went looking for this place..."

Yui Yuigahama looked flustered and forced a dry laugh, "Ah... haha..."

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her head and glanced at someone who was gritting their teeth. She said through gritted teeth, pretending to be calm, "Perhaps we should take the initiative, lest some people get carried away with their temporary lead."

Yukinoshita's aggression is up today.

That's terrible. Did I really hit a nerve with Yukinoshita yesterday?

Hachiman Hikigaya remained silent, silently repeating to himself, "I'm nobody, I'm nobody..." He decided to remain an observer of this battle between experts.

"First, I hate that the deadline is approaching! Second, I hate that my inspiration has dried up! Third, I hate that my desires are hard to fulfill! Fourth, I hate that I have to pay the rent! Fifth, I hate that I won the lottery! Sixth, I hate that I was arrested for going to sea! Seventh, I hate that soap slippers play tricks on people! Eighth, I hate that I am homeless! Ninth, I hate that the night under the bridge is cold! Tenth, I hate that I lost everything in the all-in betting! Eleventh, I hate that the wind is strong on the rooftop! Twelfth, I hate that you scumbag playwright!!"

Clearly, the white figure was completely oblivious to Yukino Yukinoshita's provocation. He was shouting strange things and singing loudly at the laptop screen, as if doing so would make the blank document fill in the content on its own.

Hachiman Hikigaya remarked, "This hatred really has a lot of layers..."

"Going...going into the sea?!" Yui Yuigahama was shocked in a strange place. She looked him over carefully. Even though he was driven crazy by the deadline, the boy was still very handsome. She couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Shiro, are you short of money? I can lend you some..."

The white figure swung his arm and hissed, "Don't even think about making me give up! The Deathline Warriors will not fall under the twilight!"

Yui Yuigahama: "Huh? Oh..."

I didn't understand, but it probably meant that it wasn't necessary?

Yukino Yukinoshita said, "Haku-kun, what kind of creative method is this? Is it some kind of insane creative method?"

Bai Ying asked in surprise, "Madness? What strange things are you talking about? I haven't even thought about stuffing my brain into the screen, how can that be considered madness?"

Yukino Yukinoshita: "...I don't quite understand the redox reaction of creators. Perhaps you should see a doctor?"

"Is this what work is like after entering the workforce?"

Yui Yuigahama felt a strange sense of unease. She seemed to see herself sitting on a computer screen, spouting phrases like "I hate computers for being brainless, I hate bitter coffee for being too sweet" and "At the end of the corporate slave life, who is crazy? A white shadow and all hope is lost."

That's terrifying. Maybe I should ask my mom how to be a stay-at-home mom?

“Even though I don’t like my job, I can’t go against my conscience at this time,” Hachiman Hikigaya said fairly. “If the department head doesn’t speak up, he’ll just be an ordinary working person who’s stuck in a job predicament.”

Yukino Yukinoshita agreed, "Don't go crazy. How about we just do a normal job? This is a public place, after all."

"I already told you I'm not going crazy. If I were really crazy, I'd already gone inside to pick up the soap. It's not like I can't calm down—look like this!"

Bai Ying thought for a moment, then composed himself, bent down in front of the computer, placed his hands on the keyboard, and stared blankly at the screen.

It wasn't a frown or deep thought, but rather a blank stare, as if the soul had left this weary body and flown to a distant, very distant place.

It was an ordinary look in his eyes, yet it silently conveyed a thousand words.

It's like carrying pure ideals, then being brutally invaded by life, and thus completely changing your shape. It's not about adapting, getting used to, or becoming addicted; it's just a matter of helplessness.

As long as you follow the steps or are acted upon, you can earn a few coins that are more than enough to make ends meet. Dreams are just a pipe dream. Ideals have long been mixed with blood and wiped away and discarded like a square, flawless piece of toilet paper. The future is only the road in front of you. There is no turning back. So you naturally bow down and welcome life coming and going.

It's only during the few minutes it takes to light a cigarette that the soul returns to the body.

She wasn't addicted to nicotine; she simply became like the little match girl.

On a cold winter night, taking a puff of cigarette is like striking a match; even the faintest warmth can stir the heart—have you achieved your dreams? Have you done anything meaningful? Do you find your life interesting? How long has it been since you last touched something you liked? Or have you simply stopped liking it? Have you met anyone who makes your heart flutter?

Too many questions, too few answers, or simply because thinking is a waste of energy, so you choose to leave your mind blank.

Before they knew it, the cigarette was finished, the matchbox was empty, and the brief magic had lost its effect.

The soul leaves the body without a second thought, silently watching it continue its daily routine.

"--Um?"

Bai Ying touched his clothes, and the oppressive atmosphere dissipated. He even casually asked, "Do you guys have any cigarettes? Give me one."

"Oh, you have... my foot! If you want cigarettes, go to Hiratsuka-sensei! How could we possibly have any!"

Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't help but retort, "Is that really how a working professional behaves? It's terrifying! Absolutely terrifying! I'm definitely going to become a stay-at-home dad! If all else fails, I'll beg Komachi to support me for the rest of my life!"

"Is this just an artistic exaggeration? Or just an occasional state? I seriously doubt whether someone who maintains this state long-term is still mentally healthy." Yukino Yukinoshita let out a deep breath. "Also, don't smoke."

Bai Ying proudly declared, "Of course I won't smoke!"

Even Yui Yuigahama looked at him with disbelief—the way she pulled herself out of her thoughts in front of the screen and reached into her pocket for a cigarette was so practiced and natural.

Yukino Yukinoshita raised her hand to rub her temples and concluded, "You should just be normal."

Bai Ying shook her head: "What a picky and troublesome girl..."

Bang! The door to the activity room was suddenly flung open!

"Hiratsuka-sensei! I said to knock first..." Yukino Yukinoshita subconsciously glanced at the door while lecturing, then paused, "Hmm?"

It wasn't the straightforward, decisive teacher Hiratsuka Shizuka, but a chubby boy.

Wearing glasses, a light brown overcoat over a student uniform, and half-finger gloves with intricate designs, colors, and functions that seemed to be embedded with metal plates.

Yukino Yukinoshita said warily, "He's someone whose suspiciousness is comparable to that of Hikigaya-kun and Shirakage-kun..."

Hachiman Hikigaya remained silent, not because his feelings had been hurt, but because he knew the other person. It was a chance encounter that began shortly after he entered Soubu High School, during a physical education class... or rather, a karmic entanglement, at a delicate point in time when his chuunibyou (middle school syndrome) was cured.

"Who goes there! State your name!"

The white figure slammed his fist on the table and demanded an explanation.

The other person made a gesture of pushing up their glasses that seemed meaningless, and loudly replied, "I am the thirteenth shogun of the Muromachi Shogunate—the Swordsman Shogun!"

Yukino Yukinoshita asked in confusion, "The thirteenth shogun of the Muromachi shogunate, Ashikaga Yoshiteru in history? What kind of strange joke are you making?"

Ashikaga Yoshiteru was a fairly famous historical figure, most notably for his personal martial prowess, earning him the title of "Sword Master Shogun."

"..." Facing Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze, the other slowly turned to face the white figure on the other side, "Simply put! I am that swordsman general—!"

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly: "Please look at me and speak seriously."

"Hmph...Hmph! My journey here..."

"Yes, I understand, no need to say more."

Bai Ying sat back down in her chair with a knowing look on her face, saying with a sigh, "I never expected to meet such a kind person."

Ashikaga Yoshiteru looked deeply moved and recognized: "That's right! I am the swordsman shogun!"

"kind……"

Hachiman Hikigaya sensed that this wasn't the kind of friendliness that Yoshiteru Zaimokuza had in mind. Considering the captain's somewhat unpleasant behavior, he felt a pang of heartache for a mere 0.001 seconds before immediately transforming into a perfect straight man, asking, "Captain, what do you mean by friendliness?"

"Cough-cough-"

Bai Ying coughed slightly, a deep cough to reflect his identity as a warrior, and a haughty cough to reflect his status as the shogun. Considering that Ashikaga Yoshiteru died at the age of 30 in history, his voice should be slightly younger.

"Hello, I am Ashikaga Yoshiteru. I was unfortunately killed by the rebels back then, but now I have been resurrected. I can gather my old troops and rule Japan. So I need some money right now. If you give me 100,000 yen and help me regain the position of shogun, I will give you a great reward! When I rule Japan, I will appoint you as daimyo!"

Ashikaga Yoshiteru: "...Huh?"

Yui Yuigahama hesitated and said, "Ah... this is... a scam, isn't it?"

Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't help but retort, "It's more like a joke."

Yukino Yukinoshita agreed, "How could this be a scam..."

"But unfortunately, it's a scam, and Yuihama-san guessed right."

Yukino Yukinoshita and Hachiman Hikigaya were taken aback, their gazes turning to Yui Yuigahama, who was now beaming with pride.

Is this considered stupid or smart?

Bai Ying sighed, "Back in the day, I was a political genius who surpassed Zhuge Liang, a military strategist who rivaled Sun Tzu, and even Confucius and Mencius would have to call me their teacher. I was the most outstanding figure in history. From King Zhou of Shang to King Wu of Zhou, and from Emperor Taizong of Tang to Emperor Taizu of Song, which emperor didn't thirst for my talent and try to recruit me? They all said, 'Without Bai Ying, how could one gain the world?' Those who weren't famous enough, like Emperor Gaozu of Tang and Emperor Yingzong of Ming, were ashamed in front of me and didn't deserve to be my equal."

"It's also because I'm naturally a free spirit, not interested in fame and fortune; otherwise, this world would probably have changed hands long ago."

Looking at Ashikaga Yoshiteru, who was completely stunned and unable to keep up with the conversation, Bai Ying said regretfully, "I am grateful for the kindness of the Swordsman General, but unfortunately your status is not high enough to be included in my friend list. However, if you transfer one million yen to me, I can upgrade to VIP and expand my friend list, giving you a higher priority position. This way, you will have the opportunity to recruit me. If you recruit me, you can conquer the world in ten years, break out of Earth in twenty years, and colonize the solar system in fifty years. The future is promising!"

"Ah...haha...ha..."

Ashikaga Yoshiteru let out a clattering laugh.

Chapter Fourteen: A Comb with Purity So Low It's Like a Bald Man's!

“I…I am not Ashikaga Yoshiteru…I am Zaimokuza Yoshiteru from Class C.”

The timber saddle, on the verge of tears, protested, "I really didn't commit fraud!"

"Huh? So it's just a case of chuunibyou (middle school syndrome)?"

Bai Ying said disappointedly, "I thought it was really a reincarnation of a swordsman, returning to the mortal world to invite me to compete for supremacy—you deny being the swordsman general, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, so easily! Even if it's chuunibyou, your purity is too low! As low as a bald man's comb!"

puff!

The wooden base looked as if it had been pierced through the chest by an arrow.

Hachiman Hikigaya sighed inwardly, as if he were seeing himself on that day.

Timber base, welcome to hell.

Zaimokuza Yoshiteru trembled violently, his pale lips moving weakly. He felt like a fish thrown ashore, struggling helplessly—Sword Master General! How could he fall here!

He saw another fish and cried out with all his might, "Hachiman Daisuke! My light of life! My comrade! My dearest friend! My loneliness—have you forgotten the days when we fought side by side?!"

"Hey, Nabokov wants to visit you in a dream."

Hachiman Hikigaya calmly retorted, "I've already graduated from chuunibyou. Back then, during the joint physical education class between the two classes, we only formed a team because we didn't have any friends. That's all, just a simple twist of fate."

The fish stood up, a strange light shining in its dead eyes.

Those are not of the same kind; they are deep-diving beings.

Yoshiteru Zaimoto let out a painful wail of betrayal.

"Chuunibyou...?"

Yui Yuigahama is a tech-savvy girl. Looking at her phone, she habitually read aloud, "Chuunibyou means the second year of junior high school. Chuunibyou refers to the self-righteous thoughts, actions, and values ​​unique to adolescents. As teenagers grow, they yearn for 'adult maturity,' unconsciously denying things they liked as children, calling them childish, and constructing a self-identified world within themselves. Because their judgment criteria are rather ambiguous, it appears particularly ridiculous and distorted to others..."

"Simply put, it means considering oneself very special, very individualistic, and very different from others..."

The timber stand writhed and screamed, "Ah—!"

Yui Yuigahama was startled and quickly asked, "Huh? Are you alright?!"

Hikigaya Hachiman smiled at the opportune moment and said, "The swordsman general let out a mournful cry as if he had been shot by an arrow."

"Simply put, it's paranoia, right?"