Oregairu Vol. 6.5 Chapter 2

Oregairu Vol 6.5 Chapter 2

That’s why, Hikigaya Komachi is trying her best.

The wind came blowing in from the open windows. As midnight approaches, the temperature drops rapidly. You could also hear the sounds of the insects far away.

I stopped reading and walked towards the living room. I did not feel sleepy as of yet. Tomorrow was a holiday. I did not had to attend school and hence I could sleep by myself all the way till noon.

There is no mistake. It was an awesome holiday. Very liberating.  FREE.

And so, I might as well drink a cup of coffee and enjoy this long autumn night. I walked out of my room to the corridor, taking care not to disturb my parents who were already in a deep slumber. Actually, there was no need for such a worry. Both of them were already so hard at work in the day that they would be sleeping very soundly by now, and hence would not be easily awoken.

The dark living room was quiet, yet it did not feel lonely.

Here, the Hikigaya household has had few occasions whereby the entire family could gather for dinner. Both of my parents had to work, and they came back at different times. They even had to work during the holidays. Komachi was preparing to take her entrance exams, and so had to attend cram school every day and night. As a result, dinner was either bento that she had brought along or food that she purchased outside.

Although I normally eat my dinner alone now, whenever I think of the fact that Komachi often ate alone like this when I was preparing for my entrance exams, tears would start coming out somehow. Yet despite saying that, it does not mean that our family relationships were poor.

This living room was bustling with activity in the morning.  It was where our parents, who were preparing to go to work, and us, who were about to go to school, had our conversations.

Tomorrow was a holiday, hence I would sleep it away. Although I would miss the morning scene, I would be able to make up for it with my liveliness in the night.

Ah this is bad, I am feeling all sentimental now. I can’t spend this long autumn night like this. Autumn is truly a season for sentimentality.

To perk myself up, I started to hum a song as I began to feel for the lighting switch. Despite only switching on the living room light, the light shone all the way to the kitchen that was facing it. Since the light could shine that far, then it was more than sufficient for tasks like boiling water and the like.

I turned the tap, and let the water run into the electric kettle. I closed the tap as it was about to be full and started it up jauntily. Then, I proceeded to wait just a little while for the water to boil.

Thereupon, the door opened with a creak.

I thought that it was Komachi, but upon looking, realized that there was no one. It was probably the wind then. It was probably due to the wind that was blowing in from the windows from my room as I had left them open.

Without giving the matter anymore thought, my gaze shifted back to the electric kettle.

It was not as though watching it would make the water boil faster. However, this was probably the same as watching the churning motion of the washing machine or the drying machine. Also, this was like the repeating pressing of the button at the pedestrian crossing. Although this repeated pressing would not cause the traffic light to change quicker, but it was already a kind of a habit. It was this that caused me to repeatedly press the cancel button on the elevator. As a result, it got even slower, so that’s definitely something to beware of.

If I were to listen carefully, I could hear the low rumbling of the kettle.

Mixed into the noise, were the sound of splashing water.

Picha picha.

Picha picha.

An unearthly noise that shook me to the bones echoed out in the dark kitchen. The voice came from behind me. What the heck was behind me?!

Uwaa – I hate this. Scary. Gross. Weird. All these thoughts were running through my mind. I had a unpleasant feeling about this. Wait, this was strange. Why am I still able to hear the sound of water at this time? Was it my imagination? As I thought about it I decided to listen carefully once more.

Then, I did indeed hear it behind me. Picha Picha Picha Picha Picha.

Ahhhh. This is bad.  There really is something there. Even so, I still turned my head to look at what was behind me.

Then, a bright light shone out from the darkness.

It was the eyes of a cat.

It must have been the boredom that led me to keep visualizing the real-life horror events of Hikigawa Junji in my mind. [1] When I turned my head, I saw that it was only our cat Komakura drinking water. But still, a cat drinking water in the night, making those pichapicha sounds seriously made it appeared like a cat monster.

As I waited for the water to boil, I decided to tease Komakura.

I squatted down besides Komakura and continuously stroked its fur. I made sounds like URIIII, WRYYYYYYYYYYYYY as I kept stroking its back, shoulders, neck and the base of its throat. Komakura glared at me as if I was some kind of annoyance. So cute~~~~. [2]

This fellow would never try to be friendly with me, only staying a respectable distance away from me as though I was a chair in the winter season. However, it was very affectionate towards Komachi, always following her around and going “Meow-, Meow-,” as well as often sleeping together with her.

If so, then if Komakura was still awake now, that would probably imply that Komachi was still awake.
I retracted my hand from Komakura and stood up.

I stopped the electric kettle, and after filling it up with enough water, set it up once more. Alright, that should be good. Just as I was about to pet Komakura again, Komakura brushed itself against my leg and set off from the kitchen to the living room. What was this? A SUNEKOSURI? [3]

It obviously could keep me company for just a little while more. I want to adopt that kind of attitude and become a spirit, because that would mean I get to stave off work and live off others!

A dog and a scissors has its uses, but a cat was useless. [4] I gave up on Komakura and glanced at the electric kettle once more. There was no one around me, and so I began to start reflecting on today’s events in the quiet kitchen.

About Sagami Minami.

About Haruka and Yuuko.

It was impossible to say that they were unrelated under the current circumstances. Since I already understood that I would be unable to escape work, what follows next would be to figure out how to reduce my workload.

My job was technically to deal with Zaimokuza, but that was just my most recent task.

After today, as the committee itself got progressively busier, that would be a corresponding increase in the number of odd jobs. If that was the case, then all these odd jobs would become my work. The extent of these odd jobs were truly strange.

Based on the experience I got from handling the cultural festival, wouldn’t that mean I would become the one who handled everything? What was this? Am I the new member of some black business now? (Think sweatshops)

Given the manner that Sagami was doing her work, Yukinoshita’s work would increase. That would mean that my work would increase as well.

The most important part was not letting Yukinoshita handle the distribution of jobs.

Despite saying this, I fear that it would be quite a impossible task to do.

As long as Sagami continue to be the committee’s chairman, there would be a very obvious problem. That was exactly what I had said in the conference room after school.

However, no matter how many hopeless people there were, as long as they desired to be helped, we would extend our hand towards them. That was Yukinoshita’s thoughts on the principle behind the Service Club.

As long as they so desired to be helped, we would have to find a way to help them.

The problem would be to find out the way to help.

As I was thinking, the electric kettle sounded out, signifying that the water was boiling.

Well, as long as we haven’t seen what Sagami would do in the following week, we were at a loss. Or perhaps, unexpectedly, we would be able to restart the whole process of becoming superficial friends with them again.

I stopped my thought process at this point, and poured a suitable amount of instant coffee powder into the mug, followed by the pouring of hot water into it.

The hot air drifting from the mug was accompanied by the coffee’s fragrance. I took a sip and placed the mug aside.

As I was about to reach my hand out for another mug, the door opened discreetly.

“What’s the problem, Oni-chan.”

Upon careful inspection, I noticed that it was Komachi. She had a hair tied into a bundle with a hairband,  as well as a cold-strip placed across her forehead. Komakura was beside her leg stretched itself lazily.

“It’s nothing, I just wanted to drink some coffee. Do you want some?”

“I want!”

“Komachi replied immediately and then went to seat at the sofa. Komakura, who was beside her, followed suit by jumping onto the sofa. I speedily prepared another mug of coffee, put a few lumps of sugar as well as some milk, and brought it over to the sofa area.

“Here.”

“Thank you.”

Komachi took the mug, and with a few “Fuuuuuu- Fuuuuuuu”, blew onto the hot coffee to make it colder, before placing it to her mouth to drink. I stood by the side of the table as I watched her.

“How are you feeling?”

“Well, so-so I guess.”

So-so, huh? That does not seem to be good……. When this girl was feeling well, she would be constantly trying to annoy me and to seek attention from me.

“How about you, Oni-chan?”

“Me? I feel especially great. There’s still the regular examination that’s about to take place.”

“Is that so?”

Due to the fact that there were still school events that had to be held, the exams won’t take place for a while. Normally, students would be rejoicing over this fact. However, I would say that these periodic examinations made me feel a bit happier. Komachi seemed to have read my thoughts, and started talking whilst seeming to be remembering something.

“Ah, there’s still the sports carnival.”

“Yup. Why would you know about that?”

“Yuigahama-san told me via a mail.”

“Oh, is that so?”

My, the relationship between your two sure were great.

I gave a sigh followed by a wry smile, to which Komachi followed suit with a deep sigh of her own.

“That’s so great, Komachi wants to go too……”

“This is different from elementary school and junior high. It’s a closed-door event.”

If the scope of the committee had to include dealing with parents, then it would really be a hopeless situation.

“Anyway, you need to study as well.”

Hearing that, Komachi sighed deeply.

“Yes, I guess so. Study…… Study…… Stu, dy.”

Speaking up till this point, she stopped. That kind of abrupt halt was akin to her soul being sucked out of her. Seems like studying was really tough on her.

Althought these words were inappropriate for this moment, Komachi was a idiot. However, she was good at swimming with the tide, quick-witted, good at reading the mood, cute, and adept at household chores as well as good at cooking.  Ah, this won’t do. Why did I feel this sudden sense of pride for my sister as I talked about her?

Anyway, if we were talking about the qualities of Komachi, then studying should not be a problem for her. Although up till now, her results have been sub-par, but the reason for that was that she was not trying hard enough. Above all, the most important reason would be that her efficiency was too low.

“Listen here Komachi. There’s no need for you to get full marks in every subject in an exam. You need to be able to gauge your understanding in every subject, and from there, calculate the time that you would need to spend on those subjects. You need to plan your study strategies from that aspect, otherwise it would just be a waste of time.”

“Oni-chan sensei…..”

What’s up with this kid? Komachi was whining in a low voice, as though she had heard me say this countless times and was now shaking her head to shake it off.

Well, I didn’t want to say such abstract stuff anyway. If a suggestion lacked feasibility then it was as good as talking to myself.
This was the time where I ought to be giving suggestions relevant to the point at hand.

“So, which subject are you having trouble with now?”
“Japanese…….”

Komachi slumped her shoulders as she said that.

“Because I have never really studied hard for Japanese, I don’t know any method to study it at all.”

Perhaps it was because of my love of reading ever since I was small, and that’s why I never really had any trouble with the Japanese examination.  My ability to write down the author’s thought snad feelings notwithstanding, I was even able to write down the thoughts and feeling of the test-setter as well. All I needed to do was to just memorize the kanji, the ancient Japanese language and the gramma and syntaxes of old. With that done, I didn’t really encounter any problem in completing the questions. So, I did not really understand what kind of trouble Komachi was facing in Japanese. Why she was facing them, I did not know. Sorry, Oni-chan could do them all.
Is there anything else? As I sgiftd my gaze towards Komachi, Komachi raised her hand with a “Yes.”

“Social studies.”

“Just memorize them all.”

Social studies was really just about memory work. Whether it’s the history of Japan, the history of the world, civics education, all these were simply rote memorization. Although there were some expository questions that were asked in high school, but if one were to memorize everything properly, then one would have no problem answering those as well.

I continued looking at Komachi, waiting for her to tell me about problems that she had with other subjects. Once more, she raised her hand.

“Sciences.”

“That is also memorization.”

Talking about sciences in general, first and foremost were physics and chemistry. Although they were classified under science and mathematics subjects, they were obviously memorization subjects when it comes to high school promotional exams. It is true that there are questions that asks about springs and the tilt of the star, the mass of chemical compounds amongst other similar questions. However, the questions that were posed were seriously elementary level. As long as you remembered the way to derive the answer, you would be able to substitute it in those questions and complete the questions in a mechanical fashion.

Alright, after giving up on Japanese, I have already settled Komachi’s issue with two other subjects. As I thought that I looked at Komachi, but her eyes did not meet mine. A, Ah? Komachi-chan?

And then, as though Komachi had given up, she gave a sigh, and murmured.

“…….English”

“Another subject to memorize as expected.”

The English in high-school promotional exams were all about the memory of English vocabulary words, a few short phrases and subsequently the memory of the grammatical structure. As long as you did that, there would be no problem. Although this form of learning was painful, but this way, you were ensured that you will not encounter any problems during exams.  It was also because of this that made it quite unsettling.

It was strange the way things are from an educational perspective. There was no way we could really speak English if we were to study using this method. We would also be unable to communicate with foreigners. Then again, Japanese could not even communicate very well with their own language. I wonder what the MEXT thought about the matter. [5]

At this point, Komachi had already stopped listening to me. She was now playing with Komakura’s forehead.

“Erm, Komachi-chan?”

“Ah, you are done? Well then, next would would be mathematics.”

It sounded like she just spoke about it casually. However, even though I was participating in this so actively, I had no smart way of answering her question.

“About mathematics, I can’t help with that.”

My score in mathematics was only 9 marks, the last in my year. What was this mathematics again? It sounds like masochistic. Learning mathematics always gave me that strange feeling of being a masochist.

“Really useless huh….? Right, Ka-kun?”

Komachi said so as she continue to pet Komakura. Thereupon, Komakura gave a snort with his nose.

REA. LLY. USE. LESS.

I thought that I could at least help her a little bit, but all I got in return was that phrase. And yet, she gave me a somewhat lukewarm gaze.

“Well, although it’s not that I don’t understand Oni-chan. Well, nevermind, Komachi will always be kind and gentle towards such a useless brother. I won’t dislike you ~. Now that was so high in Komachi points.”

She was looking at me ever so compassionately and affectionately as she concluded her sentence. On top of that, she still had to add those points to it. Although, I would have felt that the exclusion of that last line would have been cuter in the past, I recently felt that even this bit of sly and cunning was cute as well. Ah, this sure is troubling.

This cute Komachi leaned towards me as she hugged Komakura.

“Then again, even though I scored so abysmally for mathematics, I was still able to enter Sobu High.”

“Well, that is true……”

I did study mathematics in junior high. However, it was definitely not my forte. As soon as I noticed that I would be having much more fun in the liberal arts course, I quickly gave up on studying mathematics.
After all, as long as I took the supplementary exam and the tuition classes, I was bound to pass the periodic examinations and promote to the next year.

You only do something when you need to. Otherwise, don’t do it.

Life was probably like that too. To live meant that you would encounter things that you hated. To put it in another manner, it meant that the act of living itself was something hateful, but one must not give up living just because of this.

If so, then how does one avoid this hateful problems? As long as your thinking revolves around this point, the method is bound to reveal itself. The art of learning was like that as well.

And thus, this was how I dealt with mathematics as well.

“Well, that is a method used by those who have no idea how to study mathematics.”

Having heard that, Komachi slowly inched her way towards me.

“Oh, could you tell me the details?”

There was nothing wrong in telling her……. Well, nevermind.

Although it could be said that this was the foundation of the foundation, the basics of the basics. However, it was probably because she really doesn’t know, that was why we had to go back to the very basics of it all. I explained it to her briefly.

“Don’t force yourself to do questions that you don’t know. If it’s a big question, then go along with your instincts. Other questions should be completed flawlessly. There are also some questions that you can throw away. This is because the other people would also have a low percentage of getting the difficult questions correct, hence you can discard them. Ensure that those that you do know how to do have no mistakes. That’s about it.”

You must resign yourself to doing the above from the start. That was essential.

However, this kind of methods could be learnt during normal exams. However, perhaps if you applied them consciously it would have a better effect.

This is a really simple thing, I thought as I looked at Komachi. Komachi sqinted her eyes and rubbed away the invisible tears as she said the following.

“Oni-chan, what Komachi wanted was this kind of advice from the start…….”

As she pretended to cry, she went “Un,un” as though she had understood something. Well, as long as I could solve this girl’s problems, I guess.
Having spoken for so long, my throat was a little bit try, and hence I drank a mouth of coffee to moisten my throat. At the same time, Komachi placed her mug by her mouth. Then, she raised her head and looked at me.

“However, Oni-chan, it would be great if you could study mathematics properly now.”

That was indeed a reasonable opinion. But still, it’s just your opinion. If you were unable to practice what you preach, then it would definitely be lacking in persuasive power.

However, there were somethings in this world that can’t be explained or solved by logic alone.

Hence, I only said this one line.

“I…… have already given up on math.”

“Wow, that’s so cool! That was just like a sanguine way of saying that one has given up on his dreams!”

Oh- Oh- , Komachi’s eyes were sparkling.

“I know right? It’s the same as saying one abandoning baseball because he got injured from it, and yet not completely giving up and returning to the baseball grounds right?”

“Yup. If the right hand is screwed then they will use their left. If that is screwed too, then they will ask to become a batter. That is really cool.”

I see I see. It was really that cool huh? That was really great, this was some major-class coolness huh?

“Hahaha!”

“Ahahaha!”

Komachi and I both started to laugh.

…….. Where did this ecstatic family come from?

It was probably due to us getting all high in the deep night that we were laughing away without a care in the world. After the laughter subsided, the silence returned. This too, was a characteristic of the deep night. As the laughter ended, both me and Komachi drank our coffee quietly.

“Then again, besides choosing our school, what about the others?”

Although the feeling of being immersed in silence wasn’t too bad, but the opportunity that presented itself now was rare. I wanted to properly understand Komachi’s plan for the future, as well as present her with a better path.
Due to the fact that both our parents were busy, we did not really have anyone to discuss with about this kind of things. I had already decided for myself at that time which high school I was going to enroll in.

Thus, I should act more like a brother at times like this, and discuss it over properly with my sister, isn’t that so?

“The others….. You mean like my other options?”
“That’s right.”
“Dad and Mom have asked me this as well.”

Ah, have already been asked? That is to say, not only me? Oi oi, is this really my parents we are talking about? No, wait, that’s wrong. That would probably be because I had already earned my parents’ trust. Hence, they did not ask me about that. So this is the “trust” that people talk about. Hahaha, I am being doted on.

However, the practical problem was that, even if they had asked me, my answer would not have changed. Even if they had objected, I would not have listened. As expected of my parents. They really did understand me.

Well, my matters aside. This was about Komachi.

Komachi started to raise one, two fingers from her hand and started to count the names of the schools.

“JuuEi and Motonara. As well as Edo Girls. I think I have already signed up for them.”

Yup, from my level, all these schools seemed to be a reasonable choice.

“Edo Girls……. Edo Girls. Go and try for Edo Girls. Wait, I think it’s better to go and enrol in Edo Girls.”

“This sentence sounded exactly like what father said…….”

Komachi expressed a surprised smile.

As expected of our father. Upon careful thought, co-ed school were definitely out of the question. In such a school, approximately 90% of the guys want a girlfriend. (According to my research) I definitely cannot put Komachi into their midst. That is because, if Komachi wasn’t my sister, even I would have confessed to her and then gotten rejected.

Well, it was because she was my sister that I would not feel that way, but as a brother, caring for her sister was only natural.

However, Komachi now smiled gently, as though she had already seen though my intentions.

“But, I heard that if you are in a girls only high school, if you don’t have any match, it is almost certain that you would be brought along to mixers or be introduced to potential boyfriends.”

Ah, she really does understand my way of thinking. This girl, please don’t say thing like that as though you understand me. 

“……Well then, I guess you should continue to work hard to try and enroll in our school.”

At least there was still a year whereby I could secretly look out for her. If others knew that Komachi had such a disgusting brother, there would definitely be fewer boys who would approach her. Wow, this was such a perfect plan. However, that would mean that Komachi would be unable to make any friends. This is such a double-edged sword.

Just as I was thinking about this, Komachi moaned with a “Nnnnnn” sound.

“Even if you didn’t say it, I would still have gone to Sobu High.”

“It would be great if you could get there.”

Although I had no idea of the extent of Komachi’s capabilities now, but from what I could tell from the routine periodic examination rankings, she was still quite some distance away from the passing mark. Just as I was thinking about others ways in which I could help her, I suddenly thought of something.

“How about recommendations? Weren’t you part of the student council?”

Komachi seemed to have been a member of the student council. I did recall her saying something along those line on the car during our summer trip to a training camp.

If she was a student council member that would mean she would be in a position to acquire GPA points [6] and meet recommendation criteria. Truth be told, about half of all junior high students entered the student council for that sole purpose. Another half joined it owing to the influences by mangas and animes. They entered it with some sort of longing, but then discover that reality was vastly different from what they expected and as a result, got disappointed.

“Since you are a idiot, rather that betting it all on a single exam, wouldn’t it be better to try for a selection test that judges students based on their characteristics?”

Listening to that, Komachi broke into a loud laugh.

“Fu-Fu-Fu. Oni-chan ……Komachi’s school results are bad because she’s stupid right?”

Why was she saying this with such a smug look?

Just as I was all surprised, Komachi seemed to have been hurt by her own words, clutched at her chest and spoke in a choking tone.

“That’s why, the points that I need for a recommendation is still not enough……”

With that, she broke down crying. Darn, this was really reaping what one sows. However, I guess she could still more or less set her target on getting a recommendation…….

However, brooding over the past was not the style of the Hikigaya household. I had discarded plenty of my past experiences as well. Of course, as the Hikigaya’s household final weapon of communication, Komachi had inherited this part as well. Quickly lifting her head, she continued speaking as though nothing had happened.

“Oni-chan was also ranked well only in the periodic tests. It’s just that it would be better if I could take along a letter of recommendation.”

“Hnng. You really are an idiot. My attitude in class is so bad, my teacher’s impression of me must be really bad as well. I had never chased after that sort of thing from the start.”

Why was I able to say that with a look of triumph? It seems like this enigmatic high-spiritedness of the deep night had still not disappeared. Hearing that, Komachi nodded her head as she said “So it’s like that-“. Hmph, what’s with that attitude? Your oni-chan is abit hurt now, you know?

However, being understood by others is something that can’t be helped. It goes without saying that my attitude and other’s impressions of me during practical skills lessons were the worst. Whilst I could still cope with the 5 core subjects, but I really was helpless in the other subjects like sports, arts, music and home-economics. This was a devilish system whereby only those favored by the teacher could win. And then, if the teacher became the consultant of any kind of club, they will be obviously biased toward the members of said club. Then, those cute girls and the students they favour will have higher marks. Because I was not a devil’s survivor to be able to survive in this kind of environment [7], I had already given up on these four subjects.

Sobu High was a school centered on prepping students for university. If you wanted to get a recommendation, you would need to score about 40 points from all 9 subjects. Since you could only get a maximum of 45 points from all the subjects, the bar was set pretty high. Not to mention that I had never thought of getting a recommendation from the very beginning.

Rather than having a good conduct and looking at the numbers on your report card for the two and a half years, wouldn’t it be more efficient to just study like mad during the final half a year?

Just like how the quality of illustrations would not affect the decision to make an anime, the numbers on a report card will not affect the final outcome of the test. Let me teach you that!

That is to say, the end result was more important than the process.

“Anyway, you just need to score well in your exam. Do your best.”

Because I was a little bit far away from Komachi to be able to clap her on her shoulder, so all I did was to gently raise my mug. Thereupon, Komachi raised her mug a little in response.

“Yup, I will do my best!”

Those were idiotic words from me, but if they could spur Komachi, I guess that was fine.

Well then, what follows next would be to go back to the room and read a book leisurely until I fell asleep. I finished up the rest of the coffee in a gulp and went to the kitchen to wash the mug clean.

“Well then, I am going off to sleep.”

At the instant that I spoke that, Komachi jumped up.

“Alright! Time to start! Oni-chan!”

“Huh? What do you mean by time to start?”

A war at night? Is it a war at night? But your Oni-chan wants to sleep now……

Komakura gave a bored yawn, stretched itself lazily and then left the living room.

                                                                         X                         X                         X

The table was piled with a stack of reference books as well as past-year questions.  Although the short-hand of the clock was already pointing at the 12 on the clock, Komachi seemed to want to study.

Komachi went back to her room and returned with a entire set of studying apparatus. As I looked on, I poured myself the second cup of coffee for today.

The table was cluttered with books from different subjects. Her studying was progressing with that same old “unable to study” look as always. However, the motivation for studying seems to be just a bit different from the past.

Komachi gripped her mechanical pencil with a look of gusto.

“Oni-chan, Komachi has noticed something. Just like what you mentioned about the mathematics test, there is a trick to studying.”

“Oh, you are making great progress.”

Rather, wouldn’t it be better to ask yourself why you have not noticed it till today? Or perhaps, surprisingly, everyone was like that. Even if they obtained some sort of knowledge during class, they still would not have obtained the method to studying or the way to take noted. Even if they attended the same lesson by the same teacher, as long as one noticed this, perhaps they would be able to distinguish themselves from the rest.

This was currently a phase of trial-and-error that Komachi was undergoing now.

“There’s a trick to memorizing isn’t there?”

Listening to her question, I thought about my own method of studying. Ah, she’s not wrong in thinking that. However, because it might be described by some people as disgusting, I didn’t really want to say much about it…….

“Well, there is a way. But it’s just a way that I found suitable for myself. I don’t know if it would suit you.”

“No, It definitely will!”

Komachi interrupted me. Where was she brimming with confidence when she said that?

I had already answered in such an ambiguous manner, but after what Komachi said, there was no way I could go about covering it up now. She stared at me expectantly with those sparkling eyes. I guess I had to tell her then…….

“Well, the trick behind memorization…… You would do well to remember what I am about to say next.”

“Make it specific!”

Komachi said in a serious tone. Whoaa…… Are you my superior now? Before giving an explanation or a presentation, one must think things through properly before speaking, you know?

I took the history book beside me and started riffling through the pages with a “Para-Para-“noise.

“Let’s see……. For example, world history.”

The part that I flipped to was on modern history. Komachi placed a chair next to me. Her elbow was close, but her face was even closer. That’s going to be a hindrance if I am to explain anything to you…… Well, nevermind.

“Historic events are remembered through the flow of events.”

“Huh? The flow of events?”

Komachi repeated my words with a look that seemed like she barely understood anything. Although this method was not uncommon, but if one did not explain the way to using this method in detail, then to grasp the concept behind this method could be said to rather difficult.

I coughed twice to clear my throat, then proceeded to speak in a low and smooth voice.

“A long long time ago in some area, there existed Soviet Union-chan and America-chan.”

“Ah, what, what happened to Oni-chan.”

Komachi immediately drew away from me. The next instant, she had pulled the chair far away from me. As though I had just said something disgusting. Why you little…… You were the one who asked me to explain it in the first place.

“You shut-up and listen to me. I am teaching you the way to remember things.”

“Yes, yes…..”

Komachi straightened her back and looked at me earnestly. However, although she was listening, the chair was still far away from me. Oni-chan feels a little sad now, you know?

Stifling the sadness in me, I continued speaking in a voice that was on the verge of tears.

“Soviet Union-chan was a cool and beautiful bitch, America-chan however, was a happy-go-lucky and cute bitch.”

“Bitch?”

“Yes, bitch.”

Even though I affirmed those words, they were fictional characters so associating those words with them probably doesn’t matter. If I were ever to be terminated by the CIA or the KGB, then this would probably be the reason.

The real problem was the story that these two bitches weaved. What followed next was important.

“The two of them are in the same class. The relationship between them was that of rivals vying to be the popularity queen.  Since both wanted to be the top, this often led to quarrels.”

“Seems like a common story.”
This is a common story? ....... Girls really were scary. Although I wanted to hide my own trembling, the voice that I spoke in probably had a few stammering and stuttering in it.

“Well, probably. They want to engage in open warfare, but owing to the onlookers in the surrounds, or perhaps the gaze of the guys, it would be difficult for them to do so. Hence, Soviet Union-chan and America-chan engaged in some high-level rumor-mongering warfare. For this purpose, they formed their own cliques to do battle.”

“Rumor-mongering warfare……..” [8]

Komachi murmured in a voice that seemed like she had some deep emotional attachment to those terms.

“That’s right. Stuff like [That girl is going out with that university student at her workplace], or things like [They don’t want to greet us anymore.] or [C85Nano is all sold out!] and other related topics.” [9]

“Those are also common stories…….”

This was commonly seen as well? Wow, that’s enough, I need to stop taking notice of the happenings in Komachi’s class. I need to focus my energy and continue the explanation.

“This is the war between the communist country and the democratic country. In other words, this is the cold war.”

As though she had just heard some familiar terms, Komachi nodded her head with a “N , N.” If she could still understand at this point, then I guess I should just go on ahead.

“As they engage in this warfare, both Soviet Union-chan and America-chan possess important secrets that have the power to obliterate each other. Both sides are holding on to each other’s weakness. What do you think about that?”

“There’s no way for them to do anything to each other…….”

“That’s right. Although they could destroy each other, but they risk facing a similar payback in return, a blow that would be the equivalent of annihilation. If they were to go ahead, there was the risk that the entire class would crumble. From the perspective of modern day history, this weakness would be nukes.”

Both sides had the means to destroy each other. Both sides also understood this point perfectly. This is what is meant by mutually assured destruction.

“That’s about it.”

“Oh, oh, seems like I know yet I don’t.”

Although I had just completed a portion about the cold war, Komachi’s reaction did not seem to have any reaction. However, what was important now was not the contents of the cold war, but rather the method to remember it.

“Anyway, I have already described it in an extremely simple manner. Whether it’s through personification or what, anything related to the subject of history should be remembered by knowing the flow of events. First, form a skeletal structure of it. Then use the knowledge as the “meat” and stick that onto it. This is the way to remember things. Just remembering vague terms has very low efficiency. “

Using this method, one could remember historical events. When answering discussion questions, you could use this method and soon, one after another, the events would unfold themselves and the answer would reveal itself to you. This is the method that I would recommend for studying. Well, although it’s just a recommendation, I had no one else in mind who I could recommend it to besides Komachi.

Komachi opened her mouth with a “Ha-“as though she was slowly beginning to understand, and nodded her head a great deal.

“The most important thing, is to novelize the textbook right?”

“The gist of it is like that. My method is not the only one. It would be great if you could come up with your own as well.”

Having said that, I could finally go back to my room and sleep. As such, I stretched myself and in the tears that I squeezed out, I could make out the figure of Komachi moving her pen speedily.

…….. Well, I guess I could accompany her a bit more.

In the quiet room, the sound of the mechanical pencil going “Pe-sha” echoed throughout. Komachi continuously flipped the pages, taking up the eraser and even occasionally drawing something with the marker.

“Komachi, can you pass?”

To which Komachi replied without stopping what she was doing.

“I don’t know. It would be nice if I could.”

She did not gave me an answer to my question. That was just her wish.

This was like those time when I was in elementary school and junior high. We wouldn’t really keep in touch for no particular reason. After all, she wasn’t anyone that I could boast about. Even if I was proud of my little sister, there was no one that I show her off to.

There was no point in studying in the same high school. But if Komachi wished to enroll in my high school, then that was alright as well.

Komachi stopped her writing, and shifted her attention from the note. It was as though she was gazing at the future that was arriving soon.

“…….Yup, there are things that I want to do.”

“Things that you want to do?  Stuff like club activities?”

“Yes-. Well, stuff like that.”

“Which club do you want to enter?”

Although our school had many club activities, but they would all come to an end. There were seriously too many clubs. What ROU, what SHI-, what KATE club. Incidentally, the go-home club seems to be having quite a lot of activities don’t they? [10]

However, even if I asked her, she seemed unwilling to say it out.

“Hehe, it’s a secret.”

Komachi raised her index finger and winked at me as she said that. Whoa, that was a gesture that was cute to the point of annoying me.

“If it’s the Service Club, then forget it. That, I have no idea when it will come to an end.”

“Eh, is that so?”

Komachi stared at me with an expression like she was a punctured ball. That happy atmosphere accompanied by her smile vanished in an instant.

What was left was the quiet of the night.

I used some coffee to force the words in my throat back down into my stomach. After burying it my heart, I began to speak.

“I have no idea when I entered that club. That was the same for Yuigahama. Well, I don’t really about Yukinoshita as well. That’s why, should anything happen, it would probably disappear real quick.”

This was a 3 member only club. Furthermore, we were all second year students. Although unlike the sports-related clubs, we did not have a official time to “retire” from the club, but this club would only exist until the time we graduated. It could also be easily disbanded for a reason that had nothing to do with the time factor.

What would be that reason?

Komachi gulped her coffee in one mouthful and gave a painful expression.

“Oni-chan. When you say should anything happen, what did you mean?”

“…….. Who knows?”

I laughed it off in my reply to her.

I had probably already noticed it. I was exceedingly aware of it.

Yukinoshita Yukino, Hikigaya Hachiman, Yuigahama Yui. These three people’s club activities would come to an end one day. Our position, our environment, our personalities were all different. The relationship between us would be lost one day.

This was not limited to just the three of us. To begin with, the relations between people were weak. It was probably always weaker than what I had imagined.

As I came back to my senses, my gaze fell onto the coffee. There, on the black surface, a even darker pair of pupil was reflected on the ripples of that black surface.

“Oni-chan?”

Hearing Komachi’s voice, I reflexively answered her.

“I am listening. What were you talking about just now?”

“You weren’t even listening…….”

Komachi spoke in disgust. However, she regained her energy pretty quick and picked up her mechanical pencil.

“What’s left now, is for me to do my best and get into Sobu High!”

“Whatever. Do your best.”

I held back my laughter and drained the cup of coffee.









INTERLUDE:

One day, a text conversation between Yui and Hachiman.

Yui: Yahallo! (＝ ﾟωﾟ)ノ
Am I speaking with the second-year? (・_・;？？

Hachiman: Yes.

Yui: Σ(ﾟдﾟ|||) Just one word !?  So short!

Hachiman: I think it is sufficient enough to convey my message.

Yui: I am pretty sure you can say more than that. ((((( ；ﾟДﾟ))))))
 Also, at least use some ACSII facial emoticons! You sound like you are angry……. (.＿.))

Hachiman: Yes. (＾V＾)
Like that?

Yui: Gross.

Hachiman: Hey, don’t you go pulling a one-worder on me.


____________________________________________________________________________

[1] Adapting his own name into稻川淳二 (Inagawa Junji)m a very popular horror movie director in Japan. (本当にあった怖い话) [Real-life horror stories] is a morning television program whereby its contents are created according to well…. Real life events……….
[2] URIIIII and WRRYYYYY are the cries of DIO, a character in [Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure]

[3] I cant think of a way to put it in English hence I left in its Romanized form. Aすねこすり (SUNEKOKORI) is a demon that appears on rainy nights in the Okayama prefecture. As its Japanese name implies, it’s a demon that goes about interfering with a person’s movements. I.E. To try and trip them up etcetc.

[4] [A dog and scissors have their uses] is a LN by Sarai Shunsuke.

[5] Too cluncky to translate. MEXT is the abbreviation of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan.

[6]Lonaticus idea to translate it as such. Thanks. POI! But anyway in Japan, these points represent how well you did in each subject. The maximum amount of points you can earn in each subject each semester is 5. These points that are accumulated over the three years apparently plays a significant portion towards your high-school promotion. In the case of Komachi, these points can be boosted because she is part of the student council.

[7] Reference to Shin Megami Tensei : Devil Survivor. Look it up!

[8] The actual words used were情報戦 which would translate to something like Information Warfare. I changed it to what I did because it sounded stupid in the context of a classroom.

[9] Reference to Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, whose products always get sold out really quick. To get a higher chance of buying the products, people apparently spreaded fake information that the peripherals were already sold out on 2chan and Twitter.

[10] Your translator failed you because he is too noob to figure out what Watari is talking about. He’s mainly talking about the excess of clubs that even he (Hikigaya) can’t remember them all.
Actual words in the LN areろうとしーとかてーとか. Abbreviation of some clubs in japan that I can’t be bothered to find.