First Year, First Semester: 001 – Hikigaya Enters Koudo Ikusei
[Brain Drop-off Box]
[Cerebellum Drop-off Box]
"Hachiman."
This is a dream.
"Hachiman."
Besides Mom and Komachi, what woman calls me by name? Must be a dream!
"Mmm~ Hachiman, Hachiman, Hachimaan~~"
Agh! The sugar overload!!
Hachiman Hikigaya jolted awake.
An unfamiliar room and an unfamiliar woman filled his sight.
She had glossy crimson hair, a notably generous chest, and sparkling blue eyes brimming with energy.
"W-who are you?"
Hachiman's mind went blank.
Where did this bombshell come from—national-idol level gorgeous!
"Hmm?"
"Honestly, Hachiman."
The lively beauty puffed her cheeks. "Up you get—you promised we'd do street photography today."
"Photos?"
"No brag, but my camera skills can turn the cutest little sister in the world into just another passably cute passer-by."
"Someone as pretty as you—letting me shoot you would be a waste…"
Hachiman stated the blunt truth.
"But I only want you to take them~"
She tilted her head, eyes smiling.
Totally unfair!
His heart pounded.
"Ah—almost forgot…"
She leaned closer, remembering something.
A flawless face filled Hachiman's vision.
"W-wait?!"
"What are you doing!!"
He grabbed her shoulders, dead fish eyes trying to look away yet magnetically pulled forward.
Dreaded gravity!
"What do you mean, what?"
"Isn't this our daily good-morning kiss?"
She blinked, utterly matter-of-fact.
A-a kiss?!
For a guy who's never even held a girl's hand, the level jump was insane!
"I get it now… Adolescent dream = wet dream."
Calm reasserted itself.
By dream logic, this chesty live-wire was apparently his wife—pfft! Nice imagination, Hachiman.
But if it's only a dream… boldness is allowed, right?
He raked his gaze over the spectacular "wife" and swallowed.
No!
Don't go full drooling pervert!
Scaring her would be awful.
He inhaled, clasped his hands, and chanted: Amitabha, Heavenly Lord, God, Komachi—exorcise this evil!
"Hehe~"
"No need to hold back~~"
She whispered sweet temptation: "Today's a safe day~~~"
Snap!
The string called reason inside Hachiman broke.
Sorry, Komachi.
Big brother's caving in.
(…)
"Ding-ling~"
"Wham!"
Hachiman's Eternal Grip crushed the alarm clock.
For the first time he wanted to murder that clock.
"Morning, big brother!"
Komachi kicked open the broken-lock door.
"Ugh—your face is weird. Lewd dream last night?"
She perched on the bed frame, poking his still-flushed cheek with a grin.
Sh-shut up!
He clutched the blanket, anticipating the daily blanket-snatch.
"Up, up! Today you enter Koudo Ikusei!"
Komachi's brow creased, eyes misting. "Mom and Dad are nuts—shipping you off to a locked-down Tokyo school alone…"
Originally he'd planned on nearby Sobu High.
A month ago came an invitation from Koudo Ikusei in Tokyo.
A public-private academy running some social experiment, its rules and curriculum anything but normal—but that wasn't the selling point.
The hook: three years tuition-free, and guaranteed admission to Tokyo University upon graduation!
His first reaction: "Scam!"
Yet his parents bought it, signing the form on the spot.
Reason given: "Boys need early independence!"
He wanted to cry—was he adopted?
If so… even better?
"Ew! Your eyes just got gross!"
Komachi grimaced in disgust.
Still…
"Tomorrow onward, no disgusting big brother around—Komachi will be lonely."
"Oho~ that line scored major Komachi points!"
She tapped her head, tongue out, winking.
"Komachi…"
He saw through her act; after all, siblings for over a decade.
"Anyway, go wash up."
She hopped out, then peeked back: "I'll wash your sheets later~"
"SCRAM!!!"
He yelled, mortified.
Blame that hyper-real dream.
Bullet-train to Tokyo, then a school shuttle.
He sat mid-rear of the bus.
New students boarded, wordlessly avoiding him and heading farther back.
Every other seat filled except the one beside him.
Elementary and middle school field-trip flashbacks: "Hikigaya bacteria"—sit next to him, catch misfortune.
Then a girl strode down the aisle and, without hesitation, parked herself beside him.
Stay cool.
Zero expectations.
She just needed the only empty seat.
(End of Chapter 1 excerpt)