AN: Sup! J here again for a 2nd update this week.
So, how was the previous chapter? Was it good? Is it okay?
Was I able to properly connect Hachiman and Kikyo?
Are there any parts I messed up?
Ahahaha, sorry about this, I'm not just a bit worried about how that previous chapter was.
While I feel it is good enough, I can't help but feel something might not be right.
Well, anyways, here is the next chapter and continuation of this ARC!
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
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???, ???...
The first thing Hachiman noticed was that his consciousness seemed to be floating somewhere between sleep and waking. For a moment, he wondered if he was still lying on his makeshift bed at their camp.
'I should be waking up in my main self by now… but this feels strange. Still, this phenomenon feels familiar. Almost nostalgic.'
Then a faint metallic sound rang through the darkness.
Clink.
It was the sound of chains rattling.
Hachiman slowly opened his eyes.
"…Ah." A small surprised gasp escaped him.
"Hahaha… Just when I was starting to wonder when this place would show up again."
The darkness around him began to fade, replaced by a cold blue light. Iron bars stretched upward into the darkness above, forming the familiar prison cell. Heavy chains hung from the ceiling like silent sentinels. Beyond the bars stood a long table draped in dark velvet.
And seated behind it was the unmistakable figure of the master of this strange place.
A long, pointed nose. Those large, bulging, bloodshot eyes with small pupils give the wearer a constant wide-eyed or crazed expression, especially paired with that smile of his.
Igor, the enigmatic proprietor of the Velvet Room, a space that exists "between dream and reality, mind and matter."
"What a delightful surprise…"
His voice spread through the room.
"It has indeed been quite some time, Seeker."
"…Yeah." Hachiman pushed himself upright from the velvet couch and stretched his shoulders lazily. "Honestly, I thought you guys forgot about me."
An amused chuckle escaped Igor.
"The Velvet Room would not dare forget its guest… especially the one who rebels against fate itself." His eyes scanned Hachiman with both fascination and amusement.
"Your journey… continues to produce fascinating results."
Then, behind Hachiman, he heard another set of footsteps.
He didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.
A doll-like young girl stepped forward, her long platinum-blonde hair flowing behind her. A single red butterfly hairclip and a black velvet headband decorated her hair. She wore a Victorian-style navy blue dress with gold embroidery and white ruffled sleeves, paired with white tights and black Mary Jane shoes.
"Lavenza…" Hachiman murmured.
Lavenza clearly heard him, but she simply kept her golden eyes fixed on him.
"Hello, my Seeker. It seems you have been rather… active."
Hachiman immediately flinched and looked away.
"…If this is about what you think it is, I swear it wasn't supposed to escalate like that."
"How curious." Lavenza tilted her head. Her tone remained calm. Far too calm. "I said nothing about the nature of your activities."
'Lavenza-san! Please watch your tone, I can hear the jealousy in there!'
"…R-right." Hachiman groaned as he rubbed his temples. "Great. Now I sound guilty even when I'm not."
'Why does this feel like I got caught cheating?!'
Lavenza ignored his complaint completely. Instead, she raised her hand. A tarot card materialized in the air between them.
The Moon Arcana.
The card lit up before dissolving into glowing blue fragments.
"The bond you made with another girl has reached its culmination."
Hachiman lightly winced at her tone, before leaning back on the couch, trying to maintain his usual cool and relaxed appearance despite the turmoil inside him.
"…Yeah."
He exhaled slowly. "That was… something."
"The heart of Kushida Kikyo has accepted a truth she spent years trying to ignore. The wish for acknowledgement born from her fear of being forgotten and abandoned… has turned into a desire to receive something genuine."
Lavenza's expression softened as she let out a small sigh. "To guide someone in confronting their own mask… and choose to live beyond it…"
Her eyes settled on Hachiman, a small smile filled with pride appearing on her lips.
"Should I say… that this is exactly what I expected from you, Seeker of the Genuine Thing?"
Hachiman stared up at the ceiling.
"…If that's your way of saying I caused emotional chaos again, then yeah. Sounds about right."
He let out a tired sigh and rubbed the back of his neck.
"But honestly… I just took responsibility for my actions."
His voice became smaller.
"I'm the one who made her fall for me like that… so the least I can do is make sure she receives what she deserves."
Lavenza's smile widened, her eyes as gentle as ever as she looked at Hachiman. "Fufufu… truly worthy of you, my Seeker."
Igor chuckled as well. "Such modesty."
The old man leaned forward, his fingers interlocked. "Yet it is precisely this kind of rebellion that defines your journey, Seeker. To reach into a distorted heart… and guide it toward genuine."
The amusement in his tone was clear. "That is a power far greater than simple strength."
Hachiman glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
"…You say that like you've been watching me."
Igor's smile widened slightly. "To observe the growth of one's guest is… only natural."
That answer made Hachiman groan once more.
"With the maturation of this bond…"
Lavenza continued and raised her hand. Another tarot card appeared in the air. Its surface shone briefly before transforming into a brilliant symbol.
"Sandalphon now answers your call."
Hachiman stared at the card for a moment.
"…So that's the ultimate Moon Persona, huh." He scratched his cheek lazily. "Guess that makes Kikyo officially part of my emotional-support disaster squad."
Lavenza blinked once. "…Your terminology is questionable, but… it is not entirely inaccurate."
Igor laughed. "Nevertheless, this development is significant."
He looked directly at Hachiman.
"Each bond thou forge strengthens the path before thee. Yet the journey toward the genuine you seeks remains incomplete. Your rebellion against fate hasn't reach its conclusion."
Hachiman's eyes narrowed before he nodded.
"…Yeah."
It was only a single word, but the resolve within it was unshakable.
"Your path grows more interesting with every step." Igor smiled as he leaned back in his chair. "The Seeker who rebels not only against fate… but against despair itself."
Hachiman closed his eyes for a moment, replaying the memories of his rebellion. When he opened them again, the determination in his eyes was as strong as ever.
"There are still many trials awaiting you."
"…Figures." Hachiman nodded before glancing toward the prison bars. "So what happens now?"
Igor's smile deepened. "For now… the game continues."
The blue light slowly began to fade. The chains above rattled once more.
"And when next we meet…"
Igor said as the Velvet Room slowly dissolved.
"I expect even more fascinating developments."
Darkness swallowed Hachiman once more as he felt his consciousness being pulled back toward the waking world.
—----
Deserted Island, Hachiman's Home Planet…
It was finally the sixth night of the Island Survival Exam. Hachiman stood at the edge of their camp, stretching his shoulders as he prepared for his last run to renew their claimed spots. With him were Kanzaki Ryuji and Shibata Sou, both entrusted by Hachiman with an important task.
Over the course of the seven-day exam, Class B had secured 15 spots—8 on the first day, 4 on the third day, and 3 more on the fourth.
The funny thing was that those 3 spots Hachiman claimed on the fourth day had originally been occupied by Class A. Thanks to the information brought back by Amikura Mako and Shibata, he was able to catch the exact timing when the ownership of those spots was about to expire.
That was also how he managed to identify Class A's leader.
And then, as if adding insult to injury, he had sneakily taken those spots right out from under their noses, purely out of spite.
Of course, it worked beautifully.
The expression on Katsuragi's face when they discovered their spot had been stolen was apparently priceless. Hachiman could only regret that he hadn't been there to witness it himself.
The 'children' of Class B didn't know what kind of expression they should make when they heard Hachiman muttering about that regret. Even their angel-like mother, Ichinose Honami, merely looked up at the bright blue sky and commented on how wonderful the weather was.
In any case, after this round of renewal, those 15 spots would give Class B a total of 250 points by the end of the exam tomorrow. Add the 200 points they saved from their original 300-point budget, and their final gain would reach 450 points.
"Hikigaya, are you seriously going through with this plan?" Shibata asked anxiously. "...Won't this put you in danger?"
"It's precisely because the plan is risky that it should be me doing it," Hachiman replied calmly. "Besides, it'll be more effective if I'm the one who will do it."
"Still…" Shibata muttered, unconvinced. Even so, he understood the importance of this plan—to destroy Class C and deliver a wake-up call to Class A.
"So that's why you didn't tell Ichinose anything," Kanzaki said. It wasn't a guess, but a statement of fact.
Hachiman paused for a moment before continuing. "...Honami would never agree to this plan."
Kanzaki nodded in understanding. "Of course she wouldn't. Our 'mother' wouldn't want our 'father' putting himself in danger."
Shibata nodded firmly at Kanzaki's words.
Hachiman winced slightly before letting out a quiet sigh. "Sorry, you two… I'm asking you to handle the dirtier part of this job."
"...No, it's fine. Honestly, I'm just glad you actually asked us for help," Kanzaki replied with a sigh.
"Yeah," Shibata added. "I don't fully agree with a plan that puts you at this much risk. But like Kanzaki said, if we can help even a little and lighten the burden on you, then that's enough for me."
"You two… thanks." Hachiman looked at his friends with gratitude.
Once he was ready, Hachiman took out the pink camera he had borrowed from Sakura Airi earlier and handed it to Kanzaki.
"Here's Sakura's camera. You know what to do, right?"
"Yes. Leave it to me."
Kanzaki nodded firmly. Hachiman then turned to Shibata, who gave him a determined nod in return.
"I'll keep an eye on 'that item' in Class A," Shibata said. "I'll also make sure we can get confirmation that Class C had delivered 'their' package to Class A and that they left the island."
Hachiman nodded and gave his shoulder a light pat before turning to leave the Class B camp.
"Then I'll be going now. I'll see you both tomorrow… at the ship."
"Take care, Hikigaya."
"See you tomorrow."
Hachiman gave them a small smile before breaking into a run, heading off to carry out his plan—and make both Class C and Class A feel the consequences of provoking him.
—--
'According to Shibata and Amikura, there are unusual traces around the waterfall area.' Hachiman reminded himself of the reports from their exploration over the past three days.
["How should I explain it? That place looks… too normal. So normal that it actually feels suspicious." Amikura Mako tilted her head as she tried to put her thoughts into words.]
["I agree with Amikura-san. The surroundings near the waterfall were unusually clean, almost as if someone deliberately kept it that way," Shibata added.]
'If I remember correctly, that waterfall they mentioned is surrounded by plenty of trees, and the basin below connects to the river. That means easy access to both food and fresh water,' Hachiman analyzed. 'There's also a cave-like area nearby where someone could stay.'
As he ran across the island, renewing their Class Spot occupancy, Hachiman continued to organize the information in his head.
'…And that location is also close to Class A's territory. That would make it convenient for them to carry out their dealings.'
Then, while heading toward the waterfall area, Hachiman passed near the center of the island, the place where the lighthouse was.
The same lighthouse where he and Kikyo had… well… done things.
His steps slowed to a stop as he stared at it.
Memories of Kikyo's soft body, her sweet moans, and the taste of her lips rushed back into his mind.
Those memories made Hachiman blush, and a powerful urge to crawl into the ground and hide from the embarrassment washed over him.
'God! Why am I remembering this at a time like this?!'
He shut his eyes, trying to calm his racing heart… but it only made things worse.
As a Pathstrider of Remembrance, memories were his greatest strength—and also his worst enemy at times like this. The moment his eyes closed, the memories only became clearer: Kikyo's soft moans, the warmth of her skin, the way she called his name when she was about to… well… that.
So…
Hachiman forcibly stopped his own thoughts in the most primitive way possible.
By slamming his head straight into the ground.
"Gaah!!! That hurts!!"
Holding his head, Hachiman rolled on the ground as tears formed in his eyes. The pain, however, worked immediately. Thanks to it, the embarrassing memories were finally pushed out of his mind.
While lying on the ground, he stared up at the night sky where the stars of his homeworld twinkled brightly.
His thoughts soon went to Mei and Ruan Mei—two of the most important people in his life. With incredible generosity, they had forgiven him when he told them about what had happened that day. They had even accepted his decision to formalize his relationship with Honami and Arisu, and his wish to wait for Kikyo until she could truly believe herself worthy of being loved.
"…Seriously. I might be the luckiest man in the universe right now."
A smile appeared on his lips.
As he closed his eyes once more, the memory of his conversation with the two slowly returned to him.
—---
Flashback—three days ago, the same day as the Honami & Kikyo incident…
When Hachiman's consciousness returned to his main self in DesuMachi, he was still slightly disoriented—not only from the switch, but also from visiting the Velvet Room after such a long time. Even so, he quickly remembered the purpose he had set for himself that day.
He needed to speak with Mei and Ruan Mei.
There were things they deserved to hear from him directly—his relationship with Honami, what he intended to do about Arisu, and what had happened with Kikyo.
After breakfast, a visibly tense Hachiman asked Mei and Ruan Mei if they could speak privately. His serious tone confused both of them, as well as the rest of Team Ash-Born. Still, seeing how determined he looked, the two women agreed.
After entrusting little Kagura to Patricia and Tinasha, the three of them headed to the master bedroom so they could talk without interruption.
"There have been… some developments in my homeworld," Hachiman began. "And the two of you deserve to know about them. No—more than that, it's only right that you hear it from me."
Taking a breath, Hachiman explained everything without hiding anything. Honami's confession. His answer to her. His intention to formalize his relationship with Arisu. And finally… what had happened at the lighthouse with Kikyo.
"I know this is really unfair to both of you, but…" Hachiman said softly. "I made my relationship with Honami official."
He forced himself to continue.
"I also plan to make things official with Arisu once my other self returns to school in my homeworld. And then there's Kikyo… I made a promise to her. The moment she learns to love herself and truly see her own worth… then I will accept her as well."
Hachiman bowed his head toward the two women sitting in front of him. Mei and Ruan Mei were seated on the bed while he sat on the desk chair across from them. Both women watched him with the same unreadable, flat expression.
"I know this is shameless of me to ask, but… will you please accept those three into our family?"
For a long moment, silence filled the room.
Hachiman could feel cold sweat running down his back, yet he didn't dare lift his head. He simply stayed there, waiting for their judgment.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, someone finally broke the silence.
"For you to lower your head for them… do those three truly matter to you that much?"
'Ah… that cold, commanding voice… it's Herrscher Mei.'
A bead of sweat slid down Hachiman's temple the moment he realized who had spoken.
"Y-yes, ma'am," he answered immediately. "Honami and Arisu shaped the person I am today. And Kikyo… she has become someone I don't want to lose. They are—just like the two of you—my 'real thing.' The people I searched for all my life."
"I see," Mei replied in the same flat tone.
'Oh Akivili… Fuli… am I done for?!'
Hachiman could already feel despair creeping into his thoughts.
"Curious. Very curious." Ruan Mei murmured.
She tilted her head slightly, her brows furrowing as she placed a hand over her chest.
"Ruan Mei?" Hachiman finally raised his head to look at her. "Are you alright?"
"Hmm… yes, I believe I am." She slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm simply a little surprised at myself. In my long life… I never imagined I would experience a feeling like this."
"...Are you really okay, Ruan Mei-san?" Even Mei sounded worried now.
"Yes, I'm certain I'm fine." Ruan Mei nodded calmly. "I was simply taken aback. Who would have thought that someone as apathetic as I… would one day feel something like jealousy?"
"Ehh…?"
"...What?"
Both Mei and Hachiman stared at her in shock.
"Hehehe… It's quite unbelievable, isn't it? I don't blame you. Even I, the one experiencing it, can hardly believe it myself." Ruan Mei let out a small, wry smile.
"But when Hachiman spoke about taking in women, I had never known about… I felt a sharp prick in my chest. Breathing became difficult, and I felt an irrational irritation toward those women."
Hachiman opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Mei's expression, however, slowly changed into one of understanding—because she felt the same way.
Seeing their reactions only made the guilt inside Hachiman grow heavier.
He felt sorry. Truly sorry that he had hurt two of the people most important to him.
But… he couldn't give up.
He didn't want to give up Honami, Arisu, or Kikyo.
He didn't want to lose them.
The three people he had found as his 'real thing.'
"...I'm sorry." Hachiman lowered his head once more.
Mei and Ruan Mei looked at him, then at each other, before silently nodding.
"...Hachiman, you don't plan to give up on them?" Mei asked.
"No. I won't—and I never intended to," he answered without hesitation.
"Even if we were to tell you to?" Ruan Mei asked calmly.
Hachiman's body stiffened for a moment before he forced himself to relax again.
"Yes." His answer came out firm and unwavering.
A sigh escaped both women.
"Raise your head, Hachiman."
Receiving permission from the Thunder Queen herself, Hachiman slowly lifted his head.
"...Since you have already made your decision,"
"And we clearly cannot change it,"
"We will agree for now… but we will need to meet them and speak with them personally."
"With the kind of life you are walking into… the life we will share with you… We need to know if they are capable—no, if they are truly willing—to bear such a burden beside us."
"And only then will we give our final verdict. Either to accept them… or to have them leave you."
Mei and Ruan Mei spoke in turns, completing each other's sentences as they delivered their decision.
Hachiman's hand tightened slightly.
"...I understand. I'll do my part as well and slowly introduce them to my world."
"That would be the best." Ruan Mei nodded at him. "Now come here and give us a hug or something. I think we deserve a little pampering after you just told us you plan to add more people to our family."
"O‑Oh…" Hachiman stood up from the chair and carefully sat between Mei and Ruan Mei on the bed.
The two women immediately wrapped themselves around his arms.
"Fufufu, I never expected Ruan Mei‑san to be the one asking Hachiman for pampering first," Mei said while settling comfortably against his shoulder.
"…It seems we can discover new things about ourselves every now and then," Ruan Mei replied calmly from the other side.
'…Okay. Did I just win in life?' Hachiman thought in bewilderment.
"Ah… that reminds me," Ruan Mei said as she peeked at Hachiman's face. "You mentioned earlier that you almost… did it with one of the girls there."
Hachiman flinched. He wanted to scratch the back of his head, but with both women clinging to his arms, he couldn't move. "Almost. It was really close… but I stopped before crossing the line with Kikyo."
"But you did 'trailblaze' every nook and cranny of her body, didn't you?"
"Please don't phrase it like that, Ruan Mei‑san!!!"
For some reason, Hachiman could clearly feel the jealousy in Ruan Mei's flat voice. At the same time, he felt Mei's grip around his arm tighten slightly.
"So… did you?"
"…S‑sorry."
"Hmmm…"
Ruan Mei simply hummed softly after hearing his apology. It was enough of an answer.
"Mei… I think we may need to step up a little."
"Ehh? What do you mean by that?"
Mei tilted her head at Ruan Mei's sudden statement.
"With Hachiman charming more women lately, it might be better if we establish certain facts now."
"Haa?"
"Fuee?"
Both Hachiman and Mei stared at her in confusion.
"Although Hachiman managed to stop himself this time, who knows what might happen next time?" Ruan Mei continued calmly. "That is why I suggest we take the initiative… and make things advance on the next level."
"…?"
"…???"
"What I am saying is… perhaps we should go and copu—"
"WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!"
Before she could finish the sentence, both Mei and Hachiman jumped at her, covering her mouth at the same time.
"W-what are you even saying?!" Hachiman shouted, his face completely red.
"T‑that's right, Ruan Mei‑san! I‑I thi—"
Mei suddenly froze.
Then her expression changed.
"…Ignore the coward, I agree! Let's do it, my Monarch!"
"Wait—what?!"
The other Mei had clearly taken control.
She pushed Hachiman down onto the bed and climbed on top of him.
"Mei?!"
"Hehehe… I've been waiting for this for a long time, my monarch~."
With a mischievous smile, the other Mei began stripping down to her underwear.
"Hmm? Should I leave for now and come back once it's my turn?" Ruan Mei muttered, tapping a finger against her chin.
"W-wait!" Hachiman quickly grabbed Ruan Mei's hand to stop her. Intending to ask her for help to stop Mei, but…
"Oh? Does Hachiman want to take both of us at the same time?" Ruan Mei tilted her head slightly.
"Whaa—no, that's not what I—"
"I don't mind that, but I'll go first!"
Hachiman was about to deny Ruan Mei's words, but Mei spoke before he could.
"Fufufu… Shall we begin, my Monarch~?"
"?!"
Before Hachiman could react, Mei leaned forward and kissed him, giving him no chance to refuse or escape.
"…I suppose I'll join as well." Ruan Mei watched their kiss deepen for a moment before calmly beginning to remove her outer clothes.
"Hachiman, don't forget about me, too."
"!!!!!"
The moment Hachiman and Mei's kiss broke, Ruan Mei slipped in and kissed him herself.
'This might be the most disastrous—and the best—day of my life!!' Hachiman screamed in his mind.
After that, the three of them did not leave the room until late afternoon.
On that day, Hikigaya Hachiman successfully climbed the stairs into adulthood with his two beautiful wives.
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