Unlikely Duet

Chapter 12: Gotoh-san to Hikigaya-kun

The Unlikely Duet

Foreword: Do not adjust your screen, it's me again. I'm Mayflower Productions, returning with another installment of everyone's favorite Oregairu/Bocchi the Rock crossover. Today, we end the ongoing three-part arc. Are these frequent uploads the new norm? Short answer, no, long answer, maybe. Thank you to everyone reading thus far. 300 views are growing ever closer. And yes, the chapter title is a reference. Now playing, Unlikely Duet Chapter 12: Gotoh-san to Hikigaya-kun.

General Information: Unlikely Duet-line break, "Y-yes, we do know each other...regrettably."-Dialogue

Disclaimer: I do not own Bocchi the Rock, Oregairu, or any other intellectual properties that may appear in this story. Please don't sue me.

Chapter 12: Gotoh-san to Hikigaya-kun

[Hachiman POV]

"..." Walking into class today, I could feel it in the air. The muted excitement, anxiety, and anticipation all swirled into one toxic brew. The combination was so noxious that I almost opened a window. I then remembered it was still winter, so that thought died quickly. Instead, I took out a reference book and tried to ignore everyone around me. Why?...

Today was February 14th.

What's the big deal, then? Yesterday was February 13th, and tomorrow is February 15th. What could be so special about this random day? It's not like there's a MAX Coffee giveaway or a new light novel release...Until you look closer at the date.

February 14th was Valentine's Day...My least favorite holiday.

It was a constant reminder of my "storied" (read: pitiful) past. I never liked today, despite naively chasing after others, aimlessly daydreaming, and joining those laughing at, rather than with, me. The whole idea of people sharing chocolates and quantifying relationships didn't jive with me.

I never had friends, so no "Tomo-choco" between pals. My love life was—is—less than ideal (read: a dumpster fire), so strike off serious chocolates. Admittedly, I was (read: still am) so desperate that I'd grovel at the slightest hint of interest. If a girl came up to me holding a colorful bag with my name on it, I'd fold right then and there, no questions asked!

In any case, as a social bottom-feeder, that left one source outside of family: obligatory chocolates given out to save face—I mean, promote strong intra-class relations. Unluckily for me, my school didn't require gift parity in class, that is, one for all or none for all, so students could pick and choose as they pleased. Girls carefully scoped out their targets while guys banded together, lamenting their unpopularity, until a "circle-crusher" came between them, ruining everything. Lacking presence, I was always on the outs, so that brought another zero.

This brings Hikigaya Hachiman's grand total of chocolate to...

Two!

Huh, was that a rounding error?...No, it wasn't. My beloved sister, Komachi, would at least pity me with a small chocolate bar, and there might be a wrapped gift near my school bag the following morning. My parents were many things: underpaid, overworked, less than present, but they could at least read the room! That's one point over their son...me.

From that perspective, why did I hate Valentine's Day, then? Sure, I'm not popular, and don't intend on changing that anytime soon. My peers forget about me, but my family doesn't, giving me the most obligatory of obligatory chocolates. And it's not like I care about what other people think of me, but—

That doesn't make the classroom's air any more bearable.

Regardless, I was a changed man! I had entrance exams to study for and priorities to meet, which were distractions from my bleak reality. I was pretty much a corporate slave at this point! My parents would be so proud!