100 Days-Komahina

Manipulations And Maybes

   Nagito corners me in the Staff Room the morning of the thirty-sixth day. 

   "Oh, Hajime, you wouldn't believe it! After you left yesterday, Makoto asked me out! We're going out after work today!" He babbles excitedly. 

   Ah, he really did it?! And so soon! I don't like this, not in the slightest.

    "Oh really? That's great, Nagito. I'm happy for you two." I lie easily. He beams and I want to vomit. 

   "I'm so happy! Nothing could possibly bring my mood down today! Well, I better get out there! See you, Hajime!" He chirps before turning and trotting away. I lean against the wall and let out a long sigh as I watch him leave.

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   I stare at the wall, bitter, as I eat the udon Kaede packed me. It's enough that they're going to go out, they don't need to be all lovey-dovey in the workplace as well. All they've been doing all morning is flirting and making stupid faces at each other as they go about their shifts. It makes me sick to my stomach.

   "Hajime!" Someone calls and I automatically turn at the voice. There's Makoto, standing happily in front of the table I'm eating at. "Mind if I sit?" He asks politely. I shrug, indifferent.

   You always seem to just take what you want, Makoto, so of course you'd take any seat you wanted. 

   "I asked Nagito out. He accepted!" He says excitedly. 

   "I heard." I respond bitterly. He blinks.

   "Is everything alright, Hajime? Have I upset you somehow?" 

    Well, not intentionally. But still, you're turning my world upside-down and I hate you. 

    "No," I lie, "I've just been in a bad mood for the past couple of days. I might ask Nagito to let me go home early."

   "Oh, ah-I hope you feel better then, Hajime!"

    "Thanks...I guess."

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   I find myself unable to sleep tonight.

    I keep tossing and turning, thinking of Makoto and Nagito out on their date. I don't like this, not at all. What if Nagito has a good time? What if they fall in love?

    Ah, if they fall in love I won't be able to bear it. And none of that bullshit where it's all 'as long as he's happy' because let's be honest, no one ever really means that. This kind of torture is worse than hell, and that's saying something coming from me. If this was a more cliche fanfiction or something I'd probably have Hanahaki Disease by now.

   It wasn't supposed to be like this. He was supposed to fall for me not the other way around!

   I groan loudly, throwing my forearm over my eyes. I arch my back slightly, kicking my blankets off.

   "ARRRGHHHHH!" I howl, frustrated. I feel tears prickling in the corners of my eyes but I refuse to let them fall. It's not worth it. This is stupid. 

   "Aww...Hajime is suffering over his poor unrequited love."

   I bolt up abruptly, looking around sharply for the source of the noise. There is Junko, perched on my desk, looking at her fingernails with disinterest. 

   "Am I dreaming?!" I demand. She sniffs.

    "No. I need a break from the heat," She replies, kicking her legs restlessly, "Anyways, are you sure you don't want to trade in some of your days for this obstacle gone?"

    I hesitate. It's still not that bad right?

    Junko, clearly noting the hesitation on my face, hops off the desk and casually approaches me. "Think about it-for forty-five days you can have it all! None of this wondrous despair will be in you anymore! You'll be free to claim Nagito as your own! Makoto will suffer, wouldn't that be nice?" She states, looking me right in the eyes.

   You know...she does have a point. I could have everything for what's practically nothing! Because my needs are the only ones that matter...

   "Yes, you've got a point. I see..." I mumble. 

   Wait, no! This is just one of her manipulation tactics! I can't fall for it, I won't!

    "Sorry your Majesty but I'm still not interested. You may stop asking as I'll never accept it." I tell her.

   Junko pouts. "You're such a buzzkill. You're so boring, Hajime."

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   63 out of 100 days remain as I wake up on the thirty-seventh day. 

    I'm out of bed in an instant. I get dressed in a hurry and I rush out the door, barely nodding 'hello' to Kaede and Shuichi on my way out. 

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   None of my fellow employees are in sight when I walk through the cafe door. There are the usual morning regulars laughing and chatting away with their drinks but no one behind the counter. I don't know about you but that's a red flag to me.

   I cross the room quickly and head into the Staff Room in the back. There I find Nagito staring at his phone, a disinterested look on his face.

    "Um, hello Nagito," I greet him, "how was your date with Makoto?" He shrugs, indifferent.

   "Neither here nor there. We both had a good time but it felt more like we were hanging out as friends, you know?" He admits.

   "Oh, that's too bad." I reply perked up, having no idea what else to say.

    "Perhaps next time we'll have to be more physical..." He muses. 

    "Or maybe it's just not meant to be." I respond perhaps a little too quickly. 

    "Maybe." He agrees halfheartedly. I extend a hand.

   "Come on. There's people to service."

   "Yeah."

    When we get back behind the counter, the first thing I notice is Makoto leaning against the counter with a dreamy look in his eyes. I follow his gaze to a table by the window where a lavender-haired girl was sipping coffee, flipping through some sort of notebook.

   I glance behind me to gauge Nagito's reaction; he's perplexed. Has he too also noticed the smitten gaze in Makoto's eyes? 

   "He seems to be interested in that girl." I comment dryly. 

   "So it seems." The white-haired boy agrees. 

   "You think he'll go talk to her?" I wonder. He shrugs.

   "It doesn't matter. We never officially declared to be together or anything. In fact, I'll tell him to ask her out. Better than taking out trash like me, right?" He chuckles, brushing past me to go talk to the other brunet.

   I turn away from them with a loud sigh. Well, that problem solved itself. I wonder what will happen next.