Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for only $7 to get early access to upcoming chapters!
> > Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations <<
----------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 9: The Exorcism Club
Hikigaya Hachiman's dead-fish eyes widened slightly. Kamiba Yuma could see the surprise in them.
"You're this surprised just because someone remembered your name? Hikigaya, I can already imagine how miserable your middle school life was."
"Hey, that's pretty rude, you know!"
"Can't you just keep that thought in your head?"
Hikigaya turned around, bought a bread bun and a coffee, and walked away.
Kamiba Yuma had a big appetite, so he bought three bread buns and a carton of milk.
When he walked out of the store, he turned a corner and saw Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Yo, Hikigaya. Were you waiting for me?"
Damn it, why does this guy know what I'm thinking?
Hikigaya Hachiman put on a cold expression: "You're overthinking it. I'm just looking for a place to eat."
"Oh, I see. What a coincidence, I'm also looking for a place to eat. How about we go together?"
Kamiba Yuma didn't want to push Hikigaya Hachiman too hard. He just thought he was an interesting guy.
Arriving at an empty staircase, Hikigaya Hachiman sat right down.
"Kamiba-kun, why aren't you eating with your friends?"
Hikigaya Hachiman was still curious. Why was this handsome blond guy, who looked like a total popular kid, pestering him?
"Friends?"
"I haven't made any new friends yet!"
In fact, Kamiba Yuma had never really had any friends, even as a child.
First, he had no common topics with other kids and couldn't play with them.
Second, being friends with him meant being ostracized by others, so he had no friends.
"No friends?"
"Weren't you chatting happily with Yuigahama-san?"
Hikigaya Hachiman took a bite of his bread, his eyes shifting to the side to glance at Yuma.
"That's just because I helped her out. We're not friends yet."
"But she's treating me to a meal today, so maybe we can become friends then."
"Speaking of which, Hikigaya, I didn't expect you to be so observant. That's amazing!"
Kamiba Yuma gave him a thumbs-up.
However, for Hikigaya Hachiman, this was hardly a compliment.
He knew very well that the only reason he was so good at observing his classmates was because he had no friends.
Therefore, he had developed a habit of "people-watching" his classmates.
"Hikigaya, you don't have any friends, do you?"
Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly began to cough violently, his face turning bright red.
"Choking?"
Kamiba Yuma slapped Hikigaya Hachiman on the back, and a piece of bread flew out.
"I may not have friends, but you don't have to say it to my face, do you?"
"I feel like you've just insulted my very being!"
Hikigaya Hachiman glared at Kamiba Yuma.
"Sorry about that. I just like to state facts. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"I don't see a trace of sincerity in that apology."
Hikigaya Hachiman was speechless.
Although he felt that Kamiba Yuma had a bad, somewhat nasty personality, for someone like him who had no friends, having someone at school to talk to was a stroke of luck.
"It's fine, as long as you accept my apology."
"Hikigaya, are there any clubs you want to join?"
Hikigaya shook his head. He'd rather die than join one of those groups that maintained fake interpersonal relationships.
"In that case, are you interested in joining my club?"
"Your club?"
"That's right. The Exorcism Club. It's a club I'm planning to create."
"As long as we have three official members and a faculty advisor, we can be official."
"There's no mandatory participation in club activities. You can go home, or you can stay. What do you think, interested?"
Hikigaya hesitated for a moment. "Let me just ask. Your Exorcism Club... it's not actually going to go to those kinds of weird places, is it?"
"Of course it is. Since it's the Exorcism Club, we'll naturally go looking for things like ghosts."
"Who knows, you might even get a chance to see the other side of this world!"
If you stay around people with spiritual power like Kamiba Yuma for long enough, or if you survive a Hollow attack, you have a chance of awakening your own spiritual power and being able to see them.
"But didn't I just say? If you don't want to participate in club activities, I won't force you."
"You just need to be on the roster!"
(Join the Exorcism Club? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?)
(Usually, when I get this feeling, something bad happens.)
(But why do I actually... really want to join this club?)
(Maybe I should give it a try?)
Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Kamiba Yuma's sincere expression and nodded solemnly, as if he had just made one of the most important decisions of his life!
"Then it's settled!"
"Come on, let's exchange contact info!"
The lunch break passed by quickly.
...
In the afternoon, after school let out, Yuigahama Yui packed up her things and with great difficulty, declined the invitation from Miura Yumiko and the others.
"I thought you were going to ditch me."
"Ah! 'Ditch' me? Don't say things that could be so easily misunderstood!"
Yuigahama Yui's face flushed red. She felt that Kamiba Yuma was not at all the "bad person" that boy had described.
He had almost been hit by a car because of Sable, but all he asked for was a meal.
How could such a gentle and magnanimous person be the bad guy they were talking about?
"Let's go. How about I take you to Macaron? I really like that place!"
Yuigahama Yui's face was beaming with an excited smile.
"Sure, I like them too. But don't be shocked by my appetite later."
"I won't be shocked!"
We're both human. It's not like you can eat me into poverty, right?
However, when it came time to pay, Yuigahama Yui stared at her completely empty wallet, on the verge of tears.
She suspected Kamiba Yuma was a mind reader. He had calculated it perfectly, completely emptying her wallet!
Her pitiful appearance made even Kamiba Yuma feel a little bad.
"Kamiba-kun, how long has it been since you last ate?"
"No, I eat normally every day."
"I'm only about 80% full right now, but that's enough."
"Consider this meal the punishment for not controlling your dog!"
"See you tomorrow, Yuigahama-san!"
"See you... tomorrow... Kamiba... kun."
Yuigahama Yui walked home in a daze. When she saw Sable sleeping soundly on the floor, a nameless rage rose in her heart.
"Sable, this is all your fault!"
"I'm going to punish you!"
...
"Kamiba-san, are you home?"
Not long after Kamiba Yuma got home, someone knocked on his door.