Chapter 15
Chapter 15.5: Just Add Water, Just Add Water
After school, Hachiman Hikigaya sat motionless in his seat.
“Hyuga, why don’t we go karaoke after?”
“Sorry, Umeko. I’ve got club activities. You can go on ahead; I’ll join you after my training.”
“Alright. Yuigahama, you’re going too, right?”
“Ahaha… Sorry, I have something to do later… Next time! Next time for sure!”
The students either went to their clubs or gathered to decide which karaoke place to visit. The noisiest group left laughing and chatting, soon leaving Hachiman Hikigaya alone in the classroom. There seemed to be a furtive gaze toward him, but he was preoccupied with what to do next and didn’t notice.
At this hour, he should head to the Service Club for club activities, but thinking of the Spartan training from Lin Qi made him uneasy.
I really don’t want to go… But if I anger Master Lin Qi, there’ll be no handling the consequences.
After some dillydallying, Hachiman reluctantly got up, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked to the Special Building.
Right at the door of the Service Club, he ran into a pink-haired girl about to knock.
Her shoulder-length pink hair was tied in a cute bun at the back of her head; she wore light makeup on her very adorable face. Her Western-style uniform jacket was open, revealing a white shirt well-rounded by her form. The plaid skirt seemed specially shortened to show off her perfectly rounded thighs, black knee-highs hugging her legs to create a perfect line.
In short, she was a girl brimming with youthful energy.
Seems like a classmate.
Hachiman recognized the cute girl; if he’s not mistaken, she’s part of the Miura Group, named Yui Yuigahama. He wondered why she’s at the Service Club.
Thinking back… What does the Service Club do anyway?
As he appraised the girl, she noticed him as well.
“H- Hikigaya!? Why are you here!?” Yui Yuigahama leaped back like a startled animal, clearly surprised by his presence.
“N-no… I’m one of the members here,” Hachiman scratched his head and then realized what she called him, “Plus, ‘Hikigaya’ what kind of nickname is that?”
Is this how people mock each other with nicknames?
He couldn’t help but recall being called “frog” in middle school.
“…Why are you spacing out?” Yui felt a blush creeping on her face under his faraway gaze.
“Cough… Anyway, let’s go in.” Hachiman snapped back, coughing to hide any awkwardness before pulling the door to the Service Club open and entering.
The bundt-headed girl followed closely behind: “Excuse me.”
Upon hearing the door open, the black-haired girl sitting by the window reading books subconsciously looked up towards the two at the door.
“Yukinoshita, there’s a strange person here,” Hachiman gestured to the bundt-headed girl behind him with his thumb.
“That’s not a strange person!” Yui immediately pouted in rebuttal, “Sensei Shizuka sent me here. She said this place can fulfill students’ wishes!”
Uh? So the Service Club is a wish-granter?
Hachiman was shocked.
“I’m not here to grant wishes. It’s second-year F class, Yui Yuigahama,” Yukinoshita Yukino closed her book and placed it beside, then brought over a chair for her to sit after cleaning it.
“Ah, T-thank you… Come to think of it, you know who I am!?” Yui took a seat in a daze.
“It’s because you remember everyone in the grade,” Hachiman remarked.
Without denying, Yukinoshita resumed, “It’s better to teach someone how to fish than merely giving them a fish. The Service Club is established to help others; we extend aid to students in need.”
So it’s not like a wish-granter but rather a general problem solver?
A slight disappointment passed through Hachiman’s mind.
“Yui Yuigahama, what’s your request?” Not knowing what Hachiman was thinking, Yukinoshita asked calmly.
Why the act…
Wow, she’s completely different from you. It’s surprising how developed a high school girl can be.
Receiving comments lowering her opinion kept her blood pressure rising.
“Um…,” when asked about her intention, Yui became somewhat hesitant, her cheeks blushed as she glanced nervously, sidling towards Hachiman, “I want to make cookies myself to give to someone else; it must be more meaningful when done by hand, right?”
“Why not ask your friends?” Hachiman leaned on his cheek in response.
“I’d rather they not know…” the bunheaded girl stated uncertainly, her smile seemed to be a sort of pleading, “And, such serious matters feel unsuitable for my friends.”
“In short, I’ll teach you how to bake cookies, won’t I?” Yukinoshita stood calmly, “In that case, we’ll head to the Home Economics Classroom now.”
“Really?! You would help me?! Thank you!” Yui’s originally disheartened expression blossomed into a bright smile as she wrapped her arms around Yukinoshita’s arm like a delighted dog wagging its tail, causing a soft sensation to envelop the latter’s arm.
Hmm…
After school, and I’ll become a Jujutsu Sorcerer:
Translation completed.