Chapter 18
Dumplings are easy to make.
“Are you really planning to let us fight against cursed spirits, those monsters?”
In the Service Club, Yukinoshita Yukino, who has no friends, naturally obtained the key to the Activity Classroom from the Office right after school, and then sat alone in the clubroom, silently waiting for the unknown client to appear.
Yukinoshita Yukino was very attentive to what Lin Qi said yesterday.
“You are scared?” A smile appeared on his lips on her hand.
“No, I only feel somewhat uneasy.”
“You have a tough mouth.”
“…”
Yukinoshita Yukino pursed her lips, her pale knuckles exerting force, showing reluctance with the expression “Although I am very unhappy, I can’t refute it.”
She was indeed a bit scared.
Three days ago, when she was attacked by that terrifying cursed spirit resembling a mad dog at home, the psychological shadow had not completely disappeared. Moreover, she had only preliminarily mastered the method of controlling curse energy and knew nothing about how to fight.
Should she use the family-inherited jujutsu to engage in combat with cursed spirits?
However, as a serious and strong-willed beauty, under Lin Qi’s continuous mockery, all her psychological shadows and cowardice were pushed aside in a short time, replaced by an intense surge of courage named “I am brave.”
Simply put, she was a bit too excited.
“For ordinary people, feeling slightly nervous when facing a monster without any experience is perfectly normal. But if you consider that as cowardice, then Parasitic Bug really wastes two pairs of eyes,” Yukinoshita Yukino snorted coldly.
Lin Qi noticed that when his host lady began to criticize or attack someone, she would unconsciously fold her arms as if she wanted to add more dignity to her image.
However, no matter how she folded her arms, her chest remained flat like the Siberian Plain.
“Good job! Here’s your reward, a cursed spirit in a big dog form!” Lin Qi responded cheerfully despite her somewhat harsh rebuttal.
“!” The blue veins could be faintly seen bulging on the girl’s forehead.
This guy must be trying to scare me… However, what if Lin Qi really found a cursed spirit similar in appearance to a dog?
No, regardless of how much the cursed spirit looked like a dog, it was still terrifying…
Her thoughts were confused, and only when Yukinoshita Yukino calmed down did her bravery decrease somewhat, entering a state of being timid yet stubborn.
Just as she was deep in thought, there was a knock on the Service Club door, and a familiar pink bun head came into sight.
“Hello~!” Yui Yuigahama walked in happily, holding her bag.
“Good afternoon, Yui-chan.” Yukinoshita Yukino temporarily put aside the matter of having to go hunt cursed spirits and greeted politely.
“Hehe, this is the cookie I made myself when I went back home yesterday. Consider it a thank you!” Yui placed a chair next to Yukinoshita Yukino and took out cookies wrapped in gift bags from her book bag, as natural as going home, “After all, Yukino helped me a lot!”
“Yukino?” Adhering to her path of loneliness and having no friends, Yukinoshita was caught off guard by Yui’s fiery enthusiasm.
The act of friends calling each other pet names seemed a bit out of place for her.
Ignoring Yukinoshita’s concerns, Yui placed the cookies in her arms and started happily sharing about making cookies alone at home yesterday.
“Oops, when I said I wanted to make cookies yesterday, they were so surprised. They asked if anything happened. Then I told them you taught me, and then…”
“Hold on, this is too close, Yui-chan…” Yukinoshita Yukino felt a large dog-like aura coming from her contact with Yui and gently pushed her away, “Thank you for the gift. Is there anything else?”
Implying she should leave if there’s nothing else.
“…Is Yukino rejecting me?” The bun-headed girl seemed to sense the emotions, asking cautiously.
“That’s how it works for girls in general!!!” Yui shouted in desperation.
“Oh? I don’t quite understand the dynamics among regular high school girls…”
Her cute look with a poutful expression was deceptive since she subconsciously disassociated herself from Yui.
It seems you have the awareness of your own abnormality.
Hachiman Hikigaya, who had been listening outside the door, couldn’t hold back his inner comments. To avoid the awkward atmosphere in the club room, he rushed in.
He acted surprised, “Good afternoon… Wait, why is Yui here?”
“Oh, Hiki, hello~!” First, he greeted in an unusual manner, then Yui handed him a gift bag from her book bag, “‘Here’s a gift for you, from yesterday!”
The cookie shape inside was different from what was given to Yukinoshita. It was a perfect heart-shaped cookie that was a bit burnt.
“Oh, thanks.” Grabbing the bag carelessly, Hikigaya examined the cookies in the bag with dull eyes.
Why do mine turn out worse than the ones made at school yesterday?
Maybe his creativity flourished unconsciously due to Yukinoshita Yukino’s absence?
Recalling the taste of the cookie Yui made for the first time, the cookie in his hand seemed to transform into some indescribable thing, emitting a twisted darkness, making it hard to take a bite.
But since it’s a gift, there was no choice.
He quickly opened the packaging and attempted to take a decisive bite, hoping to finish it before he lost the chance.
On his first bite, Hikigaya’s chewing froze.
So dry, so hard, with an overwhelming sweetness!
The complex, indescribable taste was the result of Yui’s talent, but under her subtle gaze, Hikigaya forced himself to finish it, chewing minimally with his jaws at the lowest limit.
“Did you enjoy it?” Yui asked timidly.
“Tastes sweet…” the dead fish-eyed boy honestly stated, though it lacked full expression.
“That’s good!”
Seeing the bright smile on the bun-headed girl’s face, Hikigigaya felt that the suffering of his taste buds was worth it.
Normally, the Service Club would be in an idle state where the president and members do their own things and go home on schedule. Even if Yui wanted to stay, it would be fine.
But yesterday, the other hidden “president” Lin Qi gave them a task, making it inappropriate for Yui to keep staying in the same place.
“Shall we go?” Hikigaya asked.
“Where are we going?” Yui asked puzzled, but Yukinoshita Yukino understood what he meant.
“Let’s go, he’s already waiting,” She stood up reluctantly after a sigh, “I’m sorry, Yui, we have something to do, we won’t be able to continue entertaining you.”
“Is it club activities? Can I help?”
“No,” Yukinoshita Yukino firmly refused. Their upcoming tasks couldn’t involve Yui, nor could they drag her into it.
“Oh, I see…”
The bun-headed girl’s face showed clear disappointment, with a low head like a dog abandoned by its owner.
Yukinoshita Yukino couldn’t bear to see her like this, so she said, “You can come again tomorrow, Yui.”
“Can I come tomorrow!?” Her dispirited eyes immediately lit up, as if she saw her owner waving back.
Having known she wasn’t good at comforting others, Yukinoshita didn’t expect her words to work.
“Oh, yes, of course.”
“That’s great! Then see you tomorrow, Yukino and Hiki!”
Watching Yui’s departing silhouette, Hikigaya couldn’t help smiling a little:
“Quite easy to handle.”
…
After finishing school, go to become a Jujutsu Sorcerer.