The door to the Service Club was slid open. Hachiman Hikigaya, panting and supporting himself with one hand on the doorframe, looked at Yukino Yukinoshita apologetically.
"Sorry, I'm late."
"It's fine. I thought you wouldn't come."
There was no scolding as Hachiman had expected. Yukino didn't even look up, turning a page of her book as she spoke plainly.
Although Shizuka Hiratsuka had set up a bet for the two, Yukino and Hachiman were ultimately strangers who had just met, and both had very awkward personalities.
After Hiratsuka left, the two hadn't exchanged a single word. Yukino had assumed Hachiman wouldn't come today.
"Heh... how could I not come?"
Hachiman sat on the chair he had moved there yesterday, giving an insincere smile.
He actually wanted to learn from Ren—drop a super cool line and then refuse to join the club.
But Hiratsuka's Iron Fist was not to be trifled with. Ren could withstand it and even counterattack, but he couldn't.
Taking a book out of the bag at his feet, Hachiman began to read. There was still no communication between the two.
"Um... Yukinoshita, could you ask me yesterday's question again?"
As if thinking of something, Hachiman scratched his head and made a request to Yukino with some embarrassment.
The current Hachiman Hikigaya was not the Hachiman Hikigaya of yesterday.
He had friends now! And he had spoken to the opposite sex!
He! Had evolved!
"I refuse."
Things did not go as Hachiman wished; Yukino refused without a second thought.
The atmosphere fell silent again.
Knock, knock—
A knock sounded on the Service Club door.
"Please come in."
Putting down the book in her hand, Yukino looked up toward the door.
"Excuse me."
The classroom door opened a crack. Yui Yuigahama, sporting a light-colored bun that made her look energetic and filling out her Sobu High uniform, walked into the Service Club.
Yui politely closed the door while explaining her purpose.
"Hiratsuka-sensei recommended I come here."
Turning around, she saw Hachiman sitting in the center of the classroom. She jumped in fright and pointed at him. "Why is Hikki here?"
"Ugh... I am a member here."
"Also, please don't call me Hikki. It feels so gross..."
Hachiman sweat-dropped. He hadn't expected the first person he'd receive after coming to the Service Club to be a classmate.
Although he didn't know the girl's name, Hachiman had indeed seen her standing in Yumiko Miura's clique during the small class gathering earlier.
"Eh? Is that so..."
Hearing Hachiman say it was gross to be called Hikki, Yui's mood visibly dampened.
"You are Yui Yuigahama from Class 2-F, right? Please sit."
Unlike with Hachiman, Yukino pulled out a clean chair and placed it opposite her desk, inviting Yui to sit.
Why didn't I get this treatment when I came?
Seeing this, Hachiman couldn't help but complain internally.
"Thank you!"
Sitting on the chair Yukino prepared, Yui poked her fingers together and stated her request somewhat shyly.
"Um... I want to make cookies to give to someone as a thank you."
"But I'm clumsy and don't know how to make them. Hiratsuka-sensei said there's a club here that can grant other people's wishes."
"So I came."
Yui twirled the hair falling by her ear with her finger, speaking shyly.
"We don't grant wishes. The Service Club is here to help people help themselves."
"We will teach you how to make handmade cookies, Yuigahama-san. Is that acceptable?"
Pointing out Yui's misuse of a word, Yukino started by walking her through the correct phrasing.
"Mn, mn!"
Yui had no objections; this was what she hoped for anyway.
The reason she came to the Service Club was that she wanted to make the cookies herself. Yukino's solution suited her perfectly.
"We accept your request."
"Let's go to the Home Economics room now."
After the discussion, Yukino put her book back on the desk.
Knock, knock—
Before Yukino could stand up, the Service Club door was knocked on again.
"Please come in."
Stopping her motion to rise, Yukino signaled Yui to wait a moment.
The door to the Service Club opened, and an unexpected person walked in.
"Ren Katsuragi?"
"Katsuragi."
"Ren-chan!"
With three voices expressing different emotions, the person who knocked this time was Ren, who should have left after school.
"Good afternoon, Hikigaya and Yukinoshita. Oh? Yui is here too~"
Ren, having entered, first greeted Hachiman and Yukino, not expecting to see Yui Yuigahama here as well.
Walking unceremoniously to the spot opposite Yukino, Ren lightly gave Yui a hand-chop on the head. "Yui, I told you, don't call me Ren-chan."
Covering her head with both hands, Yui tilted her head toward the window, acting as if she couldn't hear.
You're allowed to call me Yui, but I'm not allowed to call you Ren-chan?
Watching Ren interact so naturally with Yui, Hachiman understood in his heart. Was I wrong to say that earlier?
"Katsuragi, you're late."
With Hachiman as a precedent, Yukino naturally grouped Ren into the category of Service Club members.
Compared to Hachiman, who was panting despite not being very late, Ren's unhurried attitude made Yukino serious.
"Yukinoshita, I'm not late."
"I'm here to issue a request."
Ren smiled and shook his head, indicating he hadn't joined the Service Club but was here as a client.
Start fleecing the sheep!
Hearing Ren say he was here to issue a request, Hachiman, with great situational awareness, brought a chair for Ren.
Ren was his classmate? No, that was his foster father!
"Thanks, Hikigaya."
After thanking Hachiman, Ren pulled the chair over and sat next to Yui, opposite Yukino.
"Yukinoshita, I can't cook, but I really want to eat yakisoba."
"So I want to issue a request. Please help me make a portion of yakisoba."
As he spoke, Ren opened an app on his phone and played a video showing the process of making yakisoba.
"Katsuragi-kun, I stated clearly yesterday: the Service Club is here to help people help themselves."
"So I cannot agree to make yakisoba for you, but I can teach you how to make it."
With Yui making cookies already on the agenda, and since they were going to the Home Economics room anyway, Yukino decided to solve both requests together.
"No problem. Then I'll trouble you, Yukinoshita."
Ren agreed crisply.
----------------
Currently on Patreon: 400 chapters available.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/LIZBETH1242