Chapter 478: Departure

Sobu High, as one of Japan's schools, strongly encouraged its students to join various clubs in their free time to enrich their life experiences.

The Service Club was, in fact, a product of this system. At first glance, the name might evoke some... less-than-pure thoughts. However, in reality, the Service Club was simply a group dedicated to helping others.

As a member of the Service Club, Li Mo's only impression of club activities was basically eating and drinking. For high school students, where did all these so-called "problems" even come from? Even if there were issues, a simple laugh would usually make them go away. Who would actually come to a club for help?

Thus, with no club activities to speak of, free time was abundant. During these idle moments, there was Yukinoshita brewing tea and Li Mo buying snacks.

Slacking off, eating and drinking - wasn't this basically the Light Music Club when you thought about it?

If weekdays were like this, weekends were even more lax. Everyone did their own thing, and the club might as well not have existed.

On a whim, Li Mo dragged the others out for a trip to Tokyo's commercial district. Treating them to a meal, indulging their cravings, and satisfying their stomachs - that was the real mission.

The first step in the Service Club's group outing was, of course, finding a meeting spot.

Sakuragaoka Station became the perfect place.

Hikigaya Hachiman was the first to arrive at the gathering point. When he didn't see any other Service Club members, he knew he was early.

Damn it... If not for worrying about Komachi getting angry...

The Hikigaya household had a pair of siblings who got along extremely well. The brother was a genuine siscon - anyone could see it. And precisely because it was so obvious, this became Hikigaya Hachiman's weakness.

The solitary human observer - Hikigaya Hachiman - rarely had weaknesses. Most human conflicts stemmed from interpersonal communication. And conflicts would expose various weaknesses - what you feared, what you dreaded, what you liked - all could be revealed through daily interactions.

Conversely, as long as you kept your distance from others and maintained that veil of mystery, no one would know your weaknesses.

- The problem was, rarely having weaknesses didn't mean having none at all.

Komachi was his weakness.

"Damn it... Why did things turn out like this? Why does Li Mo know Komachi?"

Just thinking about Li Mo secretly knowing and talking with Komachi behind his back made Hikigaya feel like his heart was bleeding.

Hikigaya's complicated mood didn't last long, as his solitude soon ended.

Yuigahama Yui was the second to arrive at the meeting point.

"Ah, Hikki, have Li-kun and Yukinon not arrived yet?" Yuigahama stood in place, stretching her neck to look left and right, but couldn't spot the other two.

"As you can see, Yuigahama-san, those two haven't come yet," Hikigaya said. "Maybe Li Mo and the president went ahead to Tokyo already. We might as well just go home."

His calculations were quite clear - if he ran away alone, Li Mo would definitely remember this. Not that Hikigaya was afraid of him. That guy might occasionally be eccentric with plenty of flaws, but he was still within normal human range. The club president was similar in that regard.

The real trouble was that Li Mo had Komachi's contact information. With that guy's personality, the moment Hikigaya fled, he'd probably complain to Komachi, and then he'd have to face her wrath when he got home.

Damn it...

Hikigaya felt thoroughly controlled.

But if Yuigahama could be his shield, maybe Komachi wouldn't be too angry?

The idea was beautiful, but reality was cruel. Yuigahama immediately rejected the suggestion.

The two made idle conversation, discussing boring topics like why the other two hadn't arrived yet. Before long, Yukinoshita arrived alone, carrying some drinks.

"Yukinon, why are you alone? Where's Li-kun?"

By now, everyone in the Service Club knew Li Mo and Yukinoshita Yukino lived in the same neighborhood. It was hard to say whether this was intentional or accidental on Li Mo's part...

"He gave me money to buy drinks, said he'd be here on time and came ahead to inform us. You really haven't seen him?" Yukinoshita asked.

The answer was of course negative. Hikigaya and Yuigahama had seen many people, but not a trace of Li Mo.

Yukinoshita thought for a moment, then looked up and said: "How much longer are you planning to hide up there?"

"Yukinon, who are you talking to?"

"Li-kun, if you don't come down now, I'll call you. Don't tell me you put your phone on silent again."

She didn't directly answer Yuigahama, but her words made it clear who she meant.

Who else but the absent Li Mo?

Yuigahama looked around: "Yukinon, could you be mistaken? Li-kun isn't anywhere around here."

Hikigaya was smarter - he almost instinctively looked up.

Sakuragaoka Station's platform had a roof to shield passengers from rain. And when you thought about it, climbing onto that roof in public, in full view of everyone - this kind of performance art-like action was exactly what Li Mo would do.

With a soft thud, Li Mo dropped down from the station roof. A two-story height was as easy as a single step for him.

Dusting off nonexistent dirt from his clothes, Li Mo raised his hand: "Yo, long time no see."

As soon as he spoke, a black shadow flew toward him. He caught it with his hand - a drink obediently resting in his palm.

Looking at the packaging, Li Mo's face fell: "What's this? Coca-Cola? I wanted Pepsi!"

Habits from his past life carried over to this one. Li Mo still preferred Pepsi - what others drank didn't concern him.

"You didn't go to the convenience store yourself, nor did you ask me. And tell me, Li-kun, does 'arriving early' mean sneaking around eavesdropping from above?" Yukinoshita wouldn't let him off easily.

Li Mo shrugged: "I was just curious what Yuigahama and Hikigaya were talking about. Too bad their conversation was really boring."

"Eh... So Li-kun, you were here all along, listening to me and Hikki talk? Isn't that going too far?"

"Indeed. Li Mo always does things ordinary people wouldn't expect."

Li Mo rolled his eyes and, after some perfunctory excuses, managed to gloss things over.

With everything settled, Hikigaya finally asked: "Buchou, how are we getting to Tokyo?"

"Li Mo, what are your arrangements?" Yukinoshita looked at him.

Li Mo said: "Isn't it simple?"

Just then, an empty taxi pulled up and stopped.