Chapter 13: Just Add Water

After school, Hikigaya Hachiman sat in his seat, unwilling to move for a long time.

"Hayato, want to go to karaoke later?"

"Sorry, Yumiko, I have club activities. Can you go ahead without me? I'll join you after my training."

"Alright then. Yui, you're coming too, right?"

"Haha... Sorry, I have something to do later... Next time! I'll definitely go next time!"

The students in the class either went to join clubs or planned to go to a karaoke place. The noisiest group left laughing and chatting, and soon only Hikigaya Hachiman was left in the classroom. It seemed like there was a hidden gaze on him, but he was too worried about what to do next to notice.

At this time, he should be going to the Service Club for club activities, but the thought of facing Hayashizaki's Spartan-like training made him feel scared.

I really don't want to go... But if I make Hayashizaki angry, the consequences would be too much for me to handle.

After hesitating for a while, Hikigaya Hachiman reluctantly got up, put on his backpack, and headed to the special building.

He then ran into a orange-haired girl who was about to knock on the door of the Service Club.

Her shoulder-length pink hair was tied into a cute bun on the left side of her head. Her already cute face had light makeup; her Western-style uniform jacket was open, and the white shirt inside was quite full; her plaid skirt seemed to be deliberately shortened, showing her round thighs, and her black socks clung to her calves, outlining a perfect curve.

In short, she was a girl full of youthful energy.

She seemed to be a classmate.

Hikigaya Hachiman had some impression of this cute girl. If he remembered correctly, she was a member of the Miura group, named Yuigahama Yui . He didn't know why she came to the Service Club.

Speaking of which... What does the Service Club do?

While he was observing her, the girl noticed him too.

"H-Hikki!? What are you doing here!?"

Yuigahama Yui was startled and took two steps back like a frightened animal, seemingly surprised to see him here.

"Well... I'm a member here."

Hikigaya Hachiman scratched his head and then suddenly realized what she called him,

"And what's with the weird nickname, Hikki?"

Is this it? Making fun of people by giving them nicknames?

He couldn't help but remember being called

"Frogky"

in middle school.

"...What are you daydreaming about?"

Yuigahama Yui blushed as he stared at her with a blank look.

"Ahem... Anyway, let's go in." 

Hikigaya Hachiman came back to his senses, coughed twice to hide his embarrassment, and then opened the door to the Service Club room and walked in.

The bun-haired girl followed closely behind him,

"Excuse me."

Hearing the door open, a black-haired girl sitting by the window reading a book instinctively looked up at the two of them.

"Yukinoshita, there's a strange person here."

Hikigaya Hachiman pointed his thumb at the bun-haired girl behind him.

"I'm not a strange person!"

Yuigahama Yui immediately pouted and retorted,

"Hiratsuka-sensei told me to come here. She said this place can make students' wishes come true!"

Huh? Is the Service Club a wish-granting machine?

Hikigaya Hachiman was surprised.

"It's not about granting wishes, second-year class F's Yuigahama Yui."

Yukinoshita Yukino closed her book, placed it on the desk, and then brought a chair for her, cleaned it, and let her sit down.

"Ah, thanks... By the way, you knew me!?"

Yuigahama Yui sat down in a daze.

"You must have memorized all the students in the grade,"

Hikigaya Hachiman said.

Without denying it, Yukinoshita Yukino continued,

"It's better to teach someone to fish than to give them fish. The Service Club was formed to help others. We assist students in need."

So it's not a wish-granting machine, but a do-it-all shop?

Hikigaya Hachiman felt a slight disappointment.

"Yuigahama, what's your request?"

Yukinoshita Yukino asked calmly, not knowing what Hikigaya Hachiman was thinking.

As for why she was pretending...

'Wow, this girl is so different from you. It's amazing how developed she is for a high schooler.'

The constant inappropriate comments in her mind were raising her blood pressure.

"Um..."

When asked about her request, Yuigahama Yui became shy, her cheeks turning red as she glanced at Hikigaya Hachiman.

"I want to make cookies for someone. It's more meaningful if I make them myself, right?"

"Why not ask your friends for that?"

Hikigaya Hachiman said, resting his cheek on his hand.

"I don't want them to know..."

Yuigahama Yui said hesitantly, with a smile that seemed to be trying to please.

"And it doesn't feel right for something so serious."

"So, you just need to learn how to make cookies, right?"

Yukinoshita Yukino stood up calmly.

"Then let's go to the home economics room now."

"Really? You'll help me!? Thank you!"

Yuigahama Yui's face lit up with a bright smile, and she hugged Yukinoshita Yukino's arm like a happy puppy, making Yukinoshita feel the soft embrace.

'Oh!'

Yukinoshita Yukino found it hard to deal with Yuigahama Yui's enthusiasm. Even the strange noises from Hayashizaki in her mind couldn't distract her. She pushed Yui's shoulder with a troubled expression.

"Too close, Yuigahama."

"Hehehe~"

Yuigahama Yui just kept giggling.

After Yukinoshita Yukino and Hiratsuka Shizuka got permission to use the home economics room, the three of them went there. Since it was in the same building, it didn't take long, and there were ready-to-use ingredients.

"Yuigahama, do you have any cooking or baking experience?"

Yukinoshita Yukino asked before starting.

"Um, does making instant noodles count?"

Yuigahama Yui asked after thinking for a while.

Yukinoshita Yukino:

"..."

"That just needs hot water, right?"

Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but comment. Looking at the innocent-faced girl, he had a bad feeling—he would be the taste tester.

...

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