Chapter 020: Classmate Juke Is So Scary

After finishing his sentence, Kanzaki left the classroom. However, Juke remained behind for some inexplicable reason, staring at Hikigaya with a deadpan expression.

"What?"

Hikigaya felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze.

If she wanted to stand up for Ichinose, she should just start scolding him already. What was the point of just staring?

"Didn't expect that."

Juke's tone carried a hint of surprise. "Hikigaya, you're actually quite capable, huh?"

"Ha?"

Hikigaya was speechless. "What nonsense are you talking about? I was just at a loss for words with Kanzaki. What's so impressive about that?"

After all, he had no real argument against Kanzaki's words. He had no way to refute them.

"Well, that's true."

Juke rested her chin on her hand, observing him as if trying to get a better look. "But still, not everyone has the courage to reject Ichinose. At least, no one in Class B would dare to do it. Aren't you afraid of being ostracized by the class? Or do you not feel guilty at all?"

"What does that have to do with you?"

Hikigaya's tone turned a little cold. "I've been alone since elementary school. I've long since gotten used to it. If anything, I actually prefer being alone—it's more freeing."

What was with this girl?

Asking such tough questions the first time they met, as if deliberately exposing someone's wounds—wasn't that going too far?

Naturally, he wasn't going to be nice to her.

"As for guilt... well, how should I put it? Maybe a little."

Otherwise, he wouldn't be thinking of ways to resolve the situation.

"Hmm..."

Sensing Hikigaya's displeasure, Juke blinked in surprise. Then she curled her lips, tilting her head slightly.

"By the way, you said you've always been alone? You never had any friends?"

"Why should I tell you that?"

Hikigaya replied bluntly.

This girl was seriously too much. She was like a little demon specializing in poking at people's wounds.

"Just tell me. It's not like it'll kill you."

"I refuse."

Hikigaya had no interest in sharing his dark history with anyone, much less this unfamiliar and nosy girl.

"Tch..."

Juke crossed her legs and clicked her tongue in annoyance. Then, as if losing interest, she looked down at the application form in her hand.

"The Wool Club? What does it do?"

"Can't you tell?"

"If I could, I wouldn't be asking you. Don't tell me it's about learning to knit?"

"Well..."

Hikigaya was momentarily stumped.

He was now certain—this girl was definitely pretending to be friendly in class while actually having a terrible personality.

However...

Her smooth, delicate legs, elegantly crossed, revealed a glimpse of a mysterious realm beyond.

It was only now that he realized—aside from her personality, Juke was surprisingly beautiful.

Or rather, the students at this school were just ridiculously attractive in general.

Since she seemed interested in the club, he decided to be patient.

"The club covers various fields," Hikigaya explained. "In short, it's a club that collects school supplies for free. We take advantage of the system to get whatever we need without spending our own points."

"Huh?"

Juke looked at him with mild surprise. "I didn't expect that, Hikigaya. You're actually pretty smart. But still, it's surprising that the student council approved a club like this."

"Well," Hikigaya replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm, "since we're not spending their money, they probably don't care. Maybe they're even worse than us when it comes to exploiting resources."

"Good point..."

Juke nodded in agreement.

After all, if the opportunity was there, even the student council would take advantage of it. Nobody would refuse free things.

Their perspectives were unexpectedly aligned.

"So, you're just a member of this ghost club?"

Juke picked up Hikigaya's stationery set without asking, casually pulling out a gel pen.

"Yeah."

Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind. "If it's just for one person, I wouldn't mind giving it to you."

"Huh? Who wants this?"

Juke rolled her eyes as she signed her name. "If you have that much free time, why not go outside and play? You don't even need the extra points. Are you an idiot?"

For most students, it really would be a waste of time to collect supplies like this. Wouldn't it be better to just hang out with friends and enjoy life?

"Ha..."

Hikigaya let out a sigh of relief.

As long as she wasn't trying to steal his funds, he didn't mind her attitude.

He hadn't expected to complete the membership requirements so easily.

He had to admit—he owed Juke for helping him out.

That said, she really did have a terrible personality.

One second, she was praising him for being smart. The next, she was calling him an idiot.

"Alright."

Juke handed him the application form but then suddenly pulled it back, placing it flat on the table with a curious expression.

"But wait. Now that I think about it, you haven't called me by name even once. Could it be... you don't remember it?"

"Haha..."

Hikigaya laughed dryly. "Of course not. How could I forget?"

"Then, what's my name?"

Juke smirked, clearly enjoying the moment.

Hikigaya could tell—she liked watching people squirm.

Now that she mentioned it, he really hadn't used her name once since they started talking. The fact that he had managed to get away with it until now was actually pretty impressive.

"Well..."

Hikigaya fell into deep thought, then confidently raised a finger.

"Of course, I remember. Your name is... Himekawa Kuro-san, right?"

"It's Juke!"

Juke's face darkened instantly.

She had even gone to the trouble of asking the teacher for his name to avoid any embarrassment, and yet this guy had completely butchered hers.

Honestly, forgetting a name wasn't a big deal.

But her name was Juke—where the hell did "Kuro" come from?

She really couldn't understand his logic.

"R-Right."

Hikigaya hastily tried to cover his mistake. "I remembered, okay? Juke, I got it. I just... accidentally bit my tongue just now."

Saying that, he quickly reached for the application form, attempting to change the subject.

"Anyway, thanks—huh?"

"Humph."

Juke slammed the table, snorted, and stormed out of the classroom.

Watching her leave, Hikigaya let out a small sigh of relief.

Well, at least it was over.

An incompetent president and two ghost members—just like that, the Wool Club was officially established.

Tomorrow, he could finally improve his meals. Maybe even request a handheld console and a laptop from the school.

This kind of life was just perfect.

Just as he was about to relax—

Juke suddenly poked her head back into the classroom, nearly making him jump.

"Remember it properly—my name is Juke. If you dare get it wrong again, I won't forgive you, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun~"

With that, she disappeared once more.

Listening to her footsteps fade, Hikigaya finally confirmed that she was really gone.

"Jeez, that scared me."

He muttered to himself, shaking his head.

Still... how had Juke known his full name?

Had he ever introduced himself?

No memory of it.

Well, whatever.

It was probably best to remember Juke's name for real this time.

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