Chapter 28: Are You Going Through a Chunibyo Phase, Too?
"The Service Club doesn't usually get many visitors. After all, not everyone is comfortable sharing their problems with strangers."
Yukinoshita Yukino calmly brushed her long hair aside as she spoke.
"Besides, the club president is just a delicate girl. I'm sure there are plenty of people who doubt I can actually help with their problems."
That was true enough. Though Yukinoshita Yukino was a well-known beauty at school, looks alone don't solve problems.
If students had issues, asking family, teachers, or friends was a good choice. Coming to the Service Club was likely their last resort.
Of course, some people sought out the club just to have a chance to talk to Yukinoshita Yukino—Akagii was one of those people.
But Akagi was pretty straightforward, while others would hesitate—after all, isn't it embarrassing to ask a female classmate for help with something you can't handle yourself?
So, in reality, not many people came to the Service Club. What happened yesterday, with two groups coming in one after the other, was extremely rare.
"Speaking of which, didn't a girl come to the Service Club yesterday? Her name was Yotsuya Miko, right?"
Shin recalled the black-haired girl, Yotsuya Miko, whom he and Akagi had seen leaving the Service Club when they entered yesterday.
It was because of her that Shin began to suspect the existence of malevolent spirits that regular people couldn't see, inspiring him to want to strengthen his own mind and spirit.
"You know her?"
Yukinoshita looked at Shin in surprise, as though she hadn't expected him to know even Yotsuya Miko's name.
"Yotsuya's request… well, how should I put it, was a bit unusual. She asked if I believed in the existence of evil spirits."
As expected, Yotsuya Miko had come to the Service Club hoping someone could help her deal with the spirits she could see.
For Yotsuya, she must have tried various methods to get rid of her ability to see spirits but found no solution.
Out of sheer desperation, she'd tried coming to the Service Club to see if it could help.
The result was predictable, though. Yukinoshita couldn't see spirits either, so she simply dismissed Yotsuya's question as some kind of "chunibyo" (delusional adolescent) behavior.
However, looking at it another way, Yotsuya daring to bring up spirits in the club likely meant she sensed no spirits around the Service Club itself.
"So you didn't take on her request?"
Shin was curious about how Yukinoshita had handled Yotsuya's situation. Judging by her mood when she left yesterday, it seemed she didn't receive any help.
After all, Yukinoshita didn't seem like someone who could handle issues involving spirits.
But Yukinoshita did seem like someone who wanted to help others, so it was unlikely she outright rejected Yotsuya's request, right?
"I did consider accepting it and was going to suggest she meet with the school counselor."
Yukinoshita, with a serious expression, said something that would come across as rude if anyone else said it.
If it were just anyone talking, Shin might think they were provoking, but hearing it from Yukinoshita, he could tell she genuinely meant it.
"But Yotsuya seemed disappointed, turned down the offer, and left right away."
There was a hint of confusion in Yukinoshita's voice; she couldn't quite understand why Yotsuya's attitude shifted so suddenly.
She had come seeking help, yet suddenly changed her mind and left the Service Club.
Shin could guess—it was likely Yotsuya realized Yukinoshita couldn't help with her problem with spirits, so she left.
Still, she came to the Service Club hoping, just maybe, that there might be someone who could help, so she wouldn't have been entirely disappointed.
"If Yotsuya comes back to the Service Club, you can reach out to me. I might be able to help her."
Shin nodded to Yukinoshita as he said this.
"Reach out to you?"
Yukinoshita looked at Shin with surprise, examining him as if she'd understood something.
"So, you're also chasing after girls?"
"What are you even thinking? I'm being serious."
Shin rolled his eyes at Yukinoshita, who clearly thought he had a thing for Yotsuya.
If he admitted it, would Yukinoshita consider it as another "request" for her club?
"Do you actually believe in all that stuff about spirits?"
Seeing that Shin didn't seem to be joking, Yukinoshita looked at him with a hint of skepticism.
Who would've thought? Could Shin be a chunibyo too?
"You don't need to worry about that. Either way, you want to help others, right? If I can solve Yotsuya's issue, you introducing her to me would count as helping someone too, wouldn't it?"
Shin shrugged. If Yotsuya came to him right now, he couldn't do anything to help yet.
But tonight, he planned to make a trip into the JoJo universe. With a bit of luck, he should be able to obtain a way to strengthen his spirit and mind.
Once he had a Stand and a way to fight spirits, he wouldn't need to fear any ghostly threats.
"But you're not a member of the Service Club."
Yukinoshita furrowed her brow and let out a slight hum, not entirely pleased with Shin's idea.
In the end, though, Yukinoshita didn't argue further. If Shin could truly help Yotsuya with her problem, it would be a welcome outcome for Yukinoshita.
After all, the reason Yukinoshita founded the Service Club was to help students solve their problems. Although it might look self-serving at first glance, she genuinely wanted to help others.
So even if it was Shin helping rather than herself, Yukinoshita could accept it.
"Now then, you mentioned calling me over to finalize the details of the plan. Did you have any ideas?"
After discussing the issues surrounding the Service Club and Yotsuya, Shin hadn't forgotten the main reason Yukinoshita had called him here.
"Of course."
With Shin bringing the topic back on track, Yukinoshita nodded and continued.
"You've told Akagi about my plan by now, haven't you?"
Shin nodded. Since he didn't have much of a plan himself, he decided to go along with Yukinoshita's.
"But there may be some unexpected factors."
Seeing Shin's response, Yukinoshita continued.
"After we leave, there's a chance that Akagi and Tamiya might not continue working together and could go their separate ways."
Shin had considered this too. He had thought Yukinoshita might not have foreseen it, but it seemed she had.
He nodded, looking at Yukinoshita.
"So, what's your plan?"
To be continued…
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