Diary Of Service Club, Helping The Elf Princess

She and Narahashi Miki used to be meal buddies, huddling together for warmth. Naturally, if possible, she'd want to eat together now as well. The president was such a nice person; he definitely wouldn't mind.

Of course, it would be even better if he could praise her a little more.

———

"Saki..."

Narahashi Miki stared blankly at Hayase Saki fawning over Hikigaya, frozen in place, not knowing what to do.

She and Hayase Saki were both fringe members of the class. They usually ate together, but for the past two days, Hayase Saki hadn't joined her for lunch.

She initially thought today was the day Hayase Saki would take the first step toward making friends and introduce her new friend to her.

But now, looking at Hayase Saki interacting with this Service Club president, something felt... off.

She was a bit suspicious of bullying, but if it were bullying, how could Hayase Saki look so happy? The way she clung to Hikigaya resembled a puppy eagerly awaiting its owner to feed it.

"Saki, why is your friend still standing there? I brought a lunchbox too. If you don't mind, we can share it and eat together."

Seeing Narahashi Miki standing there motionless, Hikigaya patted Hayase Saki's head, motioning her to pay attention to the friend she brought along.

"Mm-hmm, Miki, sit down quickly."

Only now did Hayase Saki, who had been engrossed in flattering Hikigaya, notice her meal buddy, Narahashi Miki, still standing foolishly. She quickly tugged on her.

"N-no, I don't mind..."

Narahashi Miki finally snapped out of it, quickly shook her head, pulled over a chair, and sat down close to Hayase Saki.

She decided to keep her earlier suspicions to herself. Even if this boy really was a bully, she wouldn't dare oppose him.

After all, she was similar to Hayase Saki in terms of social connections and ability to resist. If Hikigaya could bully Hayase Saki, he could bully her too.

As Narahashi Miki opened her lunchbox, she thought sadly.

'Fortunately, although Saki's behavior is odd, this boy doesn't seem too hard to get along with...'

She and Saki were practically each other's support system, warming each other like mutual outcasts. Surely Saki wouldn't drag her into being bullied together... right?

"Please, please try my lunch..."

Narahashi Miki hesitantly placed her lunch next to Hayase Saki's and timidly looked at Hikigaya, speaking softly.

She hadn't anticipated a food-sharing session beforehand, but seeing her good friend Hayase Saki presenting her lunch to Hikigaya, she couldn't help but follow suit.

Even though it didn't seem like bullying, she was still terrified.

"I told you, there's no need to be so nervous. I'm not going to eat you. You should also try some of the dishes I made. If you like them, I'll make more next time for you both."

Seeing Narahashi Miki so timid and anxious, just like Hayase Saki had been when she first faced him, Hikigaya couldn't help but sigh.

He took his chopsticks, picked some food from their lunchboxes, and placed some meat from his own lunch in front of them.

Their lunchboxes were already packed with meat. The large boxes were filled with various meaty dishes.

But dealing with introverted, socially anxious girls required a firm and proactive approach to build a connection. Waiting for them to take the initiative was futile.

Speaking of which, not only was this his first meal with Narahashi Miki, but it was also technically his first proper meal with Hayase Saki. He hadn't expected their lunch portions to be larger than his own.

Considering the intensity of their athletic training and their explosively curvy physiques, it made sense. Without sufficient nutrition, it would be impossible to maintain such voluptuous figures.

"Mm..."

Narahashi Miki cautiously ate her lunch. Being highly sensitive, she noticed Hikigaya's gaze on her lunchbox. Her face flushed, and she silently bowed her head, too shy to speak.

She and Saki didn't have other friends in class partly because they ate too much.

After all, the general consensus was that girls should eat less and be slimmer.

Girls like them, with larger builds and big appetites, were considered outliers and not particularly likable.

Especially with her height. Walking down the street, she often attracted strange looks.

"President, Miki is the volleyball team's star player, but she doesn't have many friends in class. Could she join us in the Service Club for lunch in the future?"

Having already shown the president her most embarrassing side, Hayase Saki wasn't as awkward as her good friend, Narahashi Miki, about letting the president see her big appetite. Instead, she hoped the president would allow Miki to join them for meals.

Since she wanted to frequently have lunch with the president, but couldn't ignore her good friend, she figured it would be best for Miki to come along to the Service Club.

"I don't mind eating together, but you're both stars or key players in your clubs. How come you don't even have a single friend in your class?"

Hikigaya gave Hayase Saki and Narahashi Miki a curious look.

"Well... it's mainly because of our personalities... and also because we're busy with club activities..."

"My height is another issue..."

When the topic of isolation in class came up, Hayase Saki and Narahashi Miki exchanged a look, both hesitating to answer.

"I see... Saki aside, Miki, I suggest you stop hunching your shoulders and keeping your head down. It's bad for your spine and neck."

Hikigaya shook his head helplessly, giving Narahashi Miki some advice.

As a volleyball team star, she should know better.

"But... my height draws too much attention..."

Narahashi Miki hesitated, looking at Hikigaya.

She knew that slouching was bad, and she wanted to stand tall and chat freely with her classmates like the other girls. But every time she stood up straight, she noticed the strange looks people gave her.

It had become an involuntary reaction. Whenever unfamiliar or less close people were around, she instinctively lowered her head and hunched her shoulders to avoid drawing attention or irritating others.

"Being tall isn't a bad thing. It's cute for a girl to be tall. Besides, does height really stop you from making friends? If someone only cares about your height, they're not worth befriending anyway."

Seeing Narahashi Miki's inability to overcome her issue, Hikigaya sighed.

She was over 180 cm tall. Add in her athletic shoes, and she was even taller. But slouching and hunching all the time, no matter how good her looks and figure were, would still diminish her presence.

Hayase Saki had similar issues, though her height wasn't as extreme. Frequent club training meant she didn't develop a hunched posture like Miki.

Both of them had amazing figures and looks, and each possessed considerable talent that others would envy.

Yet they turned themselves into outcasts due to their shyness and social anxiety.

Hikigaya couldn't help but think of Bocchi-chan from Bocchi the Rock, who was also extremely socially anxious. She slouched so much that even her double chin became visible.

If they just acted a bit more normal, tidied themselves up, and showed some positive energy, they could live fulfilling lives without even trying too hard. These idiots, seriously...

This thought made Hikigaya pause. He remembered how, before awakening his memories, he didn't care much about tidying himself up either.

If this world weren't as complex, and if Kaede and Suzu, his two childhood friends, hadn't stuck by him, he might've ended up like the original Hikigaya, with only Komachi as a companion in misery.

"Tall girls are cute too..."

Narahashi Miki didn't expect Hikigaya to call her cute. Usually, people just labeled her a "giant." If they didn't outright call her obese and monstrous, that was already kind enough. No one had ever said she was cute.

Narahashi Miki began to believe that Hayase Saki really was trying to introduce her to a good friend.

She hesitated for a while, then lowered her head and softly asked Hikigaya.

"Then, would you also be willing to become friends with me, like with Saki?"

From the beginning, Hikigaya had said that Saki's friends were his friends too, but Narahashi Miki knew those were just polite words.

"Like with Saki?"

'Do you even know how she became friends with me?'

Hikigaya was momentarily stunned, giving Hayase Saki a subtle glance. She opened her mouth but didn't know what to say, so he looked back at the timid Narahashi Miki.

"Of course. Actually, I didn't have many friends before either. Saki can confirm that I used to be similar to you."

"Really? You didn't have many friends either?"

Narahashi Miki looked at him in disbelief, staring at his handsome face and bright, confident eyes.

This poised and eloquent demeanor didn't seem at all like someone who had been socially anxious.

"Saki, isn't that right?"

Seeing Narahashi Miki's doubt, Hikigaya turned to Hayase Saki.

While he wanted to say he wasn't socially anxious, just someone who disliked interacting with strangers, that explanation seemed flimsy.

'Forget it, let's just say I was socially anxious. Shared experiences might give Narahashi Miki a sense of belonging.'

"Um... yeah, that's true..."

Hayase Saki nodded awkwardly, her eyes fixed on Narahashi Miki.

'Why does it feel like Narahashi Miki might develop feelings for the president?'

She had only wanted to bring Narahashi Miki along so she wouldn't feel bad about abandoning her to eat with the president. She hadn't planned for Miki to come and compete for the president's attention.

"Thank you, Saki..."

At that moment, Narahashi Miki looked over, her gaze meeting Hayase Saki's. She whispered a grateful thanks in her ear.

Saki really was her best friend, always inviting her to share good things.

"Alright, let's eat."

Watching Narahashi Miki slowly relax, just like Hayase Saki had, Hikigaya chuckled.

He felt his experience in handling introverted girls had improved, boosting his confidence in approaching Sakura Reisho.

However, Sakurase Shino's issues might not be as straightforward as Hayase Saki and Narahashi Miki's. Hers could be more psychological, or even physiological.

For now, though, he just hoped Yukinoshita Yukino's attempts at counseling Sakurase yesterday had been effective.

If Yukinoshita couldn't handle it, and he couldn't either, then he might need to consider having Sakurase wear the servant collar and accept his guidance.

Judging from Sakurase's submissive behavior yesterday, he might not even need the collar.

While eating with Hayase Saki and Narahashi Miki, Hikigaya pondered how to personally counsel Sakurase. Suddenly, he heard approaching footsteps, one light and one heavy.

"President Hikigaya, did you recruit another new member?"

With her black hair flowing, Yukinoshita Yukino appeared at the Service Club door. She hadn't even stepped inside when she noticed a new face among the members, frowning slightly and instinctively looking at Hikigaya.

She didn't object to recruiting new members, but wasn't the frequency a bit much? They were recruiting more members than they were receiving requests.

Moreover, the most important thing is that the new members recruited not only have a relatively close relationship with Hikigaya, but they also seem to all be exceptionally attractive, tall, and voluptuous girls.

A perfectly fine Service Club—what is Hikigaya trying to turn it into?

"No, no, it's not a new member recruited by the president. I brought my friend over to eat lunch together..."

Seeing the fierce and menacing Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly appear, Saki Hayase quickly stood up and explained.

Yukinoshita Yukino had already mentioned yesterday that she would come at noon, and she had even prepared her tableware in advance.

This was also why Saki Hayase wasn't afraid of wasting her time with Hikigaya—she deliberately brought her friend over because, after all, there wasn't much time or space to do anything else at school now.

"I apologize for the intrusion."

Miki Nakanishi also hurriedly stood up to apologize, her hands placed awkwardly in front of her as she didn't know what to do.

"…Forget it."

Seeing Narahashi Miki and Saki Hayase having almost identical reactions, Yukinoshita Yukino immediately understood that these two were of the same kind of fools.

Faced with such large-breasted, brainless individuals, she didn't even want to let their foolish actions affect her.

"Yukinoshita, why are you coming to the Service Club to eat lunch?"

Hikigaya, understanding Yukinoshita Yukino's cold exterior but warm interior, wasn't at all worried that she would truly blame Saki Hayase. Waiting until she finished speaking, he then asked.

"I was here yesterday too."

Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Hikigaya, her face stern as she spoke.

"You were eating alone here yesterday? So today, you deliberately went to find Sakurase-san and came so late? Good afternoon, Sakurase-san."

Hikigaya nodded slightly, greeting Sakurase Shino, who was silently standing a little behind Yukinoshita Yukino.

Earlier, there had been two sets of footsteps—light ones belonging to Yukinoshita Yukino, and the heavier ones naturally to Sakurase Shino.

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