Chapter 210
Chapter 210 Chapter Nineteen Two Worlds
“I’ll do it.”
Yui Yuigahama raised her little hand in front of everyone.
“Yui, are you serious?” The class representative on the podium had just shown a hint of joy when he was interrupted by an extremely dissatisfied voice.
Miura Yumiko, seated behind Yui Yuigahama, frowned and said, “Weren’t you going to help me with customer solicitation?”
“Eh!?” The powder-haired girl turned around in surprise, “So I’m supposed to be helping out with customer solicitation?”
“Mm, Yuigahama would be quite suitable for this role as an executive committee member. High popularity and extensive connections, I think it’s fine.”
Just as Yuigahama struggled with her decision, Hayama Hayato stepped forward. The opposing opinion from Miura Yumiko instantly calmed down like a submissive kitten, “If Hayato-kun says so.”
With a submissive tone, she immediately transformed from a submissive kitten to a fiercely protective lioness, addressing Hachiman Hikigaya who lay deadpan on a desk in another part of the classroom, “Hey! Hachiman, if you dare bully Yui, you better watch out! Do you hear me!?”
Hachiman Hikigaya hurriedly held up both hands as if in a salute. His corners curled up into an unpleasant smile, showcasing his harmlessness.
Finally backing down, the class representative heaved a sigh of relief and wrote down Yui Yuigahama’s name in the female executive committee column, “Then it’s decided, everyone can disperse now.”
After declaring that they could disperse, Hachiman Hikigaya stayed at his place for a while. When people began to leave one after another with their backpacks, he began to pack his belongings and head to the Service Club.
Looking back at the powder-haired girl dealing with friends’ inquiries and teasing, he scratched his head and left the classroom.
Honestly, Hachiman Hikigaya was completely at a loss as to why Yui Yuigahama would volunteer to become an executive committee member. She had no reason to do so, right?
Could it be… because of himself?
Don’t overthink it, Hachiman.
He went to Teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka’s office to retrieve the key for the Service Club and by the time the dead-eyed youth arrived at the Service Club activity classroom in the Special Building, Yui Yuigahama had rushed over, panting heavily.
“Pant… pant… Sorry, I didn’t arrive late, did I?” Yui Yuigahama panted gently, a slightly naive smile on her face.
“Even if you were late, it wouldn’t matter, since there’s no rule about arrival time,” Hachiman Hikigaya replied with a certain level of disdain.
Recently, Yui Yuigahama seemed to always act out of character, spontaneously volunteering for the Cultural Festival executive position, and currently, fixated on the time to join the club.
“No, no, we were supposed to come to the Service Club together after school.” The powdery-headed girl shook her head.
“…When did we agree on this? I don’t remember,” Hachiman Hikigaya was stunned, searching his memory and confirming that no such agreement for them to come to the club together had been made.
“Mmm! And also, I need to get the key from Teacher Shizuka first to open the club doors.”
Yuigahama remained silent, only puffing out her cheeks and stubbornly glaring at him.
He raised his hands in surrender, “Okay, okay. Next time I’ll wait for you.”
It might as well be kept by himself; surely Teacher Shizuka wouldn’t mind.
The powdery-headed girl finally re-emerged with a smile and nodded emphatically, “Mhmm!”
Hachiman opened the door, and they walked into the activity room, sitting in their usual seats.
Four chairs still lined up before the long table, facing away from the podium. The chair facing the window was Yukinoshita Yukino’s, empty with the curtains gently swaying.
Hachiman’s seat was opposite Yukinoshita Yukino’s. Yui Yuigahama sat across from the delegate, previously close to Yukinoshita Yukino’s side, but now the chairs were gradually moving towards the other side.
“By the way, why did you voluntarily apply for the position of the executive committee member? It doesn’t seem like something you’d normally do.”
Taking out a book to read, Hachiman started a conversation casually.
Yui Yuigahama froze for a moment, eyes flickering over the side profile of the dead-eyed boy. Fragments of past scenes involuntarily flashed through her mind.
Those scenes involved a deceased Ooka, who had transformed into a monster, striking Hachiman Hikigaya out the window with a single punch.
Since the start of this semester when Yukinoshita Yukino had yet to go to the Jujutsu High School exchange program and they were all cleaning the Service Club office, after being scared by a spider, these scenes occasionally appeared in her mind.
Yui Yuigahama had no idea why such terrifying images would pop up, always feeling an underlying sense of unease, but she never shared it with anyone.
Someway, she felt those scenes were true, merely forgotten.
Perhaps this was related to Comrade Yukino’s transfer.
I am afraid… Almost reaching her lips, those words involuntarily morphed into a chuckle, “Well, considering that the male executive committee member is Komachi, it probably feels like no girls would want to partner with Komachi. So I offered myself up.”
“My apologies if you took it personally,” Hachiman said with a slight twist of his lips.
“No offense intended! Just, you know, because you’re like this…”
The powdery-headed girl struggled to explain and feared misunderstanding from Hachiman Hikigaya, only compounding her confusion, till her words tangled up, stumbling out incoherently.
“…We are friends, so I don’t want to see you shunned by everyone,” Yui Yuigahama murmured softly, “Plus, with little Yukino gone, the Service Club is left with just the two of us…”
Her quiet words were clearly audible to Hachiman Hikigaya.
For some reason, he suddenly felt unsettled and dodged the issue, saying lightly, “Club President Yukinoshita is only on an exchange program, she will return after a year.”
“I know, I know,” Yui Yuigahama nodded gently, her voice fading away as melancholy set into her eyes.
Back when Yukinoshita Yukino hadn’t left, she sometimes felt out of place with Yukino and Hachiman, as if she were in a different world entirely from them.
Just as the sunset’s light poured in, it split the scene, framing the powder-headed girl and the dead-eyed boy in the realm of light and shadow.
…
That noisy summer: