Hiratsuka Shizuka had left, but the clubroom remained dead silent.
Standing near the door, Hikigaya Hachiman felt every gaze on him like pins and needles. He was restless.
Ah… this sucks!
Hachiman's inner turmoil was in full swing.
Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to have had enough and said coldly, "Do you plan to stand there until the club time ends? There are some chairs over there…"
"Oh!"
Startled, Hachiman turned to see a pile of chairs stacked in the corner.
He grabbed one and looked around the room awkwardly.
The Light Music Club girls were watching him warily, like he was some kind of future criminal with rotting eyes.
He didn't dare sit near them, nor did he have the guts to get close to Yukinoshita, so he chose a lonely spot in the opposite corner.
Still, he couldn't relax. He could feel everyone's eyes on him. No matter what he did, he felt uncomfortable in his own skin.
Sato chuckled, amused by how lively the room had suddenly become.
The girls from the Light Music Club sipped their tea cautiously while sneaking glances at the odd new guests from the Service Club.
Not just the name, the club members themselves were peculiar.
The boy and girl in the corner seemed like characters from a stage play, each with their own vivid personalities.
"Um…"
After a while, Hachiman raised his hand, like a kindergarten student asking a question.
"What's the name of our club?"
He'd mostly figured it out by now, this room was shared by two clubs. One was clearly the Light Music Club, but the other… was the mysterious group led by Yukinoshita.
"We?"
Hachiman was hit with a wave of dread as Yukinoshita let out a dismissive scoff.
The stunning girl didn't even look up from her book as she said coolly, "I never agreed to let you join the club. So don't say 'we.'"
"Tch."
Sato clicked his tongue quietly. As expected, Yukinoshita wasn't easy to deal with.
A black-haired beauty with a poisonous tongue, her silent exterior concealed a sharp, fiberglass nature.
"…Fine. Then what's your club's name?"
Hachiman sighed and rephrased his question. He was genuinely curious what kind of club this so-called "Snow Woman" had founded.
Yukinoshita looked at him, her eyes wavering for a second before she answered in her usual cold tone: "The Service Club."
The Service Club?
Hachiman's mouth twitched. He couldn't hold it in, he let out a short snort of laughter.
Sato narrowed his eyes slightly.
The girls behind him shook their heads in silent pity. Their looks toward Hachiman said it all.
This guy… he's done for.
And Hachiman knew it too. The moment he laughed, he felt it. He'd screwed up. Now he couldn't even meet Yukinoshita's eyes.
He instinctively looked around for help. His gaze landed on Sato.
Bro! Help me!
Sato shrugged with a helpless smile.
"Is it that funny?"
The icy voice cut through the room like a reaper dragging her chains through fog.
"N-no! I was just… remembering something happy!"
Yes! That's it!
Hachiman silently praised his own quick thinking.
"Oh? And what was so happy? Care to share with the rest of us?"
"Ah, well… it's a bit private, so… sorry."
"What a shame."
The cold tone lingered but didn't press further. Yukinoshita's eyes still gleamed ominously, clearly not done with him yet.
"Then… what is the Service Club even about?"
Even though he'd already pushed his luck, Hachiman forced the question.
Whether Yukinoshita acknowledged him or not, with Hiratsuka backing this setup, he wasn't getting out of this mess any time soon.
He needed to know what he was stuck in.
Yukinoshita paused, then said expressionlessly, "The Service Club's mission is to offer help to those in need, through guidance and support. Rather than giving them the fish, we teach them how to fish."
Hachiman listened in silence.
And what does any of that have to do with "service"?
He facepalmed.
I can't believe Hiratsuka-sensei forced me into a club like this…
"What's that look supposed to mean?"
Seeing his reaction, Yukinoshita's expression darkened. "Do you have a problem with the club I started?"
"N-no! I was just… moved. People like you are rare in this world, you know?"
Even Yukinoshita was momentarily thrown off by that.
On the surface, it sounded like praise.
Too naive.
Hachiman sighed internally. This girl has no idea how complicated and brutal human relationships can be.
The room fell quiet again.
The Light Music girls started whispering amongst themselves about cute outfits and weekend shopping plans, seemingly never touching on anything serious.
Every now and then, when they mentioned more private girl stuff, their big eyes would glance at Hachiman like he was some pervert, and they'd drop their voices even lower.
Sato sighed and looked toward the corner where Hachiman sat.
Thud!
The sound of a chair hitting the floor startled Hachiman, who'd been reading. He looked up and froze.
That guy from the Light Music Club… the damn normie!!
What's he doing here?!
Hachiman looked at Sato warily.
But Sato simply smiled, walked over, and held out a hand. "Year 1, Class A. Sato."
Hachiman stared at the hand, dumbfounded.
How long… how long has it been since someone approached me first?
He hesitated, then finally reached out and grasped it.
"Year 2, Class F… Hikigaya… Hachiman!"