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Yukino Yukinoshita should have been a rather cold, even indifferent, person—at least on the surface.
Even if people spoke ill of her, she didn't care at all. It wasn't because she was timid or afraid to argue, but because she truly didn't care about the person spreading rumors.
As some of the boys in her class would put it, 'I feel like her gaze isn't looking at me as a fellow human being, haha, but like she's looking at a water flea, huff, puff, it's great, look at me more with that disdainful look!'
...I subtly feel like I can understand why the girl is usually so indifferent.
But perhaps it was Yanami's unique ability to captivate people, or simply her expression was too much, to the extent that Yukino Yukinoshita set aside her usual composure and, in a near-wall-slamming posture, explained with considerable pressure what exactly the Service Club was.
"Isn't that just a jack-of-all-trades?"
Yanami nodded with an 'I understand' expression.
"Specifically, it's still a bit different. Rather than 'giving a fish,' the Service Club focuses more on 'teaching how to fish.'"
Yukino Yukinoshita corrected her again.
"I see, so instead of directly buying grilled fish, it's better to teach them how to catch and grill fish themselves, right?" Yanami Anna said with certainty, her arms crossed.
"Theoretically, in modern society, the former is more normal, isn't it?" Asakura retorted.
"I prefer sashimi, preferably the fatty belly."
Yanami seemed to have grown tired of the topic and mumbled, leaning on the table.
"As soon as she loses interest in the Service Club topic, she immediately acts on her desires? What a terrifying person..."
"What's your basis for selecting club members?" Yukino asked Asakura, looking a bit weary. "Is it easier to control them if they're empty-headed?"
"At least it's better than the Service Club, which only has one person, including the president, vice-president, secretary, and general affairs, don't you think?" Asakura responded leisurely.
"I prioritize quality over quantity. I have my own criteria for selecting club members," Yukino Yukinoshita said, proudly lifting her fair chin.
"What criteria, dead fish eyes?"
"I believe it's immoral to mock someone's physical condition."
The girl clearly didn't understand Asakura's teasing, only thinking he was mocking her for not sleeping well these two days and having slight dark circles under her eyes.
Just then, the activity room door opened from the outside, and a pink-haired girl with a bun peeked in. Seeing the tense Asakura and Yukino Yukinoshita, she couldn't help but show a somewhat awkward expression: "Um... should I come back later?"
"No need."
Yukino Yukinoshita immediately sat back in her original seat, maintaining her usual cold and serene demeanor like a high-altitude flower: "The other two are just outsiders. The Service Club only has me, so you can just tell me directly if you have anything."
"If you encounter ghosts or other supernatural events, you can tell our Chiba Magic Society. That's our territory," Asakura added from the side.
"Huh, shouldn't it usually be called the Supernatural Club or the Occult Club?" The pink-haired girl asked, a little surprised.
Yanami Anna also looked at Asakura with an expression that said, 'See, I told you your name was too strange,' but the latter turned his head slightly, feigning an 'Ah, I'm wearing an eye mask so I can't see your expression' attitude.
"Um, I'm actually here for the Service Club..."
The pink-haired girl came back to her senses and said, a little awkwardly.
Yukino Yukinoshita gave Asakura a perfectly timed, subtly triumphant, yet very reserved smile.
It was unexpectedly infuriating.
"In that case, to protect the client's privacy, we'll excuse ourselves for now." Asakura said to Yanami, ignoring her triumphant smile with a straight face.
"Oh, no, you don't have to. It's nothing worth keeping secret."
The pink-haired girl quickly said.
"You're Yui Yuigahama, aren't you?" Yukino Yukinoshita said.
"Oh, Yukinoshita knows me?" The pink-haired girl was startled.
"I've memorized most of the students' names at Soubu High School," Yukino said loudly. "For example, that person over there is called Yanami Almond, right?"
"It's Anna! I feel like I'm the only one being treated unfairly."
Yanami was on the verge of tears.
"Anyway, Yui Yuigahama, what's your request?" Yukino Yukinoshita also seemed to be wondering why she had misremembered Yanami's name, but she quickly hid that touch of unnaturalness and continued to ask.
"Um... I want to make cookies to thank someone, but I'm not very confident in my baking skills..."
Yui Yuigahama stammered, her eyes occasionally glancing at Yukino Yukinoshita: "So I was hoping to find someone to help..."
If it's just this small matter, it seems to have nothing to do with the supernatural.
Asakura made a judgment in his heart.
"This kind of thing is indeed not within the scope of our work, so let's just..." He was about to find an excuse to slip away when Yanami grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait a moment, President, I think at times like this, we should also embody the spirit of students being willing to help others, which is in Soubu High School's motto!"
"Soubu High School's motto doesn't include that, does it?"
"In short! We must also help Yui Yuigahama. No, we must help! We absolutely have to help!" Yanami Anna said righteously, her voice impassioned and resonant.
This was the first time Asakura had seen Yanami so proactive about doing something. He looked down at the girl and saw her face was practically screaming, 'I want to eat cookies!'
So that's it.
"Let me ask first, Yui Yuigahama, how are your cooking skills?" Asakura asked the pink-haired Mochi girl.
"The home economics teacher once told me I didn't need to attend home economics class after tasting my pastries," Yui Yuigahama said awkwardly.
"Oh, oh, does that mean your pastries are so delicious that ordinary home economics classes are meaningless to you?" Yanami asked expectantly, her eyes seemingly sparkling.
"No, she said it could prevent a biochemical terrorist attack targeting Soubu High School students..."
"..."
Asakura looked at Yanami, his eyes clear and meaning unambiguous: Do you still want to eat cookies like that?
Yanami's face distorted slightly, revealing the girl's inner struggle.
But in the end, the aroma of butter and flour won out.
"For cookies, it's not impossible to bravely face death." The girl's expression was firm and serious: "Didn't the ancients also have the saying about eating pufferfish at the risk of one's life!"
"I think there's definitely some crucial difference between the two..."
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