"Ring, ring, ring." The class bell rang, the Sports Teacher finished collecting the equipment, and the sports class ended.
...After school.
Mochizuki walked on the way to the Service Club.
He thought to himself, he didn't go to the Service Club yesterday, nor did he tell Yukinoshita in advance, and the crucial thing was that he didn't even have her Line!
Yukino Yukinoshita wouldn't say anything, right?
Mochizuki arrived at the Service Club and saw that only Yukinoshita was there.
It seemed Yui Yuigahama hadn't come this year, which was rare.
"Sorry, I had something yesterday and couldn't come."
"It's fine."
Mochizuki smiled, thinking Yukinoshita wasn't that unreasonable after all.
Then, just as Mochizuki picked up the cup lid, intending to drink the black tea, he found there was nothing in the cup.
The cup was washed very clean.
"Where's the black tea?"
"I thought you weren't coming again today, so I didn't make any, to save waste."
Mochizuki's mouth twitched, thinking, she said it was fine, but she was actually angry.
Fine, I'll make it myself.
...By the time Mochizuki finished making the black tea and tasted it, he found that it really wasn't as good as Yukinoshita's. Should he also practice making tea to improve his skill?
Just as Mochizuki was thinking, the Service Club door was knocked on.
Then the room returned to silence.
They didn't push the door open directly? It seemed it wasn't Yui Yuigahama, and certainly not Shizuka Hiratsuka Teacher.
Mochizuki walked over to open the door.
"Please come in."
"Ah, thank you." A somewhat low voice responded to Mochizuki.
Seeing the visitor, Mochizuki was slightly surprised. It was Hikigaya Hachiman, whom he had just met two days ago.
And Hikigaya Hachiman was also a bit surprised. It was the person who was punished with him by Shizuka Hiratsuka.
Looking at it this way, this club really wasn't quite proper, was it!
He already regretted making this trip!
Hikigaya and his companion entered the room.
The other person.
He looked a bit fat, wore framed glasses, had rare grayish-white hair, giving him a mature appearance.
But what was even more curious and puzzling.
It was the middle of summer, yet he was wearing a long-sleeved coat.
A thought arose in Yukinoshita and Mochizuki's minds: Wasn't he hot?
Inside the room, Yukino Yukinoshita sat in her original seat, and Mochizuki sat next to her, in the spot Yui Yuigahama usually sat.
Mochizuki's seat was given to the two visitors.
..."Ah! Is this the Room of Wishes that Shizuka Hiratsuka-sama spoke of!"
"This room is so simple, yet it can suppress the heat in my body! There's something strange!"
Mochizuki and Hikigaya were a bit speechless. That's because you're wearing too much, and there's air conditioning in here!
"My friend, Hachiman, I thank you! Without you, I fear I could not have set foot here!"
Hikigaya turned his head away helplessly, pretending nothing had happened.
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the person in front of her with full of doubts. What strange remarks, she then spoke calmly.
"Is there something you need?"
"Ah, I heard from Shizuka Hiratsuka-sama that wishes can be granted here."
"The Service Club cannot grant wishes, we can only offer you assistance."
Yukino Yukinoshita was a bit speechless. How exactly was Shizuka Hiratsuka Teacher promoting the Service Club outside!
"Hey, at least introduce yourself first."
Hikigaya pulled the person's loose sleeve and reminded him in a low voice.
"Name? Cough, cough!"
"Heh heh heh..."
"I am the Swordmaster General, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza!"
Yoshiteru Zaimokuza cleared his throat and let out a strange laugh.
Then he actually stood up and vigorously swung his loose sleeves.
Facing Hikigaya, a serious expression appeared on his slightly chubby face, and he spoke to Hikigaya.
For a moment, Mochizuki actually felt he had quite an imposing presence.
Hikigaya helplessly massaged his forehead. Why are you talking to me!
Moreover, with such a chuunibyou self-introduction, Hikigaya was really afraid of being misunderstood himself.
As for Yukino Yukinoshita, she was startled by Yoshiteru Zaimokuza's sudden movement and became even more confused.
Yukinoshita leaned back slightly, rested her head towards Mochizuki, and whispered, "What is this Swordmaster General he's talking about? Do you understand him?"
Because they were so close, Mochizuki could smell the faint fragrance coming from Yukinoshita and could even clearly see Yukinoshita's flawless cheek.
Mochizuki also whispered into Yukinoshita's ear to answer her.
"This is chuunibyou. Swordmaster General is the character he's role-playing as."
"Chuunibyou?"
It seemed Yukinoshita hadn't heard this term, so Mochizuki explained further.
"It's when someone is very obsessed with characters in anime and light novels who have special abilities, and then they pretend they also have such abilities.
And they role-play... they even bring some strange settings into reality."
"Oh, I see, I think I understand."
Mochizuki nodded. As expected of Yukinoshita, she understood right away. However, what Mochizuki didn't notice was that after he finished speaking, Yukinoshita's ears were slightly flushed.
Afterwards, Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the two people in front of her with pity. In her opinion, both of them were sick.
As for Hikigaya Hachiman, seeing Mochizuki and Yukinoshita whispering to each other, he was very worried that things would get worse if this continued.
If they weren't willing to help later, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza would torment him again. He just wanted to leave early and go home to be with his sister.
Hikigaya quickly said, "His name is Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, and I am Hikigaya Hachiman."
"Actually, he primarily came here to ask you to help look at the manuscript of the light novel he wrote, to hear your thoughts after reading it, and it would be even better if you could offer some suggestions."
Hearing himself explain the matter clearly and concisely in one go, Hikigaya Hachiman praised himself fiercely in his heart.
Now his task was considered complete.
"Oh, a light novel?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked curiously. It just so happened that she had recently come across a work with a light novel theme, and she thought the content was well-written.
This request made Yukino Yukinoshita quite interested. At first, she thought she was supposed to cure this person's so-called "chuunibyou."
"This request is fine. So, may I see the manuscript?"
Seeing that Yukino Yukinoshita agreed, Hikigaya finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, with Yoshiteru Zaimokuza's strange remarks, he was really afraid of scaring people away.
Although he had also gone through such a phase, he had already moved past it...
And Yoshiteru Zaimokuza, from who knows where, brought out stacks of manuscripts printed on A4 paper.
It seemed this was the light novel he wrote.
Mochizuki also looked at these A4 papers with interest. After all, he was already a published author.
However, no one present knew that.
"This is my great..." Yoshiteru Zaimokuza spoke to Hikigaya Hachiman again.
"Speak properly."
Perhaps startled by Yukino Yukinoshita's tone and cold gaze, Yoshiteru Zaimokuza actually calmed down.
"This is the light novel I wrote, so, I'm entrusting it to you!"
Yoshiteru Zaimokuza spoke gratefully.
Afterwards, Yukinoshita gently picked up the manuscript from the desk and started flipping through it. Mochizuki also picked up a portion.
After pondering for a moment, Yukinoshita spoke.
"Hmm, there's quite a lot of content. It might take a while to finish reading it here. You can come back tomorrow."
Hearing this, a look of joy appeared on Hikigaya Hachiman's face. He had just been worried about having to wait for Yukinoshita and the other person to finish reading.
Now he could leave directly, and he probably wouldn't have to come tomorrow.
Afterwards, Hikigaya Hachiman and Yoshiteru Zaimokuza stood up and took their leave.
Just as the two walked to the door.
Two other figures arrived at the Service Club entrance.
"Eh! Hikki!"
"What are you doing here?" Yukinoshita and Mochizuki inside the classroom both heard Yui Yuigahama's surprised voice.
"Uh, well, some things." Hikigaya answered evasively, apparently not wanting to reveal to Yui Yuigahama the reason for his visit.
Then he looked at the two people in front of him with some surprise. One was Yui Yuigahama, whom he knew and who had recently given him cookies.
As for the other short-haired girl, she looked very cute too!
"Hello, Hikigaya-kun." A gentle, somewhat timid voice entered Hikigaya's ear.
Ah! Besides Yui Yuigahama, another girl actually greeted him, and she even knew his name. This surprised Hikigaya. Perhaps Yui Yuigahama had told her.
"H-hello."
"I'm leaving first." Hikigaya Hachiman felt it was not suitable to stay here long and retreated first with Yoshiteru Zaimokuza.
Yui Yuigahama and the very cute-looking girl she brought watched the two Hikigaya figures fleeing in disarray, feeling a bit strange.
Then, the two entered the classroom.
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