Year 2 J Class – Afternoon
Looking at the empty classrooms and the slowly thinning crowd of students leaving Sobu High School, Hachiman Hikigaya let out a long sigh.
"That mixed-protein-hair teacher actually lied to me," he muttered to himself, scowling.
Earlier that afternoon, he had read through the student handbook—something he had never bothered to read before.
When he opened the first page, he realized the rule about "students must join a club" had been conveniently omitted in the version he received.
He knew instantly: this was a complete fraud.
Still, he had ended up joining the society established by the 'Ice Queen,' Yukino Yukinoshita.
According to the Sensei, club activities were supposed to be a mix of helping those in need, accepting various tasks from students, and fulfilling those responsibilities with diligence.
Of course, nowadays, with almost no students asking for help, club activities mostly consisted of reading books or mixing time idly.
"Forget it… might as well go along," Hachiman thought reluctantly.
Though he really wanted to go home and rest, Hachiman decided he might as well visit the Service Department. Scratching his head, he trudged toward the sixth floor, moving like a zombie.
.....
After a few minutes of listless walking, Hachiman arrived at the Service Club room.
He knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open.
"I'm in," he muttered, stepping inside.
Immediately, his eyes widened in disbelief.
Why the hell is that white-haired teacher here? And… Yukinoshita? Are they actually… eating hot pot together?
Hachiman rubbed his eyes, thinking maybe he had hallucinated. Then he glanced at the sign on the door: Service Club.
"You guys… what are you doing here?" he asked, bewildered.
He closed the door behind him, and his eyelids twitched as he tried to process the scene before him.
"Whew… so you're here, Hikifroggy-kun," Yukino said, lifting a piece of fatty beef from the bubbling hot pot.
Her deadpan gaze met Hachiman's as if she had expected him all along.
Hachiman froze for a moment, stunned at her casual tone. Then he remembered the nickname she had used for him.
…Frog? She actually calls me Frog?
"Wait, why do you even know my nickname from childhood?" Hachiman blurted, flustered.
"And besides, I've only been in the club for a few days. You shouldn't even remember my real name yet," he added, gesturing helplessly at her.
Yukino didn't respond with words.
She simply returned to her hot pot, silently popping another bite into her mouth.
Seeing her refusal to engage, Hachiman turned his attention to Gojo Sensei, who was grinning widely while showing off the chicken liver he had just picked up.
"And you… the white-haired teacher who tricked us with the student handbook… why are you here?" Hachiman demanded, pointing at Gojo.
With a mouth full of greasy meat, Gojo pouted adorably.
"Me? Deceive students? Nooo…~ I love students and take care of students!" he said, speaking with exaggerated innocence.
"That's… fine and all, but teacher, you really shouldn't do stuff like that," Yukino commented, wiping her oily fingers with a napkin.
Hachiman quickly nodded in agreement, though he still grumbled under his breath.
"Still… why are we eating hot pot here?" he asked, gesturing at the bubbling pot between them.
"Don't overthink it~. Go ahead, mix the spices yourself," Gojo said casually, producing plates and chopsticks seemingly out of nowhere.
"I'm not hungry at all," Hachiman muttered, though his curiosity—and perhaps hunger—made him reluctantly pick up the chopsticks.
.....
A few minutes later,
Hachiman noticed his bowl had no coriander. Gojo's blindfolded eyes twitched with exaggerated disdain.
"Of course… dead-fish eyes are dead-fish eyes. Those who don't eat coriander are heretics! When I have the money, I'll plant coriander all over the world and force it on you heretics!"
"So… I don't eat coriander. Should I just close my eyes and stuff it in?" Hachiman said, lifting a chopstick as he turned to Gojo.
"And teacher… you lied to me with that student handbook. I haven't even gotten to that part yet," Hachiman complained further.
"Abba abba abba… I don't know, don't look at me, I don't understand!" Gojo replied immediately, waving his hands as if deflecting all blame.
After three consecutive verbal blows from Gojo, Hachiman had no choice but to drown his frustration in hot pot.
.....
An hour passed in this chaotic yet oddly cozy atmosphere.
The aroma of the hot pot filled the Service Department, and even the hallway outside was tinged with the scent.
Students and staff in nearby offices couldn't help but wonder who was cooking something so fragrant.
"Hiccup… I'm full… completely full," Gojo groaned, leaning back with a satisfied smile.
Yukino, wiping the oil from her small mouth, looked disgusted yet amused.
Hachiman, who had initially claimed he wasn't hungry, was now aggressively devouring the meats and vegetables like a possessed man.
"Speaking of Gojo-sensei… you tricked this dead-fish-eyed classmate into joining my club?" Yukino asked, glancing pointedly at Hachiman.
Hachiman's face flushed in embarrassment.
How can they call me dead-fish eyes…I don't even have a face anymore.
Gojo shrugged casually. "I wouldn't call it lying. I just… well, you never read the student handbook. So technically, you were deceived by your own negligence."
Yukino nodded silently in agreement.
She had never seen a student so blatantly outwitted by something as simple as a handbook.
Hachiman didn't dare argue.
Instead, he channeled his grief and irritation into shoveling more stuffs into his mouth, devouring meat and vegetables at a pace that could rival Gojo himself.
And so the hour slipped by.
Finally, Hachiman leaned back, clutching his stomach in despair.
"I… I can't… my stomach is about to explode," he groaned.
"We didn't force you," Yukino said flatly. "Who told you to eat so much, Hikifroggy-kun?"
"After all… you are a dead-fish-eyed classmate. Eating a lot is only natural," Gojo chimed in, patting Hachiman's shoulder casually.
Even Yukino joined in the teasing, her tone icy yet playful, harmonizing with Gojo's banter.
Hachiman groaned again, realizing he was utterly outnumbered.