"The Service Club… where the wealthy lend a hand to those in need… and change the world…"
In the student guidance office, Hiratsuka Shizuka stared at the club application form in her hand, then raised her eyes toward the beautiful girl standing before her—long, straight black hair framing a face that could have come straight from a shōjo manga. Her expression, however, was more than a little strange.
"Is something wrong, Hiratsuka-sensei?"Yukinoshita Yukino frowned slightly. She could feel the odd look in her teacher's eyes.
It was just a club application. Was that really something worth looking at her like that for?
"You don't have to worry about me wasting school resources by founding a club alone," Yukino continued calmly. "Just assign me one of the unused classrooms. I don't need any club activity funds."
Normally, a minimum of three members was required to establish a club. Once approved, the student council would allocate funds for their activities. But Yukino didn't care about any of that. She just needed a place—nothing more.
With the declining birthrate worsening year by year, the school's student body had shrunk, leaving plenty of abandoned classrooms lying empty. It wasn't as if she would be taking space away from anyone else.
"But here's the thing," Hiratsuka said, tapping the form with her pen. "Someone already established a Service Club yesterday."
"…Yesterday? Someone established the Service Club?"
Yukino froze. The name she had chosen after much deliberation—taken before she could even submit it.
"That's right," Hiratsuka said with a nod. "A student named Hikigaya Hachiman founded it."
She flipped through a few papers before continuing."Apparently, it's also a club that takes on requests to help people. But their motto is… 'Born in darkness, serving the light.'"
The same odd name—but a surprisingly poetic slogan. Still, it was undeniably… a bit chuuni.
"Chuunibyou?" Yukino muttered, her expression twitching ever so slightly. Clearly, her interpretation of that slogan was identical to Hiratsuka's.
But she wasn't here to dissect someone's delusions. She was here to apply for a clubroom.
"Then I'll just change the name," she said coolly. "Please, Hiratsuka-sensei, serve as my club advisor."
"That's not how it works," Hiratsuka replied with a wry smile. "You can't have two clubs of the same type. Club activities are meant to show results, not foster internal competition."
She placed the application form on her desk and gave Yukino a meaningful look.
"Besides, you need at least three members to form a proper club. Even if you join this existing one, you'll still have to recruit another member. Otherwise, even as your advisor, I'll have to disband it."
Yukino's lips pressed into a thin line. She could hear the subtext loud and clear. Hiratsuka wasn't giving her an option—this was an arrangement.
One strange club was enough, apparently.
"Honestly," Hiratsuka added with a smirk, "your sister said you're a bit of a handful and don't have any friends. Maybe joining forces with someone like-minded will do you good."
"..."
Yukino frowned, the smallest crease forming between her brows. She hadn't expected to be denied her own club—and now she was being forced to join someone else's. Her entire plan was falling apart. And worse, she didn't even know what kind of person this Hikigaya Hachiman was or whether his goals aligned with hers.
"Come on," Hiratsuka said, standing up. "I've got time right now. Let's go check out this Service Club."
Seeing no real way to refuse, Yukino followed her silently after closing the office door behind them.
By now, classes at Sobu High School had ended. Club activities were in full swing.On the field, the track and field team trained under the fading sunlight, while on the tennis courts, the steady rhythm of rackets striking balls filled the air.
Though Sobu was one of Chiba's top academic high schools, its club activities were no less impressive. The tennis club, the girls' swimming club, and the volleyball club were among its pride and joy.
The two of them made their way through the lively crowd and into the quieter club building, stopping at the end of the corridor.A door plaque hung in front of a classroom:
"Service Club."
"Yo, Hikigaya~" Hiratsuka called cheerfully as she slid the door open without warning. "I came to inspect your club activities—and I even brought you a super beautiful girl—"
Her words froze halfway out of her mouth. She stood there, wide-eyed, jaw slightly open.
Behind her, Yukinoshita Yukino also stopped in her tracks, momentarily stunned by the scene inside.
The clubroom was cluttered with desks and chairs piled haphazardly against the walls. At the front of the room, an open space had been cleared.
Standing by the window was a figure draped in a long robe, hood pulled low, arms outstretched as he gazed into the sunset.
The evening light streamed through the glass, casting his elongated shadow across the floor.
Born in darkness, serving the light…
Yukino blinked slowly.Was this… really the Service Club?
Was this club supposed to be reliable?