Of course, no matter how turbulent her emotions were inside, Yukinoshita Yukino still put on a calm, composed front.
"There's something I should make clear in advance. If you're only treating the Service Club as a joke, it would be better for you to explain things properly to Hiratsuka-sensei and withdraw sooner rather than later."
This was a lie.
What Yukino truly hoped for was to hear the exact opposite answer from the boy's mouth.
"Eh… whether I quit or not doesn't really matter to me," Narumi replied lazily. "But if Yukinoshita's Service Club turns out to be interesting, then staying sounds more fun."
"Interesting…? Do you think I accept requests and help others fulfill their wishes and achieve self-improvement just because it's interesting?"
"Oh? So it's not?"
Narumi pursed his lips, listlessly placing both hands on the desk and propping his cheeks up with his palms.
"Trying to satisfy yourself through helping others is still self-satisfaction, you know. By the same logic, if you can gain happiness or enjoyment while helping people, that's just another way of comforting yourself. Altruism and self-interest don't have to be mutually exclusive. There's nothing wrong with that, so there's no need to deny it."
"..."
Yukinoshita froze for a brief moment at the boy's sudden seriousness, then silently turned her face aside.
"At times like this, a small lie would've smoothed things over nicely, Yukinoshita-san."
Seeing her awkward yet earnest expression, a refreshing smile rose to Narumi's face—and that only deepened the complex emotions reflected in Yukino's eyes.
If he weren't that person, saying such gentle, perceptive words with the same familiar expression would be far too cruel.
This person… even the way he saw straight through her was exactly the same as in her memories.
So it really was the same person.
If not, then it could only be a malicious joke played by fate.
"…Perhaps that's true. But I can't do that."
After a brief moment of distraction, Yukino shook her head. In her blue eyes settled a quiet resolve—something akin to adherence to principle.
"I don't deny that part of my reason for founding this club and accepting requests is to reinforce my own beliefs and convictions."
Sensing that the girl was about to launch into a mentally taxing speech, Narumi puckered his lips.
This side of her was no different from the Yukinoshita Yukino he'd known in the simulation.
"I want to verify my ideals. I want to put my sense of correctness into practice. If I can gradually change humanity's weaker aspects and find a benchmark for measuring absolute justice, then I can change the world."
What came out of her mouth were upright, righteous words—mixed with just a hint of chūnibyō flair.
Of course, having already lived through an entire lifetime in the simulation, Yukino herself felt these thoughts were somewhat naïve.
But that was something she could never say out loud.
"Well said. But I have a question," Narumi said, clapping seriously. "How do you define absolute?"
"If 'absolute' means that all things in the world can be measured by an objective standard, then setting aside whether a truly objective reference exists—how do we define whether something is 'just' or not?"
"When the weak do not envy the strong out of their own inadequacy, nor ostracize others, but instead choose to enrich and strengthen themselves, becoming strong through reasonable and correct means—that is the justice I wish to realize."
Interesting.
So this was the justice Yukinoshita spoke of.
"Putting envy aside for the moment—how do we distinguish between strong and weak? Who decides that standard of strength?"
In certain social environments, someone who excels at work, puts in overtime, and earns promotions and raises is recognized as 'strong.' Someone who clocks out on time to go home and play games might be labeled 'unmotivated'—a 'weak' person.
But change the environment, and suddenly the person who knows how to enjoy life is happy every day, grinds rankings to the top in games, while the so-called 'competent' coworker can only barely spectate no matter how hard they try.
So then—who's strong, and who's weak?
"And when the justice of the majority clashes with the justice of the minority, which one is 'correct'?"
"…?"
"Let me put it another way. Sometimes, when a certain rule has been operating for a very long time, and the number of participants is enormous, that 'rule' gradually becomes the 'justice' everyone takes for granted."
"But not necessarily correct," Yukinoshita immediately followed up.
Narumi smiled and nodded.
"Exactly. Take feudal superstitions passed down for centuries, or the cannibalistic customs of certain tribes. We all know they're wrong—but to them, those practices are 'correct,' even 'just.'"
Examples like that are actually everywhere in daily life.
"Likewise, if something threatens my fundamental interests, stands opposed to me, or even challenges the beliefs and values I've built up so far, I could just as easily say that what you believe to be correct is completely wrong."
The curl-haired boy waved his hand casually; he was merely proposing a hypothetical.
"So then—can an 'absolute justice' that others don't agree with truly be called 'absolute' or 'just'? When both sides firmly believe in their own justice, the side with greater numbers will naturally overpower the minority."
At that point, does a 'correctness' determined by strength of backing still retain its original meaning?
"And… if something deemed incorrect by others can provide immense comfort and support to the person involved, then for that person, it is 'correct.' I don't think that can be criticized either. For example, if a terminally ill patient wishes to live their remaining time freely, but their family strongly opposes it on the grounds that it's bad for their health—who, then, is 'correct'?"
For this example alone, Yukinoshita Yukino could offer no rebuttal.
"…Don't tell me that when you were spacing out earlier, you were thinking about things like this the whole time."
After a moment of contemplation, Yukino looked up again—her gaze toward the boy subtly changed.
Had Narumi deliberately brought up an example similar to the simulation… to test how she'd react?
"Not really," he replied flatly. "Thinking about stuff like that every day burns too many brain cells. I'd rather just go home and play games."
This, at least, was the truth.
As the saying goes, avoiding unnecessary troubles for the sake of your mental and physical health isn't weakness—it's wisdom.
"…I see."
Not getting the answer she wanted, Yukinoshita lowered her head and averted her gaze.
The curl-haired boy tilted his head smugly, pulled out a piece of milk candy from his pocket, and popped it into his mouth to recharge—
—just as he noticed Yukino staring fixedly at him.
"...1,000 yen per piece."
"?"
"Kidding."
"Eh?!"
Narumi tossed another piece of candy toward Yukino, who was sitting a bit farther away. Caught completely off guard, she let out a flustered, adorable squeak. The hand she reached out with failed to catch the candy and instead swatted it straight toward the clubroom door.
At that exact moment, the door was pulled open by a dead-fish-eyed boy whose face screamed reluctance.
"Yo, how's it going between you two? I brought you a peer this time—huh?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had followed him in, noticed the candy on the floor and abruptly fell silent.
When Yukinoshita Yukino laid eyes on Hikigaya Hachiman for the first time, an inexplicable thought flashed through her mind—one she immediately brushed away.
It wasn't the roaring onset of romance, nor the curiosity of wanting to know someone better.
Rather—
Is the pretty, cute member of the same sex who'll make Narumi-kun start fantasizing finally here?
[Yukinoshita Yukino's first probing offensive was abruptly interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Hikigaya Hachiman. No victor was decided.]