Chapter 158: The Commencement of the Service Club
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I've told you to knock before coming in," Yukino's tone carried a touch of coolness as she addressed the casually charming Shizuka.
Shizuka waved off the girl's words nonchalantly, evidently accustomed to such behavior. "Well, well, don't fret over these minor details."
"Besides, even if I knocked, you wouldn't have responded."
"That's because you enter before I even have a chance to respond, Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino let out a slightly exasperated sigh as she observed Shizuka's demeanor.
Shizuka took a few steps forward, standing before the young girl with her arms crossed.
"So, what brings you to see me today?" Yukino asked.
"Don't be so distant; after all, I've done you quite a few favors," Shizuka said.
It had to be admitted that although Shizuka's personality was quite challenging, her figure was undoubtedly perfect. Graceful legs, a slender waist; her current movements accentuated her already ample chest.
Naturally, this drew the attention of the other two people in the room. Hachiman, without saying much, simply observed, while Yukino's gaze carried a hint of envy.
Her chest had always been a source of distress for her. Both her mother and sister had noticeable sizes, but for some inexplicable reason, her own remained rather flat. Despite trying various remedies, from milk to papaya, there were no noticeable results.
"Am I destined to be like this forever?" The young girl couldn't help but feel a touch of despair.
But no, that couldn't be the case. Her mother and sister had grown, so there was no reason she couldn't. She was still young, still had room for development, and she believed in herself. Suppressing the mixed emotions within, after a few sips of chicken soup, Yukino spoke once more.
"So, Hiratsuka-sensei, what brings you here this time?"
"Well, since this is the Service Club, I've come with a request, of course," Shizuka said, a slight smile on her lips, as she gestured toward Hachiman on the other side.
"You should remember this guy, Yukinoshita. He was the one who handled the event at the beach last time."
"I remember, Hikigaya Hachiman," Yukino nodded.
The memories of their beach trip were still fresh in the young girl's mind. Not only did they have the beautiful seaside scenery, but Hachiman's culinary skills had left a lasting impression as well.
In the girl's memory, what stood out the most were the various peaks of varying sizes. Except for Komachi and Kokoro, everyone else had a larger bust than her. Consequently, Hachiman had been unwittingly labeled as a "bust enthusiast" in her mind.
If Hachiman were to discover her thoughts, he would likely object. After all, what's wrong with being a "bust enthusiast"? As the saying goes, "Bosom friends are heartwarming."
Just look at those popular manga and anime. How many of them don't feature a few generously endowed girls providing fan service?
Even in the so-called "Big Three" of shonen manga, it's the same.
In "Bleach," there's Rangiku Matsumoto, Orihime Inoue, Bambietta Basterbine, and those female Espadas.
In "Naruto," there's Tsunade, Mei Terumi, Anko Mitarashi, and Hinata.
However, the "Boruto" series seems to have ruined their figures instead of showing growth, as many characters become rather flat.
As for "One Piece"...
Well, it appears that the female characters in 'One Piece' are quite well-endowed, and if we're talking about who's the largest, it would be Shirahoshi.
Shizuka nodded and stated the purpose of her visit.
"Lately, I've noticed that this guy thinks more like a middle-aged person, lacking the typical enthusiasm of adolescence."
"So, to correct his way of thinking, I thought about having this kid join your Service Club. Let him take on some requests with you and rediscover the beauty of adolescence."
"I refuse!"
Her proposal was immediately rejected by the young girl.
"Eh?!"
"Why, Yukinoshita?" Shizuka appeared somewhat puzzled.
Not only her, but even Hachiman was slightly taken aback.
Without much consideration, she outright dismissed the idea. Did she really think so little of him?
"Seeing the lecherous and perverted look in his eyes, I feel like I'm in danger, as if he could violate me at any moment."
As she spoke, Yukino crossed her arms and covered her chest, portraying herself as if she had encountered a pervert.
Hearing her words, Hachiman was left in disbelief.
Hey, where am I being lecherous? Besides, I'm not that kind of thirsty guy who jumps on anyone he sees. Sure, I might have an interest in your body, but mostly your face and legs, okay?
What's the use of covering your chest? Clearly, there's nothing there
Shizuka couldn't contain her laughter, patting Hachiman on the shoulder while chuckling. "Ha, hahaha! Laughing out loud. I can't believe it, you, of all people, are like this today."
Hachiman, seeing her reaction, felt a bit speechless. Why are you laughing? Is it really that funny to mock me? This is clearly defamation.
Hachiman glared at Shizuka and then turned to address Yukino, who was still holding her chest.
"Yukinoshita-san, you're aware that what you're saying is defamatory, right? Although you're indeed very pretty, don't assume that all guys think like perverts."
"And please stop covering your chest like that; it only puts extra pressure on them and prevents any growth."
Yukino's face showed a clear expression of anger upon hearing these words. An intelligent girl like her wouldn't miss that Hachiman was clearly making fun of her small chest.
Seeing the two on the verge of an argument, Shizuka decided to intervene.
"Alright, calm down, both of you."
"Hachiman, you little rascal. How can you say such things to a girl?"
After scolding Hachiman, she redirected her attention to Yukino.
"And Yukinoshita, you're not entirely in the right either. Even though this guy's eyes are a bit strange, all in all, he's a good person. Don't worry; he won't do any of the things you're imagining."
"Hey, what do you mean 'he's a good person'? I am a good person," Hachiman protested with some annoyance.
However, Shizuka chose to ignore his comment and continued making her point.
"This guy excels at calculating risks, and he would never get involved in anything illegal."
"So, accept my request, Yukinoshita."
"I see," Yukino nodded.
Upon closer reflection, she had indeed been too quick to judge.
"Considering it's a request from a teacher, I shall accept."
Upon hearing Yukino's agreement, Shizuka bore a contented smile.
"Very well, I shall take my leave now. Please, ensure that you look after this guy, Yukinoshita."
And with those words, she waved to both of them, her white lab coat trailing behind her, and exited the room with grace.
Chapter 159: The Arrogant Hachiman
As Shizuka gently closed the door behind her, the activity room became a haven for solitude, with only the two young students remaining.
Yukino watched Hachiman, who seemed as still as a statue, and released a soft sigh.
"Hikigaya-kun, please, take a seat."
Upon her request, Hachiman selected a chair and settled into it, positioning himself about a meter's distance from the young lady.
Sensing Yukino's reticence, Hachiman decided to break the silence.
"Yukinoshita-san, would it be possible for me to inquire about the purpose of our club?"
In response to his query, Yukino delicately closed the book she had been perusing.
"Why don't you attempt to guess?"
Hachiman, taken aback by the playful aspect of the otherwise reserved young woman, dared to venture a guess, even though he already knew the answer.
"Is it, by any chance, a literature club?"
Yukino inquired in her usual composed manner, "Why would you think that?"
Hachiman, reasoning earnestly, responded, "Well, there's nothing particularly unusual in this room, and you've been reading, so I assumed it might be a literature or book club."
Seeing his serious expression, Yukino couldn't help but chuckle.
Hachiman playfully inquired, "Why? Is my guess wrong?"
"Of course, it's wrong. But, Hikigaya-kun, you looked rather comical just now trying to be so serious. It doesn't really suit you; you appeared too 'gentle,'" she said with a hint of amusement.
Hachiman was bewildered by her words.
He pondered, "What does she mean by 'too gentle'? How does she perceive me, anyway?"
Perhaps she's still holding a grudge against my earlier comment about her figure, he thought. But he had no intention of arguing with her. After all, he knew better than to engage in a dispute with a woman.
"Okay, okay, I surrender. So, tell me, what exactly does this club do?"
Life is like a play, and it's all about acting.Sometimes it's perfectly fine to admit defeat, especially in front of a girl. Just as Hachiman conceded, Yukino's face blossomed with a radiant smile.
"In fact, by sitting here, I am already involved in the club's activities."
"People with surplus resources, driven by compassion, share their abundance with those in need – that's what we call volunteering."
"The core of this club's activities revolves around extending a helping hand to those in difficult situations."
"Welcome to the Service Club. Since you've accepted Hiratsuka-sensei's request, I will take full responsibility."
Setting her book aside, Yukino approached Hachiman, elegantly sweeping her long hair to one side, all while wearing a self-assured smile.
"How does it feel to engage in conversation with such a charming young lady like myself? Does it evoke memories of your youthful days?"
"It appears that this request is progressing quite smoothly."
Hmmm...
Listening to Yukino's confident tone, Hachiman fell into a momentary silence.
Is she underestimating me? While she's undeniably lovely, does she genuinely believe that a brief chat with her can rekindle the lost embers of youth within me?
And openly proclaiming her beauty – isn't that a touch audacious?
"While it's true, Yukinoshita-san, that you are undoubtedly a beautiful young woman, such bold self-assurance can make one feel a tad self-conscious," Hachiman remarked.
"I don't believe there's any need for self-consciousness. After all, my beauty is simply a matter of fact."
Despite his critique, Yukino maintained her unwavering confidence.
"Regarding my cuteness, there's substantial evidence. My indoor shoes were hidden approximately sixty times, with fifty of those instances involving other girls. As a result, I had to carry my indoor shoes and a recorder home every day."
"All of this unquestionably supports my claim of being cute. Those girls were clearly acting out of pure jealousy over my undeniable charm."
While Yukino made a case for her cuteness, Hachiman couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. She was essentially revealing that she had been a target of bullying during her younger days.
"It sounds like you had a challenging childhood."
Recalling his own experiences with bullying, Hachiman's tone carried a touch of empathy.
"Yes, it was quite tough. But it's all because of my overwhelming cuteness," she insisted, still maintaining her unwavering self-esteem.
From the original story, it was clear that Yukino possessed an enigmatic self-confidence regarding her appearance, and in reality, her confidence was well-founded. Even in the world he now found himself in, which was not entirely a slice-of-life scenario, focusing solely on looks, Yukino was undeniably among the top three girls he'd ever encountered.
Despite this, Hachiman didn't want to dwell too much on the topic of "cuteness" and guided the conversation in a different direction.
"Let's set aside the discussion about your cuteness for now, Yukinoshita-san. But regarding what Shizu... Oh, I mean, what Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned about the issues with me, I don't believe I'm in the wrong."
"The achievements I've attained thus far far surpass what these individuals can compare to. Their concept of youth seems too immature from my perspective."
As Hachiman talked about his accomplishments, he remained unapologetic. However, this time, it was Yukino who lapsed into a contemplative silence.
The girl was well aware of his success, evidenced by the time he rented the beach resort for a million yen. Such an amount wasn't insignificant for an average family, but for him, it seemed like mere pocket change. Compared to six months ago, Hachiman had undoubtedly achieved even more success.
Though Yukino didn't have much interest in light novels, she couldn't ignore the promotional materials for Hachiman's novels that she frequently encountered at bookstores or while taking the train. This was concrete proof of his success in the world of light novels.
"I agree that they're immature," she began. "Perhaps I'm not in a position to say this, but I'd like to remind you, Hikigaya-kun."
"Your current success is impressive, but how is showcasing your achievements any different from what those people are doing?"
"They're all flaunting their feathers, and your feathers might be a bit fuller than theirs, that's all."
Her words left Hachiman momentarily speechless. He recognized there was no malice behind her words. On closer reflection, he noticed similarities between the two scenarios. Those individuals poured their efforts into what they called "youth," attained success, and displayed their prowess to others. In his case, he had made a name for himself in the world of light novels, outshining other authors.
Observing Hachiman's continued silence, Yukino paused and went on, "From my perspective, the reason you often feel like an outsider is that you tend to project your self-proclaimed identity as a successful person onto others."
"Thus, in your eyes, actions destined to fail are immature, while only your choices are correct."
"This can come across as a form of arrogance, Hikigaya-kun."
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