Bocchi-chan, such an extremely socially anxious girl, listens so obediently to Hachiman's words, could they really be just simple friends?
Ijichi Nijika, thinking of Hachiman's certain "preference," felt that Bocchi-chan was very likely, just like her, Yumiko, and Marin, to have had experiences of being forced into bullying.
However, seeing that everyone in the Service Club didn't mind the obviously somewhat close relationship between Hachiman and Bocchi-chan, the words that had reached her lips were once again swallowed back down.
Even though there were vague rumors spreading around the campus, and people like Iris and Hayase Saki who were ambiguously involved with Hachiman didn't say anything, and even if Yumiko somewhat liked Hachiman, since Yumiko wasn't present, it really wasn't her place to say anything.
After handling the two requests, there wasn't much time left in the lunch break, so everyone took out their lunch boxes and began to eat lunch.
———
"I won't make any special arrangements for tomorrow night's band performance. Nijika-san, you're in charge of informing the Livehouse manager, who is also your older sister. If everyone's free, go. If not, just let Nijika-san know in the group chat."
Sitting between Iris and Lala after finishing his lunch, Hachiman looked at the others in the Service Club and gave this reminder.
There were more and more people in the Service Club now, so he needed to frequently organize some club activities to strengthen everyone's relationships.
It didn't matter if small cliques formed, everyone had their own personalities and preferences. Forcing people who didn't get along to stay together wouldn't work either. But the club's overall atmosphere needed to be harmonious, with everyone getting along.
Currently, the school organizations that maintained good relations with the Service Club were the student council, the girls' competitive swimming club, and the public morals committee. As for the volleyball club, it was just Narahashi Miki alone, so it didn't count as any real connection.
However, as the number of requests the Service Club completed increased and it built relationships with more clubs, they'd have more options for club activity venues.
For instance, the Livehouse run by Nijika's older sister was a good choice. Even if most people couldn't play instruments, they could still go as audience members. And after the concert, they could have a party.
"Mm, I'll make sure to welcome everyone properly. But since our band was just formed recently, don't have too high expectations…", Ijichi Nijika nodded, her cheeks flushing slightly as she spoke softly.
To make communication easier, Hachiman had added her to the Service Club's group chat so she wouldn't have to message each person individually. After all, there were so many people in the club, and she wasn't familiar with most of them.
But that wasn't the main point. She could just leave the group tomorrow night. What truly bothered her was the large number of attendees, if the performance wasn't good, it'd feel like she was wasting Hachiman's money.
"You're skipping the club activity this afternoon again?", Yukinoshita Yukino didn't pay much attention to the concert tomorrow. Ijichi and Bocchi were only brought here to go through the motions anyway. Hearing Hachiman's arrangement, she frowned and looked at him.
Ijichi had already been added to the group. Anything could be said there, so bringing it up now felt like an indirect way of saying he'd skip the club again.
"The girls' swimming team is still quite busy. I'll focus hard on training their members next week and help ease their pressure. After that, I'll only have to go occasionally. Of course, you can bring everyone to the pool too. Hibiki won't mind," Hachiman smiled at Yukinoshita Yukino. To deal with the public morals committee's crackdown, he had been dodging the swim club, but there were so many star athletes there, he had to push through a bit longer.
But this kind of hardship didn't count. As the club president, he couldn't leave a request half-finished. He had to see it through, no matter how tiring.
"…I'll stay in the club, just in case someone comes with a request and can't find anyone," Recalling the previous experience of dealing with the swimming club's waves alongside Gabriel, Yukinoshita Yukino hesitated before deciding to stay behind in the club.
She wasn't like Hachiman, despite being the president, he was always running around to other clubs. As the vice-president, she at least had to guard the base.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Vice President Yukinoshita. If someone brings a request you can't handle, feel free to contact me. I may be tied up there, but I can still take calls," Hachiman nodded, exchanged a few more words with Yukino, then stood up and left with Iris, Lala, and the others.
Hayase Saki and Narahashi Miki saw that luck wasn't on their side today with the incoming request, so they left with Shino as well.
Ijichi Nijika wanted to talk to Bocchi about the band, but the moment Hachiman left, Bocchi clutched her guitar and ran. Left with no choice, Nijika could only say goodbye to Yukinoshita and the others and head back to class.
Fortunately, she'd joined the club group chat. After school, she could call Bocchi to practice.
But with Bocchi's personality, it'd be hard to get her to agree to practice alone, unless Hachiman came too.
But Hachiman had to go to the swim team. They'd have to wait until he was free to bring Bocchi to her house for practice, and then ask him to take her home afterward.
Otherwise, with Bocchi's timid and weak nature, letting her go home late alone was just too worrying.
Sigh… What a headache… She'd hoped to form a super popular band, but she hadn't even managed to get a full group practice once.
As Ijichi Nijika walked out the door, she thought of her almost completely uncontactable lead singer Kita and her similarly unreliable childhood friend Ryou. Her pretty face was full of helplessness.
"Um… Vice President Yukino, what does the president go to the girls' swim team for?", Looking at the now-spacious club room after Hachiman's departure, Yuigahama Yui couldn't help but softly ask Yukinoshita, who was tidying up her books.
As a new member, she didn't dare ask the club president Hachiman anything on her first day. Even her senpais like Shino and Saki hadn't said a word, she hadn't dared speak up at all.
She'd only ask once she got more familiar with everyone in a few days.
But she was really curious. Wasn't the school known for strict discipline? Even for swimming classes, boys used the outdoor pool and girls the indoor one. How could the president just waltz into the girls' competitive swim team?
From their conversation, it sounded like he went there often. Wasn't he afraid of getting caught by the morals committee?
"He's the acting manager. The girls' swim team president invited him to help train their members," Yukinoshita looked up at Yui, who'd asked cautiously, and replied calmly.
"Huh? The president's that amazing? The swim team even asked him to train their athletes?", Yui was stunned. She hadn't expected that reason. They were all students, yet the girls' swim team president specifically invited a guy to help train, he had to be pretty good.
"I don't know. It's said that people he coaches improve quickly."
"I see… No wonder he's not afraid of the morals committee and goes to the swim team…"
"…That's not the only reason," After packing up her things, Yukinoshita walked out of the club. Yui hurried after her, watching her lock the club door.
Compared to his coaching skills, what surprised people more was that incident where he beat up a campus delinquent who harassed Saki, right near the school.
But what shocked people most was Hachiman's social skills.
Now, he had close ties with the elf princesses. Many demi-humans had started appearing at Sobu High, attracted by the peace-loving elves.
At first, politicians avoided the situation, worried it would cause trouble. But when they saw most demi-humans wanted peaceful coexistence and that there were benefits to be gained, they began scheming to get involved with Sobu High, which had become a pilot school for humans and demi-humans.
However, the demi-humans also had significant power. Those hidden within human society had formed the Demi-Human Alliance, making it hard for human politicians to interfere in school matters.
Besides the otherworldly demi-humans, the Mifuyu family of the Yuki-onna clan, the Kiriryuin Group of the oni, overseas draconians, and underwater merfolk were also members of the alliance.
Among the transfer students, the shrine maiden Sakura from the Mafune family and Ouka from the Origamine family were representatives of the oni. The mermaid princess Meroune would soon arrive at Sobu High to study with the mermaid singers. The draconians had shown no sign yet due to their leader Ursula, and the Yuki-onna hadn't announced if they'd send a representative either.
Regardless, the powerful and peace-loving elf race was the core of the Demi-Human Alliance. With their princess as a goodwill ambassador, peaceful exchange between demi-humans and humans became possible.
With the increasing appearance of demi-humans and the alliance's attention focused on Sobu High, regular politicians had little room to meddle. Only daring ones like Councilor Ichinose, who sent his daughter Ichinose Ayano into the Service Club, could connect with the elves.
Well, as a student, Yukinoshita didn't care much for politics and didn't know all the inner workings.
These were things her mother told her last time her sister Haruno called her home.
Recalling her mother's parting words, Yukinoshita Yukino looked down the hallway, now devoid of Hachiman and the others, her gaze dark and distant. She let out a faint sigh and went downstairs with Yui.
———
[First-Year Class F Classroom]
Hachiman and Ijichi Nijika returned to the classroom for class.
Although whether he attended class or not didn't matter to him, and the things at school were useless to him, the moment he thought about how Gabriel and Vignette, as an angel and a demon, still came to the human world for classes, he became content.
Anyway, it's the same everywhere, might as well enjoy campus life properly.
Now that the invisibility magic and soundproofing magic had been exposed in front of Miura Yumiko, Ichinose Honami, and the others, he no longer had to worry about anything.
This was actually pretty good, he could study and have fun without delaying either.
"Hikigaya-kun… can you… a-a little quieter…", Looking at the seat separated by Gabriel between them, where even the glistening sweat beads on her nose tip were clearly visible, Ichinose Honami bit her lip and couldn't help but softly remind Hachiman.
Although she knew there was a magical soundproof barrier and speaking loudly wouldn't be a problem now, she still couldn't help but lower her voice in a classroom during class.
"Then you need to tell Ayano. My voice is very quiet," Hachiman turned his head to look at Ichinose Honami, whose pretty face was bright red and even her ears were completely red. He smiled and leaned back against the chair, unmoved.
"...", Hearing Hachiman's shameless words, Ichinose Honami could only cover her ears with both hands and lower her head, though she still couldn't help but steal glances with the corner of her eye at Ichinose Ayano beside him, who was supporting herself backward on the desk with both hands.
'Why is Ayano like this too…'
'Does Ayano like Hikigaya-kun, or is this just her way of getting close to him?'
'It should… it should be that she likes Hikigaya-kun, right…'
Although she knew that Ichinose Ayano, like herself, had been sent by Councilor Ichinose to get close to the Elf Princess and establish good relations, it was just that Ichinose Ayano was assigned to the Service Club, while she herself had been sent to stay by Hachiman's side to approach indirectly, building a good relationship with him to then win over the Elf Princess.
Even if there was a high possibility of impure motives, she still sincerely hoped that Ayano was doing it because she liked Hikigaya-kun, not because she simply wanted to use him and betray herself.
Because they were all sent here to win over the Elf Princess, and if even Ayano, as the real daughter of Politician Ichinose, was arranged this way, then wouldn't she be arranged the same way?
She had gotten along well with Hikigaya-kun and the others during this time, and she truly didn't want her relationship with him to become dirty because of Politician Ichinose's goals.
But it was precisely because of Politician Ichinose's connections that she appeared at Sobu High, and before even starting to get along with Hikigaya and the others, their relationship had already become impure, if Politician Ichinose really wanted her to do the same thing as Ayano, could she refuse.
If she refused, would she be expelled, sent back home, and have all the help given to her mother and younger sister taken back, returning to a life where every meal had to be calculated, and even birthday gifts couldn't be bought.
Looking at the usually elegant and dignified noble daughter Ichinose Ayano now snuggling intimately in Hachiman's arms, her pretty face rosy and her eyes unfocused, Ichinose Honami bit her soft lips hard, and for a moment, she too was dazed.
"Ayano, do you know about Horigome China's family situation?"
Hachiman didn't know what kind of thoughts Ichinose Honami was having while looking at him and Ichinose Ayano. He gently stroked Ichinose Ayano's silky-smooth hair like satin, and while using a cleaning spell, he whispered beside her sparkling fair ear.
"China? Is the President interested in China?", Hearing the name of her good friend from Hachiman's mouth, Ichinose Ayano, who had just replenished her energy and was still savoring it and didn't want to move, suddenly froze, her unfocused eyes abruptly lighting up.
"What do you mean I'm interested in Horigome-san? Just because I ask about her situation, it means I'm interested in her?", Seeing Ichinose Ayano's reaction, Hachiman lowered his head and bit her, speaking speechlessly.
He only wanted to ask Ichinose Ayano about Horigome China's family situation because of her request, how did that turn into being interested in her.
"Isn't it…? What does the President want to ask about China's family?", Seeing that Hachiman didn't have any intentions toward her good friend Horigome China, Ichinose Ayano looked a little disappointed. Her arms around Hachiman's neck tightened slightly, and she asked in a low voice, blushing.
Tomorrow was Saturday, the one-week challenge they had agreed upon was about to end. She no longer worried about not being able to last the week and failing to gain the President's support.
But now, the President's attention toward her wasn't as much as before, even the punishments that were a form of affection had become less.
After thinking it over, she figured it was because there were too many girls around the President, and her charm alone wasn't enough to keep his attention.
Among the people she knew, only China and Honami were suitable, she wasn't close with the others.
But since the President didn't have that kind of intention, she didn't dare say much either.
Even though the Elf Princess Iris had accepted her, and as long as she worked hard to make the President happy she could gain the Elf Princess's promise, actively helping the President find women, this kind of thing, she still didn't dare.
"Horigome-san went to the Service Club at noon to make a request. I happened to be there too. This request is related to her family… and her stepfather…", Hachiman adjusted Ichinose Ayano's sitting position in his arms so she could sit more comfortably, and then slowly explained Horigome China's situation.
Separated by one seat, Ichinose Honami saw the two finally quiet down. She wanted to focus on class, but the matters of the Service Club and Horigome-san drew her attention again, and she couldn't help but secretly perk up her ears.
"I see… I was wondering why China took so long to buy drinks at noon…", After listening to Hachiman's simple explanation and understanding Horigome China's situation, Ichinose Ayano was somewhat shocked and surprised. She couldn't help but turn her head to look at Horigome China in the front row of the classroom.
"China has been a little off these days, getting gloomier day by day. Even when we ask her what's wrong, she won't say anything. I didn't expect she was facing something like this. Her stepfather actually made that kind of request to her…", She knew China had something hidden in her heart, but she hadn't expected it to be something this absurd.
Even though China's father was her mother's second husband, not her biological father, asking China for something like that just to have a child was way too outrageous.
"We gave Horigome-san some advice, told her to go back and reject her stepfather's demand. However, the fact that her stepfather made such a request likely means it's not simply about having a child. He probably won't listen to Horigome-san's refusal, and if rejected, may even become furious and try to f*rce her,"
Hachiman glanced at Ichinose Honami, who was secretly eavesdropping next to them, and continued talking about Horigome China's matter.
"Ayano, you're close with Horigome-san, so you probably know her family situation better, right? Let's figure out how to help Horigome-san."
He didn't have any personal feelings toward Horigome China. There was no mission, and they had no friendship either. But since she came in person to request help, he obviously had to help.
However, he didn't want to be Horigome China's babysitter either, he needed a way to complete the request smoothly and solve everything once and for all.
"Hmm… China's family condition is okay, not super rich, and doesn't have any political capital. The family finances are controlled by her stepfather, and her mother is a housewife. But my father doesn't let me go out freely, so I haven't been to China's house much and haven't met her stepfather," Ichinose Ayano tried her best to recall Horigome China's family situation. Although it wasn't about helping herself, they were good friends after all, and she couldn't just watch her friend get hurt by her stepfather.
"I have met China's mother though, she has a good temper and treats people very gently. But it seems because she remarried with China, her status in the household isn't very high."
"Mm… China's personality is a bit like her mother's. She's relatively cheerful, but doesn't have much of a backbone. Maybe because of that, she's so conflicted about her stepfather's absurd request and can't reject him directly," Now that Hachiman had awakened her like a splash of cold water, Ichinose Ayano was no longer that love-brained girl. She could now see through appearances to the truth and understood why Horigome China and her mother couldn't reject her stepfather's ridiculous demand.
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