Tarou Shiozawa POV
Suddenly there was a knock on the door.
Huh I wonder who that could be?
"Come in," Yukinoshita said.
"E-excuse me, Hiratsuka-sensei sent me here..." a girl with pinkish orange hair entered the room with a tied up bun on her head.
I know her....it's that girl from that day I thought remembering the first day of school.
You see on the first day of school there was a car accident involving Hikigaiya.
I only knew about it because I was just a couple of streets away on my bike to witness Hachiman saving the girl's dog from being hit by a car.
I could have minded my own business and just went on my way but I didn't instead I chose to stay behind in order to call 911.
I didn't catch a glimpse of the driver or the passenger since I was so far away, but I did stay until the ambulance arrived.
The girl didn't notice me that day and to be honest I don't even think she knows I was there or even exist as a matter of fact.
"Eh W-What are Hiki and Shio doing here?!" the girl suddenly cried out in surprise.
I stand corrected with a deadpan seriously what kind of nickname is Shio? Ahh whatever I should be thankful it's nothing like Hiki over there I thought with a slight grin.
"Were members of this club," Hachiman informed while looking completely weirded out by the name that was used to address him.
"You're Yui Yuigahama of class 2-F right? Well have a seat" Yukinoshita said pulling out an extra seat for her to sit on.
"You know who I am?" Yuigahama questioned in complete surprise.
"I bet you memorized the name of every student," Hachiman said.
Yukinoshita shook her head "not so if you remember correctly, I didn't know who you or Shiozawa were," she replied.
"How could I forget," he muttered glancing away.
"Yes, and I also distinctly remember you also calling us 'strays' like we were animals instead of humans," I mentioned blowing a strand of hair away from my eye.
"Well in my eyes you two certainly resembled animals which is why I tried to avert my eyes from your existences," Yukinoshita said.
"What are you trying to make us feel better?" Hachiman fired back.
"No, I am being sarcastic," she denied.
"Geez who would have thought the great Yukinoshita even knew how to use sarcasm why I almost couldn't tell since your tone always sounds like it's dipped in frostbite," I said with a smirk.
Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't rise to the bait "I suppose that means my delivery is consistent so I'll take that as a compliment also I thought I told you to never call me princess."
"Hmm let me think about it....yeah no I don't think I will," I responded back with a cheeky twinkle in my eyes.
"Your insufferable," she insulted.
"Oh come on you know that you wuve me," I said slanging the word in a baby voice.
Yukinoshita's face shifted into one of disgust "please don't ever do that voice again, I feel like I was just assaulted all over my body," she said faking a shiver.
I open my mouth with another comeback when Yuigahama shouted "wow this club looks like a lot of fun!!" oh my days were those sparkles coming out of her eyes I thought flinching back.
Impossible I must be hallucinating.
"Also, Hiki and Shio are both talking a lot," Yuigahama pointed out.
"Huh?" Hachiman said confused.
"I resent that remark I talk plenty when I want to," I replied.
False I do in fact talk plenty but only when I am by myself that is I thought with an imaginary nodding head.
Yuigahama shook her hands "ah no sorry what I meant to say is just you two are totally different here then you are in class, I mean usually Hiki acts sort of weird and creepy while you Shio are mostly quiet and stare at people randomly," that's because I am silently judging and analyzing their characters nothing more.
Also, if you want to talk about being creepy the fact that you've been paying attention to both Hikigaiya and me a lot to notice our habits makes you sound a bit like a stalker.
"Stalker/Slut," both Hikigaiya and I said at the same time.
Yuigahama stood up angry "What! who are you two calling a stalker and slut I'll have you know that I don't watch you guys it's just stuff that everybody's seen and I am still a virgin uwa uhh never mind!!" she shakes her head rapidly and sits back down.
PS I wasn't going to forget that small bit of information about you being a virgin that's going in my book of leverages for favors in the future.
Was it blackmail? Depends on your definition of blackmail.
Is it not kind of creepy? It's only creepy if the person used the information that is kept secret to demand certain favors you'd find in a hentai video.
I am a dignified and respectable person of society not some disgusting scumbag that would ever stoop so low.
I'd mainly use the information I learned to help me get away from doing certain group assignments, events, and anything that required me to be socially active.
Unfortunately, I couldn't do anything about this stupid club.
"It's really nothing to be embarrassed about what I mean is that-" whatever words of comfort Yukinoshita was about to offer were interrupted by Yuigahama dramtically screaming "what are you saying?! I am a second year it's super embarrassing shouldn't you be a bit girlier then this?"
"Such values are pointless," Yukinoshita retorted.
"I don't know saying something like girlier sounds pretty slutty to me," Hachiman called out.
"Stop it! Calling someone a slut is so not cool you're such a creep Hiki!" Yuigahama exclaimed.
"Calling someone a slut has nothing to do with creepiness also stop calling me Hiki," Hachiman informed.
"If you don't like being called a slut would you perhaps like the term of annoyingly bitchy because you've certainly blown out my ears drums with your shouting," I said wincing in annoyance.
"Hey! You don't need to be such a jerk Shio," oh great now it was my turn to get yelled out.
This ladies and gentlemen was precisely one of the many reasons why I avoided girls because of how annoying they could be especially an entire crowed of one.
Although I will admit they are a great source of learning information and gossip around the school.
You'd be surprised how many times I've walked past certain groups of females and hearing entire breakdowns of who's dating who, who's fighting, which teacher might be getting fired, which boy in class was low-key hot but acts like a total psycho, or who cheating on who.
Honestly the eavesdropping wasn't even intentional at first but after a few times I started taking mental notes whenever I passed by such groups.
It's not like I'm trying to become some sort of secret master manipulator like Sosuke Aizen or anything... but hey knowing things about your environment gives you power especially in this battlefield we call high school.
"Anyways, if the two of you are done trading insults with Yuigahama, we can finally move on to the purpose of what she wants to request," Yukinoshita interrupted.
.
.
.
Timeskip
"What cookies?" Hachiman questioned.
"Well apparently our friend here would like to make homemade cookies for someone but she's not very confident, so she wants our help this is her request" Yukinoshita said holding various cooking utensils for baking while Yuigahama looked away shyly.
I glanced at Hachiman then back at her...ah I see it now she feels bad for him because of that incident and is now trying to make it up to him.
How disgusting it almost makes me want to throw up.
If Hikigaiya was anything like me...it's that we hated being pitied.
Pity tasted like spoiled milk rotten, condescending, and worse when warmed by the so called 'nice' girl smile.
"Ugh why don't you ask your friends to help you with this," Hachiman groaned out while placing an arm behind his back a nervous tic of his that I've noticed.
"Yeah well uh I-I don't really want any of them to know and it's just that it'd be weird acting serious with them,"
"I guess I see," Hachiman relented.
Yes, and I can see as well.
See that you're also a faker just like many of the other students among this school.
I've seen your group in class 2-F mainly composed of the fire queen Yumiko Miura, the prince of Sobu Hayama Hayato, and his three lackies.
From what I've observed is that you Yui Yuigahama are what I like to call a follower.
For example, if someone in your group is wearing the latest make up then you'd follow after to go and try fit in with the rest of the group even though you're not actually interested in whatever make up brand it may be.
You have different interests but don't share it with the 'popular' group in fear of being shamed.
So, I can come to the effective conclusion that if you really came to your friends for this request to make some cookies for a boy much less for one of the less popular students in school.
Then you'd risk upsetting the fragile balance of your social standing and that of course is a crime punishable by exile in the high school ecosystem.
So instead of asking for help from the people you claim are your friends you come crawling to us where you can figure out how to make the cookies while at the same time making contact with your 'crush' aka Hikigaiya Hachiman.
"And besides I heard from Hiratsuka-sensei that this club is supposed to grant students wishes," Yuigahama mentioned.
"Yes because all three of us are secretly magical genies that each have respective abilities to grant three wishes each," I said with a deadpan watching Yuigahama blink in confusion for a moment before realizing I was joking.
She gave me a hesitant smile, probably thinking it was some weird sarcasm I was famous for Yukinoshita just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"Enough of the theatrics, Shiozawa," Yukinoshita snapped "if you don't want to take this seriously, then maybe you should leave."
I raised my hands in mock surrender "alright, alright I'm only just joking around," I said placing my hands into my pockets.
"To answer your question Yuigahama this club isn't meant to 'grant wishes' but rather to assist people we don't just give fish to starving people we teach them on how to fish so that they could be independent," Yukinoshita lectured.
"That's kind of amazing," Yui muttered as Yukino went over to fix the knot on her apron "that's crooked can't you even manage to put on an apron right," she lightly scolded.
"Sorry thanks," Yui said in appreciation.
"Right and what exactly are we supposed to do here?" Hachiman asked.
"The two of you can taste them and offer your opinions," Yukinoshita replied.
-Five Minutes later-
"How in the world can someone mess up so much and so often," Yukino said with a sigh at how disastrous the cookies came out to be.
I eyed the charcoal colored up cookies with a scrunched-up face "Jesus this looks like it came out the ass of a donkey," I muttered.
"Looks more like the charcal they sell at the hardware store, I feel like a royal tester," Hachiman observed.
"I didn't put any poison in it!...uhh it might be poisonous though," Yuigahama trailed off the closer she inspected the 'cookie.'
"We won't die though right?" Yukinoshita asked us.
"Well only one way to find out bottoms up," I said tossing the burnt cookie up into my mouth.
Almost immediately my face went purple and eyes completely wide at how utterly disgusting it was.
Hachiman wasn't any better he looked like he'd just swallowed a mouthful of gravel and ash.
Yukinoshita's face was all scrunched up trying not to show how bad it was but she was failing at it poorly.
All three of us spat the chunks out into the trash can with a retching sound "oh God I almost saw the light at the end of the tunnel," I said.
.
.
.
"Right well let's think about how to improve on this now," Yukinoshita said placing the newly cleaned bowl down.
"How about Yuigahama never cooks again," Hachiman suggested while slouching over a chair.
"I also agree along with the fact that she should stay away from the kitchen entirely," I chimed in leaning back against the wall.
"That's how you guys are planning to solve things!" Yui says looking completely down "maybe you guys are right then suppose I am not cut out for cooking I guess I just don't have the talent needed."
"The only solution is to try harder," Yukinoshita interrupted "Yuigahama you just said you don't have any talent correct?" she asked.
"Yeah," Yui depressingly muttered.
"Try changing your perception people who don't even apply the minimal effort have no right to go around and envy those with talent. Unsuccessful people are unsuccessful because they can't imagine the effort that successful people have invested," Yukino advised.
"Yeah but lately, everyone says they don't even cook like this, this just isn't who we are," Yuigahama responded awkwardly whiling twirling a strand of her hair.
"Could you find it in yourself to stop trying to match everyone around you it's terribly annoying," and for once both Yukinoshita and I could both agree on something she said.
"Aren't you embarrassed waiting around for others to tell you when your awkward, clumsy, or foolish I mean come on..." Yukinoshita continued obviously tired with her mentality.
Emotional damage has been inflicted as expected of the ice queen.
Yuigahama glance down her hair casting a shadow over her face "you're... you're so cool," she declared.
"Huh/Huh!/Huh!!!" came our combined shouts.
That's not what I expected to hear if anything I thought she would have started crying, outright leave the place, or even start fighting with Yukinoshita like some girls do when they can't handle the truth, but this wasn't predicted.
"You don't say anything superficial actually that's kind of cool you know," Yuigahama said with totally reverence...perhaps she was a masochist? I guessed.
"W-Weren't you even listening to me? I believe I was being rather harsh to you," Yukino stuttered out.
"Yeah your words were kind of harsh and all but I felt that's how you actually feel all I've ever done is just try to be like a everyone else sorry next time I'll do it right," well at the very least she can take some criticism compared to some other people I knew of.
"Teach her the right way show her right to do," Hachiman suddenly spoke up.
"I'll give you a demonstration do exactly as I do," Yukino relented.
Not even five minutes later though one batch of perfectly baked cookies by Yukinoshita were made along with yet another identical bowl of burnt up cookies by Yuigahama again.
"Instructions unclear results burnt up cookies again," I said with a sigh.
"Ugh how am I supposed to make you understand," Yukinoshita said placing her head down on the table completely exhausted...at this point I was starting to just feel bad.
"I don't get it why are you guys trying to make cookies that taste good?" Hachiman questioned while munching on one of Yukinoshita's cookies.
"Yeah...I mean the taste doesn't really matter all that much to be honest," I said swallowing the last crumbled bits of my cookie.
"What are you saying?" Yukino asked.
I walked up beside Hikigaya "what I am saying is why don't you two come back to this room in about 10 minutes while the two of us show you some real handmade cookies," I said.
"Handmade cookies that you've never experienced before," Hachiman followed up.
Now it would be our turn to show down I thought as both Hikigaya and I shared a knowing look.
"Well if you say so," Yukinoshita relented "come on lets go Yuigahama," she left the room along with Yui who kept glancing back.
"So, we have the same idea I am assuming?" Hachiman asked once they were officially gone.
"I think we do," I said feeling a connection grow between us...but I didn't dare to hope for our similarities to allow for a friendship such a concept is something I've given up on however I could see us becoming good acquaintances that hang out on occasion.
.
.
.
10 Minutes Later
Both Yukinoshita and Yuigahama bit into the left-over cookies that Yuigahama baked earlier only thing is that they didn't know.
All we really did is switch up the plates to make them think we made a new batch.
"These are what you two call real hand made cookies?" Yukinoshita said with disappointment while Yuigahama choked on her's.
"These things don't taste really good," Yui added.
"You think so? Sorry I'll toss them," Hikigaya said faking sadness.
"Wait a second you don't have to go and toss them all out I mean there not really all that terrible" Yuigahama quickly said forcing herself to eat another burnt cookie.
A smirk spreads over my face as I pushed up my imaginary glasses as expected everything's gone according to plan, I thought.
"Is that so Yuigahama because," I went over grabbing the plate from Hachiman "these are the batch of cookies you made," I said holding the plate out in front of her with the grandiosity of a magician revealing his final trick.
"Huh?" Yuigahama muttered out in confusion "what are you talking about?" Yukinoshita questioned.
"Hikigaya if you would the stage is yours's" I said placing the plate down while Hachiman nodded his head.
"Right well here's a relevant story I heard from a friend of a friend there was a girl he knew that would tell him everything that happened to her I thought- cough I mean he thought this must mean she likes me I've got it made so he made up his mind and asked her 'hey so who is it that you like in our school just his initials?' she then responded with 'H' and stupidly he thought hey 'that's my initial is it me?' and the girl then asked what he was talking about before calling him 'creepy would you stop'" Hachiman concluded.
"Wait? that's a personal experience," Yukinoshita said as both she and Yuigahama stared at him with looks of pity.
"Oof sucks to have been you Hikigaya but hey at least you were brave enough to even ask I never even bothered asking girls at my middle if they had a crush on me or not," I said sympathetically patting his shoulder.
"That's just even sadder," Yukinoshita muttered under her breath her usual deadpan tone laced with a trace of genuine pity which somehow made it sting even more.
"I don't want to hear that coming from the likes of you Yukinoshita, after all I bet no guys ever asked you out," I shot back glaring at one another.
"Hey now! I told you guys it was a friend of a friend!" Hachiman shouted trying have some saving grace alas it didn't work.
"And just what are we supposed to take away from this story anyway," Yukinoshita interrupted.
"I don't know I guess that guys are just simple and stuff, they'll get the wrong idea if you so much as talk to them and they'll be happy just to get handmade cookies from you." Hachiman explained rubbing the back of his neck.
"Exactly and what that means is that they don't have to taste good just as long as they're made with care," I finished, stepping beside him with a grin "because to a guy, the idea that someone made something just for them... that's already special enough not that I would ever care if a girl gave me one though," I said uncomfortably avoiding their eyes.
Yuigahama's eyes widened a bit, her mouth slightly open in realization.
"You mean... even if they taste bad, just the fact I made them is enough?" she asked slowly as if testing the thought aloud.
"Pretty much," Hachiman confirmed with a shrug "we guys are that easy to please some of us even take pride in pretending they taste amazing just so we don't hurt anyone's feelings."
"Is that how it really works?" Yukinoshita said rubbing her chin in thought.
"Would it work on it you Hikki?" Yuigahama shyly asked.
"Huh? Sure, it'd work great on me and stop calling me Hiki! Okay" Hachiman replied getting a little irritated at the end.
"So, what are you going to do Yuigahama?" Yukinoshita inquired.
"Yeah, I think that I am going to go ahead and try it my way thank again! Yukinoshita," Yuigahama responded with a cheerful smile.
"Well then consider this request our first closed case then," I said walking over to pick up my backpack.
"Guess I'll see you two tomorrow then later Hikigaya, princess," I waved giving my farewells before leaving the Home Economics class desperate to finally go home and play on my beloved Play Station 2-chan.
"Yeah...I guess/stop calling me princess," both Hikigaya and Yukinoshita responded.
"Never!" I shouted back.
.
.
.
The Next Morning
"Did we really do the right thing? Did we handle Yuigahama's request?" Yukinoshita suddenly asked breaking the wonderful silence of the club room much to my displeasure.
"Woman what nonsense are you talking about?" I asked pausing my music and closing the PDF manga for volume one of Dragon Ball Z.
"I think if you really want to improve yourself you should go out there to challenge your own limits and maybe that would have probably benefited Yuigahama in the end don't you think so?" Yukinoshita suggested.
Both Hikigaya and I glanced at each other before Hachiman placed his light novel down "your efforts will never betray you, but they can always come betray your dreams."
"Huh?" Yukinoshita asked not at all getting what he meant.
"Not all dreams will come true through effort actually most of them won't even come true but if you tried your best, you can take solace in that," Hachiman explained.
"Indeed, you can put all the effort you want into pursuing your dreams," I added stretching out in my seat, "but if those dreams were never realistic to begin with, then all you're doing is just setting yourself up for failure."
Yukinoshita's brows furrowed slightly her lips tightening into that familiar disapproving line "is that how you see it? Then what's the point of even trying?"
"The point isn't always to win," Hachiman responded, surprisingly calm "sometimes, it's just about proving to yourself that you gave it everything you had... even if the outcome isn't what you wanted."
Yukinoshita glanced between the two of us, her expression unreadable "that seems... defeatist."
"No," I interrupted, "it's called being realistic there's a difference," I said putting my arms around my head.
Yukinoshita opens her mouth to say something when someone knocks on the door before it slid open.
"Ahh speak of the devil, and she shall appear," I muttered.
"Yahallo guys!" Yuigahama greeted.
Yahallo? What kind of slang is that just say hello normally you're butchering the Japanese language.
"Hmm do you need something?" Yukinoshita asked.
"What am I no longer welcomed to come in here Yukinoshita do you hate me? But why" Yui said feeling down.
If you ask me, it's because your faker that's all it really is for me...although you're also pretty annoying and have way too much energy for a single person.
"I wouldn't say that I hate you you're just not my type," Yukinoshita thoughtfully replied while rubbing her chin another tic I've noticed about her.
"That means the same thing in girl speak you know!" Yui accused with an angry pout.
"So did you need something?" Yukinoshita questioned.
Real smooth of you with that quick shift in topic I thought.
"Oh right! Here this is thanks for the other day I made cookies," Yuigahama said pulling a bag of what was no doubt burnt coal instead of cookies.
"I am not really hungry," Yukinoshita said even though she accepted the back.
"Man, it's really fun once you give it a try maybe I'll try making a box lunch next time oh and Yukinon lets eat lunch at the club room together," Yui suggested taking a close seat beside Yukinoshita while Hikigaya and I remained far from the duo.
"No thanks I prefer eating my lunch alone, so I think I'll pass up on that offer, and Yukinon creeps me out so don't-" Yukinoshita tried to decline only to get interrupted by Yuigahama's excited rambling again.
Both Hikigaya and I exchanged a look before nodding.
With all the skill I had we activated our respective stealth modes and stood up ready to leave the clubroom.
Hachiman buried his hands into his pocket while I placed one hand in my pocket the other busy holding my backpack.
Suddenly Yuigahama came out from the clubroom shouting "Hikki! Shio!" startled we turned just in time to catch a bag of cookies as well.
"I just wanted to show my thanks you two helped me just as much," Yuigahama explained with a smile before heading back into the clubroom.
Both Hikigaya and I stared down at the bags of cookies "say Tarou...do you wanna eat these cookies together? I know a pretty good spot," Hikigaya suddenly offered with a hint of nervousness.
My eyes parted a bit in surprise no had ever really willingly wanted to hang out with me nor did I expect any one to at this point, yet that dangerous feeling of hope was starting to rise up again inside of me.
Then again if anyone else could understood the subtle art of mutual avoidance and reluctant companionship it was probably Hachiman.
"...Sure," I replied after a short pause, trying not to sound too affected I slung my backpack over my shoulder properly "lead the way Hachiman."
He blinked seemingly just as surprised by my answer as I was by his question "r-right it's not far there's a spot by the courtyard that has Sakura trees no one really hangs out there during the mornings," Hachiman stuttered a bit.
.
.
.
A Few Minutes Later
"Well this sure looks like something ominous feels like a bad omen but I'll accept it with gratitude," Hachiman said looking down at the burnt shaped cookie with a strained smile.
I looked down at my own burnt up cookie with eyes of dread I knew the real reason why Yuigahama made these...pity cookies.
But even so I took a large bite, chewing on it quickly.
Charcoal absolute, undiluted charcoal.
It crumbled in my mouth like a sandcastle hit by a tidal wave.
My throat closed up in self-defense, and I could feel my soul trying to abandon my body.
Hikigaya, watching me closely, grimaced as he reluctantly took his own bite we locked eyes in silent suffering.
"So," he coughed washing it down with the water bottle he'd cleverly brought, "we're going to die like men, huh?"
I nodded solemnly, chewing through the flavor of despair "a samurai's death burned at the stake by kindness."
"More like executed for someone else's attempt at hospitality," Hachiman muttered, staring at the cookie like it had personally wronged him.
But I didn't spit it out neither of us did not because it was good it wasn't but because it mattered.
Someone tried.
Someone cared, even if it was for a reason of either pity or kindness.
"That was awful," I admitted, reaching into the bag for another one anyway.
"Yeah," he said, doing the same "let's just hope eating more doesn't trigger Stockholm Syndrome."
"Doubt it I already feel like a hostage."
The two of us sat there beneath the cherry blossom trees eating Yuigahama's edible war crimes in shared understanding and just sort of talking.
It was kind of nice actually.
-end of chapter three-
There you have it Episode 1 is finally complete god am I fucking exhausted anyways let me know your thoughts on this so far.