Chapter 9: Hikigaya Resolves to Die
The next day after school, when Hayashida arrived at the Service Club's activity room, Yukino was already seated and reading.
Seeing Hayashida enter, Yukino showed little emotion, offering only a faint "Come in" before falling silent again.
Well, it wasn't entirely silent—after Hayashida sat down, a paper cup of hot tea was placed in front of him.
When he looked over at Yukino, she had already returned to her seat and picked up her book again.
But although Yukino appeared to be reading, her mind wasn't focused on the book at all. Her eyes seemed fixed on the page, yet the corner of her gaze was secretly observing Hayashida.
Noticing Hayashida looking at her, Yukino's expression tightened slightly, and she subtly shifted her attention from him back to the words in her book, as if she had been fully engrossed from the start.
"You haven't turned the page in almost two minutes, you know?" Hayashida kindly reminded her.
Yukino took a deep breath. Just as Hayashida thought she might respond, she… turned a page.
"Pfft…"
"(Inhale)…"
Hearing Hayashida's soft chuckle, even deep breaths couldn't help Yukino maintain her composure anymore.
"Hayashida-kun."
"I'm here."
"Has no one ever told you to try to stay quiet when others are reading?"
"Sorry, sorry. But are you really reading, Yukino-san?"
Seeing Hayashida's teasing smile, Yukino very much wanted to say "Of course," but the words that came out were involuntarily changed to another topic.
"Hiratsuka sensei will be bringing someone over later—it's about what we discussed yesterday." Yukino chose not to answer Hayashida's previous question, yet it felt like she had answered it in a way.
Faced with the girl's clumsy attempt to change the subject, Hayashida didn't press further. Teasing her occasionally was fine, but if he really annoyed Yukino, it wouldn't be fun anymore.
What's most important in life?
It's all about timing and knowing your limits.
What jokes are appropriate and which are not, what actions are suitable and which are not—these reflect a person's intelligence and emotional quotient.
Some people always use jokes as an excuse for rude behavior, amusing themselves at others' expense without any sense of boundaries. If you get angry, they blame you for not being able to take a joke.
Such people can be described in one word: shameless!
However, appropriate jokes can help strengthen relationships, though it's not recommended for ordinary people to try them. Especially when facing a high-level boss like Yukino, it's easy to mess up. Only someone like Hayashida, with his cheat ability to perceive Yukino's emotions in real time and adjust accordingly, would dare to be this cheeky. Otherwise, just see if Hayashida would dare to act so boldly.
The question is, how far does the relationship need to progress before Yukino is willing to speak her wish aloud?
Hayashida is too eager for that golden Wish Commission. If even the gray ones grant a bit of Wish Power, wouldn't the golden one be incredible?
"When is she coming?" Hayashida asked.
Yukino shook her head: "I'm not sure, but it should be soon, and it's unlikely she'll knock."
As soon as she finished speaking, the classroom door was pushed open.
"Yukino, I'm coming in~" x2
A familiar voice rang out, though this time there was a harmony.
Yukino glanced at Hayashida, who was mimicking the voice, and found him grinning cheekily at her. She couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth twitch upward, though she quickly suppressed it.
"Osu, you're here too." Shizuka waved, offering a casual greeting to Hayashida.
"Good afternoon, Hiratsuka sensei, who doesn't like to knock." Hayashida imitated Yukino's expression, looking seriously at Shizuka, though his words were anything but serious.
"You rascal." Shizuka knew Hayashida was joking, so she didn't take it too seriously. Instead, she turned to the person behind her and said, "What are you standing there for? Come in already."
Yukino and Hayashida simultaneously shifted their gaze to the classroom door, where a boy in a school uniform, with lifeless eyes, reluctantly walked in.
Thanks to those iconic dead-fish eyes, Hayashida easily recognized the boy: Hachiman Hikigaya, his classmate, and most likely one of the culprits who had confined him at home for two weeks.
It's worth noting that Hayashida noticed Yukino also showed a flicker of surprise upon seeing Hachiman (actually observed through emotional perception) and quickly averted her gaze, accidentally meeting Hayashida's eyes as he was secretly watching her.
Well, based on Yukino's reaction, Hayashida knew that Hachiman was undoubtedly involved in that car accident as well.
Why is Japan so small?
As for Hachiman, he never intended to join any club in the first place. The only reason he came today was under the pressure of Shizuka's iron fist, planning to just go through the motions and then return to his quiet life.
Especially after seeing his classmate Hayashida in this club, Hachiman became even more determined: he must not join this club!
Even if he had to join the soccer club, he couldn't join this one!
Hachiman didn't even dare to imagine how awkward their relationship would become if Hayashida found out that he was the one who caused him to suffer for no reason while saving a dog.
In other words, by not joining this club, he was actually saving it!
Guh, I should've followed Yui yesterday and cleared things up. Is it too late to apologize now?
Hachiman's mind raced, finally reaching a conclusion: maybe I should just confront them head-on?
Whether it's scolding or giving the cold shoulder, as the saying goes, it's better to have a short, sharp pain than a long, dull one. Better to lay things out clearly while we're still strangers than to hold back because of feelings after getting to know each other, only to end up exploding after going through all sorts of cringe-worthy plot twists.
Seriously, what kind of third-rate romance novel plot is this?
Just get it over with—commit seppuku!
Anyway, the moment Hachiman laid eyes on Hayashida, he had already imagined his own death.
Naturally, Hayashida had no idea what was going through Hachiman's mind, but seeing the constantly shifting colors of emotion around him, he could tell this guy was seriously not calm.
And when he saw the look of utter resignation in Hachiman's eyes, Hayashida completely lost it.
Dude, no need, really no need.
To prevent his classmate from committing seppuku right in front of him, Hayashida quickly spoke up: "Sensei, this is…"
"This is Hikigaya. He wants to join the club. Oh, and he's also in your class." Shizuka had no idea that in the brief moment just now, the student beside her had already prepared himself for death.
Though, given Shizuka's personality, if she knew what Hikigaya was thinking, she probably wouldn't try to talk him out of it. Instead, she'd straight-up use her fists to "correct" him.
Yeah, suicide turned into homicide.