Yukinoshita Yukino was known as the unattainable flower of Soubu High.
A perfectionist in all things, she was a beauty blessed with both intellect and looks, boasting excellent grades in every subject.
She was so exceptionally talented to the point of inspiring envy in others
If she had one weakness, it was her stamina—if summed up with a single sentence she was frail.
A week ago, seeking to prove her capabilities to her mother and sister—and perhaps, on a more personal level, to change the warped world that had always ostracized her for being too perfect—she had founded the Service Club with the help of her teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka.
—
—
Today, like every other day this week, Yukino sat alone in the silent clubroom, a book open on her lap.
A sudden knock at the door broke her concentration.
Her first thought was of Hiratsuka-sensei.
'Who else would even find this place?'
Her club might exist to help others, but her own nonexistent social circle and the room's remote location guaranteed its obscurity.
'But if it is Hiratsuka-sensei,' she wondered, 'why would she knock?'
The woman was more likely to kick the door open than to show such courtesy. The mere thought was enough to give Yukino a faint headache.
'Have my countless complaints finally taken root? If so, getting her to knock might be my first real achievement.'
Setting her book aside, she turned her gaze to the door.
"Please enter."
The door swung open to reveal a portly boy wearing glasses. The sight made Yukino's brow furrow almost imperceptibly.
There was something about his unassuming appearance that felt… instinctively alarming, and she subtly drew her shoulders in, a defensive gesture that she immediately chastised herself for.
She was not so shallow as to judge by looks alone.
"May I help you?" she asked, her voice a model of polite detachment.
—
Tanaka Masao was stunned, captivated by the vision of the girl sitting serenely by the window, beautiful enough to be part of a painting
He had seen a few of the school's notable beauties before, and they were certainly striking.
But Yukinoshita Yukino was on another level—a picture of perfection where, aside from a certain lack of chest development, one would be hard-pressed to find any flaw.
Yukino was, of course, accustomed to this reaction.
"Could you please refrain from staring with such a vulgar look in your eyes?" she asked, her tone sharp. "It's making me uncomfortable."
For effect, she brought a hand to her chest as if to shield herself.
Her voice snapped Masao back to reality.
'Okay, fine,' he admitted to himself. 'I might have gotten a little carried away.'
But he felt somewhat indignant about her chest-covering gesture. He honestly hadn't been looking there.
To avoid further misunderstanding, he pointedly turned his head away.
"Yukinoshita-san. I'm Tanaka Masao, from Class 1-D."
She acknowledged him with a slight nod, deciding to let the staring incident pass. Him knowing her name was no surprise; her reputation was well-established.
"What brings you here, Masao-kun?" she asked, genuinely curious. This secluded spot was Hiratsuka-sensei's exclusive domain. It wasn't easy to find this room.
'Unless… he is a stalker?'
She'd had a few encounters with stalkers before, but her family had always handled them. So, she wasn't overly concerned.
Masao was already prepared for this moment.
"I was just exploring," he said, feigning nonchalance. "I saw the sign on the door and got curious. I didn't expect to find anyone here, least of all you."
It was a plausible story. A student wandering aimlessly, discovering a forgotten wing of the school—it made sense.
A soft breeze fluttered through the window, teasing the curtains and stirring Yukino's long, black hair. She tucked a stray strand behind her ear with a graceful motion.
"Now that you have satisfied your curiosity," she stated, "will you be leaving, or would you care to sit down?"
This was, after all, the Service Club. Turning away a potential visitor, however unpolished, would be contrary to its purpose. And she had to admit, a faint spark of anticipation ignited within her.
Could this be her first real request?
Masao accepted the invitation with a nod, pulling up a chair and carefully positioning it a good three meters from her.
—
An expectant silence filled the room. Yukino made no move to break the ice, leaving the burden of conversation squarely with him.
After a long, awkward moment, Masao finally spoke, asking the question he already knew the answer to.
"So, Yukinoshita-san… what is this club for, exactly?"
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Why don't you take a guess?"
"Hmm…" He pretended to ponder. "Let me see… A student from a powerful family leverages her connections to commandeer a private room. A quiet sanctuary where she can read and enjoy her snacks, far from the common rabble."
For a single, unguarded instant, Yukino's perfectly composed mask slipped.
His words struck a nerve. Her father was a prominent politician. Her sister was close with Hiratsuka-sensei. And while her intentions for the club were noble, she did greatly enjoy the privacy this room afforded.
But it wasn't like that! She hadn't commandeered anything… had she?
She recovered quickly, her expression cooling once more.
"Masao-kun, please refrain from projecting your own cynical worldview onto me. I have no interest in such trivial pursuits."
Closing her book, she rose to her feet and walked toward him, her every movement poised.
"The one who possesses skills shall grace those without them. Those people are called 'volunteers'." she declared, her voice clear and resonant. "They reach out with a helping hand to those in need. And this is what this club does."
She stopped, crossing her arms as the breeze played with her hair.
"Welcome to the Service Club."
Masao could barely contain his excitement.
'This is it! The iconic Yukinoshita Yukino introduction scene!'
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