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."