Chapter 400: Toast to Friendship
Watching the smug expression on Alice's face, Erina felt somewhat puzzled.
However, seeing that Alice didn't intend to say anything, Erina didn't bother to ask further.
Without Erina's interruption, Alice continued to nibble on her food, but at a much slower pace. Besides her, Saeko and Kotonoha also ate a bit more, considering their considerable energy expenditure.
At this moment, Zaimokuza also approached Hachiman.
"My dear friend, you sure are popular," he remarked.
Though he was an otaku, it didn't mean he was clueless. While decorating the room during the day, Zaimokuza had already noticed that most of the girls who came to celebrate Hachiman's birthday were fond of him.
Of course, this made Zaimokuza envious to the extreme. He also wanted girls to like him.
His wish was simple: write a popular novel and then marry a voice actress.
Even Zaimokuza, and even Saiki's little angel, walked over.
"Yeah, Hachiman-kun, you seem to be quite popular," Saika chimed in.
"It's nothing, you guys are exaggerating," Hachiman shook his head, not wanting to dwell on the topic.
"But still, thank you all for coming to celebrate my birthday today."
"Hahaha, you're my dear friend, how could I not come to your birthday party," Zaimokuza laughed maniacally.
Saika nodded beside him, his face showing a soft smile.
"Exactly, aren't we good friends? Of course, we have to come celebrate your birthday."
Hearing their words, Hachiman's heart was filled with a faint sense of gratitude.
Though he had many friends, most of them were girls, and most of them had crossed the boundary of friendship. He didn't have many male friends.
Counting them, there were only Zaimokuza and Saika.
But it's quality over quantity when it comes to friends.
No matter how many friends you have, they're just superficial if they're only there for the sake of food and drink. Just a few close friends are enough.
Obviously, Zaimokuza and Saika were those kinds of friends.
Though Zaimokuza seemed like a hardcore chuunibyou patient, he was actually a very good person who had helped Hachiman multiple times in the original story, definitely deserving of being called a close friend.
As for Saika, there was no need to say more; he was simply an angel.
Looking at the two beside him, Hachiman raised his glass, "Come on, let's toast to our friendship, may it endure forever."
Since it was his birthday today, some alcohol was also prepared. However, considering that most people were students, Erina specifically prepared some champagne with lower alcohol content.
"Well, cheers!"
Upon hearing Hachiman's words, Zaimokuza and Saika also raised their champagne glasses.
*Ding!*
The crisp sound of clinking glasses filled the air as the three of them drank down their champagne.
After finishing their champagne, Hachiman moved on.
With his target in sight, he approached the girl with a silly bun.
Seeing Yui, who had clearly dressed up carefully, Hachiman's eyes lit up.
Because it was summer, the girl wasn't wearing too much, looking quite refreshing.
She wore a white cartoon shirt, revealing two slender and fair arms. The shirt was slightly fitted, accentuating her enticing figure. White fluffy shorts paired with black knee-high socks, and on her feet were a pair of silver sandals for women. The whole outfit accentuated the girl's youth and vitality.
Her face was also adorned with delicate makeup, and the sparkling lipstick shimmered enticingly under the light, inviting a taste.
When Yui saw Hachiman approaching, a bright smile lit up her face.
"Hikki."
Seeing his silly smile, Hachiman couldn't help but smile too. "Silly bun, good evening."
But upon hearing Hachiman's nickname for her, Yui naturally pouted unhappily.
"Hmph, I'm not silly."
"Well, well, my bun is the cutest when it's silly," Hachiman chuckled, trying to comfort her.
Hearing his words, Yui felt a hint of sweetness in her heart.
Hehe, I'm Hachiman's.
But girls, inevitably, tend to be a bit tsundere.
"Hmph, who said I'm yours."
Seeing her silly expression, Hachiman couldn't help but chuckle softly, whispering in her ear.
"I don't care, Yui, you can't escape. You'll always be mine."
The strange feeling in her ear made Yui's body tremble slightly, but Hachiman's words stirred a ripple in her heart.
"Hikki..."
Before Yui could say anything, Hachiman continued.
"Yui, you don't have to say anything. Trust me, I'll make sure you're always happy."
"Well, I believe you."
Hearing this, Yui didn't say anything more, just softly responded, her heart filled with immense happiness.
.....
After successfully capturing Yui's heart, Hachiman began to shift his focus. Soon, he appeared beside Yumiko.
Initially, Yumiko was engaged in a conversation with Ebina. However, when she saw him approaching, Ebina's face lit up with a knowing smile, and then she left.
"Hey? Hina..."
Seeing her best friend leave, Yumiko was initially puzzled, but the next moment, she heard Hachiman's voice behind her.
"Yumiko, good evening."
Upon hearing this voice, Yumiko's body stiffened slightly. She finally understood the meaning behind Ebina's smile before she left.
Turning around, she indeed saw Hachiman's familiar smile.
Though she felt happy inside, Yumiko still displayed her tsundere nature.
"Hmph, what are you suddenly coming over for? You scared off Hina."
Seeing the girl's reaction, Hachiman felt a bit helpless.
What do you mean I scared her off? She created an opportunity for us herself.
"Yumiko, can't you be a bit more honest? Being tsundere isn't good, you know," Hachiman commented.
Honestly, while being tsundere might be cute, there's a limit to it.
After all, being too tsundere is often associated with being a loser.
In anime, being too tsundere can easily make you lose the main character.
There are just too many characters like that.
But when Yumiko heard Hachiman calling her tsundere, she naturally wouldn't let it go. "Pfft, you're the tsundere. Your whole family is tsundere."
"I'm a queen... no, I'm a goddess."
Seeing her like this, Hachiman felt a bit helpless, and he couldn't refute her statement.
In reality, Yumiko's appearance is indeed goddess-level, coupled with her inherent strong aura, she definitely wouldn't lack suitors.
But as the saying goes, behind every goddess is a man who annoys her.
Although the two of them hadn't reached that point yet, Hachiman believed that day wouldn't be too far off.