Chapter 436: Protagonist or Clown
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Hearing the knocking at the door, Hachiman raised an eyebrow. If he was right, it was likely that Minami Sagami had come.
"Excuse me!"
As the door slid open, Minami and her two friends indeed appeared at the entrance.
"Minami?" Yui exclaimed in surprise upon seeing her.
"Yui, you're here too," Minami replied, raising an eyebrow before noticing Hachiman on the other side of the room. "Oh, Hikigaya-kun is here too."
For some reason, she and the two girls beside her started laughing.
Seeing this, Yukino felt an inexplicable irritation. However, since they had come to the Service Club, it meant they had a request, so she maintained her composure.
"Is there something you need?" Yukino asked, trying to be patient.
"Ah, I heard from Hiratsuka-sensei that this is your club, Yukinoshita-san. I have something I need help with," Minami said, her demeanor changing to seriousness. "As you know, I became the cultural festival executive committee chairperson, but I have no confidence at all. Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned that this club could help, so I hope you, Yukinoshita-san, can assist me."
"Didn't you say you wanted to grow as a person, Sagami-san? That seems contradictory to what you're saying now," Yukino replied, still flipping through her book without looking up, clearly unimpressed with Minami.
Seeing Yukino's dismissive attitude, Minami felt annoyed but kept her facade of being troubled. "I know it's not ideal, but it would be even worse if I caused trouble for everyone due to my incompetence. No one wants the cultural festival to fail, right? Helping each other achieve something is also a form of growth."
"So, I want to ask for your help, Yukinoshita-san."
After hearing her out, Yukino closed her book. "Let me summarize. You want us to support your work as the chairperson, correct?"
"Yes, exactly," Minami nodded eagerly.
"Very well. If that's the case, I can help you, considering I am also an executive committee member. As long as it's within the scope of my duties as an executive committee member, I can assist you."
"Really? Thank you so much," Minami said, her face lighting up with joy as she celebrated with her friends. "That's wonderful!"
Compared to Minami and her friends' happiness, Hachiman and Yui were quite surprised.
They had just been talking about pausing club activities, so why had Yukino accepted this request?
However, Hachiman had a vague idea of what was going on.
"Since that's settled, we'll take our leave now. Please take care of it," Minami said. Having achieved her goal, she and her friends didn't stay long; they had plans to go have fun.
Once Minami and her friends left, the Service Club fell silent again.
"Yukinon, why did you accept the request? You said we were going to pause club activities," Yui asked, confused.
Yukino paused for a moment before responding calmly, "Yes, the Service Club activities are indeed paused. I accepted the request in my personal capacity, so I'll handle it myself. Besides, as an executive committee member, it's my duty to help."
"But..."
Yui was about to say more, but Yukino cut her off.
"No 'buts'. Yui, you need to help your class with the cultural festival, so there's no need for you to worry about this."
Given her good relationship with Yui, Yukino wouldn't say something hurtful like "it's more efficient if I do it alone," as she might have in the past.
However, Yui's expression still dimmed a bit. She indeed had to assist her class during the cultural festival and might not have time to help. She also felt that something was off, as if Yukino was hiding something from her.
At this point, Hachiman spoke up with a smile. "Don't worry, Yui. Remember, I'm also an executive committee member. I'll help Yukino."
Yui's eyes lit up at his words. "Oh, right! I almost forgot you're an executive committee member too. That solves everything."
In Yui's mind, Hachiman was very capable. With his help, Yukino would have an easier time.
However, Yukino frowned slightly. She didn't want anyone else to help her with this, not even Hachiman.
As Student Council President Meguri had mentioned earlier, Haruno's cultural festival was an unprecedented success. For Yukino, who always aimed to surpass her sister, this cultural festival was crucial.
Becoming an executive committee member and accepting Minami's request were both steps toward her goal of surpassing Haruno.
So when Hachiman said he would help her, it was a situation she didn't want to see.
But just as Yukino was about to say something, Hachiman gave her a different look, making her hold back the words she wanted to say.
After deciding on this matter, the three of them left the activity room together.
...
"Well, I'll head home now. Bye, Hikki, Yukinon."
At a crossroads, Yui waved to Hachiman and Yukino before turning and heading in the direction of her home.
Watching Yui's disappearing figure, Yukino finally asked the question she had been holding back.
"Why did you say..."
But before she could finish her sentence, Hachiman interrupted her.
"I understand your thoughts, Yukino. You want to surpass your sister Haruno, which is why you became an executive committee member and accepted Minami's request, right?"
Hachiman could easily guess the girl's thoughts.
This only deepened Yukino's confusion.
"If you already know my purpose, why offer to help me? If that's the case, how can I surpass my sister?"
Hachiman shook his head with a smile at the girl's words.
"I think you're misunderstanding something, Yukino. How do you know if Haruno completed all the work by herself when she was the executive committee chairperson?"
"But regardless of whether my sister did it alone, as long as I can do it by myself, that would prove I'm better than her," Yukino countered.
"But the result would be the same. As long as you can make this cultural festival more lively, you can still prove you're better than Haruno," Hachiman shrugged.
"And don't forget, you're just one of the executive committee members. Minami is the chairperson. What you can do is assist her in completing her work well. That's what you promised to do, right?"
Hearing Hachiman's words, Yukino fell silent.
Yes, she had only promised to assist Minami's work, not overshadow her.
Seeing the girl's expression, Hachiman took a few steps forward, took her hand, and said, "And remember, you're not alone now. You have me. I'll help you make this cultural festival lively and surpass your sister."
Feeling the warmth from his hand, Yukino smiled.
Yes, she still had Hachiman. With his help, she was confident they could make this cultural festival a success.
And she wanted to surpass her sister not only in this cultural festival but in other aspects as well.
No, she realized she might have already surpassed her sister in one aspect.
That would be in the realm of emotions.
As far as she knew, Haruno still didn't have a boyfriend, but she herself now had Hachiman, and maybe in the future, when she got married, her sister still wouldn't have found a boyfriend.
Hm, looks like I've won.
Thinking this, Yukino felt a hint of satisfaction.
"Well, let's work hard together then. We must make this cultural festival a success to show it to my sister," the girl said, tightening her grip on his hand and flashing a beautiful smile.
Seeing this scene, Hachiman smiled too.
"No problem, leave everything to me."
However, where Yukino couldn't see, Hachiman's eyes flickered for a moment.
Since he had decided to get involved in this matter, he would make sure to be fully prepared.
But it all depended on Minami's performance.
Protagonist or clown,
It all depends on her choice!
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