After school, everyone's relationships improved due to the exchange, so the girls drank black tea together.
Hachiman also took a cup of tea from Mahiru and sat back near the door.
Nagi and Hitori were absent, so he reported to Yukino that he would go on a walk with her to help boost Hitori's courage.
Considering that the Service Club doesn't receive new requests every day, Yukino agreed. However, the main activity of the Service Club is discussing solutions with the students who come.
However, activities that expose vulnerable parts of the heart like this are really difficult for sentimental students towards students in the same school.
Yuigahama and Maehara also came to the Service Club through Hiratsuka's introduction. Otherwise, they would never set foot in this secluded corner of the old school building.
"Yahallo!" Yuigahama greeted in a somewhat strange manner, opening the door and walking in.
"Welcome, Yui, do you have any problems today that require our help?" Mahiru poured her a cup of tea and asked kindly.
"No, I'm here to participate in club activities too." Yuigahama replied with a smile.
"But you're not a member of the club." Yukino said lightly.
"Ah, I participated in club activities once, am I not still a club member?" Yuigahama asked a little shyly.
"Yui, you're quite fit to be my subordinate, I agree!" Satania placed both hands on her chin and put her elbows on the table.
"President, actually you haven't joined the club either." Yukino said calmly.
"!! I've become the president, and you say I haven't joined?" Satania shouted with dissatisfaction. She suddenly stood up from her seat, but she didn't expect her defeated general to try to deceive her!
"In fact, the official club members are Mahiru and me. President, you are among the members who came to entrust us."
"I don't care! I want to join, and officially hand over the position of president to me!!"
"Sure, here's the club membership form." Yukino pulled out the document from the drawer and handed it to Satania.
Yuigahama watched this scene and stepped forward, "I want to join too!!"
Her face was full of anticipation and excitement.
Then she took out a plastic bag from her school bag and eagerly distributed it to everyone.
"By the way, I made the cake myself and brought it to treat everyone. It's a pity Nagi-kun and Hitori aren't here."
Yuigahama's words filled the room with tension.
Mahiru gently pulled Yukino's sleeve, and Yukino's face suddenly lost color.
Hachiman's throat and heart immediately began to dry up.
"....Sure." Yukino took a deep breath and tried to look calm, "Thank you for the cake."
They all bit into it and reluctantly swallowed. Yuigahama's baking skills seemed to decline after a day of hard work.
Mahiru bit her lower lip gently and spoke hesitantly. "Yui, actually... I think you might need more practice."
Hearing this, Yuigahama lowered her head in embarrassment, "Ah... yeah, making cakes at home is much harder than at school. I might have baked it for too long."
Yukino frowned slightly, looked at the biscuit in her hand, then said lightly. "It's much tastier than the first time. If you practice harder, it will taste even better."
Hachiman thought to himself. (Can this biscuit... really be eaten?)
"The texture is much crispier than before, and it tastes pretty good." Commented the tasteless idiot, Satania, while giving a thumbs up.
Hachiman could no longer complain. The scene of three women and one drama unfolded here. He planned to escape. After all, he didn't help Yuigahama much. He wanted to thank Satania and Mahiru, and he had done his part, so he should leave.
"Ah, this is for you."
Hachiman turned around and saw a black object flying in front of him, so he reflexively grabbed it.
"It's my thank you gift, because you also helped."
It was an unknown black object shaped like an umbrella, and it felt deadly. Though unfortunate, since it was a thank you gift, Hachiman had no choice but to accept it with gratitude.
"Oh, I'm really looking forward to the weekend trip to the zoo." Yuigahama changed the topic.
"I've always wanted to go to the zoo and see those strange creatures." Satania said excitedly.
"Um, we can go see elephants, giraffes, lions, etc., and by the way, Yukino, your favorite panda, it must be fun." Mahiru also said enthusiastically.
"Panda? Really? I always thought Yukino would like cats and other animals." Yuigahama said with a little surprise.
"No, I like pandas and cats. They look very cute and have a special temperament." Yukino said lightly, with a gentle smile on her face.
Hachiman listened to their conversation calmly and felt a little emotional. He realized that it had been a long time since he gathered with his friends like this.
As he immersed himself in his thoughts, he suddenly heard Yuigahama's voice. "Hikigaya, what's your favorite animal?"
Hachiman was momentarily stunned, then answered calmly: "It's a bear."
In the animal world, living in groups seems to be common. Whether carnivores or herbivores, they all live in groups in some ways. However, communal life like this is not always beneficial for individuals.
The carnivore hierarchy makes animals that cannot become leaders live under constant pressure until the end of their lives. On the other hand, herbivores sometimes even sacrifice their friends to protect themselves.
This will certainly cause suffering and inner turmoil.
With this background, Hachiman prefers the lifestyle of bears. Bears are animals that have no fear even though they live alone.
They can sleep soundly in the winter night without worrying about threats from outside.
To him, this is the ideal way of life! If there is life after death, Hachiman chooses to be a bear, avoiding the troubles and pressures of the world, and enjoying the unique peace and freedom.
When the club time came, Hachiman left the classroom alone without disturbing their heated discussion.
After he left the classroom, he took a deep breath. Seeing the black object that Yuigahama gave him. He found some strange patterns on its surface, which looked like patterns like magic circles.
"Perhaps this is a magical tool." He said to himself, feeling a little funny.
He put the black cake in his pocket and continued to walk along the corridor.
＊＊＊
On the other side.
Nagi checked the tone and keyboard settings of the electronic keyboard to make sure everything was ready.
"Goto-san, are you ready?"
Hitori touched the guitar nervously. The busy commercial street was crowded with people, and every passerby seemed like a judge to her.
Her heart was pounding in her chest and her palms began to sweat. "I-I'm ready..."
Hitori answered softly, although her voice didn't sound confident.