Uneasy daily life

"Not good at it? Have you forgotten what Shiro-kun did in front of the family when you visited Grandpa this time? And before that... anyway, this kind of thing happens quite often." Yukino Yukinoshita gave a slightly speechless look. "Is it possible that it was just my sister's shamelessness that defeated Shiro-kun's giggles?"

"No way, absolutely impossible."

Yukino Yukinoshita held up a finger and wagged it: "A kiss on the cheek or a hug, that's the limit for this jerk. When I was dropping him off before, I was going to force a kiss on him, but he absolutely refused—I have a very clear feeling that he's probably used to being impulsive, and it's hard for him to be impulsive in matters of the heart, so he doesn't act impulsively..."

"Or perhaps, because of something in his past life, this jerk isn't into physical contact and prefers spiritual connection instead. Don't be fooled by his constant teasing and occasional initiative; in this area, that guy is definitely... a germaphobe?"

Yukino Yukinoshita calmly grasped the crux of the matter: "So, my sister chose a shameless way to retaliate?"

"Oh dear, this is a weakness that was hard to find," Yukino Yukinoshita said with a smile. "That guy must have noticed that I was also putting on a brave front, but he didn't dare to confront me head-on, so he could only fight and retreat..."

Yukino Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes and said, "What would happen if Haku-kun faced it head-on?"

"Have a baby next year? After all, if I don't dare to do something serious, that bastard will just throw a 'That's it? That's it?' kind of attitude..."

"Oh, then let Mother prepare some parenting books."

"Wait! Mother would only prepare a confinement room! Besides, it might not be for real~ There are so many tricks men and women can use, Yukino-chan must have secretly learned a lot of things, right? Hehe."

"#!"

……

……

"Hikiya-kun, Yuihama, it's been a long time."

"Yawn~ Long time no see."

"Xiaoxue, it's been a long time!"

I went to my usual spot, took out a book and started reading, but my mind kept wandering.

As a result, she was teased quite a bit by her sister, and she didn't get a chance to talk about Bai Jun's future disappearance until the start of the new semester.

My sister's statement doesn't seem very reliable.

Does Bai Jun reject overly intimate contact? Kissing on the cheek, hugging—aren't these already quite intimate? Bai Jun doesn't seem hesitant or timid at all; on the contrary, it's always my heart that races, and I can't seem to stay calm… Hmm? Could this be something Bai Jun expected?

However, because it was expected, those actions seemed more like a well-thought-out measure of distance than a whim or emotional impulse.

My sister's judgment on this matter coincided with my own.

Rationally speaking, this is a good thing, indicating that Bai Jun is seriously considering the future, rather than acting on blind, impulsive, and superficial emotions. However, emotionally speaking, it makes me a little unhappy. Doesn't the lack of impulsive emotions in this relationship mean that it's difficult to experience my own happiness and joy?

Hmm, is there really aversion to physical contact? Before the relationship was confirmed, Bai Jun seemed to be very careful about the distance between himself and the opposite sex—limited to physical distance, and his mouth always went straight for the deepest point.

So, what am I thinking, typing all this by hand... Ugh, what am I even thinking? Regardless of whether it's true or not, I would never do such a thing.

The activity room door opened, and Yukino Yukinoshita slightly raised her eyes to look at the white figure and Shizuka Hiratsuka who walked in.

"Hmph hmph hmph, hahahaha, oh ho ho ho ho ho—from today onwards, there will only be one sound in this activity room!"

Bai Ying's tone changed with each step, and she burst into a flamboyant laugh: "The Service Department will become history, and the Aid Department will be the only winner. You should call me Minister now!"

"It makes no difference to me."

Hachiman Hikigaya doesn't care.

"Whether I'm a minister or not makes no difference; I'll always be drafted by those newbies anyway."

Yui Yuigahama doesn't care.

"So, is Ms. Hiratsuka the referee?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked calmly. "The number of stickers on the doorplates is equal, so the result is a tie, not a winner."

Hiratsuka Shizuka counted off as if reciting a familiar story: "The Service Club completed the adoption of a cat, the midterm exam showdown, the Zaimokuza light novel appreciation, Shirokage's request, Azusagawa Sakuta's request, and my request... The Assistance Club completed teaching Yuihama how to make cookies, assisting the tennis club's Ishida Mamoru, Anshin En Angelina's request to integrate with her classmates, Yukinoshita Rin's request, Sakurajima Mai's request, and Yukinoshita's mother's request... After a year, the two sides are tied."

"Although I think it's completely pointless to calculate the outcome now," Hiratsuka Shizuka said irritably, "Do you two really need to compare who completed more requests?"

Yukino Yukinoshita coldly replied, "It's unnecessary. Victory is victory, and defeat is defeat. Personal relationships are a different matter."

"Well said, brave warrior!"

Bai Ying clapped enthusiastically and said reservedly, "In that case, I will accept the position of minister without hesitation."

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced sideways and said, "Of course, I will not acknowledge any actions that disregard agreements and are taken arbitrarily."

"Hehehe, it seems the hero really has forgotten!"

The white figure let out a strange laugh, an arrogant laugh, a wide laugh, as it dodged Hiratsuka Shizuka's annoyed punch.

What's with that laugh? Are you trying to curse me to have nightmares?

"Forgot?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked, puzzled. "What did I forget?"

"Hmph... You think we're really even? Hero, your biggest mistake was ignoring the initial request!"

The initial commission?

Yui Yuigahama scratched her head in confusion. Was it herself? She suddenly realized that the white figure's gaze wasn't on her, but on the person beside her.

Light novels are really good...

Hachiman Hikigaya was looking down at a paperback, not interested in the topic of discussion, when suddenly he shuddered.

This feeling of being intensely focused on by multiple beams of light...

He looked up blankly and met everyone's gaze.

What do you want me to do?

Chapter Forty-Six: Today, I shall be crowned king!

"The initial request... Hikigaya-kun?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita stared at Hachiman Hikigaya, who looked completely bewildered, and slowly widened her eyes.

"……I?"

Hachiman Hikigaya was a little taken aback and said speechlessly, "You guys were talking about who's in charge, how come you suddenly shifted the topic to yourselves? Wasn't the initial request just that Yuihama accidentally entered the cooking room and that Manager Shiro taught her how to make killer cookies... uh?"

Noticing Hiratsuka Shizuka scratching her head, Hachiman Hikigaya couldn't help but recall his first wrong turn, his expression turning strange as he muttered, "Right, Yui Hama wasn't the one who initially requested this..."

"Haku-kun!" Yukino Yukinoshita instantly understood, her face tensing with all emotions, her gaze piercingly sharp. "Last time during the final exams, you loudly proclaimed that you would use your exam scores as a commission for a competition, until I completely dismissed it; during spring break, because of the holiday, only my mother's commission was left unfinished, so even if you won, it would only be a draw—as long as I keep countering your moves, and because of the current situation, I won't think about the problems I overlooked before... Are you deliberately misleading me?"

"deliberately?"

The white figure asked in surprise, "Hero, what did I do on purpose? As the one who accepts a commission, isn't it my duty to remember every commission? Isn't it my responsibility? Isn't it my most basic obligation? If you're trying to pin someone else's mistake on another person, that's despicable!"

"..."

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't refute, but her eyes twitched slightly.

How could I forget this? How could I forget this request that came from the very beginning! No! If this continues, won't I lose the request competition and have to... have to give Bai Jun that... you know?! What an idiot sister! This guy isn't just against overly intimate contact; he's clearly some kind of horny, scheming pervert who's always looking for a chance to get intimate!

In short, we must quickly come up with a way to break this deadlock...

Yukino Yukinoshita suppressed her emotions, cleared her mind, and then began to think like lightning.

"Oh right, there was this commission too."

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked enlightened, glanced at Hikigaya Hachiman, and said with a touch of nostalgia, "Back then, you two were at each other's throats, and I had to use my authority as your instructor... Tsk, and you, the guy who wrote such terrible essays, actually this commission was mine. I was the one who dragged you here to reform you."

"Don't make it sound like I've committed a crime."

Hachiman Hikigaya makes a comment.

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

Yui Yuigahama interrupted, looking completely bewildered, feeling awkward as if she had suddenly become an outsider.

"This has nothing to do with you," the white-clad figure said, arms crossed. "It happened before you joined—that's right! We're isolating you!"

Yui Yuigahama, accustomed to ignoring Bai Yanbai's words, looked curiously at Hachiman Hikigaya: "Is it related to Hachiman?"

"The task was to correct this kid's twisted personality," Hiratsuka Shizuka recalled briefly. "I brought this kid here because he's quite stubborn, so it was a long-term mission. But before I knew it, I'd forgotten all about it..."

Hachiman Hikigaya immediately retorted, "I don't think I have anything to correct. On the contrary, the teacher has many obvious things to correct, whether it's smoking or his habit of using violence..."

Click, click, click!

Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled and clenched her fist, a crisp sound that made Hikigaya Hachiman silently shut up.

"In that case, this request should be considered a failure."

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly spoke up forcefully, calmly saying, "Hachiman-kun is still an awkward guy, rejecting the group, with extreme thoughts, and habitually withdrawn. It's regrettable how things have turned out. We haven't been able to fulfill the teacher's request to transform him into a positive, cheerful, and optimistic person—this request can be considered a failure."

Hikigaya Hachiman: "..."

Such intense struggle! While Yukinoshita is quite strong-willed, is it really necessary to emphasize such trivial details?

"Ok?"

The white figure narrowed its eyes and sneered, "Does the hero still wish to resist?!"

“We can’t just rely on Haku-kun’s empty words to make a judgment, can we?” Yukino Yukinoshita analyzed without giving an inch. “Does Haku-kun’s one-sided evaluation count as the completion of the request?”

"Indeed, this requires some self-evaluation from the parties involved."

Bai Ying's gaze shifted, and he said with a hearty smile, "My subordinate, tell me, have I completed the mission?"

Yukino Yukinoshita immediately interrupted, "No! Strictly speaking, the client is Ms. Hiratsuka Shizuka, and it should be Ms. Hiratsuka Shizuka who makes the judgment on Hikigaya-kun."

"I believe only the person involved has the right to evaluate themselves!"

"However, this is a commission, and whether the commission is completed requires the judgment of the commissioning party."

"You brave warrior, the outcome is already decided, why do you still want to struggle in your death throes? Do you have some unspeakable secret!"

"Isn't it Bai Juncai? He's racking his brains and resorting to all sorts of tricks to win. I'm afraid his plan isn't exactly good."

The two started arguing back and forth, with the white-clad figure making sarcastic and suggestive remarks while Yukino Yukinoshita coldly countered with her own.

As Hiratsuka Shizuka watched this scene, she couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic, recalling the early days of the club... Damn! Nostalgia my foot, why does this sound a bit like flirting?

"Let's calm down first! We'll analyze the specific situation. I did indeed ask Hachiman to come and commission you in the first place. As for how Hachiman has felt during this time and what changes have occurred, his own opinion cannot be ignored."

Hiratsuka Shizuka stopped the two and turned to ask, "What does Hachiman think?"

The two looked at Hachiman Hikigaya.

"..."

Suddenly, you become the key piece that determines the outcome of the game?

So, who should we choose? Is there even a need to choose?

If I stand with Yukinoshita, I'll still get into trouble with the minister. If I stand with the minister, I'll still get into trouble with the minister, and I might even be held a grudge by Yukinoshita. Wouldn't it be a waste of my time to stand with the minister?

Hachiman Hikigaya's expression turned serious. After a moment's thought, he said without hesitation, "I don't think I've changed."

"That's the result." Yukino Yukinoshita attempted to conclude, "This request is considered a failure and will not be counted in the score..."

"Is that so? I think your subordinate's statement wasn't fair; it seems he was threatened and made a statement that doesn't represent the true situation." The white figure glanced sideways at Hachiman Hikigaya. "As expected, it was a betrayal, but I believe you weren't telling the truth..."

Hachiman Hikigaya said sincerely, "Everything I said comes from the bottom of my heart."

"Bai Jun, assuming something is a lie just because it doesn't suit your taste is like a child throwing a tantrum and being unable to accept defeat."

Yukino Yukinoshita smiled faintly.

"It's very simple to prove that a subordinate is still the same subordinate."

Bai Ying suddenly reached into his bag, took out paper and pen, and wrote a series of wild scribbles before holding the paper up to Hachiman Hikigaya: "If you can read the words on this, it will prove that you, my subordinate, have not changed!"

The others stared intently.

The handwriting is ugly.

How can such ugly handwriting not affect readability?!

Youth is a lie, youth is a sin, youth is a carnival born from a bunch of fools gathering together, full of pretense (Note: low, declarative tone). Creatures called "normies" spread a positive atmosphere, like bright light bulbs, making the illuminated fools happy. Negativity and distress become the sins that disturb joy. Everyone suppresses their feelings and tries to express happiness—this is a lie (Note: gradually increasing tone)! When the atmosphere is formed, they can blatantly interfere with others under the guise of jokes and enthusiasm. If there is no response, the interference turns into hostile exclusion, transforming into collective oppression of the individual—this is a sin (Note: high, intense tone)!

【Ha (Note: an arrogant and disdainful sound)】

[Seeing through lies, despising evil, only the vulgar flock together; I am a genius who deeply understands solitude (Note: Pushing up glasses with a cold laugh).]

Hikigaya Hachiman: "..."

Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."

"Uh..." Yui Yuigahama tilted her head. "It does seem like something Hachiman would say?"

"Tsk tsk tsk." Hiratsuka Shizuka simply shook her head.

"Come on, speak." The white figure's smile was like that of a devil. "I've marked the tone of each line. Say it according to these, and I'll admit I couldn't change you—please begin your performance!"