23 Advice
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[Continuation]
[-Next Day-]
[-Service Club-]
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[Hachiman's POV]
"...*sigh~" With a heavy sigh, Yukinoshita closed her small book and looked at me with an intense gaze.
Her eyes seemed to hold a mix of emotions - annoyance, frustration, and maybe even a hint of amusement.
"Hikigaya, I have been told countless times that I am an attractive girl. So I know the fault lies in me being born with such beauty, and I am willing to accept that, but could you please show some restraint and stop staring at me with those repulsive eyes?" Her words were delivered with confidence dripping from each syllable.
I couldn't help but wonder, Yukinoshita, where does this abundance of confidence come from? Is it a natural trait that people like her have?
"So, stop ogling at me with that squeamish look?" She continued.
"I get what you are saying, but aren't you being too disrespectful? Especially for someone asking for a favor." I replied, playing along with her sarcastic tone.
I added. "And, for your information, I was looking outside. You just happened to be in my line of sight."
She raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Can you come up with a better excuse?"
"That wasn't an excuse. It's the truth." I defended myself, though it was only half true.
Sure, I had been enjoying the view outside while also appreciating her presence simultaneously, but perhaps the latter a little more than the former.
It was, indeed, a delightful sight.
"..." Yukinoshita, not willing to battle out with me any more, delved back into her own world, immersing herself in her book.
As I refrained from further admiring the beauty before me.
Such a shame.
…
A few minutes passed by as my body was totally in a relaxed position, sitting on the chair without a care in the world.
Then, with the same relaxed posture and closed eyes, I asked her, leaning back on the chair without even looking at her. "Yukinoshita, could you give me a word of advice?"
"Ahh..?!" A sudden request popped out of my mouth and took Yukinoshita by surprise.
Well, that's to be expected.
This time, she closed her book again and looked at me with her complete attention. Well, not complete, but definitely more than she usually shows.
"What is it…?" She asked.
God, she is really hearing me out without a round of back-and-forth mocking.
"It's about Yuigahama." I said it with a dry tone, and my posture was a lot more decent than before.
The moment Yukinoshita heard my words, a look of disappointment took over her face, then it turned neutral.
No, it was not neutral.
It was the look that says-It's Hikigaya we are talking about-which then shifted to disappointment, but with a hint of self-loathing this time.
What the hell? What did I do to elicit such a range of emotions from her?
"You never cease to disappoint me in terms of disappointment, Hikigaya." Yuknishita muttered, looking away from me.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I inquired.
"I am disappointed in myself for being disappointed by someone like you." Not explain the point she went on with her 'disappointment'.
Ouch, that was mean. Like, super mean.
"What is this sh*t about disappointing and all? Just how in the world did the topic shift to that…?"
I added bitterly. "Forget it. I shouldn't have asked for help from you."
"Yuigahama is a kind and gentle girl." Yukinoshita suddenly spoke up.
Then, turning towards me, she continued. "She is also pretty and the sort of person who doesn't want to injure someone, willing or unaware. Because of this, maybe she felt sympathetic to your pathetic loner existence and chose to pity you by acting a bit closer and nicer to make you feel better. However, I ha—"
I interrupted. "Stop it! Stop it!"
"What's all this got to do with me…? I don't get it." I asked seriously, not understanding her intentions.
"*sigh, I intentionally went off topic to come across as a considerate person." Yukinoshita spoke as she rose from her chair.
She continued walking a few steps in my direction. "However, it seems that that ignorant brain of yours is unable to comprehend my reasoning, leaving me no choice but to break it out to you the hard way."
"Yuigahama was nice to you because she is a nice girl. Not because she likes you or anything else."
?..!! Wait!!
Is this what she's talking about?
The moment she finished her 'breaking down' I put all the pieces together.
I know Yukinoshita did not view me in high regard, but this... this is definitely crossing the line.
"So that stuff up until now was you imagining I liked Yuigahama and asking you for advice?" I sought clarification.
"Is it not?"(Yukinoshita)
"Of course not. What do you think of me? Do you think my heart is so soft? Be aware that I am a veteran. I would never fall for a girl just because she is nice to me."
I was disappointed in her understanding of me. "Never. Actually, I demand an apology."
"Never, huh?" Ignoring my demands, Yukinoshita repeated my words.
I sensed a subtle easing of her agitation beneath the composed facade, an aspect of which she may not have been fully aware herself. Or maybe I was just reading too into it.
She inquired, then returned to her usual self. "....so what do you want advice on in regards to Yuigahama?"
My mind scrambled to come up with a plausible explanation. "Um, you see, it was like this. A long time ago. I mean, not too long. Somewhere in the middle of our first year. I happened to help Yuigahama when she was in a pinch and ended up getting injured in the process. However, only recently, I have come to know it was she who I helped. But Yuigahama seems to know it was me."
"I also agree with what you said about Yuigahama simply being nice to me because she is a nice girl. However, I might be wrong, but I think she has a subconscious guilt within her, making her feel indebted to me...and well, you know, being unnecessarily extra nice."
"Initially, I wanted to confront her directly and ask her to stop with excessive niceness if it was coming from a place of guilt. But now, I am not so sure anymore."
"Why is that?"(Yukinoshita)
"Don't pretend like you don't understand the situation. Whether or not what she's doing has anything to do with me helping her, confronting her won't go smoothly. It could make things awkward between us....and even affect the club."
"Why would it matter to the club when she isn't even a member? And more than anything, when did you start to care so much about the club?"(Yukinoshita)
"Isn't it too late to say she isn't a member now, and hey, I was being serious when I said I was going to be the club Vice President."
I continued. "And besides, the club was not the only thing I was worried about. There is you too…"
"Me? Where did that come from?"(Yukinoshita)
"You are a lone-*ahem, …I mean, you don't have a 'lot' of friends, right? You and Yuigahama seem to get along well, too. I don't want that to be spoiled because of me."
"Hikiga–!"(Yukinoshita)
–BaNg!!(:door open)
Without warning, the door to the clubroom burst open with a loud bang, interrupting Yukinoshita's mid-sentence and stopping our intense conversation in its tracks.
"Heyoo~~!!" Then came the voice of the person 'in' discussion of our current topic.
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[To be continued…]
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