First Quest

.

[-Continuation-]

.

[Hachiman's POV]

"I will have a Strawberry Mix."

As I put my hand on the door to leave, Yukinoshita called out to me.

I turned back and nodded to her. "Sure."

–slide!

I slid the door open, and just as I was about to step out, something came to mind.

Without turning back, I said, waving my hand. "Oh, Yukinoshita. I wasn't joking when I said I would teach you how to laugh more often."

–thud!

Having no intention of hearing her reply, I closed the door after I was done saying what I had.

But I could still hear their faint conversation as I continued to walk down the empty corridor.

"Hm-Um, what does he mean, Yukino?"

"...N-nothing."

"...umm, sure."

.

[-After Some Time-]

[Hachiman's POV]

Normally, it wouldn't take more than ten minutes to get from the third floor down to the first and back up again in the special building.

But because I was strolling at an extremely leisurely pace, I ended up taking way longer than that. Well, hopefully, their chat would be wrapped up by the time I made it back.

Outside the school canteen, there's this vending machine. I fed in a hundred-yen coin after another, snagging three different drinks.

I grabbed a MAX Coffee and a Strawberry Mix for me and Yukinoshita, while the third drink is an Orange flavor for the orange hea–...Yuigahama.

I mean, it would feel kinda weird if only two out of three of us had something to sip on. So, I thought, we might as well cover all bases.

The total tab for the drinks clocked in at 300 yen.

Just to be clear, I am just laying out the facts here.

I am not being stingy. Definitely not when it comes to the cash I rake in. So, nope, not at all, stingy.

.

"You're late." Yukinoshita complained as soon as I entered the room.

But before I could offer an excuse, she snatched the Strawberry Mix from my grasp, plunged a straw into it, and started drinking.

All that was left were the MAX Coffee and Orange juice.

"...Oh right." Yuigahama, who realized that the latter was for her, said, pulling a hundred yen coin out of a pocket-like coin purse.

"Don't worry. Since you are our first client, it's on the club(:house)." I walked away, placing the Orange juice in her hand.

The words I uttered are like a spell that someone as low [Resistance] stats as Yuigahama can't really refute. I ensured she wouldn't feel any 'debt' towards me, all the while conveying that I was merely doing it because she just happened to be our first client.

"...thanks." She expressed her gratitude in a small voice, laughing a little joyfully as she shyly held the drink in both hands.

"Done chatting?" Taking a sip from the drink, I asked in the direction of Yukinoshita while leaning back against the wall beside the window, feeling my hair flow.

"Mostly." Yukinoshita said.

"Hm-uhm, that's good. So, what are you going to do now?" I nodded in agreement.

"We are going to the home economics room. You are coming with us." Yukinoshita declared, taking another sip of juice.

"The home economics room? What are we going to do there?" I probed.

"Cookies… I want to bake some cookies." Yuigahama muttered from the side.

"...cookies, huh?" It was the only response I could give her, so I looked in Yukinoshita's direction for confirmation.

It's the same reason she had in the show, huh…?

"It appears that Yuigahama wants to make homemade cookies for someone. However, she has no confidence in her ability and would like some help. That is her request." Yukinoshita explained, clearing my doubt.

"And you plan to accept?" I confirmed.

"I already accepted."

Don't I get any say in this? Is what I want to ask, but, you know?

"Well, I sure can't cook, as I don't have any exceptional skills related in [Cooking] class apart from a couple of short and quick breakfasts. So all I can do is support you from the sidelines. "And if you want, I could take on the role of judge."

With the President having already given her word, I extended my offer to assist.

"...Th-thanks." Yuigahama gave a sigh of relief.

"That should do it. I wasn't really expecting anything with regards to your cooking ability." Yukinoshita commented.

"Good. Then I will go ahead and make whatever arrangements I am aware of. You guys catch up." I said, tossing my empty Max Coffee into the trash and heading off.

"Hikigaya, you seem surprisingly committed to putting in some work into the club. Don't tell me you actually think that you stand a chance in Ms. Hiratsuka's challenge?" Yukinoshita questioned with a challenging tone.

"Come on, Yukinoshita. If you have already made up your mind to praise me, can't you be more direct with it?" I grumbled, sounding disappointed.

I continued. "And why wouldn't I be committed when the reward for clearing the main [Quest] is tempting."

She sighed. "Sometimes I wonder if you have ever been right about anything in your life."

"Sure, sure. I will go ahead. You guys follow up." I said, leaving the conversation behind as I headed out.

.

[-After 45 Minutes-]

[Hachiman's POV]

"How about Yuigahama never cooks again?" I suggested analyzing the 'cookies' that resemble charcoal they sell at hardware stores made by Yuigahama on her first attempt.

"I have been completely rejected?!" Yuigahama cried, looking wounded.

"Hikigaya, that would be our last resort." Yukinoshita interjected.

"Last resort? So that's actually an option?!" Yuigahama's shock quickly turned to despair.

"Hikki, why don't you take a bite." Yuigahama suggested with puppy-dog eyes, and the orange apron she wore only made it difficult to reject.

Yukinoshita also put on an apron, in which she looked charming, and it also gave her this certain homely image…

Anyway, going back, a beautiful girl such as Yuigahama is offering me her homemade cookies? If I were any less cautious, I might have taken the bullet happily.

"Sorry, Yuigahama, my [Hunger] stats are full." I declined, not willing to risk a [K.O] here.

"Wait, what!!?"

"Leave it be, Yuigahama. He is spouting nonsense again." Yukinoshita said dismissively.

Yuigahama's shoulders dropped, crestfallen, as she let out a deep sigh. "I guess cooking just isn't for me after all… Would you call it a talent? A talent that I just don't have."

True. Yuigahama's cooking skills were severely lacking. No, it would be better to say that she never had any skills to begin with. She is also beyond clumsy. By the time the thing was done baking, it had become some kind of completely charred hot cake. The bitter smell alone was a dead giveaway.

Yukinoshita let out a short sigh in response. "…I see. I have thought of a solution."

"What? By working harder….?" I chuckled, knowing exactly where this was headed.

"Correct. Just as that overly smart and unnecessary existence stated. The only solution is to try harder." Yukinoshita agreed with me.

She did, right?

"Hey, that's mean." I protested.

"Yuigahama. You said that you don't have any talent, didn't you?" Yukinoshita redirected her attention to her.

"Um-hum, yeah?"

"Just so you know, ignoring doesn't count as winning." I interjected, feeling frustrated. It was the third time already, and I am certain this cycle of being ignored will go on, but I want to get this out of my mouth for the bare minimum.

However, Yukinoshita once again brushed off my comment and continued. "Please rid yourself of that idea. Those who do not exert the least amount of effort are unqualified to envy the talented. Those who struggle to succeed are unable to succeed and will often fail to grasp the painstaking accumulation of hard work by those who do."

Yukinoshita's words were bitter, and somehow it felt like they were pointed at me.

"..." Yuigahama was left speechless.

An expression of bewildered panic crossed her face until she covered it up with a grin and muttered. "B-but, uh, people don't really do this sort of thing these days… It definitely doesn't suit me, not at all."

"…Please stop trying to conform to those around you… It's terribly unpleasant. Isn't it embarrassing to place the blame for your lack of ability, your clumsiness, and your foolishness on others?" Yukinoshita's voice was strong and harsh.

..?! Even I was taken aback and, for a second, believed that she was genuinely disgusted.

"S-so…" Yuigahama stammered, her head hanging in defeat.

Eh? So….. what?

"So cool…" She suddenly exclaimed, lifting her head with admiration shining in her eyes.

"Huh!?" - "Huh!?" Yukinoshita and I chorused.

'What the heck was this girl saying…?' We both inadvertently exchanged looks.

"You really just say it straight… And that's just, well… It's really cool…" Yuigahama was eager as she stared at Yukinoshita.

"J-just what are you saying… Did you even hear me? I am fairly certain my words were quite harsh." Yukinoshita replied, her expression stiffening as she took a step back.

.

.

[To be continued…]

★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★