[193] An Unfulfilled Request

Chapter 193: An Unfulfilled Request

End of the school day, Hachiman arrived at the Service Club as per his routine.

Upon opening the door, he found Yukino fast asleep in a chair, a part of Zaimokuza's novel resting on her lap. Evidently, the novel had taken its toll on her.

"You've worked hard."

Looking at the cute sleeping face of the girl, Hachiman's expression softened.

That was only natural because reading Zaimokuza's novel was truly exhausting. Recalling what he read yesterday, Hachiman couldn't help but curl his lips.

Looking at the wide-open window, Hachiman decided to close it a bit. After all, it was quite windy outside, and he didn't want Yukino to catch a cold.

However, the sound of moving the window woke up the girl.

Yukino opened her somewhat drowsy eyes, looked at Hachiman closing the window, and felt a warm sensation in her heart.

"Are you awake?" Hachiman inquired with a gentle smile upon seeing Yukino stirring.

Yukino's typically aloof voice took on a warmer tone. "Yeah."

Just then, the clubroom door swung open, and Yui's cheerful voice chimed in with a familiar greeting.

"Yahallo!"

"Good afternoon, Yukino-chan, Hikki," Yui greeted, her smile in place as she addressed both Hachiman and Yukino.

"Yeah, good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Yui."

Both Hachiman and Yukino greeted her in return.

Hachiman couldn't help but notice that Yui appeared entirely unaffected, her usual cheerful demeanor intact.

The door to the clubroom swung open once more, and Zaimokuza's imposing figure entered. He was still sporting his distinctive white windbreaker, and with both arms outstretched, he exuded an air of unwavering chuunibyou confidence.

"I've arrived as promised! How is my magnum opus? Shower me with your praise, ooh-ah!" Zaimokuza declared, exuding confidence in his own work.

However, both Hachiman and Yukino watched his performance with stoic expressions. Yukino, in particular, regarded him with an icy gaze, causing Zaimokuza to break into a cold sweat, and his tone wavered.

"Um... I'd like to know what you think of my novel," he ventured.

"It's terrible, simply irredeemable. Reading it feels like cruel torture, turning the act of reading into sadism," Yukino retorted icily.

"Unbelievably boring, I can hardly get through your novel. The first part I read was almost entirely filled with intricate setting descriptions, riddled with typos, and it left me clueless about the kind of story you're attempting to tell," she continued, her criticisms cutting deep.

Zaimokuza's response was a subdued "Wow..." as he clutched his chest and took a step back, appearing thoroughly disheartened.

After collecting himself with a few deep breaths, he turned to Hachiman with hopeful eyes. "Hachiman, you must understand, right?"

Hachiman, unfazed, merely shrugged in response.

"I genuinely wish I could praise you, but it's just not possible"

"The setting descriptions are lacking, and the story's structure is disjointed, lacking any semblance of continuity. It's almost as if you've forcefully mashed several stories together."

"By the way, you haven't been plagiarizing various works individually, have you?" Hachiman couldn't help but add with a wry smile, delivering a particularly harsh critique.

Upon hearing these words, Zaimokuza was overcome with sadness, and he turned to Yui, hoping for a more positive assessment.

Yui, empathetic but honest, admitted, "Well... to be completely honest, I fell asleep while reading it last night. I couldn't make heads or tails of the descriptions of the creation god and the other deities."

"But you do have quite an impressive vocabulary with all those obscure words," she added with a hint of encouragement.

Hachiman couldn't help but wear an "I knew it" expression, realizing that Yui falling asleep was a clear indication that the novel had its flaws.

Unable to bear the weight of their criticism any longer, Zaimokuza dramatically performed a forward roll on the ground, crashing into the clubroom wall in the process.

"Is it really that bad..." he questioned, his heart shattered by the successive critiques from the three of them, tears streaming down his face.

Seeing Zaimokuza in such despair, Hachiman sighed and crouched down beside him, wearing a serious expression.

"Zaimokuza, do you truly have a passion for writing novels? It's not just a passing whim, is it?" he inquired.

Zaimokuza, now standing and equally serious, replied, "I take writing novels very seriously. Even though you guys criticized me harshly, I'm still delighted that something I wrote can be read and evaluated by others. It's a dream I've been diligently pursuing for a long time."

"Someday, I want to craft a story that satisfies everyone with my own pen. It's the dream I've been striving for all along."

Hachiman, after a brief silence, patted Zaimokuza on the shoulder. "People who work hard for their dreams deserve respect. So, let me teach you how to write novels."

"By using my pen name 'Wakamono-sensei,' I promise your novel will meet the standards for publication."

Hachiman's offer left Yui in admiration and even caused Yukino to glance their way.

"Wow, Hikki, you're so cool!"

"I can't believe this guy..."

Zaimokuza, however, was momentarily taken aback by Hachiman's proposal.

"Wait, who did you just say?"

"I forgot to mention it, but I'm actually the author of 'Sword Art Online' and 'That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime,'" Hachiman quipped.

"You... You're Wakamono-sensei?!" Zaimokuza's disbelief was palpable.

"That's right, and they can vouch for it," Hachiman affirmed, gesturing toward the two girls.

"Yeah, Hikki is really talented at writing novels," Yui enthusiastically confirmed.

"Though I hate to admit it, he's undeniably exceptional in writing novels," Yukino added in her usual composed manner.

"Great! Then you can definitely help me!" Now that Zaimokuza knew Hachiman's true identity, he eagerly grabbed his hand.

"Don't worry, if I made a promise, I'll help you," Hachiman assured Zaimokuza. He extended a hand and pulled the disheartened writer up from the floor.

Hachiman continued, offering advice, "What you need to do now is work on improving your writing skills. Start by reading other people's novels and try to emulate their writing styles. Once you've got a feel for it, focus on crafting your own stories."

"However, remember that captivating your readers' attention is crucial. I'll teach you about plot twists, and in that regard, consider it covered."

"So, put in the effort, Zaimokuza. Writing a great novel is a gradual process," Hachiman advised, patting Zaimokuza's shoulder with a serious expression.

Yukino joined the conversation, stating, "Indeed, he's right. We're all here to help you. Since the Service Club has taken on your request, we won't abandon it midway."

"While we might not offer extensive feedback on the writing itself, as readers, we'll provide our evaluations of your novel," she explained.

Yui chimed in with enthusiasm, "Absolutely, I'll definitely read it more attentively next time."

Hearing their collective support, Zaimokuza's face lit up with genuine gratitude, and he bowed to express his thanks.

"Thank you all so much. I'll return to seek your help after making revisions."

With that, Zaimokuza departed the clubroom with his novel in hand. As he had mentioned, this request remained unfinished, and he would return after revising his work.