[511] Giving Themselves as a Gift to Hachiman-kun

Chapter 511: Giving Themselves as a Gift to Hachiman-kun

As Yukino and the others were gearing up to make chocolates by hand, a small, unknown chat group was buzzing with notifications.

Alice: "Sisters, Valentine's Day is coming up. What should we give Hachiman-kun as a gift?"

Seeing her message, Kotonoha couldn't help but be a bit puzzled. "Isn't Valentine's Day all about giving chocolates?"

Alice: "Kotonoha-nee, that's so old-fashioned. Just giving chocolates is totally unoriginal."

Kotonoha: "Eh? Really?"

Utaha chimed in: "Alice, what crazy idea have you come up with this time?"

Alice: "Hehe, I actually have a pretty good idea."

Everyone could almost imagine the sly fox-like grin on her face after reading that.

Utaha, a bit exasperated, said, "Alright, alright, stop teasing us. Just tell us what you've got in mind."

Alice: "Hehe, my idea is actually pretty simple. Of course, we'll give chocolates, but we need to prepare something special for Hachiman-kun as well."

Kotonoha asked, puzzled, "Something special?"

Alice: "Of course! We'll decorate ourselves with ribbons and give ourselves to Hachiman-kun as gifts."

Kotonoha: "Eh, eh, eh? We… as gifts?"

Alice: "That's right! On Valentine's Day, we can invite Hachiman-kun out, give him the chocolates, and then let him unwrap us as 'gifts' with his own hands."

"Not only that, we can have Hachiman-kun pour some sweet syrup over us, making sure we have a truly sweet Valentine's Day."

As expected from a girl raised in Northern Europe, she was quite bold in certain areas.

Seeing her suggestion, Kotonoha blushed on the other side of the screen. "This… this is a bit too embarrassing."

Alice sighed, exasperated. "Oh, come on, Kotonoha-nee, we're all sisters here and know each other well. What's there to be embarrassed about?"

"There are so many people who like Hachiman-kun, so we need to seize every opportunity."

Though there was some logic in her words, Kotonoha still felt something was off.

However, at that moment, Saeko, who had been silent, finally spoke up.

"Alright, let's go with Alice's idea. Valentine's Day is definitely an opportunity we shouldn't miss."

Seeing the eldest sister speak up, the other three girls had no objections.

However, Utaha hesitantly added, "Do we really have to make the chocolates ourselves? I'm not good at cooking..."

Though Utaha's parents ran a restaurant, that didn't mean she was skilled in the kitchen.

Kasumigaoka Utaha could be considered a refined lady who never lifted a finger for chores.

In response, Alice sent a confident emoji. "Leave it to me! Making chocolates isn't that hard. There's still some time before Valentine's Day, so I'll definitely be able to teach you."

Seeing this, Utaha felt relieved. "Then I'll be counting on you, Alice."

Saeko spoke up again, "Alright, it's settled then. I'll handle inviting Hachiman-kun. Alice, your job over the next few days is to teach Utaha how to make chocolates."

"Yes!" the three girls responded in unison.

With that, the small group chat fell silent once more.

...

While Saeko and the others were busy making their plans, Yukino's group was in the midst of their own chocolate-making project.

Hosted by the student council, the first-ever Chocolate-Making Contest had officially begun.

Inside the cooking room...

Thanks to the student council's promotion, at least dozens of people had gathered there.

Seeing the crowded room, Hachiman couldn't help but comment, "Why are there so many people? Don't they have anything better to do?"

Just as he finished speaking, a cheerful laugh echoed in his ear.

"Haha, that's because everyone wants to experience making chocolate themselves," a voice responded.

Hachiman turned toward the sound and saw that Hayama had somehow ended up beside him.

Whether it was out of genuine interest or for some other reason, Hayama had also decided to participate in the event.

"What's this? You want to make chocolate with your own hands too?" Hachiman asked, slightly curious as he looked at Hayama.

Hayama smiled, not denying it. "Everyone has someone they want to give chocolate to, don't they?"

Hearing that, Hachiman narrowed his eyes and smiled.

"If your fangirls heard you say that, they'd probably be heartbroken."

"Haha, you're exaggerating, Hikigaya," Hayama replied with a laugh. "They're all great girls, but I'm not someone worthy of their lifelong trust."

Seeing his expression, Hachiman shrugged.

He understood what Hayama meant. From the beginning, Hayama had always been playing the role of the Hayama everyone expected him to be.

The reason he treated everyone so equally and optimistically, even extending a helping hand, was rooted in his guilt over Yukino being bullied back in elementary school.

So Hayama saw himself as hypocritical, unworthy of the genuine feelings those girls had for him.

As for the person Hayama mentioned wanting to give chocolate to, Hachiman also had an idea of who that might be. But whether Hayama would ultimately succeed wasn't something Hachiman cared to concern himself with.

Without paying further attention to Hayama, Hachiman began to survey the cooking room.

Besides Hayama, Hachiman spotted several other familiar faces.

Yukino and the rest of the girls, of course, were there, as well as Tobe's trio and Saika. Hachiman even noticed Zaimokuza in the crowd.

Does this guy have someone he wants to give chocolate to? Hachiman thought, rubbing his chin.

Speaking of Zaimokuza, he was doing quite well these days. Thanks to Hachiman's help, his novel had been published, and while its success was modest, it was certainly better than many struggling writers. This newfound confidence had changed Zaimokuza for the better.

Could it be that he's found someone he wants to confess to and plans to give them chocolate on Valentine's Day? Well, whatever. If his confession fails, I'll… uh, console him. After all, he's one of my few male friends.

Unconsciously, Hachiman had already predicted a future where Zaimokuza's confession would fail.

As for how to console him, naturally, it would involve Hachiman demonstrating how to receive chocolates from girls properly and how to give them the right way in return.

Just a little demonstration for his next confession attempt. Ah, I really am a good person…

At that moment, two more figures approached Hachiman.

Kawasaki Saki, holding the hand of a small girl, hesitantly spoke up, "Um… Are you sure it's okay to bring her here?"

Seeing the concern on her face, Hachiman smiled. "What's wrong with it? Relax, Saki."

"Is that so? If you say so, Hachiman, then I guess it's fine." Saki's expression softened as she looked down at her younger sister.

"Keika, is there any snack you'd like to eat?"

"Unagi!" The little Keika replied with an innocent smile, giving an answer that seemed entirely out of place.

Saki blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Sorry about that. We just had eel at home a couple of days ago, and now she's a bit obsessed with it."

"Haha, it's no problem at all," Hachiman said, waving his hand dismissively. He then crouched down to look at the little girl in front of him.

"Keika-chan, I'll make you some eel next time, okay? But how about I make you some delicious snacks today instead?"

"Mm! Snacks, snacks… I love you, Hachi-nii!" Keika's eyes sparkled with excitement as she nodded, her twin pigtails bouncing up and down.

Her cuteness was irresistible, prompting Hachiman to reach out and gently ruffle her hair.

Seeing the two getting along so well, Saki couldn't help but smile warmly.

But on the other side, Yumiko was frowning with a hint of annoyance.

Damn it, that Kawasaki girl is using her little sister to cozy up to Hachiman again.

And Hachiman, that idiot, does he really like that little brat so much? You're not some lolicon, are you?

While Yumiko was grumbling inwardly, she suddenly heard Iroha's voice.

"Everyone, let's start making our sweet chocolates now!"

"Okay!" the group responded enthusiastically.

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