>4< Yuigahama Yui

Chapter 4: Yuigahama Yui

The next day was just as peaceful. After finishing his classes as usual, Zaimokuza once again made his way to the Service Club.

"Excuse me," Zaimokuza knocked on the door before pushing it open and walking in.

Yukino was sitting in a chair reading a book, as usual. However, there was something different this time—she had placed a desk in the center of the room. Was it to make consultations easier? Or perhaps for more comfortable reading?

"Hmm, you're much more polite than Hiratsuka-sensei," Yukino remarked coolly.

"Uh, does Hiratsuka-sensei usually come in without knocking?" Zaimokuza asked, confused.

"Yes, ever since she helped me get this clubroom, she never bothers to knock when she visits."

"Don't be so hung up on it. After all, I'm the one who got you this clubroom in the first place. Do you really think you could've started a club all by yourself?" Shizuka casually said as she barged through the door without hesitation.

"See? She's like that," Yukino gestured toward Shizuka with a slight tilt of her head, completely ignoring her.

Zaimokuza's mouth twitched as he stared speechlessly at Shizuka.

"What are you looking at, kid? Want a taste of my fist?" Shizuka threatened, noticing Zaimokuza's gaze.

"No, no, nothing like that! Please, don't mind me," Zaimokuza waved his hands frantically. Truly, Shizuka lived up to her nickname, "The Iron Fist Shizuka." There's no such thing as a wrong nickname, only a mistaken name.

"Are you thinking something rude right now?" Shizuka glared darkly at him.

Zaimokuza started sweating and laughed awkwardly.

"Of course not, Hiratsuka-sensei! I've always respected you. Just look at how much you've done for the students. You've given so much that you're almost thir—"

"Ugh!" Before Zaimokuza could finish, Shizuka landed a heavy blow to his stomach.

She landed a punch.

"Kid, you should know better than to casually mention a woman's age," Shizuka said in a cold, threatening tone as she clenched her fist.

"Y-yes, you're right. I'm sorry, that was my mistake," Zaimokuza replied, his face filled with regret.

"Now, was there something you needed, Hiratsuka-sensei?" Unable to tolerate the scene any longer, Yukino asked directly.

"Yes, actually. You've received a new request. Come in, Yuigahama," Shizuka called toward the clubroom door.

At that moment, a girl with cute pink hair styled in buns timidly stepped inside. She glanced nervously at Shizuka before turning to Yukino.

"Excuse me for interrupting. My name is Yuigahama Yui. Hiratsuka-sensei told me that this club can grant wishes, so I've come with a request," Yui said.

"That's not quite right. The Service Club is here to assist, not to simply give solutions. We don't hand out fish—we teach people how to fish, so they can become self-reliant. In the end, it depends on the effort of the person seeking help," Yukino explained coolly.

"That sounds... impressive," Yui responded, still somewhat confused.

Seeing that Yui didn't fully understand, Yukino sighed and shook her head slightly before asking

"So, what is your request?"

"Ah, I want to make some homemade cookies to give to a friend. I'm not very confident, so I was hoping you could help me," Yui explained.

"Hmm, I accept your request. Let's go apply for permission to use the home economics room," Yukino said, getting ready to stand up.

"Oh, I've already taken care of that. We can head there right away," Shizuka chimed in.

"Is that so? Well then, let's go. Zaimokuza, you can come along too."

"Yeah, sure," Zaimokuza agreed.

**********

In the home economics room, all the ingredients were neatly laid out on the table. Looking at a carton of milk, Yukino raised an eyebrow.

"Why is there a coconut and milk here? You don't need milk to make cookies, do you?"

"Ah, that's mine. I'm going to make a dessert too," Zaimokuza explained, raising his hand.

"Eh? Zaimokuza-kun, you can make desserts?" Yui asked, her voice filled with doubt. All three of them turned to Zaimokuza with skeptical looks.

"Hey, hey, you don't have to look at me like that!" Zaimokuza sighed in frustration. Although, truth be told, it wasn't him who knew how to make this dessert but a memory from someone named 'Reon.'

"Hmm, I'm really curious to see what you'll make, Zaimokuza," Shizuka chimed in, also intrigued.

"Oh, I'm making Milk Pudding," Zaimokuza answered.

"Oh, now I'm really looking forward to it."

With that, Zaimokuza began working on his Milk Pudding, while Yukino started teaching Yui how to make cookies.

Twenty minutes later, Yukino was staring at a tray of what looked more like lumps of coal than cookies. Cold sweat forming on her forehead, she asked, "How did you manage to make so many mistakes?"

Shizuka picked up one of the questionable cookies, gave it a squeeze, and remarked, "These cookies really do look like charcoal. Eating one won't cause food poisoning, right?"

Yui, unconvinced, inspected the cookies closely. "No way! It shouldn't, probably…?"

At that moment, Zaimokuza approached, holding a spoon and a bowl of his completed Milk Pudding. "So, how are things going over here? Woah, why do your cookies look like charcoal?" he asked, barely holding back a laugh.

Yui puffed her cheeks in frustration, looking like a pouting dumpling as she glared at Zaimokuza.

"These are my cookies, not charcoal! And how's your Milk Pudding coming along?" Yui retorted, gritting her teeth.

Zaimokuza adjusted his glasses confidently. "Hmph, the brilliance of mere mortals cannot compare to mine. My dish is, of course, perfect—far superior to those lumps of coal."

Yui glared at him, her frustration building. "Then let me taste your Milk Pudding!"

"Sure, go ahead. There are three portions in that plate. Yukinoshita and Hiratsuka-sensei can have some too," Zaimokuza said smugly.

"Oh! Thanks, kid," Shizuka laughed, casually expressing her gratitude.

"Thank you, Zaimokuza-kun. You should try some of these cookies as well," Yukino added, pushing her own batch toward him, inviting him to taste.

Yui, still in disbelief, muttered, "How... how could something made by an otaku taste so good?"

Zaimokuza's expression darkened. "You're eating my food and still calling me an otaku? Isn't that a bit rude, pink-bun-head?"

"Ah, sorry, wait, who's pink-bun-head?" Yui felt momentarily guilty but quickly reacted to the nickname with a loud protest.

"Hmph, aren't you the one with buns on your head? And your hair is pink, right?"

"Well, yeah... but, no! Stop calling me pink-bun-head, you otaku!"

"Then stop calling me an otaku, pink-bun-head!"

As the two started bickering, Shizuka intervened, pulling them apart. "Come on, you're both in high school. Stop acting like little kids."

"Hmph!" The two of them turned their heads away from each other with synchronized grumbles.

"But seriously, Zaimokuza, I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to be able to make a dessert," Shizuka complimented.

"Yeah, Zaimokuza-kun's dessert is really impressive," Yukino praised as well.

"It's nothing special. Your cookies are quite good too, Yukinoshita," Zaimokuza replied, munching on a few cookies.

"So, how are we going to teach Yuigahama how to make proper cookies?" Shizuka asked.

"The simplest solution is for Yuigahama-san to never step foot in the kitchen again," Zaimokuza suggested with a raised hand.

"How can you say that?! Hmph, you otaku!" Yui fumed.

"There you go again, calling me otaku. Are you picking a fight, pink-bun-head?"

Suddenly, there was a loud *thunk* as a bump appeared on Zaimokuza's head. He turned to face the culprit, asking, "Why am I the only one getting hit, Hiratsuka-sensei?"

"Honestly, Zaimokuza, you're a guy, so you should be the one giving in and letting the girl win," Shizuka said matter-of-factly.

Yui flashed a victorious smile at Zaimokuza and stuck out her tongue.

"Are you a child?" Zaimokuza shot back, exasperated.

"Maybe I really don't have any talent for cooking..." Yuigahama said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

"The solution is to put in effort, Yuigahama-san. The talent you mentioned? You should change that mindset. People who haven't even put in the minimum effort have no right to envy those with talent," Yukino said firmly.

"But these days, everyone says that's outdated. It just feels like I'm not suited for this," Yui replied.

Hearing this, Yukino turned to her with a serious expression. "That habit of constantly trying to please others—can you stop it? It's incredibly irritating. Blaming your own foolishness and clumsiness on others—isn't that shameful?"

Yui fell silent, her head bowed as she nervously fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. "You're... you're so cool," she whispered.

"Huh?" All three of them reacted in unison, clearly taken aback.

"You don't sugarcoat anything. How should I put it... that attitude is just so cool."

Yukino took a step back, beads of sweat forming as she responded, "Were you even listening to me? I was harshly criticizing you."

"No, I get it. I've spent so much time trying to please everyone around me. I really admire how straightforward you are, Yukinon. I'm sorry. I'll try harder, so please, teach me. I'm counting on you."

"Yukinon? Who is that?" Yukino asked, confused.

"Hmm? Don't like that nickname? I can call you Yukino-chan instead," Yui suggested, seemingly entertained by the idea.

"Uh, no, that's not the problem here. Could you maybe... not get so familiar all of a sudden? I'm not used to it," Yukino replied, flustered.

Suddenly, Yui pounced on Yukino, hugging her tightly. "Don't be so distant, Yukinon! I want to be your close friend. Please take care of me!"

Watching the overly eager Yui, Yukino sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. However, the faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips betrayed her true feelings.

Afterward, under Yukino's careful guidance, Yui finally made some small progress in her cookie-making skills.

Zaimokuza, having grown tired of the painstaking process, eventually suggested that Yui record Yukino's baking tutorial on her phone. That way, she could watch the video at home and practice on her own.

Thanks to this, Yui's cookie-making mission was, at last, somewhat successfully completed.