"Yahallo!"
The clubroom door was suddenly pushed open. Everyone, who had been busy with their own things, turned in unison toward the energetic girl with twin buns.
"Uh… did I interrupt everyone?"
Seeing all the eyes on her and the sudden silence in the room, Yuigahama Yui scratched her head awkwardly and asked.
"Not exactly…"
Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath and looked at her with a slight headache. "But before coming in, could you at least knock on the door first, Yuigahama-san?"
"Ah, right, sorry!"
"But… I brought gifts for everyone!"
"Gifts?"
"Yep!"
Yuigahama Yui took out several wrapped packs of cookies from her bag and said excitedly, "Ta-da! Cookies I baked! Everyone from the Service Club and the Light Music Club gets some!"
After saying that, she turned to Hikigaya Hachiman. "You 'too', Hikki!"
"Tch!"
Hikigaya Hachiman clicked his tongue inwardly. Why emphasize that I get some too? Was I excluded when you said everyone earlier?!
"Ah! We get some too? Thank you so much!"
Ritsu jumped out, thanking Yuigahama Yui with a delighted expression as she quickly walked over.
But when she saw the cookies in Yui's hands, her face suddenly changed.
Wait! That familiar color…
Ritsu's expression turned subtle, her smile freezing as her gaze locked onto the cookies.
"Um… this time I made chocolate cookies."
Seeing her reaction, Yuigahama Yui immediately understood and said a little embarrassedly.
"Oh… chocolate cookies, haha!"
Ritsu scratched her head, easing the awkwardness. Inside, she let out a huge sigh of relief. She almost thought she was going to die again!
After that, Yuigahama Yui handed out her homemade cookies to everyone in the room one by one.
"Thanks."
Sato thanked her as he accepted the cookies.
"Hehe."
Yuigahama Yui gave a somewhat silly smile.
Knock, knock, knock!
The clubroom door was knocked on again. Hikigaya Hachiman, who was in charge of the door, let out a breath of relief.
Finally, a normal person.
Yuigahama Yui's sudden entrance earlier had nearly scared him to death.
He stood up and opened the door, his movements practiced, as if he had long accepted his role as the doorman of this clubroom.
"Um… is Nohara Sato here?"
When the blonde girl outside cautiously spoke that name, Hikigaya Hachiman's eye twitched.
Damn it!
That Nohara guy really is one of those ikemen types, isn't he?!
"Nohara, someone's looking for you!"
Hikigaya Hachiman turned back and said coldly, his gaze full of displeasure.
Explode, reality… no, no, no, why did that weird line suddenly pop into my head!
Explode, you popular guy!
Sato looked at him oddly. "Hikigaya, what's wrong with your eyes? Why do you suddenly look like a salted fish turning over? You don't even seem rotten anymore."
"Huh? Really?"
Hikigaya Hachiman froze and instinctively touched his face.
Then he snapped back and said, "Even if a salted fish flips over, it's still a salted fish!"
Sato sighed. "That was a metaphor!"
From outside, the blonde girl said impatiently, "Sato, hurry up and come out. I need to talk to you!"
"Coming, coming. But you didn't tell me to come out earlier, Eriri."
"Cut the nonsense!"
The blonde girl bared her small fangs in annoyance, as if she would pounce on him if he said one more word.
After greeting everyone, Sato stood up helplessly and walked out of the clubroom.
Once the door closed again, a long silence fell over the room.
"This scene feels kind of familiar…"
Ritsu rubbed her chin and said suddenly.
"Mm!"
Kotobuki Tsumugi raised her hand with a smile. "It's just like when Kasumigaoka-san came before!"
The room fell silent again. Everyone was thinking the same thing.
How does he know so many girls?
If they remembered correctly, hadn't he just transferred here from the countryside?
At that moment, Hikigaya Hachiman's quiet voice sounded. "Come to think of it, Nohara seems to know an unusually large number of girls…"
The one who just came was Sawamura from the first year, also a well-known figure at school with many admirers.
And the third-year Kasumigaoka who came earlier was also a famous figure with many admirers.
On top of that, there were the girls here, the girls from the club downstairs, and that scene he had accidentally witnessed on the way to school…
Adding it all up, Sato's number of female acquaintances far exceeded normal levels…
That guy!
Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly clutched his chest. The jealousy was tearing him apart!!!
Should he spread this information and let him experience what it feels like to be "admired by thousands"?!
…
Same place, same rooftop.
"Why do you also have the key to this place?"
Sato's mouth twitched as he watched Eriri skillfully take out a key and open the rooftop door.
"Huh? What do you mean 'also'?"
Eriri turned to look at him suspiciously, her sapphire-like eyes filled with doubt.
"You must've heard wrong. I didn't say 'also.'"
Sato said calmly, without a trace of flaw.
"Really?"
Eriri muttered, looking at his composed expression. Did she really hear wrong?
"I got the key from a teacher. I said I sometimes need a quiet place to draw without being disturbed."
"Do you really need a quiet place to draw? Wait… don't tell me it's for doujinshi?"
"There's no way I'd draw that kind of thing at school!"
Eriri's face flushed red as she glared at him.