With her legs wrapped in black tights, Utaha made her way lightly toward the cooking classroom.
Ever since her last discussion with Takumi about light novels, she had benefited tremendously. Many of the tangled thoughts in her head had finally begun to sort themselves out.
Now that she had already started putting pen to paper, Utaha wanted to find Takumi and ask him for more advice.
Originally, she had planned to invite him to the library so they could talk like last time. Instead, Takumi had unexpectedly asked her to meet him at the cooking classroom.
The unusual choice of location left Utaha thoroughly puzzled.
"Hello~~"
The moment she pushed open the door, she saw the three people inside.
Yukino and Yui had both changed into aprons for cooking. Yukino had also tied her long, straight black hair into simple twin tails, the two locks falling over her shoulders lending her an extra touch of cuteness.
Takumi stood nearby, casually chatting with both girls.
Now that he and Yui had become more familiar, he had already started calling her by her given name.
"Yui, they're just cookies. You could've asked one of your friends for help, so why did you specifically come looking for someone else?"
Yukino, who had just been indirectly singled out, rolled her eyes at Takumi before silently taking out the molds and ingredients.
Yui answered in a quiet, embarrassed voice, "Um... I don't really want anyone else to know. Besides, this kind of serious atmosphere doesn't really fit my usual group of friends."
She hesitated before adding, "And Hiratsuka-sensei told me this club helps students fulfill their wishes."
After hearing Yui's explanation, Yukino immediately shook her head.
"No. The Service Club merely extends a helping hand to people in need. We don't give people fish—we teach them how to fish."
Yui didn't entirely understand the proverb Yukino had used, but it sounded incredibly impressive to her.
While they were talking, Takumi noticed the classroom door slowly opening.
"Yo~ Utaha. Perfect timing."
"Eh!?"
Utaha, standing in the doorway, blinked adorably for a moment before quickly recovering her usual confident demeanor and walking inside.
Yukino recognized her at once.
"Utaha from Class 2-C. She's the person you invited?"
Yukino was somewhat surprised by Utaha's appearance.
Utaha was quite popular at Kuoh Academy, but rumor had it that she was extremely aloof and rarely interacted with anyone.
In that respect, she resembled Yukino herself from before.
"Let me formally introduce you. This is Yukino, president of the Service Club and a friend of mine."
Takumi then gestured toward Yui.
"And this is Yui, a friend I just made."
Hearing Takumi refer to her as his friend caused something to stir in Yui's heart.
Her cheeks turned faintly red. After thinking about it for a moment, she ultimately decided not to say anything.
Utaha walked over, curiosity appearing on her face after hearing Takumi's introduction.
"Service Club? That sounds like a rather questionable name."
"Our club's purpose is to lend a helping hand to people facing difficulties. Please don't interpret it strangely."
Yukino answered calmly.
As the two girls' gazes met, faint sparks almost seemed to fly between them.
Even though this was their first meeting, for some inexplicable reason, both immediately felt that the other would be difficult to deal with.
"See that, Yui?"
Takumi stood off to the side and pointed toward them as though giving Yui an educational demonstration.
"This is the instinctive incompatibility between sharp-tongued, intelligent women with long black hair."
"Eh!? Is that really a thing?" Yui looked between the two girls. "I think Yukinoshita-san and Kasumigaoka-senpai both seem really nice. They're both so cool!"
"That's because you're dumb. You think everyone seems nice."
"I see..." Yui nodded automatically.
Then she froze.
"Ehhh!?"
Wait... did he just call me dumb!?
Yui immediately puffed out her cheeks, looking adorably indignant.
"I got a really high score when I tested into Kuoh Academy, you know!!"
"Yes, yes. I got it, Dumpling."
"Wait! Why are you calling me Dumpling?!"
"Your hair looks like a dumpling. Don't you think so?"
"Then... you... you..."
Yui puffed up indignantly, trying to come up with a nickname for Takumi in return.
But after staring at his handsome face for ages, she couldn't get a complete sentence out.
He looked good from absolutely every angle, making it incredibly difficult to find anything she could turn into a mocking nickname.
This is bad!
Really bad!
The things he said were obviously infuriating, and yet somehow she simply couldn't bring herself to dislike him.
...
Yukino and Utaha, who had originally been staring each other down, noticed the commotion and silently turned toward them.
For once, their gazes were completely in agreement, and neither bothered concealing the disdain in their eyes.
"Keep your filthy thoughts under control. Don't take every opportunity to flirt with your female classmates."
"I strongly agree with her on that."
Yukino and Utaha echoed each other, unexpectedly forming a united front.
Takumi glanced at them speechlessly before saying in a leisurely tone, "Kasumigaoka-senpai, if I remember correctly, you're the one who came here asking me for advice. You might want to adjust that attitude."
"..."
Utaha's previously imposing demeanor immediately deflated, her back bending slightly.
Damn it!
When you're under someone else's roof, you have no choice but to bow your head!
With Takumi's guidance, the outline for her "masterpiece" had finally begun taking shape.
Right now, she needed Takumi to review it and give her more pointers.
So when it was time to lower her head, she had to lower it.
"Sensei-kouhai, this is the outline I wrote over the last two days. Please take a look."
Utaha immediately put on a gentle smile and naturally sat down beside Takumi.
What a fast change of attitude.
Yukino silently complained to herself before shaking her head and returning to teaching Yui how to make cookies.
It wasn't particularly difficult. As long as Yui followed the proper steps, the result couldn't possibly taste bad.
At least, that was what Yukino believed.
Meanwhile, Takumi picked up Utaha's manuscript and began reviewing it.
"Hmm~ It's much better than the mess you had before. At least now you have a complete direction."
"..."
Utaha awkwardly glanced toward Yukino and Yui.
After confirming that neither of them was paying attention, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
She then seriously explained all the ideas she thought were promising.
Takumi offered several suggestions in return and helped her refine the overall outline.
As time passed and Utaha felt that she had learned a great deal, Yui's cookies were finally ready.
Looking at the plate of pitch-black cookies the two girls brought over, Utaha was the first one who couldn't hold back.
"What is this? Charcoal?"
She picked one up and examined it from every angle.
No matter how she looked at it, it didn't resemble a cookie in the slightest.
It smelled like charcoal.
It looked like charcoal.
As for how it tasted...
For the time being, she still didn't dare put it in her mouth.
...
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