"Hikigaya, you can do it!"
"Hiratsuka-sensei, this really isn't going to work."
"Hikigaya, you can do it, right?"
After several failed attempts at persuasion, Shizuka Hiratsuka clenched her right hand into a fist and swung it casually a few times in front of Hachiman Hikigaya. She put on an expression that clearly said if Hachiman didn't agree, she would beat him until he did.
The reason Shizuka had let Saki Kawasaki go so easily was not just because Saki had no intention of complaining to her. Shizuka also wanted the Service Club to take the initiative.
The Service Club had always waited for people to come to them for help, but its location was extremely remote. Ordinary students wouldn't even head in that direction.
Without an "acquaintance" like Shizuka to introduce business to the club, it might truly become a lonely literary club where people just sat and read books, exactly as Hachiman had described at the very beginning.
Since Hachiman, a member of the Service Club, happened to be here today, Shizuka could skip the step of introducing the club to Saki Kawasaki.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, is it too late for me to quit the Service Club now?"
Threatened so bluntly by Shizuka, Hachiman gave a smile that looked more painful than crying as he spoke sheepishly.
At the same time, Hachiman was furiously cursing his idiotic self from just a moment ago.
Hachiman of a minute ago, why did you have to act so cool for no reason?
The Service Club is "quite nice"? Staying there is "alright"?
Now look what happened. Another troublesome matter had been dumped directly onto his head by Shizuka.
Hachiman, who already felt some resistance toward girls his own age, felt physically uncomfortable at the mere thought of accepting this task from Shizuka.
To make him actively seek out that "delinquent girl" and help her solve her current difficulties?
Hachiman just wanted to die right now!
"Heh, what do you think, Hikigaya?"
Shizuka's gaze gradually became dangerous, and her clenched right hand began to twitch with anticipation.
I can't hit Ren, but can't I hit you, Hikigaya?
"I agr—"
Feeling his life was under threat, Hachiman was about to agree on the spot. However, before he could finish his last word...
The office door was pushed open, and Katsuragi Ren walked in.
"Shizuka, ohayou~"
After greeting Shizuka politely, Ren then looked at Hachiman, who had turned his head, and teased, "Yo, Hikigaya, you're here too."
"Katsuragi, what are you doing here?"
It was no longer a matter of whether he agreed to Shizuka's request or not. Seeing Ren's timely arrival interrupt his conversation with Shizuka, Hachiman desperately wanted to shift the topic onto Ren.
That way, he could implement a perfect escape plan.
As for whether a realized Shizuka would come looking for him later, that was none of his current business.
Sorry, future me.
"Carry on, don't mind me."
Noticing Shizuka's already raised fist meant to threaten Hachiman, Ren waved his hand, indicating they shouldn't care about him.
Ren had no intention of helping Hachiman shoulder the burden. Or rather, he was more than happy to watch Hachiman be forced to take it all.
"You brat, what are you doing here?"
The veins on Shizuka's forehead pulsed slightly, and her whole persona darkened a few degrees.
It was one thing to skip her Japanese class, but now he dared to actively come to the office and appear before her. Was Ren trying to provoke her?
"It's nothing, it's nothing."
Ren skillfully pulled open the drawer of Shizuka's desk, took out a few packs of snacks that looked decent, and stuffed them into his pocket. He acted as if he were in his own home.
In a sense, it really was like coming home.
After that small class gathering, Shizuka would sit in Ren's seat whenever she felt like it and skillfully raid the snacks he kept in his desk.
She even called it a "favor," saying Ren needed to maintain his figure and shouldn't eat such junk food.
Since Ren had said she wasn't that well-trained, she would reluctantly help Ren finish those junk foods.
One thing led to another.
When Shizuka didn't want to smoke, she ran to Ren's seat. When Ren found he was out of snacks, he ran to Shizuka's desk in the office.
Ren didn't take all the snacks in the drawer at once. After symbolically taking two packs, he closed the drawer.
"Yo, Shizuka, your lighter is actually quite nice."
Looking up, Ren saw the silver lighter Shizuka had placed on the desk.
Ren's eyes sparkled. Since none of the friends around him smoked, he had never done something like swiping a friend's lighter before.
Now, here was his chance!
Ren quickly reached out his "wicked" hand for the lighter.
Slap.
Shizuka naturally couldn't let Ren just take her lighter like that. She slapped Ren's hand with her own.
It stung a little, but it didn't matter.
The force of Shizuka's slap wasn't light, but it didn't move Ren's hand even half an inch. He firmly grasped the silver lighter.
"Thanks, Shizuka~"
The process might have been a bit crude, but Ren was very sure he had indeed swiped a friend's lighter.
"Brat!"
"Die!"
Shizuka wasn't actually angry; she just threw a punch at Ren's chest.
Mhm, it landed.
Ren didn't resist.
"Fine, go on and play."
Satisfied, Shizuka waved her hand, signaling Ren could leave.
With Ren's wealth, he had no need to take her lighter. This behavior was entirely because he saw her as a friend.
Shizuka, who was also wealthy, naturally wouldn't feel distressed over Ren "swiping" a lighter.
Having avenged the punch to her lower abdomen from before in this way, Shizuka could fully accept it.
"Mhm, let's go, Hikigaya."
Ren spun the lighter in his hand, just as Shizuka had done earlier. He didn't forget to take Hachiman with him as he left.
Hearing Ren call his name, Hachiman didn't dare to leave as directly as Ren.
He looked at Shizuka with an inquiring gaze. Seeing Shizuka nod helplessly, Hachiman finally followed Ren's footsteps.
Ren, you truly are an angel!
Just as Hachiman was secretly rejoicing that he had escaped a disaster today.
Ren, having reached the doorway, turned his head to look at Shizuka. "Shizuka, about that thing you requested from Hikigaya, I'll accept it on his behalf."
As Ren's words fell, Hachiman's gradually rising smile instantly froze. He looked at Ren with a face full of disbelief.
Ren, you bastard!
"Mhm, no problem."
Shizuka nodded calmly, as if she had known all along. At the same time, she opened the drawer, took out a lollipop, and popped it into her mouth.
Naive Hachiman, did you really think you could escape?