Chapter 36: Yukinoshita Grail!
Returning to the Service Club, Yukinoshita Yukino inside the room had already reverted to her usual solitary and cold aura, sitting alone by the window, silently savoring the words in her book.
Luke didn't know if the cat trick would help resolve Hiratsuka Shizuka's request...
"Do you have a request?" Yukinoshita Yukino asked suddenly.
"What?" Luke replied strangely.
"Based on my understanding of you, you wouldn't just bring Mi... the cat over, right? Is there something you need my help with?"
Luke lowered his head, thought for a moment, then looked up at Yukinoshita Yukino's serious gaze and said without concealment, "Hiratsuka-sensei's request."
No need for further explanation.
The intelligent Yukinoshita Yukino instantly understood the meaning, her calm eyes gradually closing.
"Meddlesome adult."
She continued speaking to Luke, "You don't need to waste your energy on her request. Even if you lose the competition, I won't ask you to do anything unreasonable."
For some reason, Luke could feel that the tone of this sentence was completely different from her previous words.
He understood that when dealing with this kind of problem child, there could be no concealment.
So he added to his earlier explanation, "Besides, I think Yukinoshita-san is amazing, so I want to help you. Mm."
"Sorry, I don't need your help," Yukinoshita Yukino replied, just like before.
"Yes, yes, yes," Luke placated her.
But Yukinoshita Yukino added, "I... can live just fine on my own."
The clubroom returned to silence again.
Club activities once more became a reading session to pass the time.
Luke held his book, thinking: He couldn't quite grasp if Yukinoshita Yukino had lowered her defenses... even by a fraction.
Suddenly, this thought was abruptly interrupted by a knock from a visitor.
"Please come in."
Yukinoshita Yukino stopped her meaningless page-flipping, meticulously placed the bookmark between the pages, looked up, and called out towards the door in a cool voice.
"Sorry, t-to bother you."
The door opened a crack.
Shoulder-length chestnut-brown hair poked in first.
This girl nervously squeezed through the gap in the door.
Her gaze darted around constantly, like a puppy entering a new world, continuously letting out nervous whimpering sounds.
Luke sized her up.
Chestnut-brown hair tied into buns.
Besides the standard uniform top, she wore a heart-shaped pendant.
Her lower half consisted of a short skirt modified against school rules.
Undoubtedly the type of girl who dressed brightly and enjoyed high school life to the fullest.
His classmate...
Luke, having paid more attention to his classmates recently, remembered her.
"Yuigahama..." Luke said uncertainly.
"Ah? Why is there someone else here?" Yuigahama Yui cried out in panic.
"I've been here the whole time," Luke said helplessly, taking off his glasses.
"Oh~ It's the Shut-in Boy No. 2," Yuigahama Yui confirmed.
What kind of nickname is that...
"Is No. 1 Hikigaya? Miura's little follower," Luke asked, grasping the key point.
"Hmm?... Yes," Yuigahama Yui confirmed, nodding firmly.
"You guys are really good at giving people nicknames."
"Didn't you give me a nickname too?" Yuigahama Yui said, slightly indignant.
Seeing the two had completely strayed from the initial purpose, Yukinoshita Yukino helplessly interrupted their conversation.
"You are Yuigahama Yui, correct?"
"Y-you know me?"
Being called by name by Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui immediately regained her spirits, seeming very happy.
"Mm, I've memorized most students' names."
Yuigahama Yui was visibly shaken.
"Amazing! I can't even remember all the names in the textbook."
"That's because you're an idiot," Luke said speechlessly.
"After all, what normal person lets their dog run off while walking it?"
"Hmm? You two know each other," Yukinoshita Yukino was quite surprised.
"We crossed paths once, but the impression wasn't deep..." Luke nodded thoughtfully...
It was probably around the start of the school year.
That was the first time he used the talisman near his heart.
He was waiting by the roadside for Kasumizuki to pick him up.
He saw a dog break free from its leash, about to be hit by an oncoming car.
Having some talisman power left, he intervened and saved the puppy.
Luke nodded, saying, "Mainly I remember she had a Dachshund with her back then, fluffy and very cute."
"Why do you remember Sable more than me!" Yuigahama Yui quickly interrupted.
Sable was the name of her pet Dachshund.
"That's because he..." Yukinoshita Yukino sneered, opening her mouth coolly.
Luke's internal alarm instantly blared.
He quickly interrupted, "Yukinoshita-san, for the sake of the cat, please hold your tongue."
"..." Yukinoshita Yukino struggled to retract the rest of her words.
"...Cough, mm."
Hmm? It actually worked.
Luke looked at Yukinoshita Yukino in surprise.
How much does she love cats!
But Yukinoshita Yukino, showing this ordinary human attribute, seemed much more approachable than usual.
"Anyway..." Luke looked up at Yuigahama Yui.
"Regarding that dog incident, I called you an idiot. Any problem with that?"
"Sorry, I didn't expect you'd still remember me..."
Yuigahama Yui suddenly became shy, fiddling with her clothes and muttering softly, "After you were hit by the car, you were immediately picked up by a woman. I wanted to visit you but didn't know how to find you, and then never got the chance. Sorry, I never thanked you properly."
Luke, skilled at grasping key points, quickly stopped her.
"I wasn't hit by the car. I flew out on my own."
If he could get hit by a car even after using the talisman, he might as well retire!
"Isn't that the same thing?" Yuigahama Yui muttered, then looked at him, somewhat surprised.
"Didn't expect you could chat so freely after school. You're so withdrawn in class, always slumped on your desk."
"I was sleeping, not being withdrawn... I have work at night, need to recharge during the day."
"Work at night..."
Strangely, Yuigahama Yui's not-so-bright little head started pondering...
"Hey..." Luke's internal alarm blared again.
With this idiot's limited worldview, she definitely thought of some unsavory job.
Yukinoshita Yukino rubbed her temples, headache returning, and interrupted again, "Yuigahama-san, may I ask your purpose for coming here?"
The strange chat content had completely thrown the initial purpose out into space.
Yukinoshita Yukino quickly pulled it back.
"Oh oh oh~ Right. I didn't come here to chat," Yuigahama Yui suddenly realized.
Idiot, Luke and Yukinoshita Yukino thought simultaneously.
And so, Yuigahama Yui awkwardly stated her purpose:
"Um... I heard from Hiratsuka-sensei that... that this place can help classmates achieve... achieve their wishes."
Luke's head filled with confusion.
That damned adult, what does she think we are, wish-granting machines?
"Yuigahama-san, we're neither Dragon Balls nor Doraemon. Fulfilling wishes might be a bit difficult? Are you sure Hiratsuka-sensei said that?" Luke directly asked Yuigahama Yui.
However...
Luke turned his head towards Yukinoshita Yukino. "What does Yukinoshita Grail think?"
Yukinoshita Yukino ignored him and directly answered Yuigahama Yui's question, "Different from what Hiratsuka-sensei said. The Service Club only provides help. Whether the wish can be fulfilled depends on your own efforts."
...
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