Chapter 191: The Service Club's Request
"Is this... the Tokyo Zoo's Pan-san Limited Collector's Edition? The one where only 99 exist in all of Japan?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes sparkled, staring unblinkingly at the large panda plushie in Komachi's arms.
"Yukinoshita? Hey, come back to earth.
We have guests here!"
Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand in front of the girl's eyes a few times, feeling quite surprised herself. She hadn't expected the usually icy Yukinoshita to be fond of these kinds of dolls.
"Hm?!" Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze sharpened as she finally noticed the older boy and younger girl in the office.
"It's you?" Yukinoshita Yukino recognized him instantly as the student from Advanced Nurturing who had acted courageously that morning, Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hikigaya gave a slight nod in response.
The girl's appearance and temperament were quite similar to Horikita Suzune's. Both had long black hair, both had the "ice queen" attribute, and their beauty was neck-and-neck.
The only regret was the "human heart" (chest size).
Judging by how she had proactively gotten out of the car, risking trouble to communicate with the pedestrian who ran into the road, it was clear her personality was also quite earnest.
"Does Senpai like Pan-san too?" Komachi's eyes twinkled.
"No, I simply..." Yukinoshita Yukino reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to maintain her stubborn front.
"Then I'll give it to you, Senpai!" Komachi said with a smile.
"Really?!" Yukinoshita Yukino's stubbornness softened instantly.
"Hey, Komachi!" Hikigaya frowned. "How can you take your brother's gift and just hand it over to someone else?"
The main point was that this Limited Collector's Edition cost 38,800 yen!
"Hmph~ What does it matter? Brother, you're such a cheapskate!" Komachi puffed out her cheeks before changing the subject.
"Oh right, don't you have a small one too?" Komachi pointed to the box behind Hikigaya.
"Oh, you mean this one. I don't mind about this one."
Hikigaya took a small panda plushie out of the box and casually handed it to Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Here, Komachi says she wants to give this to you..." Before he could finish, Komachi dragged him to the side and whispered through gritted teeth, "Idiot brother! I'm helping you make friends with this beautiful Senpai!"
"One should not accept rewards without merit..." Yukinoshita Yukino said, yet her eyes couldn't stop focusing on the doll.
'This girl's stubbornness is also a match for Horikita's!'
"Just take it. It was just a free gift that came with the large one." Hikigaya said with an indifferent look.
"Even if it is a gift, its value is tied to the original product," Yukinoshita Yukino analyzed seriously from an economic perspective.
"A consumer doesn't necessarily buy a product for its utility value.
It can also be for emotional value."
Hikigaya countered using economic logic as well.
He meant he wasn't interested in Pan-san; his purpose in buying it was the emotional value gained by giving it to his sister. By the same logic, giving the item to Yukinoshita was out of a desire to satisfy his sister's wish.
"I see. I accept that reasoning." Yukinoshita Yukino pursed her lips and solemnly accepted the panda plushie with both hands.
She began to wonder what she should prepare as a return gift.
She didn't want to owe anyone a favor!
"Eh?" Komachi blinked her clear eyes.
"Why can't I understand what Brother and Senpai are talking about?"
"Hahaha~" Hiratsuka Shizuka watched the two with interest and chuckled.
"I didn't expect you two to get along so well. Hikigaya, why don't you just transfer to Sobu High? What do you think?"
She really had thought about it. If Hikigaya were here, she wouldn't have to worry about Yukinoshita being alone in her club!
She could just shove Hikigaya in there.
Who knew what kind of chemical reaction would occur when two "problem children" were stuck together? Hehehe!
Hikigaya agreed instantly: "Sure."
"Brother, don't be stupid!" Komachi understood his thoughts immediately and scolded him sharply.
"Even though Komachi would be very happy to see you every day, you finally managed to make friends at Advanced Nurturing. You can't just abandon them!"
'I knew she'd say that.'
Hikigaya felt both helpless and touched, so he dropped the idea of dropping out of Advanced Nurturing.
Watching the siblings who were so close and constantly thinking of each other, a flash of envy crossed Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes.
"Right, Yukinoshita, why did you come to see me?" Hiratsuka Shizuka turned her attention back to the girl.
"The Service Club has received its first request." Yukinoshita Yukino's expression was exceptionally serious as she handed over a written report.
'The Service Club? What kind of strange club is that?' Hikigaya, who was about to leave, stayed behind out of curiosity.
Hiratsuka Shizuka skimmed the report.
"This request from the Judo Club is quite important. Are you sure you want to accept it?"
'Judo Club...' Hikigaya's eyes shifted as his brain began to make connections.
"The Service Club's activity is to lend a hand to those in need. I have no reason to refuse." Yukinoshita Yukino's voice was firm.
"Since you've made up your mind, I have nothing more to say." Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed, then turned to the Hikigaya siblings.
"Hikigaya, while you have time, go chat with your sister."
"Alright." Hikigaya gave her a deep, solemn bow. "Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei." If she hadn't helped, he wouldn't have been able to let his sister know he was coming to Sobu High.
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The office door closed.
"Komachi, it's noisy here. Let's go for a walk in the school's back garden."
"Eeeh~ That's a classic move for picking up girls. Since when did Brother get so practiced at this?"
"No, I've only ever said that to Komachi."
"What! You piece of trash!!"
'Why did I get yelled at all of a sudden? But Komachi is cute even when she's scolding me, so I'll take it as a reward.'
"Ugh, Brother's expression right now is so gross!" Komachi wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"Urusai (Shut it)." Hikigaya held out his palm, signaling her with his eyes.
"Hmph~ You want to hold Komachi's hand? No way!" Komachi lifted her chin proudly.
"Ah, I can't?" Hikigaya lowered his hand with a look of disappointment.
"Baka! Brother, can't you be a bit more assertive?" Komachi suddenly grabbed his arm and gave him an exasperated look.
"I stand corrected, Lady Komachi." Hikigaya accepted the teaching humbly, though he didn't really take it to heart.
"Hmph~ That's more like it!"
"Next time, Brother, you must remember: when walking with a girl, take the initiative to hold her hand!"
Komachi explained the details to him very seriously. "But you can't be too sudden; you have to build the atmosphere first. For example, use your fingers to casually brush against hers and see how she reacts."
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