A Fundamental Mistake

Shuya seemed to say something, Yuigahama laughed, covering her mouth and gently patting his shoulder:

"Ugh! Shu-chan, really!"

---Wait a minute, you bitch, what did you call him? Are you two that close?

"Haha, Yui- chan, your threshold for laughter is too low."

Shuya laughed heartily.

Calling someone by their name?!

Hikigaya stiffened.

It's only been ten minutes, right? Why do I feel like your relationship is progressing a little too quickly?

Yukino entered with a cold smile. Seeing Hikigaya's expression, she said, "Don't be so surprised. This is basic stuff for him. He even exchanged phone numbers and added Yuigahama on Line."

No, he truly deserves the title of King of Popularity!

Hikigaya knew this was a skill he could never learn.

Yukino ignored Xiu's Shuya and looked at the cookies on the plate. "These are what you call real handmade cookies? They don't look very good."

Even when these cookies are arranged neatly, their poor appearance cannot be masked by their overall unappealing nature.

Yuigahama laughed and teased, "Hiki, you were so confident just now, but now you know you can't not eat it!"

Shuya remained silent. He recognized that this was Miss Dango's masterpiece, but since she had mocked it like that, he was too embarrassed to point it out.

"Anyway, you guys should try it first."

Hikigaya forced a smile to maintain his composure.

The three of them picked up a piece and ate it.

Miss Dango innocently let out a laugh that wasn't tasty at all.

Shuya and Yukino, who had already discovered the truth, Yukino a glance.

The two looked at Hikigaya he put on a show.

He appeared frustrated and wanted to throw his things away, and the kind-hearted Yuigahama fell for it immediately and hurriedly went to stop him.

Miss Dango grabbed a handful of cookies and swallowed them, forcing a smile as she said, "Actually, they're not that bad! No need to throw them away!"

Hikigaya asked, "Are you satisfied with what I said?"

Yuigahama nodded.

Hikigaya finally announced the answer:

Well, these are the cookies you baked.

While Yuigahama was completely bewildered, Hikigaya stared with dead fish eyes and uttered a theory that men are simple and can be easily satisfied.

He also told a story about a friend as evidence, in which she had a delusion that she liked him.

His attempt to make friends out of thin air was immediately seen through by Yukino, because he had no friends at all.

Hikigaya successfully drew pitying glances from Dango, Yukino, and Shuya.

"Hey, what kind of looks are those? That's not the point."

"Anyway, boys are just simple-minded creatures; they can easily misunderstand what someone is saying. So, this kind of not-so-tasty cookie is enough!"

After hearing Hikigaya's words, Yuigahama couldn't help but feel a little angry at his blunt statement that the food was not tasty.

But instead of getting angry, she hesitated, as if trying to say something:

"But, however..."

"...?"

Hikigaya was a little surprised.

Yukino was also somewhat puzzled. "Yuigahama- san?"

Yuigahama was startled, glanced quickly at Yukino, and then yelled at Hikigaya, "So noisy! You shut-in! I'm leaving!"

Yukino exclaimed in surprise, "Wait, Yuigahama- san, you requested...?"

"No need! Thank you, Yukinoshita- san, I'll figure out how to do my best!"

Yuigahama smiled at Yukino:

See you tomorrow! Bye-bye!

Then she waved to Shuya and quickly left.

"What is this...?"

Hikigaya and Yukino are troubled.

They didn't know if this meant the commission was successful.

On the other side, Shuya, put away his phone and smiled:

"Haha, isn't that great? Yui- chan said she wants to work hard, and yeah, I like hardworking beautiful girls!"

"Nobody cares about your preferences, Inoue- kun."

Yukino glared at him. "... That's it for today's club activities, let's go home."

"Alright, alright, I'm leaving."

Shuya smiled and walked back to the clubroom to get his bag, Hikigaya and Yukino watched him leave humming a song.

He looked delighted, as if he had just watched a good show.

Yukino and Hikigaya remained silent for a while.

Is this really a good idea? What you're doing is wrong.

Yukino sighed softly, "I believe that striving to improve myself is the best thing I can do for her."

Hikigaya nodded. "You're right. Hard work won't betray you, but it might betray your dreams."

"..."

Yukino was taken aback, and in that instant, a lot of things came to mind.

Her expression became complicated.

Hikigaya continued, "Effort doesn't guarantee success; in fact, there are more failures than successes. But as long as you've tried, you can comfort yourself."

Yukino shook her head. "That's just self-satisfaction."

"But this doesn't count as betraying herself, Yuigahama should be able to accept this outcome."

Yukino looked up at the ceiling, but she seemed distracted, clearly lost in thought.

A few seconds later, she turned to Hikigaya Dao:

"I understand what you're trying to say, but I also know about the people who might suffer a tragedy because of it."

"Therefore, I firmly believe that this is wrong."

"Is that so?"

Hikigaya had no interest in explaining further.

Yukino also lost the will to speak.

The two did not speak again, nor did they argue about who won or lost. They quickly left the school and went home.

Shortly after they left, Miss Dango, who seemed preoccupied, also walked out of the school gate.

She walked with her head down, looking conflicted.

Just then, a voice rang out. "Yo, Yui- chan."

"Xiu, Shu-chan?! You scared me!"

Shuya suddenly turned out from outside the gate, startling Yuigahama so much that she jumped back, and the Dango bounced up and down several times.

Is there something you need?

Yuigahama usual.

"What is it... your request?"

Shuya had a smiling expression.

"A commission? I'm fine now. I'll take care of things myself from now on."

Yuigahama laughed.

Shuya smiled and shook his head, then started walking.

He waved for Yuigahama to follow.

Yuigahama has a hard time saying no, and after their conversation, she already considers Shuya a friend, so she's even less likely to refuse.

"Um, that..."

She said carefully.

Shuya walked alongside her, he said, "Hikigaya's statement was quite brilliant, but he overlooked an important premise, which led to a fundamental error in his theory."

"..."

Yuigahama opened her mouth, then lowered her head again.

Shuya smiled nonchalantly, "He didn't notice your expression, but I did."

"I can tell you often look at Yukino- chan. Coupled with your lack of interest in the Hikigaya mentioned, I can deduce that—"

You want to send cookies to a girl, not a boy.

Yuigahama: "..."

"That person must be Yukino- chan."

"Ah, haha... you actually figured it out."

Yuigahama scratched her face and gave a wry smile.

Section 347, Page 329: Go to my house

"Actually, a year ago when school started, Yukinoshita saved my dog, and I've always wanted to thank her, but..."

"Well, Teacher Hiratsuka recommended this club to me today, so I thought I'd give it a try..."

But as expected, I didn't have the courage.

"Yui- chan."

Shuya stopped and said in the sunset, "I'll take care of your request! We'll fully support Yukino... well, let's just say friendship!"

Before Yuigahama could figure out who "we" referred to...

Shuya said with piercing eyes, "Now, come with me to my house!"

"..."

"-----Eh?!!!"

Yui Yuigahama screamed.

"Wait, wait, wait! What are you saying, Shu-chan?"

Yuigahama panicked. "Go, go to your house?!"

"Yes."

"No, no, we... we're not in that kind of relationship..."

Yuigahama exclaimed desperately, "No matter how you look at it, it's too fast!"

Shuya shook his head. "No, and besides..."

"And what?"

We've arrived.