Diary Of Service Club, Helping The Elf Princess

Hachiman smiled but didn't seriously answer Kaede's question, instead teasing her.

It was obvious that Kaede was jealous, but even if he pointed it out, Kaede wouldn't admit it. After all, Kaede was a total tsundere. She hadn't confessed to him, and in the past, she had even dismissed him when he said he liked her.

Of course, looking at it now, Kaede didn't actually dislike him back then—she was just being shy. They had grown up together and couldn't quite be honest with each other.

Plus, when Kaede was younger, she couldn't easily accept the idea of her childhood friend wanting to be a househusband. It was reasonable for her to think Hachiman wasn't genuinely interested in her and was just teasing.

However, it was precisely because of this that, before his memories awakened, Hachiman took the rejection seriously. He treated Kaede and Suzu as childhood friends and nothing more. Sometimes, he even resented Kaede for dragging him around on endless shopping trips where she didn't buy anything, thinking she was just trying to annoy him.

"Hmph, I was just wondering—why do you suddenly know so many girls? Is the Service Club busy or not?"

Seeing that her words didn't intimidate Hachiman, Kaede pouted, unwilling to give up, and pressed on.

She had always found it odd that Hachiman would suddenly start something like the Service Club.

Kaede knew Hachiman's personality very well. It wasn't impossible for him to do something altruistic, but actively helping others?

Ha! Given Hachiman's laid-back, lazy nature, he couldn't even be bothered to go out on weekends unless Kaede dragged him to the supermarket for a major shopping trip. How could someone like that voluntarily help others?

At first, she didn't think the Service Club would work out. She believed no one would join because the president—Hachiman himself—was so passive and unmotivated, like a total slacker. How could someone like that inspire others to join in on voluntary labor and helping others?

Of course, her current focus wasn't doubting whether the Service Club was successful but rather why Hachiman was suddenly surrounded by so many girls.

Hachiman was way too lazy and wouldn't take the initiative to approach girls. If any relationship existed, it had to be because they initiated it.

But Hachiman used to have dead-fish eyes, and his looks weren't anything to write home about. It was only recently that he'd improved slightly. No way anyone would have been interested in him.

"What are you thinking? Only Yuina and her group are connected to the Service Club. Vignette is our neighbor, and Gabriel just transferred schools and happens to sit next to me."

Hachiman rolled his eyes at Kaede.

If she wanted to suspect someone, it should be the elf princess Iris and her group. As for Vignette and Gabriel, he wasn't sure how to deal with them. His plan was to simply do nothing and see what developed naturally.

"Let's not talk about Gabriel for now. What about Yuina and the others? What's their request?"

Kaede still found it odd and kept her gaze locked on Hachiman.

She had no problem with Vignette being their neighbor and joining them for meals at home, but Gabriel, who was just Hachiman's seatmate, helping clean and cook at his house? That seemed off.

What, she just came over to help because he needed it?

That was too kind and selfless to believe. But then again, Gabriel and Vignette seemed like genuinely good people, so Kaede decided not to overthink it.

The real question was about Yuina, Minami, and Rin—those flashy gyaru girls.

Given Hachiman's lazy personality, the ones most likely to break his shell would be these enthusiastic, outgoing gyaru. Still, Kaede couldn't understand how they'd ended up entangled with someone as gloomy and slacker-like as Hachiman.

"Their request? They thought the new students lacked any eye-catching handsome guys and asked me to find some for them. It's a simple matter."

Hachiman replied matter-of-factly. Yuina and her friends' original goal had been to find handsome guys. When they couldn't, they decided to try creating one themselves.

"..."

Hearing Hachiman's words, Kaede fell silent for a moment before fixing him with a sharp stare and speaking slowly.

"You didn't introduce yourself to them, did you?"

"Do you think you're handsome or attractive?"

Did Hachiman really think she was gullible enough to believe such nonsense?

"Although you might not want to admit it, I do seem to have a face that can make a living."

Hachiman touched his face and smiled at Kaede.

He wasn't entirely serious. Gabriel and Vignette were clearly not the type to judge people by their looks, but as far as Yuina and her friends were concerned, it was his improved appearance that had drawn them in.

It wasn't that they were bad people; it was just that their kindness toward him came with certain expectations.

Vignette and Gabriel cared about character. Iris valued his life force's intensity. Yuina and her friends? They prioritized good looks.

"... Look how smug you are."

At this, Kaede couldn't find any rebuttal against Hachiman.

After all, she had grown up with him. She never thought Hachiman was unattractive, just that he was lazy and unkempt, which made him seem gloomy and unapproachable. That's why he had so few friends.

'But... so, those flashy girls like Hachiman because of his looks?'

'Mmh...'

"You asked so many questions earlier. Isn't it my turn now?"

Hachiman looked down at Kaede, her short bluish-purple hair framing her cute, delicate face, and smiled.

"Have you also noticed my charm and want to confess to me?"

"I remember you haven't dated anyone yet, right? Want to give it a shot with me?"

"If it's you, I definitely wouldn't refuse."

Even though he always preferred long black hair, if it was his childhood friend Kaede, he could make an exception.

After all, standards were for people without emotional connections.

With the years of feelings he and Kaede shared, there was no need for such standards.

After all, criteria for choosing a partner are standards set for people without feelings.

The relationship between him and Kaede had lasted for so many years, so there was no need to apply such standards.

"Confess to me…"

Hearing Hachiman say he wouldn't reject her confession, Kaede's heart pounded wildly. However, when she saw Hachiman's calm and composed smile, the words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back down.

'Calm down, calm down. This guy, Hachiman, must be waiting for me to confess so he could mercilessly reject me. I can't let myself be played and teased by this guy.'

Just thinking about being mocked by Hachiman made Kaede forcibly suppress her impulse to confess.

"You're still not confessing at this point? Actually, I quite like you."

Seeing that he had finally laid his cards on the table, yet Kaede was still hesitant and doubtful, Hachiman felt a bit helpless.

Kaede's attitude was a bit hard to grasp, so it wasn't surprising that he had previously thought Kaede didn't like him.

Now he had confessed right to her face, yet Kaede still didn't agree. Did it really come down to pinning her to the bed to make her confess her feelings honestly?

"Hmph, what do you like about me? Are you planning to have me and Suzu go out and work to support you? I don't believe a word you're saying."

Originally, Kaede was incredibly nervous, but seeing Hachiman actively say he liked her, she instantly calmed down.

'This guy Hachiman would never take the initiative, so he must be lying to me, trying to trick me.'

'Haha, I won't give Hachiman, this idiot, the chance to tease me.'

According to her original plan, she should wait until Hachiman confessed to some unattainable girl and got rejected. Then she would come out to console him, reluctantly agreeing to be his girlfriend because of their long-time childhood friendship. There was no way she'd confess first and give him the chance to reject her.

"…" Hearing Kaede's rejection, Suzu silently looked at her idiotic sister, her delicate and lovely face showing faint signs of cracking.

"…" Hachiman also felt helpless.

As Kaede's childhood friend for many years, it was rare for him to take the initiative, yet Kaede still found him distasteful.

'This stubborn tsundere—what is she thinking now?'

He had spoken to her nicely, but she wouldn't listen. Well, she couldn't blame him if he stopped being polite.

"Forget it. It's getting late. I'm going home."

Kaede had initially wanted to mock Hachiman, but seeing that Hachiman didn't seem to succeed in tricking her and looked slightly displeased, she quickly got up to say goodbye.

She wasn't afraid if Hachiman wanted to fight her—she had Suzu with her, after all, and Suzu would surely help her.

But when she heard Hachiman's nonsense just now, she actually felt a little moved. She thought it would be better to go home and calm down first, to avoid letting Hachiman notice anything and mock her.

"…"

Suzu silently watched her sister's retreating figure, then looked at the equally silent Hachiman, shook her head without a word, and prepared to follow Kaede.

However, at this moment, Hachiman reached out and pulled the lagging Suzu, bending down to plant a kiss on her smooth, jade-like forehead. [T/N: Council of men approves 👍🏻]

"…"

Suzu stared blankly at Hachiman, who was almost face-to-face with her, and silently blinked.

"What's wrong, Suzu? Did you forget something?"

Kaede had already reached the entrance, bending down to change her shoes, and noticed that Suzu hadn't followed. She called out in confusion.

"No…"

Suzu walked out of the living room, glanced at Kaede, who looked puzzled, and, as usual, changed her shoes with an expressionless face before leaving with her sister.

"Kaede, Suzu, have you finished dinner? Why didn't you stay at Hachiman's house a bit longer?"

Kaede and Suzu's parents were watching TV in the living room. Unlike the Hikigaya parents, they didn't work night shifts, but since Kaede and Suzu had said beforehand they would eat at Hachiman's house, they had already finished dinner themselves.

Although they rarely interacted with Hachiman, they knew their daughters' intentions, given how often they visited Hachiman. So, they teased their daughters with a smile.

However, Kaede didn't respond to her parents' interest this time. She greeted them briefly before rushing upstairs excitedly.

Suzu naturally followed closely behind, nodding to her parents in acknowledgment before heading upstairs. At home, she was similarly reserved.

"Kaede, just now Hachiman…"

Suzu walked into Kaede's room and saw Kaede rolling around on her bed, hugging a stuffed pillow. Her little mouth opened slightly.

"Don't bring up what just happened. That guy Hachiman definitely wanted to see me make a fool of myself. I'll wait until Shion moves out of Hachiman's house; then I'll go settle the score with him."

Recalling the moment her heart had skipped a beat earlier, Kaede still felt incredibly embarrassed. To deal with this shameful memory, she decided she'd cause Hachiman trouble tomorrow to make him realize his mistake.

"…"

Suzu watched her sister fuming and rolling around on the bed, muttering grievances under her breath, but stopped herself from saying anything.

'This idiot Kaede…',She would have to step in and help.

———

"Kaede-nee and Suzu-nee left?"

After the sisters departed, Komachi and Shion emerged, looking at Hachiman in confusion.

"Onii-chan, what did you say earlier? Kaede-nee didn't seem very happy."

"Nothing much. I told her to confess to me, and she wasn't willing."

Hachiman shook his head. He had given her the opportunity, but Kaede just didn't step up.

If the gentle approach didn't work on this tsundere, then she couldn't blame him for taking a tougher stance.

"Wait… Onii-chan, you asked Kaede-nee to confess to you?"

Komachi was dumbfounded, unsure how to respond to her brother.

'Either confess yourself or wait for the other person to confess—who asks someone else to confess to them?'

This absurd operation could only come from her brother.

Even though her brother wasn't uncharismatic, surrounded by so many girls, how could he come up with such an outrageous move?

"Hmm…"

Asougi Shion also felt it was a bit ridiculous but believed, 'Hachiman-oniisan must have had his reasons.'

Hachiman-oniisan was kind to her, even as Komachi's friend, so he'd definitely be even kinder to his long-time childhood friend.

"I've confessed before. Isn't it her turn now?"

Seeing their disbelief and confusion, Hachiman chuckled and explained.

He had confessed before, but she rejected him. Now it was only fair for Kaede to take her turn.

Although back then, he hadn't regained his memories and couldn't see through Kaede's feelings, if he'd been more assertive, Kaede and he wouldn't have dragged things out this long.

"Confessions don't work like that…"

Komachi sighed helplessly at her brother.

She knew a bit about the situation between Kaede and her brother. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to matchmake them before.

But because the two were too familiar with each other, the normally outgoing and cheerful Kaede would become clumsy around her brother, instinctively hiding her true feelings.

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