Chapter 53: Yuigahama is Very Good at Reading People's Expressions!
Luke was in the dining area, digging into his caramel pudding, sending mouthfuls of the bouncy pudding into his mouth.
Those two had already eagerly gone off to the animal zone to play.
He, however, first looked through the guide booklet.
Inside, it mentioned cats and dogs, which most people liked, but there were also chicks? Owls?
Chicks were one thing, but can owls be kept as pets?
Isn't that illegal?
Luke thought strangely, swallowing the last bite of pudding.
He also set off towards the animal zone.
Yuigahama had already entered the [Dog] zone.
Given her personality and image, should it be considered expected?
Soon, Yuigahama was surrounded by all sorts of dogs.
Looking at these cute dogs, she couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Aww~ So cute."
She crouched down, gently extending her hand, and started interacting with one of the dogs.
At the same time, she still didn't forget to call out to Yukinoshita Yukino: "Yukino-chan, come join me, they feel really nice to pet."
Yukinoshita lifted her head from the booklet, glanced at Yuigahama surrounded by dogs, and couldn't help but step back two paces, muttering softly:
"I think I'll pass..."
"If you say it like that, Yuigahama-san won't hear you." Luke appeared behind her like a ghost.
Yukinoshita's back instantly straightened, her shoulders involuntarily tensing up.
It seemed he had startled her.
She slowly turned around to look at him, her shoulders and eyes slowly relaxing from the shock.
She couldn't help but speak:
"Your ghost-like trait is truly admirable."
He ignored her seemingly admiring sarcasm.
"Why don't you go join Yuigahama?" Luke pointed towards the [Dog] zone.
"The guide booklet doesn't require us to stay together, right? Exploring alone isn't against the rules."
Yukinoshita opened the guide booklet and continued reading, occasionally looking up and around.
After a moment of silence, Luke pointed towards his eight o'clock direction:
"...The [Cat] zone is over there, Yukinoshita."
"..." Yukinoshita's movements paused.
Following his finger, she looked.
The [Cat] zone was past the owl, chick, and hedgehog areas.
It was normal that she couldn't see it from here.
It's just...
Being unable to find it even with the guide booklet was a bit surprising.
She still tried to argue, speaking in a calm tone: "I'm just familiarizing myself with the place. I didn't say I was definitely going anywhere."
"Are you perhaps a bit directionally challenged?" Luke looked Yukinoshita up and down, asking speculatively.
"...I, I didn't say that, did I? Please don't jump to conclusions."
Yukinoshita turned displeased, averting her gaze.
Is she embarrassed?
"...Besides, I think you should go help Yuigahama-san right now."
What does she mean?
Luke also cast his gaze towards Yuigahama.
He saw Yuigahama, who was just moments ago lovingly interacting with the cute puppies, now being nudged around by a group of small dogs, with some even chewing on her shoes.
While chatting with Yukinoshita, he hadn't heard her continuously waving for help over here.
Luke helplessly started walking over: "How much does this idiot live by reading others' expressions that she can even let dogs take her place?"
"Don't bite my shoes! Help me~"
Yuigahama gently pushed away the puppy eyeing her pretty shoes, but another puppy quickly took its place.
Clap clap.
Luke clapped his hands lightly.
The puppies surrounding Yuigahama stopped their actions.
They curiously circled him a few times, sniffed his scent with their sensitive noses, and then slowly rolled over, exposing their bellies, panting 'ha, ha' with their red, soft, wet tongues lolling out.
"How come your combat power is worse than even small dogs?"
Luke formed his hand into a claw, crouched down, and gently scratched the puppies surrounding him with his 'claws'.
"Hehe, I just can't handle cute things."
Yuigahama gently wiped her shoes with a tissue, smiling embarrassedly.
Moving next to him, Yuigahama also crouched down, placing one hand on her raised knee and the other gently stroking the head of a small dog on the ground that was whining and rolling around, not receiving any affection.
"You just clapped your hands and these dogs became like this~ Amazing," Yuigahama said sincerely.
"Hehe, it's just a little trick," Luke accepted her compliment.
Because she's an idiot, it must be heartfelt.
The two then fell silent, focusing on petting the cute dogs.
These incredibly cute creatures really could help people relax and reduce anxiety and unease at any time.
He just didn't know why Yukinoshita would like cats but dislike dogs.
Could it be because some mischievous dog often stole her indoor shoes?
He couldn't help but chuckle.
Yuigahama lifted her gaze to look at him, speaking softly: "That time, I didn't come visit you, I just asked the teacher to send the gift for me. Sorry."
Luke thought for a moment.
It must have been the time he first opened the Heart Talisman.
He happened to have some talismans left back then: "Don't worry about it. It was just putting things to good use."
"Putting things to good use, what a terrible way to put it..."
Yuigahama muttered, then added: "But you flew out."
"Flying out doesn't mean getting injured. If I were injured, I would definitely ask you for medical fees, idiot."
Yuigahama buried her hand in the Pomeranian's fur, then gently pulled it up, saying with slight relief: "Phew~ Is that so? That's good then."
This girl really trusts people easily.
Luke glanced at her, pondering internally.
"What do you think of the Service Club? Or rather, what do you think of Yukinoshita?"
"What do I think? Hmm~"
Yuigahama started thinking upon hearing his question, then she spoke softly:
"Yukino-chan... I found that even though she has no friends, she's still very strong; she doesn't hold back when speaking, yet she genuinely thinks for others... So, so, I think she's amazing."
It was pretty much the same answer as during the previous request.
Luke nodded, continuing to press: "So, you mentioned joining this strange club before? Was it to become friends with Yukinoshita?"
"I did have that idea..." Yuigahama said hesitantly.
Could it really be... a problem with sexual orientation?
Luke looked at her suspiciously.
"Sometimes I also want to become someone like Yukino-chan, who says whatever is on her mind, although I don't think I can do that... But I also want to live without reading people's expressions," Yuigahama continued.
Luke breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as it wasn't a strange motive.
He then took out the club application form.
"Then fill out the form."
"...Huh?"
Yuigahama looked at the application form and pen he had produced from nowhere again, making a strange sound: "Why do you always carry these things with you?"
"This stuff doesn't take up much weight in a school bag... Besides, why do you care so much? Are you filling it out or not?"
Luke said speechlessly.
"Oh, oh."
Yuigahama uncapped the pen and quickly filled in the information on the form.
"Leave the rest to me. I'll give the application form to Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei."
Luke took back the application form, stood up, and turned his head back.
Yukinoshita's figure was already gone.
...