Ever since I met Yukinoshita, I've changed a lot.
She used to have an extremely cold and aggressive personality.
But after all the days we spent in the Service Club, and her experiences with Yuigahama, her sharpness and coldness gradually softened.
But now, as I look into her eyes, all I see is coldness. It feels like the entire building could freeze. What caused this change?
I scratched my head.
"Uh… Yukinoshita." I tried to speak to her, but she cut me off.
"Sorry, Hikigaya-kun. I have a request I need to take care of," she said as she walked toward the other side of the pool.
A request? We're outside working hours.
No, the club itself is already over.
I followed Yukinoshita with my eyes as she approached Hirata's group.
Horikita appeared beside us, wearing her blue swimsuit. Her focus was sharp, as if she were waiting for her next move.
Hmm… are the girls planning something?
I glanced at the guy next to me.
Ayanokoji was also watching.
No one really knows what's about to happen.
The best option is to observe.
A group of boys stood silently in front of Yukinoshita.
I don't blame them. The girl radiates coldness and irritation.
"Alright, students. The girls don't want to come out of the changing room because of your behavior. Therefore, I ask you to show some discipline and act respectfully," Yukinoshita said, adjusting her long black hair.
She stood before them with a serious expression,
leaving the boys confused. They didn't expect such a direct confrontation.
But that's Yukinoshita's style. She doesn't look for indirect solutions or roundabout methods—she targets the problem directly.
The silence that filled the area was broken by Yamauchi, who struggled to respond:
"W-what do you mean? You're talking about our behavior? We didn't even do anything."
Yamauchi looked like he was staggering in place, unable to even face her properly.
I know this situation well…
"Your actions were obvious to everyone.
Disgusting behavior that reflects how low you are," Yukinoshita began bombarding them with harsh criticism.
They all seemed unable to respond—
except for one person, who jumped forward and exploded in anger.
"Hey! Who do you think you are acting like that? Come stand in front of us!" Sudou roared, his face red with anger.
Yukinoshita stood there like an untouchable queen. She didn't move at all, as if Sudou's outburst had no effect on her.
"Hmmm…" she tilted her head slightly.
"Sorry, but I can't understand your words because of the way you speak. Is that the language of cavemen?"
She shifted from criticism to mockery,
which only made Sudou angrier.
"You…"
At this rate, all of Sudou's anger would be directed at Yukinoshita.
I took a deep breath through my nose, then exhaled slowly.
Lowering my head slightly…
Looks like there's no other choice.
I raised my head and let out a loud sigh so everyone could hear:
"Haaaaaa…"
Everyone's attention turned toward me.
Their looks clearly said: Why is this annoying guy interrupting?
"Why are you getting worked up over a few words? Is that how cavemen respond to words, or…"
I smirked while looking directly into Sudou's eyes.
He stared back in shock—he hadn't expected my intervention, nor my words.
I continued:
"Or is it just a complex… an inferiority complex?"
Sudou's eyes darkened.
"I'll kill you, you bastard!" He started moving aggressively toward me, shifting away from Yukinoshita.
Looks like there's no choice but to crush his pride in front of everyone.
"Isn't it obvious to everyone? Every time you talk to someone, you start with something like, 'Are you looking down on us?'" I mimicked his tone mockingly, making the situation even more ridiculous.
Fuel for his anger.
Sudou stopped right in front of me.
His body was well-built, muscles clearly visible.
He was taller than me—it felt like he was looming over me.
He looked straight at me, cracking his fingers.
"Say that again."
"Didn't you hear me? Or are you too far down there?" I kept pressing him.
He won't think about anything except violence now.
I wouldn't mind taking a hit or two…
But not here.
He raised his fist and swung it toward me—
but it stopped before it could hit.
As expected, the class's peace ambassador stepped in.
Hirata wouldn't allow things to escalate.
"Sudou, stop! He didn't mean it like that," Hirata said, standing between us.
"Don't mess with me! He's mocking me! I'll teach him a lesson!" Sudou tried to push past him.
"This is exactly what I'm talking about—your impulsiveness. Can't you respond differently?" I tilted my head toward Yamauchi.
"If words bother you, why not prove them wrong?"
"Yeah, Sudou! Show him he's wrong!" Hirata tried to ride the momentum I created.
But it's not enough. Who am I for them to listen to me?
"Hahaha! Who do you think you are… Hikio? You can't control us," Yamauchi mocked.
The real problem is that they cross the line because, from their perspective, there are no rules—no punishment.
"What about the law?" Yukinoshita said, as if she had been waiting for that moment.
"Law? What law? The school gives us freedom, and you want to impose rules on us?"
"Sorry for the misunderstanding. I don't mean school rules," she said, tilting her head slightly.
"I believe the police punish harassment… don't they, sensei?"
Everyone looked up.
A man in his thirties stood there, wearing a dark tracksuit with a whistle around his neck.
Since when was he there?
Without a doubt, the PE teacher.
He looked slightly surprised at being dragged into the situation.
Now I understood what Yukinoshita was trying to convey.
If school rules don't restrain you, real-world laws will.
She treats this as a crime.
But her goal here is simply to stop them. No student—no matter how reckless—would want to get involved with the police over something like this.
Just imagining the lecture they'd receive…
Yukinoshita also knows that mere glances aren't enough to involve the police, even though society doesn't tolerate such behavior.
But these idiots probably won't understand that right now.
If the teacher agrees with her, the situation will be resolved.
"Hmm… uh, yeah," the teacher finally said.
Yamauchi went pale as his little game turned into something serious.
"W-wait… it's not like we'd do that, and… how would you even prove it wasn't just looking?" he stammered.
Yukinoshita gave him a cold look.
"You could say I've dealt with many rotten eyes before." A faint playful smile appeared on her otherwise cold face.
I feel… insulted.
My eyes don't work like that.
"Anyway…" Sudou said after calming down,
"What I'm trying to say is that your accusations are baseless—and we'll prove that."
"Y-yeah!" Yamauchi shouted, with Ike behind him.
He probably froze earlier from the pressure, which is why he didn't speak.
"Fufufufufu…" A loud laugh echoed through the area.
What is that? It's annoying.
I looked toward the source.
Koenji was laughing loudly, running his fingers through his golden hair.
"Yukinoshita girl, I like your little trick. It works quite well on primitive men," he said, clearly amused.
Was he watching the whole time? I forgot he was even here.
His way of speaking is irritating.
Yukinoshita gave him an indifferent glance, then walked toward the girls' changing room.
Horikita followed her, and the group of boys began to disperse.
No one wanted trouble.
Sudou shot me a threatening look.
I ignored it and moved toward a corner.
After a short while, the girls began to come out,
and the boys kept their distance.
Avoiding trouble is the wise choice.
Yukinoshita came out and stood beside me in a quiet corner.
"Good job. But… why did you do that?" Yukinoshita wouldn't intervene in something without a reason. Even when helping others, she usually waits until she's asked.
"This morning, the girls asked me to step in because it was bothering them," she said, looking up at the ceiling.
"Why you specifically?"
"Uh… they said they couldn't involve Hirata in this." She looked away slightly, her tone shifting.
"A-and… something about me looking responsible and capable."
"Hmm… seems like they were right." Even if you didn't know Yukinoshita, you could tell how capable she is just from her demeanor.
"Didn't you like my method?"
"No. It was just too direct."
"Better than yours."
"Not the time for criticism."
Our methods are different. Even if I try to improve mine, there will always be something twisted and deceptive about it.
That won't change easily.
"If we consider it a request… is this the Service Club syndrome?"
"Maybe…" Yukinoshita laughed lightly.
She raised her small white hand into a fist.
"Thanks for your help."
Huh?
Is this how partners shake hands?
Did we just complete a mission?
…Whatever.
I slowly raised my hand and formed a fist.
Our fists touched for a brief moment—but I could clearly feel her skin against mine.
"Class is starting," Yukinoshita said as she walked back toward the crowd.
When did everyone gather around the teacher?
I was too focused on our conversation.
The request was completed.
And Yukinoshita saved the class.