Regular Chapter

We arrived inside the huge canteen and the only thing I can say is it's too much luxurious to be called as a canteen. There are two floors available, but students take most of the table on the ground floor.

I miss my eating spot.

The hem of my jacket had been pulled. I look at the cause and saw Rumirumi holding it.

"Too crowded." She said.

"I'm not sure if I can find my teammates. If you know someone like classmate, you can leave me and join them."

"I'm not close to any of them."

"Let's grab some food and think about where we will eat later." I suggested which she nods in agreement.

The setting of the canteen is a buffet-style, but students can only fall in line once as we had been stamped before getting our plates.

We pick our food which everything is on my plate except tomatoes and Rumirumi's plate is full as well not because she is a glutton but it's for me to grab later. Having a companion has its ups.

At the end of the line, there's a tray for the plates. I put our plate on it and she grabs a drink for us.

As soon as I plan to carry the tray…

Bzzz Bzzz

From: Hiratsuka-sensei.

Hikigaya, Yukinoshita just informed me that the canteen is crowded but if you can see the tables there are numbers placed in the center. Yukinoshita and your teammates are seated in number 53. Your luck is still running as I give you a special treatment while I'm busy teaching here. Where is the special treatment? Yukinoshita wants to get your number and I plainly answered that I'll forward her message to you. This deserves a reward for me, RIGHT? RIGHT! As for my reward, do your best in club activities.

Why do I need to be grateful for her own responsibilities?

I sigh and put my phone back in my pocket.

Rumirumi got back with two drinks in her hands.

"They're in table 53." I pick up the tray and we start searching for table 53.

…

If I approximate the number of tables here, it should be around 100 – 120 with 8 chairs encircling it. As expected from a group of loners with Totsuka as an exemption. They picked the table on the second floor which is quite a distance from the foods.

I saw some Sobu students which can be described as a studious or loner type based on their physical appearance.

I finally saw the table I'm looking for, thanks to the combination of beauties emanated from Yukinoshita, Kawasaki, and Totsuka.

Totsuka waved his hand and shout. "We're here, Hikigaya-kun!"

The moment I close the distance between us. They occupied a table meant for 8 people and they are one seat apart from each other.

"Ara, You're finally here. I thought I need to ask the security if they saw a pervert lurking around the building." Yukinoshita greets me with her insult.

Kawasaki gives me a nod and I offer her a nod. This is how the greeting should be, if I used the word 'Yo' then I'm already maximizing the effort to greet.

"You should rephrase it to a person leaving the building with his belongings." I laid down the tray and they finally noticed the girl behind me.

"Um, hello there I'm Totsuka Saika." Totsuka greets Rumirumi with his girlish smile.

She simply bowed her head while murmuring. "Tsurumi Rumi."

"Tsurumi-chan, right?"

Rumirumi nods.

"Kawasaki Saki." The delinquent said in an un-delinquent manner, I think she is weak against younger people.

After serving our plates, I put the tray on the other free table and take a seat opposite of Yukinoshita and Rumirumi sits beside me and Kawasaki.

"Yukinoshita Yukino…" Yukinoshita looks at Rumirumi for a while then shifts her gaze at me.

"…Hikigaya-kun, I know that your desire is beyond control or simply uncontrollable but why are you acting like a kidnapper?"

I point Rumirumi. "She's a stalker."

"I'm not." She answered but her glare directed at Yukinoshita.

Sadly, she's way too weak for the Ice Queen as the latter gave her signature murderous look which awakens the fear hiding in Rumirumi's body.

"Why are you joining us instead of your classmates?" Yukinoshita starts her interrogation while I stealthily start tasting my food after murmuring 'Itadakimasu'.

"Our teacher allowed us to join with the high school to learn some experience and most of the girls in my class are bothering a boy with blonde hair and for the boys." She points somewhere.

I look at what she's pointing, they are the boys in her class that are sneakily glancing on our table or should I say at Yukinoshita.

"I think they want to sit with you, how about moving on the other table and share some of your experience?" I suggested.

"They can learn it from other students, and I believe that we are greater in numbers compared to them and you should at least show some proper manners in front of Tsurumi-san by waiting for us to eat."

"She doesn't mind, Itadakimasu." I clapped my hands and started to eat these blessings.

"Itadakimasu." They all said as they clapped their hands.

"It's quite surprising that a student will join the team of Hikigaya-kun and Yukino-chan." A voice disturbs everyone with me exempted as I continue my pace.

"Nee-san, you aren't planning to join us, right?"

"Ehhh- of course, I am…" She sits beside me and looks at the little girl on my other side. "…Hello there, I'm Yukinoshita Haruno."

"Tsurumi Rumi." She answered beautifully as her words are meant to immediately cut the conversation.

Haruno looks at Totsuka and Kawasaki. "I'm sorry if I joined in without any prior notice but its quite uncomfortable to eat with the teachers from the two schools."

"If you are really sorry, how about taking the free table beside us?" Yukinoshita said while bestowing the same murderous glare she used at Rumirumi.

This time it's not effective since the target is more experienced.

"Hikigaya-kun, you heard Yukino-chan. How about accompanying me not on the table she's pointing but on that one?"

I look at the one she's pointing and it's a table meant for two.

"It's a hassle and I'm busy helping her." I grab a portion of food on Rumirumi's plate.

She smiles at my answer. "Utilizing the rules fully, I expected no less from you. Yukino-chan, it's impossible for me to leave as I need Hikigaya-kun to help me finish my food."

So that's the reason she was here, I thought she is just a glutton as her plate can be compared to Rumirumi and mine in terms of quantity.

"I'll take your offer then." I pick a portion from her plate that she offers.

We continue eating with me having a full two plates, half from Rumirumi and Haruno. I'll treat it as a reward from exerting too much effort earlier and feeling some ache over my body.

I look at the time on my phone and we still have some time before doing our first activity for the Art Class.

I look at Rumirumi and ask. "You don't have anything to do?"

"We will have an Outdoor Class." She answered.

"You should go to avoid being late."

"You're not one to talk when you are late during the entrance ceremony." Yukinoshita butts in.

Did Sensei or Yuigahama tell her?

"Hmmm, that's why I'm telling her as I already experienced it."

"Can we meet again and have dinner together?" Rumirumi asked.

"Who knows? There are a lot of Sobu students who are loners here, you should try to at least talk to others."

She nods with her face showing the expression I saw earlier which the start of succumbing to loneliness.

It's not that bad for me and I don't know about Yukinoshita. Kawasaki had her own goal, so she easily chose to care only what she cares and Zaimokuza being deluded by his fantasies help him grow, I think?

"If you didn't find anyone and happen to see me, I don't mind you joining me since I can eat more food." I added.

She nods once more and stands up then offers us a bow and leaves.

"Are you fond of younger girls, Hikigaya-kun?" Haruno asked.

The curiosity of others spurts as they also look at me.

"I don't have any requirements for the people I fond of…"

Their gazes show that they aren't satisfied with my answer and don't have any intention to let me go.

"…for the moment."

Looks like my answer is passable for now as there are no side comments. I avoid their annoying eyes and disturb myself in another matter.

I look at Rumirumi's direction and saw her stopped midway, there are also familiar people near her. It's Hayama and co., in front of them are girls that might be Rumirumi's classmates.

Hayama and Yuigahama are talking with the girls. As expected from nice people. If I guess what they're doing, they might be trying to let Rumirumi joins the girls' squad. Why not let the girl have her own time, she is already at the late primary level you know?

"Hmmm, typical Hayato." Haruno commented.

Her words are loud enough for Yukinoshita, Kawasaki and Totsuka to hear.

Rumirumi and the others leave together with the former having a slower pace.

If only those fools didn't bother her, at best their relationship being a stranger will be maintained instead of changing it to an enemy.

The said company noticed and walked toward us.

"Yukinon, Hikki Yahallo!" Yuigahama greets us.

I give her a nod and Yukinoshita greets her formally.

"Kawasaki-san, Sai-chan and Yukinoshita-san, Yahallo!"

"Yahello, Yui-chan." Totsuka answered.

Kawasaki simply nods.

"Yahello, Gahama-chan and everyone." Haruno greets back using the dumb greetings.

Hayama and the rest also greeted us, and they sit on the available chairs while the others sit on the other table.

"Yukinon, we should eat together on the ground floor, there are like a lot of kids below." Yuigahama who sits next to Yukinoshita starts bothering her.

Do you have the right to call them kids? They're like only four to six years younger than us.

"It's more the reason I should eat here." Yukinoshita answered.

"Ehhh, then you didn't eat together with those kids?"

"We ate together with the one you talked earlier."

"Ahh, that girl…" Yuigahama's voice becomes dejected after remembering the girl.

"It looks like you know that girl." Hayama interjects in the conversation of those two.

"Indeed." Yukinoshita answered.

"Then you should have noticed that she is being left out by her classmates."

"Is that what she said or your opinion?" Yukinoshita retorts back.

"That's…I just don't want the same thing to happen again."

His words caused Yukinoshita to flinch.

I steal a gaze at Haruno and she is showing a serious look right now, it's good that everyone is focusing on the banter between the two.

Annoying, that's the only thing I know. It's not because of their banter but because what they're doing will lead to an annoying situation.

"U-um, Yukinon, can't we like to offer our service to Hayato's request?" Yuigahama disturbs the situation.

"Right Hayato." Miura urged Hayama to request.

"Yeah dude, it's for the kid in the first place." The idiots pushed him to ask a request.

The upper hand directs to Hayama as they're using quantity this time.

"Please help me giving that girl a chance." Hayama said.

Are you trying to be a buddha or something?

Yukinoshita looks at Yuigahama and the latter nods at her.

She shifts her gaze at me, and I didn't respond at all. We are now an odd number so it's your choice to decide.

She sighs and gives up. "Very well, the Service Club will help you."

Hayama bows and smiles. "Thank you."

"Thank you Yukinon!" Yuigahama hugs Yukinoshita.

"Too close." Yukinoshita tries to push Yuigahama away.

See, a simple acknowledgment will lead to a positive outcome.

Too bad for them, my quality is too sturdy to get under pressure.

"Count me out."

The nice atmosphere turned into complicated once again.

Everyone looks at me except Kawasaki who simply closed her eyes while Haruno is looking at me unhappily.

"Hikigaya-kun, I thought I announced that we will accept the request." Yukinoshita said.

"R-Right Hikki."

"I didn't even respond when you looked at me if you reject the request then I'll back you up," I said honestly.

"Hikio, isn't Yukinoshita your president? She will decide on your club." Miura said.

I look at her. "She is indeed our President. Do I need to follow her if it's against my will? I'll talk to Hiratsuka-sensei if needed."

"Hikitani bro, isn't it cool to agree with everyone?" The orange-haired guy said.

"Yeah x2" The two boys agreed.

"Can I know the reason?" Hayama asked.

I shake my head.

"Is it something personal?"

"Are you overestimating yourself? What will I gain if I reject you because of personal matters when we are only a mere schoolmate?" I asked.

"Hikio, that's rude!" Miura shouts.

"You're rude, why are you butting in their conversation?" Kawasaki who's silent for a while said.

They both glare at each other.

"Nothing will lose if I won't join right? You got the numbers and Yukinoshita will help, just focus on your request instead of focusing on an unwilling person…" I look at my phone and check the time.

"…we still have some time, use it for planning and I'll go check Zaimokuza." I stand up and leave.

"I'll go back to my room and prepare the things we will need." Kawasaki said.

"I don't have any business here, so good luck everyone." Haruno happily waved her hands at them.

…

…

While I'm heading to Zaimokuza, Kawasaki bid farewell as she needs to use the elevator to go to her room while Haruno follows me.

"What are you planning?" Haruno disturbs the silence.

"Focusing on upcoming activities."

"Why did you reject them earlier?"

"Sounds annoying." I flatly said.

"Hmmmm…." She fastens her pace and looks at me while backpedaling.

Her gaze turned into glare which can bestow fear to anyone. "…it's neither directly nor indirectly related to me, right?"

I stop walking and so she was. My gaze direct at her glaring purple eyes.

"Don't let your imagination run wild." After saying those words, I walk past her and continue heading to the clinic.

She follows once again and walks beside me.

Her serious expression from earlier dissipates as she playfully said. "It's not an imagination though, let's call it a woman's intuition."

"Hmmm, do you have any business in the clinic?"

"I'm substituting Shiori-sensei." She answered.

…

…

The moment we head inside the clinic, Haruno immediately let Sensei eat while Zaimokuza is currently eating on his bed.

"If it isn't my comrade, Hachiman." Zaimokuza said after chunking a huge amount of food.

I look at his injured foot and nothing changed, it is still wrapped in a bandage.

"Are you allowed to join us later?"

He nods. "It's blending with nature, right? I have given approval earlier as long as I won't exert too much force in my foot."

"Then I'll leave the plot in you and hope that someone in our team is good at painting."

"Bwahahaha, fret not as I'll assure you that we will have an A- with my plot alone." His arrogant explodes on a simple expectation from me.

If I didn't see it first-hand, I think would smack his head.

"Yeah, continue eating and I'll rest on the other bed."

I walk towards the bed I used earlier and rest on it.

"Here, Zaimokuza-kun." Haruno who went out for a while came back with a pitch of water and glass for the patient.

Zaimokuza's language immediately went null as he nods while looking at the window.

Seriously, you won't improve yourself if a single woman alone can't make you talk.

Haruno easily noticed Zaimokuza's behavior. "I'll put it here and you can ask me if you need anything."

She put the glass and pitch on the table near his bed and looks at me happily.

"I wonder if the patient here needs something from me?" She playfully asks as she sits on my bed.

"Need more rest." I said honestly.

She nods and grabs something from her sling bag.

It's a novel. She opens the bookmarked page and continues reading it while resting her back on my bed's backrest.

"It's more comfortable if you sit on a chair instead of resting like that while your feet touching the ground."

She stops reading and looks at me. "You're right, how sweet of you, then I'll excuse myself."

Instead of following my suggestion, she easily stole almost half of my bed as she raised her feet on my bed. Now, she is sitting straight compared earlier which is inclined.

With her current position, I can see her novel clearly.

"Genuine Love…" I muttered.

With the silence in the room removing the clanking and chewing sounds from Zaimokuza, I think it reached Haruno's ears.

She didn't react at my words as she continues reading while I simply close my eyes.

"Do you believe in that word?"

Her voice is loud enough for me to hear.

"If it's the word 'genuine' then I am foolishly believing it." I answered.

I opened my eyes and saw her staring at me. Her lips curved upward as she gave me a smile with anger and disgust filled in.

"I'm sorry to say this but that word doesn't exist." Her words are filled with contagious sharpness as if trying to force me to believe her.

"We have different opinion and belief…" I remove my gaze from her and close my eyes once more.

"…and if you say that it didn't exist then it means you sought for it." I move my body sideward, opposite of Haruno and hug one of the pillows.

I wonder what did she experience to conclude that it didn't exist but I'm lazy enough to find the answer in my question and the only conclusion, in the end, is that my decision in my life will be dictated purely by me with a little influence from my family and without even a slight interference from others.

That way I can continue moving forward without any regret.

The initial plan was for me to close my eyes and gain some rest, but it turned out to become sleep.

Before I fall into my slumber a sensation touched my back and with its flat sensation, it might be either a palm or a forehead.

I don't care anymore; I just want to be in good condition doing my activities later.

With that, I fell asleep.

"I think I have an idea why you reject those fools earlier."

…

…

After eating everything Zaimokuza looks at Hachiman.

He raises his hand and gives a thumbs-up. "As expected from my comrade."

He slides the curtain to separate his bed from him.

"As a reward for your hard work earlier, I'll let you have a rest. I'll just pray for the God of War that no one will see your situation right now."

He closed his eyes and starts chanting unknown language and hopefully it will become effective.