Chapter 326: Yuigahama’s Brilliant Plan
Chapter 326: Yuigahama’s Brilliant Plan
Today’s lesson with Yuigahama was also in full swing—
“Nanami-chan, have you heard of the Ben Franklin Effect?”
Yuigahama pulled out a pair of non-prescription glasses from somewhere, placed them pretentiously on her nose, and forced herself into a teacher-like pose.
“Huh?”
Nanami shook her head blankly.
“No? Then I’ll start from the beginning.”
Yuigahama rarely got chances to show off her knowledge, so she wouldn’t let this one slip.
Even though all this “knowledge” came from an entire night of last-minute cramming.
“Mm, okay! Thank you!”
Nanami sat up straight, attentive and eager, truly a model honor student.
“Benjamin Franklin was an 18th-century American scholar and politician. Once, he really wanted to work with a certain congressman, but that man was famously stubborn and cold-hearted. So, how do you think Franklin solved the problem?”
“Win over the congressman…and fall in love!”
Since today’s theme was romance, Nanami blurted out her answer without hesitation.
“Franklin was a man! The congressman was also a man!”
“Really? What touching love!”
Hearing this, Nanami seemed genuinely moved, her admiration heartfelt.
“So it’s not about love!”
Seeing her “prize student” drifting toward unhealthy thoughts, Yuigahama hastily cut her off.
“Huh?”
Nanami blinked, confused.
Her face was full of doubt—
If it isn’t romance, what’s the point of this story?
Her request was about love advice! Stay focused, Yuigahama-sensei!
Perhaps sensing Nanami’s thoughts, Yuigahama stopped beating around the bush. She adjusted her glasses and explained calmly:
“Franklin’s solution was…to ask the congressman for a favor.”
“Huh?”
After Yuigahama’s explanation, Nanami looked even more bewildered.
Yuigahama noticed and gave her a “patience” look before continuing.
“Franklin knew this congressman owned a rare out-of-print book. So he asked if the congressman could lend it to him for two days. The congressman agreed.”
“You can probably guess what happened next. Just as Franklin described in his own writings, when they met again later, the congressman spoke to him first, politely, and even said he’d gladly help Franklin again anytime.”
“Huh?”
Though Yuigahama spoke with intense passion, Nanami remained utterly lost.
Especially when Yuigahama claimed she could “probably guess”—Nanami’s mind flooded with question marks.
‘Guess? Guess what—?!’
Wasn’t that plot twist way too sudden?! And the relationship shift so random?! Who writes this nonsense?!
Could it be…the congressman secretly loved Franklin all along?!
Seeing Nanami’s shocked face, Yuigahama mistook it for awe at her profound insights. She lifted her chin with pride, thoroughly satisfied.
So Yuigahama concluded grandly:
“Franklin summed up his successful book-borrowing with a simple principle: Someone who has helped you once is more willing to help you again than someone you’ve helped. In other words—to make someone like you, ask them for a favor.”
“What kind of “in other words” is that?! Yuigahama, your summarizing skills are truly…impressive…”
Hearing Yuigahama spin this nonsense, Hikigaya finally couldn’t take it anymore and joined the criticism.
“Hikki, be quiet!”
Yuigahama was deeply displeased by this classroom disruption, vehemently condemning it.
“Ah, sorry sorry, Yuigahama-sensei, don’t mind me. Continue.”
Hikigaya lazily raised a hand, signaling Yuigahama to ignore her background character status.
Yuigahama didn’t press further, too absorbed in the joy of teaching.
“See? Understood, Nanami?”
“Huh? Ah…”
Nanami felt if she said “No” now, Yuigahama would be crushed, especially since she’d worked so hard.
So, to preserve “Sensei Yuigahama’s” enthusiasm, Nanami reluctantly nodded.
“Good! Good you understood! Let’s move on. Oh right…that one guy…ah! The Russian novelist Leo Tor O’Dinson strongly agreed with this principle! He once wrote: We don’t love people because they’re good to us, we love them because we were good to them.”
“Um…”
It was Yukinoshita’s voice. Her usual cool tone carried a hint of exasperation as the role of “can’t watch this anymore” passed from Hikigaya to her.
“Yuigahama…did you mean the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy?”
“Huh? Is…is that it? Ha ha…”
Yuigahama’s face flushed red as she scratched her head awkwardly.
“Pretty much! Since they’re foreigners, translated names can differ, right?”
“But yours was way off. Tolstoy is a novelist. Tor O’Dinson is Thor! Two people utterly unrelated by any stretch.”
Hikigaya smoothly followed up with a precise counterattack after Yukinoshita.
“Aha ha…don’t sweat the details.”
Yuigahama forced a laugh, trying to brush past the mistake.
Speechless, Nanami covered her eyes, unable to watch.
Once again, doubts crept in about her previous decision.
Was it really okay…to entrust her love troubles to someone like this?
“Ahem! Nanami-chan, let’s ignore those two! Onward! Where were we?”
“Ah! Right—”
“Anyway! This phenomenon is now called the ‘Ben Franklin Effect’!”
“It’s a well-known truth—”
“Get people to smile, they feel happier. Have them look into someone’s eyes; they find them more attractive. It’s the same with favors: people help you because they like you. But conversely, to encourage others to like you…you can ask them for help!”
“Most guys love helping others and enjoy those pleasant feelings toward the one they’ve helped. That emotion tightly links ‘helping’ with ‘liking.’ So! If you like someone…just ask them for a favor!”
Thus, Yuigahama’s lengthy lecture concluded.
For Yuigahama herself, this was probably a perfect finish.
Though lost, Yuigahama’s brimming confidence swept Nanami along, making her nod subconsciously.
But then, Nanami seemed to remember something and mumbled aloud.
“Hmm, actually… he’s already helped me out many times.”
“Eh? Really? There’s hope, there’s hope! That means he probably likes you too! The relationship between you two might just need to be clarified!”
Yuigahama clapped her hands excitedly, as happy as if it were her own news.
“R-really?”
Hearing Yuigahama say that, Nanami suddenly felt butterflies in her stomach and started to feel hopeful.
“Of course! You gotta trust the judgment of me, Yuigahama, the Love Sensei!”
Yuigahama grinned, flashing her teeth, and gave a thumbs-up.
That mysterious confidence of hers was just so contagious. Nanami felt her own spirits lift, getting fired up by Yuigahama’s words.
“S-so, what should I ask him to help me with?”
“Keh keh, good question! Teacher here has already got the perfect thing planned! That is— ask him to play the role of your male lead!”
“Male lead?”
Nanami was taken aback.
“What male lead?”
“You dummy! The male lead for the seiyuu audition, of course! Have him be your practice partner! To practice the lines with you!”
Yuigahama had already thought of this brilliant idea earlier, when Nanami first mentioned the seiyuu audition.
Now, she had refined the idea into a concrete, workable plan.
Yuigahama pushed up her glasses. This action actually added a touch of intellectual charm to her otherwise big-boobed-and-airheaded persona. Bathed in this extra charm point, the girl flashed a mysterious smile.
“Come on, hand me the script for your audition!”
Yuigahama commanded such presence that Nanami instinctively obeyed.
“Huh? It’s actually the script for ‘Love Metronome’?”
Yuigahama flipped through the pages quickly. “Flip, flip, flip.”
Her eyes lit up.
“There! I found a section that would be just perfect for you two to practice!”
“Rustle, rustle, rustle,” went the pages as Yuigahama flipped through the script.
“Yep, this is the one!”
She found it a moment later, excitedly pointing to a section of text.
Nanami leaned over to see where Yuigahama was pointing.
“Eh? That part?! N-no! That’s… that’s absolutely impossible!”
“Nanami, don’t be shy, you can do it!”
Yuigahama gave Nanami an encouraging look.
“How can I not be shy?! No matter how bold, I couldn’t possibly do that! And… Yuigahama-san, this section you picked… it’s the abridged version!”
“The fact that it’s the abridged version is exactly why I chose it!”
“Please pick a normal segment…”
Nanami’s faith in Yuigahama wavered once more.
“Trust me, we’re aiming for a surprise win!”
“Before you say that… can you demonstrate it first? These lines…”
Nanami couldn’t help rolling her eyes as she spoke.
The section Yuigahama pointed to was full of lines like “Ohh!” and “Aaah!”…
Seriously, why on earth would she ask Himekoji to practice this with her? Was she auditioning to voice an ero anime or something?
“A demonstration? Easy! No problem!”
Yuigahama puffed out her chest and readily agreed.
Taking a deep breath and glancing at the script, she prepared to build up her emotions. But then, a hand suddenly reached out and snatched the script away.
“Sigh. If you’re going to help, help properly.”
Yukinoshita sighed, putting a stop to Yuigahama’s nonsense.
“If it’s ‘Love Metronome’, there should be one section that’s perfectly suitable.”
Saying this, Yukinoshita flipped through the pages rapidly. “Rustle, rustle, rustle.”
“Hey, Yukino-chan? Didn’t you hand this request over to me fully?”
Yuigahama had wanted to handle this request solo, to prove she could hold her own as a member of the Service Club too.
It felt like a stinging disappointment, like having hard-earned credit snatched away.
Yukinoshita didn’t bother catering to Yuigahama’s sulky mood at this point. Though she’d stayed out of it until now, her intervention was swift and decisive.
When she reached a specific page, Yukinoshita looked at Nanami—
“Yuigahama’s method might indeed have some effect. But if we’re picking a specific segment, I believe this one is excellent.”
Yukinoshita pointed out the section she’d chosen to Nanami.
“Aaaah, this segment!”
Nanami gasped, instinctively covering her mouth with her hand, the muffled sound escaping through her fingers.
The section Yukinoshita picked was the one where the heroine confesses to the hero, one of the most climactic parts in the entire story.
Practicing this segment with Himekoji would still be seriously embarrassing, but it was worlds better than that earlier ecchi-style dialogue.
Besides, seeing as it was lines from a confession scene…
Perhaps, under the cover of the character she played, she might be able to voice the things she wanted to say but couldn’t, express the feelings she wanted to confess but held back out of shyness… precisely to Himekoji.
Thinking this, there was nothing left to hesitate about.
“O-okay! I understand! I’ll try my hardest!”
Nanami took the script back, nodding seriously, her fighting spirit ignited.
She was always a meticulous girl, and that applied to love as well. No matter how embarrassed she was, once she decided on something, she would strive to do it, and do it to the best of her ability.
“Eh? You rejected my pick but accepted Yukino-chan’s…?”
Yuigahama, who had been proudly playing the role of Nanami’s teacher, looked instantly displeased. She scooted closer, eager to contribute her brilliance once more.
“Ah! After this confession scene, there’s a kiss scene on the Ferris Wheel! Little Nanami-chan, when the time comes, make sure you go for it and kiss him~!”
Yuigahama’s words were partly meant to tease Nanami; she expected Nanami to turn bright red.
But surprisingly—
“Hmm, I’ll consider it…”
Nanami actually looked thoughtful, pondering the suggestion seriously.
Yuigahama’s eyes darted. Suddenly, she thought of another problem.
“Oh, right, Nanami. You’re so shy. Are you sure you’ll be able to say it when the time comes?”
“Absolutely!”
Nanami was at the peak of her fighting spirit and instinctively clenched her little pink fists as she answered.
“Really?”
Yuigahama was doubtful.
“Um… probably…?”
The thing called Nanami’s fighting spirit lasted less than a minute before vanishing into thin air, leaving only the flush on her cheeks.
“Alright! Since I’m your teacher, I’ll help you help all the way through—tomorrow, I’ll go tell him about this!”
“Eh? This… is this really okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? Plus, I can see who our Nanami-chan likes~ Hehehe.”
Yuigahama’s little thoughts clicked audibly in her head.
“Sigh… Hey, Yuigahama…”
“Huh, what is it, Yukino-chan? Are you coming tomorrow too? Honestly, I already have a feeling this request is going to wrap up smoothly!”
Rubbing her temples with a look of distress, Yukinoshita appeared ready to stop Yuigahama from volunteering. But seeing her so enthusiastic, and lacking a solid reason to object, she could only give up wearily.
Nearby, Hikigaya was practically gobsmacked by Yuigahama’s master plan. Damn it, when Yuigahama discovered the truth tomorrow…
Hikigaya felt his brain shudder. The urge to snark surfaced instinctively.
“At this moment, there really is nothing else for it but to recite a single line of verse—
Yuigahama’s brilliant plan settles the world, costs him…”
“Costs what?”
Hikigaya’s muttered verse caught Yuigahama’s attention. She glanced up at him.
“Costs him… uh, profound admiration! Yep, profound admiration!”
Hikigaya awkwardly clasped his hands together, unwilling to linger a second longer in such a dangerous situation. He grabbed his school bag and made a quick escape.
“Hikki! Let’s both go cheer Nanami on tomorrow!”
“Uh, that… I’ll pass.”
Hikigaya didn’t even turn his head as he waved a hand in refusal, exiting the Service Club at a brisk pace.
…
…