Chapter 511: Take Me Home

After seeing Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye disappear surrounded by classmates, Himekoji suddenly found himself with nothing to do. He walked aimlessly, looping around several times, and in the end, he vaguely ended up heading to the Service Club.

It was a small club classroom, but with only four people sitting inside, it felt spacious. Not a word was spoken—just the soft sound of papers turning.

Though the mood should have been calm and peaceful, Himekoji’s usual lightheartedness felt off-balance today because of Yukinoshita.

He was too concerned, far too concerned about Yukinoshita. Even Himekoji himself noticed it. He held the light novel bunko edition in his hands, seeming to skim through pages rapidly, but not a single word truly reached his eyes.

This state of mind felt a bit silly somehow, but Himekoji didn’t dislike it.

After all, caring too much was better than not caring at all.

Having no one and nothing to care about would truly make one a lonely soul devoid of joy. Overall, Himekoji was satisfied with how he’d changed.

The chime ringing out across the quiet school marked the end of the day.

Out of the corner of his eye, Himekoji saw Yukinoshita close her book and stand up gracefully.

His heart tightened. He almost reflexively started to stand up too, barely managing to stop himself.

Usually, even when the chime sounded, Yukinoshita would be the last to leave. Today was different.

“I’m leaving first,” she announced softly, picking up her schoolbag.

She didn’t look very well, perhaps still feeling unwell. But she wouldn’t say it—partly because she was stubborn, partly because she hated seeing others worry or fuss over her.

Yukinoshita walked out of the classroom. Five meters… ten meters… Himekoji silently calculated the distance he could cover to catch up. He quickly stood up at a point that wouldn’t seem too suspicious.

“I’m heading out too,” he said.

His pace was unhurried. Only once he was out of Yuigahama and Hikigaya’s sight did he stop pretending and speed up to follow her.

Left behind and still seated in the service clubroom, Yuigahama and Hikigaya exchanged a look at that moment. They smiled wordlessly, yet each seemed lost in their own thoughts.

…

Hearing footsteps behind her, Yukinoshita turned her head sharply, catching Himekoji completely off guard before he could hide.

Himekoji offered an awkward smile. He had intended to follow her quietly and unnoticed from behind, but it seemed his shadowing skills weren’t quite up to scratch; he’d been spotted too early.

With caution, he might have gotten away with it—after all, shadowing was practically a foundational skill for someone like him, labelled a pervert. But Himekoji’s thoughts had been scrambled while chasing after Yukinoshita: distracted by his feelings and afraid to lose sight of her, he simply couldn’t focus on being stealthy.

Yukinoshita stopped walking, fixed him with a stare where she stood. Her look held a hint of irritation, but it wasn’t truly angry.

Though Himekoji felt guilty, his thick skin held strong. He approached shamelessly in a few large steps, a foolish grin plastered across his face.

“President Yukinoshita,” he said, putting on his sincerest tone, genuinely putting in effort to look like he wanted to ease the burdens of the Service Club president. “Is there anything I could help you with?”

Looking at him, Yukinoshita felt Himekoji’s phony act was truly punchable. He followed her like that, yet still pretended to be some saint ready to solve problems? Ridiculous!

Strangely, though, she couldn’t bring herself to truly hate it—maybe felt slightly amused? But if she laughed now, this obnoxious guy would definitely become even more insufferably smug. So she pressed her lips together just in time, holding it back.

Still, for the entire day, the gloom caused by her discomfort had finally lightened somewhat.

“Not…”

You’re not sincere at all. How could you possibly help me?

She initially planned to flatly refuse. But a mischievous thought suddenly sparked. After a moment’s consideration, she changed her mind. Adopting the president’s formal stance, she ordered him:

“Don’t follow me.”

That was the “help” Yukinoshita required from Himekoji.

“Huh?” Himekoji hadn’t expected Yukinoshita’s countermove. He was completely blindsided.

Fortunately, he reacted fast and didn’t get upset. Seizing the chance she gave him, he playfully ran ahead of her as if offering to clear her path.

Both were leaving school after all. Unless they used the side gate, there was only one main path to the school entrance. Himekoji walked in front of Yukinoshita, keeping a lead of about two or three strides. Who was trailing whom? The dynamic flipped completely. It couldn’t even be called shadowing anymore.

“Pfft…”

A barely suppressed, light laugh came from behind. When Himekoji spun around, all he saw was the girl’s carefully composed, serious face—though it held a certain refreshing charm.

Seeing Himekoji look back, Yukinoshita gave him an exasperated eye roll. Then she straightened herself up, actually picking up her pace slightly to walk alongside him.

Now shoulder to shoulder, a subtle, faint, elegant scent drifted from beside him—something like orchid, but not quite orchid; like musk, but not quite musk. Unable to help himself, he subtly breathed in deeper. This tiny, unconscious act didn’t escape Yukinoshita’s sharp eyes. She cast him a glance filled with what seemed like disgust, then immediately turned her face cold, putting a distance of about two fists’ width between them.

And that disgusted look… was it actually genuine?!

“…” Words of explanation bubbled in Himekoji’s mind, but for a moment, none came out. Instead, he managed only a bitter smile.

I really didn’t mean to…

But to Yukinoshita, this was surely yet another undeniable incident proving he was a pervert.

He’d finally managed to get close to her just moments ago…

Shoulder to shoulder, awkward and tense… a young, fragile sort of connection.

He still had one memory of feeling like this before—back when they’d pretended to be a couple for that animal exhibition.

It was too bad the moment was shattered. What had been a decent atmosphere quickly veered towards awkwardness. Though Himekoji had plenty he wanted to say, it all stuck in his throat for now.

Neither spoke another word. They maintained, unspokenly, an uneasy closeness. Before he knew it, they were outside the school gates.

Their homes were in different directions. If nothing was said, there’d be no reason to continue walking together.

The guy should take the initiative more, Himekoji thought. Trying to act casual, he offered:

“Want me… to walk you home?”

There was no verbal answer. Or rather, Yukinoshita took action as her answer.

Without looking at Himekoji—pretending not to have heard—she scanned the distance ahead. Spotting the car and driver waiting near the roadside as usual, she left Himekoji standing there alone and walked away.

Not even a goodbye.

It was impossible not to feel disappointed. The sense of emptiness landed heavily in Himekoji’s chest.

He stood still, gazing with complicated emotions at Yukinoshita’s retreating back. He didn’t really expect her to suddenly change her mind, turn around, and come back. He just hoped that if he waved goodbye, she might respond.

But Yukinoshita never responded. Maybe because she felt no response was needed.

Yukinoshita reached the roadside, exchanged a few words with the driver who’d been waiting. The driver nodded, got into the car alone, and drove off.

Then, to Himekoji’s utter astonishment, Yukinoshita turned around, walked back towards him, and stopped right in front of him—

“Alright then,” her voice was faint, soft, mingling with the sudden faint breeze brushing past. “Take me home.”

……