Chapter 318: Love War, Nanami is Serious!

Nanami recovered very well. In just two days, she was almost back to normal.

Study, part-time job, training class… the girl was busy again with many activities.

Himekoji noticed this and, while he still felt a little worried, thought Nanami wouldn’t likely make the same mistake again so soon after falling ill. After all, it just wasn’t like her. So, in the end, Himekoji chose to believe her.

Because Nanami had promised him that she was fine. She’d put her health first and honestly ask him for help when she needed it.

Since Nanami said so…

Anyway, she seemed way more dependable than Mashiro, right?

Compared to Nanami, Himekoji was obviously much more worried about the other girl.

Because Mashiro… was acting crazy again these past two days!

Getting out of the bath without drying off, standing naked on the balcony to enjoy the night breeze…

Drawing manga in her room, with the electric fan on its highest setting and the air conditioner set to a chilly 16 degrees…

Her mouth wasn’t idle either—one popsicle after another, until her tummy grew full and round…

“You’re really going to catch a fever like this, you dummy!”

No matter how many times Himekoji tried to stop her, it didn’t work.

“Catching a fever is good.”

That’s the answer he always got.

“What joke is this?”

Himekoji wondered if Mashiro was an alien. He simply couldn’t understand what was going on in her head.

She wasn’t like an Earthling at all!

“I’m serious.”

“So, I said, quit giving something like this your serious attention!”

…

But someone else was serious about something—

Aoyama Nanami.

Once she made up her mind, she’d always try her absolute best.

Serious about her dreams, serious about her studies, serious about her part-time work. That same serious attitude, that was all Nanami could bring to matters of love—and it was the only way she knew how.

Though she was shy, though she had no experience, though she still understood nothing, though her rival was super strong…

But, she’d made up her mind, hadn’t she?

Since she’d decided, there was no way back.

She’d always lived believing that you had to earn things through effort, that all things required a serious attitude and giving your all. That was how Aoyama Nanami had gotten this far.

Recently, though, Himekoji taught her one thing—

Perhaps the mark of someone growing up was learning that sometimes, it was okay to rely on others.

She should’ve realized it earlier—it wasn’t wrong to try hard, but constantly pushing yourself alone was wrong.

Learning to accept help, learning to ask others for help… this was the growth Nanami needed to go through.

Then it suddenly made sense to Nanami why Miss Hiratsuka Shizuka had sent her to the Service Club a week earlier.

So, at this very moment, Nanami finally knocked on the Service Club’s clubroom door.

Even if it was a week late.

…

“What?! Our school co-op actually had that kind of prize?!”

Yuigahama lived up to her role as the Service Club’s designated source of surprise. Seeing the grand prize—“Two-person Onsen Inn Accommodation Ticket”—in Yukinoshita’s hand, she couldn’t hold back her shocked yelp.

“Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Yukino-chan, let me see!”

Saying that, Yuigahama pounced on Yukinoshita with practiced ease and affection.

“The expiry is only until next week! So we’re going this weekend? This weekend?”

“Oi, Yukinoshita didn’t say she was going with you, did she.”

Hikigaya was quick to pour cold water on her excitement from the sidelines.

“Hot springs tickets like this are usually for lovers or family, you know.”

“Eh? Really? That’s too cruel! I really wanted to go with Yukino-chan!”

Yuigahama tugged Yukinoshita’s sleeve, eyes welling up, looking utterly pitiful.

“N-No, I didn’t say not with Yuigahama… Wait, no, it’d be great if Yuigahama came! I mean, I couldn’t go alone anyway. My family’s busy, I don’t have a lover, not even many friends…”

Faced with Yuigahama’s tearful, pleading look, Yukinoshita instantly surrendered.

She was hopeless against this kind of thing.

“Really? I knew it! Yukino-chan is the best!”

“Ah, listen, Yukinoshita, aren’t you spoiling her way too much? This is how kids get spoiled.”

Hikigaya sounded worried, shaking his head nearby.

“Who’re you calling a kid? Hikki!”

“Aah, fine, whatever. I’m going to buy a drink. You two need anything?”

Hikigaya looked away, distractedly tugging at a strand of his hair as he spoke.

“One MAX Coffee for me, please!”

Yuigahama didn’t hold back at all.

“Black tea for me, please. Thank you.”

Yukinoshita was much more polite.

“Yeah, yeah, got it.”

Hikigaya replied, but his mind was already wandering elsewhere—

Seriously, why was it that in this trio of a club, he felt like the third wheel?

Eh, wait!

He seemed to recall this club originally had four members?

Who was that mysterious fourth member who vanished?

He couldn’t quite remember.

Well, anyway… actually, the grand prize Yukinoshita got was way more interesting!

Hot springs trip… sounded amazing…

He really wanted to go too!

Too bad it was only for two people.

Hmm… maybe he could try his luck too?

He knew the grand prize was already taken, but maybe getting something else would be a nice little consolation.

It was exactly this thought that made Hikigaya decide to go out for drinks.

But he was so lost in his daydreaming that he nearly collided with a girl who suddenly burst into the clubroom.

“Oh! Sorry, almost hit you there! My bad!”

“Hah, s’fine.”

Hikigaya didn’t really mind. He nodded a greeting to the impulsive girl and walked out of the clubroom.

Just before he exited the door, though, he heard an unforgettable line—

“Please teach me about love!”

…

“Please teach me about love!”

Nanami’s words landed like a big bomb suddenly dropped into the fairly peaceful room.

“Eh?!”

“What?!”

In an instant, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were left stunned, seemingly caught in a wind.

(Incidentally, said “wind” was very real, courtesy of the powerful ceiling fan whirring on max speed above them.)

It took a long moment for Yukinoshita, acting in her capacity as club president, to finally regain her senses. She asked, sounding unsure:

“Um… I might be mistaken, but could you say that again, please…?”

It was the Service Club, and they occasionally got unusual requests, but it was truly their first time receiving one this urgent and direct, skipping any pleasantries and jumping straight to the point.

And that point touched upon territory none of them had ever explored.

Love…

That… was unexpectedly unsettling, no matter how you looked at it.

Say it again?

Whoosh—

Nanami took a deep breath, psyching herself up.

This was a request she had to voice, even if it made her blush—

“Please teach me about love!”

…

Serious, hardworking, and now trying to seek help from others.

This was the energy Nanami channeled when it came to love.

She learned from the mistakes of her recent failure and became stronger.

Even though she had only just stumbled last time, this time she decided—

She would run!

She wouldn’t lose!

Even if her opponent was Mashiro!

…