Chapter 328: The So-Called Script
Chapter 328: The So-Called Script
“Nanami? Nanami?”
Yuigahama waved her hand in front of Nanami’s face.
“Huh? Ah, what’s wrong?”
Nanami snapped back to attention, her gaze still a bit distant.
Memories of that certain pervert had flooded her mind just now, pulling her deep into thought.
She felt a whirlwind of emotions inside.
“Is the person Nanami likes in our class?”
Getting no answer for so long, Yuigahama decided to use her own little brain to solve the mystery.
“Huh?”
She guessed it! Nanami blushed instantly, then fumbled with her skirt hem nervously.
Seeing this, Yuigahama gained more confidence.
“Heh heh, so I already know who it is!”
“Who?”
“Who?”
“Who?”
All three voices rang out at the exact same moment.
Nanami looked panicked.
Yukinoshita lifted her eyelids slightly, showing a trace of surprise.
Hikigaya asked while shaking his head, not holding any expectations for Yuigahama’s answer at all.
“The person Nanami likes—”
Brimming with confidence, Yuigahama drew out her words like she wanted to keep everyone guessing.
Was he going to be named?
Nanami clutched her chest, her heart pounding wildly.
Yukinoshita frowned.
Hikigaya glanced over at Yuigahama.
Everyone’s focus was entirely on Yuigahama.
“The person Nanami likes—is Daichi!”
Yuigahama threw out this conclusion firmly right in front of all three.
No one expected it.
“Huh?”
Just a second ago, Nanami felt like her heart had almost stopped. Now she blinked in shock, her heartbeat returning to normal the instant Yuigahama spoke.
Yukinoshita lowered her head without a word and reopened her Bunko edition.
Meanwhile, Hikigaya muttered under his breath—
“I knew it…”
The attention focused on Yuigahama vanished completely in an instant.
Going from the center of attention in the Service Club to completely ignored, Yuigahama felt the sudden drop sharply.
“Hey hey hey, what’s with that reaction? Did I guess wrong?”
The Service Club became deathly silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
No one answered her.
The awkwardness felt scary.
“Then who else could it be? Hayato? Shun? Saika?”
Yuigahama started throwing out wild guesses left and right, true to her style.
She figured saying every boy’s name meant one had to be correct.
Surprisingly, her memory was good enough to list all twenty-eight boys in the class without missing one.
Of course, Nanami also rolled her eyes twenty-seven times without missing once.
What was the point of guessing wrong twenty-seven times in a row?!
“Nanami, I’ve said all the boys’ names now! It can’t be none of them, right?”
Yuigahama was close to despair.
Wait! Could Nanami like a girl?!
This sudden thought popped into her head, making her clutch her chest and step back in shock.
Suddenly, she remembered the Nth strategy she carefully studied last night to help Nanami—
Ask the person you like how to date…
The big plus of this plan was getting the most information about your crush, plus creating chances for sparks to fly while asking!
If this was it…
Nanami’s scheming and acting skills were way too scary!
Pretending to be new to love to get close, her flawless performance fooled her completely…
If she hadn’t caught on in time because she was so smart, who knew what could’ve happened?
…
Just as Yuigahama’s thoughts were spiraling and her imagination running wild, a “knock, knock, knock” sounded outside the Service Club door.
Here he comes!
As the only two who could guess the script, Yukinoshita and Hikigaya exchanged a look.
“Come in.”
Her fingers turning the book pages paused abruptly. Yukinoshita lightly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and spoke coolly.
Himekoji pushed the door open.
He came straight from the Art Classroom, having just posed as Mashiro’s model.
On the way over, he kept wondering what Nanami needed him for?
That time she spoke to him, she seemed jittery, avoiding his eyes. Her odd expression bugged him.
He was so hung up on Nanami that he completely forgot something else pretty important—
Keeping his distance from Hikigaya!
[Bing!]
The second he stepped into the Service Club, the System notification sounded perfectly on time.
[Sales Task Stage Seven!]
[Sell yourself to Hikigaya for 10,000 yen!]
[Resistance Count: Three left!]
…
“Oh? Akito, it’s you! What a rare visitor!”
Seeing Himekoji at the door, Yuigahama paused the show playing in her head and greeted him with an uplifted hand, a hint of pleasant surprise in her gesture.
“Ah… Yeah…”
Himekoji mumbled distractedly.
Snap.
Yukinoshita neatly closed her bunko edition book with crisp finality.
The moment Himekoji stepped inside, Hikigaya took a subtle step backward.
Nanami clutched her chest tightly, as if trying to hide her wildly pounding heartbeat.
In that instant, the five people inside the Service Club reacted differently without even thinking.
…
“But… wasn’t he supposed to be here by now? Why hasn’t he shown up?” Yuigahama, once past the initial surprise, couldn’t hide her disappointment.
She was happy to see Himekoji, but disappointed because the answer she was so eagerly waiting for – the juicy secret about Nanami’s crush – was still a mystery.
When the knock came, she’d thought, Finally! Nanami’s crush is here!
Who knew it was Himekoji Akito instead? That ghost member who only occasionally bothered showing up to the Service Club.
Yuigahama’s mind raced once more –
Could it be… Nanami saying her crush was coming was just a made-up excuse?
The real purpose…
Is it still aimed at me?!
“Nanami… Love itself isn’t wrong… but who you love can be wrong…”
Yuigahama practically stamped a ‘yuri’ label onto Nanami.
Just as Yuigahama was about to deliver a heartfelt, serious lecture, she barely got warmed up before a frantic Nanami, looking utterly flustered, rushed forward and clamped a hand over her mouth.
Whatever Yuigahama intended to say next came out as muffled “Mmph! Mmmph!”
Yuigahama’s heart sank with a ‘thud’. Trouble!
Looking at Nanami like this… she seemed ready to use force!
How horrible!
How do I save you? My poor, misguided little disciple!
Yuigahama sighed sadly, filled with despair for her situation.
…
Love itself isn’t wrong, but the person you love can be wrong… is that really true?
Loving is right… loving Himekoji is wrong?
But come on! That’s ridiculous–
Where in the world is there a perfect, absolutely ‘correct’ kind of love?
Yuigahama, who had confidently promised to help her before, seemed to take it back the moment she learned Nanami liked a ‘pervert’.
Covering Yuigahama’s mouth, Nanami didn’t want to hear the denial from the person who had helped her so much.
She was scared she might lose her nerve.
Whether it was right or wrong… she wouldn’t know unless she tried.
It hadn’t even started yet…
So she had to start!
Since Yuigahama wouldn’t help her anymore, she’d have to do it herself!
Nanami made up her mind.
Time to use the script!
…
What did Nanami want with him?
Why did she call him to the Service Club?
Whatever it was, whatever the reason, it all seemed like it needed to wait.
The option popping up right now was really bad timing.
Ever since that long-term thing appeared last time, whenever Himekoji saw Hikigaya, he needed to stay far, far away.
But no matter how careful he was – walking the other way when he saw her, running off as soon as he heard her voice – the options kept triggering.
From the School Trip until now, less than three weeks, it had triggered… seven times already.
Only three chances left!
Ten failures… who knew what punishment that would bring?
…
“H-Himekoji-kun!”
Gathering every bit of courage she had, Nanami squeezed her eyes shut and yelled his name.
“Ah… Nanami? Whatever it is… can it wait a bit?” Himekoji mumbled awkwardly, almost as if embarrassed. Without paying any more attention to the nervous, excited, and flushed-faced Nanami, he instead fixed his gaze on Hikigaya, who had somehow shrunk back into the classroom corner.
[Ding!]
[Option added –]
[Kabedon! Pervert Edition: Use ALL Limbs! Thump-Thump-Thump-Thump!]
[Example Image:
]
Himekoji: “…”
Seriously? Couldn’t it be a normal kabedon for once?
While silently rolling his eyes inside, Himekoji had no choice but to accept this weird ‘set-up’. Sigh.
He put on a stern face and walked towards Hikigaya with deliberate seriousness.
Here it comes again! That pervert’s at it again!
Hikigaya’s face darkened with frustration. She scurried backward quickly until she hit the wall, trapped.
She mentally scolded herself.
I totally should have left before Himekoji got here. Why didn’t I think of that?
She knew perfectly well that the person Nanami called was Himekoji! Why did she stupidly stay?!
Himekoji had no idea what Hikigaya was thinking. And even if he did, he wouldn’t have cared right now.
Under the watchful eyes of the Service Club members, Himekoji crossed the few-meter distance at an oppressively slow pace before finally stopping and standing directly in front of Hikigaya.
This strangely tense atmosphere made it feel like something major was about to happen.
Everyone unconsciously held their breath as they quietly watched.
Hikigaya was backed into a corner between two walls extending straight ahead.
Himekoji stood coolly before her.
Even Hikigaya, who’d recently been massively annoyed by him, had to admit this pervert looked decently attractive when silent and still.
But that coolness was fleeting since he’d inevitably start acting up any moment…
Hikigaya’s prediction proved entirely accurate.
Himekoji immediately launched into action—
He took a deep breath, gathered strength, then abruptly leapt into the air from his spot.
Stretching both arms and legs out with a synchronized “thud thud thud thud,” he planted his hands and feet firmly on the two perpendicular walls, clinging like a lizard.
Hikigaya gaped, dumbfounded.
What nonsense was this pervert pulling now?!
Those flashy moves aren’t impressive!
Tilting her gaze upward, she could see Himekoji’s bulging crotch suspended right before her eyes.
Dammit! She really wanted to reach out and crush it!
Balanced steadily on the walls with all four limbs, Himekoji peered down coolly at her from above.
“Give me ten thousand yen. I’ll marry you.”
The System had even scripted the line this time, leaving him no choice but to spit it out despite the awkwardness.
“Ma-marry?! Marry me?! Get lost!”
Hikigaya flushed deep red with rage.
A prank once or twice was tolerable, but Himekoji was hitting her with this act a seventh time now! Even a dead fish would flare up!
The girl chopped her hands outward, striking both legs Himekoji had braced against the walls like sharp blades.
His “Quadruple Kabedon” stance collapsed instantly, sending him skidding and stumbling partway down before catching his footing.
Not even given a chance to savor her victory, humiliation overwhelmed Hikigaya’s face again—because despite slipping down the walls, Himekoji’s hands remained firmly planted beside her!
So now the pose was even more embarrassing?!
Transformed from slapstick Kabedon to romantic idol-drama Kabedon…
He stood unbearably close now. His chilly nose tip seemed inches from touching her face. His breathing became audible—soft, rapid breaths tinged with warmth.
So near she might have heard his heartbeat too.
No… maybe it was her own pulse pounding.
This nearness to someone of the opposite sex felt entirely unfamiliar.
Her Dead Fish Eyes seemed almost animated now, transforming into Flustered Fish Eyes darting sideways as her unfocused gaze blurred his close-proximity face into a hazy yet magnetically bewildering shape.
Then Himekoji spoke.
“Ten tho—”
“Screw your ‘ten thou’!”
Her mind snapped back into focus as reality crashed in—the extreme pervert standing before her was utterly shameless.
She absolutely couldn’t play along here!
Time to retaliate.
Hikigaya seized one Kabedon-plastered arm, twisted violently, and slammed back-first into Himekoji’s chest. Her head snapped upward for a vicious chin-strike while her elbow jammed backward. Simultaneously, her leg swept low to crush his base.
His balance faltered. Hikigaya instantly capitalized, grabbing the arm she’d pulled forward—and pivoted her shoulders:
Hip toss!!!
Himekoji’s world lurched violently into spirals. Pain wracked his body. Eyes blinked open. He found himself flat on his back sprawled gracelessly across the floor, utterly stunned…
[Ding!]
[Failure!]
[Remaining Attempts: Two!]
“I knew it…”
A bitter taste lingered on his lips as he lay there, pinned.
Back when the options appeared, maybe he should’ve immediately chosen Hikigaya’s little sister…?
Script clutched in hand, Nanami froze mid-step.
Her conviction about conveying her feelings was shattering right then.
“Give me ten thousand yen. I’ll marry you.”
What… did he mean by that?
What meaning did those words hold, spoken to Hikigaya?
Even gulping air felt insufficient. Her mind rusted still. Only emptiness echoed within her thoughts.
Then, the next instant—a sudden pull wrenched the script from her grasp.
Dazedly, Nanami watched Yukinoshita stride past and take position before her intended confession target, holding Nanami’s stolen script high in judgmental stance.
“Care to explain that farcical performance just now?”
Her expressionless face resembled frozen crystallizing ice—beautiful enough to terrify, cold enough to suffocate.
“Huh?”
Yukinoshita’s piercing downward gaze felt chillingly oppressive. Shivering, Himekoji scrambled off the floor.
He rubbed the back of his head, forcing an awkward smile.
“Ah, well… old habits resurfacing. My bad, seriously.”
Remembering Hikigaya—who truly deserved the apology—was still behind him, he spun around and mumbled an awkward “sorry” her way.
Hikigaya just glanced away scornfully without even replying properly.
Himekoji regretted apologizing almost instantly.
Having swallowed his pride to apologize… only to be brushed aside?
Infuriating!
“Did Nanami call you here?”
That became Yukinoshita’s next sentence.
Even as she spoke, the girl flipped open the script gripped within her hands.
Love Metronome.