Chapter 43: No Mistake, Yukinoshita Is Not Cute At All!

…

Not joining the tennis club meant the next plot point involved convincing Yukinoshita to help Saika together under the Service Club’s name.

In the galgame, those were the tasks he needed to do next.

Yet the reality was—

All those tasks got snatched away by Hikigaya.

Tsk! So annoying, where did this useless extra character pop up from? He’s totally stealing the spotlight!

Seriously, why even bother inserting such a meddling second female lead as a love rival in real life?!

Besides, in most games, isn’t the second female lead part of the male lead’s harem? Why here was he facing off against her as a rival?

Oh god, a love rival!!!

How is any of this logical?!

…

Himekoji Akito ran straight to the Service Club after free-time ended, only to still be a step behind Hikigaya.

“It’s impossible.”

Fortunately, Yukinoshita’s very first words shut him down flat.

“What do you mean impossible? You—”

But shockingly, after shrinking back at first, Hikigaya found the courage to stand his ground and argue back.

My god…

Never seen Hikigaya dare to shout back at Yukinoshita before…

Is he suicidal?! That guy!

He shows zero motivation for anything normally, yet now he goes head-to-head with Yukinoshita—why?

It’s for Saika!

Definitely because of Saika!

This mission wasn’t going to be as straightforwardly easy and fun as expected.

Because this rival was playing for real!

“What’s impossible remains impossible.”

Yukinoshita’s voice turned freezing cold,

“Do you genuinely think you could participate in group activities? A creature like you wouldn’t be wanted anywhere.”

“Exactly, exactly!”

Even though he was Yukinoshita Yukino’s absolute polar opposite, this time, to crush the rival and complete the task, Himekoji broke precedent to back her up.

Hearing it, Yukinoshita glanced coldly over her shoulder at Himekoji. Then, instantly ignoring him like he’d vanished.

Huh?

What’s this woman’s problem? He’d grudgingly spoken up for her, yet not only was she ungrateful, but she acted so arrogantly too?

Then again, ever since Himekoji Akito grandly declared Yukinoshita was “flat-chested” back then, this awkward woman had been treating him like this.

Her stare at him felt like seeing air… or maybe a corpse…

“Gulp…”

Hikigaya, fully exposed, swallowed dryly, unable to refute.

Himekoji watched gleefully and couldn’t resist twisting the knife:

“People who can never fit into groups should just die alone forever!”

“You’re one to talk.”

Hikigaya might be helpless against Yukinoshita, but that didn’t mean he feared fellow outcast Himekoji Akito.

Both belonged to the “Five Shadows,” friendless at this school—so who was afraid of who?

“Says the guy who hasn’t blended in himself.”

Hikigaya’s lifeless Dead Fish Eyes widened, drilling directly and unflinchingly into Himekoji.

Okay, whoever blinks first loses!

Himekoji took the challenge. Two masters of loneliness, locked in a staring match at the Service Club, ready to duel to the death.

Ignoring these useless troublemaking minnows entirely, Yukinoshita continued:

“Initially, finding a common enemy in you might’ve let them unite against you. But effort driven solely by exclusion brings zero self-improvement. So your actions solved nothing. The evidence? Me.”

“So well said! Uh… evidence?”

Himekoji, eyes burning mid-staredown, took a break to cheer—then suddenly froze, bewildered.

Evidence?

“Exactly, evidence being me. I, returning here from abroad in middle school, naturally appeared as the most outstanding, most adorable transfer student. Therefore, unsurprisingly, every girl in my class—no, the entire school—grew jealous. Fiercely, intensely jealous, even striving to exclude me. Yet despite that, not one bothered working hard to genuinely surpass me…”

Saying this, Yukinoshita seemed to spawn burning black flames behind her back somehow.

“Pathetic vermin…”

She muttered softly, expression icy beyond measure.

Bad news—landmine territory!

“Well, umm, someone cute like you transferring in would inevitably cause that.”

Shockingly, Hikigaya—who’d been fighting Yukinoshita moments ago—suddenly switched stance.

Huh? That quick?! Hikigaya surrendered and started flattering her?

Pfft! How’s this guy so smooth with the flattery?

Himekoji instantly shot him a scowl. He despised people without spine who buttered others up!

“Y-yeah! You shine so brightly, Yukinoshita… people getting jealous is normal…”

Then Himekoji shamelessly jumped on the praise bandwagon too.

Ahem—to avoid misunderstandings, Himekoji wasn’t as lowly as Hikigaya licking boots. He had no choice!

See those black flames rising behind her? Fail to calm her now and disaster strikes! The school—no, the whole world—would be swallowed by burning flames!

To save the world, Himekoji Akito made a noble sacrifice—he sucked up to his worst enemy, Yukinoshita.

Himekoji was the Hero. A world-saving Hero!

Absolutely right!

“…Ah. Well. That’s true enough. Against them, my looks certainly shine brighter, and I’m too strong to grovel. So in some ways, this outcome couldn’t be helped.”

Yukinoshita seemed briefly lost for words before snapping back into form, lavishly praising herself as usual:

“That said, Kasumigaoka and Sawamura are rather cute too, quite popular among boys. Yet not just looks—studies, sports, arts, even etiquette and spirituality—I undoubtedly surpass them by far. If someone’s tried their hardest but still can’t catch up, tripping others is forgivable.”

Hold it!

Where exactly was that “undoubtedly surpass them” conclusion from, comparing yourself to Kasumigaoka and Sawamura?!

And playing dirty definitely wasn’t their style! Both top-tier popularity and white-listed favorites had their pride!

Spouting such shameless self-praise? Amazing she didn’t bite her tongue cramming all that out.

Panting hard after her speech (“Haa… haa…”) with rosy cheeks too—must be psychological.

Wait… no… was this actually her super-special awkward-embarrassment?

Slightly cute? Maybe?

“Anyway, people like you could never understand.”

Hah? People like us? Us?

Hearing it, both Himekoji and Hikigaya instinctively turned to stare at each other.

Strange! Why group me with him?! Unacceptable! Hikigaya’s too gross!

Both victims silently fumed, thinking identical complaints.

Still, one utterly unnecessary fact got reconfirmed—

Yep, Yukinoshita wasn’t cute at all!

That momentary earlier thought of her being slightly cute?

Pure delusion!

Dead wrong!