"Isn't this exactly the kind of person who needs your help? Yukino, why don't you help Komi-san make some friends?"

Listening to Haruto's persuasion, Yukinoshita Yukino actually felt… that he had a point.

But she quickly realized something.

That tone of voice and that expression—It was exactly the same as when he was wringing every ounce of work out of his subordinates!

"She's clearly here for you, and yet you're passing this off to me. What do you take me for?"

Yukino frowned as she questioned him.

Hearing that, Haruto froze.

Wait, that's not right.

This is Miss Yukinoshita Yukino—the one who upholds justice. Shouldn't she agree even knowing it's troublesome?

Otherwise, she wouldn't even have the idea of starting a Service Club.

So… what's going on now?

Looking at Yukino's slightly puffed cheeks—

Was she… sulking?

But why?

As Haruto pondered—

Yukino continued:

"I can help her, but on one condition."

Hearing this, Haruto pretended to think for a moment before replying:

"Condition or not, as long as it's a request from you, Yukino, I'd never refuse."

Yukino was clearly sulking.

He didn't know why—But now was definitely the time to choose his words carefully. Directly agreeing too easily, or refusing outright—

Neither would be ideal when the situation wasn't clear.

So, aiming for the heart of the matter was the better tactic.

And sure enough—

Hearing his words, Yukino blinked, and her cheeks flushed slightly. This guy… why was he suddenly saying things like that?

A moment ago, she had been speaking out of spite.

If Haruto had simply agreed without hesitation—She would've thought he valued Komi Shouko more than her.

That he would promise anything for Komi's sake.

That she was just a tool to him.

But if he had refused—

Of course she would've been unhappy to have her request denied.

His reply instead brought a faint sweetness to her heart.

But soon after, she got even more annoyed.

"You've got some nerve saying that—when you just turned down my invitation to join the Service Club last semester."

At that, Haruto felt himself falter. How could he forget about that? His clever plan had instantly turned into a self-made trap.

Yukino shot him a sharp glare—

But didn't pursue it further, instead saying:

"My condition is this: I'm forming the Service Club, and you're joining it."

Haruto instinctively wanted to refuse.

This kind of troublesome thing…

But seeing Yukino's not-so-kind expression—

He nodded.

Fine.

Round and round they went, and he still ended up in the Service Club. Was this the convergence of the world lines? Was it inevitable that every OreGairu fanfic protagonist had to join the Service Club?!

Of course, even if Haruto joined—

He definitely wasn't going to follow Yukino around running errands. At most, if he happened to encounter something during his free time, he'd lend a hand.

After all—

The Foundation was already so busy.

Surely the understanding Miss Yukinoshita Yukino would see reason.

Seeing him agree—

Yukino couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't all that sincere.

Still, her obsession with the Service Club wasn't as strong as it had been in her first year. Within the Foundation, she could also uphold her justice.

And so, in their final year—

Yukino finally established Sobu's legendary club:

The Service Club.

Its current members: Yukinoshita Yukino, the always-involved Miss Dango, the lazy Foundation director, and the space-filling Saint Megumi.

Their very first request—Was to help Komi Shouko overcome her communication disorder and make friends!

The club application was quickly approved.

Perhaps because one of the applicants was Haruto.

Whether it was Hiratsuka Shizuka or the higher-level faculty in charge of club approvals—Haruto's name carried considerable weight.

Few teachers in Sobu High hadn't heard of him.

After all, he was the only student in Sobu's history to participate in the exchange program with the other two "Three Great Schools" and thrive in both.

Even the clubroom—

Instead of being an abandoned room they had to clean themselves,

They were assigned a fully usable tiered classroom.

After a full day of classes—

The Service Club had its first official activity.

"Haruto, where do you think you're going?"

Ignoring the shocked stares around them—Yukino's snow-white arm hooked around Haruto's neck.

It looked ambiguous.

If it were an ordinary person, they'd probably be suffocating right now.

It had to be said—

Being around certain people changes you.

The old Yukinoshita Yukino would never have done something like this in public.

But now… heh.

Caught, Haruto gave a sheepish grin:

"Of course, I'm heading to the clubroom for club activities!"

Yukino: You'd better be.

In the end, Haruto went to the Service Club's room.

Inside were four people.

Yukinoshita, Haruto, Yuigahama, and Komi.

Megumi Kato had something to handle today—she had to deal with a memetic anomaly, so she left early.

"Well then, the Service Club's first activity will be helping Komi-san make friends,"

Yukino said seriously from the head seat.

If she was going to run the Service Club—

She would do it properly.

This, too, was justice.

Miss Dango, however, looked stunned.

"Eh? Help Komi-san make friends? But isn't making friends super easy for Komi-san?"

From Yuigahama Yui's perspective—For a beauty like Komi Shouko, making friends should be easy—Unless she simply didn't want to.

Standing to the side, Komi looked slightly uneasy.

This girl was close to tears.

If she could make friends easily, she would've done so already!

Haruto coughed lightly, picking up the explanation.

"Komi-san has severe communication disorder syndrome. It's very difficult for her to communicate normally, so she can't make friends the usual way."

Hearing this, Yuigahama blinked her big eyes.

Clearly, Miss Dango hadn't processed it yet.

Haruto clapped his hands.

"Anyway, Yui, try making friends with Komi-san and you'll understand." Though confused, Yuigahama nodded.

Then she walked over to Komi.

"Hi Komi-san, I'm Yuigahama Yui—you can just call me Yui. Can I be your friend?"

Miss Dango went straight for the direct approach.

And then—

Komi… froze.

Her eyes turned sharp.

An intense aura burst from her—like a cold wind blowing from the peak of an icy mountain. Even Yuigahama couldn't help shivering.

In the end, unable to handle the pressure—

She stepped back twice and hid behind Haruto.

"Does Komi-san really want to make friends? Did we maybe misunderstand?"

She said this close to tears.

Haruto reached out to pat her dango head.

Then he walked over to Komi.

The icy, frigid air that had surrounded her vanished instantly. Her eyes turned back into the happy little bean eyes.

Like a cute black cat—

Safe by Haruto's side.

Seeing this, Yuigahama's eyes widened.

"Eh!? What's going on?! Don't tell me Komi-san just doesn't like me?"

She looked devastated.

Haruto shook his head.

From the side of the classroom, he took a small chalkboard and handed a piece of chalk to Komi.

Komi instantly understood.

She quickly wrote on it:

"I'm just nervous. I want to make friends, but I don't know how to start talking."

Her handwriting was beautiful.

Elegant and refined.

Reading Komi's words, Yuigahama felt a little better. Yukinoshita, meanwhile, was quietly thinking. In Komi's situation, achieving "freedom of friendship" wouldn't be easy.

Usually, people with social anxiety make friends by waiting for an extrovert to "adopt" them.

Like Bocchi—Waiting on the roadside to be picked up by a little angel from Shimokitazawa. But when Komi tried to talk to people—she unconsciously exuded that sharp, icy aura.

Scaring off the people who might adopt her.

This was… difficult.

Difficult? Then just don't do it! flips table (not really)

"Could we try special training to change her nervousness?"

Miss Dango suggested.

Yukino shook her head.

"If special training alone could erase nervousness, then communication disorders could be easily cured."

At that moment, Haruto spoke up:

"I have a friend…"