Completely miscalculated...

In the afternoon, after the school bell rang, Hikigaya Hachiman sighed as he recalled borrowing Zaimokuza's novel earlier that morning to keep himself awake.

He had underestimated the power of Zaimokuza's writing.

Originally, he had planned to endure the morning classes and then catch some sleep during the noon break.

But who would have thought that Zaimokuza's novel was so potent that it completely wiped away his drowsiness.

"Hikki…"

From afar, Yui Yuigahama, who was with Yukinoshita Yukino, waving at him eagerly, was watching the situation inside the Service Club room through the classroom door window.

"What's going on? Why is everyone standing outside and not going in?"

Hachiman walked over puzzled, following their gaze into the classroom.

The familiar figure made his face twitch instantly.

Clatter...

Opening the classroom door, Hachiman stepped inside the Service Club room.

Yukino and Yui followed closely behind, eyes cautiously fixed on the figure who had his back to them.

"Oh, my dear friend, I finally waited for you!"

Upon hearing the familiar footsteps, Zaimokuza smiled confidently. He then spun around in what he thought was a flashy manner and struck a pose that he believed showed off his charisma.

"Hikigaya-kun, do you know him?"

Yukino immediately recognized this somewhat strange boy as the one who had come looking for Hachiman.

Instantly, the panic in her heart vanished, replaced by her usual calm and aloof demeanor.

She twirled her long hair and sat back in her usual seat by the window, pulled a book out of her bag, and put on a "you guys talk" expression.

"So, what do you want from me?"

Though Yukino said nothing, Hachiman clearly read her unspoken message to quickly get rid of Zaimokuza.

Scratching his head, Hachiman asked Zaimokuza why he had come to the Service Club.

"Heh heh heh…"

Upon being questioned, Zaimokuza emitted a mysterious laugh.

Then he leaned in close to Hachiman and whispered, "How was that thing I showed you this morning?"

?

Hearing this, Yui and Yukino, who were pretending to be busy but actually paying full attention to Hachiman, perked up their ears immediately.

Thing?

What thing?

Some secretive thing exchanged between two boys?

Could it be...

At the thought of this, Yui's face suddenly flushed red.

"Reading that kind of book is wrong!"

The words slipped out instinctively.

Seeing Hachiman and Zaimokuza turn to look at her, Yui panicked instantly.

She opened her mouth as if to say more but, facing their gazes, finally covered her face and fled to Yukino's side.

"What is she saying?"

Zaimokuza looked confused at Yui's sudden shyness.

He had only asked Hachiman about his impression of his novel.

Did the girl think his novel was some kind of taboo?!

That was too hurtful!

"I don't know…"

Hachiman shook his head, equally bewildered.

Who knew what nonsense was going through Yui's mind just now.

But speaking of Zaimokuza's novel...

"It's really boring."

Facing his friend's hopeful eyes, Hachiman mercilessly pointed out the flaws of the novel.

"Ugh!"

Clutching his chest, Zaimokuza stepped back a few paces, then quickly gathered himself.

Grabbing Hachiman's shoulders, he asked, "What about the rest? At least I've improved compared to my last novel, right?"

"Improved, huh."

Hachiman pondered, trying hard to recall any strengths in Zaimokuza's writing.

After a moment, his face lit up with a "Got it!" expression.

Seeing this, Zaimokuza smiled.

"I knew it. After all the hard work, I had to have made some progress."

"So this time you copied from a different book, right?"

Thud.

Zaimokuza dropped to his knees, defeated.

"That's a bit too much, Hikki…"

At that moment, hiding next to Yukino, Yui looked at Zaimokuza pitifully and launched an attack on Hachiman.

"That's true. The Service Club's mission is to satisfy its guests. What you just said was really inappropriate, Hachiman-kun. Even if this guy's novel is truly awful, you should express your opinion more tactfully."

Yukino nodded in agreement, supporting Yui's point.

Pfft!

Just as hope sparked in Zaimokuza's heart from Yui's words, Yukino's addition caused him to spit out a mouthful of old blood.

"I'm telling you, you wouldn't say things like that if you'd actually read the novels he's written."

Seeing Yukino and Yui ganging up on him, Hachiman quickly defended himself.

He'd already been quite polite.

If they read Zaimokuza's works, their criticism might be even harsher.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Yukino looked skeptical of Hachiman's words.

Zaimokuza's presence in the Service Club meant he passed the entrance exam to Sobu High School on merit.

Even if his writing was bad, it shouldn't be as terrible as Hachiman described.

"Well, you'll see for yourselves…"

Seeing Yukino unconvinced, Hachiman shrugged and stopped explaining.

He had already guessed why Zaimokuza came to the Service Club today.

If Zaimokuza only wanted Hachiman's opinion, he could have asked during break time.

There was no need to wait for him in the Service Club room.

"As expected of my dear friend!"

Sure enough, upon hearing Hachiman's words, Zaimokuza sprang to life from his fake death and jumped up.

He then pulled out three manuscripts even thicker than the one he gave Hachiman that morning and handed them to the three people in the Service Club.

"This is the full version of my novel. Please tell me your thoughts after reading it."

Adjusting his glasses, Zaimokuza smiled with mysterious confidence.

"Is that so?"

Looking at the thick stack of papers in his hands, Hachiman sighed.

Then he looked toward Yukino.

Speaking of which, was Zaimokuza seriously asking Yukino — the sharp-tongued one — for feedback?