"I didn't know you were into light novels, Yukinoshita."
The usual cat-print book wrap that Yukinoshita Yukino used to protect her books had dropped, revealing the title behind, "My Teenage Romantic Comedy SNAFU", it screamed, in bright pink-and-blue characters. Such "trashy light novels" were very much unlike the reserved and cultured Yukinoshita, thought Hikigaya Hachiman to himself. He had expected her to read Tolstoy's War and Peace, in the original Russian, for recreation.
It was a very quiet day at the Service Club. Not even Yuigahama had come to bother them. As such, a rather satisfied Yukinoshita had made herself a cup of Earl Grey tea and sat down in her usual chair, reading. Not unlike a house cat, really. Maybe she would be at home in Kamakura's basket, he thought?
As Hachiman attempted to dispel that thought from his mind, a frown appeared on Yukino's face. "Yes," she said, in an oddly long drawl, "I know what you're thinking, I don't exactly read Tolstoy's War and Peace in its original Russian for recreation. I must admit, I have Zaimokuza-kun to thank for getting me into the light novel genre. It's become a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. After all, I am a normal girl." Her voice became a lot more cold and steely after this point, which Hachiman had nicknamed her "I'll-freeze-you-to-death" mode.
"Now, if only that Wataru Watari would release volume 13 already. I'm eager to find out if Mikitani-kun and Kotsuka-kun end up together, and what of the girls Yurihama and Yukikawa who fell for him. Of course, the last volume has to end of a cliffhanger, and then things get delayed, and delayed, and delayed..." she muttered in that cold voice. On instinct, Hachiman felt a bit scared. He hadn't felt this way for a while, probably since they first met. "Shogakukan's website did mention it was going to be released last month, but then they took it down again. And today, according to internet forums, the listing was put back up. No pre orders allowed, surprisingly." she continued, anger now turned to exasperation as she sighed and put down the book.
She looked at her cup and noticed it was empty. Reading and drinking with the mind in autopilot could do that to someone. "Want a refill, Hikigaya-kun?" she offered, getting up and walking towards the thermos placed by the windowside. By the looks of it, she wasn't done ranting. "Can't remain positive about things like that. The author sounds like a piece of work, he keeps insisting on his twitter that he's writing TeeCom but at the same time he retweets things like Gi(a)rlish Number and Qualidea Code. No, his fanbase aren't interested in that. I'm even surprised I myself am still following this contemptible nonsense." she said, as she replaced the teabag and poured some more hot water into the cup.
Just as Hachiman was about to return to his math homework, he heard a yelp and a cry of "Ouch!". Getting up, he saw that Yukino had scalded herself with the hot water. "Are you okay, Yukinoshita?" he asked. "Go to the bathroom and run it under some cool water for a while."
"That's a good idea, for once, Hikigaya-kun." Taking his suggestion, Yukino wrapped her hand in a paper towel, and hastily strode out of the room.
Unfortunately, I kind of missed the boat for Yukino to react to volume 12, so this will have to do.
And yes, names are changed in the variant of Oregairu that Yukino's reading, since wouldn't it be weird to read a book about yourself? And of course, there's really no other choice but Totsuka for 8man (in this case, Kotsuka).