"Excuse me, but is this the service club?" Our visitor, who was my classmate Yuigahama, asked while peeking through the door. I honestly didn't expect her to come here, as she was supposed to be at the mall with her friends.

"Yes, this room belongs to the service club." Responded Yukinoshita.

After confirming that this was indeed the Service Club, Yuigahama politely closed the door and carefully entered the room before letting out a shriek upon seeing me and Hikigaya.

"A-Ah! W-What's Hikki and Ayanokoji-Kun Doing here?"

'Hikki'? Was that supposed to be a pet name for Hikigaya? I didn't see them interacting in class even once though, and I can't picture an unsocial guy like Hikigaya befriending a cheerful girl like Yuigahama. It's possible they didn't show their friendship much around others and kept it a secret, but I can't be sure.

"We are members of the service club." Hikigaya replied.

"Wah-?! Ayanokoji-Kun, you too?" I nodded in confirmation to her question.

It was clear why Yuigahama was surprised. She and her clique wouldn't have known that I declined their invitation to join a club. Heck, even I didn't know that I would end up as a member of the Service Club.

"Wow! Ayanokoji-kun, you joined a club on your first day!" Yuigahama said, looking impressed. She probably thought that I was eager to participate in extracurricular activities.

I wanted to correct her misunderstanding, but I didn't feel the need to tell her that it was Hiratsuka-sensei who had thrown me into the club.

"Yuigahama Yui, right?" Yukinoshita asked.

"Eh? You know me, Yukinoshita-san?" Yuigahama's expression lit up at the mention of her name.

I'm not sure why, but from what I could see during the conversation between Hiratsuka-sensei and Yukinoshita, sensei also seemed to hold Yukinoshita in high regard. She did have a good-looking appearance and her demeanor resembled that of an honor student. From all this, it was safe to assume that she was well-known and respected by both students and teachers at school.

Hikigaya interjected sarcastically, "She probably knows every student in this school."

Yukinoshita sneered, "Not at all. I certainly didn't know you."

Hikigaya pointed his finger at me and retorted, "Hey, why are you just referring to me? You didn't know him either."

As those words left Hikigaya's mouth, Yukinoshita looked at him as if he was the most foolish person she had ever encountered.

'I can already sense the stream of insults about to flow from her lips.'

"Hikigaya-kun, are you truly that stupid? It's obvious that I won't know about him, given that he has only just joined the school today, but even so, he already seems to have a bigger presence than you. You don't have to get upset about it though, it was entirely my fault for not noticing you earlier. Your character disinterested me, and I felt compelled to avoid looking at you. It's all on me.," said Yukinoshita, insulting Hikigaya which probably shattered Hikigaya's self-esteem.

"H-hey, what's wrong with you? That's not a way to console some... Tch," Hikigaya shakily attempted to retort, but he cut himself off with a click of his tongue and a groan, slumping in his seat. Yukinoshita, on the other hand, paid him no attention and simply flicked the strands of hair that had fallen on her shoulders.

"Ayanokoji-kun, are they always like this?" Yuigahama addressed me, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she observed the exchange between my fellow club members. Perhaps she found their banter entertaining, just like I did.

"It's just my first day here, but as far as I have seen, they do enjoy taunting each other quite a lot," I answered.

"We do not!" they both interjected in unison, fixing me with a hostile glare. My comment must have hit a nerve. It was clear that they harbored mutual animosity towards each other.

Their banters reminded me of the times I spent with Horikita. While we didn't hate each other, we still liked to pick on each other from time to time.

"This club seems kind of fun," Yuigahama said while clasping both her hands together.

"Your assumption about the club being fun is totally incorrect. How can someone be happy while being with this thing in the room?" Yukinoshita said, pointing at Hikigaya.

"Well, umm... you know, Hikki's totally different than how he is in class, so I was like 'wow! he talks!'" Yuigahama said.

"Of course, I talk. And don't call me Hikki, bitch," Hikigaya said in response.

"Huh? Who are you calling a bitch? Seriously, what's wrong with you? You're such a creep, Hikki! That's the reason you don't have anyone to talk to," Yuigahama retorted.

"Me calling you a bitch doesn't relate to creepiness. And again, don't call me Hikki." Hikigaya shot back.

"Oh, by the way, I just remembered, but you're in Class F too, aren't you, Yuigahama-san?" Yukinoshita intervened.

"Huh? You are?" asked a perplexed Hikigaya.

Apparently, my assumption of them being close friends was completely off the mark. Hikigaya is probably so distant from the others that he doesn't even recognize his own classmates.

But what about the nickname 'Hikki' that Yuigahama has for Hikigaya? Generally speaking, this kind of name was reserved for family members, close friends, or lovers. Just like how Haruka used to address us members of the Ayanokoji group... well, I suppose it's the former Ayanokoji group now. But Yuigahama seemed to be a total stranger from Hikigaya's standpoint, and from the looks of it, they have never interacted with one another before.

I could be overthinking this, but could it be…...

"You are aware of that, right?" asked Yukinoshita, causing Yuigahama to twitch in response.

"Of course, I was," replied Hikigaya, looking away, but the lie was painfully obvious. Yuigahama appeared sullen by his response; it must have hurt her that her own classmate didn't know her.

"Okay, can we leave that aside and know your reason for being here, Yuigahama?" I spoke up, suspecting that Hiratsuka-sensei had directed her to the Service Club.

"I heard from Hiratsuka-sensei that this club grants student wishes. Is it true?" asked Yuigahama. It seemed that my suspicion was correct; Hiratsuka-sensei was probably starting to advertise the club to students who came to her for help.

But 'grant wishes'? Isn't that phrase somewhat misleading?

"Not quite. The Service Club is just for helping people. Your wishes depend only on you," Yukinoshita spoke up.

"Isn't it the same thing?" Yuigahama asked, confused.

Yukinoshita probably meant the part about guiding clients towards a solution. Hikigaya seemed to understand, so he remained silent and listened to the girls' conversation.

"It's the difference between giving a starving person a fish and instructing them how to fish. In other words, we encourage self-reliance." Yukinoshita explained.

"Th-that's so amazing!" exclaimed Yuigahama, looking as though she had just had a revelation. I couldn't help but wonder if her naivete would cause her problems in the future, given how easily impressed she was by things.

"I may not be able to actually grant your wish, but I will help you to the best of my ability," declared Yukinoshita, giving a faint smile.

As if remembering the reason why she had come, Yuigahama started to speak up. "Oh, um, um... so... I just... cookies..." she fumbled with her words while throwing glances in my and Hikigaya's direction.

Was what she was trying to say only meant for Yukinoshita to hear? If it was some kind of thing that could only be discussed between girls, we would have to leave the room to give them some privacy for their discussion.

"Hikigaya-kun and you too, Ayanokoji-kun, can you both give us some space?" asked Yukinoshita, seeming to understand what Yuigahama was trying to say.

I stood up from my seat and went towards the door. I could see Hikigaya doing the same.

"I'm going to get a drink," he said.

I was reaching for the door handle with Hikigaya behind me when Yukinoshita spoke up. "I would like a Vegetable Lifestyle 100 Strawberry Yogurt Mix."

'Wow, what's with that name?'

It seems like she wants us to buy a drink for her on the way back. She's not even hesitating to order us around. I guess being the club president is giving her that sense of authority towards us, which would explain her somewhat bossy tone.

We left the room and closed the door behind us.

Well…...

This is certainly awkward. It was the first time I was alone with Hikigaya, and while I was the new guy here, he was an unsociable guy or, to put it differently, a 'loner.' So it was bound to get awkward between us. I made up my mind to speak up and disperse the uncomfortable atmosphere around us.

"Would you mind leading the way towards the vending machine?" I asked. "I still don't know the way around here, to be honest,"

Hikigaya just nodded silently and started walking in a certain direction, while I began to follow him from behind.

As we walked, I noticed that the hostility he showed earlier, while still being there, had decreased a lot. I didn't know the reason for it or if it is just the way he is, but I was glad.

We walked for a few minutes without any words spoken between us before finally arriving at a vending machine outside the building. Hikigaya inserted a few coins and secured a drink named 'Sportop' for himself, as well as the 'Vegetable Lifestyle 100 Strawberry Yogurt Mix' that Yukinoshita requested. I assumed that would be it, but he inserted another coin and retrieved a canned Café au Lait. For a moment, I thought it was for me, but the image of a certain peach-haired girl suddenly occurred to me. So, I concluded that it was probably for her.

I stood in front of the machine, scanning the various options available, with Hikigaya standing aside, waiting for me. Normally, I would just go for something like a can of black coffee or green tea, but today, I wanted to experience something new.

There were many drinks available here that were not found inside ANHS, and I wanted to try some of them. However, I was in a predicament, as I didn't know which one to choose. So, I naturally asked the man standing right next to me for suggestions.

"Hey, Hikigaya, which drink would you recommend?"

"Huh, uh... what kind of drink?"

"Something with caffeine, I suppose."

Hikigaya turned towards the vending machine, scanning the different selections. After a moment of contemplation, Hikigaya pointed to a yellow can and suggested, "Uh, Max Coffee, I guess. It's my favorite one,"

Taking his advice, I inserted a few coins into the machine and retrieved a can of the recommended coffee for myself. I raised the can to my lips and took a sip. It was... good, but sweet. A bit too sweet for my taste, but I refrained from voicing any complaints.

"Do you want to take a stroll around the building for a while? I think it's better if we give the girls a bit more time to finish up their thing," I suggested.

"Yeah, I think so too," Hikigaya agreed.

We entered the building and wandered around for a while, aimlessly. There was silence between us, but it was undeniably awkward again. Since I was not adept at socializing with others, I couldn't come up with ideas to start a conversation. And it seemed that Hikigaya was also not one for small talk.

I wondered what to say for a while, and something I was curious about came up. Since Hikigaya was detached from the groups and other students in the class, he was almost like an outsider and would have a different, unique perspective, making him the best person to inquire about it from

"Hikigaya, can I ask you something?"

"Huh, what?"

"What do you think of Hayama from our class?"

Hayama was popular, that was for sure, not only among the students in our class but the entire school. The kind and compassionate aura that he radiated, together with his good looks, attracted everyone's attention, especially the girls. It was impossible not to notice this when we were in the cafeteria or in the hallways. However, I had some suspicions.

This had been on my mind since lunch break, the way Hayama interacted with and treated others was eerily similar to Hirata, but there was a significant difference. While I could see that Hirata's kindness and friendliness were authentic, I couldn't sense that from Hayama's actions.

I wouldn't go as far as to say that he was like Kushida, who concealed her true personality behind a fake facade and bad-mouthed people behind their backs. But I would say that he fakes a personality for some other inexplicable reason. To be honest, I didn't really care about him or his personality, but I was just a tad bit curious about Hikigaya's opinion on Hayama.

"Uh, who is Hayama?"

"..."

... What? I surely didn't expect this. It seemed that Hikigaya was so cut off from our classmates that he didn't even know one of the more popular guys in the class.

I wondered how Hikigaya could have missed him, given the constant attention Hayama received. Did he even know what our other classmates looked like?

"Uh, you know the guy at the back of the classroom with blond hair..." I tried to describe how Hayama looked, hoping that he would at least remember his appearance.

"Ah, that guy... Tch, what about him?" Well, that's a relief. At least he knows who Hayama is. But for some reason, he seems to harbor some form of dislike towards Hayama.

"I just wanted to know what you think about him. I would be happy if you give your honest opinion."

"What's there to tell about him? It's obvious that he is just a damn faker. He just tries to appease others with that 'perfect smile' and kind act of his, which I am sure is not genuine at all, and all the girls keep fawning over him. But seriously, I don't know how no one notices it. Damn normies!"

Oh, looks like someone really hates Hayama. I don't know if it's because of jealousy or the 'faker' thing he was talking about, but leaving that aside, looks like I found an interesting individual. Hikigaya is certainly a lot more observant of his surroundings than he appears. Hikigaya's observations about Hayama being a 'faker' and insincere in his interactions with others were intriguing to me.

It seemed that despite Hikigaya's detached attitude towards his classmates, he had a keen sense of perception when it came to the personalities of those around him.

"Is that so?" These words left my mouth after a brief pause. "Anyway, I think it's better if we go back to the clubroom. The girls are probably done by now," I added.

Hikigaya didn't answer and just started walking towards the direction of the clubroom in his usual slouched posture while I trailed behind him.

Apparently, Yuigahama just wanted to bake some cookies for someone but lacked the skills to do so. She wanted to learn the procedure, which is why we are now following Yukinoshita to the home economics room.

I was looking forward to this new experience because such classes were not held in ANHS or the white room, and I wondered how it would feel to take cooking classes with peers.

Yukinoshita was ahead of us, while Hikigaya was lagging behind, leaving me alone with Yuigahama. This was the perfect opportunity to ask her a question that had been bothering me for a while. "Hey, Yuigahama, weren't you supposed to be with your friends? What happened?" I asked.

"H-Huh? O-Oh, that! I separated from them because I wanted to bake some cookies, of course!" She replied while raising her hands in a cute manner.

I knew that already, but I wanted to lead her to the question I was about to ask. "So, this person you're trying to make cookies for, if I may ask, who is this person?" I inquired.

"E-Eh! Um...um," Yuigahama suddenly went quiet, growing a tint of red on her cheeks. She threw subtle glances at the boy in the back while he walked in his usual grumpy manner. Nobody would have noticed it unless they were paying close attention to Yuigahama's behavior.

I got my answer from her actions, and I didn't want to pressure her, so I tried to retract my question.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just a bit curious, that's all," I reassured. Yuigahama appeared relieved by my response and returned to her previous self.

"So, what are we supposed to do here?" Hikigaya asked, looking around.

"There is no need for you both to perform any task. Your role is simply to taste what we make and tell us what you think," Yukinoshita replied, tying her apron.

Currently, we found ourselves in the home economics room, and Yukinoshita had offered to teach Yuigahama how to bake homemade cookies. As for Hikigaya and me, we were just supposed to sit and watch. I was trying to improve my cooking skills, so watching Yukinoshita in action was a valuable opportunity to learn.

As she began to arrange her ingredients and use utensils, I could tell that Yukinoshita was an experienced cook, almost like a seasoned professional.

And regarding Yuigahama... Well, let's just say that she lacked cooking skills, and by that, I mean she had absolutely none to begin with whatsoever. She looked like she stepped into a kitchen for the first time. Even an amateur chef like me could tell that as she struggled to even tie an apron properly.

She was clumsy, imprecise, and dangerously creative. It looked like she would unintentionally kill you with her cooking.

For starters, her beaten eggs had bits of shells in them. The flour was all clumped up and the butter was still hard. She had even mixed up the sugar and salt, mistaking one for the other as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

After a while, when the cookies were done and came out of the oven, they resembled charcoal more than they did cookies, whereas Yukinoshita's batch looked like those that came straight from a bakery.

I felt a chill run down my spine at the mere thought of tasting Yuigahama's cookies. When I glanced over at Hikigaya and Yukinoshita, I could see the look of horror on their faces, while Yuigahama appeared shocked.

"I can't understand... How can someone make so many blunders at once." Yukinoshita thought out loud, although it was likely too quiet for Yuigahama to hear.

"Yukinoshita, can't we just skip tasting Yuigahama's cookies? Let's be real, they don't look like cookies, they look more like err... uhm poison, yeah poison." Hikigaya suggested, nodding to himself.

"Hey! They are not poisonous, just taste them. You won't know them until you taste it." Yuigahama interjected, her voice loud.

With that, Yuigahama picked up one of the charcoal-like cookies she had made and suddenly seemed quite unsure. "I-I guess it looks a bit poisonous," she said hesitantly.

"She didn't use any inedible ingredients and used the same ones I used, so you should be fine. Now come on, hurry up you two," Yukinoshita urged us.

"H-hey, I mean, come on. How am I supposed to eat them without falling ill?" Hikigaya turned towards me and continued, "How about you, Ayanokoji? You don't even appear to be worried."

"O-of course, I am. Just because I am not showing it on the outside doesn't mean I am not scared, you know. But... I guess I can try to taste a small piece." I tried to stutter a little to convince them but was unsure if it had the desired effect.

I didn't want to try them, of course, but if I started, Hikigaya and the others would follow suit. So, I had no other choice but to do it. I took one of the mystery substances in my hand, raised it to my mouth, and hesitantly took a bite. ...It tasted bitter, awfully so. Even the strongest coffee without any sugar would pale in comparison to its bitterness. My face unintentionally scrunched up a bit. I looked at Hikigaya and saw that his face had the same expression.

Noticing our expressions, Yuigahama took a bite from the cookie she had in her hands. "Ugh! These are so bitter and gross!" she wailed.

Yukinoshita immediately poured out a few cups of black tea to remove the awful taste from our mouths.

After washing it down with tea, were finally able to take a breather for a brief moment before Yukinoshita spoke up. "Okay, let's think about her baking skills and find ways to improve it."

Hikigaya didn't waste any time before speaking up. "Yuigahama never steps foot in the kitchen again."

"They are that bad?!" Yuigahama asked, shocked.

"No, Hikigaya-kun, that's our last resort," Yukinoshita replied.

"You're actually considering that?!"

Yuigahama's expression shifted from shock to despair. Her shoulders slumped, and she let out a depressed sigh. "Yeah, I guess you guys are right. I don't think I'm cut out for cooking. I've got no talent for it after all."

"I think I have an answer," Yukinoshita spoke up after a brief pause.

"You do? What do I do?" Yuigahama asked, hopeful.

"You simply need to put in more effort," Yukinoshita replied.

I see. She thinks that as long as you work hard, you can do anything you want. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this belief, simply working hard is not enough. Instead of just working hard, one needs to find the most efficient way possible and then work hard according to that method, whether it be in cooking, academics, sports, or anything else.

"Effort is a great solution when done right," Yukinoshita declared.

"Yuigahama-san, you said earlier that you have no talent, right?"

"Oh... Yeah."

"You should change that way of thinking. I believe that people who don't put in any effort to improve oneself have no right to feel envious of people blessed with talent. Merely coasting through life without doing anything will take you nowhere, whereas putting in the effort will help you achieve your goals and make you successful." Yukinoshita's sentences were worded in such a way that left little room for Yuigahama to counter against them.

While I would partially agree with Yukinoshita's words, there's also something that I would disagree with. Putting in effort helps you, there's no doubt. But the last part of her sentence is something I cannot fully agree on. I mean, hard work can only take you so far, be it in any kind of field.

For example, let's say an average person worked hard to improve in a particular field day and night, giving as much effort as they could. But at the end of the day, they cannot surpass a person with more potential or talent in that same domain, despite both putting forth equivalent amounts of effort.

Every person possesses an innate potential, and that potential has a ceiling that cannot be surpassed. If you reach that ceiling and still stubbornly keep trying hard, you will eventually break down. I have witnessed this countless times in the White Room, where children reached their physical or intellectual limits but still tried to carry on with the curriculum and lost their sanity, leading them to drop out of the program.

"B-But a lot of the girls lately say that they don't do stuff like this. It's not the trend nowadays," Yuigahama tried to speak up while sheepishly smiling.

CLINK!

Her smile vanished when the sound of a cup hitting the table resounded through the room, drawing the attention of everyone present towards the black-haired girl.

"Could you please stop trying to go along with your surroundings? It is unsightly. Don't try to point at others due to your own foolishness and clumsiness," her tone was stern, it was so cold that Hikigaya drew back in fear.

Yuigahama turned silent, her face was downcast, and she was clenching the hem of her skirt. It was no wonder why - An innocent and cheerful girl like her must have never faced such harsh words from another person before.

On the other hand, there was Yukinoshita, a straightforward and blunt person with a brash personality, making them the complete opposites in terms of their nature.

Yuigahama's eyes started to water up, and she quietly began to speak up, "Y-You're so..." Her shoulders shook and her voice trembled, making her look weak, "...so cool..."

"What?!" Yukinoshita, Hikigaya, and I said in unison. What is she talking about? The three of us unconsciously exchanged glances with each other.

"You always say what you want, it's like... very cool." Yuigahama eyed Yukinoshita with a look of admiration on her face. I still didn't understand what was happening.

'Is she perhaps what they call a masochist?'

"W-what is this girl talking about? I believe I was very harsh. Did you even listen to my words?" Yukinoshita spoke up as she took a few of steps back.

"No, no, what you said did sound harsh and it did make me recoil a bit, but the way you and Hikki just say what's on your mind, it's so cool... I only ever go along with what everyone does around me, so this is the first time I am seeing something like this. Sorry for my earlier mistakes, I'll try to do it right next time," Yuigahama said while pumping her fist upwards, indicating her determination.

This time it was Yuigahama who silenced Yukinoshita. She looked speechless and didn't know what to say. It felt like she was looking for the right words but couldn't find them.

"Teach her how to do it right again. And listen to what she says, Yuigahama," Hikigaya spoke up, and Yukinoshita nodded wordlessly.

I was kind of disappointed that they were not looking into the main issue, so I decided that it was better to spell it out for them.

"Wait, Hikigaya, Yukinoshita. Shouldn't we be addressing the root of her mistakes?"

"What are you talking about, Ayanokoji-Kun?" Yukinoshita asked, her expression perplexed.

"I am not the best cook in the world, but I do know my way around the kitchen. If you haven't realized, the way Yuigahama does things is parallel to someone attempting to cook for the first time. So, what I am trying to say is that instead of showing her how to bake cookies, wouldn't it be better to improve her basic skills first? From what I observed, she did try to follow the recipe, but wasn't able to execute it the right way. Isn't that right, Yuigahama?"

"Ah-ha-ha, yeah, most of the steps were difficult to follow for me." Yuigahama nervously laughed, scratching her cheek.

"I suggest you start by learning the basics, such as beating eggs and measuring ingredients, before attempting to bake cookies," I offered.

"Hmm, you make a valid point, Ayanokoji-Kun. Yuigahama-San, I will show you the essentials of baking and provide a feedback on the things you need to improve on. Try to develop on those when you are free and once you feel confident in your skills, try following the cookie recipe I showed you earlier," said Yukinoshita.

"Alright! thank you so much, Yukinoshita-San!" Yuigahama exclaimed and went on to give a tight hug to Yukinoshita.

"Y-Yuigahama-san, please release me at once and refrain from invading my personal space," Yukinoshita was extremely flustered by Yuigahama's actions and tried to push her away, to no avail. Eventually, Yuigahama relented.

"Look, I have been wondering, but who are you trying to bake these cookies for?" Hikigaya asked casually, munching on the cookies Yukinoshita had made.

"Th-that's none of your concern," Yuigahama replied with a flushed face.

"What I mean to say is that if you are trying to make the cookies for a boy, you don't have to worry about the quality of cookies much," Hikigaya calmly explained.

I understood what he was trying to say. Many boys would be ecstatic when they receive any kind of treat from a girl, especially if it is something sweet. However, the latter point was just my opinion though.

"What do you mean?" Yuigahama looked perplexed, and so did Yukinoshita.

"Look, boys are depressingly simple creatures. Their minds would be on cloud nine when a girl randomly walks up to them and started a conversation, and they'd be over the moon when you give them cookies. It doesn't have to be the best. In fact, I would argue that it would be better if it's a bit crappier than normal. That way, we can confirm that it's not store-bought and something the girl made herself..." I didn't know why, but it felt like the opinion he shared stemmed from a personal experience of his, although I couldn't be sure.

"Is that how it works? Do you think the same, Ayanokoji-Kun?" Yukinoshita asked.

"If I have to say, I agree with Hikigaya on that, but I don't think it applies to every boy out there. However, the majority will be swayed by it if you try." I gave my honest opinion.

"Would it sway you, Hikki?" Yuigahama quietly asked Hikigaya. The way she asked confirmed what I had been speculating earlier.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I would be, big time. You just have to be a bit nice to me to make me fall for you. And for the last time, don't call me Hikki. How many times should I spell it out to you?"

"Hmph." Yuigahama replied with a huff.

"Can we please leave this petty discussion aside and focus on the task at hand, Yuigahama-San? I don't want to waste my time." Yukinoshita declared impatiently.

"A-ah, yes. I am coming."

With that, the girls started to do their thing while Hikigaya and I just sat there idly, watching them.

The sky was slowly turning a reddish-orange hue, replacing its previous blue color. It was around 5 pm, but there was still an hour before sunset. As I walked along the streets towards my apartment, the roads and streets became increasingly populated with students returning from school and adults from work. With nothing else to do, I delved into my thoughtx, reflecting on the events of the day.

What do I say about today?

Was it fun?

In some ways, this school experience was similar to my previous one. You wake up, go to school, attend classes, and then return home. However, the difference was that you didn't have to worry about your class rank or be wary of students from other classes. I like this kind of school experience better than my previous one. It is more peaceful here, and my first day was decent as well. I made a good enough first impression, got acquainted with some new people, had lunch with them, and even joined a club, even though I didn't intend to do so at first.

Speaking of people, do I even have anyone I can call a friend? Though I had gotten to know a few people, none of them had confirmed that we were friends. Looking down at my phone, I saw that my contact list only had two numbers: one belonging to Hayama, and the other to Hiratsuka-Sensei. I should have exchanged contacts with the others in the clique and the service club too, but I doubted that Yukinoshita would give her number to just anyone.

I arrived at the front of the building, where an automatic sliding glass door led to my apartment complex. I noticed the security guard from yesterday near the entrance, and he seemed to recognize me. We exchanged nods before I entered the building.

Inside, I walked into the elevator and pressed the button for the 16th floor. Just as the doors were about to shut, I heard a sudden feminine voice calling out to me.

"Ah, can you wait for me, mister!"

I turned to see who it was and was surprised to find a familiar face. She was still clad in her school uniform, which was not surprising considering we left the school at the same time. I held the door open for her, and she stepped inside. She didn't seem to notice who I was, so I decided to greet her.

"Hello, Yukinoshita. Fancy seeing you here."

She turned her head towards me and widened her eyes in surprise. "A-Ayanokoji-kun?! What are you doing here?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Are you, by any chance, stalking me?"

"That's something I should ask. I was here before you, you know," I retorted, jokingly.

"Of course not! I live here, but what about you? I haven't seen you here before," Yukinoshita said while pushing the button for the 13th floor.

"I just transferred here yesterday. I used to live in Tokyo before."

"I see."

With that, the conversation ended, and we descended into silence. It wasn't awkward though; I would even say it was comfortable.

The elevator chimed as it reached the 13th floor and the doors opened.

"Good night, Ayanokoji-Kun, and see you tomorrow at the club." Yukinoshita called out to me as she stepped outside the elevator.

"Yeah, see you." I greeted back while raising my hand in a farewell gesture.

The doors closed, and the elevator started moving again. I arrived at the floor where my apartment was and walked inside. Without delay, I headed to the bathroom and took a shower before preparing dinner.

While the food was cooking, I decided to complete the various homework assignments given by the teachers. Although it wasn't necessary to do homework at ANHS, it was important here. I didn't want to get on the bad side of the teachers, so I decided to complete it quickly, which wasn't too difficult to begin with.

After dinner, I relaxed in the living room, flicking through some documentaries that piqued my interest. As time passed and the evening came to an end, I noticed there was still an hour left before my usual bedtime. Since I had nothing else to do, I decided to go to bed early. After completing my nightly routine, I sank into my comfortable and spacious bed, letting the softness of the sheets ease me into a peaceful slumber.

Author's Notes:

Uh, Hello again, it's been a while.

Sorry if the update felt a bit late, I was busy with the preparations for my university so... yeah.

I just did what I could in my free time.

See you next week, I guess.

Adieu~