Chapter 349 Yuki-yuki, I still prefer your arrogant and unyielding look
White Valentine's Day was first born in 1977, initiated by the Fukuoka-based confectionery manufacturer "Ishimura Manseido" in the Hakata District of Neon (Japan). It was originally called "Marshmallow Day." Later, because the sugar used in the candies was white, it was renamed White Valentine's Day.
To put it bluntly, it's a "Heist Day" created out of thin air by merchants to trick men out of their wallets!
Hikigaya really wanted to say no to this despicable act of fraud.
However...
Looking at the several girls in front of him whose faces were filled with expectation, Hikigaya had no choice but to swallow his words of refusal.
"Don't worry, I remember.
On White Valentine's Day, I will buy the most expensive snacks in the mall..."
Hikigaya was already mentally prepared for a massive financial hemorrhage.
Unexpectedly, as soon as these words came out, instead of receiving favorable glances, he was met with a unanimous roll of the eyes.
"Buy? Is this your idea of sincerity?"
Horikita Suzune coldly raised her eyes to look at him.
"Uh, I plan to buy high-end imports..."
Hikigaya blinked, and just as he was about to defend himself, he was interrupted by Kushida Kikyo from the side: "This isn't a question of money!"
Hikigaya countered: "Then what is it a question of?"
Karuizawa Kei emphasized loudly: "Feelings! The important thing is the feelings!"
"Hachiman-kun, please stop playing dumb."
Matsushita Chiaki's commentary was as sharp as ever: "You aren't one of those dense protagonists from a light novel!"
"That's not necessarily true..."
Hikigaya fiddled with his fingers, speaking with a deliberately profound expression: "Maybe the world we live in right now is inside a light novel."
The girls didn't speak; they just looked at him with cold, indifferent expressions.
"Er, well..."
The corners of Hikigaya's mouth twitched, his face filled with embarrassment: "I was just joking. Was it not funny?"
"Cold! So cold!"
"Hehe!"
"..."
"Yeah."
"Hachiman, do you think you're very humorous?"
"Eto~ Hachiman, please don't try the comedy route. It doesn't fit your Great Demon King persona."
Facing the successive attacks from the girls, Hikigaya gradually became unable to hold his ground. With a troubled look, he said: "If I make them by hand, the quantity is a bit too much. I'm afraid I won't be able to manage alone..."
The number of people requiring a return gift was far more than just the few in front of him. There were girls from Classes A, B, and C, as well as upperclassmen sisters. Oh, and he almost forgot there were some outside the school...
With such a quantity of return gifts, even if he were split apart like Shang Yang, he wouldn't be able to finish the work!
"The quantity is too much? You can't manage?"
Kushida Kikyo's face darkened. With a look of extreme displeasure, she said: "How can you even have the nerve to say that!
Who told you to accept so many chocolates from girls on Valentine's Day?"
Hasebe Haruka accused him angrily: "It should have been enough to just accept mine and Airi's!"
"Hey!"
Sato Maya protested: "Don't take the opportunity to smuggle in your own private agenda!"
"In short, a return gift is a must, and it must have sincerity!"
The corner of Matsushita Chiaki's mouth curled into a playful smile, clearly making things difficult on purpose: "As for how to do it, that's Hachiman-kun's own business."
Hikigaya looked distressed: "You guys are being unreasonable!"
"Hmph!"
Karuizawa Kei added a cutting blow: "Isn't Hachiman-kun, who accepted chocolates from so many girls at the same time, the most unreasonable one?"
Hikigaya was instantly speechless.
"Alright~ we won't disturb Hachiman-kun's preparations."
Kushida Kikyo emphasized specifically: "Everyone, let's go!"
The others understood the signal and stood up to leave one after another.
[Class D United Front Command Center]
At this moment, a consensus was reached once again!
No one is allowed to help Hikigaya!
Though to be honest, it was impossible for Hikigaya to ask them for help anyway.
Asking the recipients of the gifts to help him make the gifts—that operation was a bit too "abstract." As an ordinary high school student, Hikigaya absolutely could not bring himself to do it!
What should he do then?
Doing it all by himself was definitely unrealistic.
Hikigaya took a sip of milk tea, his brow furrowed with worry.
"Hey, what are you dazing out for?"
Suddenly, a girl's voice came from behind him.
In the past, Hikigaya wouldn't have even dared to imagine such a thing.
But ever since he put on glasses and appeared before everyone...
A girl striking up a conversation had become a "high probability" event.
"It's you... Himeno-san."
Hikigaya looked back, and what met his eyes was a pair of "dead fish eyes" similar to his own.
Clearly they were both dead fish eyes, so why did people think he looked scary?
But when seeing Himeno Yuki, they only thought it was a unique "moe point."
This was so unfair!
"Dazing out again...
And your gaze has become even more rotten!"
Himeno Yuki narrowed her dead fish eyes and sat down opposite him of her own accord.
"Come on, tell me what's bothering you. Say it out loud so I can have a good laugh."
Himeno Yuki crossed her legs and looked at him with interest.
"Eh? Are you concerned about me?"
Hikigaya's eyes moved, and he said with feigned surprise: "Himeno-san... could it be that you like me too?"
Awkward!
Disgusting!
Shameless!
By now, Hikigaya could say such things with a straight face.
"Tsk!"
Himeno Yuki couldn't help but click her tongue, staring at him with a look of disgust: "To be thick-skinned to this extent, no wonder you can pull off the 'Chain of Ships' strategy so smoothly."
"Your literature isn't bad, Himeno-san."
Hikigaya expressed surprise: "I thought you were the type of idiot who doesn't know how to study."
"Don't look down on people!
I at least scroll through funny skits on TikTok."
Himeno Yuki raised her chin proudly.
"Is that something to be proud of?"
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
Knock knock~
Himeno Yuki tapped the table, frowning as she said: "I say, why are you such an uninteresting person? You don't have a shred of gentlemanly grace."
Hikigaya showed a look of confusion: "Sorry, I don't understand what you're saying."
"Milk tea! Please give me a cup of tea!"
Himeno Yuki said irritably: "I say, you're doing this on purpose, right? Is it fun to toy with a pure-hearted girl?"
"How could I? If you wanted to freeload milk tea, you should have said so earlier.
If you don't say it, how would I know?"
Hikigaya struggled to press down the corners of his mouth.
Hold it together, can't laugh yet!
Class B's members were all broke lately, having to eat the free but hard-to-swallow mountain vegetable sets every day.
For Himeno Yuki, who loved snacks, it was like a year for every day!
Passing by the milk tea shop today, she originally planned to "quench her thirst by looking at the tea."
She didn't expect to run into Hikigaya by chance.
Himeno Yuki thought about whether she could score a drink from him.
"I even came over to talk to you and kept you company for so long.
And in the end, you won't even give me a cup of tea!
What a black-hearted man!!"
Seeing her intentions were seen through, Himeno Yuki stopped pretending and launched a rapid-fire attack.
"If you want to drink, come and beg me!"
Hikigaya raised an eyebrow, simultaneously shaking the milk tea in his hand.
"Onegai~ Hachiman, Hachiman~~"
Himeno Yuki instantly "slid into a kneel" (metaphorically), even making a cutesy, high-pitched voice.
Hikigaya suddenly felt a wave of goosebumps.
"Yuki-yuki~ I still prefer your arrogant and unyielding look."
"You... you bastard!!!"
Himeno Yuki's cheeks instantly turned crimson, seemingly stimulated by the sudden nickname "Yuki-yuki."
Hikigaya's gaze paused, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
This kid usually looks so stuck-up; he didn't expect her to be the "high attack, low defense" type.
Seeing her turning increasingly red with heat, Hikigaya knew it wasn't wise to toy with her too much. He quickly got up and ordered the most expensive "Snow-capped Matcha Milk Cap" for Himeno Yuki.
Himeno Yuki bit the straw and took several deep gulps. Her flushed face finally subsided a little.
"Phew~"
Himeno Yuki leaned back in her chair, her eyebrows relaxing into an expression of supreme enjoyment.
"Is it really that delicious?"
Hikigaya felt no ripples in his heart.
"What do you know? I haven't had milk tea for a whole month!"
Himeno Yuki spoke with a serious face.
"That sounds quite painful."
Hikigaya nodded indifferently.
"Alright, enough about me."
Himeno Yuki waved her hand to change the subject: "Quickly tell me your troubles. Before I finish this milk tea, I can act as your 'tree hole' (confidant)."
"I don't have any intention of venting..."
Hikigaya suddenly had a flash of inspiration, as if he had thought of a good idea.
"!? What's with that expression?
Actually, maybe you shouldn't say it. It feels like it's going to be troublesome!"
Himeno Yuki stood up, wanting to leave.
"!"
Hikigaya subconsciously reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Let go of me. Don't you think it's very presumptuous to suddenly grab a girl's hand?"
Himeno Yuki wrinkled her nose.
"!"
"I'll buy you another cup later," Hikigaya said.
"Huh? Who do you take me for?
Can I be bought off with a mere two cups of milk tea?"
Himeno Yuki scolded with an unfriendly tone.
"How about three?"
"..."
Himeno Yuki opened her mouth, a look of struggle appearing on her face.
"For one week, I'll cover all your milk tea."
Hikigaya launched a heavy strike.
"!"
Himeno Yuki instantly compromised.
"It's like this..."
Hikigaya explained the matter of needing to send many return gifts for White Valentine's Day in concise terms.
"You!"
Himeno Yuki's eyes were cold, revealing a "looking at trash" expression without concealment.
"Hey! Just help me out..."
Hikigaya put his hands together, requesting with a sincere face: "Onegai~ Yuki-yuki~~"
"Don't... don't call me by that name...!"
Himeno Yuki felt her sense of shame exploding; the redness that had just faded instantly covered her cheeks again.
Hikigaya's eyes were clear: "Yuki-yuki, aren't we friends?"
"I... I really want to strangle you, you rogue!"
Himeno Yuki was frantic with anger, but she had no way to deal with him.
Hikigaya deliberately elongated his voice: "Yu-ki—"
"I get it! I get it!"
Himeno Yuki's face was full of humiliation: "I'll just agree to it!!"
"Then there's no time to lose. Let's go buy ingredients right now."
Having finally caught a source of labor, Hikigaya decisively struck while the iron was hot.
"Are you joking! How could I possibly do it all alone?"
Himeno Yuki took out her phone, intending to call for reinforcements.
"Wait a minute!
You can't call Honami!"
Hikigaya hurried to instruct her.
"Why? ...Oh, one of the White Valentine's Day gifts is for Ichinose, right?"
Himeno Yuki understood in a second: "Then I'll just ask Shiranami, Kobashi, and Amikura to come help."
--
-
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Room 404.
Today, several new female guests were welcomed.
"Moshi moshi~ Sorry for the intrusion..."
Shiranami Chihiro, Kobashi Yume, Amikura Mako, and the others were very polite.
After entering, they looked around Hikigaya's room with curiosity.
"There are slippers on the shoe rack. I just washed them yesterday, so please feel free to use them."
Hikigaya gave instructions.
"Thank you~"
Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako didn't think much of it. They said thanks and changed into them.
Only Shiranami Chihiro watched him with a stern expression: "Hikigaya-kun, I didn't expect you to prepare so many pairs of women's slippers!"
"Well, that... The supermarket had a clearance sale, buy one get ten free!"
Hikigaya told a lie that even he didn't believe, then immediately changed the subject: "Hey~ don't mind those details."
"So, may I ask why Hikigaya-kun called us over? Is there something you need?"
Kobashi Yume asked curiously, her eyes blinking.
"Didn't Yuki-yuki tell you when she called?"
Hikigaya asked back.
"Hey!! I told you, don't use that to call me!!!"
Himeno Yuki bared her teeth, looking like she wanted to rush over and tear him apart.
"Who told you not to make things clear?"
But then again, even though they didn't know anything, they dared to walk grandly into his dorm room. These three girls from Class B were way too unguarded, weren't they?
Left with no choice, Hikigaya had to explain to the three of them once more.
"What?! You asked us to come over to help you make multiple White Valentine's Day return gifts?"
Shiranami Chihiro's face was full of indignation, looking at him exactly as one looks at a scumbag.
"As expected of the Great Demon King...
This request is too unique!"
Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako looked at each other. There were so many things to criticize that they didn't know where to start for a moment!
"See, this guy is terrible, right!"
Himeno Yuki immediately joined the resistance camp.
"Everyone from Class B, I assume life has been quite difficult lately?"
Hikigaya had already prepared his argument: "If you help me, you can take all the leftover ingredients with you."
Shiranami Chihiro spoke with righteous indignation: "Hikigaya! Do you think you can buy us off with food?"
Hikigaya glanced over, pinpointing her weakness precisely: "Shiranami-san, you want to give a gift to Honami too, don't you?"
"..."
Shiranami Chihiro's voice stopped.
The past Valentine's Day, where she was unable to prepare a gift, was her biggest regret this year!
"Love that cannot be conveyed, what a truly sad story."
Hikigaya shook his head with feigned sorrow.
Immediately after, he turned his target toward the other two.
"A gift for your beloved Class Rep~
Don't you think it's a pity to have missed out on making 'obligation chocolate'?"
Facing Hikigaya's systematic enticement, Kobashi Yume and Amikura Mako quickly succumbed as well.
"Hikigaya-kun, you are just too cunning."
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