After finishing his piece, Kanzaki left the classroom. However, Himeno Yuki inexplicably stayed behind, staring at the "dead-fish eyes" in front of her.
"What are you doing?" Hikigaya felt uncomfortable being watched. If she wanted to stand up for Ichinose, she should just start scolding him; what was the point of staring like this?
"I didn't expect it," Himeno Yuki said with a hint of surprise in her voice. "Hikigaya, you're actually quite something?"
"Ha?" Hikigaya replied speechlessly, "What kind of nonsense are you saying? I was just lectured into silence by Kanzaki. How am I 'something'?" After all, since he was in the wrong, he couldn't find any words to argue back.
"Well, that's true."
Himeno Yuki rested her chin on her hand, examining him as if she wanted to see right through him. "But not just anyone has the courage to reject Ichinose. At least, no one in Class B does. Aren't you afraid of being ostracized by the class? Or rather, don't you feel guilty?"
"None of your business," Hikigaya said in an unfriendly tone. "I've been alone since elementary school; I've long since gotten used to it. In fact, I prefer being free and alone."
What was with this person? Asking such pointed questions to a stranger at their first meeting was like deliberately poking at someone's wounds. It was too much. He naturally wouldn't give her a friendly face.
"As for guilt, well, how should I put it... a little, I guess." Otherwise, he wouldn't be thinking about resolving it.
"Uh..." Sensing Hikigaya's hostility, Himeno Yuki was slightly taken aback, then curled her lip and said: "By the way, you've always been alone? No friends at all?"
"Why should I tell you that?" Hikigaya snapped. This person was really too much, specifically digging up old scars—truly a "Little Kuroko."
"Just tell me, it's not like you'll lose a limb."
"Not telling you." Hikigaya had no hobby of sharing his dark history, especially with this "Little Kuroko" he barely knew.
"Tch..." Himeno Yuki crossed her legs, gave a small click of her tongue, and retracted her gaze to look at the application form in her hand.
"Wool-Pulling Club? What does it do?"
"Can't you tell?"
"If I could tell, would I be asking you? It can't possibly be a research club for knitting sweaters, right?"
"Uh..." Hikigaya was momentarily choked up. He was certain that this "Little Kuroko" was definitely pretending to be a "good girl" in class; her personality was actually quite nasty.
However, he noticed a pair of smooth, delicate, and well-rounded long legs crossed over each other, making the mysterious area within almost visible. Only now did he realize that, besides her nasty personality, "Little Kuroko" was surprisingly beautiful. Then again, the average level of appearance at this school was very high to begin with.
Seeing as she seemed interested in joining the club, Hikigaya explained patiently: "Well, the club covers various fields. In short, it's a club for pulling the school's wool—getting all sorts of equipment for free."
"Hmm?" Himeno Yuki gave him a surprised look. "I wouldn't have guessed it, but you're quite clever, Hikigaya. By the way, it's unbelievable that the student council actually let a club like this pass."
"Well," Hikigaya said with a bit of malice, "it's not their money anyway. Maybe the student council pulls even more wool than we do."
"True..." Himeno Yuki nodded upon hearing this. After all, no one dislikes free things. Given the chance, the student council would surely use their power for personal gain. The worldviews of the two were unexpectedly in sync.
"Just a ghost member?" Himeno Yuki unceremoniously took the stationery box from in front of Hikigaya and pulled out a gel pen.
"Well," Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, as if making a decision: "If it's just one person's worth of funds, I suppose I could give it to you."
"Huh? Who wants that?" Himeno Yuki quickly signed her name and said speechlessly: "With that kind of time, I'd rather go out and play. I'm not lacking those points. Are you an idiot?"
For an ordinary student, spending personal time "pulling wool" was indeed a loss. Wouldn't it be better to eat out with friends?
"Phew." Hikigaya breathed a sigh of relief; as long as she didn't snatch his funds. He hadn't expected the task of finding three official members to be completed so easily. He really had to thank "Little Kuroko" for the help.
It's just that her personality was truly nasty. One second she was praising his cleverness, and the next she was calling him an idiot.
"This should be enough, right?" Himeno Yuki handed the application form back to him, but then suddenly pulled it back and slapped it face down on the table, asking doubtfully: "But speaking of which, you haven't called anyone by their name yet. Could it be that you don't remember?"
"Hahaha..." Hikigaya gave a dry laugh: "How could that be possible?"
"Then what is my name?" Himeno Yuki's eyes were playful; she seemed to enjoy seeing him struggle. Honestly, it was impressive he had managed to bluff his way through until now without remembering a single name.
"Uh..." Hikigaya sank into deep thought. After a long while, he raised a finger and said triumphantly: "Of course I know. Himekawa Kuro-同学 (Himekawa Kuro-san), right?"
"It's Himeno Yuki!" Himeno Yuki's face darkened. She had been worried about the awkwardness of not being able to call out her seatmate's name and had specifically asked the teacher. This guy, however, simply didn't bother to remember; his personality was nasty to the extreme.
Moreover, while forgetting a name wasn't a huge deal, her name was clearly Himeno Yuki—where did he even get the connection to the word "Kuro" (Black)? Himeno Yuki really couldn't figure that part out.
"Is... is that so?" Hikigaya quibbled, "I remember, Himeno Yuki, right, I remember. I just accidentally bit my tongue just now." As he spoke, he quickly tried to change the subject and experimentally reached for the application form in her hand: "Anyway, thanks for the help, okay?"
"Humph." Himeno Yuki slapped the table, gave a cold snort, and left the classroom.
Watching her leave, Hikigaya Hachiman breathed a sigh of relief. In any case, with one incompetent president and two ghost members, the Wool-Pulling Club was officially established. Tomorrow he could finally improve his meals, and ideally, apply to the school for a handheld console and a computer. Such a life would be practically perfect.
Just then, Himeno Yuki poked half her head back into the classroom from the outside, nearly scaring the life out of him.
"Make sure you remember it properly: my name is Himeno Yuki. If you dare to call me by the wrong name next time, I absolutely won't forgive you, Hikigaya Hachiman-kun~"
With that, Himeno Yuki left the classroom. Hearing the fading footsteps, Hikigaya was finally certain she was really gone.
"Scared me to death," Hikigaya said, speechless. By the way, how did Himeno Yuki know his name was Hikigaya Hachiman? Had he ever told her his full name? He had no memory of it. Oh well. In any case, he'd better remember the name Himeno Yuki properly.