Ishikawa Hikaru then looked meaningfully at Yukinoshita Yukino.
"In the process of writing novels, if two characters with completely different backgrounds are meant to meet and form a bond, there usually needs to be what we call an incident. Something that brings them together through coincidence and circumstance, forcing them to cooperate to resolve a problem. Through that process, their relationship gradually forms. That's how two—or even three—strangers end up creating a meaningful connection.
What you're doing right now by helping Yuigahama-san is resolving an incident.
Even if you say you aren't friends yet, this situation may very well be the process through which Yuigahama finds new friends.
And considering her 'good-hearted idiot' nature, if you genuinely help her solve this problem, she'll naturally develop goodwill toward you and begin to see you as a friend.
So tell me, Yuigahama-san—what do you think of Yukinoshita-san?"
"I—"
Yuigahama Yui took a deep breath.
"I think Yukinoshita-san is really cool! I'd like to become friends with her!"
---
8. So, Is the Problem Child an Alien?
Ishikawa spread his hands toward Yukinoshita.
"There's an old saying in China:
'Near vermilion, one becomes red; near ink, one becomes black.'
It means that being close to good people improves you, while being close to bad people worsens you.
So if you want Yuigahama to grow, the most effective way is to become genuine friends with her. Through your actions and everyday interactions, she'll gradually learn the strengths you possess as someone strong.
That's far more effective than simply pointing out her flaws in a speech and expecting her to fix everything immediately. You can't expect her to suddenly gain the courage to stop pleasing others overnight.
Checkmate, Yukinoshita-san."
Yukinoshita fell silent.
Hikigaya, however, sighed.
"Can we stop philosophizing and let Yuigahama-san actually learn how to bake cookies? Please teach her properly so I can go home early. Judging from what she was doing earlier, she clearly has no idea how to cook. Yet you two are here discussing friendship like elementary schoolers."
Ishikawa looked at Hikigaya in horror.
"Are you planning to commit suicide at such a young age? Don't give up on life yet."
"Huh? Suicide?" Yuigahama blinked in confusion. "Why did the conversation suddenly get so heavy?"
Hikigaya's Dead Fish Eyes twitched.
"He means your cooking is lethal."
"We're back to that again?!"
"It's like explaining why a joke is funny," Hikigaya muttered. "Anyway, could you please demonstrate the normal cookie-making process first? Otherwise, judging from what Yuigahama-san just did, the harder she tries, the worse it'll get."
"That's way too harsh!" Yuigahama protested. "I'm trying seriously!"
"Indeed," Ishikawa sighed dramatically.
"This is a perfect example of some people working hard yet still failing to match the natural expression of true talent."
"R-Right! As long as I work hard, I should be able to make good cookies!"
"He's calling you a genius in lethal cuisine," Hikigaya muttered. "Are you actually an idiot?"
"S-Sorry…" Yuigahama said awkwardly. "I'm not good at studying… and I don't really understand the indirect way people talk…"
"Kyoto-style sarcasm?" Ishikawa shrugged. "Although it's partly a stereotype, Kyoto people really do love that style. A single sentence can contain ten hidden knives."
---
9. So, Will the Problem Child Encounter the Dark Forest?
"Because you're satisfied with your life, you're already far ahead in the high-school environment," Hikigaya said quietly.
Students in puberty were like unripe fruit—halfway between children and adults.
They wanted mature relationships, yet lacked the experience to maintain them.
In the end, they were just children pretending to be adults, trying desperately to prove their maturity.
Many students were dissatisfied with their lives and tried to change themselves—to become more popular or better accepted.
But Ishikawa Hikaru was different.
Because he was already satisfied with his life, he had no need to conform or please others.
To Hikigaya, Yukinoshita, and Yuigahama—who survived high school through loneliness, strength, or people-pleasing—Ishikawa existed on a completely different level.
---
10. So, Will the Problem Child Devote Himself to the Great Cause of Human Civilization?
Although Hikigaya firmly believed his sister Komachi would never betray him, she knew far too much about his embarrassing middle-school history.
And she was the kind of kindhearted idiot who could easily be tricked.
Which meant—
If Ishikawa Hikaru really wanted to expose Hikigaya's past…
there was a frighteningly high chance he could actually succeed.