In a classroom in the special building of Sobu High School, a long table placed in the center was set with pleasant tea and snacks.
Seated around it were three second-year students.
Under the twilight of the setting sun, the girl sitting by the window set down the book she had been holding, picked up her still-warm teacup, and looked to the side.
The girl sitting right next to her, with her hair tied up in a bun, was spiritedly browsing something on her smartphone.
From time to time, she would pick up a cookie from the plate in front of her and pop it into her mouth, the look of pleasure on her face becoming increasingly radiant.
At the other end of the long table was a boy, immersed in the light novel in his hands, occasionally letting out a gloomy smile from the corner of his mouth.
That expression made one involuntarily suspicious of the content of the light novel; added to the fact that his eyes were naturally more melancholic than most, it was enough to make one feel uneasy.
Same as always, then.
Having reached this conclusion in her heart, the girl shifted her gaze away from the two of them.
While feeling the warmth radiating from the teacup, she blew on the surface of the tea, causing ripples.
Bathed in the sunset, the girl’s fair cheeks were tinted with a faint blush, adding a touch of hard-to-detect gentleness to her cold, plum-blossom-like poise.
If nothing unexpected happened, this tranquility would last until school was dismissed.
The rays of the setting sun spilled in from outside the window, and the cheering sounds drifting in from the athletic field on the breeze…
it was a heartwarming scene that, in some afternoon years from now, would cause the corners of her mouth to rise involuntarily when reminiscing about the past while bored.
Bang, bang, bang—
A knock on the door came, hurried yet carrying a hint of hesitation.
It was not one of the familiar people, nor a student who often visited here.
One could make that judgment based on the sound of the knocking alone.
The boy and the girls exchanged a tacit glance.
The girl sitting by the window gently closed the book in her hand, casually pushed the black hair, which had been ruffled by the wind, behind her back, and waited until the other two had set down their items and sat up straight.
Then, she answered toward the door:
“Please come in.”
“Excuse me.”
Following the voice, a female student who looked a bit timid squeezed through the door.
Perhaps due to the haste of her arrival, she was panting heavily.
After carefully scanning the classroom, she quickly pulled the door behind her shut, as if she had finally managed to seal something terrifying outside.
After letting out another long sigh of relief, she walked to the long table placed in the center of the classroom.
“Hikigaya-kun, you’re scaring people.
Didn’t I tell you to reflect on yourself?” Seeming to have found the source of the problem instantly, the girl sitting by the window turned her gaze to the boy sitting at the end of the long table, criticizing him in a cold voice.
Seemingly long accustomed to the girl’s sharp tongue, the boy spread his hands out in a bland manner.
“How could it be possible for someone to be scared by my appearance?
Besides, if one is scared by a face, ultimately it’s more of a problem on their own end.
And as for asking me to reflect—you, you’re getting a bit too carried away, aren’t you?
I admit you have some looks, but…
anyway, it’s about time you apologized to the mom and dad who brought me into this world, right?” The boy began to correct the mistakes in the girl’s words quite naturally, but hindered by her aura, his tone gradually weakened.
In the end, he merely brought up things like “mother” and “looks are natural,” demanding an apology from the long-haired girl.
“Mm-hmm, after all, I am very cute.”
“You…” Although it sounded very infuriating, it was indeed an indisputable fact.
Glaring at the girl’s face, the boy opened his mouth, but ultimately did not say any rebuttal.
However, he was not willing to just suffer defeat in this exchange.
“I, at least, still have a decent enough look.
Komachi has even said things like, ‘As long as you close your eyes, you’re still quite handsome’…”
Upon hearing this claim from the boy, the girl nodded noncommittally and said nothing further.
Just as the boy was about to produce more powerful proof, the other girl spoke up to mediate:
“Alright, alright, you two stop arguing.
We finally have a newcomer coming to ask for help.
If you two keep this up, you’ll scare her away.
We haven’t had a request in a long time.”
The girl with the dumpling-style hair ended their argument and then gave the new girl an apologetic smile.
As for the newcomer, she looked confused about the current situation.
She awkwardly touched her hair and then asked with some trepidation:
“Is this a club that researches the supernatural?”
The girl who had just been arguing straightened her posture, brushed her hair back as if nothing had happened, and began to seriously correct the errors in the other’s words.
“This is not a club for researching the supernatural; this is the Service Club.
I am the president, Yukinoshita Yukino; this is Yuigahama Yui; and as for this boy who scared you, how should we refer to him?
Uh…
hmm…
the boy who is handsome when his eyes are closed?”
Before a brand-new nickname could be confirmed, the boy hurriedly introduced himself:
“Hikigaya Hachiman.
Just call me Hikigaya.”
Unsure if there was a problem with this kind of interaction, the new girl showed an awkward expression and introduced herself.
“I am Yotsuya Miko from the first year.
I saw this message.
It said that this is a club room for researching supernatural phenomena, and that there are experienced senpais…
maybe…
like this?” The somewhat uncertain Yotsuya-san took out her smartphone, searched for something, and then displayed the content on the screen to the three of them.
There, in an eerie image, black bolded text at the top read:
One of Sobu High’s three major special clubs — The Occult Research Affairs Club.
Under the brilliant leadership of President Yukinoshita and Advisor Zaimokuza, members Hikigaya and Yuigahama are conducting an investigation into Sobu High’s Ten Great Mysteries…
Location: Special Building, 2nd Floor, Room 0216.
“Hikigaya-kun, I don’t recall us making a resolution to change the club name.
And as for writing an advertisement like this, even I, who am quite broad-minded, find it giving me a headache.” Yukinoshita Yukino said this in a calm tone, but it put immense pressure on Hikigaya Hachiman beside her; despite being indoors, he felt a chill as if the season had suddenly changed.
“No, it definitely wasn’t Hikki.
Hikki probably doesn’t even have an account for the school’s general chat group.” Yuigahama Yui squeezed in from the side, hurriedly defending Hikigaya Hachiman.
“Well, congratulations, Mr.
‘Handsome-when-eyes-closed’ Hikigaya; you are temporarily cleared of suspicion.” Upon hearing Yuigahama Yui’s statement, Yukinoshita Yukino nodded in agreement and continued looking at Yotsuya-san’s phone screen.
“Wait, why am I the default criminal?
And what do you mean by ‘temporarily’?
…This narrative style, plus this chuunibyou tone, this is definitely not me.
And look at the account name, ‘General Zaimokuza Yoshiaki’ or something; even without thinking, you know it’s the work of that guy Zaimokuza, right?”
“Now that you mention it, that is indeed a foolish thing that guy could do.
Also, if it were him, nothing would be strange.” Yukinoshita Yukino supported this while rubbing her chin.
Then, suddenly discovering something of interest, she continued to ask:
“As an aside, what exactly are the Ten Great Mysteries of Sobu High?”
“It’s also a saying that has become popular recently.
Generally speaking, it’s a discussion generated internally by those bored students about various weird and strange events that happened at Sobu High and speculations about certain people or things…
like that.”
“So, it’s just spreading rumors.” Yukinoshita Yukino summarized.
“That’s not exactly it; they are well-referenced against reality settings.
Let’s put it this way, the names of the Ten Great Mysteries of Sobu High are: Charcoal-like Chocolate, Totsuka Saika’s true gender, the Yukinoshita secret rumors…
Ryomen Sukuna’s finger.
Well, just looking at the names, you can probably guess what the content is.” Hikigaya Hachiman spread his hands and gave a rough overview.
“You really are well-informed.
Although ‘Yukinoshita secret rumors’ or whatever is quite concerning to me, what we need to deal with first is the matter of Yotsuya Miko.” The troubled expression appeared for only an instant before Yukinoshita returned to her cold demeanor.
“Yotsuya-san, you heard everything too.
In short, this is definitely not a club for researching occult events or supernatural phenomena.
But if you have any distress, our Service Club will provide some assistance.
If it’s convenient, could you tell us your request?” Standing up, her smooth black hair ruffled by a breeze, Yukinoshita Yukino had a smile on her face, looking like an angel.
Beside her, Yuigahama Yui’s face was also full of concern.
“Miko-san, we will definitely help you.”
Hikigaya Hachiman did not say anything more; he sat up straight, making his stance clear.
Helping others with a compassionate heart, extending a hand to those in difficulty—that was the activity of this club.
Looking at the three of them who had become serious, Yotsuya Miko finally felt a sense of relief.
The senpais were far more reliable than she had imagined.
In such a reassuring atmosphere, even secrets could be shared without hesitation.
Yotsuya Miko’s heart finally steadied.
If it were them, they would definitely understand.
The thought occurred to her involuntarily.
After glancing toward the door, Yotsuya Miko sat at the long table, held the tea handed over by Yukinoshita Yukino with trembling hands, took a light sip, and her tone became heavy.
“What I am about to say, you must take seriously.
I’ll state in advance, I am really not joking.”
The three exchanged glances, and Yukinoshita Yukino replied earnestly: “Although we don’t know how unusual the matter you are about to speak of is, we guarantee that no matter how absurd it is, we are willing to believe you.”
Yotsuya Miko showed a somewhat bitter smile, and her eyes seemed to glisten with tears.
“I see ghosts.”
Hearing this, the three members of the Service Club fell completely into silence.
Responding to Yotsuya Miko was a deathly silence.