We still do not know what the three members of the Service Club were feeling as they returned to the clubroom, but upon pulling the door open and seeing Shizuka Hiratsuka sitting inside, all three became surprisingly and uniformly tense.
Yuigahama asked with a flushed face and a slight stutter: “Hiratsuka, Hiratsuka-sensei, why are you here?”
“Didn’t we just see each other a moment ago?
Yuigahama-san, even if you dislike your sensei, there’s no need to say something so hurtful.”
Watching the nervous group, Hiratsuka teased.
She crossed her legs and leaned back, surveying the three of them.
Her intuition told her that quite a lot had happened on the rooftop.
“Seeing the three of you getting along so harmoniously, this sensei truly feels relieved.
I said it yesterday, didn’t I?
I’m going to conduct some special training for you all.”
Yesterday, after Hikigaya Hachiman left and Hiratsuka finished handling the scene, she told Yukinoshita Yukino and Yuigahama Yui about what had transpired.
It wasn’t that she wanted to involve two innocent people, but she believed that if Hachiman were hurt, these two would never sit idly by.
If she didn’t intervene now, a major problem would inevitably arise later.
Hiratsuka stood up and immediately announced: “From now on, I am going to conduct a baseline assessment test on you three!”
“A test?” Yuigahama Yui’s face was filled with question marks.
They had agreed on sorcery training, so why were they suddenly starting with a baseline test?
To a poor student like her, didn’t that feel cruel?
Yukinoshita Yukino, on the other hand, showed no reaction.
Having been first in every type of assessment, how could she fear such a challenge?
Hikigaya Hachiman, however, frowned, deep in thought.
Logically speaking, it wasn’t hard to understand why Hiratsuka would inform the two girls about what happened yesterday.
But to drag two innocent people into this, beyond just himself…
Hiratsuka-sensei appeared to be a reckless person, but her mind was actually quite meticulous.
Could it be that in places unseen, Yukinoshita and Yuigahama were already unable to stay out of it?
Or perhaps there was a risk of them being dragged in…
TV dramas often featured such scenarios: one person in a group encounters supernatural events, and the remaining members rarely meet a good end…
“Listen closely, you three.
This is a world filled with curses.
Because you can die from a single moment of carelessness, life is far less precious than you might imagine.
Therefore, before I officially teach you how to deal with curses, I must conduct this baseline assessment.”
Hiratsuka reached into her pocket, took out three watches, and handed them to the trio.
They can detect nearby curses, but the most crucial function is that they display your mutual locations and vital signs.
Consider this the basic insurance for your actions.
Secondly, I have placed special items throughout this school.
You need to explore and find them yourselves.
The duration of this assessment is indefinite.
You just need to complete the requirements.
Of course, I can terminate the assessment at any time.”
Then, Hachiman saw a cold smile appear on Hiratsuka’s face.
“As for the content of the assessment, it’s very simple.
First, the existence of this assessment and the curses must not be leaked.
Second, collect all the special items within Sobu High.
Third, each of you must resolve one Cursed Spirit of any grade.
Alright, that’s the content of the assessment.
I won’t stay here any longer; I have a matchmaking meeting soon.
As for you lot, discuss it yourselves.”
Having announced everything, Hiratsuka left the Service Club, leaving the three deep in thought.
In the sun-drenched clubroom, the three sat in a daze.
No one spoke first; they were all processing the information they had just received.
The first to move was Yuigahama Yui.
After standing up, she peeked out the window for a while, then drew all the curtains in the clubroom and proceeded to lock the door from the inside.
At this moment, Hachiman finally couldn’t help but chime in: “What are you doing, you idiot?
You’ve pulled all the curtains shut—are you worried people won’t suspect us enough?”
“Oh, right.
Hikki makes a good point.”
She prepared to open the curtains, but was blocked by Hachiman.
“Enough.
Since you’ve already closed them, don’t do anything else unnecessary.
You’ll only make others more suspicious.”
“Oh.”
“Stop teasing Yuigahama,” Yukinoshita Yukino, standing to the side, interrupted them, unable to watch any longer.
“The most important thing now is to discuss strategies for passing the assessment.”
“Hikki!” Finally reacting, Yuigahama sat down next to Yukinoshita, huffing while glaring at Hachiman.
The atmosphere in the clubroom finally became less solemn.
“There’s really nothing to discuss.
When it comes down to it, we can only take it one step at a time.”
Regarding curses, apart from the name “curse,” Hachiman had no further understanding of them, so there was no need to worry about leaking information.
Collect special items?
Without any intelligence, where were they supposed to collect them?
As for solving Cursed Spirits?
Please—they didn’t know anything; what were they going to use to fight a Cursed Spirit?
Hachiman just wanted to give up and do nothing right now; nothing was more efficient than “giving up.”
Everything will work out in the end.
“Right, Yukino-chan!
We’re Hiratsuka-sensei’s students now; why worry about the test?
Even if we don’t pass, it shouldn’t matter, right?
After all, it’s just a baseline test.
I don’t know how to do anything and I don’t understand anything, so I can just get a zero.” Yuigahama touched her bun-styled hair and laughed foolishly.
“You two…” Yukinoshita sighed while rubbing her forehead in frustration, looking like someone burdened with incompetent subordinates.
“Then let’s leave it at that.
Just come to participate in club activities on time tomorrow.”
This was the only way, wasn’t it?
Even after witnessing transcendent, otherworldly power, they still had to diligently attend school as high school students.
“Also, we must act as if nothing has happened—go to school, study, participate in club activities, and try our best to maintain our usual personas.
Whether it’s collecting special items or eliminating Cursed Spirits, it all must be done during club activity hours.”
Yukinoshita said this, feigning ease.
Hiratsuka-sensei had also framed the terrifying supernatural battles as merely an assessment test, as if the three’s youthful daily routine would continue as usual, but…
Weakness and ignorance are not the obstacles to survival; arrogance is.
From the moment they accepted Yotsuya Miko’s request, the shining normal path of the three had already ended.