Chapter 13: What Do You Think of Girls Who Stay Home?
"...That's great. So, what do we do?" Hikigaya said with a blank expression.
"We're going to the home economics classroom. You guys come too." Yukinoshita stood up first.
"Why are we going there?" Hikigaya asked weakly.
At that moment, Yuigahama silently raised her hand. "I… I want to make cookies..."
"Huh? Cookies?" Hikigaya was completely confused and could only respond like that.
"Yuigahama wants to make cookies and give them to someone, but she's not confident. So, she wants help from our club," Yukinoshita explained.
"Why do we have to help…? Isn't this the kind of thing you ask a friend for?" Hikigaya immediately retorted.
"Ugh... Th-that's because… I don't want others to know. If they found out, they'd definitely think I'm stupid… This kind of thing just doesn't feel right to ask friends…" Yuigahama said, her eyes darting around.
Hikigaya and Dan Shiki couldn't help but sigh a little.
Dan Shiki didn't really care. He didn't quite understand Yuigahama's worry, and he didn't think friendships like that counted as real friends anyway.
Yuigahama lowered her head and went silent. She tightly gripped the hem of her skirt, and her shoulders trembled slightly.
"Ha, haha... It's… really weird, right? Someone like me making handmade cookies… It'll just look like I'm pretending to be innocent… Sorry, Yukinoshita-san, I guess I'll give up."
"If you want to give up, I don't mind... But don't worry about these two guys. They don't have human rights right now. I'll force them to help." Yukinoshita folded her arms and squinted her eyes.
Dan Shiki: ???
Wait, what does this have to do with me?! I didn't even say anything just now!!!
"Ah~~ no, no, it's okay! It really is kind of silly anyway, and it doesn't suit me… Besides, I asked Yumiko and Mari before, and they said this kind of thing isn't popular anymore." Yuigahama glanced at Hikigaya as she spoke.
Yukinoshita, as if stabbing in a few more words, said, "…Yeah, giving handmade cookies really doesn't seem like something a flashy girl like you would do."
"R-right? It's super weird~~" Yuigahama followed Yukinoshita's words and laughed, "Hahaha~" while sneaking a shy glance at Hikigaya.
Being looked at like that, Hikigaya let out a sigh. "…It's not that I think it's weird or doesn't suit you or that it doesn't match your personality or anything like that. I'm just not interested, that's all."
"That's even worse!" Yuigahama slapped the desk in protest.
"I can't believe you'd say something like that, you antisocial guy! Ah~~ I'm mad now! Listen, if I put my mind to it, I can do anything!"
"That's not up to you to say. You have to make your mom cry with pride and say something like, 'I always knew, if you tried, you could do anything.'" Hikigaya shot back.
"Your mom's already given up on you!!! Stop embarrassing yourself here!!!" Dan Shiki shouted.
"An accurate assessment." Yukinoshita nodded firmly.
"I can only make curry, but I'll help you out," Hikigaya seemed to feel a little guilty for raining on her parade.
"Th-thank you."
"No one expects your cooking. Just help with tasting and giving feedback," Yukinoshita still threw in a jab.
Wait a sec—if she's the one teaching, Yuigahama's learning, and he's tasting, what am I supposed to do?
Yukinoshita seemed to notice what he was thinking. "You're also in charge of tasting. Having one more person giving opinions is always helpful."
Sōbu High's home economics classroom was quite luxurious. Since there was a class held here earlier this morning, the room still smelled sweet with vanilla extract.
Yukinoshita expertly opened the fridge, took out eggs, milk, and other ingredients, and then grabbed a scale and bowls, clattering as she prepared measuring spoons and other cooking utensils.
As the saying goes, practice makes perfect. Judging from how smoothly Yukinoshita prepared everything, maybe she's actually really good at cooking too.
After quickly finishing preparations, Yukinoshita put on an apron, ready to get into the main part of the day.
Yuigahama also put on an apron, but she wasn't very skilled—she couldn't even tie the knot properly.
"Your knot is crooked. Don't tell me you don't even know how to wear an apron?" Yukinoshita covered her face at the sight.
"S-sorry, thanks… Wait! I do know how to wear one!" Yuigahama apologized, then protested.
"Mm. Then fix it. If you do things sloppily, you'll end up like that guy." Yukinoshita said, pointing at Hikigaya.
"Don't use me as an example! What am I, some kind of cautionary tale?!"
"This is the first time in your life you've helped someone. Be a little more happy about it..." Yukinoshita teased.
"Huh? What? What does being hopeless have to do with baldness?" Dan Shiki asked, looking at Hikigaya's hair. (In Japanese, the word "namahage" sounds like "bald guy.")
"I've never worried about that… Also, quit looking at me like that!!!" Hikigaya stepped back in panic.
"Whew~ Dan-kun is more like a yokai that searches for lazy people than Hikibald-kun..." Yukinoshita said with a smirk, clearly enjoying herself.
Yuigahama watched the three from a slight distance, giggling. Her apron was still on crooked.
"You still haven't fixed that? You really don't know how to wear it, do you? Sigh, come here. I'll help you tie it." Yukinoshita waved her over in resignation.
"...Is that okay?" Yuigahama muttered shyly, like a child who couldn't find their way.
"Hurry up." Yukinoshita's cold voice cut off Yuigahama's hesitation. She seemed a little annoyed.
"S-s-sorry!" Yuigahama rushed over.
Are you a puppy or something? Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
Yukinoshita moved behind her and re-tied the knot.
"For some reason… Yukinoshita-san feels kind of like my big sister."
"My little sister wouldn't be this clumsy." Yukinoshita sighed, her face full of "you got me again" expression.
"H-hey, you antisocial guy, let me ask you something," Yuigahama suddenly turned to Hikigaya with a question.
"What is it?"
"Wh-what do you think about homemaker-type girls?" Yuigahama asked timidly.
"I don't dislike them. Guys usually admire that kind of girl, I think." Hikigaya shrugged.
"I-I see…" Hearing that, Yuigahama smiled with relief. "Okay, I'll do my best!"
Dan Shiki, sitting nearby, squinted as he watched.
Something's up—something really up! When a girl asks a guy that kind of question, it usually means she likes him.
But Dan Shiki thought jumping to conclusions would be too hasty. Better to watch and see for now.