Although President Hikigaya seemed to carry a permanent cloud of gloom over his head, he was surprisingly efficient when it came to getting things done. By the very next day, he handed Yukinoshita the contact information for the candidates he had screened and found.
Yukinoshita thanked him politely, but the president merely sighed.
"As long as you can get your act together and stop turning the class atmosphere into a warzone, that'll be thanks enough."
Yukinoshita looked at him with surprise.
"A doomsday wallflower like you, saying something so selfless and noble? That's rare."
She had no memory of meeting this President Hikigaya before, but something about him made her feel like they were cosmically incompatible.
Hikigaya rolled his eyes.
"That's because, starting from yesterday, your confession success rate has basically hit one hundred percent."
In other words, the Yukinoshita with long black hair had become several times more dangerous and destructive than the blonde version of herself from before.
After a brief moment of thought, Yukinoshita blinked in realization.
"Oh, so that was a compliment."
Hikigaya: "..."
He waved her off with a look of exaggerated disgust.
"Yeah yeah, just go already."
Yukinoshita obediently turned to leave. Just before closing the door, she glanced back at the empty Service Club room and saw Hikigaya Hachiman, hands clasped beneath his chin, gazing quietly out the window.
In such a spacious clubroom, he looked oddly alone.
Just before she closed the door fully, Yukinoshita couldn't help but ask,
"Doesn't a school club like this have a minimum member requirement? A club that violates school regulations like this should disappear with just a single report, right?"
Hikigaya: "..."
"Just kidding. I'll save that nuclear option for the next time you really tick me off."
Also a joke, of course.
Yukinoshita closed the door with a satisfied smile.
Maybe it was the result of being forced to pretend she liked girls, or perhaps she was just giving in to a downward spiral, but she really was becoming increasingly shameless lately.
Back in the classroom, Yukinoshita returned to her seat alone.
She quickly added the LINE contact of the tutor President Hikigaya had introduced.
"Hello."
A plain and simple greeting, radiating the proud tone of a wealthy client accustomed to being in control.
But it wasn't until the period ended that the would-be tutor finally replied.
"Hello. I'm applying to be your tutor. My name is Sawamura Eriri from Toyonoki Academy. Are you Yukinoshita-san? Referred by Yui Yuigahama, right? "
Yukinoshita stared at the phone screen for a long moment, trying to interpret the intent behind that smiling emoji. Was it friendly, or passive-aggressive?
With her reputation as the most hated girl in school, it was only natural for her to be this cautious and suspicious.
She sent another message.
"Yes. Here's the salary and weekly schedule. [image]"
Eriri quickly responded,
"The pay is quite generous. I'll do my best! Here's my grade report for this year as a second-year student. [image]"
Originally, Yukinoshita had assumed this would be a run-of-the-mill tutor hire. But to her astonishment, the system triggered a new prompt:
[System Recommendation: Best current option for repairing your negative image Accept and hire this tutor.]
Yukinoshita: "..."
You've got to be kidding. Could it really be that coincidental?
With that kind of authoritative tone, this tutor had to be one of the high-profile characters the system had mentioned.
Yukinoshita pulled up the campus forum and searched for "Sawamura Eriri." Sure enough, her name popped up on the list of Yukinoshita's supposed "victims."
Hikigaya, you're really begging for a report.
Yukinoshita gritted her teeth and chose to accept.
[Choice Confirmed. +1 Mental Clarity]
Again, she felt a faint chill spread from her forehead down through every corner of her body, seeping into her limbs and bones.
Not to brag, but Yukinoshita had always been fairly sharp. If she kept riding this system boost, maybe just maybe she could surpass her older sister.
As for what her family relationships had become, she still didn't want to face that. But the ambition to finally outshine her sister, something she'd clung to since childhood, hadn't faded in the slightest.
Yukinoshita rested her chin on her hand and started thinking.
This mysterious, inexplicable system seemed shady as hell but right now, she really needed it.
...Wait a second.
Why did she sound like one of those jerks who say, "Sure, I'm only here for your money, but also, you're seriously ugly and I'm suffering through this"?
Crap. Was she being corrupted by the morally bankrupt energy of her blonde alter ego?
Despite all the inner chaos, Yukinoshita on the outside still looked as pure and untouched as freshly fallen mountain snow.
Even sitting alone, she radiated an unshakable, dignified solitude.
An obsessive dedication to studying, no less.
Is this a joke? Yukinoshita, who ranked dead last in class, suddenly caring about schoolwork?
Yet that's exactly what she was doing now.
Honestly, after seeing the new her, it was hard to even remember what the old Yukinoshita used to be like.
Photos of the current Yukinoshita had even made their way to the school forum, and Miura had seen them too.
It made no sense. Someone as beautiful and well-off as Yukinoshita had no reason to spiral like she had a year ago. Unless was it because of family issues?
That's how it always went in dramas and anime, right? The privileged heiresses and heirs, drowning in mysterious sorrows and melodrama.
"You think I'm happy? Money can't buy happiness!"
While the teacher's back was turned, Miura tossed a paper ball onto Yuigahama's desk.
Yuigahama glanced at her, then scribbled something on the paper before tossing it back.
Q: "Yuigahama, do you know why Yukinoshita suddenly went from arrogant queen bee to brooding loner a few months ago?"
A: "No clue. But by the way, Miura, you sure seem to be paying a lot of attention to Yukinoshita lately (^_^)"
Miura's face immediately turned awkward.
Wha-what? No way!
She was just studying the enemy. Know your enemy to beat your enemy. That's all!
Yes. Exactly.
Yukinoshita had used her looks to flirt with boys left and right, cheating on everyone even Hayama, who got dumped not long after they started dating.
Of course Miura still hated Yukinoshita. But...
No matter how much you hated someone, once you started to suspect they might like you, that hatred started to feel a little shaky.
Miura Yumiko was exactly that kind of person.
Could it be… that Yukinoshita really had a crush on her?