Hachiman Hikigaya, who returned from his studies after completing his training.

Chapter 191 The First Person Seeking Help from the Friends Department

As winter break approached, the newly established Friends Department received its first request for help.

A cute girl from Class D, always with her eyes downcast and a timid demeanor, had her dark blue side ponytail hanging quietly over her shoulder.

"Hachiman, this child says he wants to be your friend."

After being liberated from the student council, Hikigaya was caught by Asahina and taken to the Friends Club room. The originally simple classroom was transformed by Asahina and her friends into a room full of girlish atmosphere.

Several fluffy decorative dolls stood on a long table against the wall, and the chairs, made of ordinary alloy wood, were covered with beige cushions.

"Don't talk nonsense. Yamamura has always been my friend." Hikigaya tapped Asahina's head, who was sitting in the main seat and laughing, with a hint of annoyance.

Although he never actively sought out Yamamura to go out and play, Hikigaya quite liked Yamamura's well-behaved and obedient personality, and Yamamura had also helped him a few times.

He had long considered Shancun a friend, but D-class had been his enemy not long ago, and he wasn't the type to actively seek out friends, so he had never reached out to Shancun.

"Given Yamamura's personality, he probably wouldn't proactively request a favor from the Friends Department."

Nodding to Yamamura, who was looking at him with a shy yet happy expression, Hikigaya looked suspiciously at Asahina-senpai, who was excited about the first opening of the Friends Club.

"I just gave Yamamura a push." ​​Asahina stuck out her tongue, and sensing Yamamura's desire to befriend her, she decisively took action and successfully secured the request.

After she managed to seduce the person she wanted to befriend from the mountain village—her junior, Hachiman Hikigaya—her enthusiasm suddenly surged.

For this purpose, a project was created called "A Loving and Friendly Friends' Two-Player Table Tennis Match".

As a regular exerciser, she knew that there was no better way to strengthen a relationship than by participating in sports together.

"If you find it troublesome, please politely refuse Asahina-senpai."

"I agree with Hachiman on that point."

After Asahina suggested forming a team to play table tennis, Hikigaya gave Yamamura an encouraging look, and Yukinoshita, who was also being recruited to form a team, calmly said...

According to Asahina's team assignments, Hikigaya is on a team with Yamamura, Sakura is on a team with Hasebe, and Asahina is naturally on a team with Yukinoshita.

The strength of each group is completely unbalanced.

"I think...it's okay..." Shancun said softly, clutching the hem of his clothes with some embarrassment.

Although she was happy to learn today that Hachiman considers her a friend, she is very interested in teaming up with Hachiman to play table tennis.

"Go! Go! Go! Let's go now!"

Upon hearing Yamamura's words, Hikigaya decisively betrayed Yukinoshita's fleeing camp.

Instead of going to a crowded place like a stadium, the six of them, on the side of their friends' money, went to the Zhuoqiu (a type of badminton) shop in the Beech Tree Center and booked a private room for two hours.

"Ah, it's so warm."

With the central air conditioning providing warmth, Asahina took off her school uniform jacket upon entering the room, revealing a tight-fitting pink sports top underneath, which accentuated her beautiful figure and graceful curves.

Following Asahina's example, the other girls also took off their coats and hung them on the wall where hooks were prepared, except that they were all wearing the school's loose-fitting sportswear.

Hasebe and Sakura's 'fierceness' couldn't be concealed even in their loose sportswear, while Yukinoshita and Yamamura seemed to share a similar fate.

"If you look at me like that again, I'm going to call the police."

With an unyielding coldness, Yukino stood beside Hachiman and whispered a warning, but Hachiman's pitying gaze only fueled her anger.

What can she do? She just can't gain weight there, unlike her sister.

Well, there's still a chance, don't give up.

Silently cheering for Yukinoshita, Hachiman walked to the table tennis table, picked up his paddle, and gently swung it, trying to recapture the feel of playing against the wall in middle school.

He hasn't played table tennis for over a year.

"Airi and I aren't very good at it, so Hachiman, remember to let us win."

Holding a paddle, Hasebe, with her long blue hair tied in a single ponytail, bent down and stared intently at the man holding the ping-pong ball, her expression full of fighting spirit.

Under the gentle guidance of Yuki, Hikigaya and Yamamura's first opponents are Hasebe and Sakura.

"Hehe, my life principle is friendship second, competition first." Facing the two weaklings, Hikigaya tossed the ball high and served a quick serve the instant the ball fell.

The ping-pong ball bounced off the table at an extremely high speed and then hurtled towards Hasebe at a tricky angle.

Without touching the opposite table at all, the ping-pong ball hit Hasebe's two 'fierce' mounds, which even his loose sportswear couldn't conceal.

"...Hachiman!"

"hehe."

Hasebe immediately clutched his chest and cried out, his face turning red. Sakura also looked at him for the first time with the eyes that seemed to be looking at a creepy old man, while Yukinoshita let out a cold laugh full of sarcasm.

"My bad, my bad. I haven't played in a long time and I couldn't control my strength." Hikigaya scratched his head awkwardly and readily admitted defeat.

Having not played for a long time and having gained a lot of strength, it's normal for the serve to go out of bounds.

The abnormality is simply that the ball was hit in an unsuitable place.

Bending down, Hikigaya let Yamamura stand in the front attacking position, while he himself stood behind her and gave her the opportunity to serve.

If the serve hits a spot it shouldn't, he'll have no way to explain himself.

"Well, leave it to me."

Although Yamamura said that, he was constantly outmatched by Hasebe during the match, and in the end, Hasebe and Sakura won the game by two points and advanced smoothly.

Then they faced off against Asahina and Yukinoshita, whose skills were top-notch and who showed no sign of holding back.

"I'm sorry, it's my fault that Hachiman lost."

Sitting on the benches designated for resting, Hikigaya watched with interest as Hasebe and Sakura were being hung up and beaten, and Yamamura apologized quietly.

Judging from her somber expression, Hachiman knew she had fallen into self-doubt again.

Because of their very weak presence, the mountain village is often overlooked, which leads to a lack of self-confidence and a tendency to blame themselves for everything.

This is not a good idea.

"Didn't I also lose a point in the first round when I served and took the ball? Since we're on a team together, let's not be so calculating. Besides, isn't the purpose of playing table tennis together to have fun?"

Hikigaya gently patted Yamamura's somewhat thin shoulder, "According to your thinking, I should be the one apologizing. A boy can't even beat two girls on the other side."

"No, I've never thought that way."

His face was flustered, and Shancun unconsciously clasped his hands together again, his shoulders slumping as if burdened.

She would never blame Hachiman for the mistake.

“That’s right.” With a sigh, Hachiman placed his hand on Yamamura’s head and gently stroked it. “I consider you a friend, so why would I need you to apologize for such a trivial matter.”

"I think Yamamura is cute and has a good personality, so she should be more confident."

Chapter 192 Hachiman, who wanted to pamper the mountain village

"Heh, how dare you claim to be undefeated in a single match."

"What's so great about that? Look how long our winning streak has lasted."

After Asahina and Yukinoshita achieved a five-game winning streak, Hikigaya and Yamamura joined forces to end their winning streak.

A few strands of bangs clung to her exceptionally fair forehead, and Yukinoshita, with a natural blush on her cheeks, retorted with displeasure to Hikigaya, who wore a smug expression.

Physical strength has always been her weakness. Although she has recently increased her training time to improve it, her endurance is still only average.

"Next." Hikigaya's smile deepened, and Yukino's defiant expression was always adorable.

No wonder Haruno enjoys teasing Yukino so much.

Just as Hasebe and Sakura were trying to regain the confidence they had gained from being crushed by Yukinoshita, he regained his form and once again dominated Obiyamamura, achieving a two-game winning streak.

After a fierce battle of ten minutes with Yukinoshita and Asahina filled with a desire for revenge, Hikigaya decisively chose to end today's table tennis activity and go to treat himself.

"What would you like to eat? It's on me."

Ignoring Yukino's defiant gaze, Hikigaya spoke to the several cute girls who were resting side by side on the bench.

"I want to eat dumplings at a Chinese restaurant." With a happy expression, Asahina quickly raised her right hand, her long orange hair, now freed, cascading smoothly over her shoulders.

"I also can."

"Me too."

"A Chinese restaurant? That sounds pretty good."

After Asahina spoke, Hasebe, Sakura, and Yukinoshita all gave their opinions, except for today's protagonist, Yamamura.

"How about... we go to a ramen shop? I remember Hachiman likes to eat ramen after exercising." Yamamura turned his head slightly away from Hachiman's eyes.

Although his voice was soft and his tone was hesitant and lacked confidence, Shancun made a concerted effort to express his opinion.

This gave Hachiman a sense of satisfaction, like watching his own child grow up. He was also touched that Yamamura knew that what he wanted to eat most right now was ramen, although Yamamura must have known this from when he overheard Sakayanagi following him.

Hachiman raised his hand. "Since there are two proposals, let's vote. I vote for the ramen shop."

Ramen shops are certainly not places most girls like to go. Even if Hikigaya wanted to go, he wouldn't have said so if Yamamura hadn't suggested it. But this was the first time Yamamura had taken the initiative to express her opinion in front of him.

Just for this reason, Hachiman should be supported.

"Then let's go to a ramen shop." Yukinoshita frowned slightly.

She wasn't really interested in ramen, but she shared the same opinion as Hachiman.

"I've always wanted to try a ramen shop, but I'm too scared to go without a guy to take me."

"I haven't had ramen in a long time either."

After Asahina expressed her approval, Nagabeya also readily followed suit, and Sakura nodded slightly, though she didn't say it explicitly.

And so, the Chinese restaurant, which had initially held the upper hand, was defeated by the ramen shop proposed by Yamamura.

"Let's go."

After putting on his own coat, Hikigaya fetched Yamamura's coat as well. Yamamura, who was surprised that everyone had agreed, took the coat and then extended her hand to her.

"I can get up by myself." The mountain village hesitantly reached out its hand.

"This is a friendly help from a friend."

Smiling, Hikigaya took Yamamura's hand and pulled her up from the bench. All he wanted to do now was pamper this obedient friend.

"I want Hachiman too."

"Me...me too."

With a pursed mouth, Hasebe neatly extended his hand to Hikigaya, and Sakura followed suit cautiously.

What are you doing, Haruka, you troublemaker?

While inwardly criticizing him, Hikigaya calmly pulled the two of them up, one in each hand. Then, Asahina, who had already stood up, suddenly plopped back down on the bench and looked at Hikigaya with a mocking expression.

"Me too, Hachiman-kun." Unable to suppress the smile on her lips, Asahina's eyes curved into crescent shapes.

"Please ask your junior, Yukinoshita, to go."

Looking at Asahina, who was a distance away from them, he chose to coldly refuse.

"Hachiman bullied me, Yukino, please talk to him for me."

Pouting, Hina hugged Yukinoshita, who had just put on her coat, causing Yukinoshita to sigh heavily.

She had thought that entering this prestigious school would mean a solitary struggle, but instead, the lively atmosphere around her made her somewhat uncomfortable.

Especially Asahina-senpai, who always liked to touch her inappropriately, made her even more uncomfortable than Ichinose.

However, that was just discomfort, not dislike.

"Stop fooling around, let's go." Gently tapping Asahina's head, Yukinoshita broke free from her grasp and followed the group out of the room.

"Yukino also bullies me."

After muttering something, Asahina smiled and caught up with them.

She has no complaints about the current situation. Hikigaya and Yukinoshita are both very nice people, and she is much happier now than when she hangs out with friends like Suji Moka.

If only she were in the same grade as Hachiman and the others, then they wouldn't have to separate after a little over a year.

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