Chapter 425: Everyday in the Service Club
The appointment had been made, and on the next Saturday, Shishio planned to take everyone from Sunohara dorm out to the Ashikaga Flower Park.
While it might be good to take everyone too, Shishio felt it was better to take Ayaka and everyone in the Sunohara dorm alone since he had too many of his girlfriends, and bringing them together was quite troublesome, considering how it would be noisy and he was just a single person.
While Shishio was quite experienced at taking care of women, taking care of a group of women was taxing. Each of them was also a single individual, and of course, all of them needed his attention. After all, they weren't a bitch who would open their legs like an automatic door in the convenience store, so he needed to be careful with how he treated them.
Right now, they were eating lunch at the literature club.
It might be because they had done it many times that this had become a routine for them.
However, even though they often spent their time together, Shishio was still unable to pierce the last barrier to have them together, having xx-some together.
"By the way, Shishio."
"Hmm?"
"You're writing a new book, right?" Nana asked.
"...."
Everyone was quite attracted by Nana's question and looked at Shishio curiously. They knew that Shishio loved to write, and he had written two stories.
One was used by Shiina for her manga, and the other one was used by Misaki for her anime.
This time, it was the third story, and they were quite curious about what kind of story it was.
"Yeah." Shishio nodded since he didn't plan to hide the fact he wrote a novel.
"Is it done?" Miu asked curiously since she loved his work.
"Not yet." Shishio shook his head and said, "I want to do some research first before I finish this novel."
"Research?" They somehow became even curious.
"What kind?"
"Well, it's kind of embarrassing to say it here."
"What? You suddenly make us feel curious."
Shishio let out a sigh when he was stared at by everyone, so he could only say, "I want to do research about a ladyboy."
"..........."
"...Ladyboy?"
Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard Shishio's words.
"Are you serious?"
"I am 100% serious." Shishio nodded since what he would write needed him to know the information about the ladyboy in this country.
Unlike his previous novels where Shishio could use his imagination to write, this time, it was different since he needed various necessary information to complete this novel.
After all, it was different to write when one knew it, and one didn't know it.
Even though it might be strange, Shishio needed to do this since he didn't want to write a half-assed novel, and he needed to thoroughly research everything before he completed this work.
"What kind of novel is this?" Mai became curious somehow.
"It's not something perverted, right?" Maiko asked with a cheeky smile.
"....Have I ever written something perverted?" Shishio asked speechlessly.
"...."
They were silent and only realized that even though Shishio had often written stories, he had never written something lewd or obscene!
All of his writing was pure and delicate, unlike his real personality, which was quite raunchy.
However, they suddenly understood why he could be so romantic.
"So what kind of story is this?" Nana asked curiously.
Shiina and Ritsu were also curious and kept staring at Shishio.
Shishio let out a sigh and said, "I won't say the details, but I want to write a story about the persistence of loss and memory, and about finding one's path through the world, with some romance and lots of delicious food along the way."
"....."
"What?" Shishio looked at everyone who had suddenly become silent.
"...Somehow, it is more serious than I thought," Mea said with a strange expression.
Maiko nodded vigorously.
"But I must admit if you write something related to a delicious food, it must be something good," Mai said.
"You know, if you write a cookbook, I am sure it'll be sought after," Saki suddenly said.
Hearing Saki's words, everyone was stunned since if Shishio really wrote a cookbook, they would also buy them!
Everyone had tasted Shishio's food, and they knew how delicious it was.
While the conversation continued, Shishio tried to change the topic of the conversation with something else since he didn't want to spoil his book, and he also thought it might be a good chance for him to bring one of his girlfriends out to the night date.
Shishio looked at Saki, and she also stared at him.
Even though neither of them said anything, they nodded and had made up their plan to go out together shortly.
With the matter on the literature club ending, Shishio continued his activity to the service club.
As usual, the three members of the club gathered there together, reading a book in silence.
While Shishio usually talked, causing the two to interact with him, he was unusually silent and just read his book without saying anything. Even though he had read a book, his hand didn't move, and he just stared at the book in silence.
While Hikigaya felt uncomfortable by his silence, Yukinoshita didn't hesitate to pierce this silence without hesitation.
"What's wrong, Shishio-kun?"
"Hmm?"
"You have been silent for a while."
"...Am I a rowdy type of person? Even I want to read my book in silence sometimes."
Shishio was just thinking about his novel, and it might be because he tried to brew the feelings to write something. It was like when an actor tried to enter his character by acting as his character in the movie. He also did the same thing and wanted to understand the characters inside his story.
As for his messy relationship with various girls, Shishio didn't think too much about it and just followed the flow. Worst case scenario, he just needed to date all of them together.
"You act like some wannabe actor or something, you know?" Hikigaya said.
"If I became an actor, believe me, whether it is your mother, grandmother, or little sister will become my fans," Shishio said confidently.
"...."
Hikigaya was silent and thought it was possible!
With Shishio's charm, Hikigaya knew what kind of possibility would appear if Shishio became an actor. He felt a shudder and shut his mouth since he wouldn't wake up the sleeping giant, and it was better to let him lie down, living in his usual life without bothering anyone or else, many guys would be harmed, considering their girlfriends or wives might be attracted by him.
"So what's wrong, Senpai? It seems you have something to talk about with me?" Shishio asked while looking at Yukinoshita.
"Are you alright?" Yukinoshita asked.
"I am happy that you're worried about me, but I am alright, and if I need your help, I'll talk to you. You don't need to worry," Shishio said and naturally held Yukinoshita's soft hand.
"...Leave aside how you hold my hand, so naturally, I'll take your words now." Yukinoshita was still worried, but when she saw him still able to flirt with her, she felt relieved.
"...." Hikigaya.
"Leave your matter aside."
"You're going to leave my matter aside?"
"Was that the right thing to do? Yuigama-san's request last week, I mean."
Shishio was speechless when Yukinoshita ignored him.
"Where's this coming from? We're doing good, right? The tiramisu was so good." Higikagaya still couldn't forget the tiramisu that was baked by Shishio. Even his little sister enjoyed it so much and wanted him to get her again. However, it was impossible unless Shishio decided to make one again and became his brother-in-law.
'No, no! I can't allow this scumbag to seduce my little sister!'
Hikigaya vowed inside his mind!
"I believe you should take up any kind of challenges if it's going to help you to grow. I think it would have helped Yuigama out in the long run if she did."
As long as there was a chance to make herself better, Yukinoshita wouldn't hesitate to take it since that was what kind of person she was.
However, Hikigaya was different.
"Hard work won't betray you. Though at times, it will betray your dreams."
"Huh?" Yukinoshita looked at Hikigaya in confusion.
"Working hard doesn't necessarily mean you'll fulfill your dreams. It's more common for it not to beat fruit. But just the fact that you did your best can serve as a sort of consolation." Hikigaya gave his life-long lesson.
"That's just a shallow sense of satisfaction. You're so naive. Disgusting."
"Ugh!" Hikigaya was hurt, but then he looked at Shishio and asked, "Oga, what do you think?"
"Me?"
"Yeah." Hikigaya nodded and asked, "Do you think my words are wrong?"
Yukinoshita also looked at Shishio too.
"...."
Shishio rolled his eyes since he didn't really want to get involved in this conversation. "I don't agree with you, Senpai."
"Oh-ho? Can you tell me the reason for that?" Hikigaya asked and didn't feel surprised by Shishio's rejection. However, he was quite curious as to why Shishio could say that. He already knew while the two of them were quite similar, they were fundamentally different, and this might be the reason why he was quite tolerant toward his bad talk toward him most of the time.
It definitely had nothing to do with the fact he didn't see a chance to win when they fought each other.
Definitely.
"We don't know if trying our best will help, but we do know that if we don't try our best, it won't help for sure, right?" Shishio said with a smile.
"........"
While Yukinoshita nodded in agreement, Hikigaya was speechless since he had nothing to say to refute Shishio's words were right.
Their hard work might not be paid.
However, if they did nothing, nothing would happen.
It was a simple fact, yet people made them complicated.
"You know, life is simple. If you want to get smarter, then study. If you don't like someone, just tell them. If you feel angry, just let it out. If you're hungry, just eat. If you want to poop, just go to the toilet. If there's something wrong, just fix it. We, humans, often make everything complicated." Shishio looked at Hikigaya with a relaxed expression and said, "Our egos are the source of trouble."
"........" Hikigaya and Yukinoshita.
'So if you like someone, you can just confess?' Yukinoshita thought, but she shook her head since, just as Shishio said before, her ego made everything so complicated.
When they thought about continuing their conversation, the door was knocked on again, and two beautiful girls appeared in front of the entrance of the service club together.
However, Yukinoshita frowned since Shishio let go of her hand naturally, but she said nothing and looked at the guests who came to their quiet club.