Chapter 188 Epilogue: Later
After the fireworks festival ended, school would resume in just one day.
Before morning assembly, Soubs High’s students still had their vacation spirits undampened, chatting animatedly with friends about the fun things that happened during the break.
A black-haired girl sat quietly in her seat, reading a book with an indifferent expression, as if she was unrelated to everything around her.
Not long after, Hirusaka Shizuka returned to class holding lesson plans; she still wore a white lab coat, giving a complex look towards Yukinoshita Yukino, who silently read her book.
“Now then, settle down,” Hirusaka told them after looking away and tapping on the chalkboard. “The holiday is over, so get your minds back on business.”
“If anyone doesn’t want to, it’s fine. I can help you.”
At that, the students who had been chatting happily with Hirusaka fell silent and sat up straight, watching the teacher on the podium with a smile, brandishing a fist.
“Good, now first we have the schedule for next week…” She intentionally let it hang there, added a slight suspense and continued, “There will be an exam this Thursday and Friday, to see how everyone did during the holiday.”
“Eh!”
Students at the podium groaned unwillingly upon hearing they’d have to face an entrance exam right from the start.
However, no matter how much they complained, it couldn’t change the fact that the exam was only three days away.
Finally, accepting their fate, the students focused, studying desperately.
“Yukinoshita, come with me.”
Upon announcing the exam arrangements, Hirusaka called out and then left the classroom.
Yukinoshita closed her book calmly, rose, and followed her.
They came to the interview room in the faculty office together. Hirusaka immediately pulled out a box of cigarettes from her white lab coat after sitting down, then lit one.
On the table beside an ashtray was a file.
“So, where is this Lin Qi?” she spat out smoke irritably. “Promised so well before, ending up poaching my students!”
“Lin Qi went on a business trip far away,” Yukinoshita replied.
She snatched the file and frowned as she read, “Tokyo Metropolitan High School of Jujutsu Exchange Program, lasting a year. Not only is it limited to one person, but he specifically asked for you. It’s outrageous for the principal to hand it directly to me personally.”
After venting her frustration, Hirusaka looked worriedly at Yukinoshita. “Have you really thought it through?”
“Yes.” The black-haired girl’s lowered eyelashes trembled gently. “I have my reasons.”
She lifted her head, with a faint smile on her face, “Furthermore, it is only an exchange program, not leaving indefinitely.”
Staring at Yukinoshita for a while, seeing she was determined, Hirusaka sighed, “Since you’ve decided, I won’t say much more. This afternoon, ask your mother to sign.”
“Alright.” The girl nodded slightly. Hirusaka couldn’t help but sigh inwardly in admiration at her collected demeanor.
“Even convinced your own mother?”
After Yukinoshita left, Hirusaka smoked alone in the interview room. Passersby could hear her muttering things like, “Lin Qi, you damn guy!” or accusing him of taking her students, adding curses.
…
At 9 pm, an expensive black car pulled up to the gate of Soubs High. A woman in a kimono got out, her hair tied up.
Yukinoshita’s mother arrived at the meeting room.
Hirusaka pushed the paper and pen towards her, saying as if in reminiscence, “I didn’t think you’d agree. Even though it is for a year, the school is shrouded in mystery, with a standard score just barely above average, let alone being religious.”
“Has the Yukinoshita family started believing all this?”
Words from Hirusaka carried implicit disapproval.
Lightly stroking her hand, Yukinoshita’s mother said with a mix of emotion, “Yes, at first, I never thought I’d agree to what Yukino decided.”
Despite her disagreement, she could no longer doubt her daughter’s words when an expensive wooden desk was sliced into pieces by an unseen cutting force.
After signing, Yukinoshita’s mother bowed to Hirusaka slightly, “This year has been troublesome for my daughter, Ms. Hirusaka.”
“No trouble at all, I merely did my duty as a teacher,” Hirusaka said hurriedly.
“Where is Yukinoshita?”
Yukinoshita’s mother asked again.
“She might be dealing with some club affairs.”
…
“Oh my, how dirty! We need to clean this up,” Yuigahama said when she opened the door to the Service Club’s activity room, immediately swatting away dust.
“Indeed, it’s been a summer break,” Hachiman commented.
A summer’s worth of dirt covered the activity room, with cobwebs hanging in the corners.
“Can you give me a hand?”
A cold voice echoed from behind them. Yukinoshita Yukino approached with cleaning tools.
Puffy-haired Yuigahama shoved past Hachiman eagerly, grabbing the broom from Yukinoshita. She declared confidently, “Though I’m not very confident in cooking, I’m adept in housework! I often aid my mom in house chores!”
“Not quite. Isn’t someone who can’t even do simple housework even scarier?” Hachiman retorted.
“Come help too,” Yukinoshita handed him a broom.
“Okay, I’ll show you just how terrifying a guy aspiring to be the household manager can be…”
Hachiman’s comment was interrupted by a loud scream from within the Service Club.
The couple hurried over to find Yuigahama lying sprawled on the ground, dirt marring her pleated skirt.
Her eyes wide with fright, she pointed at the corner, “There’s, there’s a spider!”
Following Yuigahama’s finger, Hachiman stared at a spider running frantically around its web, feeling somewhat exasperated.
“You’re the one who should be scared here,” he muttered while sweeping the web away.
“What’s wrong? Aren’t you an expert housewife!” he asked sarcastically.
“Mmm…” Yuigahama wailed like a little animal, visibly shaking.
Upon seeing the tiny spider, she shrieked instinctively, her legs trembling, collapsing in fright.
In her mind, fragmented memories flashed.
“Are you okay?” Yukinoshita helped her up.
“Yeah…it’s fine,” Yuigahama laughed awkwardly, realizing she may have overreacted.
“I hope I didn’t scare you,” she said apologetically.
“No problem, let’s get cleaning,” smiled the black-haired girl.
They finally cleaned up the Service Club after half an hour.
“Oh, what a drag, but it feels rewarding to see the tidied-up room!” Yuigahama plopped onto the table.
“Proud of just tidying up,” scolded Hachiman but received a glare.
He promptly shut his mouth.
“Yahiro, that’s why you don’t have friends! Well, except for us.”
“Yuigahama, Hachiman, there’s something I want to tell you,” Yukinoshita made tea for both of them before sitting opposite them.
“What’s up?” Yuigahama asked curiously.
“I’ll be going to another school as an exchange student for a year,” the black-haired girl began.
“…What?” The puffy-headed girl suddenly froze.
Hachiman’s eyes glinted, as if realizing something.
“A student exchange…Why?”
Yuigahama stammered, looking panicked as if she had misplaced something crucial.
“I have my reasons,” Yukinoshita shook her head reassuringly, “so I’d like to ask you this, Yuigahama, could you take over as Club Chairman while I’m not around?”
“Eh, me?” Yuigahama’s face clouded with confusion, “Me as the chairperson? No no no… but… ”
The girl’s features softened momentarily, then fell as she continued in a low tone, “Without Kkano-sensei, will the club exist without purpose…”
“Yuigahama,” Yukinoshita smiled sadly, looking sympathetically at the puffy-headed girl with a downturned head, “Our relationship won’t be affected just by my absence.”
“But…” Yuigahama started to add but stopped herself.
“On the contrary, if our bond breaks simply because I leave for a short time, it just shows our bond isn’t strong enough to endure such separations.”
Gentle fingers touched hers warmly.
“Could I temporarily entrust you with the club?” Yukinoshita held her hand earnestly.
Silent for a moment, Yuigahama finally agreed reluctantly, “…Alright. But bring Kkano-sensei back soon!”
“Thank you, now I can rest easy.”
Yukinoshita’s cheeks showed a faint smile, the setting sun casting a warm glow on her, making her smile luminous.
Hachiman watching her smiling face felt something familiar within it.
…
That noisy summer
