"Um... am I interrupting you two?"
The club president stood in the doorway, looking at the scene in front of her with a slightly cautious expression.
"It's nothing. It's not like this has only happened once or twice." Eriri slowly sat up, then tidied her slightly messy hair.
A trace of surprise flashed through the club president's eyes when she heard Eriri's answer. In the past, whenever something like this happened, Eriri would nervously insist that there was nothing going on between her and Shirai Mio. This time, however, she had said something like that without hesitation.
Could it be that her relationship with Shirai Mio had entered a new stage?
It was hard to say what had crossed her mind, but a trace of excitement flashed through the club president's eyes.
As for Shirai Mio, she remained calm from beginning to end. When she saw the club president, she even greeted her very politely.
Only then did she leave the clubroom together with Eriri.
On the way back to the classroom, Eriri quietly said to Shirai Mio, "Remember to hurry up and finish drawing your new work. Otherwise, you're going to suffer later."
"Suffer?"
"Yeah. The feeling of hovering right on the edge of a deadline."
Hearing that, Shirai Mio understood what Eriri meant by suffering. She chuckled. "Don't worry. I'll finish it as soon as I can."
She had already written the basic outline of the story and had ideas for the storyboard. All she lacked now was time.
There was still quite a while before the summer Comiket, so Shirai Mio was not worried at all.
Seeing how confident Shirai Mio looked, Eriri pursed her lips. "I hope you can keep that promise. If you really run out of time later, I wouldn't mind helping you."
To be honest, Shirai Mio really was a little tempted to ask Eriri to help her make the MAD. But she wanted even more to see Eriri's reaction while slurping noodles, so after thinking it over, she decided to finish it by herself.
As for Shiina Mashiro, she was currently drawing a new work of her own, so Shirai Mio did not want to disturb her.
Still, it was not as though she truly had no one helping her. She had the System.
The System itself might not be able to help much, but the cards it produced certainly could.
For example, there was the [Focus Card], which could temporarily increase her concentration, and [Wellspring of Inspiration], which could temporarily increase her inspiration. She had plenty of similar cards in her inventory.
Not long after Shirai Mio returned to the classroom, the bell rang for class.
The afternoon schedule was short, with only two periods. After those ended, it was time for club activities.
As usual, Shirai Mio first went to find Shiina Mashiro, then walked to the clubroom together with her.
After bringing Shiina Mashiro into the room, Shirai Mio walked over to the club president with a smile. "Senpai, would it be okay if I went to visit another club?"
"Sure. I'll allow it since you brought us a new member before."
"Senpai is the best."
Looking at Shirai Mio's sweet smile, the club president silently adjusted her glasses to hide the dazzled look in her eyes.
She had to admit that Shirai Mio was extremely attractive. Even as another girl, the club president could easily find herself drawn to Mio without realizing it.
But attraction was one thing. She certainly was not going to develop any strange ideas about Shirai Mio. After all, Shirai Mio and Eriri were involved with each other. She could hardly steal her junior's girl, could she?
And whether she could actually steal her away was another question entirely.
After leaving the Art Club room, Shirai Mio went straight upstairs to the Service Club.
When Shirai Mio familiarly pushed open the door and prepared to greet Yukinoshita Yukino, she noticed that there was someone else in the spacious classroom.
Hikigaya Hachiman—the legendary "Great Teacher" himself.
The appearance of the Great Teacher here meant that the plot of Oregairu had officially begun.
But with Yuigahama Yui missing, how exactly was the Service Club storyline supposed to unfold?
Would it simply skip Yuigahama Yui's part and move straight on to Zaimokuza Yoshiteru?
To be honest, Shirai Mio was rather curious.
While Shirai Mio was looking at the Great Teacher, he looked toward her as well. He seemed somewhat surprised that Shirai Mio would come here.
Although he and Shirai Mio were in the same class, they had not spoken very many times.
Even so, the Great Teacher had a very good impression of Shirai Mio. During the few conversations they had had, she had always been pleasant, and her voice was gentle, as though she were simply chatting with a friend.
But that did not make him develop any special feelings for Shirai Mio, because kind people were kind to everyone.
He was not anyone special.
Just as the Great Teacher was wondering whether he should say something, Yukinoshita Yukino's voice suddenly rang out. "Why are you here again? What is it this time?"
Shirai Mio first greeted the Great Teacher, then walked over to Yukinoshita Yukino with light steps. "Can't I come see you even when I don't need anything?"
"Could you not make it sound so suggestive? From what I know about you, if you don't have a reason, you definitely won't come looking for me."
"Then you still don't know me well enough."
Shirai Mio looked around, brought over a chair, and sat down directly beside Yukinoshita Yukino.
Watching Shirai Mio lean against Yukinoshita Yukino's shoulder, the Great Teacher's eyes flashed with admiration. He had known that Shirai Mio was extremely sociable, but he had never expected that even Yukinoshita Yukino could be handled so easily.
Then again, why did he suddenly feel like a third wheel?
Should he leave the classroom for now and come back later?
While the Great Teacher was lost in thought, Shirai Mio's voice rang out again. "By the way, has anyone come to ask you for help with a problem lately?"
"Do you count?"
"Other than me."
"Not yet."
"I think your publicity just isn't good enough. The Service Club is tucked away in such a remote corner. Without enough promotion, who would deliberately come all the way here? Want me to help advertise it?"
"I think you're just looking for trouble." Yukinoshita Yukino gave Shirai Mio a helpless look.
That was what she said, but Yukinoshita Yukino herself had not noticed that her mood had improved considerably since Shirai Mio came in. She was even talking more than usual.
If anyone else had spoken to her this way, she would have thrown them out long ago.
Just then, the System's voice suddenly rang in Shirai Mio's ear. "Since the host came to find Yukinoshita Yukino on her own, you must be trying to raise her conquest rating toward you, right? If that's the case, then how could I, the System, possibly fail to satisfy the host's needs~"
······