After lunch, Hachiman proceeded to Yui's classroom to return her bento box. As he approached the door, a girl with shoulder-length hair and glasses exited the classroom.
"Hello, if it isn't Hikigaya-kun."
"You're... Ebina-san, Yui's friend, right?"
The girl before Hachiman was indeed one of Yui's close friends, Ebina Hina.
"That's right! Hikigaya-kun, you're here to see Yui, aren't you?" Hina smiled upon hearing Hachiman remember her name and called out to the classroom, "Yui, your Hikigaya-kun is here."
Yui, who had been conversing with Yumiko Miura inside, overheard Hina's voice and blushed as she hastened to the classroom door.
"Hina, don't say things like 'my Hikigaya-kun.' Please don't make stuff up."
"Oh, come on, Yui. You talk about Hikigaya-kun in front of me and Yumiko all the time, and you even prepare bento for him yourself." Hina playfully continued to tease Yui, despite Yui's presence, and lightheartedly exposed her friend's actions.
"I don't..." Yui was about to deny it, but before she could utter a word, Yumiko arrived at the door and added to the banter.
"That's right, you see? We were just having a chat, and the moment your 'my Hikigaya-kun' arrived, you left me hanging."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you're ruthless when it comes to the opposite sex."
"Ugh, Yumiko, please stop..."
Hearing her two closest friends make such comments in front of her crush, Yui couldn't help but cover her face, overcome with embarrassment.
Meanwhile, the classmates inside the classroom started to take notice of the gathering at the door. Upon learning that Yui had personally prepared a bento for Hachiman, some of the guys couldn't help but feel envious and resentful.
The classmates who hadn't realized Yui's relationship with Hachiman were taken aback by the revelation. It seemed that Yui, one of the class's popular girls, was already taken.
Hachiman paid little mind to their reactions. If he intended to lead a more fulfilling life, he had to learn not to be overly concerned with the judgments of others.
"Alright, Ebina-san, Miura-san, let's not tease Yui any further. She's a bit shy and can't handle too much teasing."
Observing Yui's tomato-red face and her desire to hide, Hachiman intervened to diffuse the situation.
"I didn't expect Hikigaya-kun to be quite considerate. Yui, you should cherish this."
"That's right, Yui, you need to work hard."
With Hachiman, one of the key participants, making his perspective clear, both Yumiko and Hina ceased their teasing of Yui.
"Ugh..."
Upon hearing their words, Yui lowered her hands from her face, but a faint blush lingered.
"Hikki, do you have any business with me?" Yui inquired once she had regained her composure.
"Yui, I'm returning your bento box," Hachiman replied with a smile as he handed it to her.
"By the way, the food was delicious."
"I'm glad you liked it, Hikki. I'll continue to work on improving my cooking skills."
Yui was well aware of her culinary abilities, and although she knew her cooking wasn't gourmet-level, she was pleased to see Hachiman finish his meal without complaints. A contented smile graced her face.
However, Yumiko and Hina, who stood nearby, exchanged knowing glances, clearly surprised by this unexpected turn of events.
"On that note, Yui, do you have any summer plans? Would you like to join me for a trip to the beach?" Hachiman finally broached the main purpose of his visit.
"Going to the beach? That sounds wonderful..."
Yui was on the verge of agreeing when a flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
"Actually, I can't make it. I'll be visiting my grandparents in the countryside during the summer break. I probably won't return until early August."
"That's perfect, then. I also have prior commitments at the end of this month, so I won't be available until August."
"Really? That's great, then I'm in."
Since their schedules didn't clash, Yui eagerly accepted the invitation.
Overhearing their conversation, Yumiko and Hina exchanged meaningful glances and nodded in agreement.
"Oh, are you two planning a beach trip? Why not include us as well?"
"Yeah, it's summer break, and a beach trip sounds like a fantastic idea. If it's alright with you, we'd love to join."
"Eh?" Yui looked a bit taken aback by her friends' sudden interest.
"Haha, of course, that's no problem at all. If you're Yui's friends, then you're my friends too." Hachiman replied with a warm smile.
Hearing their requests, Hachiman readily agreed, without any hesitation. After all, he planned to reserve the entire place, so accommodating a few more people wouldn't be an issue. Plus, having them along would surely make the trip more enjoyable, and he couldn't deny the allure of seeing them in swimsuits at the beach, making it a win-win situation.
"That sounds like a good plan. I'll let Yui know the details later. We should head to class now," Hachiman said and turned to leave.
As Hachiman's figure receded, Yui couldn't help but feel a twinge of reluctance.
Yumiko patted her shoulder gently. "Come on, he's already gone, Yui. Don't keep staring."
Turning to her friends, Yui looked puzzled. "Yumiko, Hina, why did you..."
"Yui, sometimes you can be quite clueless," Yumiko sighed in exasperation.
"We're doing this for your own sake!"
"For my own sake?" Yui's confusion deepened.
"Yeah, Yui, didn't you mention before that, besides you, another girl makes lunch for Hikigaya-san?" Hina chimed in.
"Yes, Kotonoha-san also prepares lunch for Hikigaya-kun," Yui confirmed.
"That's correct. That's why Yumiko and I want to join the trip. We'll help you keep Kotonoha-san occupied, Yui. Take this opportunity to spend more time with Hikigaya-kun," Hina elaborated while adjusting her glasses.
"Exactly, Yui. Give it your all. Try to win Hikigaya-kun's heart during this beach trip, and then you won't have to worry anymore," Yumiko declared with a touch of royal authority.
"As long as you two become a real couple, if anyone else tries to interfere, leave it to me and Hina."
"Yumiko... Hina..."
Yui finally grasped the heartfelt intentions of her two friends and looked at them with gratitude.
"Thank you both so much."
"Yui, you can rest assured. We'll definitely create more opportunities for you to be alone with Hikigaya-kun. We're both here to support you."
"After school, let's go swimsuit shopping together," Yumiko suggested.
"Yes, that's right. We must help you choose a swimsuit that will catch Hikigaya-kun's attention," Hina agreed.
"Yes, you two truly are my best friends."
"Best friends for life!"