Yukino Yukinoshita, the Service Club president. She possesses outstanding beauty, fair skin, delicate features, and long black hair, often adorned with a red bow ribbon. She is recognized as the school's beautiful girl, known as a 'high-class flower'.
In terms of personality, she is a perfectionist, strict with herself and others. Due to being isolated since childhood, she is not good at social interactions, speaks with a sharp tongue, and gives off a cold impression. However, she hides a gentle and cute side, for example, she loves cats and makes a 'meow' sound when she sees them.
Her only flaw might be that she can see her toes when she looks down, which is often joked about by netizens who watched anime in her previous life.
And now, this 'high-class flower' had, at some unknown point, walked over to them. Though her tone was still cool, there was a hint of imperceptible softness in her eyes.
Hachiman Hikigaya shrugged, "Hey, hey, Yukino, you're not intentionally hiding nearby to eavesdrop on us, are you?"
Yukino glanced at him, "I just happened to be passing by. It's you, Hikigaya-classmate, who always says strange things."
Jiang Chen quickly smoothed things over, "Actually, we were just talking about our impressions of each other. We've been together for so long, everyone must have different opinions."
Yukino Yukinoshita turned to Jiang Chen and guessed, but replied with a confident tone: "You must be the classmate who needs Yuigahama-classmate's help with notes, right?"
Jiang Chen: "If nothing unexpected happens, that would be me."
Yukino Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of scrutiny flashing in her eyes. "It's somewhat unexpected that Yui Yuigahama would willingly offer to help."
Yui Yuigahama blinked her big eyes and said with a giggle, "Yukino, you just heard us praise you, aren't you happy?"
Yukino turned her head slightly, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks, "Hmph, boring. I wouldn't be happy about something like that. However… it's not entirely without discernment that you see me this way."
Hachiman Hikigaya, hands in his pockets, teased, "It's rare to hear such subtle approval from Yukino. It seems we also hold some weight in Yukino's heart."
Yukino cleared her throat, returning to her usual serious demeanor, "Alright, don't waste time on such boring conversations. We still have club matters to attend to." With that, she walked towards the club activity room.
Hachiman Hikigaya pouted at her retreating back, "What a hothead. But then again, the club does seem to have a lot going on lately."
Jiang Chen turned to Yuihama and said, "You have things to do in the Service Club, aren't you going?"
"Of course I'm going! Xiao Qi, Yukino, wait for me!" Yuihama hurriedly left her chair and chased after them.
Jiang Chen watched Yuihama's hurried chase after Yukino Yukinoshita and Hachiman Hikigaya, a faint smile unconsciously appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Such a wonderful daily life! It would be even better without those '詭異' (eerie/strange) words."
Jiang Chen's head started to hurt again at this thought. "Forget it, I should just finish the notes quickly and return them to Yui Yuigahama, and then to Yukino Yukinoshita."
The familiar after-school bell rang. Those with clubs attended them, while those without went home or to part-time jobs. Jiang Chen was part of the 'go home club'.
However, when he went to the Student Council to find Tojo Nozomi to go home together.
"I'm sorry, Chen Jun, the Student Council still has some matters to finish. You go home first," Tojo Nozomi said with an apologetic expression.
"Okay, Senior, then I'll be going," Jiang Chen smiled politely, then turned and walked out of the Student Council office.
After leaving the school gate, Jiang Chen checked the time. It was too early to go home with nothing to do, so he decided to wander around first, and also let the system search for other secret realms.
As soon as Jiang Chen thought of this, he immediately took action.
Strolling along the bustling streets, the laughter of the crowd and the shouts of vendors intertwined. He walked seemingly casually, but his attention was highly focused, constantly urging the system in his mind to search for traces of secret realms.
After walking around the school area for about an hour, he found nothing new except for a C-rank secret realm he had found yesterday. "There are too few secret realms, system," Jiang Chen complained to the system.
The system's voice resounded in Jiang Chen's mind: "Host, the birth of secret realms requires a large amount of negative energy; how could there be many?"
"Forget it, I should just go back," Jiang Chen shook his head helplessly.
Jiang Chen walked home as usual, carrying his slightly heavy schoolbag.
As he turned into a familiar alley, he inadvertently caught sight of a familiar figure squatting beside a small box ahead. Upon closer inspection, it was indeed her, Yukino Yukinoshita.
Yukino Yukinoshita usually gave off a cold and indifferent impression, making people hesitant to approach her. But at this moment, she was intently looking into the grass, a rare hint of softness revealed in her eyes.
Jiang Chen leaned closer, and indeed, a small cat was curled up in the grass. The kitten was dirty all over, its fur matted, and its eyes were half-closed, looking somewhat weak.
Yukino Yukinoshita said softly, "I found it here when I was passing by. It was probably abandoned." Her voice was still cool, but a hint of worry was clearly discernible.
Jiang Chen looked at the kitten, and compassion welled up in his heart: "This little guy is so pitiful. Do you have anything to eat on you? Let's feed it." Yukino shook her head slightly. "I don't have any food on me."
Jiang Chen pondered for a moment, then rummaged through his schoolbag and pulled out an uneaten piece of bread. He carefully broke off a small piece and offered it to the kitten's mouth. The kitten seemed to smell the food's aroma, moved slightly, slowly opened its eyes, and weakly licked the bread.
Watching the kitten eat the bread little by little, Jiang Chen's heart was filled with satisfaction, and he said softly, "Eat slowly, don't choke." Yukino watched quietly from the side, a hint of softness gradually appearing in her eyes.
"It seems you're also a good person. Yuigahama-classmate didn't make a mistake in befriending you," Yukino said, staring at the kitten.
"Then what kind of person did you think I was at first?" Jiang Chen asked curiously, not lifting his head much.
"A scumbag who takes advantage of Yuihama's kindness," Yukino said indifferently.
"Uh… Õ _ Õ"
As the kitten ate more bread, its previously dim eyes began to regain some sparkle, and its body was no longer as limp and weak as before, trembling as it stood up. Seeing this, Jiang Chen broke off another piece of bread and fed it, muttering, "Looking at your injuries, you must have been fighting with the stray animals around for food. I wonder how long you've been wandering here."
Yukino couldn't help but say, "This kitten's injuries look quite serious. Let's take it to the pet store for treatment first." Jiang Chen nodded in agreement.
So, the two of them took the kitten to a pet store near the school. The owner was a kind uncle who, after hearing their purpose, smiled and said, "Alright, you can rest assured and leave the kitten here. I'll take good care of it, and you can come back later."
After Jiang Chen paid the fee, he and Yukino walked out of the pet store with peace of mind.
"Let's reintroduce ourselves. Although I believe you already know my name, as I'm quite famous at Private Comprehensive Academy, Yukino Yukinoshita, first-year Class A," Yukino said calmly to Jiang Yang.
"Jiang Chen, first-year Class F." Listening to Yukino's self-introduction, Jiang Chen didn't find her arrogant; instead, there was a sense of confidence in it.
"I'm sorry to have put you to such expense today, for something that had nothing to do with you," Yukino said with an apologetic expression.
"Uh..., Yukinoshita-classmate, please don't say that. I also quite like this cat, and I don't find it troublesome at all," Jiang Chen waved his right hand.
Yukino gently bit her lip, seemingly weighing something in her mind, then said after a moment, "In that case, I'll treat you to coffee next time, as a thank you for your help this time."
Jiang Chen was a little flattered and joked with a smile, "Yukinoshita-classmate actually invited me for coffee? I'm afraid the boys at school will line up to challenge me in class."
Yukino couldn't help but frown slightly and said softly, "Don't make such boring jokes. It's just a simple thank you." Although she said that, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks, perhaps feeling that her invitation just now was a bit abrupt.
Seeing this, Jiang Chen no longer teased her and said seriously, "Okay, then I look forward to Yukinoshita-classmate's coffee."
The two agreed on a time to come and see the cat together, then each went their separate ways home.