Yuu 446-450

Title: Coaxing Girls Is Your Basic Instinct, Right?

In Class 2-F, anyone daring to gossip or mock Yuigahama today was firmly blocked and chased off with harsh words by the Fire Queen—Miura Yumiko.

And the dating news between Yuu and Yuigahama was still limited among Class F students. For now, it hadn’t spread widely like on the school network.

Meaning, most people currently paying attention only knew Yuu and Yukino were a couple and worked together on the committee. They weren’t heavily swayed by opinions like those in his class.

Though some Class F students asked on the forum, “Isn’t Yuu dating our class’s Yuigahama?”, it was quickly buried under similar gossip—

After all, Yuu wasn’t just popular with girls. He often visited other clubs and always left a deep impression.

From classrooms to the teacher’s office, from Kendo Club to Cooking Research Club—even if he left the hallway, his love stories still circulated.

Confession rejections were endless. As a result, even if someone said he was dating A or flirting with B, without solid evidence like yesterday—with eyewitnesses, time, and clear location—people would just sigh, “Eh~ Really~”, and forget it.

When Yuu checked the forum in the afternoon, he even saw gossip about him with Iroha and Kanade… Though the post was quickly flooded by the Silver Angel Guard until the poster stress-deleted it, it proved—for now—he didn’t need to worry about proven cheating rumors at school.

…Yes, for now.

Relationships are a web. Negative opinions about him in Class F, and his confirmed dating of Yuigahama, would sooner or later spread. With the school forum’s help, if enough nosy people got involved and discussions heated up, clearly his, Yuigahama’s, and Yukino’s school life would be ruined.

Slander can easily kill. Even if the two girls tried hard to ignore others, they couldn’t last long under environmental pressure and had no way to fight majority bullying.

Even System-blessed Yuu, facing this invisible enemy, could only surrender helplessly…

It was time for all teachers and students to witness the true, full-power, all-out Word Bullet from him.

If speech failed, add instrument performance. If still not enough, add soul-touching singing—as long as he played all his aces, combining skills from Proficient to Perfect with various stats into the strongest Word Bullet, he should reverse public opinion.

Thinking optimistically, maybe the System would reward him accordingly, letting him solve this permanently?

Human words are terrifying. Though he had a plan, Yuu didn’t dare underestimate the impact. His mind was full of Plan A, B… up to Plan K. He even zoned out a bit while chatting with Yuigahama.

“No need to worry too much! Just ignore them. Everyone will get bored and move on eventually.” Sensitive Yuigahama noticed Yuu frowning slightly, deep in thought. She waved casually with a relaxed smile.

“I remember in Class B, someone was rumored to be cheating. It was huge then—Amao got mocked as a jerk, Suzuki and Takeda broke up, Midori and Tsuki-chan cried for ages—but two or three weeks later, no one cared!”

Tilting her head at Yuu, she comforted: “Sorry to those people, but love drama dies fast. Without new developments, everyone gets bored and moves to something more interesting.”

Her words—spoken by someone long in social circles, used to reading the room and following trends—were more convincing than Yuu’s own guesses.

But out of caution, Yuu didn’t relax. He spread his hands helplessly: “I don’t know who Amao is, but I’m way more famous than him at Sobu High. That means more people will watch my love drama. The more people, the easier it escalates… So they’re not comparable.”

Yuigahama seemed annoyed. She wrinkled her small nose, puffing her cheeks in dissatisfaction: “Alright, enough! Yuu-kun, I’m trying to cheer you up, and you still argue! Insensitive, slow guy, science nerd!”

Yuu widened his eyes, looking deeply offended: “Why the insults? A true science kid couldn’t even date—how could they overthink for a girl!”

“Anyway, no matter what, Yuu-kun will protect me and Yukinon, right? Then there’s nothing to worry about! Talking too much is just wasting time!”

“…”

Her straightforward voice and honest, relaxed smile choked Yuu’s next words in his throat. His frozen expression looked a bit silly.

At least Yuigahama couldn’t hold back her laughter. She fixed her slightly tilted dango hair. She looked ahead cheerfully and said softly:

“When it’s just us two, it really feels like always. I totally forgot we just fought yesterday.”

“…Honestly, that wasn’t a fight.”

Yuu sighed softly. He looked up, seeing the same view as her.

“Because you want to stay with someone and say things you’d never say to others—how is that a fight?”

“Is that so?” Yuigahama blinked in confusion. Then her silly smile brightened: “Ehehe, I actually thought the same~”

“Don’t lie.” Yuu rolled his eyes, but couldn’t stop laughing.

As if suddenly realizing something, Yuigahama looked him up and down: “I just noticed… From way back, Yuu-kun always knows exactly what to say to coax girls and raise their affection. Do you have some game choice prompt in your head?”

Yuu pursed his lips: “You read too many novels. How great if there was such an easy System.”

He’d prefer romance choices in his brain over being toyed with by this heart-manipulating System.

Seeing his expression—neither admitting nor denying—Yuigahama put on a curious look. But her eyes narrowed teasingly.

“So you admit coaxing girls is your basic instinct, right!”

“Wha…!”

His eyes widened. Yuu stepped back two paces in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak but froze. After a complex series of expressions—like a convict honestly confessing over katsudon—he bowed his head listlessly and hopelessly.

“If the girl in question is you, I admit it… My basic instinct is to coax a dumb, cute girl and make her fall for me without realizing. Forgive me.”

Both expression and voice were flawlessly sincere.

This made Yuigahama laugh so hard she nearly dropped her lunchbox: “Hahahaha, Yuu-kun, you—you’d be wasted not being the Cultural Festival lead actor hahahaha~”

Luckily, they’d passed the crowded hallway. On the shaded path to the Special Building, only the two of them were there. She could laugh freely without worry.

Of course, in winter, there’s no such thing as shade. Dry branches swayed above. The drizzle, briefly stopped, started again.

-

Title: Yui, You’re So Weird

Even though only a short distance remained, Yuu opened his folding umbrella. He invited Yuigahama—whose hair tips were slightly wet—inside.

Without hesitation, Yuigahama hugged his arm. The girl’s warmth and softness pressed against his right side. That sense of reliance seeped deep into his skin, like the chill of raindrops.

“Is what they’re saying on the forum true?”

Her head naturally leaned on his shoulder. In a casual chatting tone, Yuigahama suddenly asked.

“Which part?”

“You told everyone Yukinon was your girlfriend.”

Yuu frowned, thinking: “Hmm… More precisely, what I said to Yukinoshita was ‘I’m your boyfriend, right?’—Ssshh, ouch! Sorry, I won’t continue.”

“Biting through clothes doesn’t hurt, liar…” Yuigahama let go with annoyance. She smoothed the bite mark on his sleeve.

After a brief silence, she spoke again softly:

“I’m allowed to be jealous, right?”

“Of course.”

“You know? The moment I think about you and Yukinon getting that close without me knowing, I feel lost, sad. My chest hurts and tightens. Almost as painful as when I failed my confession back then.”

“…”

Yuu stayed silent. He only switched hands holding the umbrella. He intertwined their nearby fingers.

Outside the umbrella, raindrops scattered. He vaguely sensed someone watching them. Only dry branches and wilted leaves were visible… Still, he pretended not to notice. He focused on Yuigahama’s voice.

He had to hear her sadness, her resolve—even if the rain drowned his ears. This was his duty, and he wouldn’t give it to anyone else.

(Is this feeling more important and complex than just liking someone?) he thought.

“Because I want to keep being with that person and say things I’d never say to anyone else—how is that a fight?”

“Is that so?” Yuigahama blinked in confusion. Then her silly smile brightened: “Ehehe, I actually thought the same~”

“Don’t lie.” Yuu rolled his eyes, but couldn’t stop laughing.

As if suddenly realizing something, Yuigahama looked him up and down: “I just noticed… From way back, Yuu-kun always knows exactly what to say to coax girls and raise their affection. Do you have some game choice prompt in your head?”

Yuu pursed his lips: “You read too many novels. How great if there was such an easy System.”

He’d prefer romance choices in his brain over being toyed with by this heart-manipulating System.

Seeing his expression—neither admitting nor denying—Yuigahama put on a curious look. But her eyes narrowed teasingly.

“So you admit coaxing girls is your basic instinct, right!”

“Wha…!”

His eyes widened. Yuu stepped back two paces in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak but froze. After a complex series of expressions—like a convict honestly confessing over katsudon—he bowed his head listlessly and hopelessly.

“If the girl in question is you, I admit it… My basic instinct is to coax a dumb, cute girl and make her fall for me without realizing. Forgive me.”

Both expression and voice were flawlessly sincere.

This made Yuigahama laugh so hard she nearly dropped her lunchbox: “Hahahaha, Yuu-kun, you—you’d be wasted not being the Cultural Festival lead actor hahahaha~”

Luckily, they’d passed the crowded hallway. On the shaded path to the Special Building, only the two of them were there. She could laugh freely without worry.

Of course, in winter, there’s no such thing as shade. Dry branches swayed above. The drizzle, briefly stopped, started again.

“Why did this happen?” The voice murmured like returning from winter. She sighed, slowly tightening her grip.

“Why did Yuu-kun have to take Yukinon? Yukinon was mine alone. Only mine…”

“…So you’re that side?”

Yuu had to admit—he was shocked for three seconds before realizing Yuigahama was joking.

Telling a joke with no idea how to respond while pouring out complaints… Honestly, it was kind of scary.

Still, Yuu had done something affecting the girls’ friendship. He rightly felt guilty when he should.

“Ahaha, got you~”

Yuigahama proudly lifted her chin.

How quickly she smiled again and warmed her tone made Yuu wonder if his perfect acting skill even lost to hers.

“Yuu-kun, I won’t complain anymore. I won’t say things blaming fate!”

After laughing, Yuigahama suddenly declared loudly. Her clear, spirited voice seemed to challenge the world’s rain.

“Why so sudden?”

Yuu looked down, but only saw the pink dango-topped head swaying against his arm.

Yuigahama said: “Because that’d just make you feel guilty toward me. It won’t make you love me.”

“…”

Dead on. Yuu fell silent. His usually eloquent mouth turned clumsy again.

Yuigahama didn’t wait. She continued like stating a fact: “So~ I can’t just talk—I have to act.”

“…Advice from your mom?”

“No! Actually… I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.”

Suddenly, their footsteps on the stone path stopped. Ripples spread around their feet.

Slanted wind and drizzle. Lips under the umbrella felt slightly cold.

Tiptoes slowly landed. Yuigahama stared at his lips seriously. Unsatisfied with the angle, she pressed his shoulder and kissed him again. She even playfully bit his nose.

After parting, she showed a faint smile. She suddenly seemed mature. Her soft, charming voice whispered in Yuu’s ear.

“Mouths are for kissing the person you like—not just saying loser nonsense… Mom only told me that. The rest is what I’ve always wanted to do.”

“…Including biting my nose?” Yuu pursed his lips. His feelings were so complex he could only complain.

Her brow corners brimmed with victorious smiles. Yuigahama winked mischievously: “Hehe, if you don’t like it, you can bite back~”

“Oh? Limited to certain areas?”

Yuu’s expression instantly turned serious, with a kind of eager-to-try enthusiasm.

“Area? Don’t tell me you mean ears… Ah!!”

The quiet Yuigahama quickly understood. Her small face flushed half-red. She hurriedly let go and dashed into the Special Building.

“Yuu-kun pervert! Siscon! Boob alien! Too fast!”

“Ouch, you get it too.” Despite the harsh slander, Yuu walked leisurely through the rain. He smirked wickedly.

“But I didn’t say I’d bite your boobs~ I’m not a puppy like you. At most, I’d bite your tongue, hair, or something… Thinking , Yui, you’re so weird.”

“You’re weird! I’ll tell Yukinon to see your true face!”

Growling threats from her throat, Yuigahama huffed angrily. She buttoned her chest fully like guarding against a thief. Like an unleashed husky, she ran upstairs with her short skirt fluttering.

Yuu shook rain off his umbrella. He followed unhurriedly. The sadness between his brows had vanished sometime ago—feeling fresh and cool like the building’s air.

“White today, huh…”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Yukino arrived at the clubroom early. She wanted to wait for them before opening her bento. Until then, she’d read to pass time.

But she couldn’t read a single word. Restless and uneasy best described her now.

She knew what worried her—though it was a feeling she’d never had before. Like a child who made a mistake, preparing for a family meeting. Waiting felt so long and torturous.

“What should I say when I meet Yuigahama-san…”

She’d thought about it countless times but couldn’t find the best answer to convince herself.

Unable to bear the anxiety and discomfort, Yukino closed the light novel she hadn’t turned a page of. She stood, took a deep breath, and felt her expanding chest’s pulse with her palm—how many times had she calmed herself this way?

Seconds later, she slowly opened her eyes. She looked at the unmoving door, then turned, walked to the window, and looked down.

Below the Service Club was the Special Building’s side entrance.

Yukino knew shortcut-loving Yuu usually entered here. Even with Yuigahama, he wouldn’t randomly change paths.

Moments later—perhaps coincidence.

Just as she reached the window and looked down, she saw the familiar umbrella-holding figure.

-

Title: Morning Legs, Noon Chest, After School What?

“They’re here?”

A little nervous, but somehow calm.

With the motion of folding the umbrella, the figure seemed swallowed by the building below, vanishing at the entrance.

Yukino had no interest in the empty rainy scene. She left the window but didn’t return to her seat. Unconsciously, she started pacing around the chair as the center, circling left.

She didn’t see Yuigahama beside Yuu.

From this single fact, countless guesses flooded her mind instantly.

“Does Yuigahama-san have something? Did she come alone first? Or she doesn’t want to meet me, so… No, Yuigahama-san isn’t the type to break promises!”

After all, she suggested lunch at the Service Club while talking. She didn’t even give herself time to normalize and rushed into an open three-way discussion—though it was their original plan.

But Yukino couldn’t understand Yuigahama’s actions or feelings. Nor could she prepare by predicting.

The change was too fast. Was this what they call a girl in love?

“Don’t worry, Tenkuji-kun said he’d come with her. Maybe they got delayed…”

Though comforting herself, her pacing sped up. Her once-elegant, cool demeanor gained points of lovestruck girl softness and doubt. She bit her lip, looking slightly anxious.

Soon, she realized her panicked, startled-horse behavior. She forced her feet to stop, standing to take a deep breath.

But right after inhaling, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.

Then, without time to react, warm room air rushed into the hallway.

Banishing silence and fully suppressing it, Yuigahama burst in impatiently: “Yukinon, I have to tell you! …Ehh, you okay?”

“Cough, cough cough… Fine, just choked on saliva.”

Pressing her chest to steady her breath, Yukino sat back, slightly drained. Her eyes looked weakly: “What do you want to say? By the way, when did you get here? Main entrance?”

“No, I came with Yuu-kun. I just rushed to see Yukinon, so I sped up the stairs on purpose!” Shaking her head, Yuigahama flashed a thumbs-up. She smiled as if begging praise.

Though Yukino’s gaze was speechless, she couldn’t hold back a smile. She pursed her lips: “Thanks a lot then. I know I’m charming, but no need to run. I won’t escape.”

Though she said that, without this impulsiveness and honesty, she might have no true friends until graduation.

And friends—no matter how sincere or close—could still break over small reasons and disagreements…

This was the outcome Yukino desperately avoided.

She didn’t want to lose a single friend, of any kind.

“Ugh, forget that! I have something to discuss…”

Yuigahama glanced back. She hurried to Yukino, looking very anxious.

Seeing this, Yukino tensed. Her expression turned serious like an elementary student woken by the teacher mid-nap. She bit her lip, released it. With a sacrificial brave face, she prepared to be scolded thoroughly.

Choosing the opposite sex over a friend usually warrants scolding, even with reasons—so for days, Yukino imagined over ten scenarios of the other mocking her, ready to respond smoothly to anything.

English listening exams might not be this serious.

Sitting straight, Yukino stared at approaching Yuigahama, who finally leaned in to whisper. Her determined expression slowly turned confused, then froze into seriousness and coldness.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Good afternoon, Yukinoshita… Hmm?”

Placing the umbrella outside, as Yuu stepped into the Service Club, he couldn’t help wondering if he’d time-traveled to the polar region, face-to-face with cute penguins.

Though the heater was on, one penguin lowered the temperature with a chilling killing aura. Her thin, soft lips pressed tight. Her gaze sharp like a drill, ready to pounce and shave him into ice.

Soon, the penguin—Yukino said coldly:

“Morning legs, noon chest. After school what?”

“Robert F. Young or Sphinx?”

“Neither. Just a survey of someone’s fetish.”

“Then butt. Chicken thighs, chicken breast, chicken butt—all tasty.” Raising a brow, Yuu easily ignored her killing aura. He closed the door and walked to the long table.

The veiled pervert accusation didn’t need serious response—though slightly better than outright calling him a boob-biting pervert upon entry.

Yuu didn’t care, but Yuigahama beside him kept shaking his arm. She eagerly fanned the flames: “Yukinon, don’t let him off! Make Yuu-kun face consequences for teasing girls!”

Yukino pulled her arm resignedly: “I want to, but there’s no open way to punish him.”

“How about ignoring him for a day?”

“Then letting him talk excitedly while I can’t respond?”

“Ah, true…”

Yuigahama scratched her head. She laughed. Seeing Yuu pull a chair and sit, she said no more. She dragged her chair to her usual spot.

Yukino never expected her serious expression was just to complain about the boob-obsessed pervert. She spoke from behind, as if deciding not to say something:

“Yuigahama-san…”

“Hmm? Ah, we’ll talk after eating!” Yuigahama turned. It seemed her first time seeing Yukino so unconfident. She grinned mischievously: “Don’t worry, I won’t point at Yukinon and call you a thieving cat~ No matter what, we’ll stay best friends!”

“Ahem… I-I’m not worried about that.”

Quickly fixing her expression, Yukino cleared her throat. She returned to her usual calm, controlled demeanor. She opened her bento naturally.

Honestly, this was also her first time seeing Yuigahama like this.

Confident and relaxed. As if all past anxiety and doubt had vanished. Though not a total change, in just over a day apart, many things about her felt unfamiliar. As if the little girl grew into a woman overnight.

(…Tenkuji-kun, did he really just talk about what he said yesterday with her?)

Yukino unconsciously opened her bento lid. Her hand paused mid-air. Her gaze shifted to Yuu. Her eyes seemed to ask.

-

Title: This Is What True Monogamy Looks Like

Yuu, ready to eat, noticed someone watching him. He naturally met her gaze.

—I didn’t do anything to disappoint you.

Yukino slightly frowned, her gaze turning cold.

—I haven’t asked anything. Why are you so quick to confess?

Yuu shrugged helplessly. He glanced at Yuigahama secretly eyeing his bento sides. Her eyes showed admiration.

—I didn’t do anything except move my lips. If she didn’t want to endure and change, we might not be sitting here in the clubroom eating lunch together.

Yukino looked too. Her expression slowly softened, a faint smile on her lips.

—Back then, when I didn’t want to talk to her, she persistently tried to chat with me. She always said we were friends.

Though she seemed so ordinary, fragile, and sensitive—like she could cry anytime… in the end, Yuigahama became the strongest and most mature of the three.

She became the bond of the Service Club, tying them tightly and bringing colorful scenes they’d never seen.

Yukino gained her first true friend. Though sometimes annoyed and hot when hugged, realizing she might drift away brought undeniable loneliness and panic. She didn’t want to lose this rare friendship.

Meanwhile, Yuu gained redemption from his past. No matter how memories and feelings changed, Yuigahama was the one who loved him from start to finish in the first world. She was the anchor he never wanted to leave—the ordinary girl he slowly liked and wanted by his side forever.

Through their eyes, both reconfirmed how vital Yuigahama Yui was to them.

With this answer, they no longer needed anxiety or doubt. They just had to protect what they wanted and walk straight ahead.

“Ahem…”

Suddenly, Yuigahama leaned forward. She blocked their line of sight. Smiling, she said:

“If you two keep flirting with eyes and leave me out, I’ll get jealous. Both of you~”

“Cough cough…”

As soon as Yuigahama finished, Yuu and Yukino simultaneously looked at their bentos. One casually stirred sides; the other rubbed chopsticks, face red with guilt.

Yuigahama’s brows twitched. Such sync made her jealous.

Before, when jealous, she’d say nothing—just sink in sadness, bitterly smiling to convince herself they were best friends.

Now, when jealous, Yuigahama wouldn’t let herself get hurt. Especially not holding back in front of them!

If their trio was fated to stray, let her—the most normal—start straying into abnormality like them!

“Yuu-kun, I want your little sausage!” Like a Queen commanding, Yuigahama lifted her chin at Yuu, ignoring her still-unopened bento.

“Sure.” Yuu happily obeyed. As he picked up the cute reddish mini octopus sausage with chopsticks, Yuigahama opened her small mouth. Her glossy pink lips and neat white teeth were clear.

“Feed me.” Her smooth, nimble tongue tip slightly raised. Though her ears half-reddened, Yuigahama’s expression was remarkably firm. As if she wouldn’t close her mouth without being fed. She waited with “Aa—”

Yuu didn’t dare check Yukino’s opinion. He just followed orders, putting the five-centimeter sausage into her equally small, cute mouth.

“Mmm~” Closing her glossy, lipsticked mouth, Yuigahama held her cheek while chewing. Her face seemed to glow. She couldn’t help a soft sigh.

“So good~ Truly a delicacy ordinary people can’t eat, even if just a sausage. Because Yuu-kun made it himself~”

Saying this, Yuigahama clearly turned to Yukino on purpose. She chewed with anxious, show-off childish sounds. Her blissful expression was openly unhidden.

If Yukino couldn’t see the provocation, she needed an eye check.

“Yuigahama-san…” Her facial skin twitched slightly. She forced a thin smile. Half-confused, half-demanding: “May I ask what you’re planning?”

“Nothing~” Yuigahama dragged her voice, unable to hide her joy. She eyed Yukino’s sides. She opened her mouth again: “This time Yukinon. I want your tamagoyaki! Come on, Aa—”

She resumed her waiting-to-be-fed pose, face full of hope.

Yukino was slightly stunned. Recovering, she reflexively looked to Yuu for input.

But Yuigahama sharply caught her gaze. She shifted her head: “Aa— Yukinon hurry! My mouth’s tired open like this. If not careful, drool might fall!”

Pressed like that, despite full doubts, Yukino put a tamagoyaki in her mouth.

Yuigahama closed her mouth satisfied. Then she turned to Yuu. Holding her cheek, she chewed happily.

“So goooood~ Though not as tasty as Yuu-kun’s, just a slight level difference. Plus high school girl home cooking, with ideal wife bonus flavor… Decided, Yukinon’s overwhelming victory! Too bad for those who can’t eat it~”

Yuu: “…?”

Yukino: “…”

Yuigahama’s head wasn’t big enough to fully block. They could see each other’s weird expressions by slightly tilting. Both showed subtle, speechless faces.

(Yui, is she trying to make us jealous of each other?)

(She’s jealous, so she wants us both jealous too?)

(How to say… This astonishing thought process hasn’t changed at all.)

“Alright, stop glaring! Eat, eat!”

Happily fed by both, Yuigahama clapped. She urged the silent pair with a wide smile.

She opened her bento, held chopsticks, and gave them a confirming look. Then she made her voice echo through the clubroom:

“One, two—”

“Let’s eat!”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

About twenty minutes of lunch break remained.

Rain outside still fell, only faint drizzle sounds heard.

The three Service Club members finished their bentos while chatting and eating. After cleaning up, they shifted seats.

Like last time’s Quiz, Yuu and Yukino sat behind the long table, while Yuigahama moved her chair to the whiteboard. She adopted a meeting moderator pose. Clearing her throat seriously, she broke the brief silence with a heavy voice:

“Alright, next—the Service Club Feelings Communication Meeting officially begins.”


-

Title: You Like My Yuu, Don’t You?

Yuigahama was leading the entire atmosphere. This might be the first time it had happened in the Service Club.

In the past, whether discussing solutions for requests or deciding projects for the fall exhibition, she always just agreed with their opinions. At most, she offered minor suggestions.

Never like now—firmly holding the central position. Sitting upfront, swinging her small legs shamelessly, looking relaxed as if she owned them.

In contrast, Yukino might also be sitting so obediently beside Yuu for the first time. Her expression calm, but her eyes showed seriousness like a great battle loomed.

This talk would determine the Service Club’s future. Not an exaggeration—their trio’s relationship would gain a new definition from now on.

Yuu wasn’t too nervous. He even had time to enjoy the quiet rain outside the window.

After all, what needed doing and deciding was done. Now just opening the talk—a kind of explanation session?

Imaginably, the result shouldn’t be bad for him.

“First, issue one!”

Yuigahama looked at the whiteboard. She seemed to want to write something but gave up as too troublesome.

“Yuu-kun and Yukinon, what’s your relationship now?”

Reflexively, Yuu and Yukino exchanged glances.

The elegant, cool girl like a snow lotus—her cheeks flushed cherry-blossom pink. Her lips slightly parted as she inhaled. She gripped her skirt, as if cheering herself.

She who was always blunt couldn’t confidently answer this question anytime. Some strange shame always stopped her before speaking.

Yuu knew this innocent side. So he spoke first: “We’re a couple.”

“Like me and Yuu-kun?” As if expecting it, Yuigahama immediately countered.

“A bit different…”

Receiving Yuu’s gaze, Yukino nodded lightly. After sighing, she spoke calmly and seriously:

“I don’t know why, but there are things Tenkuji-kun can’t say or explain. So besides what happened that day, most is my speculation—he filled in.”

“You might think it absurd, but don’t doubt yet. Hear me out—that day in the kitchen preparing lunch, Tenkuji-kun suddenly told me…”

Clearly and detailed, skipping unimportant parts, she recounted their kitchen conversation to Yuigahama.

As words flowed, like a heavy stone lifting from her heart. Yukino’s voice relaxed, her demeanor casual.

“Because his request was too rare, plus he’d helped me a lot before, I agreed to be his temporary girlfriend until he completes the Ideal Boyfriend task… As for where this task comes from, why it must be done, rewards for completion, or penalties for failure—Tenkuji-kun can’t explain. For now, we can only consider results.”

“…”

Receiving so much info at once, Yuigahama’s relaxed expression froze. She sat motionless, brain seemingly jammed.

The other two waited understandingly, giving her time to cool her thoughts.

Minutes later, Yuigahama placed fingers on both temples. She gripped like Monk Ikkyu thinking. Her small face scrunched like facing hard math.

“Let me digest. This is real life, not manga or light novel…”

“No.” Yuu shrugged helplessly—if you don’t believe, I can’t help: “The cheating issue relates too. More precisely, because I knew I’d date someone in the future, I rejected your confession and said things like I’d eventually cheat.”

“You didn’t take my earlier words as rejection excuses, right? You actually don’t believe this out-of-control explanation, do you?”

Yuigahama hurriedly shook her head: “Of course I believe Yuu-kun! …Though a bit doubtful, overall I believe. Precisely because I believe, it’s hard to accept immediately.”

Yuu turned to Yukino: “Then why’d you accept so fast? So you don’t truly believe me?”

Extending her soft, cool small hand, Yukino pushed his face back. Annoyed: “You think I’ve accepted now? I only agreed temporarily to observe. Who told you to look like ‘if you don’t agree, I’ll let the world die with me’? Know what emergency measures mean?”

“Who’d make such chūnibyō face? Check your eyes. Hard to treat when old.”

“Sadly, your face is incurable. I suggest wearing a gas mask to school—spare others from needing eye doctors like me.”

“Bold words, Miss Yukinoshita who blushed repeatedly for mere emergency measures.”

“You…! Huh, sorry. I lack the thick skin to admit dating a non-human. Mr. Insect Tenkuji.”

“Tch tch, when shy and won’t lie, you always mock others, Miss Yuki-onna Yukinoshita… Oh, kawaii koto.”

“…”

Ignoring the two bickering again, Yuigahama held her head thinking hard. Whether understanding or giving up, she suddenly slapped her thigh. Heavy sigh:

“Forced to find a girlfriend and become Ideal Boyfriend. Like playing a dating sim!”

“Exactly. If my life were that easy, how great.” Setting angry Yukino aside, Yuu turned to answer Yuigahama.

Though hard dating sims exist everywhere, his current level was actually very friendly… At least no one dies at the end, or the world’s a dream and he’s comatose, etc.

He sighed too: “That’s roughly all I can tell. Think of it as gods’ prank or the universe’s whim testing an innocent human… Though I want to fight, I lack power now. I can only shamefully ask Yukinoshita’s help.”

“Asking me isn’t shameful.” Brushing long hair from her shoulder, Yukino put on a proud face.

“Mmm—” Yuigahama looked back and forth. Frowning, pondering. She asked Yuu first: “Yuu-kun, didn’t the gods want me to date you? Or could only choose someone closest? If I could be chosen, your Ideal Boyfriend task would be super easy.”

“It didn’t give me a choice to pick you.” Yuu answered honestly: “Besides, unlike Yukinoshita, you’ve loved me long. I can’t exploit your feelings to complete the task. Too bastardly. So even if given the choice, I wouldn’t ask you.”

Yukino glanced, said nothing.

“True… Hehehe, Yuu-kun’s soft side is what I like most!” Yuigahama laughed shyly and happily. Then she stared at Yukino. Curious blink.

“So Yukinon, you decided to date him because Yuu-kun asked?”

“Yes.” Hard to find friends, Yukino sighed: “Who told him to be one of my few friends? Though the sacrifice is big, someone broad-hearted like me won’t stand by seeing a friend in trouble… No matter how ridiculous, if he convinces me, I’ll help.”

This was also club activity. As Service Club President, she couldn’t play favorites and ignore her own member.

Finished, she nodded satisfied with herself.

“Oh—like that—” Yuigahama dragged her voice. Secretly smiling.

Her clearly unconvinced attitude made Yukino frown. Just as she wanted to tell her to speak frankly.

Yuigahama stared straight into her eyes. Though a question, her tone strangely certain:

“Yukinon, you like Yuu-kun, right?”

Yukino: “…”