Yuu 406-410

Title: A Friendship That Meets the Mark

“I was just out for a walk. Happened to pass by.”

Yuu walked to her side, looking at the busy crowd at the school gate as if nothing had happened.

“A walk? I didn’t think you had time for something like that.” After saying it as if pointing out a fault, Yukino seemed to relax. She let go of her hair and looked at him directly with a natural expression.

“What about Yuigahama-san?”

“Eating with friends, I think? I also had lunch at the cafeteria with a friend today.”

“That’s rare.”

“Is it? Yui and I aren’t conjoined twins; we don’t do everything together every day.”

“No, I meant the fact that you have other friends.” Her fingers rested on her soft, white chin. The beautiful, elegant girl tilted her head slightly and flashed a sweet smile. “Truly rare. Don’t tell me it’s an imaginary friend?”

“Sorry, I’ve never done anything that lonely.” Yuu mimicked her gesture, showing an exaggeratedly sweet smile. “You seem to have a lot of experience. How about teaching me how to make friends with thin air?”

“…”

As if seeing a naked man on the street, Yukino’s gaze turned icy. She stared at him with a face full of disgust.

But as she looked, the corners of her lips twitched uncontrollably. She burst out laughing.

“Pff, hehe…”

Meeting Yuu’s surprised gaze, Yukino realized her lapse in composure. She quickly stopped laughing, pressing her lips together tightly.

Turning her face away, she cleared her throat twice, folded her arms, and said calmly, “If you have no business here, I’ll get back to committee work.”

“Alright.” Yuu nodded. He asked again, “Have you eaten?”

Pausing slightly, Yukino glanced at him discreetly. She sighed and said, “I’ve been busy since the bell rang after class. No time…”

“Really? Remember to eat. You’re already so thin.” Yuu patted her shoulder, flashing a bright smile and a thumbs-up. “Well then, I’m full, so I’ll head back and rest. Keep up the good work!”

“…”

Frozen in place for half a second, Yukino took a few deep breaths, as if that would make her chest puff up. Her icy but slightly flushed face turned toward him. She said through gritted teeth:

“You have three seconds. Get out of my sight!”

“Alright, alright, alright~”

Yuu shrugged.

Just then, someone called his name. Yukino no longer bothered with this annoying scumbag of a friend who only irritated her. She turned to greet two students approaching with the signboard.

“Yukinoshita-san, where should we put this?”

Yukino looked up and observed for a moment. She promptly gave instructions: “Take it to the equipment storage for now. It seems to have some damage. After repairs, put it back up the day before the cultural festival starts. Remember to prepare a tarp cover.”

“Got it.”

The two male students shakily carried the signboard. They seemed eager to show their masculine side in front of her, not calling for help. Sweating profusely, they exchanged glances.

After nodding with a confirming look, they mustered their strength together. Panting, they shifted the signboard onto their shoulders, raised their heads and chests, and walked toward the storage.

Unfortunately, Yukino didn’t spare them another glance. After speaking, she walked to the school gate, touching the arch pillar over three meters tall. There were some random scratches, likely carved with a small knife.

“This needs to come down too… Was this done by someone outside the school? How tedious.”

Yukino sighed helplessly. She turned, about to call others to start the dismantling work. But a sharp winter breeze suddenly picked up.

She instinctively squinted, holding her fluttering long hair, barely able to see the scene ahead.

Even the startled shouts in her ears seemed to blur.

“Yukinoshita-san, watch out!”

“Dodge quickly!”

Watch out for what? Dodge what?

Still confused, through the gaps in her fluttering black hair, Yukino vaguely saw his figure turn into a shadow.

Perhaps it was an illusion. After all, she’d told him to get out of her sight. Why was he running toward her?

Yet, for some reason, her feet, which should’ve instinctively moved to dodge, stopped. She stood in place with a steady heartbeat, as if waiting for something to come.

The next second, the sound of snapping wood and his voice rang out together.

“If your reaction’s slow, fine, but someone already warned you, and you still stood there. That’s too much.”

Brushing aside the black hair in front of her eyes, Yukino saw the wooden pillar, now only half intact, on the ground. Then she saw him behind her, raising his hand, shielding half the sky with his entire chest.

Yukino said calmly, “There’s research proving that during accidents, humans tend to freeze due to fear and other factors.”

Yuu glared at her angrily: “Then show a bit of fear! Do you know a three-meter-tall pillar almost hit your head? What if I wasn’t here, dear Yukinoshita-san?”

As if there was no way to deal with her, Yukino sighed helplessly: “It already happened. Can you not bring up hypothetical scenarios?”

“God, do you think I’m your guardian spirit—”

Before he finished, Yuu met a pair of clear, tranquil eyes, like the calm surface of a lake.

Without warning, Yukino said softly:

“Yesterday’s question—give me a reasonable explanation.”

An ill-timed question. She even forgot others were around. She just looked at him intently and seriously.

Yuu fell silent for a moment, as if stunned. He smirked slightly and muttered:

“If I didn’t have to, who’d want to be seen as a scumbag by their friend?”

“I see…”

Her long, beautiful eyelashes blinked twice. Yukino pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly.

“That answer was serious, but not what you wanted.”

“Your Majesty Yukinoshita is wise.”

Yuu lowered his hand. He looked at the beautiful, straight-haired girl who still appeared cold and resolute. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes: “Your head nearly got smashed, and you’re still asking questions like this. You’re more abnormal than I imagined.”

“I didn’t feel it. I can’t force myself to be scared.” Yukino casually tucked her hair behind her ear. She said nonchalantly, “Thanks for saving me in time. If there’s a chance, I’ll save you next time.”

“Are you cursing someone?!”

“Enough, enough. Stop shouting. Step aside, I’ll find people to clean this up.”

Dismissing him with disdain, Yukino looked calm. She gestured to the worried, shocked, and stunned committee members with varying expressions to come and handle the broken arch pillar. She prepared to call Hiratsuka to report this safety concern.

But as she took out her phone, her gaze unconsciously drifted to Yuu, standing outside the crowd with his arms crossed, looking at her impatiently.

A growing sense of safety and warmth made her chest feel at ease. It also caused the corners of her lips to lift slightly without her realizing.

She muttered with a smile:

“Truly… a ‘friend’ who meets the mark.”

Perhaps it was an illusion.

This winter felt warmer than she’d imagined.

-

Title: Yuigahama: What Did I Miss?

If it weren’t for Yumiko, Yuigahama wouldn’t have known what happened while she was searching for someone and failing during lunch break.

“Yuu-kun saved Yukinon at the school gate, and everyone’s saying they’re secretly dating?”

During the afternoon class break, she stared at her friend with a confused expression, her mind struggling to process the logic.

“That’s what my friend said, anyway. She’s also on the festival committee.”

Twirling her drill-shaped blonde hair, Yumiko smirked:

“Not to mention Tenkuji’s stunt of smashing a three-meter wooden pillar with one punch and saving the beautiful girl. Just seeing how they looked at each other, no one would believe they’re not dating… There’s also a kid from Class J who said Yukinoshita smiled more today than he’s seen in two years. He was muttering something like, ‘So the Snow Queen can smile too,’ or whatever.”

At this point, Yumiko eyed Yuigahama suspiciously: “Hey, Yui, are you really dating that Tenkuji guy?”

“Y-Yeah, that’s right…”

Yuigahama hesitated for a moment, unable to stop herself from glancing at Yuu in the distance.

Yumiko pressed on: “Then what’s his deal with Yukinoshita? Is it just a rumor, or is there really something going on? Isn’t Yukinoshita your friend? Is he hitting on her?”

“It’s a rumor! Of course it’s a rumor! Yukinon and Yuu-kun are just really good friends!”

Snapping out of her confusion, Yuigahama hurriedly waved both hands and explained: “Sure, Yukinon doesn’t smile often, but she smiles at me too. That doesn’t prove anything! Besides, Yuu-kun’s not the type to two-time!”

“…Hmph, who knows. Anyway, I suggest you keep an eye on him. You can’t be careless with scummy guys.”

The confrontational aura she’d built up slowly dissipated. Yumiko leaned back in her chair, lazily inspecting her nails: “So, Yui, when are you free to ditch that guy and hang out with us?”

“Hahaha~ Next time, for sure!”

After calming her friend who was standing up for her, Yuigahama held herself together until after school, until the prop group work was done, and until Yuu invited her to walk home together.

“Ugh, Yuu-kun, is there something you want to talk to me about?”

After leaving the classroom and walking down the corridor toward the stairs, Yuigahama puffed out her round cheeks, staring at his profile with a look full of complaints.

Yuu thought for a moment and quickly understood what she meant.

After all, the things related to him that happened today, which she’d care so much about, could only be a few.

“Though I don’t know what you’re getting at.” Yuu said, completely unfazed, speaking casually, “didn’t I go to the cafeteria with Totsuka for lunch? After eating, I walked alone to the sports field and happened to run into Yukinoshita at the school gate…”

After briefly recounting what happened at noon, Yuigahama nodded as if she finally understood. She didn’t even care about their relationship, immediately asking with concern: “Yukinon’s definitely not hurt, right? And you, Yuu-kun…”

She forcefully grabbed his arm, rolling up his sleeve. Her soft, marshmallow-like fingers gently wrapped around it, carefully inspecting from his knuckles to his arm. Only after confirming there were no injuries did she sigh in relief.

Once she finished checking, Yuu smiled, pulled her hand, and patted her head.

“Ordinary wood can’t hurt me. Relax.”

Yuigahama didn’t look away. She stared at him seriously, like a strict female teacher catching a student cheating, giving him no chance to dodge:

“Even so, next time there’s an accident like this, avoid it if you can. Don’t do cool-looking things that might hurt you!”

Sensing the worry in her words, Yuu nodded honestly.

“I know. Won’t happen again.”

“Sora-chan would worry.”

“Mhm.”

“I’d worry too.”

“Mhm.”

“Anything besides ‘mhm’?”

“The people who like me even more would worry too.”

Yuigahama blinked, tilting her head in confusion: “People who like you even more?”

“I mean, for the sake of those who care about me, I shouldn’t do dangerous things like that.”

Yuu rubbed her face, a bit helplessly: “Alright, enough. I’ve reflected. Don’t lecture me like I’m a kid.”

“Who told you to do stuff like that when I wasn’t around… Besides me, no one else would lecture you.”

Yuigahama muttered, swinging his arm like she was sulking. She suddenly giggled shyly: “Ehehe~ Do I seem like a controlling wife?”

Yuu smirked: “You mean a nagging wife. Nagging wife Yui.”

“…”

Expressionless, Yuigahama let go of his hand and stomped hard on the back of his foot.

Damn it. If he kept saying things like that to her, no amount of love would survive!

As she thought angrily, a familiar figure suddenly walked ahead of her.

Her black hair fluttered like tassels. Her beautiful, elegant side profile was framed by the bright, comforting lines of the sunset. Her smooth, fair face glowed softly like porcelain.

Yuigahama immediately left him behind, raising her hand and calling out cheerfully:

“Yukinon? Yahallo~”

Yukino, who was looking at some documents, looked up. She froze for a moment upon seeing them approaching, instinctively glancing at Yuu first before shifting her gaze to Yuigahama.

“You’re heading home already?”

Yuigahama quickened her pace, affectionately hugging her arm. Her smile bloomed: “Yeah~ Yukinon’s still busy with committee stuff? Want us to wait for you?”

“…Better not.” After thinking for a moment, Yukino shook her head gently. “I’ll probably be busy until the school gate closes. No need to make you wait that long.”

“I see. Let’s go home together next time then.” Yuigahama looked at her face, her smile unconsciously fading. She asked worriedly, “But Yukinon, is the committee work really busy? You look so tired…”

“It’s not that I’m not tired, but it’s still within what I can handle.” Yukino rubbed her forehead, which had been furrowed since who-knows-when, and sighed softly. “Too many people are dragging things down, but what can I do? The capable ones work harder.”

Yuu suddenly spoke up, his tone carrying unabashed criticism: “The capable ones working harder is the most shameful value. It only makes more people content with being mediocre.”

Yukino paused slightly. Then she looked up, pursing her soft lips, staring at him with an indifferent gaze.

“Oh no…”

Sensing the storm-like atmosphere brewing, Yuigahama instantly went on high alert. She held her breath, preparing to defuse the spreading cold war.

The next second, amid their locked gazes, Yukino spoke first:

“You think I don’t know that? The reality is, there’s no one reliable. Capable or not, I have to take on more work.”

Yuu shot back immediately, leaving her no room to hide:

“The reality is, the festival committee’s workload is getting heavier. The other members are all useless. To avoid overworking yourself, you need more ‘capable’ help—right.”

Yukino turned her face away: “No need.”

“I’m your friend.”

Yukino puffed out her cheeks slightly: “…For now, no need.”

“Still holding up?”

Yukino snorted coldly: “Don’t underestimate me.”

“If you can’t handle it, say so. Helping each other as friends is normal.”

Her expression calmed: “You don’t need to say so much. I know my limits.”

“Then come to my place this weekend. We’ll cook with the others. You have free time.”

“…Hah. The address?”

“I’ll send it to you later.”

Amid Yuu’s triumphant smile, Yukino let out a long, helpless sigh. But the stiffness at the corners of her lips softened slightly. Her entire demeanor seemed more spirited.

“I’ll head off then. See you tomorrow.”

After saying that to Yuigahama, she passed by them both. Her posture was still fresh and supple like a willow branch, stepping toward the staff room.

“Such a stubborn person.”

Yuu shook his head, then patted the shocked and confused Yuigahama’s shoulder, saying with amusement: “Snap out of it, Yui. Why’re you spacing out?”

“…”

Staring blankly at his relaxed, bright smile and Yukino’s retreating figure, Yuigahama thought:

(You still dare ask why I’m spacing out?!)

She suddenly felt that what she missed wasn’t just lunch break but an entire volume of a novel!

-

Title: Your Way of Speaking Is Like His

Night arrived.

Still in the same luxurious apartment.

Bringing home committee work, Yukino finished dinner around 7:30 PM. She cleared the dishes and took them to the kitchen.

Her long black hair was tied back in a ponytail for ease of movement. After putting on a cream-colored apron with a cat paw print pattern, the phone in her pocket suddenly rang.

Who would call her at this hour…

For some reason, Yukino felt a slight, inexplicable excitement.

With a feeling even she didn’t understand, she took out her phone and glanced at it. The slight curve at the corner of her lips vanished instantly. She answered the call expressionlessly.

“What’s up this time, Nee-san?”

“Ugh, those are the first words in a sisterly chat…” Complaining like that, the woman then spoke in her most annoying and astonished tone, “You seemed so down yesterday, but today you’re full of energy? Let me guess, does this have something to do with a certain someone…”

“If you keep guessing, I’m hanging up.” Yukino gave her no chance to tease.

She switched her phone to speaker and placed it on the shelf nearby. Seeing her slightly flushed ears in the mirror, she took a deep breath to calm herself, then turned on the faucet. Cold water flowed over the dishes and her hands, covered in plastic gloves.

“You’re so heartless.” A bored sigh came through. Haruno’s tone returned to calm, “Though I’m curious about what happened between you two, you wouldn’t tell me anyway. In that case, I’ll just… call Yuu-chan later.”

“Do whatever you want.”

At this point, Yukino had zero interest in what this person planned to do.

As for how Yuu would respond when questioned… she could roughly imagine, so she wasn’t worried.

After all, she hadn’t done anything with him that couldn’t be known to others. If Haruno wanted to ask, let her ask. Just don’t bother her.

Suddenly, her dishwashing paused.

Her own sister was a creepy stalker of her male friend—realizing this, Yukino’s expression became extremely complicated, as if she’d swallowed a bag of oddly flavored jelly beans.

Was this bad fate? Why did it have to be Yuu? And she, stuck in the middle, would likely find life even harder.

Now, Yukino could only sigh deeply over it.

She could only hope her sister wasn’t serious, that it was just a fleeting interest. Once bored, she’d “play” with someone else. She hoped her sister wouldn’t keep pestering her and her few friends.

“…Yukino-chan, are you listening?”

“Of course.”

Gathering her scattered thoughts, Yukino turned off the faucet and picked up a towel to dry the dishes.

“There’s a gathering this weekend. You all have to attend. I heard some foreign company presidents will be there.”

Saying it with little interest, Haruno then asked curiously, “Isn’t that pretty normal? What does it have to do with me?”

“Natsukawa Masuzu, your classmate from the Natsukawa family, will also be at the gathering. I’m just letting you know to see if you want to come.” Haruno said casually, “Though the answer’s probably obvious…”

“No.”

A place full of lies, calculations, and everyone wearing fake masks was like a sulfuric acid hell for Yukino. Staying there for even a few minutes was torture.

Though she could endure it and wouldn’t act childish when she had to go… if it could be avoided, she’d avoid it.

“I knew it.” Haruno wasn’t surprised. She continued, “What if Mom asks you to come home too?”

Hearing those words, Yukino couldn’t help but hesitate for a few seconds. She glanced at the phone showing the ongoing call.

“…Please tell Mom that I’m going to a friend’s house this weekend. If there’s nothing urgent, I’ll come home another time.”

“A friend?” Haruno immediately caught the keyword. “Yukino-chan? The cold, solitary Yukino-chan going to a friend’s house to hang out? That’s rare.”

“It is rare.” While placing the clean dishes on the rack, Yukino tried to keep her voice steady. She said nonchalantly, “It’s not hanging out, more like a cooking class.”

“Oh? Yukino-chan can’t cook?” Haruno laughed with keen interest.

Yukino looked up at the ceiling and explained calmly, “Though he knows basic cooking, there’s still plenty of room for improvement.”

“I see. He must want to make bentos for Yuu-chan, right? Hmph, such an obvious attack strategy…”

“That shouldn’t be the case. Even if he did, it wouldn’t be as good as his own cooking.”

“Then why’s he still asking you to learn cooking?”

Yukino rubbed her stiff face, sighing silently.

“How would I know… Anyway, that’s how it is. I’m busy this weekend. You guys go to the party.”

“Alright~ It’s rare for Yukino-chan to go to a friend’s house to hang out. Mom probably won’t force you to come now either. Don’t worry.”

“Mhm, thanks. See you.”

After a half-hearted goodbye, Yukino promptly ended the call.

She placed the phone against her chest. Her chest rose and fell, her breathing slightly labored for some reason.

Leaning against the fridge, she looked at herself in the mirror.

Her pale face quietly flushed bright red. Her gaze darted away slightly, like a child lying and afraid of being caught.

Yukino couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.

“Diverting attention, not telling the truth to avoid lying, shifting focus to unimportant things…”

She always used this way of speaking. It was amazing how she felt no guilt at all for fooling people.

But to avoid further trouble from her sister, Yukino, who didn’t want to lie and wasn’t even good at it, could only temporarily mimic someone’s speaking style and successfully fool her quick-witted sister.

“But even if it’s just mimicking, why is my heart beating so fast…”

Thinking of Yuu. Thinking that she shouldn’t have shown weakness earlier. Thinking that her speaking style should’ve been a bit more cunning.

With a hard-to-detect excitement, Yukino untied her ponytail, letting her glossy black hair, shimmering like graphite, fall loose. She prepared to head to the bathroom for a shower.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Haruno set down her phone, staring intently at her sister’s contact avatar.

“Something’s off…”

As for what was off, she couldn’t quite explain it right away.

But that was the strangest part.

No one understood her sister better than she did, even more than Yukino herself—Haruno always held onto this confidence.

When it came to her sister’s feelings and emotions, she could sense something was wrong just from her tone. She could guess five or six parts of the truth from a few words. In person, she could even read Yukino’s thoughts on the spot, like mind-reading.

Of course, not having to worry about Yukino lying was a key factor.

But ever since her sister mentioned going to a friend’s house, Haruno suddenly couldn’t read her true thoughts—it sounded like the truth, but there was also a feeling that she was deliberately blurring the focus and playing a small trick on her.

How to put it…

It felt very familiar.

This way of speaking—was it mimicking her, or…

A speculation gradually formed in her mind. The phone in her palm tightened unconsciously.

Haruno slowly narrowed her eyes, the corners of her lips curling into a meaningful arc.

“It shouldn’t be what I’m thinking…”

-

Title: The Culprit Who Ruined Me

Yuuki Residence.

After enduring her mother’s seemingly endless lecture, Asuna left the living room and headed to her room on the second floor.

“I went through so much trouble to get permission to transfer schools, only to end up in the International Education class…”

Her soft house slippers stepped on the cold marble stairs. The girl with long chestnut hair tied in a braid couldn’t help but sigh.

She wasn’t of mixed descent, nor had she studied abroad for long. Bribing her way into the International Education class would surely make her classmates judge her. But her mother wouldn’t agree to let her transfer to Class F, and she couldn’t provide a convincing enough reason.

She couldn’t possibly say she transferred schools just to be close to a certain boy and in the same class to observe him more easily, could she?

Asuna wondered if her mother would be impressed by a National Kendo Championship title…

As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Asuna quickly shook her head, her face flushing uncontrollably—thinking too far! She transferred schools to uncover the truth of the world, not to chase a husband!

She also couldn’t possibly fall for a boy she’d only known for two or three days, no matter how charming he was…

She was just a little curious.

Lost in thought, Asuna’s expression gradually darkened. She passed her older brother’s room, ensuring he wasn’t leaking information to someone anymore, then returned to her own room.

If it were her mother from before, even if she won a national championship, she would’ve rejected the transfer request.

Because it was meaningless.

Though Sobu High had a high deviation score, in terms of environment and networking, it couldn’t compare to prestigious academies like Kuroyuri Girls’ Academy. Moreover, graduating from an all-girls school with little experience interacting with boys would make it easier for her mother to use her for matchmaking arrangements, gaining favor with relatively traditional families.

At some point, Asuna had come to understand these intricacies to some extent. She also understood what her mother meant by “I’ll find you a husband from a good family who doesn’t need to worry about life’s necessities”—in other words, choosing a good matchmaking partner who could bring benefits to the Yuuki family.

At some point, her mother stopped thinking about elite matchmaking. She only managed her academic affairs, loosening her control over other matters significantly. As long as Asuna could provide a convincing reason, she was basically allowed to make her own decisions.

If Asuna asked when her mother became so lenient, she’d only get a sharp glare and a cold reply like, “How should I know? I’m just too lazy to manage you anymore.”

In this regard, it wasn’t much different from before.

“It’s definitely not just my imagination… Something must have changed without anyone noticing.”

Mulling over this issue, Asuna closed her bedroom door. She sat on her bed, touching the sleek, gleaming silver helmet.

Memories of moments spent in the game world flashed through her mind. Freedom, excitement, joy, emotions, all the happiness and sorrow… A smile unconsciously curved her lips. The emptiness in her heart gradually filled with warmth.

Could a game played alone really hold such profound meaning?

Was the loneliness from losing someone by her side really just an illusion?

Her phone suddenly lit up.

Asuna set down the helmet and opened it. It was a message notifying her that the investigation she’d asked her brother to look into earlier was complete.

It was a comparison of two data sets.

Her fingers scrolled the screen, as if she forgot to breathe. Holding her breath, Asuna focused on the records starting from August 26, until they abruptly stopped on September 21. Only then did she exhale slowly, collapsing onto the bed in exhaustion.

Her chestnut hair splayed messily. The hem of her clothes lifted slightly, revealing her flat stomach. But she seemed to have finally glimpsed dawn, unable to hold back a soft laugh.

“Hahaha… I knew it wasn’t just my imagination…”

“Tenkuji-kun said he hadn’t been online for a long time, almost forgetting the game’s name, didn’t he?”

“Indeed, there’s no login record from September to November. That’s quite a while—but before he retired, he was online almost every day.”

Just like her.

Most login times were after 8 PM, logging off around 10 PM. Longer during holidays.

Just like her.

After September 10, there was an eleven-day absence, until the night of September 21.

Just like her.

In the NerveGear Login Records table her brother sent, with so many overlapping times and synchronized periods, it was impossible for it all to be coincidence.

If she had married someone in the game and promised to team up to complete the Sisters Martha mission, they should’ve agreed on online times and acted together until the mission was done.

Yet in her memory, Asuna had always been a solo swordsman. She never interacted with other players from the start of the game until now.

No friends, no teammates, let alone an in-game husband—yet the system’s responses still contradicted this memory.

A broken ring, login records.

The clues of time led her to grasp the edge of the truth. She was getting closer to reality.

“You’re right, Tenkuji-kun… All of this is connected to you.”

With a smile on her lips, Asuna murmured with relief and ease.

For some reason, a sentence suddenly surfaced in her mind.

“Your voice, from the past to now, and even into the farther future—I won’t forget it.”

“Even if I forget, no matter how much time it takes, I’ll remember.”

“Every little thing we experienced together.”

“That’s my most precious treasure, so I’ll never give up!”

Staring at the ceiling with resolute eyes, Asuna suddenly sat up. She opened the friends list on her communication app, accessing a dialog box with only a few messages. Her fingers tapped the phone call icon.

Then she hesitated: “If I call now, will I disturb him…”

But she wanted to hear his voice. For some reason, she desperately wanted to, and she definitely wouldn’t sleep if she didn’t.

So, without further hesitation, Asuna pressed the call button. As the busy tone rang, she crawled to the head of the bed, sitting against the wall. Her free hand hugged a Squirtle plushie. Her long, pale legs under her pajama pants gently kicked the bed.

“Hello? Tenkuji-kun? I’m really sorry for calling you so late…”

Her voice was soft and calm. On her sweet, slightly flushed face, she showed a happy smile like a little girl.

“Mhm, nothing important. I just wanted to say…”

(To reclaim the truth of the world and everything that was lost.)

(I’ll come find you soon.)

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Sorry, I want to stay in Japan. I can’t go back to Sweden with you for now.”

“Why… Because there’s something I haven’t found yet.”

“It has nothing to do with Mom. Though I did come to Japan because of her… You wouldn’t understand if I told you. Enough. I’ll attend the gathering. After Mana transfers schools, I’ll try to look after her.”

Masuzu ended the call with a calm, indifferent tone.

Setting down her phone, she slowly raised her dark, lifeless eyes.

For the umpteenth time, she stared blankly and calmly at the object in front of her.

Under the pale neon light, countless photos were pinned to the wall as far as the eye could see. There were also many sheets of paper with messy handwriting, tacked up with thumbtacks. It made the entire room look like a police investigation board.

Chaotic, yet in some ways eerily uniform.

Because all the photos and handwritten notes on the wall were related to one person.

His name was Tenkuji Yuu.

“Are you the culprit who ruined me?”

-

Title: The Cat in My House

He had changed, no longer like his old self.

Masuzu only knew that much.

As for why he was different and where exactly the differences lay, she couldn’t answer at all. Every time she tried to think hard about it, her head would throb as if pricked by needles. In the end, she could only give up helplessly.

But if she didn’t think about it, she felt like she was losing meaning and purpose in life. She would live in this world like a walking corpse, devoid of all strength.

Food tasted bland. Sleep eluded her at night. She was beyond saving…

While thinking this, Masuzu accidentally discovered that someone’s presence could alleviate these symptoms.

Though he was just a male classmate she rarely spoke to, his shadow often appeared in her mind. Even if it was just a tasteless bowl of plain porridge, its warmth spread from her throat to her heart.

As long as Masuzu focused wholeheartedly on his affairs, the helplessness and emptiness would recede like the tide. It was as if she had found a new pillar, supporting her empty shell of a self.

This strange, unknown illness might require such an absurd remedy.

Thus, Masuzu began collecting information about him. She started writing about him in her notebook. She bought stacks of his photos from the press club—since they sold like hotcakes, the stock was abundant and constantly updated.

She was like an idol fan. She even forgot to review JOJO daily. She only looked at his photos every day, imagining scenes of talking and interacting with him.

Of course, she had also “used” him multiple times in that way.

If she didn’t always cry for no apparent reason afterward, Masuzu might have become addicted, using him three or four times a day, relying on this method of self-indulgence to fill the void in her heart.

That’s why it’s said that Masuzu was already ruined.

It was a logical conclusion.

As for the reason, perhaps she needed to ask the only man who could fill her emptiness.

Her gaze slowly drifted downward. Masuzu looked at her phone, face down. There was a sticker photo on the phone case.

Without any added effects, just herself, staring blankly at the camera.

“How foolish does someone have to be to take a sticker photo alone?”

Masuzu said coldly, as if mocking herself. She tore off the sticker, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash.

Then, she took a photo of herself walking by the sports field from the wall and lay on her bed.

Her silver hair was disheveled from being pressed down. Masuzu didn’t care. She just stared at the photo with her small, empty face. As she stared, her thoughts began to drift. Her breathing quickened.

Holding the photo with one hand, her fingers moved. Her gaze gradually blurred…

“Hah… uh…”

A sorrowful yet satisfied breath. Painful yet immersed in pleasure. It all formed a melodious tune, like a flowing river.

The gem that once shone brightly was now tainted by murky filth. She had forgotten vibrant colors.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Time passed quickly, and Sunday arrived. As promised, the Tenkuji household was bustling today.

At 8 AM, Yuu had already laid out all the ingredients and spices for the day on the kitchen table. He even bought a small folding table so multiple people could work.

Those using the ingredients or eating the results had to cover the costs—not because he was stingy and unwilling to spend money, but among the group, two girls refused to let him take advantage of them, no matter the reason.

Yukino needed no explanation. Kanade insisted on paying “tuition fees” as a gesture of gratitude.

As for Iroha and Yuigahama, the former acted as she pleased, considering herself the junior most cherished by her senior. The latter thought there was no need to keep score between them, and she could repay him in other ways.

Like making him a bento, for example.

Though he knew Yui had practiced cooking hard for his sake, considering he might cook better than her even using his feet, Yuu happily took Yukino’s suggestion to have everyone split the costs of the “Tenkuji Cooking Class” evenly this time.

“Mhm, this should do.”

Clapping his hands, he left the kitchen satisfied. Yuu glanced at the time on his phone and headed to the entrance.

As he turned, he saw the silver-haired girl hiding on the second-floor staircase, hugging a bunny plushie and peeking down.

“Sora, are you just going to watch from there?”

Glancing at his smile, Sora said expressionlessly, “After I see what your ‘juniors’ and ‘friends’ are like, I’ll go back to my room.”

“How about coming down and greeting them with me?”

“No way. Greeting people is a hassle.”

After speaking flatly, Sora suddenly waved her hand. A small cat slowly emerged from the shadows behind her.

The cat walked upright, head held high, full of knightly vigor.

Patting its head, Sora ordered with a serious face, “Yukinon, guard the downstairs well. If anyone tries to come up, take them out with a Noble Phantasm.”

The cat’s tail shot up: “Meow! (Yes, Princess! But where do I get a Noble Phantasm?)”

“Good, go.” Sora nodded, satisfied. Of course, she didn’t understand what the cat said.

Yukinon leaped down gracefully, sitting upright on the stairs like an Anubis statue, guarding the entrance.

Yuu massaged his forehead helplessly. Too lazy to deal with his sister and her cat, he confirmed the time was near and walked to the front door alone.

At 8:50 AM, he opened the front door, greeting the chilly late-November breeze outside and the beautiful black-haired girl wrapped up tightly, looking very cold.

“Good morning. You really came ten minutes early.”

Yukino started. Her steps paused. She blinked with clear, bright eyes like ice crystals.

Her frozen, reddened fingers emerged from the pocket where she kept her phone. She pulled her scarf over her mouth and nose, her soft voice sounding like a sigh.

“Good morning… Isn’t arriving ten minutes early common etiquette for appointments?”

Yuu shrugged regretfully: “When you’re the only one doing it, you’re the most special.”

Yukino replied as if stating a fact: “Even if I didn’t do that, I’d still be the most special.”

Yuu rolled his eyes in amusement. He stepped aside, opening the door, bowing, and raising his hand in mock politeness.

“Very well, the ever-confident Yukinoshita, shivering from the cold, welcome to my humble abode.”

“I’m not shivering from the cold.” Yukino glared at his exaggerated antics but received only a relaxed smile, as if soothing a child.

Clicking her tongue softly behind her scarf, Yukino averted her gaze. She tucked her hair behind her ear. With a calm expression and natural movements, she passed him and stepped into the warm house.

Upon entering, her gaze was immediately drawn to the small gray cat crouched on the stairs, still as a statue.

“T-this, this is…” Yukino instinctively held her breath, deliberately lowering her voice as if afraid to disturb the cat in front of her.

Yuu closed the door, nodding behind her.

“My cat, Yukinon…”

Without turning, Yukino swiftly kicked his shin, letting her long hair cover her slightly reddened ears again.