Yuu 396-400

Title: A Playboy Who Loves Younger Girls?

The calendar flipped page by page.

As the cultural festival drew closer, an increasingly lively and enthusiastic atmosphere enveloped all of Sōbu High School.

Dry branches and fallen leaves in the courtyard added to the serene beauty typical of winter. However, the cold wind couldn’t extinguish the swaying flames of the festival’s excitement. Amidst the orderly preparations, a half-finished school celebration signboard already stood at the school gate.

Additionally, the student council president election, which few paid attention to, had quietly begun.

The number of candidates this time, as usual, was small. Nearly half of them were running just for fun, with the mentality that it was fine if they didn’t win, and if they did, they’d do the bare minimum. No wonder the students’ enthusiasm for voting was low.

Because of this, the campaigns of Tachibana Kanade and Isshiki Iroha were proceeding remarkably smoothly.

The publicity of the two beautiful girls, combined with their proactive campaign activities, had verbally secured the majority of the students’ votes. The support survey conducted by the journalism club even outshone all others. The combined votes of the other candidates still couldn’t rival them.

“Isn’t this already a landslide victory?!”—So declared Iroha, the candidate for Vice President of the Student Council.

This wasn’t just recklessly raising a flag but a fact widely believed by those following the election.

No other candidates could compete. If they still failed to be elected, there must be foul play.

“Damn, there’s no challenge at all in this election fight. I want to see some bloodshed!”—So said Iroha, the aspiring master strategist, pounding her chest in frustration.

If there were no surprises, after the cultural festival ended, the day when Kanade would officially take the Student Council President seat, despite being a first-year, would soon arrive.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“So, senpai, can you create some surprises?”

During the lunch break, in the Service Club.

While sipping Musashino milk in her hand, Iroha made an absurd request in a cute, whiny tone.

“Kanade-chan’s power is too strong. Without a bit of a shake-up, it feels like all my election preparations would go to waste~”

“Not a waste.”

Holding a bowl of instant mapo tofu rice, Kanade raised her small face, stained with red sauce. She looked at her calmly and seriously.

“Everything Iroha has done proves that we became student council members through our own efforts, not other factors… This way, everyone will trust our abilities more.”

“Ngh…” The relaxed expression on her face froze for a moment. Iroha waved her hand, her cheeks slightly flushed. Her lazy demeanor turned shy.

“I-I know. I was just kidding… Don’t praise me so seriously. It’s embarrassing.”

Yuu was someone who knew how to seize opportunities.

Seeing Iroha’s shy expression, he immediately set down his lunchbox. Sitting up straight, he looked at the ash-blonde, short-haired girl with a serious gaze. He spoke solemnly, as if reciting scripture:

“No need to be modest. Without your efforts, how much cost and sacrifice would Tachibana have to bear alone to become Student Council President? It’s precisely because you supported her behind the scenes that you two can shine on the throne now. You can bring greater prosperity and new transformation to Sōbu High…”

“Yes, Isshiki Iroha, you are the greatest hero who made this new student council possible!”

“Ngh, ngh, aaahhh!”

Her ears turned redder. Her hands frantically fanned her face. Iroha was so embarrassed she could practically dig a hole to Tokyo Tower with her toes.

“Senpai! Senpai! That’s too much! Teasing a junior like this in front of the senior girls, aren’t you afraid of being misunderstood as a playboy who loves younger girls?!”

Still trying to deflect the attack? What a poor trick.

Yuu sneered with disdain. He tapped his lunchbox with his chopsticks.

“If I act upright and sit straight, what do I have to fear? Besides, what if I’m misunderstood? If I’m afraid of even saying a single word—”

Before he could finish, Yuigahama nodded thoughtfully, muttering to herself in a voice only she could hear: “So that’s why I was rejected before—because I’m the same age as Yuu-kun, huh… If I were a year younger, maybe he wouldn’t keep his distance?”

Yuu coughed. He changed his words as if nothing happened: “You’re misunderstanding. I don’t care much about age—”

“Heh.”

Before he could finish, a cold laugh came from near the window. Her eating movements remained as graceful as a painting.

Yukino didn’t look up. While moving her chopsticks, she spoke casually, as if chatting: “You’re only realizing his reckless nature now? It’s not just first-year juniors. I bet middle school girls and college students are his targets too. It’s not a misunderstanding at all.”

Yuigahama blinked, looking at her with shock and worry.

“Yukinon said so. Yuu-kun, don’t tell me you…”

“I said it’s not true! Why do you believe her so much?”

Yuu’s cheek twitched. He shot a sharp glance at Yukino, who was smiling calmly.

Yuigahama said honestly: “Because Yukinon knows Yuu-kun so well…”

“She doesn’t know anything.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

They spoke at the same time, and simultaneously, they turned their displeased gazes at each other.

“You think you know me so well?”

“You’re saying my judgment is wrong?”

Seeing the two, Iroha couldn’t help clapping: “Though the words are different, their synchronized voices feel so harmonious… Hahaha.”

Under their oppressive stares, her voice grew quieter. Finally, she laughed awkwardly a few times and hid her head behind Kanade’s long hair, acting like an ostrich.

Kanade glanced at her. She shifted her gaze back and asked with a blank expression: “What’s up? Fighting?”

““Nothing’s up.””

They answered in unison, seemingly unwilling to involve their junior in their dispute.

“Hmm, good. You should get along.”

Her soft, flat voice landed. After nodding slightly, Kanade continued scraping the remaining sauce and rice grains from her bowl with her spoon, not wasting a bit.

While playing with her hair, Iroha pouted and muttered softly:

“Tch, differential treatment…”

But she was used to this kind of daily treatment. She didn’t feel any imbalance.

Since the seniors returned from Kyoto, she often came to the Service Club with Kanade for lunch—what else could she do? They stopped club activities after school, and the seniors didn’t visit the café because they were busy with the cultural festival.

To get the full details of the National Kendo Championship and regularly send desserts to a certain senpai for feedback and suggestions as agreed, Iroha had to ‘reluctantly’ chase them down during lunch break. She also brought Kanade, who wanted to personally thank the Service Club for their help.

After coming a few times, she got used to it.

After all, the environment here was quiet, and the interactions between the seniors were fascinating. Even Kanade said if the cafeteria’s mapo tofu could be brought here, she’d prefer eating lunch at the Service Club. Naturally, she couldn’t resist coming and chatting with them.

What’s called a ‘safe haven’ where she could be herself calmly might feel like this.

“Oh, right!”

In the silence where the two turned away from each other, seemingly uninterested, and resumed eating their respective meals, Yuigahama suddenly clapped her hands. She proposed enthusiastically: “Wanna try a test? A Compatibility Quiz!”

“Using scenarios about what Yuu-kun would do in certain situations, we all write our answers—if Yukinon’s answers match Yuu-kun’s, it means you’re super compatible! If not, it means she’s being arrogant!”

“If I join in, it’ll test how well our Service Club members understand each other!”

“How about it, wanna play?”

-

Title: The Service Club Compatibility Quiz

“Why do we have to do a pointless quiz like this? I refuse.”

Her beautiful, slender brows furrowed slightly. Yukino rejected the idea with a face full of defiance.

Yuu was about to agree, but he caught Yuigahama’s smiling glance. He immediately shut his mouth as if it wasn’t his business and began admiring the warm winter scenery outside the window.

To clarify, it wasn’t because he was a henpecked husband afraid of the harmless Yuigahama. This was a form of respect for women—after all, a compatibility quiz wasn’t a serious matter worth vehemently rejecting.

As for Yuigahama, she merely blinked her large, innocent eyes. She spoke to Yukino in surprise, using a Detective Conan-style tone:

“Are re re~ Yukinon, are you afraid of losing to us?”

That successfully provoked the prideful club president, who couldn’t resist a challenge, to agree to participate.

“I didn’t expect Yui-senpai to have such a cunning trick…”

Iroha shrank her shoulders. She looked at her with a shocked expression, as if seeing a Shiba Inu suddenly transform into a muscular man and shatter a rock with a right hook.

Yuigahama pretended not to hear. She raised both hands and announced with high spirits:

“Then, the first-ever Service Club Compatibility Quiz ver. Yuu-kun officially begins—”

The clubroom, about the size of a regular classroom, was divided into two areas.

One was the answerers’ area behind a long table, and the other was the questioner’s area in front of it.

Then, somehow, Iroha became the questioner, while Kanade, holding her now-empty mapo tofu bowl, sat in the answerers’ position.

The scene felt oddly out of place, making people hold back silent mockery they couldn’t voice.

“…Forget it. It’s just a game anyway.”

Too lazy to care about such trivialities, Iroha stood in front of the whiteboard. She looked at the participants using notebooks as answer boards behind the long table and made a final confirmation:

“Can I ask any question?”

Yuigahama was about to nod when Yuu spoke expressionlessly: “Of course not.”

“Ask questions that a carbon-based organism can answer normally and that stay within moral and ethical norms. Got it?”

Under his oppressive stare, Iroha could only suppress the dark bubble that had just risen in her heart. She puffed out her small cheeks and nodded honestly: “Tch, I know… Do I seem that bad in senpai’s eyes, only capable of causing trouble?”

Yuu didn’t speak. He only sneered in response.

“Hmph… Fine!” Just as she was about to complain, Iroha’s eyes suddenly sparkled. She turned, grabbed a whiteboard marker, and wrote several large words.

“Exactly. Let’s make this the first question—What’s senpai’s impression of the adorable Iroha-chan?”

A brief silence fell behind the long table.

“…You sure?”

“Absolutely!” Iroha stared at Yuu. She grinned menacingly, showing her small canines. “Senpai, you have to answer seriously!”

“Don’t worry. You ask properly, and I’ll answer properly.” Yuu smiled. His gentle, warm gaze reminded her of something, making her face flush unconsciously.

“Hah, why does it have to be like this…”

Though a trace of pity for Iroha appeared in her eyes, Yukino said nothing. She lowered her head and began writing her answer.

After the other two put down their pens, Iroha pointed at Yuu impatiently.

“Senpai, announce your answer!”

“Announce together?” Yuu looked at Yukino. She nodded. They raised their notebooks simultaneously.

[Trouble.] [Trouble.]

“Pffft!”

As if stabbed through the heart, Iroha staggered back a few steps, clutching her chest. She looked at Yuu in disbelief.

With her small mouth pouting sadly and tears welling in her eyes, she said, “Why… I’ve been so careful not to trouble senpai…”

“No, even if you say that…” Yuu glanced at the snack box placed in the corner of the long table.

“How many did you fill with wasabi today?”

“!”

Her pitiful expression froze instantly. Iroha averted her gaze guiltily.

“…Just one?”

“Why’s there a question mark? Weren’t you the one who made them?” Yukino pressed her brow as if suffering a headache.

“No, how should I put it… I just wanted to surprise the senpai I love! There weren’t many either. It’s not something to worry about, hahaha!”

Scratching her soft, ash-blonde short hair, Iroha laughed heartily. She quickly shifted attention to the other two’s notebooks.

“So, what did Yui-senpai and Kanade-chan write? Let me see…”

[Sweet but slightly troublesome junior] and [A good person who’ll eat mapo tofu with me even though she doesn’t like spicy food.]

Iroha couldn’t help complaining: “This Service Club is too in sync?! And Kanade-chan, that’s senpai’s impression of me, not yours!”

She flipped her notebook. Kanade blinked her golden-blonde eyes, nodding as if just realizing.

“Oh, right… Sorry, my mistake.”

As for Yuigahama, after seeing the identical answers from the other two, she sighed with slight disappointment, though it wasn’t unexpected.

“You don’t just have to consider Yuu-kun’s thoughts but also his personality to answer correctly one hundred percent…”

She muttered. But she wasn’t too upset. On the contrary, she grew more excited—knowing her shortcomings meant the next step was to improve.

In fact, she suggested this game to figure out how to understand Yuu the way Yukino did.

Having known him longer, she shouldn’t lose to Yukino as long as she found the key!

“Alright, both senpais get one point. The person with the highest score after five questions wins… Next question!”

Iroha thought for a moment. The corners of her lips suddenly curled into a sly smile.

She erased the whiteboard and wrote a line of round, cute, very JK (high school girl)-style words.

“What kind of girl does senpai like?”

Iroha puffed out her chest and raised her head. She looked at Yuu proudly: “A question any ordinary high school girl would care about, and it doesn’t violate moral or ethical norms—how’s that, senpai? You can answer this one, right?”

“Of course. I won’t go back on my word.” Yuu smiled kindly. He cupped his hands under his chin, his voice as soft as a spring breeze.

“Just, after the game’s over, stand still and don’t run. I have a few things to say to my adorable junior.”

“Ugh!”

At that moment, Iroha, her face paling, recalled the fear of being dominated by this man and the humiliation of being treated improperly in the hallway.

“…Um, is it too late to change the question now?”

“Too late. Start answering!” Yuigahama spoke firmly, giving her no chance to back out. Her face was full of enthusiasm as she quickly wrote in her notebook.

Lamenting the misfortune about to befall her, Iroha ignored the faint hope in her heart. She slumped her shoulders in front of the whiteboard, waiting listlessly for them to put down their pens.

“Ah~ Done~ Alright, announce your answers.”

With no trace of hope, the atmosphere instantly turned sluggish.

Yuu: [Little sister.]

Yukino: [The little sister he always talks about.]

Yuigahama: [Sora-chan! (Little sister)]

Kanade: [Mapo tofu or someone gentle.]

-

Title: The Deadly Question

“Unexpected… Except for Kanade-chan, everyone gave the same serious answer.”

Iroha sighed helplessly, ignoring Kanade’s unsurprising response. “Well, since everyone knows this senpai is a siscon, when faced with a question like this, he’d definitely use his little sister to deflect.”

“What do you mean? This is my genuine thought, you know?” Yuu crossed his arms over his chest, speaking with displeasure. “Are you saying you’re more likable than my sister?”

“No way, no way. Tenkuji-senpai’s sister is the best in the world.”

After giving a perfunctory reply with cold, emotionless eyes, Iroha erased the writing on the whiteboard.

“Now, two to two to zero, a tie~ Alright, next question!”

[Is senpai a dog person or a cat person?]

Yuu: [Likes both.]

Yukino: [Cats.]

Yui: [Dogs.]

Kanade: [Both are cute.]

“Those are the favorite animals of each senpai! And it turns out only Kanade-chan got it right… Wait, does this count as correct?”

The fourth question—[Does senpai prefer big or small?]

The question was immediately rejected by Yuu for being too ambiguous. Amid Yukino’s sneers and Yuigahama’s stifled laughter, Iroha had no choice but to replace it with another.

“Team Western food or team Japanese food is too ordinary… Ah, let’s go with this instead.”

[An elite career woman or a capable wife, which type of woman would senpai want to marry?]

As soon as the question was posed, Yuu’s gaze toward Iroha was so gentle it almost felt like he’d hug her on the spot and give her a German Suplex to bond.

Ready to receive her senpai’s ‘affection’—Iroha, terrified but unable to resist stirring trouble, seemed to hear those words in his lip movements.

Meanwhile, behind the long table, Yukino and Yuigahama instinctively glanced at each other. They then averted their gazes like they’d been shocked by electricity, lowered their heads as if nothing happened, and wrote their answers in their notebooks.

“Ahem, well then, let’s announce the answers!”

Yuu: [Doesn’t matter. I’ll only marry someone I like.]

Yukino: [Could be both. I’ll only marry someone I like.]

Yui: [A capable wife!]

Kanade: [Someone who’s good at cooking (mapo tofu).]

Looking at them in surprise, Iroha announced: “Only Yukinoshita-senpai gets a point for this question!”

“Is that so? Nothing to be smug about.”

Clenching her fist out of sight, Yukino brushed her hair off her shoulder. She flipped her notebook page calmly and naturally.

“Just one question left, right? Hurry up and end this boring game. Lunch break is almost over.”

Yuigahama groaned, clutching her head: “I knew how I should’ve answered, but I couldn’t help mixing in my personal feelings. I’m such an idiot, uwuwuwu…”

As for Kanade, she looked at her own answer, then at Yuu. As if solving a puzzle, she muttered softly with wide eyes: “Indeed, someone good at cooking doesn’t need a wife who’s equally skilled… Hmm, it’s so hard to answer correctly.”

(No, no, Kanade-chan, it’s fine if you don’t answer this one correctly), Iroha thought to herself.

Her gaze swept over Yuu, who was quietly observed by the two beautiful senpais. She suppressed her somewhat complicated emotions and sighed silently.

“Alright, the score is now three to two to one. Yukinoshita-senpai is in the lead. The final question will decide the winner of this contest!”

“But it seems the result will either be a tie or Yukinoshita-senpai’s victory. There doesn’t seem to be enough time for overtime…” She glanced at her watch and turned. “Kanade-chan, do you still want to play?”

Kanade shook her head. She put her notebook back in her school bag and tidied the trash on the table.

“Then let’s decide the winner between the two lady senpais~” Iroha spun the whiteboard marker in her hand. Her gaze toward Yuu carried a hint of schadenfreude. “The winner will earn the title of Tenkuji Yuu’s True Best Friend, the officially verified person who understands senpai the most—how’s that? Isn’t it exciting?”

“Not at all.” Yukino set down her notebook. Her expression was cold and uninterested. “I’m not interested in a boring title like that. Let’s end it here…”

A suddenly raised voice cut her off: “Wait, let’s finish the match!”

“…Yuigahama-san?”

“Didn’t Yukinon always say we should finish what we start?”

Turning halfway, Yuigahama looked at her seriously. Her firm, clear eyes held no trace of worry despite trailing in the score.

“As long as I win the final question, there won’t be a winner in this match—Yukinon and I will be on the same level. So, we have to compete until the end.”

“…”

As if not understanding, Yukino furrowed her brow and fell silent for a moment.

“It doesn’t prove anything.”

“It does.”

“That title, whoever wants it can take it. I’m not going to fight you over something like that.”

“I know. I’m the one who suggested this match.” Yuigahama shook her head stubbornly. Her voice carried an unyielding resolve: “You can think it’s meaningless, but I still have something I want to prove… So, Yukinon, please, compete with me until the end!”

Such an unreasonable, forceful request should’ve been firmly rejected.

Yet, seeing Yuigahama’s eyes, Yukino couldn’t utter the words of refusal—what was insignificant to her held such deep meaning to Yuigahama that she was willing to say please.

Unconsciously, Yukino glanced at Yuu. Her eyes showed a plea for help she wasn’t even aware of.

“…As Yuigahama said, you’re not guaranteed to win until the end.”

Yuu smiled and waved his hand. But he didn’t meet her eyes. He only spoke as if it wasn’t his concern: “Want to compete, then compete. Don’t want to, then give up. It’s that simple. Nothing to worry about.”

“…Fine, you said it.”

Sighing as if giving in, Yukino picked up her notebook again. She looked at Iroha: “Ask the question.”

“Hmm! No matter what the question is, I won’t lose!” Yuigahama was brimming with fighting spirit.

Now, the one in a tough spot was Iroha, the questioner.

“Uh, you guys are putting so much pressure on me… It feels like no matter what question I ask, it’s wrong. I really don’t want to offend the senpais.”

Yukino shrugged lightly: “The person in question said it doesn’t matter. Just ask whatever you want.”

“Alright, let me think…”

Iroha rubbed her small hands. After thinking nervously and struggling for a while, she suddenly showed a resigned expression. She turned and wrote several large words on the whiteboard.

“Didn’t Yukinoshita-senpai just say that senpai has a very reckless nature?”

Facing the people behind the long table, Iroha took a deep breath. Her chest, covered by a sweater, puffed out. Her small, cute face showed a heroic expression, as if ready to die honorably. She slapped the whiteboard enthusiastically.

“Whether that’s true or not, the answer will come from this question!”

Fifth Question—

[After senpai has a girlfriend, would he cheat with another girl before breaking up?!]

This was the question Iroha came up with, one that wouldn’t offend anyone except Yuu!

Of course, Yuu would give a negative answer. And the two lady senpais who trusted him wouldn’t jokingly say he’s a playboy in this situation.

The result would be both getting points, a score of four to three, with Yukino winning.

But that would disprove her earlier claim that Yuu was reckless—though a bit forced, she could still say Yukino misjudged senpai and didn’t actually know him that well.

Maybe that could comfort Yuigahama a little, right?

What else could she do? It was incredibly hard for a first-year girl with only a few cunning tricks to come up with a question that could satisfy all three parties in such a short time!

(This is the limit of my ability to balance the mood. Senpai, you’ll understand me, right?) Iroha prayed silently. She couldn’t help sneaking a glance at his expression.

But she found that Yuu wasn’t glaring at her as she’d expected. He only exchanged a complicated look with Yuigahama, then quietly lowered his head to write his answer.

Yukino, on the other hand, hesitated for a moment before writing her answer, pursing her glossy, soft lips.

Soon, they all looked up at Iroha.

“Uh… Alright, announce your answers?”

Iroha was a bit cautious, trying hard to reduce her presence.

Yukino flipped her notebook. Her expression was calm as she gave a reasonable explanation for herself:

“As a preliminary statement, the reckless and unfaithful nature I mentioned earlier has a different meaning.”

The answer written in her notebook surprised no one—[No.]

She trusted Yuu. No matter how reckless he was with words, he wouldn’t cheat.

Over months of interaction, the Yuu she knew had earned her confidence in that.

Having answered first, she looked at the other two, who hadn’t moved. She couldn’t help feeling increasingly puzzled.

For some reason, the atmosphere between them felt heavy. Even the air in the Service Club room seemed to freeze.

“Yuu-kun… Did you write the truth?”

Clutching her notebook, Yuigahama asked anxiously, as if only now realizing something was off.

Yuu shrugged. He said nonchalantly: “I wouldn’t lie in front of you, would I? Even if it’s just written on paper.”

“…You’d better lie. Not everyone needs to know.”

Yuigahama shook her head vigorously. She prepared to put away her notebook, but Yuu snatched it.

“Don’t worry about useless things. In the past, I might’ve cared…”

Yuu glanced at its contents casually. He smiled faintly, indifferently, and placed both notebooks on the table for Yukino to see clearly.

“Now, it doesn’t matter anymore. I’m tired of thinking about it and don’t want to lie anymore.”

“What do you—”

Her gaze shifted downward. As the words came into view, Yukino’s eyes widened. The rest of her words vanished in confusion.

On the papers were two identical, short answers.

—[Yes.]

Meaning, Yuu admitted he would cheat with another girl after having a girlfriend.

And Yuigahama believed he would.

Score: three to three.

The first Service Club Compatibility Quiz ended in a tie between the two girls.

-

Title: Senpai, You’re Such a Jerk!

“Senpai, I’m sorry. I messed up…”

As the two senior girls in the Service Club packed their things and prepared to leave, Iroha quietly approached Yuu and bowed her head, sincerely admitting her mistake.

“I’m sorry for making the atmosphere so awkward.”

“It has nothing to do with you. Yui proposed the match, and I answered the questions. You don’t need to apologize.” Yuu flicked her forehead once. Then, before Iroha could smile in relief, he used his other hand with added force.

*SMACK!*

“But I still need to settle the score with you for making me the butt of the joke.”

“Ugh!” Iroha yelped, clutching her forehead. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “You said it had nothing to do with me! Senpai, you have no chivalrous spirit, attacking your sweet sixteen-year-old junior like this…”

She hid behind Kanade, who had been silently observing everything. Pointing at him angrily, she said, “President, expel him from school! The reason: brutally attacking a junior!”

“I’m not president yet.” Kanade said lightly. She looked at them both. Her expression didn’t change much, only the corners of her lips curved slightly, and a faint smile appeared in her pale golden eyes.

“You two have a really good relationship.”

“Huh?” Iroha’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Me, with senpai? No way, no way! Even if our senpai-kōhai relationship at school and work is better than with others, calling it a relationship—”

Without letting her finish her long, uninterrupted ramble, Kanade said in a soft but clear voice: “Iroha deliberately came to tease Yuu-senpai because she sensed he was in a bad mood, right? To me, that’s a sign of a good relationship.”

“…”

Her clear, soft lips parted slightly, as if at a loss for words. Before indescribable embarrassment could color her entire face, Iroha rolled her eyes. She raised her chin, pretending to be proud.

“Of course! So, senpai, are you touched? You still have time to pledge your loyalty to your sweet junior and her care, you know? Hehehe~”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’m so touched.” Yuu said, rolling his eyes. Besides her little devil personality, she’s also a bit tsundere? This junior really has it all.

The Service Club’s lights were slowly turned off. Yuigahama and Yukino approached, carrying their school bags.

Before that, Iroha suddenly muttered in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible:

“Senpai… That question, were you serious?”

Yuu didn’t lower his head to see her expression. He only looked at the gloomy, cold sky outside the window.

“Even if I don’t want to, I’ll have to do it someday.”

No explanation, and he didn’t need to explain to anyone.

Not knowing how to handle the increasingly complicated situation, he’d just keep being his usual self and do what needed to be done.

The rest was for others to decide.

The group left the special building.

As if nothing had happened earlier, Yuigahama and Iroha chatted. Yukino occasionally responded with a few words.

Yuu and Kanade followed in silence. One was too lazy to talk, and the other was used to not talking.

Yuigahama occasionally turned to pull Yuu into the conversation. But at those moments, Yukino often shut her mouth and stayed silent. She didn’t look at him or respond to his jokes.

Her deliberately cold demeanor made Yuigahama try to speak several times, only to be interrupted by Yuu just in time.

The only one worried about that question was Yukino. And Yuu, as if wanting her to misunderstand, deliberately said nothing. He let her keep her distance.

In the end, Yuigahama gave up a bit and didn’t want to deal with it anymore.

The pre-class bell rang. Amid the crowd rushing into the school building, Yuu and the two senior girls bid farewell to the two juniors.

Before leaving, Iroha complained unhappily: “Senpai, come visit the café manager sometime.”

Yuu rolled his eyes: “You just want me to cover your shifts, don’t you?”

Her sneaky plan was accurately exposed. Iroha didn’t feel embarrassed. She just giggled mischievously.

“What can I do~ I’m definitely busier than you lately. I have no time for part-time work. Luckily, the manager just hired some new staff. Otherwise, it’d really be a massive HR crisis.”

“Good that you’re not short-staffed. I’ll stop by and check it out when I have time.” Yuu replied nonchalantly.

Iroha pouted slightly: “What kind of attitude is that! If you don’t want to come, fine. I won’t tell you that all the new staff are cute high school girls…”

Mid-sentence, she suddenly realized it wasn’t just her and senpai here.

(Uwaawaa, stupid Iroha-chan! Why are you talking without reading the room like this? Do you want to throw yourself and senpai into the fire…?)

Cold sweat dripped down her forehead.

Her voice cut off as if choked. She sneaked a glance at the two senior girls. Iroha put on a serious face, cleared her throat twice with a tense expression, and raised her hand in a salute.

“Well then, that’s it! See you, senpai!”

Yukino crossed her arms and nodded slightly.

Yuigahama waved with a smile: “Bye~ Iroha-chan, Kanade-chan!”

Neither seemed to care about the teasing comment she’d just made to Yuu.

Iroha quietly sighed in relief. Kanade beside her also bowed slightly, gracefully, to the three of them.

“See you, senpai.”

Then she raised her small face and looked at Yuu. Her gaze was very serious.

“Yuu-senpai, are you free this weekend?”

Iroha: “?”

“I’m free. What’s up?”

Yuu showed the same confused expression as Iroha.

Under everyone’s gazes, Kanade spoke calmly, her voice wrapped in firm resolve:

“I want to learn how to cook mapo tofu from you. I want to know when you’re available.”

Iroha: “???”

(No, Kanade-chan, please read the room, aaaaa!)

(Don’t say you want to learn cooking at this awkward moment, in front of us awkward people, ugh!)

(Why are you looking at me like ‘what’s wrong,’ I didn’t do anything!)

Iroha’s cheeks twitched like they were cramping. She screamed internally. The next second, Yuu’s nonchalant voice reached her ears.

“Sure. Come to my place on Sunday. Morning or afternoon, doesn’t matter.”

The veins on her forehead bulged. Iroha kicked Yuu’s butt hard—in her mind, of course.

(I #&§, senpai, you’re such a jerk!)

(Why did you just agree? Why did you invite a junior to your house to learn cooking—!!)

(Yukinoshita-senpai was so right when she called you reckless!)

(Didn’t you see Yuigahama-senpai’s confused expression? And Yukinoshita-senpai starting to sneer again, as if your playboy reputation is getting stronger?!)

(A love triangle is bad enough, and now Kanade-chan’s suddenly joining in… Damn it!)

After cursing internally while grinding her teeth, before the atmosphere could get even more awkward and give her, a mere bystander, an ulcer from worrying too much, Iroha suddenly raised her hand. With a sharp glare, she announced loudly:

“I’m coming too! Senpai said he’d teach me how to make desserts!”

“Yui-senpai, Yukinoshita-senpai, come along too!”

-

Title: I’m Sorry, Yui

On the way back to class.

Iroha couldn’t hold back any longer. She grabbed Kanade’s shoulders and looked into her eyes earnestly.

“Kanade-chan, there’s a complicated emotional web among the people in the Service Club. You have to be careful not to get dragged into it!”

“Emotional web?” Kanade tilted her head slightly, saying with confusion, “So what?”

Seeing Kanade’s pure and honest eyes, Iroha fell silent for a moment. Suddenly, she didn’t know how to explain it properly to her.

“No, how should I put it… Kanade-chan, have you ever gone to a guy’s house before?”

Kanade shook her head.

“This is your first time?”

She nodded.

“Then you have to remember, girls shouldn’t casually say they want to visit a guy’s house. It could be dangerous!”

“I know that.”

I still have basic common sense—Kanade’s eyes conveyed this. Then she said, as if to reassure, “Don’t worry. There’s a little sister at Yuu-senpai’s house. I met her last time. So it’s fine, it’s very safe.”

“???”

(Met his sister, so it’s fine, and the house is very safe?)

Iroha nodded with wide eyes.

(That’s true! If his sister’s there, even if senpai’s a beast, he wouldn’t touch Kanade-chan—)

(Wait, that’s not the issue!)

“Ngh, ngh, ngh~”

Iroha scrunched her small face in confusion, clutching her lower stomach. She felt like her brain was about to explode.

Don’t ask why she wasn’t holding her head. The answer is her stomachache hadn’t gone away.

Going to Tenkuji’s house to learn cooking wasn’t the main point at all. Even if his sister wasn’t there, Iroha was sure Kanade wouldn’t face any danger. Plus, she’d be there too.

The problem was that Kanade’s timing in making that request was completely off!

It was like dropping a chunk of sodium into a clogged toilet—the chemistry teacher had just mentioned this case—it could easily blow things up and make you stink.

Yes, she meant herself, who had just asked a reckless question. She apologized; she already regretted it.

But back then, she didn’t know that Yukino, who always bickered with Yuu, actually had some feelings for him. And she didn’t seem to fully realize it herself. If anything, it could only be considered unintentional recklessness, right?

As for Yuigahama, though her feelings were obvious, her relationship with Yuu was better than Iroha had expected. That was something she hadn’t considered either.

“Haaah… I’m overthinking too much. Why am I analyzing their emotional statuses?”

Iroha shook her head, quickly pulling back her wandering thoughts.

Her top priority now was to figure out how to make the socially clueless friend in front of her a bit aware of the Shuraba battlefield on Yuu’s side. So she wouldn’t end up as cannon fodder caught in the crossfire, like Iroha herself…

“Iroha, it’s time to get to class.”

Seeing her lost in thought after speaking, Kanade thought for a moment. After reminding her, she turned and walked toward the classroom.

“Eh? Wait, Kanade-chan~”

Iroha hurriedly chased after her. She rarely saw such a clear, joyful smile on her friend’s face, and her steps were bouncy with excitement.

“Everyone’s coming to make mapo tofu on Sunday, right? I’m really looking forward to it.”

“No, Yukinoshita-senpai isn’t coming…”

“What about Iroha? If you’re making desserts, I recommend mapo sundae.”

“Mapo? No way, that’d definitely taste bad…”

“Trust me, it’ll be super delicious! I can help you taste-test!”

“Ngh, fine, I’ll try it later… Wait, Kanade-chan, you mapo idiot! That’s not what I meant~~”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After school, Yuu stayed in the classroom, working on props for the class’s stage play with the others.

This included backgrounds, weapons, signboards, pamphlets, and more. Each group collaborated in their assigned tasks, and he was part of the Mobile Unit, helping wherever there was a shortage of hands.

During this period, when everyone united to prepare for the cultural festival performance, many let go of their usual distance and deference. They boldly handed tasks to him.

“Tenkuji-kun, can you help cut this wooden board?”

“Sure. Just cut along the lines, right?”

“Hmm, then I’ll leave it to you… So fast! And your movements are so skilled! Have you studied carpentry?!”

“Well, I know a bit.”

“Tenkuji-kun, can you draw? We have a forest background board. Though it’s faster to find an image online and print it, we want a hand-drawn feel…”

“I know a bit about this too… Alright, is a sketch like this enough?”

“Tenkuji-kun… Have you ever considered teaching a class?”

“You’re exaggerating, I’m not that great.”

“Tenkuji-kun, can you fold paper flowers?”

“I know a bit. I can fold any flower as long as I have a reference picture.”

“Eh, and you call that just knowing a bit…”

“Tenkuji-kun…”

“Tenkuji…”

After being called here and there, providing support everywhere for over an hour, Yuu showed no signs of fatigue. Full of energy, he arrived at the sewing group’s work area.

“Need any help? I also know a bit about sewing.”

“Tenkuji-kun, why don’t you just say you’re an all-rounder?”

The brown-haired girl with red-framed glasses—Ebina Hina—spread her hands and shook her head with a sigh, as if already familiar with him: “If you’re this talented, how about helping me figure out how to turn the Adler script into two handsome young men falling into a passionate, sticky love during their adventure—”

Before she could finish, Miura Yumiko stomped on her foot under the table, silencing her.

“The costume for the female lead is already done, and you’re still talking like that!”

“Men can wear it too…” After being glared at, Hina pouted honestly and muttered softly, “Fine, I won’t say it. I’ll figure it out secretly on my own.”

“Yuu-kun, we don’t need help.”

Yuigahama raised the needle and thread in her hand. She looked up and huffed with a smile, as if asking for praise.

“Yumiko and the others thought I’d prick my finger. Too bad, I’ve been used to helping Mom sew buttons since I was little. I’m not that clumsy!”

Yuu widened his eyes in surprise. He immediately clapped sincerely: “Honestly, I thought so too. I didn’t expect you to be so deft. You’re just bad at cooking.”

“Yuu-kun!” Her smile vanished instantly. Yuigahama looked angry, as if she wanted to throw the needle and thread at his face.

Yuu burst out laughing a few times. He ruffled her dango-style hair amid her unhappy protests.

*SMACK!*

Suddenly, Miura slammed the item in her hand onto the table. Her brows furrowed sharply, and her expression wasn’t great.

“You two!”

Three pairs of eyes turned to her. The air froze for a moment.

“…You can go home. Stop flirting here.”

With a stiff tone, Miura turned her face away. Her fingers twirled the ends of her curly hair.

Yuigahama was stunned for a moment. She quickly smiled happily: “Hmm, you’re right! Can we leave the rest to Yumiko and the others?”

“Go, go. It’s just finishing touches anyway… It’ll take a few minutes, and you’re already looking at him again. So annoying.”

Miura waved her hand in disgust. She glared at Yuu. Her attitude was as straightforward and haughty as ever.

“Tenkuji, I don’t care if you’re a kendo champion or a sports genius. If you dare do anything to betray Yui, I’ll teach you a lesson!”

“If you’re dating her, treat her well. You’re her first!”

“Eh?!” Yuigahama hadn’t had time to feel touched. Her small face flushed red. She looked at Yuu nervously.

“W-What first? Yumiko, you’re saying it too bluntly… Though, it is true…”

Yuu nodded toward Miura but said nothing more. He turned, said goodbye to the class committee, then grabbed his school bag and left the classroom with Yuigahama.