"I see!"
"Now, you're doing great."
"Thanks!"
Tobe didn't reject Yukinoshita's request and went to visit her place as she took Yui to study together in the apartment. Naturally, before he left his cafe, he had washed his body, but probably, it was still noticed by Yukinoshita, as it was unnatural for him to be freshly washed, considering the time and all.
Yukinoshita's gaze was obvious, but as Tobe was given the responsibility to take care of Yui's studies, he had to do his best, giving his 120%, so that Yui could learn successfully.
"But you have changed, Kakeru."
"Is it?"
"It is!"
As Tobe explained, Yui couldn't help but comment as she glanced at Yukinoshita, who calmly sipped her warm tea. "You were like a bad boy before."
"Now?"
"...it's the same."
"..." Tobe.
"Then, why did you say that I had changed?"
"It's just because!" Yui sighed, feeling her powerlessness at her inability to explain what she wanted to say.
"Don't blame her. I also can see how you have changed so much, or should I say improved?" Yukinoshita thought of their first meeting, and she had to say that her boyfriend had become even better.
"I am still the same as before."
However, Tobe didn't think too much of their words and looked at Yukinoshita and said, "I think that it's because you love me more that I have become more handsome in your eyes."
"...who loves you so much?"
Yukinoshita was helpless and lightly tapped him with her small fist, but then she buried her face on his arm, rubbing it, and remained in silence, as if wishing to become one with him before clinging to him.
"...if you are like that, I can't teach her."
"It's fine. Just leave her there."
"....."
However, Yui, who was on their side, could only look at them speechlessly, feeling an intense complex mood as she wondered why they couldn't do this type of act somewhere else!
"It's too cruel for Yui."
To watch others be lovey-dovey, when one had nothing, there was nothing more cruel than that!
"It's fine. She has often seen us, and she should have certain degrees for being immunized."
"No, I am not immune to this! Can you flirt when I can't see you two?! It's too painful for me!"
"...." 2x
The two were silent as they saw Yui, who cried seriously, making them so speechless.
With tears in her eyes, Yui stared at her for a moment, then looked at the time. "Well, it's already late. You should go home, Yui."
"....."
Yui's lips twitched, wondering whether, when she went home, the two would make up and have a deep, intimate relationship.
Still, even so, she knew that the relationship between Tobe and Yukinoshita had become closer, but she felt like there was a missing piece that she didn't know, especially when she saw how close Yukinoshita and Ebina were.
Was it because Ebina had become Tobe's stepsister?
Yui didn't know, but her motto was to just endure everything instead of letting a conflict happen. If her little sacrifice could make everyone happy, then it was all okay, right?
While Yukinoshita didn't like that part of her, Yui knew that sometimes, what she did just couldn't be helped, and as Yukinoshita, who believed in her own path, she also had her own path, since not everyone was strong, so when she thought that everything had become like this, maintaining the status quo was the best.
As for how she would handle her feelings, wasn't this enough?
As the three could be gathered, laughing, playing, and studying together, it was all fine, Yui felt.
Friend.
This was what Yui had always thought of Yukinoshita, and unlike the others, whom she had forgotten and never crossed again in her life, she felt like her friendship with Yukinoshita would last so long till they died, and that what she wanted to, yet at the same time, she felt her feelings for a "certain" someone, would also last so long even if someone else had entered her heart.
Then again, unless Tobe was a scumbag who enjoyed the feeling of taking away the women of others, nothing would happen.
"...." Tobe.
However, when Yui prepared to go back, as Yukinoshita had said before, it was already a little late, and her mother must have prepared a dinner for her. Moreover, so as not to make her mother lonely, as her father wasn't around, she also felt like going home soon, only—
"It's a little late. Can you send her home, Kakeru?"
"...you sure?"
"Yes." Yukinoshita nodded at Tobe's question. "But, go back, okay? If you don't go back, I will knock on Yui's home even if it's at midnight."
"I will go back." Tobe was speechless. "Also, why would I stay at Yui's place?"
"Oh? Why do you think that is?"
Facing this expression of hers, Tobe could only laugh awkwardly as he kissed her cheek. "I love you the most!"
Yukinoshita rolled her eyes, showed disgust, but she didn't push him away, and even leaned on him.
Yet, what did this girl plan to do by letting him send Yui home?
Tobe wasn't sure, but as many things had happened to be, he wondered whether Yukinoshita tried to build her power.
As something grew, it was normal for factions to form, such as a noble faction, a merchant faction, and many others.
The power of an individual was limited, and because of that, everyone gathered, so they wouldn't be trampled, and thus a country was formed.
While the scale of his relationship hadn't reached a national level, he knew that several factions had been formed, but hopefully, nothing dangerous would happen. Yet to gain his attention, many of them gathered together, working together, like Akiko and Ayase, and also Maaya?
Still, what if Yukinoshita, Haruno, and Yuki-san gathered together?
Shudder!
Tobe frightened by that possibility!
"Eh?"
Nevertheless, Yui was stunned when Yukinoshita told her that Tobe would send her off, but her body was honest and just went to follow him when he told her that he would send her home.
"What's wrong? Why are you standing there like a stone?"
"Who is a stone?!"
"Don't think something perverted."
"Who is a pervert?!"
As Yui fumed, puffing her cheeks like a puffer fish, Tobe smiled and rubbed her head softly. "Come on."
With that, he easily made her heart restless, and jumped all around.
Still, Yui, whose skill in emotion was high, quickly let out a helpless sigh, thinking, 'Why the heck was she so easy?!'
"Yui?"
"Ah, w-wait a moment!"
Only, inwardly, Yui wondered, 'nothing will happen, right?'
Yet, as she thought so, a powerlessness and helplessness swept over her.