At Sōbu High School, Yukinoshita Yukino was a name that stood out. Maybe not every single student knew her, but it was close enough.
Once, she was practically universally disliked. From her own class to the rest of the school, her infamy skyrocketed after she infamously achieved her so-called "100-boy breakup streak" cheating on a hundred boys in a row, or so the rumors claimed. That turned her from a girl only hated by other girls into someone antagonized by everyone.
Back in her original class, the International Etiquette Program's 2nd-year Class J, chaos reigned. Every day there was some drama either boys she had broken up with or girls whose boyfriends she'd allegedly stolen would confront her or outright bully her.
Still, Sōbu was a well-known local high school, so while people talked of bullying, it usually meant things like scribbling insults like "Yukinoshita the b*tch" on the blackboard, smearing her desk, or tossing her bag in the trash.
The desk could be wiped clean, mocking comments could be ignored, and a washed bag was still usable.
To someone like Yukinoshita with her fierce golden curls, these petty acts were nothing. They only seemed to feed her arrogance.
Now, even though many still hated Yukinoshita, more and more people seemed to enjoy watching the spectacle.
[Yukinoshita Yukino - who's the girl she likes?]
Back in the day, she'd dated and cheated on countless boys, but no one ever saw her get close to any girl. Most of the time, she left behind a trail of bitter, spiteful exes. The only one who had ever been close enough to be called a friend was Yui Yuigahama.
But a few months ago, Yukinoshita had also stolen the guy Yui liked and brutally insulted her in public, calling her "all boobs, no brains."
Yuigahama, smiling faintly: "Say I like her and I'll throw hands, seriously."
Could it be Kaoru Kawamura from 2nd-year Class D? After all, Yukinoshita had done a complete 180 in behavior ever since Kawamura had taken up her duties as the class morality monitor a few days ago.
Maybe love really does reform a bad girl. Isn't that romantic?
Even when people pointed out that Kawamura was no longer on rotation for student council duties this week and Yukinoshita still hadn't reverted to her usual cold, savage self.
Well then. Maybe that just proves her love is real.
Or could it be Mizuno-senpai, a third-year? The two didn't seem to have any connection until someone saw them nod at each other in the hallway just yesterday.
And with Yukinoshita's cold and condescending nature, she rarely acknowledged anyone, let alone nodded first. That nod might as well have been a confession!
Or maybe it's Iroha Isshiki from the first year? Wait, who even suggested that? There's literally no overlap between them.
Still, one thing was for sure. No one absolutely no one suspected Miura Yumiko.
"I mean, I kinda get it," Onozawa Kei whispered with a mischievous smile. "Yukinoshita just has that 'don't even breathe near me' vibe, you know? Except, of course, when it comes to Yumiko."
In Japan, there's an unspoken social rule called "reading the air" essentially knowing how to act in a group without being told. People who lack this awareness are labeled "KY" (short for "kuuki yomenai"), and they often find themselves isolated or even bullied.
When bullying becomes a group activity, not participating can be seen as being KY. Most people just try to fit in quietly, sanding down their edges so they won't stand out.
But Yukinoshita never conformed. She stood tall, strong, and composed even when she was alone.
And perhaps that's exactly what made people even more curious about her.
Onozawa lowered her voice even more, occasionally signaling with her hands or eyes. They were sitting in the classroom, the furthest seats away from Yukinoshita, near Yuigahama's desk, but the topic was still embarrassing enough to warrant caution.
Yuigahama, normally so lively, looked a little distant, as if lost in thought.
Miura cleared her throat.
Arms crossed, she tried her best to suppress the smugness blooming on her face. She put on a casual front. "I mean, what's the big deal? Tons of people at Sōbu like me."
She tried not to dwell on the strange feelings bubbling inside her.
After all, being liked by someone like Yukinoshita should be something to be happy about. Right?
Onozawa grinned wickedly. "So, does that mean you don't like her back at all?"
Miura snapped, flustered. "As if! Who'd like her?!"
Kamizawa Junko chimed in with a smirk. "Yukinoshita's basically a walking glacier now. If it weren't for our superior deduction skills, we wouldn't know either. No one can tell who she favors."
"Wow, tooting your own horn much? You sound as full of yourself as Yumiko!" someone laughed.
"Hey! Who are you calling full of herself?!"
Then Onozawa raised an eyebrow. "So what's the deal with Yukinoshita and Mizuno-senpai anyway?"
Kamizawa nodded eagerly. "Yeah, a bunch of people said they saw it. Yukinoshita actually nodded and smiled at her yesterday morning."
She turned to Miura with a glint of mischief. "You hear about that, Yumiko?"
Miura scoffed, visibly annoyed. "Why would I know? It's not like Yukinoshita is… is mine or anything."
"Oh? Then I guess you're not curious about the gossip I saw on the school forum? Something about Yukinoshita and Mizuno-senpai getting close. Who knows if it's true~"
Miura made a sharp little noise of interest, her brows knitting. "…What gossip?"
"Didn't you say you don't care? Haha~"
"Junko!"
"Okay, okay, enough teasing," Yuigahama interrupted with a calm smile. "There's nothing between Yukinoshita and Mizuno-senpai. That post was just made-up nonsense."
Before anyone could ask how she knew, Yuigahama added, "We used to be... well, kind of close. I still know a thing or two."
"And the whole 'nodding' thing?" someone asked.
Yuigahama chuckled. "Total misunderstanding. Yukinoshita had a pollen allergy flare-up that day. She was trying to stifle a sneeze."
She was just too much of a perfectionist to sneeze in public, so she bent her head and it looked like a polite nod.
Onozawa burst out laughing. "Wait, how do you know all that?"
Yuigahama's smile froze for half a second. "I happened to see it."
Across the classroom, a cluster of girls continued their animated gossip, their voices rising and falling. Yukinoshita frowned and adjusted the volume on her earbuds.
Ugh. Popular girls. So annoying.
She still didn't fit in with the new class, but at least they didn't pick fights or bully her anymore. Her comeback plan was in motion, her schedule organized to ace the upcoming school exams. Everything was falling into place.
Even the bizarre experience of waking up one day to find herself a year and some months in the future barely fazed her anymore.
She truly believed her life was settling down again.
Until that day, right after Japanese class, when someone called her out of the room and dumped a bottle of cold water right on her head.
For a second, Yukinoshita thought it was acid. Her heart nearly stopped.
But the shock of ice-cold water quickly brought her back to reality.
Just mineral water. Thank god.
"Yukinoshita, have you no shame?!"
What?
Why are you screaming like that?
If you've got a problem, go yell at the system!
Would I be like this if not for that evil system?
Wait a second. Who even are you?
Still stunned, Yukinoshita wiped the water off her face calmly. Before she could speak, someone threw a jacket over her shoulders.
Then, a girl with blonde hair stepped in front of her protectively.
Everyone in the class turned to look. Even Hayama Hayato stood up from his seat and started walking over, his usual crew in tow.
Even Hachiman Hikigaya, who always looked half-asleep, now had his eyes fixed on the scene.
Yuigahama came to stand beside Yukinoshita. This girl who'd once been rumored to have her crush stolen by Yukinoshita was perfectly composed. She even offered a spare shirt with a small smile.
"I brought a backup. You can borrow it."
Yukinoshita hesitated. She wasn't sure what kind of relationship they had in this new timeline, so she politely refused. "Thanks, but I have a gym uniform."
Yuigahama didn't press it and turned her gaze toward the unfolding conflict.
Hayama, usually the epitome of calm with his prince-like smile, looked unusually serious. "What happened here?"
But Miura wasn't nearly as restrained. She stormed forward, radiating fury, like she was about to dump a whole bucket of cold water in return.
The tall blonde's presence filled the room like fire. She narrowed her eyes at the girl who'd attacked.
"Who the hell are you to come here and bully someone from our 2nd-year Class F?!"