"Hahaha…"
Yuigahama shrank her shoulders awkwardly. Her large, bright eyes kept staring at the side of his face.
"So, something really did happen?"
"It's been a week since I've seen you two together. Natsukawa-san's been avoiding talking about you too. Everyone's guessing if you've broken up…"
Yuu maintained his relaxed demeanor, walking slowly on the asphalt street. "It doesn't matter. After all, what we need to do won't change. The good thing is, Masuzu herself understands that."
"Then what about you, Yuu-kun?" Yuigahama hesitated. Her small fists, hidden under her thick jacket, clenched slowly. She asked cautiously, "Did you… confess to Natsukawa-san and get rejected?"
"…"
His crisp footsteps stopped abruptly. Yuu halted in place.
Yuigahama, a step ahead, turned and saw a rare expression on his face: genuine shock.
"Yui… did you suddenly get enlightened by some sage, or did you secretly read the script?"
"What's that supposed to mean?!" Yuigahama laughed wryly. "I was just guessing! Who knew I'd hit the mark… And honestly, it might have something to do with me."
"Oh? Tell me more." Yuu showed an interested expression and resumed walking.
Since he hadn't promised Masuzu to keep it a secret, and Yuigahama didn't feel the need to hide anything from him, she candidly recounted the entire conversation from that weekend in as much detail as possible.
Of course, she focused more on Masuzu and only vaguely mentioned her own feelings—after all, saying "like" in front of Yuu was already hard enough.
At the intersection near the station, while waiting at a red light, Yuigahama exhaled a white breath and said softly, "…Natsukawa-san definitely likes you, but she keeps forcing herself to deny that feeling, denying what's called liking or love."
"It's almost like her biggest weakness. When she can't argue back, she'd rather run away, as if she becomes a completely different person, far more fragile than a girl in love."
The light turned green, and she and Yuu stepped forward, crossing the zebra crossing together.
"So, when I noticed she wasn't clinging to you like before and started avoiding you, I started thinking—did you do the same thing as me? After thinking it over, the most likely scenario was that you confessed to her. The kind of confession asking her to date you officially. Only that would make Natsukawa-san react so strongly."
Yuigahama tilted her head. Her face was hidden behind her scarf, with only her eyes squinting into crescent moons. "And if Yuu-kun likes her, you'd definitely say it straightforwardly!"
"Brilliant analysis. I'm dubbing you Zhuge Dango."
Yuu couldn't help but clap in admiration. He'd never dare call her a dumb Dango again in the future.
When it came to romance, Yuigahama's social and emotional intelligence might be on par with his!
"But why were you so sure? Can't I secretly like someone else?"
Yuigahama answered casually, "You're not me. Secretly liking someone doesn't suit your personality."
As soon as the words slipped out, as if she'd accidentally revealed a secret, she pursed her lips. Her ears under her pink hair turned red, and her gaze darted guiltily.
(We're good friends now, so stop bringing up that I like him! It'll make things awkward!)
Seeing her expression, Yuu squinted and smiled. He didn't say much, naturally steering the conversation back.
"Pretty much as you said. After I confessed to that woman, she didn't reject me—she just went cold on me."
Frowning, Yuigahama bit her lip with a sad expression. "So it's true… Why did it turn out like this when you both like each other? Isn't it normal for people who love each other to be together?"
"Because for her, the abnormal is the best."
Yuu looked up, gazing at the sky above the station's logo, shrouded in gray clouds.
"She doesn't want normal things that can disappear anytime. She only wants something abnormal, something that's just hers. If I hadn't confessed so seriously, maybe one day we could've kept this kind of relationship, all the way to marriage, proving that even something fake can be more real than the real thing."
"Living happily without love—that's Natsukawa Masuzu's dream."
Crossing the zebra crossing, Yuu still wore a faint smile. "I just went and denied it, tore it apart… It's no wonder she doesn't want to deal with me."
"Because I was the first to betray her and side with the camp of love."
There's a saying that those involved are confused, while onlookers see clearly.
But right now, Yuu could always see Masuzu's and others' feelings clearly. He knew where the problem lay and how to provide the answer.
After all, only by deeply understanding someone—their happiness, sadness, strengths, and weaknesses—and knowing why you're by their side can you love them wholeheartedly.
Know yourself and your enemy—how could you be confused?
"I see…"
Quietly staring at the softened side of his face, after Yuu finished speaking, Yuigahama lowered her head and gave a resigned smile. "It seems you really understand Natsukawa-san well… Hmm, I thought I could help you, but since you see this issue so clearly, if I meddle, I might just make things more complicated."
"When I need your help, I'll say so directly." Yuu pulled his hand from his jacket pocket, ruffled her hair, and smiled casually. "For now, let's just go with the flow. Everything will sort itself out sooner or later."
"Yeah, you're right."
Giggling shyly, Yuigahama didn't resist, letting her head sway slightly under his hand. "But this is surprising. I thought you'd say, 'I don't need your help; I can handle it myself.'"
She deliberately spoke in a deep voice. Yuu mimicked her, using a weary tone. "Because compared to before, your skills have grown to the point where I have to take you seriously."
"Ugh, such a smug tone!"
Yuigahama wrinkled her nose in disgust. But soon, she couldn't hold back a joyful smile.
"Really? I've actually improved… Compared to before, have I reached a level where I can stand on the same ground as you?"
Facing her earnest question, Yuu fell silent.
"Hmm… Honestly, you're still a bit short. But you're almost there! Keep it up, Yui!"
To be honest, Yuu wasn't good at sweet-talking or pleasing girls.
But to outsiders, all his actions seemed deliberate. He always did things that made people exasperated.
Her face immediately fell. Yuigahama elbowed him, hitting him with all her strength a few times to vent her frustration.
"Can't you make people happy for just a bit longer?! Idiot! Clueless!"
Before they knew it, the station was right in front of them.
The train cut through the cold winter wind, gliding calmly and steadily toward its final stop.