At the gate of Sobu High School, a large bus was already parked.
Though it was still early, many students who usually arrived early walked to school, casting envious glances at the kendo club members in their sports uniforms. One of the privileges of competing in the national championships was skipping school for two days. Combined with the weekend, they had four consecutive days off, plus a school-funded trip to Kyoto. This made others unable to suppress their envy.
Especially other sports clubs, whose strength wasn't enough to qualify for nationals, they couldn't enjoy such perks. They could only offer cheers and encouragement as they passed by. Then, during their own club activities, they'd work hard to become the ones envied.
Yuu and Yuigahama weren't shy at all. They walked to the school gate while chatting, heading toward the bus.
They arrived about twenty minutes earlier than the scheduled time. The Service Club only had the two of them, but most of the kendo club members were already there. This showed how excited, hopeful, and eager they were for the championship. Everyone's faces displayed restless anticipation. Some even took out their bamboo swords and started practicing basic moves.
Yuigahama looked around. Not being very familiar with the kendo club members, she didn't greet them. She just stood beside Yuu, slightly surprised, and said, "This is the first time we've arrived earlier than Yukinon. Whenever we go to the club, Yukinon's always the first one there."
"She's the club president, after all. If she doesn't come early, who'll open the door?" Answering casually, Yuu raised a hand to greet the kendo club president.
When his gaze met other kendo club members, he shrugged as they bowed respectfully.
It seemed they had high expectations for him…
"That's not the point." Yuigahama blinked her round eyes. She said enthusiastically, "I mean, if we beat her to the clubroom next time and ambush her, would Yukinon be shocked?"
"That's a pointless move. If you want to, do it yourself." Yuu rolled his eyes, clearly uninterested in surprising Yukino.
He checked the time. "She'll probably show up in ten minutes. She's got obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Logically, as long as there's no trouble on the way, she'll arrive exactly ten minutes before the set time."
"Ohh, that's totally Yukino's style." Yuigahama nodded in understanding, then smiled at Yuu teasingly. "Is this what they call 'knowing your enemy best'? You're always arguing with her, but you know her so well. You two have a great relationship~"
"You have to know yourself and your enemy to win. It's got nothing to do with having a good relationship." Completely unfazed, Yuu said casually, "And Yukinoshita's too straightforward. As long as you're a bit smarter than her, you can see right through her. It's not just me; others could do the same."
"If Yukinon heard that, she'd definitely argue with you again… Though you call it arguing, it looks more like bickering." Yuigahama gave a wry smile. "And I don't think anyone else could outdo Yukinon in everything like you do, Yuu-kun."
"Oh, really?" Yuu's expression turned slightly odd. He couldn't help grumbling inwardly.
(That's because you've never seen Haruno-san when she's serious.)
(When she teases her little sister, she doesn't just beat Yukino—she toys with her in the palm of her hand. I can't match her in that.)
As these thoughts crossed his mind, a red sports car suddenly roared into the school gate with a deafening screech of brakes. After a cool drift and parking maneuver, it stopped precisely in the teacher's parking spot.
The engine cut off, and a beautiful woman… no, correction. The JUMP-style boxing teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, stepped out of the car.
"Yo, you guys are here early."
She tossed the cigarette in her mouth to the ground, stomped it out, then picked up the extinguished butt and slipped it into the pocket of her white blazer. She waved at them casually. She still looked more like a gang boss than a teacher.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, good morning! Are you coming to Kyoto too?" Unlike Yuu, Yuigahama greeted obediently, then asked with a hint of hope.
Hiratsuka spread her arms. "I'd love to, but I've got classes to teach… Have fun there. When you're back, bring me some Kyoto souvenirs."
She looked at Yuu, gave his shoulder a firm pat, and grinned brightly.
"Come on, kid! If you can help the kendo club win the national championship, I'll treat you to ramen!"
"Can you get prize money too?" Enduring her bear-like pat without changing expression, Yuu asked, puzzled.
"Of course. I've reported your participation as an external member of the kendo club as a Service Club activity." Hiratsuka spoke as if she were one of them. She puffed out her full, mature chest proudly. "Thanks to that, Yuigahama and the others can join with club funding… That's right, thank my brilliance!"
Yuu suddenly understood.
Though she couldn't go, as a cunning adult, Hiratsuka wouldn't let herself lose out. She'd naturally used her authority again to benefit herself and the entire Service Club.
"Hiratsuka-sensei is amazing!" Yuigahama, the biggest beneficiary, clapped and admired her sincerely.
For something that didn't harm him and helped his friends, Yuu had no objections. He let her boast, even using the excuse of encouragement to keep patting his increasingly steel-like muscles.
Realizing his body was getting tougher, Hiratsuka turned and entered the school building with an oddly regretful expression.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After chatting with the teacher for about ten minutes, Yuu and Yuigahama exchanged glances and turned to the school gate simultaneously.
Soon after, like a white plum blossom swaying in the snow, a girl with black hair approached in thick winter clothing. She looked elegant and simple.
"Good morning." Her pale face was hidden in her scarf. Her melodious voice sounded slightly muffled, but her sky-blue eyes remained bright and sharp.
Yukino glanced at Yuigahama and raised an eyebrow lightly. "Rare to see you two here so early."
"Hehehe~" Yuigahama knew she was mainly teasing her. She smiled shyly, then stepped forward and hugged her arm affectionately. "I'm going to Kyoto with Yukinon! It's my first time traveling far with friends. Of course I'm excited and wanted to leave early~"
"Are you an elementary schooler on a field trip? Were you too excited to sleep last night?" Yukino sighed resignedly. She swayed slightly, looking like a tourist hugged by a mascot.
But since it felt warm enough, she didn't resist at all. She let herself sink into Yuigahama's soft embrace, then shifted her gaze, looking at the kendo club members near the bus as if nothing happened.
"Is everyone here?"
"No, one more."
They both almost instantly knew who Yuu meant.
Yukino glanced at him. Her calm eyes said nothing. Yuigahama spoke in a low, worried voice:
"If Natsukawa-san decides not to come…"
"I'll call her." Yuu pulled out his phone. The thought of using his [I See You] ability to peek at what Masuzu was doing crossed his mind.
But before he could, as if the saying "speak of the devil and she appears" came true, Masuzu showed up at the school gate, not even a minute after Yukino.
Her shimmering silver hair swayed listlessly behind her. She walked slowly and said to them in a hoarse, weak voice:
"Morning. I'm not late."
"No, you're not late…" Yukino paused, her tone slightly odd. "No wonder I felt someone following me on the way. It was you?"
"Sorry, I'm not used to going to school with others. I didn't expect to run into you on the way."
Masuzu explained casually. She pulled up her mask. Her sapphire eyes, usually cunning and bright, lacked their usual spark, only squinting slightly to hide it. "Can we board the bus yet? I've got a bit of a cold and want to rest."
"A cold? Are you okay, Natsukawa-san…" Yuigahama looked at her worriedly.
Masuzu shook her head. She stood silently, letting her silver hair cover half her face.
Her slender body under her coat was slightly hunched. Her skin, visible above the mask, was as white as snow. She looked so frail, as if a strong gust could knock her over.
Among everyone there, only Yuu felt puzzled. How could Masuzu, who'd taken the Life Potion, catch a cold so easily?
Even Sora, who'd been sickly, had recovered. It wasn't much different from white blood cells losing to red ones.
Without hesitation, Yuu stepped forward and brushed the hair from Masuzu's forehead. His warm palm pressed against her cold, smooth forehead.
Masuzu froze instantly. She widened her eyes, staring at him in disbelief. As if his hand had seized control of her body, she stayed still, letting him transfer burning warmth.
"Hmph… I see." Yuu muttered thoughtfully, as if understanding something. He withdrew his hand.
"Then rest well and don't push yourself. Sleep soundly when we reach the inn, and only go out to have fun when you feel better."
He smiled and casually patted her hair, as he often did.
"Mm~" As if captivated by his gentle voice, Masuzu nodded obediently, her eyes filled with dependence and a sense of security.
When her senses returned, she shuddered. She stepped back two paces warily, slightly panting, like a priestess nearly tempted by a demon into an abyss.
"You, what are you doing?"
"What am I doing? Isn't it normal for a boyfriend to do this?" Yuu asked back innocently.
Masuzu fell silent. Though she wore a mask, he could guess her emotions from her tone and eyes.
"Normal… Haven't you noticed how I've been treating you lately?"
"I've noticed, and honestly, I'm a bit hurt. This is the first time we've talked since that day."
Even so, Yuu said casually, "But we haven't broken up. As long as we're still together, you're my girlfriend. This relationship won't change for now—no matter what you think, for me, that's how it is, just like this."
"…"
After a brief silence, Masuzu coldly turned her face away, as if unwilling to say more. "Do whatever you want… Until I can sort out my feelings, I hope you won't keep bothering me. I also don't want to spread my cold to others."
Her attitude made Yuu feel like a man chasing a goddess who only saw him as a tool.
Sorting out feelings for over a week and still not done? Not to mention the cold—it was just a convenient excuse to wear a mask and avoid him.
Yuu knew all this, but he didn't voice it.
That didn't mean he wasn't angry at being ignored, avoided, and rejected by her.
As petty revenge, Yuu used [I Predict Your Move] on her.
Since gaining this ability, aside from testing it on Sora, he'd only used it once on Sugou. During the autumn presentation, he predicted Sugou's intent to escape and waited in the car to trap him—
After that, he forgot about the ability.
As long as he closely observed a girl's thoughts, he didn't need mind-reading, let alone this downgraded version—desire detection—that only read the strongest thought at the moment. The old Yuu never thought he'd need it. He also felt it was disrespectful, so it went unused for over a month.
He used it now just to know what Masuzu, cold and distant on the surface, wanted most—if his guess was right, it was probably the same thing.
Picturing Masuzu's face in his mind, the system promptly gave a hint:
(I really want to cling to Yuu-kun, I really want to cling, really want to cling, I don't care even if I get pregnant, I'll cling to him until I die, ooooh aaaaaaaaah—)
Indeed, this was Masuzu's strongest thought, even as she acted cold and turned away, not even looking at him…
What a mind-breaking thought! Yuu could barely recognize the word "cling" anymore.
"This woman really hasn't changed one bit…"
He shook his head resignedly but couldn't suppress a smile. For some reason, his heart calmed. The warmth dispelled the lingering gloom in his chest.
Though she avoided and refused to face him, Masuzu's feelings for him hadn't diminished at all. She just needed an answer to convince herself—for Yuu, knowing this was enough.
The person he loved also loved him. Humans are simple creatures who can be satisfied with that. He was no exception.
Precisely because of this, he had to write an ending for Masuzu's fairytale that was no longer confusing.
As he thought this, the system gave another poorly timed hint:
[Would you like to use the ability? Once used, the host will uncontrollably cling to the target until…]
(Enough, don't continue. Just say you want me to die socially. I'd have to be crazy to agree.)
With a twitching mouth, Yuu shut off the system.
At that moment, the kendo club members called for them to board.