The purpose of this trip was to have a one-on-one talk with Yukino.
Yuu was going to have lunch at the cafeteria with Totsuka today. Upon learning this, Yuigahama declined Miura's invitation and left the classroom as soon as the break bell rang.
As for what to say, Yuigahama had already rehearsed her speech in her mind on the way.
"Yuu-kun deliberately answered the last question yesterday like that to make the match a tie!"
"You mentioned his reaction before the answers were revealed? That's because he once told me that after getting into a relationship, he might cheat, at least twice… But it's obviously just a joke, right? Who plans how many times they'll cheat before even dating?"
That was roughly her reasoning.
(Though it has plenty of flaws, and with Yukinon's intelligence, she might spot many inconsistencies, I can't explain it clearly myself. In this case, I have to rely on Yuu-kun himself. So, I need to explain to her first that Yuu-kun doesn't really intend to be unfaithful.)
(After clearing up the misunderstanding a bit, I'll slowly ease their relationship and give them a chance to talk openly and honestly.)
Though this cold war hadn't even lasted half a day—or if counting only face-to-face time, not even half an hour—seeing Yuu's demeanor yesterday, Yuigahama didn't want to delay any longer.
The Yuu she liked included the version of herself who smiled so happily when debating with Yukino.
Thus, Yuigahama quickened her pace, entering the special building. She steadied her breathing in front of the unmarked empty classroom, placed her hand on the door, and prepared for a fierce battle.
In the quiet corridor, she flashed her usual cheerful smile and opened the classroom door.
"Yahallo! Yukinon—Eh?"
The door wouldn't open.
Upon closer inspection, it seemed the lights inside weren't even on.
Her expression froze. Yuigahama stood awkwardly in place, her ears slowly turning red.
"Hahaha, I forgot. Yukinon doesn't always eat lunch here every day…"
(I prepared so much, but it was for nothing. So embarrassing…)
(Good thing no one knows. Let's head back!)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆ Yukinoshita Yukino
"I'm heading to the tennis club, Yuu. You go back to class first!"
"Alright, bye-bye, Totsuka."
After a rare lunch with Totsuka, they talked about a lot of trivial things that had happened recently.
After parting with the galaxy-level pretty boy in front of the cafeteria, Yuu didn't head straight back to class. He went to the shoe lockers, changed into his sneakers, and leisurely walked toward the sports field.
There were still about ten minutes before class started. The weather was nice today, so he decided to stroll around the campus to calm his mood, which hadn't exactly been bright lately.
Sometimes, without thinking about anything, letting his mind go blank amid familiar scenery, he might notice things he usually overlooked.
Like urban legends.
Honestly, Yuu really wanted to see if Hanako in the toilet could actually grow bigger and smaller as the stories claimed. Whether Mary who called was a blonde foreign girl. And how good Hachishaku-sama's figure was.
Unfortunately, it seemed such things didn't exist in this world.
Otherwise, with the system's style, he'd probably have been given self-protection skills like Exorcism (Expert Level) or Spiritual Power (Status) beforehand. So he wouldn't die to supernatural forces mid-mission.
If that happened, the novel's style would change… Defeating urban legends and making them disappear. Yuu didn't want to be on the wrong side.
…He said he'd empty his mind, yet he was still thinking about pointless things.
Yuu sighed. His footsteps stretched from the school building's entrance to the edge of the sports field.
As far as the eye could see, he and the sweating students playing ball or running were under the same blue sky.
Looking again, the curved signboard at the school gate shivered in the cold breeze. Then, it swayed and slowly fell.
…No, it was being taken down.
He walked closer and saw a group of people with Cultural Festival Committee armbands gathered in front of the school gate. Two male students stood on a ladder, removing the topmost curved part of the arch-shaped signboard that read: [Welcome! Sobu High School's XXth Festival!]
Each carried a heavy-looking wooden board and slowly descended the ladder.
"So it can be taken down…"
Yuu muttered softly. His steps paused slightly. He walked toward the long, straight-haired girl standing outside the crowd, clearly the leader.
"Careful. Don't rush, prioritize stability. If it breaks, we'll have to make a new one, and we don't have much time…"
"Don't just stand there watching. Check if the pillars below are damaged. Though this is for promotion, I'll communicate with the school about why the signboard was put up so quickly, getting exposed to wind and rain."
He heard the girl's clear, transparent voice from afar. Still as haughty and mercilessly commanding as ever.
Recalling that it seemed to have rained lightly last night, Yuu looked at Yukino. For the first time, he observed her seriously and carefully from head to toe.
Standing upright there. Her slightly pointed chin tilted up. Yukino gazed attentively at the top of the school gate.
Her black hair, like graphite powder, fluttered in the breeze. Her stubborn, proud back always stood tall. Her slender, straight legs. Her short skirt revealed a small patch of snow-white skin. And her slim figure, though not curvy, still made people unconsciously pause to admire her.
Her expressionless, sweet side profile. The corners of her pink, moist lips slightly pursed. Her blue eyes, bold and bright like the sky, seemed to reflect a brilliant cold light from their depths.
Yuu admired her silently like that. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
This girl was like a cluster of crystals. Beautiful and transparent. Radiating a clear, cold light. So delicate and lovely. But also incredibly intimidating.
"Yukinoshita-san, is this good enough?"
"Yukinoshita-san, anything else we need to watch out for…"
"Yukinoshita-san, the left pillar has no issues…"
"I understand. Some of you pack up the equipment and take photos of the site. The rest…"
Facing the questions and reports coming from around her, Yukino remained calm and composed. She handled the signboard removal methodically, giving straightforward, polite instructions to everyone.
The aloof, cold demeanor seen by outsiders—its true nature had now been understood by Yuu.
Yukino never pretended to be aloof. Her heart was simply purer than her peers'.
She genuinely didn't care about things she wasn't interested in. She didn't entertain unnecessary thoughts or intend to go along with the mood or force herself to compromise.
And when dealing with people or things she truly cared about—like when she turned and found Yuu watching her with that mysterious, sweet smile on his face—the panic and helplessness she tried to hide in her eyes were like a killer whose identity was pointed out by a detective before she could prepare to turn herself in.
All those simple, pure, genuine reactions were caught by Yuu's eyes. The corners of his lips unconsciously lifted slightly. He felt an inexplicable sense of clarity, as if a storm had passed. A subtle warmth flowed in his heart.
After all, a girl this sweet, inside and out, was one of his few friends.
"You… why are you here?"
Tucking her hair behind her ear discreetly, Yukino averted her gaze to the ground and spoke as if nothing had happened.