He had changed, no longer like his old self.
Masuzu only knew that much.
As for why he was different and where exactly the differences lay, she couldn't answer at all. Every time she tried to think hard about it, her head would throb as if pricked by needles. In the end, she could only give up helplessly.
But if she didn't think about it, she felt like she was losing meaning and purpose in life. She would live in this world like a walking corpse, devoid of all strength.
Food tasted bland. Sleep eluded her at night. She was beyond saving…
While thinking this, Masuzu accidentally discovered that someone's presence could alleviate these symptoms.
Though he was just a male classmate she rarely spoke to, his shadow often appeared in her mind. Even if it was just a tasteless bowl of plain porridge, its warmth spread from her throat to her heart.
As long as Masuzu focused wholeheartedly on his affairs, the helplessness and emptiness would recede like the tide. It was as if she had found a new pillar, supporting her empty shell of a self.
This strange, unknown illness might require such an absurd remedy.
Thus, Masuzu began collecting information about him. She started writing about him in her notebook. She bought stacks of his photos from the press club—since they sold like hotcakes, the stock was abundant and constantly updated.
She was like an idol fan. She even forgot to review JOJO daily. She only looked at his photos every day, imagining scenes of talking and interacting with him.
Of course, she had also "used" him multiple times in that way.
If she didn't always cry for no apparent reason afterward, Masuzu might have become addicted, using him three or four times a day, relying on this method of self-indulgence to fill the void in her heart.
That's why it's said that Masuzu was already ruined.
It was a logical conclusion.
As for the reason, perhaps she needed to ask the only man who could fill her emptiness.
Her gaze slowly drifted downward. Masuzu looked at her phone, face down. There was a sticker photo on the phone case.
Without any added effects, just herself, staring blankly at the camera.
"How foolish does someone have to be to take a sticker photo alone?"
Masuzu said coldly, as if mocking herself. She tore off the sticker, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash.
Then, she took a photo of herself walking by the sports field from the wall and lay on her bed.
Her silver hair was disheveled from being pressed down. Masuzu didn't care. She just stared at the photo with her small, empty face. As she stared, her thoughts began to drift. Her breathing quickened.
Holding the photo with one hand, her fingers moved. Her gaze gradually blurred…
"Hah… uh…"
A sorrowful yet satisfied breath. Painful yet immersed in pleasure. It all formed a melodious tune, like a flowing river.
The gem that once shone brightly was now tainted by murky filth. She had forgotten vibrant colors.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time passed quickly, and Sunday arrived. As promised, the Tenkuji household was bustling today.
At 8 AM, Yuu had already laid out all the ingredients and spices for the day on the kitchen table. He even bought a small folding table so multiple people could work.
Those using the ingredients or eating the results had to cover the costs—not because he was stingy and unwilling to spend money, but among the group, two girls refused to let him take advantage of them, no matter the reason.
Yukino needed no explanation. Kanade insisted on paying "tuition fees" as a gesture of gratitude.
As for Iroha and Yuigahama, the former acted as she pleased, considering herself the junior most cherished by her senior. The latter thought there was no need to keep score between them, and she could repay him in other ways.
Like making him a bento, for example.
Though he knew Yui had practiced cooking hard for his sake, considering he might cook better than her even using his feet, Yuu happily took Yukino's suggestion to have everyone split the costs of the "Tenkuji Cooking Class" evenly this time.
"Mhm, this should do."
Clapping his hands, he left the kitchen satisfied. Yuu glanced at the time on his phone and headed to the entrance.
As he turned, he saw the silver-haired girl hiding on the second-floor staircase, hugging a bunny plushie and peeking down.
"Sora, are you just going to watch from there?"
Glancing at his smile, Sora said expressionlessly, "After I see what your 'juniors' and 'friends' are like, I'll go back to my room."
"How about coming down and greeting them with me?"
"No way. Greeting people is a hassle."
After speaking flatly, Sora suddenly waved her hand. A small cat slowly emerged from the shadows behind her.
The cat walked upright, head held high, full of knightly vigor.
Patting its head, Sora ordered with a serious face, "Yukinon, guard the downstairs well. If anyone tries to come up, take them out with a Noble Phantasm."
The cat's tail shot up: "Meow! (Yes, Princess! But where do I get a Noble Phantasm?)"
"Good, go." Sora nodded, satisfied. Of course, she didn't understand what the cat said.
Yukinon leaped down gracefully, sitting upright on the stairs like an Anubis statue, guarding the entrance.
Yuu massaged his forehead helplessly. Too lazy to deal with his sister and her cat, he confirmed the time was near and walked to the front door alone.
At 8:50 AM, he opened the front door, greeting the chilly late-November breeze outside and the beautiful black-haired girl wrapped up tightly, looking very cold.
"Good morning. You really came ten minutes early."
Yukino started. Her steps paused. She blinked with clear, bright eyes like ice crystals.
Her frozen, reddened fingers emerged from the pocket where she kept her phone. She pulled her scarf over her mouth and nose, her soft voice sounding like a sigh.
"Good morning… Isn't arriving ten minutes early common etiquette for appointments?"
Yuu shrugged regretfully: "When you're the only one doing it, you're the most special."
Yukino replied as if stating a fact: "Even if I didn't do that, I'd still be the most special."
Yuu rolled his eyes in amusement. He stepped aside, opening the door, bowing, and raising his hand in mock politeness.
"Very well, the ever-confident Yukinoshita, shivering from the cold, welcome to my humble abode."
"I'm not shivering from the cold." Yukino glared at his exaggerated antics but received only a relaxed smile, as if soothing a child.
Clicking her tongue softly behind her scarf, Yukino averted her gaze. She tucked her hair behind her ear. With a calm expression and natural movements, she passed him and stepped into the warm house.
Upon entering, her gaze was immediately drawn to the small gray cat crouched on the stairs, still as a statue.
"T-this, this is…" Yukino instinctively held her breath, deliberately lowering her voice as if afraid to disturb the cat in front of her.
Yuu closed the door, nodding behind her.
"My cat, Yukinon…"
Without turning, Yukino swiftly kicked his shin, letting her long hair cover her slightly reddened ears again.