True courage is facing life head-on, no matter how embarrassing it gets. Realizing there was no escape, Kanade mustered all his composure, maintaining a façade of nonchalance as he handed over the stack of books in his arms.
The logic was simple: If I don't feel awkward, then the awkwardness belongs to someone else.
He clung to this self-deception, even crafting excuses in his head—"I'm buying them for a friend" or "it was an impulsive decision." Of course, he knew these were flimsy lies. Instead, he steeled himself to embrace the truth: Yes, these are for me. Judge if you dare!
But his bravado crumbled when Yukinoshita Yukino glanced up at him, her cool eyes flickering over the titles for a split second before meeting his.
Her reaction was subtle. A single flicker of disdain crossed her gaze before it returned to indifference. It was quick, almost imperceptible, yet unmistakable to someone as attuned to her expressions as Kanade was.
She didn't say a word. It was as if the contents of his purchase—and his reasons for buying them—were utterly irrelevant to her.
But that flash of disdain… Kanade couldn't shake the feeling that she had silently judged him.
He couldn't exactly accuse her outright, though. Doing so would make him look insecure—like the delinquent from earlier who had demanded to know if Yukino was looking down on him. Besides, that would only make him appear guiltier.
The next few minutes were agonizing. Kanade waited near the store's entrance for Yukino to finish her shift, his nerves fraying with every passing moment. Passersby occasionally glanced at him, then at Yukino, their curious stares only adding to his discomfort.
Do they think I'm standing here as punishment? he wondered.
Thankfully, Yukino hadn't lied about her shift ending soon. After what felt like an eternity, a friendly-looking man emerged from the back of the store. He wore a warm smile as he approached Yukino.
"Yukinoshita-san, you're done for today. Thanks for all your hard work," the man said—evidently, the store manager.
"Thank you, sir," Yukino replied politely, offering a slight bow. Her respectful demeanor was immaculate.
Kanade, standing nearby, couldn't help but feel tense as the manager's eyes landed on him.
The man's smile widened, clearly mistaking Kanade for a regular customer. "Can I help you with anything, young man?"
Kanade hesitated, unsure how to explain that he was waiting for Yukino without causing unnecessary misunderstandings.
"He's waiting for me to finish," Yukino interjected smoothly. "He's… a friend, that's all."
"…A friend, that's all?" Kanade thought, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes.
The manager, however, seemed to take it in stride. His smile turned knowing. "Ah, I see. A friend, huh? Makes sense… You youngsters have your own way of doing things. Ah, youth…"
Kanade couldn't help but chuckle, his earlier gloom momentarily dispelled by the manager's lighthearted comment.
Yukino, on the other hand, furrowed her brow slightly, clearly unimpressed. "I'll go change," she announced curtly before disappearing into the back room.
Once she was gone, the manager turned to Kanade with an almost conspiratorial grin.
"So, young man, what's your name?"
"Kanade Natsukawa," he replied politely.
"Ah, Kanade-kun," the manager said, nodding thoughtfully. "Tell me, how long have you known Yukinoshita-san?"
Kanade tensed slightly. The manager's outward friendliness masked a clear intent to dig for gossip.
"Well, I suppose we've known each other for quite a while," Kanade said cautiously.
"And you're classmates, right? How did you two meet?"
Kanade resisted the urge to sigh. The manager's curiosity was relentless. He decided to give an honest answer, albeit a vague one.
"We go to the same school, but we're not in the same class," he explained. "As for how we met… Well, I guess it's because Yukinoshita-san is so charming."
The manager raised an eyebrow, his interest clearly piqued.
Kanade continued, "At first, it was her looks that caught my attention. But after getting to know her, I realized she's just as impressive on the inside. She's smart, talented, and—despite her prickly exterior—actually a kind person deep down."
He spoke with conviction, drawing on his personal experiences with Yukino.
The manager nodded sagely. "Yukinoshita-san is certainly something special. Since she started working here, our sales have noticeably improved. Some customers even come here just to see her. They'll buy random books they don't need, just to have an excuse to interact with her."
Kanade wasn't surprised. Yukino's combination of beauty, intelligence, and elegance made her an undeniable draw.
Still, the thought of strangers ogling her left a sour taste in his mouth.
He decided not to dwell on it. After all, Yukino was more than capable of handling herself.
"She's incredibly smart, you know. Picks things up quickly. Within a few days, she was managing the job all on her own, saving me a ton of effort. Honestly, sometimes I wonder if having someone as capable as Yukinoshita-san here is a bit of a waste," the store manager said, his tone a mix of admiration and self-deprecation.
"The only problem," he continued, "is that she doesn't seem suited to customer service. It's hard for her to smile naturally. But then again, some people seem to like that aloofness. In fact, as I mentioned earlier, we have customers who come by just to see her—even ones who don't actually like books. It's a strange phenomenon."
The manager glanced at Kanade, his expression subtly teasing.
Kanade couldn't help but feel that he'd just been lightly mocked.
"Honestly, she's become something of a mascot for our store. I never realized how much attention someone could attract just by being beautiful," the manager mused, a mix of gratitude and envy in his voice.
Kanade nodded along politely, though inwardly he was counting the seconds until Yukino returned. The manager was friendly enough, but his endless chatter was exhausting. If Yukino didn't come back soon, Kanade feared they'd be discussing life philosophies or swapping family recipes next.
"And you know, I'm really grateful to Yukinoshita-san," the manager added, his tone turning serious. "She's brought a bit of life back into this dreary old shop. That's why I wanted to talk to you—I needed to make sure you're not some punk trying to take advantage of her."
Kanade blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in tone.
"But now that I've spoken to you, I can tell you're a good kid," the manager concluded. "Not many people would sit through my rambling like you did."
Kanade forced a sheepish smile. It's not like I had much of a choice…
"There are plenty of bad people out there, you know. Here in the store, I can keep an eye on things, but outside… Well, that's beyond my control," the manager said, his gaze sharpening. "But since she has a 'friend' like you, I feel a bit more at ease. You'll protect Yukinoshita-san, won't you?"
Kanade felt a surge of resolve. Yukino had always brushed off her troubles, but the manager's words hinted at a more persistent issue. It was no secret that Yukino had faced bullying in the past—her grace and intelligence had often made her a target. It seemed that even now, the world's cruelty hadn't let up.
"I understand," Kanade replied earnestly. "I promise, I'll always protect Yukinoshita-san. You have my word."
Even without the manager's request, this had always been his intention. He had once vowed to save Yukino, to be there for her until she no longer needed him.
"Of course, I'll leave it to you to watch over her while she's here at work. She can be… a little clumsy at times," Kanade added, his words trailing off as his peripheral vision caught a familiar figure approaching.
It was Yukinoshita Yukino, now dressed in casual clothing.
Kanade rarely saw her out of her uniform, and her casual attire today—simple yet elegant—was a sight to behold. She wore a light, comfortable jacket over a neat blouse, paired with a black-and-white striped skirt that wasn't much different from the ones they wore at school. It was a modest outfit, yet it only accentuated her natural beauty, lending her an air of unapproachable elegance.
Kanade couldn't help but think: She really is stunning.
Just as he was about to compliment her, he froze, remembering his earlier comment about her occasional clumsiness.
Oh no. She heard that, didn't she?
Desperate to salvage the situation, Kanade blurted out, "Uh… How much of that did you hear?"
Yukino glanced at him, her gaze unreadable. Without answering, she turned to the manager.
"Thank you for today. I'll be heading home now," she said politely.
Kanade's heart sank.
Yup. She definitely heard.
As Yukino prepared to leave, Kanade scrambled to follow her, silently dreading the fallout of his slip-up.