That night, after yet another day of whispers and unwanted pairings, Yu finally broke.
In their apartment, the weight of it pressed down, crushing. He pressed his face into his pillow to muffle the sobs, his sprained wrist aching as he curled in on himself, his ankle slightly stung.
He didn't even hear Taichi come in until warm hands gently tugged the pillow away.
"Yu."
Taichi's voice was soft, but steady.
"Hey. Look at me."
Yu's eyes were red, his lips trembling.
"I didn't… I didn't want this, Taichi. Everyone keeps saying things, making it like I'm—like I'm in some kind of stupid story with him. But it's not true. It's not—"
His voice cracked.
"I only want you. Just you. Isn't that enough?"
For a moment, Taichi looked struck dumb. Then he cupped Yu's cheek with his calloused palm, thumb brushing the tear tracks. His own eyes glistened.
"Yu… you don't know what it does to me when you say things like that."
His voice was low, rough.
"You're more than enough. You're everything. And I don't care what they say, or what they try to make you out to be. As long as you look at me like this… I'll never let go."
Yu's tears spilled again, but this time they were warm. He leaned forward, burying himself against Taichi's chest, clutching at his shirt.
"I like you. I like you so much, Taichi."
[DING! Congratulations, Host. The Love-o-meter has reached 50%. Host is now permitted to act out of character. You now have the option to leave the world or continue until it reaches 100%, just let me know when you wish to leave and we will. For now, you may continue.]
Taichi held him tight, his breath unsteady but his embrace unyielding.
"Me too, Yu. More than I know how to say."
For a long, quiet moment, the world's noise faded away. No rumors, no prince, no beast. Just Yu and Taichi, clinging to each other in their own small universe.
---
The peace didn't last long however. At school, the hallway was buzzing like a festival. Students pressed in around the newly posted midterm results, voices rising in a chorus of surprise, groans, and bragging.
"Whoa, Taichi Arifukua? Fifth place?!"
"No way—wasn't he always scraping the bottom?"
"Top five… from third from the bottom?!"
Taichi scratched the back of his neck, trying to look unfazed, but Yu could see the faint pink flush at the tips of his ears.
Yu's heart swelled as he read the name himself.
'Fifth. He really did it.'
The teacher even clapped in delight.
"Incredible! This is the kind of hard work and perseverance we want to see! Everyone, let this be an example—effort pays off!"
But not everyone was applauding.
At the back of the crowd, a sharp voice cut through the cheer:
"Or maybe… he just cheated."
The buzz hushed instantly. Whispers flared like sparks. The student, arms crossed, faced forward with a smug certainty.
"There's no way someone like him could jump that high in rankings. It's impossible."
The words spread fast—by lunch, they reached the ears of the student council.
---
When Taichi was called into the office, he entered with his usual swagger—but his jaw was tight. Behind the desk, Isuke Sasaki sat, hands folded like a prince at court.
"Arifukua."
Isuke began, calm but pointed.
"We've received… concerns about your sudden rise in class ranking."
Taichi's nostrils flared.
"So what, you're saying I cheated too?"
Isuke's expression didn't shift, but the silence was heavy enough to be an answer.
"It's my responsibility as student council president to ensure fairness. If you have an explanation, we'll hear it."
Taichi slammed a hand on the desk, leaning forward, eyes blazing.
"Yeah, I've got an explanation. I studied. With Yu. Every day. Every night. He's the one who helped me. That's how I pulled my grades up."
Isuke's composed mask cracked for a heartbeat.
'Yu…?'
The murmurs from the council members around the room stirred, curious.
"Then let's call him in."
Isuke said finally, his tone sharpening like a knife.
When Yu entered the office, his chest felt tight. He'd never been called in like this before. He spotted Taichi first, standing stiffly, looking furious but strangely proud. Then his eyes met Isuke's across the table, and his stomach dropped.
"Yu…-chan."
Isuke said smoothly.
"Is it true? That you've been… tutoring Arifukua?"
Yu's cheeks heated under the weight of every gaze. His sprained wrist still ached faintly, but his voice was steady as he nodded.
"Y-Yes. We study together every day. Taichi worked hard. Really hard. He didn't cheat."
The conviction in Yu's tone made the murmurs quiet. Taichi glanced sideways at him, expression softening despite the tension.
Isuke's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, unreadable.
"…I see."
The meeting ended with Taichi cleared of suspicion, but the damage was done:
The rumor had already spread through the school, twisting into new shapes—some jealous, some impressed, some romantic.
By the time they left the office, students were already whispering:
"Yu helped him climb to the top? That's so cute!"
"They're like… the perfect pair."
"Ugh, Sasaki must be fuming—his princess really belongs to Arifukua, huh?"
---
Isuke watched Yu and Taichi leave the council office together, Yu's soft voice still echoing in his head.
'He studied with Yu. Yu's the reason he's standing taller now.'
Something bitter twisted in his chest. Everyone around him was chattering about Arifukua's miraculous leap into the top five, but all Isuke could think about was the image of Yu, earnestly defending him, eyes bright with trust.
That trust wasn't his.
Isuke's hand curled into a fist under the desk.
'If Arifukua thinks he can just steal first place in Yu's heart with brute effort, he's wrong. I'll prove it. I'll show Yu that Arifukua doesn't deserve him.'
The decision settled coldly, dangerously, in his chest.
---
Outside the office, Taichi let out a heavy breath as if he'd been holding it the whole time. Yu tugged his sleeve softly.
"See? It's fine now."
Yu said, smiling gently.
"They know you didn't cheat."
Taichi gave a little snort.
"Tch, like I needed anyone to tell me I worked my ass off. But…"
He turned his head, just enough to look down at Yu.
"Thanks for standing up for me. You always do."
Yu's cheeks warmed. He shook his head, mumbling,
"You don't need to thank me. You earned it. I'm… I'm really proud of you."
For once, Taichi was speechless.
But as the murmurs in the hallway shifted, the board still loomed over them. The name Yuiko Hokohayashi at the very top: Rank 1. Untouchable.
Everyone forgot it. No one whispered it. But for Taichi, the only thing that mattered was the shy sparkle in Yu's eyes as he looked up at him.
"We should celebrate!"
Yu said suddenly, voice brightening.
"With everyone. Karaoke, shopping… maybe this weekend?"
Taichi grinned, all teeth, tugging him closer by the hand.
"Damn right we will. I'll make sure it's perfect."
---
After school had ended for the day, Taichi waited outside the classroom while Yu ducked back in to grab his bag and assignments. He leaned against the wall, hands shoved in his pockets, humming faintly to himself.
That was when a classmate strolled up, smirking.
"So it's true? You really cheated your way up the ranks?"
Taichi stiffened.
"…What'd you just say?"
The boy shrugged.
"Come on, man. Just tell me how you did it. I wanna copy for the next test. What's your trick? Tiny notes? Phone in your pocket?"
The heat in Taichi's chest spiked. His hand shot out, grabbing the boy's collar and yanking him forward.
"Say that again, bastard. I dare you—"
"Taichi!"
The sharp voice froze him. He turned, wide-eyed, to see Yu standing in the doorway, bag clutched in his good hand, eyes worried.
"Are you fighting!? You know how I feel about violence—it's scary!"
Instant panic shot through Taichi. He immediately released the boy, hands up like he'd been caught red-handed.
"No, baby! Really, I wasn't fighting! He—he just tripped, and I was helping him up! Truly!"
Yu narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"…Really?"
Taichi whipped around to glare at the boy. The death glare did its work; trembling, the boy nodded frantically.
"Y-Yeah, true! Just a misunderstanding!"
He bolted down the hall, leaving the two of them alone.
Yu's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"That's good… I don't like bullying."
The guilt hit Taichi square in the gut. His fists curled, but this time not in anger.
"…Sorry. For what I did before. For… everything."
Yu blinked at him, then softened. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around him in a small, warm hug.
"It's okay. I'm just glad you don't do it anymore. I'm happy now."
Something cracked open in Taichi's chest at those words. He hugged back tightly, pressing his face into Yu's hair.
"Damn it… you're gonna kill me like this."
The Love-o-Meter flickered.
50-50…
Still unmoved. Still stubborn.
But Yu didn't care. For now, words alone were enough.
---
By the next morning, the story had spread like wildfire.
The Beast was accused of cheating.
Princess Yu defended him.
The council president himself had to clear it.
Whispers buzzed through the corridors, bouncing from group to group. By lunch, the narrative had already shifted.
"Did you hear? Princess Yu spoke up for him!"
"Again? That's like, what? The third time, right?"
"It's basically canon now. The Beast already has her heart."
"Way more interesting than the tired prince-princess trope, honestly."
The words carried an almost gleeful energy, like the school had discovered a new drama to obsess over. The triangle wasn't gone—it was being rewritten.
Yu, head low as he carried his bento to the table, could feel the eyes. The smiles. The little squeals from girls in the hallway. He tried not to tremble, but his chopsticks slipped as soon as he sat down.
"Don't worry about it."
Taichi's voice rumbled quietly from beside him, grounding him. He plucked the fallen chopsticks from Yu's hand and replaced them with his own spare pair.
"They can say whatever they want. I don't care. You're mine and I'm yours, no matter who says what."
Yu flushed crimson. He wanted to say something back—but the loud gasp from Fumiko Fujimori and Sakura Sato at the next table shut him up.
"Did you hear that!?"
Sakura squealed.
"Eeeh, so bold!"
Fumiko clapped her hands.
Souma Satou and Yamato Yamada, slumped across the table, exchanged a look.
"…Guess we're background characters now, huh?"
---
Saturday arrived like a promise.
The group met up outside the station, everyone buzzing with post-midterm relief.
Taichi stood tall, a bag already slung over his shoulder, ready to carry more. He immediately took Yu's hand in his, ignoring the squeals from passersby.
"Let's go. Whatever you want, I'll get it for you."
Yu hesitated, then his eyes lit up when they passed by a shop window—sweets, keychains, fabric swatches. One by one, items piled into Taichi's arms without complaint.
Meanwhile, Fumiko and Sakura skipped happily down the street, barking orders at Souma and Yamato.
"Hold this bag!"
"No, this one's heavier, you take it!"
"Don't complain, this is your job as our escorts!"
The boys groaned, laden with shopping bags, while the girls chattered about which songs they'd sing first.
By the time they hit the karaoke box, Yu's arms were empty, Taichi stacked with bags like a loyal mule—but proud as ever.
Inside, the room filled with noise and color. Souma and Yamato's off-key duet sent everyone howling. Fumiko and Sakura stole the mics for dramatic idol impressions.
And Yu—soft-voiced, hesitant at first—lit the room when he sang.
"Encore!"
"One more!"
"Sing again, Yu-chan!"
Every time he tried to pass the mic away, it came back to him, the requests piling up until his cheeks hurt from smiling.
Taichi sat back, watching, utterly transfixed. The glow of Yu's voice, the way he held the mic timidly but sang from his heart—it was too much. He didn't even care about his own turn.
Yu glanced at him mid-chorus, eyes shining. And Taichi swore, right then, that if Yu wanted the whole world, he'd carry it for him.
By the time they spilled out of the karaoke box, voices were hoarse and laughter clung to the night air. Souma and Yamato staggered like they'd run a marathon, groaning about how heavy all the bags still were. Fumiko and Sakura bounced ahead, still energized, debating which idol group's song Yu had to try next time.
Yu himself looked dazed, cheeks glowing pink from all the encores and praise. Taichi carried the lion's share of the bags without a word of complaint, his other hand claimed firmly around Yu's.
The others peeled off one by one at the corner, tossing casual waves and promises to meet up again soon. That left only Yu and Taichi walking the quieter stretch back to their apartment complex.
The night was still, the air cool and soft. Their shadows stretched long beneath the streetlights.
Yu peeked up at Taichi, fingers curling tighter around his.
"…You really carried everything for me today."
Taichi glanced down, a faint grin tugging his lips.
"I told you, didn't I? Whatever you want, I'll handle it."
"That's… unfair."
Yu's voice was small but earnest.
"You're too kind to me, Taichi. I—I don't know what to do in return."
"You already do more than enough."
Taichi stopped walking for a moment, tugging Yu gently to a halt beneath the pale glow of a lamp. He turned, eyes warm, voice low.
"…Just being here with me. That's all I want."
Yu's chest tightened. He ducked his head, embarrassed, but his hand squeezed Taichi's back with all the strength he could muster.
For a beat, neither moved. Then Taichi chuckled softly, resuming their walk, but slower this time—savoring every step with Yu by his side.
By the time they reached the familiar outline of their apartment complex, Yu was smiling faintly, the lingering stress of exams and rumors pushed far from his mind.
And Taichi, holding Yu's hand under the quiet night sky, thought with a fierce, steady certainty—
'No matter what this world throws at us, I'll keep him right here beside me.'
---
The first light of day filtered through thin curtains, catching on the steam rising from the stove. Yu, hair tied back messily with a ribbon, leaned over the counter with focused intensity. His sprained ankle and wrist had healed completely now, and with it came the stubborn desire to prove just how much better he'd gotten.
The frying pan sizzled, the rice cooker hummed, and plates already lined the counter—dishes so neatly arranged they practically glittered with cuteness. Tiny rolls shaped like bears, egg sheets folded into little blossoms, carrots carved into stars. It was enough to make any Instagram follower squeal, and Yu's anonymous account had been blowing up with comments demanding tutorials.
Behind him, the sound of shuffling steps and a yawn.
"…You're at it again, princess."
Yu flushed, flustered even though it wasn't new.
"I—I just thought breakfast should be cute today! Don't say it like that!"
Taichi padded over, leaning against the counter, watching Yu's every careful move with soft eyes.
"Cute, huh? Guess that makes sense. It suits you."
"Dummy!"
Yu puffed his cheeks, but he smiled anyway, sliding the plate forward.
"Eat before it gets cold."
Taichi didn't hesitate. He sat down and dug in, murmuring between bites.
"Better than restaurants. Way better. Don't even need to go out anymore."
That made Yu glow. He ducked his head, fiddling with his apron strings.
"I still want to… learn more. Fancier things. Haruka-san's been helping me with sewing, but she said I should start knitting and crochet too. That way, by winter, I could—"
His voice grew small, shy.
"…I could make you something warm. Like gloves. Or a beanie."
Taichi froze mid-bite, chopsticks hovering in the air. His ears went red before the color sank down his neck.
"…You'd… make something like that. Just for me?"
Yu nodded, earnest.
"Mm. It'd take a lot of practice, but—yes."
The chair scraped suddenly as Taichi stood, rounding the table in two strides. He crouched low so he was eye level with Yu and gently pressed his forehead to Yu's.
"…You'll spoil me rotten if you keep this up."
Yu blinked, wide-eyed and flustered.
"…I-I want to."
Taichi shut his eyes, a quiet chuckle slipping out. He didn't say anything more, but the way his hand lingered against Yu's—warm, protective, unwilling to let go—spoke volumes.
---
At the Harmony Life Club, Yu stuck close to Haruka Minami. With her patient guidance, his stitches were straighter, his embroidery tighter, and his plating was practically magazine-ready. He even started jotting down patterns, imagining winter accessories stitched with care.
Haruka laughed softly as he showed her his notes.
"If you keep this up, Arifukua-san's going to be the best-dressed boy at school this winter."
Yu blushed and tucked the notebook away quickly.
And every time the bell rang to signal the end of club activities, like clockwork, Taichi was there at the door—bag slung over his shoulder, still faintly sweaty from basketball, but grinning like Yu was the only person in the world.
"Ready to go?"
He'd ask, holding out a towel and water bottle like the roles had reversed.
Yu always nodded, flustered but happy, slipping into step beside him.
And no matter how Isuke Sasaki lingered nearby, searching for an opening, he never found one. Taichi's shadow blocked every attempt, his presence steady and absolute.
For now, life was a careful rhythm of classes, clubs, and hand-in-hand walks home. A fragile peace, almost too good to last.
---
The cicadas had already started their endless song outside the open classroom windows, heralding the start of summer. The first term was almost over, but the shadow of final exams loomed over everyone like a thundercloud.
In every corner of the classroom, groups huddled together with textbooks, notebooks, and endless muttering. Sakura Sato clutched her head, wailing dramatically.
"Math is a curse! Who even uses logarithms in real life!?"
"Shhh, Sakura-chan!"
Fumiko Fujimori hissed, frantically scribbling notes.
"Don't distract me—I have to pass this time!"
Souma Satou sighed, pushing his fake glasses up as he tried to explain a history timeline to Yamato Yamada, who was already dozing off against the desk.
Meanwhile, Taichi lounged back with his hands behind his head, eyes half-lidded. A single glance at a textbook page was enough to imprint the information in his mind forever. It was infuriating—at least, to everyone else.
"You're not even trying, Taichi Arifuku—!"
Sakura snapped at him.
"Don't need to."
Taichi replied lazily, smirking.
"Already memorized it."
Groans and complaints rose immediately.
"Unfair!"
"I'd kill for that ability!"
"Beast with a brain, that's not even legal!"
Only Yu didn't join in the chorus. He sat quietly at Taichi's side, his pencil moving gracefully across the page. Whenever he faltered or looked uncertain, Taichi leaned closer, tapping the right line in his notes or murmuring the answer under his breath.
At first, the others gawked.
"…Yu's really getting private tutoring, huh."
Souma muttered.
"Wrapped around her finger."
Fumiko whispered back, watching Taichi adjust Yu's grip on his pen.
Yu flushed red, pulling his notebook closer.
"I-It's not like that! He's just helping me review!"
Taichi grinned at that.
"You heard him. Only me."
That only earned more groans from the group.
---
Even with finals breathing down their necks, life didn't stop. The Harmony Life Club kept Yu busy, especially now that his wrist had healed fully. Between sewing practice and learning crochet from Haruka Minami, his projects were stacking up—each stitch more confident than the last. He'd even started experimenting with little knitted swatches at home, determined to master them before winter came.
On the other side, basketball practices were as grueling as ever. Taichi, already known for his raw power, had started improving his technique too—motivated, as everyone suspected, by the way Yu always waited for him outside the clubroom with a towel and water in hand.
Despite the stress of exams, the group still found little ways to support each other. Fumiko and Sakura often barged into Yu's room for group study, dragging Souma and Yamato along. More often than not, the night ended in chaos—Fumiko panicking over her notes, Sakura trying to copy Souma's, Yamato snoring on the floor, and Taichi patiently quizzing Yu on vocabulary while pretending the others didn't exist.
Through it all, Yu stayed steady, his natural brightness lifting the group even when exhaustion weighed them down.