On the west side of the Ruyi Dormitory courtyard, there were originally plans to plant maple trees, creating a picturesque scene where the sunset lit up the red leaves.
But thanks to Kyousuke's whims, a massive weeping cherry tree stood there instead.
The surrounding trees were all replaced with evergreens to highlight the cherry blossoms' beauty.
The slowly setting sun, glowing like a salted egg yolk, cast its golden light through the gaps between oaks and poplars, spilling over the courtyard and everyone in it.
The girls in white T-shirts busied themselves with post-meal chores—some wiping tables, others packing dishes into crates, and a few crouched down picking up stray bits and pieces.
"Don't underestimate Kyousuke! He's not just a great cook—he's also a pro at cleaning up!"
Yukinoshita Yukino repeated that line in her head, smiling unconsciously as she worked.
She had originally been assigned to trash duty since it was relatively easy—no one was intentionally throwing things on the ground, after all.
But just as she crouched down, Momotarou came bounding over, tongue out, ready to lick her.
Startled, she let out a yelp and fell flat on her butt.
Her terrified expression, coupled with the imaginary magazine headline "What Horror Film Could Scare a Beautiful Black-Haired Girl Like This?", was worthy of a movie cover.
It would definitely draw crowds to the theater—men fantasizing the girls next to them were the heroine, and women thinking, I must look that cute when I'm scared too.
Of course, here in the Ruyi Dorm, such a scene only earned a dismissive snort from Kasumigaoka Utaha.
'Hmph, what's wrong with not being good with dogs?'
'Recognizing your weaknesses is something you people should be praising and learning from!'
Still sulking about the dog incident, Yukino blushed a little watching Momotarou obediently trot away after a single whistle.
She soon accepted Shouko's offer to swap tasks.
Let the pros handle what they're good at—everyone has a role that suits them.
That's how she rationalized it.
"Yukino~ Why'd you stack my bowl under yours, huh? Want me to eat off your drool next time?" Sakura teased with a dramatic wink.
"Idiot!" Yukino snapped with a smile as she carefully placed the bowls into a white plastic bin.
Doing simple housework on a full stomach, she felt lighter than air—physically and emotionally.
Even Sakura's silly kindergarten-level jokes felt charming.
As the chilly evening sun kissed her cheeks, she realized just how warm she felt—and how red her face had gotten.
As the gathering neared its end, Yukino felt reluctant to leave.
That wasn't proper at all.
Good manners dictated a polite goodbye at the right moment—she didn't need an etiquette column to know that.
But it had been so long since she felt this kind of relaxed joy…
Not just Sakura—even Shouko, Eriri, and Utaha's words replayed in her mind.
'Ah, so the girls at school were telling the truth—when you visit someone's home, they really do like to show off their prized possessions,' she thought, recalling the look of pride on Eriri's face as she introduced "Commander Bubble."
And yet… there was nothing gaudy or fake about it like those girls at school.
It wasn't annoying at all—just endearing.
Even Utaha's teasing words felt fun in hindsight.
Unlike those people who came in loud but went quiet the moment Yukino opened her mouth, Utaha could go toe-to-toe with her, throwing sharp jabs without flinching.
It was something Yukino found herself admiring.
Then there was Shouko…
She had seemed like just a gentle, sweet girl—but now Yukino saw a different side.
Like her, Shouko had suffered bullying in the past.
But their paths had diverged.
Yukino chose strength, relying on no one but herself.
Shouko chose trust—she leaned on Hojou, the one who had saved her, and gained strength through that bond.
In the past, Yukino might have scoffed at that—depending on someone doesn't change anything; once that person's gone, you're left helpless.
But Shouko and Hojou weren't like that.
Their relationship wasn't parasitic, where one drained the other.
Nor was it symbiotic in the fragile, can't-live-without-you kind of way.
If anything, it was what Yamauchi Sakura called "spring and flower."
The bond they shared had become rich, warm soil.
Through the cold of winter, Shouko quietly drew strength from that soil—calm and gentle, because she knew that spring would come.
And when spring arrived, she'd bloom beautifully, basking in the sunlight, swaying in the breeze.
'Hojou Kyousuke… Hojou Kyousuke…'
Yukino, who had once secretly hoped for him to be exposed as a scumbag, suddenly didn't want to see that happen anymore.
She started to understand the feelings of the others present—everyone except her had likely known this all along.
She looked at Nishimiya Shouko, crouched down, seriously picking up bits of trash between the blades of grass.
A breeze brushed Yukino's arms—it felt cold.
The spring sunset, instead of bringing warmth, felt like it was slowly stealing it away.
'Does the sun also need to borrow warmth from others to make it through the night?'
The classic literature girl, deep in her youthful phase of poetic melancholy, didn't need to be sitting riverside with her black hair fluttering in the breeze to feel nostalgic.
'The sun is setting—how can anyone still be this cheerful? Hurry up and feel sad already!'
"Okay, okay! Mission complete~~"
A loud, tired shout snapped Yukino out of her thoughts.
She didn't need to turn to know it was Yamauchi Sakura.
"Aren't we supposed to do the dishes now?" Yukino asked—not to show off her housework skills, but simply because she wanted an excuse to stay a bit longer.
"That's what the magic cabinet is for! Behold the power of civilization!" Sakura said, flashing her pearly whites and giving a big thumbs-up.
Damn, that smile is dazzling.
"Magic cabinet?" Yukino raised an eyebrow.
"I think Sakura means the dishwasher," Katou Megumi explained calmly, perhaps because she'd wanted one herself for a long time.
"..."
Even now, Yukino still couldn't keep up with Yamauchi Sakura's weird train of thought.
But this Kato girl was something else—quiet and often easy to overlook, yet she instantly grasped what Sakura meant.
That kind of perception was impressive.
Of course… Considering Hojou's lazy personality and his tendency to spoil Sakura and the others, of course he'd have a dishwasher at home.
It was time for her to go too.
"I've decided!" Sakura suddenly shouted again, grabbing everyone's attention. "Tonight, we're watching horror movies! Telling ghost stories! And eating fries and fried fish!"
'Wait, what?! Wasn't visiting a friend's house supposed to end after dinner?'
Yukino broke into a smile and glanced at Katou Megumi, hoping to see someone equally surprised.
Unfortunately, her expression was as flat and calm as ever.
Too bad Sakura didn't see it—she would've scoffed in amusement.
'Hah! Even the great detective Sakura-sama can't read Megumi-chan's poker face. And you, Yukino-chan, think you can read it? Cute.'
Still, Yukino chose to interpret Megumi's calm demeanor as her way of saying this was all perfectly normal—and that made her heart feel just a little lighter.
"Alright! This time, I definitely won't embarrass myself like I did when picking out gifts!" Kyousuke told himself confidently.
But... a horror movie?
Why do girls always want to watch horror movies when they gather together?
"No fries and fish sticks tonight. For our late-night snack, we're having red wine poached pears and yogurt."
"The pears are already in the pot—they'll be ready soon," Kyousuke said firmly, rejecting Sakura Yamauchi's suggestion without hesitation.
After that rich hotpot, they needed something light and healthy. Pears and yogurt were perfect for cleansing the palate and soothing the stomach.
"Waaah! Yay! I haven't had red wine poached pears in three days!" Sakura cheered, easily swayed.
Whoa…
Even Katou Megumi gasped in amazement, unable to hide her expression as her mouth hung open in awe.
A delicious hotpot, beautifully prepared sashimi, a personalized rice bowl… and now a fancy-sounding dessert?
This was exactly how she had imagined Hojou lived.
The only difference was that the one cooking everything was Kyousuke himself, and she was the one being pampered by his culinary talents.
'I really do have a limited imagination,' she thought.
After all, Eriri and Kasumigaoka-senpai both seemed pretty composed.
Well, maybe not that composed—Eriri was already swallowing her drool.
But does Utaha-senpai really need more yogurt? If she gets any bigger, it might not be healthy anymore...
As that odd thought crossed Megumi's mind, she quietly swallowed her own saliva.
The moment Kyousuke mentioned dessert, Yukino's gaze flicked toward Sakura, only to find her making goofy faces in return.
That little surge of negative emotion Yukino had just felt? Gone. Ninety percent evaporated on the spot.
You dummy... there's no way you didn't realize both desserts were made just for you.
Can't you at least act a little melancholic? Show a hint of wistfulness under the sunset or something!
As Kyousuke moved the tables and other large items to the shed, the others headed back to the living room.
The house had garden slippers prepared—elevated wooden geta-style ones—but no one really liked them.
Without saying a word, everyone chose to walk barefoot across the grass instead, brushing off the blades at the living room edge before deciding whether to put on slippers or socks.
Some went to rinse their feet in the bathroom.
Yukino and Megumi followed Sakura's lead, sitting down beside her and wiping the grass off their feet before pulling on white socks.
'Thump, thump, thump—'
Sakura darted across the room, snatching the tablet off the TV cabinet before Eriri could get to it.
She grinned mischievously, unlocking the screen and swiping through the movie options.
"Let's see what movies we've got here~ Katou-chan, Yukino, hurry and sit down!"
"Why not just watch the sequel to the last one? Spencer-san seemed to like it," Utaha said as she made herself comfortable on the long sofa next to the kitchen.
Only that one was long enough to fit her legs.
"Kasumigaoka Utaha! Don't call me that weird name out of nowhere! And I never said I liked that movie."
"The masks made no sense, and that cheap ketchup-like blood? It was horrible!"
Eriri snapped, then noticed Yukino and Megumi were still standing awkwardly nearby.
She yanked them both down to sit beside her.
"Relax, no one's staying seated long anyway."
"Huh? But when the movie ended, didn't you look super satisfied, Eriri?" Utaha teased.
"..." Eriri's cheeks flushed red. "In any case, we are not watching that sequel!"
"Then let's go with this one!" Sakura declared without consulting anyone.
Picking a movie was the biggest time sink, after all. If someone didn't like it, they could always switch later.
"Wait, wait! Let me at least read the summary first!" Eriri shouted, starting to panic.
She needed some warning, after all!
"Hehe~ But it's way more fun this way! If you're scared, just sit next to Kyousuke."
Sakura hugged the tablet tightly and scooted over to sit snugly next to Utaha.
"Scared? Me? As if! These third-rate horror films are all made with recycled formulas. Cheap jump scares, overused sound effects, shallow metaphors that add nothing."
"Do you think that kind of movie would scare me? Don't underestimate me!" Eriri huffed, full of bravado.
'Wait… she's actually smart?' Yukino turned, surprised.
From Sakura and Utaha's behavior, she'd assumed Sawamura was afraid of horror movies.
Yet here she was, breaking down horror filmmaking tropes like a critic.
Still, it lined up with Yukino's own thinking.
Eriri might get absorbed in fictional stories, but she could also detach herself quickly—she was logical enough to separate fiction from reality.
So horror movies shouldn't scare her… unless the others were messing with her during the movie?
If that were the case, then it made sense.
Eriri knew how horror movies worked, but being teased during one could still get under her skin.
That's solid reasoning.
Based on personal experience, too… Yukino's own sister used to mess with her at theme parks until she developed a mild form of PTSD.
If someone here is playing pranks on Sawamura… I won't forgive them!
Justice-driven Snow Queen Yukino made a quiet vow as she glanced at the poor, flustered Eriri.
"Ugh, I reek," Eriri suddenly muttered, sniffing her shoulder with disgust.
'…Okay, never mind. She is an idiot.'
She can't even hold a thought for three seconds.
Yukino sighed, then leaned down to sniff herself.
Her elegant eyebrows furrowed immediately.
The smell of hotpot clung to her like marinade.
Everyone else seemed to have the same reaction.
Megumi sniffed herself too, as did the other girls.
"So this is the power of hotpot," Shouko said with a quiet smile.
Ah, so just walking past someone would instantly reveal what you ate. Hotpot really is a presence-heavy meal.
Megumi nodded knowingly. Still, she didn't mind—since everyone smelled the same, it felt kind of… cozy.
"Alright, decision made! Let's shower and change before Kyousuke comes back!"
"And then let him cuddle your freshly-showered, warm, sweet-smelling self in bed?" Utaha teased from the couch.
"Uuuhhh... There are still people here, you know. That's not very appropriate," Sakura muttered, clearly tempted.
'For the love of… CAN YOU GUYS HEAR YOURSELVES?!' Yukino screamed internally.
"Yukino-chan, you can use my bathroom. I'll lend you some clothes too," Sakura offered sweetly.
'Don't call my name right after saying something like that!'
'It makes it sound like I'm going to crawl into bed with Hojou too!'
"I'm good. If you have deodorizer or fabric spray, that's enough for me."
"Then Megumi can borrow clothes from Shouko—they're about the same size," Sakura instructed, still managing everything.
"Okay~ Thank you, Shouko," Megumi said with her usual gentle smile.
'Wait, what? Is that part of the routine when visiting a friend's house now?' Yukino's eyes widened.
'Had Megumi already been here a bunch of times?' She looked at her in disbelief.
"Huh? Megumi's way too chill about all this…" Sakura blinked, slightly taken aback. She had just been teasing Yukino a little.
Licking her lips playfully, she added, "Since we're playing Hyakumonogatari later, why not stay over tonight?"
No way they'd agree to something so sudden—
"Sure~ I already told my parents I might be late. If I end up staying, I'll just explain it later."
"Eh!? You're really okay with it?!"
Sakura's shocked voice finally made Yukino realize—she wasn't the weird one here.
What was up with this girl?
There's a guy in this house who's practically a walking danger sign, and she's agreeing to stay over like it's nothing?
"My parents trust me when it comes to social stuff," Megumi replied calmly.
"Then just move in with us, Megumi-chan!" Sakura clapped her hands together, eyes sparkling.
"Wait, how did this go from taking a shower to living together?!" Megumi squeaked.
Well, more like… she just spoke a little faster than usual.
She still sounded breezy and unbothered.
'See? This is why people push you around! You're too easygoing! And why is no one asking me anything?! I'm a guest too!'
Oh.
She got it now.
Sakura probably assumed she'd eventually give in and stay over too.
"You're just so agreeable, Megumi-chan. I couldn't help but test it," Sakura admitted without shame.
"It's that so?" Megumi nodded, her bob cut swaying lightly. "My parents aren't that open-minded, though~"
Yukino's jaw dropped into an O-shape.
Wait... does that mean if her parents were okay with it, she'd actually move in?!
———————————————————————
Daily Uploads!
Unlock bonus chapters by reaching specific milestones with [Power Stone] votes!
Go to p-atreon.com/InsomniaTL to access more than 50 advanced chapters.