The girl slightly raised her head, looking at Hongshang Yu. Like most, she was taller than him, but with her head lowered, he couldn't see her face. Now, lifting it slightly, she revealed herself. Her long, wavy black hair was disheveled, a few strands stuck to her face. Her skin, not overly pale, was reddened from the recent struggle; her breathing hadn't evened out yet, and she was slightly out of breath. Hyakusa Aoi wasn't a beauty—her appearance was pleasant, but freckles on her face slightly marred the impression.
Her gaze, fixed on Hongshang Yu, was filled with complex emotions. She knew that reporting her tormentors to a teacher would bring trouble, but she hadn't expected it so soon or that there'd be three of them. Against such force, her prepared arguments died in her throat, and the bullying became one-sided. But, like in a manga or series, Hongshang Yu appeared, a hero of sorts, saving her. Not with a dramatic entrance or cool speech, but it still stirred a storm of feelings within her.
To his question, she didn't respond, only staring, lost in her thoughts. Hongshang Yu assumed she hadn't recovered from the fear and, without saying more, headed toward the bushes by the lab building.
Hyakusa Aoi, noticing where he was going, panicked, but then remembered something that filled her with shame and humiliation. She jumped up and ran to beat him to it, but while she hesitated, Hongshang Yu had already acted.
He wanted to pick up what Tanzawa Miyayo had thrown into the bushes. Approaching the greenery, he spotted the item but couldn't identify it from a distance. Stepping into the bushes, he picked it up. It was a crumpled piece of fabric, resembling a cotton ball. Hongshang Yu, holding it, frowned.
What is this?
He felt slight dampness. Squeezing it, he paled, realizing what he held. The fabric unfolded into pink women's underwear. A wet stain was visible in a key area.
Hongshang Yu, who had never held female underwear, recalled painful memories. His body trembled, his face grew even paler, his mind clouded, and he froze.
Hyakusa Aoi, seeing him holding her underwear, blushed to the roots of her hair. Her run turned into a sprint. Hearing footsteps, Hongshang Yu, still fighting himself, snapped out of it and turned to the running girl.
"E… h-h…" she panted, stopping beside him.
Her face was like a ripe apple, steam rising from her ears.
"C-can I… have it back?" she forced out, dying of embarrassment.
For any girl, seeing her underwear in a boy's hands was unbearable. Hongshang Yu, whose face had slightly pinked and mind cleared, handed it to her.
"Here," he said.
Hyakusa Aoi snatched the underwear, her face flaming as if on fire.
"T-thank you…" she murmured, lowering her head, and fled, unable to bear the shame.
Hongshang Yu, watching her retreating figure, rubbed his temples to ease the dizziness from his recent episode. After a couple of seconds, he headed back. If Kinugita Taoko noticed his absence, she'd panic—she feared Tsun's wrath.
Circling the building, he entered and immediately saw Kinugita rushing out of the corridor in a panic. Seeing him, she sighed in relief and ran over.
"Little bro! Where'd you go?! Where were you?! Don't scare me! You didn't even say anything! If you'd disappeared or something happened… I… I…" she blurted, nearly crying.
"It's fine," Hongshang Yu replied.
He didn't want to explain—too lazy.
"Class," he said, heading to the teaching building, ignoring her upset face.
"Hey! Wait, little bro!" she shouted, catching up.
Leaving school, Kinugita sighed.
"Eh…"
She noticed she'd been sighing a lot lately. The issue with her body remained unsolved, and she couldn't even pinpoint the cause. Initially, she thought it was tied to Hongshang Yu, but the last few days suggested otherwise. Yet, from any angle, her strangeness began with him. But why did removing his glasses yield nothing?
Finding no answer, she scratched her head in frustration. She came to her senses at the store's entrance.
"…"
Thinking it over, she decided to go in. She didn't know when her body might act up again like that night. It could be today, tomorrow, or never, but preparation was wise. To avoid spoilage, she chose long-lasting items—cookies, muffins. She never bought chips, which didn't satisfy.
"Thank you for your purchase," the cashier said.
Kinugita left with a bag, heavier than usual. The cashier, fearing the bag might tear, put it in three more, easing the load, but the weight still forced her to drag it along the ground at times.
She walked home. The streets had people after work and students. Her district wasn't the city center, so there were no crowds, but movement was felt. The sky split: behind Kinugita, the sunset glowed red; ahead, night darkened. The sun sank toward the horizon, casting her giant shadow, which, as she walked, seemed ominous, like a moving beast.
Hongshang Yu and Tsun, as usual, returned home together. Tsun began preparing dinner.
"Taoko didn't do anything strange today, did she, little Yu?" she asked, chopping vegetables, asking her daily question.
"No," he replied, watching TV.
"Anything happen?" she asked her second routine question, always met with the same answer.
But this time, Hongshang Yu didn't say "no."
"Mhm," he replied.
Tsun froze, set the knife down, washed her hands, and approached him.
"R-really? Little Yu, something happened? Tell sister what occurred?" she asked with a smile, but her voice trembled.
Due to work, she wasn't always around, but she feared girls might hurt Hongshang Yu again. If it happened in her absence, she'd never forgive herself. Though his tone didn't suggest something dire, she imagined the worst: he was already injured but hiding it, becoming an empty shell with a dead gaze and lost soul. Could the one I just spoke to…
Her thoughts spiraled into dark territory. She grabbed his hand, ready to cry.
"Little Yu… I'm sorry… It's all because of sister…" she sobbed.
Hongshang Yu looked at her with slight irritation, knowing she was overreacting. He patted her head.
"It's fine, sister," he said.
"…" Tsun snapped out of it.
Usually, she was herself with him, but being comforted by him felt awkward.
"Hey… Little Yu… Sister… d-didn't imagine it… Just worried… And you… touching my head… It's nothing, but… I'm the sister… And the younger brother… comforting…" she mumbled, blushing.
Aaa, so embarrassing in front of Yu! But… why does it stir something?! her thoughts veered into strange territory, awakening new quirks.
Hongshang Yu, watching Tsun transform from an icy president into a shy girl with a tsundere edge, remained unfazed. He even felt like smirking.