After school.
In the bustling Class F, Yuu casually packed his school bag, seemingly in no hurry to leave.
Totsuka carrying his school bag and tennis racket bag, came over to Yuu's seat before heading out.
"Yuu, are you waiting for Natsukawa-san?"
"Congratulations. You guessed correctly." Yuu glanced at his classmates, who kept glancing his way with curious eyes. He scoffed and replied with resignation.
"From today on, it seems I have to go home from school with her."
Totsuka blinked.
"Why does it feel like you're not really okay with it…?"
Yuu immediately flashed a bright smile.
"How could that be? I'm thrilled! Wuhu~ I'm so excited I wanna fire a Poison Drill into my temple!"
"Ahahaha…"
The smile was a poorly hidden falsehood. Totsuka could only return a bitter smile.
Seeing that Yuu didn't seem enthusiastic about walking home with his girlfriend, though it felt strange, he didn't intend to ask further.
Unless it involved his friend's safety, excessive curiosity would only be intrusive.
"Then, good luck. I'm heading home first." Giving him an encouraging look, Totsuka smiled gently, waved his pale, clean hand, and turned to leave.
Yuu dropped the fake smile. "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
After their farewell, as if seizing the perfect moment, Yuigahama's voice came from behind.
"Um, Yuu."
"What is it?"
Yuu turned. The pink-haired girl slightly bit her lip, the hand gripping her school bag strap tensed slightly—she looked hesitant.
"There's something I want to talk about. Can we step out into the hallway for a moment?"
After speaking in a voice too low for others to hear, Yuigahama turned and fled the classroom like she was running away. The thighs beneath her skirt looked soft and elastic.
Yuu rubbed his face, placed his school bag on the chair, and followed her out.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Though the hallway was crowded with students leaving school, Yuigahama still found a suitable spot to talk—one that wouldn't draw too much attention—and stood facing Yuu.
Silence fell for a moment.
"...How's the mission going? Is there anything I can help with?"
After a long pause, she finally spoke. A blush appeared on her pale face, her gaze shifting restlessly.
She emphasized the word mission—clearly, she didn't care much about helping, but was far more concerned about how close the two of them had become.
After yesterday's incident, Yuu already knew what was on her mind, so he replied with a neutral expression:
"Going pretty smoothly. Now, we just need to walk home together. Once no one bothers her or confesses anymore, the mission should be complete, right?"
"...That's good."
Even so, Yuigahama didn't look relieved. Instead, there was a hint of worry in her eyes. "But if the mission ends, that means you'll break up, right? What if someone else starts chasing Natsukawa-san again? You can't possibly stay her fake boyfriend until graduation, can you?"
It seemed like a question she'd been pondering all night for this mission.
"As long as Natsukawa-san doesn't change herself, no matter when or where, there will always be people who like her and try to pursue her... Just like with Yuu—can that really be stopped?"
"...You have a point."
Yuu rubbed his chin.
Honestly, he'd been thinking about this too.
If there weren't a system altering the world's storyline, he wouldn't just become someone else's fake boyfriend—unless he truly had no intention of dating at all during his three years of high school.
What Yuigahama said was the thinking of a normal person. Yukino probably thought the same, but she'd been too angry to say it.
Unfortunately, no one knew that in this world, something like a system even existed.
With different premises, Yuu's perspective and theirs were naturally different. He didn't need to worry too much—after the mission, the future was just another side path the system would play with.
But since Yuigahama was asking as a club member, Yuu had to give her a perfect reason—one that would also satisfy that cold female club president.
To preserve his image as a calm, well-planned individual, Yuu was currently trying to think of a way to fool both of them.
"And also..."
Seeing her words made Yuu think deeply, Yuigahama felt a flicker of hope rise from the depths of her heart. She firmly cast aside the shame and guilt of talking behind someone's back, gathered her courage, and said:
"If Yuu falls for someone else during this mission... wouldn't Natsukawa-san's mission essentially be blocking Yuu's freedom to date?"
Yuu stopped his thoughts, looked up, and stared at her serious face.
When their eyes met, that soft courage seemed to melt under the sunlight. Yuigahama collapsed into a resigned, hollow bitter smile.
"...I know. Maybe I have no hope, and it's already too late to say this."
Her voice was very soft, her eyes fixed on Yuu.
Then slowly, her gentle gaze brightened, her tone growing firmer.
"But even as just a friend, I don't want to see Yuu bound by a fake relationship!"
"Even if it's underhanded, has hidden motives, or is misunderstood by others—I don't care. I just want to say this—"
Yuigahama clenched her fists. No longer looking down like yesterday, she stared straight into Yuu's eyes and spoke word by word:
"Seriously, being fake lovers—this kind of mission is just too weird! It's completely not okay!"
"Even if Yuu agreed to her request for the club's sake, you don't have to stick to someone you don't like because of it, and endure strange looks from teachers and classmates, right? This is just a club activity. You shouldn't have to sacrifice your school life!"
"So there must be another way! As long as—"
Just as she passionately declared this, her face flushed with emotion,
A soft yet cold voice slowly came from behind her.
"Sorry, Yuigahama-san."
"May I ask—what were you whispering to provoke my boyfriend?"
Yuigahama's entire body froze. Then she suddenly turned around.
Masuzu crossed her arms, smiling gently—but cold, displeased glints flashed in her eyes.
"I…"
Yuigahama opened her mouth, speechless like someone caught in the act. She even reflexively averted her gaze.
But the feelings she'd long suppressed inside suddenly surged up—becoming her backbone, supporting her to puff out her chest and lift her head.
Her clenched hands slowly relaxed, hanging loosely at her sides.
Yuigahama's eyes burned with determination as she stared straight at the beautiful girl before her, shining like a gem.
"Natsukawa-san, I wasn't whispering anything provocative."
Masuzu touched the corner of her lips, intrigued. "Really? What I heard just now didn't sound like that."
"By the way, you're too careless. If our mission details were overheard by others, that's the club's fault—and yours, okay?"
As she said this, her eyes narrowed slightly, her tone turning subtly dangerous and sharp.
Yuigahama shook her head, her expression unchanged. "If that really happened, I'd take full responsibility. I'd do anything you ask as compensation..."
"But I believe, as long as Yuu is here, our conversation won't be overheard by anyone. So that just won't happen!"
Masuzu was momentarily stunned by that unwavering trust, then scoffed.
"...How amusing."