Yuu didn't speak vaguely. He expressed his feelings directly.
Although he couldn't date Yuigahama or return her feelings—this ponytailed girl who had cared for him for two years, who now dared to challenge his fake girlfriend for his sake—was far more important to Yuu than Masuzu.
That's why he had to clearly convey his feelings to her, not leave her hanging ambiguously, nor ignore her and let her worry about how to handle their relationship.
This was a man's responsibility—a man who was liked by a girl.
From the past until now, Yuu had always done it this way.
"Yuigahama, if you're really unhappy, I can break up with Masuzu for a day. How about I take you to the zoo? I'll cover all the costs—eat whatever you want, don't hold back!"
Yuu patted his chest, declaring it proudly.
Masuzu crossed her arms and glanced at him. "You can even say a line like that? I seriously underestimated you, Yuu."
Even so, she only looked from the side, not intending to interfere at all.
Yuigahama watched them take turns, and finally turned her gaze to Yuu.
In her clear, gentle eyes, there was only the reflection of his face.
"...Too much, really."
After a moment, she suddenly sighed, her shoulders slumping.
Then, the corner of her lips curved upward as she adjusted her ponytail with a resigned smile.
"Yuu, Masuzu-san too... Am I just not weird enough to fit in with you two?"
"Then I highly recommend you watch JOJO, ponytail girl." Seizing the chance, Masuzu didn't hesitate to promote her hobby. "If you watch JOJO, you'll be able to keep up with us... No, you'll be following the trend of the entire world!"
"JoJo no Kimyō na Bōken? Hmm, I've heard of it. I'll watch it!"
Yuigahama nodded toward her, her smile natural and friendly—no trace of the earlier confrontation, she looked soft and harmless, like a puppy.
Masuzu froze in place, then patted her chest and said emotionally:
"She's such a rare good person... I misjudged her."
Yuu couldn't help but roll his eyes. This woman's standards must definitely be tied to JOJO.
"Then, Yuu..." Yuigahama tilted her head, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint as she smiled. "I've already noted down your promise to take me to the zoo after breaking up with Natsukawa-san for a day! Natsukawa-san doesn't mind, right? After all, she's just a fake girlfriend!"
"..."
That sudden blow made Masuzu's mouth hang open, her expression frozen unnaturally on her face.
Yuu quickly turned his face away, tightening his expression to suppress laughter—his lips twitching slightly.
Noticing this, Masuzu glared at him with an unfriendly look and said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes:
"Yuu, why are you laughing? Do you want me to beat you until you cry?"
With perfect acting, Yuu immediately stopped laughing and spoke with a flat expression. "Why are you so angry? Isn't what Yuigahama said true?"
"Didn't I already say? A fake should act even better than the real thing. So as a fake girlfriend, I must be angrier than a real one."
Her eye twitched. Masuzu turned to Yuigahama with a truly icy gaze, locking eyes with her.
"Ponytail girl, why do you think I wouldn't mind?"
"Because you're a fake girlfriend! Yuu doesn't like you, and you don't like Yuu either."
Accepting this reality, Yuigahama replied casually.
"Even though you kissed Yuu, fake is still fake. To us who know the truth, it's just that—so we don't need to take you too seriously, right?"
As those words left her mouth, the air suddenly grew colder.
"Just that?... Hehe, how bold of you to speak."
Her eyes slowly narrowed. Half of Masuzu's beautiful face darkened, her low voice like boiling black water seeping from between her teeth.
"If only I'd known, I should've tried my best to stop her from saying this..."
"Calm down!"
Yuigahama clenched her fist, facing the tense atmosphere with fiery determination.
"Though I'm truly envious of you, Natsukawa-san, I won't expose this fake relationship! Because this is something Yuu wants to do, so I'll do my best to support him!"
"This is the mindset and resolve a true best friend should have!"
PU-CHI! PU-CHI!
Each of her words was like an invisible arrow piercing Masuzu's chest, making her hunch over. She could only grip the hem of Yuu's shirt to steady herself, so she wouldn't collapse.
"Good, very good—every word of yours mocks me... I really didn't misjudge you, ponytail girl."
She wiped the corner of her mouth—though it wasn't bleeding at all—and breathed heavily.
Yuu: "...Too much drama."
"Hm? No." Blinking innocently, Yuigahama asked, confused. "I just said what I thought. I didn't mean to mock Natsukawa-san."
Masuzu sneered coldly, completely disbelieving her. In her heart, she now saw Yuigahama as two-faced—no longer the sweet, naive girl whose brain had been ruined by love.
"Uh, I really... never mind."
She looked like she wanted to say something, then scratched her cheek, feeling the other side misunderstood.
But more than that...
She looked again at Yuu, whose shirt hem was still clutched by Masuzu, whose arm was being hugged, gazing into the distance with a blank expression.
This was the man she'd liked in the past—and now liked even more—but could only interact with as a best friend.
—Even so, she was one step closer to him than before.
As long as she kept moving forward, never stopping...
One day, her happiness would come too!
Yuigahama, believing this, showed a bright smile like a clear sky.
"Yuu, since we're best friends, isn't it time you changed how you call me?"
"Suddenly? But fine..." He turned his gaze from the distant view, looked at her face, and for the first time, called her name directly.
"Yui."
"—Yes, Yui here!"
It was a loud voice, as if trying to blow away all the silence of autumn and plant a bright spring.
As if wanting to tell all the seasons: Yuigahama loves Yuu.
Of course, Masuzu was furious—and showed it through her actions—
"Let's go. It's time to head home."
She tightly hugged Yuu's arm and casually pulled him along.
Seeing this, Yuigahama quickly ran over and grabbed Yuu's other arm, then quickly let go before anyone else could see. Ignoring Masuzu's icy glare, she cleared her throat, her face red.
"I'm coming too. Coincidentally, our way home is the same."
Masuzu gave a fake smile. "A couple walking home together—what business do you, the best friend, have with us? Aren't you afraid other students will gossip?"
"That's true..." Yuigahama murmured, slowly shifting her feet closer to Yuu's shoulder.
"But look, there are people who walk home with their friend's girlfriend too! Everyone will understand..."
"Tch, people like that are usually called mosquito repellent."
"Isn't that good? After all, it's a presence that brings light to others..."
"Ponytail girl, you truly surprise me with your shamelessness. I deeply admire you."
"Hehehe~ Not that impressive~"
"..."
Bickering without much anger, the two girls stepped out from the hidden stairway corner, walked past curious onlookers, and together headed toward the school gate.
Meanwhile, Yuu—sandwiched between the two girls—wore a relaxed, cheerful expression. Letting them chatter beside him, in his heart he pondered what delicious dish he should cook for his sister tonight—one that would move her to trembling tears.
"I've done all I can. The rest… is up to fate."
(Maybe… this is the fierce conflict between my fake girlfriend and my best friend?)
No, it hadn't reached that level of intensity—on the contrary, wasn't it adding fun to his life?
Thinking this, he couldn't help but smile.
As for his future, Yuu currently held an optimistic outlook.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations, host has received a reward: Presence Adjustment (Status)]