Seeing Yuu suddenly fall silent, Yukino couldn't help but lift the corner of her lips. She brushed her long hair from her shoulder, showing an elegant smile as if she controlled everything.
"Such a naive man—after getting good grades, you rush over to boast. Are you really that competitive? I won't give you candy as a reward."
Yuu maintained a blank expression for a moment, then smiled too. But the smile looked fake.
"You seem so relaxed, second place."
"..."
Yukino's eyebrow twitched. She recalled seeing her test results—how shocked and annoyed she'd been upon reading Rank: 2nd in Year.
As for how she knew who was ahead of her... The answer was obvious. No guessing needed.
Before the midterm exams, this man had already taunted and provoked her, wanting to steal her first-place throne.
Though she was reluctant to admit it, Yukino knew in her heart that this man only bragged when he was certain. If he didn't have solid grounds and absolute confidence in surpassing her, he wouldn't be so arrogant.
So this result wasn't entirely unexpected—she was just very annoyed. She wanted to hang a sign outside that said Dogs and Yuu Not Allowed to prevent him from coming and proudly gloating.
The only reason she didn't do it was because she didn't want to run away.
Yukino had never feared losing. Though she hated the feeling, she wouldn't cling to the status of winner.
"Childish."
A flat, scornful voice sounded.
"I'm different from you. Acknowledging that someone else is better than you in a certain area is something only a morally superior person can do."
She looked at Yuu, graceful and composed, speaking calmly and seriously: "I did my best, yet I still lost to you. It's purely because I'm not as good as you—please, be proud of that."
"I acknowledge your hard work and excellence. Just like me in the past, you've become the top-ranked student in the year through your own ability... Yes, congratulations, first-place finisher."
Slightly shrugging, Yukino lowered her cold, beautiful face, as if wanting to end this topic. She silently looked at the book in her hand.
But Yuu could still hear a hint of unwillingness in her words, even though Yukino appeared relaxed, as if she were a saint who didn't care about fame or wealth.
"What do you mean 'just like me in the past'... You started off sounding so noble, but in the end, you still praised yourself. You really are something, Yukinoshita."
Yuu couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. Suddenly, he felt very bored. The first-place test result in his bag no longer felt special.
He knew in his heart that Yukino hated lying. She was always honest with herself and others. She wouldn't insist she was right.
In other words, she'd only act correctly and speak the truth. Even if it meant admitting she wasn't as good as someone else, that was better than making excuses to cover her ego.
Yukino in this state wasn't fun to tease. Haruno would probably show a bored expression too if she saw this, right?
Yuu pursed his lips, placed his bag on the long table, and gave up. "Fine, comparing grades is pointless. Seems my mindset still falls short of yours."
Yukino didn't look up. She said flatly, "You don't need to be so humble. Research shows women usually mature three years earlier than men. It's perfectly normal for you to seem childish in front of me."
Yuu nodded. "My goal was exposed, then you call me childish. Seems coming to the club today was a mistake."
"Admitting your mistakes is something most humans can't do, Tenkuji-kun." Yukino praised with satisfaction.
Though her gaze remained on the book, the corner of her lips unconsciously curved upward happily. Her heels seemed to dance on the floor, and her hand holding the book even made a victory gesture without realizing it.
Her thornless attitude—only feeling proud because her counterattack succeeded—made Yuigahama, watching from the side, unable to resist murmuring:
"Yukinon is so cute..."
"True, cute like a cat." Yuu agreed in a low voice.
Yuigahama glanced at him, her expression odd.
"...Yuu, don't tell me you're deliberately teasing Yukinon like you tease a cat?"
"How can you say deliberately?" Yuu said with a pious expression. "I just feared Yukinoshita would feel lonely with no one to talk to, so I intentionally brought up topics to liven the atmosphere."
"Haha..." Yuigahama gave a flat laugh, not believing him at all.
Noticing something was off, Yukino turned with a suspicious look.
"What are you two talking about?"
Yuigahama quickly waved her hands. "Nothing, nothing! By the way, Yukinon, has your school picnic group been decided?"
"Of course. The picnic is tomorrow—how could it not be decided?"
Yukino frowned, giving her a why are you asking such an unimportant thing look.
"Ahaha..." Yuigahama awkwardly scratched her cheek, but didn't care much. She still pulled a chair and sat beside Yukino, asking curiously, "Yukinon, is there anyone close to you in your group? What's the gender ratio?"
"Yuigahama-san, just speak—don't get too close..." Yukino shifted sideways restlessly, but couldn't escape the soft body enthusiastically approaching. She could only sigh resignedly.
"All girls. Coincidentally, one of them is..."
"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first."
Yuu grabbed his bag, not listening to what they were saying. He prepared to go to the school gate to walk home with Masuzu.
Yuigahama waved her hand, not looking at him, her attitude very generous. "Go, go~ Don't forget to bring picnic items tomorrow, like Yuu's handmade cookies, snacks, and bento!"
"..."
"..."
They both mocked her at the same time, glanced at each other, then clicked their tongues as if disgusted.
"You two are so in sync." Yuigahama felt a bit jealous, but couldn't help laughing. She enthusiastically suggested, "How about this—if we have free time for lunch, let's eat together? Coincidentally, Yuu is in my group. Six people from two groups will definitely be lively!"
This way, Yukino, who didn't have many friends, could interact more with others instead of only arguing with Yuu at the Service Club—without any ill intent, Yuigahama was just thinking of Yukino.
Of course, Yukino immediately refused: "Sorry, I don't like crowded places. If there weren't group rules, I'd prefer to wander and eat alone. Acting together will only cause more problems and conflicts."
However, if Yuu brought bento...
Recalling the fried rice he'd made during the exhibition, the soft, warm, sweet taste seemed to return to her mouth. Yukino unconsciously swallowed, but still maintained her dignity, her gaze fixed straight on Yuigahama's dango hair without shifting.
Yuu: "Yeah, that's too much trouble. And I don't want to bring bento either."
Tsk.
"...Yukinoshita-san, why did you click your tongue?"
"Nothing. It's none of your business."
Observing the girl who calmly brushed her long hair with suspicion, Yuu said nothing more. He opened the classroom door and left the Service Club.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The evening sky looked gray. No bright twilight today, and the after-school crowd seemed quieter. They were like raindrops silently gathering into a river, then parting at the intersection.
Yuu exited the club building and immediately saw Masuzu leaning against a stone statue at the school gate. Her silver hair flowed loose, her skirt slightly lifted, looking as beautiful as a painting.
Though she held her phone and looked down with a blank face as if busy, many passing male students gazed at her in admiration.
Yuu walked past her calmly and confidently.
"Long wait."
"Quite long." Masuzu put away her phone, wrapped her arm around his, and frowned in annoyance. "Can't you move like Vanilla Ice from a dark room?"
For clarification, Vanilla Ice was also known as vanilla ice cream, a villain from JOJO Part 3. His Stand was Cream, allowing him to hide in dark spaces and move at high speed while consuming objects.
"Even if I could do it, it's still daytime. Do you want me to explode into pieces?"
Yuu clearly remembered that as DIO's top subordinate, Vanilla Ice's death was just like his boss's—exploding under sunlight. Though today's clouds were thick, a few faint sunbeams were still visible.
Seeing he understood the reference, Masuzu smiled and shook her head. She raised one finger and explained logically: "Before being revived by DIO as a vampire, Vanilla was a normal Stand user. He could move under sunlight... I know it's too much to ask you to awaken a Stand. Besides, we don't have that 'arrow,' and I can't bear to see you suffer during Stand awakening."
"So here's the deal—go learn Hamon. Become the strongest Hamon user in Chiba City!"
"...Do you even understand what 'too much' means?"
They continued chatting about things others wouldn't understand, leaving school in an intimate pose, making the eyes following them from behind fill with heartbreak shadows once more.
After finishing their JOJO talk, Masuzu suddenly sighed. "Though the news of us dating has spread through the whole school, there are still three people fearless of death trying to talk to me."
"Either they don't care about school rumors, or they just want to get to know you?" Yuu guessed.
Masuzu showed a scornful smile, saying coldly, "How stupid. Don't they know that any man approaching me will be shattered by you into the most primitive fragments in the universe, accompanying Lord Kars?"
Yuu tugged the corner of his lips. "Am I really that cruel... Anyway, you just need to say you already have a boyfriend. Most of them should back off, right?"
Masuzu glanced at him. "What if it doesn't work?"
Yuu said calmly, "Then call me. I'll make them back off."
"Good. I'll do that next time."
Masuzu nodded in satisfaction, resting her head on his shoulder. Her chest pressed against his side, freely radiating a girl's softness and fragrance.
"Isn't it hard to walk?"
"N-no~ I~ fee~l~"
Rub.
In public, she started rubbing again.
According to Masuzu, this was "rubbing practice," excellent for a girl's skincare. He had to cooperate as much as possible.
Yuu didn't mind. He'd grown used to her increasingly addictive habit over the past few days. Besides, he wouldn't lose anything... But there was one thing he seemed to have unconsciously overlooked.
"Masuzu, didn't you say you should be more careful outside lately, so your father won't find out?"
"..."
Yuu could feel her soft, slender body tense slightly. Then Masuzu said indifferently, "'Rubbing practice' is like yawning. It's not an intimate act only couples do, so no need to be careful."
"Do you even believe what you're saying?"
Masuzu turned her head. Her pale, puffed cheeks were faintly visible.
"...Normal. Only Yuu is too sensitive. Such a sensitive virgin, virgin monster~"
"Hey."
When she couldn't hide it, she diverted the conversation by mocking others. That was truly her style.
Kind of cute.
"Relax. If he also had issues with hugging, he wouldn't have stayed silent until Mana came looking for me."
Quickly, Masuzu's tone returned to calm. She hugged his arm tighter. "I think, as long as there's no major incident, or Mana and the bald guy don't voluntarily report us, that man won't truly order me to return."
"Is that so? Then that's good."
Her expression suddenly changed. Masuzu smiled, looking at him teasingly. "Why? Are you really that unwilling to part with me?"
"A little." It was the truth for Yuu. "It's quite comfortable being touched by a beautiful girl. It's your fault for making me used to this feeling."
"My fault? Then, I'm sorry." Whether Yuu touched a sensitive spot in her heart, those words made her eyes sparkle, her smile deepening. Masuzu looked very happy and calm.
"As an apology, you can rub back too. Of course, just rubbing—nothing more."
"...No thanks. You just rub."
Yuu didn't want to turn into a bad scene like "I'm just rubbing, I won't go in, only the front, not too deep..." and so on.
"Since you said that, I won't hold back." Masuzu wasn't disappointed either. After getting his answer, she rubbed her slightly reddened cheek against his arm and started talking about the school picnic.
"I'm in a group with your club president, Yukinoshita-san... The other person I don't know. Just a background character."
"Will you bring bento? If you bring bento, I won't bring jelly."
"You're in a group with Dango? Tsk, seems I'll have to find a chance to leave the group and secretly go take photos of your affair with that Dango girl..."
"By the way, you didn't do anything that hurt your fake girlfriend's feelings during Sunday's study session, right?"
No different from a real couple, on the quiet, shady road in the evening, Masuzu kept talking about various things, while Yuu listened, occasionally nodding in agreement with her statements, occasionally ruffling her head resignedly—ruffling her silver hair in retaliation.
In the end, when they parted in front of the luxury apartment, Masuzu asked:
"Do you know Yukinoshita Haruno? Your club president's older sister, about two or three years older than us."
Yuu was slightly surprised. "Yukinoshita Haruno? Why do you..."
Masuzu slightly frowned.
"Last Sunday, I happened to meet her in the elevator. She came to see Yukinoshita-san, chatted with me a few words..."