If she said that Masuzu and Yuu's relationship was fake, she was sure Yumiko would feel relieved.
But Yuigahama couldn't do it. Even if she only told Yumiko, there was still a risk the secret would be exposed.
Emotionally, this issue involved Yuu. Rationally, as a Service Club member, she and Yukino had agreed not to reveal mission details—so of course, she couldn't break that promise.
At the same time, Yuigahama also wondered—if Yuu truly had a girlfriend, should she give up on this love?
Would she still be like she was now—saying "friends" out loud, yet unconsciously always wanting to stay by his side and steal his attention?
"...Of course, it's not okay."
After a brief silence, Yuigahama answered softly.
Lifting her face, she blinked. She smiled—a lonely, helpless smile: "But what can I do! The longer I love him, the less I want to give up. Leaving him hurts far more than being the subject of gossip."
No one knew better than her.
Those rumors meant nothing compared to the year she spent being a stranger to him.
Because Yuigahama knew—so long as she remained his friend, so long as she asked for help—
Whenever, wherever, Yuu would stand behind her and protect her. He was always so gentle—and it felt so natural.
"So Yumiko, you don't need to worry. I know what I'm doing!"
Her cute, childish face turned mature. But her overly relaxed smile also made her look silly: "Ehehe~ But I'm really surprised. I didn't expect you'd care about me this much. I thought you just didn't like Yuu."
"There are so many bastards in the world—why should I focus on him?" Yumiko rolled her eyes, pinching Yuigahama's cheek again. "Most importantly, I don't want to see my friend get tricked by a bastard and walk away!"
"Uehh..." Yuigahama made an indistinct sound, struggling to protest. "Yuu isn't a bastard! He's rejected me several times..."
"What?!" Her brows furrowed. Yumiko clenched her fist, eyes blazing. "That guy dared to reject you—and multiple times?! He has no eyes! I need to teach him a lesson!"
Yuigahama quickly held her back as she was about to storm out of the restroom. "Yumiko, you're being too overbearing! You can't accept it if he accepts, and you can't accept it if he rejects. What's Yuu supposed to do?!"
"Well..." Emotionally charged, Yumiko clearly hadn't thought that far. She opened her big eyes and mouth, speechless. "...Anyway, until he breaks up with that other person and officially starts dating you, don't let him touch any part of your body! Even if it's one-sided love, there's dignity involved. Don't let yourself get tricked into giving yourself away!"
"I understand, I understand." Yuigahama sighed, whispering, "Stop talking about Yuu—Yumiko, you're just like a worried mother afraid her daughter's dating a bad guy..."
Her ears twitched. The Fire Queen instantly glared at her fiercely.
"Yui, what did you say?"
"N-nothing, nothing..."
Their conversation paused for now. With a deeper friendship, Yuigahama and Yumiko walked out together.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time seemed to stop. The scene froze like a painting.
Against the sunlight, though wearing simple gym clothes, Yuu still looked cool sitting on the long bench. Passersby talked about him, countless gazes drawn to him.
He remained still, eyes closed, enjoying the warm sunlight. His "don't disturb" aura made many girls who wanted to ask for his LINE back off.
"...Yuu, what are you doing?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm waiting." Yuu opened his eyes, lazily looking at the two girls entering his space. He returned his raised leg to its original position. "If you're ready, let's go. Next, we'll hike the mountain—remember to drink enough water."
Yumiko approached. While grabbing her bag, she said bluntly: "If you're waiting, just wait. Do you need to draw attention like that? You're not showing off."
"Sorry, it's a natural gift." Yuu shrugged, making the golden drill-twin-tailed girl unable to hold back her grumbling. She snorted, not wanting to say anything more.
Even so, Yuigahama still sensed a change in the air—toward something better.
The smile on her face grew happier. She approached Yuu and Yumiko, raised her hand, and cheered: "Then let's go! Let's hike the mountain~"
"Everyone, let's—eh! Eh!"
As she half-spoke, Yuigahama was pushed by the two of them. They didn't let her finish her "oo—" sound.
"Doing something like that once was embarrassing enough. Don't expect me to do it again!"
"Yui, sometimes I think—you might have thicker skin than me."
"That's an outrageous judgment?!... Wait, weren't we going to ride the pirate ship? Why are we hiking the mountain now?"
"Because I didn't want to ride it. I thought you wouldn't notice. Damn, what a shame."
"...Wow, this guy—really terrible."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Mount Mosum, hiking trail.
Golden sunlight filtering through the trees shone on the slender shoulders of the two girls, scattering into golden strands in their soft hair.
The ordinary student walked ahead. The two followed behind like dolls. Fine sweat dampened the hair on their foreheads, but their faces still looked beautiful and calm. They were completely unaffected by exhaustion.
If they looked this ordinary, this appearance might be called "walking corpses," right?
"Y-Yukinoshita-san... If you're tired, just say so. We can stop and wait until you're ready to continue."
"No... need. Though my physique is weak, I'm not that weak."
"Don't push yourself... You're the Service Club president and my boyfriend's superior. Huh..."
"Haaaa, Natsukawa-san, you're more... helpless than I imagined. As a member's girlfriend, I won't laugh at you even if you sit down to rest now. Hah..."
The ordinary student turned, helplessly watching the two who kept challenging each other despite nearly out of breath.
"Natsukawa-san, Yukinoshita-san, if you need a break, just say so. I can wait for you."
"No need!"
They said in unison. Their slender, straight legs stepped on the stairs. They walked almost side by side, stubborn and unwilling to back down.
"Then don't talk—hike quietly!" The ordinary student said firmly. "Hiking requires attention to breathing. If you talk, your breath will become irregular. You're both model students—you should understand!"
"..." Yukino fell silent. She slightly opened her pale lips, calmly regulating her irregular breath.
Masuzu still grumbled unsatisfied: "Just a classmate (name), but so bold..."
The ordinary student looked her up and down, eyes as bright as sunlight, appearing utterly dominant.
"Any complaints?"
"No~"