White water droplets splashed onto the porcelain sink.
After rinsing off the foam, snow-white hands shook off the remaining drops and turned off the faucet.
The mirror reflected the beautiful face of a silver-haired girl like a fairy, and the inexplicable burden she carried.
"This feeling... it's just like when you tell employees at a company that's clearly going bankrupt: 'We're actually going under, and we won't be able to pay your salaries anymore.'"
Masuzu murmured to herself. Her cold fingers touched her cheek, leaving water droplets like tears.
"I knew it would end like this. I've stayed at this company just to relax. But when someone actually says it out loud, my feelings still get a little mixed up..."
Whether real or fake, things related to love would eventually fade away—she'd understood this since childhood, and she deeply hated it.
This was the reason. Nothing else.
After unilaterally explaining her feelings, Masuzu looked into the mirror, ensuring her expression remained steady. She returned to her usual calm and elegance, then turned to leave the restroom.
But she immediately came face to face with Yuigahama, who had come from the opposite direction.
Both fell silent. Masuzu reacted faster, smiling and speaking first:
"Yo, Dango Girl—did you come to the restroom, or are you being controlled by Close-up to attack me?"
"Part 5!" Yuigahama reflexively answered. Then she remembered what she wanted to say, unconsciously touching the dango on her head. "I'm not being controlled by a Stand! Of course I came to the restroom, but I also wanted to take this chance to talk to Natsukawa-san... Eh, what's wrong with you?"
Yet Masuzu ignored her surprised expression.
"Why...?"
Her sapphire-blue eyes widened. She stared at Yuigahama in shock, as if she'd just heard Nobita tell Gian he'd join him. She unconsciously took a step back.
"Why are you so JOJO?"
"So JOJO? Ah, do you mean you get the JOJO jokes?" Yuigahama realized. She laughed awkwardly, embarrassed. "Didn't I say earlier? I'll watch it when I get home—JoJo's Bizarre Adventure."
"Even though it's just to have common topics with you all, the volume is too much. Though the content is fascinating, I can't finish it quickly or catch up. So I asked Hina—my friend—to tell me the famous scenes and commonly used jokes. I plan to watch the specific plots later."
As if thinking of someone odd, Yuigahama smiled bitterly. "I especially remember the Stand Close-up because my friend specifically recommended that pairing. The rest, I haven't even finished reading Volume 1."
"...Close-up and Impact, Tiziano and Squalo." She took a stance as if facing a great enemy. Masuzu tensed her voice, speaking like she was revealing a password: "The only same-sex couple portrayed positively in JOJO, known as the Venice Pair... Is your friend a fujoshi?"
"Seems so?"
Unsure of the definition of fujoshi, Yuigahama answered uncertainly—but if that person were here, they'd probably proudly admit it, then enthusiastically promote the pairing.
"Hoo... So that's it."
Masuzu looked at her several times. Her sudden sense of psychological defense being breached slowly eased. She reached out, brushing her smooth, straight silver hair aside. Her aura of calm returned.
"Though you're my rival, and you're someone overly focused on love, your initiative to approach JOJO for the person you love makes me have to show you JOJO-level respect."
"Eh? You're respecting the JOJO part?" Yuigahama gave a strange smile, not at all pleased with the compliment.
"What else? Do you want me to say, 'Aah, so touching, you've changed for love~'?"
She raised and then lowered her tone. Masuzu shrugged. After confirming no one else could hear them, she openly revealed her feelings.
"Don't joke. If the JOJO element weren't there, I'd spit at you with all my strength—you, Dango Girl, chasing after someone else's boyfriend."
"I'm not chasing him! We're just acting like good friends now!" Her eyebrow twitched slightly. Yuigahama puffed one cheek. She said dissatisfiedly, "And I've said it countless times—please be self-aware as a fake girlfriend, okay? What's with that possessive attitude..."
"Sorry, I am a possessive person." Not wanting to dwell too long on this issue, Masuzu chose to change the subject. "What did you want to talk to me about privately? If it's a declaration of war, I suggest saying it in front of others—it'd be more effective."
"I don't want to do that." Yuigahama shook her head. She looked at her honestly. "I just saw Natsukawa-san's expression looking a bit off. I wanted to ask if you weren't feeling well... I feel you, like Yukinon, are the type who holds uncomfortable feelings inside and won't say them."
"What? You're worrying about your rival?" Masuzu couldn't help raising an eyebrow. She crossed her arms, her tone unconsciously becoming slightly sharp. "Or do you not consider me a rival at all, and you're just waiting for this mission to end to replace me—you came to talk to me with the mindset that pitying me doesn't matter?"
"...Ahaha, is that what you think?"
After a brief silence, Yuigahama let out a light sigh. A slightly sad, helpless smile appeared on her face.
"Even if Natsukawa-san sees me as a rival, I've never seen you as an enemy... It's not that I look down on you, but I don't want to fight over Yuu like a war."
"Hmph, a truce agreement?"
Masuzu frowned. But under her honest gaze, she unconsciously bit her lip. Even her sharp tone softened slightly.
"What good would it do if I defeated you? If Yuu doesn't like me, he'll still reject my confession... If Yuu likes you, he won't date me just because I do something. The place we should fight isn't against each other. That's what I think."
"So, me caring about Natsukawa-san—is it purely because... I just like meddling?"
Yuigahama scratched her cheek. "Ahaha, when we took the photo on the mountain, I wondered what happened between you and Yuu. After that, from your attitude, I became even more certain..."
"Look, only we know about the fake relationship. Yuu is involved. Yukino isn't good at actively caring for others. The only one who can listen to Natsukawa-san's heart is me—the rival you see."
Having made her conclusion, Yuigahama raised one finger. She lifted her head and chest, speaking as if it were natural: "So, if there's something you're bottling up, or a problem you can't solve, just tell me! Even if I can't give you a good answer, at least saying it will make you feel better."
"...Hah?"
No longer overacting, Masuzu stared at the dango-haired girl in front of her with a look of surprise, unable to comprehend.
Herself, who loved lies the most, didn't feel a single trace of dishonesty from her—though she hadn't literally licked her to verify, somehow, Masuzu still couldn't deny the sincerity and kindness in her words.
"...You—what are you, a fossil of a good person extinct since ancient times? Aren't you stupid? Are you an idiot?"
"I'm not a dinosaur! And your words are too exaggerated!"
After snapping back angrily, Yuigahama burst into laughter. She proudly placed her hands on her hips. "I'm not doing this just for you! Getting information only the two of you know, and learning more about Yuu—that's the greatest reward for me!"
Masuzu's lips whitened. She lowered her head in silence.
There was genuine care, and also a slight cunning only a girl could possess—
And someone like this shone hundreds of times brighter than her, always lying.
It was a charm a fake could never possess. This fake version of herself could only feel ashamed before the real thing. Even a little kindness felt blinding.
She couldn't approach, and she didn't want to—yet she still didn't want to give up so easily.
"Sorry, there's nothing I can say to you."
After a brief silence, Masuzu spoke in a voice that sounded hoarse and low. "You're Yuu's friend, not mine... Even if you're just a fake rival, I'm not that stupid to share my issues with you."
"...I see."
Pretending not to hear the voice filled with disappointment and sighing, Masuzu clenched her hands at her sides. She walked past her and out of the restroom.
"Me and him are fine, thanks for your concern... Well then, enjoy your meal."
"...Wait, at least say 'enjoy your toilet time'!"
(I'm not a friendless kid who brings food to the toilet to eat!)
Left alone in the restroom, Yuigahama watched the silver-haired girl's retreating back. She touched the dango on her head and murmured, "Such an awkward person—maybe only Yuu understands what she's thinking..."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Putting down his phone, Yuu looked toward Masuzu as she returned to her seat.
When their eyes met, Masuzu winked mischievously. She said with a bright smile, "What? Do you have a hobby of staring at girls who just came out of the restroom? Are you planning to sniff the scent too?"
Yuu hadn't spoken yet. Two disgusted glances turned toward him—Yukino and Yumiko, their prejudice against him seemingly deepening.
As for Ordinary Girl, perhaps because she'd seen his cool side at work, or maybe she understood that Masuzu was just the type who didn't speak normally, she only giggled softly beside them, watching from the side with little presence.
"...I just hope you remembered to wash your hands. Toilet habits in Japan and Sweden should be the same."
Yuu was already used to situations like this. He rolled his eyes and didn't intend to make a fuss.
"You worry too much. I lived in Japan until I was seven—I wouldn't be that stupid." He said casually. Masuzu pulled out her chair and sat. The waitress happened to bring the first dish—her bolognese spaghetti.
She frowned at the plate. Then she looked at Yuu with a pitiful expression.
"Sweetie, I can't finish it~"
It was so cheap that Yuu couldn't help rubbing his arm. Even Yukino showed a slightly uncomfortable expression.
"...I'll help you finish it." Yuu replied, holding his forehead.
"Wah~ Yuu's the best, so kind~" Clapping cheerfully, Masuzu cheered in an extremely fake tone.
Then she lowered her head. Her eyes hidden under her bangs' shadow, she smiled without laughter in her eyes: "I can feel it—your already-habitual attitude. Has another girl ever said this to you? How many girls' leftover plates have you eaten?"
"..."
Yuu stared at her wordlessly.
(Is this girl's sixth sense ranked A? Why is her intuition so accurate in things like this?)
Thanks to someone, he was indeed used to helping girls finish food they couldn't eat, didn't like, or found too spicy—his two statuses, Demon King of Eating and Fast Digestion, truly turned him into a human trash can. As long as it was edible, he had no problem eating any amount.
But since it was something he couldn't say, Yuu, of course, had no intention of admitting it. He simply brushed it off with an unchanged expression:
"I have a little sister at home. I just often help her eat food she doesn't like."
"Really?"
She asked suspiciously. The next second, Masuzu took his hand resting on the table. She licked his index finger with her warm, soft tongue, then carefully tasted it.
Then, she showed a sly, alluring smile. She said with deep meaning: "It feels like a lie."
Yuu stared at her wordlessly. "...Are you a specialized version of Bucciarati?"
Masuzu's eyes widened. She leaned back, blushing. She said shyly, "Do you want me to lick your cheek? I won't! Even if it's me, doing something like that in public is still a bit embarrassing."
She hadn't even finished speaking. Glances that looked like they were seeing a pervert returned toward her.
(My reputation is ruined... Whatever, I never had a good one anyway.)
Life was tough. Yuu sighed.
He let Masuzu laugh hysterically there. Yuu pulled his hand back and wiped it with a tissue.
He didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt she was slightly reluctant, as if she still wanted to lick him again, unconsciously swallowing saliva—Yuu pretended not to see. He asked helplessly:
"So, are you feeling better now?"
The unexpected question made Masuzu fall silent. She quickly returned to her perfect expression. She smiled and said, "Ah, what are you talking about? When was my mood ever bad?"
"It's fine if you don't want to admit it. At least now, I'll be by your side." He said in a voice only she could hear. Yuu pointed to her plate. "Eat. If you don't want to eat, I'll buy you jelly later. Weider in brand."
"..."
Masuzu fell silent. After a while, she picked up her fork. She shook her head without a smile.
"I can eat. Thanks for your concern."