After breakfast, the kendo club coach gathered everyone in the locker room, filled with the scent of male sweat, to prepare for the match and give a pep talk.
Naturally, Yuu was among them. After joining the other kendo club members in stacking hands and shouting the slogan "Sobu Sobu, Zenkoku Bubu!" he said to Yukino, who was waiting outside:
"I suddenly remembered, where's your sister? If my guess is right, she should be staying at this inn too."
Yukino was visibly surprised. "She is staying here… How did you know? Did she tell you?"
"No. It's just that after chatting with her yesterday, I felt she could pop up anytime near you, shouting about wanting to watch the match."
Yuu spread his hands, indicating it was just a guess. He asked casually, not too concerned about Haruno's whereabouts.
Masuzu, who was pulling a notebook from her pocket, paused. Then she put it back as if nothing had happened.
"You guessed pretty accurately."
Yukino, who knew her sister's character well, didn't doubt his words. She only massaged her temples and sighed. "Indeed. She did say that to me on the phone last night… I don't know where my sister is now. Maybe she overslept? Anyway, she'll definitely show up, though I'd rather she went back to Tokyo."
"You must be exhausted."
Yuu nodded indifferently. Once his curiosity was satisfied, he quickly changed the topic.
In front of Yukino, he wasn't lying at all, but he wasn't entirely honest either.
Like the fact that Haruno's real target was him, and that she even secretly climbed his balcony last night, tried to sneak in but failed, and had to retreat while sneezing. Yuu couldn't possibly say that. It'd be troublesome if he was questioned further. He had no choice but to cover for Haruno.
More importantly, his jealous girlfriend was right beside him. If he said too much, she might grill him again about whether he liked mature older sisters with big chests.
If his excuse was that he was worried about his ex-girlfriend's whereabouts, that'd still be understandable… But he'd have to be insane to say that.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Soon after, in an atmosphere brimming with tension, excitement, and burning enthusiasm, everyone packed their things and stepped out of the inn's entrance.
The battle was about to begin. This gathering was to head to the competition venue, Kyoto University's gymnasium, to prepare.
The participants carried their protective gear and bamboo sword bags, ready to face the fight fully equipped. Meanwhile, the others looked far more relaxed, like middle schoolers heading to watch a baseball game. Yuigahama even suggested bringing popcorn and drinks.
Of course, the moment she said it, Yukino shot it down mercilessly.
"Kendo is far more serious and sacred than baseball. While there are no specific rules for spectating, you should still maintain etiquette to avoid getting dirty looks…"
Before she could finish her lecture, Masuzu stepped in front of Yuigahama. She frowned and stared at Yukino, her tone filled with admirable righteousness.
"Yukinoshita-san, that's enough. Dango-chan was just joking. You don't have to take it so seriously, do you?"
The corner of Yukino's eye twitched. "…"
Yuigahama was bewildered. "I-I mean, I'm glad you're defending me… But I wasn't joking…"
"What's wrong with wanting to eat and drink when you're hungry!" Masuzu changed her statement without changing her expression. "If Yukinoshita-san cares too much about rules, your body won't develop properly… Look at Dango-chan as proof. You need to repent!"
"Why don't you just say I'm fat!?" Yuigahama was on the verge of tears.
With a baffled expression, as if looking at a lunatic, Yukino shook her head and walked toward the bus without looking back.
"Yuigahama-san, until she's fully back to normal, I suggest you ignore her for now."
Masuzu said discontentedly, "Your words are so hurtful. Everything I did was sincere—only 30% was teasing you guys."
"So there's still 30%... No, this isn't the time to complain." Yuigahama furrowed her brows, looking at her in confusion. "Natsukawa-san, you're so weird today! It's not that I don't want to be friends with you, but your attitude… It feels too forced. It's actually scarier."
"…Really?" Hearing that, Masuzu couldn't help pressing her lips together. She stroked her long hair, lowered her head in thought for a moment, then sighed in resignation.
"Sorry, since I don't have any female friends, I really don't know what to do."
"Friends?" Yuigahama blinked in surprise.
"Yes. Simply put, I want to be friends with you, Yuigahama-san."
Though she admitted it frankly, her snow-white, delicate face flushed. Her gaze shifted restlessly, and her fingers behind her back fidgeted nervously.
Yuigahama stared at her unique expression in shock. Her mouth hung slightly open. Many questions arose, but in the end, only one sentence came out:
"Why?"
"As thanks for bringing my bag last night, let me be your friend for a few days… Haha, I can't say something arrogant like that."
She laughed casually, but Masuzu's steps quickened toward the bus.
From behind, even the back of her ears was red. Amid her swaying silver hair, it looked like a bright red plum blossom in the snow.
"It's not an important reason… I just want to start changing from the simplest things."
Her voice, deliberately lowered to hide her embarrassment, carried clearly with the breeze.
"…"
Yuigahama stared at her back.
She fell silent, as if the voices of others calling her to board the bus vanished from her world.
Only her racing heartbeat pounded, as if it could strike her eardrums.
"…People who fall for Yuu-kun really get changed by him."
She muttered. Yet she couldn't help but smile.
As if seeing herself in another world, achieving a dream she'd abandoned, she smiled reluctantly but proudly.
What could she do? After all… Yuu was the boy she'd loved for three years and could never forget.
"Yuu-kun, you have to find happiness too."
With that simple wish, Yuigahama prayed.
Then she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes. With a relieved smile, she followed the others, enthusiastically discussing the upcoming kendo championship.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Kurayuri Girls' Academy, rest area.
"The match doesn't start until this afternoon. Where should we go this morning…"
"How about going to Shimogamo Shrine again? Who knows, maybe we'll run into that handsome guy again…"
Yuuki Asuna, passing behind her two juniors, overheard their conversation. After a resigned sigh, she reached out and tapped both their heads.
"Rie, Yuko, we're here to compete, not sightsee… If the coach finds out we're sneaking off again, don't say I didn't cover for you, okay?"
"Y-Yuuki-senpai?!"
As if caught by a demon instructor, the two juniors jumped to their feet, standing ramrod straight with serious faces. Only their hands rubbed sweat against their thighs, and their calves trembled as if cramping.
"We were just talking. We weren't really planning to sneak out!"
"Please forgive us!"
"Eh…" Asuna scratched her cheek, unable to hold back a wry smile. "Don't be so nervous. Am I that scary?"
"…"
The two juniors didn't dare utter a word. They could only stare at their noses, praying she'd leave soon.
They couldn't be blamed for being so timid. The senior before them was the new ace of Kurayuri Girls' Academy's fencing club.
Though only a second-year, she'd defeated everyone from the coach to the main players who competed in last year's nationals, claiming the Queen's Seat in the fencing club. Both her character and strength were deeply respected.
She excelled in academics and sports, was beautiful, and had a gentle personality. She always greeted with a smile and didn't act like a rich kid at all.
Such a perfect existence—perhaps only the fencing club members could understand the terror and madness hidden within her…
Simply put, this senior loved real combat.
She enjoyed slaughtering the entire fencing club every so often under the guise of training.
She rarely held back and never lost.
Her meteor-like sword thrusts, relentless attacks, and fierce aura, as if venting something unpleasant, gave most club members PTSD. They reflexively trembled when they saw her pick up her fencing sword. Their respect and fear for her grew even deeper.
Compared to the coach, who'd decided to relax until she graduated, the elite athletes competing in this national championship were even more afraid to offend the brown-haired girl smiling gently and looking puzzled in front of them.
"Haaah, whatever you want."
Asuna shook her head. Used to this treatment, she didn't feel too sad.
But before she left to train, her eyes glanced at the phone screen on her junior's table.
It was a side-profile photo of a boy. Since it was taken secretly, the angle and clarity weren't great. She could only tell he was a handsome guy, standing in front of a World Heritage Site plaque, looking deep in thought.
But for some reason, Asuna couldn't look away from the photo. She even unconsciously stepped forward. Ignoring her juniors' screams as they hopped away like rabbits, she picked up the phone.
"This…"
"Senpai, we're really sorry! Please don't confiscate our phones!"
"We promise we'll win the championship this time! Even if you take it, please give it back after the match!"
"Calm down. I'm not planning to take your phone." Ignoring their near-tearful expressions, Asuna frowned. She stared at the face in profile. Her expression grew serious, but her tone carried confusion.
"Can you tell me the name of the person you photographed?"