Afterward, Yuu went to the juniors' second-year classroom and borrowed photography lights and a reflector stored there for extra lighting.
Though the equipment was already lent out and the plan to record the political views survey video had to be postponed, Iroha and Kanade didn't go home right away. Instead, they followed him to the Service Club room in the special building, ready to tackle the big task there.
"Senpai's filming a Cultural Festival performance video with the lady Senpais, right?"
Seeing Yuu nod, Iroha raised the video camera. She patted her smooth, not-very-muscular arm. Confidently smiled: "If you're all actors, who's gonna film? Leave it to me!"
"As a pro high school girl, I won't lose to anyone at shooting!"
"Filming's different from selfies… You sure you can?" Yuu looked doubtful.
"Mmm… Why not try once to find out!" Iroha, upset at being doubted by her senior, puffed her cheeks cutely. Held out her white palm like asking for money: "Got a script or plot? Let me see."
Yuu raised a brow: "Wow, pretty pro?"
"Of course~ My middle school dream was to be a blogger with tens of millions of followers, making money from videos!"
The fake-displeased face instantly brightened. Iroha lifted her chin. Sly smile bloomed again. Said with hidden pride: "Not just talk. I've read tons of books on cameras and visuals, made lots of cool videos myself—not a newbie like Senpai thinks."
"Really?" Yuu extended his hand: "Let me see."
"...No peeking! Anyway, Senpai's got no choice." Whatever landmine he stepped on, Iroha slapped his hand down hard. Expression flipped faster than a book page.
Turned her head annoyed. Attitude somehow hardened: "No script or plot, at least tell me what kind of film you're making."
"Fine. Though I haven't said you passed the interview…" Yuu slightly shrugged. Just as he was about to explain Yukino's earlier script outline, he felt a tug on his shirt hem.
Looked down, his eyes met a calm, clear lake-like pair.
"I want to help too. Anything I can do?"
If Iroha asked, Yuu might've waved her off, told her to play aside, too lazy to add troublemakers.
But now, stared at by Kanade's serious eyes, Yuu couldn't refuse, even with a heart of stone and anti-trouble stance.
Most importantly, since he didn't reject Iroha's camerawoman request, how could he exclude harmless Kanade?
As a human, he had to be fair!
"Let me think…" While thinking, Yuu unconsciously touched her small head. Then, under the cynical side-eye, casually withdrew: "Oh, right. We need someone to hold the reflector. You up for it?"
"Can do. I'm super strong!" Her eyes sparkled. Kanade answered firmly. To prove it, she lifted the reflector beside her high.
Her face still showed little expression. But from her light nasal breaths and straight back nearly tipping backward, she looked very proud, waiting for applause.
Yuu immediately clapped hard. Then looked at Iroha. His gaze encouraged and urged.
"Senpai's totally a lolicon…" Rolling eyes resignedly, Iroha fought the urge to smack her senior's head with the camera. She half-heartedly clapped twice so the sensitive senior wouldn't secretly target her again.
Clapping slowly stopped. Just as he was about to speak, the Service Club door suddenly opened. Yuigahama entered, confused.
"Yuu, why were you clapping… Eh, Iroha-chan and Kanade?"
"Yahallo, Yui-senpai~"
"Excuse me."
Yuigahama smiled, returning the casual and polite greetings. Looked at Yuu. Tilted head slightly: "They here to help?"
Yuu nodded: "Though I could shoot myself and stitch clips in post-production, others helping saves time. Full-take quality's better too."
Yuigahama suddenly remembered something. Scratched cheek shyly: "Meaning, we act in front of Iroha-chan and others? Ahaha, feels kinda nervous…"
"No need nervous, Yui-senpai!" Iroha smiled encouragingly. Said sincerely: "We've seen way more embarrassing scenes. Acting's nothing!"
"Guess you're right… Iroha-chan can roast like that too." Recalling the quiz incident, Yuigahama laughed more awkwardly. Felt like her dark history was exposed.
"Eh? Sorry, Yui-senpai!" Realizing her slip, Iroha quickly bowed. Explained earnestly: "Didn't mean it. Just talked with Senpai earlier, forgot to reset my tone!"
"Hey, kouhai, that how you treat Senpai?"
His tone dropped. Yuu reached for her head. Five-finger claw clearly not for affectionate pats.
Iroha reacted lightning-fast. Sensing her head about to be crushed, she ducked, hid behind Yuigahama. Confidently raised a brow—he wouldn't dare claw toward Yuigahama's chest!
In fact, though Yuu wasn't that bold, he still cared about his image, especially with Kanade watching.
(I'll punish you later)—He mouthed silently, with a villainous cold smile.
Iroha stuck out her tongue. Surface fearless, even mocking. But inside…
Her heart raced a little.
"Alright, alright, no more fighting." Yuigahama clapped. Softly asked both to stop glaring.
Pulled Iroha from behind. Glanced at Kanade beside Yuu. Voice paused, continued: "From now on, we're video-making friends. No fighting, no bullying. At least get along now!"
(They seem too close… Am I overthinking?)
With that thought, Yuigahama mentally shook her head. Corrected her nervous stance—suspecting pure-hearted Kanade as a love rival wasn't a girl in love, but a love-poisoned patient.
(No, no. Better suspect Iroha-chan… At least she, like Yukinon, bickers with Yuu-kun sometimes, like close peers. Not Senpai-kouhai at all.)
Like now, though not looking, they still sniped:
"Not interested in bullying little monkeys."
"If I'm a little monkey, Senpai's a horny gorilla."
Kanade enviously watched their banter. Wanted to join but didn't know what animal to call herself.
Silver hair—ferret?
Calm eyes lowered. Sank into complicated thoughts.
Service Club chaos lasted nearly ten minutes. Then the old door was pushed open again.
Of course, the habit was to knock first.
"Why so noisy?"
Yukino, finishing work lightning-fast, chose to push straight in. Slightly frowned, looked confused.
She'd heard music from the hallway. Weird-harmony Indian dance. Magical ayi ya yi ya yi~ nearly mentally polluted her from afar.
Yukino guessed—this was definitely Yuu's doing again.
But hadn't he borrowed equipment and was waiting in the clubroom to record the PV?
Could this be PV music?
Heh, then she'd need to think of the coolest dogeza (kneeling apology) pose soon.
After inwardly sneering, Yukino clearly saw the clubroom scene.
"…"
Time froze. Awkward silence lasted who-knows-how-long.
Seeing the hard-to-judge scene, Yukino slowly unfroze. Held her head like dizzy.
Cheeks twitched like cramps. Word by word, as if exhaling deeply from lung depths, with deep helplessness and resignation:
"What are you all doing in here…"
"That…"
Yuu, Yuigahama, and Iroha exchanged looks. Secretly stopped their Three Brave Siblings pose. Casually cleared throats, quickly returned to seats like good kids.
"Nothing, nothing."
Kanade aimed the camera at the door, faithfully recording Yukino's rare pout.
Setting aside the slightly indecent overplaying scene.
Learning the two juniors came to help, Yukino only slightly frowned, said little—seemed she too worried about acting embarrassment before others. But since all agreed, she had no intent to oppose alone.
No more small talk. After confirming roles, she pulled out her written script, distributed one by one.
Though called a script, just a notebook sheet.
Yukino finished it during break. Photocopied five earlier. Took extras for backup, didn't expect immediate use.
"Wrote it as a written storyboard. Treat it as the script. But this is just for the thirty-second PV. Main film needs more time. I'll write it after going home."
Standing before the whiteboard, Yukino crossed arms. Expression serious, confident.
Watched their faces as they read. Calm voice fell in the air.
"Main goal is to clarify our trio's relationship to the students… Though I personally oppose doing this just for those people, the theme stays Friendship Born from Misunderstanding."
"This teaser scene should hook their interest."