"Do you also like acting recklessly when kissing others?"
"What? I don't! Something sacred like a kiss—how could it be tainted by dirty desires?"
"Then why did your hand wander over my shoulder strap multiple times? And who kept holding my waist during the whole thing?"
"Cough cough, I was just a bit nervous while kissing and didn't know where to put my hands."
"…Pervert."
Leaving the Service Club room, Yukino glared accusingly; the red on her face hadn't faded, her pearl-like teeth biting her sakura-pink glossy lips, showing slight resentment but more like venting shyness.
"Next time, keep your hands properly on my shoulders—no random touching!"
This undeniable order—her soft voice lacked much intimidating power, instead making one want to tease her more.
But Yuu knew the girl whose first kiss he'd just taken needed time to calm down. He couldn't let her experience too much at once, or Yukino might feel disgusted, even see him as a kiss maniac.
Gradually, he wanted to nurture her carefully and gently, like fragile melting ice crystal.
"I promise—next time I won't!"
Saying it earnestly, he wasn't dumb enough to say something stupid like there will be a next time—he just licked his lips as if recalling the texture, then grinned, showing an extremely happy smile.
"You…"
Seeing his idiotic expression, Yukino couldn't hold back a thin smile, feeling shy yet sweet in her heart.
For some reason, the urge to kiss rose again; her heart still raced, body heat seeming to boil her blood.
For a noble girl's pride, Yukino decided to ignore it momentarily, quickening her steps to let cold wind cool her hot face alone.
Yuu's legs were long; he easily caught up in a few strides and reached for her slim clean white hand.
"Yuki…"
But the moment his fingers touched, Yukino jerked away like electrocuted.
Both stopped simultaneously, staring wide-eyed; sudden silence pierced their eardrums.
"No, this…!"
Realizing her reflex, seeing Yuu's slightly stunned expression, Yukino couldn't help panicking, squeezing her hands, face paling, hastily explaining:
"This is still school—if someone sees, all our previous efforts will…"
"Yukino, would I get mad over something like this?"
Yuu cut her off; expression relaxed again, waving casually and laughing lightly: "You know me, and I know you—how could I not know what you're worried about? Instead, I should apologize. I'm the one two-timing but didn't even consider what I should, sorry for making you worry."
Hearing his gentle tone, Yukino slowly relaxed her hands but didn't feel relieved.
"No, this is my problem…" She furrowed her brows, voice low; sadness clouded her beautiful white face.
"Even though I know no one passes here, I overreacted as if I hate you touching me… Sorry, it must feel really bad, right?"
Turning sideways, long hair hiding her expression; regretful sighs spread in the cold corridor.
Normally, Yukino might just say sorry and lightly consider it settled, right?
But just last night she resolved to save Yuu, yet not even 24 hours passed, and she hurt his feelings with her actions…
Breaking a promise wasn't the worst—the worst was not wanting Yuu to misunderstand, not wanting him to smile outside but feel sad inside upon returning.
She never thought she'd care so much about something small.
"Yukino, this isn't like you."
Seeing her dejected expression, Yuu sighed helplessly.
But this wasn't the first time he'd seen a girl change after dating.
Asuna was milder, but Haruno and Masuzu—basically with twisted personalities—were completely different people before and after sincerely dating; their honest adorable expressions without falsehood—if known by those who knew them, anyone would say, "This isn't like you."
Even clear-minded pure truthful Yukino couldn't escape the fate of changing.
Yuu once heard a saying.
—Once a girl starts dating, her heart is no longer clear.
Her heart filled with dense love threads, tied tighter; pull a thread end slightly and it might leave blood marks; pull harder and her heart shatters—painful of course, but she won't let go, only hoping someday everything becomes beautiful.
Because there's someone loved, things she'll love in the future will be more and more important than herself.
Not just them—Yuu too. Though painful, this was proof they loved each other.
"Even if I say I don't mind, you still won't feel relieved just like that, right?"
He stood beside Yukino, doing nothing, just staring at light spots from the corridor end, letting his voice softly spread in the air.
"So next time we're alone, I'll collect this debt."
The girl hugging her arms and hanging her head in sadness paused, as if secretly lifting her head, staring at him with slight doubt.
"You… what will you do?"
"Telling you won't be fun—making you anxious is one way I tease you." Yuu laughed tilting his head, finger gently scratching her cute prominent nose.
"If you're unhappy, you can collect this debt from me anytime."
Pursing lips and silent a moment, Yukino lowered her hands, sighing amusedly: "Idiot, won't this become endless?"
"Isn't that better?" Yuu raised a brow, saying seriously: "In our industry, endlessly entangling with beautiful girls is a reward."
"Such an industry better disappear quickly," Yukino criticized mercilessly.
Then she sighed softly, finally returning to her usual calm cold appearance.
"Up to you… Anyway, if too excessive, I'll fight back."
"Hmm?" Yuu stared surprised: "The one saying I'm excessive doesn't know who got more excessive while kissing earlier… Ouch!"
Pulling back her foot that kicked Yuu's calf, the girl expressionless, white hand brushing long hair from her shoulder.
Sunlight and lead-powder black blended in the air; she stepped toward the stairs with graceful spirited posture.
At the same time, Yukino said calmly: "If you make me late with your nonsense, I'll try avoiding being alone with you for the next week."
This tone—truly like a wife saying to her husband: "Sleep on the sofa tonight."
Yuu stood in place, mouth corners twitching watching Yukino's back, holding back all complaints he wanted to voice.
(Others vent shyness with shoulder pats or small fist chest punches—why do you kick the calf!)
(Good thing my muscles are hard enough—the harder you kick, only you'll hurt…)
"Why still standing there? Do you really want to be late?"
Yukino stopped before the stairs and suddenly turned.
Brows slightly furrowed, one white cheek slightly puffed, eyes showing dissatisfaction and urging—like a child waiting for parents to hold hands, completely unlike the cold beauty earlier.
Yuu immediately dropped other thoughts, smiled, walked three steps in two to her side—not holding hands, they descended stairs together, maintaining usual distance.
Nearly inaudible sounds slowly spread by cold corridor wind.
"Such endlessness—how far into the future can it last, huh…"
"What?" Yuu tilted his head confused.
Though very close, Yukino muttered softly enough Yuu couldn't hear clearly—as if the girl knew how good his hearing was.
Yukino smiled small and suddenly asked: "Anyone around?"
Though not understanding, Yuu opened all five senses, carefully sensing movement above and below.
Like a school inhabited only by them, in this corner special building, only their breathing and heartbeats.
"Report—no one."
"Good."
Saying that, Yukino pulled Yuu's collar, tiptoed, and kissed him.
She didn't even bother closing eyes—just staring softly calmly at Yuu's wide eyes, as if conveying endless longing.
Maybe only three or four seconds—before sweetness seeped, lips parted.
She adjusted Yuu's collar as if nothing happened and continued down the stairs.
Yuu unconsciously followed, like a doll whose consciousness was sucked, steps even slightly unsteady.
Moments later, he snapped back and asked doubtfully:
"…Um, Miss Yukino?"
"What?"
"Next time you ambush, can you tell me first?"
"If I tell you, it's no longer an ambush, right? Or—you don't like it?"
"Like it—I like it, in fact, please do it more often…"
"I knew you'd say that." Yukino sneered disgustedly; her profile showed cold indifferent beauty, but ear tips clearly tinged red.
"This is also one way I tease you—welcome to retaliate in the future… as long as no one else sees."
"…"
Yuu was speechless.
(She's the shy one, she's the proactive one; she's the cold one, she's the gentle one; she's the guilty one, she's the unwilling-to-lose one.)
(The closer we get, the more sides of Yukino I see…)
(So adorable to this extent—how could I not love her more!)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Fifth-floor club building corridor.
Utaha set down her binoculars, watching them walk away, biting red bean bread, muttering thoughtfully:
"Is the girl written in the notebook her… She doesn't look that cruel."
"Could she be a hidden yandere? Seeing her boyfriend flirt with another girl on cultural festival day, she gets angry and stabs his chest with a knife?"
Guessing, she pulled the black notebook from her school bag and reread last night's content.
No change—the prophecy of Yuu being heart-stabbed by a certain woman still clearly written.
Frowning and sighing softly, Utaha stored binoculars and notebook, leaving with her bread.
Her long straight black-stockinged legs stomped the floor hard; all the way, only her angry complaints remained.
"Annoying—why am I dragged into his love problems? I only stalked him once—I haven't even talked to him…"
"I just want to be a story writer, not a character in the story!"
"I can't reveal his future—how do I prevent him from being stabbed… Guh uh uh uh uh, damn! I'm just a pure romance novelist—I've never written plots like this!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Completely unaware someone spied from that far with binoculars.
Yuu returned to class just in time and immediately received Yuigahama's curious gaze from the back seat.
[Tell me everything you did later!]
Yuu nodded, agreeing very firmly.
After all, after kissing in the Service Club, he'd told Yukino he'd confess everything they did to Yuigahama.
Though a bit shy, Yukino—considering herself the newcomer—had no intent to hide anything from Yuigahama, Yuu's official girlfriend.
If Yuigahama asked, Yukino would surely tell everything honestly.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
One lesson quickly ended; Yuu was pulled by Yuigahama to a quiet corner—every school building has such inexplicably unpassed spots; here Masuzu officially faced Yuigahama last time.
Stared silently by Yuigahama's big watery eyes, Yuu—who'd just stood straight—immediately recounted what happened after entering the Service Club.
Feeding each other, daydreaming over tea, kissing with the mood, hand slapped away in corridor, forced kiss on stairs…
Yuigahama didn't interrupt; after hearing his short afternoon story, she sighed with indescribable emotion.
"So Yukinon is just like me—likes forcing kisses on Yuu-kun…"
Yuu immediately showed a confused face: "No—explain first what you mean by likes? Once can be forgiven—do you plan to do it again? You two are kiss maniacs?!"
Accused by him, Yuigahama immediately flushed shyly, leaned against the wall, and looked away.
"Ahahaha, I misspoke—not likes… But forcing a kiss on Yuu-kun gives a sense of achievement—or call it conquest? Anyway like that—don't overthink…"
"How can I not overthink—turns out all my girlfriends have potential S sides…"
"Sigh, at most I'll let you force a kiss back on me!" She pouted as if compromising, closed eyes, lifted her face; cheeks tinged with slight excited red, even faintly showing some hope.
"We agreed, right? Whatever you do with Yukino, you can't forget me!"
This was the rule for having two girlfriends.
Though sharing the boyfriend was her best friend, in this Yuigahama couldn't compromise.
"…Fine." After confirming no one around, Yuu sighed soundlessly; expression turned serious, and he leaned down to kiss her.
The moment lips touched, the girl wrapped both arms around his back, tiptoed hard, and responded very enthusiastically.
As if fingers chilled in winter, craving more warmth and caresses.