"Okay..." Yuigahama Yui stood up reluctantly.
"Yuigahama, if you really want to help Akira-kun, it would be better if you learned cooking. That way, he could save time, and you'd also get to stay with him more often." Yukinoshita Yukino whispered softly, offering her suggestion.
"Thank you, Yukinon!" Yuigahama Yui said, her eyes sparkling.
"You're welcome. Just be careful on the way back." Yukinoshita Yukino's lips curved into a gentle smile.
"Yukinon, if the work ever gets too hard, let Akira-kun help you. Don't try to shoulder it all alone." Yuigahama Yui said seriously.
"I know. Thank you..for the advice...If I ever feel tired, I won't hesitate to lean on him." Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Akira, smiling faintly as she spoke.
"Goodbye, Yukino." Akira said casually, as he called her by her first name.
Yukinoshita Yukino shot him a glare.
Yuigahama Yui giggled, covered her mouth, waved, and then left with Akira.
...
They stepped out of Flash Animation Productions and headed toward the station.
"Akira-kun, don't always make Yukinon angry. She's actually a very gentle person."
"Mm.Yukinon has taught me quite a lot."
"She even told me once that sometimes it's okay to get angry, because then the other person will learn to cherish you more."
Yui kept talking, each sentence sounding like it was praising Yukino.
Akira listened in silence, studying her expression.
"Yui, do you think she has any experience in love?" he asked suddenly.
"Eh?" Yuigahama Yui froze.
"You already have a boyfriend, and yet you still listen to her advice about relationships. Does that make sense?" Akira continued.
"Akira-kun, that's mean of you to say." Yuigahama Yui's voice dropped, pouting.
"Listen to me more. I'm your boyfriend, the one you love the most. Don't put her words above mine. What if Yukino secretly likes me, and she's just trying to drive you away with that advice?" Akira said with a serious face.
"Yukinon isn't like that! And she definitely doesn't like Akira-kun." Yuigahama Yui argued, clearly unconvinced.
Akira didn't push further. He simply looked at her Yukino, smiling.
The truth is often harder to believe.
The two of them boarded the tram.
By the time they got off, the sky was already dark.
Akira walked Yui home, stopped in front of her door, then turned to leave.
Yuigahama Yui watched his retreating back.
The smile on her face slowly disappeared, replaced with a quiet loneliness.
...
Early Friday Morning – Akira's Bedroom,
Akira stared at the manga manuscript laid out in front of him.
The first chapter of Non Non Biyori was finally finished.
The plot felt a little thin, but the characters—delicately drawn with exquisite detail—were easily of professional quality, at the level of top illustrators.
Even if the story itself was plain, the art alone could draw in readers.
Satisfied, he placed the completed manuscript into a file bag and slipped it into his bag.
He wanted Yuigahama Yui to be the very first person to read the complete first chapter.
After changing into his uniform and finishing his morning routine, Akira made a simple breakfast. He glanced outside occasionally while continuing to eat.
The weather was clear, the breeze drifting in through the window light and refreshing.
After finishing his meal, he headed downstairs.
Just as he reached the first floor, the sound of a door opening caught his ear.
He turned and saw Shizuka Hiratsuka-sensei yawning, still a little groggy.
Normally, he never saw her this early. She always slept in and drove to school later. But today…
Akira glanced up at the sun's position. It was just around seven o'clock.
"Fujimiya-kun, stop spacing out. It's time to head to school." Hiratsuka said, brushing past him.
Akira looked at her back and sighed, then followed.
The two of them walked out of Sakurasou together.
Akira deliberately kept a bit of distance. It wasn't that he cared about being seen—it was that Hiratsuka, waking up this early, definitely wanted to have a long talk.
"You had Hikigaya Hachiman join the tennis club. It looks like it's working out, but whether he really changes or not is still unknown," Hiratsuka said, glancing at him.
"True. That's why I plan to get closer to him through his sister." Akira replied.
"You know him that well?"
"Not very well. But enough."
"Still, thank you. I really hope he changes before summer vacation."
"I'll try my best."
Hiratsuka nodded slightly, but her eyes lingered on him.
The reason she had gotten up early wasn't just because of Hikigaya Hachiman.
Last night, she had spoken briefly with Yukinoshita Haruno and learned some troubling things about Yukino and Akira.
Apparently, when Yukinoshita Yukino was around Akira, she was slowly lowering her emotional defenses.
But the problem was obvious: Akira already had a girlfriend—Yuigahama Yui—who happened to be Yukino's friend.
Haruno's intentions were clear as day —
She wanted Akira to become Yukino's boyfriend, and she was even scheming to create situations where the two could get closer.
Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, Akira had left Yukino behind at the studio one day. Yet, according to Yukino's driver, the two of them had been seen holding hands.
Normally, holding hands could be brushed off as something between friends. But Yukinoshita Yukino? She was not the type to allow that kind of contact so casually.
Hiratsuka had been torn ever since.
If Akira was the one who initiated it, then he was being unfaithful.
But if Yukino had been the one, that would be even more shocking. Someone so proud, taking her best friend's boyfriend's hand? Unimaginable.
That was why Hiratsuka hadn't confronted Yukino directly.
The girl was already balancing work and family expectations. A distraction now could ruin her chances of gaining her mother's approval.
Still, the thought gnawed at her. And now, walking beside Akira, she couldn't hold back any longer.
"Akira-kun, what exactly is your relationship with Yukinoshita?" she asked directly.
"She admitted that I'm her friend." Akira said without hesitation.
"Just friends? Then explain the handholding. Yukinoshita doesn't let people hold her hand just because they're friends." Hiratsuka narrowed her eyes.
"Holding hands was… a kind of encouragement." Akira paused, then answered.
"Encouragement?" Hiratsuka frowned.
"You might not believe me, but when I hold Yukino's hand, I can think of more stories." Akira said, his gaze fixed forward.
"…" Hiratsuka fell silent.
She hadn't expected that answer. It was unreasonable—completely—but also strangely sincere.
"Sensei, the reason I joined the Service Club was to observe Yukinoshita Yukino. She inspires many of my stories. In my eyes, she's a special existence." Akira's tone was firm.
"...What about Yuigahama Yui?" Hiratsuka asked.
"There's no conflict between having a girlfriend and admiring someone else.Besides, they're good friends." Akira replied evenly.
Hiratsuka stared at him, her mouth half-open. Something about his words made her feel off balance.
"I know what you're worried about, Sensei. Don't. I'll handle this properly. I won't let you down." Akira said calmly.
"…I'm glad you understand. But remember, Yuigahama Yui and Yukinoshita Yukino are both kind and gentle girls. In the end, you can only choose one." Hiratsuka finally said.
Akira nodded without replying further.
...
At Sobu High School,
Akira changed his shoes at the entrance and glanced toward the gate.
Yukino wasn't there today.
When he entered the classroom, his eyes fell on Hikigaya Hachiman.
Hachiman was chatting with Totsuka Saika, his face betraying no awareness that Saika was actually a boy.
Akira then glanced toward Ebina Hina.
She was staring at the two while scribbling furiously on a sheet of paper. Akira didn't need to look closely to know she was crafting some outrageous BL scenario.
"Good morning, Akira-kun." Yuigahama Yui appeared with a bright smile, placing a lunchbox on his desk.
"The first chapter of my manga is finished. I want you to be my first reader." Akira said, putting away the lunchbox and handing her the file bag.
Yui's eyes lit up.
She carefully opened it, and when she saw the pages inside, her expression turned into one of pure surprise.
The characters were beautiful and lively. The scenery—villages, animals, landscapes under cherry blossoms—looked almost real.
When she turned to the final page, she froze, staring at it for several minutes before finally closing the file.
"Well?" Akira asked.
"Akira-kun… can we go to a place like this during summer vacation?" Yui asked, her voice filled with longing.
"Of course. But in a place like that…"
"Yukinon probably knows somewhere like it. Maybe her family has a villa in the countryside." Yui suggested.
"Yui… are you saying the three of us should travel together?" Akira looked at her with a strange expression.
"Yes!" She said, as she clenched her hand in excitement.
...
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