"Eh, Yui, Yukino! What are you saying?"
Yui Yuigahama hurriedly and flusteredly spoke. She had originally been thinking about the singing techniques Yukino had just taught her, as well as how she should correct herself according to Yukino's words.
What Yukino Yukinoshita had just said was indeed unpleasant to hear. After all, they were the same age, classmates, and yet suddenly it felt like being scolded harshly by a strict teacher. Anyone would feel a little unhappy inside.
Yui's personality was indeed somewhat submissive, but that was only toward Kotomi Izumi. If it had been Kotomi speaking to her in the same or an even harsher tone, even if Kotomi had hit her a few times, Yui wouldn't have gotten angry or felt upset. She would have only thought of hitting herself, believing it was all her fault for being so stupid and making Kotomi angry.
But Yukino's strong tone earlier had indeed made Yui a little unhappy, and she instinctively wanted to argue back. Still, she clearly understood that although Yukino's words were unpleasant, they were truthful. They pointed out the mistakes in her singing—whether she realized them or not.
Yukino had corrected her in time to ensure that their cultural festival performance in a few days would go perfectly without error.
Thinking this way, Yui calmed herself down and patiently listened to Yukino's guidance, firmly remembering the parts she needed to fix.
Being scolded by Yukino left her feeling a bit upset, but she didn't want to disappoint Kotomi. She had to sing these two songs even better. That was exactly how Yui felt just now. After Yukino finished speaking, Yui, who had been uncertain about how to sing certain lines, suddenly felt a sense of clarity.
If she sang again, she was certain she could do it better.
Yui was full of confidence.
But unexpectedly, before she could say she was ready to sing again—
The Yukino Yukinoshita who had pressured her so much she could hardly breathe, suddenly bowed deeply to apologize, leaning forward so Yui could easily hit her.
But Yui had never even thought of hitting her!
On the contrary, after finishing another round of singing, Yui had been planning to thank Yukino. What Yukino had just taught her had helped her understand how to sing those lyrics more beautifully.
"My tone just now, and the words I spoke, were so condescending that they were unpleasant to hear. Thinking back, even I feel disgusted with my attitude.
"Yui, I'm sorry. Don't worry about anything—just hit me. Hit me wherever you want. If you feel that just using your hand isn't enough, even using a tool, I won't have any complaints."
Yukino refused to straighten up, still holding her bow, as though saying: If you don't hit me, I won't rise.
Yui Yuigahama stood before Yukino, at a complete loss. She was definitely not someone who would hit others. Her gentle nature came from her mother, and throughout her life, the only person she had ever hit was her own mischievous younger sister, Yuka.
And even that was only when Yuka had been too naughty.
Don't be fooled by Yuka acting like a well-behaved angel in front of Kotomi—she used to be so mischievous that "three days without a beating and she'd tear the roof off."
But right now, Yukino was acting like if Yui didn't hit her, she would keep bowing forever.
Yui, helpless, looked toward Kotomi. Feeling Yui's troubled gaze, Kotomi chuckled softly and stood up. With Yui's little head, she really couldn't handle this situation. In fact, even most high schoolers—or even college students—wouldn't know how to deal with a friend apologizing in this way and asking them to hit her.
There was no standard answer for what to do. It required adaptability.
After her brief surprise, Kotomi had been quietly observing. She understood Yukino and Yui's personalities.
Yui was a gentle girl. From the moment Kotomi met her until now, she had never once seen Yui get angry. Even when something made her unhappy, she wouldn't vent her feelings outward. She would only bear it silently in her heart.
Her mother often said Yui was a hopelessly stubborn girl, telling Kotomi to be kinder to her.
Kotomi had never given Yui verbal assurances, but deep down she understood Yui's stubborn devotion. Even if Yui knew running into a wall would leave her with a bloody head, as long as Kotomi pointed toward the wall, Yui Yuigahama would run into it without hesitation.
Not turning back after hitting a dead end? No, Yui would hit the wall and still not turn back. Unless Kotomi told her to turn back, Yui definitely wouldn't hit Yukino. But Yukino's earnest personality meant that if Yui didn't hit her today, she might really keep bowing to Yui without rising—no matter how many times Yui said she forgave her. As long as Yui didn't hit her, Yukino would keep dwelling on it.
Kotomi had thought she had already managed to reconcile most of the contradictions between Yukino and Yui's personalities.
But looking at it now, her dream of holding Yui in her left arm and Yukino in her right, the three of them living harmoniously and happily together, was still a long way off.
Kotomi stepped forward, giving Yui a meaningful look, like a mother demonstrating to her daughter how to handle this situation.
But Yui didn't understand what Kotomi's look meant at all.
She thought Kotomi was winking at her instead, and her cute face immediately flushed red. With a shy yet reproachful expression, her eyes seemed to say: Kotomi, you're awful! This isn't the time for flirting!
Inside, though, Yui was delighted.
At this moment, Yui Yuigahama perfectly matched Kotomi's dream of a gentle, virtuous little wife.
Although Kotomi wanted to complain about the silly misunderstanding, when she saw Yui's expression so much like that of a shy wife, she instead began imagining their future together—how many children they would have, and what their names would be.
At least, the first child had to be named Ayumu Izumi.
That was a little obsession of Kotomi's.
Coming between the two of them, Kotomi raised her hands and pinched both Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama's cheeks.
She applied a little force, and after a while finally let go.
It was like how kindergarten kids fought, grabbing each other's cheeks, neither side giving in.
But now Kotomi looked more like she was suppressing them one-sidedly—like a tiger subduing two lambs.
"Ah!"
Yui Yuigahama covered her cheek shyly, her face blushing red. It wasn't from the pinch itself—although Kotomi had used a little strength, she had controlled it within a painless range.
Yui only felt embarrassed that Kotomi had pinched her cheek in front of Yukino. In her eyes, Kotomi's action seemed like playful flirting.
And with Yukino still standing nearby, Yui felt like she could die of shame. She lowered her little head, staring at the floor as though searching for a crack to crawl into—never realizing that if there really was a crack, she'd just fall to the floor below.
Wait—what?
Kotomi had pinched Yukino's cheek too?!
Yui's embarrassment instantly lessened, but in its place surged jealousy. Even though she hadn't confessed yet, hadn't become Kotomi's girlfriend, seeing Kotomi being so physically close with another girl made her heart puff up angrily as she shouted inside: Kotomi, you flirt!
"Kotomi, what are you doing?!"
Yukino Yukinoshita instinctively straightened, covering her cheek that Kotomi had so mercilessly pinched. Normally an aloof ice beauty, her refined face was now flushed bright red.
The more she thought about Kotomi having pinched her cheek, the shyer she felt, and she couldn't help but turn her face away.
Seeing the ice queen blush, Kotomi felt as though something dangerous inside her had awakened again.
But for now, she suppressed it. Better to focus on diffusing the awkward atmosphere first.
Kotomi cleared her throat and said:
"The three-person band was formed by me, so naturally, the position of captain should go to me, right?"
"When did we ever discuss who the captain was? Forget it… If you're the captain, I have no objections." Yukino Yukinoshita spoke softly, her cheeks still faintly pink.
"And Yui?"
"I think Kotomi is the most suitable person to be captain!" Yui replied without hesitation.
Yui Yuigahama nodded vigorously. Even if Kotomi weren't suited to be the captain, she would still say she was.
Because when it came to everything, big or small, this silly girl Yui was always biased toward Kotomi.
Besides, simply analyzing the three of them, the most suitable person for captain really was Kotomi.
The so-called captain didn't necessarily have to be the strongest in the group, or always the center position, but had to be the spiritual leader who could connect every member together.
Even though Kotomi's band only had her, Yukino, and Yui.
With Kotomi's way of handling things, even if she were given a band of more than ten people or a group of idols, she could still manage them flawlessly. If anything, she was better suited to being a producer.
On a side note, Kotomi had once been deeply addicted to idol-raising mobile games.
"Alright, since you both acknowledge me as the captain, then my actions just now were completely reasonable.
Yui, you did sing incorrectly earlier. Pinching your cheek a little was just to help you remember it better.
And Yukino, weren't you asking Yui to hit you? With her personality, she would never lay a hand on a friend. So I'll take on the role of the bad guy.
Now then, I've pinched you both once each. Let's call this matter settled."
Kotomi drew a simple, direct line under the issue, like someone who only knew how to throw fastballs.
"Th-then… fine…"
Yukino Yukinoshita's pretty face was faintly red as she nodded. Her hands were still covering her cheeks. Kotomi hadn't used much force when she pinched her, but Yukino was too embarrassed to put her hands down.
She was afraid that if she let go, Kotomi's devilish hand would strike again.
"..."
Yui Yuigahama, on the other hand, just stared blankly at Kotomi, her eyes dazed. She had something she wanted to say, but with Yukino still present, she didn't dare voice it.
—Yui wished Kotomi had pinched her cheek harder!
And if Kotomi had added a cold, arrogant expression, scolding her harshly at the same time, Yui would have felt a happiness so intense it was like ascending to heaven!
Kotomi picked up her guitar, preparing for another round of ensemble practice. Glancing casually at Yui Yuigahama, she tugged helplessly at the corner of her lips. The girl was spacing out again! And what was with that expression?
Did she just see an angel from heaven?
What on earth was going through her head this time?
Kotomi thought she really should find an opportunity to ask Yui properly: whenever she drifted off like this, what exactly was she always thinking about?
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