After school, Yukino ran into Hiratsuka Shizuka on the way out.
She was chatting and laughing with Mayu, seemingly about whether to go out drinking.
Yukino instinctively quickened her pace.
She still remembered that day when she kissed Makoto—and Hiratsuka-sensei had peeked in like a sneaky gossip down below.
What made it worse was that she'd gone into the house with Makoto afterward to hide—only for Hiratsuka to press her face against the door, full of curiosity and nosy concern.
Every time Yukino thought about that ridiculous scene, she couldn't help but laugh despite herself.
Still, no matter how fast she walked, she was spotted.
"Yukino."
Hearing her name from behind, Yukino sighed softly and stopped.
She really didn't want to face Hiratsuka Shizuka.
She'd laugh for sure…
As she turned around, Hiratsuka used her usual concerned tone: "Heading home already? No club activities today?"
Before Yukino could answer, Mayu gently explained, "Makoto took two days off. He's busy with post-production on the film."
"That's right." Yukino nodded.
She was glad Mayu had spoken up—otherwise, being bad at lying to elders she's close with, she would've blurted out that she wasn't actually heading home.
But then Mayu smiled softly and said, "You're going to see Makoto, aren't you?"
Yukino froze.
In her mind, Mayu had always been a gentle, quiet type—sometimes even slow. She wasn't supposed to be this perceptive.
Hiratsuka blinked. Are these two going on another secret date?
Still smiling gently, Mayu added, "Tell Makoto for me—I have to have dinner with Shizuka-sensei tonight, but I'll bring him something later."
"Okay."
Yukino replied, and as she turned away, her beautiful eyes were filled with doubt.
Does Mayu-sensei usually eat with him?
Though… to be fair, his cooking really was excellent.
Yukino didn't dwell on it.
Meanwhile, Mayu looked at the girl's graceful silhouette and gently clenched her pale, delicate fists.
She knew she shouldn't have said that. But… she had her own possessiveness too.
Knowing Yukino was going to see her little boyfriend—of course she felt jealous.
But thankfully, she lived right next to Makoto. She could visit him later tonight.
The thought made her cheeks blush.
After all, she could never quite satisfy him—so she had to seek some "outside assistance."
For instance, just yesterday… she'd bought two new lace-trimmed, strappy stockings.
She had also prepared some sexy nightgowns that she might never have worn in her entire life otherwise.
...
When Yukino arrived, Makoto was still busy inside.
She saw his focused figure through the glass, didn't go in to disturb him, and simply sat down on the bench outside.
Before long, Mrs. Yukinoshita arrived as well.
After the mother and daughter exchanged greetings, the elegant and mature woman asked, "He hasn't come out at all?"
"No," Yukino replied, then subconsciously added, "He's always like this once he gets into the zone, whether it's during filming or coaching Ichika in acting."
Mrs. Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember asking that much just now, did I?"
Yukino froze.
She realized she was instinctively defending Makoto.
Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't let her daughter stay embarrassed and changed the subject: "He's still so young—how did he learn post-production editing?"
Yukino fell silent.
Mrs. Yukinoshita pretended not to notice, continuing as if talking to herself:
"Since I don't know much about this industry, I consulted a professional.
They said unless someone has been involved in it since childhood and constantly learning, it's not possible to reach that level."
After two seconds of silence, Yukino finally replied, "He must have studied it in his spare time."
As soon as she said it, she almost couldn't hold her expression.
That was the line Makoto always joked about using—and now she had said it to her mother.
Still, she hadn't lied. He had studied during his spare time.
That spare time just happened to be due to a time loop.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked slightly surprised. "Just self-study, and he can already do this much?"
Yukino said truthfully, "If you have enough time, I think it's possible."
Mrs. Yukinoshita seemed exasperated.
Of course, she knew that with enough time and dedication, anyone could learn anything.
But the key was—Makoto was just a high school student.
Mrs. Yukinoshita suddenly chuckled and said teasingly, "You used to talk about him so fairly and objectively. But now, I can see the scales in your heart tilting in his favor."
Yukino blushed but didn't deny it—something very rare.
Mrs. Yukinoshita understood then.
Her youngest daughter was changing.
When Makoto finally finished and came out, he first took a gulp of the [Strong Red Bull] in his hand and then said to the two ladies, "Sorry for keeping you waiting so long."
Yukino didn't respond.
Her eyes were on his messy hair.
It was probably from scratching his head during the editing process.
What made her feel relieved was that he didn't look tired—he was still in good condition.
The next moment, Yukino, right in front of her mother, took a small mirror out of her pocket and handed it to him.
"Fix your hair."
Her voice had a rare tenderness to it.
Makoto looked into the mirror and said, "Did I do something horrible again?"
Yukino blinked. "Why do you say that?"
"You're suddenly being this gentle. I feel like I should be on guard. What if you're trying to trap me?"
Yukino was silent for a moment, then couldn't help but say, "Idiot!"
Makoto smiled as he fixed his hair. "Now that's more like it."
Yukino: "..."
Mrs. Yukinoshita, watching the two interact, suddenly thought that Ichika might not stand a chance at all.
Her daughter was clearly on the path to winning.
Dinner that evening was filled with a pleasant atmosphere.
Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't probe for information and only expressed her concern for the short film, saying that if the final product was good, she'd help with promotion.
After dinner, she paid and left, not wanting to interrupt the alone time between the two younger people.
As Makoto and Yukino walked back together, the girl softly said, "My mother noticed a lot. She's already getting suspicious."
To her surprise, Makoto said, "Thanks for covering for me."
Yukino looked surprised. "I don't remember mentioning it."
"Because I knew the lovely Miss Yukinoshita would help me."
"…You're getting dumber by the day."
She said that, but didn't distance herself from him.
Then she looked away. "Come to my place. I have something to ask you."
Makoto didn't say anything—he just gently took her soft hand.
Yukino glared at him.
Makoto said, "That's my answer. Didn't you get it?"
Perhaps it was the streetlights, but Yukino's face seemed even more flushed.
She had deliberately invited him to her place, not his, to avoid any interruptions from Mayu.
She thought Makoto wouldn't notice.
He pretended not to.
___
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