"So, I should ask for his opinion?"
Yukino said mockingly, "You wouldn't listen to anyone's opinion anyway, so what's the point of asking anyone?"
By then, Haruno's attention had already shifted from her sister to Yuu, who looked up from his phone, their eyes meeting.
For some reason, looking into his eyes, Haruno was momentarily speechless.
There was a moment when her nose stung as if pinched, and her heart seemed to want to scream.
But she forgot what tone she should use to speak to him.
Yet, upon snapping out of it, she was still the composed monster she always was. Observing her emotional shift objectively, she found nothing unusual.
(An illusion? Probably an illusion.)
She smiled as usual, as if teasing a neighbor boy. "Tenkuji-kun, that piano piece was beautiful. What's its title?"
"Uh… Spring Rain. Glad you liked it."
Caught off guard by the sudden conversation, Yuu looked slightly confused but maintained a polite, distant demeanor.
"And as I said during the awards, anyone who wants to watch can come. You don't need to ask my opinion."
"Hmm, great then~"
After a casual reply, Haruno thought for a moment, then suddenly said, "By the way, have we met somewhere before?"
Yuu's mouth opened slightly, and like others who heard that question, his expression showed a hint of surprise.
"Never, right? At least, I don't remember…"
A certain impulse surged in her heart, and Haruno pressed forward aggressively, airing all her doubts.
"You're more reserved than Yui-chan. It's our first meeting, but it feels a bit deliberate."
Yuu seemed to realize something, frowning slightly, and answered without hesitation. "Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but I'm like this with unfamiliar adults."
"Adults…" Haruno was slightly displeased, putting on her mock-offended mask again. "Since I walked in, you've been staring at your phone. Do I look that bad?"
Yuu waved his phone, subtly rolling his eyes. "Staring at you constantly would be rude, wouldn't it? I'm just replying to friends' messages. It has nothing to do with when you walked in. You're overthinking."
"Oh, good, I'm relieved then." Not comforted at all, Haruno narrowed her eyes and changed the topic. "Too much politeness is annoying. You don't have to be so formal with me. Yukinon's friends are my friends too."
"Then I'll call you Haruno-san."
Yuu shrugged obediently. In the storm-like conversation with the young woman, he maintained a calm and relaxed demeanor, not letting her seize control of the topic.
After a brief pause, he added, "Also, your sister and I aren't friends."
"Exactly. My standards aren't that low."
Yukino crossed her arms, raising her chin with a bright smile, clearly pleased with Yuu's self-awareness.
Haruno looked at both of them with a shocked expression, her small hand covering her mouth as she muttered softly, "Really… With Yukinon's personality, would she stay up late talking on the phone with someone who's neither her boyfriend nor her friend?"
It sounded like she was talking to herself, but her voice was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Yet, contrary to her expectations, no one's expression changed as she hoped. Instead, they all looked at her with strange gazes.
Yuigahama hesitated, then asked cautiously, "Um, Haruno-san… Are you really interested in Yuu-kun?"
"Hm? Why do you say that?" Haruno was slightly taken aback.
A cold laugh came from near the window.
"Do you even need to ask? Just recall your behavior earlier—you're like a flirty uncle clinging to someone."
While sharply criticizing her sister, Yukino glanced back and forth between them, seizing the chance to retaliate. "This isn't like your usual self, Sister."
Chewing her lollipop, Hiratsuka innocently added, "Well, you did ask me about Tenkuji last Friday, so I'm not surprised."
As soon as she said that, the others' gazes grew even stranger.
"…"
The roots of her ears, hidden by her hair, suddenly felt hot. Haruno's expression stiffened briefly, and she fell silent for a moment.
But words like "awkward" or "embarrassed" would never exist in her dictionary.
Soon, Haruno sighed, slumping her shoulders. "…What can I do? I'm just so worried about Yukinon's love life."
"If the person she's talking to late at night is a playboy, and the second young lady of the Yukinoshita family falls into a scoundrel's love trap, should I, as her sister, pretend not to see?"
Her tone shifted abruptly at the end. Haruno clenched her fist, looking up with resolute eyes, her entire being radiating an aura of selfless sacrifice for a greater cause.
"Even if it makes her angry, even if I'm misunderstood, I must protect my sister's love life and investigate whether that guy is reliable!"
Her words instantly moved two people present.
Hiratsuka: "I didn't expect someone with your bad personality to have such a JUMP-like side…"
Yuigahama: "Having a sister who loves her sibling so much is so enviable…"
Only Yuu and Yukino exchanged resigned glances, shaking their heads in complete agreement that they didn't believe a word of it.
Haruno discreetly stuck out her pink tongue, flashing a feigned sweet smile.
The commotion in the Service Club ended there. With nothing left to settle, centered around the main figure—Yuu—the group prepared to head to the Culinary Research Club's room.
Catching her reflection in the mirror, Haruno tidied her hair, muttering as if unintentionally.
"Is it going to rain? My hair, which I just fixed this morning, is already splitting. So annoying…"
As she walked toward the door, Yuu heard her and glanced over.
Before he could look away, he saw the woman pull a comb from her bag.
Made of hinoki wood, its smooth surface was adorned with vibrant spring paintings, likely recently bought, gleaming new in her fair hand.
Yuu's pupils narrowed sharply, his heart skipping a beat.
*CRASH!*
Before he could even retract his step, he slammed his head into the doorframe.
"…"
Hiratsuka and Yuigahama, who had just stepped out, and Yukino, waiting for him to leave, all stared in shock at Yuu, crouching and clutching his head.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Y-Yuu-kun, are you alright?"
"Doing something this dumb actually surprises me…"
"…"
Only Haruno, holding the wooden comb, smoothed her shoulder-length wavy hair, narrowing her eyes slightly in front of the mirror, a deep, meaningful glint flashing in her gaze.
A woman's intuition could indeed be that terrifying.