"That's the guy who performed at the autumn club fair last week..."
"Did he really beat all those clubs?"
"Of course! Otherwise, how could that weird Service Club get first place in both the club evaluation and popularity rankings? I just wonder if he'll do the same thing at this year's culture festival..."
"No, there aren't any challenges at the culture festival..."
"I want to hear him play that song again..."
As Yuu walked toward the school gate, it was as if Moses had parted the Red Sea—the crowd automatically made way for him.
Gazes filled with admiration, respect, and curiosity surrounded him like cotton, making his entire body feel itchy.
Yuu couldn't help but sneer.
Completely different from the attention on stage, the daily life of a celebrity was far more uncomfortable than he'd imagined.
"Even though I mentally prepared myself, being stared at by so many people while walking really is unbearable..."
Fortunately, once the initial sensation faded, there probably wouldn't be so many gawkers anymore.
At the recent Autumn Club Fair, Yuu hadn't just performed an almost flawless piano piece and won first place in the club evaluation.
In public, under the name of the Service Club activity, he challenged numerous clubs—including the Cooking Club—and ultimately secured a decisive victory, with only the Kendo Club narrowly escaping defeat.
The prizes from defeating those clubs now sat proudly displayed in the Service Club room, serving as monuments to this legendary fair.
It wasn't just a recent thing—since Sobu High's founding, this was the first time a club activity had been so audaciously dominant, naturally causing quite a stir.
Back then, there were even fan groups following him, cheering and clapping every time he won a club challenge. Occasionally, deep voices would shout things like "Yuuu!!!" or "Mama loves you!!"—which honestly gave him the chills.
How many times must I say it—no male moms, no male moms, no male moms!
As for the incident involving helping outsiders capture a fugitive, calling the police, ending the club fair early, and casually riding off in a police car—thanks to changes in the world's storyline related to Yuuki Asuna—none of that had occurred, sparing him one headache.
Still grumbling internally, Yuu casually strolled past the stares and entered the school gate.
"Hmm?"
At the edge of the crowd, he spotted Yukino.
Her black hair flowed softly, shining with elegance. The quiet girl, delicate as a snow doll, walked with steady, graceful steps, gliding into the school.
She seemed highly sensitive to gazes. She immediately frowned and turned, but upon seeing it was Yuu staring, she froze slightly. Her eyes swept over the crowd surrounding him, quickly grasping the current situation.
As if barely suppressing a laugh, Yukino pressed her lips together, tilted her head slightly, and gave him a thin, sweet smile.
—Didn't I wish you good luck last night? Can you feel how I used to feel?
It was as if she were saying exactly that.
Yuu's eyebrow twitched. He shot her a glare.
—Are you enjoying my suffering?
—I'm not that low. I don't take pleasure in someone like you suffering.
Yukino smoothed her hair, shot him a proud, disdainful look, then turned and continued walking.
Since everyone's attention was fixed on Yuu, few noticed her. Her presence, as if she existed in a world apart, seemed even more serene and elegant—Yukino clearly relished being ignored and left in peace.
Yuu gave a bitter smile, his eyes growing darker.
Suddenly, he quickened his pace toward Yukino. The gazes of the people around him unconsciously followed, watching the two equally stunning figures.
Yukino sensed something wrong as she felt someone approaching—but before she could flee, it was too late.
"President!"
It was a bright, warm shout—like that of a cheerful athlete.
Yukino, who had been facing away, couldn't help but shiver. When she turned in shock, she instinctively stepped back, clutching her bag, her shoulders shrinking slightly into a defensive posture like an angry kitten.
"W-what do you want?"
"Don't be afraid. I just wanted to say hello."
Yuu smiled brightly. His voice wasn't loud, but clear enough for the surrounding students to hear: "Thank you for your perfect arrangements at yesterday's fair. You're truly amazing, President Yukinoshita, top of our grade. Getting dual first-place rankings? That's all thanks to you! Honestly, the only person I couldn't beat was you!"
"This..."
Frozen in place, Yukino blinked in confusion—her mind seemed to stall for a few seconds. She snapped back to reality when she noticed the change in the surrounding gazes. Her small, pink lips parted slightly in disbelief.
(So this guy actually planned to drag me into his mess too?)
Her expression instantly turned cold and angry. Yukino glared at him with her bright, beautiful eyes. Just as she opened her mouth to retort, she saw him suddenly bow ninety degrees, his voice full of enthusiasm and sincerity.
"So, good morning, President Yukinoshita! Please accept this respectful greeting!"
Yukino: "..."
(Is his brain broken?)
Yuu slowly raised his head. In a corner unseen by anyone, he gave her a cold, mocking smirk.
—As president, isn't it only natural to share problems with your club members?
Meeting his gaze, Yukino clenched her fists, gritted her teeth for a moment, then slowly smiled.
Behind that thin smile, veiled in aurora-like elegance, were eyes as clear and cold as polar ice.
—The problems you create yourself—what do they have to do with me? This is nothing but childish, baseless anger, Tenkuji.
—Sorry, my heart really is this small. But a broad-minded president like you surely wouldn't hold it against me, right?
—Wouldn't you call animal control if a stray dog bit you? Right now, I genuinely want to call the police station.
—Then go ahead and call?
—Idiot. Why would I waste my time and phone credit on you?
"Hmph…"
"Heh…"
In a wordless exchange incomprehensible to anyone else, intense sparks flew through the air.
They locked cold stares, neither backing down, each trying to freeze the other with the iciest glare possible.
But to the students around them, after Yuu's enthusiastic greeting, Yukino didn't respond with her usual icy expression. Instead, she gave him a soft, beautiful smile.
Regardless of their surroundings, the two gazed at each other with apparent affection—everything was clear without words. The onlookers all understood.
The school gate fell silent for a brief moment.
Then, louder, more intense whispers burst into flame, spreading rapidly like wildfire across dry wood.
Just like that.
The gossip about the top-ranked "Snow Princess" of the grade and the "Prince of Service" who caused a sensation at the club fair slowly became today's number one rumor at Sobu High.
"...Hmm?"
Quietly slipping past the edge of the crowd, a silver-haired girl with shimmering hair slightly frowned, watching the two distant figures with a meaningful gaze.
Then she blinked—and smiled, sly and beautiful.