Yukino frowned, no longer holding back. She lifted her cold gaze from her book. "Then just stay quiet and don't disturb me reading."
"Huuu, Yukino-chan is so mean..."
Yuigahama certainly understood that her current behavior was annoying, and she had already resolved to act calmly like an adult, unmoved by emotions.
But she still worried!
Recalling how Masuzu had greeted her so warmly yesterday, her premonition of a love confession grew stronger. Even though she believed Yuu wouldn't accept it, she still couldn't suppress the anxiety and fear gnawing at her heart.
This feeling… seemed even more painful than when her own confession had been rejected...
Yuigahama froze for a moment, then shook her head.
No, the rejection had hurt more. Back then, she'd cried under her blanket until her eyes were swollen shut. Compared to that, the fact that the guy she liked was being confessed to by a beautiful girl from school was nothing!
"...How boring." Seeing her fluctuate between sadness and cheerfulness, lost in her own thoughts, Yukino shook her head disinterestedly and returned her focus to her book.
At that moment, the door to the Service Club opened.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Yuu walked in carrying his bag, casually closed the door behind him, and strolled to his usual seat.
Yukino closed her book. Her bright eyes fixed on him, her tone lightly teasing. "Called out for a love confession?"
Yuigahama, who had just opened her mouth to speak, froze upon hearing that and stared at her in shock. "Yukino-chan, that's too blunt!"
Yukino shrugged calmly. "Isn't that normal? I don't see why we need to hide anything."
Yuigahama puffed her cheeks and grumbled. "That only applies to popular people like you..."
"There's really nothing to hide." Yuu glanced at her, wondering whether he should explain a little or just get straight to the point. He turned to Yukino. "By the way, the rumors about us have already spread everywhere. And you still have the energy to gossip about me? That's surprising."
"Rumors?" Yukino looked genuinely surprised, her lips parting slightly in confusion. "What rumors?"
"...So you didn't realize at all."
Yuu couldn't help but laugh. This innocent side of Yukino was rare—much cuter than usual.
Then he gently pushed away Yuigahama's head, which had suddenly leaned in to sniff him like a puppy, saying casually:
"Stop sniffing. That's just how it smells."
Though Masuzu hadn't worn perfume, whether it was her natural scent or some expensive body wash, just being near her briefly had left her fragrance on Yuu's clothes.
Like she'd just discovered her husband's infidelity, Yuigahama's eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks slowly paling.
"S-so, does that mean… Yuu-kun and Natsukawa-san…"
"She did something to me! But I'm still pure—don't get the wrong idea." After correcting her, Yuu decided to get straight to the point. "I'll introduce someone to you. She's supposed to be the Service Club's first client this week."
"Client?"
Back from the gossip talk, Yukino frowned slightly, her mind racing. She quickly pieced together the story.
"You mean Natsukawa Masuzu has a problem and wants the Service Club's help, so she deliberately went to your class and confessed to you?"
"Exactly. Not far off at all." Yuu casually dropped an old proverb, making Yukino roll her eyes in amusement.
"Eh? So you mean…" Yuigahama blinked, her face lighting up again. "I misunderstood?"
"Not exactly..."
"Then what's the truth?! I'm so confused!!!" Yuigahama grabbed her head, rubbing her hair bun, lamenting like someone suffering from low intelligence.
"Yuigahama-san, be quiet."
After being scolded with a frown, Yuigahama instantly froze, obediently shrinking her shoulders, her eyes darting back and forth between Yuu and Yukino.
Yukino shifted her gaze, staring at Yuu with mild displeasure. "Why didn't she come to me—as her classmate and president of the Service Club—but instead went straight to Class F to find you?"
Yuu replied casually. "Because I'm far more reliable than you."
"..." A murderous aura flickered in her cold eyes. The book in Yukino's hand seemed ready to launch.
Yuu waved his hand. "I'm joking. Ask her yourself for the real reason."
He looked toward the door.
"You can come in."
The Service Club door opened again. The beautiful silver-haired girl stepped in gracefully. As soon as she entered, she elegantly bowed and spoke in a soft voice:
"Hello, everyone at the Service Club. Sorry to disturb you during your busy time."
"I'm Natsukawa Masuzu. I transferred here from Sweden this past summer. I'm just an ordinary transfer student—please don't be too harsh on me."
Yukino: "Don't be too harsh?"
Yuigahama: "Why does Natsukawa-san now feel so different from the one earlier..."
Ignoring their reactions, Masuzu turned to Yuu. Her eyes glistened, her lips pouted sadly, and she spoke in a sorrowful voice:
"Sir, isn't that enough? Or do I have to kneel and lick their shoes like before just to satisfy you?"
Yuu: "..."
Yukino: "..."
Yuigahama: "..."
An awkward silence, as cold as winter's arrival, blanketed the frozen air of the Service Club.
Facing the two women's stares—each looking at him as if he were trash—Yuu took a deep breath, stood up, and put on a friendly smile.
"Natsukawa-san, let's step outside for a moment and talk."
Masuzu backed into the corner of the room, crossed her arms over her chest, and firmly refused. "Clearly, you have bad intentions toward me—so I refuse!"
"Tenkuji-kun, sit down." Near the window, Yukino tucked her hair behind her ear and said coldly, "Natsukawa-san, if you came for a serious matter, making jokes like this upon entering is extremely rude. I have the right to ask you to leave and reject this request."
"I apologize, Yukinoshita-san." Masuzu nodded, said nothing more, and sat down in the chair across from the long table.
After glancing at Yuigahama, she gave her a smile of ambiguous meaning, then turned to Yuu, her expression turning serious.
"Are you sure? Do you really want me to tell them about that?"
"The Service Club is more trustworthy than I am. Don't worry—this matter won't leak."
"I'm not worried about that... Never mind." Masuzu sighed. "As long as you agree, the rest is up to you."
Yukino crossed her arms, staring at the two of them with clear displeasure. "Can you two stop playing mind games? If there's something you want from the Service Club, speak directly to the club president—not to some low-ranking member who disappears whenever he feels like it."
Yuu shrugged, too lazy to argue with the Snow Queen's jab.
As if finding the scene before her quite entertaining, Masuzu slightly lifted the corner of her lips. She casually twirled her shimmering silver hair and smiled naturally.
"What can I do? For this particular issue… it seems only Tenkuji-kun can help me."