Monday, mid-October.
The green leaves on the trees slowly turned yellow. School uniforms officially transitioned from summer to winter wear. Long-sleeved shirts and formal-style jackets now covered the girls' bodies, who had previously worn short-sleeved uniforms.
The skirts remained short, completely unaffected by the cold weather, proudly showcasing their beauty. Only the frequency of thermal leggings had increased. Standing at the school gate, one could see many pairs of black socks walking around, creating a refreshing and delightful sight.
"After the autumn field trip, the feeling of autumn is really setting in."
Yuu murmured casually, then walked into the school with the crowd of students. He changed his shoes at his usual locker.
His Existence Adjustment ability was always active, making him indistinguishable from other students. He calmly and leisurely walked toward his classroom.
Passing through the corridor adjacent to the athletic field, the shouts from sports clubs outside were full of energy, adding a spark of youthful passion to the school.
They seemed to be preparing for the upcoming sports festival after the culture festival. Lately, their voices counting laps around the track had grown louder, as if trying to make the entire autumn season surrender to their spirit.
"Good, very energetic!"
Praising with an indifferent tone, Yuu continued walking, casually entering the school building.
He was deeply grateful to have joined the Literature Club, which was extremely free... Or rather, the Service Club, which could do whatever they wanted—except when there was a request.
Aside from the club president's slightly difficult personality, the Service Club had almost no major flaws—even that trait could be managed.
Yes, all he needed to do was become more troublesome than the other party.
In this regard, Yuu felt he could replace that arrogant Ice Queen anytime—step on her and become the most troublesome club president.
But doing so would be too much effort. He also didn't want to use the Service Club to fulfill his own desires. Sometimes, just sitting there, teasing cats, and passing time was enjoyable enough. No need to do unnecessary things.
(Hmm, next time I chat with Yukinoshita, I'll deliberately say this to annoy her.)
"Good morning."
"Morning~"
Entering Class F, Yuu deactivated Existence Adjustment and greeted his classmates as they passed by.
Yumiko entered the classroom and, as she walked past him, said flatly, "Yo, morning."
Yuu raised an eyebrow. This was the first time Yumiko had greeted him. He should respond properly.
"Good morning, Miura-san."
"What? Too formal, you know? Hah~" Covering her mouth, Yumiko said lazily before walking to her seat.
The conversation ended there. After all, they were only that close.
This autumn field trip, although they hadn't become close friends like Yuigahama claimed, their relationship had improved. The tense atmosphere from before was gone whenever they met.
But Yuu guessed that in the other person's heart, he was still that bastard with a girlfriend who flirted with Yuigahama, right? Yumiko just didn't show that disgusted look because she respected Yuigahama. The emotional distance between them might as well be from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
"Yuu, good morning."
While thinking, his close friend—whose emotional distance might only be a few meters away—appeared.
Seeing Totsuka's still pale and cute face, Yuu smiled naturally. "Good morning, Totsuka. No morning practice today?"
"Yeah!" While putting on his uniform and carrying his school bag, Totsuka also smiled and nodded. He added for clarification, "It's not because I'm lazy. The prefectural championship is starting soon, so every club is competing for field usage rights. The tennis courts are under renovation, so morning practice is temporarily suspended just for today."
"So after this, you'll train every afternoon and evening? Must be exhausting." Yuu once again felt grateful he wasn't part of such a tiring, rule-heavy club.
"That's how sports clubs are," Totsuka said with a bitter smile. Though his gentle, kind eyes held helplessness, there was not a trace of reluctance or hatred. "Next week we'll also have training, you know? It overlaps with the culture festival, so it's really busy."
"Training, huh..." Yuu paused briefly, then sank into thought.
Did the Service Club have something like training?
A strange club whose goal was fulfilling others' wishes to gain growth opportunities—if they were to hold training, maybe they'd volunteer at nursing homes or orphanages?
But that would overlap with regular Service Club activities. Yukino definitely wouldn't want to follow the same path as others. If it were her, she'd surely say, "Everyone has their own responsibilities. We must do what only we can do."
Then again, would they work part-time at a maid cafe for a day?
Great idea! Yuu's eyes sparkled.
Of course, what he meant was him as the customer, and them as the maids serving him.
The various scenes flashing in his mind were ones that would make Masuzu furious if she found out.
"Oh yeah, Yuu." Totsuka's voice pulled him back from his fantasy. "Has any other club asked you to help?"
"Help? Help with what?"
"Aren't various competitions starting soon? Everyone wants good results. Not only are there cash prizes, but winning also boosts club status. So while increasing training, they're also looking for other ways to improve their chances of victory."
Yuu immediately understood. "You mean, someone came to ask me to be a coach or reinforcement?"
"Yes. Honestly, I even considered doing it myself... For us, who haven't had achievements in years, this competition's result is crucial." Totsuka scratched his slightly reddening cheek. In his soft, friendly blue eyes shone determination and confidence. "But in the end, I'm the tennis club captain. If I don't fight with my own strength until the end, how can I ask my club members to endure intense training? Ultimately, we must grow strong through ourselves!"
After saying that, seeing the admiration on Yuu's face, he smiled shyly and narrowed his eyes. "So besides us, there must be other sports clubs wanting your help—either as a coach or temporary member... After all, you did amazing at the autumn show. Everyone seems to think you're some sort of sports prodigy."
Yuu shrugged, slightly disagreeing. "I've never heard that, and no one's come asking for help. The Service Club doesn't accept requests related to that either."
"Eh? Really...?" Totsuka looked quite surprised.
"Well, you're my friend, so of course you don't mind. But for people who don't know me well, even if they know I have that ability, I'm still an outsider. Letting me comment on everything would probably feel worse than losing, right?"
Shifting his perspective slightly, Yuu understood. "After all, these are long-prepared matches where they want to win through their own efforts. Letting an outsider interfere, commenting on everything, even displacing main team members—even if they win in the end, the feeling wouldn't be pleasant."
"Mm, true." After Yuu explained, Totsuka nodded in agreement, then smiled happily. "If it weren't you, I might never have thought of that. We both hate losing."
Yuu looked relaxed. "As for me, I don't mind teaching a few things. But actually joining the competition? Forget it. I don't have the time or interest."
Totsuka's smile turned helpless. His pale cheeks puffed slightly. "Geez, never say that in front of others, okay? Even if it's you, people will hate you."
"Don't worry, lots of people already hate me. One more won't matter."
"By the way, second semester isn't just about the field trip and various competitions—the culture festival and student council elections are also happening together, right? There's so much going on..."
After chatting with Totsuka until class meeting time, watching him return to his seat, Yuu finally pulled out his copy of Tagore's Poetry Collection, ready to spend time reading non-academic books.
As the top-ranked student in his year—one who could master anything he saw or studied—Yuu naturally couldn't waste energy on rigid academic subjects. As long as he maintained first place and wasn't overtaken by rivals below him, the rest was about reading more books and expanding his learning scope. Whether famous literary works or financial reports, everything could become his target.
Specifically, he could take after his predecessor—the former top student of the year, not his girlfriend—Yukinoshita Yukino.
In the Service Club, she never seemed to touch textbooks. Always holding famous literary works, mostly original editions—just that alone surpassed many smart students.
Though he didn't plan to imitate her, it didn't stop Yuu from viewing her as a good example in studying... After all, without cheating, he'd still be struggling in the middle ranks.
"Hah... hah... Hmm, finally made it!"
Just as Yuu was about to open his book, the dango-headed girl burst into class, a loaf of bread in her mouth, rushing in late.
Realizing no teacher was at the podium yet, she patted her ample chest and let out an incoherent sigh of relief.
At first glance, this scene indeed felt like a cliché shojo manga moment.
...As long as what she was biting wasn't a baguette.
"Yui, why are you biting a baguette to school?" Yumiko immediately asked. Other classmates also stared in surprise.
Yuigahama seemed to just realize she looked odd. She took the bread, touched her blushing cheek with the unbitten end, and smiled awkwardly.
"Hehehe... At home, we only had baguettes, so Mom told me to bring it to school so it wouldn't go stale..."
Yumiko rolled her eyes. "Even so, carrying it in your hand would've been better than biting it. Didn't you feel something off while running?"
Of course she did. All the way from home, everyone had stared at her with the same weird look his classmates had now.
"I... I just woke up, so I didn't think too much about it..."
Amid her weak defense, everyone burst into laughter. The classroom atmosphere became lively.
Unconsciously touching the dango beside her head, Yuigahama looked around at the noisy scene, slightly confused. Yet she couldn't help letting out a small laugh herself, then slowly walked to her seat.
"Yui, can you finish that?"
As she passed Yuu's seat, a calm voice, mismatched with the cheerful surroundings, sounded.
Yuigahama stopped, looked at the baguette in her hand, then at him propping his chin while staring at her. She instantly understood, and her smile bloomed naturally and happily.
"If I say I can't finish it, will Yuu help me?"
"You don't care yourself—why should I kindly help you?" Yuu sneered, extending his hand like collecting a debt. "I haven't finished breakfast. Give me a third."
"...Oh!"
Yuigahama nearly burst into laughter. Her face flushed red as she gazed softly at him while he looked relaxed.
Under everyone's gaze, Yuu took a third of the baguette. Flipping a page in his book, he took small, deliberate bites.
And, as if time itself slowed, moving into a café filled with music.
The young man under sunlight, accompanied by tranquility, propped up the right side of his face with one hand. Amid the quiet sounds of turning pages, he ate with graceful, relaxed movements, making the baguette feel like an elegant English biscuit.
Unconsciously, the students in 2-F stopped laughing and making noise. They turned their gazes toward him, as if not wanting to disturb that unique, peaceful atmosphere—even their breathing grew quieter.
Of course, no one paid attention to Yuigahama, who had already returned to her seat.
"Existence Adjustment and Spotlight... Their combined effect is pretty good."
Observing the surroundings with the corner of his eye, Yuu felt proud inside.
During the autumn show, he'd only used Spotlight during performances and received enthusiastic applause. Now, if he combined both and played music, the response would surely be even more intense and captivating.
But Yuu wouldn't do something unprofitable like that unless there was a very urgent reason, or he suddenly felt like trying it—after all, he was already popular enough.
"Good morning, everyone. We'll begin our class meeting... Eh, what's going on here?"
With a frozen yawn expression on her face, Hiratsuka opened her mouth wide, staring in confusion at the unusually silent classroom. She quickly spotted the source of that overwhelming presence.
Then she instantly understood, slapped the desk twice loudly, and shouted, "Tenkuji, did you come for a photoshoot or MV filming? It's time for class meeting—finish your breakfast already!"
"..."