Looking into her hopeful eyes, Yuu shook his head.
"Forget about performing on stage—I want to stay behind the scenes."
"Eh? Why?" Yuigahama opened her mouth slightly in surprise. "Didn't a TV station praise your acting?"
Yuu patted her shoulder, pretending to be serious. "To give opportunities to energetic young people like you who love acting, I won't return to that world again."
"Eh... Fine." Her face wrinkled with disappointment as Yuigahama sighed heavily. She flattened her face onto the desk again, rolling left and right like a ball of dough. "Then I'll just wait and see how the roles are assigned… Ah, I was really hoping that you and I could be the main leads, acting together on stage. Then Natsukawa-san might get jealous… What a shame."
"So you had such a mischievous plan all along? I never expected this from you, Yui." Yuu chuckled softly and flicked her forehead. "Don't blame me if I didn't warn you. If that actually happened, Masuzu would definitely get so jealous she'd flaunt our affection in front of you every single day… Are you sure you're ready for that kind of mutual suffering?"
Yuigahama imagined it briefly. Immediately, she hugged his arm with a pale face, her slender shoulders trembling slightly.
No matter how they showed affection, she could already picture it—her fragile heart would surely be deeply wounded!
"Yuu, we're best friends. You wouldn't let her do that, right?"
"That's hard to say." Yuu shrugged, still smiling. "She is my girlfriend… How can I side with you and go against her?"
"..."
Yuigahama stared blankly at his smile. Suddenly, she couldn't utter a word—even though he was only a pretend boyfriend.
As if confirming something to herself, she bit her lip. Her dark eyes dropped downward for half a second.
When she looked up at him again, the corner of her lips still held a faint smile. Casually, she changed the subject to something else.
"Never mind. Yuu, did you hear what's been happening in the kendo club lately..."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Time passed quickly. School was about to end.
The dismissal bell rang. Yuu rarely visited the Service Club with Yuigahama these days.
He wasn't glued to Masuzu every single day. When they had separate matters to attend to, or when he needed to stop by Angel Coffee, they'd part ways temporarily—though recently, they'd reunite at her luxurious apartment to cook porridge for him.
Of course, whenever she had free time, Masuzu would send him various distracting messages. As if afraid he'd go have fun outside and forget about her.
Masuzu: {Be careful, Killer Queen has already touched dango-chan's chest. If you dare mess around with her, your junk will explode with a BOOM, turning into beautiful fireworks—a once-in-a-lifetime show.}
Yuu: {Her hand is the one touching—why does my junk explode?}
Masuzu: {I'm using beetle arrows. It's a new feature specially developed for cheating men.}
Yuu: {Ask something realistic. What if it doesn't explode?}
Masuzu: {Then I'll come over and manually blow up your junk—and all your other junk too.}
Yuu: {The number of parts becoming fireworks is increasing, huh...}
Sometimes Yuu admired himself. He could keep up with that woman's nonsense and wild imagination. No wonder she always said such bizarre things.
After all, the feeling that both of them understood exactly what they were talking about, could instantly grasp any joke, and chat so effortlessly—it always made someone unconsciously chatty and increasingly appreciate the person they could talk to like this.
He put away his phone. The door to the Service Club was now right in front of him.
Yuigahama opened the door. Bathed in sunlight streaming through the windows, the black-haired girl sat calmly and coolly amid the crisp autumn breeze, holding a book and focused on reading.
"Yukinon, Yahaharo!"
Yuigahama casually disrupted the peaceful, beautiful scene. She greeted cheerfully and walked over, swinging her school bag.
"Good afternoon, Yuigahama-san."
After a brief greeting, Yukino lifted her gaze from the book. She looked straight at Yuu, who quietly closed the door and stepped inside.
They locked eyes. After a moment of silence, Yuu nodded first.
"Good afternoon."
As if satisfied by some unspoken thing, Yukino smiled. Her clear, crisp voice sounded softer than usual.
"Good afternoon, Tenkuji-kun."
"I heard you got chosen as the executive committee rep? Quite popular, Yukinoshita-san."
"..."
Her previously satisfied expression immediately soured. Under Yuu's half-smile, Yukino pursed her pale sakura-colored lips without expression. She brushed long hair off her shoulder.
"Of course. After all, my abilities and knowledge are clearly visible. Though slightly troublesome, overall it's merely an easy task."
She narrowed her eyes with a slight coldness. "On the other hand, you. Given Hiratsuka-sensei's nature, there's no way she wouldn't have forced you into that position, right?"
"You know Hiratsuka-sensei quite well." Yuu didn't care how harsh her words were. He casually sat across the table. "True, but I declined because I was lazy. Too bad I missed the chance to work with you."
"You just don't want to take responsibility, right? Or perhaps… you lack confidence in your own abilities?"
Yukino gave a scornful smile. But this provocation was too obvious. Yuu couldn't help but laugh.
"Say whatever you want. Following your heart, knowing when to advance and retreat, never getting stuck in difficult situations—that's the mark of maturity."
"..."
Her eyes widened slightly. Yukino stared at him, seemingly deep in thought.
Then she gently shook her head, as if denying a reality she didn't want to face. She returned her calm gaze to her book, but it took her a long time to turn a single page.
Yuigahama sat between the two of them, propping her chin on her hand and frowning. She too sank into deep thought.
"...Wait, could it be that Yuu only comes to the Service Club to argue with Yukinon?"
After all, when no one came seeking help, their club activity simply meant doing their own things. Not showing up at all wouldn't even be an issue.
Just as she thought that, a knock suddenly came from outside the door.
Yukino looked up. Her clear voice cut through the slightly heavy silence.
"Come in."
The door slowly opened. A short ash-blonde haired girl peeked in first. After scanning the room, she cautiously entered.
"Excuse me... Is this the Service Club?"
Behind her followed a beautiful silver-haired girl with an elegant aura, like an angel.
Upon entering, she politely bowed to the three of them. Her tone flat.
"Excuse me."