"Then, see you at lunch break, as usual."
"Yeah."
It was strange—she was the one who initiated the lunch date first.
Usually, if Yuu didn't bring it up, Masuzu would assume it never happened...
Thinking this, Masuzu turned and walked toward Class 2-J.
And of course, she knew the reason for her change in attitude.
Because she had started it.
Whether it was her unusually clingy behavior, her sudden silence, or anything else... She knew that only by acting first could she provoke a response from him.
Ever since they started dating, that man had always been so passive.
Like the sky reflected on a pond—only when you threw a stone would ripples appear.
Even during the autumn field trip, if she hadn't accidentally disappeared, his attitude toward her wouldn't have changed. He'd have remained in the role of a client.
That was fine. There was nothing wrong with it. On the contrary, it was the most perfect scenario she could imagine. She had no reason to complain...
Yet somehow, Masuzu didn't feel happy at all.
She had a beautiful body and face, their lips had kissed countless times, and she'd even given him plenty of chances to be alone together—opportunities to do whatever Yuu desired.
But in that man's eyes, there was never any longing for her. He always responded to her selfishness gently, helplessly.
...As if one day, he would simply leave her.
Because Yuu couldn't hold onto her, he took no initiative—he just followed her feelings to please her, until their relationship returned to square one, and it wouldn't matter even if they met again as strangers—
Masuzu feared this, even to the point of terror.
What if one day, as she sank deeper into this relationship, Yuu suddenly chose to let go, allowing her to fall into the abyss?
Would Masuzu become like her mother—forever hoping the man would return, yet broken-hearted by disappointment, silently crying where her children couldn't see?
"I don't want that!"
"As long as I reject love, I won't fall into such a pitiful situation… That has nothing to do with me!"
She kept comforting herself with those words, but Masuzu also clearly knew that she, unable to let go, had already stepped toward the worst possible fate.
"This has nothing to do with being a couple. We're just doing what we want… If you can't believe in love, then believe in the things you can trust."
Yesterday, Yuu had said that.
Yuu seemed to have seen straight into her heart, so he gave comfort accordingly—even if sometimes it felt cruel, he was still far too gentle.
Unfortunately, because her feelings were lies, this answer was also a lie.
If continued... "I'll be by your side" is also a lie, and everything up to now has been a lie.
How funny.
Masuzu, who had lived her entire life relying on lies, now felt despair, sadness, and fear about changing—because she couldn't see sincerity. She also dared not pursue what she truly wanted from deep within her heart—
Yes, nothing was funnier than this.
No girl was more absurd than Natsukawa Masuzu.
"...So, just pretend you know nothing."
Her steps halted. Staring down the quiet, empty corridor, Masuzu sighed softly.
"An old saying goes, fools are lucky. Dango-chan looks so happy—why must I be so smart?"
She raised a self-mocking smile, then suddenly turned halfway, glancing back.
Not because she regretted their brief parting—she just wanted to know if Yuu had gone upstairs yet.
...And their eyes met.
Again and again, she coincidentally caught that gaze—too gentle to bear.
Each time, she had to clutch her chest to keep her heart from melting away.
Holding her burning chest, Masuzu deliberately asked, "Why haven't you gone up? Are you that fond of my butt?"
Yuu replied resignedly, "Yeah, yeah, hurry into class—don't make me look at it again."
Masuzu asked again, "Why is your voice so soft? Do I look like I need comforting?"
Yuu shook his head. "I'm not comforting you. I'm just escorting my girlfriend upstairs."
"..."
After a brief silence, Masuzu gripped her clothes over her chest, unconsciously biting her trembling lip.
She wanted to hug him—so she couldn't hug him.
She wanted to say she loved him—so she couldn't say she loved him.
(Ah, why?)
(Why, even though he's as gentle as ever, do I suddenly want to cry so badly?)
"Pffft..."
Because she wanted to cry,
Masuzu laughed.
"Your sweet words, Yuu, are the best in the world!"
Laughing when she wanted to cry, crying when she wanted to laugh.
(Only this way can I live. Maybe it'll always be like this.)
(Keep deceiving. Everything is deception.)
(Why wake up from the dream?)
(Then, be Sleeping Beauty. Until the handsome prince wakes me with a slap, keep embracing the happiness right before my eyes.)
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The International Liberal Arts classroom was no different from an ordinary one. At most, its students were more independent, self-aware, and less noisy.
Masuzu set down her bag. In the quiet classroom, several students were already studying in the morning.
Some glanced her way. Others remained buried in their books, none making the effort to greet her first.
This was normal. During this dating period, male students had already lost interest in her. Female classmates, due to her appearance and cold demeanor, had indirectly excluded her from their social circles.
Simply put, Masuzu didn't care about anyone, and no one cared about her. They coexisted peacefully.
Yet among them, there was one peer Masuzu willingly greeted.
"Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
The pale fingers flipping a book page paused. Yukino looked up, regarding her indifferently.
"Good morning, Natsukawa-san."
After saying that, she coldly lowered her gaze again, showing no intention whatsoever to chat.
Masuzu didn't mind—she usually treated others the same way. Only hers was subtler, not making people hate her.
Besides, unless she had something important to ask, Masuzu wouldn't initiate a greeting with Yukino first—because of her relationship with Yuu, she didn't particularly like any members of the Service Club.
Yuigahama didn't need mentioning. She was the main enemy, always trying to steal other people's boyfriends. Sooner or later, she'd snatch her breasts and turn them into volleyballs.
As for Yukino, although there was no romantic aura between her and Yuu, her appearance and personality gave off a dangerous vibe—as if it wouldn't be strange at all if they started dating someday. How could she not stay vigilant?
Moreover, there was also her older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno...
That weird woman—Masuzu always felt she was inexplicably attracted to Yuu, so she had to remain on guard.