April 30th, Friday. Today is Shiina Mahiru's birthday. It's also the day before the holiday starts. But school still has to be attended. On campus, in the classrooms, students were excitedly discussing where they would go during the holiday.
"Yo, my whole family is planning to travel abroad!" a boy from a well-off family said.
"Ah, that's great! I'm so envious!" The surrounding classmates were all envious.
"Remember to bring us some local specialties!"
"Definitely, definitely."
...
"Our family plans to go soak in hot springs!"
"Oh, hot springs, you'll definitely see a lot of pretty young ladies, and then... hehehe."
"Don't talk nonsense, I'm not that kind of person."
"Eh, during the May Day holiday, it's just crowds of people outside. I'll just stay at home obediently."
Hearing this, Mochizuki felt a bit energized and agreed inwardly. It seems there are like-minded people.
"Huh, no way!"
"Go out and enjoy the holiday properly!"
...
As Shiina Mahiru was the most popular person in the class, she was surrounded by many girls asking her where she planned to go during the holiday, and many also asked her to go out with them.
Shiina Mahiru responded gently and thoughtfully to each one, but some girls still showed disappointed expressions, apparently having been rejected.
However, Mochizuki didn't know about these things.
"Ring, ring, ring."
Even though the class bell had already rung, everyone was still discussing.
Until the teaching sensei arrived in the classroom.
"Students, calm down!"
"The holiday hasn't started yet, class is beginning!!!"
"Quiet!"
After school, Mochizuki went to the Service Club as usual.
Perhaps because of yesterday, Yukino Yukinoshita seemed a bit hesitant to face Mochizuki.
When Mochizuki arrived, she just lowered her head and looked at her book, the new one she bought yesterday.
But she didn't forget the black tea.
Mochizuki didn't feel anything unusual; hasn't it always been like this?
Soon, an unexpected guest arrived at the Service Club.
It was an old acquaintance, Yui Yuigahama.
"Yahallo."
"Yukino, Xiao Wang!"
Yui Yuigahama's arrival eased the awkwardness in Yukino Yukinoshita's heart, and her expression returned to its usual coldness and calmness.
Mochizuki thought, why is it you again? Maybe I should just let Yui Yuigahama take my place in the Service Club.
This time, Yui Yuigahama was even more familiar than the previous two times. She directly moved a stool and sat next to Yukino Yukinoshita.
When did they become so close?
"Xiao Wang, you're looking at me with that strange look again! Do you not welcome me?" Yui Yuigahama said aggrievedly.
"No, no."
Mochizuki quickly denied it.
"Really? Yukino, I passed the exam!" Yui Yuigahama showed her carefree smile again.
Mochizuki sighed, what a perfunctory girl!
"I know."
Yukino Yukinoshita responded indifferently.
"Wuwu, Yukino is so cold..."
Perhaps not receiving the praise she expected from Yukino Yukinoshita, Yui Yuigahama was a little disappointed.
However, she didn't know that Yukinoshita had already checked her results on the results list yesterday and was quite concerned about her.
Yui Yuigahama turned her gaze towards Mochizuki.
Mochizuki instantly understood. Yukinoshita, oh Yukinoshita, can't you just praise her?
"Oh, congratulations!"
"Mm! Arigato! Xiao Wang."
Yui Yuigahama's aggrieved expression disappeared, and she showed a smile again.
"How did you do on the exam, Xiao Wang?" Yui Yuigahama asked curiously, but she figured he wouldn't do too badly.
"30th place."
"Ah! That high?" Yui Yuigahama shrieked. Although she was mentally prepared, Yui Yuigahama was still surprised.
His ranking is so high even without reviewing, but for Mochizuki, this was a step backward.
Is she really the only idiot?
But soon, Yui Yuigahama snapped out of her self-doubt.
She came today for something more important.
This isn't a request, you know.
"Hehehe!"
"Yukino, Xiao Wang, do you have any plans for the holiday?"
Under Yui Yuigahama's expectant and enthusiastic gaze, Yukinoshita was the first to answer.
"I'll probably go traveling with my family for three days, and then stay at home and rest for the remaining two days."
Yukino Yukinoshita sighed.
Yukinoshita didn't want to travel, because the thought of her sister who loved to tease her gave her a headache.
But her mother and sister threatened to cut off her living expenses, which forced her to compromise.
Fortunately, the holiday is five days long, and she still has two days of free time.
"Oh yeah!"
After hearing Yukinoshita's answer, Yui Yuigahama was delighted, then looked at Mochizuki.
"I'll stay at home and get some good rest," Mochizuki said what was on his mind.
"Eh eh eh! No way!" Yui Yuigahama sounded as if she had heard something incredible. Someone wouldn't go out during the holiday, and for five days at that!
"You're too withdrawn, Xiao Wang, how can you be like this?" Yui Yuigahama even tried to persuade Mochizuki.
"There are too many people outside, I don't want to go out. What are you planning to do during the holiday?"
Hearing Mochizuki ask her back, Yui Yuigahama grinned.
"Hehehe, on the first day, I'm going to visit Grandma with Mom. On the second day, I'm going to the amusement park with Yumiko and Ebina. On the third day, I'm going to a junior high school reunion."
Yumiko and Ebina? They must be her friends, Mochizuki naturally didn't know them, but Yukino Yukinoshita did.
"I don't have any plans for the last two days!" Yui Yuigahama blinked at the two of them, as if hinting, 'Quick, ask me out!'
"Soga, that sounds really fulfilling!" Mochizuki exclaimed, but without any hint of envy.
Then, the few of them fell into silence.
It seemed no one intended to ask Yui Yuigahama out.
Yui Yuigahama decided to take the initiative. Yui Yuigahama invited the two of them.
"Yukino, Xiao Wang, let's go out and have fun together!"
"Where to?" Mochizuki asked, though he had no intention of going. He couldn't think of anything he'd do with the two of them.
"Haven't thought about it yet, hehe."
"Can't you just rest at home for two days?"
"No, it's a rare holiday, I have to fill it up, otherwise I'd be letting down the exams from the past few days." Yui Yuigahama clenched her fist and said resolutely. If only she had this much drive for studying.
"Yukino, let's go out and have fun together!"
"No, I want to rest at ho...me for two... days." As soon as Yukinoshita began to refuse, teardrops seemed to shimmer in Yui Yuigahama's eyes again, and she became aggrieved.
Just like last time, she pounced on Yukinoshita and hugged her tightly.
"No way, Yukino, I'll be bored to death without you."
Eventually, Yukinoshita gave in, giving a response of 'depending on the situation,' and only then did Yui Yuigahama let go of Yukinoshita.
Mochizuki always felt that this idiot Yui Yuigahama had found a way to deal with Yukinoshita.
Yui Yuigahama turned her gaze back to Mochizuki.
Mochizuki made an excuse, saying, "No, I might have other things to do."
Of course, if you were to hug me like you hugged Yukinoshita, maybe I wouldn't be able to refuse.
But that's impossible!
Mochizuki thought, his book might be published during the May Day holiday, so that counts as other things, right!
Although he doesn't have to do anything for the publishing, he still has to go to the bookstore to check it out.
This isn't really lying, is it?
"Really? You just said you were staying at home." Yui Yuigahama clearly didn't believe him and looked at Mochizuki with a suspicious expression.
"Really, I'm very busy."
Mochizuki lied without batting an eye.
"Hmph, fine then, you can just stay at home and get moldy." Yui Yuigahama didn't press the matter further. Anyway, she had Yukinoshita to accompany her, as for Mochizuki, it didn't matter.
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