"What accident?"
Curiosity flickered in her eyes.
"Hayama Hayato said something to Miura Yumiko that hurt her" Akira Fujimiya said simply.
"I see. I understand." Yukinoshita Yukino gave a small nod.
"Your afternoon..."
Akira looked at Yukinoshita Yukino.
She tilted her head slightly, a look of quiet confusion in her eyes.
"...Forget it. Just pretend I didn't say anything."
Akira hesitated, lowered his gaze, and pulled out his notebook.
"You want to invite me?" Yukinoshita Yukino saw through his hesitation instantly.
"I invited them... it's kind of a barbecue party."
"You think I'll refuse you, so you can't even say the word 'invitation'?"
Akira raised his head to meet her gaze.
"I don't think you'd agree."
"You didn't even invite me. Why do you think I wouldn't agree?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes were sharp, piercing.
"You are from the Yukinoshita family—"
"This has nothing to do with my identity."
She cut him off coldly, her tone sharp as a blade.
Akira paused, exhaled slowly.
"Okay… it's my fault. Yukinoshita, can I invite you to the barbecue party? If you refuse me, I might not have the courage to invite you to anything next time."
Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes narrowed as she realize something.
"Akira-kun… did you do this on purpose?"
"Doing what on purpose?"
His tone was puzzled, but his face remained calm.
"You stopped speaking halfway, deliberately making me guess what you wanted to say, irritating me. Then, when you invited me again, you said something that made it difficult for me to refuse. Did you do that on purpose?" Her gaze locked firmly onto his, searching for cracks.
Akira simply looked at her, silent.
The two of them sat in quiet tension for several minutes.
Yukinoshita Yukino finally looked away.
For a moment, it felt as though Akira could see right through her weakness.
"So, your answer is to refuse the invitation?"
Akira broke the silence.
"I… I accept your invitation." Her voice faltered slightly, but the words came out clear.
Akira nodded lightly, lowered his gaze back to his notes, and said nothing else.
He ate his lunch quietly, while flipping through pages as if nothing had happened.
Yukinoshita Yukino, however, found herself sneaking glances at him, her thoughts tangled.
Is my guess true or false?
If it was true… why did Akira know this method would work on me?
If it was false… how could he hold such an unwavering gaze, even when I stared right into his eyes?
A normal man would've looked away… but Akira…
...
The day at Sobu High School was drawing to a close.
Students without club activities left early, while the rest stayed behind in their clubrooms or went outside for activities.
Akira packed his commuter bag neatly, then glanced at the three girls beside him.
They had already packed up, waiting for him with cheerful smiles.
"Let's go," he said casually to Yuigahama Yui as he stepped out of the classroom.
Yuigahama Yui's face flushed slightly pink as she pulled her two friends along to follow him.
A few students in the class noticed the subtle changes in Yui and Akira's relationship. Some exchanged glances, but quickly looked away.
The four of them walked together to the shoe lockers downstairs.
Akira stopped. His eyes fell on Yukinoshita Yukino, who was standing in front of the lockers.
"Sorry. I forgot to mention… I also invited my club president, Yukinoshita-san."
He turned and spoke to the three girls behind him.
The three froze in surprise.
Then, Ebina Hina's lips curled into a teasing smile.
"Akira-kun, Yukinoshita actually accepted your invitation? Could it be that you two are—"
"Ebina-san, there's no doubt Yukinoshita-san has almost no liking for me," Akira shook his head calmly.
"Akira-kun…"
Yuigahama Yui's thoughts drifted—toward Yukinoshita Haruno.
"What's wrong?" Akira looked at her.
"No… nothing."
She quickly averted her eyes. She couldn't bring up Haruno in front of Miura Yumiko.
"Akira-kun, let's go. Yukinoshita-san is waiting."
Miura Yumiko reminded him softly.
Akira turned back just in time to see Yukinoshita Yukino finishing putting on her shoes.
He walked toward her, the three girls trailing behind.
Before he could introduce them, Yukinoshita Yukino spoke first.
"Hello, Yuigahama-san."
"Eh?"
Yui froze, caught off guard.
"Akira-kun mentioned wanting you to join the Service Club and asked for my opinion. I don't see any problem. If you wish to join, you're welcome."
Her tone was calm, but softer than usual.
"C-Can I really join?"
Yui looked at Akira, then back at Yukino, uncertain.
Yukinoshita Yukino gave a faint smile.
"I know he's pursuing you. This man sits in the Service Club quietly while occasionally stealing glances at me. If you're there, perhaps he wouldn't do that anymore."
"Yukinoshita-san, please don't make up lies. I admire you, I don't steal glances at you," Akira corrected firmly.
But Yukinoshita Yukino pretended not to hear, turning her attention back to Yui.
Yui's heart tightened. Akira spends so much time with Yukinoshita… could they really…?
The thought unsettled her.
"I want to join the Service Club, Yukinoshita-san. Please take care of me from now on."
"Then tomorrow, at noon, come to the Service Club and fill out the application form."
Yukino's words were firm but approving.
Yui nodded eagerly.
"Yukinoshita-san, has Akira-kun done anything inappropriate to you in the Service Club besides peeking at you?"
Ebina Hina asked curiously, adjusting her glasses.
"...Ebina-san, do you have some sort of grudge against me?"
Akira sighed helplessly.
"I'm just curious. Pure curiosity," Ebina smirked.
"This man doesn't have the courage," Yukinoshita Yukino said calmly, while brushing back her hair as she walked ahead.
"Akira-kun, aren't you angry that she called you cowardly?" Ebina teased.
"Ebina-san, I'll make you a special spicy barbecue later," Akira replied calmly, walking past.
Ebina chuckled but said nothing more.
Yumiko Miura gave her a look, then followed.
"Let's go," Yui urged, pulling her friends forward to catch up with Akira.
...
On the way to Akira's house, he stopped at a convenience store for a few minutes to buy soda and drinks.
The four girls waited outside.
When he came out carrying the heavy bags, Yui hurried forward.
"Can I… can I help you with your commuter bag?"
Akira blinked, then nodded softly.
"Then I'll trouble you."
He handed it over without hesitation. The drinks were indeed heavy.
Yui took the bag, then turned—and immediately caught the teasing smiles on her friends' faces.
She lowered her head, cheeks burning.
From the side, Yukinoshita Yukino noticed her expression and understood at once what Akira had said earlier that morning.
Yuigahama Yui really is cute when she's shy…
They continued walking until they reached Sakurasou.
There, Yukinoshita Yukino discovered that Hiratsuka Shizuka had recently moved in. She hadn't gone to school today—probably due to drinking too much last night.
When Akira opened the door, he saw Hiratsuka-sensei hanging laundry.
"Sensei, can I borrow your barbecue grill and skewers?"
"Of course...Wait, Yukinoshita? Why are you with Akira-kun?" Hiratsuka raised an eyebrow curiously, seeing Yukino with them.
"This man asked me for something, so I accepted his invitation," Yukino answered plainly.
"You two became friends so quickly?" Hiratsuka chuckled, knowing Akira was in the Service Club.
"We're not friends. Just acquaintances," Yukino corrected firmly.
"I think you'll become friends sooner or later. Your sister was here last night, by the way. She praised Akira-kun as a good person this morning. If it's him, she wouldn't mind you two becoming closer." Hiratsuka smiled knowingly.
Yukinoshita Yukino froze slightly at those words.
Meanwhile, Akira took a stick from the kitchen and handed his room key to Yui.
"You all can go to my room first. I'll head to the supermarket for meat and vegetables."
"I-I'll go with you," Yui said softly.
"Alright. Let's go together."
Akira handed the key to Ebina Hina.
"Yui, come back early," Ebina teased.
Yui blushed even redder, lowering her head.
"Can I come too? I have something I want to ask you." Yukinoshita Yukino looked directly at Akira.
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"No problem. Actually, Yui and I have something we'd like to discuss with you as well."
Yui bit her lip, remembering last night, and Hayato Hayama's words to Yumiko. Yes—this was something worth discussing with her.
Yukino placed her commuter bag on the yard table, then left with the two of them.
Behind them, Ebina Hina watched their backs thoughtfully, silently.
"I have a feeling Yui and Yukinoshita-san might end up clashing over Akira-kun," she murmured.
Yumiko frowned.
"Hina, what do you think of Akira-kun?"
Yumiko Miura looked at her.
"Me? I think Akira can be a friend. You know, I don't want to fall in love." Ebina Hina chuckled.
Miura Yumiko stopped talking. She knew that Ebina Hina didn't want to fall in love.
However, love was something that couldn't be controlled. Falling in love with someone could only take a moment.
...
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