When Yui entered behind Shizuka Hiratsuka, everyone's attention immediately turned toward her.
Having so many people staring at her at once made Yui feel a little embarrassed. When her eyes met Takumi's, an electric sensation ran through her, making her heart flutter wildly.
At the same time, surprise appeared in her eyes.
"You're Takumi-kun, right? The only male student in the entire school right now!!"
"Oh~ Yeah, that's me. Nice to meet you."
Seeing Yui eagerly hurry over, Takumi quickly adjusted his mood and greeted her with a smile.
Hiratsuka, who had brought her here, turned toward Yukino.
"Yukinoshita, this is your club's first request. I brought her here especially for you, so do your best."
After saying that, she gave Takumi a meaningful look, signaling for him to take care of Yukino, then turned and left.
Left alone with so many people watching her, Yui suddenly grew nervous again.
"Um... Hiratsuka-sensei told me to come here."
"We all saw that. You didn't really need to repeat it."
Takumi's casual remark immediately made Yui lower her head in embarrassment.
She had been so nervous that she hadn't even realized how obvious that was.
Yukino stepped forward instead and pulled out a chair for her.
"You're Yui from Class 1-F, correct? For now, have a seat."
"Eh!? You know who I am?"
Realizing that Yukino recognized her, Yui immediately relaxed and sat down.
"Knowing her, I'd guess she memorized the names of everyone in the entire school."
Standing off to the side, Yuki Suou quietly threw in a jab.
"Not at all. Until recently, I didn't even know your name or that you existed."
"Hehe~ Maybe that's just because I transferred here not too long ago."
"Or perhaps I simply forgot you. Unfortunately, my psychological endurance has its limits."
"You're just insulting me now!"
"Congratulations. You figured it out."
By the end of their exchange, Yuki was so irritated that she patted her chest and took several deep breaths.
As her chest rose and fell, the corners of her lips gradually curved upward.
"I'm broad-minded enough not to care about the nasty attitude of someone so lacking in substance."
"So when you can't win an argument, you resort to personal attacks? What a crude tactic."
"I'm merely stating a fact~"
Yuki proudly puffed out her chest.
Compared to Mio and the others, her figure might have been nothing extraordinary, but surpassing Yukino was more than easy enough.
Takumi, watching from the side, was almost impressed by the quality of their verbal sparring.
There wasn't any actual hair-pulling or fighting, but this was entertaining enough on its own.
Still, when the two looked ready to keep going indefinitely, Takumi finally stopped merely watching.
"Ahem. Yuigahama-san is still here."
He looked toward Yukino.
"Yukino, this seems to be your club's first request. You should take it a little more seriously."
His reminder brought Yukino back to the matter at hand.
She composed herself and looked solemnly toward Yui, who was sitting properly in her chair.
Yukino's serious stare made Yui feel embarrassed all over again.
"Um... my problem really isn't anything that important."
"That's fine. Your problem is far more important than this inconspicuous woman."
"You bastard! Do you want to settle this with our fists?!"
After being mocked yet again, Yuki looked ready to square up with Yukino.
Unfortunately for her, Ayano and Takumi moved at the same time and restrained her.
"Please don't be impulsive, Yuki-sama."
"I think Ayano has a point."
Held in Takumi's arms, Yuki made a token effort to struggle before throwing out one last threatening remark and finally letting the matter go.
Yui, whose presence had become increasingly faint amid all this, quietly explained why she had come.
"I want someone to eat cookies that I made myself. But I've tried making them several times before, and every attempt failed, so... I was hoping you could help me."
Embarrassed, Yui bowed toward Yukino in a clear gesture of asking for help.
"'You'?" Yukino replied. "At the moment, I'm the only member of this club. But that should still be enough."
After explaining that, Yukino stood up and prepared to take Yui to the cooking classroom.
Before leaving, however, Yukino inexplicably turned toward Takumi and invited him along.
"The cookies will need someone to taste-test them afterward. Takumi, would you mind helping?"
As she spoke, a faint cherry-pink blush appeared across Yukino's flawless pale skin.
Ever since the last time she had gone all-out meowing like a catgirl, Yukino had realized that she seemed to have become unable to stay away from Takumi.
Now, almost instinctively, she wanted to spend a little more time with him—even if she had to use such a flimsy excuse.
"Uh... sure."
Takumi paused but didn't refuse.
It was only tasting a few cookies. There was no reason to turn down something that trivial.
At the same time, he noticed a message appear on his phone and casually sent a reply.
"Let's meet at the cooking classroom on the third floor."
After saying goodbye to Yuki, Takumi followed Yukino and Yui toward the cooking classroom.
Watching Takumi and the others leave, Yuki didn't follow.
Instead, she turned toward Ayano behind her.
"By the way, Ayano."
"What are your orders, Yuki-sama?"
Ayano responded immediately, reluctantly pulling her gaze away from Takumi's departing back.
Yuki then put on what she personally considered a very cool expression.
"Ayano, what do you think of Onii-chan?"
"Young Master Takumi's gentle demeanor and imposing physique made my uterus tremble involuntarily."
Ayano's tone remained completely calm.
In her mind, however, she recalled how, when she and Takumi had restrained Yuki together earlier, she had accidentally brushed against something rather impressive.
A faint blush appeared on her pretty face.
Yuki blinked at Ayano's answer, her expression going blank.
I only asked for your opinion. I wasn't expecting an answer that explosive!
"Uh... I see. It... trembled."
Yuki hesitated before continuing.
"Then let me ask just to make sure. Ayano, does that mean you like my brother?"
"Yes."
Ayano answered without the slightest hesitation.
Then she calmly elaborated.
"I do not harbor romantic feelings, nor do I possess the arrogant desire to 'become his girlfriend.' If I can simply be used as a tool by him, I will be completely satisfied."
"..."
Hearing Ayano's astonishing declaration, Yuki suddenly felt as though the maid standing before her had become a stranger.
This was far more "extreme" than she had imagined!
Originally, Yuki had been thinking about playing matchmaker and bringing another ally over to her side.
But judging from the situation now, even if she did absolutely nothing, things seemed destined to develop exactly the way she wanted.
At this point, she genuinely couldn't tell whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
...
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