Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Tanaka Masao and spoke.
"I think you understand now. If you have a request, you can state it. I'll decide whether to accept it."
Tanaka Masao had come prepared, so he presented the request he had already thought through.
"As for a request… I do have one. I want to lose weight."
"Lose weight?"
Yukinoshita Yukino repeated the words softly, looking Tanaka Masao up and down.
"That request is quite reasonable, and it aligns well with my philosophy.
Most people fail at dieting because they lack self-control and willpower. They can't persist.
However, if you have a beautiful girl like me supervising you, it should stimulate your male pride and help you stick with it."
As she finished speaking, Yukinoshita even showed a confident smile.
Looking at that smile, Tanaka Masao thought it was beautiful—but he still couldn't help complaining.
"Yukinoshita-san, do you know what humility is?
Who just outright calls herself a 'beautiful girl' like that?"
"Humility?"
Hearing that word, Yukinoshita Yukino pinched her chin and fell into deep thought.
After a moment, she let out a helpless sigh, looked out the window, and spoke slowly.
"You don't understand at all."
As she said this, Tanaka Masao could clearly feel the sense of loss in her voice.
Yukinoshita Yukino continued:
"I've been cute ever since I was young. Almost every boy who approached me had feelings for me.
My indoor shoes have been hidden about sixty times. Fifty of those times were done by girls, forcing me to take my indoor shoes and my recorder home every time.
It's all because I'm too cute and too popular. Even I find it troublesome."
As if she had finally found someone to confide in, Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Tanaka Masao and asked:
"Don't you think this world is strange? The more outstanding a person is, the more easily they're envied—and the harder it becomes for them to survive. It's truly incomprehensible."
Hearing her question, Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"I can't agree with that viewpoint."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked slightly surprised by his rebuttal and asked with interest:
"Oh? Then tell me what you think."
Tanaka Masao nodded and replied:
"Actually, my indoor shoes were hidden too… No—rather than hidden, they were thrown away many times. Some of those times, they were even scribbled over with watercolor paints."
"But I don't think it was because I was outstanding. On the contrary—it was because I wasn't. If outstanding people struggle to survive, then what about those who aren't outstanding?"
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino froze.
From childhood to now, she had always lived as one of the strong—the excellent—someone ostracized by the weak.
Yet she had overlooked the fact that among the weak, there are those even weaker, who are bullied and excluded as well.
Compared to outstanding people, they have an even harder time surviving.
After several seconds of silence, Yukinoshita Yukino spoke again.
"No one is perfect. People are weak, ugly, and quick to exclude others out of jealousy. Then they turn around and strike those even weaker, to display their own sense of superiority."
"Humans really are contradictory. I want to change this world— and while I'm at it, change people as well."
Looking directly at Tanaka Masao, she asked:
"So what have you decided? To remain a weak person who gets bullied for life—or to make yourself outstanding. Outstanding enough to be envied by everyone."
Tanaka Masao answered seriously:
"Of course, I want to become better. That's why I've decided to lose weight."
Hearing the answer she wanted, Yukinoshita Yukino showed a faint smile.
"I like that mindset—facing your own weaknesses and choosing to change. I accept your request. Until you achieve your goal, even if you want to give up, I won't allow it. Be prepared."
"That's perfect."
Tanaka Masao took out his phone and started recording.
"I, Tanaka Masao, hereby resolve to lose weight, under the supervision of Yukinoshita Yukino. If I give up halfway, I will accept any form of punishment she chooses."
Watching him record, Yukinoshita Yukino merely said calmly:
"I hope you follow through, rather than losing motivation after three minutes."
Tanaka Masao put his phone away and asked curiously:
"Yukinoshita-san, you said fifty times your indoor shoes were hidden by girls—does that mean the rest were done by boys?"
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at him sideways and replied:
"There were boys. Teachers too. And even a few times… dogs."
As she said that, she showed a charming smile.
"So? Isn't my charm impressive? Even small animals are drawn to me."
"Dogs? Why were there dogs?"
Tanaka Masao pinched his chin in thought, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Yukinoshita Yukino's shoes, a dangerous idea forming in his mind.
[Could it be that Yukinoshita Yukino's shoes have a strong smell that attracts dogs…
And a smell that attracts dogs would be…
Well, you know—dogs will be dogs…]
Noticing his gaze, Yukinoshita Yukino narrowed her eyes, a dangerous glint flashing through them. Her voice turned icy.
"Tanaka-kin, are you thinking something extremely rude right now?"
Tanaka Masao felt a bone-chilling cold and shivered.
[So the 'Yukinoshita Yuki-Onna' nickname really isn't for show.]
His eyes darted away as he stammered:
"N-No… not at all."
Seeing this, Yukinoshita Yukino snorted.
"Hmph. Being around Tanaka-kin really is unpleasant.
But since I've accepted your request, I'll grit my teeth and see it through.
After all, I'm a woman of principles."
As she spoke, she flicked her long hair back proudly.
"Alright. Let's begin."
"Begin? Begin what?"
Tanaka Masao looked confused.
Yukinoshita Yukino rolled her eyes, utterly speechless.
"Your request, obviously. Losing weight. Stop wasting time and start already."
"Now?!"
Tanaka Masao exclaimed in surprise.
"Shouldn't there be a plan first? And some kind of ceremonial feeling when starting something like this?
Isn't this a bit sudden? At least wait until tomorrow."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino let out a scornful laugh and shook her head.
"That kind of thinking is exactly why people fail.
So-called 'ceremonial feeling' is just an excuse. If you've made up your mind, you should act immediately.
Do you understand?"
"I do."
This wasn't unfamiliar to Tanaka Masao.
Plan to work at eight o'clock—then at 8:01, think, I'll just mess around until 8:10 and start then.
Following the principle of delaying as much as possible, only starting when absolutely forced.
Tanaka Masao asked:
"So what should we do now? Go run on the track?"
Yukinoshita Yukino pinched her chin thoughtfully.
"Running is indeed a good method.
But the track has already been taken over by the various sports clubs. We can't use it."
She glanced around the room and continued:
"Let's do it here. This place is secluded enough, and the floor below is empty. Even if we exercise, we won't disturb anyone."