January 23.
At the AN Student Council this was one of the busiest periods: at the start of every term the larger clubs submitted their funding applications, the council collected them, and then approved or rejected them.
Horikita Suzune, face dark, glared at the mountain of requests. "Didn't we tell them the budget was being cut?"
She was only venting that the clubs refused to follow the rules. Since the final bell she'd been at it and club hours were almost over, yet the pile still wasn't processed.
Yukio eyed her in amusement and clicked his tongue. Tch-tch, this employee sure is handy—just let Horikita offend every club; she really is iron-faced impartial, and nobody can pull strings with her.
Ichinose worked cheerfully. "Well, everyone wants more private points so they can hold more activities. Going through the requests one by one is our job, after all."
"Tch."
Ryuen was buried in work too; he shot a venomous glare at the leisurely Yukio, grinding his teeth. Damn him—tricked me into free labor in the student council while he sips red tea and plays on his phone.
Secretly Ryuen cursed, Sooner or later I'm stringing you up on a streetlamp, Yukio—let you process forms while hanging there, and I'll only let you down when they're done.
The fantasy improved his mood a lot.
Just then Kushida, stiff-smiling and without her usual brightness, had to bite the bullet. "Um, Yukio-kun, several club presidents and managers approached me in private… asked if I could—well—put in a special word with you. We're all friends, you see, and I couldn't refuse them. But I suppose… you won't agree, right?"
Horikita's face tightened in disapproval; Ichinose and Ryuen showed no reaction—perfectly normal, really. There were always connections trying.
Yukio glanced at the time on his phone. "All right, work ends here for today. We'll finish tomorrow. You can all head back. Kushida, stay behind and tell me exactly which clubs asked you to plead for them."
No one objected; they filed out, leaving only the two of them.
Kushida grew uneasy—Was he actually angry because of this? That would be bad. I don't want him displeased over a few casual friends.
She hurried to explain. "No, no, those people don't matter. You can ignore them, truly. I'll just tell them I tried my best."
"Pfft~" Yukio laughed at her reaction, waved it off, and pulled a small gift box from his pocket. "Don't get so tense. I don't care about those clubs.
"More important—today's your birthday, isn't it? Happy birthday."
It so happened that Kushida's birthday fell only two days after Shiina's. He remembered her complaining back in late August at the campus pool that he was biased, so he couldn't be too lopsided. Shiina would always be the one he spoiled most—that wouldn't change—but he couldn't ignore Kushida either. Hence the present.
"!" Kushida clapped both hands over mouth and nose to hide the joyful contortion of her features. He remembered my birthday? And prepared a gift?
Every year, thanks to her angel persona, she received piles of presents—but from people who really knew her, and still gave? Not a single one.
Add that Yukio had treated her harshly in the past; though their relationship had shifted, there was little whiff of romance—more like… boss and secretary.
She never expected him to actually prepare a gift. It was a complete, delightful surprise.
Her loss of composure came from understanding: this meant Yukio placed her on the same level in his heart as Shiina—not a classmate he might never see after graduation, but someone he acknowledged could stay for life.
An indescribable emotion surged inside her, spreading like sunrise light melting away layers of negativity.
Someone like me, twisted inside, who can't function unless I maintain a web of trust supremacy—can I really be loved like this?
"Open it." Yukio stood, stepped to her, and extended the box.
Kushida reached out—halfway her hand retracted. Hesitation, fear of loss, nervous anticipation: her heart laid bare.
She'd spent so long wondering if, after graduation, they would part forever. Girls could over-think anything, and this sudden care felt almost dream-like.
Finding it funny, Yukio gently took her small hand and guided it, half-coaxing, to open the box.
Inside lay a quiet sapphire necklace. No gaudy jewel: a simple platinum chain and a tiny natural blue sapphire—nothing larger, unsuitable for daily wear at school.
"Suited to you, isn't it?" Yukio explained his choice. "Deep blue like the sea—just like you. A brilliant ocean is loved by almost everyone."
"But no matter how beautiful, the sea can still throw up raging waves that swallow passing ships."
"…"
Kushida's little smile froze. The more she listened, the less it sounded right. "Are… are you calling me two-faced?"
"?" Yukio pulled a wry face. Her train of thought really jumps. Or maybe he'd been too roundabout.
"I mean," he clarified—no way he'd let some melodramatic misunderstanding grow, "I like both—the shining ocean and the towering waves.
"Otherwise this gift wouldn't carry that meaning.
"Put clearly: whether it's the cheerful, lively persona you perform, or the you who's piled up a lot of negative feelings—I like both."
He spoke straight from the heart. To him both versions of Kushida were great: the first brimming with energy, the second wildly untamed—two completely different flavors a guy rarely experienced from one girl.
Maybe it was the sincerity, maybe the promise of a future; after a moment's hesitation Kushida pulled out her phone and called her many friends.
"Sorry, everyone! The student council just announced we have to work an extra hour. My birthday dinner's delayed, okay? Huh? What overtime? We're, uh, busy repairing the air-conditioner!"
...
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