"The reason is simple, really. Before dinner, before you arrived, our conversation had turned to how cute and pretty Yuigahama is—surely there must have been boys who confessed to her?"
Faced with those two words of praise in Lin Ye's speech, Yui Yuigahama's face flushed slightly, looking a little embarrassed.
"Cute, pretty and all that... it's really not... nothing like that!"
She let out a soft, bashful little sound.
But the other three had no mind at all right now to care about her embarrassment.
Lin Ye continued, "Yuigahama said there were some back in middle school, but during her high school years at Sobu High School there weren't any."
"And then..."
Lin Ye spoke of Iroha Isshiki's urging and her idea.
This cute young girl had been urging Lin Ye to confess—that as long as he confessed to Yui Yuigahama, there was an extremely high probability she would agree, and they would become lovers just like that.
Except in the end, it was Iroha Isshiki who became the one to speak the confession,
and Yui Yuigahama, somehow inexplicably, replied with a single "Okay."
This led to the two girls formally confirming a dating relationship.
After hearing all this, Yukino Yukinoshita had gained a rough understanding of what had happened earlier. The situation wasn't particularly complicated, only...
Her gaze couldn't help but linger on Yui Yuigahama a moment longer, which made the girl—who had already been minding Yukino Yukinoshita's reaction all along—subconsciously start to tremble.
Yui Yuigahama had been worrying all this time that Yukino would come to view her with colored glasses because of this, and worried even more that she'd think there was something wrong with her orientation.
And now this very gaze coming from Yukino Yukinoshita only deepened that worry of hers.
Could it be... she really had been misunderstood?
"Yuki... Yukinon, no, it's not... it's not what you think, it really isn't... I, this was all an accident, I... I like boys, I don't like girls... my orientation is perfectly normal."
Those few broken sentences laid bare Yui Yuigahama's inner state of mind at that moment.
She truly did not want to be misunderstood by Yukino Yukinoshita.
And Iroha Isshiki, with her keen ears, picked up on it and quickly understood Yui Yuigahama's worry.
As a little master troublemaker, how could Iroha Isshiki possibly let such an opportunity slip by?
This absolutely had to be arranged—she had to let Yui Yuigahama, her girlfriend, properly experience the power of her as a boyfriend.
"That's right, in Yuigahama-senpai's eyes I'm a boy now. Hehehehe, of course what Yui likes is boys."
Hearing this, Yui Yuigahama immediately grew flustered.
How could this be—
that wasn't what she meant at all.
"No, no, it really isn't, what I like are boys, real boys, boys like Student Lin."
The moment her words fell,
Iroha Isshiki immediately added, "Whoa! Yui likes Senpai just like me! That's perfect then—the buy-one-get-one-free I mentioned earlier, isn't that flawless? We can become Senpai's girlfriends together, the three of us can be together forever."
As she spoke,
Iroha Isshiki wrapped her arms around Yui Yuigahama, while with her other hand she reached out trying to grab Lin Ye's hand, as if wanting to pull Lin Ye over so the three of them could embrace together.
"Smack..."
But what she got in return was the sound of Lin Ye slapping her away in refusal.
"Senpai, not even interested in this? Two fragrant, soft, delicate and lovely beautiful girls!"
"I like Yukinoshita."
Simple, yet brutal.
That one sentence made even the stone-faced Yukino Yukinoshita reveal a trace of shyness.
Yes,
upon hearing it, Yukino Yukinoshita grew bashful.
Lin Ye was always so utterly caught-you-off-guard,
her cool aloofness had already developed a breach because of Lin Ye, but her rationality remained, and she quickly returned to normal.
At the same time, her gaze swept rapidly across Yui Yuigahama's and Iroha Isshiki's faces—especially their eyes—swiftly analyzing and judging whether the two girls had noticed her abnormal reaction just now.
The result was... they hadn't.
Her heart eased a little in relief.
"Senpai, your one-sided crush is useless. You can't make Yukinoshita-senpai your girlfriend, but it's a different story for me and Yui—two of us, you know!"
Lin Ye placed his gaze upon Yukinoshita. "President Yukinoshita, tell me, is there a possibility that I could make you my girlfriend in the future?"
You're already my girlfriend right now.
Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't tell what Lin Ye was thinking either—probably that teasing Iroha Isshiki was just great fun!
"You tell me!"
she said coldly.
At a time when she still couldn't openly reveal her relationship with Lin Ye, she couldn't give an affirmative answer, but she didn't want to give a negative one either. So all she could offer was this kind of reply that could change depending on the person.
"Yes, of course I think it's possible. I even think Mai Sakurajima will become my girlfriend too—I have that premonition."
The moment his words fell,
not to mention Yui Yuigahama—even Iroha Isshiki wondered whether Lin Ye had gone a bit mad.
For Lin Ye to say he liked Mai Sakurajima in front of the two of them could still be passed off as a fan's admiration for an idol star. But now, for Lin Ye to say he liked Mai Sakurajima—and even wanted her as his girlfriend—right in front of the girl he liked, the girl he wanted to pursue, Yukino Yukinoshita, there was clearly something wrong with that no matter how you looked at it!
No matter how you saw it, it was like adding trouble and obstacles for himself!
Yui Yuigahama was even worried Yukino might explode,
while Iroha Isshiki, after a brief moment of shock and worry, found her mood growing complicated.
For a moment she couldn't tell whether she welcomed this or not!
"Stop daydreaming, that's impossible."
Even so, right now Mai Sakurajima was also Lin Ye's girlfriend—Yukino knew this perfectly well.
But she would definitely bring that relationship to an end in the future.
That was her intention.
"You deny it so firmly—flustered, flustered, so flustered. I get it now, this is definitely going to become reality."
Lin Ye chuckled, with a hint of mockery in it,
which left Yukino Yukinoshita momentarily stifled with anger before she chose to suppress it. She restrained herself and strictly managed her own conduct.
If she said anything more, it would only invite more of Lin Ye's counterattacks. At times like this, ignoring him and staying silent was the best choice.
"You're not even answering anymore, Yukinoshita—that's clearly tacit agreement."
Lin Ye still didn't want to let Yukinoshita off, constantly needling her,
but Yukino Yukinoshita maintained a calm expression, without any major reaction at all.
"You two, are you going to keep up this current intimate relationship?"
Yukino Yukinoshita turned the topic toward Iroha Isshiki and Yui Yuigahama.
"Of course."
"No."
"I'm the boyfriend, listen to me."
"I, I don't agree, I want to break up with Iroha-chan."
"I don't agree, Yui, it's not up to you."
The two of them argued—one wanting to break up, the other unwilling.
Yukino Yukinoshita even faintly saw a shadow of herself and Lin Ye from before.
Back then she'd wanted to break up too, but Lin Ye had been unwilling,
and in the end, it was she who compromised. She couldn't out-stubborn Lin Ye—or rather, Lin Ye held the greater initiative.
A few minutes later,
Iroha Isshiki and Yui Yuigahama still hadn't negotiated a result.
And the end of lunch break was drawing ever nearer.
The Service Club's noon session had finally come to an end.
"Oh right, Yukinon, is the Service Club's afternoon activity still on?"
Yukino Yukinoshita blinked, momentarily not clear on why Yui Yuigahama would suddenly ask this.
"That is... aren't you and Student Lin going on a date... shouldn't... shouldn't you go a bit early?"
Although club activities generally didn't end late, when going out on a date you'd always want more time to spend together!
Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but shoot Lin Ye a withering glance—
this whole thing was something Lin Ye had stirred up.
What was she supposed to do now?
"I have a way."
Iroha Isshiki suddenly said, "I can fulfill the appointment in Yukinoshita-senpai's place. Thank you, Senpai. From now on, I'll be Yukinoshita-senpai's stand-in."
The little junior could always say astonishing things so naturally.
Lin Ye felt a bit helpless too.
"No thanks, no need to trouble Isshiki. Today's club activity is cancelled."
She spoke up.
Iroha Isshiki still wanted to say something, but she was pulled away by Yui Yuigahama. "Mm-hmm, Yukinon, we understand. The Service Club activity is temporarily cancelled today."
"Sen-, Senpai..."
Iroha Isshiki seemed unwilling to give up even then, but at this point she'd lost the initiative and was dragged off by Yui Yuigahama.
In the end, Iroha Isshiki spoke up in stifled frustration, "Yui, we're going on a date today. Hmph, if you don't agree, you know what happens..."
Iroha Isshiki vented her resentment onto Yui Yuigahama.
And Yui Yuigahama agreed.
"Out with it! What's happening this afternoon?"
After the two had left, leaving only her and Lin Ye, Yukinoshita spoke up, her words carrying a faint trace of helplessness.
"Nothing much."
"Tell me."
"You're overthinking it. Actually, I just simply wanted to ask you out for a stroll."
Yukino Yukinoshita's reaction was unexpected.
She never would have imagined Lin Ye's intention could be so simple.
"So, Yukino, are you willing to accept my invitation?"
She pursed her lips and left the Service Club without answering.
But she didn't refuse, which let Lin Ye know the girl had already agreed.
After school,
Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita left Sobu High School together.
Iroha Isshiki was waiting at a specific intersection, but this time she didn't come up to pester Lin Ye. She just stood with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed intently on Lin Ye, as if wanting to release some tremendous pressure.
"I won't be keeping Lin Ye company today. I'm going to be with my partner."
Yes,
today Iroha Isshiki was going to accompany her own partner.
Both Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita knew who Iroha Isshiki was referring to.
"I see. And here I was thinking of inviting you, Isshiki, to come along!"
Iroha Isshiki: ???
Yukinoshita was stunned for a second too, then realized this was Lin Ye's joke, deliberately provoking Iroha Isshiki.
Iroha Isshiki quickly caught on as well, knowing Lin Ye had done it on purpose—if she persisted in clinging, the answer Senpai would give could only be a refusal.
Damn it,
Senpai was truly too infuriating.
After turning it over several times in her mind, Iroha Isshiki continued, "No thanks, not interested."
She refused. In the face of the faint sliver of extravagant hope in her heart, she chose to refuse. She knew this hope had absolutely no chance of becoming reality.
"Goodbye, Isshiki."
Lin Ye said his farewell and left,
with Yukino Yukinoshita calmly following after.
Only after the two had walked quite a long distance away did Iroha Isshiki fiercely stomp her foot. "Senpai, you idiot, Senpai, go stay single for the rest of your life!
When the time comes and no woman wants you, don't you come begging me. I, I won't... definitely won't... take you off anyone's hands."
"Um... Iroha-chan,"
Yui Yuigahama's soft, awkward voice sounded.
She felt a little awkward, as though she'd overheard something she shouldn't have.
"Yuigahama-senpai... let's go!"
Iroha Isshiki lifted a smile,
a smile that always carried just a tiny bit of bitterness.
Yui Yuigahama knew that Iroha Isshiki genuinely liked Lin Ye.
This time,
she couldn't hold back and asked, "Iroha-chan, why do you like Student Lin Ye?"
Was it genuine liking, or was it because being rejected had triggered a rebellious, contrarian psychology?
Given Iroha Isshiki's kind of personality, Yui Yuigahama felt the latter possibility was also quite high.
"Since when does liking someone need a 'why'!"
Iroha Isshiki answered breezily, "I just fell for him, it's that simple."
"But Student Lin Ye, he isn't exactly..."
"Don't care, I don't care. And besides, Senpai, mind what your relationship with me is right now. You ought to be taking my side!"
Under Iroha Isshiki's reminder, Yui Yuigahama felt helpless and awkward.
Since that was the case, she could only accept it.
The two walked on together.
Iroha Isshiki had a simple plan arranged too—dinner, dessert, and a movie.
That was Iroha Isshiki's arrangement.
On the other side,
Lin Ye and Yukinoshita arrived at a seafood restaurant.
Yes, after Lin Ye had asked her preference, Yukino Yukinoshita had chosen seafood.
The two would eat seafood tonight.
"How did it go with Miura Yumiko?"
Even up to now, Yukino hadn't given a concrete account.
"I've already told her. She said she understands, but..."
"But what..."
"She misunderstood something."
Under Lin Ye's curious gaze, Yukino explained.
After hearing it, Lin Ye couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He really hadn't expected Miura Yumiko could have a misunderstanding like that.
"It doesn't match the facts, but it does match the logic."
Yukino: "..."
It really was logical—even she found that the logic held up when she thought about it herself.
"Don't laugh."
"I'm not laughing. She even wants to become friends with you—you won't agree to that?"
Yukino shot Lin Ye another withering glance. "You're very happy about this, aren't you?"
"No."
"Of course—your real girlfriend and your nominal girlfriend becoming friends. How could a boyfriend like you not be pleased!"
Yukino couldn't help but toss out that remark.
Lin Ye was caught off guard, because even he hadn't thought of this point.
"What are you talking about, there's no such thing."
"Heh."
Yukinoshita didn't believe him.
A while later,
dish after dish of seafood cuisine was set on the table.
The two both began to pick up their chopsticks,
and at this moment, Yukino spoke up again. "There's something I have to ask you. No refusing, no staying silent."
Under Yukino's such solemn, earnest gaze, Lin Ye grew worried—worried that the girl before him would ask some sensitive question.
Otherwise, there was no way she'd have this kind of attitude.
...
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