Lunch Break – The Service Club
Since Ebina Hina had dragged Miura Yumiko off to spy on their "observation target," today's lunch consisted of only Su Yu, Yukinoshita Yukino, and Yuigahama Yui.
Su Yu and Yui's lunches were convenience store bentos, which were far inferior to the homemade lunches from Yui's house.
Meanwhile, Yukino's bento was, as always, handmade by herself.
Because of this, as the three of them ate together—
Su Yu and Yui couldn't help but glance at Yukino's bento.
Feeling their gazes, Yukino sighed in resignation.
After a few moments, she finally looked up at them.
"…If you want some, just try it."
"Yukino, you're the best!" Yui beamed and took a piece of sushi from her bento.
Su Yu, on the other hand, smirked and said—
"Yukino, can you feed me?"
The two girls froze in shock.
Even though their relationship had already progressed significantly, his direct request still caught them off guard.
Yui blinked, turning to look at Yukino.
Meanwhile, Yukino's face flushed red.
There was no way she could feed Su Yu in front of Yui.
Actually, even if Yui wasn't here, she still wouldn't do it!
They were just friends. Something like that…
Before she could respond—
"Then, Yui, I'll leave it to you," Su Yu said, seeing Yukino's inner struggle.
He already knew Yukino wouldn't do it.
"Su Yu-kun, Yukino gets embarrassed easily," Yui giggled. "But if you ask her next time, when it's just the two of you, she'll definitely say yes."
She picked up a piece of sushi from Yukino's bento and held it up to Su Yu's mouth.
"Thanks, Yui."
Su Yu took a bite, smiling at her.
…It was unclear whether he was thanking her for the idea or for feeding him the sushi.
Yukino, meanwhile, lowered her head, pretending not to hear their conversation.
"Yukino, here, let me feed you too!" Yui cheerfully offered her a piece of tonkatsu.
"…Thank you."
Yukino accepted it without hesitation.
And then—
She saw Yui's sly smile.
At that moment, Yukino realized something.
Her face instantly turned bright red.
"Yukino, how does the tonkatsu taste?" Su Yu grinned.
"Yukino, how does the tonkatsu taste?" Yui mimicked Su Yu's tone playfully.
"You… You two…!"
Embarrassed and frustrated, Yukino glared at them.
Then, she stomped on Su Yu's foot.
But before she could react—
Su Yu reached out and lightly touched her thigh-high stockings.
Feeling his touch, Yukino's entire body shivered as if she had been electrocuted.
She immediately pulled her foot back.
Su Yu, seeing an opportunity, moved his chair closer to her.
Yukino's eyes widened in disbelief.
This guy… isn't he worried about Yui watching?!
She turned to Yui, hoping for support—
Only to see Yui scooting closer to her too.
Yui even smiled at her.
And then—
Su Yu took her hand.
Yui, not wanting to be outdone, grabbed her other hand.
"…!"
Yukino was completely speechless.
"Yui, let go of my Yukino."
"Su Yu-kun, you let go first! Yukino is mine!"
"Yui, are you seriously competing with me for my girlfriend?"
"Actually, I've liked Yukino for a long time."
"Yui, you—"
"Su Yu-kun, I'm sorry. The only reason I became your girlfriend was for Yukino."
Yukino sat there, stunned, watching the two of them dramatically act out a love triangle.
Before she knew it, Yui had wrapped her arm around Yukino's and rested her head on her shoulder.
Su Yu, seeing that, tried to copy Yui—
But Yukino panicked and pushed him away.
"See? Yukino likes me better," Yui giggled.
"Yuigahama-san…"
Yukino let out a helpless sigh.
After Lunch – On the Way Back to Class
As they walked back, Yui spoke in a quiet voice.
"Su Yu-kun… you and Yukino still haven't moved past 'just friends,' have you?"
"There's no need to rush that," Su Yu replied.
"…I think Yukino is waiting for that change. She's waiting for your confession," Yui whispered.
"It's not the right time yet," Su Yu said, shaking his head.
"Are you waiting to gain the Yukinoshita family's approval before confessing?" Yui seemed to understand.
"More or less," Su Yu nodded. "I don't want to change my last name."
Hearing that, Yui softly squeezed his arm.
She knew that part of his hesitation was because of her.
"Su Yu-kun, like I said before, you can marry Yukino first, and then…"
"And then you'll help raise her kids?" Su Yu glanced at her.
"If Yukino is okay with it, I really wouldn't mind," Yui murmured.
"If we all lived together, and you and Yukino went to work while I took care of the kids, wouldn't that be nice?"
Her voice held a sense of longing.
"Yui… you've fully accepted this situation, haven't you?"
"I don't want to leave you, and I don't want to become strangers with Yukino. So… this is the only way."
She looked up at him.
"To me, this should be a good thing… but for some reason, I don't feel happy about it," Su Yu sighed.
That was his true feeling.
Yui's willingness to compromise did, in fact, allow all three of them to find happiness.
But this kind of happiness…
"Su Yu-kun, I'm not giving in for free," Yui said with a knowing smile.
"If you feel guilty, and if Yukino is extra kind to me… then my position in the family will be very secure.
That's my plan."
Su Yu raised an eyebrow.
"Your 'Little Dummy Plan'?"
He didn't believe for a second that Yui was actually scheming.
Rather than a calculated strategy, it was more like…
She was simply convincing herself that it made sense.
So that she wouldn't feel conflicted anymore.
"I am not a little dummy!" Yui pouted.
"Only a little dummy would say that," Su Yu teased.
Yui huffed, then hesitated before whispering—
"Su Yu-kun… my grades aren't that great. What if my kids end up like me?"
Su Yu smirked.
"Grades aren't hereditary. And besides—
With Yukino around, do you really think your kid would struggle in school?"
"…I want my kid to be a girl, and Yukino's kid to be a boy," Yui murmured shyly.
"That way, the big brother can protect the little sister."
Su Yu sighed.
"Yui, that wish will probably backfire."
"If Yukino has a daughter, she'll definitely be as perfect as she is."
"And if we have a son, he'll probably be like me—meaning, you won't have much influence at all."
Yui pouted.
"But I still want an older brother for my daughter!"