Kasumigaoka: "Yukinoshita, do you remember that cat we saw downstairs that day?"
Kasumigaoka: "I put up flyers around the apartment for days and no one came to claim it. Looks like it really was abandoned."
Kasumigaoka: "So... I adopted her!"
Kasumigaoka: "Isn't she adorable? Come on, admit it!"
Kasumigaoka: [Image.jpg]
Class had just ended, and as always, her phone buzzed right on cue with a flurry of new messages. Ninety-nine percent were from Miss Kasumigaoka. The rest were the usual spam.
Attached to one of her messages was a photo a kitten, tiny and round-bellied, lay on her back with her four paws in the air, exposing her soft little tummy. Her wide, dazed eyes looked straight into the camera with the innocent confusion of something too pure for this world.
Unfair.
No one in their right mind could look at that photo and lie by saying she wasn't cute.
Kasumigaoka, you're so despicable!
Yukinoshita: "...You're the kind of person who can't even take care of herself, and now you're keeping a cat?"
Yukinoshita had always had a soft spot for cats a deep, unexplainable fondness that had been with her since childhood. But ironically, cats didn't seem to like her back. Almost every cat she had ever approached had fluffed up, crouched low, and arched its back like a warrior ready for battle.
Kasumigaoka: "Still better than someone who cats universally reject, heeheehee~"
Yukinoshita: "...…"
Where on earth had Kasumigaoka picked up this new brand of passive-aggressive sass?
Kasumigaoka: "I don't feel like going out this weekend, so how about we do our tutoring session at my place instead?"
Yukinoshita: "Buzz off."
Kasumigaoka: "You can pet the kitty! She's super obedient and never scratches~"
Yukinoshita: "...I'll think about it."
During class, Yukinoshita usually kept her phone off. Sometimes, she wouldn't even check it until she was already home and halfway through looking something up online.
After all, back then besides the occasional verbal sparring match with Haruno
No one really reached out to her. ( (:з」∠) )
But things were different now. In this surreal, absurd world she'd somehow stumbled into, she'd found something unexpected: she'd made friends.
Miura, who excitedly shared screenshots of everything fun or interesting she came across without a doubt, the first person Yukinoshita had ever called a friend.
Kasumigaoka, who always seemed too lazy to care about anything, yet carried something quiet and sorrowful behind her sarcastic remarks. She still stabbed with her words, but somehow, it didn't feel the same anymore.
Too much.
Why don't you treat other people this sharply?
And then there was Yui Yuigahama the soft-hearted one, who never quite learned how to say no, but still extended kindness to someone like her.
"Yui, please! Help me out! I'm not feeling well today I really need to take the day off!"
The class sports rep was practically in tears, clutching Yuigahama's hands like a lifeline, making it clear she wouldn't let go unless she got a yes.
Yuigahama stood frozen, caught off-guard, forcing a smile. "Um, about the signup list for the sports events... I'm not really sure how to do that..."
Yukinoshita glanced down at the translucent screen hovering in front of her. Another task notification for Yuigahama had popped up. She ignored it, lowered her eyes, and shot a reply to Kasumigaoka.
Yukinoshita: "Did you name the cat?"
She used to find Kasumigaoka a bit too sharp-tongued, a little too much. But after working together (even if it started as a forced point-farming arrangement), she was starting to think... maybe she wasn't so bad.
Well, fine Yukinoshita had always had a soft spot for point-farming sheep.
Meanwhile, Yuigahama was still stuck in her dilemma.
This year, the unlucky girl who drew the short straw and ended up sports rep was Aoba. And now she seemed to be calling in sick.
With the sports festival just ten days away, every class was scrambling to finalize preparations. For the sports reps, the most dreaded part was assigning everyone to events.
Everyone in class was either a borderline shut-in or a carefully curated Insta-girl who didn't want to break a sweat. No one was eager to participate. Most were either disinterested or outright looking for ways to slack off.
So yeah sports rep? Worst job ever.
If they didn't get enough names on the signup list, the teacher wouldn't approve it. But if they started assigning events by force, the classmates would get pissed. And in Japan, where bullying had a long and well-documented history, you never knew what random little thing might get you ostracized.
Everyone walked on eggshells.
And Yuigahama she tiptoed more than most.
"It's super easy!" Aoba gave her best puppy-dog eyes. "Just write down who's doing what. I'll handle the rest, okay? Please, Yui!"
Miura had gone to a disciplinary committee meeting today. Ono and Kamizawa were off doing club stuff. That left Yuigahama, who couldn't bring herself to say no.
She smiled stiffly. "Alright... I guess I can try..."
Idiot. There's no way it's just that simple.
Sure enough, by the time second period ended, barely anyone had signed up.
At this rate, Class 2-F would be the last one to fill out their list.
And when that happened, Ms. Hiratsuka would be furious and start assigning students herself, one by one, until the sheet was full.
Yuigahama had no choice. After class, she stood up and said, "Hey, the sports festival's in two weeks. If you're planning to participate, come sign up with me, okay?"
Her voice had barely finished echoing through the classroom when laughter broke out.
"Who even wants to compete? That stuff's exhausting."
"Yui's too nice. Aoba totally dumped this on her, hahaha."
"Yeah, just let the teacher assign people. That's easier anyway."
"Please don't make me run long-distance. I can't. I'll die, Yui, I swear QAQ"
"Yui, you're so nice you're not gonna force me, right? Right? Ughhh..."
One sentence. That was all she'd managed to say before they steamrolled the rest of her words.
Yuigahama froze, awkward and small, like someone sealed into a block of wet concrete.
She didn't want to give up but the words just wouldn't come.
All around her, the classroom buzzed with thoughtless laughter. Every little sound pressed against her chest like a weight.
Because the truth was...
Yuigahama really wasn't the kind of person who could force others to do something.
Kasumigaoka finally replied.
Kasumigaoka: "I named her Hoshi. It means 'star'... Do you like it?"
Yukinoshita, a devout fan of Rhythm of Romance, instantly recalled that quote from her favorite teacher's work:
"The sky holds countless stars, so don't cry because even the worst little child will have a star that belongs to her."
Tch. What a coincidence.
With that thought, Yukinoshita finally couldn't bring herself to just sit there anymore.
She let out a quiet sigh, lifted her eyes, and stood up.
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