Yui Yuigahama loved school festivals. The noise, the people, the chaos, it was all so much fun. Her class's takoyaki stand was a smashing success, and she was happy. But her happiness wasn't just about the festival. It was about him. She was, as she always had been, a girl with a secret crush, and today, in the midst of the festival, her feelings felt more real and urgent than ever.
She remembered the exact moment. It was a normal afternoon, a few months ago, in the Service Club. The air was heavy with an unspoken tension, a familiar feeling whenever she, Yukino, and Hachiman were together. They were trying to solve some problem she could no longer recall, but the memory of him, Ren, was crystal clear. Ren just passed by in front of the door of their clubroom. He was a new transfer student. There was a moment when their eyes met, and in that instant, something shifted in Yui's heart. It was like a puzzle piece clicking into place, a silent, undeniable connection. It was love at first sight.
And today, here he was. Yui was struggling to lift a heavy box of takoyaki ingredients. She wobbled under the weight, her smile faltering. Just as she was about to drop it, a hand reached out and took the box from her with an easy grace.
"Here, let me help you," Ren said. He smiled, and Yui's heart did a little flip-flop. She stammered her thanks, her cheeks warm.
As they walked, talking and laughing, Yui saw Yukino approaching, a focused expression on her face. Yukino, ever the responsible one, must have noticed their shortage of ingredients. She hurried to help, but in her haste, she slipped on a spilled takoyaki ball.
Yukino cried out, bracing herself for the fall, but it never came. Ren, with reflexes that were almost unnatural, dropped the box he was carrying and caught her just before she hit the floor. His hands were firm on her waist, and their faces were mere inches apart.
For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Yui watched, a small, sad pang in her heart, as Yukino looked into Ren's eyes. It was a look Yui had never seen on her friend's face—a flicker of surprise, a hint of vulnerability. Yukino's heart hammered against her ribs, a wild, unbidden rhythm. It was a single, perfect moment of connection, a silent realization that left her shaken. But it was just that—a moment. Yukino's composure snapped back into place. She immediately pushed herself away from Ren, her face a carefully blank mask.
"I... I can handle it," she said, her voice tight, and turned away.
Just as the scene was about to return to normal, a new voice cut through the air. "Well, well, well, what do we have here?"
Yui and Yukino turned to see Haruno Yukinoshita standing there, a playful smirk on her face. Her visit was a surprise, but her timing was impeccable. She had seen everything. Her gaze fell on Ren, her eyes full of wicked amusement.
"He's quite handsome, isn't he, little sister?" she teased, her eyes sparkling.
Ren offered a polite, calm thank you, but Haruno merely sighed. "No fun at all," she muttered, clearly disappointed by his composed reaction. Yui already knew Yukino's big sister, but Ren is a new member, so Yui introduced her. Haruno introduced herself, and then Ren introduced himself to her. She then turned her attention back to Yukino. "I just wanted to see how my little sister was doing. You've been so busy, you know."
Yukino started to say something, but she stopped herself, choosing silence over a fight she knew she couldn't win. Haruno looked at her, then back at Ren, a quiet understanding passing between them. With a final, enigmatic smile, she said her goodbyes and began to walk away.
And then, Ren did something completely unexpected. As Haruno walked away, he called out, his voice clear and resonant. "Haruno-san!"
She stopped and turned.
"I think I've fallen in love with you," he confessed, a playful glint in his eyes.
Yui and Yukino gasped, their eyes wide with shock. Haruno's smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of genuine surprise. This was not the reaction he was looking for. He had wanted to get revenge on her for teasing him earlier, but this was too much. Ren was not serious, but he would take responsibility for his words if she decided to take them seriously. But Haruno's expression was icy, a stark contrast to her earlier teasing. Her gaze turned to a glare, and she stared at him as if she wanted to kill him.
"It must be nice to be like you," she said, her voice a low, dangerous whisper. And with that, she turned and left, leaving a heavy silence in her wake.