Sending a message to invite Yuigahama to lunch wasn't just to give her a chance to feel relieved; Yuu also had some questions he wanted to ask.
"How did it go? Did the car owner say they'd drag that silly little dog to be executed?"
"Sable isn't a silly little dog! She's just a bit naughtier than usual, not bad enough to be executed!" After protesting in frustration, Yuigahama shakes her two pigtails, explaining with her small, pink, glossy mouth.
"After I apologized, the driver… maybe he was the driver? Anyway, he said I should be careful when walking my dog next time, asked for your contact info, then left without saying much."
"My contact?" Yuu pauses. "Why'd he ask for that? I'm not into guys."
"Pffft!"
Yuigahama quickly lowers her head to hide her improper reaction, but her crescent-moon eyes can't be concealed. She's grateful that she'd just opened her bento and hadn't eaten rice or drunk anything yet. Otherwise, if she'd sprayed her drink across Yuu's face, she might've had to die to atone for it.
"That's not it! Yuu-kun, ugh~"
Lifting her head, her face flushes as she holds back laughter. It's always been like this—when Yuigahama looks at him, she seems so happy.
"The driver was just worried you got hurt. If something really happened to you, they could take full responsibility, cover medical costs, or whatever."
Yuu says casually: "Alright. So, did you give it to him?"
"I wouldn't give your contact to anyone!" Declaring this firmly, as if realizing her statement was too blunt, Yuigahama quickly waves her hands to explain. "I-I'm not that dumb to leak your info without your permission!"
"So afterward, I just gave him my LINE. If anything comes up, I'll let him know."
As her former "mentor," Yuu nods with satisfaction.
"Good, slight progress."
Though it's genuine praise this time, Yuigahama glares at him, her cheeks puffing slightly: "Yuu-kun… I don't know if it's just me, but I always feel like you're looking down on me."
"Don't sweat the small stuff." Yuu waves dismissively, then asks offhandedly, "Did you see who was in the back of the car?"
"Eh? The back?" Blinking her long lashes, Yuigahama looks confused. "No, I was panicking so much, I didn't have time to notice…"
"Got it, no big deal then."
Setting his chopsticks on the empty bowl, Yuu feels a twinge of curiosity for some reason.
During one of his dates in his memories, Haruno's car was in for maintenance, so she borrowed her father's car, who was abroad on business, to take him out. That car—its shape and brand—was exactly like the luxurious black sedan from this morning, though Yuu didn't check if the license plate matched.
Could such a coincidence really happen…
"Yuu-kun, what's wrong?"
"…Nothing, it's fine."
Coincidence or not, after the mission ended, Haruno has nothing to do with him anymore. Thinking about an "ex-girlfriend" he no longer feels for is just a waste of time.
Snapping out of it, Yuu casually points to her bento: "Don't just talk, eat."
"Oh, right!"
Yuigahama hurriedly shifts her gaze from his face, picks up her chopsticks, says "Itadakimasu," and quickly scoops a few bites of rice, then looks at him, who's finished his lunch and is casually playing with his phone across from her.
"Um…" Lowering her head, she says cautiously, "You can head back first, it's okay."
"Hm? No need to be polite." Understanding her expression, Yuu smiles casually. "I invited you, so of course I'll stay until you're done. Eat slowly, don't choke."
Her expression turns complicated for some reason, and Yuigahama mutters: "So kind… You weren't like this before."
Not responding to that, Yuu focuses on his phone, but his mind is suddenly filled with other thoughts, unable to see the screen.
(Not just Yuigahama, Sora said the same thing…)
The him before summer break, the him as a rental boyfriend, and the him now, temporarily back to daily life.
What's the difference between these three?
…This damn system, changing world lines, but it can't even change an ordinary person.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Isn't that the transfer student?"
Halfway through her bento, Yuigahama finally notices something odd in one corner of the cafeteria, like an anomaly. The center, of course, is the stunning half-foreign girl—Natsukawa Masuzu—and a group of sycophants trying to curry favor while she's new.
Rumor has it Yukino was like this when she first joined, but within a day, she drove them off with her "freezing rays" and "icy winds." Her merciless words and uncompromising attitude earned her the Ice Queen title, making even admirers keep their distance.
As for the other two, Yuu doesn't know… Today, rumors about the transfer student and Yukino are everywhere, so he's picked up plenty without trying.
"No idea what country she's mixed with, but she's gorgeous…" Sneaking a few glances, Yuigahama looks envious.
"True, the crowd's got sharp eyes." Even Yuu acknowledges this. He's seen Yukino too. Both girls have their own distinct beauty. You could scour Shinjuku and not find anyone prettier.
But honestly, Yuigahama isn't bad either. As she eats, Yuu observes his "old friend" of nearly three years.
Her hair is dyed, but so naturally and sweetly, stylish yet not overly flashy. Her signature ponytail is her trademark, but Yuu's also seen her with her hair down, looking pure and sweet with a strong girl-next-door vibe.
A silver chain hangs around her neck, the top two buttons of her uniform undone, the pendant tucked into the faint curve visible beneath. Her summer uniform subtly reveals peach-colored underwear, her skin fair and clear, her figure full but not heavy, radiating an innocent yet alluring charm. Her shoulders are rounded, her collarbone elegant, and her lightly made-up face would be rated by anyone as belonging to the beautiful girl category.
That's Yuigahama Yui, who once confessed her love to him and still shows strong feelings now. Thinking of this, Yuu can't help but feel a man's pride, but he also sighs for her.
"How to put it… Right idea, right person, but always the wrong timing."
If he didn't have the system now, and Yuigahama confessed again, he might not overthink his feelings and just accept her, right? After all, for guys, love often grows from intimacy, and the order of knowing body and mind can be reversed.
Thinking about this now is pointless. As a pure-love virgin at heart, Yuu can only look away before she notices.