"Talk it out. I've got things to do, so I'm heading out. Lock the door."
After saying that, Hiratsuka turns and leaves, closing the door behind her.
The classroom falls silent again. Yuu doesn't daydream; he calmly pulls out a chair and sits. Yukino looks at him, her clear, lake-like eyes blinking incessantly, her brows slightly furrowed as if hesitant.
"The car… cough." The words slip out softly, and she quickly purses her pink lips, feigning a cough, then speaks again in a calm tone.
"Let's get to know each other first. I'm Yukinoshita Yukino. You should already know me."
Her words brim with absolute confidence, making Yuu subtly curl the corner of his mouth.
"Indeed, the whole school's buzzing with rumors about you and Natsukawa-san today."
Hearing that, Yukino immediately shows an expression that, while accustomed, is clearly irritated.
"Rumors? How absurd. The person in question has no interest in caring, yet others waste time and energy on such trivial things. Wouldn't they be better off paying attention to the U.S. presidential election?"
She shakes her head in disappointment, opens the paperback in her lap, and delivers a sharp comment.
"Even a school with the highest deviation score isn't free from a bunch of commoners easily swayed by public opinion."
"Well, that's true…"
Though Yukino's not wrong, Yuu somehow senses an air of arrogance, like a queen on a high stage, mocking the crowd below.
(Is this what they call a warped personality? It's still far tamer than Haruno…)
"But in situations like this, rather than being manipulated by public opinion, it's more like everyone's seeking entertainment from you."
Yuu thinks for a moment, then counters her argument.
"It's not about the school or anything—it's purely human nature's bad habit of chasing drama and seeking superiority. Commoners or smart people like you, everyone can get caught up in it."
"…"
In the late summer transitioning to early autumn, though the air conditioning isn't on, the air around them feels cold and frozen.
Quietly setting down the book she just picked up, Yukino draws her legs together, sits up straight, and looks at him with a slightly icy gaze.
"As someone mocked by peers, you're equating me with them? Tenkuji-kun, so you're on the side of evil?"
Her small, clear, pink lips part slightly, but her words are sharpened into blades, slowly revealing their edge.
Yuu doesn't back down, meeting her gaze with faint amusement.
"Yukinoshita-san, your concept-twisting is too clumsy, isn't it?"
"…What do you mean?"
"By mocking you, does that group lose their human identity and become a different species? I was comparing human flaws, but you assumed I'm defending them, shifting the narrative to victim and perpetrator, and arbitrarily drawing a line between good and evil, easily treating me as an enemy."
Yuu shrugs, sighing as if exasperated by a naughty child: "Just like she said, so naive and cute, huh…"
Her eyes grow colder, and Yukino clenches her fists. Intense anger flashes across her beautiful face. But she doesn't retort immediately, instead narrowing her eyes, glaring sharply like a hissing kitten with raised fur, asking word by word:
"You know my sister?"
"Your sister? Who?"
His acting is flawless, and Yuu tilts his head in confusion.
Her brows furrow, and Yukino's voice, like a river, loses its friendliness: "Someone whose attitude and tone just now were eerily similar to yours, irritating to hear… The one you mentioned, it's Yukinoshita Haruno, right?"
"Nope, Hiratsuka-sensei." While wondering why he had to say that so clearly, Yuu shifts the blame to Hiratsuka, smiling. "She said your personality's a bit hard to handle and told me to be ready. Seems she was right."
"…"
Yukino glares sharply but finds no doubt in his expression. Her surging emotions slowly calm. After a moment, she closes her eyes slightly and takes deep breaths.
Her black hair shifts slightly, and despite her prickly demeanor, her modest chest rises and falls with her breathing. Yuu glances unconsciously, but she seems to take that brief look as an insult, quickly tugging her perfectly neat collar and glaring at him with disdain.
"Hah, I thought you had some ability, but you're just a sneaky jerk hiding behind a good-guy mask."
"…Hah."
Despite her words, Yuu can't help but curl the corner of his mouth, finding her childish and adorable—like a kid in a fight, mocking her opponent smugly once she gains the upper hand, not thinking of an exit strategy.
(No wonder Haruno… Forget it, I said I wouldn't think about her.)
He smiles, shaking his head, then stands and walks to the door, locking the bolt. Leaning casually against it, he crosses his arms and looks at her with a grin.
"Alright, Yukinoshita-san."
"If I'm really a sneaky jerk in a good-guy mask, I'd take you down before you could call the police, teaching you a lesson for your reckless words… Even if you know Aikido, it'd be useless. Wanna try?"
"…"
The color drains from her face, cold sweat beads on her fair temple. Though her expression remains calm, Yukino knows in her heart this guy isn't bluffing. He could indeed take her down before she could act.
No matter how fast she is, she can't outmatch a monster who saved a puppy from under a car in less than a second. She, who witnessed it from the car's back seat, still can't believe human speed could rival teleportation, crossing a street in the blink of an eye.
But no matter how unbelievable, reality is reality. If she wants to doubt, she'll wait until she's safe.
…And that expression, gaze, and aura—like a wolf ready to hunt—feel deadly serious.
Unknowingly, she's trapped in a dangerous situation.
"Tch…"
Holding her breath unconsciously, Yukino bites her lip slightly, her small hand slowly reaching for her skirt pocket, her eyes locked on him, trying to resist subtly without drawing attention.
"How do you know I know Aikido?"
"A passing Kamen Rider told me. Also, stuff like your weak arm strength, poor stamina, and inability to last in intense sports." With a cheerful, casual tone, Yuu rattles it off fluently.
The corner of Yukino's mouth curls into a cold smile.
"Hmph, so you deliberately investigated me. A beast in human clothing, huh."
"I can't help overhearing things. What can I do? I can't shut people's mouths."
"No need to hide it. Just say it—since when have you been targeting me?"
Yuu looks at her coldly, but Yukino's focus isn't on him. Good, she's touching her phone! Now, just press the emergency call button…
As her heart races, ready to turn this dangerous situation into a victory, Yuu suddenly sighs, his tense, cunning smile vanishing. He spreads his hands and shakes his head.
"Forget it, I'm the idiot here. Wasting time playing 'Girl and Villain' with you."
"You…"
Yukino freezes, her fingers pausing on the screen, forgetting to press. Ignoring her reaction, Yuu unlocks the door, returns to his chair to grab his bag, unconcerned by the defensive stance she takes as he approaches:
"If I've got time, I'll come back another day. Next time, skip the nonsense and get to the point. I'm heading home for today."
With that, he turns and walks out the door.
(No way I'm letting you leave that easily!)
A cold glint flashes in her eyes, and Yukino opens her mouth to shout: "Sto—"
"One more thing, Yukinoshita."