The layout of Sobu High School is somewhat unique. From above, the building resembles the kanji "口" (mouth). With the multimedia building below, it completes the school's floor plan.
Classrooms and special-purpose buildings line both sides of the path, their second floors connected by corridors, forming a quadrangle. The empty space enclosed by this quadrangle is a sacred ground for riajuu (people who enjoy real life)—the Central Courtyard, the liveliest spot besides classrooms and the cafeteria during lunch break.
Hiratsuka now leads him through the Central Courtyard toward the special-purpose building.
"You've still got a part-time job today, right? Let's have you two get to know each other first, then we'll find another time to discuss the Autumn Exhibition. There's still two weeks."
Hearing the click of her heels on the polished corridor, Yuu responds casually, offering no opinion.
Though in his memories he's met Yukino and exchanged a few words, it was at most a convenience store clerk and customer interaction. Calling it "knowing" her is a stretch. Yukino probably doesn't even remember meeting him.
Unlike with Kouichirou, whom he met in Haruno's car, once that connection vanished, they had no common ground and naturally reverted to strangers.
Of course, this is just Yuu's one-sided assumption. Before official contact, who knows what tricks the system might pull? Being too confident risks a harsh reality check.
Still, he's not completely clueless about Yukino. This has nothing to do with shallow, inaccurate rumors.
While dating her older sister, Yuu heard plenty about Yukino. For example, her naive thinking, stubbornness, and childish tendency to resent her sister while not wanting to be resented in return, and so on… Nothing flattering. The impression was far from the school's rumored Ice Queen; she's just a stubborn, fussy little sister.
Once, during a lively chat, Haruno shared an embarrassing family-only story about Yukino's past…
"Yukino-chan stopped wetting the bed at two, and everyone praised her for being so mature… She was so proud, always bringing it up and asking me to praise her."
"Then, on the night of her fifth birthday, maybe because she drank too much juice at the party, she wet the bed—a lot—and tried to hide the evidence before anyone found out."
"Sadly, I found out first."
"Hmph hmph hmph, I ignored her pleas, yanked the wet bedsheet off, and waved it around like a world map~ Not only did Mom and Dad find out, but so did Grandma and Grandpa who were visiting."
"Yukino-chan's had high pride since she was little. Realizing the situation was beyond saving, she hid in the bathroom, crying and yelling she hated her sister, refusing to talk or come out… In the end, I carried her back to her room after she fell asleep on the toilet."
"Well, thinking back, that memory's just full of beautiful scenery~"
"…"
Hearing that story, Yuu could only think: it's a miracle Yukino didn't kill her sister when she grew up, thanks to her good nature. Recalling it, he'd prayed for Yukino multiple times, hoping she'd escape that witch's shadow soon.
If this counts as knowing her, Yuu could puff out his chest and claim he's very familiar with this poor girl constantly bullied by her sister.
But one-sided familiarity is useless. He has no intention of pursuing Yukino, so what's the point of knowing so much useless info?
And every time Yukino's mentioned, Yuu automatically thinks of Haruno and everything tied to her. He feels no emotions, yet the memories are so vivid they're hard to forget, making him deeply uncomfortable.
"We're here."
Hiratsuka stops abruptly in front of a seemingly normal classroom. Its nameplate is blank, but the windows are spotless, as if someone deliberately cleaned them.
Snapping out of his drifting thoughts, Yuu looks around curiously as Hiratsuka opens the door.
The classroom's corner is cluttered with messy desks and chairs, looking like a storage room, but it's not dirty or stuffy. Otherwise, it's just an ordinary classroom.
Passing Hiratsuka, Yuu looks inside. The scene is clear. Then, as if drawn by a magnet, his gaze quickly locks onto the girl sitting by the long table.
Just sitting and reading, she has a presence stronger than the setting sun. Golden light reflecting from the window tints her soft, straight black hair with a subtle hue; a gentle breeze through a slightly open window occasionally stirs her stray strands, which she tucks behind her ear with slender white fingers. Her clear, bright eyes remain calmly fixed on the book's pages, as if she'd keep reading even if the apocalypse arrived.
This picturesque scene doesn't last long, as Hiratsuka rudely yanks her back to harsh reality.
"Yo, Yukinoshita, I brought the guy!"
"Hiratsuka-sensei…"
Tucking a bookmark into her paperback, Yukino looks up, casting a dissatisfied glance: "I believe I've said to knock before entering."
"Knock?" Hiratsuka raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms with odd pride. "You didn't sense my presence from this close? Yukinoshita, you're slipping."
Yukino presses the bridge of her nose, her expression utterly resigned: "I never had that ability to begin with, let alone slip… Whatever, let's get to the point."
She firmly cuts off Hiratsuka's urge to bicker, shifting her gaze to Yuu, as if assessing his combat strength.
"This is Tenkuji-kun, right? Is it confirmed he's joining?"
"Yep, but he rejected the club funding thing. This kid's as stubborn as you, all about doing things himself." Laughing heartily, Hiratsuka slaps his back hard, then looks at him, slightly surprised he shows no change in expression.
"See? I hit him like that, and not only does his face not change, he doesn't even cough up blood. Pretty good at hiding his strength, huh?"
"""No, coughing up blood would be the real problem!"""
Two identical grumbles ring out simultaneously. Yuu and Yukino lock eyes, both pausing for half a second.
"…Anyway, come in and let's talk."
The girl lowers her head, sighing with a hint of complexity.