The main hall of Sobu High was packed with students. The host on stage was adjusting the microphone, preparing to start the morning assembly. The buzz, like the start of summer, filled the air, but no air conditioning could cool the atmosphere. It was likely that until the assembly officially began, the students' chatter wouldn't quiet down.
Class 2-F was positioned in a corner of the hall, with Yuu standing in the third row, fifth column—a fairly central spot. Surrounded by people in front, behind, and beside him, and with Hiratsuka absent at the moment, he felt confident enough to pull out his phone without getting caught.
Unfortunately, a little pink-haired puppy was quietly watching from behind, even trying to peek at his phone screen, his chat history, over his shoulder.
When Yuu turned around, Yuigahama slowly straightened up, pretending to adjust the dango-shaped hair ties on her head, diverting her gaze and saying with an innocent expression:
"I wasn't spying~ I just thought Yuu-kun shouldn't be using his phone now, and out of kindness, I was going to remind you to put it away~"
Yuu chuckled softly: "Oh, didn't expect someone as innocent-looking as you to lie so naturally."
"I-I'm not lying!" Yuigahama puffed out her cheeks, protesting with a voice that lacked any conviction. Her head bowed, her small frame and even her chest unable to stand tall, she looked inexplicably pitiful.
"Besides, did you just call me innocent and dumb? Even if my progress isn't as big as yours, my mid-term exam rank went up by about ten places, you know! I'm not dumb!"
"Alright, I'll accept your kindness then."
Yuu didn't press further, shrugging and noticing Yuigahama suddenly biting her lip, staring at his phone with an expression like she wanted to say something.
"Curious?"
Yuigahama hesitated for a second, then nodded vigorously as if giving up, saying with firm conviction:
"Super curious!"
"It's a privacy issue, can't tell you."
"…"
Yuu wasn't trying to tease her on purpose, so he added: "Don't be too nosy. People who dig into others' secrets aren't liked anywhere, especially peeking at chats… You should understand."
"Mmm, sorry…"
Like a scolded pet dog, Yuigahama lowered her head sadly, her expression glum, her red lips even paling from being bitten.
But soon after, she sneakily raised her gaze again, her watery, pleading eyes peeking at him, forcing a smile as if trying to please: "I… I just want to ask one question, is that okay?"
Her eyes turned into an ocean, as if wanting to swallow him whole; yet also like a small puddle in a corner, trying to ripple, however faintly.
Yuu looked away. The host on stage announced the start of the morning assembly.
"What's the question?"
Yuigahama's voice was soft, but he could still hear it.
"The person you were chatting with… was that your ex-girlfriend?"
"…"
Honestly, he'd expected this question. Tilting his head slightly, Yuu glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Yuigahama's adorable face, with slightly chubby cheeks, flushed as if embarrassed to ask such a thing.
But her lip-biting gaze, looking at him like Sisyphus pushing a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down, radiated stubbornness and determination.
Yuu didn't understand the real reason behind Yuigahama's curiosity, nor did he know if something was off about his behavior. But that didn't stop him from telling the truth.
"Not an ex-girlfriend."
Then, before relief could spread across Yuigahama's face, Yuu said flatly and firmly, as before:
"You could say she's my current online girlfriend. The kind who calls me 'darling' as soon as she logs in and is already married to me in-game."
"…"
Her small mouth hung open, and Yuigahama completely froze.
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Déjà Vu.
Déjà vu, or memory illusion, is the feeling of having experienced something or seen a scene before, even if you haven't. It's a very normal physiological phenomenon, explainable scientifically. However, if déjà vu happens too often in a short time, it's worth noting. It might mean an Endless August is occurring, or someone accidentally got hit by Gold Experience Requiem, forever unable to reach the reality where time truly moves forward.
As for now, after the lunch break bell rang, the sight of Totsuka surrounded by girls and Yuigahama not even daring to look at him made Yuu feel intense déjà vu, as if he'd gone back to a few days ago when he was preparing to eat at the Service Club.
Rather than déjà vu, perhaps it's more accurate to say history always repeats with startling similarity?
Pondering these trivial questions, Yuu arrived at the special building. Without picking up the key from Hiratsuka-sensei, he directly opened the Service Club's door.
"I used to think no one in this school could be ruder than Hiratsuka-sensei…"
The girl's complaint came softly:
"Seems I underestimated your level of rudeness, Tenkuji-kun."
As if prepared, Yukino wasn't startled this time, nor did any panda onigiri fall from her mouth. She set her chopsticks on her lunchbox, then elegantly wiped her mouth.
Her clear blue eyes swept over Yuu like cold jade, her lips curving slightly.
"This uninvited guest—unless my memory fails me, I didn't give you a chance to have lunch with the school's prettiest girl."
"True, which is why I can eat here, plain old Yukinoshita-san."
Casually walking to the chair across from her, Yuu smirked: "When are you going to ditch that rotten narcissistic habit?"
Yukino, as if she didn't hear, brushed her long hair with her smooth hand, smiling confidently and gracefully.
"Sorry, it's not narcissism—it's acknowledged. Unlike you, I've been cute since I was little."
"Your annual 'pretty girl' crown's already been shaken by a transfer student, and you're still 'acknowledged'… Honestly, some people." Sighing in exasperation, Yuu opened his lunchbox, steering the topic back on track.
"Besides eating, I also want to discuss the third member and the fall exhibition."
"Talking while eating?"
Frowning slightly, Yukino's demeanor turned serious, her slender fingers resting on her chin as she mused: "Well, it's not impossible… As the president, I should accommodate members struggling with time management."
"…Tch."
(This girl, will she die if she doesn't act superior in front of me?)
Yuu was too lazy to complain. As he reached for his chopsticks to start eating, he suddenly felt his phone vibrate and pulled it out with one hand.
Sure enough, it was a message from Asuna.
Asuna: {Can you talk now? (angry)(angry)(angry)}
Yuu: {It just hit me this morning—do you have time next weekend? There's a club exhibition at my high school…}
At that moment, an invisible machine seemed to control Yuu's movements. His left hand swiftly and accurately typed a chat with Asuna, while his right hand picked up food and put it in his mouth. After chewing and swallowing, he turned to Yukino:
"Do you know anyone without a club who won't cause extra trouble for us? My friend can't join, so we've got a third member vacancy. If you've got a good candidate, please recommend one."