In Class 2-F, anyone daring to gossip or mock Yuigahama today was firmly blocked and chased off with harsh words by the Fire Queen—Miura Yumiko.
And the dating news between Yuu and Yuigahama was still limited among Class F students. For now, it hadn't spread widely like on the school network.
Meaning, most people currently paying attention only knew Yuu and Yukino were a couple and worked together on the committee. They weren't heavily swayed by opinions like those in his class.
Though some Class F students asked on the forum, "Isn't Yuu dating our class's Yuigahama?", it was quickly buried under similar gossip—
After all, Yuu wasn't just popular with girls. He often visited other clubs and always left a deep impression.
From classrooms to the teacher's office, from Kendo Club to Cooking Research Club—even if he left the hallway, his love stories still circulated.
Confession rejections were endless. As a result, even if someone said he was dating A or flirting with B, without solid evidence like yesterday—with eyewitnesses, time, and clear location—people would just sigh, "Eh~ Really~", and forget it.
When Yuu checked the forum in the afternoon, he even saw gossip about him with Iroha and Kanade… Though the post was quickly flooded by the Silver Angel Guard until the poster stress-deleted it, it proved—for now—he didn't need to worry about proven cheating rumors at school.
…Yes, for now.
Relationships are a web. Negative opinions about him in Class F, and his confirmed dating of Yuigahama, would sooner or later spread. With the school forum's help, if enough nosy people got involved and discussions heated up, clearly his, Yuigahama's, and Yukino's school life would be ruined.
Slander can easily kill. Even if the two girls tried hard to ignore others, they couldn't last long under environmental pressure and had no way to fight majority bullying.
Even System-blessed Yuu, facing this invisible enemy, could only surrender helplessly…
It was time for all teachers and students to witness the true, full-power, all-out Word Bullet from him.
If speech failed, add instrument performance. If still not enough, add soul-touching singing—as long as he played all his aces, combining skills from Proficient to Perfect with various stats into the strongest Word Bullet, he should reverse public opinion.
Thinking optimistically, maybe the System would reward him accordingly, letting him solve this permanently?
Human words are terrifying. Though he had a plan, Yuu didn't dare underestimate the impact. His mind was full of Plan A, B… up to Plan K. He even zoned out a bit while chatting with Yuigahama.
"No need to worry too much! Just ignore them. Everyone will get bored and move on eventually." Sensitive Yuigahama noticed Yuu frowning slightly, deep in thought. She waved casually with a relaxed smile.
"I remember in Class B, someone was rumored to be cheating. It was huge then—Amao got mocked as a jerk, Suzuki and Takeda broke up, Midori and Tsuki-chan cried for ages—but two or three weeks later, no one cared!"
Tilting her head at Yuu, she comforted: "Sorry to those people, but love drama dies fast. Without new developments, everyone gets bored and moves to something more interesting."
Her words—spoken by someone long in social circles, used to reading the room and following trends—were more convincing than Yuu's own guesses.
But out of caution, Yuu didn't relax. He spread his hands helplessly: "I don't know who Amao is, but I'm way more famous than him at Sobu High. That means more people will watch my love drama. The more people, the easier it escalates… So they're not comparable."
Yuigahama seemed annoyed. She wrinkled her small nose, puffing her cheeks in dissatisfaction: "Alright, enough! Yuu-kun, I'm trying to cheer you up, and you still argue! Insensitive, slow guy, science nerd!"
Yuu widened his eyes, looking deeply offended: "Why the insults? A true science kid couldn't even date—how could they overthink for a girl!"
"Anyway, no matter what, Yuu-kun will protect me and Yukinon, right? Then there's nothing to worry about! Talking too much is just wasting time!"
"…"
Her straightforward voice and honest, relaxed smile choked Yuu's next words in his throat. His frozen expression looked a bit silly.
At least Yuigahama couldn't hold back her laughter. She fixed her slightly tilted dango hair. She looked ahead cheerfully and said softly:
"When it's just us two, it really feels like always. I totally forgot we just fought yesterday."
"…Honestly, that wasn't a fight."
Yuu sighed softly. He looked up, seeing the same view as her.
"Because you want to stay with someone and say things you'd never say to others—how is that a fight?"
"Is that so?" Yuigahama blinked in confusion. Then her silly smile brightened: "Ehehe, I actually thought the same~"
"Don't lie." Yuu rolled his eyes, but couldn't stop laughing.
As if suddenly realizing something, Yuigahama looked him up and down: "I just noticed… From way back, Yuu-kun always knows exactly what to say to coax girls and raise their affection. Do you have some game choice prompt in your head?"
Yuu pursed his lips: "You read too many novels. How great if there was such an easy System."
He'd prefer romance choices in his brain over being toyed with by this heart-manipulating System.
Seeing his expression—neither admitting nor denying—Yuigahama put on a curious look. But her eyes narrowed teasingly.
"So you admit coaxing girls is your basic instinct, right!"
"Wha…!"
His eyes widened. Yuu stepped back two paces in disbelief. He opened his mouth to speak but froze. After a complex series of expressions—like a convict honestly confessing over katsudon—he bowed his head listlessly and hopelessly.
"If the girl in question is you, I admit it… My basic instinct is to coax a dumb, cute girl and make her fall for me without realizing. Forgive me."
Both expression and voice were flawlessly sincere.
This made Yuigahama laugh so hard she nearly dropped her lunchbox: "Hahahaha, Yuu-kun, you—you'd be wasted not being the Cultural Festival lead actor hahahaha~"
Luckily, they'd passed the crowded hallway. On the shaded path to the Special Building, only the two of them were there. She could laugh freely without worry.
Of course, in winter, there's no such thing as shade. Dry branches swayed above. The drizzle, briefly stopped, started again.