Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Tanaka Masao and said.
"I think you understand. If you have any commissions, tell me, and I'll accept them depending on the situation."
Tanaka Masao had prepared in advance, so he shared the commission he had thought about before coming.
"As for the commission, I do have one. I want to lose weight."
"Lose weight?"
Yukinoshita Yukino murmured, looking him over from head to toe.
"Your commission is reasonable, and it fits my philosophy.
Many people fail to lose weight because they lack self-control and willpower—it's hard to stick with it.
But if a beautiful girl like me supervises you, it will boost your pride as a man and help you persist."
As she spoke, she gave a confident smile.
Tanaka Masao found the smile beautiful but couldn't help feeling a little annoyed.
"Yukinoshita, do you know what humility is? Who talks about being a beautiful girl so bluntly?"
"Humility?"
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino pinched her chin and fell into thought.
After a moment, she sighed and looked out the window, speaking slowly.
"You don't understand at all."
Tanaka Masao could feel her disappointment clearly.
She continued.
"I've been cute since the beginning, and boys who approach me generally have a good impression.
My indoor shoes have been hidden about sixty times—fifty by girls—so I always have to take my shoes and recorder home.
It's all because I'm too cute and popular. I feel helpless."
As if it were rare to find someone to talk to, she looked at Tanaka Masao and asked.
"Don't you think the world is strange? The more outstanding someone is, the more likely they are to be envied. It makes survival harder. Incredible, isn't it?"
Tanaka Masao shook his head.
"I can't agree with your view."
Yukinoshita Yukino was surprised and asked, "Oh? Then tell me what you think."
Tanaka Masao nodded.
"My indoor shoes have been hidden too…
Actually, they've been thrown away several times, and sometimes painted with watercolor pens.
But I don't think I'm outstanding. I'm just not outstanding enough.
If outstanding people have trouble surviving, imagine those who aren't."
Yukinoshita Yukino was stunned.
She had always been strong and outstanding, often excluding the weak. But she had overlooked that among the weak, some are even weaker, bullied, and excluded. They have an even harder time surviving than the outstanding.
After a moment of silence, she continued, "No one is perfect. Weak and unattractive people often exclude others out of jealousy.
They punch those even weaker to assert superiority.
People are really contradictory.
I want to change the world and the people in it."
Looking at Tanaka Masao, she asked,
"So do you want to be a weak person who's bullied all your life, or make yourself excellent—even enough to make everyone jealous?"
Tanaka Masao answered seriously.
"I naturally want to improve, so I've decided to lose weight."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Yukino smiled faintly.
"I like your attitude—facing your weaknesses and trying to change.
I accept your commission.
Before you reach your goal, even if you want to give up, I won't allow it. Be prepared."
"That's great."
Tanaka Masao took out his phone and started recording.
"I, Tanaka Masao, have decided to lose weight. I will be supervised by classmate Yukinoshita. If I give up halfway, I accept any form of punishment from her."
Watching him, Yukinoshita Yukino said lightly,
"I hope you do what you say, and don't just get enthusiastic for three minutes."
Tanaka Masao put away his phone and asked with curiosity,
"Yukinoshita, you said your indoor shoes were hidden by girls fifty times. Were the rest hidden by boys?"
She glanced at him.
"There were boys, teachers, and even dogs a few times."
As she said this, she gave a charming smile.
"So, am I so charming that I can even attract animals?"
"Dog? Why a dog?"
Tanaka Masao pinched his chin, thinking. His eyes drifted to her shoes as he wondered,
[Could it be that her shoes smell in a way that attracts dogs? It must be, since dogs don't change.]
Noticing his gaze, Yukinoshita's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint appearing, and her tone turned cold.
"Tanaka Masao, are you thinking something very rude?"
Shivering at her coldness, he thought,
[Yukinoshita really deserves the name 'Snow Girl.']
He stammered,
"No… no."
She snorted coldly. "Hmph, being with you is really disgusting.
But since I accepted your commission, I'll have to stick to it.
Who made me a principled person?"
As she spoke, she lifted her long hair proudly. "Okay, let's get started."
"Start? Start what?"
Tanaka Masao looked confused.
Yukinoshita Yukino rolled her eyes. "Of course your commission—losing weight. Don't waste time, start now."
"Now?"
He was surprised. "This shouldn't be sudden. There should be a plan, a sense of ceremony. At least wait until tomorrow."
Yukinoshita Yukino sneered. "Many people fail because of that kind of thinking.
The so-called 'sense of ritual' is just an excuse. Since you've decided, you should start immediately. Understand?"
"I understand."
Tanaka Masao had experienced this before.
If he planned to start at 8:00 but it was 8:01, he'd play a little, then delay again until 8:10. Following the principle of delaying, he wouldn't start until forced.
He asked, "What should we do now? Go to the playground to run?"
Yukinoshita pinched her chin, thinking.
"Running is a good idea.
But the playground is always taken by sports clubs, so we can't use it."
Looking around, she continued.
"This place is fine. It's remote, and there's no one on the lower floor. Exercising here won't disturb anyone."