"Shut up!" Yukinoshita Yukino said, embarrassed and angry.
Akira Fujimiya grin teasingly, knowing that Yukino had misunderstood him and was letting her imagination run wild.
Yukino looked at Akira's grin and stepped on his foot.
Akira pretended to be hurt while suppressing a laugh.
"Ouch! Ouch!"
Yukino snorted coldly and walked forward.
.....
In the courtyard of Sakurasou,
Shizuka Hiratsuka was tutoring Saki Kawasaki on her homework, while Kawasaki Kyoka was reading a book quietly beside her.
When the door opened.
All three looked over at the same time.
Akira and Yukino entered, each carrying two bags of groceries.
Saki Kawasaki stood and glanced at Akira.
"This is your dinner. Yukino and I will make our own dinner, so don't worry about us," Akira said, handing the ingredients in his hands to Saki.
"I understand," Saki replied, looking at the two without asking any further questions.
Kyoka blinked and studied Yukino curiously.
She couldn't help but notice that Yukino was as beautiful as her sister friend Yuigahama.
"Yukino, do you have time after dinner? I want to talk to you," Hiratsuka Shizuka asked.
"I… I have time," Yukino replied after a brief hesitation.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, if there's something to say, can't you say it in front of me?" Akira interjected as Saki walked inside the room.
"Are you sure you want me to say it in front of you?" Hiratsuka Shizuka asked with a calm expression.
"Of course, I'm sure. Whatever you want to talk involved both me and Yukino, right?," Akira replied without yielding.
"What I want to talk about is your business," Hiratsuka said meaningfully.
Upon hearing this, Yukino lowered her head slightly.
Akira remained unfazed. If he couldn't handle Hiratsuka-sensei's test, how could he handle making them happy?
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I'll make some black tea and look forward to having you as my guest," Akira said earnestly.
"If your answer doesn't satisfy me, you may have to be hospitalized tomorrow," Hiratsuka said lightly.
"I won't let you pay for the medical bills," Akira replied.
"Good. It better be that way," she said.
Akira smiled and walked upstairs.
Yukino's eyes were complicated as she followed him. She looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka with a mixture of respect and unease.
Hiratsuka Shizuka watched their backs and sighed softly.
She had a feeling that the three of them might have reached a sort of fragile happiness, one that required compromise from at least one of them to maintain.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, isn't Akira's girlfriend Yuigahama-neesan?" Kyoka asked.
"...You'll understand it one day," Hiratsuka said without answering directly.
Saki Kawasaki walked over and sat silently at her desk.
Hiratsuka Shizuka glanced at her, thought about the Kawasaki family's situation, and felt a twinge of concern.
"Kawasaki, if you need help, don't go to Akira. Come to me."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I won't learn from them. I'm not interested in love, don't worry," Saki replied, eyes on her book.
She and Akira would not form a romantic relationship. She did not like him. At most, it was a practical connection—mutual assistance, nothing more.
...
In Akira's kitchen, Yukino prepared the ingredients while he started cooking.
"Akira, what Hiratsuka-sensei wants to say… is that we should stop being together, right?" Yukino asked quietly.
"Yes," Akira replied.
"Hiratsuka-sensei is right, and we are wrong," she said softly.
"I know," Akira said.
"What are you going to do? Convince Hiratsuka-sensei?"
"The choice is ours, not hers. As long as you and Yui are willing, no matter what Hiratsuka-sensei says, it won't matter," Akira said, keeping his head down.
Hearing this, Yukino opened her mouth in surprise.
Yes. As long as both of them were willing, persuasion from Hiratsuka-sensei would be useless.
Based on her understanding of Hiratsuka-sensei, she knew she would not actively try to hurt them. Hiratsuka-sensei would only persuade, not interfere beyond that.
"Hiratsuka-sensei knows that with Yui's personality, there's no way to change her mind. You, on the other hand, are different—perhaps more rational—so she plans to let you make the choice," Akira explained calmly.
"Make the choice?" Yukino repeated, stunned for a moment, then immediately understood why Akira had said that.
"...I don't want you to face the choice alone," Akira said, looking at her intently.
"...Hiratsuka-sensei wouldn't do such a thing," Yukino whispered after a pause.
"I know. But you already considered giving me to Yui once before," Akira reminded her gently.
"At that time…I.." Yukino's eyes darted away, hesitant.
Akira said nothing, letting her thoughts settle.
Yukino lowered her head.
This matter was indeed her responsibility.
"Yukino, are we friends or lovers now?" Akira asked.
"I… I don't know either," she whispered.
"Then I'll tell you. Yukinoshita Yukino, you are my girlfriend. At least for today and tonight, that won't change. Do you understand?" Akira stepped forward and held her close.
"Akira, you… are too cunning," Yukino murmured, understanding his intent.
"A one-day girlfriend is for moments like this. If it happens twice in a week, I will push it a few weeks. If it happens seven times in a week, I will push it a few years," he said with a chuckle.
"Then you'll propose being your girlfriend for years, pushing it back hundreds of years, right?" Yukino rolled her eyes at him.
Akira smiled, nodding without denying it.
Yukino slowly lowered her head, leaning into his embrace.
"I agree with what Yuigahama-san said," she whispered.
"Yukino....do you really agree?" Akira asked.
"If I didn't… or left you, my mother would arrange a marriage for me, and I'd resent it even more. I'd rather choose you. You may have flaws, but at least you won't make me hate you," Yukino said softly.
"You're just like Yui—you both make excuses. You clearly like me, but you must justify it with other reasons," Akira teased.
".....What did you say?" Yukino raised her head and glare at him.
"Nothing, I just said my little princess is very cute," Akira said, hugging her tightly.
"...Accepting Yuigahama-san is already the biggest concession I've made...," she said.
"Well… the future is unpredictable," Akira replied, looking out the window.
Hearing this, Yukino stomped on his foot lightly.
As Akira immediately pulled away.
"Ouch! Ow!"
"I'm going to the bathroom. You can finish dinner yourself," Yukino said coldly and left the kitchen.
Akira watched her back, knowing she is annoyed at his comment and it would take some time to clam her down.
...
Dinner time.
Akira and Yukino ate quietly. Even though she said him to eat his dinner along, she still came after bathing.
She wore pajamas that seemed slightly ill-fitting, but he didn't mention it, knowing it would only irritate her more.
They finished the meal in silence. Yukino cleaned up, and Akira helped wash the dishes.
When they left the kitchen, there was a knock at the door.
Knock! Knock!
Yukino glanced at him.
As Akira went to open the door tactfully.
To find—
Hiratsuka Shizuka standing there, while Yukino was holding a tray of brewed black tea as she placed it on the coffee table and quitely sat on the sofa.
"Please come in," Akira said politely.
Shizuka changed her shoes and walked into the living room.
Akira sat between her and Yukino, pouring tea for all three.
"Yukino, you know…" Shizuka began.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, what do you think? Should I quit or kick Yuigahama-san out?" Yukino interrupted sharply.
Hiratsuka Shizuka froze.
She hadn't expected Yukino to answer so directly.
She had planned to let her ponder the unanswerable question herself.
Seeing Akira calmly sipping tea, she realized he had orchestrated the moment perfectly.
"Have some tea, Hiratsuka-sensei," Akira offered casually.
"You're clever, Akira-kun," Shizuka said coldly.
"Thank you for the compliment," he replied with a smile.
"Let me ask you—do you like Yukino more, or Yuigahama-san more?" Shizuka asked sharply.
"They hold equal weight in my heart. I do not favor one over the other," Akira replied calmly.
"You gave that answer in front of me and Yukino. How do you think we'll look at you?" Shizuka said.
Akira was silent for a few seconds, then reached for Yukino's hand. She took it firmly, looking Shizuka directly in the eye.
"That's our answer," she said without any hesitation.
Seeing this Shizuka paused, her expression complex.
"... Yukino, I thought you'd be sensible."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, I am rational. I know you are a good teacher and only want to persuade us for our own sake."
"Then why did you…"
...
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