The idea of girls being together was always a beautiful thing.
And when you added positive adjectives like "pretty," "gentle," and "sunny" in front, it became absolutely perfect.
That's what Asakura Mio believed—not just because she was an ardent yuri enthusiast, but because the small circle at her school, centered around the perfect lady and model Oozuka Mai, happened to fulfill all her beautiful imaginings.
All five of them were exceptionally beautiful girls, and the intimacy they shared far surpassed that of ordinary friends.
It was almost—really, it was just like they were dating!
Of course, this territory was sacred and inviolable, something to be admired only from a distance.
If she were to actually get close and discover their relationships weren't as she fantasized, it would probably shatter her wonderful delusions completely.
Besides, an ordinary girl like her could never, under any circumstances, get involved with such dazzling, radiant beauties... right?!
Thinking this, Asakura Mio was sitting alone under a tree by the school flower beds, eating her boxed lunch. The afternoon sun filtered through the leaves, the scene quiet and pleasant.
Just then, a startled cry came from above.
She instinctively looked up and saw, to her astonishment, two people perched in the tree—
A girl with long golden hair and a girl with short pink hair were sitting together on a branch not far above. It was her classmates, Oozuka Mai and Amaori Renako.
Moreover, they seemed completely unaware of her presence below. Right before her eyes, they gently embraced.
"Huh!??"
Who could understand this feeling?
The pairing she secretly shipped suddenly feeding her craving right before her eyes! Asakura Mio couldn't hold back a cry of surprise.
Were Oozuka Mai and Amaori Renako actually dating?!
Her outburst made the embracing pair suddenly notice their 'third wheel.'
"Eek! Someone's there!!!"
Amaori Renako immediately cried out in panic, flailing as she tried to push away from the other girl.
But her sudden movement caused the branch beneath them, which had seemed fairly sturdy, to groan ominously under the strain—
Asakura Mio watched as two silhouettes rapidly grew larger in her vision.
The next second, a heavy impact and sharp pain exploded through her body. Her vision went dark, and she nearly passed out right then and there.
"Oof... Ugh..."
The pain was concentrated in her back and waist, so intense it brought tears to her eyes.
The flustered, panicked apologies of Amaori Renako reached her ears, along with the relatively calm, yet undeniably anxious, inquiries of Oozuka Mai:
"Are you alright? Can you hear me?"
Asakura Mio grimaced in pain, but her mind uncontrollably raced with wild thoughts.
Seeing her up close, Oozuka-san really is as beautiful as an unreal being...
Amaori-san is so cute too, panicking like a frightened little animal...
But it really hurts! Is my back broken...?
They were really hugging just now, right? They absolutely were!
Did I actually stumble upon the real deal?! But isn't the price a bit too high...
"Amaori-san... could you... please get off me first...?"
"S-sorry! I'm really, truly sorry!"
Amaori Renako scrambled clumsily to get up, but in her nervousness, she nearly fell again, only to be steadied in time by Oozuka Mai beside her.
"Renako, be careful."
Oozuka Mai's voice remained elegant, but her slightly quickened breath betrayed her tension.
She carefully steadied Renako first, then knelt down, looking with concern at Asakura Mio, who was at the bottom of the pile.
"Classmate, how are you feeling? Can you move?"
"I'm... okay..."
Asakura Mio tried to move. The tree wasn't too high, and she had absorbed most of the impact from the fall.
The main issue was the intense pain where she'd been hit—probably some bruising, but her bones seemed fine.
Oozuka Mai furrowed her brows, thought for a moment, and then spoke.
"Let me help you to the infirmary."
"I'll come too!"
Amaori Renako hurriedly chimed in, her mood utterly miserable. If she hadn't suddenly run out, Mai wouldn't have followed, and this accident would never have happened... It was all her fault.
"No, Renako, you should head back to the classroom first. If you're gone too long, Ajisai and Kaho-chan will worry. Leave this to me."
It was clearly a considerate excuse. Oozuka Mai always seemed to prioritize Renako's feelings, not wanting her to become the center of attention by going to the infirmary together.
They're so good together—these two.
"Really, it's not entirely your fault," Asakura Mio said softly.
"I'm the one who made a noise and startled you... Oozuka-san, you don't need to specially accompany me to the infirmary. I can go alone..."
"No."
"No way!"
The two objected almost in unison, Amaori Renako's tone particularly vehement.
"Th-then, I'll leave Asakura-san in your care, Mai!"
"Mm, don't worry."
Soon, only the two of them remained under the tree.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a soft halo around Oozuka Mai's golden hair. She carefully helped Asakura Mio up, her voice gentle.
"Sorry, we didn't expect anyone to be under the tree."
Pausing briefly, she spoke again, her tone carrying a hint of confirmation.
"You're... Asakura-san from our class, right?"
Asakura Mio's heart skipped a beat.
She actually knew her name?!
Someone as inconspicuous as her, whose presence in class was almost negligible, actually had her surname remembered by Oozuka Mai?
This was even more shocking than being fallen on.
"You seem surprised?"
"A little... For an ordinary girl like me, there shouldn't be any need to remember my name..."
"On the contrary," Oozuka Mai smiled faintly, "I think everyone's name is worth remembering properly. I just hadn't found the right opportunity to talk to you before, Asakura-san—This is yours, I believe?"
While supporting her, Oozuka Mai picked up an object from the grass.
It was the glasses Asakura Mio had been wearing, which had fallen off during the sudden impact.
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
Just as she reached for them, Oozuka Mai lightly pulled her hand back.
"There's a bit of grass on the lens. Let me clean it for you."
She explained softly, meticulously brushing the lens with her fingertips.
Her movements were natural and elegant, as if this weren't a spur-of-the-moment act but a natural form of care. Then, she took a slight step forward, closing the distance between them.
Asakura Mio instinctively held her breath.
Too close.
The faint, elusive fragrance clinging to Oozuka Mai, reminiscent of some expensive flower, quietly wafted to her nose.
"Please lower your head a little."
Her voice seemed softer than usual, like a feather gently brushing against her heart.
Asakura Mio, stiff as a robot receiving a command, mechanically lowered her head slightly, while her heart beat wildly out of control in her chest.
The cool metal frames gently touched the side of her ear, sending a tiny shiver through her.
"Alright. They seem a bit crooked..."
Just as Oozuka Mai started to pull away, Asakura Mio, as if suddenly jolted awake, jumped back a small step, instinctively striking a somewhat cute defensive pose and letting out a rapid-fire protest.
'No, no, no! I'm a 'Mai-all' or 'all-Mai' shipper, anything is fine, except for 'Mai-me'!'
A proper fan must strictly maintain a safe distance from the real-life objects of their ship!
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