After hearing what Kotomi Izumi said, Yui Yuigahama finally seemed to relax, letting out a long breath as if a weight had been lifted off her chest. Yet her tone carried a trace of complaint.
"Yukino, seriously... I never realized you liked joking around so much. You scared me so badly just now I almost bit my tongue."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked at Yui, who had been extremely wary of her just moments ago but had now lowered her guard again. She understood very clearly that Yui's change wasn't because she trusted her. It was simply because Kotomi had spoken up for her.
If Kotomi hadn't stepped in just now, then no matter how many explanations she gave—even thousands of words—Yui might never have let down her guard. Or perhaps she would have said "It's fine" out loud, while still remaining wary in her heart.
Thinking of this, Yukino's gaze grew complicated.
She considered Yui her best friend, and she could feel that Yui felt the same about her.
But that brief incident just now made Yukino realize something.
Even if they were best friends, the moment she showed any feelings for Kotomi—even before actually trying to steal her away, even if it was just letting Yui know she had that intention—their friendship would shatter in an instant, collapsing into ruins and scattering into dust.
Kotomi Izumi was the absolute bottom line in Yui Yuigahama's heart.
Anyone who dared to take Kotomi from her... Yui would fight them to the death.
"...I'm sorry. I just wanted to change the way I speak a little. I'll be more careful in the future," Yukino said softly, her voice faint as she went along with Kotomi's attempt to smooth things over.
Her tone was so weak it sounded like surrender.
Yes. This time, she had chosen to surrender.
She would never give up her feelings for Kotomi. Never.
But Yui's sudden shift just now also made Yukino think. If she truly went through with what she had once considered—snatching Kotomi away without caring about anything else—just how much would it hurt Yui? Would their friendship become like a shattered mirror, forever impossible to restore?
Even if the fragments were pieced back together, the cracks would never disappear.
You're always so childish. Like a child who refuses to grow up, thinking that crying and making a fuss will get you whatever you want. As people grow older, they gradually come to terms with their past mistakes. But I don't know how many more years I'll have to age before I can accept the fact that my education of you was a failure.
Her mother's words seemed to echo in her ears once again.
Her mother had always said she was immature. In the past, Yukino had scoffed at that remark, believing she had already grown up and that her mother was merely using parental authority to suppress her.
But now, recalling those words again, Yukino suddenly felt that her mother might have been right.
She really was childish. Unable to grow up. Always thinking only of herself when considering things, believing that tears and tantrums could win her everything she desired.
Pretending to read, Yukino secretly glanced at Kotomi and Yui.
She liked Kotomi. She still wanted to take Kotomi away from Yui. She believed she was the one most suited to be Kotomi's girlfriend. She wanted to spend a lifetime of happiness with her.
But she didn't want to hurt Yui.
Because Yui was her best friend.
If possible, Yukino hoped Yui could be happy too.
Who wouldn't want their friend to be happy?
Yukino decided to think of a way—one that would allow her to obtain Kotomi while ensuring Yui wouldn't be too heartbroken, minimizing the damage as much as possible.
As for the specific method... she decided she would start thinking about it tonight. She believed that with her intelligence, she would soon come up with a solution where no one would get hurt.
...
In any case, after Kotomi's explanation, the atmosphere gradually returned to normal.
It was all thanks to her timely mediation. If she hadn't stepped in, then given what Yukino had said earlier, even if she later explained it was a joke, a rift would have formed between her and Yui—and that rift might never disappear.
A love battlefield really is everywhere. If you're not careful for even a second, it can explode out of nowhere. Damn it.
Sitting on the laid-out futon, Kotomi Izumi played Blue Archive while grumbling inwardly.
After an unknown amount of time, she suddenly felt someone gently tug at the corner of her yukata. The sensation came from her left side—and Yukino was sitting there.
Kotomi shifted her attention away from Blue Archive, looked up at Yukino, and asked, "What is it?"
Yukino didn't answer immediately. Instead, she glanced at Yui.
Yui was on the phone with her mother, chatting with her mom and Yuka. It didn't seem like she would hang up anytime soon.
Only then did Yukino inch closer to Kotomi, narrowing the distance between them as if she had something confidential to say.
"You still haven't told me the second reason. Can you tell me now?"
There was a stubborn edge in Yukino's voice. That was simply her personality. Once she wanted to know or obtain something, she became unusually persistent.
Earlier, when Kotomi had explained why she got excited whenever she saw a hotel with a swimming pool, she had deliberately withheld the second reason.
Kotomi froze for a moment. She couldn't immediately recall what this "second reason" was.
After all, she had only been teasing Yukino at the time, deliberately leaving her hanging to pique her curiosity. Once she succeeded, she hadn't thought about it again. That was why, when Yukino brought it up now, Kotomi drew a blank.
Seeing the genuine confusion on Kotomi's face, Yukino realized that she probably hadn't taken it seriously at all. She took a deep breath as if calming herself before speaking again.
"An hour ago, in the hallway, you told me that when you were little and went to hotels, you would get especially excited whenever there was a swimming pool. Not only because you liked playing in the water, but for another reason. You still haven't told me what that second reason is."
"Ah..."
With that reminder, Kotomi finally remembered. She scratched her head awkwardly. If Yukino hadn't reminded her just now, she might not have recalled it anytime soon.
"You're really that fixated on this second reason..." Kotomi Izumi couldn't help sighing.
"If you don't tell me, I might not be able to sleep at all tonight," Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly. Her tone was flat, yet extremely serious.
In truth, her words carried another implication—if she couldn't sleep tonight, then Kotomi and Yui wouldn't be able to secretly cuddle either.
Unfortunately, the ever-confident Kotomi believed Yukino couldn't possibly know about her relationship with Yui. She didn't think in that direction at all and naturally failed to catch the hidden meaning behind Yukino's words.
Kotomi loved to joke around, so she teased lightly.
"Then just pull an all-nighter for once. Read from midnight until dawn breaks. That has a certain poetic charm too, doesn't it?"
? !
She spoke half-jokingly, completely unaware that to Yukino's ears, those words carried an entirely different meaning.
Was Kotomi saying... she didn't mind me watching her and Yui do that kind of thing?!
Yukino felt as if her mind had exploded with a loud boom, and the look in her eyes toward Kotomi grew even more complicated.
Fortunately, her intelligence allowed her to regain her composure after the brief shock.
She probably just didn't catch the implication in what I said and responded to the surface meaning with a joke. After all, she doesn't know that I've already discovered she's dating Yui. Naturally, she wouldn't understand my hint.
Of course, even if she did know I found out about their relationship, she might still miss it. She's that dense...
Both Kotomi and Yui are airheads. How could those two possibly be suited for a relationship? In the end, I'm the only one truly fit to be Kotomi's girlfriend.
Yukino thought this through slowly in her heart, and even added that last line for emphasis.
Even if it was only in her mind, thinking it made her feel much better.
After her mood improved slightly, she turned her attention back to Kotomi's teasing remark and said coldly,
"If I can't sleep, don't think you'll be sleeping either."
"Tch... why are you so domineering?" Kotomi clicked her tongue, feeling a little uneasy. For some reason, she had a strong sense that if Yukino said it, she would absolutely do it.
In response, Yukino simply smiled faintly.
Kotomi was just about to pull out her phone, but she was already too late—the smile on Yukino's face had vanished again.
For some reason, Kotomi suddenly remembered that she still had several skills on her system that hadn't been unlocked. Unlocking new skills required an absurd amount of Fame Points. Back when she had been obsessed with leveling up, she hadn't been particularly enthusiastic about unlocking new skills.
Moreover, with Kazumi in a deep slumber and without that "little profiteer" reminding her, she hadn't upgraded or unlocked anything in ages. She couldn't even remember how long it had been since she last opened the system panel.
I hope the next skill I unlock is something like time-stop...
Kotomi thought to herself while saying aloud,
"Let me take a picture of you smiling, and I'll tell you."
Yukino thought for a moment. She knew very well that one of them had to give in. There was no way Kotomi would yield. Despite looking like an airhead, her pride was stronger than anyone else's.
To avoid dragging things out any longer and to find out the hidden second reason as soon as possible, Yukino nodded.
"Fine."
"Yay!" Kotomi cheered softly, then exaggeratedly added, "That wasn't easy. I finally got you to agree."
The tone made it sound as though they had just reached some world-altering agreement.
"I'm not some childish brat," Yukino said coolly.
"You totally are."
"I'm not. You are."
"You are!"
For some reason, their exchange sounded less like a conversation between high school girls and more like two kindergarteners bickering.
After arguing for a while over who the real childish brat was, they failed to reach any conclusion.
Or rather, it had never been possible to reach one.
After all, how could two childish brats possibly decide which one was truly childish?
"Alright, let's not argue about something so pointless, okay? Wait... weren't you deliberately trying to change the subject just now?"
Having been led astray by Kotomi multiple times before, Yukino caught on quickly this time.
"I-I wasn't..."
Kotomi glanced away guiltily. She really had been changing the subject. There was no deeper reason, nor was the second reason particularly hard to say.
She simply enjoyed teasing Yukino by diverting the conversation.
If anything, there was nothing in this world that Kotomi would find too embarrassing to say.
"Then hurry up and tell me," Yukino said, deliberately lowering her voice to sound stern, thinking that this would make Kotomi obediently confess.
"You fierce little tigress..."
Kotomi muttered under her breath in protest.
And just as Yukino had predicted, she obediently began explaining the second reason.
For a moment, Yukino couldn't help wondering—if she treated Kotomi a bit roughly or sternly, would this mischievous little Kotomi instantly turn into a docile housewife?
"The second reason is actually very simple. I've been cute since I was little. Super lovable.
"So when I was a kid, I'd put on a swim ring in the pool and pretend I didn't know how to swim. I'd deliberately drift toward those big sisters in swimsuits, then squeeze out a few tears and act like I was being carried away by the current—scared and helpless.
"That way, they'd hold me in their arms to comfort me. I could openly snuggle up to them and act spoiled~!"
Kotomi spoke in a low voice. Under normal circumstances, she would have proudly announced such glorious achievements at full volume. But Yui was right there. She was only on the phone, not deaf. If Kotomi spoke too loudly, Yui would definitely hear.
To avoid making Yui jealous again, she kept her voice down while telling Yukino.
After hearing the second reason, Yukino stared at Kotomi with an extremely complicated expression.
After a long while, she finally said slowly,
"So you've been a little slut since you were young."
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