After happily eating for a while, more people began arriving at the park to see the cherry blossoms. Most were young people, or families of three, filling the place with lively chatter—it was quite a nice atmosphere.
But Ichin's group stood out. He was the only guy, surrounded by a crowd of girls—and not just ordinary girls, but every single one stunningly attractive, each with a different charm: fresh-faced youths, elegant older sisters, even sultry beauties.
Some groups of college boys glanced their way, eyes full of envy. Still, none dared to approach.
Just looking at their outfits, it was obvious these weren't ordinary people. Yagami Kou and Hazuki were company executives, Yukino, Haruno, and Eriri were bona fide heiresses, and even Aoba and the others had earned enough over the past two years to buy designer brands. For today's outing, everyone had dressed up beautifully.
A group of two or three might have been approachable, but fifteen gorgeous women together? Anyone with sense wouldn't dare try.
After finishing a spring roll, Haruno wiped her mouth and remarked, "So strange."
Ichin raised an eyebrow. "Hm? What's strange?"
She gestured at herself, then at the group. "We've got all these different types of girls here, yet no one's even tried hitting on us?"
Yukino sighed, exasperated. "How did I never realize before that you want to be hit on?"
"Not that I want it," Haruno laughed, "I'm just curious! There are so many people today—it's impossible no one's noticed us."
"That's true," Shinoda Hajime chimed in after swallowing a fried wing. "Even just walking down the street, I usually catch boys sneaking glances. Why hasn't anyone tried here?"
Hajime's outfit today was her usual style: a thin spring hoodie up top, denim shorts below, and bare legs showing off her long figure.
Aoba, looking enviously at Hajime's physique she herself could never hope to match, offered, "Maybe it's because there are too many of us. If it were only four or five, some guys would probably come over."
Looking around, Hajime realized Aoba was right. Their group of fifteen dwarfed the others, who mostly numbered five or six at best. No wonder people were intimidated.
"True enough. Oh well, I was just saying." Hajime shrugged and happily focused on food again, picking up another fried wing. Fried foods were high in calories, sure, but also pure happiness—and with her daily workouts, she had nothing to worry about.
Haruno's gossip spark was quickly picked up by others.
Yagami Kou turned to Yukino with interest. "Yukino, Utaha mentioned you've been hit on at campus. So how are the guys in your year? Any good ones?"
"The guys… in my year?" Yukino's lips twitched. "I wouldn't know how to answer that. I've never paid attention. There aren't many in my classes anyway, and they're just… average."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, that really fits your personality," Kou sighed. "But college is the best time for romance. Not dating at all would be a shame. You'll never struggle with studies—you should enjoy being young, have fun, maybe find someone you like."
Utaha chuckled. "I've told Yukino the same thing, but sadly she has no interest."
Mochizuki Momiji, munching sushi two at a time, asked, "So your standards are too high?"
"Not exactly low, that's for sure," Utaha teased, and repeated Yukino's earlier list of requirements.
Yukino, calm as ever, showed no embarrassment. That was simply what she thought, and there was no reason to change.
The others didn't find her standards unreasonable. With Yukino's looks, height, and talent, it was natural she'd want someone equally strong. If a guy didn't measure up, he'd only feel inferior standing beside her.
Hazuki, the eldest among them, tapped her chin and smirked. "Well, it's not like there's no one around us who qualifies. But he's already married."
Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Ichin.
He was holding an egg tart, not yet bitten into, when the stares made him squirm. He frowned. "What are you all looking at me for? Honestly, I think Yukino using me as a benchmark is fine—it means she won't get fooled by some random guy. Not that Yukino's the type to be easily tricked."
"I agree with Ichin," Haruno nodded approvingly. "Mother gave Yukino freedom to date, but she still needs to keep her eyes sharp. She's young, she can take her time, and it's fine to be picky. If she doesn't find someone now, she definitely will later."
Yukino ignored them all, calmly picking up a fried wing and nibbling it in silence.
Seeing she wasn't playing along, the group drifted into general love talk. Unfortunately, very few of them had actually dated seriously, so after a while Ichin cut in with, "You're just armchair theorists," leaving them no choice but to drop the subject, frustrated.
Just then, Hazuki glanced at the time, then pulled two big bottles out of her bag with a grin.
"Ta-da! Sake. Who wants some? This is the good stuff!"
"Ohhh! Hazuki-nee, you really brought it?"
Kou's eyes lit up. She downed her cola and thrust her paper cup forward. "Pour me one!"
"Me too!"
"Count me in!"
"Cherry-blossom viewing isn't complete without a drink!"
As everyone began cheering for sake, Ichin sighed inwardly. This picnic definitely wasn't going to end quietly.
"Drink if you want, but don't any of you dare get drunk on me!"
*
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