"Ordinary Girl's parents picked her up because there was some urgent matter, so we didn't ask them for a ride… Now we're discussing how the rest of us will get home." After Yumiko finished explaining, her tone turned firm, as if she'd already made a decision. "Among us, only you and Yukinoshita brought umbrellas, so there are two options—either someone uses your umbrella to buy a new one at the convenience store, or the two of you help escort those without umbrellas home."
"Ordering people around like that..." Yukino massaged her temples and sighed helplessly. "Fine. If even escorting Buddha to the West is possible, escorting a few fools shouldn't be a problem. Consider it a good deed."
"Your words are truly impolite. No matter how foolish Yui is, she at least ranked in the top fifty on the recent midterm exams!"
"I know. That's precisely why I'm talking about you, Miura-san."
"Heh, Yukinoshita the cat lover."
"..."
The aura of ice and fire clashed violently.
As the two began arguing again over a trivial matter, on Yuu's side, his best friend also faced off against his fake girlfriend, each holding their ground and refusing to back down.
"Yuu and I go home the same way. Sharing half your umbrella shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Yuigahama launched the first attack, while Masuzu faced her with a smile.
"Of course it's a problem. We're both women—I wouldn't share half my underwear with you either, would I?"
"Ugh..." The opponent's reasoning was so vulgar that Yuigahama instinctively stepped back. She stole a glance at Yuu, then puffed out her chest and said, dissatisfied:
"Underwear and umbrellas are different! Though I don't know what happened when Natsukawa-san disappeared, Yuu isn't yours alone. Please don't selfishly monopolize him!"
Seeing the two mounds far larger than her own, Masuzu's face stiffened slightly—clearly intimidated.
The next second, she pulled Yuu's hand, and while releasing the abnormal state, said coldly: "Could he possibly be yours?"
"He's not an object… No, I mean, Natsukawa-san, what you're doing is unfair!" Yuigahama bit her lip, gathered courage, and also grabbed Yuu's free hand, slightly pulling him toward her.
Surprised, Masuzu nearly let go. Her heart panicked, and she almost shouted the word "don't."
But her reaction was so fast that before the word escaped, she'd already covered her mouth and hugged Yuu's arm tighter, pulling him back.
"Sorry, but the umbrella only fits two people, so I can't help but monopolize him… As compensation, should we buy you an umbrella?"
She smiled falsely, her blue eyes burning with cold fire.
"Then I'll wait until Natsukawa-san is escorted home, and only then will I share the same umbrella with Yuu… You can't stop me either."
Pouting, her brown eyes sparkled with defiant light.
Her eyebrows twitched. Masuzu's voice turned icy: "You're the one who said you didn't want to be a love rival, didn't want to start a war, yet you changed your mind so quickly, Dango-chan."
This time, Yuigahama didn't back down either. Instead, she spoke firmly and directly: "You're the one who said you hated it, said you'd never do it, yet now you look as if you like Yuu more than I do. Who changed their mind first?"
"..."
Masuzu fell silent for a moment, realizing that attacking from this angle was highly disadvantageous. So she shifted her gaze, deciding to temporarily change the topic: "Regardless of content, by status, as a girlfriend, it's natural for me to ask you to keep your distance from my boyfriend. But now you want to interfere with our private time together—have you never been kicked by Johnny's horse?"
Yuigahama stepped forward: "Two years as friends versus less than twenty days as a girlfriend—who's interfering with whom?"
Masuzu sneered: "Being just friends after two years—that's truly pathetic."
"If not having a relationship means you can't even stay friends, that's truly pathetic."
"Tch—"
The argument grew hotter. Even without spectators, Yuu could no longer stay silent.
When had that silly Dango girl become such a bold Dango? She wasn't just daring to argue with anyone—she was no longer hiding her good intentions. Several straight punches were thrown straight to his face.
Conversely, Masuzu seemed to weaken. Maybe she didn't want to reveal the lie-turned-transaction? Her expression looked annoyed, and she frequently signaled him to come help.
...Clearly, who would win and who would lose was obvious.
"I'm talking to both of you."
Yuu pulled his arm free from the tug-of-war. Yuigahama wasn't holding too tightly and immediately let go when she realized Yuu wanted to withdraw.
Masuzu, on the other hand, gripped it like a steel clamp. If he forcibly pulled his arm away, it would only rub against her cleavage. So wisely, Yuu chose to give in and continued:
"After you're done arguing, would you listen to my suggestion? I guarantee everyone will be satisfied. If not, you can divide me up—no problem."
"What suggestion?" Both girls stared at him, speaking in unison.
Trapped in the shuraba between his best friend and fake girlfriend, Yuu showed not a trace of caution or fear. He simply spoke confidently and calmly:
"I brought an extra raincoat."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"I still need to go to the store today. Be careful on your way home."
At the intersection, Yuu waved to the two girls sharing an umbrella, seemingly getting along well. Without caring about their expressions at that moment, he turned straightforwardly and stepped into the misty rain curtain.
The bright yellow lightweight raincoat made him look like a beam of light piercing through the city's gray, cold scenery.
He could feel his phone vibrating continuously in his pocket. Probably aggressive, annoying messages from someone. Yuu ignored them for now, quickly arriving in front of Angel Cafe's door.
*TING DONG—*
"Welcome... Ah, Senpai! You're back from the field trip?"
Seeing him, the cute junior instantly shed her lazy, listless aura. Her eyes sparkled as she jumped and pulled him into the shop, then enthusiastically helped hang his raincoat on the rack beside hers.
"Hurry, hurry, Senpai, please sit! I was almost dying of boredom with no customers—quickly tell me all the fun things from the field trip! You came on purpose to relieve my boredom, right?"
Yuu pushed her head, which was nearly touching him, and said coldly and mercilessly: "No. I only came to borrow a spare umbrella from the manager. After borrowing it, I'll leave immediately. Where's the manager? Why did he disappear again?"
"Hmmph..."
Iroha puffed her soft cheeks. Her short brown hair swayed on her shoulders. From below, she stared at him with sharp yet watery eyes.
"Do you really think I'll tell you the manager's whereabouts with that kind of attitude? That's completely impossible!"