Monday morning, November 13.
On the long slope where they often met by chance, Yuu arrived before Yuigahama. Like his past self, he leaned against a utility pole, waiting for her to appear.
"Sorry, I'm late~"
The morning light was soft. Her beautiful pink hair came into view. The large dango-style hair ties swayed slightly under her winter uniform.
As their shadows aligned side by side, Yuu took the lead. Teasingly, he said, "If you think this is late, we might as well wait for each other here before dawn."
"Hehehe~ I was just saying."
Yuigahama smiled shyly. She stole a glance at the side of his face. Her shoulder unintentionally brushed against his.
But she didn't pull away as usual. She just kept walking forward with a normal expression. The sensation of their touching skin and the closeness of their breaths instantly chased away the winter's chill.
With just this small gesture, Yuigahama suddenly felt—"Ah, we're no longer just ordinary friends."
She clearly sensed the distance between them had truly lessened. A sweet joy surged from her heart to her throat. It quickly softened the corners of her lips, making her unable to hold back a giggle.
But when she thought about how Yuu had secretly kissed her yesterday, and how she had mustered the courage to kiss… or bite him back, a flush of red quickly colored her cheeks. Her lips pursed in embarrassment.
Yuigahama hurriedly looked away, no longer daring to sneak glances at him.
At that moment, Yuu took the initiative to speak, breaking the slight silence with conversation.
"By the way, the school festival is coming up soon… I feel like those of us on the logistics team haven't done much."
"What can we do about it?"
The cold breeze cooled the warmth on her face. Yuigahama continued the conversation naturally. "We only decided on the event last Thursday. That was the busiest time, and we were tied up with the matches in Kyoto… We can only make up for what we couldn't help with starting now."
She turned to him. Her large, glistening eyes blinked. "Speaking of which, Yuu-kun, aren't you planning to compete for the lead role? I think Adler, the angel of death, suits you perfectly. He's the main character, and he's super cool!"
The cultural festival project for Class 2-F was a drama titled Adler.
It was a tragic story about the angel of death—Adler—as the protagonist. The story told how he was deceived by the heroine into searching for the meaning of life, only to end up going to hell with her.
It's worth mentioning that, since the script was decided by vote, even though a classmate named Ebina wrote an engaging and touching script about gay themes, it was rejected by the majority of the "normal" classmates. That thwarted her attempt to act in her own interest.
As for the lead role, though the cast was already set, if Yuu wanted to compete, it was unlikely anyone would dare take it from him. Even if they tried, they wouldn't be able to outshine him.
"That's exactly why I'm not interested in acting on stage." Yuu sighed, uninterested. His melancholic gaze looked toward the morning mist.
"I'm already handsome. If I keep getting more handsome, aren't you afraid more girls will chase after me?"
Yuigahama laughed awkwardly. "Hahaha, saying something like that so bluntly, that's so Yuu-kun…"
By comparison, she didn't even have the courage to agree with such narcissistic words. She could only agree in her heart.
(He's right. Good thing he didn't join the acting team. Yuu-kun's handsomeness only needs to be known by me!)
"You're not afraid, but I am. Rejecting confessions every day—just thinking about it is annoying."
An image of someone flashed in his mind. Yuu said unconsciously, "If that really happens, be my shield, Yui."
"Shield?" Yuigahama was slightly confused.
"I mean, pretend to date me and tell others I already have a girlfriend…" His words trailed off. Yuu snapped back to reality, shifted his gaze, and regained his composure. He flashed a relaxed smile.
"No, forget it. Asking someone to be a shield, when you think about it seriously, is pretty stupid. I might as well announce to everyone that I'm only interested in guys."
"That's even worse?! Besides, if you want to do it, I don't mind…" Her round cheeks puffed out. Yuigahama lowered her head, rubbing her hands behind her back. She muttered,
"After all, if I become your fake girlfriend, one day it might become real."
"That's true." Yuu ruffled her dango-styled hair. His tone was confident and straightforward. "But Yui, you're special to me. There's no need, and no point, in deceiving others with a fake identity."
"R-really…"
Yuigahama replied with a slight stutter. She looked down at the road, feeling her entire face heat up.
Her heart pounded wildly. She was so embarrassed she wanted to bury her face in his chest—she wasn't yet used to the closeness after crossing the boundary of friendship, and she didn't know how to respond to match their current dynamic.
Caught between two difficult choices. What people call a sweet dilemma might be this feeling.
Compared to her, the boy beside her was so skilled, it didn't seem like his first time teasing her. He didn't feel there was anything wrong with saying such things to a girl he wasn't officially dating. He just naturally used his gaze and voice to melt her heart, making her like him even more.
(So sly!)
Yuigahama huffed slightly, as if annoyed.
(No wonder he said yesterday he'd cheat at least twice. With his attitude, as long as he doesn't refuse, cheating twenty times is possible!)
(If that's the case, I'd better take the fake girlfriend position first, so other girls don't get a chance to approach him…)
Though her heart was full of complaints, Yuigahama knew she'd already done all she could. The rest was just waiting.
She only needed to wait until he liked her—Yuu had promised, and Yuigahama trusted him completely. She didn't want to do anything more to pressure him.
After all, the position of someone special sounded more important than a girlfriend.
Under Yuu's curious gaze, Yuigahama smiled foolishly while holding her face.
The morning sunlight began to shine.
In her squinted eyes, there were colors filled with satisfaction and peace.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The usual route to school, yet slightly different, passed in the blink of an eye, leaving only the final stretch.
The school gate came into view. Other students, also in Sobu High uniforms, walked in with scarves and tucked necks. A disciplinary committee member, like a gatekeeper, glanced sharply and stared straight at their hands, which had unconsciously intertwined.
Then she gave an ambiguous smile, nodded in greeting, turned, and began scolding another student for not wearing their uniform properly.
"I've always wanted to say this—our school's too lax about these things, isn't it?"
Yuigahama whispered but had no intention of letting go of his arm.
They walked to the shoe lockers in an intimate posture. Only then did she reluctantly release his body, warmer than the entire spring. She changed into her indoor shoes and walked with him toward the classroom.
As more people appeared, she, temporarily without an official status, wasn't bold enough to show off in front of others. So she just walked beside him and asked casually:
"By the way, Yuu-kun… What's our relationship now?"
Yuu paused for a moment. He answered carefully:
"More than friends, but not yet lovers?"
Though he could've just said "couple" he knew he absolutely didn't want to see Yuigahama dating anyone else but him. Even if his feelings weren't there yet, he wouldn't give her girlfriend position to anyone.
But because of the words he said yesterday, he decided to be a bit dramatic and define their relationship seriously, without lies.
"Really? That's fine. For now, this is good too!"
Hearing his answer, Yuigahama didn't feel disappointed. Her heart opened wide, and she felt relaxed, with no lingering unease.
Because compared to the past, when she couldn't express her feelings, she had now received the answer she wanted. From now on, she wouldn't feel sad anymore because of Yuu's rejections.
"So, can I start waiting?"
She suddenly quickened her pace a few steps and half-turned.
Her skirt flared lightly in the air. Her bright eyes curved into crescents, and she smiled at him.
"—I'm waiting for the day you confess your love to me!"
Without any impurity, that pure and gentle feeling was like winter sunlight, instantly warming Yuu's heart.
Yuu was stunned for a moment, then smiled:
"Of course. Wait patiently, Yui."