"So cute! What kind of cat is this…?"
"This pose is great too, I want to pet it…"
"It can shake hands? And open doors by itself? So smart…"
Her clear, cool voice, rarely so soft and sweet, sounded as if a snow maiden had finally turned human, as if winter had melted into spring.
Beside her, Yuu, who had finished his unusually delicious bento, leaned lazily in his chair, starting to close his eyes and rest.
The album he opened was specifically for cat photos, so he wasn't worried about Yukino finding anything strange—but even if she did, it wouldn't matter. At most, she'd see the six-pack abs photos he took to show off. No embarrassing personal pictures.
Just casually listening to her affectionate exclamations and recalling her usual cold, serious demeanor, Yuu couldn't help but chuckle.
"…"
Perhaps deciding to ignore him, Yukino didn't get upset about it.
But every time his laughter rang out, a foot would sneakily kick his shin under the table, then retract as if nothing had happened.
The midday sunlight slipped through the window, gently brushing over their hair—one short, one long.
Their shadows in the classroom were spaced as far apart as their chairs, but for once, they leaned together in a rare moment of closeness.
"Haaah…"
Time moved slowly, as if every detail was magnified. Even her satisfied sigh felt stretched, leaving a deep impression in his mind.
Yet it also felt like the blink of an eye. In an instant, Yukino returned the phone to him.
"Thanks."
"Done already?" Yuu teased. The phone case still felt warm from her palm.
"Hmph. It's a pity the cat has an owner like you." Though her words were mocking, Yukino said them without hostility, her slightly flushed face and relaxed expression sounding more like a playful pout.
"Has it been vaccinated? What food does it eat? Judging by its age, it seems like a kitten. How do you usually train it?"
"Why do you care so much?"
Yukino looked displeased. "…At least tell me the cat's name."
"Yukinon."
After Yuu answered, seeing her predictably shocked expression, he quickly explained, "Don't misunderstand, I adopted this cat from the animal hospital before the semester started. I didn't have any impression of you back then."
"…Good, then."
After all, a classmate's cat having a name similar to hers could easily lead to inappropriate assumptions.
Though she believed his explanation inwardly, Yukino's brows remained furrowed, and she kept staring at him thoughtfully.
She could tell Yuu wasn't lying, but his roundabout way of speaking seemed to deliberately avoid some key point, not directly answering her question…
"By the way, I haven't thanked you yet."
The comment diverted her attention, and Yukino looked at him in confusion.
"Thanked me for what?"
Yuu glanced at her, his gaze returning to his phone, and said casually:
"Thanks for your concern yesterday. I'm doing much better now."
"Yesterday…?"
Yukino blinked in surprise, her cherry-blossom lips parting slightly. Before speaking, she held back a laugh and pursed her lips into a beautiful curve.
"For something like that, I can see it myself. No need to mention it specifically."
Turning her face away calmly, Yukino brushed her long hair, sighing as if exasperated. "Looking after subordinates is the president's responsibility. If you're truly grateful, show me a bit more respect than usual."
"Yeah, right." Glancing at the back of her ear through her hair, Yuu laughed too. "Wait until you beat me in the mock exam, then I'll consider adding some honorifics for you."
"Oh? Pretty bold for someone who was still mid-tier in the class rankings before summer break." With a faint smile, Yukino turned her head, her tone as pleasant as her demeanor. "How about if we both get perfect scores, it counts as my win?"
"Sure, I can just secretly ask the teacher to add some off-curriculum questions. Unless you're omniscient and omnipotent, I'll definitely win."
Yukino paused, then rolled her eyes at Yuu, who was laughing smugly. Her fingers gently tucked the hair by her face behind her ear.
"When it comes to shamelessness, no matter how hard I try, I really can't beat you."
"If you're giving up, then it's my turn to make a request, right? After all, wins and losses need balanced stakes."
"Lunch break is almost over. Hurry up and go." Ignoring his teasing, Yukino packed up her half-eaten bento—left unfinished due to looking at photos—and carried her chair back to the window. The tips of her black hair left a lingering fragrance.
Yuu also packed his empty bento box, waiting for her to finish tidying so they could leave together.
"Does Yuigahama-san have plans today?"
"Asking now, isn't that a bit late?" Yuu watched her lock the clubroom door. "She went to eat with her friends. Unlike a certain someone, she's very close with the girls around her."
"You think I'd be jealous?" Yukino scoffed, her tone disdainful. "If I had to socialize with people who only know how to gossip and compete, I'd rather be with you…"
She suddenly stopped speaking.
Quickening her pace, her skirt fluttered as she walked ahead.
Yuu didn't press further. He wasn't the type of guy to bother a girl. Chasing and teasing someone over an accidental slip of the tongue was too tactless.
He just walked behind her, watching the beautiful area between her long black stockings and white thighs, smiling contentedly.
"…Your gaze is a bit perverted."
Yukino suddenly stopped, waiting unhappily until he walked ahead of her before continuing.
"Just admiring something beautiful. I already said you're not my type." Yuu spoke casually, hands propped behind his head, with no intention of defending himself.
"Or, what, you think you're not pretty?"
"Don't think that tactic works on every girl." Yukino sneered, lifting her chin slightly, tossing her black hair with bold confidence. "My beauty is something everyone knows, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to let you admire me like some lifeless work of art."
"Oh, really? My bad, then."
"Apologizing proactively is good behavior. I'll praise you for that." After saying that haughtily, Yukino hesitated for a moment, silent for a few seconds, then spoke as if it were hard to say:
"Just asking casually, the type you like… is it someone more mature?"
"…"
The question itself wasn't surprising, but the fact that it came from Yukino made Yuu so shocked he unconsciously stopped walking.
His nose nearly bumped into her back. The girl quickly stepped back, looking at him with a calm, expressionless face, while he stared at her with a strange expression.
"What's that about?"
"…Are you asking for yourself, or is someone else curious?"