Winter isn't a season for frequent rain.
The next day, a clear sky oversaw dry branches and fallen leaves. Cold, dry wind blew through the corridors, wandering every corner of campus.
The school building seemed to enter hibernation. Classes were quiet. Even during breaks, there was less noise and energy than usual.
In the hallways, Cultural Festival-related items were everywhere—fruits of students' hard work for the big day.
Class 2-J.
Of course, the heater wasn't always on for students inside. At best, all doors and windows were tightly shut, letting natural body heat fend off some of the finger-freezing chill.
After the class rep announced Cultural Festival info, the break bell for class meetings rang. Temporary silence left the room. Even the International Liberal Arts class wasn't immune to noise and bustle during downtime. Some students started moving around.
Second-to-last seat, back row.
Yukino sat calmly. Her long lashes gently drooped. Even just brushing hair aside, she looked like a green lotus by a pond—beauty of morning breeze and evening glow. It made passersby glance several times.
And she always carried that natural composure, as if used to being the center of attention. Her pale, slender fingers lightly pinched the book page. Her large, bright pupils moved up and down with the text. She remained unaffected by any movement in class.
Whenever Yukino immersed herself in a book, her focus and seriousness gave others the feeling she lived in a different world. Even the air around her seemed rarer, as if she was born to be exceptional.
This was precisely why she had no close friends—barely any acquaintances. Though they were elite kids in International Liberal Arts, everyone unconsciously kept distance. Forget bothering her—even passing by, they reflexively lowered their voices, afraid to disturb her tranquil, separate world.
Of course, Yukino was hard to approach. Though most Class J didn't dislike her—some even revered her as class mascot and symbol—no one dared come chat one or two sentences with her all day, aside from school matters.
At most, they gossiped about her behind the class.
"I heard it was just a misunderstanding. Yukinoshita-san isn't dating him at all…"
"Really? Thank goodness. I thought our Goddess Yukinoshita would be tainted by that rotten guy…"
"But boldly claiming in front of everyone, using 'joking' as an excuse, that Yukinoshita-san is his girlfriend—honestly, I feel Tenkuji from Class F clearly has ill intentions toward her…"
"Wait, honestly, as a pure outsider—Tenkuji-kun isn't some shallow guy who only cares about looks. I feel he acts that way with everyone. Hope you judge him fairly."
"Still calling yourself a pure outsider. You're obviously a fan club member. You were definitely among those upvoting yesterday's post!"
"Besides, if we're talking fair judgment—someone who can call anyone his girlfriend is way worse."
"…Fine, I'll be honest. With Tenkuji-sama's—cough—with Tenkuji-kun's merits, even if he did have ill intentions toward Yukinoshita-san, it's fine. Can you bear seeing your idol God and Goddess stay single forever and never find happiness?"
"Wuaah~ This guy's not just a fanatic—he's a CP shipper…"
"No hiding it. Show your fan card… Damn (Japanese), you're already Level Five Boss!?"
"Huh? You get it! Join the club now—merch discount! Need me to introduce you to our cool, strong idol, Tenkuji-kun?"
"Heh, cooler and stronger than Blue-Eyes White Dragon?"
"Come on, come on. Listen first—you'll see if his attack power exceeds 3000…"
Yukino stopped eavesdropping. The sermon scene was truly cringe, and she didn't get Blue-Eyes White Dragon anyway.
Her slightly twitching ears calmed. Her fingers slid from the long-unturned page. She sighed softly.
"Looks like it worked…"
Just one night's effort achieved this? Yukino still found it hard to believe.
The rumor she thought would spread fast had changed direction even faster. From arriving at school to the start of class meetings, basically no one looked at her as "Tenkuji Yuu's girlfriend" anymore.
Not even nuclear wastewater was this efficient.
Yukino frowned, thinking. Only then did she conclude—Yuu must have used some method to accelerate this.
For example, asking fan club members to control comments. Or coming to school early and paying people to promote things on the forum.
In some ways, Yuu was very like his older sister. When acting, he wasn't rigid about honesty but didn't hesitate to use any means to achieve his goal.
Yet clearly, he was gentler than Haruno—always considering ways not to cause trouble for everyone.
Thus, even though the main film wasn't finished, Yuu's cheating scandal vanished before forming. Gossip about them was cleared. And news of him dating Yuigahama would likely spread from Class F unannounced, gradually reaching the whole school—like now.
This sudden minor incident ended here, thanks to timely handling. The rest was cleanup.
As she secretly sighed in relief, Yukino noticed a strange, unclear feeling suddenly rising in her heart. It kept her from fully feeling happy.
Regret? Dissatisfaction? Loss? It seemed to have all, yet none…
Why?
This was her first time feeling this. For now, she couldn't name it. But she also feared naming it—she might not accept the answer.
Her heart was confused. Yukino judged it wasn't the right time to read. She closed the book and—unusually—took out her phone during break.
She didn't play games or read e-books. Her phone's main uses were contacting family and searching info. Usually, it stayed off in her bag, turned on only after school to check messages.
But lately, Yukino had grown used to opening her phone and checking the group chat when idle—no doubt influenced by her two most important friends.
The pleasant green interface opened. LINE text flashed. At the top group chat, after about an hour, over ten unread messages appeared again.
"Same class, yet still using group chat. These two really…" She curved her lips, amused and helpless. Just as she was about to open the chat to see what they were saying again.
Accompanied by a fresh, natural scent, a shadow fell before her. In the corner of her eye, she glimpsed silver hair. White indoor shoes stopped firmly beside her seat.
Her movement paused slightly. She turned off the screen as if nothing happened.
Yukino slipped the phone into her drawer. She looked up at the visitor and asked calmly:
"What do you need, Natsukawa-san?"
Natsukawa Masuzu.
She still couldn't forget the person in front of her once trying to force-kiss Yuu.
Thus, unconsciously, a hint of hostility entered Yukino's gaze toward Masuzu. Her expression grew colder and more indifferent.