"Good morning, Yukinoshita-san."
First, Masuzu casually greeted Yukino. Then she raised a brow and smiled: "I've never bothered you. Why do I feel your hostility toward this classmate isn't small?"
"Of course. Tenkuji-kun is a member of our club…" Yukino paused, staring calmly: "He's also one of my friends. You did that to him in front of me—did you expect me to roll out a red carpet?"
"Of course not." Masuzu brushed her long hair over her shoulder. She spoke calmly, still smiling: "I don't regret what I did then. Nor do I care if you hate me—like how you don't care about others' opinions… In that sense, we're actually quite similar."
"I don't think so."
Yukino didn't hold back. She stated plainly: "I don't know what you went through to become abnormal since that day… But I don't want to be lumped in with your type, and I don't feel we have any similarities."
"Abnormal? That's an overstatement—though I agree."
Masuzu grinned. The sticky, hollow laugh reached Yukino's ears, making her frown. She recoiled slightly as a chill crawled over her body.
Masuzu ignored her disgust—and the curious glances from classmates around them.
She only stared deeply at Yukino. A clear yet eerie voice—like pine needles in the wind—sounded softly before her:
"I know we don't like each other. We didn't before, and even more now… So I'm just here to make a deal with you."
"…A deal?"
Though she knew ignoring her was best, hearing this, Yukino couldn't help asking in confusion.
Masuzu nodded and smiled: "Exactly. You're curious—why I was in your big sister's car that day."
"Wasn't it just a coincidence drop-off after dinner? Who'd be curious about that."
"Really that simple? You should've realized—she's secretly doing a lot behind your back."
"So what? My sister doesn't need to report anything to me…" Yukino frowned uneasily. Her tone grew firmer.
"Natsukawa-san, if you have something to say, say it directly. Class starts in two or three minutes. I'm not interested in riddles with you."
"Haaah, you sisters are the same. Start panicking once your secrets are exposed." Masuzu sneered, sounding slightly bored.
"The riddle is the deal—I'll give you info about you that your sister definitely won't tell you, and you just help me a little. How's that—profitable?"
Recalling her earlier talk with Haruno, Masuzu couldn't help sneering.
History is always so similar.
Meanwhile, Yukino stared. Her first words weren't rejection but a question: "Why should I trust you?"
"Because I have no choice." Masuzu shrugged, unbothered: "Tenkuji-kun is definitely avoiding me now. Yui-san must resent me for that incident… I know I reap what I sow, but I'm not giving up. I still have to try."
So she chose Yukino. She seemed the least approachable—but actually the highest-success breakthrough among the three.
Did Haruno, pulling strings behind the scenes, ever expect her to come straight to the little sister to negotiate?
Thinking this, Masuzu felt oddly pleased.
"Not giving up… You mean you still want to go after Tenkuji-kun?"
Yukino's gaze turned icy. She glared in annoyance, speaking word by word: "Listen carefully. The Yui-san you mentioned is his girlfriend!"
"Even if your morals are low enough to steal someone's boyfriend, don't assume everyone is that low—do you think I'd agree to let you meddle in their relationship just for some vague secret?"
"Wait, Yukinoshita, are you misunderstanding?" Masuzu raised her hands, defending calmly: "I didn't say you have to help me break them up. Don't accuse people carelessly."
With lips pressed tight, Yukino's expression stayed cold and silent.
"Well, I'm not surprised you'd think that…" Masuzu sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation. She also laughed self-mockingly: "But honestly, I'd rather see them together. I hope they find happiness in each other—I know this thought is disgusting and totally unfit for someone like me who hates romance, but who knows? It suddenly appeared in my heart, like an idiot, heh."
"…"
She seemed to see genuine emotion on her face. Yukino was slightly shocked. After a moment, her silent expression softened a bit.
"Then why did you do that to him that day?"
Masuzu thought for a second. Her fingers pointed to her soft lips: "Because my body instinctively craved him? At that moment, my whole mind just wanted to be one with him—I didn't think much else."
"Be… one?" Realizing, Yukino's pale face adorably flushed. She took a slow breath, exhaling like a sigh: "I can't understand why you'd have such a lewd reaction. But overall, the deal you want with me—has nothing to do with Tenkuji-kun and the others?"
"It does."
Masuzu admitted. Her elegant, confident smile bloomed again.
Though it held no emotion—like a smiling mask—Yukino heard pure, stubborn longing in her voice.
An emotion deeper than anyone's, born from having lost something.
"I want to be closer to him—even if I can only watch him and Yui-san be affectionate and loving. That's better, actually… As long as I can stay by his side, I don't care what price I pay."
In just this sentence, there was no hesitation.
"You…"
As if not understanding, Yukino opened her mouth. She stared in shock at the beautiful half-foreign girl before her, who seemed utterly serious.
She unconsciously wanted to say something—but suddenly felt advice or scolding would be useless.
In her eyes, there was only one light, unshaken by anyone's will.
So she could only comment:
"Natsukawa-san, you're more abnormal than I imagined…"
"For me, love is the greatest abnormality." Masuzu said cheerfully. She enjoyed Yukino's helpless sigh.
"Yukinoshita, trust me for now. Just give me one chance to get close to him. Whether I can stay by his side in the future—I'll handle myself. You don't need to overthink."
"Even if you say that…"
Noticing her stance wavering, Masuzu's lips curved slightly. She suddenly stepped closer, bringing her lips to the girl's ear, exhaling softly.
"Then I'll pay the deposit first."
Black and silver hair crossed and overlapped at their chests. Pale cheeks pressed together, almost kissing.
Before Yukino could react and pull back, Masuzu chuckled and began to speak:
"Your big sister has delusional disorder. She keeps saying Tenkuji Yuu is her boyfriend."
"Last night, she even asked me to sabotage his relationship with Yui-san…"
Yukino's body froze in her seat. Her eyes widened in shock.