After meeting Yuigahama, the three boarded a train to the nearest station to Sōbu High—Inage-Kaigan Station on the Keiyō Line.
From there, it took about fifteen minutes of walking to reach Sōbu High School.
"There's a smell of the sea..."
As soon as they exited the station, Sora sniffed her small nose, glancing left and right.
Yuigahama smiled and explained: "Since our school is near the ocean, Inage Beach and Tokyo Bay are right beside it. The seaside park here is also very famous!"
"Oh really? Living so close for so long, this is the first time I've heard..." Sora murmured, turning to Yuu. "Have you ever been there?"
"Never. Interested?"
"Not interested." Sora answered firmly, paused briefly, then added in a slightly softer voice, "...If there aren't many people, looking at the sea is fine."
"Wait until summer. Right now, the beach is too cold, and just seeing the sea isn't that enjoyable." Yuu patted her head, speaking thoughtfully. "Last time you swam was probably when you were ten. Isn't it about time to buy a new swimsuit?"
"It's still far off—at least half a year away." Though her tone was complaining, the corner of Sora's lips lifted slightly.
"Could it be your swimsuit from back then still fits now?"
"No way!" Sora's smile vanished instantly. If Yuu hadn't quickly pulled her hand, her angry palm might have bitten him. "Yuu, stupid! Do you think I stopped growing?!"
If not for being in public and with Yuigahama watching, Sora would definitely have pulled her hand away and made him see for himself whether she'd grown properly or not!
She'd secretly measured before—not that she could lie and claim it was big, but at least it had reached size B!
"I want to join too!" Yuigahama raised her hand enthusiastically, her bright eyes darting between the two. "Later, let me accompany Sora to pick out a swimsuit. I happen to want to replace the one I bought in middle school."
"Fine, we'll decide that now." Yuu didn't mind, immediately setting plans for something six months away.
As for Sora, though no clear expression of refusal showed on her face, after observing Yuigahama from top to bottom, her gaze lingered for several seconds on her chest—still clearly visible despite the winter coat—then she sneered slightly with mild disgust, turned her head with a huff, and said:
"Forget it. Let Yuu accompany me instead. No need for that annoying dango girl."
"Eh?! Why~" With an almost-tearful expression, Yuigahama tugged on Sora's sleeve without regard for seniority, whining sadly, "I didn't do anything—why does Sora hate me—"
"Exactly because you did nothing is why I hate you."
"That's unfair!"
"Wait until your three dangos shrink into one, then I'll allow you to come with me."
"Three dangos shrinking into one? What do you mean..."
Letting his girlfriend and little sister chat cheerfully behind him, Yuu walked toward Sōbu High.
Though it was still morning, due to Cultural Festival preparations, most students arrived at school much earlier than usual.
A steady flow of people entered through the school gates. Even now, several parents accompanying their children could be seen admiring the Sōbu Festival sign hanging at the gate. Faint sounds of excitement already drifted from within the campus.
Seeing this scene, Yuu felt anything but relaxed—he remembered things he'd momentarily forgotten, things that made his head ache and his chest tighten. His expression darkened slightly; once again, he didn't want to face reality.
"Yuu-kun..."
Observing his change in expression sharply, just as Yuigahama was about to say something to him, Yukino and Masuzu approached from a distance, and all of them gathered at the school gate.
"What a coincidence—we all arrived at school at the same time..." Walking closer, Yukino first smiled and greeted Sora with a nod, then turned to the two of them. Her clear, bright eyes blinked twice, and she immediately realized something was wrong with the atmosphere.
"What's wrong? You both look completely unmotivated."
"Not unmotivated—just a bit nervous."
Yuu tugged at his collar, forcing a bitter smile, clearly uncomfortable.
"After all, today, both of your mothers are coming to the Cultural Festival."
Or rather, they were all coming to see their prospective son-in-law.
Honestly, Yuu had never feared meeting parents—Mrs. Yuigahama was beyond doubt; during their last meeting, she'd seemed extremely satisfied with him, even wanting to pull him home for a long chat. Basically, he had no issues with her.
Even with the imposing, stiff Mrs. Yukinoshita, Yuu had faced her before. He'd even snatched her daughter right under her nose, so there was nothing to fear.
Except—when two parent meetings were combined. And these two meetings would bring him far more conflict.
What awaited him was hellish torment...
"..."
Both girls fell silent simultaneously, opening their mouths to speak but stopping. They fully understood why his expression looked so grim, as if facing execution, but they didn't know how to comfort him.
Because when each of them talked about him to their mother, both unconsciously forgot that Yuu was currently in a double relationship—and the secret behind this romance could be called shameful.
Even if they themselves agreed, their families would absolutely never accept such an absurd situation. While lamenting their daughters had met the wrong man, both mothers would surely target him as a scoundrel.
Without being able to explain the system mission, Yuu was undoubtedly an openly cheating womanizer—even he no longer denied this fact.
After all, what mother could tolerate her daughter being ruined by such a man?
Yuu could only sigh, his weary eyes gazing distantly at the campus, as if already seeing his future self getting slapped by the mothers.
"I'm sorry—it's my fault."
At that moment, although she'd apologized when telling him about this, Yukino still bowed deeply to him with sincere regret: "Our relationship shouldn't have been revealed, but I told Mother on impulse, and now it's impossible to send her away... I truly apologize."
Of course, she felt guilty.
And she'd kept feeling guilty and anxious since that night, deeply remorseful toward Yuu and Yuigahama.
After all, their relationship had already spread throughout the school via Class F students; if she brought her mother to meet Yuu, even if her mother asked to walk around campus, she'd surely realize through others' reactions that her real boyfriend was someone else.
One could say her mistake had created another gap in their cover-up, fully exposing their triple relationship to each other's parents.
With this sense of loss, Yukino bit her lip, her blue eyes dimming.
"You idiot—if you have to apologize too, wouldn't it be better for me to just kill myself to apologize?"
Before the girl's mood turned completely negative, Yuu raised his hand and flicked her forehead.
Only after Yukino shifted her startled gaze from the ground to his face did he look at both girls seriously, word by word:
"Yukino, from the moment I said I wanted to date you, neither of you has any reason to feel guilty toward me... Because every precondition started with me being the one at fault. If I want to date both of you at once, this is one responsibility I must bear."
"Right! So Yukino, stop blaming yourself."
Understanding Yuu's meaning, Yuigahama then held Yukino's hand, her face showing a bright, genuine smile, speaking casually: "If we're counting, actually, I'm the one most at fault!"
"Knowing Yuu-kun is a womanizer but not breaking up with him, letting him maintain a double relationship, and even actively playing matchmaker—you're unbelievable, who could be such a fool!"
Yukino was momentarily stunned, then her face hardened, wanting to sincerely explain: "Yuigahama-san, wasn't it you who originally..."
But before she could finish, she heard Yuigahama say calmly and maturely:
"Who came first or second doesn't matter—we're both Yuu-kun's girlfriends... He likes us, and we like him. Knowing that is enough."
"..." Yukino fell silent.
"As for Mother, even though Yuu-kun looks desperate and unwilling to face reality, I believe he can overcome this difficulty."
Yuigahama released her hand, then gently cupped Yukino's small, cold cheek with her warm palm, her eyes full of care and sincerity, with the determination of a martyr.
"If there's nothing we can do for him, then stand quietly behind him, believing he can overcome all hardships and move forward bravely."
"That's all I'll do." Yuigahama said softly, then smiled mischievously.
"If Yukino truly doesn't believe in Yuu-kun, pretend I never said any of this~"
"..."
An awful provocation strategy, yet effective like a sharp blade, slicing through her overthinking.
Looking at Yuigahama with a complex expression, after a pause, Yukino let out a long sigh, giving a slightly helpless look.
"It's not that I don't believe in him... It's just that I consider it natural that the current situation is caused by me."
"Then it's fine~" Yuigahama hugged her arm again, speaking affectionately and cheerfully, "We don't blame you. Let Yuu-kun bear his suffering—it's his own fault for wanting everything... Anyway, no matter who's right or wrong, we'll just silently comfort him after the mothers scold him thoroughly. Why worry so much?"
"Your heart is too broad, Yuigahama-san." Yukino held her forehead, looking slightly dizzy, a sigh escaping beneath her long hair. "But... well, there's truth in what you said, and it makes me feel much better. Thank you."
"You're welcome. If you want to thank me, just call me Yui! That's my only reward!"
Yukino hesitated, her face slightly reddening as she spoke softly: "...Yui?"
"Yes! Yui, Yukinon—!" Calling sweetly, Yuigahama happily hugged her tightly, rubbing her soft, smooth cheek against Yukino's, the valley pressing seamlessly against the plain.
"Wait, I already said it's hot..."
Yukino looked slightly flustered, standing stiffly in place, as if unsure how to react, even turning to Yuu for help.
Though this wasn't the first time she'd been touched this closely by her, and she didn't feel disgusted at all—even somewhat pleased... but they were standing at the school gate. No one would be used to being hugged in public.
Meeting her gaze, Yuu first gave a warm smile, and just as she sensed a hint of hope, he turned away as if seeing nothing, taking his sister's hand and walking toward the school gate.
"What's the harm~ Sumo wrestling in winter is perfect~" Yuigahama grinned mischievously, unconcerned, following with Yukino. She even took advantage of Yuu not paying attention, quietly leaning her head on Yukino's shoulder and whispering in her ear:
"To secretly comfort him later, what do you think we should do to make him happier?"
"..."
Yukino's expression froze instantly—whatever scene she imagined, her slender white neck slowly reddened, her beautiful, captivating face tinged with charming shyness.
She slightly bit her soft lip, her eyes frantically darting around, before finally taking a deep breath, turning, and whispering to Yuigahama, revealing her thoughts.
Perhaps because the content was too shocking, Yuigahama's eyes gradually widened. After Yukino cleared her throat with fake seriousness as a cover-up, she stared at her in admiration, then commented:
"Yukino, I never expected you to actually be..."
"A-anything wrong? I think it's normal!"
Yuigahama stroked her chin thoughtfully: "Doing that is normal for couples... But, I didn't expect you to have such a cool act..."
Yukino's face flushed crimson, angrily warning with full seriousness:
"I am NOT acting cool at all! Please don't misunderstand, Yui-san!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Behind them, the two girls whispered, while Yuu and Sora walked ahead.
Sometime unnoticed, Masuzu had quietly followed, positioned between that man and the girl wrapped tightly in her cloak.
She didn't do much, maintaining a distance neither too close nor too far from her brother, so Sora only glanced warily, not baring her teeth like a tiger cub protecting its young, trying to drive her away.
Ignoring the glances coming from around her, Masuzu suddenly spoke: "Tenkuji-kun, you don't actually need to worry too much."
Pausing in confusion, Yuu raised an eyebrow toward her: "What do you mean?"
"Even if you're caught cheating, even if you're hated by both girlfriends' mothers—it shouldn't matter to you."
Masuzu gave a faint smile, her eyes narrowing like crescent moons, speaking meaningfully: "Whether you admit or deny it, accept or reject it, even if you'll never enter their homes again... once the world resets, the fact that you dated Yukinoshita-san will vanish, and no one will remember your affair. Isn't that right?"
"After all, the future you—who feels nothing—probably won't care anymore about Yukinoshita-san's affairs either."