Coincidentally, though they hadn't made any prior plans, Masuzu met Yukino in the elevator as they prepared to head to school.
After a brief greeting, from the elevator until exiting the apartment building, an awkward silence hung between them.
Actually, it wasn't particularly awkward. After all, neither cared about the other's opinion, nor did they intend to chat and exchange feelings. If there was nothing to say, it was natural to stay silent—forcing conversation would only make things uncomfortable.
Walking along the quiet, cold streets, Masuzu swung her school bag, casually glancing at Yukino, whose entire small face was buried deep within her scarf.
From a romantic rival's perspective, she should maintain distance from Yukino, calculating how to steal someone from her—a villainess in a power struggle drama. Recently, there'd been a popular imported series she'd watched out of boredom and unexpectedly found quite interesting—even learning many techniques on stealing men.
However, sadly, right now she didn't even qualify to play. Let alone being a love rival, she couldn't even enter the harem lineup of those three.
No amount of experience could be applied next time. She should feel fortunate just to maintain her current distance and relationship with him.
A forgotten ex-girlfriend truly was this low. Though she'd once exchanged thoughts at Yuu's house a few days ago, feeling she almost remembered something—if she truly recalled everything, in this version where Yukino existed, as long as Yuu remained so loyal, she could only sigh resignedly and continue practicing yoga and judo at home.
For reference, see Haruno—the woman who came first and suffered most tragically.
Thinking this, Masuzu couldn't help shaking her head and sighing.
Haruno had not only been forced to break up by the will of the great universe but also had to watch her boyfriend stolen by her own younger sister, then both turning against her together...
Ah, even the protagonist of a bitter drama wouldn't fare worse.
Or perhaps, every girl who loved Yuu would ultimately share a similarly tragic fate.
Calmly realizing this fact, Masuzu didn't rush to regain her memories before thinking of counterattacks—because that would only make her suffer more.
After all, the one who decided everything was Yuu.
Her world revolved around him. If she didn't want to surrender and become a tiny planet with nowhere to go, she could only wait silently.
Waiting for the next moment, the day when Yuu hadn't yet chosen his new target...
Snapping back from increasingly deep thoughts, following Yukino into the station, while waiting for the train on the platform, Masuzu suddenly spoke to her.
"Yukinoshita-san, have you ever thought about the future?"
Looking up from her paperback, Yukino slightly frowned, staring at her, confused why she'd suddenly ask such a thing.
"Do you mean career path? I plan to go to university first..."
"Sorry, I'm not interested in that." Masuzu politely cut her off. Since the other party already knew her true self, she saw no point in beating around the bush and said directly, "You'll become the next Natsukawa Masuzu and Yukinoshita Haruno. Though I don't know if you'll remember this later... but your dating experience with Tenkuji-kun will sooner or later be erased by that God."
"Even though you love each other now, once the mission ends, both of you will become strangers. You won't like him anymore, and he'll turn away from you too."
"..."
Calmly staring at Masuzu who spoke these words, her blue eyes were like a frozen lake surface, radiating deep coldness.
Seemingly no ripple at all, but Yukino's fingers gripping the book page unconsciously tightened slowly.
Masuzu honestly accepted her sharp gaze. The piercing chill felt like spring wind on her face; she smiled indifferently.
"Don't get so angry. I don't mean to ruin your relationship—just wanted to know your thoughts... Or are you already unwilling to face reality? Then pretend I never said anything."
"The train is arriving soon, the train is arriving soon. Passengers please stand behind the yellow line, keep away from the tracks..."
The red lights on the ground lit up, accompanied by a melodious announcement. Yukino shifted her gaze from Masuzu's face, her cherry-colored lips pursed into a straight line, her profile cold and calm, her thumb gently flipping the next page of the paperback.
"I won't become like you two."
"On what basis?" Initially wanting to talk reasonably, but seeing her dismissive attitude, Masuzu couldn't help sneering, her lip curling mockingly.
"Because you know the truth earlier? Or because you're mentally prepared, thinking you can protect your memories from the God with something called 'love'?"
"I don't need to explain to you." Without looking up, Yukino said coldly, "What kind of future it will be, I'll ensure it together with Tenkuji-kun and Yuigahama-san."
Strong wind blew straight silver hair and soft black hair backward.
Suddenly, the train burst through the air ahead, ears filled with wind and brake sounds, but the girl's voice pierced eardrums clearly like ice, carrying a will to pierce through everything.
"I won't let him repeat past mistakes..."
"Before becoming his girlfriend, I was his Club President. Fulfilling club members' requests is my responsibility!"
"..."
With a baffled expression, Masuzu widened her eyes, staring at her in confusion and shock.
And Yukino didn't waver at all. As the train doors slowly slid open sideways, she closed the paperback and followed the crowd, as if having no intention to say anything more to her.
Masuzu stood frozen in place for several seconds, only stepping onto the train after the door-closing announcement sounded.
Glancing at Yukino leaning against another door and continuing to read, Masuzu slightly bit her lip, withdrew her gaze with a complex expression, and near the opposite side door, turned to see the scenery outside the window slowly receding.
"The difference is, we only ever thought of our own feelings from beginning to end—only you think of the situation itself..."
Masuzu unconsciously sighed.
She felt amused inside, but couldn't laugh—whether it was determination or mere arrogance, honestly, she didn't know.
But Yukino now looked like a fawn running toward a cliff without hesitation, simply because someone needed saving below the cliff, so she wasn't afraid even if she shattered into pieces...
Touching indeed touching, but was she truly ready with matching resolve?
Could she really face the cruel future where all present beauty would crumble to ash?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Under Yuu's sharp gaze, Masuzu quietly clenched her sweaty palm, but the smile on her face never disappeared—even widening further, she said mockingly:
"What's wrong? I'm not wrong. Aren't you treating me and Haruno-san exactly like that now?"
(Ugh, stupid idiot, why did I have to say the truth?)
Not yet receiving a response, Masuzu already groaned inwardly, regretting so much she wanted to hug her head and cry.
Now, she'd only be hated. The distance painstakingly narrowed would widen again.
Unrequited love was indeed like this. Just a few words, all past efforts wasted—and to fix it, she'd have to try exponentially harder.
...But she couldn't hold it in.
She truly couldn't hold it in—her chest full of complaints that had to be vomited at him, she wanted to pounce and bite him several times.
(I was the one who first wronged you? The responsibility I must bear?)
(Hah, how funny.)
(On the surface saying so many beautiful words, then after everyone's memories vanish, planning to treat everything as if it never happened.)
(Don't forget, there are still victims here! Truly impressive Yukinoshita-san can say those words so calmly.)
(No matter how sincere she seems now, once her feelings are taken by the God, we're all strangers to him. No matter how many vows, they're just empty words.)
(Her determination, her pride—like a paperback page, even if flipped, it'll still be remembered, but no longer a place for eyes to stop.)
(So, you should know.)
(Tenkuji-kun, intelligent and high-EQ, surely understands how sad these girlfriends feel upon learning this.)
(If so, even if I speak the truth, you have no reason to be angry at me.)
"..."
Staring at Masuzu's perfect smile, Yuu fell silent, his expression seeming to suppress something, barely changing—no sign of anger visible.
Yet Sora, hearing those words, exploded like ignited gunpowder, her entire body tensing.
Just said she'd protect Yuu from those evil women, and a villain immediately jumped out causing trouble?
Fine. How dare she call Yuu an emotionless scoundrel? A boyfriend might endure it—but a little sister absolutely couldn't!
(Just you wait—I'll unleash my online combat skills and crush this crazy silver-haired nuisance!)
In blazing fury, Sora instantly pulled Yuu's hand, separating him from Masuzu, and angrily bared her teeth at her.
"Stupid stupid—stupid! Who do you think you are?! Get lost—if I'd known, I wouldn't have let you into our house!"
Well, in real life she'd never scolded anyone except her brother, and this was already the harshest words she could utter.
Indeed, it looked utterly non-threatening.
"Me? Just a memory-less ex-girlfriend—truly meaningless to him."
Masuzu shrugged, speaking casually: "But little sister, if you knew the truth, you'd understand what I said is genuine."
She looked up at Yuu, no smile on her face, but her sapphire eyes shone with seriousness.
"Yuu, logically you're not wrong at all, but girls' feelings don't recognize right or wrong."
"The things you might not care about are precisely the futures they fear most."
Having said that, Masuzu gave Sora no chance to threaten her, quickened her pace, and walked away from them, heading toward the school building without looking back.
"What a terrible woman, runs so fast... How dare she call your name!" Sora glared hatefully at her retreating back, stomping her feet, muttering through clenched teeth.
Sensing something amiss, the two people behind temporarily stopped whispering, stepped forward, and stared at them confusedly: "What's wrong? Did you fight?"
"Not fighting!" Sora scoffed coldly, hugging Yuu's arm, speaking expressionlessly, "That woman just suddenly said unclear things, making me annoyed."
"Masuzu saying unclear things... eh, well, maybe she did..." Yuigahama glanced at the silver-haired girl walking away, slightly hesitant, unsure whether to chase after her.
Meanwhile, Yukino observed Yuu's expression, seemingly wanting to reach for his hand, but since others were around, reluctantly placed her hand behind her back.
Finally, she only asked softly: "This morning, she also said unclear things to me."
Yuu, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly pulled back his distant gaze and said in a normal tone: "What things?"
"You tell me first what she said to you."
"Hmm... Not very clear either, but seems she wanted to tell me to treat my girlfriends well?" Yuu rubbed the bridge of his nose, sighing slightly annoyed.
"She'd say something like that?" Yukino frowned, slightly disbelieving.
"Roughly that." Yuu didn't elaborate further, quickly returning the topic on track. "So, what did she say to you this morning?"
"..."
Yukino stared at him in silence. After several moments, her soft cherry-colored lips suddenly puckered, and she turned her head.
"I feel you're not telling the truth, so I won't tell you."
"Hah?" Yuu couldn't help opening his mouth. "Dear Miss Yukino, why are you sulking now?"
"I'm not sulking—you're the one hiding something first."
Her cheeks puffed slightly, Yukino folded her arms and stared at the school gate, speaking coldly yet slightly petulantly: "Wait until one day you're willing to tell me everything honestly—I'll tell you everything you want to know too... Until then, let me be upset for a while."
The foundation of human interaction is trust.
Though Yuu knew what she worried about most, he still habitually used ambiguous expressions to deceive her.
What good was seeing through lies?
To this day, Yukino still hadn't earned Yuu's full trust.
"To avoid misunderstanding, I'll ask again—is what she said something you can't tell me?"
"...No."
Expression unchanged, Yukino nodded, then under Yuu's gaze wanting to speak but restrained, pulled Yuigahama and quickened her pace.
"Yui, let's go first—let that person reflect properly on their mistake behind us."
"Eh? Eh?!" Yuigahama looked back and forth between them confusedly, steps hesitant, bewilderment filling her face.
"What's going on? Did you two fight too?"
"Not fighting." Yukino glanced at Yuu, speaking lightly, "Understanding a girlfriend's dissatisfaction is something a boyfriend must do... This is also a responsibility he must bear, as he said himself just now."
"So what's the reason? If you don't explain clearly, how can I understand... And Yukino, I'm in the same class as Yuu-kun—even if you pull me first, it's useless..."
"...Then I'll return to my own class."
"Wait, wait, I'll come with you! Later you must explain properly to me!" After saying this to Yukino, Yuigahama turned and waved at Yuu, shouting, "Alright then! Yuu-kun, Sora-chan, I'm going to class first with Yukino!"
"Okay, I'll take Sora to the Service Club later—we'll meet there after the opening ceremony."
Composing his complex expression, Yuu stood in place, calmly watching them walk away, then calmly took Sora's small hand again.
He didn't look at the figures entering the school building, speaking softly:
"There's just one thing she got wrong—I've never felt indifferent."
"Huh?" Sora looked up, not hearing clearly.
"Nothing. Let's hurry. If we walk slowly, we might get stopped and surrounded, and it'll be hard to leave then."
"Huh? Why..."
Before her question finished, a group of girls looking extremely enthusiastic and friendly approached, skirts swaying, emitting fragrance, surrounding them curiously.
"Tenkuji-kun, good morning! Who's this..."
"Is this your little sister? Oh my, so tiny, so cute..."
"Yeah, this cloak suits her perfectly—she looks like a fairy..."
"Even with a mask, she looks like a beautiful little girl no less than Yukinoshita-san and the others..."
Seeing the friendly, proactive brown-nosers nearly suffocating her, Sora's face gradually turned green, her eyes slightly trembling, and her social anxiety progress bar instantly skyrocketed to maximum!
"Yuu, Yuu... Onii-chan!"
Dodging reaching hands, she quickly hid behind Yuu.
The silver-haired girl tightly gripped the hem of his clothes, all the cold aura she showed Masuzu gone, shivering like a hamster, only able to emit sounds from her throat:
"Now—quickly get me out of here!"
Schools like this were truly as terrifying as she imagined!