"Besides, Yuu, you're very popular, and your fan club is quite active. They basically update your information in real-time..."
Totsuka gave a wry smile, took out his phone, and opened the school forum. A thread was pinned at the top.
The content inside described their meeting at the school gate that morning. Overall, it just conveyed the information that Yuu had brought his little sister to school for the Culture Festival. Even the attached photo was just a single, distantly-taken shot, nothing too excessive.
"I already have a girlfriend, yet these people are still so enthusiastic." Yuu sighed helplessly, handed the phone back to Totsuka, and sneered, "Gossip is human nature. Luckily, it's not too over the top, otherwise, I'd have to think of a way to teach those clueless people a lesson..."
Even if they were his fans, if they dared to cause trouble for him and Sora, Yuu wouldn't hesitate to give them a warning.
However, since no problems had arisen yet, and there were many dissenting voices in the thread comments like, "Something like this deserves its own thread? The OP is really boring," "Don't want to study during the Culture Festival, but not helping the class prepare their stall either?" and "Haters who disturb an idol's private life should save their breath," he decided to let it go for now.
So, he just logged into his school forum account and left a message at the very bottom of the thread:
He'd already been this high-EQ about it; surely no one would still want to provoke him, right?
Not bothering to see what replies would appear below, after this basic public relations handling, Yuu put his phone back in his pocket. Suddenly, he flashed a teasing smile and asked Totsuka: "So, how did the rehearsal go? Your debut performance is coming up soon. I'm really looking forward to it."
"Don't say things like that, you're making me nervous!" Totsuka puffed out his cheeks, his eyes moist and bright, complaining to him with flushed cheeks, "There are plenty of girls in our class who could play the female lead, why does it have to be me..."
Yuu spread his hands: "Because your physique isn't suitable for the male lead either."
"Then I could play a supporting role!"
"But the female lead suits you better than a supporting role."
"Then let me work behind the scenes..." Totsuka was already whining while twisting his fingers.
"If you really didn't want to, you should have refused earlier."
Yuu patted his shoulder, advising him with a gentle look: "Complaining now is useless. Look on the bright side, the male lead was also replaced by a female student cross-dressing. Everyone just wants to have fun with the gender-bender concept, it's not like they genuinely think of you as a girl."
"Sigh, I can only think that way now." Totsuka sighed listlessly, muttering, "If I have to be the female lead, I'd rather Yuu be the male lead..."
"After all, it's easier to act with a friend." Yuu didn't misunderstand, just laughed heartily, "But sorry, I've long since stopped acting."
"Talking as if you've ever acted before." Totsuka also laughed, clearly not thinking his earlier words had any double meaning.
They didn't chat for long; the clock hands slowly moved towards eight. Amidst the announcement echoing throughout the school, the students in the classrooms streamed out, enveloped in an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation, noisily heading towards the gymnasium.
"By the way, Yuu." Standing in line in the gymnasium, following the teacher's instructions, Totsuka suddenly remembered something, "Is the film made by the Service Club being shown in your clubroom?"
"Originally, yes. But first, having the audience trek all the way to the Special Building just to watch a film seems a bit much. Second, we also don't want the clubroom to be crowded, leaving us without a quiet place to rest. So, we decided to screen it together with the Film Research Club's movie in the A/V room."
Yuu explained: "The screening schedule should be posted outside the A/V room door. Our club president will also explain the details on stage later."
"Your club president? Ah, you mean Yukinoshita-san!" Totsuka nodded in understanding, "I remember she's also the Chairperson of the Culture Festival Executive Committee this time. You even helped her out there before..."
"Yeah, who told me I couldn't just leave her be." Yuu shrugged, speaking nonchalantly.
Although he never talked about his polyamorous relationships, considering Totsuka wasn't the type to overthink things, Yuu couldn't be bothered to explain further.
Even if he found out, it probably wouldn't matter. Yuu placed considerable trust in this friend, who was practically his only same-sex friend... However, whether he'd be avoided because of something like this in the future was hard to say.
About five or six minutes later, the gymnasium was filled with around eight hundred-plus students from all three grade levels.
They lined up neatly according to their classes. The noisy, bustling sound of chatter created echoes, gradually quieting down under the teachers' control, like the intermittent buzzing of mosquitoes.
It was only when a beautiful girl with black hair, a cold expression, and a sharp gaze walked up to the podium, looking down upon the dark crowd below without showing a hint of fear, that all sounds completely froze under her gaze. The entire gymnasium became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Yukino tapped the microphone. After confirming it was working, she coldly parted her pink lips.
"The opening ceremony for this year's Sōbu Festival begins now."
That melodious voice flowed like a clear spring, falling coolly into the air, making people unconsciously feel refreshed.
Then she handed the stage over to the emcees. The beautiful black-haired girl retreated to the side, calmly straightening the speech script in her hands, ignoring everyone else.
Only occasionally would she glance down at the area below the stage. Whatever she saw made her keep covering her beautiful lips with the speech script. Only from the slight twitch at the corner of her eye could one see she wasn't as calm as she appeared.
After the national anthem and school song were sung, followed by speeches from the principal, school board, and various department heads, it was finally Yukino's turn as the student representative.
This part was usually handled by the student council president, but since the current student council was already in its retirement period, just waiting for new members to take over, no student council members were seen in this year's Culture Festival activities.
That's why the one standing up there giving orders was the Executive Committee Chairperson.
This Executive Committee Chairperson spoke fluently under the gaze of nearly a thousand spectators. That crisp voice, like a cold spring, read the boring script with such calm and composure, as if she didn't care about them at all. Yet, the students who had been sleepy-eyed seemed to be awakened by a splash of ice water, inevitably opening their eyes wide, unable to look away from her.
Yuu was one of them.
Thanks to his excellent eyesight, even though separated by hundreds of people, the girl's appearance was still clearly captured in his eyes.
The sleek, silky, ash-black hair, the one small strand sticking up slightly on her head, and the beautiful, palm-sized face; the bright, clear eyes you could see right through, the long, curved eyelashes, the cute, petite, straight nose, and the soft, sweet cherry lips...
The slim, adorable shoulders, the slender waist that could be encompassed by one hand, the flawless straight legs, and the pure white area between the long socks and short skirt...
The simplicity of that part wasn't a flaw, but rather highlighted more of her advantages—like the elegantly curved collarbones, the white, alluring nape of her neck, or the clear, translucent earlobes that would turn pink like cherry blossom powder when she was shy. All of these could be considered treasures for a man.
And her character... there was a lot one could say.
After all, the two of them started from disliking each other, to now loving each other, and sincerely considering each other as profoundly important lovers.
Knowing her flaws, knowing her bad points, yet still being drawn to her, unconsciously becoming a form that liked her. Like two magnets finally finding the correct poles, allowing their fingers to interlock...
What's called falling in love with someone is always this complex and this blissful, satisfying enough to evoke a slight regret.
No matter how many times he had to experience it, no matter how many times he had to suffer, Yuu ultimately couldn't deny—he enjoyed this feeling.
Enjoyed the feeling of having girlfriends, and never regretted the time they spent loving each other.
{I love you, Yukino.}
Yuu stood in the middle of the crowd, gazing into the distance towards the main stage, at the girl who stood apart yet seemed fragile, and loved only her.
The corner of his mouth couldn't help but smile, his eyes shining brightly, like a child seeing the first snow of winter, staring straight at her.
"...May you all write an unforgettable chapter for each of us in this festival."
After the speech ended, as she bowed preparing to leave the stage, Yukino seemed to sense something and turned her head, their gazes meeting.
Her turning steps halted slightly. She pouted her lips a little reproachfully, a little shyly, the charm of a shy girl escaping along with her sidelong glance, but a warm smile flowed from her slightly curved eyes.
Just a simple glance, and the thing they wanted to convey was certainly very simple—
{I love you too, Yuu.}
Amidst the enthusiastic applause, Yukino turned and left gracefully, not worried that he wouldn't understand.
Yuu also looked away, stretching contentedly, his smile so bright that even Totsuka asked him in confusion.
No one knew, in that instant.
A pair of lovers, in front of hundreds of people, reaffirmed their feelings for each other.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The opening ceremony over, returning to the classroom, the entire production team started working. Cheers of encouragement could be heard everywhere. Everyone carried out their respective duties, determined to put on the best debut stage performance.
Only Yuu was the exception.
Seen as a jack-of-all-trades by his classmates, he had already helped the class too much during the preparation stage, and now there was no more logistical work for him to handle. So, after getting permission to move freely from the class president, and without the slightest mental burden watching others work while he relaxed, he prepared to go to the Service Club to find Sora.
After saying goodbye to Totsuka, who was changing clothes and putting on makeup, Yuu headed towards Yuigahama's place. But even before he could greet her, Yumiko blocked his way with a fierce expression, like a mother hen protecting her chick, her Queen of Fire aura blazing.
"You want to take her away?"
"What of it?" Yuu tilted his head, his expression calm like an old, still well.
Silently retreating ten centimeters, Yumiko continued with an annoyed face: "I suggest you drop that idea—Yui is different from you, the unemployed. She still has class work to do. Do you think the staff in our class is enough?! If you're not working yourself, don't drag others down. It's troublemakers like you we're talking about!"
"I'm not working? I'm a troublemaker?" Yuu raised his eyebrows, the corner of his mouth slowly lifting, a cold, crescent-like curve appearing, a fierce aura no less potent than Yumiko's instantly radiating from him.
But before he could demonstrate to Yumiko what is called the Art of Language, Yuigahama quickly moved Yumiko's body aside, bowed her head to him with her hands clasped together, apologizing earnestly:
"Yuu-kun, sorry! I really can't leave for a while, you'll have to go by yourself!"
"..." Yuu's expression softened slightly. He pinched her soft cheek; it felt like pinching a freshly made daifuku. "It's fine, I could have picked her up by myself originally. I just wanted to be with you."
"Ehehe~" Allowing his warm, rough fingers to play on her skin, Yuigahama giggled happily, then said, "I know, I'll come find you after I'm done here. There really is more stuff needing help at the start of the performance, but it won't delay the time after!"
"I'm not blaming you. Wait for me to come back." Smiling, without looking back at Yumiko, Yuu turned and left.
Faintly, he could still hear voices criticizing him.
"Yui, what's good about a guy like that... Arrogant and selfish..."
"Eh, but Yumiko was the one who was so rude to him first... Besides, the misunderstanding about the cheating should be cleared up, why does Yumiko still hate Yuu-kun so much..."
"I just don't like seeing him... And since being with him, Yui has been going out with us less and less..."
"Eh? Really? I hardly ever go on dates with him!"
"What?! He doesn't even take you on dates! That disrespectful jerk who looks down on people..."
"Ugh~ Come on, let's just get to work quickly..."
Hearing this far, Yuu couldn't help but roll his eyes towards the corridor.
"Are most high school girls these days crazy to this extent?"
If so, then it was a good thing he fell in love with two relatively normal high school girls.
...Hmm, relatively normal.
There really was no completely normal person around him.
Passing through thousands of mountains and rivers, traversing the dense crowds, after the Culture Festival officially began, Yuu finally arrived at the Special Building, climbing the stairs towards the Service Club's location.
However, hearing movement near the entrance, he deliberately waited for a moment. Soon after, he was lucky enough to meet Yukino, whose footsteps were as light as a cat's.
On the stairs, their gazes met.
After a slight moment of surprise, Yukino's expression returned to calm. She walked to his side gracefully and serenely.
"Did I come at the right time?"
"Who says we're not in sync?" Yuu said proudly.
Making sure no one was around, Yukino gently hugged his arm, resting her face against it as if taking a break, her whole body relaxing.
"Don't do this in front of lots of people. Be careful of those sharp-eyed Newspaper Club members."
Yuu frowned: "Not even expressing love through glances? I'm sure they wouldn't get it."
Yukino pinched him in annoyance: "The foolish smile on your face was almost overflowing, do you think you hid it well?"
Yuu sneered: "You're the same, aren't you? Your whole face showed an expression of liking me."
Yukino stated firmly: "It's not the same. I only looked at you for less than two seconds!"
They continued climbing the stairs while bickering and being affectionate.
Just as they exited the stairwell, Yuu suddenly remembered something. His expression as he looked at Yukino became hesitant.
And she quickly caught this change. Her expression instantly hardened, like a lazy kitten landing firmly out of its owner's embrace. She released his arm, folded her hands, and observed him.
Then, she asked in a cold voice:
"Is there something you want to say to me?"
He nodded.
"Don't know where to start, afraid I'll be unhappy?"
He nodded.
"Is it... doing that kind of thing behind my and Yui's backs?"
He shook his head vigorously.
"Or have you evolved from two-timing to three-timing?"
Rolling his eyes, Yuu shook his head.
"Neither? Then let me think..."
Her hand touched her chin, her cute, beautiful face showing a thinking expression, then she asked hesitantly: "Does it have something to do with my older sister?"
Yuu was startled, looking her over several times with a gaze like he was seeing a mind-reading ghost.
After hesitating for a moment, he finally gave a slow nod.
Yukino's gaze instantly sharpened.
"Could it be, she's—"
"No, I've been having dreams related to her this past week."
Not wanting Yukino to have unnecessary misunderstandings, Yuu came straight out with it:
"To be precise, I've been dreaming about memories from when I was dating her. The content is very clear."
"..."