After cuddling for a bit and soothing her rattled heart, Shiina Mahiru gently pushed Hayashi Maki away.
"Okay, I'm fine now. Maki-kun, go have your fun—I've got things to do."
Hearing her shoo him off like a kid, Hayashi Maki couldn't help laughing wryly.
"What do you mean 'go have fun'? So what are you going to do—without taking me?"
Mahiru rolled her eyes.
"I'm going to find a girl. You really have the nerve to tag along with a bunch of girls?"
"I do. My skin's thick—no problem at all!"
Mahiru pinched his arm lightly and scolded, "Don't mess around. I'm going to see Yukinoshita."
"Uh… what for?" Hayashi Maki glanced at her, a little guilty. Mahiru knew about Asada Shino, but Yukino-chan… he'd started seeing her on the sly and hadn't told Mahiru yet.
Mahiru looked him up and down with a half-smile. "What, are you afraid I'll fight Yukinoshita?"
"Ahem, of course not. You're so gentle—you'd never hit anyone."
"Oh, I'm that gentle. Then are you worried Yukinoshita will hit me?"
"Uh… well, I don't think she's unreasonable. You're so nice—who could bear to hit you?"
"Keep brushing me off. Anyway, I'm going to find her now, and you're not allowed to follow and eavesdrop. If you do, you're not touching me for a week."
"…"
Watching Mahiru's back as she left, Hayashi Maki suddenly felt uneasy. The two of them won't actually fight… right? He didn't plan to follow; using his Authority, he could observe from the shadows just the same.
…
In good spirits, Mahiru headed to Class 1-J.
The moment she appeared at the door, the boys inside went slack-jawed. The school's famous super beauty—the "Angel" Shiina—had actually come here. Who was she looking for?
Mahiru ignored the stares. She walked straight to Yukinoshita Yukino, who was packing her bag, and smiled in front of her.
"Hi, Yukinoshita-san. Could we talk in private?"
Yukino's heart skipped when she saw Mahiru, and she tensed up without thinking. She looked at her with a complicated expression, then gave a small nod.
"Okay. Let's go."
Under everyone's curious gaze, the two super beauties left the classroom one after the other.
They went to a nearby park and found a quiet spot. Mahiru sat on a bench and patted the spot beside her with a smile.
"Sit here, Yukinoshita-san."
Yukino put on a calm front and sat by her, not sure what to say. Mahiru, meanwhile, gave her a once-over. Her eyes moved from Yukino's face to her slim waist and long legs—nodding to herself. But when her gaze landed on Yukino's rather modest chest, there was a hint of pity.
Yukinoshita still had room to grow; in the bust department, Mahiru felt she won hands down.
Yukino noticed the look and flushed, instinctively covering her chest.
"Shiina-san, that look is very rude."
"Haha, sorry, sorry. You're too pretty, Yukinoshita-san—I zoned out."
Being praised made Yukino blush again, and she felt oddly self-conscious. Shiina must have been led astray by that scoundrel—what girl compliments another girl's looks like that?
Still, it didn't seem like Mahiru had come to fight or argue, and Yukino quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
"You're very pretty too. Everyone calls you an angel."
"'Angel' is just an act. I'm used to putting on that face. Don't copy me lightly, Yukinoshita-san—it's exhausting."
Mahiru said it casually, then her gaze fell to Yukino's fingers.
"Your ring is beautiful."
Yukino glanced at her own ring. "Yours too."
"Mm-hmm, the same. Maki-kun made them. He supposedly only gives them to his future wives. What do you think about that, Yukinoshita-san?"
Mahiru studied the cool beauty beside her, trying to read something in her eyes. Yukino touched the ring, cheeks faintly pink.
"I… don't know."
Mahiru rolled her eyes. "You're wearing the ring and you 'don't know'? Yukinoshita, you're not being honest."
Yukino met her gaze without backing down.
"I never said I was honest. Do I look honest to you, Shiina-san?"
"When I said 'honest,' I meant you come off a bit… awkward."
Mahiru's eyes sharpened. "So that's a yes then, Miss Sneaky Cat?"
Yukino pouted and protested, "I didn't 'sneak' anything… he—he's the one who stole a kiss."
Mahiru sighed helplessly. "That's true. He's such a menace that even you couldn't refuse, huh?"
Yukino looked at her nervously.
"So what are you getting at, Shiina-san? Are you here to tell me to back off?"
"No, no, nothing like that. I'd never do that." Mahiru waved her hands, then took Yukino's small hand with a smile.
"Yukinoshita, I just wanted to meet you and get along."
"And to make sure you don't see me as an enemy."
Yukino was moved by the earnest look in her eyes. "And now? What's your conclusion?"
Mahiru gave her a soulful look. "I'm waiting for your answer. What do you want—to accept me and stand by Maki-kun together, or to get rid of me and keep him all to yourself?"
Yukino's eyes widened.
"'Get rid of you and keep him'—what is that supposed to mean? I'd never do that! Besides… my sister isn't letting him go either."
Mahiru blinked. "Your sister, too?"
Yukino stared at her in surprise.
"That pervert didn't tell you?"
Mahiru shook her head.
"I didn't ask. Some things in a family don't need to be said out loud—as long as it feels warm, that's enough."
"Yukinoshita, I was never acknowledged by my parents, and now I've been kicked out. So all I have is Maki-kun."
"I want to protect the home I have with him. So… will you help me?"
"This…" Yukino was taken aback. She hadn't expected a girl like Mahiru—the school's angel, loved by everyone—to be unwanted by her own family.
"Sounds ridiculous, right? That someone like me wouldn't be loved by her parents."
Mahiru gave a breezy smile, but her eyes dimmed. It was genuine feeling, and also a tactic—stirring sympathy makes things easier.