Seeing that Yukino's attention was on Yui, Akira Fujimiya took advantage of it and gently held her hand.
Not to be outdone, Yuigahama Yui too reached out and claimed Yukino's other hand.
"..." Yukinoshita Yukino blinked, caught between the two of them.
"Yui, let go of my Yukino-san," Akira said firmly.
"Akira-kun, you're the one who should let go. Don't hold Yukinon's hand. Yukinon is mine," Yui retorted.
"Yui, are you trying to steal my girlfriend?"
"Actually," Yui said softly, "I started liking Yukino a long time ago."
"Yui, you—" Akira was stunned.
"Akira-kun, I'm sorry. The real reason I became your girlfriend… was because of Yukino."
The person at the center of it all, Yukinoshita Yukino, looked completely stunned, staring blankly at their performance.
Yui wrapped both arms around Yukino's arm and rested her little head against her shoulder.
Seeing this, Akira tried to imitate her, leaning closer.
But before he could get too near, Yukino, embarrassed, pushed him away.
"See? Yukinon likes me more," Yui chuckled mischievously.
"Yuigahama-san…" Yukino's tone was helpless, clearly at a loss with the two of them.
.....
After lunch break,
On the way back to the classroom.
"Akira-kun, you and Yukino… haven't you changed your relationship from 'just friends' yet?" Yui whispered, walking at his side.
"There's no need for that kind of change right now," Akira replied calmly.
"I feel like Yukino is waiting for a change… maybe for your confession," Yui said softly.
"The time isn't right yet," Akira shook his head.
"You wants to gain the approval of the Yukinoshita family before confessing to Yukino?" Yui asked, beginning to understand.
"More or less, I don't want to change my last name," Akira admitted.
Hearing this, Yui took his arm without hesitation.
She knew part of the reason he was hesitating was because of her.
"Akira-kun, like I said before… you and Yukino can get married first, and then…"
"Then you'll help her take care of the child?" Akira looked at her curiously.
"If Yukino is willing, I can try. If the three of us live together, you and Yukino can go to work, and I'll help take care of the childs. That… would feel nice." Yui's voice was tinged with longing.
"Yui, have you really accepted the current situation completely?" Akira asked.
"I don't want to leave Akira-kun… and I don't want to become a stranger to Yukino either. So this is the only way." Yui looked up at him earnestly.
"For me, it's indeed a good thing. But in my heart, I can't feel happy," Akira sighed, voicing his truest feelings.
Yui's concession did allow the three of them to remain together, but this kind of happiness… carried weight.
"Akira-kun, my concession isn't unconditional. You'll feel you owe me, and Yukino will be extra gentle with me. That way, my place in the family will be very stable. This is my plan." Yui said softly, seeing through his thoughts.
" Your 'Dummy Plan?' " Akira asked, not quite believing her words.
He knew she was trying to give herself a reason, more an excuse than a real plan. As long as she could deceive herself, she wouldn't be so entangled.
"I'm not a dummy!" Yui puffed up her cheeks in protest.
"Only a dummy would say that," Akira teased, glancing at her.
"Akira-kun, I'm suddenly worried… My grades aren't very good. What if my child turns out like me? If that happens…" Yui's voice faltered.
"Yui, good grades aren't hereditary. Besides, with Yukino around, do you really think your child will end up like you?" Akira reminded her gently.
"I hope my child is a girl, and Yukino's child is a boy. That way, the older brother can protect the younger sister," Yui whispered.
"I think your wish might not come true. If Yukino's child is a girl, she'll definitely be as exceptional as her. And if our child is a boy, he'll probably be like me. Yui, you can't influence them at all." Akira analyzed seriously.
"I still want it" Yui pouted in protest.
"Haha" Akira just laugh, without saying anything, her face was too cute and funny.
.....
In the afternoon.
Besides Akira and the others, Shizuka Hiratsuka was also in the Service Club room. She was there to oversee the tutoring session.
Akira ignored Hiratsuka's presence and focused on tutoring.
Yui listened carefully, taking notes diligently. Miura Yumiko and Ebina Hina were also paying attention, not slacking off.
Shizuka observed quietly. She thought Akira's grades must not be bad—at least close to Yukino's level. Should she consider giving the Service Club more tutoring commissions?
"Sensei, are you just watching?" Akira suddenly asked, breaking her thoughts.
"Heh, you're teaching very well," Hiratsuka praised with a smile.
"As the Service Club's advisor, shouldn't you also help with the homework?" Akira looked at her directly.
"This is a student commission for the Service Club. If I step in as a teacher, it defeats the purpose. It wouldn't help you grow," Hiratsuka replied seriously.
"Really? Then please don't increase our commissions. I'm already tutoring three people by myself. If you add one more, I'll definitely need your help," Akira said lightly.
"I understand. I won't add any new tutoring commissions for now." Hiratsuka's eyes flickered away.
She felt like Akira had read her thoughts too easily.
"My instincts tell me… when Sensei looks at me quietly, it's never a good thing," Akira continued.
"When your eyes looked evasive, I knew I guessed right."
"Don't look so shocked. I was only observing your expression."
Akira spoke calmly, word by word, while Hiratsuka stared, stunned.
The three girls glanced at Hiratsuka and knew he had hit the mark.
"Akira-kun, you're very smart. I hope your grades will surprise me. Otherwise, I'll tutor you myself," Hiratsuka warned with a stern face.
"No need. I'm afraid if you tutor me, I'll just get bored and fall asleep," Akira said bluntly.
Hiratsuka's forehead twitched.
Was he saying her lessons were boring?
"Tomorrow, I'll make you answer more questions in class," she muttered darkly.
"Sensei, I'll be happy to answer them. But I hope they'll be difficult questions,"
"…" Hiratsuka was speechless.
.....
After tutoring ended, Akira didn't leave school immediately. Instead, he headed toward the tennis courts.
Yui followed him closely, while Ebina Hina dragged Miura Yumiko along, curious to observe.
Hiratsuka also followed, still holding on to a previous commission.
At the tennis court, Totsuka Saika and Hikigaya Hachiman were evenly matched in a practice game.
When Saika noticed Akira, he paused.
"Akira-kun, do you want to play tennis too?"
"That's why I came," Akira replied, handing his commuter bag to Yui before stepping forward.
Hachiman handed his racket to Akira without a word and walked toward Hiratsuka.
Standing beside her—
"It seems you've adapted well and even made some friends," Hiratsuka said warmly.
"...I don't actually want to change," Hachiman muttered.
"You already have. The commission I gave Akira has been completed." Hiratsuka glanced toward Akira.
"That guy just left me here and never cared after that," Hachiman said with a frown.
"Because He's smart, If he kept helping you, it wouldn't be good for either of you. Leaving you here to make your own choices is also a kind of training. And honestly, if he kept forcing you to make friends, you wouldn't accept it anyway, right?" Hiratsuka explained calmly.
"…Has he really thought about all that?" Hachiman muttered, still unconvinced.
Hiratsuka just smiled without answering.
While—
On the court, Akira faced Saika.
Although Saika had already spent much energy, his experience kept Akira from gaining an easy advantage.
Akira abandoned defense and pressed the attack aggressively.
This was nothing like his usual physical education class performance.
Among the onlookers, Miura Yumiko, who understood tennis the best, was shocked. She realized something immediately.
If Akira faced Hayato Hayama again in P.E., it might not be so easy for Hayama to win. Akira would defeat him with strength head-on.
.....
By sunset, Akira left the tennis court.
His physical condition was still too poor. Compared to Saika, an actual member of the tennis club, he was far behind.
The only reason he had beaten Hayato before was because Hayato wasn't in the tennis club. While athletic, in terms of skill, Hayato probably couldn't even beat Hachiman.
"Akira-kun, do you want to play against Hayama-san again next time in P.E.?" Yui asked curiously.
"Yui, my opponent isn't Hayato Hayama—it's myself. If I can be better today than I was yesterday, that's progress," Akira said slowly.
"Eh?" Yui blinked in surprise.
"From now on, I'll go running every morning and play tennis for an hour in the afternoon. I'll train my body fully," Akira continued.
"I want to go running with Akira-kun too!" Yui said quickly.
"You're not suited for running," Akira said, giving her a glance, looking at her chest.
Yui froze, as she notice his glaze at her chest, her cheeks reddening as she understood what he meant. Her figure made running difficult; even an ordinary day often left her shoulders sore.
"Yukino-san is well-suited for exercise, but unfortunately, her body is weak. She'll need to stick with it for a long time before results show," Akira added.
"Yukinon will definitely be mad if she hears you saying that" Yui chuckled.
"Some things are innate, but others can be changed. Yukino will definitely grow stronger in the future. She has great potential," Akira said seriously.
"Akira-kun, you're the worst" Yui mumbled, turning her head away shyly.
She understood exactly what he meant.
As they passed a convenience store, Yui suddenly stopped.
...
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