"Sorry, Senpai, I accidentally bumped into you!"
Iroha's cute face turned red as she spoke softly.
"It's okay. Just be more careful next time so you don't fall."
"I will!"
Iroha jogged away from Toru.
After turning the corner, a few first-year Sobu High girls waved at her excitedly. "Isshiki, that was amazing! You actually dared to pretend to bump into Fujiwara-senpai!"
Looking at her friends' thrilled expressions, Iroha replied, annoyed, "What's so amazing about it? My heart was pounding like crazy back then. I wanted to ask Fujiwara-senpai for his Line ID, but in the end, I chickened out."
"Isshiki, that's already super brave! We wouldn't even dare to stand in front of Fujiwara-senpai, let alone talk to him."
"Ahh, but I didn't get his Line ID. Doesn't that mean I failed?"
Iroha said with clear frustration.
"Isshiki, is Fujiwara-senpai really that handsome?"
"Didn't you see him?"
"But we couldn't get a close look! You actually bumped into him."
"Now that you mention it, Fujiwara-senpai's skin is really good. Not a single pimple. It's super smooth, and not from using men's foundation either, it's natural. Ugh, I'm so stupid, I should've used skincare as an excuse to ask for his Line ID."
Iroha said, regretfully.
"Wow, does Fujiwara-senpai smell good too?"
"Are you perverts? You think I sniffed him like a dog? Go try it yourselves!"
"Hehehe~ I wouldn't mind stealing a piece of Fujiwara-senpai's clothing to take home."
"You really are a pervert!"
After joking around for a bit, Iroha fell silent.
Her friends probably thought she was just joking.
But Iroha genuinely wanted his Line ID.
Hmm... it seems like Fujiwara-senpai gets along well with Yukinoshita-senpai. Maybe I can try getting close to Yukinoshita-senpai first, and then get to know Fujiwara-senpai through her?
Are they dating? Even if they are, so what? I can steal him away!
Iroha's eyes sparkled with determination. She would never give up!
...
For Toru, this was just a minor incident. Although Iroha looked a little familiar, he met too many people and didn't pay much attention.
When he saw Yukino again, she had already changed back into her Sobu High uniform.
It was a blazer-style uniform. Black over-the-knee socks clung tightly to her thighs under the short skirt, revealing a small sliver of skin between the two—soft and pink like fine mutton-fat, so smooth it seemed it could break with a touch.
Seeing Toru again, Yukino's heart skipped a beat, though her expression remained cold like a proud princess.
"How did you change so quickly?"
"My match ended. That sportswear was soaked in sweat, I couldn't wear it anymore."
"Was it sweat, or some unspeakable fluid?"
Toru's teasing made Yukino glare at him in annoyance.
This guy always gave off a calm, refreshing image, fooling people into thinking he was harmless.
But now Yukino finally realized—he was a complete carnivore, aggressive when it came to women.
Just like in the sports storage room earlier. Not only did she lose her first kiss, she was nearly paralyzed by his fingers.
Yukino was furious, both at Toru's audacity and at herself for letting it happen without even resisting.
She shouldn't talk to him ever again. She should report him for harassment.
But seeing him again, she still responded naturally. As for reporting him, that remained just a thought.
"Do you like me?"
Yukino asked coldly, though her heart was far from calm.
"Of course, I like you, Yukino."
Toru's straightforwardness caught her off guard.
She'd handled confessions before, but with him, nothing seemed to work.
Yukino took a deep breath. "If you like me, then pursue me."
"Facing an amazing girl like Yukino, of course I'll be more proactive."
"You can pursue me, but I have one condition!"
"Go ahead."
"I'll try dating you, but you can't pursue my older sister anymore!"
"No problem."
Yukino stared at him in surprise. She hadn't expected him to agree so easily.
If I'm going to pursue you, I shouldn't go after Haruno at the same time. That wouldn't be fair.
Yukino's expression softened. So, he was serious.
At that moment, she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. She even laughed lightly.
It felt like—for once—she had finally beaten her sister.
There was just one thing Toru didn't say: if Haruno pursued him, then that wasn't breaking the deal.
Yukino's personality was more conservative than Haruno's. If he got together with Haruno first, even if Yukino liked him, she would probably back off.
But if he confirmed a relationship with Yukino first, Haruno definitely wouldn't give up so easily.
Pursuing girls also required strategy, taking into account their personalities.
Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
"Actually..."
"Hmm?"
"Actually, I know what you told me back in Kyoto was right."
Yukino and Toru stood in the school corridor, overlooking the sports field as the school's sports day wound down. He leaned by the window.
"I know my way of thinking was childish. That so-called pursuit of truth was just me being self-righteous. Lies and masks are the norm in the adult world."
"No matter how hard I try, I can't change the world. The best I can do is learn to fit in."
"But that doesn't mean I'll become a hypocrite. I'll try to adapt to the adult world, but still maintain my self-awareness as much as possible."
"For example..."
She glanced at Toru, then quickly looked away.
"...I have feelings for you. I can't deny it. Otherwise, I'd be the kind of person who lies, and I hate liars the most."
"I'll acknowledge my feelings."
Toru smiled in relief. "Yukino, this is what I admire about you. You're not as strong on the inside as you appear. Deep down, you've always understood. You just didn't want others to see your vulnerable side."
"When was I ever cowardly!"
"See? I just complimented you, and now you're denying it?"
Yukino pursed her lips. "Fine, you're right. I've always been scared and weak inside. I don't interact with others because I don't want them to see that side of me."
"Like you just said, my inner self won't let me lie. That's what confuses me most."
Yukino took a deep breath.
"...But I'll try to change. I won't be alone anymore. I want to become someone better, someone who gains others' support and trust."
"Where do you plan to start?"
"Do you have any suggestions?"
"That pink-haired girl who cheered for you earlier seems nice. You can try becoming friends with her first, so you won't feel so alone. And this time, as the person in charge of Sobu High, you've already shown your face to everyone."
Toru paused, then added, "...It's just that now, you're the public enemy of most girls at Sobu High."
"This is all your fault!"
"Then blame me. But you should be proud. Look at how many girls want to talk to me or date me and don't even get the chance, while you get to have close contact with me. You should face them from a higher position."
"Narcissist!"
Close contact... did he mean that? Was he talking about the close contact with his finger?
Yukino grew a little flustered.
How did she let that bastard use his finger and still get so shaken up by it?
As they talked, the sports day came to an end.
Yukino looked at the big screen on the school field and sighed. "As long as Advanced Nurturing High School participates, Sobu High almost always loses."
Toru consoled her. "That school's full of weirdos. The ones they sent this time are all leaders from the first-year classes."
"But don't worry. Look at events like the three-legged race, where the whole class has to cooperate. Sobu High won that one, didn't they? Those top students from Advanced Nurturing High are strong individually, but when they're together, no one listens to anyone."
"Fujiwara-kun, you don't have to comfort me. If Sobu High lost, then they lost. It's not like I care that much."
"You have no sense of collective honor at all. But did you just call me by the wrong name?"
Yukino said awkwardly, "Toru-kun?"
Oh man, hearing the usually cool Yukino say that so gently made Toru feel a wave of impulse, like dragging her back to the storage room for another intense round.
"Hmm, Yukino is so obedient."
"Saying that is gross!"
Yukino gave him a disgusted look.
"...I'm leaving. As the person in charge, I still have a lot of work to take care of after the event."
"Go ahead."
"Um, are you going back to Tokyo today?"
"Yeah. I've got a lot to deal with in the next two days. The National Karate Tournament preliminaries in Chiba are coming up. We'll have plenty of chances to see each other. Or you could come to Tokyo on the weekend. It's only about an hour away, so don't miss me too much."
"Do you know what your biggest flaw is?"
"What is it?"
"You're way too narcissistic and full of yourself!"
After she said that, her long, snow-white legs in black stockings moved gracefully as she turned to leave, leaving behind an elegant silhouette.
Toru picked up his phone at that moment. Arisu had sent him a message, inviting him to meet Chairman Sakayanagi tomorrow.
"This side is settled."
Toru muttered quietly.
Just then, Yukino, who had been walking away, was stopped by someone.
"Yukino, I think we need to have a serious talk."
Haruno stood in front of her with a cold expression.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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