Yuu 511-515 (Patreon)

Title: Undercurrents Gradually Gathering

After Class A, Class B held a riddle contest, Classes C and D jointly created a haunted house, and Class E sold on-site crafted shaped balloons.

Together with three women of different sizes, Yuu visited each stall and enjoyed them—in the riddle contest, Sora and Yuigahama went on stage and, as expected, came back with consolation prizes. Since the next round would still take time, he had to abandon his plan for revenge.

In the haunted house, Yuu was pushed to the front, walking to the end like a mother hen leading her chicks. During that, of course, there were screams, curses, pushes, tight hugs, and various other chaotic situations. In the dark and narrow space, he didn’t know whose softness was pressing against his arm. When they exited, his body carried their scents.

As they were escorted out by the staff with envious gazes, before Yuu could say anything, Mama Yuigahama observed him from head to toe with a meaningful look.

Then she raised her hand and patted his shoulder, smiling as if satisfied:

“Young man, you have a good build.”

...Got it. The culprit who secretly groped his biceps and abs amid the chaos was right in front of him, confessing without a shred of shame.

Besides showing helplessness toward Mama Yuigahama’s cheerful nature, Yuu didn’t know what else to say.

After that was Class E’s handmade balloons. Since they could buy balloons themselves and make some simple shapes under staff guidance, the four of them occupied one table and started working. Then boom, boom, boom...

After three predictable consecutive balloon pops, Yuu took the initiative to fold three small animals for them. His technique was so skilled that the Class E students couldn’t help asking:

“Tenkuji-kun, you can do this too?”

Tying the tail of a small dog and handing it to Yuigahama beside him, Yuu replied casually: “Yeah, I learned a lot of skills while working part-time everywhere... All to make a living, nothing special.”

Then Mama Yuigahama asked him to share his part-time work experiences.

There was nothing wrong with telling it. Though exhausting, it was a part of his life he was proud of as an older brother, with no complaints, regrets, or inferiority.

However, for some reason, even though he only told it briefly, more and more people gathered around him. After he roughly finished recounting his life before summer vacation, the women, led by the Yuigahama mother and daughter, some wiped tears, some lamented, and even many men looked at him with pitying gazes.

What the heck is this?!

Yuu felt like he had become one of Japan’s Top Ten Most Inspirational Figures, goosebumps nearly popping out all over his body. He almost dug out and summoned a Blue-Eyes White Dragon worth fourteen billion yen on the spot with his toe because it was too awkward.

Too lazy to care what storm it would cause next, Yuu immediately pulled the teary-eyed Sora out of Class E, waiting for the Yuigahama mother and daughter to catch up in the hallway outside Class F.

“Next, let’s watch the play in our class. I’m really looking forward to what Totsuka will be like in the official performance later.”

Though Totsuka never made him change his orientation, Yuu had to admit that this friend was even prettier than most girls in the class without makeup or dressing up. If he really cross-dressed on stage, what would happen? Basically, he would captivate everyone, men and women alike.

“Yeah, the next performance time is almost here...” Yuigahama glanced at her watch, then lifted her face, showing a hesitant expression to Yuu.

“What’s up?” Yuu asked strangely.

“Uh...” Yuigahama seemed to be racking her brain for words, her gaze frequently darting between the classroom door and Yuu’s face.

However, before Yuigahama could figure out how to tell him about the improv performance, someone inside the class spotted them and immediately rushed over, as if afraid their secret would be accidentally exposed, and forcibly took over the conversation rhythm.

“Yui, you guys finally came.”

“...Finally?”

Yuu frowned slightly, staring at Yumiko’s side profile with a suspicious gaze, thinking hard.

Yumiko wasn’t intimidated. She stared back with sharp eyes and raised her eyebrows: “So what? Yui told me beforehand she’d bring you all to watch the performance. What’s wrong with me waiting in the class for a long time?”

Yuu sneered: “Did I ask you anything? Why are you so eager, it looks like you’re hiding something?”

“Tch... No point talking to you.”

It seemed Yumiko considered there was an adult standing beside them, and a silver-haired girl tugging at Yuu’s shirt hem, her gaze gradually becoming unfriendly.

Rarely did she suppress her anger. The double golden drill-haired girl didn’t argue to the end as usual, but after clicking her tongue in annoyance, she shifted her gaze to Mama Yuigahama, greeting her politely.

“You’re Yui’s older sister, right? Nice to meet you, I’m Miura Yumiko...”

Yuu thought, perhaps only in moments like this could he see this girl’s stiff and polite attitude.

Unfortunately, there was no cute contrast at all.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After Mama Yuigahama happily explained her identity, the four of them, under Yumiko’s guidance, walked in a line into Class F.

In front was the stage area with closed curtains and dim lighting. In the back was the seating area already filled with many audience members. Between them, a red line was drawn to separate them, as if trying to create a real theater atmosphere.

Soft classical music flowed from the speakers, not too loud, not too soft, not too light, not too heavy, extending like vines to every corner of the class. The air seemed to become calm and solemn because of it, making the audience in the seats unconsciously lower their chatter, waiting for the curtains to open with hopeful and peaceful moods.

After escorting the four to their seats, Yumiko hurried back backstage to help.

Unlike them who still had time to date and play, she had been busy in the class all morning. She was tired to the point of not wanting to complain about anything, only hoping the improv performance later would be interesting enough to slightly relieve the accumulated fatigue from the work.

The prey had entered the trap, even if Yuigahama secretly warned him, what difference would it make? In the end, Yuu still had to act without a script in front of everyone!

With a cold grin, Yumiko signaled the actors backstage. They immediately understood her meaning, nodding slightly nervously, slightly excitedly, and slightly enthusiastically. They used this last preparation time to review the previously altered script.

Seating area.

“Yuu, I feel that golden drill-haired girl has a problem with you.”

“Your feeling is correct.” Yuu shrugged, saying indifferently, “It’s been like this since I started dating Yui. She hates me for stealing her friend, and I hate her unclear attitude... But her ability isn’t enough to be my opponent, so I usually can’t be bothered with her, to avoid being called a girl bully, and also so Yui doesn’t have a hard time between us.”

“So there’s a girl who hates Yuu...” Sora muttered in a voice as if saying the anime No Game No Life finally has a second season, her face full of shock, “Isn’t that the type who pretends to annoy you on the surface, but secretly likes you a lot, just acting fierce on purpose because you’re her friend’s boyfriend?”

“I told you, cut down on watching those deviant trashy dramas.” Yuu sneered silently, “Even if it’s true, it just means she’s asking for trouble herself... Not just her. I’m not interested in other girls right now, it’s useless even if they like me a lot.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know you’re loyal~” Sora swung her small legs, smiling mockingly.

Since Mama Yuigahama was beside them and listening to the two without awkwardness, she didn’t continue this topic. Instead, she observed Class 2-F, and suddenly spoke again:

“Yuu, where do you usually sit?”

“Second row from the left, third column from the top.” Yuu pointed to his seat position, though it was currently occupied by the red separating line.

Sora was a bit surprised: “So in the middle? I thought you’d sit in a special protagonist position.”

“I, your brother, am just an ordinary person who’s a bit unusual, still far from a protagonist.” Yuu stroked her head, saying with a smile.

Sora narrowed her eyes enjoying it for a moment, then pushed his big hand to her lap, playing with his fingers: “With all the things you’ve experienced, no one in this world resembles a protagonist more than you... Forget it, tell me more about school-related things.”

Yuu looked at her in surprise.

As if suddenly understanding something, he hid his smile deep in his eyes, holding back the curve of his lips as if nothing happened, and in a soft and pleasant tone, he slowly told his sister various things related to Sōbu and what students experience at school.

Until the theater sound effects played, and the lights in the class suddenly went out, only then did the two fall silent like the other audience, staring at the stage in front that was gradually illuminated by strong spotlights.

In this brief silence, a sudden poke from a finger was felt on his back.

Yuu didn’t turn around, just leaned his body back: “What’s up?”

Yuigahama answered in a whisper: “You have to be careful...”

“She wants to prank me, right? I can feel it. Relax.”

With Yumiko’s poor disguise and acting skills, Yuu could sense something was off even with his eyes closed and nose plugged. After a bit of observation, analysis, and connection, he could roughly guess what she wanted to do. There was absolutely no chance he’d be pranked.

However, considering this Double Golden Drill-Haired Miss had sacrificed a lot for the Cultural Festival preparations; plus the premise that pranking him in class couldn’t be done without other students’ approval.

Yuu just sighed in resignation, treating this as participation in class activities... Unless they overdid it, he planned to fully cooperate in this performance.

After telling Yuigahama his thoughts, he felt a relieved breath on his neck.

“Yeah, it’s good if everyone can be happy... I’ll tell you later about what happened in the class earlier.”

A small laugh in his ear, just when Yuu thought she would pull her body back, that hot breath suddenly shortened the distance.

In the darkness, wet teeth gently bit his earlobe. Before he could feel the ticklish sensation like an electric shock, those soft lips enveloped his skin and nerves, bringing a different pleasurable feeling.

“Ham~”

The sound of saliva and tongue intimately sticking was heard in his ear. Heat and breath mixed, accompanied by her small embarrassed yet naughty laugh: “Hehe, don’t move carelessly, be careful or Sora will notice...”

“I already know.”

The girl’s low voice sounded faint: “Perverted dango, what gave you the illusion that nothing would be noticed if the lights are off?”

Beside them, Mama Yuigahama also leaned her face closer, whispering with a laugh: “Yeah, I thought you were just whispering to him, but it turns out to be such bold whispering~ Mom has slightly changed her opinion of you, you know.”

Yuigahama: “...”

Like an innocent girl caught cheating, she was too embarrassed to speak. She could only quietly pull her body back and reject her mom’s encouraging pat.

Unconsciously, Yuu touched his still slightly wet earlobe. The same heat as his face hadn’t subsided, making him a bit restless.

In short, he was a bit excited.

Thinking of Yukino who was still working at the moment, Yuu thought with a strange expression:

Is this contagious, or did they plan it privately... Why do they all love attacking from behind so much?

“Why, do you like being teased like this?” Cutting off his thoughts, his sister’s slightly jealous voice sounded beside him, “I thought Yuu was a total gentleman, but it turns out you’re a pervert who likes this kind of play. I’m so disappointed in you!”

Hearing this, Yuu felt the need to explain himself: “Pervert where? The pervert is Yui, got it! I was just sitting still...”

Halfway through, his chair was kicked, and familiar fingers were placed on his soft waist, pinched, twisted, a gesture full of threat.

Yuu stopped speaking, the corners of his mouth twitching twice.

...As expected, all girlfriends have this in common.

Before he finished sighing, soft and natural music played from the front speakers, completely drowning out all sounds in the class.

At the same time, the spotlight moved, fully illuminating the silver-haired girl slowly appearing at the edge of the stage. The student in charge of narration slowly opened their mouth in the darkness, with a warm voice and clear articulation, drawing the audience into the story world.

“That girl had once heard that the edge of the forest was the dwelling place of the Death God Adler...”

Under the focus of many gazes, Class 2-F’s stage play, 《Adler》—began.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“If you need to be picked up, please let me know twenty minutes in advance.”

“Okay. Thank you, Sata-san.”

“Please stay safe.”

After bidding farewell to her driver, Asuna came alone to Sōbu High. She looked up, seeing the decorated school nameplate in front of her.

“Luckily Mom suddenly had business and couldn’t come, otherwise wherever I go she’d ask questions, troublesome and blocking me from finding people...”

Though muttering, she couldn’t hold back the smile on her face.

She stretched vigorously, rotating her wrists and ankles, relaxing all her body joints. She felt her physical condition was excellent!

Then, like a general preparing to win a battle, the girl stepped her long legs, entering the unfamiliar school gate with high spirits and sparkling eyes.

“Well then, let’s search their class first! If I really can’t find them, I’ll call and ask them to pick me up. Though a bit sudden, they shouldn’t refuse to welcome a friend who’s transferring schools, right?”

Her long chestnut-brown hair fluttered like a cape, blown by the wind behind her.

Asuna didn’t hesitate. After matching with the map, she directly walked toward the bustling school building.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Audio-Visual Room.

“They came about an hour ago, now who knows where they went?”

Getting such information from the staff, Haruno couldn’t help slapping her forehead, grimacing: “As expected, I came too late. Better forget the surprise, just take Mom to search for them directly...”

Saori glanced at her vaguely, too lazy to care about this overthinking and useless daughter. She walked to the staff and gently confirmed the next film’s schedule.

After paying four hundred yen for entry tickets, she directly entered the pitch-dark audio-visual room, only leaving an undeniable order for Haruno.

“After watching the film, call Yukino and ask what she’s doing now, we’ll go find her.”

“Hngg, alright~”

Though a bit reluctant, Haruno dropped her shoulders as if surrendering, and followed her mother into the audio-visual room listlessly.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Like many small streams that will flow into the sea.

Beneath the seemingly calm sea surface, the undercurrents had begun to surge.


-

Title: The Class’s Improv Performance

The actual drama plot was very simple—or rather, somewhat clichéd.

After all, this was just a student-led performance lasting no more than half an hour. Even if the original plot was deep, the essence had to be extracted and the script condensed. Otherwise, it couldn’t be performed multiple times a day, and the audience would easily get bored.

The story’s protagonist was an active, clever, and lively village girl. One day, she heard the tale of the Death God Adler. Out of curiosity, she boldly crossed the forbidden zone, went to the forest’s edge to search for his dwelling, and happened to see the true face of the Death God after he removed his deer-head mask.

The enraged Death God immediately grabbed his scythe to behead the girl, but she cleverly talked her way out of it. In the end, the Death God didn’t take her life but instead began a journey with her to find a place of death.

As time passed, the human and the Death God witnessed many things on their journey. There was tension when facing enemies, and warmth when saving others. They walked through countryside and cities, once cursing each other’s flaws in the shadows, and once sharing their pasts by the campfire.

As their feelings deepened, the human and the Death God also experienced that life meant happiness and sorrow walking hand in hand.

The reason the Death God didn’t take the girl’s life back then was because he knew she had at most seven days left to live. With the intent to observe her, he didn’t act immediately. But in the end, even knowing she would lose her life tomorrow, the smile on the girl’s face never faded. She still insisted on bringing him to the most beautiful place and passed away peacefully there.

Adler, who had fallen in love with the girl and didn’t want to take her life, chose to leave alone on the eighth day, heading to the end of the world unreachable by humans, facing the punishment from the other Death Gods by himself—altering a human’s fate was the greatest taboo of all taboos. His fate was only one: to face true death as a Death God, soul and body destroyed.

Thus, in the ever-blooming flower field, Adler closed his eyes peacefully, ready to let his former comrades behead him and take responsibility for his negligence.

But at that moment, he heard the voice of the girl who shouldn’t be here.

To save Adler, the girl tried to crash into the executing Death God, but she was easily slashed and gravely wounded. The enraged Adler fought without thinking. After a fierce battle, he finally eliminated the entire execution team of Death Gods, but he also paid a heavy price, nearly exhausting his energy.

In the story’s end, the dying Death God and the girl leaned together in the world’s most beautiful flower field. After confessing their feelings and vowing to live together in the next life, they closed their eyes peacefully and happily. Flower petals buried their bodies, and the curtain fell.

—This script was known to the entire class. Especially after several rehearsals, Yuu was of course very familiar with the plot, even knowing what lines they would say next.

And now, as an audience member, he was officially enjoying his classmates’ performance from below the stage. Though he knew the upcoming plot developments, his viewing experience surprisingly didn’t diminish much. He could feel his mood rising and falling with the drama, sighing in admiration repeatedly.

(I didn’t expect Ebina Hina, that fujoshi, to write such delicate emotional scenes... Is true love really easier to emerge between the same sex?)

(Tch tch, Totsuka looks so pretty with that wig. Though not as beautiful as Sora or Yukino, with this makeup, let alone the audience below, I bet at least four or five people in our class will have impure thoughts about Totsuka starting today... And most of them are guys.)

(Oh, the lead actor flubbed a line, but his spontaneous reaction was pretty good; the audience didn’t notice... Totsuka’s stage presence is solid too. My extra training after school wasn’t in vain—he has one-tenth of my skill!)

(The tree in the back is moving, totally unprofessional, and it looks like they’re secretly chatting while facing away from the audience... If I were the director, I’d add a scene to behead them.)

Though the things he noticed weren’t about the plot itself, overall, Yuu was still deeply immersed.

However, he didn’t forget that Yumiko wanted to prank him, and he kept waiting for her sudden attack.

But he waited and waited; unknowingly, the plot had reached the end.

In the flower field, the Death God Adler had given up, and the girl played by Totsuka stood at the stage’s edge, ready to jump at any moment in a standard suicide...

“Weird, why hasn’t anything happened yet?”

Yuu frowned slightly. He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his leg.

He was starting to get impatient waiting here, but the plot continued steadily, with absolutely no signs of a surprise.

Could the other side act after the curtain closed?

Considering this was an official performance, it was understandable to be cautious. Yuu held back, watching Totsuka finally run out and shoulder-check the lead executing Death God, but the opponent easily dodged.

“A human dares to interfere with the Death Gods’ punishment? Overestimating yourself!”

Following the chuunibyou cold shout, the scythe swung mercilessly, slowly aiming at the village-girl version of Totsuka who had fallen to the ground.

But before that—

Adler, who was supposed to widen his eyes and let the tragedy happen in confusion, suddenly rose from the ground, bravely pushing aside the pleading village girl Totsuka, puffing out his bandaged flat chest, letting the scythe swing down.

“Uwaa—” Accompanied by an exaggerated scream, the male lead in disguise swayed and fell powerlessly, even coughing up blood twice realistically.

“Adler!” Totsuka hurriedly caught his body, carefully keeping distance, “Why would you do this for me who’s about to die...”

The deer-head mask tilted sideways; Adler struggled to lift his head, smiled, and said the line full of affection: “I am your Death God. Your life belongs only to me; no one else can take it.”

“Adler...”

“Boring.” A black robe covered his entire body. The Death God who looked ready to raise a torch and start a holy war at any moment sneered, raising his scythe again, pointing it at the two on the ground, “This time, I’ll behead you both at once!”

“N-no, don’t touch him...” Adler weakly raised his hand, as if attempting a futile resistance.

But in the next moment, he suddenly twisted his wrist ninety degrees, pointing straight at Yuu in the first row of seats below the stage, as if he had found his target, and shouted loudly:

“Who, who can save Totsuka... This cute and innocent village girl!”

“I’m just a Death God about to die. Where is the hero who can protect her~~~”

Though the lead actor’s eyes were still staring at the ceiling, Yuu knew those lines were directed at him.

“...Great acting.” The corner of his mouth twitched slightly; he couldn’t help muttering softly.

The other audience members, after a brief shock, realized this wasn’t a performance accident but a deliberate surprise by the actors.

They didn’t feel dissatisfied with this sudden script deviation; on the contrary, they grew quite excited, like a stagnant pond starting to ripple.

“Is this an improv? Or was it in the script?”

“My friend watched the previous show and didn’t mention this scene... This isn’t like those mall hero stages where an audience member has to go up and defeat the villain.”

“I actually think it’s pretty interesting. Honestly, the script is a bit clichéd; I knew the next plot halfway through, didn’t expect a surprise like this...”

“Why, do you want to go up and save the village girl too?”

“Too?”

“Yeah, honestly, I’m interested. What year is the lead actor in? So cute, I want to get to know him...”

“No, even if the voice can’t be distinguished, just looking at the Adam’s apple, you know it’s a guy cross-dressing, right?”

“Isn’t that even better?!”

“...Eh, you’re right.”

“Idiot, I told you it’s a surprise! Don’t you see the Death God already pointing at someone, waiting for him to go up? Tch tch, look at his dumb expression; he probably just realized he’s being pranked, right? So pitiful...”

Yuu touched his face, then suddenly turned and asked Sora:

“Do I look shocked and surprised?”

“No, though a bit dumb.” Sora reached out her warm small hand, patting both his cheeks. Her pale eyes were very bright in the darkness, somewhat like a cat’s.

“So, are you going up on stage?”

“They’ve invited me; I can’t just ignore it, can I?”

As he spoke, the narrator also chimed in perfectly on cue. The gist was to ask someone to quickly come up and continue the play; otherwise, the pleading village girl would die under the scythe.

Totsuka on stage also looked toward him, smiling bitterly with a hint of guilt, but still maintaining his position supporting Adler.

His large, clear, watery eyes blinked twice. That gaze seemed to hope Yuu would quickly come up to resolve the current deadlock.

Though he could ignore this chaos, Yuu couldn’t ignore his friend’s request—especially since he had told Yuigahama he would fully cooperate with their performance, so he certainly wouldn’t go back on his word.

It was just the fact that a staff member who had worked hard was forced to act on stage that made him a bit annoyed.

“I’ll be right back.”

Sighing lightly, Yuu stood up under many gazes. He ruffled Yuigahama’s hair, then walked toward the stage.

As he crossed the red line, the executing Death God swinging his scythe slower than a sloth suddenly became energetic. He stepped back warily, the scythe tip pointing straight at him, and shouted with strong reasoning:

“Who are you! This is Death God business; any outsider daring to approach, beware your life!”

Yuu looked at his acting with a strange expression.

His tone jumped straight from the Victorian era to an Edo drama...

He looked left and right; no one was secretly throwing a weapon from backstage—instead, they were all watching happily from behind.

He shrugged helplessly, only able to go up empty-handed.

“Just a passing Kamen Rider.”

Hearing this overly casual answer, the executing Death God was stunned for a moment and unconsciously asked: “Then where’s your belt?”

“Hey, even Death Gods watch Kamen Rider...”

“Hahahaha—”

Laughter erupted from below the stage. It seemed quite a few students knew about Kamen Rider; they were a bit amused by the jab.

Yuu was too lazy to sneer. He walked to Totsuka’s side, pulled him away from Adler, patted his long skirt, then asked concernedly.

“Are you okay? Good thing I came just in time; it was really critical.”

“Uh, i-it’s fine... Thank you, stranger.”

With the added attentive and gentle gaze, Totsuka, who currently looked more like a girl than a teenage boy, seemed a bit shy. His cheeks flushed under the spotlight, looking quite charming.

Unfortunately, Yuu, who had seen beautiful girls’ shy expressions often, felt no desire to change orientation. He just nodded, pretending to be relieved.

“Good.”

“Hey!” The ignored Adler nearly fell to the ground. He got up and frowned dissatisfied, “I’m the injured one, you know? Why don’t you care about me?”

Yuu rolled his eyes: “I came to save the village girl, not the Death God.”

Then he waved his hand in disgust, standing in front of the executing Death God in his place.

“Enough, let me handle this. Hurry and arrange your own funeral... They say you’re about to die; don’t struggle to live into the next season.”

“You! How dare you threaten to behead me!”

Adler gritted his teeth angrily. He gripped his scythe tightly, eyes glaring at him. He looked very eager to defect on the spot and attack him alongside the other Death Gods.

Indeed, not all girls in this school respected and adored him for his looks and skills.

This extroverted Adler was one example. Though the two didn’t interact much usually, their attitude was like normal close classmates. They could chat normally and tease each other like this, without distinguishing because he was a national kendo champion or the top student.

“Talk after you can beat me. Lowly drama club captain, not worth one of my fingers.”

“Fine, I defect.” The lead actor said without hesitation. The next second, he fully recovered and stood on the opposite Death God team, glaring sharply at Yuu and sneering.

The enemies suddenly changed from three to four, while behind him was only a slender, weak village girl.

The laughter below the stage grew louder, as if watching a comedy show.

Totsuka seemed a bit embarrassed by the laughter. He hid behind him, secretly tugging his shirt hem twice, and whispered: “Yuu, how do we end this? Just follow the original script...”

“Don’t worry, I understand acting better than you guys.” After saying that confidently, Yuu didn’t look back and said loudly to the funeral team in front:

“I don’t know what’s happening here. I only know—what I must stop now isn’t the Death Gods, but the executioners who take lives as they please!”

The clear and authoritative voice was like a curtain. As it swept the entire room, the laughter was truly stepped underfoot, allowing no insult whatsoever.

“...”

The audience below was stunned in place. Then they unconsciously shifted all attention to him, as if captivated by his serious expression instantly entering character, and gradually fell silent together.

The actors facing him directly felt the far stronger aura now. They all stood with mouths open, only snapping out of it after he cleared his throat lightly to remind them.

“L-lowly human, do you want to stop the Death God execution team from punishing the sinner?!”

The leading black-robed Death God shouted with less convincing tone, delivering the low-tier character dialogue. His underlings behind also joined in shouting.

Among them was even Adler, the original lead... They were truly a group of low-tier characters.

Yuu held back the urge to sneer. Just as he was about to continue with grand-sounding lines, someone from backstage threw a plastic sword toward him. The sword spun and rolled to his feet.

He turned; the double golden drill hair had just disappeared behind the backdrop.

(She’s telling me to end it quickly... She’s pretty smart. When she knew she couldn’t prank me, she immediately adjusted the plan.)

The corner of his mouth twitched in amusement. Yuu pulled back his gaze. His toe suddenly kicked; the plastic sword flew up in a stunning arc, and he steadily caught it with his right hand in mid-air.

*👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!*

Though the prop was simple, this graceful and cool move naturally drew applause from the audience.

“I don’t care if you’re executioners or vigilantes, Death Gods or a suspicious group... There’s only one choice: advance or retreat.”

Amid the applause, Yuu slowly raised his sword tip. His smile gradually faded from his lips. His eyes sharply stared at the four.

“And I will do my best to protect everyone standing behind me.”

Death God team: “...”

Though it was just a plastic sword, whether it was just a feeling, they really saw a cold glint from the blade. An inexplicable unease suddenly rose in their hearts, as if they would truly be hurt if slashed.

Like pigs in a pen waiting to be slaughtered, no one dared speak first, afraid that once they opened their mouths, the plastic sword would split them in two.

The silence lasted several seconds. Suddenly, Adler voluntarily left the Death God team and ran behind Yuu as if nothing happened.

Then he firmly clutched his chest and fell to the ground.

“Thank you, foreign swordsman... Please protect this beautiful and kind-hearted village girl... Puh eh.”

After saying that in a dying voice, he turned his head and started pretending to be dead, not daring to meet the accusing gazes from the other three Death Gods.

This cunning creature!

As expected of the drama club captain; his defection skill was also captain-level!

(How about this, I want to defect too...) xN

Seeing their hesitant expressions, Yuu maintained his serious and dignified face, speaking in a voice only audible on stage: “What are you afraid of? I won’t really hit you. It’s just acting; how will you end it if you keep hesitating like this?”

“R-really?” The leading Death God raised his scythe hesitantly, “Then, we’re coming?”

“Of course it’s real. I’m not interested in hitting my own classmates...” Yuu paused, then suddenly asked again, “By the way, what if I accidentally break the props?”

Like a little rabbit, the leading Death God blinked innocently: “Uh, there are spares made. If it’s just a few, it’s still...”

“Good.”

Yuu tilted his head slightly so the audience below couldn’t see his expression.

He smiled brightly at them.

“This is the improv you planned, right? Then attack with all your might, show 100% of your acting and spirit... Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I won’t hurt you, you know~”

The sword tip lowered. As he spoke, he already assumed a starting stance.

As if sensing the threat of death, the Death God team couldn’t help screaming in pain.

“S-so scary!”

Though he said this while smiling, everyone who heard felt the coldness and cruelty in his voice, as if the Death God was truly extending a scythe from behind, hooking their necks.

No one dared doubt if he was joking or scaring them—only in the spontaneously arising fear, they raised their scythes high. Their faces hidden behind black robes were full of tragic expressions, and they rushed toward him shouting.

“Arrogant! Taste death!”

“Uraa!”

“May God bless!”

Yuu almost couldn’t maintain his expression: “You’re real Death Gods...”

Then, facing the three attacking without coordination, he suddenly stepped forward. His arm swung powerfully, as if even the air would tear, a sharp air friction sound briefly heard.

Three one-handed sword strikes—「Sharp Claws」!

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

Three cracking sounds. Amid the sword paths no one could see, he casually walked through the three’s encirclement. Four objects flew high simultaneously.

His heel stopped. Three scythe heads and one broken sword blade then fell to the ground, scattered at the stage’s edge.

“Death Gods are only this much. Before harassing good women, better return to hell and train your mind and body properly.”

Turning slowly, he glanced at the three black-robed figures standing frozen, staring blankly at their weapons, and casually dropped the broken sword hilt.

Then, looking at Adler and Totsuka also stunned on stage, Yuu smiled.

“Death God, girl. I can feel you have deep feelings until death.”

“But precisely because of that, you must live well—not to find a place to die, but to find a home where memories can be stored, to be recalled anytime...”

“Well, personally, I prefer an ending like this.”

The soft and pleasant voice sounded very clear on stage.

However, no one answered, and no one continued his dialogue.

Time in the entire class seemed to stop flowing. Only he alone in this quiet world turned and left the stage with a free attitude.

“After all, death isn’t what kills love; forgetting is.”

At his signal, the curtain slowly lowered, and the stage was shrouded in darkness.

This performance ended here.

Only no one remembered what the last line said by the young man who performed improv like magic was.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Unknowingly, her hands were already holding a pile of snacks.

On the way to Class 2-F, Asuna really couldn’t resist the aromas from the stalls. She originally just wanted to buy snacks to try, but everything looked so delicious. After picking and choosing, she unknowingly bought them all.

“Hmm, I’ll finish them. I won’t gain weight as long as I increase physical activity lately...” She secretly comforted herself, then bit into a big hot dog, showing a satisfied expression, “Hmm~ Delicious! By the way, it’s been so long since I went to a festival or places like this.”

When her friends invited her to fireworks festivals or shrine celebrations, she was always studying hard at cram school or home. She basically had few memories of such things, let alone a beautiful youth.

So, when she had the rare chance to eat a lot and have fun at the Cultural Festival, Asuna certainly couldn’t hold back. She was even thinking of making up for everything she hadn’t eaten in the past while her mom wasn’t around!

However, only after finishing two or three snacks did she arrive at Class 2-F on the second floor of the school building. She hurriedly tidied her things, wiped the corner of her mouth, and licked the sauce on her lips. After making sure her appearance wasn’t too embarrassing, she took a deep breath and put on a polite and friendly smile.

Then, she stepped forward and greeted the double golden drill-haired girl who had just exited the classroom door.

“Excuse me, may I ask...”

“Hah?” The other’s attention seemed a bit scattered. She didn’t look directly at her, just answering reflexively, “Did you come to watch the play? Sorry, this morning’s last show is over. Next one is in the afternoon. The schedule is here.”

“Eh?”

Blinking in confusion, before Asuna could react, the double golden drill-haired girl had slipped a flyer into her hand, then with sleepwalking-like steps, took the signboard outside the door and turned back into the class.

*KRAK—*

Seeing the classroom door closed in front of her, Asuna couldn’t help slightly opening her mouth, her face full of confusion.

“The play’s over? But that’s not what I wanted to ask...”

-

Title: Asuna’s Shock

After being mysteriously shooed away and standing dumbfounded in front of Class F’s door for quite a while.

Asuna didn’t lose heart. She quickly found someone else to ask about the situation—this time it went smoothly. She happened to run into a Sōbu High student discussing Class F’s play with his friend. His extremely shocked expression was somewhat similar to the dazed look of the double golden drill-haired girl earlier.

“Seriously, at first I thought they just wanted to do an improv comedy... But once that guy got on stage and delivered his lines, the entire theater’s atmosphere completely changed...”

“I still remember his aura when he got serious and pointed the sword at those black-robed guys... Even though I was just sitting below the stage, I got chills like a sharp knife was at my throat. His acting was genuinely terrifying...”

“Can a normal person cut three prop scythes with a prop sword in one second? I don’t get it, but I was totally shocked...”

“Why are you guys shocked? It’s obviously a scene set up by Class F, just a gimmick! Tenkuji Yuu is too good at acting; that’s why you mistakenly thought he was that amazing to cut three weapons at once~”

“But he’s a national high school kendo champion, you know.”

“Only team matches; it must be thanks to the others, right?”

“But he once beat Captain Himura from the kendo club and even split his shinai (bamboo sword). The others couldn’t do that, could they?”

“Tch, let’s say he has a bit of skill. The broken shinai was clearly an accident. Just because it was old and poorly maintained doesn’t mean anything.”

“...I get it, you’re a Tenkuji Yuu hater?”

“...You’re a hardcore fanboy?”

When the two had said everything she wanted to know and immediately started attacking each other on the spot, preparing for a friendly duel between fans and haters, Asuna had already quietly left the area, avoiding getting involved in such a boring dispute.

After asking a few more people nearby and confirming the situation again, minimizing misinformation as much as possible, she finally left Class F, pondering while biting into the tanghulu in her mouth.

“Not long ago, Tenkuji-kun participated in his class’s improv play and conquered the entire audience with his outstanding acting...”

“Not only that, he used a one-handed sword to instantly cut three enemy weapons... They say it was a set-up scene? But some say the three scythes were genuinely forced apart; the sound was very real.”

“After the curtain fell, he left the class with a group of women. Some curious people chased after and asked, but got no answer. Class F unanimously said it was just a performance effect. No one knows what’s true and what’s fake...”

That was the gist. There wasn’t much useful information. Only two things caught Asuna’s attention.

First, the incident where Yuu rapidly unleashed three consecutive strikes, cutting three weapons.

If it wasn’t really a gimmick, then the claim that he had been playing the game for a long time and his strength was no less than hers became more credible.

This wasn’t empty speculation from Asuna, forcibly connecting the two sides.

In that virtual reality game, the one-handed sword three-strike skill—「Sharp Claws」—happened to have the property of reducing weapon durability. If the attributes met the requirements, the skill could even directly destroy an opponent’s weapon in PVP (Player versus Player).

And for a heavyweight player like Yuu, who was extremely proficient with his beloved weapon like an extension of his limbs, as long as his real-world physical condition was good enough, it was perfectly natural for him to use in-game sword skills when holding a weapon, right?

After all, in the last National Championship, Asuna had used 「Star Splash」 and 「Quadruple Thrust」 multiple times. Those dazzling and highly accurate thrusting attacks always caught opponents off guard, losing points in the blink of an eye.

However, at that time, Sword Art Online hadn’t been publicly released yet. Her older brother hadn’t watched the matches either, so no one knew—turns out there was a player using skills from an online game to fight opponents in a large-scale national tournament and even winning with them.

It was like someone beating Tyson with Pegasus Ryūsei Ken; thinking about it now was indeed over the top.

“What a shame; if I could see it myself or watch a recording, I could confirm if he really used 「Sharp Claws」, and thus prove his identity as a player too...”

Asuna frowned slightly. Her soft and beautiful face sank a bit with seriousness, concentrating on her thoughts.

“Even if he did use it, doing so with plastic props means he might be even more impressive than I thought...”

No, this wasn’t the time to think about whether he was impressive or not!

Asuna quickly shook her head, shaking out that somehow ignited fighting spirit from the hallway—she came to meet him, not to fight.

And the second thing she cared about was Yuu’s current whereabouts.

According to passersby, Yuu left directly through the back door after the play ended. It was less than ten minutes from when she was held up by snacks. It seemed she could catch up if she hurried.

However, Asuna didn’t know the direction and wasn’t familiar with Sōbu High. Searching randomly like a headless fly might work, but it would definitely take time and energy to wander around; if unlucky, she might not see him all day even walking the entire campus.

Fortunately, there was a rough and simple way to solve this immediately—calling and directly asking for directions.

So, what Asuna actually cared about right now was something else.

“They say he’s strolling around the Cultural Festival with his family and girlfriend? He really knows how to enjoy life, Tenkuji-kun...”

Even though she knew the two were just ordinary friends, a slight sourness and dissatisfaction couldn’t be held back, overflowing in her heart, exactly like a jealous little girlfriend—but she wasn’t his girlfriend!

That castle-in-the-air-like feeling of liking and jealousy left Asuna confused about what to do. However, she couldn’t reject or deny her feelings at all. In the end, she could only feel upset alone.

“Hmph! Fine then!”

A cold light flashed in her eyes. Asuna suddenly opened her mouth, revealing two rows of neat, pearly white teeth. Her soft and beautiful face showed a rare fierce expression.

Then, she bit into the remaining tanghulu skewer.

Turning sadness into appetite, she planned to finish all the snacks in her hands first, then go find the person who clearly hadn’t done anything wrong to her, but suddenly she felt he was a vile traitor!

Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, Asuna lowered her head like that, gracefully and quickly finishing a bag of snacks she bought along the way, in the shaded hallway.

Just as she was almost done eating, her ears suddenly twitched. She heard familiar words passing in front of her.

“What did Yukino say?”

“They’re at the gymnasium. The music club performance is happening there. She has to ensure the event runs smoothly... Yuu-chan is there too; it seems he’ll go on stage later.”

“Oh? What instrument does he play?”

“So far, I’ve only heard piano. His level is above professional.”

“Meaning, both acting and piano skills are at an extremely high level unmatched for his age... Tenkuji Yuu, this kid isn’t bad.”

“Hehe~ Of course! Otherwise, what right does he have to be your daughter’s boyfriend?”

“You’re right... But Haruno, that has nothing to do with you, right? Why are you so proud of him?”

“Ahem, it’s fine. I’m just proud of my sister’s taste... Well, let’s hurry and go see! I hope we don’t miss it again this time.”

After the voices faded away, Asuna suddenly raised her head, her expression a mix of shock and confusion.

She deftly packed up the trash and blended into the crowd as if nothing happened. Her eyes locked far ahead on the backs of the two women, following them toward what seemed to be the gymnasium.

At the same time, she pondered seriously, digesting the large amount of information she had just received.

“Yukino... Yuu-chan...”

The two speaking were Mrs. Yukinoshita and Haruno, who were almost her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Asuna of course recognized them from meeting during the family gatherings.

Yukino, Haruno’s younger sister, the new friend she made on the Kyoto trip, just like Yuigahama; though they hadn’t contacted each other after returning, she couldn’t possibly forget the name that quickly.

(As for Yuu-chan... Could that be Tenkuji Yuu?)

(His relationship with Haruno-san is that good?! To the point of using nicknames. Then I could too...)

(Wait, that’s not the most important thing!)

“Tenkuji-kun is dating Yukinoshita-san!?”

This was the most shocking information.

“True or false, since when...”

Muttering in disbelief, Asuna couldn’t help recalling how the two interacted contradictorily during the Kyoto trip—However, no matter how hard she thought, she couldn’t imagine them dating affectionately.

So the girl strolling the Cultural Festival with him and his family was Yukino, cold on the outside but warm inside, and easily provoked?

“No, why not Yuigahama-san? Back then, she was already chasing Tenkuji-kun...”

In the end, a month later, her crush was stolen by her own best friend, becoming a victim in a love triangle?

Oh God, is this the love story at Sōbu High... You never get what you want, but accidentally get what you don’t...

The more she thought, the more off-track it got. Asuna couldn’t help rubbing her temples. Her beautiful face looked a bit wrinkled.

(...My head hurts. I shouldn’t have come today. What is all this I’m encountering.)

“Whatever, I’ll go there and see the situation... There might be a misunderstanding I don’t understand.”

She still didn’t like assuming the worst first.

Sighing deeply, Asuna patted her cheeks, forcing her attention away from the complicated romance, and thinking of something fun to relax.

(From their conversation earlier, it seems Tenkuji-kun will go on stage to play piano?)

Asuna couldn’t help showing an expectant expression. Even her steps unconsciously became cheerful. She followed the two down the stairs, eagerly walking toward the school building exit.

“What famous song will he play... No, if it’s him, he’ll definitely pick a rare and difficult piece to show off, or compose a beautiful song himself to be narcissistic?”

She guessed naturally, though she didn’t know much about Yuu at all.

For some reason, a strong longing enveloped Asuna’s chest, making her heart feel a slight choke and ache.

So strange.

She had only known him for three full days in Kyoto. Of course, she had never seen him play piano or heard the melody flowing from his fingers.

Yet, somehow, a faint familiar melody began to sound from the depths of her mind. It seemed to have his name faintly written on it. Before she could hear it clearly, the melody, like a broken music box, gradually distorted until it finally vanished.

“What is this... Why is it like this...”

Carrying indescribable sadness and palpitations, Asuna pressed her lips together, quickened her pace, and entered the gymnasium with the Yukinoshita mother and daughter.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

After finishing the play and leaving the class, brushing off curious audience members, before Yuu could decide whether to go up or down, Yukino’s call helped him choose.

“Would you mind going on stage to perform?” Her voice was still cold and firm, but it hid a softness unknown to others.

“Mm...”

Without thinking, Yuu reflexively wanted to tease her, to set the mood first.

But he paused slightly. He secretly glanced at Mama Yuigahama curiously looking his way. Yuu didn’t turn because he felt guilty, but swallowed the flirtatious line ‘I’d gladly be a clown for you’ in his throat, and said seriously:

“Why? Can you tell me the reason?”

“The music club performance is being held in the gymnasium. One group suddenly can’t perform, and the others can’t change their schedules either. We have to find a way to fill the empty slot.”

Yukino sighed lightly. She explained in a concise and strong voice, as if not wanting others to think she was exhausted.

Anyway, she believed whatever she said, Yuu would understand her intent, so no need for many words.

“I understand; I’ll be right there.”

Not disappointing her, Yuu’s expression immediately turned serious. He glanced at Yuigahama and the others, asking with slight embarrassment: “By the way, Sora, Yui, and Mama Yuigahama will come too. There should still be seats in the gymnasium.”

“...They’re coming too?”

She was surprised for a moment. After muttering with complicated feelings, Yukino’s voice returned to normal, saying flatly as usual: “Of course there are seats. They can choose wherever they like. Then Tenkuji-kun, enter through the staff path to help me. I’ll tell you the specific plan later...”

“Okay, wait for me; I’ll be there soon.”

After the call ended, Yuu pocketed his phone, turned to face the three women, and shrugged slightly helplessly.

“As you saw... Sorry, we might have to go to the gymnasium first.”

-

Title: What’s Bound to Come Finally Arrives

Yuu led them to the gymnasium. The moment the door opened, a powerful wave of sound rushed in, enthusiastic cheers slamming into their bodies. It felt like entering Nippon Budōkan during a concert. Inside and outside the door were like two different worlds.

“Uh, your school’s light music club is this strong...”

As if pushed back two steps by the sound wave, Sora covered her ears uncomfortably and hid under Yuu’s arm: “Don’t tell me they’re a high school band aiming for Budōkan, where every member looks ordinary but is actually super strong...”

“True, and it should be added that all members are beautiful girls.”

Adding casually, Yuu pulled his gaze back from the stage. He couldn’t help humming the lyric “Smooth pudding~” along with the song. His dangling fingers swayed slightly. He seemed eager to wave his hands with the fanatic fans in the audience seats, cheering for the beautiful girls in the light music club.

Then he coughed twice with a straight face, walking forward amid the others’ strange expressions and amused gazes, forcibly acting as if nothing happened.

A few of them passed behind the audience seats and went up to the main control room on the second floor.

Several students wearing committee armbands paced anxiously there. Occasionally, they glanced at the excitement on the stage below. The student holding a phone looked serious, saying something politely but unhappily over the call. Though the scene appeared stable, the anxiety and frustration on everyone’s faces were clear.

Only Yukino, as the committee chair, remained calm like a mountain, standing like a stabilizing needle in the center of the control room.

Her black hair was tied into a neat long ponytail. Her expression was serene and peaceful. The schedule in her hand was like a conductor’s baton; with a voice cold as winter wind, she deftly commanded the headless flies.

“If they’re injured, don’t force them. We have half an hour, enough to launch the crisis response plan... But still send someone to harshly scold those over-the-top people and request the student council to cut their club funding.”

“Don’t rush to make an emergency announcement. Have the Publicity Department draft it first, then follow my orders.”

“Who ordered the lunch boxes? You don’t need to handle things here. Help order lunch for all staff first. We expect to be here for a while monitoring the situation.”

After giving them orderly directions, someone asked her confusedly: “Chair, what about that program gap? Even if it’s just about ten minutes, lunchtime usually has the most audience in the gymnasium. We can’t leave the stage empty or stall the audience with music... Do we need to ask the light music club members to stay and hold out a bit?”

“No need. If everything goes smoothly...”

Yukino shook her head. Before finishing, she locked eyes with Yuu appearing in the hallway.

She paused, her brows and eyes unconsciously softening. The corners of her mouth slowly curved, showing a faint smile that surprised the committee member in front of her.

“Someone will come to help. Don’t worry too much.”

As soon as those words were said, Yuu pushed the door open and entered. After greeting the others in the room with a polite smile, he locked eyes with Yukino.

Warmth flowed between their gazes, as if their thoughts became transparent sticky notes.

So without small talk or greetings, he went straight to the point: “Briefly explain the incident.”

Yukino said quickly: “The hip-hop club members scheduled to perform in half an hour were sent to the health room for playing too wildly in the club. From the situation, they probably won’t make it in time to perform.”

“Playing too wildly?” Yuu couldn’t help a strange expression. It was hard to understand, “What were they doing knowing they were about to perform?”

Yukino held her forehead, rubbing her temples with her thumb as if dizzy, and said helplessly: “Apparently, they were wrestling among club members to relieve tension. Turns out they accidentally fought for real. Several are already in the health room for treatment. The hip-hop club is also a small club. If key members are hospitalized, no one can perform, so of course the program has to be canceled...”

“Relieve tension with wrestling? They’re idiots!”

After cursing from the heart, Yuu realized there were still other committee members in the control room. Cursing in front of them seemed to give a bad impression and unpleasant if spread.

“Ahem, sorry, pretend I didn’t say that.”

Smiling awkwardly, Yuu firmly changed his tone.

“Did they leave their brains behind because they don’t need to study during the Cultural Festival? They cause trouble like this and let the backstage staff clean up their mess. Truly courting death! I should be grateful I’m not in charge here. If I knew their class and names, those idiots should be heading to Chiba Hospital, not the health room!”

After saying that passionately, Yuu spread his arms and sighed: “Of course, everything above is just a joke. After all, I’m a gentle and kind person; how could I be unreasonable?”

“...”

No one responded. The committee members, as if recalling unbearable pasts, quietly pretended to be deaf. They all averted their gazes to do their own work or started pretending to be busy. After he scared them like that, probably no one dared spread the talk there—who told him to know everyone here?

Yukino rolled her eyes slightly. She crossed her arms over her chest and sighed softly as if helpless with him: “Alright, now’s not the time to assign blame... I called you to help resolve the current situation.”

Then she looked at Yuigahama and the others standing quietly behind him. After a slight nod, she said with a bit of apology: “Sorry for suddenly calling him and delaying your time strolling the Cultural Festival.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Yukinon’s business is more important! I was just about to say you’ve worked hard!”

Yuigahama hurriedly waved her hands. Then she clenched her small fists in front of her chest. Her eyes full of hope, she said enthusiastically: “Anyway, opportunities like this are rare; let the Cultural Festival step aside for now! I just want to hear Yuu-kun’s piano solo right now!”

Yuu glanced at her speechlessly: “What’s rare? I can play it anytime you want to hear...”

“It’s different! This is a big event. You understand the感動 only at big events, right?!”

“Ah, yes, yes, yes...” Yuu was too lazy to argue.

Yukino touched her chest. She smiled slightly as if relieved: “Good if you don’t mind.”

As for Sora, she had only seen her brother’s performance at the autumn exhibition in a video. Of course, she wouldn’t refuse the chance to leave the Cultural Festival and hear the live version.

Finally, Yukino looked at Mama Yuigahama. She appeared more stiff, her attitude quite cautious.

“Um, Mama Yuigahama-san, may I call you Mama Yuigahama?”

“Of course. Just don’t call me old~”

Mama Yuigahama smiled gently. Her gaze swept over Yuu and her without a trace. She covered the corner of her mouth with her hand. Her tone was quite familiar: “You’re Yukino? Yui talks a lot about you at home. She even says you’re her best friend. Her enthusiastic attitude almost made me think she switched to liking girls.”

Yukino was surprised and turned: “R-really?”

Not daring to meet her gaze, Yuigahama’s face flushed. She shouted as if covering her embarrassment: “Mom! You don’t have to say things like that!”

“Eh~” Mama Yuigahama blinked, pouting very innocently, “But I’m not wrong, am I? You talk about Yukino at home more often than about Yuu-kun, making Mom unsure who you’re actually dating.”

“I! Said!”

Mama Yuigahama casually blocked her daughter’s angry attack. The corner of her eye glanced, unintentionally observing Yukino’s expression.

Though she said that, the beautiful straight black-haired girl’s eyes didn’t change at all. Her gaze toward her daughter even became softer and warmer, full of indescribable feelings.

Like a beautiful ice statue under sunlight. Though not melting a bit, she strangely became more approachable, no longer distancing herself.

(...What’s this? Was my feeling wrong? Actually nothing?)

Mama Yuigahama, who trusted her intuition greatly, thought confusedly.

“Yui is also my best friend. I’m very grateful to meet her at this school.”

Her fair skin also tinted with a slight blush. Yukino held back her embarrassment and, after saying this seriously, quickly avoided Yuigahama who turned and hugged her.

Then, while holding Yuigahama’s approaching head with one hand, she slightly bowed to Mama Yuigahama: “Please allow me to postpone the remaining greetings until after work. Next, I’ll prepare for the performance with Tenkuji-kun. I can only help arrange front-row seats in the gymnasium for you. I really have no time to think about anything else...”

“That’s enough~” Mama Yuigahama winked pretending to be cheerful. Her fingers gently poked her cheek, tilting her head and laughing, “No need to mind us. We’ll wait for the performance in the audience seats! You must be tired, busy running around like this during the rare Cultural Festival.”

Glancing at Yuu beside her, Yukino didn’t feel tired at all from the heart. There was even motivation rising from within, slowly dissolving the accumulated fatigue and stiffness in her body.

She recalled the saying that when men and women work together, the work isn’t tiring... Was it the same for women, not just men?

As she thought that, she unconsciously smiled too.

“Not tired. This is what I must... what I want to do.”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

When Yukino finished communicating with Mama Yuigahama, Yuu also ended his conversation with his sister.

“Sora, follow Yui; don’t run around. Big brother will show off in front of you later!”

Sora stared at him expressionlessly: “If you treat me like a three-year-old again, your bed tonight won’t be yours anymore.”

“Alright, wait for me obediently below the stage.” Yuu quickly surrendered. He stretched his fingers and said with a slight sigh, “By the way, this seems to be the first time I’m playing piano in front of you. How about I buy a Yamaha and put it at home? I can play piano anytime for you and Yukino, adding fun to life.”

“It won’t fit at home; at best buy an electronic keyboard.”

“Then just move? My savings are enough to buy a villa, let alone a luxury apartment room.”

Yuu got a sudden idea, proposing in a joking tone—anyway, he wouldn’t feel heartbroken spending system money. The internet company was also slowly running smoothly. Money would only increase in the future, so better buy more properties.

He could live there if he wanted, or use it for investment if not. Besides the very troublesome procedures, overall no losses.

“Buy a house and move just to play piano? Don’t talk nonsense. Even if you have so much money you don’t know where to spend, not like this...” Halfway through nagging, Sora suddenly realized something. Her gaze turned cold, with clear disgust.

“I’ve heard the first idea men have after getting money is buying a house to hide a mistress...”

Yuu hurriedly signaled her to lower her voice, so the two women wouldn’t mishear and misunderstand: “I’m not thinking that! Don’t assume your brother like that...”

Sora observed him suspiciously: “Really? You really have no idea to buy a bigger house, live under one roof with both your girlfriends, buy a super big bed, and sleep with them every day?”

“...” Yuu fell silent.

His face twitched slightly. He seemed torn between reputation being important or his stance of not lying to his sister.

Without waiting for an answer, Sora sneered in disgust, turning her small face away.

“Men!”

Even her Yuu, besides his strong integrity and sense of responsibility, was actually no different from the male creatures out there thinking about harems every day!

And the scariest part was, as long as he had the idea, the possibility of realizing it truly existed...

Such a future appeared in her mind. Sora couldn’t help frowning her delicate brows, pondering with a serious expression.

“Alright, I entrust Sora to you. Wait for me to return in the audience seats.”

After escorting the Yuigahama mother and daughter and his sister out of the control room, Yuu turned to Yukino and said: “If you want me to play piano to buy time, the needed things are ready, right?”

“Of course, we can bring the equipment to the stage immediately.” Since others were watching, Yukino set aside other thoughts and quickly entered work mode.

“Publicity Department, change the emergency announcement draft to a program replacement. No need to overhype the promotion. After writing, print and paste next to every program schedule on the wall. Then announce on the forum.”

“Due to an emergency with the hip-hop club preventing their usual performance, the 12:15 program is changed to a solo piano by Tenkuji-kun from the Service Club. If there’s dissatisfaction, please forgive—write roughly like this.”

“Then the others, follow me now to the equipment room to prepare the performance...”

Just after giving the order, a phone call came in.

Waving to the committee members, signaling them to act first, Yukino frowned and answered the call aside. Soon after, her eyes suddenly widened. Her expression changed rapidly. She glanced at Yuu with slightly complicated feelings.

“What’s wrong?”

Sensing her expression change, Yuu walked closer and asked silently.

Hesitating a moment, Yukino lightly bit her soft cherry-colored lips. She covered the microphone with her finger and whispered to him:

“Mom and the others are here. They’re asking where I am now and will come find me... and my boyfriend, to talk.”

“...”

Yuu fell silent for a moment.

If it’s a blessing, it won’t be a disaster. If it’s a disaster, it can’t be avoided...

What’s bound to come will truly come.

-

Title: Head-to-Head Yui and Haruno

By this point, Yuu was mentally prepared.

Meeting both sets of parents had become a certainty. The only uncertainty was how the situation would unfold...

It might just be excessive tension, or it could develop into the worst-case scenario he imagined.

But no matter what, he had no path to retreat—well, he never intended to retreat from the start.

“I understand. Then let them come.”

The surprised emotion faded as quickly as the tide. Yuu nodded with a calm expression.

“But...”

Yukino still wanted to say something, but she knew she no longer needed to worry when her gaze met Yuu’s eyes.

As Yuu had said before, it was his responsibility.

A responsibility he was willing to bear because of love. This was a fact agreed upon by all three of them.

However, it wasn’t just him who made the mistake.

“Alright.”

In that short response, Yukino had also prepared herself. Her gaze was as calm and firm as Yuu’s.

Since when had she grown accustomed to standing by his side?

It was like that in the past, it is now, and in the future, she would face any difficulty together with him.

Simply because she wanted to properly protect the boy who had become her lover.

Though this kind of love was heavy, it gave an extraordinary sense of security, as if she could do anything as long as he was by her side, and she was no longer the immature self from the past.

If this continued, perhaps one day, even if she truly had to forget all of this, she could—

The moment that thought arose, it felt as if her throat was choked by a large hand; her consciousness was overwhelmed by momentary breathlessness and pain.

“Yukino?”

Under Yuu’s slightly frowning worried gaze, Yukino slowly exhaled. Then she turned her face away and spoke calmly into the phone again:

“We’re at the gymnasium. Tenkiji-kun will perform in half an hour. He has no time before that... You can come find us backstage after watching the performance.”

After finishing, she pocketed her phone. She boldly swept her long hair from her shoulder, stepping forward, showing only her fair profile to Yuu.

“Come on, let’s prepare for the performance later.”

There was no hesitation in her words.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Finally here.”

Following the Yukinoshita mother and daughter, Asuna, who had been playing a real-life stealth game, arrived at the gymnasium and luckily wasn’t caught the whole way.

A very popular performance must have just ended. Many students exited with satisfied and excited expressions, discussing how great the show was, how cute the guitarist and bassist were, and similar topics.

Just as she was about to enter the gymnasium with the two, she saw a uniformed student wearing a committee armband quickly following the crowd. After pasting a flyer on the bulletin board, he hurried off.

“This...”

Looking closer, it was a program change announcement.

The gist was similar to what the Yukinoshita mother and daughter had just discussed—the hip-hop club members couldn’t perform, so it was temporarily replaced with a solo piano by Tenkuji Yuu from the Service Club, lasting about ten minutes.

Asuna certainly knew about the Service Club. On the Kyoto trip, she had asked the three about the meaning of “Service.” It sounded like a very interesting small club...

If possible, she wanted to join this club after transferring schools—or rather, she had to join!

Anyway, her mother wouldn’t allow her to transfer to anything but the International Education Class. If she wanted to get close to Yuu, it would be hard without actively creating other conditions.

And to her surprise, that guy was really going on stage to play piano!?

Though it was just minor unimportant information, her older brother hadn’t mentioned it at all...

As expected, if she wanted to know more about him, she had to contact him herself.

Shifting her gaze from the announcement, Asuna entered the dimly lit gymnasium and looked around near the entrance for a while.

Only the stage lights were on inside the room. Visibility below the stage relied on light coming from outside, but it wasn’t pitch black.

She stepped forward, walking half a circle around the audience seats, and soon spotted the Yukinoshita mother and daughter—and Yuigahama Yui—who had arrived earlier than her.

It seemed Haruno took the initiative to approach. Yuigahama stood somewhat panicked. After exchanging a few words, the five sat in the same row of seats and seemed to be chatting casually.

“They know each other, huh... Makes sense, since Yuigahama-san and Yukinoshita-san are friends.”

Asuna thought for a moment. For some reason, she didn’t really want to greet them now.

She found a seat not too far and not too close. There was someone in front blocking her from being suddenly seen, and it didn’t completely obstruct her view for observing.

The next performance slowly began, but Asuna’s eyes weren’t on the stage. Her thoughts slowly drifted aimlessly far away, rising and falling in the air, riding on an inexplicable familiar feeling.

“Have I been here before...”

Perhaps only after half an hour could she escape this weightless feeling, where reality and illusion separated.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“Did Mrs. Yukinoshita watch the morning drama? That male actor has a new drama lately...”

“Sorry, Mrs. Yuigahama. Since I help with my husband’s work on weekdays, I don’t have time to watch morning dramas...”

“Oh, is that so? No problem, I’ll tell you the plot...”

Perhaps communication is a skill every middle-aged woman must have and master. The two housewives meeting for the first time sat together and soon began chatting harmoniously.

In contrast, Yuigahama shivered. Usually lively and active, she now didn’t even want to utter a word. She sat stiffly in her seat, like a frog stared down by a snake.

As for the reason, it was of course the college student beside her who didn’t sit next to her mother but deliberately sat next to her.

“What’s wrong, Dango-chan? How about we chat friendly like our moms?”

Haruno curved a smile that didn’t look like a smile, her eyes full of joy in mocking others, as if venting frustration from failing all day.

However, Yuigahama seemed to realize she couldn’t keep being this weak. She suddenly drew a breath, then raised her head and puffed her chest, showing a bright smile to Haruno.

“Of course! Haruno-san, what do you want to talk about?”

Though she asked that, she knew in her heart that their topic would only be her and her boyfriend.

And in this situation, it would of course be about her boyfriend’s affairs.

“Let’s talk quietly so they don’t hear.”

As if seeing through Yuigahama’s thoughts, Haruno placed her index finger in front of her mouth and smiled meaningfully.

“After all, Yuu-chan and Yukino-chan’s secrets can’t be known by them, right?”

“...”

After a brief silence, Yuigahama quietly clenched her fists. She pulled a fake smile on her face and looked at her seriously.

“Haruno-san, did you deliberately bring your mom here even knowing this?”

Haruno shrugged: “I didn’t intend that. I just mentioned it in passing earlier, and who knew she’d insist on coming.”

Yuigahama was surprised: “Eh? Really?”

“Believe it or not.”

The smile at the corner of her lips slowly faded. Haruno glanced at the suspicious Yuigahama and said in a slightly cold tone: “Before accusing me, check yourself first.”

“You know Yukino-chan and his relationship can’t be publicized. As the official girlfriend, you bring your mom to school to find him... Tch tch tch, killing and hurting hearts. What grudge does Yukino-chan have against you?”

Haruno’s eyes narrowed into dark crescents. She sneered at her.

“Looks like a white lotus, but actually two-faced more than anyone. It must be a girl like you, right? Dango-chan.”

“You—!”

Widening her eyes in disbelief, Yuigahama pressed her lips together, staring at Haruno beside her. Her clenched fists trembled slightly.

Right now, she no longer felt fear or respect for this older woman. Anger kept surging from her heart. She wanted to retort harshly, but before she could speak, deep sadness surged in her heart.

“...”

After a long silence, Yuigahama slowly lowered her head. She seemed about to give up and swallow her anger, not even daring to utter a word in rebuttal.

However, before Haruno could pout in boredom, a voice more like a lament over a sad reality than sympathy or pity sounded softly.

“Haruno-san, you’re wrong about a few things.”

“...What?”

Yuigahama drew a deep breath. Her eyes slightly reddened, and her nose ached a bit. Even so, she stubbornly raised her head and met Haruno’s gaze.

Of course she would feel sad, guilty, and angry when suddenly called two-faced. She couldn’t even manage her usual bitter smile. For the first time, she felt anger to the point of wanting to cry like this.

However, looking at her in front, that anger gradually stopped burning.

Yuigahama suddenly remembered something.

Even if she could accuse her with such words, Haruno right now couldn’t regain her past happiness and love. She could only keep making futile efforts off-stage. She kept getting disappointed and sad. While hurting others, she also hurt herself.

The last incident with Yuu accepting the bracelet didn’t fill that void much—at least in her view, Haruno was still like a cracked glass statue. When the glass shards fell, she vented her sadness and hatred for being abandoned on others.

As fellow women loving the same person, Yuigahama only felt pity for her.

Then, would Yukino one day become like this too?

Yuigahama slowly closed her eyes, then opened them again. Her eyes were clear and calm, like a waveless sea surface directly connected to the blue sky.

There was no need to doubt.

With the two of them, Yukino would never follow the same path as that ex-girlfriend.

Even if Yuu couldn’t do it, she would prevent such a future... Because she had something just as important as love.

That was the biggest difference between Yukino and Haruno.

“First, I didn’t call my mom. She just insisted on coming, and I couldn’t stop her.”

Yuigahama said calmly: “It is my fault for being incapable, but I didn’t intentionally create this situation... I wouldn’t do anything to trouble Yuu-kun. After saying this, you should understand what I mean, right?”

“...Tch, you’re still good with words.”

This time it was Haruno’s turn to fall silent for a few moments. She slowly averted her gaze. Not looking into those eyes that seemed to see her own reflection, she just said casually: “You once said we ex-girlfriends don’t understand his suffering and would only torment him more, right?”

Those were words Yuigahama had said before leaving the private cafe room at Disneyland.

“My thoughts are the same as yours. Even if it hurts me, I don’t want to do things that would hurt him...”

Haruno sighed lightly. She crossed her arms over her chest, her fingers gently tapping her arm, as if trying to suppress anxiety while talking to her.

“Though our feelings aren’t different, you suspect I’m behind all this. I got upset and scolded you. Is that wrong? Tell me, is that wrong?”

“...No, I’m sorry.”

Realizing her mistake, Yuigahama apologized very straightforwardly, but she had no intention of backing down at all. On the contrary, the light in her eyes grew brighter.

“But besides that, there’s something else I want to tell Haruno-san!”

Facing Haruno’s returning gaze, she said without fear, in a firm voice: “No matter what difficulties we face, no matter how many trials in the future, Yukinon and I will face and overcome them together with Yuu-kun—our bond as three is a hundred times stronger than ordinary couples and won’t be destroyed just by losing memories or feelings!”

“It’s not me willingly sharing Yuu-kun with Yukinon, or Yukinon having to tolerate Yuu-kun’s cheating... It’s not that simple at all!”

The deliberately lowered voice was now enveloped by greater strength, as if wanting to pierce both eardrums and heart at once.

“Precisely because we accept each other from the heart, we’re determined to move forward together as three! So, things like deliberately provoking Yukinon to have Yuu-kun alone—I’m different from you; I would never do that!”

“Haaah.”

Even so, Haruno didn’t waver at all. She just curled her lips in disgust, as if too lazy to pay attention.

“You’re just good at sweet words. Indeed, a girl who can accept her boyfriend cheating isn’t too normal in the head.”

“Because Yuu-kun is special, and Yukinon is special too, of course you wouldn’t understand.” Yuigahama immediately replied, “This is our love; you as an outsider don’t need to interfere!”

“Outsider?” Haruno raised her brows, staring at her angrily, with sharp cold light in her eyes, “Good. The newcomers now are this arrogant...”

She was only halfway through. Even before she could lower her hand and get serious, the moms who were engrossed in chatting finally noticed something wrong on this side and turned to ask confusedly:

“What’s wrong? Fighting?”

“Haruno, what happened?”

Haruno pulled the corner of her lips. Her eyes glanced coldly at Yuigahama who raised her head fearlessly. She suddenly put on her usual casual smile and waved to her mother:

“Nothing, just arguing about handsome guys... Didn’t expect my views and Dango-chan’s to differ so much.”

She had once said everything she did was for Yuu—that statement was not a lie at all.

Since she couldn’t stop her mother’s actions, she was always by her side and could cover for them anytime.

Because hiding an affair was difficult, even if she would be very upset and feel like helping a rival, Haruno actually planned to be on their side, finding ways to ease the chaos Yuu would face.

Even now, after being provoked by Yuigahama, she had no intention of changing her mind out of anger.

She only thought of Yuu; everyone was the same.

“To me, he’s pretty special too... Don’t think you’re the only different one, you lowly junior.”

After settling things with her mother, Haruno said expressionlessly, in a voice only Yuigahama could hear.

The stage lights suddenly brightened. Following the host’s introduction, the next performing group went on stage, preparing to start their performance.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

No one noticed that Sora slowly raised her head.

The game console screen paused with the word “Pause.” Cold electronic light reflected on half her cute and delicate face. She looked a bit more like an expressionless doll, making her eyes seem more lively and mischievous.

“Are girls in love, no matter their age, all becoming stupid... Really.”

After the dispute beside her finally subsided, she could only sigh helplessly, complaining with a maturity beyond her age.

But fundamentally, if not for her sitting between the moms and those two, no matter how tightly Yuigahama and Haruno held their voices, the level of their argument definitely couldn’t be hidden and would make the moms hear something unpleasant.

That’s why she said they were stupid.

They only focused on the head-to-head fight and completely didn’t notice that the parents could come anytime.

Shrugging, Sora lowered her head and shifted her gaze back to the game console. Her face somehow glowed. She hummed softly, looking full of superiority and pride.

“Tch, everyone talks about thinking of Yuu, but in the end, the one protecting him in the shadows is me, his little sister~”

As for the performance on stage?

No need to watch at all. Just wait for Yuu to appear.