"..."
Seeing Yuigahama at the corner, Yukinoshita stiffened. She quickly freed herself from Hoshimi's grasp and stood up.
After stabilizing herself, she didn't forget to kick Hoshimi in frustration. It was this blabbermouth who caused the current situation, he deserved it!
Hoshimi silently noted this in his mind, planning to find a chance to get back at her.
Then, he slowly got up from the ground, dusting off his clothes while openly eavesdropping on the conversation between Yukinoshita and Yuigahama.
"Yuigahama-san..." Yukinoshita took a few steps forward, standing two meters away from Yuigahama.
Yukinoshita hesitated, unsure how to explain what Yuigahama had just witnessed.
She deliberated, considering, and finally chose to change the subject. "Yuigahama-san, I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Huh? Yesterday?" Yuigahama blinked in confusion, expecting Yukinoshita to explain what just happened. Hearing Yukinoshita apologize out of the blue left her momentarily at a loss.
"Yes, yesterday I forgot to inform you and Hikigaya-kun that the Service Club's activities were canceled, making you wait for nothing. That was my fault, I apologize."
Seeing Yukinoshita bow slightly in apology, Yuigahama quickly waved her hands. "It's fine, Yukinon, you don't have to worry about it. Hikki and I didn't wait for long, so it's no big deal, and I..."
Yuigahama instinctively glanced at Hoshimi, unsure whether to say what she knew.
She and Hikki had already seen Yukinon with Hoshimi at the tennis courts after school yesterday...
If she said it, she wouldn't be able to explain why she didn't greet Yukinon or ask about the Service Club activities when she saw them.
But if she didn't say...
"Yuigahama-san?"
Noticing Yuigahama's silence, Yukinoshita straightened up, looking at her in confusion.
Seeing that Yuigahama's gaze was on Hoshimi, Yukinoshita frowned and discreetly moved to block Yuigahama's view of him.
"Yukinon, sorry, I spaced out..."
Sensing Yukinoshita's action, Yuigahama explained quietly, avoiding her gaze.
Yukinon was blocking her view. Did she not want her to see Hoshimi?
As she thought about it, the scene she had witnessed earlier flashed n Yuigahama's mind. Yukinon sitting in a rather undignified manner on Hoshimi, both looking at her in surprise when she appeared.
She knew Yukinon and Hoshimi weren't doing anything inappropriate; they were just... just...
Yuigahama racked her brain to find the right words.
'Playing around.'
Yes, they were just playing around, a normal playful interaction between a boy and a girl.
But... when it came to Yukinon, it didn't seem normal. With her cold demeanor that kept others at a distance, Yuigahama had never seen Yukinon close to anyone.
Even as her friend, Yukinon always addressed her as "Yuigahama-san."
So, she couldn't imagine Yukinon playing around with someone.
When she first saw it, she thought she was dreaming...
But it turned out to be real...
What exactly was the relationship between Yukinon and Hoshimi? Why was Yukinon, who always talked about getting back at Hoshimi, playing so intimately with him?
Moreover, Yukinon seemed to call Hoshimi by his name directly, never adding any honorifics from the start.
As she pondered this, Yuigahama's eyes no longer evaded, and they gradually dimmed.
Yukinon and Hoshimi's relationship might not be simply defined as "adversarial"; it might be deeper than she had seen...
"Yuigahama-san? What's wrong?"
Seeing Yuigahama silently hanging her head, Yukinoshita frowned deeply.
Why did Yuigahama become like this as soon as she blocked Hoshimi?
Could it be that something happened between Hoshimi and Yuigahama recently?
Was it in the dream?
No, it couldn't be the dream. She had been in Hoshimi's dream recently and didn't see anyone else.
Could it have been before her?
No, that wasn't it either. If Yuigahama had known Hoshimi earlier in the dream, their interaction wouldn't be like this.
If it wasn't this or that, why did Yuigahama suddenly become so dejected?
Feeling somewhat irritated, Yukinoshita glanced back at Hoshimi. If this jerk were in this situation, he would definitely know why Yuigahama was feeling down.
"..."
Hoshimi, silent in the back, had a rather peculiar and amusing smile on his face.
He took a few steps forward, standing right behind Yukinoshita, and whispered in her ear, "Yukinoshita, you're such a sinful woman~"
"Huh???" Yukinoshita looked at Hoshimi in total confusion, completely not understanding what this jerk meant.
She was sinful? Then Hoshimi should be sent to the eighteenth level of hell!
How could this jerk even have the face to say that?
"Click--click--"
Just as Yukinoshita was puzzled, soft footsteps came from the corner.
She temporarily set aside her confusion and looked toward the corner.
A moment later, a dispirited Hikigaya walked out.
Seeing the three of them, Hikigaya paused, looking at them in suspicion.
Two steps ahead of him stood Yuigahama. Opposite her was Yukinoshita, with Hoshimi behind her.
Hoshimi and Yukinoshita were very close. From his angle, it seemed as if Hoshimi could pull Yukinoshita into his arms at any moment.
"Hikigaya-kun, you're here too. Perfect, I can inform both of you at once."
Seeing Hikigaya, Yukinoshita took the initiative to start a conversation, taking the opportunity to observe Yuigahama's state.
Until now, she still had no clue why Yuigahama had suddenly become so dejected.
"Yuigahama-san, Hikigaya-kun, the Service Club activities might be paused for a while."
As soon as Yukinoshita finished speaking, Yuigahama raised her head, looking at Yukinoshita in astonishment.
Paused? Why?
Full of confusion, Yuigahama couldn't help but ask, "Yukinon, why pause the club activities? Is it because..."
She instinctively glanced at Hoshimi.
Since Yukinoshita was right in front of him and Hoshimi was a head taller, Yuigahama's eyes met Hoshimi's as soon as she looked up.
"..." Hoshimi blinked, his crimson eyes seemingly trying to convey some message to Yuigahama.
But Yuigahama, not being very familiar with Hoshimi, couldn't understand his meaning. She looked at him in confusion.
Seeing that eye contact wasn't working, Hoshimi raised his hands, making a biceps flexing pose.
Yuigahama was still bewildered...
"Sigh~"
Seeing Yuigahama's gaze lingering above her head, Yukinoshita sighed softly.
She bent her arm and gave Hoshimi an elbow jab.
"Oof~~" Hoshimi winced, quickly pulling back and clutching his side.
"Hoshimi, can you go wait somewhere else? Don't stand behind me causing trouble, okay?"
"Alright~" Eyeing Yukinoshita's poised elbows, Hoshimi agreed, clutching his side.
He noted this grudge, adding it to the previous ones and those to come. Tonight's retribution list was growing quite long.
"Yuigahama-san, let me explain why the club activities are being paused."
Once Hoshimi moved aside, Yukinoshita began explaining to Yuigahama and Hikigaya.
"Hoshimi and I are participating in the mixed doubles tennis for the upcoming sports festival, but Hoshimi knows nothing about tennis, so I need to 'teach' him in preparation for next week's event."
'Additionally, this is a rare chance to get back at him. I can thoroughly enjoy my revenge while 'teaching' him.'
Yukinoshita thought for a moment but didn't voice the latter part.
Firstly, because Hoshimi was still there listening.
Secondly, Yuigahama and Hikigaya knew about her animosity toward Hoshimi, so they could probably guess her intentions.
"..." Yuigahama looked at Yukinoshita, then at Hoshimi, as if she understood something.
She pursed her lips and quietly asked, "Yukinon, will the club activities continue after the sports festival?"
"Yes." Yukinoshita confirmed.
"Good... that's good..." Yuigahama murmured, lowering her head.
"Huff~ huff~"
Then, Yuigahama closed her eyes and took two deep breaths.
The next moment, she looked up at Yukinoshita with a bright smile, energetically saying, "Yukinon! Good luck! You must get first place!"
===
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