"Hmm... No problem..." Yui responded, her gaze evasive.
She dared not look at Hoshimi again and silently went around to the other side to help Yukinoshita stand up.
During this time, Haruno had already helped Hoshimi up. She looked at Hoshimi, who was leaning on her shoulder, and said with a smile, "Little brother, please take care of me."
"Actually, it should be the other way around—sister should take care of me."
"Hmm~ That sounds really close. Is little brother planning to marry Yukino and become a family with me?"
Haruno asked with a smile, her fox-like grin hiding obvious traps.
Hoshimi, however, boldly stepped into the trap, "Yes, I hope sister will open the door for me so that I can embrace Yukino."
""...""
In front, Yukinoshita and Yui froze in their tracks.
Yukinoshita lowered her head in silence, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Yui, looking at Yukinoshita's pale neck with a hint of pink, found her gaze drifting involuntarily.
"Oh, oh~ Little brother is so honest," Haruno's smile grew more dangerous.
"A gentleman is open and aboveboard, while a villain is petty and anxious. Some thoughts don't need too much concealment."
"That may be true," Haruno said with narrowed eyes and a waning smile, "But can little brother dictate his own marriage?"
"Do you think I can't?" Hoshimi responded with a cunning question to counter the question.
Haruno stopped replying, letting out a faint, enigmatic laugh before falling silent.
Ahead, Yukinoshita and Yui waited silently for what would come next, but by the time they reached the award podium, no final answer had been given.
Yukinoshita sighed softly, feeling inexplicably anxious.
She looked at Yui and said quietly, "Yuigahama-san, thank you. I'll go on my own from here."
"Mm..." Yui slowly released Yukinoshita.
"Miss Haruno, thank you very much. From here, Yukino and I can manage," Hoshimi began to detach himself from others' support.
"Oh? Miss Haruno~" Haruno's smile took on a more meaningful tone.
"Sister Haruno," Hoshimi corrected his address.
"Mm, that's more like it." Haruno patted Hoshimi's head and slowly let go of him.
After Hoshimi steadied himself and made sure he wouldn't fall, he carefully walked towards Yukinoshita.
Although his legs were still a bit sore and weak, walking slowly wasn't a big problem anymore.
Once Hoshimi and Yukinoshita were together, they supported each other as they approached the award podium.
On reaching the podium, Hiratsuka Shizuka, as the award presenter, noticed the two looking pitiful and helped them up.
Upon reaching the podium, Hoshimi straightened up, and a gentle smile appeared on his lips.
Yukinoshita glanced at Hoshimi with a look of disdain, thinking, this guy is always trying to maintain an image, but there's definitely a sense of vanity involved. Desperate to save face!
Oh~ men.
"Let's start the award ceremony."
"Third place, Class 2-C..."
"Second place, Hayama Hayato and Miura Yumiko from Class 2-F."
"Champion, Hoshimi Kiyokawa and Yukinoshita Yukino from Class 2-J."
The award ceremony proceeded in an orderly fashion as Hiratsuka Shizuka placed medals around the winners' necks.
When presenting the champion award, Hiratsuka Shizuka subtly praised them, "Well done, but let's not make it a habit."
Hoshimi smiled but didn't respond verbally.
If it weren't for wanting to boost Yukino's favor, he wouldn't have gone through all this trouble.
He wondered how many days of rest it would take to fully recover...
"Champion team, let's see a smile."
Hearing the photographer's voice, Hiratsuka Shizuka stepped aside, and Hoshimi and Yukinoshita stood straight, showing bright smiles for the camera.
"Click--"
The shutter sound recorded the champions' appearance.
Just then, a familiar voice caught Hoshimi's attention.
"Hoshimi, I'm here to see you..."
He instinctively looked in the direction of the voice and froze when he saw Iwanaga Kotoko in a white dress. He muttered, "Kotoko..."
"Hmm?" Yukinoshita frowned, looking at the girl in the white dress in front of the award stage.
Who is she? What's her relationship with Hoshimi? Why is she here?
A series of questions flashed through Yukinoshita's mind in a split second.
"Click---"
Another shutter sound captured the scene of the champions and the suddenly appeared third person in the camera.
"..." Hoshimi was momentarily stunned, not expecting Kotoko to show up at this crucial moment.
If she had come earlier or later, it wouldn't have mattered, but why right now?
Hoshimi suddenly felt a headache. He carefully freed himself from Yukinoshita's arm and, enduring his sore body, headed towards Kotoko.
He absolutely could not let Kotoko speak in front of everyone. Her sharp tongue could completely ruin the image he had worked hard to build.
As he approached Kotoko, Yukinoshita's increasingly cold gaze felt like a sword hanging over him. He couldn't explain right now, so he could only think of a way to handle the situation as he moved forward.
Suddenly, an idea struck him.
Calculating the distance, he staggered towards Kotoko.
"Eh?" Seeing Hoshimi staggering, Kotoko quickly stepped forward to support him from the front.
She supported his waist with both hands but, due to her prosthetic leg below the left knee and lack of core strength, couldn't keep it up and eventually fell with Hoshimi.
After falling to the ground, Kotoko's previous disappointment was somewhat alleviated because she felt Hoshimi had protected the back of her head before falling.
So even though she fell, only her butt and back were sore, and there was no serious injury.
Though it was a small matter, it at least proved that Hoshimi cared about her.
Moreover, her appearance made Hoshimi abandon Yukinoshita to embrace her, showing he cared more about her.
With these details confirmed, Kotoko felt much better and even jokingly said, "Oh~ Hoshimi, you're really eager, thinking about naughty things as soon as we meet. Although I don't mind, we should consider social impact."
"Don't you think so, Hoshimi?"
"Eh?!!"
Kotoko turned her head to see that Hoshimi's head was hanging limply on her shoulder, and his eyes were completely closed.
Hoshimi fainted?!
Kotoko's pupils shrank, and she anxiously called out, "Hoshimi! Hoshimi!"
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