"..." Hoshimi's eye twitched, staying silent as he stood in the background.
"Oh~~ Is that so? Then should I thank you, Yukinoshita-senpai, for clearing up my confusion?" Kotoko asked, smiling as she met Yukino's gaze.
Yukino maintained a gentle smile, "If you want to thank me, then go ahead. If not, that's fine too. After all, you're that kind of person."
"Oh?" Kotoko's smile grew sharper. "Yukinoshita-senpai, what kind of person do you think I am? Care to explain?"
"Eh?" Yukino looked slightly surprised. "Iwanaga-san, do you really not know what kind of person you are? This makes things difficult... dealing with someone who lacks self-awareness is exhausting."
"…" Kotoko was silent for a moment, then grinned brightly. "Yukinoshita-senpai, what did you just say? I didn't hear clearly. Mind repeating it?"
"…" Yukino's smile vanished, her gaze turning cold as she glared at Kotoko. "What did you just call me?"
"Yukinoshita-senpai, of course~" Kotoko giggled, "Yukinoshita-senpai, you're so flat that you might as well change your name to 'Flat Yukinoshita.' It'd suit you perfectly."
Yukino's face grew colder, her icy blue eyes seeming to frost over. "Iwanaga-san, have you really fallen so low as to give people nicknames?"
"Oh dear~" Kotoko sighed, "Clearly, you're infuriated, yet you're still keeping up that dignified 'elite lady' act. Isn't it tiring, Yukinoshita-senpai? Do you act like this even with Hoshimi? If so, he must be exhausted."
"…" Hoshimi looked down, ignoring everything around him, focused solely on being a background character.
"Yukinoshita-senpai, listen to my advice." Kotoko's face turned earnest. "Sometimes, let go of your facade and express what you truly think. It won't hurt. If you keep hiding, Hoshimi will just get tired."
"Besides, are you planning to keep this act up even in bed? Are you really going to make him turn off the lights?"
"Here's a little secret: Hoshimi doesn't like to keep the lights off. If he went along with your request, he'd feel so stifled that he might need to find someone else to let him keep the lights on afterward."
Hoshimi's eye twitched, his expression barely holding steady.
Kotoko's mouth had no filter! Who knows what else she might reveal?
"Ahem~" Hoshimi cleared his throat, intending to stop the exchange.
Oh no, it wasn't an exchange—this was Kotoko bullying Yukino single-handedly.
"Hoshimi, don't be biased! Yukinoshita provoked me first! Are you taking sides again?!"
Just as Hoshimi was about to say something, Kotoko's words cut him off.
"…" Hoshimi raised his eyebrows slightly.
This time, Yukino did seem to have provoked her first, so was Kotoko's response justified?
But if he didn't step in, Yukino would likely stay irked for two or three days… Also, was it his imagination, or had Kotoko's complaints seemed heavier since she returned? In the past, the moment he tried to interrupt, Kotoko would immediately back down, but today she was relentless…
"Fine, Hoshimi, since you're about to take sides again, I have nothing more to say."
Kotoko noticed Hoshimi's pensive look and knew her persistence might have given something away.
With an annoyed wave of her hand, she decided not to say more to Yukino.
Going on could risk Hoshimi discovering too much.
In terms of enemy level, Yukinoshita was just a small, spoiled elite. She wasn't anywhere near the threat level of someone like Siesta or the well-endowed girl whose identity remained undisclosed.
For the sake of ultimate victory, it would be unwise to go too hard against Yukino right now and risk exposing what she knew.
Also, that bracelet on Hoshimi's wrist was a gift from that well-endowed girl, wasn't it? It wasn't actually from his aunt's daughter. That fake story was probably something Hoshimi came up with to appease Yukino. And Yukino, using this fake story to provoke her...
Oh, it was a relief she and Yukino weren't allies; otherwise, Yukino would surely drag her down.
But still…
Kotoko cast a glance at Hoshimi, her frustration deepening slightly.
Yukino, this small-time elite, was so lucky, getting to be by Hoshimi's side so easily. If not for that, Kotoko would have already "eliminated" this one-dimensional minion.
Kotoko backed down, but Yukino looked reluctant, wanting to say more. However, Hoshimi stopped her with a look.
"…" With an icy expression, Yukino turned back, deciding not to argue further with this crude girl.
Only…
She glanced at Hoshimi, an unshakeable thought lingering in her mind.
Hoshimi… does he really prefer the lights on?
With Kotoko quiet and Yukino silent, Hoshimi saw no need to rekindle any tension, and the three continued walking to school in peace.
On the way, they ran into several Sobu High students.
Seeing the trio of Hoshimi, Yukino, and Kotoko together caught the attention of many students, who subtly directed part of their focus on them.
However, they didn't dare discuss it openly, keeping their conversations hushed even with friends nearby, afraid others might overhear.
After all, these three were anything but ordinary.
The Yukinoshita family needed no introduction, and the Iwanaga family was also a notable clan in Chiba.
As for Hoshimi, though they didn't know the specifics, the fact that he could transfer into Sobu High's international class midway suggested he wasn't ordinary.
Seeing the three together, the only thing they could mutter was, "Their circle is truly complicated."
…
Arriving at Sobu High, first-year Kotoko parted ways with Hoshimi and Yukino, heading toward the first-year building.
Meanwhile, Hoshimi and Yukino walked arm in arm toward their class, 2-J.
On the way, Yukino suddenly asked, "Hoshimi, is it tiring to be with me?"
"Sigh~" Hoshimi sighed softly, then wrapped his arm around Yukino's slender waist.
"Yukino," he said with a hint of exasperation. "Don't take Kotoko's nonsense to heart. You're perfect just as you are. As for whether I'm tired or not, don't you know best? Have I ever gone out of my way to please you?"
It was true. He enjoyed Yukino's dignified and refined aura—it made teasing her all the more fun.
If Yukino really became completely compliant with him, it'd lose some excitement… and maybe lead to more kids…
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