The morning passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime.
When the bell signaling the end of class rang, Itsuki stood up immediately. Seeing Haruto looking at her, her face flushed, and she quickly asked, "Would Kuromori-kun like to go to the cafeteria together?"
Haruto thought for a moment and suggested, "Nino gave me a lunchbox again today. How about we go to the rooftop and eat lunch there?"
"No way."
Itsuki quickly shook her head. Haruto had been getting more mischievous lately, teasing her whenever he could. If she went to a place like the rooftop with him, he'd surely pick on her again.
Besides, Nino had told her not to go to the rooftop alone with a boy. Although she hadn't worried about Haruto causing trouble before, now…
"Kuromori-kun, I'm going ahead."
Seeing Haruto watching her, Itsuki hurriedly left without another word, turned around, and ran.
In the blink of an eye, she had run out of the classroom.
Her reaction was like a little white rabbit escaping from a big bad wolf!
❀❀❀
After lunch, Haruto walked down from the rooftop, suddenly pausing as he noticed a girl leaning against the wall, head down, absently kicking the ground.
"Yui, why are you here?"
"Ah~ Kuromori-kun."
Yuigahama snapped out of her thoughts, a flustered expression appearing on her face, and she quickly explained, "Actually, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, I just wanted to go to the rooftop, and then..."
"Woo~"
Yuigahama raised her hands to cover her face and couldn't help but let out a little cry: "Did Kuromori-kun hear me?"
Haruto was speechless. "I have very good hearing."
If she wanted to eavesdrop, she should have just come up and done it. What was Yuigahama doing hiding here?
However, Haruto had known Yuigahama was there for a while, so he wasn't surprised.
He walked down the stairs and said, "If there's something on your mind, just come up. Don't hide here."
"Sorry!" Yuigahama bowed, then lifted her head cautiously. "But if I come up, won't I disturb you?"
Haruto shook his head. "We were just having lunch up there, not doing anything inappropriate, so you wouldn't disturb anything."
Sensing Yuigahama's unease, Haruto changed the subject. "Yui, have you noticed that Yukino has gained weight lately?"
"Eh? Gained weight?"
"Yes." Haruto said seriously, "I've noticed that Yukino is very picky with her food. As a friend, of course, you should step in and help her at times like this, right?"
Yuigahama nodded instinctively. "Yes, that's right."
"So, Yui, you can also help feed Yukino. If it's you, she probably wouldn't refuse."
Feed Yukino?
Imagining that scene, Yuigahama's attention was immediately diverted, and her eyes lit up.
"Can I really do that?"
"Of course."
Haruto raised his hand and gently patted Yuigahama's head. This silly girl—after her recent low spirits, could she finally cheer up a bit?
"So, don't hide here tomorrow."
"I-I understand."
Yuigahama looked at him quietly and whispered, "Mhm... Kuromori-kun, your hand."
"Sorry, my left hand rebelled. I'll chop it off when I get home!"
"Chopping it off in public is too much!"
Yuigahama couldn't help but giggle, raising her hand to tuck her hair behind her ear and taking a deep breath. Then she said with a slight pout, "Kuromori-kun, you're so over the top."
"Hm?"
Yuigahama poked his arm gently, pouting as she said, "Lately, you've been hiding out on the rooftop with Yukino-chan for lunch every day, not even thinking to invite me."
"Even I would be upset if two of my best friends ignored me like that!"
Haruto thought for a moment and said, "As an apology, how about I bring you a cake tomorrow?"
"No way."
Yuigahama kept poking him, but then, suddenly, tears fell from her eyes.
"Eh—?"
She quickly lowered her head to wipe them away, embarrassed. "Sorry, I don't know why, I'm actually really happy."
The more she spoke, the more her tears fell.
"Sorry."
Haruto sighed, taking out a tissue and handing it to her.
Seeing Yuigahama with her head down and feeling downcast, Haruto suggested, "Yui, this is really all Yukino's fault, so how about we go up and scold her?"
"..."
Yuigahama froze for a moment, then burst out laughing, though her smile seemed a bit forced.
But at least she was smiling.
Yuigahama couldn't help but laugh. She gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, raised her hand, and lightly tapped Haruto's shoulder, saying teasingly, "Kuromori-kun, I'm not going to scold Yukino-chan."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "Then how about hitting me?"
"Hmm~"
Yuigahama kept poking him. "Idiot, you're being ridiculous. Anyway, I don't know how to hit someone."
Haruto adjusted the glasses that weren't there and said with a serious expression, "According to research, it's not uncommon for women to take action in domestic disputes. For instance, you've poked me thirty-one times already. If we were a married couple, your actions against my wishes would count as domestic violence."
Yuigahama froze. This time, she really was startled.
She had just been poking him a few times out of frustration. Was it really that serious? Could she still poke him, then?
Yuigahama thought for a moment and found it amusing, so she poked him again.
Anyway, she'd already poked him many times, so it wasn't too late, right?
Who told him to keep things from her, making her unhappy for so long?
But Haruto's way of comforting people was truly silly.
As Yuigahama's mind wandered, Yukino's cool, sweet voice suddenly rang out: "Yui, what are you doing here?"
"Hyaaa~"
Startled by the sudden voice, Yuigahama quickly withdrew her hand.
Seeing the panic on Yuigahama's face, Yukino narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at Haruto.
Haruto looked at Yuigahama and said, "Yui had something to ask you, so I was waiting with her."
"I see."
Yukino nodded slightly, not questioning further, since they were all part of the same group.
"Yui, if you need anything in the future, just come to me." Yukino said, looking at Yuigahama.
"Actually, it's nothing~"
Hearing Yukino's reassuring words, Yuigahama breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and immediately moved toward her.
"I thought Yukino-chan didn't want me anymore~"
"Mhm~ Not at all."
"Then I'll have lunch with you from now on, okay?"
"I don't mind."
A troubled expression appeared on Yukino's face: "Yui, you're hugging me too tightly."
"Hehe~ It's been so long since I hugged Yukino-chan like this. Yukino-chan smells so nice and is so soft, nuzzle nuzzle."
Yuigahama snuggled tightly into Yukino's embrace. Whether it was out of excitement or something else, a hint of pink appeared on Yukino's cheeks, with a delicate expression of helplessness and slight joy on her face.
Was she actually enjoying it?
For some reason, one word suddenly popped into Haruto's mind.
Yuri?