Chapter 85: The Past of Yukinoshita Yukino
"Alright, so who is Yukinoshita Yukino?"
"Huh? That's your focus? Shouldn't you be asking me for other solutions right about now, Mai-san?"
"It's just that the name 'Yukinoshita' seems to come from a place in Kamakura City, Kanagawa Prefecture, right? I'm really interested in Kamakura."
"That's such a random reason!"
"Come on, spill it."
"Fine, fine. Yukinoshita Yukino—she comes from a distinguished family, excels academically, is great at sports, and, on top of all that, she's stunningly beautiful. She's the 'unreachable flower' of the second year. But, because of her personality, she currently has no friends."
"Similar to Kasumigaoka Utaha?"
"No, compared to Kasumigaoka Utaha's awful personality, Yukinoshita Yukino is... too righteous. She sticks to her principles, doesn't read the room—or maybe she does but just doesn't care to adjust. As a result, she hasn't had friends since elementary scho—"
Before finishing his sentence, Shunsuke's mind suddenly conjured an image: a younger version of himself scolding a few delinquent kids who had repeatedly licked the recorders of some girls and stolen their indoor shoes.
Those brats would be beyond discipline once they grew up, so back then, Shunsuke had approached the situation with a sense of "once-in-a-lifetime" seriousness, his little face brimming with determination.
As for the stubborn little girl hugging her indoor shoes tightly, the victim of the incident, she seemed to be none other than a young Yukino.
She was adorably cute back then, a completely different vibe from the Yukino of today.
That's probably why Shunsuke hadn't made the connection until now.
Of course, more importantly, Shunsuke's mindset at the time was focused on teaching those brats a lesson, not on being some kind of hero.
As a result, young Yukino was treated more like an NPC triggering a side quest and was promptly forgotten.
He didn't even ask her name.
Later, a middle school "big sister" came by and indirectly thanked him, but Shunsuke hadn't paid it any attention.
Oh, so this is where it all started. Yukino probably thinks I'm some kind of good guy, doesn't she?
Shunsuke fell into deep thought. This might even explain Hayama's attitude toward him.
"Lost in your thoughts?" Mai's cold voice interrupted Shunsuke's musings.
Shunsuke replied honestly, "I just realized that Yukinoshita Yukino and I were classmates in elementary school. Not the same class, but still—it's a bit surprising."
"Oh, no wonder Shunsuke-kun knows her so well."
"Is Mai-san jealous?"
Mai glared at him, her eyes sharp. "I'm not jealous!"
"Ah, that's good to hear. Because if you were the type to get jealous over something like this, we'd have to keep a vat of vinegar at home just for you. Otherwise, it wouldn't be enough to keep up with Mai-san's needs," Shunsuke teased, preemptively trying to defend himself.
Though Mai found his words amusing, she didn't want to contradict herself, so she opted to brush past the topic. "Alright, what other solutions do you have? Spill them all at once."
"How does Mai-san know I have more ideas?"
"Hah, last time you didn't share everything on purpose to keep me hanging. And your attitude—it's obvious. Don't underestimate an experienced socialite! Compared to the sleazy old men in the entertainment industry who try to get close to me, your tricks are child's play."
"Cough, cough."
Shunsuke coughed awkwardly, realizing his little ploys had been completely seen through.
Mai watched him coolly. "If you're catching a cold, wear more layers."
"Thank you for your concern, Mai-san," Shunsuke said shamelessly, brushing it off. "So, what did those people do? Are you okay?"
"Ha, I'm getting a strong whiff of jealousy here. Who was the one teasing me about being jealous just now?" Mai quipped, quick to retaliate. "Don't worry, though. My... manager took care of it in the end."
—Yet Shunsuke silently speculated about her past, recalling how Mai had likely relied on her mother, only for her mother to secretly arrange for her to shoot swimsuit photos in junior high, even signing a contract beforehand.
No wonder she couldn't stand her mother—this wasn't just a rebellious phase.
"Alright," Shunsuke began, snapping out of his thoughts. "Plan one: I'll confess to Mai-san publicly at school. That way, no one there will dare ignore you again, and the crisis will be resolved. Congratulations, problem solved!" He clapped his hands theatrically.
Mai stared at him coldly. "You've revealed your true intentions far too quickly."
"Yeah, to be honest, I don't really want to do that either. It'd draw way too much attention. I'm already popular enough at school; any more, and it'd be a real headache."
"Then you shouldn't have gotten involved with me in the first place."
"But Mai-san is so beautiful—I couldn't help but be captivated."
"Shunsuke, you're awful."
"I'm just being honest because I don't want to lie to Mai-san," Shunsuke replied shamelessly, with a grin that suggested he had no intention of changing.
"You really dare to say that," Mai muttered, clearly flustered by Shunsuke's relentless directness. Her defenses were visibly crumbling. "Let's skip this topic. What's your next plan?"
"In that case, Plan Two: Return to the entertainment industry. Once you're famous again, no one will be able to ignore you even if they want to."
"Rejected."
"This plan doesn't just address the symptoms; it tackles the root cause," Shunsuke continued, ignoring her refusal. "Puberty Syndrome is mysterious and supernatural, sure, but at its core, it's caused by psychological issues that manifest in reality. To resolve it, you just need to address the root problem—unlock your emotional knots, grow stronger and more mature."
"Are you... investigating me?" Mai's voice wavered, her emotions unsettled.
If Shunsuke had said returning to the entertainment industry would solve the root issue, it meant he must know what had happened.
Mai, quick to analyze and always sharp, immediately grasped the implications.
"Didn't I say I wanted to help you, Mai-san? So I looked into it a bit."
"And with just a little digging, you think you can tell me what to do? What do you even understand?!" Mai's tone was sharp, her frustration evident.
After all, deep-seated emotional scars aren't something that can be easily resolved by a few words.
Shunsuke understood her reaction but pressed on.
"But isn't this more like a child's tantrum?"
"Excuse me?!"
"Because, Mai-san, you love acting the most, don't you? Yet you're throwing it all away, like you're punishing yourself to make the adults feel guilty."
"Shut up!"
"Your voice is louder, though."
Smack!
Mai's hand came down hard on Shunsuke.
The sound echoed between them, the tension palpable.
Mai's slap came down, but it was intercepted by Star Platinum. With a firm pull, Mai lost her balance and ended up falling right into Shunsuke's arms.
"Wait a second. I know you're upset, but hold on. I'm not saying you have to do this, Mai-san," Shunsuke said, gently trying to calm her down.
"Huh?"
"Look, avoiding something isn't always a bad thing. It's shameful, sure, but it works. Not everything in this world needs to be faced head-on, and not everything can be solved by doing so. Sometimes, avoiding it can yield surprising results. That's what I think."
—At least, that's what I used to think. Now, I prefer telling self-righteous people no.
Mai looked confused. "So, what are you trying to say?"
"What I mean is, you can return to the entertainment industry. But if you don't trust your former manager, I can be your manager instead."
Now, that was the real dagger he'd been hiding all along.
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