Kamizawa and Ono were starting to question reality itself.

They'd been dating for over two years, had already done everything a couple could do, and their relationship was light-years ahead of someone like Miura who could only flirt awkwardly, and when it came to Yukinoshita, couldn't even manage that.

Back then, they'd genuinely worried about whether Yui and Yukino might think it was weird if they found out they were together. So they'd chosen to keep it secret for the time being.

What they hadn't expected was to be lectured righteously and passionately by Miura of all people.

Ono, utterly mortified, mumbled, "Uh, that's… that's not what we meant at all…"

Beneath the table, she shyly clasped her own hands. "We're, um… we're…"

Kamizawa cleared her throat, tone calm. "We're not against it or anything. We just don't think it's something that needs to be… openly discussed."

"No, this definitely needs to be researched and talked about!" Miura declared.

With a dramatic sigh, she added, "Looks like it's up to me to unveil a whole new world for you two."

Having dropped that line like she was the star of some grand ceremony, Miura quickly pulled out a stack of colorful manga and light novels from her backpack.

Yui's cheeks turned red. Kamizawa facepalmed. Ono glanced down and immediately looked away, utterly speechless.

They were all yuri manga and light novels.

And she'd read every single one of them.

Come on, Yumi, could you make it any more obvious you're just pushing your own favorites here?!

Using the noble banner of "school project research on LGBTQ+ representation," and yet all her research materials were just… yuri?!

But apparently, aside from herself and Kamizawa, nobody else in the room seemed to get it.

Yui was so stunned by this very adult topic that she looked like she was about to short-circuit, smoke practically rising from her head.

And Yukino

She felt like she understood something again.

Miura had never shown any interest in this kind of subject before actually, it might be more accurate to say she'd never even considered it.

And in Miura's entire friend circle at Sōbu High, the only person even remotely related to this topic was Yukino herself the one who had once "outed" herself.

Maybe this was Miura's way of looking out for her, subtly nudging her friends to gradually accept someone like her a way of gently pulling her, the outlier, back into the circle?

Yukino let out a quiet sigh.

This was a choice she had made herself to break the impasse with poison against poison. She'd accepted the consequences, prepared herself for the fallout. Yet now, here was this hopelessly kind girl, trying to drag her out of the mud.

And now, feeling she'd successfully won over Yui, Miura's confidence surged.

She excitedly began recommending her favorite reads to Kamizawa, Ono, and Yui. One of the manga had a cover that was a little too affectionate.

"This one's this year's most popular adult yuri manga! The story is super sweet!" she beamed.

"And this one—"

She really had no sense of pacing when it came to recommendations.

Once she got excited, all reason flew out the window. Complete romance-brain mode.

If it had been anyone other than Kamizawa and Ono here today, they probably would've bolted as soon as she opened her bag.

But Kamizawa, having grown up with Miura since they were kids, could mostly decipher the twists and turns of her thoughts.

Yesterday's vague warning to Miura about her feelings for Yukino must've been misinterpreted as if Kamizawa was rejecting the idea of Miura being with Yukino.

But how could she even explain something like this to Miura?

"Of course we don't think there's anything weird about that. Zekka and I have been dating for years!"

Except… Miura had no idea they'd been together for two years. Wouldn't she just explode on the spot once she found out?

Kamizawa glanced at Yukino.

Sure enough, when Miura got like this, only Yukino could slap her thoughts back into order with cold, rational logic.

"That's enough, Miura," Yukino said, scribbling carelessly into Miura's project notebook. "Springing this sort of thing out of nowhere will just overwhelm them."

Not true at all!

Kamizawa and Zekka had been best friends for fourteen years. They trusted Yui, too. No one was going to be overwhelmed by something like this!

But… but…

Back then, Kamizawa and Zekka had looked disapproving.

If her parents and her best friends all didn't approve, then what right did she have to even consider confessing to Yukino?

Sure, being friends was fine but anything more? Was that stepping into forbidden territory?

Miura was starting to deflate, her high-spirited momentum faltering. Seeing this, Kamizawa picked up one of the manga volumes to offer some moral support but the moment she looked inside, she nearly scoffed.

This is what she calls adult content?

Just a few slightly suggestive kisses? Please.

This is nothing.

Miura sniffled, cheeks flushed with excitement. "So? What do you think, Kamizawa, Zekka, Yui? Pretty good taste, right?"

Then she pulled out a little notebook for data collection, suddenly bashful. "So, um… what did you think? Was it… weird?"

"Not really. Just regular romance manga," Kamizawa replied coolly.

Though this particular series ended in tragedy… should she warn Miura about that?

…

When the final class of the day ended, Miura finally snapped out of her emotional high.

She wanted nothing more than to bury herself in her desk and smash her overheated brain against the wood.

Even if she wanted her friends to be more open-minded, she could've taken it slow!

Why on earth had she started with the most intense, borderline-explicit manga she owned, plus those scandalous novels?

Sure, she'd wrapped it all in the respectable excuse of a school research project, but anyone would be stunned by that kind of selection!

And to make things worse, when she saw Yukino and Yui at the library earlier, she'd dragged them into it too right in the middle of her flustered pitch.

Idiot, idiot, idiot!

Yumiko, you absolute idiot!!!

After the last Home Ec class, Miura was practically ready to sprint out the building but she was ambushed by Kamizawa and Zekka near the lockers.

Kamizawa greeted her with a smirk. "Yo, Miss School Survey Queen. Running off fast, huh?"

Ono laughed as she changed into her indoor shoes. "You seriously gave me a heart attack back there in the library, Yumiko~"

Miura turned on her heel, ready to flee, but Kamizawa grabbed her by the collar.

"Hold on. I need to talk to you."

"I don't wanna hear it, I don't wanna hear it!"

She was sure Kamizawa was going to tell her she disapproved of her and Yukino. She didn't want to listen!

"…I'm sorry, Yumiko."

"…Eh?"

Kamizawa let her go. "I think you misunderstood what I said yesterday. I never thought there was anything weird about that about you."

She cleared her throat, suddenly a little embarrassed.

"No matter who you like, or who likes you, Zekka and I will never think it's strange. Because we're your best friends."

So when you eventually find out about me and Zekka… don't get mad, okay?

Miura froze, staring blankly.

Then quickly tried to defend herself in a tiny voice.

"…It's not like I'm into anyone or anything. I was just doing… school research!"

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