Miura practically flew down the hallway. She'd thought she'd have to chase for a while, but she caught sight of Yukinoshita standing by the school pond.

Usually, unless there was something that needed to be handled after class, Yukinoshita would head straight home. After all, she was a member of the "go-home" club.

So then... was Yukinoshita waiting for her?

She waved as she ran up. "Yukinoshita, Yukinoshita! Were you waiting for me?"

Of course, Yukinoshita would never admit that.

Her gaze drifted away from the koi fish swimming in the pond. "I just thought the fish here were kind of pretty today."

Tch. As if she'd ever shown interest in the fish before.

Miura didn't call her out on it. She just closed the last few steps between them.

Yukinoshita, seeing her approach, turned and started walking ahead. "About today..."

Today?

Miura, following behind, felt a flicker of anxiety.

Could it be that Yukinoshita thought she'd made a fool of herself earlier? That her two friends' attitudes had shaken Yukinoshita's view of their future?

Miura decided to put aside the embarrassment for now. She was about to explain her friends' reactions and reassure Yukinoshita that if she put in the effort, even her own parents wouldn't be a problem to win over.

But then, Yukinoshita spoke, still walking ahead.

"...Thank you for today."

Her voice dropped, probably because she wasn't used to talking about things like this.

Huh???

Yukinoshita let out a quiet breath, as if she'd finally gotten something off her chest.

"Ever since I transferred, you've helped me again and again. I've never properly thanked you."

"And today... thank you for going so far for me."

Yukinoshita had never met anyone like Miura before someone who would consider another person so completely, wholeheartedly.

She had grown up under the scrutiny of cruel and judgmental eyes, always apart, never fitting in. She'd resigned herself to a life of quiet isolation, forever on the fringes of others.

Then came Miura. Bursting in with a smile full of sunshine, arms full of flowers, tripping over herself and crashing headfirst into Yukinoshita's silent world.

Miura, unaware of how highly Yukinoshita thought of her, scratched her head and smiled.

Yukinoshita was such a polite, well-mannered girl.

Yukinoshita liked her so much. And when someone who liked her that much felt at ease around her, wasn't that completely natural?

Did that really need a thank-you?

Or... was it that people harboring unspoken feelings always ended up acting so self-effacing?

Miura quickly said, "Junko and Zeka just told me no matter what decision I make, they'll always support me..."

They would always support us.

"This time, it's because Miura has two wonderful friends," Yukinoshita replied with a quiet sigh. "But in the future, whatever happens, I hope you'll act based on your own values. Don't make choices because of someone else. Like me, for example..."

"Don't let your relationship with your friends change because of me. Don't let me come between you."

Miura instinctively objected. "But Yukinoshita, you're my friend too!"

Yukinoshita responded softly, "Miura may see me as just a friend, but I... I see you differently."

Wait... what?

Miura's heart skipped a beat.

The mood right now was so gentle, so delicate. Was Yukinoshita finally finally trying to confess her feelings?

There was no moon overhead, no romantic evening setting. They were surrounded by students going to and fro. Not exactly the ideal atmosphere for a confession.

But if Yukinoshita said it if she actually said it out loud

Miura clenched her fists lightly in front of her chest. Everything around her seemed to quiet down. All she could hear was Yukinoshita's voice.

She only wanted to hear Yukinoshita's voice.

Yukinoshita turned back, her usually calm and indifferent face faintly blushing.

"I don't just see you as an ordinary friend..."

Me too!

Me too!

Me too!

Those words were about to burst from Miura's throat, but then

Yukinoshita averted her eyes, flustered. "To me, Miura is the very first friend I've ever had who's truly special. The most important."

Back when she was little, Yukinoshita had tried to make friends too. For example, with Hayama.

Hayama Hayato's father worked closely with Yukinoshita's family he was one of the lead lawyers in the family's legal team so the two had known each other since they were small.

Hayama had always been close to her family. Or rather, maybe it was more one-sided.

He used to follow Haruno around constantly. There was a time when Yukinoshita found him incredibly annoying, thinking he was stealing her spot as Haruno's number one tagalong.

But the truth was, she didn't have any other kids around her who could really be called friends.

When she tried to build friendships, the result had been jealousy and hostility from Hayama's admirers. It led to a string of painful incidents.

Since then, Yukinoshita had never again tried to make friends. The trauma ran too deep.

She thought she had long since lost the ability to interact like a normal high school girl, to form bonds, to connect.

Miura stood there, stunned for a couple of seconds. Then the rush of emotion in her head slowly faded, and her blood began flowing normally again.

She was a little disappointed, sure, but she couldn't help letting out a laugh.

"Wow... Yukinoshita, you really are a coward."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lately, club activities after school had become the most stressful part of Yui's day.

The rhythmic gymnastics club she belonged to was a mess of infighting. The divide between upper and lower years, already present, had now grown into open hostility. It was practically a cold war in the clubroom.

The third-years had long since stepped back to prepare for university entrance exams. The real conflict now was between the second-years and first-years.

Even a laid-back member like Yui was getting pulled into the whirlwind.

It wasn't quite bullying, but the signs were bad. If it were Yukinoshita, she'd probably resolve it in no time.

Yui pulled out her phone, then hesitated and put it away.

Yukinoshita had been so busy lately. She didn't want to bother her with more problems.

So… maybe she should go ask the one person who always seemed to have way too much free time: Hikigaya.

She pushed open the Service Club door again. "Hikki, are you free for a request?"

Yui had just sat down when she saw Hikigaya, chin resting on his palm, looking at his phone like usual. He lifted his head and shot her one of his trademark dead-fish glares.

He put the phone down. "What kind of request? Something about Yukinoshita or your club?"

"Of course it's about the club! Why would it be about Yukinoshita?"

Hikigaya glanced at her and couldn't help tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Yui... I have to say, you really are adorably dumb."

"I mean, when it comes to pretending to be dumb."

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