I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

Neither of them seemed to care about her earlier comment about fishing to Yuu Tenkuji.

Isshiki Iroha quietly breathed a sigh of relief, and Tachibana Kanade beside her bowed slightly to the three of them.

Goodbye, seniors.

Then she tilted her little face up and looked at Tenkuji Yu with an unusually serious expression.

"Senior Yu, are you free this weekend?"

Isshiki Hachiman: "?"

"I do have free time. What's up?"

The senior colleague showed the same puzzled expression as her.

Under everyone's gaze, Tachibana Kanade spoke calmly, her voice imbued with unwavering resolve:

"I would like to learn how to cook Mapo Tofu from you. When would be a convenient time for you?"

Iroha Isshiki: "???"

No, Kanade-chan, please pay attention to the atmosphere!

If you want to learn to cook, don't say it at this awkward time in front of them, okay?!

Why are you still looking at me with that "What's wrong with me? Did I do something wrong?!" look?!

Her cheek twitched as if in a spasm, and Iroha Isshiki roared in her heart. The next second, Yuu Tenkuji's indifferent voice entered her ears.

"Sure, come to my house on Sunday. Morning or afternoon is fine."

With veins bulging on her forehead, Isshiki Iroha kicked Tenkuji Yu's butt with all her might—though only in her mind.

I'm so damn ***, senior!

Why did you agree so easily? And why did you even invite your junior to your house to learn cooking?!

Yukinoshita-senpai was absolutely right when she said you were frivolous!

Didn't you see the puzzled look on Yui-senpai's face? Yukinoshita-senpai then started to sneer again, as if to say, "You seem to have a deeper impression of me as a womanizing scumbag now?!"

A love triangle is one thing, but the worst part is that Kanade-chan suddenly got involved... Damn it, since that's how it is!

After silently grumbling through gritted teeth, before the atmosphere became even more awkward and she, as an observer, was about to develop a stomachache from all the agonizing, Iroha suddenly raised her hand, her gaze sharp, and announced loudly:

"I'll go too! My senior said he'd teach me how to make desserts!"

"Yui-senpai, Yukinoshita-senpai, everyone come over here!"

Chapter Thirty-Nine: I'm Sorry, Yui

On the way back to class.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Isshiki Iroha pressed down on Tachibana Kanade's shoulder and stared intently into her eyes.

"Kanade, there are complicated emotional entanglements among the people in the Service Club. Be careful not to get involved!"

"Romantic entanglements?" Tachibana Kanade tilted her head slightly, puzzled. "So what?"

Looking into her pure and straightforward eyes, Isshiki Iroha was speechless for a moment, suddenly unable to think of a good way to explain to her.

"No, how should I put it... Kanade, have you ever been to a boy's house before?"

Tachibana Kanade shook his head.

"Is this the first time?"

nod.

"Then you must remember, girls shouldn't casually say they want to go to a boy's house to play, it could be dangerous!"

"I know that." I still have basic common sense—Tachibana Kanade said with her eyes, and then said reassuringly, "Don't worry, Yu-senpai has a younger sister at home. I ran into her last time. So it's okay, it's very safe."

"???"

I ran into his sister last time, so it's okay, his house is safe.

Isshiki Hachiko nodded in realization.

That's absolutely right! If his younger sister were here, even if the senior were a beast, he wouldn't lay a hand on Kanade—

Wait, that's not the problem!

"Mmm~"

With a troubled expression, the flaxen-haired girl clutched her lower abdomen, feeling like her brain was about to explode.

Don't ask why I'm not pressing your head; the reason is that my stomach ache hasn't gotten better yet.

Going to the Tenkuji family to learn cooking is not the main point at all. Even without her sister, Iroha Isshiki believes that Kanade Tachibana will not encounter any danger, not to mention that she will go with her.

The problem is, the timing of Xiaozou's request was completely wrong!

It's like throwing a sodium block into a clogged toilet—my chemistry teacher just mentioned this recently—it's easy to cause all sorts of things to explode out, and you end up smelling terrible.

That's right, I'm talking about Isshiki Hatake, who asked a question inappropriately not long ago. I'm really sorry, she's already reflecting on her actions.

However, at that time she did not know that Yukinoshita-senpai, who was always at odds with her seniors, actually had a bit of a crush on him, and seemed to be unaware of it at all. If you really want to say it was just an unintentional mistake, right?

As for Yui-senpai, her feelings were obvious, but her relationship with her senior was better than expected, which was something she hadn't anticipated.

"Ha...you're thinking too far ahead. Why should I analyze their relationship status?"

Isshiki Hachiman shook her head, quickly pulling her wandering thoughts back.

The most urgent task now is to figure out how to make this friend, who is clueless about social niceties, aware of the chaotic situation on the senior's side, so that he won't end up like me, becoming cannon fodder in the crossfire...

"Ayaha, class is about to start."

Seeing that she was lost in thought after finishing her sentence, Tachibana Kanade thought for a moment, reminded her, and then turned and walked towards the classroom.

"Huh? Wait a minute, Kanade~"

Iroha quickly caught up, and for once, she saw a clear, joyful smile on her friend's face, and her steps were skipping with happiness.

"I'm sure everyone will be making Mapo Tofu on Sundays. I'm really looking forward to it."

"No, Yukinoshita-senpai won't come..."

"What about you, Aya? If you're making desserts, I recommend Mapo Sundae."

"Mapo? No way, that's definitely not good..."

"Trust me, it'll be delicious! I can taste it for you!"

"Hmm, I'll try again later... Wait, Kanade, you silly mapo! That's not what I meant~"

……

After school, Yuu Tenkuji stayed in the classroom and worked with the others to make props for the stage play.

The tasks included setting up the background, weapons, signboards, and flyers. Each group worked together, and he was part of the "mobile team" that would go wherever there was a shortage of people.

During this time when everyone is united in preparing for the cultural festival performance, many people put aside their usual sense of distance and awe and mustered the courage to entrust the work to him.

"Tenkuji-kun, could you help me cut the wooden planks?"

"Okay. Just cut along the lines, right?"

"Well, then I'll leave it to you... Wow, that was fast! And your technique was so skillful! Did you perhaps study carpentry?!"

"Well, I know a little."

"Sky Temple, can you draw? There's a forest backdrop here. Although it's faster to find an image online and print it, I still want the hand-drawn feel..."

"I know a little bit about this too... Okay, is this draft style okay?"

"Tenkuji-kun... have you considered starting a class?"

"You flatter me, I'm not that good."

"Tenkuji-kun, do you know how to fold origami flowers?"

"I know a little. I can fold any flower as long as I have a picture."

"Uh, is this what you call knowing a little bit...?"

"Tenkuji-kun..."

"Sky Temple..."

After being called around and given support for over an hour, Yuu Tenkuji still showed no signs of fatigue and arrived at the tailoring group's work area full of energy.

"Is there anything I can help you with? I can do a little tailoring too."

"Tenkuji-kun, why don't you just say you're all-around amazing?"

The brown-haired girl with red-rimmed glasses, Hina Ebina, shrugged and shook her head with an air of familiarity, saying, "If you're so capable, why don't you help me figure out how to change the script of 'Adler' into a story about two handsome young men who develop a passionate and intense love during an adventure..."

Before she could finish speaking, Miura Yumiko stepped on her foot under the table, telling her to shut up.

"The female lead's costumes are all done, and you're still saying things like that!"

“It’s not like boys can’t wear it…” After being glared at, Ebina Hina obediently pouted and muttered softly, “Fine, I won’t tell you. I’ll figure something out myself.”

"Xiaoyou, we don't need any help here."

Yui Yuigahama raised the needle and thread in her hand, tilted her fair chin up, and gave him a smug smile as if she wanted to claim credit.

"Yumi and the others thought I would poke my finger. It's a pity, I used to help my mom sew buttons when I was little, so I'm not that clumsy!"

Tenkuji Yu's eyes widened in surprise, and then he clapped his hands sincerely: "To be honest, I think so too. I didn't expect that you're not clumsy, you're just bad at cooking."

"Yuu!" Yui's smile vanished instantly, and she looked furious, as if she was about to throw the needle and thread in his face.

Tenkuji Yu laughed a few times and touched her bun hairstyle amidst her unhappy struggle.

Snapped!

Suddenly, Miura Yumiko slammed what she was holding onto the table, her eyebrows furrowed and her expression turning sour.

"You two!"

Three pairs of eyes focused on her, and the air remained silent for a long while.

"...You can go back now, stop showing off your love here."