I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"What should I say after meeting Yuihama-san..."

I don't know how many times I've been troubled like this, but I can't think of the best answer to convince myself.

Unable to suppress her feelings of unease and anxiety, Yukino Yukinoshita simply closed the paperback she hadn't turned a single page of, stood up, took a deep breath, and felt the expansion and throbbing in her chest with her palm—she didn't know how many times she had calmed herself down in this way.

A few seconds later, she slowly opened her eyes, first looking at the motionless door panel, then turning around and walking to the window to look downstairs.

The side entrance to the special building is located directly below the Service Department.

Yukino Yukinoshita knew that he, who liked to take shortcuts, usually came in from here, and even with Yuihama by his side, he probably wouldn't change his route easily.

The next moment, perhaps, will be a coincidence in the grand scheme of things.

She had just walked to the window and looked down when she saw that familiar figure holding an umbrella.

Chapter 87 Morning is legs, noon is chest, what's after school? (22/23)

"come yet?"

I felt a little nervous, yet inexplicably at ease.

As he closed his umbrella, his figure seemed to be swallowed up by the building beneath him, disappearing at the entrance.

Uninterested in the deserted rain scene, Yukino Yukinoshita left the window but did not return to her seat. Instead, she unconsciously began to pace around to the left, using her chair as the center point.

She didn't see Yui Yuigahama beside him.

Based on this alone, countless conjectures immediately sprang to mind and filled my head.

"Yui-hama-san has something to do? Did she come here by herself first? Or does she not want to see me, so... No, Yui-hama-san isn't the type to break promises!"

Moreover, it was she who suggested having lunch and talking in the Service Department, without even giving herself time to return to our usual interactions, and she rushed to decide to have an open and honest three-person conversation—even though that was originally their plan.

However, Yukino Yukinoshita could not understand Yui Yuigahama's actions or her feelings at all, nor could she make any preparations in advance through prediction.

The changes are happening so fast, is this what it's like for a girl in love?

"Don't worry, Tenkuji-kun said he would come with her. He was probably delayed on the way..."

She comforted herself in this way, but her pace quickened. Her usual stern indifference seemed to have gained a touch of the vulnerability and hesitation of a girl in love, and she bit her lip, feeling somewhat anxious.

Before long, she finally realized her panicked state, like a startled horse, and quickly forced her legs to stop, standing still and taking deep breaths.

However, just as he took a breath, he heard a series of hurried footsteps outside the door.

Then, with a bang, before anyone could react, the warm air inside the department rushed into the corridor.

Completely dispelling the quiet and dull atmosphere, Yui Yuigahama shouted impatiently as soon as she entered the room, "Yuki, I have something to tell you!... Uh, are you alright?"

"Cough, cough... It's okay, I just choked a little on my saliva."

Pressing her hand to her chest to catch her breath, Yukino Yukinoshita slumped back into her chair, looking at her listlessly: "What did you want to say? By the way, when did you arrive? Did you come through the main entrance?"

"No, I came with Yui. I was just in a hurry to see Yuki, so I quickened my pace to go upstairs!" Yui shook her head, gave a thumbs up, and smiled at her as if she were asking for praise.

With a slightly speechless look in her eyes, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but smile: "Thank you so much. I know I'm very charming, but you didn't need to come up to see me. I'm not going to run away."

That's what they say, but without her impulsiveness and straightforwardness, I might not have made a single true friend before graduation.

Even the closest and most sincere friendships can break down over the smallest of reasons...

This is the result that Yukino Yukinoshita tried her best to avoid.

She didn't want to lose any of her friends, no matter what type they were.

"Oh, let's not talk about that now! I have something I want to tell you..."

Looking back, Yui Yuigahama was walking quickly toward Yukino Yukinoshita, looking very anxious.

Upon seeing this, Yukino Yukinoshita immediately tensed up, her expression as serious as a primary school student who had been woken up by the teacher after dozing off in class. She bit her lip and then let go, her face full of heroic sacrifice, already prepared to be scolded.

Choosing someone of the opposite sex over a friend is normally met with criticism, even if there are valid reasons. So, in the past few days, Yukino Yukinoshita has imagined more than a dozen scenarios in which Yukino would mock her, so that she can respond fluently no matter what she hears.

I guess I wasn't as serious about English listening tests as I am now?

Sitting upright in her chair, Yukino Yukinoshita stared intently at Yui Yuigahama's figure as she approached and whispered in her ear. Her expression gradually shifted from resolute to bewildered, and finally settled into a solemn and cold one.

……

Good afternoon, Yukino... um?

As soon as Yuu Tenkuji stepped into the Service Club after placing his umbrella on the ground outside, he couldn't help but wonder if he had suddenly been transported to the polar region and was face to face with the adorable penguins.

Even though the indoor heating was on, one of the penguins was using its immense, icy aura to cool things down. Its thin, soft lips were tightly pursed, and its gaze was sharp as a cone, as if it might pounce on him at any moment and chisel him into shaved ice.

Soon, Yukino Yukinoshita, the penguin, spoke coldly:

"In the morning it's legs, at noon it's chest, what's it after school?"

"Robert F. Young or the Sphinx?"

"Neither of those, it was just an investigation into someone's fetishes."

"Then let's talk about the butt. Chicken legs, chicken breasts, and chicken butts are all pretty good." Raising an eyebrow, Tenkuji Yuu easily ignored her murderous aura, closed the door, and walked towards the long table.

There's no point in seriously engaging with this kind of veiled insult that he's a pervert; it's even better than telling him right out the door that he's a "pervert who wants to bite breasts."

Yuu Tenkuji didn't intend to care, but Yui Yuigahama was still shaking her arm and enthusiastically stirring things up, "Yuki, we can't let this go! We have to let Yuu experience the consequences of casually flirting with girls!"

Yukino Yukinoshita reluctantly withdrew her arm: "I wish I could, but unfortunately there's no way to teach him a lesson openly and honestly."

"How about not speaking to him for a whole day?"

"And then let him talk even more enthusiastically, without being allowed to talk back?"

"Ah, that's true..."

Yui Yuigahama scratched her head and chuckled. Seeing that Yuu Tenkuji had already pulled out a chair and sat down, she didn't say anything more and carried the chair to her usual spot.

Completely unexpectedly, her serious expression turned out to be just a complaint against some perverted guy who likes breasts. Yukino Yukinoshita hesitated for a moment before speaking up behind her:

"Yuigahama-san..."

"Hmm? Ah, let's talk about that after we finish eating!" Yui Yuigahama turned around, seemingly seeing her so insecure for the first time, and gave a slightly mischievous giggle. "Don't worry, I'm not going to point my finger at Yuki and call her a 'vixen'~ No matter what happens, we'll still be good friends!"

"Ahem... I, I wasn't worried about that kind of thing."

Quickly composing herself, Yukino Yukinoshita cleared her throat, returning to her usual calm and composed demeanor, and naturally opened her bento box.

To be honest, this was the first time she had ever seen Yui Yuigahama like this.

Confident and at ease, it was as if all her past timidity and cowardice had vanished from her; although she was not quite a completely different person yet, after just over a day apart, she had developed many unfamiliar traits, as if a girl had grown into a woman overnight.

...Tenkuji-kun, did you really only talk to her about the things we discussed yesterday?

Involuntarily, Yukino Yukinoshita's hand, which had been opening the bento box, froze in mid-air, her gaze turning toward Yuu Tenkuji with a questioning look.

Chapter 88 This is true monogamy, okay? (23/23)

Just as Tenkuji Yu was about to start eating, she noticed someone watching her and naturally met their gaze.

—I haven't done anything to wrong you.

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly, her eyes turning cold.

—I haven't asked you anything yet, why are you in such a hurry to turn yourself in?

Yuu Tenkuji shrugged helplessly, glancing discreetly at Yui Yuigahama, who was observing the contents of his bento box, his eyes filled with admiration.

—Apart from talking, I did nothing. If she hadn't been willing to persevere and change herself, perhaps we wouldn't be sitting in this club room right now, the three of us eating lunch together.

Yukino Yukinoshita also looked at her, her expression gradually softening, a slight smile appearing on her lips.

—Even when I didn't want to talk to her, she persisted and tried to chat with me again and again, repeatedly saying that we were friends.

Despite appearing so ordinary, so fragile, and seemingly on the verge of tears... Yui Yuigahama has become the strongest and most mature of the three.

She became the bond of the Service Department, connecting them closely and bringing them sights and colors they had never seen before.

Yukino Yukinoshita gained her first true friend in her life. Even though she sometimes found her annoying or hot when she hugged her, she couldn't deny the loneliness and panic that rose in her heart when she realized that she might drift apart from her. She didn't want to lose this rare friendship.

Yuuki Tenkuji found redemption in the past. No matter how memories and feelings changed, she remained the person from the very beginning, the one who loved him from the very start until the very end. She was the anchor he was unwilling to let go of, and also the ordinary girl he gradually came to love and wanted to keep by his side forever.

As their eyes met, the two reaffirmed just how important Yuigahama Yui was to them.

With this answer, there's no need for any more anxiety or hesitation. Just protect what you want to protect and move straight ahead.

"that……"

Suddenly, Yui Yuigahama leaned forward, blocking their eye contact with her face, and spoke with a smile.

"You two are leaving me hanging and flirting with each other, I'll get jealous, okay? Both of you~"

"Cough cough..."

As soon as they finished speaking, Yuuki Tenkuji and Yukino Yukinoshita both looked at their bento boxes. One casually fiddled with the dishes inside, while the other blushed and nervously rubbed her chopsticks.

Yui Yuigahama's brow twitched; she was envious of this level of synchronization.

In the past, when she felt jealous, she wouldn't say anything, she would just feel sad and try to convince herself with a bitter smile that they were good friends.

Now that she's jealous, Yui Yuigahama won't let herself be wronged, and she certainly won't suppress her desires in front of them!

—If the relationship between the three of them is destined to be twisted, then let's start with the most normal version of ourselves and twist ourselves into people who are just as abnormal as them!

"Yuu, I want to eat your little sausage!" Like a queen giving orders, Yui Yuigahama ignored her unopened bento and gestured with her chin towards Yuu Tenkuji.

“Sure.” Sky Temple Yu readily agreed. As she picked up the rosy and adorable eight-legged octopus sausage with her chopsticks, she opened her small mouth, revealing her moist, pink oral cavity and her clean, fine teeth.

"Feed me." Her smooth, nimble tongue curled up slightly. Although half of her ears were red, Yui Yuigahama's expression was unusually firm, as if she wouldn't close her mouth and wait there with a "ah—" if he didn't feed her.

Yuuki Tenkuji didn't dare to confirm Yukino Yukinoshita's opinion, but obediently followed orders and stuffed the five-centimeter-sized sausage into her equally small and cute mouth.

"Mmm~" Yui Yuigahama closed her glossy little mouth, which was covered in lipstick, and chewed while holding her cheeks. Her face seemed to glow, and she couldn't help but moan.

"It's so delicious~ As expected of Yu's homemade dish, even though it's just a small sausage, it's a delicacy that most people would never get to taste~"

When she said this, she clearly turned her face towards Yukino Yukinoshita on purpose, smacking her lips like a show-off child, her happy expression undisguised.

If you can't see that she's being provocative, then Yukino Yukinoshita could go get her eyes checked.

"Yuigahama-san..." Her face twitched slightly, and she forced a smile. Half puzzled and half questioning, she asked, "May I ask what you're planning to do?"

"I didn't mean to do anything~" Yui Yuigahama drawled, unable to hide her smugness, glanced at the food in her bento box, and then opened her mouth again, "This time it's Yuki's turn, I want your tamagoyaki! Come on, ah—"