In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

Rikka and Eriri went to the restroom together. As the Service Club door was gently closed, only Yukino Yukinoshita remained in the classroom.

It's noon now, the sun is blazing, and the sunlight is displaying its most aggressive side of the day.

Even indoors, the scorching light and heat are mostly filtered out by the glass windows, but the power is still considerable.

While being indoors can avoid the sun, the lack of wind today makes it feel inexplicably stuffy.

Even the usually aloof Yukino couldn't help but feel a little hot in this environment, with a thin layer of sweat seeping out from her neck.

At that moment, Chiya Minamoto pushed open the door of the Service Club and sat down next to Yukino.

Just as the chilled drink she had just bought from the vending machine was about to be placed on her face, Yukino noticed it first and dodged it.

Although she subconsciously resisted the intimate gesture, she accepted the kindness and expressed her sincere gratitude.

Ever since she learned that Chiya was dating both Saeko and Utaha at the same time, her attitude toward her childhood friend has subtly changed.

Gone is the carefree spirit that allowed ambiguity to flow freely; it has become the rigid and formulaic thing it is now.

Yuan Qianye looked up at the ceiling: "I'll go talk to the student council later. It's only just gotten hot, and it'll only get hotter. We can't just let the ceiling fan break down."

Yukino replied calmly, "I've already submitted a repair request. The school's maintenance worker said they'll come and fix our ceiling fan once the air conditioner in the gymnasium is repaired."

"As expected of the minister, he gives me peace of mind."

Yukino gently shook her head and said nothing.

The hot weather caused her to lose energy faster, and she felt a little sleepy during her lunch break.

She tried to pry open the beverage can, but her slender fingernails were too short, and she failed several times.

"Let me do it." Yuan Qianye leaned over, took the drink, easily opened it, and handed it back.

Yukino thanked him again, and the way she sipped her drink was quite pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, it shouldn't be a misperception.

Sitting next to Yukino, who was slightly sweating, Chiyo could smell a distinctive scent emanating from her.

The smell is pleasant and doesn't seem to be from any man-made substance.

The scent felt similar to the one Yang Nai exuded when she was passionately in his arms, but it wasn't nearly as rich and intense as when Yang Nai was burning hot; it was just fresh and natural.

Seeing that Chiyo was staring at her without moving, Yukino sighed awkwardly and looked back at her with her eyes downcast: "What?"

Yuan Qianye smiled and pointed to the drink in her hand: "I bought this especially for you."

Yukino was silent for a moment: "...How much?"

Yuan Qianye maintained her seemingly innocent smile: "No, that's not what I meant. I meant that I bought this especially for you. You're happy now, aren't you?"

Yukino scrutinized him more intently for a long time, her doubts quickly turning into understanding. She then asked with concern, "Are you suffering from heatstroke?"

"..."

The second young lady doesn't play by the rules, so why is it so hard to get a "happy" reply from her?

He wanted to collect more likes from her so he could redeem rewards from Yang Nai.

It seems we need to change our approach from now on.

Just then, his phone vibrated in his pocket, bringing him to an end this fruitless attempt.

He went to the window, opened his phone, and saw a message from the maid.

First, there's a picture.

The most prominent content in the picture is the news headline from the Qixi Festival two days ago.

—"An unprecedented large-scale fireworks show with as many as 2,321 shots!"

Then came a message from the maid.

[Hayasaka Ai: I stumbled upon this report online, and it suddenly made me realize something. The total number of days from the day I first met Chiya to the night of the Tanabata Festival is exactly 2,321. I don't think this is a coincidence. Could it be that this fireworks show was also part of a surprise you specially prepared for me, Chiya?]

Yuan Qianye was stunned when he saw this message.

Wait... how could they possibly bump into each other by such a coincidence?!

…………

Chapter 092: We shouldn't have arranged to meet in the office!

Upon careful reflection, Yuan Qianye suddenly realized that this was indeed the case.

Rewinding my memory to many years ago, my first meeting with the maid and Haruno was indeed on the same afternoon, just a few moments apart.

He had thought that the grand fireworks display he had prepared was mainly aimed at Yang Nai, to surprise her, lower her guard, and break down the barriers between them.

Perhaps it can also have some effect on Kazusa, enhancing their relationship.

But to my complete surprise, this actually worked on the maid, and she even noticed it herself.

For girls who are naturally more emotional, sometimes silent sacrifices are more touching than direct statements.

Even if the event did not initially contain that meaning, but was simply misunderstood.

When faced with this situation, Yuan Qianye realized that the maid on the other end of the phone was filled with joy and anticipation, which was naturally—

[Yuan Qianye: You don't need to worry about it.]

They did not deny it, but gave this ambiguous answer.

It wasn't a despicable act of receiving something for nothing; after all, strictly speaking, he was indeed the one who facilitated that grand fireworks show.

He was simply driven by the simple thought that he couldn't let the girl down, especially since she was a girl he had feelings for.

Such a reply appeared on the maid's phone screen, and from her perspective, it was perfectly natural to see it as a humble statement that did not seek credit.

As a result, the image of Yuan Qianye in her mind was inexplicably elevated.

Hayasaka Ai kept typing on her phone, then immediately deleting it, repeating this process over and over again.

Realizing this fact belatedly plunged her thoughts into a blissful confusion, leaving her unsure of what response to give.

No form of written reply can accurately describe her feelings at this moment.

No one would go to such lengths and spend so much time and money to prepare a surprise gift just because of friendship, especially one that includes a hidden camera and listening device.

Their relationship has now undoubtedly crossed the line of friendship and is moving towards a more secretive and intimate unknown realm.

She now deeply regrets not having watched the fireworks more attentively that day, and not having preserved more happy memories to cherish in the future at such an important moment in her life.

[Hayasaka Ai: Chiya, if you do this, I can't think of any way I can repay you in the future.]

[Yuan Qianye: You're overthinking it. I didn't even consider it that way. Besides, the idea of ​​returns seems too calculating between us, doesn't it?]

[Hayasaka Ai: I'm sorry.]

[Chiya Minamoto: Don't think too much, just cheer up. Ai-chan is cutest when she smiles.]

After sending the message, Yuan Qianye suddenly realized that he might have been a little too proactive, and that his flirting intentions were too obvious.

I was about to retract the message when it was already marked as read; it was too late.

Well, let's leave it at that. Anyway, from God's perspective, the maid is indeed smiling very happily.

Infected by her warm, happy smile, Yuan Qianye couldn't help but smile as well.

Standing by the window, I chatted with her for a few more minutes before putting my phone away.

When he turned to face the interior again, he met the second young lady's somewhat complicated expression.

"What's wrong?" Yuan Qianye asked, puzzled.

“It’s strange.” Yukino stared at him thoughtfully, blinking her beautiful eyes. “I don’t know why, but seeing you like this makes me feel inexplicably disgusted and uncomfortable.”

What?! Second Miss, you can now tell from my expressions that I'm flirting with other girls?!

Yuan Qianye was deeply shocked, but did not show any unusual behavior.

"It's too hot in the classroom, so your head must be spinning from the heat, or do you have some kind of problem with me?" Yuan Qianye naturally returned to the table and sat down.

Yukino thought about his words carefully for a while, then nodded and agreed with his point of view: "Yes, it must be due to stereotypes."

"You'd better deny it!" Yuan Qianye sighed helplessly. "Speaking of which, haven't you been a bit too cold to me lately? I don't want to be as close as before, but at least don't act like you've only just met me and you're acting all distant."

“I have to correct you, our relationship wasn’t exactly close before.” Yukino’s eyes showed a momentary unease, but she quickly recovered. “Besides, from the moment you announced that you were dating two girls at the same time, a certain aspect of your character has already been given a negative score by me. I value that a lot, and there’s nothing I can do about it.”

"You even specifically emphasized a certain aspect of my character, and I really appreciate that you didn't completely deny everything about me. You saved me some face."

"This is an objective fact. I have no intention of trying to save face for you; I am simply stating the facts."

"So, apart from the one aspect you mentioned, you still agree with me on other aspects, right?"

"Yes." Yukino really wanted to deny it, but she couldn't, and her personality wouldn't allow her to lie in this answer.

"I see." Yuan Qianye suddenly smiled broadly, his expression suggestive: "Then, about the poisoning case I successfully prevented in Fukuoka..."

"Just like the news media and the local government police department announced, you are undoubtedly a hero who saved innocent civilians." Yukino silently opened the novel, her pretty face no longer showing the composure she had just displayed.

Yuan Qianye laughed even more: "I'm still more concerned about how you see me back then."

"I think so too." Yukino's face, which had cooled down a bit from the cold drink, flushed slightly again.

"Regarding the fact that I've won several literary awards..."

"...You're very talented, there's nothing more to say about that."

"And experiences like winning the national kendo championship..."

"..."

"Second Miss, why aren't you saying anything? Is it really because it's too hot?"

"You're really boring." Yukino finally couldn't maintain her composure and looked directly at me with her pretty eyes: "If you really want emotional value, you'd be better off going to your two girlfriends than me."

Yuan Qianye shrugged: "You said it yourself, they are my girlfriends, so they will definitely be more tolerant and compliant towards me. Therefore, the evaluations I get from them are often not objective enough. Only from you, who knows the specific situation around me, dislikes and criticizes certain aspects of my character but has an absolute belief in justice, will I get more real feedback. It's like a clear and clean mirror that allows me to more clearly realize my own shortcomings."

He said things that seemed to make some sense, but his real intentions went beyond what was on the surface.

"I'm going to read now." Yukino, being aware of this, unilaterally tried to end the conversation.

"I'll leave after I finish this last sentence." Yuan Qianye's tone gradually softened: "According to your standards, is someone who possesses great and positive character, has provided a lot of help to society, but is somewhat lacking in private morality, yet has not crossed any legal boundaries and can at most be condemned on a moral level, better? Or is someone who is ordinary, neither actively helping others nor accepting help from others, and simply lives a law-abiding life better?"

Yukino did not answer.

The purpose of Yuan Qianye in asking this question was not to get a direct answer from her.