After trying pour-over coffee, you realized that what you used to drink was basically muddy water. It was quite shocking, and yet you might still think muddy water tasted pretty good. Well, preparing filter paper and a grinder was a hassle, so cheap muddy-water instant coffee was also an option... As I did my utmost to look like a man who could taste the difference, Yukino, who had been staring at her paperback, suddenly spoke.
"By the way, I heard that rumor."
"Which rumor?"
I glanced at her. Yukino closed her book and smiled.
"Yuihama-san and 'the boy from another school.'"
"Could you not make it sound like a Harry Potter title?"
"The fact that such a rumor spread means the way you interact is natural enough to be misunderstood... But I never imagined you would be mistaken for a student from another school. Your lack of notoriety is truly impressive."
"Yeah..."
I was far too suited to being a spy. I gave a self-deprecating smile and looked out the window, feeling a touch melancholy. Though my behavior back then had been ridiculously suspicious—about a hundred thousand miles away from natural.
"Our situation right now isn't much different... Well, there don't seem to be any acquaintances nearby, so no rumors should spread."
As I spoke, I looked around the café. The clientele was fairly mature and composed, much like before. There were no customers who looked like high school students. After checking, I turned back, only to find Yukino across from me blinking repeatedly.
"Rumors... about me? And you?"
"Yukino Yukinoshita and 'the boy from another school.'"
I deliberately copied her wording. Yukino laughed, propped her cheek on her hand, and looked into my eyes with curiosity.
"...What kind of relationship would other people think we have?"
Beneath her thick