Yukino Yukinoshita Is Definitely Crushing On Me

Yukinoshita, of course, could not hear the marmot-like screaming inside Miura's heart. She felt that Miura probably still hated her quite a bit right now.

When Hayama asked her to deliver the water just a moment ago, her expression had been so unsightly; it seemed she had been scorched quite severely by the fires of jealousy.

Fortunately, Yukinoshita had pulled off a series of moves as fierce as a tiger, successfully suppressing her rage.

Sigh, man, thy name is the source of all sin.

As for the rumors about Miura liking Hayama, Yukinoshita had heard them countless times over the past few weeks. The two of them—one a super cute queen, the other a heartthrob prince...

Wait, why does this description sound like a mother and son?

Change it, change it.

The two of them—one a super cute princess, the other a heartthrob prince—had known each other since middle school. They were practically childhood sweethearts, both sporting the same blonde hair, looking like a perfect match. When they stood together, they were simply an impeccable pair.

Yukinoshita was about to beat the dead horse of the blonde Yukinoshita again. You'd even break up such a perfect couple?

Looking at it this way, she felt a bit of pity for her "heartless point-grinding machine," Miura.

At the very least, she could no longer treat her as a heartless point-grinding machine.

Meanwhile, Miura realized that although she had been thinking about becoming friends with Yukinoshita, being good to her, and leading her onto the right path, she actually didn't understand this person at all.

She only knew that this person was beautiful, came from a superior family background, and possessed such infinite charm that she would basically never fail if she confessed to anyone.

She had briefly lost her way in the past, but since turning over a new leaf recently, she seemed to be radiating an eye-catching, sparkling brilliance at all times.

She appeared cold, as if she kept everyone at a distance, but in reality, as long as someone treated her with even a fraction of genuine kindness, she would immediately want to return ten times that amount, unwilling to owe anyone anything.

Just how much malice had this person endured to cherish such a tiny bit of goodwill so dearly?

Recently, not only was the public opinion about her in school changing rapidly, but even in class, many students would steal glances at her from time to time. Among these people was Yumiko Miura.

Who am I?

Where am I?

Who is Hayama?

Ugh, no, I'm supposed to be friends with her...

Miura pulled her hand back, her face flushed red, while she grumbled defiantly in her heart:

How is this fair? Yukinoshita is clearly secretly in love with me, so why is she so calm when she touches my hand, while I look like a guilty thief who's seen a ghost!

How is this fair!

With a light cough, Miura awkwardly turned her head to look in another direction. "Yukinoshita, will you be participating in the next class activity or school competition?"

Yukino Yukinoshita took the mineral water from her hand, twisted off the cap, and tilted her head back to take a sip. "If it's still an activity organized by Miura-san."

As she tilted her head to drink, her fair, slender neck revealed an elegant curve.

Miura thought that even the simple act of drinking water looked so beautiful on this person.

She thought further that Yukinoshita had always been like a lone wolf in class and at school, even refusing water offered by Hayama, the heartthrob of the school, yet she had accepted the water she offered without a moment's hesitation.

She hadn't even refused when she dragged her into forming a group.

Hmph, Yukinoshita-san, your secret crush on me is way too obvious!

Yumiko Miura wanted to understand Yukinoshita better.

Based on this consideration, when she was lying in bed after showering that night, she decisively pinged her semi-childhood friend, Hayama.

[Are you there? Are you there?]

Hayama replied very quickly; even his text replies carried a sense of unhurried gentleness. [I'm here. What's wrong, Yumiko?]

[Can you tell me about Yukinoshita-san's past?]

Miura vaguely remembered that Hayama had apparently attended the same elementary school as Yukinoshita.

This time, there was a long pause on the other end before he replied, [...Why are you suddenly asking about this?]

Miura didn't blush or skip a beat. [Because I want to be friends with Yukinoshita-san.]

[Haha, I see.]

[If Yumiko can be friends with Yukinoshita and look after her a little, I couldn't be more relieved.]

Why are you using that "entrusting my belongings to you" tone? Yukinoshita never even liked you, Hayama!

[Let me think, where should I start...]

Hayama's father worked in the legal department of the construction company owned by the Yukinoshita family, and since they attended the same elementary school, they could be considered acquaintances from a young age.

In Japan, doctors and lawyers are professions with high social status, great respect, and substantial income, so the Hayama family was also a wealthy, middle-class family of doctors. However, compared to the Yukinoshita family, they were naturally inferior.

Although the world of children is pure, it can also be tainted by the influence of adults with colors of filth far too early.

When Yukinoshita was little, she was as adorable as a doll, like a little princess who had run out of Disneyland. The boys all liked her, but the girls were very jealous of her. Hindered by the girls' united front, the boys couldn't show her any special attention.

This intensifying jealousy eventually turned into an isolation that engulfed the entire class. Her indoor shoes would always go missing for no reason, and her water bottle would always have strange things added to it.

Such direct conflicts between children could not be completely resolved even by telling parents or teachers. After a brief period of restraint, it would only lead to more direct hostility, and the person being isolated might even be considered immature by parents and teachers, or a troublemaker who invited trouble.

In the end, this farce reached its peak one day.

A few young girls took advantage of the time Yukino Yukinoshita went to the restroom after school to lock her inside, giggling as they left the school grounds, even making sure to turn off the lights before they departed.

That day, she was locked in the school restroom for the entire night. It wasn't until her older sister returned home from tutoring and realized something was wrong when she saw her sister hadn't come home yet that she rushed to the school. Only then did she find Yukino Yukinoshita in a stall, sobbing and pounding on the door for help, her voice completely hoarse.

No one knows what Yukino Yukinoshita thought about while trapped in that pitch-black restroom, with no one to hear her cries for help until late into the night.

But that was the first time Hayato Hayama saw Yukino Yukinoshita—who always faced every malice with a look of disdain—break down and cry in such a way.

She clung tightly to her sister as if she were her only lifeline, sobbing until she was breathless.

She asked, "Are you going to abandon me too, sister?"

Later on, Yukino Yukinoshita transferred abroad, only returning to the country after graduating from middle school. Hayama saw her again at Sobu High School.

Hayama said in a low voice, "I have always felt incredibly sorry toward Yukino Yukinoshita..."

If he had been able to muster the courage to stand up back then—even if it meant standing up to no avail and becoming an outcast alongside her—would everything be different now?

So, when Yukino Yukinoshita confessed to you a few months ago, even knowing it was a mocking trap, did you still jump into it without hesitation?

Miura was silent for a moment before replying, filled with anger, to the boy she had once likely liked.

[Hayama-kun, you are the worst!]

Yukino Yukinoshita always felt that recently, Miura's gaze toward her was filled with pity and affection.

It was almost like a mother looking at her own poor, ill-fated, silly daughter.

Yukino Yukinoshita: ?

Onozawa Kaho shook Miura's shoulders desperately. "Yumiko, restrain yourself! You're making Yukino Yukinoshita shy just by looking at her!"

Yukino Yukinoshita!

Where is Yukino Yukinoshita?

Miura looked around the classroom. "Oh, that's right, where is Yukino Yukinoshita?"

"Hiratsuka-sensei called her out. She probably went to help carry some documents."

After Junko Kamizawa finished speaking, she smiled at Miura. "Yumiko, you haven't had much energy at school lately. If this keeps up, your grades will eventually be surpassed by Yukino Yukinoshita, tsk tsk."

Onozawa Kaho also laughed. "You've already been crushed in sports; if your grades get surpassed too, won't Yukino Yukinoshita stop looking at you entirely in the future... What do you think, Yui?"

Yui Yuigahama nodded with a smile. "That's right, Yumiko. You really have been lazy lately."

"Aaaaaahhhhhhh!"

Miura irritably grabbed her perfectly maintained blonde hair. "I'll study, I'll study, okay?!"

The possibility of Yukino Yukinoshita not even sparing me a glance—that must absolutely never happen!

Most students tremble with fear when called to the staff room by a teacher, but Yukino Yukinoshita remained as calm as ever when summoned by Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"Teacher, I'm here."

"Oh, oh, sit, sit."

The office was empty save for Shizuka Hiratsuka, her desk cluttered with a laptop and various books.

"Are you keeping up with your studies lately? How are you preparing for next week's mock exam?"

As expected, those were the two questions she asked.

Yukino Yukinoshita nodded. "I missed too much material in the past, so it will take some time to catch up. However, thanks to the Service Club President, Hikigaya, I've recently found an excellent and reliable tutor."

"As for the next mock exam, I can't say much else, but I certainly won't repeat the results of the last one."

Shizuka Hiratsuka took a candy from her coat pocket, unwrapped it, and slowly popped it into her mouth.

She rolled her eyes. "Indeed, it would be hard to score lower than being in the bottom ten of the class and the bottom twenty of the school."

However, she casually reached out and used her index finger to slide a candy across the desk, pushing it to the edge near Yukino Yukinoshita.

"Still, considering you've been a good girl lately, this is your reward."

Yukino Yukinoshita felt like she was going to snap.

No way, no way. You can't be serious about giving a reward in the form of a single candy.

"At least give me ten, Teacher."

"This is my essential tool for quitting smoking at school, my source of vitality! If I have one less, I'll be irritable for at least an hour today!" Shizuka Hiratsuka fiercely unwrapped another candy and shoved it into Yukino Yukinoshita's mouth. "Two at most!"

Her cool fingers, carrying a faint scent of cigarettes, brushed against Yukino Yukinoshita's lips.

Yet, the person in question didn't seem to notice at all, smiling as she asked, "How does it taste?"

Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, finally giving up on the idea of grinding for quests from Shizuka Hiratsuka.

"Teacher, have you ever actually disliked me?"

"What kind of silly talk is that..." Shizuka Hiratsuka picked up her lesson plans, stood up, and playfully tapped her on the head with them. "How could a teacher ever truly dislike their student?"

"Now let's go, this period is my class."

I can't grind for quests from this person.

However, ever since I arrived in this chaotic timeline a year ago, for the first time, I felt like a beam of light had pierced through a dark, hollow cave and shone upon me.

Shizuka Hiratsuka is an idiot.

Returning home that day, Yui Yuigahama was running a hot bath after dinner when her phone vibrated several times in quick succession.

It was Yumiko.

[Yui, are you there? Are you there?]

[I have something to tell you!]

Yui untied the small bun in her hair—which was such a light shade that it looked more peach than brown—and tapped out a reply.

[I'm here, go ahead Yumiko~]

This time, there was a long pause on the other end. It wasn't until Yui had finished undressing and stepped into the bathtub that a long string of messages finally arrived.

[There are so many rumors at school about you and Yukinoshita being mortal enemies, but I've never felt like you hated her... Did something actually happen between you two in the past?]

Yui's warm, damp fingers froze on her phone, leaving a smudge of condensation on the screen.

Miura was the blonde queen; beautiful, academically gifted, and athletic, she was incredibly popular at school and the leader of their group.

Ono was petite and cute, looking like a little girl on the outside. She was smart and competitive, yet surprisingly airheaded at times, serving as the vanguard of their small circle.

Kamisawa had long, slightly wavy hair and wore rimless glasses. With her constant, gentle smile, she appeared soft and intellectual, but she was actually quite devious and acted as their strategist.

The three of them were always noisy and boisterous, and all Yui had to do was act as a competent lubricant whenever they started bickering.

It was nice, really.