Classmate Yukino Definitely Has a Crush on Me

The relationships between girls are always so peculiar and intimate.

If it were boys, the only reasons to go to the restroom together would be to smoke or fight, but it's not like that for girls. They'll go together intimately even without a specific reason.

As she came out of the restroom, Yui Yuigahama saw Junko Kamizawa waiting for her outside. Junko was leaning against the railing with one hand, scrolling through her phone rapidly with the other, a smile playing on her lips.

Yui quickly walked over to the washbasin. "Wait a moment, Junko, I'll be right there."

Among the three of them, Yui was actually the least adept at dealing with Junko.

Junko was always smiling, smiling more than she spoke. Although Yui was good at reading the air and observing people, she actually hated trying to guess others' thoughts.

"Yui."

Junko suddenly spoke from behind her.

Yui's voice remained cheerful. "What is it, Junko?"

Junko Kamizawa sighed. "Yumiko is stubborn and won't admit it, but she seems to be really special towards Yukino... I'm a little worried that this love-struck idiot will mess everything up."

Junko had known Miura for over ten years, so how could she not know that this person, who seemed strong and reliable on the outside, would only become flustered when it came to topics of love?

Yui's hands paused for a moment before she chuckled. "Aren't you and Kaho always egging Yumiko on? If she keeps this up with self-suggestion, Yumiko will eventually think she's fallen for Yukino."

Junko's tone was low. Yui, with her back to her, couldn't see the expression on her face.

"Does Yui really think Yumiko is just self-suggesting?"

"...Huh?"

"When Yukino first transferred to our class, everyone was looking at Yukino. You probably didn't see Yumiko's expression then."

At that time, the black-haired girl had walked into the classroom with Teacher Hiratsuka. Her skin was like snow, her lips like cherries, and she was as beautiful as an ice fairy from a fairy tale.

Perhaps even Yumiko herself hadn't realized it, but in that instant, her soul had already crossed over her body, surpassing gossip and past prejudices.

When their eyes met, the golden-haired girl's eyes seemed to light up with countless galaxies.

Last night, Yumiko had searched online for a bunch of answers to "[How to get along better with friends]," but most of them were unreliable.

With no other options, she could only brace herself the next day to face the teasing and mockery of her close friends.

She took out her phone and quickly tapped into their group chat of three close friends.

Yumiko Miura: [Junko, Kaho, help me think of a way! How can I get closer to Yukino!]

The relationships between girls are always very delicate. There used to be a joke that six girls had forty-two group chats, but Yumiko and her friends weren't that exaggerated. They only had two.

One was a group chat of Yumiko, Junko, and Ono. The other was a group chat of four, including Yui Yuigahama.

The reason for creating two groups wasn't some sort of catfight between girls.

Yui Yuigahama was a very kind and wonderful friend, while Onozawa Kaho, Junko Kamizawa, and Yumiko Miura had been best friends since kindergarten.

But forcing Yumiko into a discussion group that was already accustomed to three people would only make her feel uncomfortable.

So, it was better to start a new group.

Kamizawa: [So what's wrong with you now??_?]

Onozawa: [Tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk tsk]

Seriously, Junko and Kaho were so annoying!

They just knew they would tease her!

Yumiko huffed and puffed, enduring this wave of teasing.

[Quick, give me some advice.]

[Besides me, Yukino doesn't seem to intend to get along with anyone.]

[Won't she become lonelier that way?]

This time, it really wasn't Yumiko being narcissistic; it was the truth.

Ever since Yukino changed back to her black hair, her personality had become increasingly cold. She already had a bad reputation in Japan. Although things had improved somewhat recently, with her aloof and detached demeanor that seemed untouched by the mundane world, very few people dared to break through her defenses and rashly approach this ice mountain.

Counting on her fingers, in the entire Sobu High School, she only seemed a little more amiable when interacting with Yumiko.

Although she felt smug and shy about this, Yumiko still wanted to do more for Yukino.

For example, to show her the world outside of her self-imposed confinement, and perhaps that besides the malice and bullying she had experienced, there might also be some kindness and goodwill.

Junko Kamizawa: [Suddenly asking how to get along with friends, I can't think of anything either. After all, Yumiko and I have been good friends since kindergarten.]

Onozawa Kaho: [Go to the aquarium, it's definitely the aquarium (●°u°●)"]

Yumiko Miura: [Why?]

Onozawa Kaho: [A survey in a magazine last month showed that the best date spot for yuri couples is the aquarium | ?o?ωo)???]

Yumiko Miura: [...Kaho, you're so annoying!]

Junko Kamizawa: [Cough, cough, the zoo, amusement park, or shopping are all fine. The secret to getting closer is just creating happy memories~]

Yumiko felt that Junko's words made a lot of sense.

Even though she was Yukino's deskmate, separated only by an aisle, she became shy about this matter.

No, that's not right. Yukino likes me, so she should be the one thinking about how to get along with me.

But then again, with Yukino's awkward and cold personality, it's more realistic to rely on myself than to expect her to take the initiative to get along with me.

Miura angrily took out her phone and opened Yukino's Line. She had been holding back all day, and it wasn't until Yukino was about to pack up and leave school at the end of the day that she quickly sent a message.

[Yukino, if you're free this weekend, would you like to go to the aquarium together?]

[Um, don't misunderstand! It's because I have this kind of club research to do...]

Yukino looked at her phone with confusion. She didn't understand the point of sending a Line message when they were less than two meters apart, nor did she understand what could be misunderstood about going to the aquarium.

Yukino: [I have cram school tomorrow.]

Miura: [QAQ]

Yukino: [...Never mind, I'll talk to my cram school teacher and postpone tomorrow's lesson.]

She slung her backpack over her shoulder and waved goodbye to Miura behind her, "See you tomorrow, Miura."

Miura stood there stunned for a moment, then happily clenched her right fist and swung it in the air. She was so excited that she even turned around and rubbed Onozawa Kaho's face.

"Kaho, did you hear that? Yukino, this study maniac, is postponing her cram school just to go on a date with me!"

"Cough, cough, you all saw it, right? Yukino asked me out!"

"I couldn't refuse, so I reluctantly agreed!"

Junko Kamizawa: "..."

Sigh.

This foolish child.

She's such a worry.

At the end of the school day, Hachiman Hikigaya walked towards the Third Floor Service Club with his backpack.

When he opened the door, he was stunned, "...Yui Yuigahama?"

Her pink hair cascaded down as she propped her chin on one side, gazing at the twilight clouds outside the window. It was indeed Yui Yuigahama.

The Service Club wasn't a place to go home, after all. To receive clients, Hachiman would spend half an hour to an hour in this empty clubroom every day.

He placed his backpack on another desk, sat down, and then looked at Yui, "Do you have any requests for the Service Club to convey or resolve for you?"

The Service Club was established by Hachiman Hikigaya in his first year of high school. It was probably when Teacher Hiratsuka could no longer tolerate him, this loafer who was just killing time, that she dragged him into establishing this Service Club.

The name "Service Club" sounds a bit odd, but the club's ideals are actually quite noble. Its activities involve lending a helping hand to those in need and accepting various requests from students at the school. Once a request is accepted, the responsibility must be fulfilled.

Teacher Hiratsuka hoped this would give Hikigaya something to do, a goal in life, or perhaps she hoped that by helping others, he could break free from his self-imposed limitations.

Hikigaya heard that Teacher Hiratsuka had initially wanted Yukino to establish the Service Club, but she had righteously refused.

[Sorry, my life's romantic plans have no room for extracurricular club activities.]

Then, Hikigaya was drafted by Teacher Hiratsuka.

It was truly a miracle that a one-person club hadn't been shut down for violating regulations.

The girl with pink hair turned around, her face still wearing its usual smile. "I just wanted to find a quiet place to be alone."

Her voice was muffled, as if carrying a hint of a forced smile. "So please let me rest here for a bit, Hikigaya-kun."

"Just pity me a little, your former 'love rival,' Hikigaya-kun, ha~"

Saturday, Japan's Earth Day.

Although the appointment was set for eight o'clock, Miura had barely slept the night before. She had jumped out of bed at four in the morning with her eyes wide open.

She did a face mask, styled her hair, chose her outfit, and then spent a considerable amount of time on makeup. She also took pictures of her chosen outfit and sent them to her close friends' group chat.

Ono replied quickly, "[... Yumiko, aren't you dressed a bit too formally?]"

Kamizawa also responded with his usual sharp tongue, "[Are you going shopping or getting married to Yukino???]"

Hmph!

This was her first real date in her life, was there anything wrong with being a little serious!

However, this did seem a bit inappropriate...

Miura scratched her head and changed into a slightly more casual outfit.

Finally, after confirming that she looked radiant and flawless for the day, she took the train to the meeting spot with Yukino.

On the train, and even among the passersby on the street, people of all genders couldn't help but glance at her more than a few times. Some even struck up conversations with her.

Miura, who was already accustomed to admiring glances, held her head high with pride today, like a proud swan heading into battle.

Today, she was determined to amaze Yukino.

However, when she arrived at their destination, it was Miura who was stunned at first sight.

The black-haired girl stood just outside the mall entrance, calmly looking at her phone, seemingly waiting for someone.

Her casual outfit wasn't particularly flashy. She wore a white long-sleeved shirt underneath a light beige sleeveless knit vest, paired with a gray pleated skirt that ended just above her knees. It was a very ordinary school-girl style.

She didn't even seem to be wearing much makeup. Up close, one could even see her fair, smooth skin, so flawless it showed no pores.

But she simply stood there, and the light was there.

It was as if a faint, bright halo gently enveloped her, making her so conspicuous and so beautiful.

Though she stood amidst a bustling crowd, she seemed to be in a brilliant yet lonely sea of stars, isolated from everyone.

Miura felt as if she had returned to the day Yukino Yukinoshita transferred to Class 2-F, when their eyes met mid-air the moment she looked up.

Even knowing everything about this person's past, she couldn't help but be captivated by her at first glance.

"Miura?"

The light source, standing in that isolated sea of stars, greeted her with a hint of confusion and then walked towards her.

In that instant, Miura even had an illusion: the world seemed to transform into a deep sea that began to flow again, and that beam of light crossed the dark, profound seabed to swim towards her own world.

"What are you spacing out about?"

Yukino Yukinoshita waved her hand in front of Miura and then, with a hint of awkwardness, glanced at her own clothes. "...Does it look strange, me wearing this?"

She wore her school uniform at school and lounged in homewear at home. She rarely had the chance to wear casual clothes for going out.

After all, she had never had friends to go shopping with since she was little.

"Not strange at all, incredibly and wonderfully beautiful!"

Miura immediately gave a thumbs-up, genuinely praising her!

The clothes were just ordinary clothes, but when worn by someone like Yukino Yukinoshita, they immediately seemed to gain immense value and an exceptionally elegant aura.