Yukino froze, her attention diverted as she quickly looked ahead.
That tall, curvy beauty in black stockings—who else could it be but Utaha?
"I'm going over to say hello," Fushimi Makoto said.
Yukino's face was ice-cold. "What are you plotting now?"
"Nothing. I just saw someone I know and wanted to go say hello."
"You're sure you don't want to expose me?"
"It doesn't matter if you're exposed. Everything will reset tomorrow anyway."
"..."
Yukino was at a loss for words.
That was true. Everything would reset, so none of today's events really mattered.
For a moment, she lost herself in thought.
She forgot to let go of Fushimi Makoto's waist, and she forgot that her chest was still pressed tightly against him.
The two of them remained in that close embrace as they rode the motorcycle up to Utaha.
Utaha glanced over in confusion. Seeing a man and a woman on a Harley, she immediately lost interest.
She'd always kept her distance from people who rode motorcycles with girls on the back first thing in the morning.
But Fushimi Makoto slowly rode up beside her and lifted his visor with one hand. "Good morning, senpai."
"Hm?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Utaha turned again in surprise.
When she recognized those eyes, her expression grew even more astonished. "Fushimi?"
Then her gaze fell on Yukino behind him.
Could this be Nakano Ichika?
In her mind, only Nakano Ichika was ever that close to Fushimi Makoto.
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
The girl behind him was far too small-chested.
She didn't look anything like Nakano Ichika in that department.
Yukino, meanwhile, felt helpless. Not greeting a senior from school would go against the upbringing she'd received since childhood.
As she let go of Fushimi Makoto's waist and copied his movement to lift her visor, she suddenly froze.
Wait!
Had that guy deliberately dragged out their conversation so I'd keep hugging him longer?
Yukino thought it was highly likely.
After all, the first time you did something like this, it was bound to feel unnatural. But once there'd been a first time, how far off could the second and third be?
Because he was Fushimi Makoto, and because today was part of a Time Loop, Yukino became increasingly certain of her theory.
But for now, she could only greet Utaha, who was staring at her in astonishment. "Good morning, Kasumigaoka-senpai."
"You're Yukinoshita?" Utaha was dumbfounded.
"That's right," Yukino calmly admitted.
Since she'd already been exposed, panicking wouldn't help. She might as well handle it calmly.
That was her way of doing things.
Utaha's expression became incredibly complicated.
With no other students around, she even pulled out her phone to check the time, thinking she might have gotten the date wrong and school was actually closed today.
But once she confirmed the time was right, she asked with an uncertain look, "Are you two... skipping class on purpose?"
The top student in the first year taking the second-ranked student along to skip class?
Those two really were something else.
"We got permission," Yukino answered this time.
Even though she knew this was a Time Loop, she still wanted to make things clear.
Fushimi Makoto backed her up. "That's right."
Utaha's ample chest rose and fell rapidly. Her voice was noticeably uncertain. "And the reason you got permission was...?"
"As you can see, we're out for a ride," Fushimi Makoto said, pointing to Yukino behind him.
Yukino glared at him.
Utaha expressionlessly nodded.
All right, I get it.
A young couple had impulsively skipped class to go for a ride.
That was the sort of thing boys and girls their age would do.
But...
If he was going out with Yukinoshita, then what was going on with Nakano Ichika?
Utaha thought back carefully.
She clearly remembered how Fushimi Makoto had looked after Nakano Ichika that day. It hadn't been an act.
At the same time, she felt a little regretful.
She'd finally found a guy she got along with. If he had a girlfriend, she wouldn't be able to drop by and ask him for help whenever she wanted anymore.
"Senpai, we're heading off."
Fushimi Makoto waved and suddenly sped up.
At the same time, he reached out and grabbed Yukino's arm to keep her from losing her balance and falling backward.
And because of that, Yukino was once again pulled against him by the force of inertia.
"I'm starting to want to hit you, Fushimi Makoto."
Yukino's voice came from beside his ear.
Fushimi Makoto said, "Why are you being so formal with your brother? You call me big bro, so it's only natural for brothers to get a little physical."
"Can you say anything useful instead of spouting nonsense all the time?"
Fushimi Makoto smiled. "Then let's change the subject. You've been working so hard lately, and I'm a professional in this field as well as your big bro. Next time, I'll put together a complete guide to photography for you, including my own tips and experience."
He brought up the subject they'd discussed during the previous Time Loop.
Yukino paused, then fell silent.
She really did need Fushimi Makoto's help.
She was a quick learner, but she hadn't been born knowing everything.
If a professional could point her in the right direction and explain the finer details, she was sure she could master the material in a month.
So this time, she didn't say anything more.
Her fair arms quietly wrapped around Fushimi Makoto's waist, and she didn't let go again.
I must be crazy!
That thought came to her mind.
But Yukino didn't know that.
She hadn't lowered her visor, and she was pressed against him again. Her mind was sluggish right now. So as Fushimi Makoto rode the motorcycle, he kept sneaking glances at her from the side.
He saw every change in Yukino's expression.
"My bro's so cute," he said.
Yukino pretended she hadn't heard him.
Fushimi Makoto had been watching her on the sly, but the longer he looked, the more his gaze kept drifting to her thighs.
Those thighs looked even rounder, stretched tight beneath her jeans.
Everyone knew that when a girl with a beautiful waist-to-hip ratio sat behind someone on a motorcycle like this, her waist, hips, and thighs took on an incredibly alluring shape.
Fushimi Makoto couldn't help thinking that girls with beautiful legs really had it all. You already looked so good in thigh-highs, but I never expected you to look even better in tight jeans.
"Bro, can I ask you something?" Fushimi Makoto said.
Yukino glanced up coolly. "Go ahead."
"I'll treat you to the aquarium later. Could you do me a favor and pose for a photo?"
"Why do you want to take a photo?"
Fushimi Makoto was blunt. "Your legs look amazing."
Yukino didn't answer. She simply raised her arm and elbowed him.
Fushimi Makoto became the Elbow-Resistant King and didn't make a sound.
Only then did Yukino say, "Don't even think about it."
That sort of playful roughhousing between close friends seemed to have become completely natural.
"Fine, then we'll stick to the original plan and go help you relax," Fushimi Makoto said, sounding disappointed.
Yukino heard the change in his mood, and the corner of her mouth lifted.
But she'd forgotten just how easily she'd wrapped her arms around Fushimi Makoto's waist this time.
The first time might be awkward, but by the second, you were used to it—and that saying was proving truer by the minute.
Admit It, You Do Feel Something
At ten in the morning, Yukino finally got to see the penguins.
There weren't many visitors at that time of day. The moment a beautiful girl like Yukino stepped inside, she stood out from the crowd, whether for her looks or her elegant air.
Fortunately, the staff's presentation and the penguins' adorably clumsy appearance drew plenty of attention. Otherwise, Yukino probably wouldn't have wanted to stay.
Fushimi Makoto wasn't interested in the penguins. That morning, he'd already called the music teacher to say he wasn't feeling well.
Even though everything would reset the next day and the teacher wouldn't remember that a lesson had been scheduled for today, Fushimi Makoto didn't mind taking a moment to let him know.
Yukino gazed at the penguins' round bellies, a lovely smile appearing on her face.
These adorably goofy-looking animals always seemed to bring out a fond, indulgent smile in girls.
Her smile wasn't quite that exaggerated, but it was obvious from her expression that she was having a wonderful time.
After a while, Yukino reluctantly looked away. She turned and saw Fushimi Makoto chatting with a stranger nearby.
She didn't go over to interrupt. She waited patiently for two minutes, then asked when Fushimi Makoto returned, "Someone you know?"
"No. I heard him speaking Chinese with his friend, so I got curious and went over to talk. Turns out they really were tourists from China," Fushimi Makoto replied casually.
Yukino focused on something else. "You speak Chinese?"
"I'm not going to say I studied it this time. I have to say I'm fluent."
"That confident?" Yukino was clearly skeptical.
She knew a little about Chinese. The tones alone were enough to stump a lot of students, and the language was very difficult to learn.
Fushimi Makoto was just about to answer when the two tourists he'd been chatting with came over and spoke in Chinese. "We're going to see some other animals. What about you... Holy crap, is this your girlfriend? She's gorgeous!"
They were both stunned by Yukino's looks.
Fushimi Makoto laughed. "It's been ages since I heard such a genuine 'holy crap.'"
The other man smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry. We're just used to saying that."
Then the two men smiled awkwardly at Yukino in greeting.
Before you continue