Time Loop in Anime Multiverse, I Do Whatever I Want 37

Yukino nodded politely in response.

The other party asked Fushimi Makoto again, "You two must be a couple, right?"

Fushimi Makoto replied, "Not yet, for the time being."

The two tourists clearly didn't believe him: "You're already at the aquarium together first thing in the morning; you've definitely got to be a couple. My man, you're a legend!"

They even gave a thumbs-up, on one hand marveling at Yukino's beauty, and on the other, admiring Fushimi Makoto.

Fushimi Makoto asked with a smile, "What makes me a legend?"

The two were stunned for a moment, then laughed: "You actually know that meme? You really are a legend."

After the two parties parted ways, Yukino suddenly asked, "What were you two talking about just now?"

Fushimi Makoto replied, "They were complimenting how pretty you are."

Yukino nodded: "I guessed as much; their tone and the way they looked suggested that."

"Aren't you going to be a little humble?"

"It's a fact, so why should I be humble?"

Yukino retorted, then stared at Fushimi Makoto's face and said slowly, "However, I have a feeling that besides complimenting my looks, they must have talked to you about something else."

Fushimi Makoto said, "They thought we were definitely a couple. Clearly, they have a good eye."

Yukino stared at him for two seconds and said in surprise, "It was actually true?"

"Why are you using such a skeptical tone?"

"Because you have too many prior offenses, so I have to be cautious."

Fushimi Makoto asked deliberately, "In other words, you know me very well?"

Yukino gave an elegant smile: "I wouldn't say very well, but I have the confidence to deal with you now."

Fushimi Makoto turned his head to look ahead: "I checked the map earlier; the seal exhibit is just up ahead. Do you want to go take a look?"

"Sure."

Yukino had already intended to relax, so she didn't refuse.

However, as the two walked forward, the crowd suddenly grew much larger; it seemed everyone was heading to the seal exhibit.

Yukino frowned, and just as she was about to step aside to avoid the crowd, she suddenly felt a warmth in her palm.

She was stunned and quickly looked at Fushimi Makoto beside her, who was also looking at her.

Their gazes met, and Fushimi Makoto raised her hand: "Did you guess this step? I noticed earlier that there were quite a few tourists coming to see the seals today."

This was a provocation!

Yukino took a deep breath and said in a calm tone, "Let go."

Fushimi Makoto didn't say a word and just kept holding her hand as he walked forward.

Yukino hesitated whether to pull away, but Fushimi Makoto spoke first: "Stay close; it's too crowded here."

Yukino fell silent and stopped trying to break free.

It was at this moment that she thought to herself: So a boy's palm can completely envelop mine.

She quickly lowered her head and glanced down; her hand was already more than half-covered by Fushimi Makoto's hand.

Her soft, delicate little hand was fair and tender, and with the contrast, it looked even more like translucent jade.

Yukino didn't speak for the rest of the time, only the occasional flicker in her eyes revealed that her heart was not as calm as she appeared.

At noon, the two had lunch together. Yukino thought about the sudden "killer move" Fushimi Makoto had pulled at the aquarium and suspected he might have more plans, so she said, "Thank you for taking me out; I've relaxed enough..."

Fushimi Makoto asked out of the blue, "Let's go sit at that cat cafe next."

Hearing the words "cat cafe," Yukino wavered for half a second before regaining her composure: "You really did plan this in advance."

"Actually, the cat cafe wasn't originally in my plans, but because I ran into Mrs. Yukinoshita during a time loop, I knew where she would be this afternoon," Fushimi Makoto said.

Yukino really wanted to ask: How frequent is your contact with my mother in private? Why are you bringing her up again?

Instead, she asked, "So your original plan was to take me to see my mother?"

"Yes, I thought if we appeared before her together, she would probably be very happy."

"Alright, you don't need to say anything more. I'll go to the cat cafe with you."

Yukino made an immediate decision.

Even if it was a time loop, she didn't want to ride on the back of Fushimi Makoto's motorcycle to see her mother.

Would that even be appropriate?

Especially since they were supposed to be at school today.

Yukino thought about the look Utaha had given her earlier; she had already realized that the other girl must have misunderstood.

If she and Fushimi Makoto appeared in front of acquaintances again, wouldn't that confirm the fact that they were skipping school to go on a date?

Arriving at the cat cafe and sitting down, Yukino's body and mind relaxed once more.

Last time, she had been completely hooked by the kittens in this shop.

Meeting them again, the joy in her heart was impossible to hide.

As she stroked a cat, she caught a glimpse of Fushimi Makoto raising his phone and snapping a photo of her.

She instantly struck a defensive pose: "What are you doing?"

Fushimi Makoto examined the photo on his screen and commented, "My instincts were right; this was a perfectly timed shot."

"Give me the phone," Yukino said.

Instead of putting the phone away, Fushimi Makoto reached out and held it up in front of her: "Look at your expression."

Yukino glanced at the photo, her first thought being: this guy actually has a knack for photography.

Then, she understood what Fushimi Makoto meant.

In the photo, she was rubbing the head of a calico cat with her palm, smiling with such genuine happiness and relaxation.

She couldn't even remember the last time she had been this completely at ease.

In the end, she didn't reach for the phone, only saying with an unnatural expression, "I have my own ways of relaxing."

"The effect of relaxing is much better if you have a friend with you," Fushimi Makoto said, putting his phone away.

Yukino's expression didn't change: "By 'friend', are you referring to yourself?"

"No, I was talking about Nakano Itsuki."

Fushimi Makoto gave her an unexpected answer.

Yukino froze for half a second before asking uncertainly, "Nakano Itsuki?"

"Yeah. You two aren't close yet, so you don't know, but her personality—the way she takes everything she does seriously—is definitely the type you'd admire most."

"Takes things seriously, huh?"

Yukino repeated the words to herself, then expressed her approval: "If she really is that kind of girl, then I would indeed be willing to associate with her."

She even made a mental note of it.

But she quickly remembered that everything would reset tomorrow, and she wouldn't remember what happened today.

Yukino felt a strange sense of loss.

Fushimi Makoto just looked at her beautiful face without saying a word.

She seemed to have completely forgotten the line she had said earlier: "Don't even think about it."

Yet now, Fushimi Makoto already had a photo of her on his phone.

And he had taken it right in front of her, fair and square.

The two decided to leave the cat cafe at four in the afternoon; by that count, they had truly spent the entire day hanging out.

Yukino still insisted on splitting the bill.

However, while checking out, Yukino noticed a row of cat keychains on the front counter. They were designed in a cute style, clearly aimed at female customers.

She wanted one, but Fushimi Makoto was right behind her. If she bought such a cute keychain, he might seize the opportunity to tease her again.

Thinking about having to deal with such annoying issues again, she decided not to buy it.

"If you want it, just say so. Be a little more honest—is it really that hard to admit you want something?" Fushimi Makoto's voice sounded right by her ear.

Yukino pursed her lips, thinking, I forgot that he understands me so well.

In the end, Fushimi Makoto paid for it and handed her the calico cat keychain she had been eyeing.

"Thank you, I'll pay you back."

Yukino thanked him and turned her face away, inexplicably afraid to meet his eyes.

Perhaps it was because she didn't want him to see through her thoughts again.

Or perhaps it was because she was dwelling on his earlier words: "Is it really that hard to admit you want something?"

She couldn't help but feel that there was a deeper meaning to his words.

This time, Fushimi Makoto didn't ask her to stay for dinner; he drove her straight back to the entrance of her apartment.

"Thank you for today. I had a great time."

Yukino met Fushimi Makoto's gaze and said it very earnestly.

Fushimi Makoto asked, "And?"

"And what?" Yukino was puzzled.

Fushimi Makoto took out his phone and flipped to that photo.

Now Yukino remembered the line she had said: "Don't even think about it."

"Were you planning this from back then?" Yukino asked, finding it hard to believe.

Fushimi Makoto laughed, "How could that be? If I were really that capable, wouldn't I have become an urban legend?"

"A time loop is no less influential than an urban legend," Yukino retorted subconsciously.

Although it was a bit awkward, she stubbornly met Fushimi Makoto's gaze: "The photo will be gone by tomorrow anyway, so it doesn't matter if you keep it."

It was just that she really wanted to hold onto the memories of today.

Unfortunately, she couldn't.

Fushimi Makoto nodded as if in agreement: "For you, the relaxing time we spent today matters more than a mere photograph."

Do you really have to say my thoughts out loud right in front of me?

Yukino felt a bit uncomfortable.

Fushimi Makoto didn't continue with the previous topic: "By the way, didn't you ask me before why I suddenly stopped calling you by your name?"

Yukino became slightly interested: "Are you finally going to tell the truth?"

Fushimi Makoto gazed into her eyes: "Because back then, I hadn't officially decided to pursue you yet, Yukino."

That utterance of "Yukino" made the young girl freeze.

Because the meaning behind those words was that he was going to pursue her now.

For some reason, Yukino felt a sudden urge to look away from his eyes.

She managed to maintain a calm tone: "It seems there is something I need to make clear to you."

"Please, go ahead," Fushimi Makoto gestured.

Yukino felt inexplicably nervous, her upper teeth unconsciously biting down on her lower lip.

She thought of his earlier words: Be a little more honest.

"I admit that I care about you as a friend, but I will never fall in love with you," she said softly.

To her surprise, Fushimi Makoto calmly replied with an "Oh."

"Is that it?"

Yukino stood there, stunned.

What did he mean by "is that it"?