How Is He So Good at Managing His Time? / Somehow... You All Seem So Lewd

Mai grasped the key point she was trying to convey.

A mocking smile appeared on Yukino's face, but she didn't know to whom this affection was meant.

"Yes, in the past."

"I lost all admiration for him the moment I realized that even Inoue as perfect as Inoue could run away."

"At the same time, I also began to face the real him..."

"No, wait."

Mai's expression was strange. "You actually think Shuya is perfect... Forgive me for being blunt, but that's really outrageous."

Yukino replied, "You're special to him. He rarely confides in us. He doesn't show his true self so easily."

"I'd rather he didn't contact me at all..."

Mai sighed deeply; she still had stomach medicine in her bag.

After pausing for a moment, she asked, "But from what you've said, it seems like you don't have any reason to like him."

Yukino continued, "Well... at first I just thought Inoue- kun was amazing, I didn't feel anything else."

"But ever since I discovered that Inoue -kun was just a weak and evasive guy, his image has been lingering in my mind."

Mai suddenly realized, "I understand now. Before, he seemed very distant to you, but after discovering the real him, you began to realize his existence?"

"Pretty much. After I discovered that Inoue -kun was just an ordinary person, I continued to follow him, observing his every move, savoring his emotions that were sometimes intense and sometimes serene... Anyway, that's how it went. When I suddenly woke up, I realized that without realizing it..."

Yukino felt a little embarrassed talking about this, as she wasn't good at expressing her feelings.

Mai asked with interest, "It seems like nothing major has happened between you and Shuya, right? Is this what they call 'feelings growing over time'?"

"It can't be said that there are no major issues."

Yukino retorted, "My life completely changed after I met Inoue- kun."

"That's true."

Mai agreed with her.

"However, my changes were probably just a process he undertook to achieve his goal."

Yukino said resentfully, "He's special to me, but not to him. The reason he was so eager to help me was because my Snow Woman power might be helpful to him, not because I am me."

"If someone else obtains the Snow Woman's power, then he will help that person. It doesn't have to be me..."

Yukino's voice trailed off as she spoke:

"So what am I to him? This question often comes to mind when I think about him, which is one of the reasons why I'm reluctant to express my feelings for Inoue -kun."

"Sigh... Mai, what do you think I should do?"

Her illogical thinking resurfaced.

Mai listened, completely stunned.

... We were supposed to talk about the reasons for our relationship, but instead you're having a heart-to-heart talk?

Good heavens, one after another they come to me saying this.

But Mai still said skillfully, "You're wrong to think that way. Perhaps Shuya's initial feelings for you were as you described. But I think that if you still think that way now, it's a disrespect for the time you spent together."

"..."

Yukino didn't reply. She knew Mai was right, but she was still conflicted.

She shook her head and said, "Forget it. You don't need to comfort me. I know you're right, and I know I'm just thinking about pointless things."

"Really? That's good."

Mai nodded in understanding.

After all, everyone has their wild thoughts; as a fellow girl, she understood Yukino's feelings.

Yukino continued, "Now that I think about it, the more I admired him before, the more I despise him."

"He's lecherous, lazy, doesn't care about his appearance, always talking back and arguing, doesn't do any real work and is addicted to having fun; he's utterly degenerate."

Yukino gritted her teeth as she voiced her grievances against Shuya.

"Haha, that's going too far."

Mai laughed heartily, "And you have the nerve to say he only knows how to argue with people? You're pretty sharp-tongued too."

"Well, that's different. I'm stating the facts, while Inoue -kun will argue with people whether he's right or wrong."

Yukino gave him a look that said, "Don't compare me to him."

"Okay, okay."

Mai gave a perfunctory reply.

Yukino shook her head, ignoring her attitude, and simply said, "Anyway, that's basically it for me."

Mai nodded. "I don't have anything to add... except that I'm curious why you suddenly asked me these questions."

"... Just out of curiosity."

"You're really in a good mood."

"Good."

The two remained silent for a while.

Mai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Since we've already come this far, I'll add something else."

"?"

Yukino tilted her head.

"If you make any progress with Shuya, don't blame yourself anymore, and there's no need to come all the way to me to report back."

Mai replied casually, "You don't need to care about my feelings; I don't mind at all."

Yukino was taken aback. "Really? I thought Mai- san cared a lot about these things..."

Mai was also taken aback. "Why would you think that? I gave up on having Shuya a long time ago."

With such a high status and so many outstanding women around him, it's impossible for Shuya to choose only one.

If he only chose one, he didn't even want to think about the consequences. Just thinking about how Tsuruko and Haruno would react made Mai's scalp tingle.

Yukino hesitated, then said, "Because Mai- san, your mother isn't..."

"What... ah."

Mai suddenly realized. "You thought my mom divorced my dad because he found another woman?"

Yukino nodded. "Yes... I thought that's why you're sensitive about this kind of thing."

"Haha, not at all. It was simply that they were incompatible, and they just happened to divorce when Dad remarried."

Mai couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yes, really? It seems I've been misunderstanding for quite a while."

Yukino was embarrassed, but she couldn't be blamed. It was such a private matter that she didn't feel comfortable confirming it with Mai.

Mai said helplessly, "Besides, there are more and more cute girls around Shuya, so it's pointless for the two of us to worry about this."

Yukino silent. "Indeed."

A whole host of girls flashed through their minds, and they didn't even know how many of them they didn't know.

Mai asked doubtfully, "Shuya so many girls around him, can Shuya really manage to handle it all? How is he so good at time management?"

Yukino said, "It should be alright. I remember my older sister saying that Inoue- kun's clone technique is very powerful."

Mai was shocked. "A clone technique? There's such a thing?"

"Of course, Inoue -kun possesses the powers of gods and Monster, and can use Divine Arts, Demonic Arts, and Strange Arts; there are many things he can do."

However, recently, due to the deepening of the Curse, he no longer frequently uses the power of gods and demons.

Yukino said softly, "Although, he can't do what he most wants to do..."

Mai remained silent.

After a while, she asked again with a puzzled look, "Why did your sister suddenly tell you that she can create clones?"

Yukino into the distance. "She said ten is too much, and asked me to help share the burden..."

Mai: "???"

Ugh!!! Sakura!!!

Section 604, page 562: I feel like... you guys are so lewd.

Ten, ten? That's an exaggeration!

"Yes, ten."

"..."

"It doesn't seem to be the limit yet."

"Abnormal."

"He's a pervert."

Mai and Yukino were having a conversation that made no sense.

After ending this puzzling conversation, the two looked at the sky for a while longer.

Yukino leisurely squinted her eyes. "I feel... much better after talking to you."

Mai said, "Really? That's good. Actually, they're just ordinary things."

"At least I know Mai- san's attitude now."

Yukino said.

That way, she wouldn't have to suffer the torment of her conscience.

"So what do you plan to do next? Are you going to take an aggressive approach?"

"How is that possible?"

Yukino shook her head decisively. "I have no intention of dating him right now."

Well, I'm about the same.

Mai said, "Although he asked me if I wanted to date him, I know he has things to take care of first, so I won't agree to date him now."

Yukino asked in confusion, "Did Inoue -kun... confess to you?"

"I wouldn't call it a confession. It was just something that happened before..."

Mai realized that Yukino was unaware of the situation; she only knew that Yukino and Shuya had kissed.

"Can I hear what you did that day?"

This time, it was Yukino's turn to ask Mai about her and Shuya.

"Nothing much."

Mai then told her about her relationship with Shuya.

"... So that's the kind of setting where you kissed? You guys seem so lewd."