2

"It's fine. I'm used to it." Yuan Yuyuan waved a hand to show Ichinose she didn't need to worry, then continued, "They only care about their daughter, anyway. I guess I should be grateful they were willing to raise me even after finding out I was a boy, hahaha."

"You don't have to laugh like that when you're clearly not happy. I'm sure your parents care about you, even if you don't know it! To parents, sons and daughters are equally precious!"

"I don't remember anything like that happening, but thanks for trying to comfort me, Honami."

"N-no, it's nothing." Ichinose's face turned as red as a teapot.

"And suddenly calling me by my first name like that is really unfair!"

"Sorry, I got carried away." Yuan Yuyuan's heart sank. Damn it, the butler had said girls with too much sympathy wouldn't mind being called by their first names. And Ichinose had said it was fine to call her Honami, too. How could she deliver such a sincere-sounding but utterly perfunctory social nicety? Ichinose must think he was a frivolous guy who took advantage of every opportunity. And why had he listened to an old man's dating advice in the first place?!

While Yuan Yuyuan secretly regretted his impulsiveness, the angel spread her wings and accepted him.

"I'm the one who should apologize. I said it was fine, but I've never had a boy call me by my first name before. I'm sorry."

"Ah? No, it's fine. I just thought..."

"Thought what?"

"N-never mind. Then, Honami, please call me Yuyuan from now on, too."

"Huh? Is that really okay?"

"Was what Ichinose just said a perf... a polite social nicety? I'm sorry. I've managed to be rude again in such a short time."

"No, of course not. It just felt a little sudden. Then, Yuyuan, I look forward to getting along with you."

Yes! May the esteemed butler find his first love soon! Come to think of it, Ichinose seemed like the type who'd end up tormented by a husband who never left the house. One day, she'd be working three jobs while her perfectly able-bodied husband lounged around at home doing nothing.

"Honestly, Honami already said that a moment ago. Did my sudden behavior make you want to get to know me all over again?"

"No, that's not it. It's just that Yuyuan is such a tease."

As the two chatted, an old woman and several office ladies in business attire boarded the train. What a shame—the train was already full. They'd arrived at such an inconvenient time... Huh? While someone was secretly gloating, the angel had already helped the old woman toward her seat.

"Please, ma'am, take this seat."

"If you don't mind, you can have my seat," Yuan Yuyuan said to one of the standing office ladies before heading over to Ichinose. Together, they helped the old woman sit down.

After telling the old woman it had been no trouble at all, Yuan Yuyuan grabbed a strap and whispered to Ichinose, "Honami, were you trying to get away from that guy who wouldn't leave you alone? You look like such a good girl, but you're surprisingly sly."

"That's not it. I just saw that the old woman didn't have a seat, so..." Ichinose trailed off when she noticed Yuan Yuyuan smiling at her, then retorted indignantly, "Yuyuan is the one being petty, even though you're a boy."

"How did this suddenly become my fault? I was just... We're here. We'd better get going."

"Okay. Yuyuan is such a naughty boy, changing the subject as soon as he realizes he's losing."

"Honami, you're so suspicious. I just can't wait to meet our classmates. Don't you feel the same? Everyone will be heartbroken if they find out."

First Semester

Ichinose Honami Is God!

As the two walked side by side across campus, they suddenly felt all kinds of piercing stares. The resentful words of upperclassmen drifted faintly into their ears.

"Damn it! It's only the first day of school, and this new student's already found himself such a pretty girlfriend. What a hateful playboy!"

Yuan Yuyuan turned to look at Ichinose. She had her head lowered, her little face bright red as she stared at her feet. Could she even see them?

"Honami must be bothered by people misunderstanding us."

Ichinose simply shook her head. "Don't worry about it. Besides, I really do like you, Yuyuan!"

She meant as a friend, right?! Please don't say something that sounds considerate at first but turns out to be so cruel when you think about it! No, the two of them were friends to begin with, and they hadn't even known each other for an hour. Yuan Yuyuan put those unnecessary thoughts aside and began to reflect on himself. Ichinose was so thoughtful and gentle that it was easy to get the wrong idea. He'd better not appoint himself the Nightmare of Gotham without permission.

Snapping out of his daydream, Yuan Yuyuan replied, "Really? I like you too, Honami." Then, as if to change the subject, he pointed at the security cameras scattered all over campus.

"By the way, Honami, have you noticed how many cameras this school has?"

"You're right! But this school has a 99% college acceptance rate, so it makes sense for it to be strict."

As far as Yuan Yuyuan knew, Chairman Sakayanagi wasn't someone with a pathological need for control. So the cameras were probably there to record students who broke the rules. Could it have something to do with moving up between classes? Maybe whichever class broke the fewest rules would become Class A? But that would only train students not to break rules. If the school was too strict, they'd just give up, too, so there'd have to be rewards as well. Never mind. It was only the first day of school. He shouldn't...

A soft sensation suddenly touched Yuan Yuyuan's cheek.

"Poke, poke. We're at the classroom already." Ichinose poked Yuan Yuyuan's cheek with her index finger. "You look so grown-up when you're thinking, Yuyuan, even though we're the same age."

"Ah, we should go inside."

"Cheater. You changed the subject again." Ichinose wagged her index finger. "But you can't keep using the same trick over and over."

"Yuan, it's been a while. I didn't expect you to be in Class B, too."

As soon as Yuan Yuyuan entered the room, he heard someone call out to him. After greeting Ichinose, he walked over to his old friend and answered, "It's you, Ryuji. Long time no see. But there's no need to be so formal. We're too young to greet each other with 'It's been a while.' People will think we're old men." As he spoke, Yuan Yuyuan patted Kanzaki Ryuji on the shoulder, imitating his own father.

Kanzaki Ryuji was a young man with above-average looks and ability. He also had purple hair that must have been popular with girls. Unfortunately, he was a little too serious.

"No. I owe you for stepping in back then. It's only right."

Yuan Yuyuan had met Kanzaki Ryuji, who was also from a wealthy family, at a banquet. They'd hit it off, but before long, the Kanzaki Family had been attacked by a rival company and fallen into trouble. Kanzaki had no choice but to ask Yuan Yuyuan for help. Yuan Yuyuan hadn't let his friend down: he'd asked his father to help the Kanzaki Family through the crisis. Afterward, the two families had naturally established a relationship best described as cooperation in name and subordination in reality. A happy ending, a happy ending.