Chapter 44

"Eh? What complaints? Did Asako say something careless again?"

"Ah, well..."

Himeno Yuki scratched her cheek. She turned her face aside and said to Ichinose hesitantly:

"It's Amikura and Minamikata. It seems like they've been arguing about something, but I'm not really sure."

"That's too much! I'll go talk to-"

"All right, all right."

Yuan Yuyuan took Ichinose's hand. The simple-minded Ichinose hadn't noticed, but how could he not? Himeno Yuki had said that on purpose so Ichinose would go reprimand Amikura.

But if Ichinose went and confronted her like this, even if Amikura didn't say anything, she'd only feel even more annoyed.

There was no need to rush this kind of thing. As long as things turned out well, Yuan Yuyuan could accept it.

"Let's go have fun first. It's really fine."

"All right..."

Since Yuan Yuyuan, the person directly involved, had said that much, Ichinose couldn't very well go sticking her nose where it didn't belong.

"Then let's call our classmates over. It feels a little wrong to go out and have fun by ourselves."

Since there wasn't much to do besides have fun, the water activities were especially cheap.

That made Yuan Yuyuan look down on the school a little. Wasn't this tempting people with poor self-control? How despicable!

Having given himself the label of someone with poor self-control, Yuan Yuyuan led everyone to the beach with a clear conscience.

"I was really looking forward to it just now, but... how are we supposed to do this?"

Ichinose pointed at the surfboard and looked at Yuan Yuyuan with an innocent expression.

"It's simple." Yuan Yuyuan pointed at the surfboard. "Lie down on it, Honami."

"Oh."

Yuan Yuyuan stood nearby, staring so intently that his eyes nearly popped out. He suddenly felt that surfing wasn't very friendly to someone like Ichinose, who was... rather broad-minded.

"What next?"

"Next... Oh, right! Then do it like this." Yuan Yuyuan found a surfboard of his own and demonstrated. "First, paddle. Keep your head up and chest out, then paddle with your fingers together like this."

"You look like a clown."

Himeno Yuki's voice came from nearby. She was holding a juice and making fun of Yuan Yuyuan.

"...Weren't you the one who said we should come have fun? And now you're just sitting here drinking juice!" Yuan Yuyuan said, paddling at the air.

"I suddenly don't feel like playing anymore. I think watching you shovel sand would be more fun."

"No way! Wouldn't that waste all my hard work? Then you teach Honami."

Yuan Yuyuan could see it now. He'd thought Himeno Yuki had only come along to tattle, but it turned out she hadn't planned to play at all. Then why buy so much stuff? And why bring all these irrelevant people? It would've been so much cheaper to bring just Ichinose. Maybe he could even... Heh... Hehehe.

"Why should I?"

"Because the juice in your hand is mine!"

"You... Fine, I'll teach her, you cheapskate!"

Himeno Yuki truly was a genius who was only a little good at everything, and she could even teach someone on the spot. So enviable... No, so... truly enviable! Seeing the two of them begin their cheerful lesson, Yuan Yuyuan quietly walked toward the water to play by himself.

Yuan Yuyuan took off his shirt, revealing sharply defined abs. His muscles weren't as exaggerated as the ones commonly seen on social media, but the definition in his arms warned everyone else not to make a move. Otherwise... he'd be on his knees begging you not to die.

Yuan Yuyuan took his time warming up where he stood. Although he wasn't used to being watched so intently, he'd never been afraid of other people's gazes.

"Look, look..." Kobashi Yume shook Amikura Asako's hand and whispered.

"What is it...?" Amikura Asako had been chatting with her other girlfriends. She raised her head with a dazed look.

"Good grief... This..."

"You saw, right? You saw! He's so handsome! Do you think he'd let me touch his abs?"

"Gulp... I saw... No!" Amikura Asako shook her head. "Even so..."

"He's in the water! Abs glistening with water droplets! Ahhh, I'm going to die! I have to go touch them! Right, I'll wait for him on shore with some water!" The moment Kobashi Yume turned around, Amikura Asako grabbed her.

"Yume, don't forget—he's Honami's boyfriend! As the couple's most unwavering supporter, I absolutely won't let you do that!" Amikura Asako said righteously, her eyes filled with 100% righteous indignation.

"As their most unwavering supporter, I should be the first to touch them, of course."

With that, Amikura Asako took her juice and ran off.

"Asako! That's cheating!"

"Boring." Minamikata Kozue sat where she was. Though she and Amikura Asako had a few little disagreements, they hadn't affected their relationship. They'd just gone from being good friends to something more like rivals.

"But Yuan really is so handsome..."

Himeno Yuki had already taught Ichinose how to get up when she felt a wave coming. She watched Ichinose with interest.

"Aren't you angry?"

"Eh? Angry about what?" Ichinose looked at Himeno Yuki in confusion.

Himeno Yuki replied as if it were obvious, "He left you behind, then blossomed among the crowd like a flower attracting bees and butterflies... To be precise, he's courting them. Most girls would be angry, right? You two are a couple."

"I'm not. Yuyuan is really charming."

Ichinose didn't mind at all. She looked warmly at Yuan Yuyuan as he surfed, and when their eyes met, she even waved at him of her own accord.

"You think so too, Xiaoxue, don't you?"

"Me? Do I...? I've never thought that at all. He's just a young master who's spent his life rolling around in a pile of pretty girls."

Seeing Yuan Yuyuan wave at her too, Himeno Yuki gave him a pretty eye roll, then focused on teaching Ichinose a few tricks.

She knew Ichinose wanted to surf with Yuan Yuyuan, but Himeno Yuki herself had no interest in it at all. After all, someone had let her good intentions go to waste, and he hadn't even invited her himself. How outrageous!

"Xiaoxue, you're jealous, aren't you?" Ichinose gave her a gossipy look, as if the male lead in this situation weren't her own boyfriend.

"Actually, the class has been saying Xiaoxue likes Yuyuan. Even I, his so-called girlfriend, have heard about it."

"...I don't want to answer that."

"Running away from it will only make your feelings slip away."

"Then what am I supposed to do!"

Himeno Yuki sat helplessly on the surfboard. Ever since she'd accepted the flowers Yuan Yuyuan gave her at Palette last time, she could no longer deny that she liked him.

But Himeno Yuki couldn't get past the obstacle in her heart. There was Ichinose Honami, who was already practically a real girlfriend despite having started out as an act, and then there was Kushida Kikyo, with whom he'd already consummated the relationship.

Himeno Yuki looked down on mistresses. She didn't want to become one either, but when faced with her first love, she still hesitated.

If she accepted Yuan Yuyuan, she'd become the kind of person she hated most. But rejecting him... she couldn't do that either.

"Xiaoxue, you must be holding back because of me, right?" Ichinose walked over to Himeno Yuki and gently stroked her cheek. "But if Xiaoxue just gives up like this, I won't even be able to sleep. No matter what, I don't want you to become depressed. Please compete with me. I don't mind even if I lose in the end."

"Honami... But why? Why would you do this?"

"Because I don't want Xiaoxue to keep lying to herself. If you don't even have the courage to try, wouldn't that feel much worse than failing?"

Much worse...? What could be worse than competing with another woman over a man?

But about this, no matter what, she didn't want to lose!

"Honestly! Why did Honami decide on her own that I'd lose!" Determination flared in Himeno Yuki's eyes. "Don't underestimate me. That guy... I won't lose to anyone."

"Then please go easy on me, Xiaoxue." Ichinose was finally satisfied. If Himeno Yuki really gave up, she wouldn't know how to face Yuan Yuyuan.

"That guy's really lucky to have met a fool like you." Himeno Yuki turned her head with a pout. "How can anyone be as foolish as you! This is the worst way to solve the problem!"

"I'm sorry, but I didn't have any other ideas." Ichinose hugged Himeno Yuki, wearing a not-very-bright smile.

"Idiot!" Himeno Yuki didn't refuse Ichinose's cuddle, but she still wouldn't let up. "If I steal your Yuyuan away, you're not allowed to cry and beg me. Even so, I can only let you have him for a little while."

First Year, First Semester: Chapter 76 - Hoshinomiya's Student Days

"Mm..." Ichinose gently shook Himeno Yuki's arm. "Couldn't you extend it a little longer?"

"In principle, of course not." Himeno Yuki crossed her arms without mercy and spoke haughtily. "But if you're sincere enough... I might consider it."

"Xiaoxue is mean!"

"Honami is an idiot!"

"What are you two talking about? You seem to be having a lively conversation."

"We were talking about Yuyuan..." Realizing something was off, Ichinose quickly turned around.

"Yuyuan!? What are you doing here? Weren't you surfing?"

"Am I... not allowed to be here? Should I have been under the car instead? You two seemed like you were arguing, so I came back early."

Yuan Yuyuan sat down beside Ichinose, holding the juice Amikura Asako had given him especially.

"Could Honami and Xiaoxue be scheming about something you don't want me to know?"

"That's not it. Since you're back, I'll get going."

"When did I tell you to leave? Sit down." Yuan Yuyuan grabbed Himeno Yuki's hand and pulled her down to sit beside him. Himeno Yuki looked unwilling, of course, but she didn't refuse either.

Yuan Yuyuan stroked his chin, his gaze shifting between the two of them.

"I get the feeling you're hiding something from me."

"That's not true!" Ichinose hurriedly denied it. Seeing Himeno Yuki remain silent beside her, she shook her hand. "Xiaoxue, say something."

"I don't have any..."

"See! Xiaoxue says there's nothing going on, so how can you suspect us, Yuyuan?"

The more Yuan Yuyuan looked, the stranger it seemed. Himeno Yuki looked fine on the surface, but she was trying to run away without even making a sarcastic remark at him. And she hadn't resisted when he grabbed her hand either. Suspicious. Very suspicious.

But Ichinose seemed even worse. She was so flustered she could barely speak. Could these two have gotten together behind his back!?

How could something like that... be possible?

"Did Honami lead Xiaoxue into doing something bad?"

"I didn't! How can you not believe me, Yuyuan?"

"Oh~ I see." Yuan Yuyuan nodded, then turned a stern gaze toward Himeno Yuki, the timid lizard who fled from battle. "So Xiaoxue really was the one who put the idea in Honami's head."

"No, it was me..." The words had just slipped out of the naive Ichinose's mouth when she regretted them. Under Yuan Yuyuan's reproachful gaze, she silently shut her mouth.

"Idiot." Himeno Yuki rubbed her forehead helplessly, then turned to Yuan Yuyuan. "So what if you did? What are you going to do about it?"

What incredible pressure... Even though he'd done something wrong, she was acting as if she were completely in the right. That actually made Yuan Yuyuan feel a little guilty.

"I just... No, I wasn't. I was joking. Why is Xiaoxue still angry...?"

"Hmph. I knew you wouldn't dare. If there's nothing else, go play somewhere. Honami and I still have things to discuss."

"Why are you being so mean? You've scared Honami..."

After saying that, Yuan Yuyuan looked at Ichinose beside him. She looked reluctant, but didn't say a word. His heart turned ice-cold.

"A man should stand tall between heaven and earth. How can he wallow beneath others for long? There's no point staying in this house!"

With an expression like he was nobly giving up everything, Yuan Yuyuan headed toward the beach. Seeing that Ichinose didn't seem inclined to stop him, he slowed down more and more...

Just as he was about to meet Amikura Asako's expectant gaze, Yuan Yuyuan couldn't help glancing back. The R... Ichinose, whom he'd placed all his hopes in, was actually chatting happily with Himeno Yuki. How awful!

"Did you come to surf, Yuan?"

What was coming couldn't be avoided. Hearing the eager tone in Amikura Asako's voice, Yuan Yuyuan recalled what had just happened. It had been absolutely unbearable.

She'd nearly poked a hole right through his abs, for crying out loud!

"Actually... actually, I came for a walk."

Meanwhile, after Yuan Yuyuan looked away, Ichinose and Himeno Yuki, who had been chatting, turned their gazes back to Yuan Yuyuan, who was walking while doing chest-opening exercises.

"Honestly, that Amikura dealt with him without even needing Honami to step in."

"This is probably for the best. I was worried Asako might feel a little uncomfortable if I went and talked to her."

Himeno Yuki shook her head helplessly. No matter when, she felt like Ichinose and she were never on the same wavelength.

"You're not jealous at all? Look at the way Amikura's staring at him. She's practically going to devour him."