"Yunyi-kun."
Mayumi Saegusa nodded gently, her forehead bobbing against Yunyi's chest. Her voice had grown faint, with none of its usual vivacity.
Yunyi didn't know why she had become like this after just one night. But seeing Mayumi Saegusa like this made him want nothing more than to take her under his wing.
After a moment, Mayumi Saegusa gave Yunyi a gentle push. She took a step back, leaving his embrace.
"Thank you, Yunyi-kun. Shall we go to school now?" Mayumi Saegusa suggested.
Yunyi agreed, then stepped past Mayumi Saegusa and opened the courtyard gate for her, gesturing for her to go first.
"Thank you."
Mayumi Saegusa thanked him softly and got into the car waiting outside the gate.
Yunyi got in after her. He took an ID card from his pocket and handed it to Mayumi Saegusa.
Mayumi Saegusa stared at the card he offered, momentarily stunned. After a moment, she asked in surprise, "Is it okay?"
Yunyi scratched his nose. "It's normal for a girlfriend to have one, right?"
"Even a pretend girlfriend?" Mayumi Saegusa teased.
"Even a pretend one," Yunyi actually replied.
Hearing that, Mayumi Saegusa accepted the ID card Yunyi held out to her. She carefully put it in her pocket, the corners of her mouth rising without her noticing.
The two didn't chat much on the way to school. Mayumi Saegusa was busy with something on her terminal, while Yunyi was lost in thought.
But the atmosphere between them wasn't awkward. If anything, it felt harmonious. It wasn't until the car stopped at the station that the two emerged from their thoughts and activities.
"Hopefully we won't make any more huge headlines today," Yunyi teased Mayumi Saegusa before getting out of the car.
"Hmph," Mayumi Saegusa huffed. "You clearly don't care about that either."
Yunyi smiled helplessly. He got out first, then reached into the car for Mayumi Saegusa.
Mayumi Saegusa smiled and placed her hand in Yunyi's. Once she was standing steadily, she thanked him softly with a smile.
She really did want to try walking to campus hand in hand with Yunyi like this. But that clearly wasn't suitable for the present circumstances. It wasn't just because of pressure from the Saegusa Family; she also didn't dare provoke the students at First High School too much.
Mayumi Saegusa was well aware of how popular she was. If she really threw caution to the wind, she was afraid someone might lose their head and go looking for trouble with Yunyi.
Maybe after the Nine Schools Competition, once he's shown his strength, we can try it! Mayumi Saegusa tucked that thought away in her heart, hoping the day would come soon.
But even without any further displays of affection between them, the mere fact that they had arrived at school in the same car again was enough to cause a stir at First High School.
"Heh, a coincidence?"
Suddenly, a teasing voice reached their ears.
Yunyi and Mayumi Saegusa turned around together and saw Tatsuya Shiba and his group!
"Good morning, President, Yunyi," Miyuki Shiba greeted them with a smile.
"Good morning, Miyuki, and everyone else," Mayumi Saegusa replied with a smile.
Erika Chiba, however, broke the mood. She nudged Yunyi with her elbow and teased, "If one day was a coincidence, what about two?"
Yunyi pretended to think it over. A moment later, he gave Erika Chiba an answer that nearly made her stumble. "A colossal coincidence?"
"You!" Erika Chiba made an angry grab for Yunyi, but with neither of her two great protectors, Leonhart and Mikihiko Yoshida, around, she couldn't manage on her own.
"All right, I'll stop teasing you." Yunyi felt somewhat helpless at the sight of her gritting her teeth.
Afraid she would repeat yesterday's performance once they reached the classroom, Yunyi decided to lay his cards on the table. Just as he had done in the Student Council room yesterday, he took Mayumi Saegusa's hand.
"No more pretending. I'm laying my cards on the table! Mayumi and I are together. What are you going to do about it?"
"Ugh, you awful jerk!" Erika Chiba's face flushed red with anger. She had never seen anyone so shameless!
Mizuki Shibata and Honoka Mitsui, who had been standing beside the group without saying a word, looked surprised. Even Shizuku Kitayama couldn't help showing some reaction.
"No one would ever have guessed that," Shizuku Kitayama murmured.
This time, her voice really was very, very quiet; the others didn't hear her at all. But Yunyi hadn't lowered his voice for his earlier declaration, and he was still holding Mayumi Saegusa's hand!
Once the students passing by heard that declaration, it naturally spread at lightning speed.
Feeling more and more gazes converge on them, Mayumi Saegusa blushed crimson, while Yunyi felt his scalp tingle. He could once again sense almost tangible killing intent coming from the girls.
"Hey, Mayumi." The corner of Yunyi's mouth twitched.
"I can understand the hostility from my fellow men, but can you tell me why so many girls look like they want to kill me too? Just how many fans do you have at First High School?"
At Yunyi's words, Mayumi Saegusa burst out laughing. Once she started, she seemed unable to stop.
She leaned against Yunyi's chest, her shoulders shaking. The sight made the gazes directed at them even sharper. If Mayumi Saegusa hadn't still been leaning against him, he would have wanted to cast a few extra layers of Mirror Reflection magic on himself right then!
Fortunately, Mayumi Saegusa recovered before the students lost their minds and hurriedly called for everyone to head to school together. And so, on the stretch of road from the station to the school, a chilling sight appeared.
Only after they entered the school and Mayumi Saegusa parted ways with Yunyi did the icy gazes following them gradually disperse.
Honoka Mitsui went limp and collapsed into Shizuku Kitayama's arms, her body still trembling. It seemed she had struggled to endure the resentment constantly emanating from behind them.
Mizuki Shibata wasn't much better off. Supported by Erika Chiba, she gave Yunyi a strained smile.
"I'm never walking this way with you again."