Claiming he hadn't seen anything? Yeah—uso da. That was never going to fly. Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't the kind of girl who could be fooled with cheap lies. She was sharp—too sharp. Her gaze could cut through flimsy excuses like a katana through tofu.
So, Natsukawa Kanade went for a different tactic: minimize the damage, redirect the embarrassment, and maybe—just maybe—come out alive on the other side.
His strategy? "Downplay the important, emphasize the trivial." He'd heard it in a drama once. Might work. Maybe if he acted like the whole thing wasn't a big deal, Yukinoshita would calm down a little… maybe even laugh it off?
But reality had other plans.
Her glare intensified. That ice-cold stare—yabai, it had evolved. It wasn't just anger now. There was unmistakable shame swirling in her eyes, like a blizzard hiding a spark of fire.
If he had to describe it, it was like… a proud, elegant cat being caught red-handed doing something incredibly cringe. Like licking a photo of their owner or secretly sleeping with their hoodie. Dignity shattered. Demeanor compromised.
That's the feeling, he thought.
It must've felt like being exposed—not as the cool and aloof Yukinoshita everyone knew, but as someone who, deep down, could also be a little… pervy.
So really, wasn't it his fault for making her feel that way? He understood that kind of shame. Maybe too well.
But of course, she didn't believe a word of his carefully phrased downplay. Honestly, he didn't believe it either.
Still, even with her sharp, stormy gaze stabbing into him like senbon needles, Yukino didn't lash out. She didn't yell, didn't scold him mercilessly. She just stared, her expression the kind of silent judgment that made Kanade want to melt into the sofa and disappear.
So he sat quietly. Head down. Back stiff. Guilt rising.
Time passed—he didn't know how long—but eventually, Yukinoshita took a deep breath. The storm clouds in her eyes began to scatter, just a little.
"…Forget it," she muttered, voice low.
"Huh?" Kanade blinked.
"It's my fault. I should've told you to close your eyes. Or at least warned you not to look around."
"…Right…" he mumbled.
Though honestly, if she had told him to close his eyes, it would've made things even worse. His imagination would've gone wild. Why? Why cover his eyes? What was she hiding? Nani sore? Secret cosplay? Forbidden treasures?
Yeah. No. That would've made it ten times harder to stay sane.
"Maybe… maybe I shouldn't have let you in to begin with," she continued, voice quieter, like she was talking more to herself than to him. "Waiting outside would've been better. At least then I wouldn't be dealing with this nonsense…"
Kanade stayed silent, his brain running overtime.
"…Though, that would've made me seem cold. Hmph. Maybe I should've just blinded you instead."
Kanade: "…"
Wait. Did she just say 'blinded' me?
"E-etto… Yukinoshita-san…? That's… kind of illegal," he said, half-joking, half-serious.
Yukino sighed and turned her head away. The moment of emotional venting seemed to be over. Like a switch had been flipped, she returned to her usual snow queen persona—cold, composed, unbothered.
"What are you sitting there for? You planning to do something else shameless?" she asked, voice full of mockery.
"Eh… I was just waiting for your instructions…" Kanade replied meekly.
It felt oddly nostalgic. Back in the day, he used to purposely poke at her temper to get a rise out of her—just to see her react, just to have her eyes on him. But this time? It wasn't on purpose. It was just really bad luck. Or good luck, depending on how you looked at it…
Because honestly? It was a good view.
Still, perhaps sensing he wasn't being a total pervert this time, Yukino didn't escalate. Instead, she pointed with an elegant flick toward the kitchen table.
"There. That bag. Take it. Consider it thanks for yesterday."
Kanade turned his head. Sitting at the table was a small, neatly wrapped package.
He stood and walked over. Up close, it looked like… cookies? Probably handmade. Given Yukino's perfectionist streak, there was no way she'd give store-bought stuff as a gift.
He held the bag in both hands, almost reverently.
This wasn't bad. Not bad at all. He'd gotten to admire some art, been glared at (a little dangerously), and now he was leaving with sweets and emotional damage. All in all, a decent haul. A net gain.
"Take the stuff and go already," Yukino snapped, wrinkling her nose slightly. "The air gets weird when you're around."
Kanade sniffed his sleeve on reflex. Was it the grilled meat from lunch? But he'd showered and changed before coming over. Uso da… was she just roasting him for fun?
Yukino watched him with mild disbelief. He really had changed. In the past, he could read her mood with just a few glances. He'd be able to understand her intentions before she even said a word.
Back then… it used to make her feel seen. Understood. And maybe, somewhere deep down, a little… happy.
Now, he was slower on the uptake, like a defunct love comedy protagonist. And it made her mad.
She snorted softly and turned away.
"Even a monkey could pick up on the mood better than you. I really shouldn't expect anything from you…" she muttered.
Natsukawa blinked, a bit taken aback by the sight of Yukinoshita hugging her pillow and aiming the remote at the TV like he no longer existed. She hadn't told him to leave, but she didn't need to. The message was written all over her posture: Please get out before I turn into an actual ice queen.
Her silence wasn't just cold—it was strategic. She was deliberately creating distance. Emotional, psychological, physical. All of it.
"…Ah." That tiny syllable escaped his lips, a faint acknowledgment of the atmosphere. It wasn't anger—it was disappointment. Or worse, embarrassment so strong it disguised itself as indifference.
He stood up quietly, as if making too much noise might trigger some hidden trap. "Then… I'll take my leave," he muttered, trying to sound casual, like this was just a normal goodbye. It wasn't. Not even close.
As he walked over to the dining table, Natsukawa's eyes landed on the carefully wrapped bag sitting there. He picked it up, stared at it for a second, and—like a lightning bolt finally striking his slow, male brain—realization dawned.
Wait. Wait… He hadn't responded to her gift at all. No "thank you," no compliment, not even a throwaway line like "They smell nice." Worse than that, he hadn't said anything about her dress. The dress that she had clearly changed into before he came in. The one that she, someone as reserved as Yukino Yukinoshita, had made a conscious effort to wear in front of him.
Baka! What are you doing, Natsukawa Kanade?!
It was no wonder she was upset. All her subtle efforts—ignored. Her foot was still injured, and he hadn't even properly asked if she was okay. Instead, he'd stumbled into her private space and made things more awkward than a teen boy in a romance anime discovering the girl's bra drawer.
Of course she's mad… Any girl would be!
Feeling a sudden wave of shame wash over him, Natsukawa turned around and poked his head back into the living room like a guilty puppy. "Ah, Yukinoshita?"
She didn't respond, eyes fixed on the screen, but he knew she could hear him.
"I… I forgot to say earlier," he began, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "You look… really beautiful in that dress. Cute, too. It really suits you."
Still no response. But no cold glare either. That was… something.
"And, uh, thank you for the cookies. If you made them yourself, I'm sure they'll taste amazing. I'll enjoy them properly when I get home."
Still, silence. He pressed on.
"Also, about your foot… I know you don't like being fussed over, but please take it easy. You haven't fully healed, right? You should avoid walking unless it's really necessary. And if you need anything—like food or errands—I can help. Just let me know."
There. That should cover everything. Compliment, gratitude, concern. It might've come a little late, but better late than never.
"…Then I'll really go now. See you at school," he said with a bow, like a proper senpai should. Then he turned, this time for real, and gently closed the door behind him.
The room fell silent. The only sounds were the quiet murmurs from the TV, too faint to fill the emptiness he left behind.
Yukinoshita Yukino didn't move. She just stared ahead, fingers slightly tightening around the pillow in her arms. It was the panda one. The one he had given her long ago.
She exhaled softly, lips forming a thin line. Her voice, barely a whisper, slipped out into the quiet room. "Why can't I let go…? Baka…" she muttered, her eyes dropping to the cookies he never saw her nervously wrap just hours before. "Couldn't you have tried a little harder to notice…?"
Just one glance from you… and I think of you morning and night.
Emotions are complicated. But if she doesn't find a way to express them clearly… he may never truly understand.
.....
After leaving Yukino's place, Natsukawa didn't hang around town. He made his way straight home, his brain still stuck on the look in her eyes—and the cookies.
Normally, he might've stopped by a café or wandered the bookstore, but ever since things between him and Mahiru had returned to their warm, sweet, and slightly tense rhythm, his days of eating out were rare. She brought him dinner like clockwork, even now, when she sometimes avoided eye contact.
According to her: "Takeout isn't healthy. Home-cooked meals are better, and more hygienic."
He wanted to argue. He really did. But the last time he tried, she stared at him with those golden eyes and he felt like he'd just committed a felony. So instead, he quietly accepted the meals—and the warmth they came with.
After dinner, he booted up his console and played a few rounds with Ishigami. Nothing intense—just enough to clear his head. Then, knowing he had tutoring the next day with Eriri and Katou, he turned in early.
Tuesday came and went like a breeze. Same as before, nothing particularly eventful. And soon enough, Monday rolled back around. Another school day.
The school administration, in their infinite wisdom, had scheduled a few recovery days after the forest school retreat. A good idea, in theory. Give students a break after all that outdoor chaos, especially the late-night test of courage. But what they hadn't accounted for was the feverish romantic gossip that would follow.
During class: peace and quiet.
After class: chaos incarnate.
Which is how, inside the student council room…
"May all happy people just explode already!!" Ishigami Yu roared like a man betrayed by life itself.
One could only imagine the kind of mental and emotional trauma Ishigami Yu had endured during the forest school period… more specifically, during the infamous test of courage.
"I thought all that cringe stuff would be over after two days," Ishigami grumbled, tugging at his disheveled hair like a man on the edge. "But the moment I stepped into school, everyone was still going on about it like a broken record! Like seriously, shouldn't students be focusing on their studies? What's so amazing about falling in love?! So-and-so and that other so-and-so became a couple over the weekend… Ugh, I really didn't need to hear that!"
Clearly, venting to thin air wasn't satisfying enough. He turned his fire toward the student council president.
"President! Don't you think so too? Students should be dedicating their time to hard work and academics, not indulging in this sappy love nonsense, right?!"
"…" Natsukawa Kanade, who was sorting through documents with the patience of a saint, found himself struggling to respond.
After all… he couldn't exactly deny it. In fact, he had actually enjoyed the lovey-dovey tension that had filled the air during the trip. If anything, he might be one of the so-called "happy people who should explode" that Ishigami kept ranting about. If he agreed too enthusiastically, he'd basically be cursing himself. What a conundrum.
"Ahem… If you're that envious, why not just find someone to fall in love with?" Natsukawa replied casually, never pausing in his paperwork. There was still a stack of leftover work to deal with. While most of the minor issues had been deftly handled by his ever-reliable vice president, Shinomiya Kaguya, the more pressing matters required his personal attention.
Like, for example, coordinating a new international exchange program with a prestigious school in France. Diplomatic, cultural, and logistical arrangements? Yeah, that all had his name on it.
But Ishigami just shook his head dramatically. "Fall in love? Me? Nah, I'd rather spend that time grinding in my games."
He adjusted his glasses with a deadly serious expression and launched into a speech like a seasoned war veteran recounting battle scars.
"If I were to fall in love, I'd have to constantly worry about keeping the relationship balanced. That means endless messaging, late-night calls, weekend dates—maybe even back-to-back! That's at least two full days gone. When am I supposed to complete my side quests or rank up in competitive mode?"
"And that's not even the worst part," he added with a dark look. "There'd be misunderstandings, emotional landmines, passive-aggressive texts… and if your partner starts acting distant, you'll spiral into a pit of paranoia wondering if they're losing interest. Next thing you know, you're accusing them of cheating, and bam—emotional catastrophe!"
"In conclusion," Ishigami declared, placing a hand over his heart like a tragic hero, "I, Ishigami Yu, shall never fall into the abyss of romance! Games are pure. Games don't lie."
Natsukawa raised an eyebrow. That… was oddly specific.
Still, he couldn't help but think that someone like Ishigami, who had clearly thought through all the emotional logistics of love, might actually be the type to fall the hardest once he met "the one." He wouldn't compromise easily—but if he ever did fall, he'd commit with everything he had. A loyal type, through and through.
Just as Natsukawa was deciding whether or not to challenge his logic, the door to the student council room creaked open.
Shinomiya Kaguya entered, accompanied by the ever-energetic Fujiwara Chika.
Even after just two days, Kaguya still exuded that dignified, graceful aura—like a proper ojou-sama straight out of a shoujo manga. Meanwhile, Fujiwara had on her usual bubbly smile, radiating that chaotic sidekick energy that always spelled trouble.
"Oho~? I hear talk of love!" Fujiwara declared like a self-proclaimed guardian of romance. "Perfect timing! Leave it to me, the great Detective Fujiwara, to uncover the truth!"
She struck a dramatic pose, arms crossed and eyes sparkling with faux determination.
When no one responded to her entrance, she froze.
"Oi! You two love-blind morons! Are you seriously ignoring Detective Fujiwara?! I curse your love lives to be awkward and full of tragic misunderstandings!"
Natsukawa, clearly used to her antics, simply sidestepped her and turned to Kaguya with a light smile. "Good morning, Kaguya."
"!" Kaguya's eyes widened just slightly.
He… he called her by name! Not "Vice President," not "Shinomiya-san"—but "Kaguya." Had the haunted house event actually changed things between them…?
"Y-Yes! Good morning, President," she replied a little too quickly, cheeks tinged with the faintest pink.
Their interaction was polite and subdued, but to two people watching from the sidelines, it was basically DEFCON 1.
"I smell a disturbance in the force," Fujiwara murmured dramatically, squinting at them as though trying to see through a mystery.
"Yes, Fujiwara-senpai… I smell it too," Ishigami said, uncharacteristically serious. "It smells… like a developing romance."
Natsukawa blinked. What kind of nonsense were these two cooking up now?
"You traitorous President!" Fujiwara suddenly burst out, pouting as she dramatically latched onto Kaguya. "So you were getting closer to Kaguya-chan without me knowing! Baka! It should've been me!"
She wrapped her arms around Kaguya like a clingy octopus, glaring at Natsukawa as if challenging him to a duel.
You see this? Hmph. I can do this, and you can't!
"U-Umm…" Kaguya looked mildly helpless, gently trying to peel Fujiwara off like a piece of stubborn tape.
Then things took a weirder turn.
"President!" Ishigami suddenly declared. "You've never even called my name before! I demand equality! Come on—call me, just once! I'm ready! I won't run!"
Natsukawa: "..."
Where the heck did this emotionally unstable vinegar jar come from? And why was he acting like a heartbroken heroine in a drama?!