"I'm serious."
The cool, clear voice rang out again. Yukino Yukinoshita's words instantly shattered the lighter mood that had briefly settled over the group.
Iroha Isshiki and Yui Yuigahama stared blankly at the girl in front of them.
She brushed her long black hair back from her ear, her navy-blue eyes calm and steady. There wasn't a trace of teasing in her expression—it looked like she truly meant what she'd said.
So pretty. So serious.
But what were they supposed to do?
Should they believe what Senpai had just said?
No way. There was no way.
Yukino Yukinoshita, liking a guy like Lin Ye?
If that were true, wouldn't she have already accepted his confession long ago?
Iroha's mind rejected the idea with the force of ten thousand wild horses, refusing to believe it even for a second.
She didn't buy it.
And Yui Yuigahama wasn't doing much better. There was no way Yukino liked Lin Ye—if she really did, why would she keep turning down his confessions? A girl's reserve, maybe, once or twice—but how many times was this now?
As far as Yui knew, Lin Ye had confessed to Yukino three times already. Who knew how many more times it had happened when she wasn't around—four, five, six?
Just then, Yukino spoke again. "It's not a joke. I mean it."
But the corner of her mouth was curling upward, and the amusement she couldn't quite hide made both Iroha and Yui realize what she really thought.
This wasn't the truth at all. This was a joke.
"Aah! Yukino, you really got me there! I almost—I almost believed you!"
Yui was the first to speak up, her voice dripping with mock resentment.
Iroha adored this playful side of Yukino—it was such a rare change from her usual cool, composed self. That composed side was elegant, sure, but if Yukino stayed like that all the time, even Yui couldn't take it.
The smiling, teasing Yukino was the one she always looked forward to seeing.
Still, joking about something like this had actually fooled her a little, and that mix of delight and lingering annoyance left her feeling conflicted.
"I'm serious,"
Yukino's smile only grew more obvious.
Which only confirmed Yui's suspicions further.
There was no way this was true.
Iroha reacted the same way—absolutely no possibility.
"I believe you're serious, Senpai,"
Iroha's response was completely different. She even nodded repeatedly, showing her full agreement with Yukino's answer.
That caught Yui's attention—why would Iroha-chan actually believe it? It was obviously fake.
"If Senpai found out about this, he'd be so happy. I'll go tell him the good news right away—he'll finally have a chance."
That mischievous smile revealed exactly what the girl was really thinking.
This was a threat.
This was intimidation.
This was an attempt to make Yukino Yukinoshita back down.
But there was no way this cool, composed school beauty would ever cave to that.
"Go ahead and tell him,"
Yukino showed no reaction at all, replying flatly.
It was a battle of wills between the two of them.
And of course, Iroha wasn't about to let it end that easily.
"Senpai, Senpai, are you really sure? I'm actually going to tell him, you know!"
"Go ahead. I have no problem with that."
Iroha's expression didn't change one bit.
She didn't care in the slightest what kind of reaction this news might cause in Lin Ye.
Of course, that was only true in Iroha's own mind.
The lively underclassman frowned, confusion creeping in.
"Isshiki, aren't you supposed to be stopping Lin Ye from successfully pursuing me?"
That reaction let Iroha understand exactly what Yukino was thinking now.
"Stopping him is one thing, but honestly, I'd love to see the moment he actually wins you over, Senpai. There's no way he could ever pursue you and Mai Sakurajima through normal means anyway—let alone have you both become his girlfriends at once. So really, I'm not in any hurry."
Her voice was light, utterly unbothered.
"So if Senpai doesn't want to keep dealing with him hounding you, you'd better behave."
Behave? Now that was bold.
"Just agree to one small condition of mine, and I won't tell him a thing."
Iroha finally showed her true colors.
Getting Yukino to agree to some not-too-outrageous request—that was exactly what she'd been hoping for all along.
She wanted to see Yukino nod and give in. That moment of surrender would send a thrill through her sensitive nerves.
"Just one is enough?"
Yukino asked back deliberately, feigning hesitation, which sent Iroha straight into a state of giddy anticipation.
This... this had to be it. Yukino Yukinoshita was actually caving.
Yes. Yes! Excellent!
Iroha grew more and more excited, feeling victory drawing closer with every second. Her heart raced, warm waves of anticipation surging through her.
The underclassman fought to keep her overwhelming emotions in check.
"Well, if Yukinoshita-senpai insists on granting me a few requests, I suppose that wouldn't be entirely out of the question."
That coy, fidgeting act sent Yukino into a fit of silent laughter.
This girl actually seemed to think she'd already agreed.
Yukino Yukinoshita did not bow to anyone's threats. No—absolutely no one's threats, ever.
The girl with long black hair kept turning that thought over in her mind, but the instant she did, an image of one particular person kept surfacing, forcing her to admit that there was still one person's threats she would give in to.
When it came to Lin Ye, she'd already caved more than once or twice.
She knew perfectly well that this would likely keep happening in the future. But when it came to anyone else's threats, Yukino Yukinoshita would refuse, firmly and completely.
There would never be any room for compromise.
"No need."
"Huh?!"
"I won't agree to any of your requests."
Yukino spoke again. "Isshiki, go ahead and tell him if you want."
The girl with long black hair dropped that one line, making her true feelings and stance perfectly clear.
The reversal came so fast that Iroha was caught completely off guard, her mind going blank.
What was going on? Why would she refuse?
"S-Senpai... aren't you afraid this will give Senpai hope, and he'll keep chasing you forever, keep confessing to you, and it'll be a huge headache for the rest of your life?"
Most girls wouldn't want that kind of situation, right?
At least Iroha definitely wouldn't.
She was currently clinging to Lin Ye herself, refusing to let go, constantly making her feelings for him known. But if some guy she didn't like started clinging to her like that in the future and messing with her life—
Iroha wouldn't want that at all.
Double standards. Yes, she had double standards. But she didn't care whether that was fair or not.
She liked things her way, and that was that.
"If he can chase me for the rest of my life, then so be it."
That answer stunned everyone all over again.
It almost sounded like a lifelong promise.
Iroha thought about it and decided she was probably overthinking things.
Yui had the same thought, but she chose to take the words at face value instead of reading too deeply into them.
Yukino was such a detached, worldly-unconcerned girl—there was no way she meant it like that. She probably just meant that Lin Ye would need real staying power to pursue her forever, nothing more.
But who could actually chase someone for a lifetime?
Even a single year would be hard—few people could keep that up.
People, after all, always gave up eventually. They didn't foolishly keep charging toward some nearly impossible goal forever.
"Senpai, then I... I really am going to tell him. I'm... not joking."
"Go ahead."
Yukino's answer remained just as simple and quick, with no hint of denial in it.
That indifferent attitude made Iroha feel like Yukino truly didn't care whether she told him or not.
Maybe she shouldn't bother telling him at all.
But the moment that thought crossed her mind, Iroha suddenly suspected that this was exactly what Yukino wanted.
Senpai was probably putting on this cold, unbothered act on purpose, hoping to make her give up on telling him voluntarily.
And if she actually fell for it, wouldn't that mean she'd walked right into Yukino's trap?
Impressive. Senpai's mind games were seriously impressive.
She'd almost gotten caught.
So, from here on out—
She had to make absolutely sure Yukino's plan didn't work. She had to shatter it.
Iroha's smile widened, her eyes brimming with bright, confident amusement. "Well, since Senpai doesn't care either way, I guess I'll just have to tell him the good news—let him know he might actually have a chance with you after all. That way, he'll also know the day I get to leave him alone is getting a little closer. Hahaha."
Even now, Iroha didn't believe for a second that Lin Ye could pull off dating both Yukino Yukinoshita and Mai Sakurajima at the same time through any normal means.
Yukino would obviously never tolerate Lin Ye being a playboy. Before an official relationship began, sure, she might allow him some ambiguous flirtation with other girls—but the moment they officially became a couple, there was no way she'd stand for it.
And as for Mai Sakurajima, that went without saying.
After all, Mai Sakurajima already had a boyfriend.
Under those circumstances, how could Lin Ye possibly steal her away?
And even if he somehow managed to poach her, how would he ever get Mai to accept him dating two girlfriends at once?
In short, no matter how hard Iroha racked her brain, she couldn't imagine this scenario ever actually happening. So she felt completely secure, completely at ease—no problem at all.
"Fine."
In the end, Yukino's flat, even voice came again.
That answer sent Iroha spiraling into self-doubt once more.
She really was going to tell him—it wasn't a joke. But was Yukino's calm really just an act, or was she genuinely this unshakeable, without even a flicker of nerves?
Whatever. She'd decided. She was telling him. No more second-guessing.
"Fine, Senpai—just wait for Senpai's passionate pursuit!"
With that, Iroha pulled out her phone right in front of everyone and dialed Lin Ye's number.
She even put it on speaker.
But the call was rejected.
"Huh?!"
"I'll try again."
But the call was rejected again, without a moment's hesitation.
"Senpai must be busy, heh heh. He definitely doesn't just not want to pick up."
But the moment the words left her mouth, something occurred to Iroha, and her eyes widened slowly. "Senpai... he's not off doing something with Tachibana-senpai right now, is he?"
It was a bit early for that, but that didn't mean it was impossible.
Iroha knew it was almost certainly not the case, but she brought it up anyway—partly to find an amusing topic to chat about, and partly to watch how Yukino and Yui would react.
Especially Yukino.
If Yukino really did like a guy like Lin Ye, there was no way she'd stay this calm about the possibility of him getting intimate with other girls, right?
That was Iroha's thinking, anyway.
She watched Yukino closely, but saw no reaction from her whatsoever. That flat, unbothered response made Iroha feel like she really had been overthinking things.
"Iroha-chan, don't say things like that! Student Lin isn't like that,"
But it was Yui whose face had turned the reddest.
Out of everyone there, she seemed to be reacting the most strongly.
"Who knows! Might not be, though~"
With that, Iroha dialed again.
This time, the call finally connected.
Lin Ye's voice came through.
"What's up, Isshiki?"
His voice on the other end of the line sounded perfectly calm, as if nothing at all were going on over there.
"So here's the thing—I've got some good news for you, Senpai."
Noisy background chatter came through from his end, letting Iroha, Yukino, and the others know Lin Ye was currently at a restaurant.
Which meant Iroha's earlier speculation had been completely baseless—just her making things up.
Not that this was anything new. Yui was used to it by now. But somehow, no matter how used to it she was, a few words from Iroha could always send her thoughts spiraling in that direction anyway.
"Good news? What is it?"
"You'll be really happy when you hear it, Senpai."
"Go on."
"Of course I can tell you! It's just... Senpai, I... don't have any plans tomorrow after school, and if Senpai—"
"You don't need to finish that sentence."
"Senpai, that's harsh. Can't you even grant your poor underclassman's tiny little wish?"
Iroha pouted outright, making her displeasure known.
"I'll buy you an ice cream."
Honestly, Lin Ye wasn't all that curious about whatever good news Iroha had. But he knew that if he refused, this underclassman would just keep pestering him endlessly.
Even if he hung up now, she'd probably keep calling back, and tomorrow she'd be at it again.
So better to settle this quickly.
"Just one ice cream? That's not nearly enough sincerity."
Iroha kept bargaining.
"Ten ice creams. That sincere enough for you? But you have to eat all of them—every single one, no wasting any."
"Senpai, are you trying to kill me? This is underclassman murder."
But inside, Iroha was thrilled.
How to put it—
This counted as a small victory, a tiny compromise she'd managed to wring out of Lin Ye.
It was progress. A small step forward, but progress nonetheless.
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