Cough, cough.
Hiratsuka-sensei cleared her throat, sounding a bit guilty as she reminded him, “Hiroto Tachibana, didn’t you already say you forgave this whole matter?”
Hiroto turned his head and shot Shizuka Hiratsuka a look.
”Hiratsuka-sensei, please jog your memory.
What I said was, ‘I forgive you’.”
Hiratsuka froze for a moment, then silently stuffed her cigarette back into her mouth and stopped talking.
In truth, Hiroto didn’t think being observed was that big of a deal.
After all, he wasn’t some world-famous celebrity, and it hadn’t actually caused him any real trouble.
But for some reason, seeing Yukinoshita Yukino’s high-and-mighty, aloof demeanor gave him an irresistible urge to poke fun at her.
Yeah, it was pretty much like seeing a deeply arrogant little cat on the side of the road and desperately wanting to tease it.
That was the exact vibe.
Yukinoshita Yukino crossed her arms, staring at him completely expressionless.
”Admittedly, observing and recording someone else’s private conduct is indeed improper.
However, this was due to the coercion of a certain incompetent college instructor,” she said, darting a side-eye at Hiratsuka.
”Furthermore, Tachibana-kun, launched into a counterattack without even looking at the notebook.
To be so eagerly searching for a flaw in my behavior—are you trying to catch my attention?”
”Exactly.”
Hiroto answered without a single shred of hesitation.
”I am precisely trying to catch your attention.”
The office fell deathly quiet for a split second.
Not only was Yukinoshita caught off guard, but even Hiratsuka was stunned.
The cigarette in her mouth almost fell straight to the floor.
Hiroto took a step forward, looking directly into Yukinoshita Yukino’s eyes.
”When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you,” he said.
”Though I haven’t kept a log, based on my own observations, Yukinoshita-san is someone who upholds absolute justice.
Cold on the outside, fragile on the inside.
Although you deeply desire to change yourself, you have yet to take any actual action.”
Yukinoshita’s slender fingers tightened slightly against her arms.
She had never expected anyone to observe her to this extent, or to understand her this deeply.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Even though, in her mind, she refused to admit she was anything like what he described.
”She is beautiful, honest, and stubborn,” Hiroto continued.
“She refuses to change herself for society, wanting instead to change society because of herself.”
”Therefore, I don’t believe Hiratsuka-sensei has any means of actually coercing you.
It can only be said that you shared the exact same intention.”
”You wanted to observe me, too.”
”To make a person like this abandon her own stubbornness and justice just to immorally observe and record someone else…”
”So, can I interpret this as you holding favorable impressions of me, Yukinoshita?”
”Or perhaps, you even like me?”
Yukinoshita Yukino did not answer right away.
With her arms crossed, she rested her chin on one hand, her brow furrowing slightly as she fell into deep, serious thought.
Hiratsuka looked at Hiroto, then back at Yukinoshita, her eyes completely sparkling with pure gossip.
Weren’t things perfectly normal a second ago?
How did this conversation get progressively more ambiguous?
After a few seconds of silence, Yukinoshita lowered her hand.
”Looking at it from that perspective, it does indeed seem to be the case.
I do not deny it.”
Her beautiful eyes locked directly onto Hiroto.
”It appears your deduction cannot be dismissed as pure wishful thinking or narcissism.”
”However, you are indeed the very first observation subject in a long time who can help me uphold my core philosophy.”
She took a deep breath and began to explain.
”Humans are both weak and ugly creatures; they will immediately ostracize others out of sheer jealousy.
The more excellent a person is, the more painfully difficult their life becomes.”
”I have always been alone since I was a child.
Because I was too excellent, I was envied, ostracized, and isolated.”
”The girls would spread rumors and intentionally leave me out.
The boys only wanted to get close to my outward appearance.
The so-called ‘friends’ people make are nothing more than organisms gathered together for their own personal convenience.”
”Precisely because of this, I intend to change this twisted society.”
”Admittedly, when I first learned of Hiratsuka-sensei’s request, I refused.”
”But she explained your predicament to me and begged me to help you change.”
She looked at him.
”You once had a superficial and dazzling past.
But upon entering high school, the halo faded, the illusion shattered, and you became the target of isolation.”
”Therefore, I wanted to discover the underlying reasons behind it, and I look forward to the results.”
Hearing this, Hiroto remained quiet for a few seconds.
He had pretty much guessed that this was the reason.
But hearing it come directly from her mouth, why did it sound so strange?
He opened his mouth, and after a moment, managed to squeeze out a single sentence.
”…Is this a confession?”
Yukinoshita Yukino stared at him blankly.
”If you insist on interpreting it that way.”
”Then by all means, please yourself.”
Hiratsuka finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst out laughing.
To be honest, listening to these two talk was highly entertaining; it even felt like they were surprisingly compatible on some level.
Hiratsuka didn’t really want to interrupt them, but she had no choice—if they wasted any more time, there wouldn’t be any food left for lunch.
She tapped her desk, drawing both of their attention back.
”Alright, looking at the conclusion, neither side has any objections,” Hiratsuka said, counting on her fingers.
”First, Yukinoshita, your club application will be approved by tomorrow.
I hope you will properly fulfill my request.”
Yukinoshita nodded.
”Second, Hiroto Tachibana.” Hiratsuka looked at him.
”I know you need time.
Therefore, I grant you permission: for all classes except the core academic subjects, you have the right to go to Yukinoshita’s clubroom.
I don’t care what you two do, but Hiroto, you must absolutely cooperate with Yukinoshita’s observation initiative.”
Hearing this, Hiroto crossed his arms.
”Hiratsuka-sensei, I respectfully decline.”
Hiratsuka’s brow furrowed.
”Your use of ‘must absolutely’ is far too definitive,” Hiroto said with a perfectly solemn face.
“I am deeply concerned that this person, who was willing to cast aside her stubbornness and justice just for me, might do something completely indescribable to my body.”
Saying this, he shot a sideways glance at Yukinoshita.
”After all, she literally just confessed to me a moment ago.”
Yukinoshita Yukino’s chest rose and fell slightly.
Yes, she was seething with anger.
Before she could even speak, Hiratsuka stepped in to explain on her behalf:
”Rest assured, I know Yukinoshita.
Although she can be sharp-tongued and stubborn, she is fundamentally kind-hearted.”
”As for indescribable things…
she wouldn’t be capable of doing them.
She wouldn’t do anything that violates the law either; you can absolutely trust her moral character.”
”Sharp-tongued and stubborn?
I see.” Hiroto nodded, looking thoughtful.
He turned to Hiratsuka.
”Very well, since it is a request from Sensei, it wouldn’t be right for me to refuse.”
”However, I will not do anything that violates my principles.
Furthermore, I am only responsible for being observed.
If that is acceptable, then I agree.”
Hiratsuka let out a sigh of relief.
In reality, Hiroto knew exactly what he was doing—he genuinely, desperately needed this free time.
There were only about three core academic periods a day, meaning the remaining miscellaneous classes added up to a significant amount of time.
With this special privilege, he could carve out massive blocks of free time to write his manuscripts.
It was an incredibly profitable bargain.
Standing off to the side and listening to the two of them play off each other, Yukinoshita Yukino silently clenched her small fists.