“Welcome back,” Yukino greeted me the exact moment I stepped through the door, her voice carrying its usual calm tone.
“How’s the book?” I asked, leaning back slightly against the desk.
“It’s good.” “That’s good to hear,” I replied, letting out a heavy sigh of relief.
It wasn’t actually because of her book, but rather because I had this quiet moment to just sit down and relax.
Yukino looked up from her page, her sharp eyes studying my face.
“Is something bothering you?” “Not exactly bothering me.
I’ve just completely run out of energy is all.” “Is it because of Shikimori-san?” “Yeah, she’s—wait a moment.” I cut myself off mid-sentence as a sudden thought halted my brain completely.
“Is something wrong?” Yukino tilted her head slightly, watching my abrupt change in demeanor.
My mind was suddenly hit with something akin to a bolt of lightning.
The current Miyako couldn’t stand the thought of me talking to any other girls in class; she had been keeping a ridiculously tight leash on me all day, not even sparing the female teachers.
But she knew perfectly well that I was all alone in the clubroom with Yukino right now, and she hadn’t even hinted at being angry about it.
Now, sure, we had that conversation back on Saturday, but still…
‘This is incredibly strange.’ Acting on pure instinct, I immediately pulled out my phone from my pocket and fired off a quick text.
[Me: Can you answer something for me really quick, wifey?] The reply came back quicker than the speed of light.
[Wifey ❤️: /cute dog question mark.jpg/] [Me: You know I’m alone with Yukino right now, right?] [Wifey❤️: Yep!] [Me: And you’re completely fine with that, even though you’ve death-glared every single other girl today?] [Wifey❤️: I’m fine with it, if it’s Yukinoshita.] [Me: Why?????] [Wifey❤️: Hehe, a secret!
Good luck!] [Me: /Scared Ghost.Gif/] I slowly put my phone away, trying to lock in and process the sheer absurdity of the conversation.
“What’s with that look on your face?” Yukino asked, her curiosity piqued by my intense staring.
“Yukino.
I seriously need the help of the Service Club right now.” She closed her book with a soft click, setting it down on the table before looking me dead in the eyes.
“What is it?” “My girlfriend has dropped a completely suspicious, potentially ominous line and the way I’m taking it can’t possibly be right.” “How are you taking it?” “I’m taking it as her giving me permission to have two girlfriends.” Yukino stared at me with her mouth open.
Her face was still but even she couldn’t hide her shock.
“I’m taking it as her giving me official permission to have two girlfriends.” Yukino just stared at me, her mouth parting slightly in sheer disbelief.
Her face remained mostly still, but even with her legendary composure, she couldn’t completely hide the genuine shock washing over her features.
“I’m guessing the evidence for this theory is inside whatever message you just responded to?” “Yeah.” “And how can you be so certain?” “Oh!
Before we get into that,” I interrupted myself, reaching deep into my school bag to pull out the cat plushie I had completely forgotten to give her last week.
I slid it across the table toward her.
“Thanks for letting me join the club without a problem.
I know this was originally your private space.” [Critical hit on Yukino Yukinoshita.] [Affection raised by 4%.] “Ahem.
How can you be certain?” She took the cat plush and stuffed it in her bag shamelessly.
“Well, all day long she’s been staring down any girl that’s tried to even breathe in my direction, including the teachers.
Except for one.
I just texted her to ask about it, and she explicitly said she was ‘fine if it’s her’.” “Uh-huh.
And would it be safe to assume that you’re talking about me?” “Damn, how did you guess?” “You made it quite obvious,” Yukino paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as she analyzed the situation.
“Though, I still think you’re looking into her words far too much.” “But then I asked her why, and she said, ‘It’s a secret, good luck’.” Yukino quieted down for a moment, processing the info.
“I think you’re probably right, then.” “So, I’m not just overthinking this, right?” “Probably not.” “I heard you two talked the other day,” I said, leaning in a bit closer.
“Can I ask what that conversation was actually about?” Yukino’s eyes just continued to look straight into mine, completely unblinking.
“I can’t reveal that information.
It’s classified as Service Club private information.” “Fine.
But how do you personally feel about all of this?” “I’m amused.” I nodded slowly.
It sounded about right for Yukino.
She probably only had this much interest in the matter anyway because she was already somewhat alright with me.
[Critical hit on Yukino Yukinoshita!] ‘Huh?’ I snapped back to reality from my thoughts and looked over at her bag.
Peeking inside, I caught her sneakily playing with the paws of the cat plushie under the desk.
[Choices have arrived!] 1.
Call her cute – random reward.
2.Record her.
– random reward […] Recording was out.
“You’re cute when you smile like that, you know?” Yukino froze instantly, her fingers pausing on the plushie.
“I’m always cute.” “No, you’re always beautiful.
I’d say this is actually the very first time I’d call you cute.” She went entirely still under my gaze.
“You certainly have a glib tongue,” she murmured, turning her face slightly away, “but I suppose I cannot deny my own beautiful appearance.
At least I know your eyes are functioning properly.” I chuckled listening to her and went back to trying to understand Miyako.
‘Maybe I’ll just take the dense protagonist route this one time.
Maybe I really am just overthinking the whole thing.’ [Reward: Guaranteed critical hit (one-time use.)] I blinked, silently closing the system panel as the text box faded away into the air.