Chapter 36: Neglect me for a new love?

Whenever the bell rang for the end of class, Matsuyama Shoko would immediately rush to Ishikawa Yuka’s side and chatter away without stopping.

Her small face beamed with a joy she couldn’t hide, looking like a completely different person compared to her gloomy self from yesterday.

While Yuka was happy to see her cheered up, this high-profile attention was giving her a headache; she originally just wanted to live her life quietly!

According to their agreement, Yuka was to have lunch with Shoko’s small group during the break.

Since Shoko took the initiative to invite her and her lackeys were used to revolving around her, it naturally turned into a group meal.

In the Ōka Academy Student Cafeteria, the crowd sat around a large table.

To put it plainly, it was simply Shoko’s usual group seating with Yuka added as an extra person.

To the others, she was likely nothing more than an eyesore—an “uninvited guest.”

Being clung to by Shoko, who followed her around calling “Miss Yuka” this and “Miss Yuka” that, wasn’t something Yuka hated.

After all, who could refuse a cute girl acting like a pampered puppy?

‘But is this really okay?’ Yuka felt a faint sense of unease.

Shoko was so focused on being close to her that she was completely neglecting her other companions.

In the eyes of those children, seeing the leader they once followed suddenly revolving around a transfer student would surely breed some resentment.

Perhaps Shoko felt there was nothing wrong with doing as she pleased, so long as she didn’t break any rules.

However, Yuka didn’t want to see the other children being left out.

She hoped everyone could get along harmoniously.

If it were a dispute between other groups, she would never interfere.

But this was the team that had fought alongside her in Love 100%!

Seeing them grow distant because of her was truly saddening.

“Um… Ishikawa-san?” Fujiwara Keiko spoke up timidly. “Where did you study your etiquette?”

Yuka noticed that Keiko was struggling with how to handle the sense of distance between them; this attempt at conversation must have taken a great deal of courage.

“Just call me Yuka, Kei.”

“K-Kei…”

Looking at Keiko, who was flustered by the intimate nickname, Yuka nodded inwardly.

Breaking the ice at the first meeting was essential; being thought of as forward was better than remaining strangers forever.

“Then… Yuka-san?”

[Glaring]

“Eek!”

Keiko’s tentative approach immediately drew a death stare from Shoko.

“Kei! You must call her Miss Yuka!”

“S-Sorry! Miss Yuka!”

“Shoko!” Yuka hurried to intervene. “How Kei and I address each other is between us! You aren’t allowed to force people!”

“Ugh… I’m sorry, Big Sister Yuka…”

Seeing Shoko slump dejectedly, Yuka’s heart softened.

‘Perhaps I spoke too harshly?’

“I’m the one who should apologize for my tone. But it really is wrong to force others.”

“Okay…”

After soothing Shoko, Yuka quickly returned to the main topic. “You were asking about etiquette classes? I learned at a dojo.”

She deliberately kept her answer vague.

If she uttered the name “Toraiwa Style,” it would likely cause unnecessary complications.

“A dojo?”

“Not an etiquette classroom or a private tutor?”

“Learning at a dojo… that sounds like the Toraiwa Style.”

“N-No way… right…?”

Yuka’s heart skipped a beat.

‘How did they guess so quickly?’

‘Have my words and actions already betrayed traces of the Toraiwa Style?’

Compared to the other children who all had tutors or went to established etiquette schools, her mention of a “dojo” was indeed out of place.

“Ha, hahaha! It’s just an etiquette classroom in the building in front of the station.”

“Ah, that place…”

“It’s hard even just to get a membership there…”

“As expected of the daughter of the Ishikawa family.”

‘That was close!’

Though she had only been there once, it wasn’t a complete lie.

Fortunately, no one present pried further.

However… the Toraiwa Style was indeed a sensitive topic.

Even though her father told her to be proud of it, it seemed wiser to keep it hidden for now.

While chatting, Yuka observed Kiyohisa Tachiki.

Unlike the others who could converse naturally, Tachiki would suddenly fall silent whenever she faced Yuka.

It wasn’t exactly resistance; it felt more like cautious observation.

By contrast, the other children were gradually adapting; though there was still some awkwardness, they could hold a normal conversation.

Children like Keiko, who made an effort to speak, gave her hope.

‘How should I bridge the distance with Tachiki?’ Yuka fretted privately.

Ideally, it should be a gradual process, but the feeling of being deliberately avoided was unsettling.

‘Sigh, even I, someone so socially inept, had to be taught the ways of the world by a first-grader like Shoko. Where would I find some clever trick to hit it off with a little girl?’

She could only let nature take its course.

During the afternoon classes, Yuka killed time by skimming through materials for the Chika Association, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for dismissal.

Though she was loath to do so, she had to go to the Ōka Association Salon.

Just as she stood up, Shoko approached her.

“Miss Yuka! Are you going to the Salon? Shall we go together?”

“Shoko… Sure.”

Yuka agreed, but a strange feeling flickered through her heart.

‘Ah… I see.’

Aside from her morning greeting, she hadn’t spoken to Anmiya Marina at all today.

It was all because Shoko had been clinging to her from morning till night.

While she didn’t hate it, how would Marina feel?

Imagine it: one’s best friend neglecting them for a new favorite—anyone would feel lonely or resentful.

At the very least, it definitely wouldn’t feel good.

Had she really let Marina taste such a feeling? Yuka fell into self-reproach.

It was her own negligence that had caused this situation.

“Shoko, can we invite one more person?”

“Eh? Well… alright…”

Shoko’s gaze shifted toward Marina’s seat; she had clearly guessed Yuka’s intention.

In Love 100%, the two belonged to the same Yuka faction, but right now they were clearly in different camps, nearly adversarial.

Though she didn’t know how they became friends in the game, Yuka decided to be the peacemaker.

“Marina~”

“Yuka? What is it?”

Marina looked slightly surprised as she turned around.

Yuka went straight to the point.

“Do you want to go to the Salon together?”

“Eh? But…”

Marina’s gaze swept past Yuka’s shoulder, meeting Shoko’s eyes.

“The three of us together?”

“Since you say so… alright.”

Marina was still looking at Shoko as she stood up.

It seemed a consensus had been reached.

“Then let us go, the three of us.”

“……”

Yuka couldn’t help but smile wryly at the delicate atmosphere between the two.

After all, she couldn’t expect them to become like sisters immediately; they would have to wear each other down slowly.

The three of them chatted intermittently as they arrived at the Salon doors.

Pushing the door open, they were stunned by the scene before them.

“I will never agree! Someone who did such a thing to Nogami-senpai has no right to enter this Salon!”

“Calm down, Yuko.”

“It’s not for you to decide! If you have an objection, then get out!”

“Nogami… you’re going too far.”

Four people were in the middle of a heated argument in the center of the Salon.

More accurately, two were fighting, and two were trying to mediate.

One of them was Kohara Yuko.

Although her family status didn’t reach the Lower Seven, as a sixth-grader, she was already a core member of the Ōka Association and a close confidante of the Nogami faction.

And the one she was arguing with was none other than the faction leader, Nogami Hiroki himself.

However, it looked more like Nogami was throwing an emotional tantrum while Yuko was speaking blunt truths.

Inadera Taichi was soothing Yuko, while Kurohara Masahira was trying to dissuade Nogami.

Though she didn’t know the details, Yuka didn’t want to touch this mess with a ten-foot pole.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

The sound of the door opening drew every gaze like a magnet, and it was now impossible to slip back out quietly.

Yuka froze in front of the open door, staring at the chaotic scene, utterly at a loss.