Chapter 88: Rumor

“Eh, eh? Really!?”

Hanasou Kotone was struck by overwhelming shock.

At Yuzumi Girls’ Academy, relationships between girls weren’t rare, but very few would ever “declare” it so openly in front of others. Most students, trained by the academy’s teachings, carried themselves with restraint and subtlety. Compared to them, Shiomi Yukina’s boldness gave off an entirely different impression.

What’s more, Yukina herself usually carried the air of an untouchable flower on a high peak—quiet, sparing with words, often showing a cold demeanor in her role as a student council officer. She seemed difficult to approach.

That, in turn, was exactly what stirred so much curiosity among the students.

And if, on top of that, people found out about Yukina’s sibling connection with Yanase Naoko… Kotone could practically foresee the moment Yukina shot to the very top of the academy’s rumor rankings.

Of course, if even Yukina herself wasn’t bothered by it, then Kotone had no reason to be.

But strangely, now that she had confirmed Yukina and Yanase Naoko’s relationship, an aching sourness welled up in Kotone’s chest.

“Um, Yukina-san… you and Miss Yanase… how long have you been dating?”

Kotone carefully adjusted her expression and asked, her tone tinged with bitterness.

“If I count it strictly…” Yukina put on a thoughtful look. “It’s only been about ten hours.”

“Eh? Ten hours?”

Kotone had assumed it was only natural—if Yukina really was “that way,” then falling for Miss Yanase Naoko was understandable.

But Yukina’s answer left her stunned all over again.

She had thought Yukina and Naoko had been together for a long time already, yet in reality, weren’t they just a freshly minted couple?

“Doesn’t that mean… just yesterday!?”

“Mm, Naoko and I…”

Noticing the change in how Yukina spoke—from “Onee-chan” to “Naoko”—Kotone pressed her lips together.

“Naoko and I only started last night…”

As if recalling something, Yukina’s cheeks flushed a beautiful red, glowing like the sunset. Kotone almost felt an illusion—that the girl before her was a newlywed bride.

“Last night, huh…”

Kotone suddenly remembered waving goodbye to Miss Yanase earlier that evening. So that’s what had happened afterward…

And herself? She had just been sitting on her bed, spacing out, hadn’t she?

“Must be nice…”

Kotone lowered her lashes, bit the straw, and swallowed a sip of water.

Cold.

Yuzumi Girls’ Academy dismissed at 5:30 p.m.

Ephnel parked near the school and walked to the front gate. By now, a small crowd of students had gathered, along with some people waiting who, like her, weren’t wearing uniforms.

Because several major Erosion disasters had struck recently, public safety in Seikyo City had declined. Many parents no longer felt at ease letting their children walk home alone. More families had taken to picking up their daughters in person—something especially common at Yuzumi, where every student was a girl.

Ephnel stood and waited. It wasn’t long before she spotted Yukina’s slim figure among the crowd.

Yukina had already seen her. She broke into a run, leapt lightly, and threw herself joyfully into Ephnel’s arms, drawing glances from people around them.

“Naoko…”

Yukina hugged Ephnel tightly, burying her face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent greedily as she whispered:

“I missed you so much…”

“I missed you too…”

Ephnel held Yukina close.

Their embrace caught people’s attention. By now, some had already recognized them.

—“That pair of girls who kissed at the school gate this morning.”
The story had already made its rounds inside Yuzumi, and as one of its heroines, Yukina had been “reintroduced” to many classmates today.

Yet no one sneered or gossiped. Most looked at her with envy, or offered silent blessings instead.

At Yuzumi, budding romances between students weren’t unusual. They were all young girls, hearts fluttering through adolescence, waiting for encounters of their own. Naturally, those still standing still would cast their eyes toward the ones who had already taken a step forward.

After a long, deep hug, Ephnel gently set Yukina down. She laced her fingers with Yukina’s and smiled.

“Let’s go. Tonight we’re having a big dinner—Father and Mother are already waiting.”

Before coming to pick Yukina up, she had already booked a restaurant and arranged for her parents to head there first. Her plan was to bring Yukina straight over.

“Didn’t Kotone come with you?”

“Kotone-san said, ‘I have other things today,’ so she didn’t join us…”

With Nishizaki Yuuki’s disappearance, their hospital visit had naturally been canceled. Even so, for Kotone’s safety, Ephnel had intended to drop her off at home on the way. But it seemed she had declined.

“I see… then next time, let’s prepare a small gift for her.”

Ephnel didn’t dwell on it.

“Did anything interesting happen at school today?”

“I don’t know. I spent the whole day thinking of you—how could I care about anything else?”

Yukina spoke with earnest playfulness, leaving Ephnel flustered.

“Where did you even learn to talk like this…”

“If you don’t like it, I’ll stop.”

“I never said I don’t like it… If it’s you, I suppose I don’t mind…”

“Naoko, I realized something.”

“What is it?”

“You’re really tsundere.”

Ephnel nearly choked, quickly changing the subject as she remembered tomorrow’s parent-teacher meeting.

“Right… Yukina, about the meeting tomorrow—Father and Mother probably won’t be able to go.”

“Eh? Why not?”

“They’re leaving on a flight tomorrow afternoon.”

Ephnel sighed, her face dimming.

After finishing work earlier today, she had brought up Yukina’s school meeting with her parents. Unfortunately, they already had an afternoon departure scheduled.

Because the matter involved top-secret duties, they had no choice.

Even so, they were reluctant to leave.

“Naoko…”

Yukina looked at Ephnel.

Her feelings for Father and Mother were genuine, just like Ephnel’s. The news of their departure left her equally downcast. She could understand what Ephnel was feeling now.

But she couldn’t think of any words to comfort her.

“Naoko.”

Suddenly, Yukina called out. She darted in front of Ephnel, rose on her toes, and pressed a kiss against her lips before Ephnel could react.

“After tomorrow’s meeting, we’ll be dismissed early. Naoko… will you go shopping with me?”

Yukina tilted her head with a smile.

“I want to buy some clothes for autumn.”

Ephnel froze for a moment, then let a faint smile spread across her face.

“Mm. Let’s go together.”