"Emm... I understand the general situation..."
The next day, in a well-known café, Shirogane Miyuki was sweating, clutching his coffee cup in total discomfort. His eyes kept darting around shiftily—a classic defensive reaction.
He couldn't help it; his underlying "source code" was simply incompatible with high-end cafés. It was like trying to run Android software on iOS; the fact that he hadn't crashed yet was already a miracle!
"So, you called me out just to tell me all this?"
"Well~ I figured Miyuki might have the same anxieties as the Busujima sisters. Seeing that you're still staying strong makes me so happy!"
Miyazawa Yuu took a hearty swig of his cola, wearing a look of paternal relief that made Shirogane feel incredibly awkward. Honestly, he was starting to consider whether he should just flip the table and start cursing!
"You... you're still exactly the same as ever..."
"Don't look at me with those 'garbage-detecting' eyes~ Hahaha!"
Knowing Miyuki wasn't a fan of flowery talk, Yu immediately put his hands together in a sincere, "PaB-style" apology. After all, he actually needed a favor this time!
As everyone knows, people generally want to associate with those of higher status. In the world of Tokyo high schools, Shuchiin Academy sat at an absolute, insurmountable peak!
In other words, it was much easier to get in touch with those so-called "noble" high school students through Miyuki than through his own sister!
"Miyuki, I remember you often work as a tutor for students from other schools, right?"
"That's true. Don't tell me you're trying to find a breakthrough through my side?"
Miyuki's expression turned serious as he rested his chin on his hand, sinking into deep thought. First of all, since it was Yuu request, he, Shirogane Miyuki, would definitely help out regardless.
But putting all hope on a social failure like him was a bit too much credit!
Furthermore, because Shuchiin was so far ahead, it didn't actually have much interaction with ordinary elite high schools. The only person who could likely help Yu was...
"Secretary Chika should know the students over there. I can ask her for you!"
"Is that so? Then I'll be in your debt. Just let me know whenever there's news; I'll probably be staying in Tokyo for the next two or three weeks!"
"Yeah! Are you home for the break? Also, I've been meaning to ask..."
Miyuki's gaze slowly drifted upward. He stared at Yuu unassumingly handsome face for a long time, eventually focusing on the messy fringe covering his eyes.
This style... how should he put it? It was a bit too different from their last meeting! Even his clothes and aura had undergone a world-shaking transformation! He almost didn't recognize him at first glance!
"What's with the look?"
"You might not believe it, but Miyuki~"
Sliding his fingers through the wig and flipping it up, Yu smiled, his perfect jawline practically sparkling in the sunlight!
That's right! Right now, he wasn't in "Yu form," but "Yu-ma form"! After all, for a band, musical skill was one thing, but "persona" was far more important!
Nobody cares about a plain girl who plays guitar well. But if that girl is an ultimate social recluse, it sparks curiosity—that is the power of a persona!
Therefore, in the spirit of loving his craft, Yu felt there was absolutely nothing wrong with cosplaying as a "mushroom-haired flippant blonde" while out and about!
"I'm a band member now. It would be a waste not to have a charming look, wouldn't it?"
"Waste, my ass! Stop changing your persona whenever you feel like it!"
With a clatter, Shirogane slammed his coffee cup onto the table, waving his hand wildly in deep disdain for Yuu attempt to deceive young girls by changing his appearance!
He was clearly just a dorky senior, but dressing up all flashy like this? He must be up to no good!
Ah... right. He almost forgot this guy was a scumbag who confessed to two girlfriends at once. A repeat offender!
"Come on! Don't be so agitated, Miyuki. Speaking of which, how's the progress with Kaguya? You watched a confession firsthand; you should have made some progress, right?"
"About that..."
Miyuki instantly settled down and pressed the rim of his coffee cup against his forehead, using it to hide his eyes—the "windows to the soul"—from direct scrutiny.
"There's a bit of progress. But Yu, do you think someone like me is really qualified to pursue Kaguya?"
"Ah... the topic got heavy all of a sudden."
Seeing Miyuki like this, Yu had a rough idea of what was happening. Just as he'd said at the start, he called Miyuki out not just for help, but to check in on an old friend.
After all, this guy was already a second-year, stuck in the same school as all those "High Society" types. The pressure of life must be unexpectedly massive!
Even if he could normally numb himself with studying and being rank one in his year, when it came to marriage and dating, some obstacles were simply impossible to ignore.
"What are your thoughts, Miyuki?"
"I feel like I... don't match the Shinomiya family..."
"Yoshi, I understand~"
Yu stood up and shrugged, hoisting the drum set he'd dug up at home (to prove his identity). The tens of kilograms of weight rested on the blonde "pretty boy" as if it were light as a feather.
Under Shirogane's startled gaze of "You carry that thing everywhere?", Yu calmly pulled out his phone with his other hand and explained casually.
"In that case, I'll just message my old man and say I want to marry Kaguya. Regarding family status, although the Miyazawa family is a bit lower, we're still roughly in the same league..."
"???"
Miyuki's brain instantly stalled. His jaw dropped to the table, never expecting to hear such a sentence.
To put it bluntly, a friend pours his heart out to you about his troubles, and you respond by offering him a "green hat" to comfort him? Is the act of saying "It's okay, if you're not going for it, I will" not a bit too scummy?!
They hadn't seen each other in less than a month; it was impossible for Yu to not only change his image but also send his personality racing toward full-blown "Blonde Delinquent" status, right?
"Chotto! Yu, you're joking, right?"
"Unfortunately, I'm not~"
Yu turned and seriously placed his phone on the table, displaying the Line chat with his mother to prove he wasn't just talking.
According to Miyuki's logic, if he had to give up because their statuses didn't match, then no one in all of Japan was better suited to take Shinomiya Kaguya than Yu himself.
One side had a long history and deep political roots, while the other was a rising star with a wide reach in real estate and multiple industries. A match made in heaven!
"But don't you have a girlfriend—"
"Officially, we get a certificate. Privately, we live our own lives. Miyuki, you've studied medieval European history; that model works perfectly fine today..."
"No!"
Miyuki stood up abruptly, his eyes sharp as he gripped Yuu wrist tightly. He didn't want to hear these cruel things, and he couldn't accept Kaguya marrying anyone else!
Even though he knew Yu was likely bluffing to force his hand, he couldn't tolerate even a sliver of possibility!
"Only I... am allowed to marry Kaguya!"
"Eh? Quite the momentum~ So why can't you use that momentum for your offense? What good is being brave only against your friends?"
Even though Shirogane was using his maximum strength, Yu easily broke free from the grip on his wrist in a split second.
Pretending it hurt, Yu rubbed his wrist to give the other guy some face. He tilted his head and glared back with an "I'm so disappointed in you" look. Sure enough, Miyuki wilted immediately.
Honestly, this man was brave to the death sometimes, but a coward to the core most of the time.
If Yu didn't push him, the guy would probably just overthink forever and never realize exactly how much he loved Kaguya.
"So... Yu, you really were just joking, right?"
"Fifty-fifty. The message was really sent. Otherwise, with your IQ, if I had no proof, you would have taken back what you just said!"
Yu leaned against the café booth. Since it was an off-hour, there weren't many people in the shop. Their earlier commotion hadn't drawn complaints from other customers.
However, since loud noise wasn't allowed in a public space, a waitress still walked to their table and bowed. "Excuse me, please don't be loud in the café. It will affect others!"
"Yes, sorry!" x2
Both apologized simultaneously to the dark-skinned, masked waitress. Once she left, Shirogane let out a heavy sigh of relief—
Thankfully it was just a joke. Yu hadn't turned into an evil "Blonde Ntr" character after all. If this guy had truly set his heart on competing for Kaguya, ten Miyukis combined wouldn't be able to win!
"Fine, I get it! I'll try to ask Kaguya out later. You quickly unsend that Line message too!"
"Hmm... it seems the message has already been 'Read'~"
Yu didn't need the reminder; he definitely intended to unsend it. But when he picked up his phone with a dismissive look, his expression froze instantly.
It was too late to unsend; the message already showed the "Read" status!
Shirogane panicked instantly. He'd heard that marriages in great families often didn't care about the children's wishes.
If Yuu mother thought the idea was viable, wouldn't the situation turn from a "high school inspirational drama" straight into an "action-romance movie"?!
"What now? You can explain it, right?"
"There doesn't seem to be room for explanation..."
Cold sweat broke out on Yuu forehead. His deeply furrowed brows looked like a death knell to Shirogane, but Yu's next words pulled him back from hell to the human world.
"My mom said she's going to break my 'third leg' when she gets home to see if I still dare to be a playboy. Do you think she'll believe me if I tell her I was just joking with a friend?"
"...Just wait for death!"
Having just barely survived a "Thunder Bluff" heart attack, Shirogane had a stone-faced expression toward Yu, who had teased him repeatedly. He just wanted this guy to hurry up and go away, so he wouldn't stay in Japan and pollute the already stinking environment!
Ding-dong!
"Welcome! Can I help you with anything?"
On the other side, just as the two waitresses at the front desk—who had a hilarious height difference—were chatting among themselves due to the lack of customers, the electronic doorbell caught their attention.
However, this customer was even stranger than the previous two. After the door opened, she didn't even order; she just rushed into the shop dragging a long skirt. Her furious appearance made her look like a "Main Wife" rushing to catch a mistress.
...
"Now, now~ Don't say that, Miyuki. Wasn't it all to give you courage? I'm just wearing a blonde wig; I'm not a real blonde delinquent~"
In order to avoid having his leg broken by his mother when he got home, Yu removed the wig and used reason and emotion, exerting all his effort to get Miyuki to change his mind and agree to testify for him!
Just as the two finished coordinating their story—agreeing that Miyuki would contact him as soon as there was news—they prepared to leave.
As Yu stretched and turned around, he suddenly felt a violent wind approaching. It was too late to react. The next second, his eyes widened as he was "tackled" and knocked over onto the café sofa.
"Pfft—! Wh-What's the situation?!"
Luckily, he was thick-skinned; the sudden ambush from the shadows caused him almost no damage.
Lifting his head slightly with a head full of question marks, Yu—in his dazed state—clearly saw the attacker who was still pinning him down and radiating a thick, dark aura.
"You lecher! Give me back my sister!"
"Eh?"
The blonde wig that had been sent flying in the chaos slowly drifted down, landing precisely on his face, which was filled with confusion.