"What? Yukino-san, have you actually fallen for that guy?"
Hearing Yukinoshita Yukino suddenly ask that question, Hiratsuka Shizuka raised an eyebrow.
She looked at Yukinoshita Yukino with a hint of surprise in her eyes.
To be honest, when she saw Yukinoshita Yukino wandering the streets alone late at night, she had assumed that Yukinoshita Yukino had suffered a heartbreak.
However, at first, Hiratsuka Shizuka thought that the person with whom Yukinoshita Yukino had romantic complications would be Hayama Hayato.
After all, Hiratsuka Shizuka knew a little about the relationship between the Hayama and Yukinoshita families.
Hayama Hayato was, after all, a childhood friend of both Yukinoshita Yukino and Yukinoshita Haruno, having grown up together with them since they were little.
Moreover, Hayama Hayato was very active and popular at school.
During her time at Sobu High School, Hiratsuka Shizuka had heard more than once that Hayama Hayato had feelings for Yukinoshita Yukino.
But unexpectedly, the person who ultimately developed such a connection with Yukinoshita Yukino was Yu.
Although Yu held a special position in Japan, and even in the world...
Hiratsuka Shizuka knew very well that there were many girls around Yu.
Someone as proud as Yukinoshita Yukino certainly would not want to be involved with a womanizer like Yu.
But now...
Could it be that this was an arrangement by the Yukinoshita family, an attempt to get closer to Yu?
Thinking of this, Hiratsuka Shizuka frowned.
Of course, she knew Yukinoshita Yukino's mother.
She was a very strict and beautiful woman with high standards in every regard, but Hiratsuka Shizuka still did not believe that was the case.
At present, most of the Yukinoshita family's business and power was firmly in Haruno's hands.
Based on her understanding of the woman who constantly praised how wonderful her younger sister was, Haruno would certainly never use her beloved sister as a tool for a political marriage.
Moreover, even if Haruno's personality had changed because of certain events, what about Yu?
Hiratsuka Shizuka had not known Yu for very long, only a year or two.
But based on her impression and understanding of him, she was certain that Yu would never accept such a political marriage, especially one where the other party did not agree.
That guy, although a bit of a womanizer and a pervert, was definitely a good person at heart!
Since that was the case, the possibility of a family-arranged marriage could be ruled out.
The remaining possibility, no matter how unbelievable it sounded, was the truth:
Yukinoshita Yukino had fallen in love with Yu!
When she arrived at that conclusion, Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the girl quietly eating her ramen with a somewhat strange expression.
Instead of answering Yukinoshita Yukino's question, she responded with one of her own:
"Yukino-san, you... have fallen for Yu, haven't you?"
"Pfff!!!!"
The moment Hiratsuka Shizuka finished speaking, Yukinoshita Yukino, who had just put some ramen into her mouth and was lost in thought, heard those words...
Before she could swallow the bite, she spat out the ramen she had been eating.
"Cough! Cough, cough!"
Patting her rapidly rising and falling chest, Yukinoshita Yukino began coughing violently.
This frightened Hiratsuka Shizuka, who quickly handed her a glass of juice.
Taking the juice, Yukinoshita Yukino quickly drank several large mouthfuls before finally calming down.
She set the glass down on the table and looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka with a complicated expression.
Only after a long silence did Yukinoshita Yukino finally speak:
"Why does Hiratsuka-sensei think I like Yu?"
"Hm? Hey, are you really that unaware, or are you just pretending?"
Seeing that Yukinoshita Yukino actually had the nerve to ask such a question when the problem was obviously herself, Hiratsuka Shizuka was left speechless.
With a sigh, she rubbed her forehead and said:
"Judging from your behavior, like a girl wandering the streets late at night instead of sleeping at home, isn't that a sign of romantic troubles?"
"And then you ask me what I think of Yu. Openly asking about someone like that... If that isn't a sign that you like someone, then I really don't know what falling in love means."
No, Yukinoshita Yukino's behavior could best be described as unrequited love.
And a hopeless one at that.
Thinking that, Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Yukinoshita Yukino with a trace of sympathy.
"I... don't know. That guy has helped me so many times... but there are so many girls around him..."
After Hiratsuka Shizuka directly confronted her with the question, Yukinoshita Yukino lowered her gaze to the glass of juice.
Under the dim lighting of the ramen restaurant, the glass glowed faintly with a yellowish color.
The juice inside swayed gently, creating tiny, almost imperceptible ripples.
"Well, it's true that there are many girls around him, but... Yu really is an exceptional person."
Shrugging her shoulders, Hiratsuka Shizuka agreed, but immediately changed the subject and began praising Yu.
What she said was naturally true, and also a fact that many people would agree with.
Setting aside Yu's status in Japan.
He was the [Hero of Humanity] recognized by both the Metropolitan Police Department and the Onmyōji Bureau!
But even if all of that was ignored, let's just talk about his grades.
That guy sleeps at his desk every day.
And not only that, sometimes he even skips classes.
Yet his grades are unbelievably stable!
So stable that no one can threaten his position as the top student in the year!
Not even the equally talented Yukinoshita Yukino!
In fact, when she first heard that Kasumigaoka Utaha, the top student of Toyogasaki Academy, was transferring to Sobu High School, Hiratsuka Shizuka wondered whether Kasumigaoka Utaha might be able to challenge Yu academically.
But the result was predictable.
Although Yu and Kasumigaoka Utaha were not even in the same year...
Hiratsuka Shizuka had seen their test papers.
And she could clearly see the difference between their answers.
"How could someone like that not be exceptional?"
"If Yu isn't an exceptional person, then what kind of person is?"
Hiratsuka Shizuka did not know the answer.
She could not find one.
In her eyes, Yu was the most exceptional person she knew.
Even if that was only her personal impression.
"So... what is the answer, Hiratsuka-sensei? What kind of person is Yu?"
Looking into Hiratsuka Shizuka's dark eyes, Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes were full of curiosity.
She truly wanted to know how Hiratsuka Shizuka viewed Yu.
Was he a womanizer and a scoundrel?
Or an exceptionally capable young man?
Or perhaps...
"To be honest, even I don't know what kind of person Yu is."
Hearing the question, Hiratsuka Shizuka thought for a moment.
But soon, a smile appeared on her beautiful face.
She looked up at the dim light bulb above them and said:
"But when it comes to feelings... if I still can't find someone to marry in a few years, I plan to let Yu support me."
"...I understand."
Looking at Hiratsuka Shizuka, Yukinoshita Yukino did not know how to respond for a while.
Hiratsuka Shizuka's answer was truly unexpected.
After a long silence, Yukinoshita Yukino finally responded softly, then lowered her head and continued eating her ramen.
Hiratsuka Shizuka also stopped talking.
She quietly lit a cigarette and watched Yukinoshita Yukino while slowly exhaling smoke.