"Hey, look, Yukino is looking for Nakano-kun!"
"Could it be that the two of them are together? Didn't I hear that Nakano-kun was previously engaged to the eldest daughter of the Katsura family?"
"I think so."
In the hallway, the students who had just been playing and chatting in groups of two or three now looked toward the door of Yu's classroom with astonished expressions and excitedly discussed the situation.
The sound was not particularly loud, but when so many quiet voices overlapped, even Yukinoshita Yukino, who was still an ordinary person, could hear part of the conversation.
If it had been any other day, when Yukinoshita Yukino heard such matchmaking and speculation, she would definitely have frowned, considering those people boring and troublesome.
But today, Yukinoshita Yukino had no such thoughts at all.
At this moment, the tips of her ears were slightly pink, and her slender and delicate fingers, like young willow branches, were intertwined together, as if she were nervous while also full of anticipation.
If someone who knew Yukinoshita Yukino had seen her like this, they would certainly have found it unbelievable.
Including Yu!
Looking at Yukinoshita Yukino standing at the doorway, the expression on Yu's face was strange, as if asking:
"Why is Yukino looking for me?"
"Na..."
When she saw Yu's figure, Yukinoshita Yukino nervously took half a step forward. She had just wanted to softly call out to the young man, but Yu's next reaction completely stunned her:
"Yukino, do you need something from me?"
Yu's attitude was very calm, as though his relationship with Yukinoshita Yukino had not changed at all. In fact, that was exactly the case; Yu truly did not feel that he had much contact with Yukinoshita Yukino.
Because of this, Yu did not take Yukinoshita Yukino and her... brief confession too seriously.
Looking back, aside from the Momobami sisters, the girls Yu loved were girls with whom he had deep contact, and they had only gotten together after numerous emotional conflicts and careful consideration.
But Yukinoshita Yukino... if Yu were to place Yukinoshita Yukino among girls like the Momobami sisters, he personally would have no problem with it, but would Yukinoshita Yukino agree to that?
The answer was definitely no. Yukinoshita Yukino had her own pride and would never offer herself and her biological sister, Momobami Ririka, as gifts in order to climb the social ladder like Momobami Kirari.
Seeing Yu's calm reaction, the turmoil and nervousness inside Yukinoshita Yukino instantly settled, like deep spring water.
Looking into the young man's amethyst eyes, Yukinoshita Yukino quietly spoke:
"Nakano-kun, may I speak with you alone?"
"You may."
Yukinoshita Yukino's attitude caused another wave of surprise in Yu. Without any hesitation, he immediately nodded and agreed.
He also needed to take responsibility for the matter concerning Yukinoshita Yukino. If Yukinoshita Yukino had truly fallen in love with him and was not acting for some other reason, Yu had no reason to reject such a beautiful girl who was approaching him of her own accord. But if Yukinoshita Yukino had merely confused dependence with love or was being influenced by her family...
No matter how beautiful she was, Yu would never be moved. If it was the latter, then in Yu's eyes there was no difference between Yukinoshita Yukino and the Momobami sisters.
Yu's quick agreement, on the contrary, left Yukinoshita Yukino stunned.
When she saw his indifferent and calm expression, she had thought Yu would reject her.
"Let's go. We also need to clean up this mess."
Patting Yukinoshita Yukino on the shoulder, a greenish light flashed in Yu's eyes. Then the students who had just been watching the entire scene appeared within his field of vision, and thin threads appeared on their bodies.
With a single glance, Yu directly cut away their memories of Yukinoshita Yukino from moments ago.
Then his figure flickered, and together with the young girl, he disappeared from the hallway.
When they appeared again, Yu and Yukinoshita Yukino were inside the Service Club room.
Seeing that Yu had brought her there, Yukinoshita Yukino was visibly surprised.
Originally, she had been planning to bring Yu to the Service Club room herself, but she had not expected Yu to bring her directly here. But... how did Yu know she wanted to come here?
Could it be that Yu... reads minds?!
"I don't have the ability to read minds. Let's hurry. We need to have a serious talk."
Seeing Yukinoshita Yukino looking at him strangely, Yu spoke directly. After that, he pulled over a chair from the side and sat down casually.
Returning to her senses, Yukinoshita Yukino also sat down opposite him. At this moment, they sat facing each other as though preparing for a debate.
After sitting down, Yukinoshita Yukino took a deep breath, calmed herself, then looked at the young man and asked:
"Nakano, what... do you think of me?"
"What do I think? Shouldn't I be the one asking you that, Yukino? It doesn't seem like I've had much contact with you, does it? Why did you suddenly want to confess your feelings to me?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's question caused Yu to raise an eyebrow. However, instead of answering her question, he responded with one of his own.
In Yu's opinion, Yukinoshita Yukino had suddenly confessed her feelings to him, and he still had not figured out what was actually going on.
"I... seem to... l-like Nakano..."
When Yu asked that question, Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks instantly turned red. She began stammering, as though trying to avoid answering, but then she suddenly remembered Hiratsuka Shizuka's words from earlier. She made up her mind and directly spoke what she felt.
Yukinoshita Yukino spoke haltingly, but Yu was neither deaf nor stupid, so he naturally understood what she had just said.
Yu thought Yukinoshita Yukino would avoid the topic and simply run away.
However, when he thought about it carefully, if this had happened to Eriri Spencer Sawamura, she would definitely have run away, but considering Yukinoshita Yukino's personality, this kind of shy confession was completely normal.
"Mm... but what if I'm very fickle and can't give you the exclusive love you want? For example, loving only you and no one else—that's what you want, what you hope for, isn't it?"
Nodding his head, Yu also became serious. Since Yukinoshita Yukino had personally confessed her feelings, Yu naturally had no intention of retreating and saying something like:
"I can't give you the kind of love you want."
Whether he could or could not, he had to try and find out. If he did not even dare to try, wouldn't he be a complete loser?
However, before being with Yukinoshita Yukino, Yu still had to ask that question in advance. He admitted that Yukinoshita Yukino was outstanding and beautiful, but there was always someone better, and above everyone there was always something greater. Yu had no intention of abandoning the entire forest for a single tree.
"...I already knew that..."
Hearing his words, Yukinoshita Yukino lightly pressed her lips together, and her quiet voice barely reached Yu's ears.
"Then, please take care of me, Yukino."
Hearing that, a smile appeared on Yu's lips. He raised his hand, and the wind drew the young girl toward him and placed her in his embrace.
At the same time, his words arrived at the perfect moment.
Yu's sudden action startled Yukinoshita Yukino, but when she felt the warmth of his embrace, a smile appeared on her still somewhat confused face.
"Please take care of me, Yu!"