A high-end apartment.
The dining room.
Yukino looked at the man before her who kept staring at her, and slowly spoke, "What is it?"
"I just wanted to look at you a little more."
"What kind of madness is this, first thing in the morning?"
"It's not madness. I just wanted to look at Yukino a bit more."
"Hurry up and eat."
Yukino urged him.
"Should I eat Yukino first?"
The moment those words came out, they stirred up the nervous tension in the girl's heart. She was terrified that Lin Ye would come to kiss her again.
"I'm warning you—don't do anything inappropriate this early in the morning."
"Yes, yes, yes, I won't, I won't."
Lin Ye laughed, amused by the girl's reaction.
Indeed, because of his recent string of kissing behaviors, Yukino had developed an extremely high vigilance in this regard.
This made Yukino react with a corresponding stress response the moment she detected even the slightest hint of anything.
Yet, in the end, Yukino still enjoyed it. Lin Ye was well aware of that point.
Still, he needed to know when to stop—stop while ahead, not push too hard, not urge too much. If he truly triggered the girl's rebellious streak, the one who'd suffer in the end would still be him.
Ten minutes later.
The two of them finished breakfast.
Yukino began the final preparations before heading to school.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you last night—Mai Sakurajima called."
"Uh."
Lin Ye was startled. He hadn't checked his phone at all, so he really hadn't noticed.
"I answered for you and chatted with Miss Sakurajima for a while."
"About that—may I ask what you talked about?"
"About you wanting to marry me, about us getting married."
This was indeed the truth.
But this truth was not yet complete enough.
"And what else!"
"About you spending the night at my place last night."
That could also easily cause misunderstandings, but it wasn't the first time Mai had learned of such things, so it wasn't a serious problem. Lin Ye felt he could fully accept it.
"What, are you scared?"
"No, no, no, I'm not."
"Heh heh."
"I really am not. Yukino already said it, and it's all true—there's nothing that can't be spoken of."
Yukino was slightly surprised. She'd assumed Lin Ye would struggle and agonize over it a bit, but she hadn't expected him to accept it so directly.
"Looks like what I said wasn't shocking enough. I didn't make you feel like you were in any danger."
"It's because I trust Yukino, and I trust Mai. Neither of you would leave me."
Yukino gave a small huff and ignored Lin Ye.
"If you want to know anything else, go ask her yourself!"
She simply didn't want to talk anymore.
"If Yukino won't say, then I won't ask."
This show of concern didn't give Yukino any particularly good feeling.
She gathered her things.
The two of them, fully ready, set off for school.
Now, the two of them no longer deliberately took separate routes to avoid drawing more attention.
In front of the gates of Sobu High, at some distance, Lin Ye spotted a familiar figure.
Miura Yumiko.
And Miura Yumiko seemed to sense his gaze too. She glanced back at Lin Ye once, then continued walking, paying him no more mind.
Lin Ye figured his reminder from yesterday must still be effective.
This time, however, he unexpectedly ran into Meguri Shiromeguri. And the instant Meguri Shiromeguri saw Lin Ye, a blush surfaced on her face, and her pace even quickened.
Was it because she was shy?
That made sense—after yesterday's scene, anyone would be shy. Even Yukino, the first time, would probably have been bashful beyond measure.
Though, in Yukino's case, Lin Ye figured it would more likely be cold treatment, an icy expression full of chill.
"President, please wait a moment."
But then Yukino spoke up.
After she spoke, Meguri Shiromeguri came to a halt.
"Yu—Yukinoshita, is there something you need?"
Meguri Shiromeguri's voice carried a slight laugh. Compared to the second-year Yukino Yukinoshita, it almost felt as though Meguri Shiromeguri were the junior.
But comparing from another angle, Meguri Shiromeguri still looked very much like the senior.
That was a comparison of their bodies.
"It's about yesterday's Service Club matter. I've already dealt with it somewhat."
After saying this, Yukino Yukinoshita even shot a glance at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye caught her meaning and left first. "I'll go on ahead."
He greeted Yukinoshita and Meguri Shiromeguri and then departed.
Yukino had told him about this—she would be the one to step forward and handle things on Meguri Shiromeguri's end. Yukino's word, he could still trust.
Lin Ye's departure instantly eased the psychological pressure on Meguri Shiromeguri.
To Meguri Shiromeguri, Lin Ye's very presence would unconsciously bring a great deal of pressure.
"Yukinoshita, this is..."
"Student Lin has already promised me that he won't harass your friend again."
Meguri Shiromeguri was startled.
Even though she already knew Yukino Yukinoshita had noticed something, had discovered something, she still couldn't help being amazed that she'd pinpointed it so precisely and in such a short time.
"How... does the President not believe me?"
"I—I believe you. How could I possibly not believe you, Yukinoshita!"
She said.
But to be honest, deep in her heart there was still that little bit of disbelief.
"Lin Ye won't go after your friend, and he won't pressure your friend into becoming his girlfriend. Rest assured!"
Yukino continued, "I've already had a proper talk with him. He also expressed deep apology and reflection over his own behavior, and it won't happen again. If anything similar occurs in the future, Senpai, feel free to come to me. I'll take responsibility, I'll handle it, and I'll make sure he pays the price."
Yukino Yukinoshita's solemn, vow-making manner gave Meguri Shiromeguri a bit more trust.
"But... about that leverage he had over me..."
"That won't be a problem. I guarantee it."
Under Yukino Yukinoshita's attitude, Meguri Shiromeguri believed her for the time being.
Yet the whole way, Meguri Shiromeguri kept thinking about Sis Haruno's warning.
Was this crisis really resolved so simply?
Could there be new developments?
Were Yukinoshita's warning and methods only enough to make Lin Ye agree for the moment?
But no matter what, all she could do for now was choose to believe. Yesterday, Lin Ye's behavior really did seem like that of someone who wouldn't come to harass her anymore.
The change in Lin Ye's behavior last night must have been because of Yukinoshita seeking him out and talking to him!
Meguri Shiromeguri thought.
Meanwhile, Yukino was thinking of going to find Miura Yumiko at noon to talk with her about this matter.
The request had been resolved.
As long as nothing unexpected came up next, it would be fine.
As long as Lin Ye and her sister didn't experience the body-swap situation again, there wouldn't be any major problems.
Yukino arrived at the classroom. Lin Ye was already seated at his desk, his books neatly arranged.
Soon, another day of classes officially began.
The lunch bell rang.
Yukino handed the bento to Lin Ye. She'd already told him—she would go find Miura Yumiko first, then head to the Service Club afterward.
And so Lin Ye carried the bento box to the Service Club.
Not long after he entered the Service Club, two girls came in one after another.
It was Yui Yuigahama and Iroha Isshiki.
"Senpai, Senpai, where's Yukinoshita-senpai? Nobody's here?"
This was the first time Iroha Isshiki had seen Yukinoshita-senpai absent from the Service Club room. Normally it was Senpai Lin Ye who was missing, not Yukinoshita-senpai.
"She had some things to take care of, so she didn't come."
"Oh oh oh! I see!"
As Iroha spoke, her eyes sparkled with starlight. She thought of something, and in a few quick steps she sidled up to Lin Ye. "Senpai, Senpai, Yukinoshita-senpai isn't here, so from now on it's just the two of us!"
At this moment, Iroha Isshiki paid absolutely no attention to Yuigahama-senpai, who was still present.
"Um... Iroha-chan, I'm right here."
Yui Yuigahama spoke up carefully.
This feeling of being ignored made her very awkward, and she didn't know what to say.
"Yuigahama-senpai isn't a person."
Yui Yuigahama: ???
How was she not a person?
"Ahem ahem, let me explain. Yuigahama-senpai doesn't have any romantic thoughts or intentions toward Senpai, so in my eyes she doesn't count as a rival—meaning she's not within the category of 'people.'"
But this still sounded strange to Yui Yuigahama, a little uncomfortable. Still, she wasn't the type of girl to get angry. Even if she were angry, she'd endure it and rein in her own emotions.
"I—I see!"
"Mm-hmm, that's right. If it gave Senpai a bad feeling, I—I... apologize. I'm terribly sorry, I'm sorry, Yuigahama-senpai."
"You—you don't have to go that far!"
Yui Yuigahama's gentleness quickly took effect. Faced with Iroha Isshiki's apology, the discomfort in her heart vanished cleanly, and in the end there was nothing left to be displeased about.
That was just the kind of person she was—she could quickly accept other people's apologies.
"Boo-hoo, Yuigahama-senpai really is the best! I love Yuigahama-senpai so much."
Yui Yuigahama got embarrassed just hearing it. Her face flushed slightly. "It—it's not that big a deal!"
It was then that Lin Ye spoke up. "Since you like Student Yuigahama so much, Iroha, I suggest you get together with her and pursue your own happiness!"
Yui Yuigahama froze.
Iroha Isshiki froze too.
Neither of them had expected Lin Ye to pull something like this.
"Student Lin, Iroha-chan only likes me as a friend—it's not that kind of like."
Yui Yuigahama recalled her earlier conversation with Yukinoshita. This time Lin Ye's remark gave her the feeling of being misunderstood. She felt that in Lin Ye's mind, she was probably the kind of girl who liked girls, who cuddled with girls.
That was absolutely something she could never accept.
She, Yui Yuigahama, had a perfectly normal sexual orientation, absolutely no homosexual inclinations.
Even though Iroha Isshiki was very cute, very pretty, and fun to be around, still—still, Yui Yuigahama absolutely had no thoughts of that sort, even if the person were Yukino, she, she...
At that final moment, she found herself hesitating just a tiny bit instead.
She felt that maybe she really did like Yukino just a little bit.
Mm.
But liking Yukino, having thoughts of that sort—it was just the occasional thought that popped up, that if only she were a boy, how wonderful that would be. Absolutely no other thoughts.
Yui Yuigahama's mind was in a mess, and she no longer knew what she was even daydreaming about.
"Student Yuigahama, sometimes the faster you explain, the more it looks like you're covering something up."
Yui Yuigahama was stumped.
Iroha Isshiki, on the other hand, laughed. "Senpai, Senpai, I really do like Yuigahama-senpai a lot, and I'd love for her to become my girlfriend. It's just that I'm a girl! If I were a boy, I would definitely pursue Yuigahama-senpai and become her lover. Then every single night I could tease Yuigahama-senpai relentlessly and watch her interesting, adorable reactions."
She said it without the slightest concealment, not caring in the least how alarming the content of her words was.
Yui Yuigahama listened, stunned again and again.
Lin Ye, meanwhile, was already used to Iroha Isshiki's remarks, and treated them as nothing worth making a fuss over.
"Iroha-chan."
The red-faced Yui Yuigahama called out in embarrassment.
She just wanted Iroha Isshiki to stop saying such bashfulness-inducing things.
Her nerves really couldn't withstand it quite so well.
"Don't be shy! It's only Senpai here—we're all our own people. Yuigahama-senpai doesn't need to be shy at all, really..."
Even though Yui Yuigahama thought this way, she truly couldn't do it. The shyness in her heart surged like a tide—it wasn't something plain reason could stop at all.
"Anyway, enough. Iroha-chan, you're not allowed to say such things anymore. That kind of thing is simply impossible. I—I... like boys, my orientation is normal."
"Oh? I wonder if a boy like Senpai could ever fall within Yuigahama-senpai's sights!"
Iroha Isshiki suddenly said, tossing the topic onto Lin Ye.
Toward every woman by Lin Ye's side, Iroha Isshiki was full of a vigilant wariness.
One more woman meant one more measure of pressure. And on top of that, Iroha Isshiki thought of the rivals she faced.
Hard, very hard.
To successfully surpass them—she didn't even know how much energy and time it would take.
Rationally, she knew she should pull back in time, that she shouldn't wait until she was mired too deep before thinking of leaving.
But emotionally, she couldn't bear to. She couldn't let go.
Toward the women around Senpai, she was instead filled with a faint hostility and wariness.
Yui Yuigahama naturally fell within that scope too. Although she felt the possibility was slim—but what about the future! Who's to say she wouldn't enter that scope down the line.
All because Senpai had such great charm. Even she didn't know why Lin Ye had so much charm, but in any case, better to probe first.
Get the results sooner, feel at ease sooner, exit sooner—wasn't that better?
Yui Yuigahama was shocked.
Faced with Iroha Isshiki's straight-up fastball, she was completely shocked. "This... this... how could that be! How could Student Lin possibly fall within my sights."
As those words fell, there was a stretch of silence.
Lin Ye actually understood what Yui Yuigahama meant—that she had no romantic thoughts toward him—but the way it came out made it sound as though she thought he wasn't good enough.
Now, having spoken the words aloud, Yui Yuigahama herself realized this problem too.
"Wait, that's not it, I, I..."
"Senpai, hahahaha."
Iroha Isshiki laughed then. "In Yuigahama-senpai's eyes, you're worthless, hahahaha. And here I thought you'd be really popular, Senpai, that you'd be liked by lots and lots of girls!"
"I'm not a pearl or a diamond—how could I possibly be liked by lots and lots of girls."
Lin Ye said, drawing an analogy.
The atmosphere at the scene lightened a little.
But Yui Yuigahama was still a bit embarrassed, and still spoke up to explain. "I, I meant it like this—toward Student Lin I only have a classmate's friendly camaraderie, no romantic intent, really."
"Senpai, Senpai, your charm's been called into question—that stings, doesn't it?"
"No, I think it's quite good. Not like a certain junior."
"What about me!"
Iroha Isshiki jumped up. "I like a certain senior. I want to pursue him, pursue him with all my effort until I succeed, persisting for love—is there anything wrong with that?"
In Yui Yuigahama's eyes, there was definitely nothing wrong with it. And in Iroha Isshiki's own eyes, there was of course nothing wrong with it.
The only one who thought there was something wrong was Lin Ye.
But Lin Ye said nothing. In any case, he knew that even if he pointed out she was wrong, Iroha Isshiki wouldn't accept it, and would still keep drawing close to him and making contact as before.
To make this junior give up—honestly, Lin Ye didn't have any good methods.
Lin Ye didn't know what to do either.
Either that, or he'd have to hypnotize her again—but the effect of the Hypnosis skill probably wouldn't be much good.
"Iroha-chan, go for it."
Yui Yuigahama pumped her fist in encouragement. Girls of her age yearned for love the most and were the most emotional. Toward Iroha Isshiki's charging forward for love, she naturally expressed the highest level of encouragement.
"Mm-hmm, uh-huh, I will, I definitely will. I'm going to defeat Yukinoshita-senpai and snatch Senpai right out of Yukinoshita-senpai's hands."
The moment that name appeared, the emotions in Yui Yuigahama's heart instantly shifted.
Iroha's rival was Yukinon—how had she just forgotten that fact!?
She felt she probably shouldn't have been cheering Iroha on.
"Yuigahama-senpai, you'll keep supporting and encouraging me too, looking forward to my success in winning over Senpai, right?"
Faced with Iroha Isshiki's 'aggressive pushiness' and smile, Yui Yuigahama could only smile awkwardly in reply. "Yes, yes, go, go for it..."
"I get the feeling Yuigahama-senpai's attitude is a bit off. But never mind, I'll succeed anyway. Yukinoshita-senpai is nothing at all—right, Senpai?"
Iroha Isshiki chuckled, heh-heh.
"Never mind whether you can defeat Yukinoshita—even if you did defeat Yukinoshita, there are still other girls."
Iroha Isshiki thought of the Fujibayashi sisters.
Indeed, the Fujibayashi sisters were formidable too, especially the younger sister, Ryou Fujibayashi, who seemed to have already had something happen with Senpai. No, no—not 'seemed,' it had basically already happened. The two of them had already become the most intimate of relationships.
This hurdle seemed a bit hard to get over.
"Oh my, oh my."
The moment Yui Yuigahama heard this, she got excited, and at the same time all sorts of thoughts ran through her mind.
Could it be that besides liking Yukino, Lin Ye also liked other girls?
This guy was such a philanderer—that wasn't very good, was it?
"Student Lin, you like other girls too?"
She wondered—if she found out, should she tell Yukino about this?
Telling her would be for Yukino's sake, but it carried a feeling of tattling. Yet not telling her felt like a betrayal of Yukino. Still, right now Yukino was only a girl Lin Ye liked, so not saying anything seemed to be no big deal either.
"Yes."
Lin Ye admitted it directly.
This forthright manner left Yui Yuigahama dumbfounded.
"Senpai likes me! How awful!"
"Flattering yourself."
"Tch, Senpai has no sense of romance at all, no idea how to win a girl's heart."
Iroha Isshiki pursed her lips, thoroughly displeased.
She'd given Senpai countless chances, yet Senpai took not a single one.
That was going too far!
If it were any other boy, he might not take the first or second chance.
But after that, how could he possibly keep refusing? Male high schoolers of this age, in the throes of puberty—which one of them wasn't stirring with youthful feelings, intensely curious about and longing for girls? Even if not for love, then for their needs, they'd accept.
But Lin Ye wasn't like that.
Lin Ye wasn't the least bit tempted.
Call him a philanderer—yet the girls he came into contact with were many, many indeed. Call him a scumbag—yet he never touched the girls, and even when beautiful girls threw themselves at him, he basically refused.
She'd thrown herself at him to that degree, and Senpai still refused. What's more, Senpai had that terrifying Hypnosis ability. If Senpai truly wanted to do evil, what woman could he not toy with?
Even Yukinoshita-senpai—if Senpai could step over his own moral compass, Yukinoshita-senpai would probably have long since become a plaything among playthings.
At this moment, Iroha Isshiki suddenly felt that Lin Ye having such high self-restraint and morals was a good thing after all.
Otherwise, she didn't dare imagine what consequences might arise.
The entire student body of Sobu High might end up...
Ahhh, if a scene like that occurred, she felt she'd go mad.
"I don't need to win your heart."
"Hmph hmph, I was just saying Senpai doesn't understand. A boy like you, Senpai—except for me, no one would want you, no one would be your girlfriend. Senpai, give up on Yukinoshita-senpai and date me!"
Iroha Isshiki tried to persuade him, but seeing Lin Ye have no reaction, she went back to the earlier topic. "Senpai, go on and say it! Who else do you like?"
"Could it be..."
She dragged out the syllable, not directly speaking the name Ryou Fujibayashi.
Yui Yuigahama opened her eyes and focused her concentration, determined not to let this name slip past her.
"Right, exactly the 'could it be' you're thinking of—it's Mai Sakurajima, of course."
Yui Yuigahama was stumped, an astonished look on her face.
Mai Sakurajima—wasn't that the big celebrity?
Lin Ye liking Mai Sakurajima—this... this was no problem, but how to put it! It had absolutely no connection to the girl's name she'd been anticipating.
Yui Yuigahama had thought Lin Ye would say it was Yumiko. After all, the two of them were now boyfriend and girlfriend in name. Of course, she'd also considered whether it might be President Meguri Shiromeguri.
The President was so pretty—surely lots of boys liked her. She figured Lin Ye might be one of them.
"I like Mai. I will always like Mai Sakurajima. This... is that not allowed?"
A single rhetorical question robbed both girls of any impulse to answer.
Of course it was allowed—liking a big celebrity was a perfectly normal thing. Moreover, this didn't conflict all that strongly with romantic liking.
For instance, a girl might have a boyfriend yet still like a certain male celebrity. That couldn't be counted as cheating or two-timing—there was absolutely no problem with it.
Now Lin Ye said he liked Mai Sakurajima—this... was no problem at all.
Yui Yuigahama even felt she shouldn't have called Lin Ye a philanderer.
"Senpai, how could you like Mai! I think you'd be more reliable liking Yukinoshita-senpai instead—she's a big celebrity. Don't you think so, Yuigahama-senpai?"
Iroha Isshiki asked in return.
Yui Yuigahama nodded reflexively, but then quickly shook her head. "Well, that's not it either. It's a good thing for Student Lin to like Mai. Mm-hmm, it's a good thing. I'm a fan of Mai too. And Mai already has a boyfriend—oh right, you know that, Student Lin?"
"I know."
"So you've already got no chance. My advice is you'd be better off continuing to focus on pursuing Yukinon. Yukinon doesn't have a boy she likes yet, so you still have a chance."
The moment she finished, Yui Yuigahama suddenly realized the problem—she had just said she'd support Iroha Isshiki.
"Ahem ahem, of course, I support you pursuing Iroha-chan even more. Iroha-chan likes you so much—if you pursue Iroha-chan, you'll immediately have a cute junior as your girlfriend, and you'll get to experience the beauty of love. That... isn't that nice?"
She added this explanation with a hahaha, terrified that Iroha Isshiki would misunderstand and cause an unnecessary drop in goodwill.
Yui Yuigahama didn't want that situation to occur.
"Right, right, I approve, I approve, I agree with Yuigahama-senpai's suggestion."
Iroha Isshiki immediately voiced her support.
She had to support it.
Even though she held no hope, still—what if, what if it worked out?
Then wouldn't she be soaring, absolutely thrilled?
"I'd be better off pursuing Mai and Yukinoshita."
After saying this, Lin Ye even nodded. "I think there's a possibility of making the two of them my girlfriends. Mm, and the possibility is quite high."
This statement left both Iroha Isshiki and Yui Yuigahama silent.
Pursuing one would be one thing, but pursuing two—and by the sound of it, Lin Ye seemed to want to pursue both at once, making them both his girlfriends together.
That was even more impossible.
They didn't know much about Mai Sakurajima. After all, Mai Sakurajima was one of the six great celebrities, and much of the intel came from online news information. But as for Mai Sakurajima's true personality, they definitely didn't understand it.
But Yukino Yukinoshita, this girl, their Service Club president—her personality they knew very clearly.
How could this girl possibly agree and consent to that sort of thing with Lin Ye? Even just learning that Lin Ye liked Mai Sakurajima might cause her goodwill toward him to plummet, let alone dating together.
That was absolutely, absolutely impossible to happen.
So the two girls thought in their hearts.
"Senpai, you don't have a fever, do you!"
Iroha Isshiki even reached out and felt Lin Ye's forehead, sensing that normal body temperature, and said in puzzlement.
But in truth her heart was delighted at finally having gained one more physical contact with Lin Ye.
"How can you talk in your sleep in broad daylight? You'd be better off striving to make me and Yuigahama-senpai your girlfriends."
Yui Yuigahama: ???
"I think the possibility of you striving to make the two of us your girlfriends is actually quite high. I'd definitely agree, and with Yuigahama-senpai's dopey, adorable manner, the possibility of you pursuing her successfully is high too. What's more, with Yuigahama-senpai's soft, delicate air, she'd surely be easy to pursue."
"Iro—Iroha-chan... don't talk nonsense! I... how am I that easy to pursue?"
"Heh heh."
This, at any rate, Iroha Isshiki didn't believe.
And Lin Ye actually didn't believe it either.
Honestly, Lin Ye felt that among the girls he knew, if he had to start from zero and pursue them, the possibility of successfully pursuing Yui Yuigahama was the highest.
Next would be Meguri Shiromeguri, probably.
He had that kind of feeling.
As for Iroha Isshiki—honestly, an enthusiastic, proactive girl like Iroha Isshiki was actually the hardest to pursue, unless Iroha Isshiki fell for him on her own initiative.
But if he were an ordinary boy, he really wouldn't have that measure of charm.
That included Yukinoshita too.
If not for the special existence in this life, given his original circumstances, it would have been very hard to enter a girl's heart.
It was because of the Strange, because of his player identity, because of his superpower, that he'd gained more interaction with Yukino Yukinoshita. And through his family's influence, his relationship with Yukinoshita had grown even closer.
It wasn't until the point of 'Quasi-fiancés' was raised that the two of them reached the greatest turning point in their relationship.
From then on, there was more physical contact, and using that identity he went on to do many intimate things with Yukino. Up until now, kissing had become the norm, he was already sleeping in the girl's bedroom, holding the girl through the night.
Except for the final step, it could be said he'd already done everything he could do with Yukino.
Even the final step—he knew that if he did it, the girl wouldn't stop him. It was just that he'd have to keep his promise, keep his promise to sever ties with the other women. He could go back on his word afterward, but the result of that action would be Yukino completely distancing herself from him.
That was not something Lin Ye could accept.
Obtaining the girl's body was not his goal—obtaining the girl's heart was the true goal.
If it were truly just for the girl's body, he had no shortage of methods.
For instance, Hypnosis or Time Stop—he could truly do as he pleased, with absolute freedom. Replicating certain plots from adult works wouldn't be all that simple, but far from difficult either.
But such purely lustful acts were not what Lin Ye wanted. He truly had no thoughts of that sort.
Although he was a philanderer, unable to be devoted to one, he still held pure ideals about love, and knew what he should and shouldn't do.
Having the ability, but needing self-management.
No matter how much he liked a girl, it shouldn't be for the sake of obtaining her that he did that sort of thing.
"See, Senpai has tacitly acknowledged what I said. Senpai definitely thinks so too, right?"
Under Iroha's urging, Lin Ye reflexively nodded.
This reaction left Yui Yuigahama stunned, and at the same time somewhat despairing.
What, what was this!?
Was there really any need for this?
In Lin Ye's eyes she was that easy to pursue too?
No way!
She felt she was not that easy a girl to pursue.
"I—I'm hard to pursue too! Plenty of boys have confessed to me, and I turned them all down."
"Oh oh oh! Who! A boy at Sobu High confessed to Yuigahama-senpai?"
"..."
Yui Yuigahama fell silent.
"It—it was back in middle school."
Iroha Isshiki said, blinking her eyes.
"Mm, back in middle school."
"So Yuigahama-senpai hasn't been confessed to since high school!"
The moment this was brought up, Yui Yuigahama didn't know what came over her, but she felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy.
She'd always hoped that during her time at Sobu High she could also meet a boy she liked, be confessed to by a boy, and if the feelings were mutual, even have a romance colored with youthful romance.
But no, no.
First year had ended, and not a single boy had confessed to her.
Once, a boy nervously asked to meet her, to get in touch with her, and she'd thought this boy was going to confess to her—but it turned out she'd misunderstood. That wasn't it at all; this boy wanted to confess to Yumiko.
Compared to her, Yumiko was much more popular at Sobu High. It was just that later she grew very close to Hayama, and with rumors that Miura Yumiko liked Hayama, many boys with intentions all set aside the thoughts in their hearts.
"That's too pitiful—ahem ahem, no, no, I mean it's a bit of a shame. A girl as cute and pretty as Senpai, and yet no boy confessed to her—that's too abnormal. The boys at Sobu High have no eye for it at all! No taste whatsoever, they're just too pathetic."
Lin Ye had no reaction.
He too fell within the category of Sobu High, but he didn't feel Iroha Isshiki was implicating him. Even if she were, his mindset was good and he could fully accept it.
"It's, it's that I don't have any... charm! Compared to Yukinon, to Yumiko, to you, Iroha-chan, I'm... I fall... far too short."
She revealed a bitter smile.
Honestly, faced with this fact, her heart still felt considerably wretched.
She'd been popular back in middle school, even been confessed to, but by high school—and she'd even learned to do makeup and become more stylish—yet not a single boy had confessed to her.
And she could only watch as her good friend Yumiko was constantly confessed to by all sorts of boys, and even Hime-chan had been too—only she hadn't. How could she not be disappointed and wretched?
Honestly, she really felt she wasn't lacking.
Could it be... a discrepancy in perception?
Was she actually rather lacking, and it was just her own understanding and aesthetic sense of herself that was insufficient?
No, no, no.
Yui Yuigahama negated this conjecture again. She felt that wasn't it—she felt this notion definitely had problems.
Iroha Isshiki knew from Yui Yuigahama's reaction that she'd struck a blow to this cute senior.
She immediately said, "No, no! Yuigahama-senpai is still really good, really wonderful, really charming, truly, truly, I guarantee it. If I were a boy, I would definitely pursue Yuigahama-senpai. I'd definitely become Yuigahama-senpai's boyfriend and take good care of her, cherish her."
She kept talking, expressing her heart.
But Yui Yuigahama felt no joy because of it.
In her view, this was purely Iroha Isshiki's consolation, and she really didn't feel much of anything.
"Senpai, say something too!"
Iroha Isshiki urged Lin Ye.
This was the moment for Lin Ye to step in. If Lin Ye didn't step in now, Yui Yuigahama was going to suffer an enormous blow.
"How about it, Senpai—why don't you confess to Senpai right now?"
The instant these words came out, Yui Yuigahama froze first, glaring at Iroha Isshiki.
What did Iroha Isshiki mean by this? How had it jumped all the way to a confession?
"Senpai, you'd be the first boy to confess to Yuigahama-senpai. I think you're sure to succeed—the odds of success are high. There's an enormous chance Yuigahama-senpai will accept you. Really, believe me, hurry and confess!"
"I—I won't... agree!"
The person in question, Yui Yuigahama, immediately spoke up to refute.
If she had to agree just because someone was the first to confess to her, then that would be far too easy, wouldn't it!?
She really would be far too easy to win over.
Yui Yuigahama didn't want to be labeled a girl who was very easy to pursue—absolutely not.
Dating had to be with mutual affection, and absolutely couldn't be romance for the sake of romance, or finding a boyfriend for the sake of finding a boyfriend.
What would be the point of that!?
"Stop coming up with lousy ideas."
Lin Ye rapped Iroha on the forehead.
"How is this a lousy idea? I'm being serious. If Senpai confesses, wouldn't it let Senpai know that she can be confessed to by boys too—that it's not that no boy would confess to her?"
"And once Senpai is moved, once she gets excited, she'll be willing to be your girlfriend. Isn't that the best of both worlds, one good thing after another?"
"You'd be better off confessing yourself—let her know that, more than boys, there are girls who confess to her, who like her. Open up a whole new world."
The moment these words came out, a certain memory of Yui Yuigahama's was stirred up again.
No way!
No!
"This... Senpai, you're willing to let me, who likes you, go and confess?"
"Willing, very willing."
Lin Ye didn't hesitate in the slightest.
Seeing this, Iroha Isshiki didn't stand on ceremony either, and directly turned to face Yui Yuigahama head-on.
"Yuigahama-senpai, I, I... from very early on I..."
At this moment Yui Yuigahama fell into a brief daze. Rationally she knew she should speak up to stop it, that she should stop Iroha Isshiki, halt this behavior.
But deep in her heart it was as if some invisible force were stopping her.
She couldn't get the words of refusal out. She should have stopped it.
Could it be that, just as Yukino said, just as she feared, she actually preferred girls? That her orientation was actually crooked?
"I like you, Yuigahama-senpai. Be my girlfriend!"
"..."
"Yuigahama-senpai, please."
"Okay."
Silence.
A dead, deathly silence.
Even Lin Ye was so shocked he couldn't speak.
What had Yui Yuigahama just said?
It seemed she'd said 'Okay'!?
That was accepting Iroha Isshiki's confession, wasn't it?
Holy crap.
Lin Ye even doubted whether he'd just been hearing things in that moment, but from Iroha Isshiki's reaction, and Yui Yuigahama's own reaction, both indicated he hadn't heard wrong.
To think he could encounter this sort of thing in reality.
Lin Ye couldn't help but inwardly grumble.
A few seconds later, someone finally came to their senses.
It was Yui Yuigahama who reacted first and immediately spoke up. "No, that's not... I, that was... the 'okay' I said... I just wanted to thank... Iroha-chan for her confession, that's all. Really, it really wasn't that I don't..."
"That's great."
Lin Ye spoke up. "May lovers be united at last—congratulations to you two on your happy union, on getting together."
He cut off Yui Yuigahama's words of denial, continuously offering words of blessing.
Because in Lin Ye's view, if these two—Yui Yuigahama and Iroha Isshiki—got together, he'd have a better excuse to shake off Iroha Isshiki.
Of course, given how clingy a girl Iroha Isshiki was, this bit of reasoning was far from enough, but having it was much, much better than not.
With this one reason in hand, he felt quite good.
"No, no, that's not it—Student Lin, don't misunderstand, please don't misunderstand."
Yui Yuigahama kept explaining, but Lin Ye ignored her the whole way.
Then Iroha Isshiki spoke up too. "Senpai, you're very happy, aren't you?"
Lin Ye looked at Iroha Isshiki and slowly nodded. "There's indeed a bit of that."
There was a chance to shake you off—wasn't that something worth being happy about?
It was definitely worth being happy about.
Lin Ye silently thought to himself.
"It's indeed something worth being happy about."
Iroha Isshiki nodded in agreement.
"From now on Yuigahama-senpai is my girlfriend, and I like Senpai, so Senpai only needs to confess to me to make me his girlfriend. In that case..."
She chuckled, heh-heh.
"My girlfriend is naturally Senpai's girlfriend too, so Senpai would have two girlfriends all at once. Congratulations, Senpai—what we were just talking about might directly become reality."
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