"Thank you, but no," Yukinoshita Yukino said politely after a moment of hesitation.
She was like a snow lotus blooming on a mountaintop. Beautiful, distant, and untouchable.
Yukinoshita Yukino. Even her name sounded beautiful.
Yet, just like her name suggested, she gave off a cool, pristine impression. Chilly and unapproachable.
"It's okay, really!"
While most people might back off after being rejected, perhaps even avoid interacting with her in the future, Tsumugi was different.
"There's still plenty left."
Smiling, Tsumugi lifted the teapot in her hand and fetched another set of teacups from the cabinet.
Under Yukino's slightly startled gaze, she placed a delicate, freshly poured cup of tea in front of her.
"Here you go."
For some reason, as she looked at the fragrant tea before her, Yukinoshita found herself unable to say no again.
Her pale-pink lips trembled slightly. In the end, she accepted Tsumugi's kindness.
"Thank you."
"Would you like a cookie?"
Before Yukino could even answer, Tsumugi added gently, "There are still plenty."
Yukino looked up to see Tsumugi's warm, friendly gaze.
"…Sorry."
Suddenly, Yukino stood.
Though her head was bowed, Sato noticed a hint of panic in her otherwise composed face.
She placed the cup of tea back down, pressed her lips together, and gave a small bow toward Tsumugi.
"Sorry. I just remembered something I need to do. See you tomorrow."
With that, Yukinoshita Yukino swiftly packed up her paperback, grabbed her bag, and left the room after giving a final bow.
The clubroom fell into silence.
Ritsu pouted. "She seems like a really hard person to talk to. I mean, Tsumugi was being so nice, and she just left!"
Mio nodded in agreement, looking a little displeased too.
But Sato had a different take. Watching the two grumble on Tsumugi's behalf, he smiled.
"Maybe she just felt embarrassed?"
"No way! Yukinoshita-san is clearly the cool beauty type!"
"That kind of character is supposed to be cold and distant, aloof by design!"
Ritsu shot down the idea fervently and then eyed Sato suspiciously. "Nohara from the Light Music Club! You better not be taking Yukinoshita's side just because she's pretty!"
"I mean, my Mio is pretty too!"
"Wha—?! Why am I suddenly part of this?!"
Mio, flustered and unprepared, glared at Ritsu in frustration.
Just like Yukino, this "long black-haired beauty" was easily embarrassed.
Sato couldn't help mentally remarking on that similarity before turning back to Ritsu.
"President, I think you've been reading too many romance novels."
"Exactly!"
Tsumugi walked over, tea cup in hand.
"Wait! Tsumugi, you think so too?"
Ritsu looked utterly shocked.
Was she really supposed to believe that the cold, distant Yukinoshita Yukino was shy?
"Isn't she just like Mio, then?"
"Not quite," Tsumugi replied unexpectedly.
She thought for a moment. "It's true that Mio-san gets embarrassed easily. But Yukinoshita-san isn't quite like that."
"Wait! Now I'm confused!"
Ritsu rubbed her forehead with one hand and braced herself against the table with the other.
Sato chuckled and explained, "Tsumugi means that Yukinoshita-san only gets embarrassed in certain situations. That doesn't mean she's the type to get flustered easily."
"From what we've seen, she actually seems pretty capable and decisive, maybe even the kind of person who handles things on her own."
"Is that so…?"
Ritsu's brain was clearly in a fog, trying to process it all.
"So why would she get embarrassed, then?"
Mio chimed in, also confused. As someone naturally shy and socially anxious, she was just as puzzled.
"I'm not entirely sure either. Maybe Tsumugi knows?"
Sato had a vague idea, but it wasn't clear enough to explain with confidence.
"Well…"
Tsumugi placed a delicate finger on her lips, deep in thought.
"It's just a feeling I have. Something oddly familiar… but the memory's really hazy."
The heiress furrowed her brows, clearly trying to recall something.
Suddenly, a flash of insight hit Sato, and realization dawned on his face.
"I think I might have figured it out."
"What?! What is it?!"
Ritsu leaned in eagerly.
But Sato remained calm, much to her frustration.
"If I remember correctly, Yukinoshita-san is a well-known figure at our school. People even call her the 'Flower on the High Peak'…"
"A flower on a high peak. Beautiful, but out of reach."
"That means most people see her as someone difficult to approach."
As he spoke, Sato also recalled the accident from before the school term began.
Unless he was mistaken, Yukinoshita Yukino came from a prestigious family, raised with impeccable manners and discipline, but also strict rules and expectations.
For ordinary students, she might as well exist in a different world, a chasm too wide to cross.
People from such families are often outstanding, but they also miss out on a lot.
Like… friends.
"So, there probably haven't been many people who approached Yukinoshita-san. And because of that, she's never really had the chance to make friends. That kind of person ends up lonely and used to being alone."
"That's why, when Tsumugi's warmth reached her, she might've experienced something entirely new. And that feeling made her restless… made her want to run away."
When he finished, the room fell completely silent.
Then, finally, Ritsu broke it with a burst of excitement.
"Nohara, that actually… kind of makes sense!"
Kind of? It totally makes sense!