Mama Yuigahama only grumbled briefly and, unlike Saori, didn't pull Yuu aside for a lecture.
She seemed uninterested in meddling too much in her daughter's love life. She followed Yuu and the others back to the bustling cultural festival, as if nothing had happened today.
They played on their own, while Yuu still had business.
After informing Yukino and the others, he headed straight to Class 3-A on the third floor. It was indeed a fortune-telling booth.
Several small mysterious tents were set up with black curtains, and the entire classroom was decorated in a deliberately chuunibyou, enigmatic style. The senior girls passing by wore pointed witch hats and body-hugging witch costumes. However, most visitors were women and couples—few single men like him.
Yuu walked with a natural expression. When a senior girl approached to greet him, he asked directly: "May I ask if Kasumigaoka-senpai is here?"
"Kasumigaoka?" The gray-haired witch-dressed senior pulled down her curved hat brim, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Hmm... come to think of it, I haven't seen her in a while. She said she'd come replace anyone anytime and asked us to save a booth for her... such a selfish person."
Someone passing by overheard and kindly answered: "Elaina-san, Kasumigaoka-san went home early."
The gray-haired girl's bright crystal eyes widened suddenly: "Went home early?! Damn—if she can go home early, why am I still here..."
"For that crystal ball you broke. Stop complaining—get back to your part-time witch job~" After some teasing, the passing senior returned to her own tasks.
"Tch—" The gray-haired girl clicked her tongue annoyedly, turning back to Yuu with dead-fish eyes, radiating listless laziness. "Well, you heard? She's gone home. Got business with her? If so, message fee's five hundred yen."
Yuu's mouth twitched: "Is your message phone gold-plated..."
"Hmph—still dissatisfied with a cute beauty like me delivering for you? Five hundred yen's cheap!"
She first proudly patted her flat chest, then her eyes swept his tie. Like finding a flaw, she slowly showed a sly Tibetan-fox smile.
"Yo—so a junior? Great—I've helped you plenty, so another thousand yen as consultation fee—thanks to this country's unique seniority culture, no problem, right?"
"..."
"Hmm? Kouhai-kun, what's with that expression? This isn't robbery. How could a clean, honest, beautiful witch like me rob ordinary folk? It's just fair payment!"
"I haven't said anything—why rush to defend yourself."
(Does a girl this beautiful but this rotten-hearted really exist?)
Yuu silently stared at the fairy-like beautiful, sweet face for a few seconds, then turned and left without hesitation.
"Thanks for the help, Senpai. Since Kasumigaoka-senpai's not here, I'll head back."
"Eh?! W-wait!"
Naturally, his shoulder was soon grabbed hard by small hands... strength unlike a normal girl.
But Yuu didn't mind much. He kept walking out of the classroom with a flat expression, forcibly dragging the girl behind.
"S-strong grip?! Do monsters like this really exist... Aaa—kouhai-kun, wait! I won't take the thousand yen—just five hundred for fortune-telling! Five hundred only! I, this witch, will personally divine for you—guaranteed worth it. If not, consider it a donation to a lost other-world witch traveler!"
Yuu slowly stopped, turning with a strange expression: "Lost other-world witch traveler?"
"Exactly—that's my role today!"
The gray-haired girl grinned widely, proudly puffing her middle-school-sized chest, as if highlighting the hanging hexagonal star badge.
"Completely different from others—a beautiful girl with strong role identity and dedication, as resilient and beautiful as winter plum blossoms—who is it? —Yes, me!"
"Ah... yeah, yeah, got it. Lead the way."
Yuu snorted disbelievingly, turning away uninterested, too lazy to chat with this over-enthusiastic senior.
Of course he saw the One Fortune-Telling, Two Hundred Yen sign at the entrance, but since she answered straightforwardly, consider the five hundred yen charity... As the saying goes, he was already here.
Thus, Yuu followed the gleeful Miss Witch into Class 3-A.
About eight small fortune-telling rooms, all tightly curtained in black, seemingly well soundproofed.
Ancient mysterious music flowed in the ears. Almost no loud talking in the classroom. Whispers and bowed figures made it feel more like a cult headquarters than fortune-telling... Blood-drawn magic circles on walls made it even more so.
Pulling back his gaze, Yuu entered one small booth, pulling a chair and sitting.
Soon, rustling from across. A witch deliberately pressing her hat brim entered, sitting behind the crystal ball, speaking in an intentionally low voice:
"Young sir, what do you wish to know?"
Ignoring the long gray braid under the hat, Yuu said without hesitation: "Love fortune."
Only this concerned him—and he couldn't control it.
"Love, huh... young people's troubles." After sighing, the witch placed hands on the crystal ball, small white hands waving like rubbing a Rasengan, mysteriously muttering.
"Let me think—divination magic... Guri guri, mohu mohu... Ha! Future vision, appear!"
Yuu across held back laughter.
(Is this booth professionally trained? If acting, at least act sincerely...)
Under his hopeless gaze, after a soft chant, the gray-haired witch fell silent briefly.
She pulled hands from the cheap still-transparent crystal ball. Yuu sensed complicated eyes peeking from under the pointed hat, gazing meaningfully at his face.
"What? Bad results?" Yuu didn't care, asking casually while slightly rolling eyes.
"No—not exactly bad..." The gray-haired girl cleared her throat twice, eyes shifting left-right, struggling to string words. "How to say... Your future's full of uncertainty. Though thorny, conversely—if thorns are removed, the path smooths?! Yes, exactly!"
"..." Yuu's mouth opened slightly in surprise, staring at her lifted head speaking convincingly.
When the gray-haired girl cautiously side-glanced him, she seemed shocked and grateful for the reaction. Just as she was about to continue bluffing.
He suddenly smiled, nodding agreement: "True—like the killed will die."
"Right, right—so I said... wait, that's nonsense!?"
"Good you know." Sighing, Yuu stood, placing a five-hundred-yen coin on the table. "Thanks for the answer, Elaina-senpai. I'll leave a five-star review—see you."
"What kind of condescending, half-assed attitude is this!" The gray-haired girl puffed cheeks angrily, pulling a toy-like magic wand from her sleeve and pointing at his back. But ultimately giving up on Avada Kedavra, she slammed the wand annoyedly beside the five hundred yen.
"Though against my principles... fine, young man! For this five hundred yen, one final advice!"
Yuu didn't turn, just slowing as he lifted the curtain to exit.
The gray-haired girl said seriously: "Nothing's truly absolute. Don't fear change. Your life is yours alone—not others'."
Yuu dropped shoulders frustratedly: "Still motivational-quote nonsense."
She wrinkled her nose: "Just listen! This is advice from the Ashen Witch!"
"Such a plain nickname... Fine, thanks for the advice."
Yuu waved, opening the curtain, exiting the dark mysterious fortune-telling room.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Back in the festival-enjoying crowd, Yukino quickly wiped cotton candy fibers from her mouth corner, asking worriedly:
"How'd it go? Did she say anything?"
Yuu shook his head, gesturing there was still some at her mouth corner: "Said she went home early—feels like guilty escape... But uncertain—can only ask when she's back at school. Meanwhile, I'll have someone watch her."
"I see..." While speaking, Yukino unconsciously stuck out her tongue, licking her lip corner. Then realizing his gaze somehow fixed on her lips, expression like wanting to taste the cotton candy.
"Ahem." The cool-aura girl unconsciously turned away. Her fair skin flushed lightly, using remaining cotton candy to block his view. "We can't get anything from Kasumigaoka-senpai... So next, we ask Yuuki-san, right?"
Yuu averted gaze: "Yeah—after the festival, she should've rested enough."
Sora listened silently beside, fingers clutching her clothes hem. Her petite young face expressionless, but eyes thoughtful—unknown what she pondered.
Then Yuigahama returned with Mama Yuigahama, both carrying fresh crepes.
"Ah—Yuu-kun, welcome back~" Smiling in greeting, she handed him a savory crepe. "Bought one for you too... So, business done?"
"Not clear yet." Repeating what he told Yukino, Yuu bit the crepe. Hot fragrant texture filled his mouth. "Later we'll hold a club meeting. Discuss some pretty important things."
"Pretty important?" Yuigahama tilted head slightly, frowning thoughtfully, quickly relaxing. "Well—probably related to the club building blackout, right?"
What she knew now was only two things—Asuna was Yuu's online friend, they just fought in the Virtual Research Club; Kasumigaoka-senpai knew Yuuki-san, acted very suspiciously, likely the blackout culprit.
Natural she didn't think deeper... After all, Mama Yuigahama was here—Yuu was uncomfortable saying too much, and she lacked the silent understanding with Yukino communicable by eye contact alone.
That's why he planned to reveal everything post-festival, under the club meeting excuse.
Yuu was best at telling truth. He was even used to being frank when problems arose—no matter how bad.
After all, besides truth-telling, he couldn't do much now.
"Club meeting?" Beside, Mama Yuigahama blinked soft friendly eyes, chewing blueberry crepe unclearly. "Sounds interesting. Can I join?"
"Mom—don't meddle in youth affairs." Yuigahama said something hurtful to a middle-aged woman, gazing at Yuu questioningly.
Since she'd likely go home with her mom, she couldn't lock her mom in a cold hallway during the meeting, right? If possible, better join together.
Yuu hesitated but shook his head at her, apologizing to Mama Yuigahama:
"Sorry—it's not just our personal matters, but better fewer people know."
Yuigahama was slightly surprised, quickly recalling something: "Don't tell me—it's hugely related to u-us?!"
Her forced word change made Mama Yuigahama narrow eyes slightly, sharp gaze sweeping their somewhat stiff expressions.
But whether she saw nothing or silently kept discoveries, Mama Yuigahama didn't press—returning a gentle smile, lightly patting Yuu's full chest muscles.
"No problem. As Yui said, better this middle-aged me not meddle too much in your affairs—easy to disturb."
"I didn't mean that..."
Yuigahama muttered softly, secretly gazing at Yuu surprised and confused.
"Sorry—I really didn't mean you'd disturb at all, and Nao-san doesn't look middle-aged whatsoever."
[T/N: In this story, Mama Yuigahama's name is Yuigahama Nao]
After explaining with a bitter smile, Yuu sincerely complimented: "If your hairstyle were younger, no one would doubt you're a twenty-five-year-old big sister. I bet everyone we passed thought the same."
"Oh my—true... I'm always called Yui's big sister—as a full-time housewife, it's really troublesome~" Mama Yuigahama beamed flattered, patting Yuu's broad shoulders twice more, before sighing lightly.
"Fine—flattery ends here."
Her tone suddenly serious.
She opened her previously smiling eyes, attitude abruptly serious. Yuu's face reflected in her clear firm eyes—gaze staring as if tangible.
"Relax—I'll go home to cook. You can play until late night—just remember to notify home."
"But before that... Yuu-kun, can you guarantee one thing for me?"