Chapter 53

After finishing lunch with Rin, Yuki returned to the classroom just before the warning bell rang.

Just then, the people around Yui had disappeared. When Yuki took his seat, Yui glanced at him briefly but quickly lowered her eyes to what seemed to be a memorization notebook.

Suddenly, Yuki realized that he hadn't had a proper conversation with Yui all day.

It wasn't that he was avoiding her, but she seemed to be avoiding him, or rather, unusually not initiating any conversation.

Moreover, she seemed to be creating an atmosphere that made it difficult to talk to her, but Yuki, who had something to ask, called out to her regardless.

"Hey, Yui. Are you free this weekend, either Saturday or Sunday?"

Yui's shoulders twitched, and she slowly turned to face Yuki.

"Free... for what?"

"I was thinking we could go out somewhere together again."

When Yuki said this, Yui looked at him as if seeing him for the second time.

"Is this about something with Mizuho again?"

"It has nothing to do with Mizuho. I just want to hang out with you."

"Hmm..."

Yui made a strange sound and began touching her chin with her mouth open.

Is she having another weird episode? As Yuki watched her, Yui suddenly put on her usual smug face.

"Ah, with me? Do you want to go on another date? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"Answer with a simple yes or no."

"Give me a little more time to think about it."

Yui's attitude seemed prickly.

Well, maybe this is how she usually acts, but Yuki decided to ask about what he thought might be bothering her.

"You seem to be in a bad mood today. Are you still holding a grudge about yesterday's game?"

"H-Huh, the game? No way, I'm not! I'm not a kid anymore!"

"Then what's with the bad mood?"

When Yuki asked this, Yui pouted and muttered something.

"...Not the game, but you two treating me like a kid..."

"Huh, what?"

"N-No! It's not that I'm in a bad mood... Well, we're rivals in the test this week! I'm going to beat you and Ryou with the Yui-Rin team, 2-1, and crush you!"

Of course, this was bullying.

It was almost like she was intruding on a CPU battle, which was already a borderline foul... or rather, a foul. But this was the kind of stubbornness that made her worth reforming.

"I see, then I guess it can't be helped... Let's not hang out."

"Ah, but if Yuki-kun says so, I guess it can't be helped. Saturday? Sunday? What time? Where should we meet?"

"Huh? Aren't you supposed to be my enemy? And aren't you going to study with Rin?"

"Well... I can always study later. I think it's okay to take a break from the battle on the weekend."

When are you planning to study if not now?

Yui's voice brightened, and she leaned in.

It was better than being rejected, but Yuki felt a bit wary, thinking she might be up to something.

"Hmm... Then come to my place first."

"Got it, I'll come to Yuki-kun's place."

"I'm sleepy in the morning, so let's do it in the afternoon."

"Eh... I get sleepy in the afternoon too... It's fine, I'll come early and play with Mizuho in the morning."

She was eager to accept any challenge.

Yuki wondered if she was just bored, but since she seemed so enthusiastic, he didn't want to dampen her spirits, so he agreed.

"Still, for Yuki-kun to invite me, is it the end of the world tomorrow?"

"It would be worse than the test, wouldn't it?"

Although this wasn't the time for such things...

Yuki was already regretting not waiting until after the test.

"Yuki-kun~!"

"Onii-chan~!"

"Yuuuuki~!"

"Raaamuuu!"

He was awakened by a fierce ultrasonic attack.

Blinking his eyes open, he saw Mizuho standing by the bed, megaphone in hand.

"Finally awake, Yuki-kun! You're such a sleepyhead!"

"...Mizuho, it's a day off today. It's Sunday, right?"

"It's Saturday! Oh, you're still half-asleep! Come on, wake up! Chan Yu is here, Chan Yu!"

"Chan Yu...?"

Some suspicious Chinese person...?

Yuki, still half-asleep, got out of bed and was led to the living room by Mizuho.

Sure enough, an unfamiliar figure approached and peered at Yuki's face.

"Oh, you're awake. Really, being woken up by your sister is embarrassing."

"Sorry, but the Chinese medicine and such are already prepared, so you can go home."

"What is he talking about?"

"Stop being so sleepy!" Mizuho raised her megaphone again, and Yuki covered his ears to avoid another ultrasonic blast.

Ignoring this, Mizuho stretched up and forced the megaphone close to his ear.

"Hurry up and change out of those pajamas!"

"Hehe, Yuki-kun in pajamas. So cute."

Caught between the two, Yuki found it very tiring to deal with them right after waking up.

"...Tch, you're so noisy."

"He just clicked his tongue."

"Yuki-kun is grumpy when he's sleepy."

"Is this just grumpy? Here, Yuki-kun, your beloved girlfriend."

"Who said that? Say it in your sleep."

"Who's the one who's half-asleep here?"

"Hey, Mizuho-chan is watching!" she whispered in his ear.

At the same time, a faint sweet scent tickled Yuki's nose as her hair swayed in front of him.

"Oh, it's just Yui. Good morning."

"How did you know it was me just now?"

"Come here, I'll give you a hug."

"You're still half-asleep."

Yuki opened his arms to hug her, but Yui took a step back in caution.

Instead, a smaller figure jumped into Yuki's chest.

"Then I'll get a hug from Mizuho!"

As Mizuho's body fit snugly into his arms, Yuki wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"G-Gahhhhh!!"

"Of course, that looks like a trap. ...Yuki-kun, stop it! Why are you bear-hugging your sister in the morning?"

Yui intervened and pulled Mizuho away.

Dazed, Mizuho was supported by Yui, who then quickly turned and sparkled,

"Yui! I love you!"

Seizing the opportunity, Mizuho clung to Yui's buttocks and rubbed her cheek against them.

"Hey, Mizuho-chan! Stop it!"

"Phew, mission accomplished."

"Who? Who paid you how much!?"

Yui pinched Mizuho's cheeks and squished them.

(Huh? Why is Yui...?)

As Yuki tried to grasp the situation with his dazed mind,

"Ah, Yuki-kun, your hair is all over the place, it's a mess."

"Fix it."

"Do it yourself."

When Yuki was rebuffed, Mizuho immediately brought a comb and handed it to Yui.

Yui, who had taken the comb, hesitated but, under Mizuho's expectant gaze, began to comb Yuki's hair cautiously.

"Geez, Yuki-kun, you're hopeless."

"Ouch, ouch! Be gentler."

"...Don't get too cocky."

As Yui muttered this under her breath, Mizuho was aiming her phone's camera at them.

Noticing this, Yui followed Yuki's gaze and saw Mizuho behind her.

"Mizuho-chan, not again!"

"Hehe, I got a good shot."

"Show me your phone!"

As Yuki watched the two of them chase each other around, he recalled that he had been studying late into the night after Mizuho finally fell asleep.

(Right, today is with Yui and Rin...)

It wasn't a grand plan, but they had made a plan.

Finally coming to his senses, Yuki apologized to Yui, whose hair was slightly disheveled from wrestling with Mizuho.

"Sorry, sorry, I called you today. I was still half-asleep."

"Then apologize more. Apologize like Doraemon."

"Sorry, Nari."

"Who's that?"

It was just before eleven, later than he had thought.

Ignoring the ongoing chaos, Yuki decided to have a late breakfast and lunch.