"..."
Only cold wind gusts heard in ears. In frozen silence, both slowly calmed.
Yuigahama spoke first, voice slightly hoarse:
"Don't wanna talk more... Yuu-kun, you and Yukinon go home first."
"Hm, sorry."
Unknowingly since when, Yuu accustomed apologize: "If unwell, can bring medicinal porridge bowl."
"Not sick, just voice hoarse after yelling."
Flat laughed, cleared throat. As wanting sweep all awkward tension, Yuigahama casual tone: "Though not too mad, seems first time we fought."
Pulled lip corner, Yuu smiled reply: "Yeah. Really hope infinite times future."
Yuigahama dissatisfied: "Who hopes that? Hmph, Yuu-kun actually hates me, right?"
"Opposite." Yuu shook head: "If two want long together, impossible without occasional fights... Even bedridden too old move, still argue fight partner, think very romantic."
"True. Very like what you and Yukinon do." Yuigahama soft sighed, as self: "From tomorrow, pretend nothing happened. Service Club routine unchanged, don't talk affair again. Just not before me..."
"Yui."
Just evasion, lead unhappy end.
Yuu about say, but Yuigahama next sentence shut mouth.
"And this weekend, we date."
"...Hah?"
"From morning, me and you, Yukinon and you, me and Yukinon—group like that... Finally, three date together, discuss all want say. Can?"
Yuu startled turned upstairs, happened eye contact Yuigahama just opened curtain.
Eyes red, as just cried, but bright post-rain eyes, lake water gleam clear no regret.
"Serious?"
Yuu wide-eyed asked, hard believe.
"Hm, solution found. Only way think."
Yuigahama gentle nodded, expression firmer: "Though unknow future get, at least far better than curl blanket, cry Mama hug!"
Said earnestly word by word: "Yuu-kun, no room refuse—what right say this?"
"..."
Looked up empty, Yuu opened mouth, finally resigned laughed.
"Your words always right."
"Hm, decided!" Yuigahama satisfied smiled. Last glanced, ended call closing curtain.
"See tomorrow. Don't let Yukinon cold too long."
"Of course, see tomorrow."
"..."
Busy tone from phone. Yuu slowly set phone, confirmed real heartbeat.
Though much shock confusion linger, oddly calm now. As issue resolved, no worry Yuigahama problem.
"She... Amazing." Yuu unavoidably sighed.
Unlike direct confront self, Yuigahama chose temporary evade. Though so, not give up, tried find forward way.
Laughed, cried, disappointed, angry, but never averted gaze wanted— as target, Yuu felt honored, even doubted own right.
But ultimately, need right love someone, or loved?
Like otaku love 2D wife, trainer love Uma Musume, heart impulse no one deny.
Then, right date two girls... Perhaps equal?
Yuu shook head. Suppressed sudden odd thought. Pocketed phone, prepared leave Yuigahama house, find fragile cold beautiful girl.
Of course, before go, still bid farewell Mama Yuigahama.
"Then excuse. Sorry, visited today forgot souvenir."
"No matter, anyway didn't enter."
Mama Yuigahama just finished good show, waved. Attitude open casual.
Even before Yuu reply, tilted head smiling: "Leave so quick? Just chat Yui, not chat Mama?"
"Really sorry. Friend waiting nearby. Bad make wait long." Yuu bowed apologetic face: "Surely chat another time, today impossible."
Mama Yuigahama cold face, seemed very dissatisfied words.
"Tone too awkward. Call Mama! Mother-in-law ok!"
"Mother-in-law." Yuu obediently called, no refuse.
Seeing daughter sincerity from answer, Mama Yuigahama grinned wide. Joyfully stroked smooth cheek.
"Hm, good son-in-law~"
Walked out door, patted head, pinched firm upper arm. Young woman satisfied nodded, moved:
"Though very interested your affairs, including with Yukinon, as adult, bad interfere teen romance... But trust you, surely bring Yui happiness end!"
Yuu smiled: "Trust self too."
"Good words, but men can't rely mouth alone." Mama Yuigahama intimately pointed nose. Faint mature woman scent nose.
Yuu slightly shy, dodged. Mama Yuigahama unconcerned. Small fist raised.
"Anyway, strive true man! Entrust Yui you!"
Amid housewife push, Yuu nodded, turned, walked outside road.
Walked few steps, watching Mama Yuigahama called again.
"Kid, reason like Yui?"
"...Reason?"
Apron housewife nodded. Serious expression soft face: "Though Yui no special besides good figure, you handsome talented, very popular girls... Why like till willing call me mother-in-law?"
(Mama-san, appropriate talk daughter thus?)
Complained heart, Yuu turned odd expression. After thought, spoke:
"Reasons too many say at once. Briefly..."
Glanced second-floor window. Lip corner sudden smile. Voice heard clear infinite night sky:
"Like her, not because gives much, not first sight fall love, but because she is she."
"Yui before change, Yui after, any Yuigahama Yui, to me shines more than rising sun... Thus, future can't without."
"..."
Dry leaves stopped bare branch ends. As air froze that moment serious irrefutable words.
Mama Yuigahama blank blinked, slowly raised both hands, held flushed hot cheeks. Shook slender waist shyly.
"Oh my~ Long no hear such sincere pure deep confession... Truly young. Very touching!"
Yuu awkward coughed. Hurried goodbye, prepared go.
Mama Yuigahama still muttered behind: "Pity such good man give Yui... Ah, if back high school, surely marry hearing such confession..."
"Mama, what say!"
"Oh, Yui there?"
"Of course! Can nearly forty old woman restrain bit, don't keep say indecent things!"
"Not talk now. Worry steal from you? Calm, seems no interest married women~"
"Problem not Yuu-kun, but you! Hmph, tell Dad!"
"Tell~ Dare object talk prospective son-in-law!—Anyway, Yui, just called me old woman?"
"Eh? Ah, t-that..."
"Decided, dinner cook most disliked dish~ All☆, three☆days☆straight!"
"Sob sob, no, sorry..."
After garden entrance bend, mother-daughter debate Yuigahama house unheard.
Yuu looked up, saw slender graceful beautiful figure, as world center. Sat long bench, watched him slightly anxious.
Seeing him, Yukino slightly relieved expression. Quickly stood.
"Tenkuji-kun, you..."
Looked behind, no Yuigahama should follow.
Slightly startled, unavoidably bit pink lip. Lowered brows, eyes.
"Turns out knew our relationship... Felt betrayed, not wanna meet me?"
Yuu: "?"
(Haven't said anything, don't start sad thus.)
"Though result not great, not worst."
Yuu scratched head, sighed. Walked beside, sat.
Yukino sat too. Shoulder very close. Fingers as moments ago, instinctively pulled clothing end. Like little girl seeking safety.
Slight anxiety, beautiful small face neared. Gaze steady. Asked word by word: "Optimistic or not? What said to Yuigahama-san? How replied?"
"Hahaha, don't rush. Keep rushing, might kiss later."
"Y-you... Still time joke!"
"Calm. Tell briefly..."