"Yumiko? What's wrong?"
Yui stared at the sudden silence, genuinely puzzled.
"N-Nothing! Liking someone just feels like... what I said. Ha... haha." Yumiko forced a smile onto her face.
But Yui could see it clearly—Yumiko looked lost right now. One second she'd been explaining the whole thing with this smug, knowing look, and now she'd just... deflated.
What happened?
The rest of the popular clique had noticed that the two of them were falling behind. Hayama Hayato slowed his pace and glanced back with his usual easy smile.
"What are you two talking about?"
"Girl stuff," Yumiko said without hesitation.
"Then I've clearly picked the wrong moment to interrupt. Carry on~" Hayama laughed and rejoined the others up ahead, sliding back into some conversation about a game.
The moment he was out of earshot, Yumiko quietly let out a breath. Then she turned to Yui. "You're sure you don't have a crush on someone?"
"I'm sure, I'm just curious," Yui said, looking away a little too quickly.
She was about fifty-fifty at hiding things, and Yumiko could see straight through her—she just chose not to push it. Still, Yumiko found herself wondering: who has Yui gone and fallen for?
Thinking about it, Yui was pretty well-liked in class. She was always hanging out with people, always getting invited places. But she'd never been especially close with any particular guy. If anything, the person she was closest to lately was—
Wait. Yui wouldn't... they're both girls, that's not—
Yumiko's mind immediately conjured up an image of Mio's stunning face. Then the memory of Mio wrapping an arm around her and pouting for attention.
...Okay, maybe it's not entirely impossible.
Wait. I was supposed to be thinking about Yui's problem. How did this circle back to me?
No. Stop. I am not thinking about Mio anymore.
Yumiko gave herself a sharp pat on the cheek, then told Yui briskly, "Anyway—if you ever need help with anything, just say the word."
Then she picked up her pace and rejoined the group ahead, using the noise and chatter as a buffer against a certain white-haired someone's influence.
Yui opened her mouth, wanting to say it's not what you think—but was it, though? Was it really a misunderstanding?
She sighed.
I know exactly what it feels like to like someone. Better than anyone.
She just didn't know if she, as a girl, was allowed to like another girl.
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"I'm done eating."
Her mother looked up from the table, surprised. "But I made hamburger steak tonight—your favorite. How can you be full after eating so little?"
"I, um... I had dessert with a friend after school," Yui said, blinking. She hadn't even noticed until her mom mentioned it—tonight was hamburger steak. Her actual favorite.
I must have been in my own head the whole time.
"Yui, is something on your mind?"
"N-Nothing! I'm going to take Sablé for a walk."
Before her mom could get another word in, Yui clipped the leash to Sablé's collar and slipped out the front door.
Her mother watched her go, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. She looked way too guilty for that to be nothing. Is it a romance thing? That was probably the only thing that could make her daughter this flustered.
Outside, Yui rubbed her cheeks and took a breath, forcing herself to stop overthinking for a little while. Then she set off down her usual walking route with Sablé trotting alongside her.
They hadn't gotten far when Sablé suddenly lunged forward like a switch had been flipped—tail wagging frantically, straining against the leash with everything she had.
Yui barely managed to keep her grip. The leash held, but Sablé had already bolted.
How?! I checked it before we left.
She had no choice but to run after her.
A few minutes later, Yui arrived near the park.
No sign of Sablé anywhere.
She called out Sablé's name, scanning the area as she walked inside.
She hadn't made it more than a few steps before she spotted a familiar figure sitting on a bench not far ahead—with Sablé right beside her, tail going absolutely wild.
It was Mio.
For just a moment, Yui felt like she'd been transported back to the very first time they'd met.
Then Mio noticed her, and smiled.
"Evening, Yui~"
"G-Good evening." Yui walked over and sat down beside her, heart still stuttering. She saw Mio every day—so why did she suddenly not know what expression to make? "Are you out for a walk?"
"Yep. Did a loop around the area, just sat down to rest—and this one came charging over." Mio gave Sablé a pat on the head.
I'm starting to think Yui has a setting where she gets walked by her own dog, Mio thought, not for the first time.
"Sorry," Yui said with an embarrassed little smile. "I don't know why—I really did check the leash before we left. But whenever you're nearby, Sablé just goes completely haywire."
"Sounds like Sablé really likes me~"
Likes. The word hit Yui like a small electric shock.
Mio was talking about Sablé. What am I reacting to?
She took a quiet breath and sat down properly, trying to think of something normal to say.
Then Mio tugged at her sleeve. "Yui—look over there."
Yui followed her gaze.
A short distance away, two girls were kissing.
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