On the rooftop, Kotonoha Katsura and Akane Nanao sat on Ryo Asakura's left and right. Having left the Katsura residence that morning, Manami Katsura had prepared lunch boxes for both Ryo Asakura and her daughter. The identical style of the lunch boxes made the atmosphere around them subtly tense as they took them out simultaneously.
Ryo Asakura glanced at Akane Nanao, who offered a forced smile. He wanted to say something to comfort her, but the words seemed inadequate. After a brief silence, he finally decided on honesty.
"I'm sorry, Akane. I betrayed you. I slept with Kotonoha last night."
"Akane, I'm so sorry. Please blame me if you want. It's entirely my fault. I was the one who pursued Asakura-kun even though I knew he was with you."
Kotonoha Katsura anxiously defended her lover. The joy of their union the previous night was now overshadowed by tension and a pang of betrayal. Yet, regret was absent. No matter what, she wanted to remain by his side.
It is better to be hurt by the truth than comforted by lies. Akane Nanao looked at them with a mixture of sadness and a hint of resignation, forcing a smile.
"Actually, I've always known that such a day might come, and I've mentally prepared myself for it, though I didn't expect it to be so soon. Kotonoha, you're my best friend, and I've seen how much you've liked Asakura-kun for a long time. With Asakura-kun's... unique way, there will probably be more women joining our little group in the future. I can't prevent that, and I don't want Asakura-kun to cut off all contact with other girls, so let's form an alliance to protect our love and our place beside Asakura-kun."
Kotonoha Katsura grasped Akane Nanao's hand, tears welling in her eyes. Her gaze was slightly red-rimmed, but her face held gratitude as she spoke.
"Hey, Akane, thank you so much for your understanding. Please look out for me in the future."
"You too, Kotonoha."
Ryo Asakura observed the scene before him – the two girls acting as close as sisters – with a strange expression. He had anticipated a dramatic confrontation, but instead there was a quiet understanding. What Akane meant was that I'm some kind of irresistible guy. Am I really that kind of person? I honestly don't want to be.
Akane Nanao hugged his arm with a slightly melancholic look and leaned her head on his shoulder. Kotonoha Katsura nestled in closely on his other side, occupying the remaining shoulder.
"Asakura-kun, please don't ever leave me. I'll give you everything I have."
"Asakura-kun, me too, I love you so much."
The solemn vows of the two girls left the young man feeling a little overwhelmed. Liking and loving are freely given, but responsibility and commitment are weighty. Feeling their unwavering trust, he hugged them tighter.
"We'll be together forever."
...
After finishing their lunch, the three of them chatted casually about some recent campus rumors. Akane Nanao suddenly seemed to recall something and turned to Ryo Asakura, asking,
"Asakura-kun, isn't Yukinoshita Yukino the president of your club?"
"Yes, what's wrong, Akane?"
"I heard from a friend that recently a boy in her class confessed his love to Yukinoshita, but she rejected him quite harshly. Since then, her desk and shoe locker have been targeted with all sorts of pranks, and nasty rumors about her have started spreading around school."
"Do you know any specific details about that boy?" Ryo Asakura frowned, seeking more information from Akane Nanao. She explained that she only vaguely knew the person's name was something like Tanaka Keio, and had no other details.
Since the incident had already occurred, he wasn't in a rush to solve it immediately. He spent a gentle and peaceful lunch break with Akane Nanao and Kotonoha Katsura. When it was finally time to return to class, he mentioned that he would help Yukinoshita Yukino deal with the situation. After all, it was a request from Mr. Hiratsuka, and it wouldn't be right to simply stand by and do nothing. After giving each of the two girls a deep kiss to reassure them, they both expressed their understanding. They were, after all, quite thoroughly kissed and in no state to object.
...
In the classroom, Ryo Asakura walked with a heavy step to Yukinoshita Yukino's desk, looked at the weary girl before him, and calmly invited her,
"Hey, Yukinoshita-san, could you please step outside for a moment? There's something I'd like to talk about."
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the boy, with whom she hadn't been alone in a long time, nodded calmly, then stood up and walked out of the classroom door. Ryo Asakura followed closely and stopped in a secluded corner.
"Asakura-kun, tell me what you want."
"I heard that something has been happening to you recently, and I wanted to ask if you need any help."
He looked at Yukinoshita Yukino with a calm and serious expression. Her face remained cold and impassive. She replied as expected,
"Ah, Asakura-kun is remarkably well-informed. Is it because you have some affection for me, a beautiful young lady, that you've been paying attention? While I appreciate your concern, I am perfectly capable of handling such a trivial matter on my own."
The young man sighed inwardly and rubbed his forehead. To be honest, he wasn't particularly skilled at dealing with this kind of tsundere and stubborn personality, but since Mr. Hiratsuka had given him the task, he had no choice but to proceed.
[Mind reading], activate!
"Although I really don't want to resort to this, I apologize for doing so in order to fulfill Mr. Hiratsuka's request, Yukinoshita-san. Tell me, is the person who's been harassing you Tanaka Keio?"
"I've already told you, Asakura-kun, you don't need to concern yourself with this any further."
Yukino calmly shook her head, indicating that he shouldn't worry about it. Her lowered gaze hinted at a complex and unreadable emotion, a mixture of expectation, struggle, and a desire to escape.
How does Asakura know that person's name? The moment the ability activated, Yukinoshita's thoughts naturally flowed into Ryo Asakura's mind. It was the first time he had used his mind-reading ability, and he found it somewhat novel, but the immediate issue was more pressing, so he decided to solve this problem first and then explore his new ability later.
"It seems that this Tanaka Keio is indeed the one responsible. Yukinoshita-san, independence is a virtue, but learning to rely on others can sometimes help you go further."
"Ah, Mr. Asakura, how did you know that?" Yukino was visibly taken aback by Ryo Asakura's 'detective skills' and stopped in her tracks to question him.
"Hey, Yukinoshita-san, let me tell you a secret. I can read minds. Leave this matter to me. You just need to be patient."
He spoke the truth with a playful tone, hoping to bring a smile to her icy face. He shook his head and turned to walk towards the classroom, waving his hand casually behind him, as if to say, leave it to me, no problem!
"Wait, Asakura-kun, please stop right there and explain yourself clearly."
Youth is like a grand and magnificent drama. We wear different masks, play different roles, and have different experiences. The only thing we share is the inevitable sadness. Girl, fate will not stop giving you sadness just because you have no tears left to cry. Don't listen to its lies. Be brave and take up arms to resist it, even if you are defeated and your body is broken into pieces.
Yukinoshita Yukino, are you ready to welcome your own Hero?