Yukino was irritated.
Back when Utaha had suggested, "How about the two of us together?"—she knew her rejection sounded firm, but deep down, she was hesitating.
And the later it got, the stronger that hesitation became.
She wasn't confused about it. In fact, she understood herself well enough.
The closer it got to midnight, the more likely it was that Utaha would make a move.
Sure enough, she had just heard Utaha's voice from the living room.
It was late—yet the girl wasn't even trying to lower her voice.
She was absolutely doing it on purpose. Just to make sure Yukino could hear.
Yukino sat up in bed, a flush of anger and embarrassment rising to her cheeks.
She knew perfectly well: if she walked out that door—whether to scold them or just get a drink of water—it would count as a win for Utaha.
That senpai's goal was clear: to get her to agree.
If she gave in, their relationship would take another step forward… and Utaha would gain one more reason to tease her endlessly.
Thinking about it gave Yukino a headache.
Sure, Utaha was embarrassed too—but she was so much more open about it.
Like that time… that curvy, shameless senpai's seductive waist movement… Yukino's face heated up.
She suddenly remembered something she read online: "As long as I'm not embarrassed, then the one who's embarrassed is someone else."
Now she felt like Utaha was living proof of that line.
Yukino always got flustered and awkward.
Utaha? Sure, she was embarrassed too—but she would weaponize it to beat Yukino with grace and flair.
"Seriously, what a damn flirt of a senpai!"
Gritting her teeth, Yukino stood up and placed her hand on the doorknob. Just before turning it, she adjusted her expression into an ice-cold glare.
Click.
She opened the bedroom door—and the first thing she saw was exactly what she expected: Utaha was wrapped around Haru on the sofa.
Yep. Exactly what I thought… Wait—hold on!
She froze.
What is that outfit?!
The bunny ears? That semi-transparent negligee?!
Her brain started overclocking.
"Heh, so you couldn't resist coming out after all."
Utaha's face was flushed, her smug smile practically dripping with victorious mischief.
"Senpai," Haru warned her quietly, "maybe hold back a little. If Yukino pins you to the ground again, you're gonna be real embarrassed."
Utaha's smile stiffened.
It seemed to transfer directly to Yukino's face, who let out a cold chuckle.
"He's right. I'm this close to hitting you."
Without waiting for excuses, she stared Utaha down with a frosty glare.
"Mind telling me what the hell you're wearing?"
Then her eyes shifted to Haru.
He looked awkward, clearly caught off guard.
She read his expression in an instant.
"Oh, I see," she sneered. "So I wasn't wrong about you either. Senpai, do you even know how to spell the word 'shameless'?"
Utaha's cheeks burned, but she tried to stay calm.
"Well, you're out here now, aren't you?"
Yukino refused to play along and instead asked Haru flatly,"You planning to do that kind of thing in the living room?"
"…Honestly, I'm still processing," Haru admitted.
"Obviously," Yukino snapped. "If I came out here and saw you initiating this, we wouldn't be talking right now."
Her eyes flicked quickly across Utaha's curves.
Those hips, that waistline, that chest… Seriously, does she plan these outfits just to be a menace?
Seeing that Yukino wasn't about to throw hands, Utaha slid off Haru's lap and huddled under the blanket.
"So what now? You're not planning to stand here chatting with us all night, are you?"
"If not chatting, you want me to fight you?" Yukino's tone was deathly calm.
Utaha flushed crimson.
"Yukino… do you really only know how to threaten me?"
But Yukino smirked and raised her phone.
Utaha panicked instantly, wrapping herself in the blanket like a burrito."You're not seriously recording?!"
"That depends on your attitude," Yukino said coolly, lowering the phone again.
Utaha bit her lip. She had completely miscalculated.
I should've dragged her out first while wearing something normal—and then changed into this… That way, her pride and embarrassment would've frozen her up.
Clutching the blanket tighter, she admitted to herself: she'd slipped up.
Sensing the tension boiling again, Haru finally stepped in."It's late. Can we please not do this right now?"
Yukino stared him down for a second before turning and saying coldly,
"You're sleeping in the bedroom tonight."
Then, before disappearing behind the door, she muttered just loud enough:"…Senpai can come too."
Utaha blinked, barely suppressing a grin.
She had won—but she wasn't about to get cocky and risk getting suplexed.
Haru, meanwhile, was stunned.
She… actually agreed?
When Yukino had vanished into the bedroom, Utaha finally let out a soft, triumphant chuckle."See? I've figured out how to handle her."
"You're gonna get wrecked one of these days," Haru muttered.
"I know," she said smugly. "But every gamble comes with risk."
Haru sighed. Watching the soft light from the bedroom, he still couldn't make sense of it.
"…Why would she agree so suddenly? That's not like her."
Utaha didn't seem surprised.
"She's always been like this. She has pride and restraint, sure—but if you speak to her seriously and sincerely, she'll listen."
"…Maybe. Still," Haru shook his head, "I can't help but feel she's getting advice from someone smarter than any of us."
Utaha rolled her eyes.
What a dumb thing to say.
They stepped into the bedroom—and were immediately met with Yukino's flushed face.
"Turn off the lights," she mumbled.
Utaha agreed without hesitation.
"Good idea."
Haru nodded… but made no move to actually switch them off.
Because their embarrassed, flustered expressions were way too cute.
And just like that, the biggest winner of the night was—once again—Amiya Haru.
…Not that Yukino or Utaha didn't enjoy themselves.They just had to suffer the crushing fatigue and helpless shame of having unlocked the bad ending.
…After the new semester began, life returned to its usual rhythm.
For Haru, nothing really changed—aside from the photography club taking on another new filming project.
It was another Wednesday.
After finishing lunch, Yukino went to visit Hiratsuka-sensei.
Her goal: secure support from the school for the club's upcoming activities.
In short—funding.
Originally, this should've been handled by the club president, Haru himself. But Yukino remembered Hiratsuka-sensei's… traditional performance being accidentally discovered not long ago.
If Haru went to her now, it would undoubtedly be… awkward.
"Yukinoshita?"
Hearing the knock on the door, Shizuka turned her head. The moment she saw Yukino, her expression stiffened slightly.
Yukino caught that change instantly—and mentally patted herself on the back for not sending Haru.
Once Shizuka motioned for her to come in and sit, Yukino did so with her usual grace and calm."There's no need to be nervous, Hiratsuka-sensei."
Hiratsuka blinked, clearly startled—and even more flustered now.
"Why would you say that all of a sudden?"
Yukino lifted one pale finger and gestured toward the drawer to Shizuka's left.
"I saw the lighter inside. While I personally dislike the smell of cigarettes… if it's you, I wouldn't tell the other students."
Ah, so that's what she meant…
Shizuka let out a tiny breath of relief.
Yukino caught that too—and couldn't help but admire her own mental agility. She'd come up with the perfect way to defuse the tension in mere seconds.
"I used to smoke, yes," Shizuka admitted with a small cough, reaching over to quietly close the drawer. "But I've quit now."
Yukino looked at her with a hint of surprise—this was news to her.
Shizuka, on the other hand, laughed heartily.
"I gave it some thought. As the adult here, I can't keep making you all put up with the smell of cigarettes every time we play games together, can I?"
Yukino nodded in approval.
"Quitting smoking is a good thing. Congratulations."
Shizuka smiled broadly.
"Yes, it's a good thing."
But inside, she felt a pang of discomfort.
And a twinge of guilt.
It was true she didn't want the smell of smoke to bother anyone.
But… the person she was thinking of wasn't Yukino.
It was that boy—the one who had seen her so flustered that night.
This realization, and the emotions it stirred, had left her feeling embarrassed ever since.
I'm a grown woman, she thought. I should be more mature than this. So why am I having these… unnecessary fantasies?
Lately, every time she had one of those strange dreams, the face of the boy in them—the one that lingered so vividly—was always the same. Youthful, but reliable.
So when she saw that the one knocking was Yukino, her guilt and nervousness had surged immediately.
Yukino had no idea what Shizuka was thinking. She calmly began explaining the reason for her visit, detailing the photography club's latest project.
"You've already finished another script?" Shizuka looked astonished.
After all, it hadn't been that long since their last film!
Though it was only a short piece, she had secretly watched it three times—and even recommended it to her friends.
"This one was written by Utaha-senpai. Of course, the rest of us helped with revisions and discussions," Yukino replied matter-of-factly.
As if making films was just another trivial activity for a group of high schoolers.
Shizuka stared at her composed expression, that calm confidence radiating from every inch of her posture—and once again, that familiar feeling welled up inside her.
Making a movie should be such a hassle…
…I really am an old woman, huh?