The Yukinoshita family had always seemed untouchable pristine, poised, perfect. For one of them to fall this far… it was humiliating.
Yukinoshita now sat through the second-year high school classes half-confused, half-comprehending, yet her class notes were diligently filled out every day.
She had taken the seat next to Miura Yumiko. The jacket she used to tie carelessly around her waist was now properly worn, her shirt buttoned all the way to the top, the red ribbon at her collar falling neatly and evenly on both sides.
Her once-brightly painted nails were gone, replaced by neatly trimmed fingertips, the polish erased like it had never been there.
Her back was straight, posture graceful like a lone pine standing proud in winter snow, solemn and unbending.
Looking at her now, it was almost impossible to imagine that just a few days ago, this model student appearance had belonged to a blonde-haired Shibuya-style gyaru.
Miura Yumiko, at this moment, felt like she was sitting on needles.
What do I do what do I do what do I do?!
Why is she sitting right next to me?
Was this just a coincidence or did she plan this?
No no no. Even if Yukinoshita is sitting beside me, that doesn't mean anything! It could just be the teacher's seating plan… or maybe the class rep's decision...
Putting aside the rumors about Yukinoshita liking girls whether true or not there's no way she'd be into me!
There were more girls at Soubu High who disliked Yukinoshita than anyone could count. And at the top of that list, no doubt, was Miura Yumiko herself.
Sure, she and Yukinoshita both had blonde hair, and both were fashionable and socially dominant, but unlike the delinquent vibes Yukinoshita used to give off, Yumiko had always had a commanding, queenly presence.
She and the popular campus heartthrob Hayama Hayato had long been viewed as Soubu High's picture-perfect couple. People often said they were a match made in heaven, and honestly, Yumiko had believed that too.
Until one day, Hayama came to her, smiling nervously but happily, and said he had started dating the famous Yukinoshita from the class next door.
Yukinoshita had confessed first.
By then, her reputation had already hit rock bottom confessing to half the boys in her class, only to cheat on each of them within a day or two.
Miura Yumiko had never seen Hayama, who was usually so calm and composed, look that happy.
She'd known Hayama since they were kids. He was cheerful, kind, smart, athletic the school's perfect prince. Girls had been crazy about him since elementary school.
But he had never shown any real interest in anyone. Never dated anyone. Never treated any girl differently.
For a while, Yumiko had even suspected he might be into boys. [x]
So even though she was burning with jealousy and didn't fully trust Yukinoshita's character, she had still planned to support their relationship.
Yukinoshita might have been ruthless when dumping the boys she'd confessed to, but this was Hayama the most amazing boy in all of Soubu High.
Who would ever want to break up with Hayama?
The next day, Hayama got dumped.
Miura Yumiko: "..."
Yukinoshita had to be some kind of heartless player, right?
Yumiko still remembered how stunned she had been. That shock had quickly turned to fury.
She had really wanted to believe that her dear friend was finally putting his heart in someone else's hands only for that person to drop it without a second thought.
From that moment on, she and Yukinoshita had been enemies.
Or at least, that's how Yumiko saw it. Yukinoshita never seemed to care. Compared to the full-blown bullying Yukinoshita faced in her original class, Yumiko's petty sniping barely even registered.
Still, it was bitter enough for her.
And now that same Yukinoshita had transferred into her class and sat right beside her. And claimed she was actually into girls?
Yumiko's heart was practically in an earthquake.
Her phone buzzed gently under the desk. She glanced up to see the teacher at the blackboard, drawing geometric figures. Quickly, she slipped her phone out and checked the message from her best friend, Onozawa Zeka.
Zeka, ever the gossip-lover, was practically exploding.
"Yumiko!! Yukinoshita's sitting next to you!! She totally did it on purpose! She's 100% crushing on you!!!"
"No wonder she broke up with Hayama-kun after just one day! She only got with him to mess up your relationship!"
"I mean, you and Hayama-kun were getting super close back then!"
Yumiko raised an arm, hiding her blushing face behind her sleeve.
Ugh, Zeka's jumping to conclusions again.
Yukinoshita, having a crush on me?
Most girls at this age, when they hear another girl might like them, feel mostly uncomfortable, maybe even creeped out. But if that girl was someone like Yukinoshita with her jet-black hair and doll-like face it was a different story.
As Yumiko stared at her phone, a sharp voice cut through the air above her.
"Miura, stand up and answer this question!"
She leapt to her feet instinctively. The middle-aged teacher's glare was full of thunder.
Oh crap. She had no idea where they even were in the lesson!
Sweat beaded down her spine.
Just then, a soft tapping came from the desk beside hers. She turned slightly. Yukinoshita was lightly rapping her pen on the table, and when Yumiko glanced over, she saw the letter C drawn in large, clear strokes on her notebook.
You've got to be kidding me. Yukinoshita, the academic failure, is giving me the answer?
She's clearly trying to mess with me.
But the teacher was still staring at her expectantly, eyes blazing. Yumiko had no choice. Bracing herself, she mumbled, "…C?"
The teacher snorted through her nose.
Of course. Yukinoshita, you
"…Correct. Sit down. But even if your basics are solid, Miura, you still need to pay attention in class."
…Huh?
Huh???
Still dazed, Yumiko sat down slowly, glancing sideways at Yukinoshita's perfectly calm profile.
People had always praised Yumiko's style that her makeup, hair color, and outfit came together so effortlessly, she could be on the cover of a fashion magazine with no Photoshop at all.
But looking at Yukinoshita now, she finally understood. For someone truly beautiful, all that extra stuff was just… unnecessary.
Her phone vibrated again and again, but Yumiko didn't even glance at it.
One thought echoed in her mind:
Yukinoshita has a crush on me?
This Yukinoshita… is into me?
She definitely likes me, right?!
Otherwise, why would someone like her go out of her way to help a former, former, former ten times over former romantic rival?
And just then, Yukinoshita received her mission reward.
[System has selected the optimal choice for improving your reputation: Give Miura Yumiko the correct answer, C.]
[Choice completed. +1 Mental Strength.]