CH 3

When I turned around, I saw a female student standing there.

Her auburn hair was shoulder-length, and her legs were slim and slender as they stretched out from her short skirt. She looks healthy overall, and her large, slightly puffy eyes give her an impression of being energetic.

Looking at the girl's face, Naoya's cheeks relaxed. It was because he knew her well.

"Oh, Hey. Good morning Yui." (Naoya)

"Good morning. Eh, What... the mysterious Shirogane-san this early in the morning!" (Yui)

Yui approached him in a light-hearted manner, but when she saw him standing next to her, she was surprised.

She continued to look at Naoya's and Koyuki's faces, comparing them in a panic.

"Why is Naoya here together with Shirogane-san? What kind of relationship is this!?" (Yui)

"A lot of things happened. We started to get to know each other pretty well yesterday." (Naoya)

"Yeah... why would someone like her be with a weirdo like him... oh, good morning, Shirogane-san!" (Yui)

"Ye-yeah. Good morning." (小雪)

Koyuki returned the greeting awkwardly.

Although there was a wall between them, they didn't seem to be strangers.

Despite the strange distance, Naoya immediately clapped his hands.

"Oh, right, Yui is in Class 3. That's the same class as Shirogane-san, right?" (Naoya)

"That's right. Though we never really talked to each other that much." (Yui)

"Yeah...." (小雪)

Koyuki gave a small nod and glanced at Naoya.

The smile on face face was an elegant one. But there is something about it that makes it impossible to ignore.

"By the way, are you and Sasahara-Kun friends?" (小雪)

"We're not just friends, we're childhood friends." (Yui)

"Yeah. We've been together since kindergarten, so we're deeply rooted in each other." (Naoya)

Naoya's words were met with a smile by Yui.

Natsume Yui. She is a second year student at Otsuki Gakuen.

She's been Naoya's childhood friend for over ten years. They live in the same neighborhood and have a family relationship, so they sometimes have dinner at the Natsume house.

"Oh...is that so?" (小雪)

When I explained this, Koyuki gave me a weak smile of affection. The air around me suddenly becomes cold. And a wall that shouldn't have been there until now has been built between us.

"Ah. It's all right, Shirogane-san." (Naoya)

Naoya pointed at Yui and cheerfully told her.

"She's just a childhood friend. I'm all about Shirogane-sa-." (Naoya casually hurts Yui)

"This guy...." (小雪)

"Muggah!" (Naoya)

Then, for some reason, Koyuki hurriedly blocked Naoya's mouth.

Naoya could only look at her in confusion.

It was clear as day that Koyuki was jealous of Yui. So I tried to get rid of that insecurity, but... this reaction was unexpected.

The only thing that Naoya understands is people's emotions. The reason for this is always deduced from the situation. But this time, he couldn't read the reason.

Koyuki scolded Naoya in a hushed voice.

"You can't be so careless.....! I don't know about you, but if by any chance Natsume likes you, she's going to get hurt! You can't just say that!" (小雪)

"Yui likes me...?- No, that's just not possible." (Naoya)

"Why not? It's not out of the realm of possibility, because you're childhood friends!"¹ (小雪)

But I see. I understand the reason for her sudden anger. It's a lot of...caring, although it's completely off the mark.

( Ehhh...Are you upset with one of your tentative/love rivals for me?...How cute is that....)²

The increase in favorability is unstoppable.

While Naoya was dumbfounded, Koyuki kept pressing him, "Are you listening to me?"

In the midst of all this, Yui, who was out of the loop, was smiling half-heartedly.

Of course, at such a close distance, she could hear everything that was going on.

"Hey, I'm sorry to bother you while you're busy, but..." (Yui)

"Morning!" (???)

Then another male student comes to talk to me.

He wore his uniform down and had brown hair. He is a boy with a slightly frivolous appearance. He was a classmate of Naoya's from yesterday's lunch break. When he saw Naoya and Koyuki, he rolled his eyes.

"Wow, you guys are really getting along. That's amazing...." (Kono, I believe.)

"Yeah. It's my virtue." (Naoya)

"No, it's not you I'm praising, it's Shirogane-san who's keeping you company." (Kono)

"U-Uhhh... Who's this?...." (小雪)

Koyuki tilted her head at the appearance of the new person.

Yesterday at lunchtime, when she stopped me, he was supposed to be right next to me, but.... she doesn't remember him at all.

He didn't mind, and introduced himself with a smile.

"I'm Tatsumi Kono of the first class. Nice to meet you, Shirogane-san." (Yep, Kono.)

"And he's my childhood friend and boyfriend, in case you were wondering." (Yui)

"Eh, boyfriend? You two are dating?" (小雪)

When Yui continued, Koyuki rounded her eyes.

Natsume Yui, Tatsumi Kono and Sasahara Naoya. 

"The three of us have known each other since childhood, and these two are in a relationship." (Naoya)

"Hmm. hmm... I see." (小雪)

Koyuki gave several small nods.

The wall that should have been built earlier was removed, and I felt the air instantly loosen.

Thanks to this, Naoya's expression naturally softened.

"....Are you in a better mood?" (Naoya)

"Huh! What are you talking about? I don't care what kind of relationship you have with other girls, it has nothing to do with me. Don't get cocky." (小雪)

Koyuki made a dignified and clear face.

In the midst of this, Yui and Tatsumi looked at each other gently.