Interlude…

That was basically a love confession. Or a lovers’ quarrel. Or a breakup.

Whatever, not like it matters.

But I did feel like an idiot, having to sit there and listen to all that. Like, yes, I know this is none of my business; you didn’t have to shove it in my face while I was sitting right there. Yeah, not cool. Can you blame me for calling them gross?

I honestly want him to just take responsibility.

I glared at the door one more time after he was gone.

I’d never expected he would so neatly, so perfectly, so entirely make things worse. I wanted to follow after him right that minute and give him an earful. He couldn’t be saying stuff like that with such an earnest expression on his face.

You can barely tell at all if his eyes are even open or not, and his mouth is always twisted up or complaining. Everything he says is BS, and you can’t tell if it’s a lie or a joke. But if you mess with him a little, he immediately gets all flustered. Even then he hardly reacts and almost never responds.

But the worst part is that once in a blue moon, his eyes will get serious.

I really, really want him to take actual responsibility. I mean, he’s never done it before.

So I don’t want him to casually turn it into an excuse.

I had my head down the whole time he was talking, and he wasn’t looking at my face. I mean, like, I know he couldn’t see, but I wanted him to get a clue about that stuff. He and Yukino and Yui are all a big load of trouble, but I know I am, too.

This really is just trouble.

I’d done so much work to get started on this, but that memory was stopping my hands. I kept zoning out thinking about what had just happened, then glancing at the clock like, It’s gonna be about time to go home soon. I’d checked it five times now, but not even two minutes had passed. This was my eighth sigh.

On my ninth sigh, Yukino looked up from the computer and pressed her eyes. She wasn’t wearing those glasses that were supposed to be good for eye strain—they were just placed to the side, on the desk, while she put in eye drops instead.

I was caught off guard when she wiped off a drop that streaked down her cheek, and I opened my mouth without thinking. “Um, how about we call it a day?”

Still with her fingers on her eye, Yukino tilted her head a little. Her expression was unusually attractive for her, and it freaked me out a little. “…Indeed. I’m going to stay here a bit longer for work, but you may go ahead, Isshiki.”

“Oh, okay…” I studied her face. She seemed peaceful—the word smile seemed perfect to describe it, and I didn’t quite know what to say. When someone is so nice to you, the guilt makes it actually hard to leave. What do I do?

Meanwhile, Yukinoshita moved on as if it was settled that I would be going home. “Also, could you assemble the student council tomorrow?”

“Huh? Oh, okay… Isn’t that kinda fast? We’ve only just decided on our plan today, though?”

“I’ll have something concrete by tomorrow. Besides, since we’ll be making this prom happen, it would be best to prepare earlier, wouldn’t it?” She seemed genuinely confused by my question.

Meanwhile, I was dumbfounded. “…So you’re totally sure.”

“I am.” Her answer hadn’t changed.

I think Yukinoshita noticed my unease, and her expression turned a bit troubled.

“Um…” I started to speak…and stopped. I had the words, but they probably weren’t for me to say.

Yukinoshita tilted her head like, What is it? waiting for me to continue.

But I thought it should have been someone else saying it, so I smiled weakly instead. “…Please don’t push yourself too much.”

“Thank you. But it’s not a problem,” Yukinoshita said, and her fingers clacked on the keyboard. The backlight on her pale face created a sad kind of beauty, the kind that really would disappear like snow.

“This is the last of it… Now I can put an end to it,” she muttered, and she wasn’t saying it to me. It was like the continuation of what she’d said earlier so quietly, and I looked down.

I scrambled to get my coat and things together and rushed to the door. Yukino had been harsher before. She was much gentler now, and I felt like I’d say too much if I kept talking with her like this. But it wouldn’t be fair to just come out and say that, not to mention annoying.

“…Then I’m off. Oh, and don’t forget to lock up!” I said cheerily.

“All right. Good night,” Yukino replied with a smile. Then she went back to staring at her computer, and the keys started clacking again.

She had way more motivation than before; call me crazy, but she might have even been having fun.

But then…when I left the student council room and looked back at her…

…I thought I saw her crying.