Let's do it again, Yukino.

Even now, I still have high hopes for your future with Yukinoshita.

Like a bystander, Yumiko smiled broadly at Haruhi's pretty face.

Chapter Seventy-Two: That boy once told me…

"Even now, I still look forward to the story of Haruto Kasuga and Yukino Yukinoshita Mirai."

Yumiko whispered something in Haruhi's ear.

A ripple stirred in her heart.

After all, your love story with that snow woman...

For someone like me who has lost once before

I have to say, it's really romantic.

That's romantic, yeah.

Therefore, I am willing to be the most faithful witness to your love journey.

I am also willing to be your assistant in leading you to a happy ending.

"..."

"Just think of me as an ordinary fan who has high expectations. After all, if your future with Yukinoshita has a perfect ending, then perhaps for me, Miura Yumiko, a miracle will truly exist between you and me."

"I always feel that you girls are often mysterious, Xiaoxue and you, Youyuko, are too."

Kasuga noticed that ever since Yumiko was rejected by Hayato, her personality seemed to have become unpredictable. Although she usually maintained that proud queen-like demeanor, she would occasionally reveal a demon-catching behavior like she was doing now.

Girls are probably just strange creatures, hard to understand.

"Don't just talk about me, Yumiko. How are things going with that junior? I haven't seen you and that junior together at Soubu High School since we parted ways at the karaoke bar."

Yumiko shook her head naturally, as if she had also remembered a cute junior who had once boldly confessed his feelings to her, his senior, in a karaoke bar.

"You mean Junior Jing? Well, it's just a normal relationship between a senior and a junior. It's not as bad as you think. But, to be honest, Junior Jing does give off a very approachable vibe."

"Why not consider abandoning Hayato's central air conditioning and finding a second spring, Ms. Yumiko?"

Springtime joked.

"I don't need you, you lovey-dovey dog, to remind me of this. At least I, Yumiko, have someone I like."

"Could it be me? No wonder there's been some ambiguity between Yumiko and me lately. But I'm sorry, I only have a purely platonic friendship with you, Yumiko."

Thinking back on this period of time, from the concert to her rescue last night, Yumiko had given her help without any reward. As if she had grasped a clue, Haruhi let out a soft cry.

Yumiko's lips twitched. She glared at the shameless Haruhi, crossed her arms, and looked at the pond behind her.

"Your skin is unbelievably thick. No wonder you managed to win over Yukinoshita. Anyway, let me say this: Haruhi Kasuga is not my type. Of course, I have my own ulterior motives for helping you."

"I almost thought I was the male protagonist of a harem anime just now..."

Springtime patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

When Yumiko spoke, she didn't seem to be lying. Her eyes were fixed on the boy, and her relationship with Haruhi was only literal friendship.

"Yui likes Hachiman, Hina is a so-called 'fujoshi' (female fan of male-male romance), Kawasaki is a complete siscon (sister complex), even cute guys like Totsuka are closer to Hachiman. The girls around you, apart from Yukino Yukinoshita, don't seem to be interested in you. So where does Haruhi Kasuga get the confidence to think he can be the protagonist?"

After saying that, Yumiko covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

"..."

Under Yumiko's queenly gaze, Haruhi couldn't help but kneel on the ground and groan.

"In short, I have my Yuki, that's enough. As for the harem king, let that damn winner in life, Hachiman, take on that role."

"Hachiman? I really don't know why you, or even Yui, care so much about that gloomy guy. He's a guy that I don't like at all, but Yui treats him like a treasure."

"Anyway, in your eyes, in Yumiko's eyes, Hayama Hayato is the best, right? Guys like me and Hachiman can only be compared to him and then thrown into the trash can."

Haruhi pouted and half-jokingly made a few remarks, but as soon as he finished speaking, he saw that Yumiko's eyes became somewhat dazed after he said those words.

Yumiko murmured softly.

It sounds familiar.

A boy once said something similar to me.

……

"As long as you remain that flawless young lady in Hayama's heart, isn't that enough? Is it really necessary to care about the opinions of people who have nothing to do with you, Miura-san?"

"But Hayato wouldn't upset his friend for no reason like you do."

"Hey, hey, I don't have a good temper like Hayama-kun, I can't compare, right? Pfft, your Hayato-kun is the most perfect boyfriend in the world, unlike me, who is neither loved by my mother nor my grandmother."

"Alright, stop cursing yourself. I won't allow you to talk about yourself like that."

……

"Yumiko, Yumiko, were you just spacing out? Hey, hey? Say something!"

Haruhi's voice shattered the blonde queen's reverie. She looked up and saw the young man in front of her looking at her with some concern.

"Uh... what just happened to me?"

"You suddenly stopped moving and didn't say anything, just sat there stiffly with a weird smile on your lips. Um, did I say something wrong and make you angry?"

During this period of spring, through her time with Xiaoxue, she also became more sensitive when getting close to other women, fearing that her words and actions might upset them.

"It's nothing, I was just distracted for a moment, it has nothing to do with you, Kasuga-kun."

Standing up, Youmei cleaned the dust off her body, and her tall, graceful figure by the pond slowly moved away from this clear place.

"Um, Kasuga-kun, can I ask you a question?"

With her back to Haruhi, Yumiko, who was about to follow Hayama and the others away, asked Haruhi this question as they left.

"??"

"Would I really look prettier if I dyed my hair back to black?"

Kasuga: "..."

"I remember you once told me that blonde hair and stuff doesn't really suit girls."

"Yes, because long, straight black hair is the way to go."

When Yumiko asked him this, Kasuga nodded without hesitation, even though it felt a little unfair to all the blonde girls in Japan.

But no matter how I look at it, my own little snow is the best!! As long as it's not Nishiokaze, it's the best!!

She turned to the side, revealing only a glimpse of her profile, and Yumiko's lips curled up as if she were recalling something very happy.

"I remember a long time ago, a boy said something similar to me, but I didn't pay attention at the time. Looking back now, it's really a pity."

What did he say?

Although Yumiko was talking to him with her back turned, Haruhi felt that Yumiko was thinking about someone else who lived in her heart.

"That boy told me..."

After a pause, Yumiko curled a strand of hair with her fingers, looking somewhat shy.

'Maybe it's because I prefer Miura-san with black hair!'

Yumiko seemed to mimic a boy's tone, narrating in a neutral voice, with a hint of nostalgia in her smile.

We left the pond where the air was gradually getting colder.

On a spring day when only one person remained in the same spot, the boy scratched the back of his head.

Sure enough, the girls around me are all a bit strange.

Even Yumiko has been acting strangely lately, as seen in the snow.

Eh...

…………

"Holy crap, is this Nishio's alma mater? I was just thinking about that guy in my head."

When Kasuga saw Ritsumeikan University, he exclaimed in disbelief.

The university happened to be located on the way from Ryoan-ji to Kinkaku-ji, so Kasuga, who was sitting on the bus, easily spotted the rather magnificent university.

"And Mai Kuraki, the singer you like, also studied at this university, if I remember correctly."

Sitting next to Chunri, Xiaoxue stretched lazily. Her gaze inadvertently fell on the scenery of the university. After thinking for a moment, she added a sentence to Chunri, who seemed like a country bumpkin in the city.

"Let me make it clear first, I like Mai Kuraki mainly because you like watching Detective Conan, it's definitely not because I'm interested in the female singer herself."

"What are you explaining? I didn't suspect anything of you, Ah Qing. Are you feeling guilty?"

Kasuga: "..."

Time slips away quietly.

It was past five o'clock.

The tour bus reached its destination, and Kasuga returned to the students' lodging at Sobu High School.

Just got back to the dorm.

Springtime saw Tuanzi running nervously toward the door, but when she saw her, she abruptly turned around and ran away.

"Hey, Yui, why are you running away when you see me? I'm not going to eat you. Also, I haven't settled the score with you for standing me up yesterday. It's a big deal if Hachiman asks you for a favor, but it's not a big deal if Haruhi Kasuga asks me for a favor, the kind that I can just easily refuse?"

Haruhi grabbed Yui's arm directly.

Tuanzi's hands seemed to be groping for something in the void in front of her, shouting and yelling as she did so.

"I didn't say I wanted to help you, Qingjun. I'm a girl too, and I'd feel shy just thinking about it. It's only natural that I would run away."

"What's there to be shy about? It's not like it's your first time, and you and Xiaoxue are both girls. Do you think Xiaoxue would laugh at you?"

Springtime recalled being caught by the dormitory manager in the corridor last night, and almost having to call the police. For a moment, he got goosebumps all over.

"In short, I will absolutely not help you with anything that constitutes harassment of a girl, Qingjun, and if I do, Xiaoxue will definitely be angry."

A chill ran down her spine. Coincidentally, Yuki, who had been just three steps outside, walked in from behind and happened to overhear Yuihama's words.