In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

"I... that explanation is a bit far-fetched, and according to you, Yukino is more in line with the female lead's character. They're both smart, both are beautiful, and most importantly, she's known Chiya longer and their relationship is... better..."

Inside the clubroom, Rikka was still talking to Eriri.

At the perfect moment, Gen Chiya gently poked Yukino's shoulder with his finger.

Caught off guard, Yukino turned around like a startled cat, her eyes flashing with a sharp light. But when she saw that the person behind her was her childhood friend, the wariness in her eyes disappeared and turned into reproach.

"Are they sneaking around trying to attack me?"

“If I really intended to do that, you would be locked in some dark basement right now, and you wouldn’t be able to talk to me so easily.”

"..."

Yukino's eyes lit up with wariness again. She held the novel in her hand across her chest and subtly took a step back.

Gen Chiya chuckled, seemingly unconcerned.

He extended his hand, and Yukino, understanding, handed him the novel.

"Have you finished watching?"

"Yes, I quickly went through it once."

On Friday afternoon, Chiyo received more than a dozen finished books from the paperback publisher.

However, when he sends additional packages to his friends, the same-city delivery takes even longer.

Yukino received the book on a Sunday afternoon, so she didn't have much time to read it carefully.

She values ​​her health and studies very much, and she can't be like Saki Kawasaki, staying up all night and affecting her performance at school the next day.

"What are your thoughts?" Yuan Qianye continued to ask.

"The character design is brilliant, and I was deeply moved by the end," Yukino honestly commented.

Want to hear the truth?

"About your idea of ​​taking me to a dark, sunless basement?" Yukino joked, going along with what he had just said.

"...There will be plenty of opportunities for this in the future. What I want to say now is, do you want to know the truth about the topic that Eriri and Rikka are discussing in the classroom right now?"

What are you trying to say?

Yuan Qianye ran his fingers over the cover: "After this novel has been reviewed and circulated within the editorial department and unanimously approved for publication, the first priority is the input and editing of the text. We need to complete the initial proofreading, revisions, and final proofreading. At the same time, we also need to design the layout. A specialized designer will need to design the book layout based on the novel's content and determine the font, typesetting, and binding method."

Yukino nodded gently.

Although she knew about the pre-printing preparation process for the novels that Yuan Qianye was talking about, she didn't mind listening to him repeat it again before she understood why he was specifically mentioning it.

"What I want to say is that the novel cover you see right now was not designed by a professional designer, but was hand-drawn by myself."

Yukino glanced at the novel's cover.

It's just a very simple silhouette of a little boy and a little girl holding hands.

Judging solely from the quality of the cover's artwork, it's not particularly impressive.

Even she could draw it very easily.

Not to mention, Chiya's painting skills are actually not much weaker than Eriri's.

So when something so simple for him was brought up specifically, it was clearly not for boasting, but rather for some deeper meaning.

Therefore, Yukino carefully observed the novel cover, and after a while, her eyes lit up slightly, and she had her own insights.

She revealed a slightly enlightened expression and said, "I think I understand now. Although the little boy on the cover is holding the little girl's hand and they seem to be walking together, that's not actually the case. The little boy's toes aren't pointing to the same side like the little girl's, but rather pointing to opposite sides. This indicates that he is actually standing in front of the little girl in a protective posture, shielding her from the wind and rain. It also suggests that in their complicated relationship, he is the one who gives more."

Seeing the slightly stunned expression on Minamoto Chiyo's face, Yukino smiled smugly, feeling that she had been right.

To everyone's surprise, he shook his head the next moment: "As expected of you, you have a knack for understanding pictures, but that's not what I wanted to talk about. What I wanted to talk about is this."

Chiya pointed to the silhouette of the little girl, and Yukino looked over as well.

"When I was drawing the female protagonist, I made sure to draw her with long hair, just like yours."

"...!"

Yukino's eyes trembled as she looked up, meeting Chiyo's gaze, which had softened considerably at some point—so natural, so tender…

She froze abruptly, even her breathing slowed down.

"Can we talk alone, Yukino?"

Like the male and female protagonists on the cover, Yuan Qianye took her hand.

Yukino was in a state of utter confusion and unable to move, so she nodded in agreement.

wow-

The door to the club room was opened.

Eriri and Rikka peeked out.

"I told you Rikka, you misheard. If Chiya Yukino really came, she could have just walked in."

"That's strange... but I think I did hear a sound..."

"But why haven't they arrived yet? Should we send them a message to ask?"

"Maybe it's just a normal teacher running overtime, let's wait a little longer."

"Ah."

The two returned to the classroom.

Meanwhile, Gen Chiya had already brought Yukino to the rooftop of the club building.

The two stood side by side at the edge of the wire fence.

Unlike the teaching building, this place isn't crowded with people having lunch together, chatting, and enjoying the breeze during lunch break.

Everyone complained that it was too far to come here, so the rooftop was empty except for them.

The midday sun felt warm and comfortable on my skin.

But what Gen Chiya said next made Yukino's eyes widen, and her aura instantly turned cold and icy.

"Yukino, I have to confess something to you. I'm dating another girl."

Moreover, this is just the beginning.

"More than one..."

Yukino's beautiful eyes were filled with extreme turmoil. Looking at the most familiar person beside her, she was momentarily confused and wondered if she was in a dream.

…………

Chapter 014: Mother's Worries, Sister's Arrival

Wednesday, April 10th.

Six o'clock in the evening.

The Yukinoshita family residence.

"I'm full. Father, Mother, you can continue eating. I'm going back to my room now."

Yukino, sitting at the table, spoke softly, receiving a gentle nod in response from her mother, before turning and leaving the table.

After she left, the Yukinoshita couple's previously natural expressions changed.

Xue's father frowned.

Snow Mother also looked worried.

She turned her gaze to the empty bowl on her youngest daughter's table.

The rice, miso soup, and vegetable bowls were all completely cleaned, and there was no waste, which was a good thing.

But you should know that when she was serving rice, Yukino had specifically come to the kitchen to serve herself rice and vegetables, and the portion was obviously much smaller than usual.

Yukino's family uses relatively small and delicate tableware, and if she deliberately reduces the amount, it feels like there wouldn't even be enough to feed the cat.

This is the third day since Monday of this week that she has been in such an abnormal state.

"Is she dieting to lose weight?" Xue's father tried to analyze.

Yukino's mother shook her head: "Yukino is not such a superficial child. Even if she has such concerns, knowing how important her health is, she will choose a healthier way to solve this problem."

Children raised by themselves generally have this level of understanding and control.

Xue's father nodded: "This can't go on. Do you want to go and talk to her?"

"You think I haven't tried?" Last night, Xue's mother had already noticed that something was wrong with her youngest daughter. She had a brief chat with her in the kitchen, trying to subtly probe her, but she didn't get the response she wanted.

If things were a little more formal, and Yukino were called to the tea room, and the mother and daughter were given a face-to-face heart-to-heart talk, it might have some effect.

But that was the last resort that Snow Mother did not want.

Now that the children are older, we can no longer use the same educational methods as before.

"But we can't let her continue like this."

"Don't worry, I'll call Yang Nai back tomorrow. Some things are easier for the sisters to talk about."

Xue's father nodded; that was the only way.

the next day.

After receiving a call from her mother, Yang Nai returned home in the evening after finishing her work at school.

The family sat around the table for a meal, and Yukino repeated yesterday's situation.

Yang Nai looked at her younger sister: "Aren't you going to be hungry tonight if you only eat this little?"

Yukino gently shook her head: "It's okay."

"It'll be bad for your physical development," Yang said with a smile to her younger sister's departing figure.

Yukino didn't react to those words and left the restaurant without pausing.

Yang Nai withdrew his gaze, the smile on his face fading, replaced by a thoughtful expression.

"I see, just like you said, Mom. Something does seem a bit off."

"Sleep at home tonight. The driver will take you to school tomorrow. You can have a good talk with Yukino tonight."

"Yes, no problem. But Mom, you can probably guess the specific reason why Yukino is like this, right?"