Comics, daily stories

Yukino Yukinoshita nodded seriously, "Okay, Mai."

Seeing her junior's serious demeanor, Sakurajima Mai relaxed slightly, stretched out her legs, reached for a pillow and hugged it. She looked at the well-behaved person in front of her and said, "Yukino, actually, I've seen you a long time ago."

Yukino Yukinoshita paused slightly, the cat on the TV screen blurring as she pondered. She turned her head in confusion, "I don't remember ever inviting you over before."

“So it’s not going to your house.” Mai Sakurajima said casually, leaning back on the sofa as she recalled.

"It was a chance encounter on the street, in winter, with snow falling, under the Ferris wheel. You were with Nomiyama, my junior. I had just finished the first year of junior high school, and you had just graduated from elementary school."

“You were all wearing thick down jackets and looked clumsy, holding roasted sweet potatoes, not far from my film set.”

Yukino Yukinoshita easily recalled that day. Thinking about the scene, she smiled unconsciously, and even her voice became softer: "I thought that you didn't notice us at the time, since we were just watching from a relatively far distance on the outside."

Mai Sakurajima's expression turned serious, and so did her tone.

"No, I will always remember you all from that day."

Chapter 205 Yukino and Mai's Night Talk

Yukino Yukinoshita was taken aback by the other party's sudden seriousness. She paused for a moment, then asked, "Why? Logically speaking, back then, we were just two strangers meeting for the first time, and we hadn't even exchanged a single word with each other."

why?

Mai Sakurajima paused for a moment, then relaxed again, leaning back on the sofa, as if asking herself, "Yes, why?"

She huddled closer to the pillow in her arms and chuckled softly, "Yukino, did you feel cold that day?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was slightly taken aback, then subconsciously began to recall.

That day, the first snow of winter fell. The two of them chased each other through the snow and talked about trivial things while holding roasted sweet potatoes.

They were actually only twelve years old at the time.

"It's not cold," Yukino Yukinoshita gave her answer.

Mai Sakurajima wasn't surprised by this answer. Yes, back then, the two of you were shoulder to shoulder, swallowing mouthfuls of piping hot roasted sweet potatoes, one of you looking at the other with eyes full of satisfaction and happiness. The natural warmth and harmony between the two of you was something I could see even from a distance. How could I possibly feel cold?

“But I felt cold.” Mai Sakurajima sighed slightly. “It was windy that day, and I was wearing that little dress. I felt so cold. My exposed arms felt like they were about to turn into ice. Even after I put on a down jacket right after the shoot, I still felt so cold.”

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't speak, but just looked at her quietly, waiting for her to say the next thing.

Mai Sakurajima looked at her, who remained calm, and smiled faintly: "When I saw you all back then, I felt a little warmer inside. That's about it. I've remembered it for many years without even realizing it."

At this point, she shifted her gaze to the television, where two cats were chasing and playing, rolling around together, scratching each other with fierce expressions.

But the cats are just scratching each other; they can't possibly cause any harm.

Thinking this, she turned to look at her junior: "It probably started from that day. I started to feel some envy. I was thinking that if I weren't an artist, could I also squat on a street corner with someone and eat roasted sweet potatoes?"

Yukino Yukinoshita processed this information from her senior, then lowered her eyes and said softly, "Did Mai just want someone to eat roasted sweet potatoes with on a street corner at first?"

Mai Sakurajima hugged the pillow tightly, remaining silent.

Yukino Yukinoshita realized something even more important: if they continued down this topic, could they find out the reason why the other person had suddenly contracted 'puberty syndrome'?

So she asked, "And then? Is that why you chose to leave the entertainment industry?"

Mai Sakurajima looked at her and realized what had happened.

It turns out the junior is the straightforward type.

However, she wasn't prepared to answer, so she just smiled faintly, refused the question, and began to ask in return: "I don't really want to answer this question right now. What I'm more curious about right now is how Yukino and him got to this point?"

Don't really want to answer?

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned slightly involuntarily. She wanted to say that no matter what, she should be informed about the details of the request as much as possible, but then she heard the next sentence and her attention was diverted.

Why did things come to this?

Yukino Yukinoshita frowned even more as she pondered, then easily came to a conclusion.

"Nomiyama-kun is a super scumbag."

A glint of light flashed in Mai Sakurajima's eyes. She sat up slightly, somewhat curious: "Yukino, haven't you thought about breaking up with him?"

Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly, "He's a complete bastard who won't let me break up with him."

Mai Sakurajima's expression was slightly strange. Breaking up? Does it require someone else's consent?

So her tone became a bit strange: "If he doesn't agree, can't we just break up?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was quiet for a moment, then said, "If I bring up breaking up again, he will disregard the rules and forcibly lock up this relationship."

No, that's definitely the less likely possibility. Given how much your junior cares about you, he wouldn't force you. It's more likely that you're unwilling as well.

Sakurajima Mai's interest grew as she thought about it. She moved closer to the other woman, nudging her with her elbow and saying, "Yukino, why don't you tell me about your past?"

The past? Yukino Yukinoshita instinctively wanted to refuse.

Reject her advances at this moment, reject a question that delves into your past.

But when she looked into her senior's expectant and affectionate eyes, she unconsciously hesitated.

To be honest, someone like my senior hasn't really made any friends in the few months since she enrolled. When I occasionally see her on the street, she's always walking alone, unlike me who has Nomiyama-kun, so we always have each other for company, Eriri making a ruckus beside us, and Kato Megumi keeping us company quietly.

Yukino Yukinoshita was thinking about some inexplicable things when she suddenly softened, perhaps to complete the request.

So she said, "I met Nomiyama-kun when I was eight years old, in the second grade of elementary school."

"Mm." Mai Sakurajima nodded, signaling her to continue.

Yukino Yukinoshita recalled and continued to explain: "Back then, he was actually quite troublesome. He didn't want to talk to the classmates who came to him, and he was too lazy to make friends. He simply put himself in a situation where he had no friends, and he acted like he didn't care."

"And then?" Mai Sakurajima asked, processing the information.

Yukino Yukinoshita thought for a moment, then tightened her grip on the sofa blanket beside her: "Then Eriri walked over to him, and very easily and forcefully, she established a friendship with him."

She paused, her emotions faltering, and then Yukino Yukinoshita shrank back onto the sofa, abandoning her composed demeanor: "That's when I realized that communicating with him wasn't as difficult as I'd imagined, and making friends wasn't either."

Mai Sakurajima said thoughtfully, "So, that's how you got in touch with him."

“Yes.” Yukino Yukinoshita admitted, “Because of Eriri, he and I were able to have a basis for contact. Later, Eriri and we had some differences in our ideas, so until graduation, it became just the two of us alone.”

Mai Sakurajima nodded gently: "I see."

"So, what happened next? How did your relationship develop...?"

Yukino Yukinoshita paused, then began to hesitate.

"Speak, speak."

Mai Sakurajima moved closer and elbowed her.

Before they knew it, the two girls began to lean closer together, their voices becoming softer, as if they were whispering.

One of them wore a helpless expression, while the other's eyes were full of interest.

......

Yukino glanced at the two people on the monitor, rolled her eyes, and got up to walk towards the bedroom.

Yukino has made new friends, which is unusual, but there's no need to pay too much attention to it.

......

At noon, Nomiyama opened his own bento box, then opened the bento box prepared by Megumi, and the bento box prepared by Sayuri. He put his hands together and prepared to eat.

"I'm starting to eat."

The words had barely left his lips when the door to the Service Department was opened.

Nomiyama glanced over instinctively, then froze.

The two girls stood close together, with Mai-senpai holding Yukino's hand. They leaned against each other like...close best friends.

What's going on? It's only been a day!

Chapter 206 Mai-senpai Disappears

Nomiyama tilted his head, his gaze lingering on Megumi and Eriri, who had clearly forgotten again. He sighed softly and began to re-stimulate their memories.

Mai Sakurajima released her grip, watching her junior's actions and words with great interest. Yesterday, she was so focused on exchanging requests with Yukino that she hadn't even noticed how he had managed to do it.

Oh, what Kato-senpai said was that she used to watch my movies and TV shows every day, and what Sawamura-senpai said was that she looked at the doujinshi I drew every day.

It worked very well. The junior knew the people around him quite well. Well, if he didn't, he wouldn't have been so bold as to date two girlfriends at the same time, especially two such special people.

Thinking about these things, Mai Sakurajima dragged over a chair and naturally sat down next to Yukino, opening the bento she had prepared that morning to begin eating.

"Oh, by the way, Yukino, try this. Egg rolls are one of my specialties." She seemed to have thought of something, picked up an egg roll and put it into the other person's box.

They prepared their bento boxes together that morning, mostly with the same dishes, but there were some differences. For example, Mai Sakurajima made an omelet, while Yukino Yukinoshita prepared a vegetable salad for herself.

"Okay, sure." Yukino Yukinoshita took it and savored it carefully.

Does making egg rolls require any skill? Or is it that girls are born with the desire to share their bento boxes? Nomiyama puffed out her cheeks and looked up. Speaking of girls sharing their bento boxes, Eriri does seem to really enjoy it.

Then he looked at Eriri.

Eriri Sawamura sat beside Yukino, holding a piece of beef on her chopsticks, but stopped reaching out to it.

She watched as the two of them naturally took the food from each other, her expression twisted, her pupils darting around.

My best friend suddenly has another friend with whom she can share her lunchbox?

Nomiyama glanced at Eriri's expression, nodded in satisfaction, and continued with his meal.

Eriri is like that; she has a lot of inner monologues.

......

"So, after your exchange yesterday, did you come to any conclusions?" Nomiyama stretched and looked at the two people over there.

Yukino Yukinoshita rested her chin on her hand, thought for a while, and then became certain of one thing: "We probably can't help Mai master this ability. We can only try to erase it and let her presence return."

Mai Sakurajima looked at her in confusion; this was the first time she had heard this conclusion.

Nomiyama remained silent, waiting for her to give an explanation.

Yukino Yukinoshita's expression remained unchanged, but she recalled the conversation the two had about this topic the night before: "I discussed this superpower with Mai last night."

"The cause is unknown, but it is certain that it came suddenly and without warning; the rapid increase and deterioration of the disappearance effect now is also without reason."

Yukino Yukinoshita said seriously, "It's easier to erase something than to grasp it. Mai's condition is worsening, and we need to hurry."

Nomiyama nodded with a serious expression: "I understand what you mean."

"You understand?" Sakurajima Mai and Kato Megumi turned to look at him.

Nomiyama reached out and tapped the table with his index finger, scanning everyone: "We can't tame a cat in a short time, but it's easy to make it obey for a certain moment."

Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes lit up, her expression turned serious, and she listened attentively, even revealing a restless desire to explore the topic.

Nomiyama noticed her change, and his voice became deeper.

"Hung it for a day, and when it starts howling, open the cat food for it. It will pounce on the cat food like a hungry tiger."

A hungry tiger pouncing on its prey is nothing more than a hardcover book.

Nomiyama caught it with his hand, the chair moved backward with a sharp sound, and in the blink of an eye, he had run to the door.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced down, grabbed a pair of silver forks and cutlery, and chased after him.

"Tsk, is Yukino and her junior always like this?" Mai Sakurajima asked first, addressing Sawamura, who was biting her chopsticks and looking sullen.

Eriri Sawamura glanced at her, then looked down, picked up a piece of beef, put it in her mouth, and mumbled, "I guess so."

This person still seemed down. Mai Sakurajima's eyes flickered as she looked at the person sitting next to him.

Kato Megumi was lost in thought, staring at the empty doorway after the two left. Noticing the gaze, she turned to her senior and said softly, "More or less, but today is probably a little special."

"Stop, stop, stop. You can't really stab me with that, can you?" Nomiyama stretched out his hands and stood on the edge of the rooftop.

"What's wrong with stabbing you? You have no empathy whatsoever." Yukino Yukinoshita approached him, holding a silver fork.

Nomiyama turned around and leaned on the rooftop railing, ignoring her approach: "Isn't this a more natural way to let you out?"

Yukino Yukinoshita stood beside him, looking down at the students playing and having a meal on campus. Her voice was still rather cold: "Find another excuse next time, or I can't guarantee that this fork won't be stuck in your forehead."

“Okay, I’ll definitely do it next time.” Nomiyama nodded.

Next time I'll definitely find a way to make you even angrier.

Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at him and brought up another matter that had been settled last night: "Senpai is somewhat hiding the reason why she contracted 'puberty syndrome.' She probably has her own vague judgment, but she doesn't really want to say it."