Uneasy daily life

"..."

Yukino Yukinoshita froze slightly, quickly thinking of how to retort.

Yui Yuigahama watched secretly, while Hachiman Hikigaya cast gossipy glances at her.

"Yes, I like him."

Yukino Yukinoshita paused briefly before calmly replying. Her tone was composed, and her gaze was fixed directly on Yumiko Miura, as if she were discussing something perfectly ordinary: "Do you have any questions? Or do you doubt my words because of your speculation?"

"..."

Yumiko Miura's cheek twitched slightly, and she felt a faint sense of relief, yet she also felt as if the other person's gaze was looking down on her like a giant.

"Is someone talking about me?"

A white figure peeked in from outside the door.

Yukino Yukinoshita sat motionless in her seat, as if she were about to melt under the gazes of those around her.

Aren't you currently on set battling it out with another screenwriter?!

Chapter 86 Yukino Yukinoshita, aged 18...

To be fair, when facing Bai Jun alone, I dare to express my thoughts, and when facing others, I can also express my thoughts if I grit my teeth a little... But this absolutely does not include when Bai Jun is mixed in with others!

Watermelon is delicious, and jam is good too, but it looks strange to put jam on watermelon.

"Didn't you say you got a screenwriting job to earn some money for rent?"

Yukino Yukinoshita coughed lightly and asked calmly and indifferently.

"There's no way around it, this is fate—wherever there are question marks and exclamation marks, no matter where it is, I will trigger the mission as quickly as possible."

The white figure strode to her seat and sat down in the chair.

Hachiman Hikigaya remarked, "Is this the setting for a game world player today?"

“Very good, that’s a very artistic way to break the fourth wall, but that’s not what we’re discussing.” The white figure looked at Miura Yumiko and asked in a friendly manner, “I accidentally skipped your mission background and introduction. Now tell me who to kill and how many?”

"I'll cut you down, eighteen pieces!"

Yumiko Miura's attitude was not very friendly.

“We are discussing…” Yukino Yukinoshita paused for a moment, then smiled and said, “It’s about the foolish thing that Yumiko Miura thought of me as a love rival and tried to attract Hayato Hayama’s attention by imitating and beating me, so as to win his favor.”

"That's it, that's it."

Bai Ying stroked her chin and asked curiously, "Just like you and your sister?"

Yukino Yukinoshita's expression darkened slightly, but a smile appeared on her lips, and her gaze, which she looked at sideways, was as cold and sharp as an ice blade.

"I didn't!" Yumiko Miura slammed her hand on the table and argued loudly, "Who would imitate your deadpan face!"

"Really not? I don't believe it." The white figure raised his hand, as if holding a microphone, and brought his fist close to Hachiman Hikigaya. "What's your opinion?"

Hachiman Hikigaya: "...Captain, Yukinoshita is still watching you?"

The white figure turned his head and met Yukino Yukinoshita's cold gaze. He turned back without changing his expression: "I saw it, so what's your opinion?"

“Miura has probably misunderstood,” Hachiman Hikigaya said, forcing himself to perk up. “I don’t think Hayama has the kind of feelings you think for Yukinoshita…”

Miura Yumiko exclaimed in a trembling voice, "I already said it wasn't..."

“Okay, let’s interview the next contestant.” Bai Ying handed the air microphone to Yui Yuigahama.

Yui Yuigahama said subtly, "Um, Shiro, this is a request from our Service Club, you know?"

"We're family, we don't need to speak like that," Bai Ying said sadly. "Do you really think our friendship is less important than mere class differences?"

"Uh……"

Yui Yuigahama scratched her head awkwardly and said with difficulty, "Yumiko... Yuki doesn't think that way, does she?"

Yumiko Miura pursed her lips, recalling Yukino Yukinoshita's calm and composed answer just now, and her own troubles seemed inexplicable... Damn it, why do I feel even more annoyed?

"So……"

The white figure looked at Yukino Yukinoshita.

"In short, things have been discussed openly. I don't have the kind of feelings for Hayama-kun that you think I have."

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't look at him, but stared directly at Yumiko Miura and said in a deep voice, "Hayama Hayato and I are childhood friends. Because we've known each other since we were little, we have a really good relationship. I don't know what kind of feelings he had for me before, but that was four years ago. Not to mention the conflicts we went through, my three years of studying abroad, and some personal matters before that."

"Is your brain a camera? You dig out a photo from the past and immediately think it represents the present?"

Yumiko Miura's eyebrows twitched: "You're the one whose brain is a camera—"

"Of course, it's normal for you to think that way. You're a girl after all, so you can probably sense Hayama Hayato's 'favoritism' and 'protection' from his usual words and actions, right?" Yukino Yukinoshita's words were sharp as swords and swift as killing a chicken. "He probably felt guilty and wanted to make amends, but you misunderstood it as having some special meaning... Hmm? Is this why you can't stand me? That's really simple and obvious."

"You're the stupid one—"

Yumiko Miura was furious.

"Huh? Then tell me—competing with me, arguing with me, and defeating me proves that you are more suitable for Hayama Hayato? Imitating me and imitating my behavior can attract Hayama Hayato? Don't you think your logic is absurd?"

Yukino Yukinoshita slightly raised the corners of her mouth, launching a barrage of sarcastic remarks: "According to your logic, you should first imitate Hayama Hayato's mother, and then defeat her. After all, Hayama Hayato will definitely care about his mother, won't he?"

Yumiko Miura blushed: "You—"

"Do you have any questions?" Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly, "The person you like cares about, so you imitate their behavior, make enemies without asking why, and achieve what you think is a victory, so that you can get their attention... Isn't that what you call liking someone?"

Yumiko Miura froze, her anger failing to ignite, and instead, somewhat bewildered and frustrated, she retorted, "Then what do you suggest we do?!"

"How would I know? Come to think of it, do you really understand your own thoughts?" Yukino Yukinoshita said coldly. "In the past, you tried to become a character that others thought was a good match for Hayato Hayama. Now, because of a misunderstanding, you want to imitate the character that Hayato Hayama once cared about. If you think your thoughts are not wrong, that's perfectly normal, and I have nothing to say, because I really don't understand the thoughts of you socialites. But please don't try to apply this to me."

Yumiko Miura has passed away.

clap clap clap...

Bai Ying couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaimed in amazement, "What a powerful and devastating attack! Your skill is no less than mine!"

"In short, I understand your thoughts, and I've cleared up your misunderstandings," Yukino Yukinoshita continued. "So, are you still going to prepare for the election of the executive committee chairperson for the cultural festival?"

"Huh?" Miura Yumiko barely mustered her fighting spirit. "You think you have victory in the bag..."

“Since I’ve accepted your request, I certainly won’t get involved myself,” Yukino Yukinoshita emphasized. “The Service Club’s request is to help you run for executive committee chairperson and assist you with your work as executive committee chairperson—the question now is, do you still want to do that?”

Yumiko Miura hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Yui Yuigahama. Yui Yuigahama was taken aback and turned to look at Yukino Yukinoshita.

Yukino Yukinoshita simply analyzed, "If you don't want to do it, then go back to your familiar life, back to the usual environment where everyone laughs and jokes, doesn't say anything, and is superficially harmonious like stagnant water. If you intend to do it, then take serious action..."

"With the power of the executive committee chairman, wouldn't it be easy to control Hayama Hayato?" Bai Ying clenched her fist and said, "Interacting with him under a new identity will surely lead to new understanding and memories, right?"

"...I'll go back and think about it, and we'll talk about it next week."

Yumiko Miura hesitated for a moment, then left with her head full of bows.

The activity room quieted down.

Yukino Yukinoshita coldly flipped through her poetry collection, while Yui Yuigahama swallowed nervously and winked at Hachiman Hikigaya. Hachiman calmly stood up, picked up his schoolbag, and said in a monotone voice, "Komachi should have already made dinner at home. Looks like there's nothing else going on today, so I'll be going now..."

Bai Ying nodded and said, "Understood, understood..."

"I want to go too! Today I'm going to learn how to bake cupcakes with Mom!"

Yui Yuigahama quickly picked up her schoolbag and followed Hachiman Hikigaya out of the activity room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

The activity room fell silent.

"Angry?"

The white figure pressed her cheek against the table, trying to exert some force on the gaze, causing it to curve and land on Yukino's face, who was looking down.

"..." Yukino Yukinoshita paused for a moment, closed the book in her hand, raised her bright eyes, her tone was ethereal and indifferent, but her words were exceptionally sharp, "Yes, I'm surprised that I'm so angry with you... Is Haku-kun so proud of himself? Many people like you, and you know that, you put these things on the gambling table as chips, you hold the trophy high above, waiting for someone to climb up to you first—do you enjoy this feeling? Are you proud of it?"

The white figure stared into the girl's eyes, his gaze deepening slightly.

"Actors are destined to perform in plays, and also destined to be performed by the audience."

What riddle? A thousand readers, a thousand Hamlets? Are you saying I misunderstood Bai Jun's original intention?

Yukino Yukinoshita paused slightly, her thoughts racing – if it was Haku-kun… did Haku-kun mean her older sister? She really wasn't sure what her sister was up to. Even though she'd already pointed out her intentions, her sister still did strange things. One minute she'd say she wanted Haku-kun as her 'boyfriend,' but then she wouldn't do anything about it. The next minute she'd deliberately put on a show with Haku-kun in front of her, jumping around and being lively and energetic. Once it was over, she'd just stay in Tokyo, as if she'd forgotten she had a 'boyfriend' in Chiba…

"Isn't my sister your girlfriend? Or did Bai Jun act rashly and make a false promise about a relationship, and now he's finally reaping the consequences and has nowhere to turn?"

Yukino Yukinoshita's words were subtly sarcastic, her expression remaining calm, but the ethereal and elusive feeling from before was gone.

"Don't worry, I'm a dead pig." The white figure calmly patted its chest and made a pig-like squeal, "Grunt grunt~"

“While the pig’s squeals are quite funny, what Shiro-kun is trying to express must go beyond that,” Yukino Yukinoshita tilted her head slightly. “As a qualified creator, you should at least consider the readers’ cultural understanding.”

Bai Ying nodded and said clearly, "There is an old Chinese saying, 'A dead pig is not afraid of boiling water.'"

Yukino Yukinoshita pondered, "To describe someone as brave and fearless as a wild boar, who isn't even afraid of having a corpse scalded with boiling water?"

"To put it another way," Bai Ying said, giving another example, "Hachiman is not afraid of being ostracized."

"understood."

Yukino Yukinoshita understood. She pursed her lips and suddenly said, "I have some ideas about the program for the school festival, but I still need some reference materials... How does Haku-kun define 'like'?"

Without asking any questions, Yukino Yukinoshita asked her question in one breath, blinking a few times, but her gaze remained fixed on the white figure.

"I do not know."

The white figure shook its head.

Don't know? Yukino Yukinoshita was stunned. She didn't doubt it. Although Shiro-kun's mouth was like a train running around, he wouldn't be serious when he was serious... Even if he lied to someone, he would immediately jump up and laugh at you for being fooled... So, why don't you know?

Before she could think it through, she saw the white figure slump onto the table, folding her hands into a nap position, turning her head to look at her. A strange emotion, one she had never seen before, flickered in her eyes, along with a gentle smile: "Can you teach me, Yukinoshita-sensei?"

"—!"

It felt as if all the blood in my body was boiling in an instant. My toes tensed up and gripped the soles of my shoes. For a moment, I didn't know where my hands were or where my feet were. My whole body felt like it was being baked by joy and curled up. The burning sensation spread from the inside out and climbed up to my face.

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly slumped onto the table, crossed her arms, and buried her face—which was neither red nor white—into them, shaking her head from side to side and rubbing her cheeks against her sleeves.

Bai Ying blinked and chuckled as she remarked, "Blushing is more of a performance technique. Normally, the only way a person would blush is if they were extremely drunk."

"..." Yukino Yukinoshita raised her slightly flushed face, her expression slightly serious, and said calmly, "This redness is from being rubbed off by my sleeve... cough, as for you, Haku-kun... how should I teach you?"

She coughed lightly, her eyes flickered, and she threw the question back at her.

Bai Ying pretended to be deep in thought, and gave an example: "Come to your house and teach me."

My home?

Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but ponder: Should they cook a meal together? Watch a movie? Or should she play the piano for Haku-kun?

“I think the bedroom is a good place to teach.” Bai Ying said with a serious expression, forcing a smile.

"?! What nonsense is Shirai-kun spouting!" Yukino Yukinoshita exclaimed, bewildered and indignant. "This is utterly absurd! It's as abrupt as a frog croaking loudly in the middle of the night in the countryside! You are..."

"How about we go on a date tomorrow?"

"what?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was a little stunned, and nodded subconsciously.

Bai Ying smiled, then suddenly made a shushing gesture, and tiptoed to the door of the activity room, abruptly pulling the door open!

Hachiman Hikigaya and Yui Yuigahama, still in their eavesdropping positions: "..."

Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the two of them speechlessly.

Hachiman Hikigaya raised his hand and tapped his head, sticking out his tongue in a mischievous yet cute way: "Hehe!"

Yui Yuigahama scratched the back of her head and chuckled foolishly: "Hehe..."

A minor incident seems to have come to an end.

……

……

At home, Yukino Yukinoshita was feeding her two cats. Looking at the black cat, she thought of Mai Sakurajima, and then of Shirokage's actions earlier that day...

What do you mean by "Yukinoshita-sensei"... Her confession was so sweet, but she had to mix in some weird elements.

Hmm? Where are we going on our date tomorrow? I forgot to ask, although I can ask again when Bai-jun comes back from buying soy sauce...

Yukino Yukinoshita placed the cat food, her bright eyes fixed on the screen, her fingers excitedly pressing send.

[Under the Snow: Where to Go Tomorrow?]

[Bai Liang and Bai Ying: I want to go to a world without writer's block!]