Yukinoshita-san is definitely secretly in love with me.

Onozawa Kaho and Kamizawa Junko stood beside Miura as usual, their postures arrogant and smug. The three of them looked exactly like the kind of mean girls you'd see in a high school drama villainous supporting characters and their lackeys.

"You've got guts, stirring up trouble in our class like this!"

Yukinoshita lowered her head and noticed the Sōbu High jacket draped over her shoulders. Pinned to the chest was a name tag that read Miura Yumiko.

Her school blouse was already partially see-through from the water, and if it hadn't been for that jacket, she probably would've exposed herself.

Yukinoshita was genuinely confused now.

Since when were she and Miura on such good terms?

Wasn't Miura supposed to hate her guts after the whole Hayama incident? Wasn't their relationship one of outright hostility?

Then why was Miura the first to step forward and defend her, even faster than Hayama himself?

Before the famed "Queen of Sōbu," Miura Yumiko, the girl who had splashed the water suddenly lost her bluster. She stepped back and snapped in frustration, "Yukinoshita stole my boyfriend! Am I not even allowed to be mad about that?!"

Everyone turned to Yukinoshita, their eyes full of disapproval.

You again? Stealing someone's boyfriend?

Or is this just more evidence you're into both guys and girls now?

The people who had stepped up to defend Yukinoshita were now visibly awkward. What now? Did we just dig our own graves by backing the wrong person?

Yukinoshita cleared her throat lightly and stepped out from the protective circle around her. "Who's your boyfriend?"

The girl who had thrown the water glared at her, full of resentment. "Kobayashi Hideki!"

Yukinoshita thought for a moment. "...Who's that?"

Her total lack of recognition only enraged the girl further. She yanked the boy hiding behind her forward. "He uses your picture as his phone wallpaper! Yukinoshita, stop pretending like you don't know!"

The boy had been there the whole time, but he'd kept his head down, silent and out of the spotlight, so everyone assumed he was just a bystander. No one expected him to be the male lead of this ridiculous drama.

He looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Asano, let's just go..."

But Asano shook off his hand furiously. "Why should I leave? I'm not the one trying to steal someone else's boyfriend!"

Yukinoshita, ever calm in the chaos, went straight for the logic. "When did you notice your boyfriend changed his phone wallpaper?"

"Yesterday! He suddenly put a password on his phone and I knew something was off!"

Miura's brain finally caught up with the situation, and her voice rang out with conviction. "That's nonsense. Yukinoshita hasn't left the classroom these past two days except to go home. There's no way she had time to 'seduce' your precious Hideki or whatever his name is."

The girl immediately snapped back. "How do you know she didn't leave the classroom? Were you watching her every second?"

"Of course I was watching her every second!"

Everyone's eyes shot to Miura. There was a collective "Eh?!" of surprise.

Miura realized how her words sounded a second too late. Her face turned crimson. "I-I mean, I'm the class's disciplinary officer! Yukinoshita just transferred in, so of course I'm keeping an eye on her!"

Wait, you're the class rep?

Didn't you break school rules the most?

Dyed hair, makeup, shortened skirts you've done it all, Miura.

"Anyway, the whole class can vouch for her. Yukinoshita just transferred. None of us have any reason to lie for her."

Miura quickly turned to Hayama. "Right, Hayama?"

He hesitated for a beat.

As the school's gentle and considerate golden boy, Hayama was well aware of the feelings others projected onto him. He'd always been faintly aware of Miura's old crush on him.

Back then, her eyes were always on him.

But now, those urgent, protective eyes were focused on someone else on Yukinoshita, someone she supposedly couldn't stand.

Even though he was confused, Hayama still smiled and nodded. "She's right."

With the school's prince and queen both vouching for Yukinoshita, the girl who threw the water finally started to lose steam.

Yukinoshita asked thoughtfully, "That photo on his phone what kind was it?"

The girl mumbled, "What do you think? Just your silhouette, that's all..."

She cut herself off mid-sentence, suddenly realizing.

If Yukinoshita had been secretly involved with her boyfriend, the picture wouldn't be a distant shot of her back.

Obviously, this was just some one-sided obsession. Yukinoshita probably didn't even know the guy existed.

The boy, who had been nervously shifting the whole time, mumbled, "I told you, it's not her fault..."

Miura puffed up with satisfaction. "See? If anyone at this school can just claim they like me, does that mean their partner can throw water at me in public?"

"Today it's cold water. What about tomorrow? Boiling water? Acid? Is this how we justify assault now by calling it jealousy?"

Onozawa Kaho stepped forward, her voice thick with sarcasm. "Well? Why are you just standing there? Where's your apology?"

Kamizawa Junko added with a smirk, "Don't tell me you're trying to run off?"

Under the weight of everyone's gaze, Kobayashi Hideki turned to his girlfriend and gave her a shove. "Just apologize, Asano…"

This whole mess had started because of him, and yet he was the first to betray her.

Face pale, Asano gave Yukinoshita a deep bow. "...I didn't have the full picture and still chose to hurt you. I'm sorry."

Yukinoshita brushed dripping water off her face and hair, her tone cool and cutting. "Honestly, your suspicion was as idiotic as it was baseless."

Asano stayed silent, bracing herself for a full verbal takedown. She knew she deserved it. She had acted out of impulse and paid the price.

"But if the world ended and only you and your boyfriend were left, and I absolutely had to choose one of you to be with there's a much higher chance I'd pick you."

Asano snapped her head up, stunned.

"Because even though you're both annoying, at least you're slightly better looking."

Asano froze, then flushed a deep red.

Beside her, Miura, who had been standing with her arms crossed and a smug expression, suddenly grew serious.

I stood up for her… and she's out here flirting with other girls?!

Damn it, Yukinoshita! For the next week no, starting tomorrow you are absolutely forbidden from falling in love with me!