Yukinoshita-san is definitely secretly in love with me.

Lately, Yukinoshita's reputation at Soubu High had been improving. The school's collective opinion of her had gradually shifted from open hostility to cold detachment almost reaching neutrality.

Still, Yukinoshita, who had grown used to being treated with caution or outright malice, remained vigilant in her daily routine.

For example, her indoor shoe box was always locked.

Before putting on her shoes, she would inspect them to make sure no one had hidden thumbtacks inside.

She rarely left the classroom unless absolutely necessary.

Whenever she did leave, she would take her school bag with her.

Her bag was always packed with everything she might need just in case.

If a stranger suddenly called out to her, she would immediately raise an internal alarm, preparing herself for a possible splash of water or something worse.

Just like now.

"Yukinoshita-san, someone's looking for you downstairs~"

Peeking down from the second floor, Yukinoshita spotted a group of boys gathered below. As soon as they saw her look out, they started teasing the one in the center.

The boy they pushed forward stood out: bright red hair, a handsome and energetic face an athletic, trendy heartthrob who was currently quite popular.

"Don't chicken out, Matsumoto!"

"Come on, come on, get ready she's looking at you!"

"Hey, check my hair real quick is it messed up?"

"No, no, you look totally hot!"

Yukinoshita's expression turned serious as she glanced at the group below.

Were they... trying to pick a fight?

There were too many of them. Even though she had taken Aikido lessons, her physical stamina wasn't great, and barehanded, there was no way she could take on so many.

After a moment of thought, she picked up her thick English dictionary and descended the stairs with a solemn air like a warrior walking into battle.

Several classmates who noticed this exchange glanced up warily, worried they might be witnessing another scene like that water-throwing incident from before.

But the atmosphere didn't quite feel hostile. It seemed more like…

"Yumiko!"

Onozawa grabbed Miura's desk. "Yumiko, someone's about to confess to Yukinoshita!"

Yumiko, who had been slumped over her desk doing homework in boredom, shot up in shock.

"What? Who dares confess to Yukinoshita?!"

Uesaka Junko, stroking her chin, grinned. "It's Matsumoto Kazuya from Class 2-H. He's on the school soccer team and pretty good-looking."

Yuigahama chimed in, "I heard some girls in our class like him too… And his looks are totally Yukinoshita's type. She might actually say yes."

That was all it took for Miura to snap. She jumped up, fuming, and rolled up her sleeves.

"He's got a death wish, trying to confess to Yukinoshita?!"

Uesaka quickly grabbed her and whispered, "Yumiko, if you storm out there like this, it'll look like you want to confess to Yukinoshita."

Miura immediately switched gears, blushing with rage. "What do you mean I would confess to her?! She's the one who has a crush on me! If there's a confession, it should be her doing it!"

But Uesaka and Onozawa were right. If she lost her cool now, it wouldn't help anyone and it would only give Yukinoshita's critics more reason to talk.

Miura herself didn't care what people thought of her, but Yukinoshita's already fragile reputation might take another hit.

After a moment of contemplation, she whipped out her phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Yes, Musashi-senpai? There's a serious breach of school rules happening in front of Class 2-F's classroom. It's drawn a crowd and caused a major disturbance. Please come handle it immediately."

The call was to none other than Musashi, the school's Disciplinary Committee Chair an enormous, intimidating, utterly single upperclassman who treated upholding school order like a personal mission. There was no way he'd let this slide.

As she hung up, she noticed everyone staring at her in stunned silence.

She slammed her palm on the desk and declared righteously, "I'm not just our class's discipline monitor. I'm also the top candidate to be the next Disciplinary Committee Chair! I have to take action against such disgraceful behavior!"

Yuigahama blinked. "…Yumiko, wake up. Our school rules don't even forbid dating."

Except for a few super strict religious schools, most Japanese schools didn't have rules against romance. Even if two kindergartners held hands and said they wanted to get married, no one would stop them.

Japan was, after all, a country known for being let's say liberally inclined.

Miura stood firm, full of righteousness. "I'm not talking about dating! I'm talking about Matsumoto he dyed his hair, wears earrings, and doesn't even wear his uniform properly!"

Uesaka rubbed her forehead. "…Yumiko, you are the last person who should be saying that."

Meanwhile, Yuigahama casually glanced downstairs.

Yukinoshita, with her long black hair flowing past her waist, walked forward calmly. Neither the jeering boys nor the curious eyes of her classmates seemed to affect her in the slightest.

Her expression remained as placid as a still pond so composed that those who disliked her often mocked her as pretentious or fake.

But because her beauty was so extraordinary, even her cool detachment carried a rare and striking elegance.

Yuigahama rested her chin in her hands, watching from above. At this point, anyone confessing to Yukinoshita felt entirely normal.

She was like a next-level heartbreaker an upgraded femme fatale.

Yukinoshita approached with one hand wrapped around her thick dictionary, her gaze calm but wary.

"What do you want with me?"

She had already calculated the best angle from which to hurl the heavy book, should things turn violent.

The red-haired boy scratched his head awkwardly, eyes flicking nervously toward her.

"U-um…"

"Don't chicken out, Matsumoto!"

"Come on, you're already here don't hesitate now!"

Yukinoshita frowned slightly, confused.

Were they... even hesitant about starting a fight?

Finally, the boy mustered his courage and looked her in the eyes.

"Yukinoshita-san!"

"I, uh… I like you. Please go out with me!"

Miura leaned anxiously against the window, straining to hear. She couldn't make out what he said, but after Matsumoto spoke, the crowd got even louder.

"Say yes!"

"Come on, Yukinoshita, say yes!"

"Matsumoto's totally into you!"

Say yes, my ass!

Miura practically pressed her face to the glass, wishing she could hurl something down there to break up the whole scene.

Then, she saw Yukinoshita say something. Matsumoto paused, visibly deflated. His expression crumpled.

Miura immediately lit up with renewed energy, practically glowing.

She shook Onozawa by the shoulders excitedly. "Did you see that, Zeika? She turned him down!"

Yukinoshita had just rejected all those annoying buzzing flies for her.

Did she like Miura that much?

Really, there was no dealing with this girl.

Ehehe~! (cue wild internal glee)