As Hozuki Nozomi sat idly in class, a vivid and utterly ridiculous scene took shape in his mind.
He had Yukinoshita's second daughter pinned against the wall.
Her delicate lips trembled, her big, teary eyes looking up at him with an expression full of hesitation and scandal. She pressed her slender hands against his chest in a feeble attempt to resist.
"Yamete... oniisan… you're my onee-chan's fiancé, and I'm your imouto-in-law!" she whimpered.
Nozomi didn't falter. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her closer, his voice dripping with indulgence.
"Iie, you're my sweet little angel in a kimono!"
Puff!
The illusion shattered like fragile glass.
A sharp poke to his waist brought him back to reality.
"Oi, what are you grinning at? Your drool is practically leaking onto the desk," Shiina Mahiru's amused voice teased.
Nozomi quickly wiped the corners of his mouth, but—nothing. He turned to glare at her, only to be met with the sight of Mahiru trying to suppress a giggle behind her hand.
"Mou~ you look like such a baka, Nozomi-kun~" she whispered, her golden eyes sparkling with mischief.
He narrowed his eyes, forming silent words with his lips.
"Wait for me tonight."
Mahiru's face turned bright red in an instant. She stiffened, then quickly shrank into her seat, peeking at him with flustered defiance.
"Hmph! Bring it on! I have reinforcements this time. I won't lose to you!"
Nozomi let out a low chuckle.
No matter how many allies she had, the victor had already been decided.
Of course, this wasn't just about winning.
As Nozomi and Mahiru continued their playful back-and-forth, the rest of the class watched with barely concealed envy.
"Tch… dammit."
"Why does Nozomi get to sit next to Angel?"
"Ugh, look at them flirting! The audacity!"
If glares could kill, Nozomi would have already been reborn in another world by now.
But compared to the cheery atmosphere surrounding Nozomi, the mood on the other side of the classroom was ice-cold.
Hayama Hayato had just returned to his seat, his usual effortless charm nowhere to be found. His expression was stiff, his demeanor oddly detached. When his ever-loyal follower, Tobe Kakeru, tried to strike up a conversation, Hayato merely offered a fleeting smile before dismissing him with a casual wave.
This did not go unnoticed by Miura Yumiko.
She had been secretly observing him for a while, growing more and more uneasy. After some internal struggle, she finally pulled out her phone and sent a message to Nozomi.
Yumiko: "Ano… Nozomi-kun, sorry to bother you, but what did Hayato-kun want to talk about just now? Did he misunderstand that we went out together yesterday?"
Her concern was obvious, wrapped in the careful phrasing of someone deeply invested in the answer.
Nozomi clicked his tongue.
For her sake, he hoped she wasn't thinking too much about Hayato.
After a brief moment of thought, he typed a response:
Nozomi: "You're overthinking it, Yumiko. Hayato-kun didn't mention anything about yesterday. He asked me about my relationship with a certain girl."
Seconds later, Yumiko's typing indicator appeared, then vanished, then appeared again.
She was hesitating.
And then, after what felt like an eternity:
Yumiko: "Hayato-kun… asked about your relationship with a girl?"
A pause.
Yumiko: "Wait, could it be… Mahiru?!"
Her heart pounded in her chest.
Hayato-kun… liked Mahiru?
The thought was a stab to the chest. A deep, gut-wrenching ache.
Before she could spiral, another message appeared on her screen.
Nozomi: "Oi, don't jump to conclusions. Hayato-kun wasn't asking about anyone from our school."
Yumiko let out a shaky breath, clutching her phone tightly. She stole a glance in Nozomi's direction, her eyes brimming with both gratitude and frustration.
"Couldn't you have said that earlier, you damn tease…" she muttered under her breath.
She almost teared up over nothing.
But then—
Wait a second.
Even if Hayato-kun wasn't asking about Mahiru… he was asking about another girl.
Yumiko's fingers hovered over her keyboard before she finally typed:
Yumiko: "Then… who was he asking about? Can you tell me her name?"
A long pause.
Nozomi: "..."
The silence was deafening.
Panic settled in her stomach. Did she push too far?
Frantically, she typed:
Yumiko: "Gomen! That was too sudden. That girl must be important to you…"
Seconds later, his reply came:
Nozomi: "It's fine. I'm not mad. I just don't know how to answer."
A beat.
Nozomi: "But Yumiko… you and Hayato are close, aren't you? He never told you about the girl he likes? Not even her name?"
Yumiko froze, her mind blank.
She wasn't dumb.
Just… painfully naive when it came to matters of the heart.
She had always taken Hayato-kun's words at face value, never once doubting his gentle smiles and considerate nature. In her world, they had a comfortable bond, something special. Even others assumed they were a couple in the making.
But Nozomi's words cracked that illusion like a hammer striking glass.
Had Hayato-kun ever once said he had a girl he liked?
Had he ever uttered her name?
No.
Not even once.
Her throat tightened as she forced herself to type her next message.
Yumiko: "Nozomi-kun… did Hayato-kun actually tell you the name of the girl he likes?"
His response was swift.
Nozomi: "Yeah. But for his privacy, I can't say who. What I can tell you is… it's not you, Yumiko."
Tears pricked the corners of her eyes before she could stop them.
For a split second, she wanted to believe Nozomi was lying. That he was just trying to stir the pot. After all, he had confessed to her just yesterday, saying he admired her.
But Nozomi was too blunt for deception.
If he wanted to lie, he would've spun a much prettier tale.
And so, the truth crashed down on her like a tidal wave.
Hayato-kun had never asked about her at all.
He had pulled Nozomi aside to ask about another girl entirely.
Yumiko swallowed the lump in her throat, her fingers trembling over her phone.
She couldn't breathe.
Yumiko: "Yui… come with me to the restroom."
Yuigahama Yui blinked, looking up from her own phone.
"Eh? Uh… sure, okay."
The two girls stood up together, Yumiko biting the inside of her cheek.
She refused to cry in class.
Yuigahama Yui was practically dragged into the bathroom, her steps barely keeping up. Inside, she found Miura Yumiko sobbing uncontrollably, her usual confident demeanor shattered. Without hesitation, Yui pulled her into a tight hug, patting her back soothingly.
"Yumiko, daijoubu! What's wrong? If something's bothering you, just tell me. We'll figure it out together!"
"Yui... Uwaaah...!"
Between hiccups and muffled sobs, the truth slowly unraveled. Hayama Hayato had someone he liked. Worse, this person was someone close to Hozuki Nozomi, which led to a misunderstanding—one that made it seem like Hayato had never liked Yumiko in the first place.
Yui's expression softened as she continued rubbing Yumiko's back in slow, reassuring circles.
"So you're saying... Hayato has feelings for someone else, and because of that, he misunderstood something about you?"
Yumiko's crying only grew louder. "Wuwuwu... Yui, it hurts...!"
Yui sighed, glancing at the mirror and catching her own worried reflection. Yumiko had always been so strong, so prideful. Seeing her break down like this was jarring.
"Yumiko, don't panic yet! Maybe, just maybe... Nozomi lied?"
Yumiko sniffled, looking up through tear-streaked lashes. "But why would he lie?"
"Think about it! He confessed to you yesterday, right? That means he definitely likes you. And if he likes you, he might've just said that stuff about Hayato so that he'd have a chance to be with you."
"Mou, Yui! Don't say weird things!" Yumiko blushed, flustered. "Nozomi likes Mahiru. He wouldn't go that far just to trick me!"
"But what if...?" Yui trailed off, hoping to calm her friend down by shifting suspicion elsewhere.
Truthfully, she didn't believe Nozomi would lie either. He wasn't that kind of person. He was their savior—someone who had earned their trust. It was hard to imagine him doing something so underhanded.
But Yumiko's thoughts were already running wild. If Nozomi had lied... she wouldn't forgive him! She clenched her fists, her cheeks heating up.
Why? Why did she even care so much about what he said?
Was it because he saved her?
Meanwhile, Nozomi was about to finalize battle arrangements with Mahiru when Yui suddenly called him out. She had also summoned Mahiru and Hina Ebina, making it clear that this was serious business.
Luckily, it was still break time, giving them plenty of time to talk. Otherwise, being late to class would mean dealing with the wrath of Hiratsuka-sensei.
The moment they reached a quiet spot, the girls huddled together, whispering behind Nozomi's back before finally turning to face him, their gazes intense.
Mahiru, who trusted him completely, had an expression full of playful mischief. Yui, on the other hand, was practically clinging to Yumiko as she stared at Nozomi with utmost seriousness.
"Nozomi, be honest. Did you say that Hayato has feelings for someone else just so you could get close to Yumiko?"
"Yeah! If you like someone, you can't just go around manipulating things! That's so unfair!"
Hina, ever the instigator, smirked. "Yeah, spill the truth, Nozomi! Don't think you can get away with tricking our Yumiko."
Nozomi sighed, rubbing his temples. He had expected some drama, but this was ridiculous.
"Lucky for me, I have proof," he muttered before pulling out his phone. With a few taps, he played back a voice recording.
[Hayato, what do you want to consult?]
[Nothing, I was just a little curious... about the woman who picked you up at the school gate.]
[...]
[I won't hide it. Haruno-neesan is very important to me.]
[So you like her? I see...]
Silence followed as the recording ended. The truth had been laid bare.
Yumiko's face twisted, her eyes widening in shock. Then, without warning, she let out a heartbroken scream and bolted, running away with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Yumiko!"
The group exchanged uncertain glances.
"I'll go after her," Nozomi said with a heavy sigh. "This is my fault, after all."
Yui hesitated, watching him leave before turning to Hina.
"Do you think he'll be able to comfort her?"
Hina chuckled, patting Yui's shoulder. "Let's just trust him. If he can actually help Yumiko move on, it'll be a good thing."
"You're right," Yui agreed before linking arms with Mahiru. "Come on, let's head back to class."
—
Nozomi finally found Yumiko curled up on the rooftop, her arms wrapped around her knees as she trembled with muffled sobs.
He walked up quietly, then squatted beside her, pulling a tissue from his pocket.
"Oi, Yumiko. Wipe your tears."
She flinched but didn't take it.
"Just go."
"Can't do that. Class is about to start, and Yui and the others are worried about you."
"I don't care!" she snapped, burying her face in her arms. "Are you happy now? You just had to tell me the truth! I get it—Hayato doesn't like me. It's over."
Nozomi exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Yumiko, you really thought you had a chance? I hate to say it, but you didn't."
"Don't try to comfort me!"
His mouth twitched. "Who said I was trying to comfort you?"
Her head shot up, glaring at him with bloodshot eyes. "Then why are you even here?!"
Nozomi shrugged. "Because seeing you cry like this is kinda pathetic. And because you don't actually hate me."
Yumiko opened her mouth to protest, but before she could say anything, her body suddenly lifted off the ground.
"H-Hey! What are you doing?!"
Without warning, Nozomi had picked her up bridal-style, causing her to flail in panic.
"Oi! Put me down!" Her fists pounded against his chest as her face turned crimson.
"Nah, you looked like you were gonna stay here and mope forever. Not happening."
"You...! You're the worst!" Yumiko gritted her teeth, struggling to break free.
But Nozomi simply tightened his grip, stopping her from moving. He carried her over to a nearby bench, finally setting her down with a smirk.
"Didn't you say you hated me? Well, since I'm already hated, even if I do something excessive, I'll just be hated a little more, right?"
"O-Oi! That's not how it works!"
Miura Yumiko shook her head frantically, her tears momentarily stopping as sheer panic took over. Her heart pounded wildly, her mind struggling to keep up with the sheer audacity of his words.
"So it's fine for you to use me as a punching bag just because you're heartbroken?" Nozomi asked with an exasperated sigh, raising an eyebrow at her.
"I... wuwuwu, I'm sorry!" Yumiko sniffled, her emotions spiraling out of control again as fresh tears welled up in her eyes.
"Oi, don't cry." Nozomi clicked his tongue. "If you keep crying, I'll kiss you."
"Hah?! Y-You're horrible!" She stared at him in disbelief, face burning as she clutched his shirt in protest.
"Omedetou, you've finally seen my true colors." He smirked. "Now, why don't you try guessing Hayama's true colors while you're at it?"
Yumiko stiffened.
Why… why was she even crying so much?
It wasn't just the embarrassment of realizing that she had been deluding herself all this time. It wasn't just the pain of watching her cherished dream shatter.
No, it was the fact that Hayama Hayato—the boy she admired, the one she believed to be kind, considerate, and dependable—had tried to push Nozomi away from another girl simply because she was a threat to his own love life.
"That Hayama," Nozomi continued, his voice laced with amusement, "he's not the perfect prince you thought he was, huh? Kind of messed up that someone as amazing as Miura Yumiko got used as a shield, don't you think?"
Yumiko bit her lip.
What a fool she had been.
She let out a shaky breath. "You're really a terrible person, aren't you?"
"Yeah, pretty much." Nozomi grinned. "In fact, at first, I was going to just admit it outright, you know? That I was trying to pursue you and that I badmouthed Hayama on purpose. But then I thought—why should I lie? The truth is, I couldn't stand watching you waste yourself on a guy who never even saw you properly."
Yumiko's eyes widened. Her heart felt like it skipped a beat.
"You're such a terrible person," she muttered, cheeks tinged pink.
"That so? Then do you hate me even more now?" Nozomi asked, tilting his head slightly.
Yumiko hesitated. Her fingers twitched in his grip, and she swallowed hard before whispering, "My wrist... you're holding it too tightly."
"Well, you were the one slapping my chest a second ago," he muttered, though he loosened his grip nonetheless.
Freed, Yumiko quickly pulled herself out of his arms, wiping the lingering traces of tears from her face. She let out another breath, steadied herself, then bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry. I was being unreasonable."
Nozomi didn't answer immediately. Instead, he opened his arms again and—before she could react—wrapped her in another hug.
"W-Wait! Why are you hugging me again?!" Yumiko yelped, body going rigid. Her face was burning now.
"I feel bad." Nozomi sighed dramatically. "You hate me anyway, right? So you won't care if I steal a hug or two to make up for all my troubles."
"I-I don't hate you..." Yumiko murmured, barely above a whisper.
Nozomi blinked. "Really?"
She met his gaze and nodded. "Really."
For a moment, the rooftop was quiet except for the distant chatter of students below. Then, Nozomi chuckled. "Alright then. I'll believe you—for now."
Yumiko felt herself exhale in relief.
"Time to go back," Nozomi said, stretching. "Let's not keep Yui and the others waiting."
"Yeah..." Yumiko nodded, following him down the stairs.
Yet, as they walked, she found herself stealing glances at him, only to quickly look away whenever their eyes almost met. Her heart wouldn't stop hammering in her chest.
What was this feeling?
She wasn't sure.
But oddly enough…
She didn't hate the warmth of his arms back on the rooftop.
Nozomi had been relentless—shameless, even. He had chosen the exact moment when she was at her weakest, when her heart was in turmoil, to hold her close.
And now, whether she liked it or not, his presence had lodged itself somewhere deep in her heart.