Club activities had just ended.
Nozomi lingered behind, waiting until the others had all filed out of the clubroom. He wasn't in a hurry. Not today.
Sanshokuin Sumireko and Suo Yuki passed by Yukinoshita Yukino with mischievous smirks, their eyes sparkling with unspoken understanding. Like two fox spirits sensing drama in the air, they exited with graceful discretion, leaving the Queen of Ice alone with her storm.
Yukinoshita Yukino's heartbeat skipped, then sped up. She could feel it—the unmistakable pressure of being watched.
She could practically hear the ominous anime sound effect "don" in the background.
Sure enough, there it was.
With a sudden and dramatic thud, Nozomi slammed his arm against the wall beside her head. The iconic wall-slam—kabedon! She was trapped between him and the cold surface, her breath caught in her throat.
"Yukino," he said with a piercing gaze, "what did you mean earlier when you called me a lackey?"
Her cheeks flushed pink in an instant. Yukino, the great Ice Princess, found herself shrinking under his gaze. She looked away, trying to maintain composure, and placed a gentle hand on his chest.
"It was just a joke," she said, voice soft but pretending to be calm.
Nozomi narrowed his eyes. "Really? It didn't feel like a joke to me."
Of course, he knew the truth.
The second young lady of the Yukinoshita family always said one thing and meant another. Her jealousy had leaked out—her words had been spiked with envy.
"I corrected myself after," Yukino muttered defensively. "I called you our club's guardian. Isn't that better?"
Even as she spoke, a wave of guilt washed over her. She bit her lip.
Nozomi lifted his hand, and her eyes widened with alarm. Was he mad? Was he going to scold her? Hit her?
Instead, his hand came down softly on her cheek, cupping it with affection. His eyes were warm, a gentle smile forming on his lips.
"That's good," he murmured. "Yukino can finally make jokes."
"You're not angry?" she asked, confused by his easy forgiveness.
"Not at all," he said cheerfully. "Yuuki-san may think you're harsh, but I get it."
Before she could say more, he pulled her into a tight embrace.
"You're right, I am your lackey. If Yukino orders me into fire or flood, I'll go. No questions asked. But… I'm a clingy lackey. Scared yet?"
His voice was teasing, but the sincerity in his touch made her heart melt.
Yukino sniffled softly, her heart warmed by the dorky affection. Her eyes shimmered with unspoken emotion.
"You're such a rascal," she murmured. "If you're too clingy, I might not be able to handle it."
"Not impossible," she corrected, eyes flitting away shyly.
Her hand slipped from his chest, letting him hold her fully.
Nozomi's eyes sparkled mischievously as he gazed at her flushed cheeks and the soft pout on her lips. He lowered his head slowly.
And then, he kissed her.
It wasn't wild or forceful. Just soft, patient… melting.
Yukino's body shivered gently, but she didn't resist. Instead, she kissed back, timidly, warmly.
When their lips finally parted, she was sitting on his lap, arms draped around his neck, forehead resting gently against his.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I shouldn't have said that to you. It's just… when that beautiful transfer girl showed up, I felt weird. And then my mouth ran ahead of my brain."
Nozomi chuckled, brushing his fingers against her hair. "Apology accepted. I've already received full compensation."
Yukino buried her face into his shoulder, her skin burning.
"It's nearly the end of the month," he suddenly said, voice unusually serious.
"Mm-hmm," she responded, but her blush deepened.
Without hesitation, his hand slid down to her thighs wrapped in silky black over-the-knee socks. The smoothness, the softness—it was too much. His palm lingered.
"Yukino," he whispered devilishly, "can I eat you then?" Updates are released by novelꞁire.net
"Y-You idiot! What kind of line is that? Are you a monster?!"
Yukino panicked and hit his shoulder in embarrassment. But she knew what he meant. After all this time, how could she not?
Nozomi laughed. "Hey, I'm just asking. Consent is important."
"Shut up! Don't ask such shameless things! Figure it out yourself."
Even though her mouth denied him, her heart fluttered.
Girls have to maintain some pride, after all.
"Got it. I'll take that as a maybe."
With a smug grin, he hugged her tighter.
After a short scuffle, she gently pushed him away.
"Club's over. If we stay here too long, they'll lock us in."
"Alright, alright. I surrender," Nozomi said, lifting his hands in mock defeat.
Meanwhile, back at the Yuigahama household…
"Mom, are you home?!" Yuigahama Yui shouted as she burst through the front door.
"What is it now, Yui?"
A warm voice drifted out from the kitchen, laced with exasperated affection. "You're in high school. Try not to act like a hyperactive middle-schooler."
From behind the counter emerged a woman whose appearance bore an uncanny resemblance to Yuuki Asuna—right down to the auburn hair and refined, gentle demeanor. If someone said she was 90% identical, they'd be downplaying it.
Mrs. Yuigahama peered at the screen and immediately froze.
"H-Hey, Yui, why'd you Photoshop my old high school photo?"
"No no! Look carefully! That's not you—it's our new transfer student. Her name is Yuuki Asuna! Crazy, right? She looks just like you, Mom!"
Mrs. Yuigahama's gaze flickered subtly, a trace of nostalgia swimming behind her eyes, but her tone remained composed. "Must be a coincidence."
Yui furrowed her brows suspiciously. "But Mom... isn't your name also Asuna? Like, it's pronounced exactly the same. Don't tell me that's not at least a little weird."
"U-uh..." Mrs. Yuigahama chuckled nervously and dabbed at her forehead with a hand towel. Since when did her airheaded daughter start asking sharp questions ? Was this some latent detective trait awakening late in adolescence?
"It really is just coincidence, Yui. See? My... assets are definitely bigger than this Yuki-san's." She puffed out her chest proudly.
Yui deadpanned. "Mom. That's not the point. Also, why is that your comparison metric?!"
Still keeping her poker face, Mrs. Yuigahama tried to redirect the conversation. "Maybe I'm distantly related to her. I was raised overseas, after all. I'm an orphan, so I don't know much about my extended family."
"Mmm... well, okay. Still kinda sus, but I guess that makes sense," Yui muttered, half-convinced.
"If you're that curious, why not invite Yuuki-san over sometime? I wouldn't mind meeting this mysterious look-alike."
"Sure, I'll try! But first—shower time! I'm so sweaty I feel like a walking steam bun."
Mrs. Yuigahama exhaled in relief as her daughter headed upstairs. That was too close. Thankfully, Yui's imagination was still more tuned to romcoms than science fiction.
As Yui soaked in the bath, she thought back to the photo.
Nah, no way. Her mom couldn't actually be Yuuki Asuna from ten years in the future… or some alternate universe or something. That's just nonsense, right?
Even if she told anyone, who'd believe her?
She shook her head hard, splashing water everywhere. "Nope nope nope! I've been watching too much late-night anime again."
Elsewhere, Yuuki Asuna stared at her own phone, perplexed. She had asked her mother earlier if there were any relatives who looked just like her.
The answer had been a clear and confident no.
Still, she couldn't shake the unease in her heart.
"Even if it's just coincidence… it's way too surreal," she murmured, staring at the photo Yui had sent her.
The woman in it looked just like her—only older.
But surely, that's all it was... right?