Chapter 388

"One penalty point."

Miyuki's mouth parted slightly at Hiyori's raised tone.

She seemed completely dumbfounded that Hiyori would so boldly issue a penalty point to a Student Council member.

"A penalty point...? Are we playing house right now?"

"What do you mean, playing house...!"

"So you're being serious? You're giving me a penalty point?"

"No. You have to issue the penalty point to yourself, sunbae-nim."

"Why?"

"Disturbing Public Morals."

Watching her state this so sternly was somehow hilarious.

Wasn't there a manga about a troublemaker possessing a Student Council member?

I suddenly really wanted to read it.

"I already told you this doesn't count as disturbing Public Morals."

"I doubt other people would agree."

"You mean you don't agree?"

"Of course I think so too."

"I'm pretty sure you're the only one."

"I am not. Do you want me to ask the passing students?"

"What... I was just showing affection to my boyfriend. Why do I have to hold a Q&A session with everyone else? The more I listen to you, the more ridiculous this gets."

Their voices were steadily rising.

They were still keeping it relatively quiet for now, but they were bound to draw attention soon.

I gently placed a hand on Miyuki's back.

"Both of you, quiet."

Like magic, both of their mouths snapped shut.

I had expected some pushback, but they were surprisingly obedient.

Hardening my expression and dropping my tone seemed to work wonders.

Was it because it felt like a strict dad scolding them?

I'd have to use this trick occasionally to keep them in line.

"What are you two doing? Stop acting childish."

"Hey, Asahina maybe, but why am I childish... Mmph!"

I wrapped an arm around Miyuki's shoulders to silence her protests, clamped a hand over her mouth, and asked Hiyori.

"Have you eaten?"

"No."

"Then why are you out here?"

"To go eat."

"Then let's eat together."

I couldn't just offer a polite invitation here.

If I did, they would both likely reject it.

The only way to get through to them right now was to be brazen and issue it as a command.

"Can Miho join us? She's coming down in a little bit."

"Tell her to meet us at the cafeteria."

"Okay."

Hiyori stared at Miyuki, whose mouth was still firmly covered by my hand, before coyly turning her head away.

She clearly had a lot more to say but was holding it in.

Miyuki was glaring daggers at me.

'Why are we eating with Asahina?'

That was undoubtedly what she wanted to ask me.

But given her gentle nature, no matter how uncomfortable she felt around Hiyori, she would never actually say something that harsh to her face.

Plus, she couldn't physically open her mouth right now anyway.

The one saving grace in all this was that the cafeteria was a buffet.

Since we would have a brief window to talk separately while getting our food, I led the two of them into the elevator up to the cafeteria.

"That's one penalty point for you too, sunbae-nim."

Hiyori directed those words at me while I was still covering Miyuki's mouth.

She was evidently unhappy about the close physical contact between Miyuki and me.

"Stop saying weird things and keep quiet."

"Mouths are made for talking, so why should I?"

"Do you want me to cover your mouth too?"

"Yup."

Completely unfazed by the scolding, she shoved her face toward me as if practically begging me to cover her mouth. It was pretty cute.

So was Miyuki, who was glaring at her as if demanding to know who she thought she was hitting on.

Still, at this rate, the idea of the two of them getting closer seemed like a pipe dream.

I definitely needed to make my own stance clear, but forcing the issue while Miyuki's affection level toward Hiyori was rock bottom would only ruin everything.

Just as I had thought before we came, I needed to improve their relationship—even if only slightly—during this school trip.

Even if they didn't become friends, I had to at least melt away some of the animosity between them.

I needed to get them both to take just one step back.

With my free hand, I flicked Hiyori's swaying cowlick, only releasing Miyuki once the elevator doors finally opened.

Miyuki rubbed the reddened area around her mouth with a sullen pout.

I patted her back as we entered the cafeteria, guiding the two of them to a four-person table.

When I told them to go grab their food, the two of them immediately marched off to completely opposite ends of the buffet.

The mood was a bit frosty, but watching them do that was somehow hilarious.

Chuckling to myself, I grabbed a plate and approached Miyuki, who was serving herself some salmon Sushi.

"Looks good."

"We'll see once I taste it. But Matsuda-kun."

"What is it?"

"She has ulterior motives. She was acting weird back when we worked out together, and just look at her today. She's completely trying to..."

"I'll talk to her."

I firmly cut her off, and she immediately put on a dissatisfied pout.

"I have a lot to say about this."

"I know. Let's just eat for now and talk about it in our room later."

"...Okay."

She was backing down surprisingly easily.

Was it because I'd told them to be quiet earlier?

Or maybe she was just in a good mood from our date at the beach today.

I briefly watched Miyuki walk off to grab a drink, then made my way over to Hiyori.

Hiyori immediately started grumbling in a low voice.

"You were just talking behind my back with Miyuki Hanazawa, weren't you?"

"Talking behind your back? We didn't do that."

"Don't lie. I know you did."

"I told you, we didn't. And anyway..."

"I have nothing to hide."

The fact that she blurted that out before I even said anything was proof that she was feeling guilty.

She was trying to act haughty, but on the inside she was clearly a nervous wreck. Chuckling to myself, I asked, "Nothing to hide about what?"

"It's not right to do those kinds of things in front of so many people."

"You told me not to be so conservative before, but right now you're acting way more conservative than I am. You sound like an old lady."

"That's just how the world works. It's fine when I do it, but it's annoying when other people do it."

The textbook definition of a double standard.

Still, I had to admire her for admitting it straight out instead of making excuses.

"Are we really 'other people'?"

"No...! That's completely missing the point...!"

At my mischievous teasing, her voice pitched up in a flustered whine.

Suppressing the sudden urge to reach out and pat her hopelessly silly head, I gently tried to reason with her as she blushed.

"Can't you just get along with Miyuki?"

"I'm afraid that's impossible."

"Why? Are your personalities just too different?"

"That's part of it, but there's a much bigger reason."

"Which is?"

"That's a secret."

It sounded like she just refused to get attached to a romantic rival.

I smiled gently at Hiyori as she scooped up some shrimp, having practically just declared war on Miyuki.

"I'd really like it if you two got close."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a very greedy person."

"Greedy for what?"

She looked genuinely confused.

Given Hiyori's pure sense of chastity, understanding something like this was still beyond her.

So innocent on the inside... Tsk, tsk. But knowing Hiyori, she would figure out the hidden meaning soon enough.

Anyway, given the current situation, it was only right for Hiyori to take the first step toward Miyuki.

Even if Miyuki had purposely kissed me just to show off our relationship to Hiyori, she hadn't actually done anything wrong.

Hiyori, on the other hand, had reacted today—and the last time—in a way that would look to any third party like she was just trying to sabotage a couple.

Because of that, coaxing Hiyori into extending an olive branch to Miyuki was the right move, and honestly, the best outcome.

"Just greedy for a lot of things. Anyway, will you promise to try to get along with Miyuki?"

"Why are you only asking me to promise that?"

"I asked Miyuki too."

"...Did you?"

I had, actually. Just not today.

Swallowing those words, I simply nodded.

"Yeah."

"And what did Miyuki Hanazawa say to that?"

"She said she'd try."

"Really?"

"I'm serious."

"That sounds like a lie..."

"It's not a lie."

Miyuki was naturally gentle.

She would never be cruel to someone who reached out to her first.

If Hiyori took a step back, Miyuki would absolutely make an effort to get along with her in return.

Provided Hiyori didn't push her until her patience completely exploded, of course.

And for all her outward troublemaking, Hiyori was a good person too.

She was just feeling jealous right now, lashing out a bit aggressively in the heat of the moment, but she didn't actually hold any real malice toward Miyuki.

"Well, fine... I guess I'll try too."

Smiling brightly at Hiyori's predictably positive response, I gave the back of her neck a light tap.

"Good girl."

At that, her sharp, coy glare visibly softened.

Whatever she said, she was still so innocent. I'd have to raise her up quickly and devour her.

Once I brought my food back to the table, I waited until Miyuki sat next to me and Hiyori sat across from us before picking up my chopsticks.

We ate in a terribly awkward silence for a while, but it wasn't long before Miho—having gotten a text from Hiyori—finally showed up.

She greeted me and Miyuki politely. Then she shot a deeply suspicious look at Hiyori—who was practically radiating relief to see her—before quickly assessing the situation and rushing off to grab her own food.

The best part about Miho arriving was that it finally got Hiyori talking again.

Bolstered by her reliable ally, she slowly started chatting with Miho and me, before finally turning to Miyuki—who was silently eating—and saying exactly what I'd been hoping to hear.

"Um, sorry about earlier."

But honestly, could she have mumbled it any quieter?

She was barely moving her lips. At that volume, Miyuki wouldn't have heard her even if the cafeteria had been completely silent.

"Hm? What was that?"

"Nothing."

Hiyori instantly clammed up and feigned ignorance when Miyuki failed to hear her.

Her pride clearly wouldn't let her apologize a second time.

Still, I couldn't help but feel proud of her for making the first move like that.

I'd have to lavish her with praise later.

"...Enjoy your meal."

Miyuki then offered a polite pleasantry back to Hiyori.

Had she remembered what I said while we were getting our food?

Or perhaps Hiyori's attempt at an apology had actually gotten through to her.

Thankfully, the atmosphere steadily began to improve.

At this rate, I could probably afford to raise my expectations.

Just as I was thinking, 'Let's keep this up...', "Ow...!"

Miyuki suddenly flinched heavily and stared under the table.

She furrowed her pretty brow and glared straight at Hiyori.

"What are you doing right now...? Why did you just pinch my leg...!?"

"Huh...? No... well... s-sorry... I have a bad habit when I eat..."

But Hiyori's reaction was completely off.

She looked incredibly panicked. She was even nervously sneaking glances at me.

Wait, had she been trying to pinch my leg with her toes as some kind of petty revenge, only to accidentally pinch Miyuki's leg since we were sitting so closely together?

Given the circumstances, it was the only logical explanation.

Miyuki shifted her piercing gaze toward Miho.

Her expression silently demanded that Miho verify whether Hiyori was telling the truth.

Catching that glare, Miho froze with a bite-sized piece of tempura halfway to her mouth. Her eyes darted around frantically before she finally spoke.

"Um... Hiyori just has a habit of moving her legs around a lot... It's kind of a chronic thing... She leaves bruises on my legs all the time."

They say blood is thicker than water. Sweating bullets as she desperately covered for Hiyori, Miho looked thoroughly pitiful.

"Really...? What kind of habit is that...? Be careful."

Miyuki's angry expression softened a fraction. Hiyori offered an incredibly awkward smile and replied.

"Okay..."

Then, licking her lips in lingering regret, she went back to her food.

Though not before shooting me one final, venomous glare.

Miho really was the biggest victim here.

Getting unwillingly dragged into a lovers' quarrel must have been completely exhausting for her.

I made a mental note to buy her a drink and properly comfort her after we finished eating.