Seeing Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi's faces' stiffen for a moment, Hozuki Nozomi had no intention of stepping in to comfort them.
He had already heard from Sumireko about Hazuki Yasuo's lack of awareness when it came to girls' feelings, but seeing it first hand was something else entirely.
And sure enough, it was exactly as Sumireko described.
Yasuo spoke with complete sincerity, his expression bright and cheerful, completely oblivious to the subtle shifts in the atmosphere. He failed to notice the slight tension in the two girls' smiles when he casually referred to them as "just friends."
Maybe Tsukimi and Sakurahara Momo were simply used to being overlooked. They recovered quickly, adjusting their expressions as if nothing had happened. Then, almost seamlessly, they shifted into their usual role—playing wingman for Yasuo.
"Hey, Nozomi-kun, how did you and Sumireko meet?" Sakurahara Momo asked, feigning innocence.
Yasuo also perked up at this question, his expression filled with interest.
For just a second, Tsukimi and Sakurahara Momo's eyes darkened with frustration. Still, they forced themselves to smile expectantly as they awaited Nozomi's answer.
"Ah, of course," Nozomi said with a nod. "Sumireko and I live pretty close to each other."
"One day, when I was out buying soy sauce, I saw her getting harassed by some delinquents at the entrance of an alley. They were trying to mess with her, so I stepped in and took care of the problem. That's how we met."
"She looked completely different back then—glasses, pigtails, very unassuming. But once she took off those disguises… Well, let's just say I hit the jackpot."
"I still can't believe how lucky I am to have such an amazing girlfriend."
At the mention of "girlfriend," Yasuo tensed visibly, his shoulders stiffening.
Sure enough.
Sumireko was dating Nozomi.
"…Well, uh, Nozomi-kun," Yasuo cleared his throat, forcing a casual tone. "Since you're dating Sumireko, what's your relationship with Shiina-san from our class?"
"Boyfriend and girlfriend," Nozomi answered with a relaxed smile.
"...Huh?"
The three of them stared at him, stunned.
"Wait. Are you… two-timing?"
"No," Nozomi shook his head, completely unbothered. "Not at all."
In fact, two wasn't even the correct number.
Sakurahara Momo blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Oh, I see. You're just talking about female friends, right? You and Shiina-san are just good friends, like us and Yasuo-kun?"
Nozomi didn't say anything—just smiled.
The three took his silence as confirmation.
Yasuo let out a relieved sigh.
So Nozomi wasn't cheating. That was good.
…Wait.
If Nozomi wasn't cheating, then how was he supposed to have a chance with Sumireko?
Yasuo's relief quickly gave way to frustration.
Tsukimi, deep in thought, suddenly spoke up.
"I heard there's a lot of gossip about Nozomi-kun at school," she mused. "People say you're involved with multiple girls. But that's probably just jealousy, right?"
"What can I say?" Nozomi shrugged. "Being too outstanding tends to attract envy."
As for whether those rumors were true?
He had no obligation to clarify anything.
—
After lunch, Nozomi took the three of them on a tour of the school, showing them different club activities and letting them compare them with their own school's clubs.
Toshobu High School was a private institution, known for being strict and somewhat isolated. Unlike Sobu High School, which had an open and diverse club culture, their school rules were much more rigid.
Eventually, after a full tour, they returned to their classroom.
Yasuo was visibly disappointed. He had been hoping to see Sumireko, but she hadn't been at the library.
It seemed he had no choice but to visit the Service Club later.
—
That afternoon, Nozomi didn't waste time. He led the three straight to the Service Club's room.
After knocking, he pushed open the door once Yukinoshita Yukino gave her permission.
Inside, Yukino and Sanshokuin Sumireko were both seated, quietly reading.
With their refined demeanor and elegant presence, they truly looked like literary beauties.
The sight of Yukino took the Toshobu High School students by surprise.
"Hey, President. Sumireko. Good afternoon," Nozomi greeted casually.
"Good afternoon, Nozomi-kun," Sumireko responded sweetly, then turned to the visitors.
A gentle smile spread across her lips. "Long time no see, Hazuki-san, Tsukimi-san, and Cherry-senpai."
Sakurahara Momo immediately stepped forward, grabbing Sumireko's hands enthusiastically.
"Sumireko? It's really you, right? I can't believe you used to hide behind those glasses and pigtails… but of course, I recognized you immediately!"
She kept her voice lighthearted, but Nozomi could see the sadness she was trying to hide.
As always, she played the role of Yasuo's loyal supporter.
Yasuo nodded seriously, his eyes fixed on the girl before him with an intense gaze.
"Yeah, Sumireko, long time no see."
Yukinoshita Yukino, ever perceptive, immediately intervened, her cool voice cutting through the atmosphere.
"Hozuki, did you bring them here for a commission?"
"No, I just happened to run into Sumireko's former classmates and chatted with them for a bit. They were curious about our club, so I figured I'd show them around," Nozomi explained, stepping forward and gently holding Sumireko's hand to reassure her.
With him here, Sanshokuin Sumireko seemed able to face the shadows of her past.
Sakurahara Momo's bright smile remained, but her eyes lost their light.
It was the look of a heart breaking.
Tsukimi wore the same expression. She simply nodded at Sumireko and remained silent.
For those attuned to emotions, such empty gazes could be suffocating.
Hazuki Yasuo, however, remained completely oblivious. He continued gazing at Sumireko with admiration, completely ignoring Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi's reactions.
What a fool.
Unknowingly toying with emotions—this was his greatest flaw.
Yukinoshita Yukino broke the tension with her matter-of-fact tone.
"Well then, students from Toshobu High School, do you have any commissions? Whether it's love advice, self-improvement, tracking down lost items, or even catching runaway pets, our Service Club is at your disposal."
Nozomi chuckled, ruffling Sumireko's hair playfully while simultaneously directing a glance at Hazuki Yasuo.
The fool still wasn't catching on.
Then, Nozomi turned toward Yukinoshita, his brow slightly furrowed. "Finding lost items, catching small animals... You're really good at all that, Prez?"
Yukinoshita's lips curled in amusement. "Well, since I'm the president, the one who actually does the work is naturally the only male club member."
Nozomi deadpanned. "So you take the commissions, and I do all the heavy lifting?"
Yukinoshita's smirk widened. "Why do you think I recruited you into the club in the first place?"
"Is it too late to quit now?"
"Too late. I won't allow it."
"Tyranny," Nozomi muttered.
"Club rules: No public displays of affection," Yukinoshita declared, glaring at him. "Now, remove your thieving hands."
Sumireko giggled. "Is Yukinoshita-san jealous?"
Yukinoshita scoffed, turning away.
Nozomi rolled his eyes but made no effort to let go of Sumireko's hand. "Rules can't control emotions. Remember our bet, Prez. I'm going to win."
Yukinoshita narrowed her eyes at him but said nothing.
Seeing the atmosphere shift into unfamiliar territory, Sakurahara Momo regained some of her spirit. Flashing a smile, she interjected, "Actually, Tsukimi and I do have a request. Yukinoshita-san, would you be willing to hear us out?"
"Of course." Yukinoshita gestured for them to sit and then shot Nozomi a sharp glance. "Why are you still standing there like an idiot?"
Yes, the club president had given her orders.
And since Nozomi was still working on getting closer to her, he naturally had no intention of disobeying.
He quickly dragged two tables over from the next room, setting them up properly before pulling out two chairs.
Then, he grabbed Hazuki Yasuo and pulled him out of the room.
"Hey! Why are we leaving?" Yasuo protested.
"Because the girls want to talk about private matters. You're not thinking of eavesdropping, are you?"
"But Momo-senpai and Tsukimi are my friends. Shouldn't I stay and help?"
Nozomi rolled his eyes. "They're troubled because of you, idiot. Now come on, I need to talk to you."
Despite his confusion, Yasuo followed obediently.
At the vending machine, Nozomi bought two cans of MAX Coffee, tossing one to Yasuo.
"Oh, thanks," Yasuo said, accepting it politely.
Beneath his oblivious nature, Yasuo was, at his core, a decent guy. So Nozomi didn't intend to handle this violently.
"So, Nozomi, what did you want to tell me?"
Nozomi sighed, his gaze steady. "Hazuki, you like Sumireko, don't you?"
Yasuo clenched his fists, then scratched the back of his head with an awkward grin. "You figured it out, huh?"
Then, his expression turned serious. "Yeah, I've liked Sumireko since junior high. I confessed back then, but she rejected me... and then she disappeared after graduation."
His grip tightened around the coffee can. "Now that I've finally found her again, I don't want to give up—even if she already has a boyfriend."
Yasuo braced himself.
He was ready to be punched.
If taking a beating meant getting another chance to chase after Sumireko, then so be it.
But Nozomi didn't hit him.
Because there was no need.
"Oi, Hose-kun, Sumireko is beautiful and has a great personality. Of course you'd like her. It's not exactly a surprise."
Yasuo's eyes lit up with hope. "Then does that mean you're willing to compete with me fairly? I mean, you guys aren't married or anything. I still have a chance, right?"
Nozomi rolled his eyes. "You're dreaming."
Yasuo frowned. "Then why did she reject me back then? Why did she just disappear?"
Nozomi crossed his arms, watching him with an expression that was half amusement, half pity. "Seriously, Hose-kun, you're slow."
Yasuo's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Nozomi clicked his tongue. "You seriously don't know? Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi both like you."
Yasuo's expression stiffened. "That's ridiculous. We're just friends. We've always been—"
"Friends?" Nozomi snorted. "They've been fighting for your attention for years, hoping you'd notice their feelings. But you never did. Instead, you kept chasing after Sumireko like a clueless idiot. And they… they let you. For your sake, they hid their own feelings, swallowed their pain, and stepped aside so you could have what you wanted."
Yasuo's hands clenched into fists. "That can't be…"
"It is." Nozomi's tone was sharp. "And that's what Sumireko hated most about you. Your complete inability to pick up on the feelings of those around you. Your obliviousness isn't harmless, Hose-kun—it hurts people."
Yasuo took a step back, shaking his head. "I… I never meant to—"
"Intentions don't change the damage done," Nozomi cut in. "You've hurt the two people who stood beside you the longest. You think you deserve a chance with Sumireko when you've already left a trail of broken hearts behind you? Do you want to put her through the same pain?"
Yasuo swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. "Did I… really hurt them that much?"
"What do you think?" Nozomi shot back, unimpressed. "You don't even know if they still have hope for you. Maybe they just need to confess so they can finally move on."
Yasuo hesitated. "If… if they did confess, who would I choose?"
Nozomi's smirk was almost cruel. "There you go again, missing the point. They're not waiting for you to pick one of them, dumbass. They're waiting to be free of you."
Yasuo opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out.
After a long moment, he forced out a shaky laugh. "Maybe you're wrong. Maybe we really are just friends."
Nozomi shrugged. "Keep telling yourself that if it helps you sleep at night. Doesn't change the fact that Sumireko is mine, and I'm not giving her up to anyone." His voice was firm, final. "That's my answer."
With that, Nozomi clapped Yasuo on the shoulder and turned to leave, leaving the other boy standing frozen in place, his mind a tangled mess of emotions.
============================
Sakurahara Momo and Tsukimi stepped out of the Service Club room a few minutes later, greeting Yasuo with their usual bright smiles.
For the first time, Yasuo couldn't return it properly.
Nozomi's words had shattered something within him—
And with it, the comfortable, oblivious world he had been living in.
===========================
Meanwhile, Nozomi walked side by side with Yukinoshita Yukino and Sumireko, heading back toward Sakurasou.
On the way, he casually recounted his conversation with Yasuo.
Sumireko felt a strange warmth spread through her chest. There were things she could never say—things she had held back for years. But Nozomi had said them for her, without hesitation.
And then…
I won't let anyone take you from me.
Her face heated up instantly.
Compared to Nozomi, how could Yasuo ever stand a chance?
Yukino, on the other hand, had mixed feelings. "You really are an annoying guy, you know that?"
Nozomi grinned at her. "You wound me, prez. But hey, now that we're almost back at Sakurasou, I need to ask… Playing with cats won't interfere with club activities, right? Oh, and what did those two big-breasted beauties ask for, anyway?"
Yukino instantly bristled. "Why did you have to mention that detail?!"
Nozomi blinked innocently. "What? It's an important observation."
Her gaze dropped to her own chest, then flickered to Sumireko's.
A dangerous aura surrounded her.
Damn it… why did he have to bring that up?!
She suddenly remembered the text message he had sent her yesterday—
Want me to help rub it?
Yukino's face turned an alarming shade of red.
"P-poor excuse for a human being!"
Nozomi barely dodged the incoming elbow.
Sumireko covered her mouth, laughing softly.
Yukino's reactions were just too cute.