"Hold on a moment. Are you saying that Hojou-san doesn't even know you're sick?" Yukinoshita Yukino frowned.
"Of course he doesn't. There's no way I could tell him something like that," Yamauchi Sakura replied matter-of-factly.
"Then why did you tell me so directly?"
"Because I can trust you to keep it a secret, right, Yukinoshita-san?"
"Naturally. I have no reason to reveal a client's private matters..."
Yukinoshita lifted her head with a hint of displeasure and looked directly at Yamauchi Sakura.
She understood now.
It wasn't just that she would never betray someone's confidence—even if she wanted to, there was no one she could tell.
That's what Sakura meant, wasn't it? More importantly, Yukinoshita realized that, to Sakura, she was nothing more than a stranger—just someone whose name she happened to know.
Whatever reason Sakura had for hiding her illness, Yukinoshita clearly wasn't someone she considered important enough to be affected by the truth.
That was also why she had sent Nishimiya Shouko away.
"Before you make your next request," Yukinoshita said, "I have a question."
"Go ahead." Sakura propped her chin up with both hands on the table, looking for all the world like an interviewer now.
"Why are you hiding your illness from Hojou-san? Normally, when someone finds out something like this, wouldn't they be scared and want comfort from someone close to them?"
Yukinoshita had never experienced something like that herself, but she made the assumption based on her own past.
When she had been bullied in elementary school, her first reaction had been to confide in her sister and friends.
But that was only lead social isolation—having her indoor shoes thrown away, the mouthpiece of her recorder switched out.
In contrast, Yamauchi Sakura was facing death.
That should be far more terrifying.
Yet, looking at Sakura's ever-radiant smile, Yukinoshita couldn't make sense of it.
"If the world were going to end in five years," Sakura asked, "would you rather know about it today, or not find out until the very end?"
Her pale blue eyes flashed with a momentary glint.
She folded her arms, her right hand curled loosely under her chin.
"I see. So it's a choice between living the next five years under the constant shadow of death, or spending them carefree, only to vanish with the world without ever knowing."
She looked at Sakura.
If it were a doctor hiding the truth, that would be a clear violation of patient autonomy.
But this was different.
If her condition didn't threaten public safety, then whether or not she shared it was entirely her decision.
Still, in that metaphor, the one left in the dark was Hojou.
Did Sakura think that telling him would be like bringing on the end of his world?
Yukinoshita tried to imagine herself in Sakura's shoes.
She had no friends.
If she fell ill and told her family, how would they react?
They would probably try their best to treat her.
And then... well, that would be it.
She wasn't an heir.
Nothing would change, really.
She couldn't fully understand, so she asked honestly:
"I would choose to know ahead of time. Even if I couldn't change anything, I'd rather face despair than die ignorant."
"Haha, that's such a Yukinoshita thing to say," Sakura said with a smile.
"But that's your choice Yamauchi-san. What does that have to do with your decision to keep it secret?"
"...Eh?" Sakura blinked, clearly caught off guard, staring wide-eyed at Yukinoshita.
"The situation already exists. Hiding it won't make things better or worse, will it?" Yukinoshita continued.
Sakura looked even more flustered, her mouth slowly opening as if to speak, but no words came out.
After a brief silence, she finally seemed to realize something.
"It's nothing, don't worry about it"—that kind of phrase is used all the time, when something bad has happened and you don't want others to worry.
But to someone like Yukinoshita, who never tells lies, such a moment simply doesn't exist.
"Have you ever been in love, Yukinoshita-san?" Sakura asked suddenly.
"No."
"Have you ever liked someone?"
"No."
"Oh that's why... I get it now."
Sakura clapped her hands together lightly, as if confirming a thought she'd had for a while.
"I don't see what those questions have to do with anything," Yukinoshita said, a little annoyed. "If we're talking about a romantic partner, wouldn't honesty be the correct approach?"
"Ah, that's exactly what someone who's never been in love would say," Sakura muttered.
"From a romantic point of view, this kind of behavior is selfish Yamauchi-san. I've never dated anyone either, but I've seen plenty of couples and read countless stories."
"Hiding an illness from your partner? That's such a tired cliché." Her tone rose slightly, and her words became increasingly sharp.
"Cliché, huh..." Sakura rolled the word around on her tongue. "Have you ever thought about why such a cliché keeps showing up in novels and dramas over and over again?"
"Because of lazy writers and indulgent audiences," Yukinoshita replied without hesitation.
Sakura thought Kasumigaoka-senpai from back home was already pretty harsh, but Yukinoshita took the victory for it.
"Then why not call it a classic instead of a cliché?"
"Changing the label doesn't change the substance. I know poetry from nearly every culture began with the praise of love, so in that sense, maybe—"
"Wait, wait! We're not here for a literature lecture!" Sakura's temple twitched, and she hurriedly cut Yukinoshita off before she could launch into a full dissertation.
"Everyone who sees that kind of 'cliché' story always sympathizes with the guy who's being lied to. They call the girl selfish and dramatic."
"But even a nine-year-old who falls and scrapes their knee will force a smile and say 'I'm fine' to their mom. Even if the wound later gets infected and worsens—could you really scold a child like that?" Sakura spoke softly.
She remembered clearly—like a photo in her mind—the time Kyousuke had fallen in the street to protect her, dusted himself off, then came home pretending nothing had happened.
He had sat alone in a corner, using a silver needle to pick gravel out of his own wound, smiling all the while to comfort her and Aunt Mikiko.
You've never liked someone, Yukinoshita-san, so I don't think you can imagine it.
The look in his eyes, filled with love, would twist into despair the moment he learned the truth. His scoldings would turn to pity. His casual remarks, into constant worry.
The next time I picked up a strawberry shortcake, he wouldn't tell me to eat less. He'd be flipping through books or on the phone, checking if it was safe for me to eat."
Anything I said would be granted, no matter what. If I suddenly wanted to travel the world, he'd treat it like my dying wish—drop out of school, give up everything, and make it happen.
And most of all... the cheerful, carefree Yamauchi Sakura he sees—the one who smiles at ants carrying leaves and turns it into a three-act play—would be replaced by a Sakura living under the shadow of death, with a ticking clock hanging over her head.
Yamauchi Sakura let out a deep sigh.
"My illness… it's not just ruining my life—it's destroying someone else's too."
Shouko couldn't study with Kyousuke anymore, couldn't cheer him on at his matches.
Eriri's dream of playing the heroine would be indefinitely postponed, and both their careers could fall apart.
Mitsuha, who crossed time and death just to meet again, would be separated once more.
Kasumigaoka-senpai's dream of monopolizing Kyousuke would shatter in an instant, and the novel she wrote to confess her feelings would become meaningless.
And Yukari...
"Kyousuke told me once... that what he loved most about me was my smile. He said even if he hadn't slept for three days straight, just seeing it would instantly recharge him."
'That's nonsense…' Yukinoshita Yukino wanted to snap back instinctively.
It sounded like the kind of sweet nothing men always say. There's no way that could actually be true.
But something in Sakura's words struck deep in Yukino's chest, like a heavy hammer pounding at her heart. It hurt in a way she couldn't explain.
"I don't want to spend the last few years of my life being treated like someone who's already dead."
"At the very least, while I can still stand, I want to remain the bright, energetic Yamauchi Sakura in Hojou's eyes."
"…" Yukino had countless counterarguments lined up in her head—but none of them would come out.
She'd always believed the saying 'those who face death calmly leave a powerful impact on others' meant that people who'd come to terms with mortality gained some kind of deep wisdom.
But now she understood: when someone stares death in the face and decides to use what little time they have left for something meaningful—
Even the most ordinary things can take on extraordinary value.
And yet, she still had to ask:
"If this love really means that much to you… shouldn't you treasure every second together even more? Wandering around school like this—can that really be okay?"
Yukino's face—usually so composed and pristine, like untouched snow—was now painted with unmistakable sadness.
"Huh? I thought you of all people would get it," Sakura replied, surprised.
Then, she said cheerfully: "You know, Yukinoshita-san—whether it's you or me, we're all going to die someday."
Yukino froze.
That expression—caught completely off guard—was almost never seen on her face.
She was always resolute, always clear-headed. Being stunned like this? It wasn't her.
Yet Sakura's dazzling smile now felt strangely profound.
That seemingly throwaway line—"we all die"—sounded suddenly philosophical coming from her lips.
She was right.
Whether it's someone who dies in a car crash… or someone eaten by sharks in the ocean… all of them were alive yesterday.
None of them looked like they were about to die.
Nobody knows whether they'll be alive tomorrow.
The odds are always 50/50.
In that sense, the value of everyone's "today" is exactly the same.
Yukino stared at Sakura, bewildered.
She had always thought Sakura was just some carefree airhead—cheerful only because she wasn't thinking too deeply.
But now, she realized: someone who can walk through sorrow with their head held high... is an artist in their own right.
And that made her wonder even more—
What kind of life shapes someone into a girl who can shine this brightly, without a trace of darkness?
"…I'm sorry. I was being arrogant." Yukino bowed her head sincerely.
Assuming that she would outlive someone else—that, in itself, was a kind of arrogance.
Even worse than judging someone based on looks—it was a pride without any justification.
"Ah, it's fine, it's fine," Sakura waved it off. "If people weren't actually dying, nobody would ever think this deeply about things."
"…"
Yukino thought back to that phrase again: those who face death calmly can shake the soul.
She now realized how true that was—
In just these few minutes, she had been shaken more deeply than by any book she had ever read.
Even if she read every book in the world, she doubted she could ever win an argument against a girl who could talk about her own death as casually as she might say "Nice weather today."
"…Even so, I have to ask. Why tell me all this? This is something most people would be devastated to hear."
As she spoke, Yukino suddenly noticed how dry her voice had become—and realized just how much this was affecting her.
"Hahaha~ Eh, I thought you wouldn't mind," Sakura chuckled mischievously.
"I'm not a robot. And I wasn't born emotionally numb either. Of course I'd react to something like this."
"Hahaha~" Sakura kept laughing. "But seriously, when I first walked in and saw you reading, I thought—even if the world ended right now, you wouldn't bat an eye."
Yukino thought back, annoyed, to how she had once chosen—without hesitation—to be the one who would know about the end of the world five years early.
That memory stung a little.
"Sorry, sorry~" Sakura said, pressing her palms together apologetically. "But I'm really glad I said all that. I've been holding it in for so long. Thanks to you, I feel so much lighter."
"You really do live up to being the Service Club president—just one conversation with you solved such a huge burden."
Yukino knew Sakura was just being polite but she couldn't help feeling a little pleased anyway.
Then she grew annoyed again—how could her weak side be showing like this?
She was supposed to help people overcome their weaknesses, not expose her own!
She looked at Yamauchi Sakura and silently vowed to steel herself.
"…I understand everything you've said. But even so, I still think you should tell Hojou-kun the truth."
"Auuuhhh—" Sakura groaned, eyes wide and frustrated.
Didn't people usually feel moved after hearing all that?!
"Yukinoshita-san, seriously—you need to fall in love sometime. Really fall for someone."
If there were an encyclopedia entry on Yamauchi Sakura, this moment would be footnoted as: "Translation: Yukinoshita doesn't understand love."
"That's impossible. If Kyousuke finds out, he'll completely fall apart. You have no idea how hard he's worked to stop this from happening."
"…To stop… pancreatic cancer from happening?" Yukino echoed blankly.
Was that even possible?
"Since our third year, he's been making me exercise regularly, eat foods good for the pancreas, and watch my diet like a hawk. I don't know how, but he's always known I'd develop pancreatic cancer someday."
"…That kind of thing…" Yukino paused. "No—setting aside whether it's true or not—why are you telling me this so easily?"
"Something like predicting the future… if it's real, how can you just blurt it out?"
"Because you're Yukinoshita Yukino, duh~" Sakura grinned impishly.
It hit Yukino like a sledgehammer straight to the chest—without warning, without mercy.
So this is what it feels like to be on the receiving end… to be judged not by what you say or do, but just by who you are.
Maybe this is why everyone wants to be the "bad guy."
Always honest, always righteous… and this is the thanks she gets?
"…Even if everything you've said is true, modern medicine still hasn't proven a direct link between diet and pancreatic cancer."
"Things like overeating, smoking, or drinking just raise the risk—they're not absolute causes…"
"In other words, even someone who's healthy, eats well, and has no bad habits can still get pancreatic cancer. There's no way to completely prevent it. That's basic medical knowledge, isn't it?" Yukinoshita Yukino said, frowning.
"That's not common knowledge at all!" Sakura exclaimed, clearly shocked.
She had asked the doctor the same thing and received a similarly regretful answer.
"Anyway, Kyousuke's been working so hard his whole life to avoid this. If he found out that all his efforts were meaningless, it would crush him."
"The idea alone makes me feel bad for him. He used to talk so excitedly about how he had the power to change someone's fate—but now, it feels like even that's slipping away," Sakura mumbled quietly.
Yukino stared at the girl across from her, completely unimpressed.
There was no sign she had considered her own wellbeing in any of this.
It reminded Yukino of a child hiding an injury out of fear of being scolded—clearly the wrong approach.
In such cases, criticism is deserved.
But if someone truly acts without selfishness, with complete devotion to another person… then who has the right to criticize that?
Still, maybe care a little about yourself, too.
At that moment, Yukino had a strong conviction that she could help people grow emotionally through this club called the "Service Club."
But she also began to worry—what if all the future clients were as emotionally overwhelming as Yamauchi Sakura?
"But what about you?" Yukino asked bluntly.
She never hid her thoughts—neither from others, nor from herself.
"Me?" Sakura blinked.
"Sure, Hojou-kun life is stable right now. But what about yours? Doesn't it bother you that all your past efforts might've been for nothing?"
"I see…" Sakura muttered quietly, then leaned forward across the table, bracing herself on her elbows and moving closer to Yukino.
"Hehehe~"
Yukino recoiled a little, looking at her with slight distaste.
Sakura's face was glowing with a strange expression Yukino couldn't quite read—maybe it was happiness?
"You just don't get it, Yukino-chan," Sakura said, her tone dreamy. "Even when other kids got to sleep in, I had to wake up and go running."
"I'd stare at the fried meat buns outside the school gate and swallow hard, trying to calculate how many cheat meals I had left this week… All of that… all of it was Kyousuke's love for me."
"He's the kind of person who would drag me out of bed every morning just to keep me healthy. He watches what I eat, walks on the side closest to traffic to protect me…"
"Even if the ending isn't a happy one, the journey was more than enough to make me feel loved, Yukino-chan."
Finishing her sentence, Sakura smiled as if tipsy, her cheeks flushed pink.
Yukino slowly raised a hand and pressed it against Sakura's cheek, only to find it burning hot—as if it could set her palm on fire.
Of course, this wasn't because of overwhelming "passion" or anything like that.
"Please call me Yukinoshita. If that's difficult, you can use my full name. Using only my given name so casually feels like some kind of charity from someone in a superior position."
She didn't actually feel that way, but still said it aloud.
Her tone had softened from its usual coldness.
"I take back what I said earlier. Your actions aren't selfish, and I have no right to judge you. So, what would you like to change your request to?"
"Hehehe~ Yukino-chan, you're blushing~"
"I admit I've become invested in your situation. But I'm not blushing," Yukino denied firmly.
"See? That's exactly why you don't get it," Sakura giggled again.
"Please state your request."
"Then… change it to 'Make Kyousuke forget about me.'"
Yukino almost blurted out how cliché that was—but in the next instant, something clicked in her mind.
Several earlier doubts were suddenly resolved in a flash of realization.
"That kind of request…"
"What? Is even that not allowed?" Sakura pouted.
'Not allowed?' Yukino's expression sharpened.
It was like something inside her had been triggered. She clenched her teeth and made up her mind.
"Fine. I'll accept the request. However, the Service Club only provides support—we don't guarantee results."
"Huh?"
Sakura looked at her suspiciously.
Just a second ago she seemed ready to refuse, and now she'd done a complete 180. Not only that, she seemed almost… challenged?
Challenged?
Wait… Did I accidentally provoke her? But that wasn't even that strong a taunt.
Any normal person wouldn't have taken the bait, let alone someone as rational as Yukinoshita.
"Well, actually, never mind. Even if you're smart, Yukinoshita-san, there's no way you could win against Kyousuke."
"Before any match begins, both sides have a 50% chance of winning." Yukino's voice was as sharp as a blade, filled with a fierce sense of determination that made it clear she had accepted the challenge.
Confirmed: she's the kind of idiot who can't turn down a challenge!
Sakura looked at Yukinoshita Yukino as if she'd discovered a rare treasure. Who would've thought she was like this?
"As a condition for taking on this request, I'll need both of you to join the Service Club," Yukino said.
"Huh? That's a requirement?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Oh, right. Then I'll bring Kyousuke tomorrow," Sakura said cheerfully.
Yukino didn't respond.
Instead, she picked up the paperback novel wrapped in a cover sitting on the table.
"See you tomorrow then, Yukino-chan."
"See you."
Though her eyes were still on the book, she hadn't turned a page in five minutes.
Then, she stood and walked over to the window.
Outside, the cherry blossoms were in bloom.
And standing beneath them, right on cue, was Yamauchi Sakura.