Chapter: 4. An Unexpected Encounter
When Kanade’s question reached Fuuko, she thought she had misheard it at first.
The campus this morning was livelier than usual.
Neither the bustling first-year students nor the teachers in suits rushing by could take away Fuuko’s attention at that moment.
Her mind was entirely preoccupied with trying to understand the meaning of “like” in Kanade’s words.
— Maybe it’s not the kind of “like” in that sense?
— Rather than the romantic “like” between a man and a woman, it might lean more towards “friend,” or an intimate childhood “like” between close friends?
Fuuko secretly tried to observe Kanade’s profile.
With her female intuition, Fuuko detected a hint of shyness and unease in Kanade’s usually honest, upright, and handsome face—shyness he had never shown before.
If the childhood friend he mentioned really was just a “friend,” then he certainly wouldn’t have reacted that way.
— Everything is over.
Fuuko felt despair wash over her.
She recalled how last night Kanade had rarely, out of the blue, invited her to discuss something on their way to school the next day.
At that time, Fuuko thought her lucky day had come.
Every year at Arkwright Academy, when new students arrive, many existing students plan to confess their feelings to the person they like before the newcomers enroll, fearing the newcomers might steal their crushes.
So, Fuuko thought Kanade was one of them.
She based this assumption on Kanade’s previous behavior at Arkwright Academy.
Kanade clearly showed no interest in his mixed-race childhood friend, the beautiful girl Mana Hinata, who was always by his side.
Even the renowned heiress from the Amaterasu Group, Amaterasu Amane—Kanade’s feelings towards her seemed more like those of an ordinary senior.
Since Kanade neither liked the proud, aloof beauty, Mana Hinata, nor the intellectual and elegant Amaterasu Amane, and was always willing to be around her, Fuuko naturally misinterpreted this as him liking her.
Only to discover—
She was merely seen as someone to discuss romantic matters with.
And the reason Kanade didn’t like those two top beauties was simply that he already had a place in his heart.
Romantic discussions.
This refers to a situation where both parties, having established a good relationship and mutual trust, engage in deep emotional exchanges and dialogues.
While Fuuko felt joy at being regarded as someone trustworthy by Kanade, she also fell into an abyss because of its implications.
As she mechanically responded to Kanade’s questions, they unconsciously arrived at the entrance of Arkwright Academy, where Kanade was supposed to meet Yukino.
At the academy, although students are differentiated into “General Course,” “Elite Course,” and “Special Course,” they all share the same educational district, and even some dormitories allow students from different courses to live together.
Although Kanade and Yukino had not seen each other for many years, he still recognized Yukino from a distance by her inexplicably familiar figure.
Compared to when they were in Kawano City, Yukino, now a high school student, had grown quite a bit. Her once small and cute figure had become slim and elongated; her shoulder-length brown hair had transformed into lively double ponytails.
Yukino’s light purple eyes sparkled under the sunlight, resembling beautiful gemstones. Her previously doll-like face had matured, exuding the unique charm of a girl transitioning into womanhood, where innocence and maturity coexist.
This made Kanade marvel at how much girls could change in a relatively short time.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel curious—if Yukino had transformed into a graceful beauty in just two and a half years, what about the younger Kanao, who used to be more mature than her peers…
For some reason, Kanade felt an alarm going off in his mind.
Just then, he noticed Yukino’s gaze turned towards him.
Yukino’s clear and beautiful large eyes instantly brightened, though her face still bore a hint of “discontent” or “sulking.”
But the next moment, she seemed to realize that the short-haired girl walking beside her brother was not just an ordinary passerby.
The distance between them was neither too close nor too far.
Though Yukino couldn’t immediately comprehend the relationship between the two, it was at least beyond friendship.
So, Yukino quickly resumed her usual dignified and graceful demeanor, hiding her true self behind a “princess” mask for the meantime.
She also felt helpless about her brother attracting another beautiful girl in just two and a half years.
But this time, it wasn’t so hard to understand.
Because Yukino hadn’t expected her once inconspicuous brother to have grown so much during their time apart, his figure not only taller but also more robust, and even his previously average face had become handsome.
— Now, Kana-nee has a tough time ahead.
Yukino mused.
…
…
“I got dumped~~~”
Within Arkwright Academy.
With a sad expression, Fuuko walked around the campus in a low mood.
Not wanting to interrupt the sibling reunion, she decided to say goodbye first.
In her daze, she inadvertently bumped into a girl in front of her around a corner.
Just as Fuuko was about to stumble backward, the other girl quickly caught her shoulder and waist.
“Sorry, are you alright?” The other girl’s polite and melodious voice clearly reached Fuuko’s ears,
The apology in her words made Fuuko feel quite embarrassed.
“No, I should be the one apologizing. It’s my fault for being careless. Oh no! I mean, sorry… I just made a strange sound.”
As Fuuko opened her eyes, she instinctively thought she had arrived in heaven.
Or that an angel had descended into the mortal realm.
The face that came into her view was the most beautiful she had ever seen.
Like a supreme treasure sculpted by deities, every feature was perfectly proportioned and balanced.
Fuuko couldn’t help but make a strange noise the moment she saw the other girl’s face.
Though she had seen many top beauties at Arkwright Academy, this girl with long, jet-black hair was in a league of her own, even surpassing some of them in certain ways.
For instance, beneath her pure and cute appearance lay a mature, curvaceous figure that was voluptuous without being bulky.
Judging by the color of her tie, she should also be a second-year student like Fuuko, but—
From her majestic stature to her slender waist, down to the exaggerated curves of her hips, complemented by her rounded, firm thighs and long, straight calves—it was a definition of a perfect body. It was hard to imagine a second-year high school girl could possess such a fiery, sexy physique.
Especially with the black stockings she wore under her seemingly airy short skirt, which exuded an inexplicable allure.
Even though Fuuko was also a girl, she couldn’t help but admit that this girl was brimming with charm.
Faced with the approachable aura emanating from the black-haired girl, Fuuko felt an inexplicable impulse to share her troubles with her—
After a brief self-introduction and some small talk,
Fuuko was genuinely surprised to find herself comforted by this black-haired angel she had just met—
“Um, actually, I don’t think you need to be too pessimistic~ Even if the guy you like has someone he secretly admires… doesn’t mean the feelings are mutual, right?”
The black-haired beauty’s brief words awakened Fuuko.
— That’s right! Even if Kanade likes his childhood friend, it doesn’t mean she likes him back!
— My feelings aren’t over yet!
Fuuko immediately regained her confidence, while also feeling deep gratitude towards this black-haired beauty before her.
“By the way, what’s the other person’s name?”
“Uh, his name is… Kanade, Kanade Tsukimi…”
“……”
