Upon hearing the commotion, Xi Ye jolted awake, snapping back to her senses:
What exactly did I fall onto?
This familiar sensation—there was only one thing that came to a young girl’s mind.
She scrambled to get up in a panic, only for a sharp pain to shoot up from her ankle.
“Hiss…!”
The stabbing pain robbed her left leg of any strength. Her just-lifted head thudded back down again.
“Mm…Teacher Xi Ye…”
A voice sounded by her ear again, tinged with a hint of reproach. Xi Ye lifted her gaze, and through those snowy white peaks, her eyes met a pair of pale blue ones.
Both of their faces flushed red at the same time.
“S-sorry!”
Xi Ye flailed awkwardly, finally grabbing onto Yukino’s shoulder to pull herself out of that gentle embrace. The moment she left, she was surprised to feel a faint sense of reluctance.
Instinct: “I want to stay in her arms a bit longer…”
Reason: “No, you do not.”
“No, it’s because I pulled Teacher that she got hurt.” Yukino shook her head, her gaze drifting uneasily.
Her skin was so fair that the blush on her face stood out vividly, as if it might drip honey.
Xi Ye stared at her, dazed.
Oh no…
She’s so cute…
Xi Ye knew Yukino was beautiful, but after being together for so long, she’d grown used to her presence. Even if their feelings for each other hadn’t faded a bit over time, this genuine flutter of excitement…it was something she hadn’t felt in ages, not since the first time they met.
“Uwaa…”
Xi Ye felt her head grow hot, as if she’d come down with a fever.
What’s happening to me?
Could it be that I’m still hung up on her?
Realizing this, Xi Ye was seized with panic. She hurriedly pushed Yukino away, but without support, nearly stumbled over again.
“Teacher!”
Yukino rushed over, concern written all over her face, and wrapped her arms around Xi Ye’s waist to steady her:
“This is too dangerous. You twisted your ankle. Let me help you walk, okay?”
“No, it’s fine, I can…please don’t get so close…”
So close, too close.
She’d finally managed to keep her distance, but now Yukino’s scent once again wrapped around her, leaving her dizzy and muddleheaded.
Don’t come near me.
Don’t…
The hand Xi Ye had on Yukino’s shoulder trembled slightly. She wanted to push the girl beside her far, far away.
“Do it,” Reason commanded.
So she pushed forward.
“Ah, found you, Teacher.”
A familiar voice rang out not far away, interrupting Xi Ye’s movement. She turned to see Yumiya, dressed in her Arkham Academy uniform, walking over.
Yumiya’s silver-gray eyes flickered between the two of them, and she flashed a meaningful smile:
“Ehh~ You two seem to get along so well, all cuddled up together.”
“Ah…n-no, Yumiya, it’s not like that.”
Yumiya’s sudden appearance sobered Xi Ye a little. She shook her head, about to explain, when Yukino beat her to it:
“Teacher twisted her ankle by accident. I was just holding her up so she wouldn’t fall.”
As she spoke, Xi Ye felt the hand at her waist sneak up to her shoulder.
“I see.” Yumiya folded her hands behind her back, her slender figure swaying gently. “Well, I’ll just take your word for it then~ Oh right, Teacher, are you heading back to the office?”
A lightbulb went on in Xi Ye’s head.
This is my chance—why not head back to the office with Yumiya while she’s still here?
If she stayed alone with Yukino any longer, her head would only get stranger and stranger; she felt like her reason was about to lose to her instincts.
She quickly seized the opportunity:
“Mm-hm, yes… mmph!”
The hand gripping her shoulder suddenly tightened, and Xi Ye almost cried out from the pain, her eyes prickling with tears.
She remembered that time at the blind massage parlor, wailing under the master’s hands.
“Uuu…”
The former legendary investigator whimpered like a kitten, casting a resentful sidelong glance at Yukino. The white-haired girl wore a faint smile, eyes straight ahead.
Sure enough, keeping away from this woman is the right choice. A Heretic God’s true nature is always wicked!
“Huh? Teacher, what’s wrong? Why do you look like you’re about to cry?”
Yumiya stepped closer, tilting her head, and looked at Xi Ye with curiosity.
“N-no, it’s nothing…I just suddenly remembered a really moving movie I watched last night…couldn’t help it…hiss…”
Yukino’s “massage” continued. Xi Ye had every reason to suspect her ex-girlfriend was taking revenge for something that happened in class.
Such a vengeful woman…
“Really? What movie was it? Recommend it to me?”
Yumiya’s silver-gray eyes sparkled under the sunlight.
You two are ganging up on me, aren’t you…ah, it hurts!
Leaning against Yukino’s shoulder, Xi Ye couldn’t take it anymore. She gently patted Yukino’s back in a plea for mercy.
Yukino turned to look at the tearful girl and finally eased her grip, her fingertips idly rubbing at her sleeve. She spoke up to help Xi Ye out:
“Teacher is having lunch with me today. Miss Yumiya, did you need something?”
Yumiya blinked, resting her hand over her chest as she replied:
“Well, I am Teacher’s assistant after all. Once class is over, of course I need to help her! Wow, is that a bento? Miss Tendo made it herself?”
“Mm.” Yukino’s response was icy.
“What a coincidence.”
At that moment, Yumiya brought out the hand she’d been hiding behind her back—a transparent bag holding a glass lunchbox.
She moved to Xi Ye’s other side, peering at Yukino:
“I prepared lunch for Teacher, too. What should we do about this?”
Yukino shot her a frosty glance:
“I was here first. Please wait until next time, Miss Yumiya.”
“Ehh~ Why? I just caught fresh Pacific fish this morning. It won’t be fresh if I save it for later, Teacher~”
Yumiya smoothly grabbed Xi Ye’s other hand. At the same time, Xi Ye felt the pressure on her shoulder intensify again.
Being a teacher is really hard…
Xi Ye sighed once again at the hardships of life.
Since Yumiya had gone that far, Xi Ye simply went along with it:
“In that case, why don’t you join us for lunch, Yumiya—hiss…!”
“Mm?”
Yumiya leaned in closer: “Teacher, did you remember another moving movie?”
“Y-yes…it was just so moving…uu…” Xi Ye replied between sniffles and tears.
“Teacher sure has watched a lot of movies, as expected of a teacher~”
Yumiya, imitating Yukino, grabbed Xi Ye’s arm from the other side:
“Now it’s easier for you, Teacher. Let’s go, time for lunch!”
“Mm, mm…!” Xi Ye gritted her teeth as she replied.
……
Lunch was lavish. The kids loved it, but there was just a bit too much food.
Xi Ye didn’t dare refuse when Yukino fed her, and so she couldn’t turn Yumiya down either. In the end, she could only steel herself and eat it all.
“I’m full, so full, it’s about to overflow. I really can’t eat another bite…”
In the end, Xi Ye had to use the wall for support as she made her way down from the rooftop.