Why is it that when she calls her, it’s “Yumiya,” but when she calls me, it’s “Yukino-san”?
As she kneaded Shiya’s shoulder beside her, Yukino almost wanted to question her on the spot.
She found it strange herself—obviously, Shiya wasn’t him, but whenever Shiya got close to other students, she would feel displeased.
Was… was she jealous?
She couldn’t understand it. Why would she feel jealous over anyone who wasn’t Ye Xi?
Yukino sat on the rooftop bench. To her left was Shiya, and further left was that unnecessary person.
She gazed at Shiya’s profile.
The girl’s long black hair glistened with a hint of brown in the sunlight. Her moist, red lips looked soft and inviting. The single tear mole by the corner of her eye added a touch of allure, and beneath her long lashes, those bright red eyes were full of helplessness and confusion, making her look even more enticing.
She really was beautiful.
The instant that thought arose, Yukino shook her head, a deep sense of guilt flooding her heart.
She was obsessed with Ye Xi, yet she also harbored a certain unnecessary feeling toward Shiya. She had to convince herself there was some connection between Shiya and Ye Xi just to “feel at ease.”
I really am a terrible person…
Yukino looked at the lunch box on her lap, picked up a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks, and brought it to Shiya’s mouth with her hand:
“Sensei.”
“Uwa… Thank you, Yukino-san, but I really can’t eat any more…”
Shiya used to have quite an appetite, but ever since she switched to a female body, she couldn’t eat as much at all. How she managed to develop so well eating so little was a mystery.
Yukino didn’t respond; she brought another piece of tamagoyaki to Shiya’s mouth, pushing it until it touched her lips, leaving a slight trace of oil on them.
The black-haired girl’s lips glistened, making Yukino want to take a bite even more.
Faced with Yukino’s forcefulness, Shiya sighed helplessly and took a small bite:
“All right, just a little more, okay? Let me eat a bit slower… If you force-feed me, it’ll upset my stomach.”
She meant she’d get indigestion.
“Sensei, sensei~ Try mine, too! This is the best part of the eel, you know?”
Yumiya skewered a piece of fish with her fork and brought it to Shiya’s mouth as well.
“Eh? Okay, I’ll give it a try…”
Before Shiya could even swallow what was in her mouth, another piece of fish was shoved in, making her cheeks puff out as she pursed her lips.
Not pleased.
Yukino glared at Yumiya. Yumiya clearly noticed, a flash of disdain in her eyes that would have gone unnoticed by anyone else.
But Yukino was not just anyone.
This woman was definitely not as simple as she appeared. Was Shiya, that idiot, really unable to see through her?
Yukino suspected that the so-called “assistant” was just a pretext for Yumiya to get close to Shiya, with some other real motive behind it.
Thus, lunch ended in an outwardly harmonious, yet secretly turbulent, atmosphere.
After the meal, Shiya, clearly stuffed to the brim, leaned against the wall as she made her way down the stairs, with both of them accompanying her out the school gates.
“This is far enough. I’m already an adult, you know. I can walk on my own…” Shiya said weakly.
“No.” “Nope.”
The two Heretic God girls answered in unison, each moving to one side of Shiya and sandwiching her between them.
Yukino told herself she couldn’t allow Shiya and Yumiya to be alone together.
“Th-then, can I at least go to the bathroom?”
Shiya pointed at a public restroom not far away.
“I’ll go with you, Sensei!” Yumiya volunteered.
“I can go alone!”
Shiya replied, her face red.
Seeing the girl about to snap, the two finally stopped pestering her and watched as Shiya entered the restroom. Each stood to one side of the entrance, standing guard like gate deities waiting for her to come out.
“Stay away from Sensei.”
Once she heard the bathroom door close, Yukino turned to Yumiya with a cold expression.
“Mmhm, and why should I?”
Yumiya’s navy-black uniform fluttered lightly in the wind. Her silver-gray eyes looked Yukino up and down as she covered her mouth with her hand and said:
“Ah, could it be… you’re jealous?”
“No…”
Yumiya didn’t give her a chance to retort, continuing,
“Is it because you can’t have Sensei all to yourself? No, no, Miss Tendo, Sensei belongs to everyone. You can’t be that selfish, you know?”
“Enough with your vile act, Miss Yumiya.”
Yukino’s expression didn’t change at Yumiya’s provocation; she spoke coldly.
Yumiya narrowed her eyes and smiled:
“Oh? What are you talking about, Miss Tendo?”
Yukino stared at her.
“You can’t fool my eyes. So, you don’t have to pretend anymore. Sensei isn’t here.”
Yumiya kept smiling, her hands stuffed in her pockets as she swayed over to Yukino. In the face of Yukino’s icy gaze, she leaned forward a little, tilting her head as she said:
“Aiya, so I’ve been exposed? You’re quite sharp, Miss Tendo.”
Her smile suddenly vanished, her tone turning to disgust, as if she’d seen something revolting:
“I hate perceptive people. Especially people like you.”
“What an honor.”
Yukino didn’t back down in the slightest. Being taller, she looked down at Yumiya from above and spoke coldly:
“Shiya’s an idiot. Just because she hasn’t noticed doesn’t mean I haven’t. Whatever you’re planning, you’d better drop it, or else…”
“Or else what?”
Yumiya grinned, revealing a deranged smile:
“Yuki-no-o-jou~?”
“You…” Yukino glared at her.
“By the way, why are you getting close to Sensei, anyway?” Yumiya changed her tone again, as if switching masks. “I’ve read your file… Tendo Yukino, your boyfriend—what was his name? Ye Xi? He just died seven days ago, didn’t he?”
“Shut up…” Yukino’s voice dripped with murderous intent. “You’re not worthy to say his name.”
“Angry? Hah, your boyfriend just died, and here you are clinging to Sensei… Tendo Yukino, what exactly are you after? So hard to guess~ Haha!”
“Ugh…!”
Yukino gritted her teeth, unable to retort. After all, she herself couldn’t understand her feelings toward Shiya.
But Yumiya had no intention of letting her go, moving even closer. She stood on tiptoe and whispered in Yukino’s ear:
“You and I are the same…”
“—Birds of a feather.”
“I told you to shut up!”
Yukino’s pupils dilated sharply as she shouted, but immediately realized her voice was too loud. She shot a quick glance toward the bathroom.
She wasn’t sure if Shiya had overheard their quarrel, and a sense of unease crept in.
“Don’t lump me together with you.”
Yukino pulled up her scarf, refusing to argue with Yumiya any further. She walked into the restroom, with Yumiya not following, just watching her back with a cheerful grin.
“Sensei? Are you done?” Yukino asked in as calm a voice as she could muster.
Her voice echoed in the somewhat empty bathroom, but there was no reply.
“Sensei?”
Yukino walked past each stall in confusion.
Every door stood wide open, but without exception, each one was empty.