As Hoshinomiya fled in disarray, Yukio mentally summed up the day: Sugar coating all devoured, bombs completely dodged—this was a total win.
But his victory was short-lived. By evening, the "profit" turned into a minor gain as both Shiina and Ibuki arrived together for an unexpected "sick visit."
And it wasn't just the two of them—rumors of Yukio taking a sick day had spread among his classmates, prompting followers like Ishizaki and Nomura to plan a visit as well, intent on "taking care" of their boss.
A single text from Yukio, explaining that he was merely slacking off for the day, was enough to dissuade the boys. But Shiina and Ibuki? They showed up regardless, completely blindsiding him.
Yukio had already explained to Shiina earlier that his "sick leave" was an excuse to skip class and clear his schedule for helping Sakura with her photoshoot. So, he assumed she wouldn't bother coming. Yet here she was, and with Ibuki in tow, no less.
The moment she stepped in, Ibuki wore her trademark arrogant smirk and sneered, "Tsk, tsk. Who would've thought you'd get sick, Yukio? Isn't your body supposed to be stronger than that?"
Her overbearing attitude hadn't changed in nine months of school life, her brashness still intact. That said, her emotions were easily readable—any real fluctuations in her mood would be clearly visible on her face.
Shiina, on the other hand, averted her gaze, avoiding Yukio's eyes entirely. She prayed Ibuki wouldn't notice her reddening ears, which betrayed her thoughts. The truth was, Shiina knew better than anyone whether Yukio's body was weak or strong.
With a sigh, Yukio covered his forehead with a hand and decided to clarify, "I'm not actually sick. I just didn't feel like attending class today, so I took the day off. I rarely get sick."
"No, that's not true, Yukio. You are sick," Shiina countered with a calm but firm demeanor. Her face was serious, almost like a top-tier doctor delivering a definitive diagnosis.
Yukio was dumbfounded. I think I'd know if I were sick, wouldn't I? What is Hiyori even talking about?
Ibuki's usual smug expression twisted into something peculiar. She glanced left, then right, clearly sensing something off.
She was well aware of the closeness between Shiina and Yukio—they even called each other by their first names, a detail Ibuki had begrudgingly grown accustomed to, despite the pangs of jealousy it brought.
However, seeing Yukio looking completely fine—rosy-cheeked, full of energy, and not the least bit sick—made Shiina's declaration of his illness feel odd. It seemed like these two were playing some sort of bizarre game, leaving Ibuki as the excluded outsider. Naturally, it annoyed her.
"One says he's not sick, the other insists he is," Ibuki muttered, her tone sharp and laced with irritation. "What's the deal with you two? What kind of weird act are you trying to pull here?"
Yukio glanced at Shiina, still puzzled by her intentions, before gesturing toward the doorway with a resigned sigh. "Whatever. Let's talk inside."
The three had been arguing right at the entrance, none of them stepping into the apartment.
As Yukio retrieved a pair of neatly stored slippers specifically for Shiina, Ibuki's pupils dilated slightly in shock. Her earlier bravado dissipated, replaced by a subdued mood. She wordlessly grabbed a random oversized pair of slippers and trudged into the living room without waiting for Shiina to change hers.
Meanwhile, Yukio lingered behind, his gaze falling on Shiina. His silent expression clearly asked, What are you up to?
Shiina, however, stifled a mischievous giggle, lowering her voice to a near whisper. "I know you went to help Airi with her photoshoot. I don't mind, but I can't resist teasing you a bit~"
Her airy, barely audible tone was meant to ensure Ibuki wouldn't overhear. Yet, Yukio caught every word, and her sweet playfulness stirred something in him. Without thinking, he leaned down and planted a light kiss on her cheek.
This girl—how could she be so endearingly sweet and lovable? Maybe it was her thoughtfulness and gentleness that made him want to spoil her so much.
Shiina's face flushed a deep red at his unexpected move. Her shy reaction was a blend of an innocent glare and a flirtatious glance, so irresistibly adorable that Yukio had to fight the urge to tease her more.
Instead, he silently raised a finger to tap his own cheek, signaling a silent demand: Your turn.
Shiina's face turned a deeper shade of red as she shook her head vigorously, her expression a mix of embarrassment and urgency. She gestured toward the living room with her chin, clearly signaling that Ibuki was waiting and leaving her suspicious would be bad.
But Yukio was unrelenting. Standing still like a statue, he tapped his cheek repeatedly with his finger, a silent demand that said, If you don't kiss me, I'm not moving.
Shiina couldn't help but feel both exasperated and amused by his stubbornness. With a quick motion, like a bird pecking at grain, she gave him a light, fleeting kiss. Yukio's face lit up with satisfaction, his grin so wide it was almost childish.
Shiina, now sporting a rosy complexion, whispered softly, "Happy now? Go inside already. Don't keep Ibuki waiting too long."
She added in a quieter tone, "I wasn't planning to come, you know. But Ibuki insisted on visiting you, and I didn't feel comfortable letting her come alone, so I tagged along."
As the two finally entered, Ibuki, who had been sitting and glancing around the room, turned her attention back to them. "I gotta say, I didn't expect a guy's room to be this clean and organized."
"Uh…" Yukio cleared his throat, feeling a bit guilty. "It's… manageable, I guess?"
The truth was, while the room's cleanliness was his doing, the organization was largely thanks to Shiina. Yukio's idea of tidying up was putting things wherever they were most convenient for him, resulting in a clean but chaotic mess. It was Shiina who often came over to neatly arrange everything, giving the space its current orderly appearance.
Ibuki seemed to dismiss the remark casually, as if merely making an observation. She rummaged through the bag she'd brought and placed several common over-the-counter medications on the table. "I wasn't sure what you were sick with, so I just got a bit of everything."
Then, with a sharp tone, she added, "So, are you actually sick or not?"
Before Yukio could respond, Shiina cut him off and calmly placed a package on the table. "Of course, Yukio is sick. That's why I bought this for him."
"!"
Both Yukio and Ibuki froze in place, their faces instantly stiffening as their eyes locked onto the item Shiina had placed: a box of suppositories.
Their reactions were nearly identical—eyes wide with disbelief, jaws slightly agape, as if struggling to process what they were seeing.
Suppositories, after all, were not your typical medication. Known for their effectiveness and rapid relief, they were also infamous for their uncomfortable method of administration—usually requiring what could only be described as a "thousand years of death" technique to properly apply.
"Hiyori, are you a demon?" Yukio blurted out in sheer shock, unable to process what was happening. Even if he were genuinely sick—which he absolutely wasn't—there was no way he'd use that!
He was now questioning his earlier moment of being touched by Shiina's "I just wanted to tease you" confession back at the door. Had he been moved for nothing?
Ibuki's face twisted into a mix of discomfort and disbelief, her expression as awkward as if she'd bitten into a sour orange. She couldn't fathom how Shiina, this seemingly refined and gentle bookworm, could even think of buying something like that. Was Shiina secretly this bold? Or worse—did this mean that, behind closed doors, she and Yukio often indulged in... this kind of thing? The thought alone made Ibuki want to flee.
"Huh? What's wrong?" Shiina remained as calm and innocent as ever, her tone genuinely curious. Tilting her head slightly to the side in that signature adorable gesture of hers, she added, "I just thought this type of suppository seemed to match the air freshener in Yukio's room."