Why does the Ruined King still fall in love?

Her eyes seemed glazed, but she was still looking.

As if this was an outcome she expected but didn't want.

I walked over.

"Yo."

My routine greeting was a bit forced.I felt my molars rub against each other, forming the words.It felt so out of place.Maybe I want to ask a question or yell, maybe I want to do something...

but no.

As usual, I did nothing.

"What a coincidence! All of us are here to discuss... um, a date?"

Hayama finally said that his reaction was probably the most normal, though he changed his words very reluctantly.

It's as if he's terribly disgusted at saying the word 'dating'.

"Let's go."

Although Yukinoshita said so, her other arm was still holding that huge Pansang.

He didn't have the idea of ​​reaching out to Hayama Hayato, as if he wanted to verify Hayama Hayato's words.

"Yuki... Yukino."

Hayama struggled for a while, and finally chose to change his name to Yukinoshita.

"Don't call me that...especially in public."

That's what Yukinoshita said, but I think when she says "in public" in public, I think she means "in front of him." Of course, the cold Ice Queen is unwilling to make people feel warm , especially in front of a commoner like me.

Yukinoshita is like an inert gas, completely unresponsive to the dirt and raw materials of other elements on the periodic table, not even bothering to be cursed by their existence.

"I miss you...I think we should tell them. It would be fitting if they were the first outside of our family to know about it."

"Know what?" Ishiki asked.It was not so much a curiosity as a curious pleading.

"Nothing." Yukinoshita replied. "Besides, they'll find out soon anyway..."

Hayama sighed.

"Both of you will receive formal invitations later ... but we will be announcing later this week and we would all be more than happy if you could come."

It was a very well-executed diplomatic response, almost like a UN ambassador or someone of that caliber.Regardless, Yukinoshita fired a shot at Hayama, and it was a fatal blow, enough to make Madara Uchiha look away.

"Announce... what?"

Despair came.

"Nothing. I don't want him to know about it."

After speaking, Yukinoshita took Hayama away.Hayama waved us away, and Isshiki and I watched them disappear into the crowd, speechless.

My senses are overloaded.The sweat, the cold air, the hair on my head, and the feel of my nails all made me upset.

The whole time, I never noticed Isshiki holding my hand.

The person said, "I really don't want to watch the fireworks tonight. I'm sorry, senpai, let's come again next time, shall we?"

I don't have any reason to disagree.

spoke.

"I have a place I want to go." Her request came lightly.

It sounded less like a sister or lover asking for a date and more like a friend asking for help.Her hands were small, and when she was pulling me, it was like a chick pulling a hen to go somewhere else.It makes me feel very relaxed.Isshiki's unapologetic abuse of her cuteness is horrible.

but.

I don't think that's why I agreed to go with her.It was still early in the night and I had nothing to do, so I accepted her request.

As a result, the place she wanted to go was school.

We took the evening bus and got off at the station closest to the school.As expected, there were hardly anyone around.Still, there was an eerie feel to the streets, usually packed with uniformed students.

It feels so abandoned and empty, like a ghost town.

The cold air blew over the empty fence.The gates were locked and all the lights went out.There is no doubt that everyone has decided to return home from school.No matter how many stars manage to peek their way amidst the light pollution of the city, they will simply shine above the pitch-black campus.

Isshiki pointed at the school.

"I want to go there."

She wants to go in.This girl has a strange penchant for activities.Maybe she's one of those urban explorers traversing the barren landscape.

I climbed the fence and followed her.

Landing on the other side, I saw that Isshiki had started jogging towards the entrance.Then she hunched over to the door.I jogged after her and found her fumbling with the keys.

"Is this the privilege of the student council president?"

"You're right, senior!" Isshiki said with a gentle smile.

Doesn't that count as misuse of public resources? It might at least count as corruption.But no matter what, no matter where Isshiki wants to go, she has a way to go there.

We walk into the campus.There was silence in the darkness.

Her hand guides me through the empty hallway.

No one is around.

No one around to see...

with no one around to listen...

Maybe, all the signs are there...

I just allow myself to be blind and deaf to them.

"Earlier today, I confessed my love to Ha Shan-senpai again..."

That is the room of the Ministry of Service.

"I can't imagine things going so well."

Isshiki smiled lightly.

"No...it didn't go well at all. He...he rejected me." Iroha looked away. "But it's what I want. You know?"

"Zero to three is a bad record." Isshiki laughed at my answer. "It's not something to be proud of. But then again, they'll say, the worst thing you can do is say 'no.'"

"Haha. It's true," Isshiki said with a sly smile. "However, he told me an interesting reason."

"Oh?" I said in surprise.

Isshiki was still standing next to me.Her hand was pressed against my shoulder.Somehow, I felt as though I was being interrogated.

"Senior Hayama and Senior Yukinoshita are engaged."

My heartbeat froze.

Why should I be surprised?

Isshiki's soft hands lead me to a seat.There is no need to resist.The world has its waves and they will take me for a ride.

This is the seat under the snow.

I know it's hers.

Her seat is still the one closest to the window.Her seat is closest to the teapot, cups, stirrer, sugar and napkins.She's usually the one who came up with the idea, so her thinking: it only makes sense to be closest to the tea.And the tea should stand by the window.Yukinoshita likes to read by the window.It provides natural light instead of artificial fluorescence.

Yukinoshita sat on this chair.She is sitting in this chair by the window and reading a book.

I am sitting on this chair.

Isshiki pushed me onto a chair.Her smell is strong, like limes.The collar of her frilly shirt was loose.Through the pale moonlight that streamed into the servants' room, I could see the lightness of her skin, and the blue fabric that shouldn't be seen by a boy so casually.

Isshiki put a hand to my cheek and my pulse quickened.I'm sweating.

Now, I can't say anything.I can't do anything.

I'm scared.

"Senior." Her voice was tense.If it weren't for Isshiki's natural confidence, I think she would be trembling, stuttering, or biting her tongue.

"We're all rejected..."

No.

"An unwanted person..."

No.

"He who is not loved..."

No.

"you--"

"Do not."

I said it out loud.I say it seriously.I guess I should yell.But that doesn't make my answer any less effective.This didn't dampen my resolve.For the first time in a while, I simply said the first thing that came to my mind.My answer is: no.

"Uh?"

Yishishiyu stood there in a daze.

"W-what-"

"No."

I said it again.In the silence, I could hear Isshiki Iroha breaking in front of me.Was it the heart of a sweet and popular girl, or the distorted face of a cute freshman and future student council president, split open in front of me——

Who knew? But she shattered like Yuigahama's chocolate on the floor.

"Senior...you are not serious!"

This is a trick played by the fox.Isshiki is out of tune with her.She is no longer those little girls in the first grade, she is no longer those naughty, smart, good-looking, cute girls.Right now, she's just a girl...a simple, innocent girl, and I'm degrading her.

"Hey. You're not serious, are you?"

Her lips were trembling.She asked me a question.I forgot another way to answer.

"No. I don't."

Everything Isshiki did tonight was according to the script.Like a coronation, every movement is carefully planned and chosen.

She wanted this, and that's what Isishiroha envisioned to happen tonight.

She has made her final decision.

Iroha undid the first button of her shirt.

She's attacking step by step, she's advancing step by step, and with each step, another button is pressed.

Remember, the worst thing is not the girl saying "no".Instead they can start crying.

"Senior... loves me."

Isshiki is not looking for love, she is looking for acceptance.

Her hand took mine and pulled towards her.

I feel the fabric of the garment, a warm sensation in my fingertips, then my normal fingers, and finally my palms.

Yi Caiyu and I intertwined our fingers tightly, as if we were a match made in heaven.

She held my hand as if to say: Senior, can you feel my heartbeat?

I let her go without a word.

I am afraid to act as usual, as usual, I am afraid to do anything.

I was too scared of the ever-changing tides of reality to get stuck.

However, the world was still moving, even though Hikigaya Hachiman did his best to stay still.

"Isn't it the younger generation's job to cheer up the older generation?"

she asked with a smile and a flushed face.

"......senior!"

The sound jolted me back to reality.

"Do not."