Chapter 767: Deep Affection for Yukino and a Gift for Yui

Yui Yuigahama stared blankly at Kotomi and Yukino. Kotomi’s sudden display of deep affection toward Yukino had come so abruptly that Yui, whose reactions were already a little slow to begin with, was now completely unable to process what had happened.

It was not only Yui Yuigahama. Yukino Yukinoshita herself was stunned as well. She had often imagined that one day Kotomi would break up with Yui and choose to be with her instead. Or perhaps, she had imagined being able to take Kotomi away from Yui without hurting Yui in the process.

But now...

Those words Kotomi had spoken to her, words that sounded almost like a confession, left Yukino thoroughly caught off guard.

Had her dream really come true so suddenly?

Yukino could clearly feel her heart pounding wildly in her chest. Part of it was excitement at the feelings Kotomi seemed to be expressing to her. Another part was nervousness, because she had no idea how she was supposed to face Yui next.

But when she thought that from now on Kotomi would be her girlfriend, an indescribable courage welled up inside her. She decided that no matter whether Yui hit her or cursed at her in a moment, she would face it without avoiding anything.

If one beating can let Yui vent her anger and forgive Kotomi and me... then even if she beats me badly, I will have no complaints at all!

Yukino thought this to herself. She had just begun to rise, preparing to start with the words, ’Yui, I’m sorry,’ and confess her feelings for Kotomi.

At that exact moment, Kotomi Izumi suddenly slipped under the kotatsu, covered herself comfortably with the blanket, and said in complete contentment,

"Kotatsu~ I’ve missed you so much. Every second we’ve been apart, every beat of my heart was because I was thinking of you~"

Yui Yuigahama: "Eh?"

Yukino Yukinoshita: "Hah?"

Both Yui and Yukino wore expressions of shock, different yet strangely alike.

In the end, Yukino forced herself to sound casual as she asked,

"Ko-Kotomi... that sentence just now... were you talking to the kotatsu?"

"Of course." Kotomi nodded without hesitation and smiled naturally. "Ever since leaving, I’ve been desperately missing how comfortable it feels lying under the kotatsu. Mm—this afternoon I don’t want to go anywhere. I’m going to sleep in here all afternoon in total comfort!"

After hearing that, Yukino froze.

Yui, meanwhile, after a brief moment of surprise, let out a long sigh of relief inside.

You scared me to death. I thought those words were for Yukino. Sigh, honestly... how could I misunderstand Kotomi again? She loves me so much, spoils me so much, treats me so well. How could she possibly betray me and fall for another girl? I’ve decided it. If I misunderstand her over something like this again, I’ll slap myself hard so I remember the lesson!

Yui thought to herself.

"Yui!" Kotomi suddenly raised her head and called out to the still-grinning little dumpling.

"I’m here!" Yui hurriedly snapped back to reality. If Kotomi had called even a little later, Yui’s imagination would already have reached the point of Kotomi being pregnant.

"There’s no pillow. Sleeping like this is a little uncomfortable."

"Then I’ll go get you one." Yui quickly stood up, afraid that delaying even a second might affect Kotomi’s afternoon nap.

"Stop right there!" Kotomi shouted, startling the little dumpling.

"What is it, Kotomi?" Yui asked in confusion.

"I don’t want an ordinary pillow. I want a lap pillow!"

Hearing the request, Yui’s cheeks flushed faintly, but she still nodded.

"Okay."

"Wait a second more." Kotomi pressed pause once again.

"Mm?"

Yui looked at her in confusion.

Kotomi took out a brand-new unopened pair of white pantyhose, as though she had prepared it long ago, and handed it to Yui.

"Giving gifts doesn’t have to wait for a holiday. If you want to give one, just pick a random day, buy something, and give it to the person. For example, I thought you’d definitely look beautiful in white stockings, so I bought you a pair of white pantyhose. Do you like them?"

Faced with Kotomi’s sudden gift—and the fact that the gift was a pair of white stockings—Yui’s fair face turned rosy, as though brushed with a light layer of blush. Her sparkling eyes shone like those of a shy little deer.

Kotomi giving her a gift made Yui happy. But because the gift was white stockings, she also felt a little shy and nervous. She wore stockings occasionally, but rarely white ones. Usually she wore black or gray. In daily life, she was still more used to knee socks or short socks.

Though embarrassed and slightly tense, under Kotomi’s expectant gaze, Yui still nodded obediently, accepted them, and softly asked,

"Kotomi... when did you buy these white stockings?"

"Just now, when we were coming back together. While we were waiting for the taxi, remember how I left for a bit? I saw a women’s sock shop not far away, so I went and bought them. Afterward I kept them hidden inside my coat, waiting for a chance to give them to you."

Kotomi said this with a light laugh.

Hearing those words, Yui’s little face turned even redder.

Beside them, Yukino Yukinoshita listened blankly to their conversation. Those deeply affectionate words from earlier—she had thought they were Kotomi confessing to her. Yet before she had even managed to respond, in less than a few minutes the entire situation had reversed into Kotomi and Yui flirting with each other.

And those affectionate words had not been meant for her at all.

They had been meant for... the kotatsu.

Losing to Yui is one thing, but am I losing to a kotatsu too?!

Yukino thought bitterly, almost on the verge of tears.

But because of the pride in her heart, even though she felt miserable inside, she still maintained her cold exterior.

Yukino clenched her small fists tightly, then silently took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Only then did she manage to steady her emotions a little.

While Yukino was still hurting both outwardly and inwardly, Kotomi continued flirting with Yui.

"Yui, you still haven’t answered my question. Do you like these white stockings?"

"As long as they’re from you, I like them all."

"Good. Since you like them, put them on now."

"Eh? Right now?"

"Of course. Otherwise why would I choose this moment to give you brand-new stockings? I want to enjoy a completely new lap pillow experience I’ve never had before."

Kotomi said this with complete blunt honesty.

Faced with Kotomi’s request, Yukino Yukinoshita had originally assumed that Yui would refuse. If it were her, she definitely would have refused in this situation.

But to Yukino’s surprise, Yui blushed, gave a small nod, then began opening the packaging and putting on the pantyhose.

Yukino had intended to speak as usual and tease lightly, "Yui, you really spoil Kotomi too much. Be careful or you’ll spoil her rotten."

But for some reason, even though all three of them were girls, the atmosphere between Yui and Kotomi made Yukino feel like an outsider. It was as if she should not speak at all, but instead lower her head silently and try to reduce her presence—lower and lower and lower.

In her usual daydreams, the premise had always been, If Yui weren’t here right now.

But this time, for some reason, the premise had unconsciously become, If I weren’t here right now.

While Yukino’s thoughts were still in disarray, Kotomi—who appeared to be flirting with Yui—was in fact also watching Yukino’s reactions from the corner of her eye.

Those affectionate words earlier had indeed been meant for Yukino.

But after saying them, in order to prevent the atmosphere among the three from becoming awkward, Kotomi had quickly slipped under the kotatsu and casually lied, claiming those words had been directed at the kotatsu instead.

Kotomi had originally assumed Yukino would see through her acting. Yet after observing Yukino’s expression for a while, she realized that this usually sharp and intelligent Yukino Yukinoshita had, at this moment, become unexpectedly dense. She truly believed that those affectionate words had been meant for the kotatsu.

Sometimes this little Yukino really doesn’t think things through. Why would I randomly confess to a kotatsu? I thought even Aimi wouldn’t believe such a clumsy excuse—only Dumpling would. And yet now little Yukino believes it too. I really don’t know whether they’re too naive, or my acting is just that good. Hmph~ maybe it’s both. With acting skills like mine, if I debuted as an actress, I might even win an Oscar for Best Actress.

Kotomi thought smugly to herself.

Yukino tried to shrink her presence further, while Kotomi lay there appearing to look at Yui, though half her attention remained on Yukino. At that moment, completely unaware of everything, Yui finished putting on the white pantyhose and softly said,

"Kotomi... I’ve put them on."

The pair Kotomi had chosen was slightly sheer.

Yui Yuigahama’s slender, beautiful legs were wrapped in the faintly translucent white pantyhose, soft and silky, delicate and alluring—so much so that every possible word of praise seemed insufficient.

Kotomi lay comfortably with her head resting on Yui’s thighs, now clad in white stockings, and murmured to herself in a low voice,

"I’ve wanted to enjoy this for so long. In the future... I’ll definitely enjoy it every day."

Her voice was very soft. Not only did Yukino, who sat across the table, fail to hear clearly—even Yui herself did not catch what Kotomi had just said.

Curious to ask, yet worried about disturbing Kotomi’s rest, Yui obediently kept quiet. She even softened her breathing and gently stroked Kotomi’s hair with her fingers.

Yui knew that Kotomi loved having her hair lightly stroked like this. Not only would it not disturb her, it would help her fall asleep faster.

Before long, Kotomi drifted off to sleep.

Neither Yukino Yukinoshita nor Yui Yuigahama felt inclined to chat, and the room gradually fell into silence.

After an unknown amount of time passed, Yukino spoke first.

"Yui."

"Mm?"

"You and Kotomi... have a very good relationship."

"Mm. Because Kotomi and I are friends. And whenever I see her, I can’t help wanting to dote on her and take care of her... haha, sorry. I feel like I just said something strange."

Halfway through, Yui gave an embarrassed laugh.

She very much wanted to say openly to Yukino: Kotomi and I are lovers. I’m her girlfriend, and she’s mine.

But remembering how Kotomi had repeatedly instructed her not to tell anyone about their relationship, Yui forcefully suppressed that impulse.

I have to listen to Kotomi. I really want Yukino’s blessing... but before Kotomi gives permission, I can’t tell Yukino about our love.

Yui thought firmly.

Yukino let out a bitter smile. She had long since seen through the fact that Kotomi and Yui were dating. How could she possibly believe Yui’s claim that they were "just friends"?

What is this? You call me your best friend, yet you hide something like this from me. Do you really think I don’t know you’re dating Kotomi?

Yukino’s thoughts darkened slightly.

But even if she knew—what could she do? Was she not still forced to pretend ignorance?

"Yes. Sometimes Kotomi really does make people want to cherish her, take care of her, protect her for a lifetime."

After saying that, Yukino suddenly worried that her words sounded too ambiguous and might cause Yui to misunderstand, so she hurriedly added,

"Maybe it’s because Kotomi has a certain kind of magic. A magic that makes people instinctively want to protect her. If she were in a world of swords and magic, she might even be a witch flying around on a broomstick."

"Kotomi is Kotomi. No matter what she becomes, she’s still Kotomi."

Yui gazed at Kotomi with gentle eyes and spoke softly, as if the words carried deeper meaning.

—What if I took her from you?

For reasons she did not understand, that sentence suddenly surfaced in Yukino’s mind. If she had not caught herself in time, she might have actually said it aloud.

Yukino parted her lips. Countless words crowded her throat, but in the end they condensed into only one:

"Would you like some tea? The tea provided in this Japanese-style luxury room is quite high quality. Even someone who doesn’t know how to brew tea can simply put the leaves in a pot, pour in hot water, let it steep, and still feel its charm. Perhaps that’s the nature of top-grade tea—it only needs the simplest brewing method."

"Sure. I don’t really understand tea, and I don’t know many kinds by name. But Kotomi really likes drinking tea, so I’ve been learning how to brew it too."

Yui said with a light laugh, sharing small everyday moments about Kotomi with her best friend.

Yukino knew Yui meant nothing by it. She was simply sharing little stories from daily life with Kotomi. But just as the darker part of her heart slowly twisted, when Yui spoke halfway through, the words Yukino most wanted to say were—

Stop showing off in front of me.

Fortunately, restraint and composure prevailed. Yukino suppressed the thought, forced a faint smile, and said,

"Brewing tea is simple. There’s no need to learn flashy techniques. As long as you master the basics, that’s enough."

After speaking, Yukino placed a cup of freshly brewed tea in front of Yui.

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