Chapter 232 – Twin ponytails

"That's about it. For you, I've completely defected as the ace spy," Karuizawa giggled, chatting happily with Yukio as they strolled through the streets of Tokyo.

Since the phone call and the bet yesterday, Karuizawa had finally escaped the endless stench of the eel farm work. Using the excuse of filming an ad for Yukio's class, she no longer had to go to the farm.

The students of Yukio's class were even more carefree. After all, thanks to Horikita Manabu's persuasion, Takahashi had stopped them from pulling in more orders, and they were still earning double the points.

So, what was there to complain about? They could sleep in or go out and play every day, knowing they'd still earn double the points, living far better than anyone else in the other classes.

Because of this, Yukio took Karuizawa out on a solo date today, allowing the joy she'd been holding inside to finally burst forth in public.

Since the moment she met Yukio that morning, the smile on her pretty face hadn't faded.

"But, is it really okay for us to just go out and have fun like this?" Despite her happiness, Karuizawa was still concerned about Yukio.

Wouldn't spending time like this without filming the ad be a problem? Could it jeopardize Yukio's class in the special exam? Thinking about these things made Karuizawa a little less cheerful.

"No problem at all," Yukio replied, casually reaching out to hold her soft, delicate hand. Her hand was so gentle, like the "soft fingers" described in old books, that he worried a little pressure might break it.

"!" Karuizawa was startled at first, but then she realized how warm his hand felt. In the cool autumn air of November, the warmth was comforting.

Though Karuizawa looked like a tough girl, this was actually the first time she had held hands with a boy. She felt shy, discovering that a boy's hand could be this warm.

And she was so nervous! So embarrassed! Karuizawa felt as though all her attention was focused on their joined hands as they walked down the street.

Yukio's hand seemed to have a magical power; just holding it made her feel like she didn't care where they were going, as long as he kept holding her hand.

With her heart full of sweetness, Karuizawa mustered up a bit of courage and let her fingertips brush against Yukio's. Yukio seemed to understand, slightly parting his fingers, allowing Karuizawa to entwine hers with his, their fingers interlocking.

'This is the way only lovers hold hands, right?' In her heart, Karuizawa felt as if a miniature version of herself was gleefully leaping and twirling around inside her. She even started playfully swinging their joined hands, wanting to raise them high, to show the world the sweetness of their love.

At this moment, Karuizawa finally understood why more and more couples enjoy showing off their affection.

Maybe some couples flaunt their love just to show off, but Karuizawa felt that for her and Yukio, it was simply that they didn't want to let anything, not even the presence of others, diminish the sweet moments they spent together.

Seeing Karuizawa so joyful made Yukio's heart feel like it was being filled with honey, slowly melting into a warm, silent happiness: "I said I needed your help with the ad, but the truth is, I just wanted to take you out for some fun."

"When it's time to film, you won't need to act or say anything. You just need to be on camera for a few seconds. There's nothing to worry about."

"Mm, I'll do whatever you say!" Karuizawa felt like she was floating, as if each step she took was landing on marshmallow tiles straight out of a fairy tale.

She didn't ask further questions or try to help actively. She trusted Yukio's plans, and since he said so, she was content to wait until it was time to shoot the ad.

As they strolled hand in hand, Karuizawa's ponytail swayed energetically, while she shared funny stories from the D-class ad shoot: "Yukio, you wouldn't believe it—Chiaki is such a trickster."

"In the ad, it looks like it was all shot inside the AN High School, but actually, we just made a quick stop back there, took a few shots, and then filmed at a small shop outside. They edited it in such a way that everyone thinks that shop is on the campus."

"I knew that," Yukio responded smoothly, picking up the conversation. "Actually, everyone probably realizes it. The upperclassmen don't need it explained, and even we first-years have been at the school for more than a semester."

"People probably have a good idea of whether or not that shop is actually on campus."

"Hehe, that's true." Karuizawa continued chatting aimlessly, feeling utterly relaxed in this atmosphere. No matter what she talked about, it all seemed incredibly interesting, as if even the smallest, most insignificant details of daily life became sweet memories when shared with Yukio.

"I was actually thinking about whether I should wear sunglasses or something when we went out, just to avoid being recognized on the street. Chiaki and Horikita mentioned that I'm kind of popular online now, so it would be really troublesome if someone recognized me."

"Look over there." Instead of addressing her concern directly, Yukio gestured with his eyes to a spot nearby. Following his gaze, Karuizawa was surprised to see another girl with the same hairstyle as hers.

And it wasn't just the hairstyle; the hair color matched too.

This left Karuizawa a bit puzzled. "Is the single ponytail with blonde hair the trend now? I don't see many girls tying their hair like this."

"It's because of you," Yukio replied with a laugh, reminding her, "Thanks to your ad, more girls have started dyeing their hair blonde and wearing single ponytails."

"You see, it's actually harder for people to recognize you now because there are so many others with the same hairstyle and color."

Karuizawa's face lit up with realization, nodding thoughtfully, "So that's how it is."

The next moment, she was even more delighted, her eyes narrowing with joy. "Hey, does that mean I started this trend?"

Being a trendsetter for hairstyles among Tokyo girls was undoubtedly an exciting achievement for any girl. The sense of accomplishment that came from being the originator of something popular made Karuizawa's already cheerful mood soar even higher.

She even had to consciously remind herself to calm down, lest her heart burst from too much happiness.

Yukio loosened his grip slightly, letting go of her hand for a moment, and instead gently tugged at her ponytail. "Actually, there are times when I prefer twin tails."

"Eh?" Karuizawa blinked in surprise, her mind immediately conjuring up images of twin tails, most of which seemed rather childish. "Isn't that a hairstyle for little girls?"

"Not really." Yukio's smile was mischievous, carrying a roguish charm that was irresistible to girls. "It's mainly because twin tails are better for balance."

"With a single ponytail, I never know what to do with the other hand."

"?" Karuizawa blinked rapidly. "Yukio, are you really talking about ponytails?"