Chapter 262 – It’s hard not to like him

A suppository matching an air freshener? What kind of logic was that? Ibuki blinked rapidly, trying and failing to follow Shiina's whimsical train of thought.

Yukio, however, immediately understood. Indeed, his room did have an air freshener—purchased specifically to deal with... well, the lingering odors that sometimes followed his time with Shiina. He had chosen an orange-scented one, but it rarely got used when he was alone.

So why did Hiyori bring up air freshener now? The only plausible explanation was that she had smelled a different scent. Yukio's mind quickly connected the dots—damn it, Star Palace-sensei! What kind of ridiculously long-lasting perfume are you using?

He was certain Shiina hadn't originally planned to whip out the suppository. But after catching the lingering scent—one that wasn't from his orange air freshener—she had decided to mess with him a little. Yukio could only laugh bitterly to himself. What had been a "big win" over Hoshinomiya earlier now felt like a modest victory at best.

The scent must have clung either to the furniture in the room or to his clothes during the massage. And Shiina, sharp as ever, had picked up on it.

"Pfft," Shiina stifled a giggle before setting down the groceries she had brought. "Never mind. Looking at you now, it seems like you're almost fully recovered. I'll just cook you a healthy meal to help you bounce back completely."

Shiina's adorable, subtle way of showing jealousy always melted Yukio's heart. She never pressed too hard, just enough to draw his affection. His gaze softened, filled with tenderness. "Thank you. I'll leave it to you."

Shiina noticed the shift in his eyes and hummed a cheerful tune as she carried the ingredients to the kitchen, clearly pleased that the situation had turned in her favor.

Meanwhile, Ibuki's confusion only deepened. These two… why do they seem more like a married couple with every passing moment? Were they deliberately ignoring her, or were they fully aware of her presence and just showing off on purpose?

"I wasn't going to use it, obviously!" Yukio's expression became even more exasperated, his previously soft gaze now sharp as he stared at Ibuki, as if questioning her intelligence. "Think for a moment—who in their right mind would use something like this? Besides, I'm not even sick."

His explanation was clear and straightforward, but Ibuki remained skeptical. Her typically haughty gaze was now tinged with suspicion as she pressed him further. "Then why were you so eager to grab it just now?"

Yukio let out a long sigh, his frustration evident. "I just wanted to put it away, okay? Do you know how awkward it is having that thing sitting out in the open? I didn't want it here where we're all talking."

Ibuki squinted at him, clearly unconvinced. Her grip on his hand remained firm as if she thought any moment he might lunge for the suppository again. "Hmph. That's… a pretty weak excuse," she muttered under her breath, though her expression suggested she was at least starting to believe him.

The tension between them was palpable, and Yukio was on the verge of snapping. Why is this so complicated? It's just a suppository, for crying out loud!

Before he could respond, Shiina's soft humming wafted over from the kitchen. The cheerful tune broke the awkward atmosphere, and her voice called out, calm and teasing, "Ibuki, let him clean up if he wants to. Besides, we'll be eating soon, so let's keep things tidy."

Shiina's interjection seemed to ease Ibuki's wariness a bit, though she still shot Yukio a warning glare before reluctantly letting go of his hand. "Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "But I'm watching you."

Yukio gave a half-smile, half-grimace as he quickly snatched the suppository and shoved it into a nearby drawer. "There. Happy now?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ibuki huffed but said nothing, and Shiina's cheerful humming continued from the kitchen. For Yukio, it felt like the longest, most ridiculous few minutes of his life—but at least the suppository was finally out of sight.

The situation had taken a bizarre turn, and Yukio realized that Ibuki had completely misunderstood his intentions. He adjusted his expression to one of seriousness and said, "Alright, I won't touch the suppository. You handle it, okay? I just think it's too awkward to leave it out on the table. If you don't trust me, you can be the one to put it away."

"R-Really?" Ibuki asked hesitantly. Her wariness had lessened somewhat, but a trace of doubt remained. "Then… why not just throw it away? Why keep it around at all?"

Yukio sighed inwardly, deciding to clear things up once and for all. "Alright, here's the truth. I'd never use something like that in my life, but it's a small token of kindness from Hiyori. Even if it just sits there until it expires, I couldn't throw away something she bought specifically for me on the same day she gave it to me."

Though his words were completely sincere, they caused an even greater ripple in Ibuki's mind. So that's how it is… I really misunderstood. But at the same time, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Why does Yukio treat Shiina so well? It's like he completely dotes on her.

Her thoughts spiraled. From the very beginning, Yukio's care and attention toward Shiina had been apparent. Every time they celebrated after an exam or event, if Shiina got even slightly "drunk," Yukio would personally escort her back to her dorm. She had never received such treatment herself.

"Wh-What's that supposed to mean?" Ibuki muttered, her tone dimming as her expression grew more sullen. She hesitated, finally removing her hand from Yukio's as she muttered, "So her stuff counts as thoughtfulness, and mine doesn't, huh?"

"How could you think that?" Yukio said in surprise, spreading his arms to gather all the medication Ibuki had brought closer to him. "Of course I'm keeping these too."

"Even though I'm confident in my health, you never know when something might happen. People who rarely get sick tend to ignore the small signs, but when they do get ill, it could end up being serious. The medicine you brought is definitely more practical than that suppository—it'll actually be useful if I ever need it."

He glanced at Ibuki, his tone softening. "I appreciate it, Ibuki. You were thoughtful to bring these, and I'll make sure they're not wasted."

Ibuki froze for a moment, her previously dimmed expression slowly brightening, as if the clouds had cleared after a rainstorm. So, the medicine I bought will also be kept by Yukio?

Why did that realization suddenly make her feel a little… happy? Her heart felt like leaping, and her hands itched with the urge to strike a training dummy in the dojo.

What the heck! This guy is way too good at making girls happy. Yukio… this guy… really… it's hard not to like him.

"Then… then hurry up and put it all away," Ibuki stammered, her previously haughty demeanor now completely gone. In its place was a bashful, girlish shyness, her flushed cheeks painting a picturesque scene of youthful charm.