142. Let me show you something magical.

Shout out to Pablo, my latest member, you have my gratitude for the support.

A quick heads up; I activated autopilot, you can get up to 40% discount when renewing your membership depending on your luck.

Remember to keep warm guys....It's really cold in the tropics.

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After rinsing her mouth at the sink, Yumiko Miura clung tightly to Hozuki Nozomi's arm, her steps light and sweet as she led him back to the quiet flower bed near the courtyard. There, they took their seats on a secluded bench beneath the canopy of late-blooming sakura trees.

Something had changed between them.

Yumiko's demeanor, once fiery and proud, had softened. Now she was openly affectionate, practically glued to his side. Her big, sparkling eyes locked onto his, filled with a vulnerable warmth that could melt the coldest heart.

Nozomi, who had never been immune to such innocent beauty, raised his hand and gently brushed her honey-golden hair aside. A calm smile played at the corners of his lips. "Thank you, Yumiko. Just now… I feel much better. You really helped."

"Ugh, don't say it like that," she grumbled, puffing her cheeks and casting him a glare—though it lacked any real venom. "You totally bullied me, you know!"

Nozomi chuckled softly. "Mahiru came back red-faced the other day too. You wouldn't happen to be referring to that, would you?"

Yumiko's cheeks flushed even redder as she averted her gaze. "So you really were doing that kind of thing with Mahiru?"

He shrugged casually. "My dragon bloodline's been acting up more lately. I'm... not exactly calm these days."

Yumiko nodded, her pout deepening. She was no longer a stranger to that intensity—her body still tingled from their earlier encounter. "Greedy dragon," she mumbled under her breath.

Then, turning serious, she looked up at him with a rare expression of sincerity. "Nozomi… do you really like me?"

Her voice was soft, like petals drifting in spring breeze. Nozomi didn't hesitate. He gently cupped her cheek.

"Of course I do. I said it before—I admire you, Yumiko. Always have."

"But… you confessed when I still liked Hayato," she said, embarrassed. "And I rejected you."

"Well, you sure didn't hold back today." He winked.

"Baka!" she pouted, giving him a light punch on the chest. "Anyway, you've touched me like that now. You have to take responsibility!"

"I will," he said without missing a beat. His arms encircled her waist. "To the very end."

Her expression bloomed into a smile, and then—like a quick gust of courage—she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Then let's leave it at that for today. Hina and the others are waiting."

Nozomi blinked. "Wait... you ditched your girls midway just to meet up with me?"

"Blame yourself, bad guy!" she said with a grin. "You're the one who lured me away!"

With one last glance, she turned and dashed off, her golden hair swaying as she ran.

...

Back at the gathering spot, Miura Yumiko's flushed cheeks gave her away.

Shiina Mahiru smiled knowingly. "So? Yumiko, how was it?"

Ebina Hina and Ogiwara Sayu leaned in with matching expressions of barely-contained curiosity.

Yumiko crossed her arms and huffed, trying her best to remain composed. "It was... fine."

Mahiru nudged her teasingly. "Did you tell him how you feel?"

"Mm. He said he'd take responsibility," Yumiko murmured, fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

Nozomi, of course, had no idea that this moment had been orchestrated with Mahiru and Sayu's subtle assistance.

As for Ebina, she was here strictly for the drama. Despite being a fujoshi through and through, she knew better than to blab. Especially when Nozomi's mysterious nature—and his connection to something not quite human—was involved.

Mahiru squeezed Yumiko's hand gently. "Let's get along well, okay? No more keeping your feelings locked up."

Yumiko smiled shyly, her heart swelling.

...

Meanwhile, Nozomi returned to the Service Club room with several bottles of drinks in hand.

Yukinoshita Yukino looked like she'd been through a battlefield.

The moment he walked in, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve like a lifeline. "Please... take Yuigahama away. I can't deal with her anymore."

"Ehh, Yukino-chan, you make it sound like I'm some kind of pest." Yuigahama Yui pouted, looking wounded.

Yukino sighed. "It's not that I hate you, it's just... people like you are difficult for me."

Yui gasped in mock horror. "In girl language, that means hate!"

Yukino pressed a hand to her forehead, clearly at her limit. "You're not even a member of the Service Club. Without a commission, you're technically intruding."

"Well then," Yui said with a sheepish smile, "Is it too late for me to write an application now?"

Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."

The second lady's gaze sharpened with mild exasperation. A sigh escaped her lips as she massaged her temple.

It was baffling, really. At the start, this was supposed to be her Service Club. Now, thanks to Hozuki Nozomi's chaotic charisma, it had evolved into a buzzing hub of emotional turbulence and romantic entanglements.

With Teacher Shizuka Hiratsuka no longer able to use the excuse of low membership to tighten her grip, Yuigahama Yui joined the Service Club without much resistance.

Nozomi didn't seem to mind. He never did, really. Though Yukino acted irritated, the truth behind her glacier-like gaze was different. She didn't hate being noticed. That distant, cool shell was just armor—one that could only be melted away by patience and sincere warmth.

The second lady, for all her elegance and sharp wit, had a heart as fragile and tender as the petals of a cherry blossom drifting in the spring breeze.

Since there were no new requests or commissions today, Yukino announced the early end of the club's activities.

Of course, like a routine ritual, she ended up trailing Nozomi back to Sakurasou, along with the always-mysterious Sanshokuin Sumireko, whose love for cats rivaled her cryptic personality.

Sumireko stayed only briefly, enjoying her time with the cats before bidding farewell. Her home wasn't far, and Nozomi being the gentleman he was, walked her back. A reward awaited him in the form of a soft, sneaky kiss from Sumireko—one of those playful ones that made you wonder if she was just teasing or being serious.

Returning to Sakurasou, Nozomi found Yukino sitting like a proper Japanese duck—legs tucked neatly to the side—as she stroked the fluffy fur of a black-and-white cat who purred like a tiny motor.

"Yukino," Nozomi called gently, using her name with casual intimacy now that no one else was around. "Wanna come to my room for a bit?"

Yukino blinked, her posture straightening like a defensive cat arching its back.

"What... do you want?" she asked cautiously, inching back slightly. "If you're planning to do anything indecent, I'll have to decline. Firmly."

Nozomi made an exaggerated expression of betrayal.

"Yukino, seriously, what do you think of me? I just wanted to show you something cool and maybe talk a bit. Why's your mind jumping to weird places?"

Yukino, remembering how his sister Yuki Suo had boldly staked her own emotional claim on Nozomi, felt an odd sense of rivalry stir inside her.

"…Fine. I'll go," she muttered, averting her gaze. "But if it's anything strange, I'll leave immediately."

"You'll see when we get there." Nozomi grinned mischievously, grabbing her slender hand and gently pulling her up.

The cat, sensing the shift in mood—and perhaps the incoming scandal—wisely flicked its tail and vanished down the corridor.

Yukino glanced down at her hand held in his. Her cheeks turned faintly pink.

What exactly is he planning to show me? she wondered, her mind spinning wild scenarios.

Despite her worries, Nozomi's room was impressively tidy. There wasn't even a trace of dust or weird smells—thanks in part to the combined cleaning efforts of Sayu, Mahiru, and occasionally even magical cleaning from Frieren and Fern.

Even the eternal beer-stink from Chihiro's room across the hall had been purified by Frieren's magic.

"…It's surprisingly clean," Yukino admitted, scanning the room.

Nozomi smirked, arms crossed proudly.

"Well, if it wasn't clean, I wouldn't dare invite you in. I do have standards."

She narrowed her eyes. "So, what's this 'good thing' you wanted to show me?"

As she subtly glanced around, part of her recalled Yui's rumors about boys hiding magazines or DVDs under the bed. Yukino stiffened slightly.

Was he going to show her that kind of thing…?

He did own a few, but they were shamelessly displayed right on the bookshelf for anyone to see.

With a mysterious smile, Nozomi took her hand again and led her toward a large, ancient-looking treasure chest tucked neatly beside the bookcase.

"Come on, Yukino. Let me show you something magical."