Please, Nohara Shinnosuke, We’re Just Sheltering

"I'm not very interested in swimming, and when it comes to boxing, I'm not really into it right now either."

"Besides, I've already promised my teacher that I'll participate in this tournament and achieve a good ranking."

"Teacher? Who is your teacher?"

"Musashi Kenta from Musashi Dojo, he's my kendo teacher."

"Musashi Dojo? If you've decided, then do your best."

Hiratsuka was a competent teacher, and that was a rare thing in Japan.

After all, this was a country popular with the concept of gekoku-jou (subordinates defeating superiors) and teacher-killing. School teachers rarely took such responsibility for students.

"About that Yukinoshita club, I still hope you can participate properly. Just consider it helping me out, okay?"

"That child named Yukinoshita doesn't have a single friend, and her personality is also a bit strange. I'm worried she'll meet bad people at this school and bring trouble to herself and her family."

"Since it's Shizuka-chan's request, I'll help."

"Alright, it's getting late, let's go home."

Hearing Shinnosuke agree, Hiratsuka nodded in satisfaction and immediately dismissed him.

"Bye-bye, Shizuka-chan, next time if there's a chance, let's grab coffee again."

'Coffee?! This kid is really stabbing me in the heart!'

Recalling the coffee they had that day, how Shinnosuke's chatter had made her feel all fluttery, Hiratsuka felt incredibly embarrassed.

When she came back to her senses, Shinnosuke was already gone.

Tomorrow she would educate this kid again; today, it would be better to contact Haruno for drinks.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Summer weather was always very changeable. Without knowing when, a heavy rain suddenly poured down outside.

The sudden downpour darkened the sky.

'How could this be? I didn't bring an umbrella.'

Looking at the curtain of rain in front of her, Yukino was slightly worried. The rain seemed to be getting heavier; how would she get home without an umbrella?

Since she lived alone outside, the driver her family prepared wasn't here. The journey from home would take one or two hours. Her mother would definitely be unhappy if she knew about this.

Or should she call her sister to pick her up?

"Forget it, maybe the rain will stop soon?"

The heavy rain washed away Yukino's thoughts, making her reflect on her current situation. Coming to Shuchi'in Academy, the confidence she had long built up had taken a considerable blow.

In the entrance exam, she didn't even rank in the top fifty. This was a significant setback for Yukino, who had always been the top of her class since childhood.

Was she really that great?

Establishing the Service Club was something she had planned for a long time. Her childhood experiences had always left Yukino unable to understand one thing.

Why did weak people ostracize those who were superior to them? Was it out of jealousy? Or due to the bad nature of humans?

Yukino suspected it was because these people didn't know how to improve themselves and were always unable to progress, thus becoming envious of those who were superior.

It was precisely because of this that her indoor shoes often went missing.

Therefore, she would establish a club, allowing these people to find ways to improve themselves, the so-called—giving a hook rather than giving a fish.

That way, ostracism and bullying wouldn't occur.

Unfortunately, this was just her wishful thinking.

Just like her name, Yukino, snow beneath the snow layer, pure, cold, unique, beautiful. Only by peeling away the hard snow layer could her true gentleness be seen.

She tried hard to break free from the bonds of the snow layer, but she didn't know that this seemingly hard snow layer was also her protection, preventing her from directly facing the scorching sun.

"What a coincidence, Yukinon."

"Nohara-kun, please just call me Yukinoshita-san. Our relationship isn't close enough to call each other by our first names."

Without turning her head, she knew from his voice that the troublesome Nohara had come.

Since she had accepted Hiratsuka's request, she would find a way to fix Shinnosuke's twisted personality. But she didn't know that she was actually the one who needed to be changed and saved in Hiratsuka's eyes.

"Yukinon, don't be so cold. We're neighbors, it's perfect that we can go home together. With this heavy rain, you can't possibly go home alone."

Inside Shinnosuke's school bag were all sorts of strange things. Besides books, who knew what else was there? A folding umbrella was always among his belongings.

It was just that this umbrella was a bit small. Yukino looked at it and knew that if she and Shinnosuke used this umbrella to go home, their positions would definitely be very ambiguous.

"Forget it, I'll wait for the rain to stop."

"This rain came so suddenly, why didn't Yukinon bring an umbrella?"

"You're the one who always carries an umbrella everywhere, that's even stranger. Could it be that there isn't a single book in your bag?"

Yukino immediately understood Nohara Shinnosuke's nature. This kid clearly didn't like studying; his grades must be terrible.

"Yukinon's words are too hurtful. Why are you so cold?"

"Please, Nohara Shinnosuke, we're just sheltering. After the rain stops, we won't have any special interaction anymore."

"Your relationship and mine is just that of a club president and a member. So we don't need to talk much, and there's no need to pretend to be close. Do you understand? Nohara-kun."

After saying it, Yukino suddenly regretted it a little. Was she too harsh on Shinnosuke?

After all, she had promised Hiratsuka to change Shinnosuke's personality, but she couldn't control herself.

The current Yukino was like a hedgehog; anyone who tried to approach her would be pricked by her unconscious words.

Thinking of this, Yukino quietly turned her head back and saw Shinnosuke squatting in the corner of the wall, drawing circles on the ground with a twig.

This was too pitiful. It wasn't even a love rejection.

"With this heavy rain, going to the supermarket must already be too late. And today I wanted to eat sukiyaki."

"Eating hot sukiyaki on a cool rainy day must be very comfortable, right? Yukinon?"

?!

Hearing Shinnosuke's words, Yukino understood why Hiratsuka couldn't help but take action. This kid was really annoying!

She now also had the urge to use aikido on Shinnosuke.

Sighing, although she didn't know why, the anxiety caused by the sudden heavy rain unconsciously disappeared completely. Yukino had to admit, there was some kind of magic in Shinnosuke that could make people forget their troubles and feel calm.

"By the way, Yukinoshita-san, do you like cats?"

"Huh?"

Yukino didn't understand why the topic could jump so quickly. And when had she been found out?