Yukinoshita Yukino—Shuchiin Academy's paragon of correctness and absolute justice. As the president of the Service Club, she carried herself with an unshakable sense of fairness and an iron will that refused to be bested by anyone.
Therefore, when she witnessed someone engaging in open displays of affection right in front of her, in a public space no less, it was only natural for her to deliver swift and unwavering judgment.
"As a student of Shuchiin, don't you find it shameful to conduct yourself in such an unseemly manner in the cafeteria?" Yukino's voice was as sharp as a winter wind, slicing through the atmosphere with an unforgiving chill.
She then turned her piercing gaze toward Natsukawa Kanade, her expression devoid of warmth. "Or has the esteemed student council president decided to abandon his role entirely in favor of unveiling his hidden proclivities for the world to see?"
Her words carried a weight that bore down on him like an icy avalanche, but she wasn't finished yet. "Ah, but I suppose even a paramecium, should it gain self-awareness, would choose to end its existence in disgrace after witnessing such an embarrassing spectacle."
A deep, frigid sensation ran down Natsukawa Kanade's spine. The words, as cold as frost, pierced into his ears and took root in his very soul, sending shivers through his entire body. It was a chilling familiarity—one he knew all too well. This was the same overwhelming force that had dominated him in the past, the oppressive presence of Yukinoshita Yukino in full force.
He gulped. Yukino was furious.
She always carried a natural aura of intimidation, but this was different. Her face was as cold as an ice sculpture, her body radiating a palpable sense of displeasure, as if she had just emerged from training in a subzero environment. Every word she spoke dripped with frost, her anger manifesting in a way that threatened to freeze the very air around them.
This was Yukinoshita Yukino in her true form—an Ice Queen in all her terrifying glory.
Recognizing the danger, Kanade subtly turned to Eriri, who was still bristling, about to fire back. He shot her a look, silently pleading with her to stand down.
You can't win this fight. Surrender while you can.
Unfortunately, Eriri, being Eriri, didn't take the hint. She puffed out her chest, confidence swelling. She had clashed with a certain sharp-tongued 'fat woman' for years—she could handle this!
Or so she thought.
"Yes... I'm sorry!" The proud little golden retriever, now reduced to a whimpering puppy, hung her head, eyes watering as she meekly apologized.
It wasn't that she was weak (though that was partially true). The real issue was that the Snow Queen had completely flipped the script. She didn't just reprimand Eriri—she framed it as if Eriri had burdened Kanade, forcing Eriri onto the moral defensive. With no room to maneuver, Eriri had no choice but to retreat with her tail between her legs.
What made it worse was that Eriri actually had a strong moral compass. She already felt bad for causing trouble for Kanade, and now, under Yukino's unforgiving words, her guilt only deepened.
"Yes, I'm sorry... I-I really didn't mean to trouble Kanade, I just... just..."
"You just assumed that as close friends, it was acceptable to push boundaries without consequence?"
"Guh..." Eriri bit her lip, the guilt overwhelming her. She looked like a scolded child, her entire body shrinking under Yukino's merciless gaze.
Seeing Eriri's spirit completely crushed, Kanade decided he had to step in. "Well, it's not really a big deal... I don't think there's anything wrong with—"
"As the student council president, wouldn't it affect your reputation if others witnessed such a disgraceful display?" Yukino cut him off with a sharp edge in her tone.
Kanade blinked. "Uh—"
"Or have you deemed the position of student council president so insignificant that public sparring with your female classmates is worth risking your credibility?" Her voice was smooth, yet laced with venom, a verbal ice dagger aimed straight at him.
Kanade opened his mouth, but Yukino continued without pause.
"Or perhaps... given the sheer number of rumors already surrounding you, one more won't make a difference?"
Dead silence.
A sharp inhale.
A moment passed before Kanade exhaled slowly, his expression stiff. Yukino's words were precise, striking where it hurt most. He could feel the weight of her scrutiny pressing down on him, suffocatingly cold.
However, Natsukawa Kanade didn't dare to meet Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze for too long, lest she catch even the faintest hint of defiance and unleash another verbal ice storm. Instead, he kept his head slightly lowered, maintaining the obedient posture of a student being disciplined by a strict teacher.
But if he were to be honest… he really didn't think this was such a big deal.
After all, it was just the three of them here. It wasn't like they were surrounded by a crowd of onlookers. And what had he even done that was so outrageous? Was it now a crime for the student council president to have a private life? He wasn't sneaking off to do anything scandalous. At most, he had been a little playful with a female friend. What was wrong with that?
Besides, both he and Eriri were single. Even if there had been something going on—hypothetically speaking—it wouldn't have been a problem. It wasn't like they were breaking any rules! He wanted to argue his case, to push back against Yukino's overly harsh judgment, but the sharp glint in her icy-blue eyes sent a chill down his spine. She looked like she was one breath away from turning this into a full-blown trial, with him as the defendant and her as both prosecutor and judge. He sighed internally, deciding to take a strategic retreat.
As the saying goes, a wise man knows when to yield. He wasn't about to fight a losing battle.
Seeing Kanade lower his head in submission, Yukino's initial irritation from witnessing their playful interaction began to fade. The sense of righteousness that had fueled her earlier lecture was now giving way to something else—something she refused to acknowledge. Still, she felt an odd warmth creeping up her face, which she quickly attributed to having spoken too forcefully.
Clearing her throat, she crossed her arms, her fingers lightly tapping against her sleeves. "Since you insist on maintaining your position as student council president, you should be mindful of your actions. If certain… individuals were to witness such behavior, they would not hesitate to use it against you." She rubbed her temple as if warding off a headache, her voice laced with frustration.
In truth, she was relieved that their seating choice had been in a relatively secluded part of the cafeteria. If this had happened in a more populated area, there was no doubt that half the school would already be whispering about it. The student council president flirting with a girl in public? That would be the headline of the day.
Kanade nodded rapidly, his expression still one of feigned penitence. Internally, however, his thoughts were racing.
'Wait… Yukino's paying this much attention to me? She even knew about this whole situation?'
The more he thought about it, the more puzzled he became. It wasn't like he and Yukino talked anymore. Ever since his failed confession, their interactions had been minimal at best. They hadn't even crossed paths much, aside from that one unexpected encounter in the student council room.
Back then, he had genuinely believed she wanted nothing to do with him. It wasn't an unreasonable assumption. After all, he had joined the Service Club with ulterior motives, and when things didn't go his way, he had left without much explanation. She had every right to be upset.
And yet… she was still paying attention to his affairs?
Could it be that she still valued their friendship, even after everything?
As for why she cared about his image as student council president—maybe it had something to do with how he had justified leaving the club. His exact words back then had been, "I'm going to run for student council president, so I won't have time for other club activities."
Thinking back, that must have seemed like a flimsy excuse to Yukino. In reality, he had already decided to get closer to Kaguya, and club activities had taken a backseat to that goal. But rather than explaining things properly, he had simply left. Did that abrupt departure actually upset her more than he realized?
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that he had found the real reason behind her attitude today.
'So that's it…'
A strange feeling settled in his chest—part confusion, part warmth. Maybe, just maybe, things weren't as broken between them as he had assumed.