A set of tea sets was placed on the table in the service department. Yukinoshita Yukino was pouring boiling water into the teacup to warm it, then carefully placing an appropriate amount of tea leaves into the teapot and adding boiling water to brew.
The first infusion of tea was discarded, used only to rinse the leaves. After adding water for the second brewing, the tea with its uniform color was poured into cups and placed before each person.
Ryo Asakura and Yukinoshita Yukino each picked up the fragrant black tea and took a sip, then let out a long sigh of contentment.
"Yukinoshita-san's tea-making skills are truly refreshing and leave a delightful aftertaste."
"If you like it, I can prepare more later."
Ryo Asakura was stunned, wondering if he had misheard. When had Yukinoshita Yukino become so approachable?
"Hey, Yukinoshita-san, has anything good happened recently?"
"No, Asakura-kun. I've just figured some things out and decided to take action to achieve them."
"Oh, that sounds great. I wish you all the best, Yukinoshita-san."
"Yeah, you too, Sobu High School's very own Hero-san."
...
On the other side, Sekai Saionji was searching for a way to resolve Makoto Itou's predicament. Suddenly, she recalled information about the Service Club, a club dedicated to voluntarily helping others solve their problems. Perhaps she could find an answer there, so she followed the directions of her classmates and arrived at the Service Club.
Sekai Saionji took a deep breath and pushed open the door. Ryo Asakura and Yukinoshita Yukino were studying quietly. The sound of the door opening drew their attention. Yukinoshita Yukino took the initiative to ask,
"My dear classmate, is there something we can help you with?"
"Hey, I have a request and would like to ask for your assistance."
The two members of the Service Department exchanged a glance and invited Sekai Saionji to sit down and tell them about her request.
"Hello, I'm Sekai Saionji from Class A."
"One of my friends recently did something very wrong, which angered another classmate. I would like to ask if there's a good way to help them reconcile?"
Yukinoshita Yukino observed the girl's nervous expression, frowned slightly, and said.
"Excuse me, is your friend perhaps Makoto Itou-san?"
Sekai Saionji showed the startled look of someone whose thoughts had been read. She opened her mouth to speak but then fell silent, tacitly confirming the answer.
"It seems that this Saionji-san is here to see you, Asakura-kun."
The girl looked at Ryo Asakura in front of her with a hint of panic. He calmly sipped his tea without saying anything.
"Ah, you are... that Asakura-san. I'm sorry."
"It's me, Saionji-san. Don't be nervous. I won't do anything to you."
Ryo Asakura gently soothed her unease and poured her a cup of black tea. Seeing that she had calmed down slightly, he continued.
"I admire your efforts for your friends, Saionji-san, but as a friend myself, Makoto Itou has seriously hurt Katsura-san."
"If I hadn't arrived in time, what kind of tragic end might Katsura have suffered?"
"No matter what, I cannot bring myself to forgive this man, and I cannot make such a decision on behalf of classmate Katsura."
"So, Saionji-san, I'm sorry, I cannot accept your request."
Sekai Saionji's face paled, and her lower lip trembled slightly, while Yukinoshita Yukino looked at the boy in front of her with shining eyes. His firm and unwavering words, and his determination to see things through, left her momentarily stunned.
It would have been nice if he had shown up earlier.
If that were the case, would I have been able to be saved back then?
Yukinoshita Yukino, who longed for something genuine, looked at him with a tender gaze, as if all the pain of the past had been healed by him. Her throbbing heart yearned to get closer, to embrace the warmth and wash away the fatigue and confusion beneath her cold exterior.
...
Sekai Saionji bit her lip. Although she appeared optimistic on the surface, she was actually sensitive, lonely, and indecisive on the inside. Complex emotions flooded her thoughts.
For the sake of Setsuna and that budding affection, she firmly believed that there must be some way to change this situation. She was unwilling to give up and watch her friend live in pain on this campus.
After Ryo Asakura asked her to leave, Sekai Saionji didn't intend to give up so easily but lurked near the Service Club, waiting for an opportunity.
After saying goodbye to Yukinoshita Yukino, Ryo Asakura walked alone on the rugged stone steps. On both sides stood pine and cypress trees with lush branches and leaves. When the wind blew, many catkins drifted down.
Loosening the collar of his shirt, holding his schoolbag with one hand and slinging it over his shoulder, he looked at the virtual panel in front of him and breathed a sigh of relief, finally having had a relatively normal day.
The [Yellow-Haired Soul] hadn't produced any noticeable effect all day, which relieved Ryo Asakura. It seemed that today's unexpected event hadn't met the triggering conditions. Perhaps the actual effect still existed, but he simply wasn't aware of it.
And as fate would have it, the moment he thought about it, there was a response.
While passing by a dark and deserted alley, he heard hurried footsteps, and a force grabbed his arm, pulling him into the shadows and continuing to walk deeper into the alley until they stopped.
After stopping, he found that it was Sekai Saionji holding his hand. Ryo Asakura frowned and said.
"Saionji-san, I believe we discussed this very clearly in the Service Club. Unless Katsura-san states that she will not pursue the matter further, there is no room for negotiation."
Sekai Saionji patted her chest to calm her rapid breathing from the exertion, then put on a forced smile.
"Asakura-kun, I've looked into Kotonoha Katsura's situation, and I know she's not very social. So, I'm confident I can convince and compensate her to let go of this matter."
"So, the key now is you, Asakura-kun."
Ryo Asakura's expression suddenly darkened. He angrily grabbed Saionji's arm and slammed her against the wall, staring at the girl in front of him with cold eyes.
"Saionji-san, you've clearly come prepared, but you shouldn't have chosen to provoke me in this situation."
Countless electric currents surged from his arm throughout his body. Ryo Asakura showed no mercy at all and watched coldly as the girl continued to twitch, her pretty face contorting in discomfort.
"But I came here... knowing it might irritate you."
Intermittent words escaped her rapidly moving pink lips. She looked at the indifferent boy before her with confused eyes and forced her soft body closer.
Her pretty face was flushed with shyness and nervousness, and her small hands slowly unbuttoned her clothes, revealing the budding curves of her figure.
It wasn't large, but its shape was beautiful enough to be covered by one palm.
Sekai Saionji trembled and held onto Ryo Asakura, slowly guiding his hand upwards. Her cheeks were like ripe cherries in the rain, the alley filled with a suggestive air. She wanted to speak but also embraced the moment.
Ryo Asakura couldn't help but show shock on his cold face, looking at the girl before him with confusion.
"I know that after something like that happened, nothing can truly be undone."
"So, in order to appease Asakura-kun's anger, please use me as much as you want."
Her long eyelashes trembled shyly, and she felt an irresistible sensation as the tip of her heart was held. The strange feeling of being held tighter and tighter made her feel increasingly peculiar.
"Are you really willing to give it your all?"
Ryo Asakura whispered hoarsely close to the girl's ear. He had never been a saint, and the fence of his reason was crumbling before the beast within his heart.
"Mmm."
The fierce assault landed on her collarbone, leaving various marks of his unrestrained desire. Their breathing became more and more rapid, and the distance between them closed infinitely.
Her snow-white skin seemed to have encountered heavenly fire, ravaged by heavy touches and losing its original smoothness. The girl, who had never experienced such a thing, was quickly overwhelmed and leaned against him weakly.
As he was about to take the next step, images of Akane Nanao, Kotonoha Katsura, and Mrs. Katsura flashed through Ryo Asakura's mind. All the recent intimacy extinguished the fire in his heart.
People cannot, at least should not, at the very least, should reserve their most precious first time for someone special.
He really makes me cry, Private Ryo Asakura, loyal!
A sharp slap echoed, and the young man endured the full-force blow without changing his expression, using this method to snap himself back to reality.
"I'm sorry, Saionji-san. Let's just drop this matter. I sincerely apologize for being so rude to you."
"Don't apologize, Asakura-kun. This is all my fault. It was my willful request that led to this result."
Sekai Saionji looked at Ryo Asakura with a dazed expression, then wrapped her arms around him again, gently burying the boy's face in her soft chest, letting him feel a semblance of maternal warmth.
"To be honest, I really envy Katsura-san for meeting such a weird Asakura-kun."
"It's all my fault, Asakura-kun. Let me calm your anger."
She slowly squatted down and used her youthful tenderness and enthusiasm to extinguish the raging fire. The ice and snow melted, and a milky fluid scattered, a strangely beautiful sight.
...
On the panel that no one noticed, it was displayed that [The qualified person of Yellow Hair Soul met the triggering conditions, and the Yellow Hair Event has been triggered].