Right now, for reasons no one could name, girls clustered around Yun Shi like butterflies around a lantern—every one a beauty. Any guy would call it a dreamlike painting. But Yun Shi isn’t a guy. Or rather, she isn’t anymore. To everyone else, though, she still looks like one.
“Oh, you’re here too.”
To dodge awkwardness, she tossed a topic like a pebble into a pond, then angled toward Mizuki and Sham.
“Hello, Yun Shi-kun~” Mizuki bowed, grace falling like a petal.
“Xiao Yun~” Sham just smiled, easy as sunlight through leaves.
They’d known each other a while now. Nothing dramatic, but enough to feel like a warm cup of tea—like friends. If not for a certain yuri-obsessed pervert, Yun Shi would’ve called them exactly that.
“Your friends?” Yan Er asked, eyes sweeping the unfamiliar faces like a clear stream.
“Sort of...”
The word snagged. She’d never said it aloud. It was Miyuki who kept chirping, “We’re all friends,” like a windchime that wouldn’t stop. Yun Shi wanted friends, yes—but unease pressed like a shadow. In her previous life, every friend vanished the moment she crossed over. She feared getting, then losing again; feared the ache of an empty hand.
“President? What are you doing here?”
Of course no one saw Yun Shi’s thoughts—Miyuki included. She was more interested in why Lian Hua was here.
“Nothing. Miyuki, don’t you want one more friend?”
“What do you mean?”
“I just tried to invite Bianqi to the Student Council, but he refused. What do you think I should do~”
Lian Hua touched a finger to her lips, playing the troubled maiden while her eyes threw sly sparks.
“I said... I said I’d think about it...” A vein pulsed on Yun Shi’s temple like a drumbeat; heat rose like steam from a kettle.
“So you agree~” Lian Hua’s face lit like dawn over water.
“I never said that!”
“How cruel. You clearly promised~”
“I didn’t, okay?!”
“Bianqi, bullying a girl in front of everyone is so mean. How can you tear me down like that~”
“I’m done with you!”
Her hackles shot up like a bristling cat. She spun to leave, not wanting to linger a heartbeat more. Miyuki caught her wrist.
“Wait a second, Yun-kun, we can talk!” Her voice rushed out like a hand catching a falling cup—she really wanted Yun Shi to join the Student Council.
“I’ve got nothing to say to her!” Anger first, thought later; Yun Shi jerked her arm, trying to shake Miyuki off.
“Don’t you think Yun Shi-kun seems... a little volatile...” Mizuki watched the tug-of-war, then let the words fall, hesitant as rain.
“She’s always like that~” Sham laughed, light as wind.
“Huh, he’s always been that irritable?” Yan Er’s calm cracked with curiosity, like ice under a toe. She was interested in this Yunshi Bianqi; if he was short-fused, would he be hard to handle?
“Yeah. She only cares about what she likes. Most days she flares up easy—like a stray cat with its tail stepped on~” Sham blinked at the new voice, then settled, explaining slow as a ripple.
“I see. Then I shouldn’t tease Yun Shi-kun.” Mizuki sighed, a petal folding in.
“Is it okay for a boy to have such a bad temper...” Yan Er’s worry showed like clouds crossing the sun.
“It’s totally fine~”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because,” Sham’s smile turned sly; she tapped her chin, eyes glittering with mischief, “Xiao Yun’s a tsundere~”
...
“Eh? Tsundere?!” x2
While they played with the word, Miyuki and Yun Shi’s tug-of-war kept grinding like a rope over a post. Yun Shi wanted to go. Miyuki refused to let her. One hand clamped Yun Shi like a steel cuff.
“Let go of me, Miyuki Kiseki!”
“No. Yun-kun, you can’t go!”
“Do I need your permission to leave? Let go, you jerk!”
“The Student Council’s great. Why say no? If you join, I’ll finally breathe.”
“What’s that got to do with me? I’m out!”
“Yun-kun!”
A spark flared, and Miyuki’s grip tightened without her noticing—strength turned up to ten.
There was stubbornness in it too. After this time together, she’d grown fond of this boy-prettier-than-a-girl—just as a friend, for now. If she could bring a close friend into the Student Council, she’d have company instead of an empty office. Hearing Yun Shi refuse sent panic skittering, like a bird in a cage. She didn’t want to lose this chance. Frustration leaked into her fingers.
“Let—ow!”
In a blink, Yun Shi’s bristle snapped into pain; even her voice slipped, a note off-key that rang like a cracked bell.
“Oh—sorry! Are you okay?”
Realizing she’d gone too far, Miyuki let go on reflex, fingers falling away like loosened knots.
She leaned in to fuss, but Yun Shi cradled her right hand and stepped back, gaze skittering aside like a startled fish.
When she cried out, her real voice had leaked—just a little. Guilt pricked like needles. She couldn’t face it, so her eyes fled.
Miyuki took it as anger. She noticed Yun Shi’s hand—smaller and softer than hers, skin like a baby’s. Yun Shi’s strength was less to begin with. Hurting her was no surprise. Guilt pooled like cold rain.
“Sorry...”
“It’s... fine...”
The tone changed. Less sharp, less impatient. A softer shade bled through.
“Looks like that’s how it is,” Yan Er murmured, watching. Surprise flickered, then settled like dust.
“Tch. What’s so great about that,” Maya Hanazaka muttered, the resident yuri-lover bristling like nettles at the scene.
“A boy being tsundere isn’t cute at all.”
“You can’t say that, Maya~ Xiao Yun’s a cu-te boy,” Sham sang, syllables hopping like beads on a string.
“Aaaagh, don’t tell me that, I don’t want to hear it! Why is such an adorable creature a boy?!” Maya covered her eyes and howled, then thunked her head against the wall—thud, thud.
Heh. If she knew Yun Shi was a girl, who knows what she’d do.
Sham smiled, gaze soft as spring rain settling on Yun Shi. “That kid’s probably more proud than prickly~”
“Excuse me, you two. Mind pausing for a moment~”
Lian Hua’s smile swept over, amused eyes measuring them like a connoisseur savoring wine.
!—Right, doesn’t this look like... a public display of affection?
Heat surged up Miyuki’s neck, flushing her from collar to ear tips. She ducked her head, hands fluttering like trapped birds.
“Now, about joining the Student Council.”
Her eyes slid to Yun Shi. Yun Shi snorted and turned away, tail-flicking like a cat.
“I’ll talk when I’m in a better mood...”
A hint of guilt colored her voice, thin as smoke.
Lian Hua liked that answer. A laugh bloomed like a flower.
She’d only meant to test the waters. With this, she’d pretty much confirmed a few things.
“Then I’ll be looking forward to it, Yunshi Bianqi—chan.”
She drew out the honorific, voice a purr with a blade in it—half threat, half tease.
Yun Shi stared, baffled, while Lian Hua slipped from view, satisfied as a fox.
Looking forward?
Yun Shi had no idea what she was plotting.
“Hey, Miyuki Kiseki.”
“Y-Yes? What is it?”
“I want... to think about it for now.”
“Eh?”
“So... um... give me—no. I’ll give you some time. About the Student Council.”
Guilt nipped again. She turned away, pulling on her do-not-approach prickles like a cloak.
It was clearly her joining. Why was she giving Miyuki time to let her join?
Miyuki blinked, then the corners of her mouth curled like a new moon.
“Mm.”
