“Then, today’s meeting is adjourned.”

With that final summary from President Asagi Renka, the announcement bloomed like a fan of fireworks. The Student Council scattered—some beaming, some brooding—yet everyone packed up, like cranes folding their wings. Those with work stayed; those heading home drifted off like leaves on a slow stream.

The sports festival loomed on the horizon like a red sun. Council duties piled up like snow on pine. A daily briefing was already routine, yet with the festival nearing, extra meetings budded like bamboo after rain. No one even knew how many they had in a day now.

All this was to make the festival run smooth as silk. It was hard work, sweat beading like dew, but carving a mark into one’s youth felt worth it.

“My, my. The little kitty didn’t show up today~”

Lian Hua closed her file with a snap, her smile curving like a crescent moon. No one had to guess who she meant—it was Yunshi Bianqi, carted off by that bunch of self-styled FFF Squad idiots.

She’d settle it with her tomorrow.

Lian Hua didn’t plan to chase Yun Shi’s issue tonight. She had another task.

“Mizuki, swing by my office for a bit~”

She called to Mizuki, who was still aligning papers like tiles on a roof.

“Okay, President.”

Mizuki didn’t think much of it—probably work talk. She didn’t see the fox-tail curl at the corner of Lian Hua’s lips.

“Milady...” Shizuru Yuna sounded uneasy. Lian Hua flashed a smug smile and glanced back at her.

“Yuna, you come too.”

“Yes, milady.”

When Mizuki finished sorting, she took her time and headed for the office. She’d been there often; no alarm bells. Back when she’d first joined the Student Council, Lian Hua had often called her in. Thanks to that president then, Mizuki had found her footing here.

“I’m here, President. Is there something urgent?”

She opened the door with polite calm. President Asagi Renka sat at her desk, a sultry smile flowering like a peony. Shizuru Yuna stood at her side, silent and proper, the picture of a maid at attention.

“President? Yuna? What’s going on?”

Mizuki frowned slightly. She’d been in the room a full minute. No one spoke.

“Mizuki, I have something to tell you. I hope you can keep calm and hear me out.”

After a pause, Lian Hua let the line drop like a net into still water.

“Please speak freely, President. If there’s a problem with my work, don’t hold back. I’ll fix anything.”

Mizuki bowed at once, voice steady and sincere, bracing for blame like a pine in wind.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not here to scold you.”

“Eh?”

“What I want to say concerns you. And something I want to discuss.”

“?”

“Mizuki, you’re... from the Underworld, aren’t you? No—more like, you were dragged into the Underworld, right?”

“—!”

Mizuki’s eyes widened like glass catching light. Her head snapped up, shock splashing across her face.

How does she know? Who is she?

That was the only thought banging like a drum in Mizuki’s skull.

“Heh. Don’t tense up. We know each other well enough, don’t we? I won’t hurt you. I called you here to talk about a favor.”

Lian Hua lounged in her chair, confidence rising like warm steam. It made a sharp contrast with Mizuki’s storm-tossed stare.

—

After the FFF Squad nonsense, Yun Shi’s hands and feet tingled like they’d been tied too long. She rubbed her wrists, trying to coax warmth back like a fire cupped in palms.

“You okay? Anywhere hurt?”

Maya Hanazaka had just dumped those idiots where the trash goes. Seeing Yun Shi wince, she stepped in, concern pooling like clear water.

“I’m fine. No big deal.”

“Good. Ugh, those disgusting boys. To pull that under my nose! I should toss them into San Francisco Bay!”

As she fumed, Maya’s heel tapped the ground like a drumbeat with nowhere to land.

“But really—how’d you even find where they stashed me?”

“Please. Good thing I didn’t go straight home like usual. I heard some girls whispering that the boys in your class dressed weird and knocked you out. I knew something was off. I asked around, followed the trail, found their little lair. I was boiling. Luckily they hadn’t done anything yet, or I’d have ruined them.”

Maya looked genuinely furious, anger sharp as frost. A group of boys dragging a girl in broad daylight—anyone would assume the worst. The school at large believed Yun Shi was a boy, so they shrugged it off as dumb male posturing.

But Maya knew Yun Shi was a girl. She saw it from a girl’s side, and her mind sketched every bad outcome like ink bleeding on paper. When she’d found Yun Shi in that empty classroom, relief washed over her, but fury burned hotter.

How can they treat a girl like that?

Even knowing the boys were ignorant, Maya still burned. She’d sworn to be good to Yun Shi. To see those boys go further than she did—straight to judgment—made her jaw clench. She felt guilty, too, for not protecting her.

“Yun Shi, really—are you sure you’re okay? If they left any bad memories, I’ll go peel their hides.”

She gripped Yun Shi’s shoulder, worry bright as a lantern. Yun Shi felt a little flustered. This iron-fisted girl who used to rough her up was suddenly... gentle.

“I’m fine. They just got a wild hair. Forget them.”

“No way! I see now how badly I dropped the ball. My fault for not watching you.”

“No, I—”

“Decision made. From today on, I’m your bodyguard.”

“I don’t need your protection. That’s enough, Maya Hanazaka—”

“Girls are meant to be cherished, aren’t they? Right, Yun Shi?”

“Don’t drag me into your motto. I mean, yeah, I’m a girl, but—”

“Ah, having a girl to care for feels great. It’s like I picked up a new duty.”

She lunged in and hugged the “boyishly dressed” girl tight, rubbing her cheek against Yun Shi’s like a cat against a sun‑warmed wall. She relished the warmth, the springy softness, the plumpness of that baby‑smooth face.

“L‑Let go, you maniac!”

Startled by the sudden hug, Yun Shi struggled like a fish flicking its tail. That only seemed to thrill Maya more.

“Oh? Are you shy? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

“Scram!”

“So fierce. I wonder if you’re just as fierce—elsewhere.”

Her grin turned mischievous. Yun Shi jolted like she’d touched a live wire, slapped away Maya’s wandering hand, broke free of the hug, and clutched her front with a glare that could freeze rain.

So this yuri gremlin picked a fight just to take liberties!

“Maya Hanazaka!”

“Ha, sorry, sorry. But you’re too cute. I can’t help it~”

“Pervert. Gremlin. Yuri‑brain!”

“Yup. I’m a pervert. So what? I’m going to be shameless—because you’re a girl~”

“...Tch.”

On that point, Yun Shi couldn’t deny it. Most thought she was a boy, but a handful knew the truth.

Only a few knew about the girl in boys’ clothes. And those who did often tested boundaries like waves nibbling at a jetty. Why did knowing her secret turn everyone into a shameless tide? Was she a snack or what?

It was after school. The road held only a trickle of people, sparrows more than crows. Their closeness didn’t draw much surprise. Maybe passersby took Yun Shi for a girl, or maybe they thought the two were a couple. Either way, they walked easy under the maple shade.

Still, yuri girls are scary. Always trying to take liberties with a boy‑clad girl. Turns out “yuri” isn’t all roses. Yun Shi herself liked girls, sure, but she didn’t want to be the one pushed around. She wanted to choose the rhythm. So why did she keep getting nibbled first?

“What’s wrong, Yun Shi?”

“Nothing. Just a little sad I’m not a guy...”

“Hmph. Better that you’re not. Boys are gross. Girls are delicious. It’s perfect you’re not a boy. How could something this cute be a boy~”

“Maybe... You know how some cross‑dressing boys say they were born the wrong sex? Sometimes I think I’m the same—I was probably born the wrong one. I should’ve been a boy.”

“Nope. Not allowed. You must be a girl. Otherwise how do I yuri?”

“...Fine. Forget I said it.”

“Heh. You don’t know the perks of being a girl yet. Come, I’ll teach you. You’ll taste the fun soon~”

She reached out, mischief flickering like foxfire. Yun Shi retreated two steps, alert. That only made the yuri gremlin more excited, and she leaned in—

Then froze.

Maya’s hand halted midair, fingers suspended like a stopped clock. Her gaze slid past Yun Shi, fixed on something else entirely. Her mind had flown.

Yun Shi waited for the pounce that never came. She lifted her eyes, puzzled. Maya let her hand drop and gave a dry laugh.

“Uh, Yun Shi, I just remembered something. You head home first. I’m off.”

Before Yun Shi could reply, Maya bolted like a rabbit from a hawk’s shadow, as if something behind them had teeth.

Yun Shi watched her shrinking back and felt the air skew. The road didn’t change, but people did.

“What’s with her...”

Something was off.

Maya, usually shameless toward girls, always spouting poison at boys, always finding excuses to take liberties—why drop a prime chance and run?

Suspicious. Definitely suspicious.

Sharp as a needle, Yun Shi sensed this wasn’t simple. A prickle of dread crept up like mist. She didn’t overthink it. She dashed after Maya’s direction, breath a string on a kite.

She had to know. Her gut drummed with bad omens. This smelled tangled.

What on earth was going on with that yuri gremlin?

“Well, if it isn’t little Mai. Long time no see.”

“Yeah, I remember you were huge back in middle school. About the yuri stuff—so it was true.”

“I heard you applied to a high school far away. Still into yuri?”

“I won’t preach, but is liking girls really okay? You’ll have to marry someday, won’t you?”

When Yun Shi caught a familiar shadow drifting closer, he realized—

It was Maya Hanazaka. She stood there like a lone pine in winter, lips sealed; only her clenched fists showed the storm inside.

In front of her, two high-school girls from who-knows-where beamed like spring sunshine, chattering at Maya as if greeting a long-lost friend. Yet Maya stayed cold to their warmth, head bowed, silence pooling around her like still water.

What’s going on?

Yun Shi stood across the street, rooted like a post, staring at the lily girl—head lowered, wordless—so unlike her usual self.