Today, she went out on a date with Yu, as he promised to try the food she made to improve her cooking skill.
Smiling, she took out the small bento box and handed it to the boy. Her cooking skill had improved a lot thanks to the multiple trying in each cycle. She wouldn't call herself a pro, but talented, at least.
Watching the boy carefully take a bite of the rice ball, she chuckled lightly. It was a miserable memory to recall when Yu suddenly knocked out after taking a bite of the mystery food she prepared in previous cycles.
As expected, the boy's eyes shined in amazement. His dumb look made Yukiko laughed madly, while Yu, still couldn't believe how delicious the food would be.
"...I don't think you need me to try your food." Yu took another rice ball from the bento box. "This is really delicious."
Although she already knew her cooking was good, her cheek still went red with the compliment.
"I can cook for you if you want."
"Would that bother you?"
"No, not at all." She shook her head. How would he be a trouble for her? "I'm willing to do it, and honestly, I enjoy it."
"I appreciate it, Amagi. Thank you." Yu smiled when seeing her reddened cheek. For a moment, he felt like he had known her for some time. She just felt...so familiar. Did they meet somewhere before?
Unknowingly, he seemed to play the tips of her hair in his hand. Staring at his intimate move, Yukiko blushed, but soon noticed the unusualness of the boy.
"...Narukami-kun?"
Upon hearing her call, the boy widened his eyes, quickly let go of his hand. A shade of red spread across his face, adding another hint of charm on him.
"S-Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's okay, Narukami-kun." She shook her head. "Is something bothering you? You look...troubled."
Yu always had that look when he was confused about something, like the time Nanako was kidnapped, like the time they were brainstorming about the culprit. However...she felt something strange this time. It wasn't the same as previous. It's more like...his uncertainty was directing to her.
"N-No, it's not like that..." Yu suddenly stopped talking, as if he didn't know what he was saying. A hint of fluster showed in his eyes. At last, he sighed in frustration. "...Sorry, I-I don't know what's got into me. I just feel that...it's normal to stay with you."
Normal? Confusing, Yukiko tilted her head, giving Yu a question look. Yet, the boy was unable to answer that. It just felt comfortable with her, like he could share everything with her, like she knew every inch of him. He could express everything to her, as he believed she would understand him.
It was a...new feeling to Yu. It made the boy want to spend more time with her, but well, his time was fully occupied by all the activities and social links. Too bad, he thought.
Then, he accompanied her back to her house. On the way to her house, she suddenly stopped walking.
"Amagi?"
Out of the blue, she grabbed his hand.
"...I don't know what you are worrying, but I am always here for you. If you need someone to talk to, you can always look for me." Holding his hand firmly, she wanted to let him know how she felt. "I know how pressure you are to be a leader. If there's anything I can help to lighten your burden, I want to help."
"Amagi..."
"Just call me Yukiko." She smiled. "Can I call your name too?"
Yu nodded and smiled. He grasped both of her hands, feeling warm in his heart. Weird...anyone would tell him this, but it was different when it came from Yukiko. He felt deeply touched, and an urge screamed inwardly to hold the girl into his arm.
"Thanks, Yukiko."
Her cheek went red again upon her name being called. Yu never called her name in previous cycles, this was the first time. Inwardly, her heart melted to just a call. Big grin spread on her face as she responded.
"You're welcome, Yu-kun."
His heart skipped a beat as she called his name, like she had touched the softest part in his heart. Immediately, he pulled her into his arm.
"Y-Yu-kun!?" Her face almost exploded, and her heart almost jumped out from her throat. It was too shy to stay still, but moving helplessly was absolutely not an option.
She could feel his grasp tightened on her shoulder. For a moment, she lost the idea of how she should react under these circumstances, yet she was in the arms of her beloved, there's no way she could stay calm now.
Her legs were weak now. She leaned against him, hugging him back. She had long dreamed of having the boy all by herself. She kept the feelings for so long, never intended to confess, but what happened now was too much for her to handle. Her mind went blank.
Aside from hugging him back, she didn't know what else she could do.
The silence went on for at least a minute. Her heartbeat calmed down within the time, and now she was enjoying the hug. Staying close to her beloved was nothing she would hope in the previous cycles.
"...I'm sorry to startle you, but I..." He whispered in her ear, but she stopped him.
"It's alright, Yu-kun." Shaking her head, she broke the hug. It didn't matter what was the reason he hugged her, she didn't want to know it.
She loved him, yet she still had no intention to confess. It hurt to see him hanging around with other girls. She wanted to avoid that particular feeling.
It's too heart wrenching.
"...My house is nearby, you may go back now. Nanako-chan is waiting for you."
Yu stared at her for a while before nodding. He knew the girl was hiding something, but he wasn't sure whether it was related to him or not. He would wait until she was willing to tell him. In the meantime, he would find out the reason he hugged her so suddenly.
She was dear to him, he had no doubt about that, yet he didn't know where these feelings came from.
Staring at the back of Yukiko, a hint of emptiness lingered in his heart as he reluctantly left.
Today was the school outdoor activity which they camped on the mountain for a day. The day went on as usual, except no Mystery Food X in this cycle. Yukiko could cook the food without
Chie's help, and surely she won't let Chie take part in the cooking.
She didn't want to see You faint after eating the food.
Then, Kanji broke into their tent where Chie gave him a kick on his face and knocked him out.
The tent was too petty for the three of them, plus an oversized Hanako. At last, she and Chie decided to stay at Yu and Yosuke's tent for the night.
She didn't know what time it was, frustration built inside her as she struggled to fall asleep.
She felt a heavy stone stuck in her heart since the day she started to take the role of Adachi. It always made her unable to fall asleep at night, or jerked up in the middle of the night. The guilt seemed heavier than she had imagined.
Obviously, tonight was a sleepless night.
Carefully not to wake the others, she went out of the tent. Leaning against a tree, she stared at the star hanging in the sky.
A wave of loneliness wrapped her body as she closed her eyes to get some rest. If she couldn't sleep tonight, some rest should do good to her. Of course, she had to go back to the tent before Chie and the other woke up. Maybe this fit her the most, because of the sins and guilt she created so far. She didn't deserve anyone or any feelings. She was a sinful person.
Suddenly, she heard some voices at her back. Jerking up, she held her breath to see the comer. When she saw the silver gray hair, she immediately let out a soft sigh.
"Sorry, I don't mean to startle you." Yu looked apologetic as he moved closer to her. "Take this. Even if it is summer, you can still catch cold."
He gently put a jacket on her, and then sat beside her.
Staring at him, Yukiko clutched the jacket, feeling her heart skip a beat.
"You can't sleep?"
"You can't sleep?"
Both of them spoke at the same time. They stared at each other for a while, and then burst out some chuckles.
"...So, you really can't sleep?" Yukiko doubted. He seemed deeply asleep when she secretly went out of the tent.
"I saw you went out of the tent, so I came to check. Is something bothering you?"
Something bothering her? Well, a lot of things were bothering her recently. How could she tell him those were related to the kidnapping cases and the Midnight Channel?
Smiling bitterly, she remained silent for a while. She knew full well Yu was worrying about her, but there's no way she could tell him. He would know everything when the time was right. Obviously not now.
"...I'm fine, Yu-kun. Sorry for making you worry." She raised a smile to assure the boy.
However, it wasn't enough to convince Yu to fully believe in her. She was obviously hiding something - something far beyond his understanding, and she didn't share this to anyone, not even her best friend Chie.
Yu knew that she wouldn't reveal it for him. His heart ached upon realizing it.
"...It's alright if you don't want to talk about it. You just have to know that I'm always here if you want to talk, just like how you do for me."
Her eyes shined with water as she nodded. This time, her smile was clear and beautiful, not a hint of gloom mixed within it.
It was a beautiful smile that attracted Yu's attention when he first saw her. However, her smile always mixed a hint of desperation and sadness, something that she wanted to bear for herself, only herself. It made him feel bitter in his heart.
This was weird. Yu was sure that it was the first time he saw her during his first day of school. Yet, a hint of familiarity lingered in his heart since then. He didn't know the reason and he couldn't wave it off. The more he knew about her, the more he was attached.
And then, he realized he was staring at her all the time. Quickly averted his gaze, he felt heat hit his face. Fortunately, the darkness helped to cover it.
"I-It's late now. Do you want to go back to the tent?"
"...I'll stay here a little longer. Yu-kun, you may sleep first." She shook her head, and remained sitting.
"...Alright, don't stay too late."
"Don't worry. I'll go back to the tent before anyone notices." Lastly, she gave him a smile and watched him go back to the tent. Sighing, she leaned against the tree.
Tiredness was clearly shown on her face as she closed her eyes, attempting a short break.
She could feel something from the way Yu talked and watched her - she felt it since the day he walked her home. She thought she was wrong, and she hoped she was wrong. She tried to ignore the slightest happiness in her heart as a wave of fear struck her like a tsunami.
She must be feeling wrong. She had to be feeling wrong.
Narukami Yu deserves someone better than her.
As she thought, a drop of tear rolled down to her cheek.