Chapter 2.5: A Smile That Doesn't Belong

I like to think that I know my friends.

Even if Hikki's always been hard to read, and even if Yukinon doesn't say much about herself, I still like to believe I understand them, at least a little.

That's why it was so obvious to me.

The way Yukinon's smiles weren't quite right.

She never smiled much before—at least, not the way I did. She had these small, rare smiles, the kind that felt like little treasures when she let you see them. The kind that made you feel like you had actually earned them.

But lately, her smiles were different.

They weren't cold or sarcastic or even the polite ones she used on strangers. They were… softer. Gentler. Warmer. Like she was a completely different person.

At first, I wanted to believe it was a good thing. Maybe she had finally started opening up, maybe she was finally happy.

But the more I saw it, the more I realized—this smile didn't belong to her.

It was like she was wearing someone else's expression.

And that scared me more than anything.

The first time it really hit me was after school one afternoon, when we were getting ready to leave the Service Club.

"Yukinon, do you wanna get some crepes?" I asked, just like I always did.

Before, she would either refuse outright or let out a tired sigh before reluctantly agreeing. But this time, she smiled at me—an easy, natural smile.

"That sounds nice, Yui-san."

Yui-san. Not Yuigahama-san. Not Yui.

I felt my breath catch. The way she said it, the way she looked at me—it wasn't just different. It was wrong.

Like someone else was borrowing Yukinon's voice.

Hikki must've noticed too, because he didn't make any of his usual snide remarks. He just stared at her with that unreadable expression of his, like he was trying to figure out a puzzle he didn't know how to solve.

I tried to play it off, pretending nothing was weird. "Ahaha, really? Yeah! Let's go! I know this cute little place near the station—"

"Oh, actually," she interrupted, tucking her hair behind her ear, "I was thinking we could go to the café near the bookstore. I really like their strawberry shortcake."

I blinked.

"Eh? But… Yukinon, you don't like sweets that much, do you?"

Her eyes widened slightly, as if surprised by her own words. And then, just as quickly, her expression smoothed over, her lips curling into another not-Yukinon smile.

"I suppose my tastes have changed."

I tried to laugh, but it came out shaky. "O-Oh… yeah, maybe…"

The three of us walked out together, but I felt it in the air—Hikki was watching her. And so was I.

Later that night, I texted her.

Yui: Hey, you okay?

She didn't reply right away.

Minutes passed. Then an hour.

Finally, my phone vibrated.

Yukino: Of course. Why do you ask?

I stared at the screen for a long time, fingers hovering over the keyboard.

I wanted to say, Because you don't feel like yourself.

I wanted to say, Because you're scaring me.

But instead, I typed:

Yui: No reason! Just checking in. Let's hang out soon, okay?

Her reply was immediate.

Yukino: That sounds nice, Yui-san.

There it was again.

Not Yuigahama-san. Not Yui.

I didn't sleep well that night.