Makoto's appearance was perfectly timed.
Yumiko wanted to maintain her image, so she stopped continuing the argument.
Yukino didn't want to say that her sister had told her, so she changed the topic: "Have you prepared everything for this afternoon's event?"
"Of course."
Makoto knew she was hiding something but didn't press further and smoothly said, "I prepared a detailed schedule for Ichika and the others."
Yukino's face showed confusion: "A schedule?"
Her meaning was: Why didn't you mention this to me before?
Makoto understood and said, "At your level, you don't need something like that."
Yukino nodded.
That was actually true.
She had spent so much time in the time loop making up for classes and being played with for so long that she was already very familiar with everything...
Damn, those unpleasant scenes came to mind again.
Yukino hurriedly suppressed that thought.
Makoto seemed not to notice: "You sit down first, this shop happens to have something you like."
"Something I like?"
"Look at the event board at the front desk."
Yukino turned her head, and just by glancing at it, her beautiful eyes lit up.
Makoto was right — this shop did indeed have something she liked.
Now she had no choice but to sit down and chat.
Yumiko saw all this and couldn't help but ask, "Yukinoshita, are you going to join Makoto's event this afternoon too?"
Makoto?
Yukino expressionless: "You asked another stupid question. I'm part of their club, do you think I should participate or not?"
Yumiko was about to retort when Makoto cut in at the right moment: "Yumiko, when will you come over this afternoon?"
"Me? I'll probably just stay at home for a while. Why don't you send me a message then?"
Yumiko's attention was distracted.
She was quite happy that Makoto asked about her in front of Yukino.
Seeing those two talking so smoothly just now, she had been a little uneasy.
But now it seemed Makoto obviously wouldn't ignore her.
"Wait, Miura-san is coming to the club? Did she join too?" Yukino questioned.
Makoto: "She wants to visit our club."
"If she's just visiting, then she should come later," Yukino said decisively.
Yumiko was unhappy: "Why?"
Yukino had her reasons: "Today is the club's first event, and as Makoto just said, he prepared a schedule for Ichika and the others, which means everyone is taking preparations seriously."
Yumiko was confused: "And then?"
Yukino began to frown: "Don't you get it? Everyone is working seriously for the first club activity. If you, an outsider, suddenly come to visit, it would affect everyone's efficiency and mood."
Yumiko didn't like the word "outsider."
It was as if she was being excluded.
She pouted and said, "Makoto and I are friends."
Yukino replied lightly, "I know."
"Since you know..."
"May I ask, Miura-san," Yukino interrupted directly, "do you have any professional knowledge about photography? If you don't, then your sudden visit will only cause trouble for everyone."
Yumiko was stuck.
She really didn't know anything about that.
Yukino remained calm and carried a unique pressure, making Yumiko unable to argue and somewhat annoyed.
Who does she think she is, acting like the club owner?
Yumiko bit her lip and turned to look at Makoto beside her, but saw him deep in thought, seemingly pondering something.
Yukino noticed this too and directly asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Makoto seemed to snap back to reality and said with interest, "I suddenly thought that since Yumiko has such outstanding looks, she'd be perfect for a cameo in our short film."
"Me?" Yumiko was stunned, pointing at her own face.
Makoto briefly explained the short film shooting plan.
Yukino's face remained calm, but her tone was doubtful: "Did you really just think of that now?"
"Why do you ask that?" Makoto looked at her confidently.
"Nothing."
Yukino didn't find anything suspicious and dropped the subject.
Though she still suspected Makoto was deliberately changing the topic.
After all, these two were already calling each other by their first names.
Remember, this guy only just recently started calling her Yukino.
No, I'm actually getting more and more concerned about this.
Yukino suddenly snapped awake.
Then she thought about the "information" her sister sent, and how she had left the house angrily without hesitation.
I seem to be getting less clear-headed.
Yukino clenched the drink cup tightly.
Makoto kept observing Yukino's expression and saw her suddenly zoning out, but he didn't call her out on it and instead continued asking Yumiko: "Are you interested?"
"A cameo role or something? It does sound pretty fresh," Yumiko was clearly interested.
Suddenly, Yukino spoke: "Miura-san, have you ever studied acting?"
Yumiko's expression stiffened: "No."
She thought Yukino was going to criticize her again, but this time Yukino just responded with a simple "Hmm" and dropped the topic entirely.
Yumiko found this strange.
However, Yukino's sudden question did make her think.
She didn't understand photography or acting. If she visited Makoto's club, could she really help?
Yumiko hadn't realized it herself, but she was originally curious and wanted to visit the club.
But after Yukino's continuous questioning, her usually warm heart began to wonder: Could she actually be helpful?
At that moment, Makoto's voice sounded: "Yumiko, you don't need to overthink. It's just a cameo role, so acting skills aren't necessary."
"I got it."
Yumiko's voice was low as she nodded, having made up her mind.
At eleven in the morning, after the three left the shop, Yumiko unexpectedly took the initiative to say goodbye.
Yukino looked at the blonde girl's back, her tone sounding surprised: "You didn't take the chance to say a few words to her. That's surprising."
Makoto followed up, "What should I say?"
Yukino turned back, arms crossed, naturally locking eyes with Makoto:
"According to your formula for calling me Yukino before, since you already called her Yumiko, it means you're going to try to win her over."
Makoto didn't deny it: "What you said earlier already influenced her."
"That's why I'm surprised you didn't talk to her."
"There's no rule that two people must talk face to face."
"Oh."
Yukino responded faintly.
Her expression and tone made it impossible to see her true thoughts.
She finished her question, now it was Makoto's turn: "More than that, I'm more curious why you appeared here."
Yukino was silent.
Makoto boldly guessed: "You were following me?"
Yukino glanced at him: "Do you think I would do such a boring thing?"
Unexpectedly, Makoto laughed: "Thanks for ruling out a wrong answer for me."
"Hmm?"
Yukino was a bit startled and hadn't yet spoken when Makoto laughed again: "Someone specifically told you about my whereabouts, right?"
That was surprisingly sharp.
Yukino was a little surprised.
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