"Hey, that's Yukio, right?"
"Yeah, it's him. The monster who even beat Horikita-senpai. But this is just too enviable! Damn!"
"Isn't it a bit outrageous? Does having enough ability at this school really let you do whatever you want?"
Originally, this trio had already been attracting plenty of stares from the students around them. But now the rate of onlookers doubling back to gawk reached two hundred percent. Even students simply walking past couldn't help turning their heads again and again, brimming with curiosity.
If it were just three classmates—one guy and two girls—going out for Christmas, everyone would still find it normal. But when Yukio suddenly took hold of Shiina's and Ibuki's hands, it looked a little off. Countless students began guessing: 'What is their relationship?'
Just moments ago, Ibuki had felt so confident, assuring herself she'd never concede. Now, she wanted to surrender on the spot. She kept her head down, face burning, as though doing so might conceal her embarrassment from all the onlookers.
"H-hey, how long do we have to keep holding hands like this?" Ibuki's voice dropped lower than usual, carrying a syrupy tone quite unlike her.
Any student from Yukio's class hearing her speak that way would never believe it was Ibuki.
"What's the matter?" Yukio thought Ibuki was really contrary. "You're gripping so tight yourself—are you hoping I'll let go?"
Ibuki blushed harder, realizing that she, too, had unconsciously been clinging, apparently too delighted to let go.
Shiina, meanwhile, only blushed a little, utterly enjoying the sweet romance of interlinked fingers with Yukio on Christmas. "Yukio, maybe Ibuki-san's just shy."
"Shy? As if!" Ibuki bristled inside. No way was she letting Shiina—someone she could make cry for ages with a single punch—look down on her.
"Wh-who's shy?!" she retorted stiffly, raising her chin in defiance. "I-I'm not a kid, okay? Ridiculous to think a high-schooler would get shy over something like holding hands!"
"Pfft," Yukio and Shiina broke into laughter simultaneously. Ibuki remained so entertaining—her mouth tough, her cheeks red, and the more she talked, the more flustered she got, completely undermining her words.
Hearing them both laugh, Ibuki felt mortified, wishing she could turn into a pangolin, burrow through the ground, and disappear. Fortunately, that hand-holding situation ended once they entered the movie theater, since Yukio had to go pick up the tickets. That gave him some relief, too.
It pleased him that neither Shiina nor Ibuki seemed like typical girls—one was quiet and loved books, the other athletic and loved martial arts—so neither was into shopping. Shiina liked stories, and a movie was just another kind of story, so of course she enjoyed it. Ibuki, for her part, was often spotted at the theater by fellow classmates anyway. So the first stop of their date was the cinema.
As for the movie's plot, Yukio barely paid attention; he was more focused on Shiina on his left and Ibuki on his right.
Shiina was basically the same: she'd glance at the screen now and then, but often turned her head and exchanged a small smile with Yukio. Although the theater was dark, lit only by the screen, it gave them a certain romantic air of mutual understanding.
Ibuki, meanwhile, was very into the film—one of those viewers who hardly blinked. She stared at the big screen without looking away. Several times, Yukio glanced at her, wondering if she might sense his gaze and turn around, but that never happened. Ibuki watched the film as if in a trance, not even shifting her head.
Unbeknownst to Yukio, Ibuki was tense. It was her first time seeing a movie with him, so how could she not be on edge? But she realized he kept turning to look at her, which only made her more self-conscious. She kept thinking, 'What's he planning? Does he want to pull something in this dark theater?'
The more she thought about it, the more rattled she got, thus avoiding meeting his eyes entirely.
Seeing Ibuki so absorbed, Yukio decided not to disturb her. Instead, he discreetly moved his left hand onto Shiina's thigh.
Shiina rolled her eyes in a sultry manner—unfortunately, in the darkness, Yukio couldn't appreciate the nuance. Then he gently slid up the hem of her sleeveless dress just a bit, letting his hand revel in that silky black stocking and her smooth, warm thigh.
"Yukio, you're always teasing. Ibuki-san's right over there…" Shiina's face must have reddened, leaning her head close to his seat, her voice barely audible in protest. But she made no move to stop him.
Such willingness made Yukio look at her even more dotingly. "Honestly, I should've just spent Christmas with you alone."
Shiina, regardless of whether Yukio could see her or not, shook her head to disagree, then let out a sweet, tinkling laugh like a silver bell. "If you feel guilty, then pamper me a bit more, okay? Anyway, however you treat other girls, treat me just a little better."
That was precisely why he spoiled her, he thought. As he kept sliding her dress hem, from the top of her thigh near the knee to the middle portion, he said, "Like this?"
"…" Shiina simply rested her head on his left shoulder, biting her lip, pressing her whole body against the right arm of the seat, whispering almost silently by his ear, "When I said a bit more, I wasn't talking about rolling my skirt a bit higher."
"But that's exactly a bit more than before," Yukio answered solemnly, then launched into an account of what had happened thirty seconds earlier.
…
All along, Ibuki was wondering if he and Shiina weren't sitting too close. They were practically cuddling—'who does that while watching a movie?' Overcome by curiosity, she tilted her head while Yukio gazed at Shiina, and just caught a glimpse of him misbehaving with her thigh near the knee.
Her heart didn't exactly ache with jealousy, but she did feel a prickle of sourness. No way—whatever Shiina got, she should get too, right? Just like how they'd all three held hands before; there was no way she'd be left out now.
So, with timid determination, Ibuki inched over, grabbed Yukio's right hand, and placed it on her own knee. Then she quickly turned back around, eyes locked on the screen, as though nothing had happened. Seeing that, Yukio felt a twinge of regret. Had he known, maybe letting her wear her short denim shorts would have been better. These long jeans were quite thick—though at least it kept her warm.
Hearing Yukio's explanation, Shiina's cheeks reddened further. Being caught in the act by Ibuki was mortifying, indeed. Thus, as Shiina continued leaning against Yukio's shoulder, everything she whispered took on an ambiguous tone. "Then… I'll let you come up a bit more."