Thirty minutes later, after we finished sorting out the props we bought yesterday, I stayed true to my words and brought Yui outside. I found the neighboring unused clubroom and brought her inside, closing the door behind us for the privacy she’d requested.
The room was bare, save for a few dusty desks and chairs stacked in one corner, with faint sunlight filtering through the window blinds, casting striped shadows across the floor.
Perhaps understanding that this was her ti to shine, Yui’s playful energy seed to dial up a notch as she spun around, her skirt twirling slightly as she looked up at , all cute and giddy.
“Handso-senpai, doesn’t this feel like you’re about to confess to ? If you do, maybe I’ll say yes, you know?” Her lips stretched thin and curved up into a mischievous smile. She even closed in as if trying to see if my face would twitch in response.
I was tempted to flick her forehead as well but upon thinking about it, I decided to just match her energy, “Really, then i-chan... I like you. Will you go out with ?”
Yui’s eyes widened for a split second as her playful facade faltered. Then, her mischievous grin returned before letting out a dramatic gasp and pressing a hand to her chest like she was starring in so over-the-top rom-com.
“Handso-senpai, you dare to confess to in this dusty old clubroom? So bold! So romantic!” She twirled again, her skirt flaring out, before stepping closer and then bowing to turn down, “I apologize, Handso-senpai. My Onii-chan will not be able to sleep at night if he finds out I beca your girlfriend.”
“Oh? You’re surprisingly considerate, i-chan. Won’t he still be unable to sleep if he finds out you’re here with today?” I replied with a teasing grin.
She raised an eyebrow and smirked, “That is that and this is this... Hehe. But seriously, Handso-senpai. You’re not missing a beat at all. You didn’t even blush! The boys confessing to always stutter! And they’re, like, desperate.”
“Well, that’s called inexperience, i-chan. Unlike those boys confessing to you, I have a ton of experience. So, you’re being confessed to, huh? You’re quite the popular girl.”
“Popular? Maybe, they keep hearting my posts and sending ssages. Tell , senpai. Should I just ignore them?” i-chan’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and her tone was playful yet uncertain.
“Honestly, it’s up to you, i-chan. If you find soone you like, you’ll know what to do.” I replied as I watched her animated expression.
“Wow... You truly sound like an expert in matters of the heart, senpai. Do you blush too?” She leaned in closer, the black of her eyes shrinking as if she were zooming in on my face.
“Why? Do you want to witness blushing?” I asked, partly amused and partly bemused.
Although I was expecting us to imdiately discuss that request of hers, we sohow ended up in this kind of conversation. I guess she’s that curious about , huh? Nevertheless, despite acting so playfully, she knew her boundaries. Or rather, she’s not just going to jump at . In her eyes, I’m this reliable, handso senior.
“I do! I bet you’ll be more handso that way!” i-chan swiftly replied. Her voice even goes a little high-pitched.
“This girl... I don’t think that’s how it works. But you can ask Nami and the others for so tips on how to make blush. Who knows? They might spill so secrets worth sharing.” I shook my head before chuckling at her reaction.
“Noted! Fufu.” The girl giggled as her eyes sparkled again, perhaps jotting down imaginary notes in her mind.
“Alright, now that you’re done playing around, let’s get to the topic.” I said, shifting our conversation towards the right direction, “What’s this big cosplay plan of yours that you even risk hiding it from your brother? Or was that just an excuse to get alone?”
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but instead of answering, the girl hopped up to sit on the desk near the middle of the room, swinging her legs playfully as she faced , her starry eyes glinting with excitent.
“Are you really going to grant my request, senpai?”
“Of course, i-chan. As long as it’s sothing I can do. And that’s because you keep calling ‘handso’. I ought to pay for that, right?” I playfully answered as I noticed her slight hesitation.
Perhaps for her, she’s unsure whether I was serious about helping her.
“Pfft. You’re hilarious, Handso-senpai.” The girl burst into sweet laughter. “Okay, fine. My request is easy but it’ll be a little complicated.”
“Complicated, how?”
“Uhm... It’s not just cosplay. I an, yeah, I want to do a killer cosplay shoot. Sothing bold and sothing that’ll make everyone’s jaws drop when I post it. But... I kinda need your help to make it... extra special.”
I raised an eyebrow, already sensing the direction this was heading.
“Extra special? You’re gonna have to give more than that, i-chan. What’s the vibe? Cute? Edgy? Or are we going full Nina-level dramatic?”
She giggled, but her cheeks flushed slightly, and she fidgeted with the hem of her skirt. “Okay, okay, don’t laugh, but... I was thinking about sothing a little... spicy. Like, not too spicy, but, y’know, sothing that screams confidence. Maybe a couples’ cosplay? With you. You’ve got that whole charming-senpai thing going on, and I know it’d blow up online.”
There it was. I knew she was building up to sothing bold.
I kept my expression neutral though I let my voice sound a little playful, “A couples’ cosplay? With ? i-chan, you sure you’re not just trying to get in trouble with your brother? Or my girls out there?”
I pointed my thumb toward the door where the faint chatter of the others in the clubroom drifted through.
Yui pouted, but the enthusiasm in her eyes hadn’t lost any spark, “Oh, co on, senpai! It’s not like that. It’s just for the aesthetic! You’re, like, the perfect partner for this. Tall, handso, and you’ve got that vibe that makes everyone swoon. Plus, you’re used to handling girls, so what’s one more, right?”
She batted her eyelashes dramatically, clearly playing it up.
This ti, I failed to hold back from flicking her forehead.
“Flattery’s not gonna make say yes that easily. And believe it or not, I’m not the one responsible for my cosplays. I’m just wearing what my girls are bringing . Besides, my identity is supposed to be a little mysterious. I cannot just join you in this cosplay idea of yours.”
I crossed my arms as I kept my gaze on Yui. I get it. She wants to pose with her to boost her account. But is that really going to be a good idea?
I an, won’t the boys be so jealous to see her with soone else? Not to ntion... it’ll bring a whole lot of trouble. And for sure, Tadano won’t be able to miss it. Even if I look different in my cosplays, he’ll be able to superimpose my image onto whatever result may co out.
“Aw, co on, Handso-senpai,” Yui whined, hopping off the desk and closing the distance between us. Her skirt swayed as she moved, and she tilted her head, giving that exaggerated pout she probably practiced in the mirror. The kind of pout that would make any boy give in to her demands.
“You’re not really gonna turn down, are you? I an, think about it! You, , so killer cosplay outfits, a photoshoot that’ll break the internet. We’d be unstoppable!”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Unstoppable, huh? But seriously, i-chan. If your intention is to boost your profile, should I just introduce you to soone?”
“Who?”
“To a professional model and photographer. With your looks, it won’t be a high hurdle for you to be one as well.”
“Eh? You know soone like that, Handso-senpai?”
“Of course. Who do you think I am? I’m the most shaless guy in the world.”
“Pfft. I’m serious, senpai. If... if that’s true then... I agree! We can forget the cosplay, introduce to them! I want to model and then post it on my insta.”
This girl’s obsession over social dia engagent was truly sothing else. But then again, I was also dabbling in it with that cosplay account.
Juri might be interested in taking her photos and giving her so advice on how to beco a model. And then there’s also Yua.
Speaking of which, Yua’s mother, who’s keen on recruiting as a model, had already found a photoshoot I could participate in. Since I promised to try it out, turning it down might disappoint her.
As for the magazine where Juri sent my photo as her entry for the photography contest, they’re also interested in publishing more pictures of . Juri and I hadn’t discussed how to deal with that yet.
“Alright. I’ll introduce you to them. Don’t worry, they’re not shady.” I assured the girl.
“I know! I trust you, senpai. You won’t let this adorable junior be taken advantage of, right?” Yui exclaid with her eyes sparkling with earnestness. She then blinked innocently a few tis as she tried her best to look irresistibly cute.
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