Yumiko led Yoru into a deserted alley in the commercial area.
It wasn't a long alley—both ends were visible at a glance.
Yumiko wasn't concerned about safety. Thanks to her background, she'd been well protected growing up.
And that had also shaped her into someone strong-willed and domineering.
"Alright? What... what do you want?"
Yoru thought a group of people might be waiting to jump him.
But it was just Yumiko, alone.
"I told you, I just want to talk!" Yumiko said while twirling a strand of her golden hair.
"But that wasn't my fault..."
Yoru naturally assumed Yumiko was here to pick a fight over what happened Monday.
He had no idea she just wanted to have a conversation.
"You still dare say it's not your fault? Didn't I warn you before?"
Yumiko frowned, a metaphorical trio of black lines forming on her forehead.
"I didn't do anything wrong! You were the one being extra!"
Yoru gritted his teeth and muttered a defense.
"What?"
Yumiko looked a little surprised by his reaction.
Wasn't this guy usually meek and spineless?
"I said it was your own fault!"
Yoru took a deep breath and looked straight at the beautiful gyaru before him.
"It's your problem!"
"Hah? Heh..."
Yumiko suddenly let out a dry laugh, glancing around.
The next second—
She strode forward with her long legs and grabbed Yoru by the collar, lifting him slightly.
"What's that got to do with me?"
Her wine-red eyes narrowed threateningly as she questioned him.
Yoru froze.
He, a fat otaku, was now pinned against a wall in a dark alley by a stunning blonde gyaru gripping his collar?
Yumiko, seeing he wouldn't respond, tugged his collar harder, making him uncomfortable.
At the same time, she leaned in, glaring at his chubby face.
"Let go of me."
Yoru finally reacted, trying to swat away her hand.
But he failed—and she pushed him backward against the wall.
"You disgusting slob still dare act tough?"
Irritated by his resistance, Yumiko snarled and kicked at his shin with her loafer-clad foot.
Yoru instinctively tried to dodge.
"If I tell the school you looked at me with a pervy stare and tried something indecent, think you'd get expelled?"
Yumiko leaned in close, her breath cold as she spat the words in his face, her eyes full of revulsion.
Clunk—
Yoru's body and mind froze at once, like someone had turned off the water valve.
Yumiko's kick landed on his shin—but being a girl, she didn't have much strength, and his leg was fleshy. It didn't hurt.
Felt more like a light bump.
After speaking, Yumiko let go of his collar, clapped her hands, and was about to give him a stern warning—
To stay away from Yui.
That's all she really wanted. As for the embarrassing incident where she tripped and flashed her panties and butt...
She had long since accepted that as bad luck.
But she really, really shouldn't have threatened Yoru with expulsion.
Lately, Yoru had been in a bad mood, always on edge.
"Miura Yumiko!"
Yoru's reaction was not what Yumiko expected.
His eyes were bloodshot, burning red with fury. He was trying his best to hold it in, but still squeezed her name out through clenched teeth.
Yumiko immediately sensed something was off—Yoru looked like he'd snapped.
Fear surged through her as she instinctively tried to step back.
But a pair of chubby hands lunged toward her wrist.
Caught off guard, her fair wrist was seized tightly by Yoru's grip.
"You... What are you—"
Before she could even finish, a surge of strength clamped down on her arm. With a light push from Yoru, Yumiko couldn't keep her balance and stumbled backward.
Her back slammed into the rough wall, and her arm was pinned above her head by Yoru's reversed grip.
"I've never done anything to you!"
"So why are you bullying me for no reason? Threatening me? Trying to get me expelled?!"
Yoru looked like a man possessed, yelling at Yumiko with wild anger.
His face twisted in fury.
Yumiko was completely stunned, her face pale as fear and confusion took over.
She never imagined things would escalate like this.
"Y-you're disgusting..."
"Let go of me, you bastard..."
She struggled with all her strength, trying to free her wrist. Her legs kicked wildly beneath her.
"You think I'm just some fat loser who's easy to pick on?"
Yoru snapped again, though he tried to calm the rage boiling inside.
He was afraid that if he lost control, he'd do something truly reckless.
Yumiko kicked so hard she flung her shoes off—but she still couldn't break free.
Just as she was about to scream for help, Yoru finally let go of her wrist with a cold glare and stepped back, adjusting his collar.
Cough cough... Yumiko's face turned red from shock and relief as she coughed repeatedly.
"Since the beginning of the semester, you've been warning me—but I've never once provoked you, have I?"
"You fell on your own. Your underwear showed, and I just happened to see it. That's not my fault, right?"
"I even apologized."
Yoru stepped back another two paces, still fuming as he glared at Yumiko.
This unexpected rebellion from him was completely outside her expectations.
"Cough cough... Then... what about Yui?" Yumiko coughed as she leaned against the wall, still flustered and anxious.
"Yuigahama? What about her?"
Yoru froze in confusion.
"You and Yui... you're way too close, aren't you?" Yumiko shot back, trying to steady herself.
"I may have accidentally seen your underwear—and I apologized. But Yuigahama and I are in the same club. What are you trying to say?"
Yoru still thought all this was about the Monday incident.
Even now, he couldn't tell what the real issue was—partly because Yumiko had never been direct.
Of course, asking a top-of-the-food-chain blonde gyaru to clearly explain herself to a gross loser like him? That wasn't likely.
"...Huh?"
Yumiko blinked in surprise.
Yui and Yoru... were in the same club?
She hadn't expected that at all.
If she remembered correctly, Yui's club was founded by Yukinoshita Yukino.
How could a chubby nerd like Yoru have joined a club created by the school's queen of ice?
"So? Are you still going to threaten me?"
Yoru began to calm down, thinking maybe he'd lost his temper too easily.
But he didn't regret what he just did.