Chapter 34

The no-cuteness ordinance.

That was an unprecedented crisis for me.

Sure, Yuzu senpai’s charm isn’t just about being cute.

I was drawn to the coolness hidden deep within, but that doesn’t mean I should let them cheapen that coolness.

I can’t let my guard down.

If I don’t steel my resolve and head into club activities today… I’m going to get wrecked.

“I think we’ve gotten a bit lazy lately,” Yuzu senpai said, putting her rimless glasses back on and staring straight at me.

Ugh… the moment cuteness was banned, I was struck with a curse that made even everyday, casual gestures look cuter than usual.

“Even when we gather in the club room, we… um… just sit on you… ugh…”

Is this torture?

Is Yuzu senpai doing this on purpose?

What should I do when she’s the one who brought it up and is now turning bright red?

…No good, no good, no good!

If cuteness is banned, I need to restrain my brain from thinking things are cute, too.

“S-So, cuu—!”

I bit my tongue.

Ah, ahhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhrgh!!

“…We’re, um, doing club ac-tivities…”

I bit my lower lip to hold it in, tasting blood.

Yuzu senpai, pressing a hand to her mouth while trembling with teary eyes, was super cute, super pretty, super lovely, and super charming.

Damn it, this is the limit of my English vocabulary… If I had studied harder, I could have shared Yuzu senpai’s charm on a global scale…!

“T-Today, you see… I brought something really great!”

Yuzu senpai reached inside the school bag placed on the adjacent chair.

I wonder what this “really great thing” is.

Yuzu senpai already gave me fashion glasses as a present yesterday, so if it’s anything better than that, I’m confident I’ll finally lose my mind.

“…Ta-da! Rooftop!!”

“…Rooft…top?”

What Yuzu senpai pulled out was a single book.

She stretched both hands out toward me and showed off the book called Rooftop!! with a full smile.

That posture was so cuuuttteeee… so happy and cuuuute… ugh… I thought it was wonderful…

…S-Safe.

“…Kido-kun, do you not know Rooftop?”

Yuzu senpai looking blank and tilting her head is truly a sight to behold.

“Sorry. This is my first time hearing—”

“I see! This is it, this is it! It’s a paperback book titled Tomorrow, Fall in Love on the Rooftop!! and it’s my absolute favorite! It’s a super popular romance novel that’s even getting a live-action film adaptation soon, and all the fans just call it Rooftop!! for short! It’s this mysterious and bittersweet story set on a rooftop where time loops, and, um! I can’t say anymore because it’ll spoil the plot, but I’m sure you’re going to love it, aaah!”

Cuteness overload.

Yuzu senpai talking nineteen to the dozen about her favorite book is way too cute.

I couldn’t help but give a standing ovation in my heart.

“We’re going to read this today!”

Wait, how do you breathe again?

I feel like I’m going to suffocate from an overdose of cuteness.

“And we’re not just going to read it, you know? As the literature club, to boost our comprehension of the work, we’re going to read it out loud! You and me! Why are you clapping?”

“…I was just thinking senpai is amazing.”

“Fufun. Did you finally realize it?”

I’m sorry, Yuzu senpai.

I feel like I’m going to die of shock from all this cuteness.

I want to hug her and pat her head right now.

B-But if I endure this, there’s a path to victory.

Because this means it’s a reading session.

I get to see Yuzu senpai reading a book for the first time in a while! This is my chance to gaze at her dignified, mysterious reading pose while simultaneously breaking through this no-cuteness ordinance!!

“L-Let’s read it, senpai! Right now!”

“Yeah!!”

People can die from a nod.

O-Okay, the space here is already a reading zone, so…

Since my legs could barely support me from all the cuteness, I naturally made my way to my usual seat and sat down.

And right across from me was Yuzu senpai…!

“I’ve been looking forward to this!”

Yuzu senpai…

“Now, read!”

Looking up at me with a smile, she sat… right on my lap.