Chapter 18: Business…what? (5)

“Business… what now?”

“Business yuri.”

For a moment, I doubted my ears, but the same answer came back.

…No, it wasn’t that I didn’t hear it and asked again.

It’s not like I don’t know the meaning either, but….

Why, of all things?

“What’s with that reaction? Do you dislike Yuu?”

“No, that’s not what this is about.”

Refuting the CEO’s dichotomous question that suddenly came at me, I quickly racked my brain.

Well, if you weigh whether I dislike her or like her, of course, I like her.

But um… how should I put it.

Am I not quite mentally prepared yet?

I don’t really care much if other people ship us.

But to actually make those kinds of moves myself is a bit….

Even if it’s work, it pricks my conscience, so to speak?

No, isn’t that obvious?

Even if I’m a woman on the outside, my mind isn’t female, right?

This definitely has the potential to be morally problematic.

Ah, of course.

Even if I set aside all the reasons I just listed….

“Like this, so suddenly?”

Why, at this timing?

How long has it been since we debuted, and you’re already pushing something like this?

…And the CEO herself, at that?

“Honestly, it’s a bit premature.”

“Then we don’t have to do it…”

“Looking at your guys’ atmosphere, I figured it wouldn’t be a problem even if you did?”

…Atmosphere?

No, we’ve become much more awkward than when we first met.

Is it really an atmosphere without problems?

In this situation… what on earth did she see?

Ah, could it be that?

She wants to push us back together before we feel too distant from each other?

But even so… to this extent?

No, in the first place, don’t people usually get pushed together in reality? What’s with this business yuri?

“But… it’s called yuri, but there’s nothing you particularly have to do. Just act as you normally do, like usual.”

“Yes?”

“That’s enough for you. No, rather, that way is better.”

Just when my logic was getting all tangled up and I couldn’t sort it out neatly.

The CEO interjected, adding another spoonful of worry….

“…I’m okay with doing it.”

“…Huh?”

“Perhaps, you don’t like it…?”

And then, Yuu’s follow-up attack occurred….

Honestly, I was a little dizzy.

‘…Gosh, Yuu.’

‘If you say it like that, cutting off everything before and after, what am I supposed to do?’

‘If I answer incorrectly, it’s easy to misunderstand it as me disliking you, isn’t it…?’

“…Ugh. Seriously.”

I thought about it so much my head was starting to throb.

But unfortunately, the answer was already decided.

“…I can just act as usual, you said?”

That night, at Yuu’s house.

“Aargh, ack, hwaaak!”

Someone who was trying to sleep in bed suddenly started kicking the blankets.

“Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot…!”

…What more needs to be said?

It was Yuu’s cringe-filled struggle, consumed by self-loathing over today’s events.

Actually, it was quite understandable.

Her inherent nature was so cheerful, and her sociability was also good….

Until Siyeon—Reina, in Yuu’s case—came along, she had been the de facto leader of the 2nd generation.

For her to experience being excessively flustered in front of others like today….

It was no exaggeration to say it was the shame of a lifetime.

“Business… yuri….”

Then, as if exhausted, Yuu suddenly quieted down.

She silently turned over, buried her face in her pillow, and… recalled the CEO’s words.

‘It’s work, so I have to do it, right?’

Actually, it was too late to discuss whether to do it or not.

It was already decided, she couldn’t go against the CEO’s instructions, and…

She had already said strange things right to her partner’s face.

“…”

…Yuu wanted to kick the blankets again.

But she gritted her teeth and barely managed to compose herself.

‘…Right, it’s work.’

‘Even if it’s a bit embarrassing, I have to work hard.’

‘I have to show clearly that I like her.’

‘I also have to express affection periodically.’

‘For those expressions to be natural, we need to get closer.’

‘To do that… to do that….’

‘We need to become more familiar with each other….’

“Hee… heheh….”

…Although it was a case of the cart pulling the horse.

It would be a very long time in the future before Yuu realized this.

The next day.

“Explain yourself.”

“No, what…?”

Baek Jiah’s justifiable anger suddenly fell upon Siyeon.