*DING-DONG!*
Separated by just one floor, in less than half a minute, Yuigahama arrived on the eleventh floor where Yukino lived.
This luxury apartment had only one resident per floor, ensuring no unrelated people loitered near the apartment doors.
Coupled with the presence of surveillance cameras, Yuigahama could calmly place the Christmas presents in front of the door without worrying about them being stolen by others.
Hmm, except by God… She could only pray that after the mission was completed, God wouldn't confiscate her Christmas presents.
"It's really quiet."
The elevator door closed behind her. Stepping on the luxurious red carpet, Yuigahama walked towards the door with the Yukinoshita nameplate while looking around.
All of this was because of the words Masuzu said before she left, so now she unconsciously concentrated, as if wanting to hear the sound of them talking, or any sounds they might be making.
But whether it was due to excellent sound insulation, or because they weren't doing anything, the entire eleventh floor was extremely quiet, quiet to the point of being slightly eerie.
Yuigahama felt relieved because of it, but at the same time sighed with an indescribable pity—she herself didn't know why this complicated feeling emerged.
"Then, I'll just put down the presents and leave quickly!"
Walking lightly, she arrived in front of the cold, hard door. She took out two carefully wrapped brown paper bags from her bag.
One contained a scarf, and the other contained gloves.
Both were knitted by Yuigahama herself. Each was embroidered with their names, in colors and patterns they liked.
For herself, she knitted a wool hat that could perfectly cover her dango hairstyle, with her own color and pattern.
For these three items, Yuigahama was forced to reduce her study time to one hour each day. She danced with wool yarn until bedtime at eleven.
She asked her mother for guidance, watched various tutorial videos, spent money to buy many materials and samples, kept trying, kept striving. Even so, it took nearly half a month to produce these three most perfect works.
All were infused with her sincerity towards them and her hopes for the future.
"Although I also want to monopolize Yuu-kun… but I don't hate a future where the three of us are happy together either."
Whispering softly, Yuigahama placed the two brown paper bags in front of the door. She herself wore her pink wool hat and smiled at the closed door.
"Yuu-kun, Yukinon, what are you doing right now?"
"To be honest, right now, I really want to break your world for two."
Even though no one could hear her, she still expressed her feelings in a soft, cheerful tone: "I want you to know that I'm very close to you, I want you to know that I actually don't want to be left out… I really want to face all difficulties together with Yukinon and Yuu-kun."
(But, I can't do that.)
She didn't even look at the doorbell beside her. She just exhaled warm breath onto her fingertips that were starting to get cold and rubbed her hands together.
"I really want to ignore everything and be selfish, like Sora who makes Yuu-kun prioritize everything just for me… But I can't, even Sora is trying to change her hikikomori nature for him. What right do I have to sulk?"
"So, I agreed to Yukinon's request. No crying and no whining, let alone trying hard to monopolize Yuu-kun before today, doing everything possible first, then handing Yuu-kun over to Yukinon…"
"This is the most mature and correct way, right? I hope Yuu-kun will pat my head and praise me after he finds out."
Somehow, the breath exhaled from her mouth could no longer warm her fingertips. The cold wind and snow outside the apartment seemed to blow into the eleventh-floor corridor, slowly draining her body temperature.
Yuigahama rubbed her nose, red from the cold, and pulled her wool hat down a little.
However, as her fingers left the wool hat, she became like a marionette with cut strings, falling limp beside her body.
"I really, I really… have been working hard…"
"I know, I'm not worthy of Yuu-kun, so I keep trying hard to become stronger… Even though my final exam rank was only fifteenth in the class, even though right now I can only make bento with average taste and the same old menu, even though I know everyone who likes Yuu-kun is far superior to me…"
The soft voice she spoke with gradually turned into fragile sobs.
"I'm also trying, wanting to become a good woman who can support Yuu-kun from behind."
"Even sharing Yuu-kun with others is fine, even if Yuu-kun doesn't have time to date me is fine, even if Yuu-kun leaves me to meet other women is fine… As long as it's Yuu-kun's wish, I want to fulfill it."
"But why, even though I've made the right choice, I still have to bear this pain…"
Even while sobbing, Yuigahama quickly pulled herself together, not letting her emotions completely fall apart.
"Maybe I love you too much… Hmm! It's okay, I'm starting to get used to it."
"As long as you can see my efforts, this little suffering won't defeat me!"
Tears fell to the floor. She immediately wiped her face, her eyes glistening, but she could show a bright and very cheerful smile.
"I hate this, I didn't plan to cry at all… Anyway, I know, you always see my efforts, and you've also sacrificed so much for me, making many difficult choices for my sake."
"I'm really glad I could become your girlfriend!"
"It's just, not being able to be with you on Christmas Eve, not being able to talk to you, is indeed a little painful."
The trembling voice gradually stabilized, like a sea no longer wavy, deep and calm.
"So Yukinon, you must succeed! You must change Yuu-kun!"
"You must… be happy with him!"
Her palm gently touched the cold door. Yuigahama bowed her head and prayed earnestly:
"God, please don't give Yuu-kun any more unnecessary trials."
"Please give him, and the girls who love him, a perfect ending!"
After whispering, Yuigahama straightened up. On her face were only the traces of tears not yet dried. A relaxed smile reappeared.
"Then, I'll be going now!"
"Merry Christmas, Yuu-kun, Yukinon!"
Her eyes gazed deeply at the door, as if she could see two figures behind it, doing who knows what right now.
One was the man she loved deeply, and the other was the friend she treasured greatly.
After that, Yuigahama waved gracefully, turned around without hesitation, and pressed the elevator button.
She didn't think she was pitiful, because she had obtained enough happiness.
She didn't think she was amazing, because the one more amazing was the girl who chose to part.
She didn't think she was important, because before she started dating him, Yuu already had three ex-girlfriends.
She didn't think she was foolish, because if the person she loved were in her position, they would do the same.
She only felt that she had worked hard.
Yuigahama is Yuu's girlfriend. No matter what she has to sacrifice, no matter what she has to give, the warmth she worked so hard to obtain, she will never let go.
In the past, now, and in the future.
Even if God wants to erase her memories, Yuigahama will always strive to be Yuu's girlfriend.
In this world, there is only one kind of heroism: seeing all the truth, but still choosing to love him.
"If no one can be Yuu-kun's hero, then I will be!"
That was something only she could do. Something only she, who never forgot the feeling of loving him, could do.
No matter what happens, this time, she won't let him show that expression from before, accustomed to parting, enduring disappointment and pain!
Yuigahama slowly took a deep breath and stepped into the elevator.
She looked at herself in the mirror, adjusted her tilted wool hat, and said with determined eyes:
"Yuu-kun, let me be the one to protect you!"