Since Yukino wanted to see him cosplaying in public, he picked up his phone and sent a message to Furukawa, letting him know they'd start right after school and try to wrap up before dinner.
Furukawa's reply came quickly. He was both surprised and excited, even attaching a "Tiga Ultraman thumbs-up" sticker.
Haru simply replied that it was because Yukino wanted to see it.
Furukawa immediately understood.
A short while later, Utaha walked over, holding a notebook.
She didn't go to Haru, but instead sat down across from Yukino. "Has the post-production for our film been completed?"
Yukino shook her head. "It should be finished by October."
"That long? I looked it up online, and usually, short films like ours don't take that much time in post-production."
"That's true. However, I see this as a valuable learning opportunity. I'm handling the editing while also studying the process."
Yukino was always straightforward when it came to serious matters.
Utaha nodded in understanding, then turned to Haru with a playful smile. "So, you're completely staying out of this now, huh? Mr. High Jump Champion?"
"What's with that nickname?" Haru asked, puzzled.
Yukinoshita looked equally confused.
Utaha's smile widened. "The news about you breaking the school's high jump record during PE class has already spread."
Leaning on her hand, she gazed at him with a mix of laziness and nostalgia. "It reminds me of how you used to set records in high jump as a kid. Are you planning to become a professional athlete now?"
Haru felt oddly conflicted. He shook his head vigorously. "No way. Absolutely not."
Yukino observed quietly before suddenly asking, "Senpai, are you free later?"
"I am. Why?"
"I think there's something you might find interesting."
Haru blinked in surprise as Yukino casually revealed his plans with Furukawa.
Utaha's eyes lit up. "I'd love to see that."
Then she frowned slightly, puzzled. "But why would you specifically tell me?"
Yukino replied in an effortless tone, "Happiness shared is happiness doubled."
Utaha tilted her head, clearly not understanding.
After Yukino explained, she muttered to herself, "Looks like I still have a long way to go in my studies."
Haru shot a discreet look at Yukino: Aren't you supposed to be on bad terms with Senpai? Why are you voluntarily inviting her?
Yukino pretended not to see him.
She had her own reasons, ones she wasn't ready to share just yet.
Utaha, meanwhile, quickly refocused on their after-school plans. She eyed Haru with a teasing smirk. "So, what are you cosplaying as? The Kamen Rider you always gush about at conventions?"
"No. Zero from Ultraman."
"Zero? I've only heard of Seven. Never came across that one."
Haru explained, "That's normal. Seven is one of Tsuburaya's golden children. Aside from Tiga, who's part of the Heisei Big Three, no other Ultraman comes close in popularity."
Yukino seemed intrigued. "The Heisei Big Three?"
"Tiga, Dyna, Gaia… and Agul." Haru chuckled at his own words.
Both Yukinoand Utaha frowned. "Isn't it supposed to be three?"
"Like how the Four Heavenly Kings always have five members—it's common knowledge."
"…You sound kind of dumb right now."
For once, the two girls found themselves in rare agreement—against him.
After their club activities, the three of them headed out to meet Furukawa and the others.
Before leaving, Haru noticed Yukino asking Kato Megumi if she wanted to join them. But Kato had already made dinner plans with her cousin, who was studying in medical school, and had to decline.
As they waited for Furukawa's group, Utaha was busy on her phone, discussing something with her publisher. Haru took the opportunity to quietly ask Yukino, "You're acting a little strange today."
She remained unfazed. "The secret of your life is always hidden in the things you are most interested in."
Haru twitched. "Bill Gates?"
Yukino corrected him, "That quote is commonly attributed to him online, but there's no real evidence he ever said it."
"Alright, fine. You're meticulous, I get it. But why are you bringing it up?"
"You really don't understand?" She feigned surprise.
"Of course I understand. I just want to know why you're acting like this today."
"I was planning to use Senpai to test Kato, but unfortunately, she couldn't come."
"…"
Haru was speechless.
Knowing how precise Yukino was, if she had already made a move, it meant she had serious doubts.
Just as he was processing that, she added, "Kato is skilled."
Haru silently agreed.
Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that telling Utaha wasn't just about using her to test Kato—there had to be another reason.
But since Yukino wasn't offering an explanation, he decided to let it go for now.
Soon, Furukawa and his friend arrived, slightly out of breath and sweating as if they had rushed over.
"Yukinoshita-san, thank you so much for your help!" Furukawa bowed deeply in gratitude.
"There's no need to thank me. I only agreed because I wanted to see him in the suit," Yukino admitted without hesitation.
With two beautiful girls in their company, Furukawa and his friend were visibly more reserved, unable to banter about games with Haru as freely as usual.
Furukawa's house wasn't far from school, so they arrived quickly. Haru went upstairs with them, while Yukino and Utaha settled into a nearby café.
"You specifically invited me today. Does this mean we've reconciled?" Utaha finally voiced her question.
Yukino, unsurprised, smiled faintly. "You lasted this long before asking. Your patience is commendable, Senpai."
Utaha narrowed her eyes. "So you were waiting for me to bring it up?"
"You could see it that way."
"Then… are we good now?"
"That's impossible. I dislike your way of doing things."
Yukino was so blunt that Utaha didn't even feel offended. Instead, she chuckled. "So it really was my actions that day that annoyed you."
"Not just that day." Yukino was unwavering. "With the way you operate, even if that hadn't happened, you'd still do something in the future that I'd find unacceptable. If that's the case, it's better to make it clear now."
Then, she borrowed Haru's words—though she modified them slightly. "We'll be seeing a lot of each other in the future, so it's best to lay everything out early."
Utaha raised an eyebrow. "I thought…"
"What did you think? That I'd completely destroy you because of you and Haru?" Yukino cut her off.
Utaha gave an awkward smile but didn't answer.
Her expression, however, said it all.
Yukinos's calm demeanor wavered slightly as she spoke in a cold tone. "What happened between you and Haru did make me angry."
But it was already done.
She didn't say that part out loud.
She hated dwelling on the past even more than she hated standing still.
What mattered wasn't what had happened—it was how she would respond moving forward.
That was something her sister had taught her.
Utaha's emotions were complicated as well.
She had assumed that Yukino telling her about Haru meant there was still a chance for reconciliation.
She hadn't expected Yukino to be so firm and decisive.
Not even leaving her a sliver of hope.
And on this matter, she had no ground to argue.
After all, the aura Yukino had exuded that day—the aura of an undisputed leading lady—had left a deep impression on her.
One she probably wouldn't forget for the rest of her life.
I have to get stronger, she thought.
Just then, at the table next to them, two young men hesitated for a while before one of them finally stood up. Approaching the girls, he smiled nervously. "Excuse me, um…"
"Sorry, we're waiting for someone."
Utaha had already noticed the way the male customers in the café had been eyeing them. She preemptively turned them down.
It was a little rude, but she didn't care.
Yukino glanced at the young man's awkward expression and added, "We're expecting someone."
"Ah, I didn't mean anything by it… I just wanted to introduce myself."
The young man seemed unwilling to give up—after all, it wasn't every day one got to meet two such beautiful girls.
Utaha arched an eyebrow, about to shut him down coldly, when she noticed Haru and the others coming downstairs.
Her lips curved into a smirk as she said, "Our friend's here."
Yukino turned to look and, upon seeing Haru dressed in a full-body Zero Ultraman suit, couldn't help but laugh.
The man who had been trying to hit on them followed their gazes, and when he finally saw Haru in the incredibly detailed Ultraman suit, his jaw dropped.
"…Wait, the person you were waiting for… was Ultraman?"
Neither of the girls bothered to answer.
The young man let out an awkward chuckle before quickly slipping away.
Yukino and Utaha stood up at the same time and walked over.
Just as they reached them, they heard Furukawa enthusiastically praising Haru.
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect! I knew I had a good eye! Your body proportions are just ideal for Ultraman and Kamen Rider. Especially your waist—look at that!"
Yukino and Utaha exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.
A guy complimenting another guy's body—especially one they both had… complicated feelings for—was a bit weird.
But Furukawa was purely appreciating the craftsmanship, so they let it slide.
He pulled out his phone excitedly. "Alright, Haru, let's get started!"
"Got it."
Haru struck Zero's signature pose.
Then he waved at the girls.
Yukino snorted. "And to think you were complaining about this earlier. Now look at you, having the time of your life."
Utaha crossed her arms. "I think I'm starting to see the appeal of tokusatsu."
Yukinoshita side-eyed her. "Are you sure it's tokusatsu's appeal?"
Utaha smiled mysteriously. "Who knows?"
The bizarre tension between the two made Furukawa and his friend visibly uncomfortable.
Taking a chance, Furukawa pulled Haru aside and asked in a hushed voice, "Hey, what exactly is your relationship with Kasumigaoka-senpai? Something feels off here."
Haru, his voice slightly muffled from the suit, replied just as quietly, "Exactly what you're thinking."
Furukawa and his friend exchanged looks—then burst out laughing.
"Hah! Good one, man!"
They clearly didn't believe him at all.
"I mean, sure, you're amazing, we'll give you that. But to say you not only won over Yukinoshita but also Kasumigaoka? No way in hell."
"Yeah! If that were true, I'd wash your socks for a whole month."
They spoke with full confidence.
Haru, exasperated, sighed through his helmet. "I'm telling the truth. If you guys don't believe me, that's your problem."
"Haha! You really got everyone laughing!"
With that, the filming began smoothly.
Furukawa's request wasn't extravagant—he simply wanted to bring his fantasy of Ultraman walking through town to life.
Luckily, Haru was tall, well-built from years of training, and practically born to be a suit actor.
Ignoring the curious stares from passersby, Haru endured the mild embarrassment and struck a series of poses for his friend.
Meanwhile, Yukino and Utaha stood off to the side, thoroughly enjoying the show. They even pulled out their phones in perfect sync to snap photos.
Five minutes later, Furukawa clutched his phone with satisfaction. "Thanks, Haru! My childhood dream has finally come true."
Haru extended his hand. "You should call me by my suit name."
Furukawa immediately caught on and shook his hand. "Thank you, Zero."
Another friend joined in, placing his hand on top of theirs. "Thank you, Zero."
Haru, ever the performer, added in a deep, dramatic voice, "You're welcome, foolish Earthlings."
The precious moment of interspecies diplomacy—Ultraman and humans, shaking hands in unity—was captured in high definition by Yukino and Utaha, now proudly saved in their photo albums.