All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends

Chapter 81: Yukinoshita Yukino Develops Admiration and Titanic tickets

1.5 billion yen?

Kirisu Mafuyu was utterly stunned by this terrifying figure.

Seeing her teacher's expression, Yukino couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

After all, back when Kirisu Mafuyu was her teacher, she always maintained a stoic poker face.

"Is he the heir of some conglomerate family?" Yukino asked curiously.

A young man with such outstanding talent...

Even the heirs of the Shinomiya or Yukinoshita families likely couldn't compare.

But as the topic was brought up, Kirisu Mafuyu shook her head seriously.

"He's just an ordinary person, not part of any conglomerate or supported by any family. He's all on his own."

As for Yukima Azuma's background, Kirisu Mafuyu certainly wouldn't disclose it without permission.

But one thing she was determined to make clear was that Yukima Azuma was entirely independent.

Even if the Yukima family still existed, they wouldn't be worthy of someone like Yukima Azuma.

Yukima Azuma had been alone from start to finish.

No family.

That's what he said himself.

Kirisu Mafuyu confirmed it as well.

Hearing Kirisu Mafuyu's serious explanation, Yukino's eyes slowly widened.

He… is all alone?

"He once told me about his company, but I didn't expect it to be on such a massive scale."

"The money he used to start the company was earned from developing games when he was in middle school."

"No family support, no one to back him up."

"From beginning to end, he's always been by himself."

Kirisu Mafuyu explained solemnly.

In Yukinoshita Yukino's heart, an unprecedented feeling of shock surged.

Previously, she had assumed Yukima Azuma came from a conglomerate family, far more exceptional than hers.

Although that notion had moved her a little, it didn't go beyond that.

Yukino understood herself well.

The geniuses nurtured by powerful families like the Shinomiya clan, who held immense influence in Japan, could never be inferior to her.

But Yukima Azuma was completely alone.

He was younger than her.

By his own efforts, he had built a place for himself in Tokyo.

Not relying on anyone's help meant he wasn't bound by anyone either.

Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes trembled intensely.

From birth until now, for the first time, she felt a sense of admiration.

As a girl who had always been more exceptional than her peers, hailed as a genius, and admired by many…

When someone like her developed admiration for someone more talented, that emotion was far more intense than an average person's, to the point of being nearly uncontrollable.

The conversation ended there for the time being.

Yukinoshita Yukino returned to her room.

Both individuals carried their own thoughts as they began organizing the belongings they had just moved in.

...

Downstairs.

Kasumigaoka pulled Yukima Azuma, and a small group of people gathered.

"Why is Kirisu-sensei staying at Azuma's house?!" (Eriri)

"Apparently, her previous rental contract expired." (Azuma)

"It seems more like she's here to supervise us." (Utaha)

"Ehh? What do you mean by that?" (Eriri)

"Umu umu, maybe she's just worried about her students running into unexpected trouble." (Azuma)

"Stop dodging the question! Let's set Kirisu-sensei aside for now—what about Yukinoshita?" (Utaha)

"Yukinoshita? Who's that?" (Eriri)

"She seems to be a former top student of Toyogasaki." (Megumi)

"Why do you all know everything?!" (Eriri)

"You're just the only clueless one." (Utaha)

"Yukinoshita-san also moved here because her rental contract expired." (Azuma)

The suspicious gazes of the three girls all turned to Azuma.

"Ahem... Currently, Yukinoshita-san works at my company, handling HR—specifically, recruiting programmers for our team."

Yukima Azuma added an explanation.

"Wow, wow. Not just a student-teacher relationship, but even office politics—you're going all out!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha shot Azuma a sharp glance, as piercing as a knife.

Yukima Azuma raised three fingers and swore solemnly.

Heaven bear witness—they were absolutely innocent!

...At least for now, they were still innocent.

"Hmph, I'll let it slide this time. But no more outsiders casually moving into this house!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha warned.

Eriri nodded furiously, completely oblivious to the fact that she had just moved in the night before.

"I've already asked the agency to withdraw the rental listing."

Yukima Azuma aligned himself with the two as if they were united in their cause.

...

Thus, after a busy morning, the Yukima household finally sat down for breakfast.

Following breakfast, Kasumigaoka and Eriri resumed their work on White Album.

The entire weekend passed peacefully.

The following week unfolded neatly and orderly.

After Kirisu Mafuyu moved into the house, she mostly kept to herself in her room every day.

As for Yukinoshita Yukino, she left early in the morning and only returned to the apartment in the evening.

Yukima Azuma remembered that his company operated on standard business hours—9 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week. So why did Yukino seem so busy?

Kasumigaoka Utaha was also swamped. Besides writing scripts for novels, she was gearing up to prepare Volume 5 of The Metronome in Love.

Outside of school, Yukima Azuma's official match had concluded.

He secured first place in the tournament with an undefeated record, earning a promotion to 7-dan professional shogi player, the youngest in history to achieve this milestone.

This achievement served as a bold declaration of Yukima Azuma's return to the shogi world.

Additionally, Yukima Azuma confirmed his participation in the "Ryuuou" title tournament starting in the summer.

This news dominated shogi headlines for quite some time.

Meanwhile, at school, Kita Ikuyo seemed to have integrated well with the band and became friends with Bocchi.

Their band, Kessoku Band, was scheduled to perform their first live show at STARRY next week.

What a cause for celebration!

Toyogasaki recently held a monthly exam.

Yukima Azuma maintained his position at the top of the school leaderboard with an unbeatable score.

Meanwhile, Eriri scored failing grades in both English and math and received a scolding from Kirisu Mafuyu. Eriri's British blood wept in shame.

Typically, Eriri's grades were just enough to meet the standard, but lately, she had been neglecting her studies due to being preoccupied with her illustration work.

Kato Megumi barely managed to pass the threshold as well.

As a result, Kirisu Mafuyu specifically sought out Yukima Azuma, warning him to supervise the two girls and ensure they studied more seriously.

If they failed any subjects in the national exams this summer, they would have to stay back for remedial classes.

Yukima Azuma nodded repeatedly, promising to help the two of them review during breaks between classes.

Amid a busy life, a plan Yukima Azuma had prepared for quietly reached its execution date.

Titanic had premiered.

....

"My mom received two movie tickets from a friend, but she didn't want to go, so she gave them to me."

"If Azuma is free… It-it's not like I'm insisting you come watch a movie with me, hmph! But it'd be a waste not to use the tickets!"

Eriri handed a movie ticket to Yukima Azuma.

Yukima Azuma took the ticket and glanced at it.

It was indeed a ticket to Titanic.

As for Eriri's tsundere-style explanation, Yukima Azuma ignored it entirely.

What "my mom got it from a friend"?

She must have bought it herself.

Though it was also possible that Sayuri-obasan orchestrated this behind the scenes, acting as a matchmaker trying to pair her daughter with her crush.

As expected, Titanic tickets had long been sold out everywhere—a true "impossible ticket to find."

Even Yukima Azuma, as an investor, had only received a few tickets.

Carefully tucking the ticket into his chest pocket, he patted it lightly and smiled:

"Umu, I'm looking forward to it."

Eriri's face immediately turned bright red.

At that moment, Kita Ikuyo happened to walk by.

Eriri quickly dragged her into the restroom, making an excuse to flee.

Just then, Kato Megumi returned to the classroom and nearly bumped into them.

Fortunately, Kato Megumi gently sidestepped and avoided the collision.

Witnessing this, Yukima Azuma clapped softly:

"Sasuga Megumi-sama, your dodging skills are impressive!"

Not only the Number One Assassin of Toyogasaki but also the Dodge Master of Toyogasaki.

Kato "Hassan-i Sabbah" Megumi, the "Young Girl of the Mountain."

She always managed to gracefully avoid every collision.

Kato Megumi seemed to guess Yukima Azuma's thoughts.

She lightly poked his side with her finger.

Yukima Azuma instantly straightened up, no longer daring to joke around.

"Did something good happen with Sawamura-san?"

Kato Megumi asked.

Indeed, Eriri was an open book.

Her emotions were always written all over her face.

"Maybe," Yukima Azuma replied vaguely, quickly changing the subject.

He reached into his backpack and pulled out two Titanic tickets.

Kato Megumi blinked her gentle eyes, like tuberose flowers.

"Watch a movie? After being ignored by the ticket checker last time, I haven't gone back to the theater since." (lol)

Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma felt that the topic had taken a slightly heavy turn.

He was about to say something comforting.

But before he could open his mouth, Kato Megumi snatched the ticket out of his hand.

"Just kidding, of course I'll get my revenge a bit!"

"I'm really looking forward to it!"

Looking at Kato Megumi's mischievous smile, Yukima Azuma's heart skipped a beat.

Kato Megumi really was the cutest in the world!

As for whether Kato Megumi had truly been ignored by a ticket checker before,

It might have happened, but now she didn't care at all.

No matter what, with Yukima Azuma by her side, she'd never be ignored again.

....

After school,

Yukima Azuma returned to the apartment.

"I'm back."

"Welcome home."

Only Kasumigaoka Utaha was at home.

After changing his shoes, Yukima Azuma walked over.

Shiratamaru was lying on Kasumigaoka's lap, bouncing its feet.

Yukima Azuma ruthlessly picked it up and threw it onto the sofa next to them.

"Abandoned," Shiratamaru scratched the sofa a few times in frustration before jumping down and playing by itself.

"Lonely-kun, back at it again?"

Kasumigaoka crossed her arms over her chest, making her "outstanding advantage" even more noticeable.

"If that's the case, senpai, what will you do?"

Yukima Azuma smiled with hidden meaning.

Kasumigaoka made a troubled face.

"Well, resistance probably won't work. Objectively speaking, there's a physical difference between men and women."

"Maybe I'll report it to the police and have Lonely-kun sent to a reform center, wait a few years and then come pick you up," Kasumigaoka said coldly.

Upon hearing this, Yukima Azuma immediately put on a pitiful expression, as if on the verge of tears.

Faced with that expression, Kasumigaoka couldn't stand it anymore and lost her composure completely.

She didn't know what to say to comfort him, so she decided to pull Yukima Azuma into her arms.

Both of them fell onto the sofa and curled up together.

Feeling the softness of her body underneath him, Yukima Azuma couldn't help but be amazed.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's figure was truly perfect beyond belief.

Though Eriri often teased her as being chubby, her waist was actually very slim.

It seemed like all the fat was distributed in the most "suitable" places.

After a while of rolling around on the sofa, Yukima Azuma took a slightly crumpled movie ticket out of his pocket.

"Senpai, let's go watch a movie."

Kasumigaoka took the ticket and glanced at it.

"So, you came over just to invite me to a movie?"

Yukima Azuma nodded honestly.

And just like that, he was kicked off the sofa by Kasumigaoka.