Yukinoshita’s Method of Correction [25]

“So all those things Yukino-chan said were actually just to ‘correct’ Higashigumo?” Yuigahama Yui muttered under her breath. “That doesn’t sound quite right…”

“Of course it wouldn’t, not from your perspective.” Higashigumo Sugi, finally finished laughing, let out a long breath. “But from where I stand, Yukinoshita has special privileges.”

Yuigahama was baffled. “Special privileges?”

Because Yukinoshita Yukino is cute?

Is getting scolded by a pretty girl some kind of enjoyment…?

Yuigahama quietly took a step away from Higashigumo.

“Are you seriously stepping away from me right now?” Higashigumo nearly broke into song. “Such a small move, yet it hurts so much.”

“Uh… I get it, I get it…” Yuigahama waved her hands in panic. “Isn’t it something people always say? That part of you is free.”

“You say you understand, but your body’s clearly telling the truth by moving away. It’s not just about Yukinoshita—you too.” Higashigumo pointed to Zaimokuza Yoshiteru, still lying on the floor. “Zaimokuza’s the same.”

“Me?” Yuigahama pointed at herself in confusion. “I have special privileges too?”

She couldn’t recall ever having any kind of privilege with Higashigumo.

“Innocent words,” Yukinoshita Yukino gave a cold huff. “To someone who’s spent so long in society, all of us students are still just kids in his eyes. As long as it’s not a matter of principle, a mature adult wouldn’t stoop to a child’s level.”

Kids have limited means; all they can do is argue for the sake of it.

Adults, on the other hand, have a hundred ways to handle things—they don’t care about winning an argument.

No matter how sharp Yukinoshita’s tongue, she still had to wear the cat ears or imitate a cat when it came down to it.

That’s what’s called adult composure.

“Come to think of it…” Yuigahama thought back on Higashigumo’s past reactions. “You really do give off an old-man vibe sometimes…”

“Me, thinking I’m mature, won’t argue with you,” Higashigumo said with undisguised admiration. “But if your sharp tongue actually got a rise out of me, I’d be just a kid sulking with another kid. That would mean you succeeded in ‘correcting’ me.”

“Hmm… Let me think,” Yuigahama scratched her head. “So this whole thing is a correction method made just for Higashigumo?”

“It’s a correction for adults who look down on kids—or rather, for kids who think they’re adults,” Higashigumo pointed at Yuigahama. “And the proof is you.”

“Eh? Me?” Yuigahama pointed at herself again, for what felt like the hundredth time. “So I’m also part of your back-and-forth flirting?”

Yukinoshita Yukino corrected her, “It’s called ‘correction.’”

“She only had to get harsh with you once, and as soon as you agreed with her, she became ‘Yukino-chan’ again.” Higashigumo noticed that as he said “Yukino-chan,” Yukinoshita’s shoulders twitched. “As for me, since I kept arguing, she’s always stayed ‘Yukinoshita.’ But honestly… what bothers you more isn’t my retorts, it’s that high-and-mighty attitude of mine, right?”

“It’s been even more effective than I expected,” Yukinoshita tilted her fair chin upward. “So it’s okay if you start getting mad now, Higashigumo-kun.”

“That would mean your correction finally worked, right?” Higashigumo tapped his temples with two fingers. “Let’s see—whenever I get upset, or even show a hint of being hurt, the gentle and upright Yukinoshita-san would apologize and declare victory, then use her winner’s privilege to offset her own punishment.”

Wait a second… Yuigahama clutched her head, feeling lost in all this logic.

Weren’t these two just teasing each other?

How did something so simple get this complicated?

Maybe you two should just go back to flirting… Even if I can’t follow it, at least it’d be fun to watch.

“Let’s skip the pointless subjective guesses,” Yukinoshita folded her arms across her chest. “Just start your sophistry—this is your last chance.”

Does that pose really help you think?

Yuigahama tried to cross her arms like Yukinoshita, but her own curves got in the way.

Weird.

Yukino-chan made it look so effortless.

Yuigahama just shifted her arms a little lower.

That’ll do.

When Yuigahama looked up again, Yukinoshita had already dropped her arms.

Yuigahama: “?”

“Sophistry? No, not at all. I just realized something interesting,” Higashigumo’s smile grew. “Did you really not notice? The trap you set for yourself with this method of correction…”

That look of schadenfreude… Yukinoshita felt a strange sense of unease.

“When you came up with this method to ‘correct’ adults, you’d already put yourself in the position of a child,” Higashigumo bent down, closing the distance to Yukinoshita’s stony expression. “The only way this works is if I actually treat you as a kid, and you accept it. Yukinoshita-chan, how does it feel to be doted on by a grown-up?”

Yukinoshita’s pupils shrank in shock.

The problem Higashigumo had just faced was suddenly hers to deal with.

She’d framed herself as the child, cast Higashigumo as the adult—then her method of correction made sense.

But if she didn’t see herself as a child, or didn’t see Higashigumo as an adult, then her whole method was flawed.

She could either admit to being a child, or admit she was wrong.

That was the real flaw in her tailor-made correction method for Higashigumo.

“Originally, this would’ve worked out—if I’d lost my composure and gotten mad, you’d have won.” Higashigumo pointed at Zaimokuza Yoshiteru. “But there was a little twist that let me catch your plan before I lost my ‘adult’ composure.”

“Huh?” Zaimokuza gave a little splash, as if he’d used Splash again. “I still get lines?”

“It’s not over yet…” Yukinoshita balled her small fists. “Don’t think you’ve won just yet.”

“That’s right. As long as you don’t admit it, and I don’t admit it, there’s no winner yet.” Higashigumo sat back down. “For now, only Zaimokuza’s request can be settled.”

“Eh?” Zaimokuza pushed up his glasses. “So I do still get lines.”

Yukinoshita sat back down too. “The verdict’s up to you.”

“Exactly!” Yuigahama hurried to sit as well. “The verdict’s up to you… Wait, up to you for what?”

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This is a fan translation of 雪之下的矫正方式 by 微凉温热 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!