Yukinoshita’s Method of Correction [16]

The first command was to wear the cat-ear headband.

The second command was to let him take a photo.

Once again, Yukinoshita Yukino realized she had underestimated him.

Or rather—she had reached a new understanding of just how devious Higashigumo Sugi could be.

He didn’t just want to witness her flustered humiliation.

He wanted to capture it. To revisit that moment again and again.

Yukinoshita Yukino had a will of steel.

But there’s a thing called metal fatigue.

Under cycles of stress, even the toughest metal will suffer permanent, localized damage—and then, suddenly, snap.

A will of steel is no different.

From the anxiety over the maid outfit,
to the calm once she centered herself,
to the relief at seeing only the headband,
to the quiet triumph she’d felt for turning things around—

It had been an emotional rollercoaster.

So the moment Higashigumo raised his phone—
the instant she realized what was about to happen—

She couldn’t return to the calm she’d had before.

He’s going to take a picture...

Every slight twitch of his fingers tugged at her fraying sanity.

Don’t take it... She couldn’t bring herself to say it out loud.

After all, she could handle losing, couldn’t she?

The humiliation she’d fought to suppress surged back stronger than ever.

Even her body felt the weight of it—she trembled.

And just as she thought she might literally slip out of her chair from the strain—

Higashigumo lowered the phone.

Yukinoshita looked up at him in surprise—and met his gaze, dazed and unblinking.

Focused.

Almost entranced.

He’s not taking it…?

Her entire body relaxed. Her lips parted slightly, a warm breath slipping out.

Nothing had even happened—
and yet she felt utterly drained.

A fine sheen of sweat coated her skin.

“For the second command…” Higashigumo pocketed his phone, “…how about you mimic a cat and meow three times?”

As long as there’s no photo.

Like she was afraid he might change his mind, Yukinoshita immediately complied. “Nya~”

In that moment, both she and Higashigumo froze in astonishment.

That soft, sweet sound from her lips bore no trace of her usual cool clarity. It was gentle, lilting… delicate.

For a split second, Higashigumo could see it: a little kitten, lost and alone, letting out a helpless cry.

He couldn’t believe his ears. That sound came from Yukinoshita Yukino?

Yukinoshita herself was equally stunned. Was that really my voice?

Still suspicious, she hesitantly tried again. “Nya?”

Just as soft, just as sweet—this time with a slight upward inflection, carrying a subtle sense of uncertainty.

Like a kitten who just found someone familiar but wasn’t sure if it was really safe yet, timidly calling out to confirm.

…It really was me.

But why did her voice sound like that?

There was only one explanation.

She narrowed her eyes and glared at Higashigumo, fury rising in her chest.

This was his fault!

If he’d started by ordering her to wear the headband and meow three times, she never would’ve sounded like this.

Even if a little flustered, her voice would’ve been curt, cold—sharp and indifferent.

She’d have matched it with a condescending glare and an icy expression.

But—

From the dread of the maid outfit, to the relief of the headband, to the tension of the photo and then the sudden reprieve—

She’d been thrown back and forth so many times that her composure was gone.

Both mind and body exhausted, her control over her voice had slipped.

Which led to… this.

Still scowling, Yukinoshita dutifully completed the order, locking eyes with Higashigumo as she hissed, “Nya!”

This one came laced with resentment and indignation, a thread of accusation and protest—sharper than before, but still unmistakably soft and melodic.

Like a kitten who finally recognized its long-lost owner, rushed up in a huff, and demanded, “Where the hell have you been?”

Now this—this was what it meant to lose gracefully.

Higashigumo could only stare, utterly speechless.

This wasn’t just mimicry—this was performance with narrative depth.

Three simple “meows” had painted a full story in his head.

Yukinoshita hadn’t phoned it in. She had committed fully, emotionally, entirely.

Even knowing it was just an act—even with her standing right there—Higashigumo couldn’t help but feel happy for that little kitten, reunited at last.

A smile bloomed across his face.

Thank god. It’s a happy ending.
There, there, little kitty. Come to mama~

And sure enough—when she saw that grin on his face, Yukinoshita knew.

She had no doubts left.

That smug, sadistic bastard had planned this from the start.

In the silence that followed, the faint hum of an electronic chime rang out—glitchy, robotic tones dissolving into a synthesized melody.

The school bell. Time to go.

Yukinoshita rose sharply from her seat, her expression cold and unreadable.

But the moment she stood, the fatigue she’d been suppressing surged up all at once.

Combined with the muscle soreness from yesterday’s workout, her legs buckled slightly—

And she stumbled forward.

Just like a kitten flopping into its owner’s arms.

Before she could fall, Higashigumo caught her with precise, steady hands, bracing her shoulders.

Check out that reflex speed.

He helped her back to her feet and let go, visibly pleased with himself.

Thank god for above-average athleticism. If he could take a punch from Hiratsuka-sensei, he could definitely catch Yukinoshita.

Otherwise, she might’ve—

“…Thanks.” Yukinoshita said stiffly, her expression blank as she packed up her things.

She turned and headed toward the door.

With a forceful tug, she opened it—but just before stepping out, she stopped.

“This is only the beginning,” she said without looking back. “I will find a way to correct you.”

“Wait!” Higashigumo called after her. When she turned and glared, he pointed to his head. “The headband.”

Without a word, Yukinoshita yanked it off, shoved it into her bag, and stormed out.

She even shut the door behind her.

The kitten’s grown up.
She’s off to explore the world now…

That strange thought drifted through Higashigumo’s mind as he stared at the closed door.

Wait. Why am I still hallucinating?

Shaking his head, he tidied up quickly, slung his bag over his shoulder, and left the clubroom.

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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!