Yuu 571-575

Title: It’s Not Like There Were No Clues

Meanwhile, in the luxury apartment.

After returning from school to her solitary residence, Yukino tried to do other things to distract herself, but her mind kept wandering and she couldn’t settle down.

As she sat on the sofa reading a book, Yuu’s image unconsciously appeared between the lines. Even after putting down the book and closing her eyes for a brief rest, she could almost smell his lingering scent in the quiet and lonely living room, merging with her in an intimate embrace on the sofa, in every corner of the living room.

It was probably an illusion caused by Yuu’s hug.

So, Yukino took another shower, trying to wash away the scent from her body. However, for some reason, as the shower gel was rubbed onto her skin, her heart rate quickened. The touch of fingers on every sensitive area of her skin felt like an electric current, as if someone had just gently and powerfully rubbed every part of her body in the bathroom, leaving a mark that was difficult to fade in a short time.

Unconsciously, Yuu’s figure appeared in her mind. Instantly, Yukino shook her head with a flushed face—what did that have to do with Yuu!

Not to mention she wouldn’t have any physical contact with him at all, Yuu was her best friend’s boyfriend. Even just having such thoughts was tantamount to betraying her best friend!

“This is teenage syndrome... even if I truly like him, I would never have thoughts that cross the line...”

Blaming this fantasy on hormonal imbalance, Yukino, the pure love warrior, decisively turned the hot water to cold, and for this time, she took a cold shower, forcing her flushed skin back to snow-white.

She knew that doing this would make her very uncomfortable, and with her physical condition, she might even catch a cold.

However, nursing a cold alone at home was better than struggling in a love triangle... At least the former wouldn’t violate Yukino’s beliefs, and wouldn’t make her feel like a different stranger.

But while showering, she was surprised to find that the cold water didn’t give her too much discomfort, nor was there any process of self-restraint she expected to do with gritted teeth and a trembling body. Although she could feel the water was very cold, it felt like bathing in warm water. Her body’s reaction was so flat that it made her feel like she was dreaming.

“It seems I should just sleep again...”

Normally, she would never engage in such lazy acts as sleeping in late, unless she had a cold or fever.

However, on vacation, she couldn’t concentrate on books for even half a word, nor was she interested in browsing the internet to watch cat videos. With so little entertainment to pass her time, of course, she could only lie in bed, close her eyes and clear her mind to calm her emotions.

Holding her forehead, Yukino came out of the bathroom and sighed softly. She hadn’t expected the first day of her winter break to be this bad.

She returned to the bedroom, sat in front of the dressing table, and began to dry her hair. Staring at her reflection in the mirror, which somehow looked different, her mind became chaotic again as her hair strands flew around.

(Were the words Tenkuji-kun said to me sincere?)

Undeniable sincerity. Precisely because of that, she became agitated and panicked, and hastily fled from the warm, pounding sound of her own heart.

(What exactly did Tenkuji-kun want to tell me? Why is his current self so different from my memory, giving such a strange feeling?)

(With Tenkuji-kun’s personality, he would never recklessly confess his love, knowing that I couldn’t accept it... So, could the reason be related to what he hastily wanted to tell me?)

(After all, the Tenkuji-kun in my memory never had intimate interactions with me. Could it be that he, like me, fell in love with the other party through increasingly close companionship day by day?)

(If that’s the case, why didn’t he show any signs of it before? And why could he form a relationship with Yuigahama-san so naturally, and display affection every day in the clubroom, in front of me?)

Rationally, Yukino’s analysis was like that. But emotionally...

Although her memories were filled with his figure, why was it only this morning, Yuu who suddenly hugged her with such gentle eyes that felt strange, actually made her feel the most familiar, and the throbbing sensation far surpassed previous times?

Compared to his current self, his past self felt fake, giving a very unreal feeling.

“Is this just an illusion...”

Slowly putting down the hairdryer, Yukino frowned, her hand gently pressing her left chest, as if wanting to confirm the floating and always unstable feeling inside her.

The more she thought about it now, the more she felt that something was very strange everywhere.

In fact, ever since she was driven by an unclear urge in the morning, ignoring the train stop and walking to the school clubroom to read, Yukino felt as if she was enveloped in a thick fog, with the surroundings feeling floating and unreal.

The most important thing was...

Suddenly she remembered something, pulling out the drawer under the dressing table. Inside it was a necklace neatly wrapped in a handkerchief.

Beneath the glittering silver chain hung a clear, pure white snowflake-shaped crystal. Right in its center was embedded a sky-blue gem, sparkling with pure light.

From its material and craftsmanship, the necklace appeared expensive, feeling warm like jade to the touch, as if continuously emitting a slight warmth—a work of art that gave warmth, completely contrary to its snowflake-shaped exterior.

But Yukino swore that she had never seen this necklace, which should have been the main item in a jewelry auction. Moreover, when she woke up in the morning, this object was already hanging around her neck, clinging tightly to her bare skin.

The second strange thing was here.

She, who had absolutely no habit of sleeping naked, and had no memory of taking off her pajamas last night, was apparently curled up under the blanket completely naked, wearing only this necklace. When she woke up and realized this, Yukino just sat speechless on the bed hugging the blanket. After a while, with a confused and frightened feeling, she began to check the doors, windows, and her body.

Of course, the tightly locked doors and windows wouldn’t allow even a mosquito to enter. The floor, bed, and blanket only had her traces. No part of her body felt pain, and the pajamas she should have been wearing were neatly stored in the closet, as if she hadn’t worn them since last night.

Finding no clues that could explain the situation, Yukino even began to suspect if some mischievous fairy had entered her bedroom through the ventilation or something, undressed her, gave her this necklace as compensation, just to see her panicked expression upon waking.

Of course, this conjecture was too unrealistic. Finally, she could only comfort herself with ‘sleepwalking’—

As for the necklace, since she couldn’t find any reasonable explanation, for caution, she took it off and stored it in the drawer, planning to ask her mother for help to examine it after returning home.

“Wait, so it’s not like there were, absolutely, no clues at all...”

As she realized this, her slightly confused and distressed eyes suddenly sparkled.

Yukino suddenly rose from the dressing table, raised her right hand high, and looked at the necklace with a sharp gaze.

At this moment, logic and emotion connected, gathering countless possibilities at a speed approaching overclock.

—Sherlock Holmes once said, first, eliminate all impossible conclusions. Whatever remains, no matter how strange and incredible, must be the undeniable truth.

Firstly, even if she sleepwalked, there’s no way she would walk out in the middle of the night and find such an expensive necklace to bring home.

Therefore, this necklace must have been given by someone else, and perhaps that person was the one who put it on her neck—she just forgot.

Secondly, despite it being winter break, she was driven by an unexplainable urge to go to Sobu High, and met the person she liked there. Was all of this truly just a coincidence?

If not a coincidence, could it be that she had actually promised Yuu to meet there—she just forgot.

Thirdly, did Yuu confess his love in the clubroom just because he suddenly wanted to flirt and take advantage of being alone with her?

“No, he clearly came prepared. When he met me, he already knew what to say. Even when rejected, he didn’t panic, instead saying that he was already certain of my feelings, looking as if he had expected it.”

“If you think about it carefully, his tone when confessing his love wasn’t one of eagerness to express his feelings, but rather a sense of relief like fulfilling a promise he had made—it’s just that I forgot everything, and he wasn’t surprised, he already knew why I felt panicked and shocked.”

“Fourthly, still about Tenkuji-kun.”

“His attitude was clearly illogical. Usually, he was always loyal to Yuigahama-san, able to mercilessly reject any woman’s love confession, and even when the most beautiful girl in the world secretly liked him, he always maintained a distance as a ‘soul friend’ and never went further.”

“How could it be that after Christmas Eve, he suddenly became so obsessed with me that he couldn’t control his desires, and the loving gaze in his eyes made no effort to hide at all?”

“Unless, I forgot something very important to both of them. Something that, if forgotten, would make the whole world feel very strange.”

“Is this what you wanted to tell me...”

Yukino murmured softly, her slowly enlightened gaze seemingly piercing the sky-blue gem, seeing Yuu’s relieved and happy smile.

Because she knew him, because she liked him, because she always paid attention to him.

Therefore, no matter how absurd the possibility, as long as it had something to do with Yuu, Yukino was willing to believe it.

“...The condition is, he has to talk to me nicely, and not launch a sudden attack that would surprise me too much to think.”

“But I really... why did I only remember now? He already gave the answer from the start!”

The black-haired girl sighed helplessly, her thin and soft lips slightly closed, but her tense nerves unconsciously completely relaxed.

Like a student who, in the last minute of an exam, finally found the formula to use for the last math problem, she narrowed her eyes casually and confidently, chuckling softly as she mumbled to herself:

“’Even if you don’t remember anything, you must still love me... Wait for me, who loves you, to come find you’”—Why didn’t he just say that from the start?

“Tenkuji-kun, you’re just as foolish as I am.”

“Even saying it directly might still make me think there’s something wrong with his head, but it’s much better than suddenly hugging me and confessing his love, right?”

“He knows my personality very well. After being treated like that, how could I possibly remain calm and listen to what he had to say?”

—However, no matter what.

This was the answer to all the problems that had arisen since she woke up this morning.

Although Yukino didn’t yet know what exactly happened, how Yuigahama was doing she also didn’t know, and the reason she slept naked was better not thought about further...

However, the thin, cold fog at the end of the open road had now disappeared.

Because Yuu was waiting for her ahead, what was floating was no longer floating, and what was vague was no longer vague—as long as Yukino stepped forward, she would surely be able to dispel all confusion and rediscover her elegant and strong past self.

Yukino took a deep breath, her skin, whitened by the cold water, was now adorned with a slight healthy blush. Her reflection in the mirror no longer looked agitated, like a traveler who had long been trapped in a labyrinth finally found a signpost, and had thought about the next step to take.

First and foremost, of course, was to call Yuu, whom she had just threatened to hate. After apologizing for her agitation, the two of them would sit together and talk about ‘amnesia’ and ‘the necklace’ as he suggested.

However, before that, there was one thing Yukino wanted to do.

“I remember there was a plot like this in a short story... a girl with amnesia slowly remembers what happened in the past after putting back on an object given by her boyfriend as a token of love...”

Although her cheeks flushed and her heart rate increased because of the words ‘boyfriend,’ she still couldn’t help but stare at the exquisite snowflake necklace in front of her with a curious gaze, like an innocent girl waiting for her prince charming to come pick her up.

Then, with an experimental attitude, Yukino brushed her hair to her chest, lowered her head, preparing to put the necklace back on.

But before she could—

*DING-DONG!*

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, accompanied by a less-than-polite knock on the door.

“Yukino-chan, you’re home, right? If so, open the door quickly. Onee-san came to visit, you know~”

That lazy and overly casual tone, it must be Haruno.

“Nee-san? Why is she coming now...”

Muttering in confusion, Yukino wasn’t stunned for too long. She wrapped the necklace back in the handkerchief, stored it in the drawer, and walked towards the entrance.

“What’s wrong? Why didn’t you inform me before coming?”

As she opened the door, she immediately questioned her sister, acting as if facing an uninvited guest.

As usual, the college student outside didn’t care about her sister’s sharp attitude. Haruno waved her hand, signaling Yukino to move aside quickly, because it was very cold outside and she wanted to quickly get into the warm house.

“Look at you, does a sister need another reason to meet her sister?”

“Then please inform me first.”

“I can’t. I happened to be passing by today, so I stopped by. There’s no point in informing just one or two minutes in advance, right?” Casually taking off her sports shoes and stepping inside, Haruno looked around the living room, which didn’t look any different from usual, then smiled meaningfully.

“Or perhaps, you’re afraid of being caught while being intimate with your boyfriend at home?”

Closing the door, Yukino frowned, staring at her sister’s back with an uncomprehending gaze.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Where would I get a boyfriend?”

(Moreover, that tone of hers, faintly feels like there’s ill intent towards me... What’s with this hostile aura?)

“Hmm~ Maybe I misunderstood.”

Haruno shrugged, walking slowly a few steps on the wooden floor. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned around and smiled at her sister.

“Oh, Yukino-chan, speaking of boyfriends, I have some good news I want to tell you first! It’s a secret that even mom doesn’t know, you know~”

“W-What?!”

Almost without mental preparation.

Her hand had just left the doorknob, Yukino instantly tensed, her eyes wide, her mouth slightly open, and she couldn’t utter a single word, as if choked.

What truly surprised her wasn’t the so-called ‘secret told only to her and not to mom,’ nor her sister’s unusually enthusiastic attitude, let alone the bright smile that rarely came from the bottom of Haruno’s heart.

Rather—

“Here it is.”

Haruno pulled out her phone from her pocket, pointed the screen towards Yukino, and pressed the power button.

The screen lit up. A shared photo used as a wallpaper was clearly reflected in Yukino’s bright and clear blue eyes, as if frozen into a stiffly colored painting.

As if she had expected it, Haruno laughed cheerfully and said:

“Surprised, right? I’ve been dating him for a long time, I just kept it a secret from everyone for various reasons. But since it’s almost the end of the year, I thought of announcing it now and giving a New Year’s surprise... And as my sister, and his good friend, I thought I should tell you first!”

“That Tenkuji-kun of yours—Yuu-chan, is actually my boyfriend.”

-

Title: The Evil Woman with Hidden Intentions

The time rewinds slightly.

At the Tenkuji residence, after rejecting Yuu’s offer, Haruno quickly exited the door and walked toward her car parking spot.

It was a red brick wall covered in various graffiti and advertisements, a place that held many memories of their meetings and partings.

However, the car she drove today was different from usual. This new white sports car, she planned to give directly to Yuu as transportation once he turned eighteen and got his driver’s license.

It didn’t matter if his house lacked a garage for the car, since Haruno herself owned many properties. She could simply choose one of those properties to serve as a garage, and it could also be used as a place to stay if they wanted to date without going to a hotel. This two-birds-with-one-stone scheme was easily achievable, nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately, due to various factors today, she forgot to tell him about it—but there was no need to rush, after all, once they married, a couple’s assets would become shared property; what was hers would be Yuu’s, sooner or later there would be no more separation.

“So, that kind of exclusive possession like placating a child, I don’t need it.”

Recalling his arrogant and stubborn words, Haruno couldn’t help but sigh, her head bumping against the steering wheel, and she began to regret it.

“Yuu-chan didn’t have those thoughts at all... I should have just seized the opportunity to devour Yuu-chan as a Christmas feast, and at the same time slow down the steps of the other women... Why did I have to act tough for no reason in front of him...”

However, perhaps it wasn’t just acting tough.

Because Yuu could see through her lies, and because Yuu didn’t want her to force herself—so the answer Yuu could accept at that time must have been the undeniable truth.

Haruno couldn’t deny it.

Even though she always had a rational monster behind her helping her analyze the best choices, even though she could truly do anything to monopolize Yuu, and deep down she didn’t want to see Yuu meeting other women, even starting to think about which basement would be the most comfortable to lock someone in...

Upon hearing Yuu’s exclusive agreement that sounded full of affection, but in reality was no different from placating a child, Haruno still couldn’t hold back her emotions, proudly lifted her neck, and firmly rejected it.

Foolish? Extremely foolish. Regretful? Regretful.

But if given another chance, Haruno still wouldn’t sink into that gentle embrace trying to soften her—

Such sincerity was harder to accept than all the lies Yuu had ever told.

“Tch, who asked me to be such a troublesome woman? What was given to me, I reject, but I want to snatch and cause a fuss myself.”

Sneering at herself, the college student rubbed the red mark on her forehead imprinted by the steering wheel, took a deep breath, and her usual relaxed and confident smile returned.

Then she shifted gears, stepped on the accelerator, and the white sports car sped through the bustling streets like a nimble and elegant beam of light.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Rejecting Yuu’s offer out of pride, and creating opportunities for other girls to approach Yuu with her own hands—this foolish and self-sacrificing choice made Haruno feel nauseous just thinking about it.

Even though she knew Yuu was holding this Christmas party just to resolve all issues and avoid repeating the tragic case like hers before today, she still felt extremely annoyed and unhappy, and desperately wanted to do something malicious to vent.

The scenery outside the window flashed by quickly, her fingers tapping the steering wheel restlessly.

In less than ten seconds, a malicious idea emerged in her mind, lighting up like a large lightbulb, illuminating the road ahead.

“Right, better late than never. Why not go now... Hehehehe...”

An unconscious evil smile appeared at the corner of her lips, and the wicked light in her eyes ignited, as if she was about to play a prank.

Haruno shook off the lightbulb paper from her head, then sharply turned the steering wheel. That aimless journey now had a new destination, heading straight to the luxury apartment just twenty minutes away!

In about ten minutes, Haruno parked her car in the basement garage, then took the elevator directly to the eleventh floor.

Perhaps out of a desire for revenge, or maybe because she was too lazy to even tell Yuu about this small matter, she didn’t inform Yuu what she was going to do now—namely, spoiling things for her own sister, letting her experience what was called the cruelty of reality.

They were sisters with a very close relationship, so close that they liked the same man... And now their positions had switched; how could she let her sister easily escape the pain she had once felt?

As for whether Yuu would object if he knew, Haruno wasn’t worried about that.

Or rather, she was slightly looking forward to Yuu’s reaction.

“After all, this is something Yukino-chan will eventually have to know. I’m just telling her directly. If Yuu-chan dares to blame me for this...”

That would prove Yuu was completely unfit for multiple relationships—a person who couldn’t even be fair and view facts objectively still wanted to be a harem leader?

Don’t be ridiculous! Trash like that only deserved to be stabbed dozens of times in the stomach by a mentally broken heroine, and have his life story turned into a game for future people to laugh at and learn from, forever unable to escape the label of a scoundrel playboy.

Most importantly, Haruno didn’t think that in this timeline, where the God hadn’t given tasks and the two of them still loved each other, there was any need to keep their relationship secret.

If Yuu wanted her to keep it secret, that meant he felt guilty, he wasn’t worthy of her—Then, after obtaining this weakness, the plan to monopolize him and live happily together would have a not-small guarantee of success.

If Yuu didn’t care at all, that meant he at least knew how to handle emotional issues between women, and was willing to let her do something akin to revenge. It also meant she didn’t need to act like a noble first wife, lowering herself to consider the feelings of the other concubines.

No matter what she did, she wouldn’t lose; she could attack and defend, and at any time pull out the final trump card to gain advantage in the chaos—thinking about it, Haruno couldn’t help but admire herself.

(Haruno-chan, you’re truly an evil woman with hidden intentions!)

The elevator arrived at the eleventh floor.

Haruno stepped out of the elevator, heading straight to Yukino’s apartment door, pressing the doorbell, knocking, and shouting outside:

“Yukino-chan, you’re home, right? If so, open the door quickly. Onee-san came to visit you, you know~”

While waiting for Yukino to open the door, Haruno slightly closed her eyes, quickly rehearsing the dialogue she would say in a moment in her heart.

At the same time, she also recalled everything that had happened since her memories recovered.

-

Title: The Annual Sisters’ Emotional Drama: The Sister’s Revenge

The time rewinds slightly.

(Going to find Yuu-chan with feelings of joy and anxiety, only to be distanced by him who no longer loved me.)

(Just wanting to reclaim everything that should have been mine, but being outright rejected by him who already had a new girlfriend. I could only resort to small tricks in secret, feeling lost, jealous, and sneering, like a defeated dog that could only envy others’ happiness, forced to stand on the opposing side.)

(Yes, just because Yuu-chan didn’t acknowledge me as his girlfriend, back then Yukino-chan felt so righteous and dignified on the phone, scolding me for only using petty methods to approach him, even declaring war on her older sister and vowing never to lose to someone like me.)

(Not to mention at the amusement park back then, she and Dango-chan truly teamed up to teach me a lesson—two girlfriends together repelling an old female stalker. Such a beautiful story must make them proud, right?)

(Even though the root cause was the man I loved the most, but remembering their self-righteous faces at that time, remembering my own pathetic and heartbreaking appearance...)

“Ah, it really makes me nauseous.”

A sigh enveloped in volcanic, burning hatred slowly faded in the cold winter corridor.

Haruno was still smiling, but only the corner of her lips lifted slightly. Her mature and beautiful face had lost all smiles and warmth, becoming pale and cold.

“The heartbreak, the jealousy back then... I truly hope you can feel it too.”

She murmured expressionlessly, slowly releasing her tightly clenched fist.

“Looking back, both November and December were all unpleasant things—even their expressions when seeing Yuu-chan reluctantly accept the bracelet I made with my own hands were so annoying.”

“After all, I came first, why?”

“Why could you use that superior gaze, belittling me who kept struggling to reclaim the past?”

“Why must I, who painstakingly recovered my memories, be treated like an outsider by you juniors?”

During that period, Haruno, filled with negative emotions, once thought:

“If our positions were switched, I’d make you know what true cruelty is...”

Of course, that was just a joke—

One of them was her most beloved younger sister, and the other was her sister’s best friend plus the foolish Dango who Yuu inexplicably liked so much. How could she bear to take revenge on these two?

At most, just tooth for tooth, returning everything she had received.

If it was something normal, then there was no need for mercy or restraint, right?

After all, everyone did the same.

The door slowly opened. Seeing her familiar yet strangely distant younger sister behind the door, Haruno showed a bright smile.

(...So, sorry, Yukino-chan.)

(Before you recover your memories, allow me to see if you’ll show the same heartbreaking expression as my past self, who was miserable and helpless.)

Then, time returned to the present.

“Your Tenkuji-kun—Yuu-chan, is actually my boyfriend.”

The shared photo on the phone wallpaper was deliberately requested from Yuu before leaving his house, because she wanted proof of identity as his girlfriend.

Not too intimate, just holding hands, cheeks touching, and lips slightly pursed almost kissing, but that was enough as proof of a couple.

Haruno wouldn’t waste time taking a bed photo for the wallpaper, right? She didn’t mind, but she was afraid her mother would kill her immediately if she saw it.

“By the way, I took this photo after visiting him at his house—right after you and Yuu-chan met.”

Seeing her sister stunned in place, Haruno smiled, retrieved her phone after succeeding, and pretended to blame Yukino: “Although ignorance is no sin, but Yukino-chan, you’re really something. How could you date your older sister’s boyfriend at school so early in the morning? I’ve already warned Yuu-chan, I hope you two can keep your distance as friends should.”

After those words fell, she casually enjoyed Yukino’s changing expressions, brilliant like neon lights.

“No, I... this...”

As Haruno had anticipated before entering, on her beautiful and charming sister’s face, there was undisguisable anxiety and shock.

It seemed the excessive information made her brain unable to react quickly. The always intelligent and exceptional sister was now speechless with her mouth slightly open, like a fool who couldn’t utter a complete sentence.

Her right foot staggered back a step, as if the created distance gave her air to breathe. Yukino took several deep breaths, and under Haruno’s slightly regretful gaze, she finally calmed herself.

“...If this is a joke you carefully prepared, I can only congratulate you on your great success.”

Yukino bit her lip, staring at Haruno coldly, her usual stubbornness unwilling to lose to her older sister.

“Oh, someone who makes jokes like this must be more of a failure than a woman who keeps chasing a taken man, right?”

Haruno laughed casually, already expecting this reaction from Yukino: “So, let me show you the proof.”

She pulled out her phone again, called Yuu in front of Yukino, and turned on the speaker.

Placing her index finger to her lips and winking, signaling Yukino to stay silent, Haruno waited for the call to connect with a joyful face.

The busy tone didn’t last long.

“Haruno? What’s up, have you changed your mind?”

“!!”

Yuu’s familiar, natural, melodious, and gentle voice entered Yukino’s ears, as if the suspicion she thought impossible had been instantly proven. Yukino’s pupils trembled violently, her steps staggered back to the wall, her face losing all color.

“How could this be...”

To Yukino’s unconscious murmur, Haruno frowned unhappily, emphasizing the importance of silence during someone else’s phone call with her index finger to her lips.

Fortunately, she had anticipated her sister’s reaction and had covered the microphone with her finger beforehand.

When it was her turn to speak, of course she released her finger from the microphone and spoke as if nothing had happened:

“I haven’t changed my mind, I’ll find time myself to monopolize you. By the way, for the Christmas party tonight, you’ll invite Yukino-chan too, right? Do you need me to help inform her?”

The oblivious Yuu said in a casual tone: “It’s fine. Let her calm down first, I’ll go see her myself later... And if I’m not mistaken, she should have already realized something and be prepared to talk to me again, right?”

“...”

Upon hearing that sentence.

Yukino couldn’t help but freeze in place. Although her mind was still hard to calm from the huge shock, and her brain was blank unable to think, an inexplicable warmth began to flow in her chest, slowly spreading through her cold fingertips and nerves.

The greatest treasure between the two of them wasn’t something hard to define like friendship or love, but something that understood each other more than telepathy—Compatibility.

As long as this compatibility existed, no matter how many times, Yukino was willing to trust the Yuu in her heart.

Observing this change, Haruno raised an eyebrow toward Yukino, dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes, and her face pouted as if feeling jealous.

“Goodness, you’re openly saying you want to cheat with my sister in front of me, I’ll really get angry, you know~”

Yuu coughed awkwardly: “Uhuk uhuk, for this matter, I beg your understanding... Let me settle the issues at hand first.”

“Huh, don’t worry. Since I already promised you, especially now, I’ll try my best to cooperate with you at the Christmas party.”

Changing the topic, Haruno suddenly smiled sweetly, “By the way, darling, how will you tell Dango-chan that you’re actually cheating with your best friend’s older sister?”

Yukino: “!!”

Yuu paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly: “I can only be honest, I suppose... When I dated Yukino last time, her reaction was far bigger than I expected. This time, it might hurt her even more.”

“Hah, I hope she’s like Sora, still retaining previous memories. That would be much easier.”

Haruno nodded obediently: “Mmm, that’s unavoidable. If it really can’t be helped, just abandon Dango-chan! If she hates you over something trivial like this, it’s her loss. No need to waste energy comforting her, after all, I’ll always be with you~”

Yuu laughed wryly: “Don’t say things like that... Hmm? Wait, you wouldn’t call me just to talk about these things, and your questions feel intentional...”

“You’re really a suspicious man, even toward your own girlfriend.”

Haruno could barely hold back her laughter, and at the same time shot a sharp glance at her sister who seemed about to say something, warning her not to interrupt her conversation with her boyfriend.

(However, he’s indeed worthy of being called Yuu-chan.)

(With just a few sentences, he already realized something was off. If I continue, I might get exposed soon.)

Reluctantly canceling her intention to talk about kisses and bedroom matters with him in front of Yukino, Haruno raised her voice irritably, covering Yuu’s thoughtful mutter:

“Alright, alright~ I’m hanging up. Can you say ‘I love you, see you tonight’ to your beloved girlfriend? If not, watch out, I’ll cause chaos at the Christmas party!”

“I beg your pardon, great lady.”

Before the call ended, Yuu’s voice sounded gentle as if seeping into the heart.

“See you tonight, I love you, Haruno. And...”

Hearing what she wanted to hear, Haruno immediately pressed the end call button without waiting for Yuu to finish speaking.

Then she tossed her phone slightly into the air, tilted her head a bit, and smiled while enjoying Yukino’s embarrassed and confused expression in front of her.

What did he want to say? She couldn’t say anything.

As if her lungs were covered in snow, her throat clogged, her blood cold, and her vision blackening.

However, the reality before her eyes was extremely cruel, not allowing her to escape.

“This is the expression I wanted to see from you...”

A nearly inaudible murmur, lost in a small triumphant laugh.

Was it just an illusion? She saw the shadow of her past self in Yukino.

Although the revenge succeeded, for some reason, she felt no instant relief, where the resentment and bitterness in her heart immediately vanished.

So in the end, Haruno always did things that harmed others and didn’t benefit herself.

-

Title: The Sad Amnesiac Victim

After realizing that her goal had been achieved, and her sister already knew what it felt like to hear, “The Tenkuji Yuu you like is actually dating me.”

Like a balloon suddenly deflating, Haruno instantly lost interest. From the bottom of her heart, she felt that her own arrogant self, and her sister standing there alone and helpless like a child, were all extremely boring.

What was the point of saying sharp words to family and hurting her sibling’s feelings for something called love?

Although she thought this calmly in her heart, Haruno didn’t regret it. Some things weren’t done because they had meaning, but rather their meaning was only understood after they were done.

Just consider this an opportunity for her past self, an opportunity to release the burden in her heart.

“This is how it is, and I’m too lazy to explain the details to you... Anyway, Yuu-chan will contact you. If you come to his house for the Christmas party tonight, everything will be answered then.”

Stopping her smile, Haruno said flatly, passing by Yukino, and putting on her shoes that she had just taken off.

“You might think I’m being outrageous, deliberately doing this in front of you who secretly likes him... But once you remember, you’ll understand that I’m just doing the same thing as you.”

Ignoring Yukino’s complex gaze full of confusion and sadness, Haruno opened the door and continued speaking to herself: “I’m even gentler than you were back then. Besides stating the facts, I didn’t say anything else like declaring war on you, or disowning you.”

“Of course, there’s a reason because the current you isn’t doing anything, but... Ignoring sibling bonds for love, and using words to swing a sword at family, we’re both the same.”

At this point, Haruno couldn’t hold back a laugh, the curve of her lips slightly mocking.

Women of the Yukinoshita family weren’t just troublesome, but also extremely deviant.

Deviant toward the outside, and even more deviant toward the inside... Even so, Haruno still believed that she loved her foolish little sister, loved the stubborn and innocent Yukino.

So as she stepped out, she put both hands into the pockets of her trench coat, tilted her body forty-five degrees, turned her head, and smiled at Yukino:

“If it were just you, I might even be happy to share Yuu-chan with you... After all, we’re from the Yukinoshita family! Assets don’t fall into outsiders’ hands. My child would have the Yukinoshita surname, yours would have Tenkuji, this kind of division is perfect!”

“...”

The topic change was too abrupt, making Yukino, who was still immersed in complex emotions from the overwhelming information, only able to blink in confusion. The corners of her lips unconsciously twitched because she couldn’t speak, not knowing what to say to her sister.

Haruno didn’t care, she shrugged casually, and turned back to face forward.

“As someone who experienced it first, I’ll give you one piece of advice—don’t hesitate, don’t be confused. When the time comes, move forward; when it’s time to confess your feelings, just say it directly.”

“The man you like is a scoundrel, and also a top-class playboy with many tricks that girls basically can’t avoid... So, if you don’t intend to let him go just like that, or cause a big mess, it’s best if you’re more open about your three-way relationship in the Service Club, don’t keep your distance from him for Dango-chan’s sake.”

“If that love triangle drama drags on too long, it torments you and torments us spectators too. Better to speed it up to the result, the situation won’t change anyway...”

Muttering like a sigh, Haruno closed the door behind her.

“Onee-san is going home, no need to see me off. See you tonight.”

“...”

Looking at the closed door, Yukino slowly closed her thin and soft lips. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths, and her fists at her sides unconsciously clenched.

Since earlier, she hadn’t been able to utter a single word to her sister who was talking to herself... Not just because she was still confused about the current situation, like still in a dream, there were too many questions she didn’t know where to start.

More importantly, she kept being stared at by her sister’s dark red eyes. In the depths of eyes she was used to seeing, there was not only the usual pressure and coldness of mockery, but also many unfamiliar complex emotions: jealousy, anger, and pity.

Why did this happen?

Yesterday she was still living an ordinary daily life, only feeling an unusual loneliness on Christmas Eve alone... Why after waking up, so many strange and chaotic things happened?

Which part of her memory was wrong...

“Ah, right, right~”

The door that hadn’t been locked with the electronic lock was pushed open slightly, and Haruno poked her head out from outside.

Seeing her unprepared and surprised sister, pulling back her neck and retreating like a cute kitten, she narrowed her eyes with a wicked smile as if victorious, and her tone unconsciously became cheerful:

“I want to ask, did you find anything wrong with your body, or any strange changes, when you woke up this morning?”

Yukino slightly widened her eyes, asking with slight confusion: “Changes... what do you mean?”

“Goodness, do I have to explain? It’s embarrassing, you know!”

Like a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl, Haruno puffed her cheeks and stomped her foot, her face flushing from embarrassment and a bit of awkwardness.

Then she said very straightforwardly: “I mean, is your hymen still there, does your body feel sore because you’re no longer a virgin, and is there blood on the sheets. Although I didn’t see any stains on your body, I’m still worried if you two really cooked the rice to maturity.”

“...”

After being stunned foolishly for a few seconds, red color quickly spread from her collarbone to her face. Yukino stepped forward angrily and embarrassed, pushing her sister’s head out, then slammed the door shut.

“There’s nothing!! He and I aren’t in that kind of relationship, how could we cook, cook... rice!”

“Hahahaha, turns out asking someone who doesn’t remember anything like you really isn’t reliable~”

“Please go home quickly!”

Panting as she pressed against the door, listening to that familiar annoying laughter fade further away, Yukino gritted her teeth, her body slowly sliding to the floor as if suddenly out of breath.

“...If you know I don’t remember, don’t ask things that make people curious!”

Her long, disheveled hair covered her expression. Her voice of despair and loneliness sounded as if it would disappear at any moment in the corner of the living room.

She supported herself with both hands on the floor, flipping over like a salted fish, her slender back leaning limply against the front door, no longer upright and dignified as usual.

“What exactly did I forget... Why is Tenkuji-kun dating Nee-san, and what does it have to do with Yuigahama-san...”

Yukino murmured softly.

The people who could answer her, one had just said “I love you” to her sister on the phone, and the other left with mad triumphant laughter.

Only she, who knew nothing, was still trying to dispel the fog, yet suddenly attacked one after another by those two. The information bombs made her dizzy, and the painful facts stabbed her heart mercilessly. No matter how much heartbreak and confusion she had, there was no place to express it.

How wonderful it would be if everything was just a nightmare, and she woke up in a normal state?

If this wasn’t a nightmare, then how should she face this complex and cruel reality?

“...”

In front of the entrance, the coldness of the floor crept up along her spine, freezing her struggling heart.

Yukino hugged her legs helplessly, hiding her face deep in her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly as if cold.

She never knew that she, who always considered herself perfect, actually had such a ridiculous and sad side.

So sad, that she could only sob like the weak whimper of a helpless kitten, in the empty living room.

-

Title: Meeting Asuna

After finishing lunch and spending an hour preparing the ingredients for the evening and setting all the spices on the kitchen counter.

Yuu prepared to visit his girlfriends.

Because some things were better said in person, and to easily provide comfort through physical contact when emotions ran high, he didn’t use the most time- and energy-efficient video call. Instead, he called first, then arranged a meeting.

On a winter afternoon, the sky was clear, and the snow had melted under the sun. Trains had also long since resumed operation.

Although it wasn’t yet a night full of bright lights and colors, the streets were already bustling.

After all, most schools officially announced the start of winter break today, and this was Christmas Day, a day when many men and women danced with joy. Everywhere, young couples were seen holding hands, strolling, and displaying affection fitting the atmosphere, forcing other single pedestrians to avoid them and send distorted envious glances behind their backs.

Perhaps only shop owners holding Christmas promotions would welcome couples who were already intimate this early in the afternoon.

Yuu walked past the crowd of couples like an oddity, appearing relaxed and unconcerned by the ubiquitous high-level hormonal congregation.

In fact, to be honest, they were the ones who should be envious of him.

He had enjoyed three one-on-one romantic relationships, and had openly dated two beautiful girls at the same time, and now he was going to expand his business, re-gathering his ex-girlfriends to date—

In terms of romantic experience, perhaps no one in this city could surpass him.

Though this was absolutely nothing to boast about... If he could, Yuu wished his romantic journey could be simpler.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t go back and repeat it now.

Yuu dared to guarantee that if it weren’t for the system forcing him to provoke girls, following the normal stages of introduction and getting to know each other, he definitely wouldn’t be flirtatious, but rather loyal to the girl he liked most first.

Yes, he was fundamentally a faithful good guy!

Walking while unashamedly boasting to himself all the way, at 2:50 PM, Yuu arrived punctually at the Star**k coffee shop located two hundred meters from Chiba Station towards the shopping street.

As soon as he sat down, he saw a beautiful girl step into the coffee shop, looking left and right for something.

Yuu raised his hand high: “Yuuki-san, over here.”

Immediately noticing his presence, Asuna hurried over, an apologetic expression appearing on her beautiful, lightly made-up face.

“Sorry, I’m a little late.”

Her princess braids were neatly arranged by the side of her head, her long chestnut hair fluttering behind her, as if absorbing all the light in the coffee shop, emitting a soft and beautiful glow.

Even thick winter clothes couldn’t conceal her perfect figure, with proportional curves. Beneath a calf-length white fur skirt, tight white stockings encased her small ankles, which, along with simply patterned sneakers, formed the unique style of a girl who was cute yet didn’t lose her maturity.

With light footsteps, a rich and fresh fragrant aroma swept across half the coffee shop, attracting all the gazes of the men she passed.

Then, the chestnut-haired girl with a gentle and elegant aura smoothed her skirt, and sat gracefully in front of the handsome young man.

Thus, sighs of disappointment fell, and disappointed gazes were immediately withdrawn.

“You’re already very punctual, only about fifteen seconds late compared to me.”

Yuu smiled gently. He hadn’t gained satisfaction from others’ envious reactions for a long time, so of course he didn’t care at all.

“But are girls nowadays used to arriving ten minutes early for appointments? If so, it seems next time I’ll have to come twenty minutes early.”

And then keep competing, to the point where everyone has to arrive at the meeting place at dawn with sleeping bags... Is this the demon of courtesy?

“Only I personally have the habit of arriving early, not all girls are like that.”

Asuna smiled politely, brushing her bangs with a finger, her long and curved eyelashes trembling slightly, as if secretly observing him under the guise of tidying her hair.

“Hearing Tenkuji-kun’s tone, when you met Yuigahama-san... did she also arrive ten minutes early?”

Yuu shook his head, saying with a slightly wry smile: “No, she’s the one who’s more often late... Although, since we started dating until now, we haven’t had a serious date.”

“Eh? Really?!”

Asuna was surprised, her eyes widening, then she quickly calmed her slightly exaggerated expression. She cleared her throat in an attempt to cover up, then suggested with a serious expression: “Tenkuji-kun as her boyfriend, that’s not good! You should be understanding towards your shy girlfriend, take her out often, even if it’s just a walk in the park or a nearby tourist spot, otherwise, feelings can slowly cool down.”

“I know, it’s just that too many things have held me back, so there’s no time to take her out.” Not talking much about this, Yuu pushed the menu on the table towards her. His attitude, just like Asuna’s, maintained a distance like ordinary friends.

“Order whatever you want, it’s my treat today.”

“Hehe, then I won’t be shy~” Generously accepting the menu, Asuna pretended to seriously examine it up and down, looking like she would order many things to extort him, but in the end, she only ordered a limited edition apple-flavored Caramel Latte, 693 yen including tax.

Yuu, of course, ordered black coffee as usual. After ordering two slices of light cheesecake, he shifted his gaze to the chestnut-haired girl in front of him, suddenly asking bluntly:

“Did you encounter any strange people when you went out?”

“Strange people?” Asuna tilted her head slightly, looking at him with a bit of confusion, “Before going out, I greeted my older brother who had just returned from the dorm after gaming all night and was about to sleep, and then... hmm, only him. What about him?”

Yuu’s eye twitched slightly.

(Good job, so Nii-san is in the ‘strange people’ category in your eyes?)

(The strangest thing is, I feel this is perfectly reasonable and I can’t argue with it at all...)

He glanced at the seat diagonally behind them, let out a faint sigh, and said with a bit of helplessness: “It’s nothing... I hope he can sleep soundly, so there won’t be a day where he stays up so late he can’t see the sun tomorrow.”

Knowing that Yuu’s relationship with her brother was probably closer than hers, and the two were more like close friends who liked to tease than senior-junior, Asuna didn’t mind the seemingly cursed remark, instead nodding in agreement.

“I’ve advised him many times, but not only does he not listen, he even asks me to keep it a secret from Mom...”

She sighed with a worried expression, propping her cheek: “Hah, next time I’ll just let Mom pretend to go out, and then wait at home until Nii-san, who stays up gaming, comes home.”

“Ahem ahem, that would certainly be a great surprise.”

Yuu coughed awkwardly, precisely at the same time as a coughing sound came from nowhere, as if choking on saliva.

Because all her attention was on Yuu, Asuna didn’t notice anything strange. Her clear and bright brown eyes were full of doubt, reflecting Yuu’s face.

“Tenkuji-kun, why did you suddenly ask that?”

“Of course I’m worried if such a beautiful friend is being followed by suspicious people... Anyway, it’s good that there isn’t. I believe you’ll also pay attention to your own safety.”

Yuu shrugged, casually shifting the conversation back to the right track: “I asked you out this time, mainly because I have a few questions I want to ask you directly... This is a bit sudden, I hope it’s not bothering you.”

“Don’t worry~ After supplementary classes this morning, I actually wanted to invite a friend out for some fresh air!”

Asuna said with a bright smile. But then she suddenly remembered something, and frowned slightly with a hint of worry.

“But not bringing Yuigahama-san, is that really okay?”

“Even though you said you told her, but meeting someone of the opposite sex on Christmas Day, I’m worried that even if she doesn’t say it, in her heart she’ll feel uneasy... Don’t underestimate a girl’s sensitive feelings.”

She looked at Yuu, saying with a very serious expression:

“Girlfriends, once their boyfriends aren’t by their side, they’ll easily overthink things, becoming anxious and suspicious!”