Yuu 471-475

Title: Sisters’ War (2)

As the sentence paused, Yukino couldn’t help but say, “Nee-san, do you think this is normal? Honestly, you really need to see a psychologist.”

“Foolish child, this is what love is like. You’re the one who doesn’t understand.”

Haruno said casually, “Unless I actually do something bad to Danggo-chan for my own desires, or lock Yuu-chan in a basement and train him to be my little puppy, then you can call it abnormal and question me—but at least for now, I have no plans to go that far.”

She sneered coldly.

“So, Yukino-chan, the current you is just meddling in other people’s business.”

Without hesitation, Yukino said seriously, “You’re my sister, and they’re my best friends. That’s not called meddling!”

“Haaah, how touching. But so what?”

Haruno said indifferently, “No matter what you all think, to me, Tenkuji Yuu is my boyfriend. Using any means to drive away the girls around him is a right granted by this status.”

“Even if we take a step back, if I just have a crush on him, do you know what a long-distance relationship is?”

At this point, she gave a small laugh. Her tone suddenly softened, no longer as sharp as before.

Yet her voice was quieter than a bird returning home to find its chick gone. It carried self-mockery and sadness. That voice slipped gently into Yukino’s heart through the phone.

“Yukino-chan, I’m different from you all…”

“I can’t meet him at school every day, I can’t find chances to chat and eat with him daily. Even video calls at night, texting back and forth, saying goodnight, making plans to go out on holidays, looking into each other’s eyes, and smiling—all these things.”

“Now, they can’t be done.”

Perhaps it was just a fleeting illusion.

Yukino had never heard her sister’s voice choke up. Complaints, anxieties, and uncertainties she had never shared with anyone spilled out like mud suddenly splashed, sinking straight to the bottom of a river where no one could see.

That perfect sister, the Haruno who always faced everything with a relaxed smile, unshaken…

How could she cry like an ordinary girl?

“You asked why I only use little tricks like this?”

As if denying the thoughts that arose, Haruno took a deep breath. Her voice returned to a calm, emotionless tone.

“Because only by doing this can I find a way to enter his life without causing trouble for my lover.”

“Forced to stand at a distance I can’t reach, tell me, is there any other way to make him turn and look at me?”

Her tone was unemotional, almost gentle.

Yet under this question, Yukino couldn’t utter a single word. She could only lower her head and remain silent.

And so, Haruno sneered coldly again.

“Got it now? Believe it or not, I’ve been dating him far longer than any of you. A little girl who’s never even been in a relationship shouldn’t act like she knows better and criticize an adult’s choices.”

“By the way, Yukino-chan, you’re not even better than Masuzu-chan. You have no right to meddle in our relationship… So, don’t act so high and mighty.”

Despite being mocked like this, Yukino bit her lip until it turned pale. She gripped her phone tightly and didn’t speak.

Because she knew, no matter how many pale words she said, they would only be crushed one by one by the current Haruno.

She understood her feelings, so what? She couldn’t stay silent and wanted to stop her, but then what?

Her sister wasn’t someone she could persuade. Even after this heartfelt conversation, Yukino suddenly couldn’t find a reason to refute her. She gradually acknowledged those deep, unspoken feelings.

(So, was I the one who made the wrong choice?)

The thought lasted less than a second.

“Alright then, don’t bother me with this kind of thing again. Even though you’re my dearest little sister, I can get angry too, you know~”

Like a general who’d won a battle, Haruno’s tone lightened again. Just as she was about to hang up—

Yukino suddenly spoke up, “Nee-san.”

“Hmm? Something else to say?” Haruno waited patiently for her to continue.

After that one word, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.

The phone was no longer pressed to her ear. Yukino slowly raised her head. Her blue eyes reflected the warm yellow glow of the neon lights.

She looked at the light, as if seeing the day she and Yuu met.

As if seeing the times when she gradually grew close to Yuigahama.

As if the days the three of them spent in the Service Club—laughter, arguments, and confessions—flashed vaguely yet deeply in her mind.

Would the strength of these feelings lose to Haruno?

…She didn’t think so.

Because of their existence, because of this cherished daily routine, the current Yukino had been able to change so much.

From now on, she still wanted to laugh with them—she still wanted to be with Yuigahama and Yuu in that small clubroom, eating lunch with their side dishes all mixed up, chatting about unimportant topics.

If time allowed, it would be wonderful if the three of them could go to Kyoto, or even somewhere farther.

So, she had to say this to her.

“I can’t comment on your choices, but likewise, Nee-san, you have no right to meddle in the relationship between the three of us.”

No longer cold, no longer firm. Yukino only smiled with the corners of her lips raised, saying softly:

“Indeed, I’ve never been in a relationship. I don’t know how heavy those adult choices you mentioned are… But I can tell, you’re suppressing your feelings. You’re not even better than that Natsukawa-san. You’re a hesitant coward.”

“…You’re pretty bold, Yukino.”

“Only bold enough to speak now.”

Yukino ignored her sister’s subdued tone. She leaned gently against the sofa’s backrest and continued.

“I also have words I can’t say and feelings I don’t know how to handle… Even so, I won’t meddle in someone else’s love life.”

“If love is a war by any means, as you say, then come and fight honorably. Do things that will make him love you, not things that will push him away once he finds out.”

In truth, what she wanted to say wasn’t all this philosophy.

Yukino slowly closed her eyes. In the darkness of her vision, she saw the scene when Yuu hugged her to his chest, shielding her from a kitchen knife with his body.

Even if it was just acting, his racing heartbeat felt so real, impossible to forget even now.

Was this the same feeling as her sister’s?

Was this what Yuigahama felt every day?

Even now, Yukino still couldn’t be sure.

She felt she didn’t have the deep, persistent love for him that they did. Nor did she think she was a sweet, foolish girl who would sacrifice many principles if she fell in love with someone.

If so, then let her say the one certain thing to Haruno, who was both her sister and her romantic rival now—

“And if you don’t change, and insist on causing trouble and disrupting the Service Club while claiming it’s your way of love…”

Yukino took a deep breath. She said firmly:

“As one of Tenkuji-kun’s girlfriends… I’ll also use every means to stop you from acting recklessly.”

“Yuigahama-san and I definitely won’t lose to you!”

As the sentence ended, she ignored the silence on the other end.

She hung up immediately. She quickly powered off her phone and tossed it onto the table like it was burning.

“…”

Yukino pressed her lips together and fell silent. She stared straight ahead.

Her expression was resolute, unwavering. Her eyes shone with determination. She was like a leader who had just declared war, savoring the passionate, extraordinary words she’d just spoken.

And so, time passed—how long, she didn’t know.

Her slender body suddenly collapsed onto the sofa. Like a puppet with its strings cut, the aura she’d had completely vanished.

Grabbing a pillow beside her, Yukino covered her flushed face. She rolled back and forth like a caterpillar, kicking her limp white legs. Thud, thud, thud sounds came from the edge of the sofa.

“I… why did I have to say something like that… ‘One of his girlfriends’ or whatever, ‘won’t lose’ or whatever… Ngh ngh ngh er ah—if he finds out, I’d rather die! Kill him first, then kill myself… No, Yuigahama-san would be sad. I’d better find a way to get physical amnesia…”

No one heard. Her muffled groans echoed in the empty living room.

Outside the window, the night had grown late.

There was no Yuki-Onna here. Only Yukino, an ordinary girl, deeply embarrassed and regretting her impulsive actions, wishing she could disappear.

-

Title: Sisters’ War (3)

“I definitely won’t lose? One of his girlfriends?”

At the Yukinoshita residence.

Haruno slowly set down the phone after the call ended. Her expression was calm, but her trembling pupils couldn’t hide the surging emotions within. Her mind felt like it was swarmed by ten thousand buzzing bees, utterly chaotic.

The weight of those final declarations of war carried too much.

She could sense that Yukino deeply cared for Yuu. She had once worried about the embarrassing scenario where two sisters might fall for the same man. For that reason, she had tested Yukino multiple times. Precisely because of this, when she learned Yuu was dating Yuigahama, Haruno felt a slight relief. She thought there was no way they could end up together…

Yet Yukino had just said she was Yuu’s girlfriend—and one of them?!

Could her innocent, pure, and overly principled little sister really share a man with her best friend?

No way. Were high school girls’ brains all broken these days?!

Was this because Yuu’s charm was too overwhelming, or had Yukino, who’d never had many friends, been so intoxicated by friendship that she made such an absurd choice?

Haruno couldn’t help but clutch her head. She sat on the bed, slightly dizzy.

What was wrong with this world…

“Jerk…”

For a moment, she didn’t even know who to be angry at or who to curse.

As if abandoned by the entire world, she sat on the bed in a daze, looking around. She wanted to open her mouth to say something, but her room was empty—only she was there. Even the night was concealed by curtains. No one could tell her how to face this.

What should she do?

Her little sister had declared war. Her boyfriend was almost stolen. What else could she do?

She clearly had him first, yet Yuu still flirted with her precious little sister, even letting her become the third party—unforgivable. Drug him and lock him in the basement.

She clearly knew Haruno liked Yuu, yet Yukino still became his girlfriend, even sharing him with her best friend as if it were normal—she needed re-education. But they were family, so target Yuigahama instead.

Seeing her best friend suffer because of her would surely make the self-righteous Yukino feel immense pain. She wouldn’t dare make the same mistake again, would she?

“Hehe… Right. I should’ve done this long ago… Without Yuu-chan, I’m truly hopeless…”

Perhaps because the surroundings were too quiet.

She could hear something cracking inside her heart.

Haruno suddenly laughed. She chuckled softly with delight, as if imagining an amusing scene.

Yet, despite moving the muscles at the corners of her lips, there was no trace of a smile in her deep, slightly narrowed eyes.

Her hands on her knees slowly clenched into fists. Blue veins appeared on her pale skin. She gripped so tightly that her hands trembled slightly.

It wasn’t that she didn’t give her little sister a chance to explain.

But when she called back a second time, the sound of a dead line rang out. Clearly, Yukino had decided to become her enemy.

Unwilling to communicate? That was fine.

Yukino had never beaten Haruno. She just needed to crush her little sister’s hopes of surpassing her as easily as she always had.

As for confronting Yuu, Haruno never considered it.

He had disappointed her too many times. Whether there were hidden reasons or it was intentional, what he’d done couldn’t be undone. The fact that he betrayed those memories had already happened—if he wanted to defend himself, she’d sit and listen carefully only after Yuu was fully hers.

She would show them just how far someone could go when they loved someone deeply.

“This is the second time. No one can separate me and Yuu-chan… No one.”

Her voice was hoarse and low. Haruno clenched both fists and swore to herself.

Sitting dazed on the bed for a few minutes, she had already formed a rough plan. She even had a general idea of the steps and how to conclude it. She just needed to go survey the location and make arrangements herself.

But just before she prepared to contact some professionals, a knock suddenly sounded at the door, followed by a mature, gentle, and melodious voice.

“Haruno, you’re still awake?”

“Mother?”

Snapping out of her dark emotions, Haruno shook her head firmly. She slapped her cheeks to return her dark, distorted expression to normal. She stood up and opened the door as if nothing had happened. “I’m still up. What’s the matter?”

“I just wanted to tell you that this weekend’s work has been canceled. Your father is going on an overseas business trip.”

Saori was still wearing an elegant and refined kimono. Her sleek black hair was pinned up behind her head. Her tone and gaze were as commanding as ever, leaving no room for opposition.

“However, your restriction from going out hasn’t been lifted. I’ve arranged some lessons for you. Study well. Don’t keep thinking about playing around and neglecting important matters.”

“I understand. I don’t have anywhere to go right now anyway.”

Haruno nodded obediently with a smile. After finishing her sentence, she moved to close the door and return to her room. “Anything else? If not, I’ll rest.”

Through the slowly closing door, she could see her mother frowning, appraising her face.

(Did she notice something?)

Haruno knew in her heart that this crude disguise wouldn’t fool her mother’s eyes. If her mind hadn’t been too preoccupied to think clearly earlier, she wouldn’t have rushed to stand and open the door.

Saori let out a soft sigh, as if annoyed. Sure enough, before the door fully closed, her gentle yet uncompromising voice came from outside.

“Wait a moment.”

“What is it?” Opening the door again, Haruno still played dumb.

Saori stared straight into her eyes, as if trying to see into the depths of her heart. After a moment, she spoke as if confirming:

“You fought with Yukino?”

Haruno’s mouth involuntarily opened wide.

(She could guess even this?)

(Terrifying. Where did this mind-reading old monster come from!)

“Are you calling me an old mind-reading monster?” Saori showed a gentle smile, but her voice hid a murderous intent. “Sorry, it’s not that I can read minds—it’s that the current Haruno is too easy to read~”

“Not at all. Mother, you’re overthinking~” Haruno turned her face away, twirling the ends of her hair while laughing awkwardly. “It’s normal for sisters to have small fights, right? It’s not a big deal anyway. Don’t worry, don’t worry~”

“If it wasn’t a big deal, you wouldn’t brush me off with such poor acting… After all, I watched you grow up.”

Saori sighed helplessly. Suddenly, she raised her hand and gently cupped Haruno’s right cheek.

She looked at her with a tender gaze and said softly:

“Maybe when you were ten? When your grandmother passed away, you used this same expression to comfort Yukino… You lost something important but refused to cry in front of others. You could only force yourself to act stronger than anyone else.”

“It’s indeed a valuable skill in the workplace. I’m proud of this strong and mature you—but Haruno, this is home. You don’t need to do that.”

-

Title: Sisters’ War (4)

“…”

Staring silently at her mother, Haruno slowly unclenched her tightly balled fists. Her lips trembled slightly before she pressed them together firmly.

She raised her hand, placing it over the back of her mother’s hand, and leaned her cheek into it.

Then, she gently rubbed against it, squinting her eyes as if savoring the moment. The smile on Haruno’s face hadn’t faded.

“There’s no need for that… But I’m already used to it.”

After all, even the one she loved so deeply had never seen her cry.

As long as she could still smile, Haruno felt she hadn’t lost, hadn’t let go of what mattered.

“Silly child… But it seems I don’t have the right to say that to you.” Saori withdrew her hand as if giving up. Yet her gaze was no longer commanding. She looked at Haruno gently and naturally, like an ordinary mother who just wanted to have a heart-to-heart with her daughter.

“So, forget about important matters for now. Is there any feeling you’d like to share with me?”

“Feelings I want to share…”

Perhaps this was the first time she’d heard her mother speak like this.

A faint ripple stirred in her heart. Haruno, who had planned to deflect and retreat to her room, unconsciously said these words:

“I… clearly have a boyfriend who’s ready to get married…”

Saori’s eyes widened suddenly. Her face was full of shock. She seemed to want to ask something but forcibly held back. With a twitching expression, she forced a smile, trying to be a good listener.

“Mm… Mm, and then?”

“You’ve met him before, even helped me chase him. But my plans were seen through right away. All the bodyguards I brought to the amusement park were dealt with by him…”

“?? T-that’s impressive…”

“By the way, he’s Yukino-chan’s classmate. But he’s very mature. Sometimes, he’s also really sweet… Oh, and he’s got a sharp tongue.”

“You… this…”

“There’s so much more to tell… Sadly, none of you remember.”

Haruno gently bit her lip. She smiled helplessly, blinking quickly twice. She looked at her mother with a strange expression. “Do you think I have mental issues? But to me, you’re the ones with the problem… We both remember, so why don’t any of you?”

“Why were all those experiences and precious things erased? I was the one who came first. Why can others push me aside and casually say I’m the one meddling?”

She kept asking, not expecting answers. She just wanted to pour out everything she’d been holding in, all the things buried in her heart, to her mother.

“It’s not fair! Why, after struggling so hard to recover my memories, do I still have to go through this… Why didn’t his feelings come back with my memories? Why do I have to watch my boyfriend flirt with other girls? Why do I have to be forced into being the villain…”

“Why does it have to be me…”

“I just want to be with him. I want to have the truest, most perfect love…”

Haruno didn’t cry.

Though her voice gradually trembled, and her eyes began to redden. She had to swallow occasionally, holding back the sting in her nose.

She wouldn’t cry.

Yet her calm smile hid a sadness deep enough to drown an entire city.

“Haruno…”

Saori no longer cared about the weight of the information in those words.

Her eldest daughter, always mature and strong, looked for the first time in front of her like a little girl who’d just had her heart broken. She showed a fragile, confused expression, unsure of what to do.

Her heart ached slightly. But she didn’t know what the jerk who hurt her daughter looked like, his name, where he lived, or how to plan against him.

She could only turn that anger into compassion. Raising her hand, she gently stroked Haruno’s head, now much taller than her own. She comforted her in a soft voice:

“Speaking it out is good… Haruno, this might be your first time in a relationship.”

“Though I don’t know the exact situation, what’s called love has no such thing as fairness. It’s normal to feel confused. It’s normal to feel scared. As long as you slowly get used to it, everything will be fine.”

Haruno gradually calmed down. Her expression shifted slightly. She looked at her mother with a faintly amused gaze.

“Mom, your comforting skills need some work.”

Saori quickly pulled her hand back. She glared angrily, but the tips of her ears flushed a soft cherry-blossom pink.

“Don’t talk back! Whose fault is it that you kids never needed my comforting since you were little? I never got the chance to use my powers!”

(The always dignified and commanding Mom can show such an embarrassed and awkward expression?)

Realizing this, Haruno’s mood instantly lightened. The surging emotions, like crashing waves, slowly subsided. Even the dark thoughts that had surfaced earlier gradually faded.

Indeed, speaking out all the words bottled up in her heart, even if the person across from her was confused, still made her feel lighter. Her thoughts were no longer so negative.

Her rationality was analyzing her current mindset. Then she heard her mother ask again:

“So, what do you want to do now?”

“Do what?” At the question, the near-criminal plans resurfaced in her mind.

Haruno shook her head. She didn’t want her mother to see that she’d ever considered breaking the law. She smiled as if accepting the situation:

“I have to work and study now. Plus, with his avoidant attitude, I can’t do anything. I can’t just go to him and whine like a kid who didn’t get candy.”

After all, she had promised him she’d hold back until the truth was revealed.

Haruno didn’t want to cause him trouble either. That wasn’t what a good girlfriend should do—though when they were together, she barely felt the age gap, she was still older than Yuu. She should manage her emotions and selfishness and think of him with a mature perspective.

Thinking this way, Saori countered with a question:

“Why not? Has he ever considered how much you’re suffering?”

“…”

Bullseye. Haruno fell silent, unsure how to answer.

“Listen to me, Haruno.”

Saori lifted her daughter’s downcast face. She spoke with a serious expression: “You’ve always been free. Even though you took on the heavy responsibility of being the eldest daughter to inherit the family business at a young age, you’ve always gotten what you wanted within the bounds of maturity. You’ve never hesitated.”

“Pocket money from Grandpa, the latest toys, things you wanted to try… From childhood to adulthood, you’ve lived far more easily than we did. That’s why your father and I trusted you with so much pressure—because you know how to adapt, how to balance freedom and restraint. That’s one thing Yukino will never match you in.”

The corners of her lips curved into a smile. Saori gently flicked Haruno’s forehead, as if scolding a bright child who got a ninety-nine and started complaining. Her tone remained firm:

“But when it comes to love, you’re like a handcuffed baby. You could easily break free from those limits, but instead, you lie in bed, sobbing. You don’t dare do anything—you’re not at all like the daughter I raised!”

-

Title: Sisters’ War (5)

Haruno froze for a moment. Then, she asked in disbelief:

“No way? Are you saying now that I’m the child of Dad’s affair…?”

“Hmm? Your father dares to cheat?”

Saori smiled gently, but a murderous intent surged, forming a hannya mask behind her. A chilling aura spread through the corridor. “Don’t talk nonsense. I’m the one who gave birth to you. The only possibility is that you’re not his child—and even that’s zero, of course.”

“I know, I was just joking.” For her own safety, Haruno obediently fell silent.

The chill gradually dissipated. Saori sighed helplessly and shook her head. “In short, Haruno, why do you think you can’t whine to him?”

“Of course! I’m the older…”

“You’re Yukino’s older sister and that guy’s girlfriend. Since deep down you already see him as marriage material, why can’t you act spoiled with your husband?”

Faced with her mother’s question, Haruno fell silent. Then, she showed a slightly lonely smile.

“Because that reality no longer exists.”

Saori frowned. “Though I believe you for now, honestly, I don’t understand what you’ve been through with that guy or what kind of bizarre love you’re in… I’ll ask one thing. Answer honestly.”

Haruno looked straight at her mother.

“Haruno, you love him. You want to win him back.”

Haruno nodded without hesitation.

“That’s right.”

The still-charming housewife smiled. She reached out, brushing aside Haruno’s slightly messy bangs, letting the light in their eyes reflect in each other’s pupils.

“Even if the family business doesn’t allow you to act recklessly… you’re still young. Can’t you stop being mature for a moment?”

“You’re only twenty. If you can’t even be reckless in love, I might as well find you another match.”

Pulling her hand back, with her arms elegantly crossed at the elbows, Saori returned to her commanding posture. Her expression was serious, her gaze gentle but undeniable.

“You only have this moment to object. Anything else you want to say?”

“…”

Just think about it.

Competing with her little sister for a boyfriend, throwing tantrums like a child, and confronting high school girls head-on—it wasn’t Haruno’s style at all.

Though her mother’s words struck deep, shaking the mature resolve she once held, Haruno had no intention of shedding her pride and stubbornness to beg Yuu.

From start to finish, she only thought of resolving everything with her own strength.

…But she was so unwilling.

She couldn’t accept that the happiness she once had was now out of reach, leaving her to complain and confide in her mother here.

So, Haruno could only think again.

Not using tricks on them, the one she loved didn’t love her back, and even went on double dates with her little sister and her sister’s best friend—only she held the memories. What else could she do?

If she could do nothing, then why…

Why not try being reckless?

“…Mom, lift my house arrest.”

Haruno, who had been lost in thought with her head lowered, suddenly spoke up. “I’ll keep up my grades for you. I’ll maintain the necessary school attendance. But I’m not going to weekend lessons.”

Saori wasn’t surprised. Instead, she showed a satisfied smile.

“Fine. What do you want to do?”

“Do some things I never thought I’d do.”

Haruno smiled too. She winked at her mother, saying with a hint of mischief, “Mom, can you answer one question for me?”

“What question?”

“How far do you have to go to win back a lover who left you?”

Her mother propped her chin with her hand, pondering for a few seconds.

“Mm… Your father married into our family, so I never worried about this. But maybe the distance of one arm?”

“Why?”

Haruno curiously extended her arm. Saori smiled, took her hand, and said casually, “If he ever loved you, you can reach him by stretching out your hand. If he never loved you, you won’t reach him even if you walk to the ends of the earth. In that case, just give up.”

“What if he loved you but forgot?”

Saori let go of her hand. She turned calmly and gracefully, walking down the stairs.

“Then take one step further. It’s up to you.”

“…Fair point.”

Watching her mother’s retreating figure, Haruno took a deep breath. Her smile was as bright as a clear day after dark clouds parted.

She knew she still had better options.

Though not the most mature or clever, let’s be honest—since her memories returned, she hadn’t had the leisure to calculate calmly.

Her little sister declared war. Her boyfriend openly cheated with two others. There was even a seductress lurking on the sidelines. Once her memories returned, she didn’t know what drastic actions she might take.

This could be called being besieged from all directions. Retreat was wrong, advancing was wrong.

All this time, Haruno had tried so hard to restrain her feelings and keep her distance, all for Yuu’s sake.

And now, that irresponsible man let her endure this torment, cruelly leaving her to countless lonely nights. If even he didn’t think of her, then no one in this world would take Haruno’s side.

So, she had no intention of holding back anymore.

To hell with maturity!

To hell with the truth!

To hell with waiting!

Here, there was only a pitiful girl who wanted to take back her boyfriend.

“People who plan everything and end up with nothing are everywhere. If you smile proudly now, one day, if you unfortunately become the loser, others will laugh harder than you do now… Remember, Natsukawa Masuzu once said that.”

She stretched vigorously, swung her arms, and muttered with a soft chuckle.

“Hmph hmph~ Well then, I’ll show you what I can do when I stop overthinking.”

Closing the door with her foot, Haruno dove onto the bed. After bouncing twice, she grabbed her phone. Humming cheerfully, she opened her messages.

Typing in the number she knew by heart, she began composing a text.

She wrote a lot, deleted a lot, and struggled until midnight before finally sending a short, cryptic message.

Yes, just four words.

Imagining Yuu’s expression when he saw the text, the corners of Haruno’s lips twitched twice. In the end, she couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, rolling on the bed without a care for her image.

Her long, pale legs slapped the bed. She played gleefully like a child.

“Hahahahaha~ Next, I’ll block him. Let him panic for a bit, then I’ll proactively go find him~”

Outside the window, the night was deep.

Both Saori, who successfully retreated feeling she’d fulfilled her duty as a mother, and Haruno, suddenly enlightened and determined to cause a stir, wore relaxed smiles unique to them.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

The next morning upon waking, Yuu stared at his phone with a grim expression.

More precisely, he stared at a text message on the screen.

A message from a nameless contact, but with a number he knew the sender of—a number he hadn’t forgotten even now.

The content was simple. Just four words, plus some symbols. Yet it made his heart tremble with fear—

【You☆Are☆Done☆~】

This was a threatening text sent by Haruno.

-

Title: Sisters’ War (6)

Breakfast time.

In the living room, no one spoke.

Yuu ate his breakfast with a grim expression, as if the toast and freshly cooked bacon in front of him were a Riemann hypothesis proof essay. Each bite felt as heavy as lead. His chewing was slower and more cautious than the sound of writing.

As for Sora, sitting across from him, she swayed her head in confusion. She seemed to shove food into her mouth purely on instinct. Her eyes narrowed into thin slits, like a kitten not yet fully awake. She was completely oblivious to her brother’s odd demeanor.

And so, one brooded intensely while the other was half-conscious. The siblings slowly finished their breakfast and parted at the entrance as usual.

“See you later~”

Clutching a stuffed bunny in her arms, Sora mumbled a dazed farewell. Then she prepared to head upstairs to sleep again.

Yesterday, she had discovered a shooting game called Nadona Nadona. Since it took time to level up her character, and the CGs and story animations were so captivating, she kept unlocking one after another. She stayed up all night, completely engrossed.

As a result, she accidentally pulled an all-nighter. The moment she left the computer in the morning, she slipped into a dazed state. Now, her mind held only four words: Wanna Sleep So Bad—she didn’t even notice the significant fact that she’d stayed up all night again and wasn’t scolded by her brother. She just wanted to crawl into her blankets and sleep until evening.

But before she could turn and head upstairs, Yuu called out to her at the entrance.

“Sora, I have a question.”

“Mm, what’s up~”

Her body swayed unsteadily. Suddenly, Sora tilted, her head leaning against the wall as if she might fall asleep right there.

She answered lazily without turning back, struggling to lift her feet and inch her way upstairs.

“It’s just a hypothetical scenario—if someone you used to be close with, but now have some friction with, suddenly sent you a text saying [You’re Done]… Do you know what they might be planning?”

The issue seemed crucial to him. Even though his sister looked like she wasn’t listening at all, Yuu still asked with a grim expression, a sense of desperation as if he’d been cornered and was even seeking help from a cat’s paw.

Though her brain was barely awake, Sora forced it to function in response to her brother’s question. She said, bewildered:

“Isn’t that… a threat? Telling me to wash my neck and wait, then doing something extreme to me… Like deleting my game saves or exposing my browser history… Haaah~”

“Makes sense…” Yuu’s lips twitched. He gave an awkward laugh with an unpleasant expression. Turning, he opened the front door. “It’s fine. Go back to sleep.”

“Oh~” Sora didn’t say much. With permission to leave, she kept shaking her head and shuffled upstairs.

Behind her was Yukinon, walking with her chest puffed out. She seemed worried her master might fall, following closely and nudging her legs bit by bit.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Today, Yuu still went to school with Yuigahama.

The pink-haired girl with dango buns arrived a bit late, but only by a few minutes. For Yuu, who was frantically analyzing the truth and danger behind that text message, the wait barely registered.

“Sorry, did I keep you long?”

“Not long. Let’s go.” Yuu nodded at Yuigahama.

Though it was early December winter, Yuigahama was full of energy and warmth. Her smile was like a sunflower blooming in summer.

The two walked toward the station. Yuigahama leaned against his shoulder and suddenly stretched her hand forward.

“Look, I’m not wearing gloves!”

Yuu snapped out of his thoughts, slightly distracted. He asked, confused, “Why not?”

“Hm? Why does Yuu-kun seem a bit slow today?” From that single sentence, Yuigahama already sensed something was off.

But she didn’t dwell on it for now. Lowering her hand, she slipped it into his open coat pocket, their hands brushing against each other.

The winter wind blew mercilessly through her unprotected hair and ears. But the hands that slowly intertwined and finally clasped tightly were like spring budding inside the pocket.

“Hehe, this is for now~”

She looked up, smiling proudly like that.

Her face was flushed from the tip of her nose to her cheeks, whether from the cold or embarrassment. The color was a tempting pink, like an apple.

Even so, their clasped hands didn’t relax at all. Her soft, warm body seemed ready to pounce on Yuu, pressing close to the boy beside her, as if trying to banish all the winter’s chill.

Yuu froze for a moment. Then, he said with a hint of amusement, “Is this your new way of flirting? Yui, how many times are you planning to make me fall for you?”

Yuigahama huffed dismissively twice. “Stupid question. Do you count how many slices of bread you’ve eaten?”

“Eight slices. I’m a home-cooked meal guy, and breakfast is always homemade.”

“Liar! I’ll call Sora-chan right now and ask what you ate this morning!”

Despite saying that, she couldn’t bear to pull her hand out of the pocket. Yuigahama rubbed her shoulder against him twice in protest.

As a couple flaunting their affection without a care for others since morning, they drew plenty of attention on the long hill toward the station—half disdainful, half exasperated. Only a few older folks gave approving looks.

On the train, Yuigahama didn’t hold the strap. She used Yuu’s arm as her support, standing steadily despite the train’s gentle swaying.

She seemed to hope the train would get crowded. At least, when Yuu noticed the carriage wasn’t too packed, he saw a hint of regret in her eyes.

This also proved that when with her, even if he was preoccupied, Yuu shouldn’t look so lost in thought.

“Yuu-kun, is there something you want to tell me?”

Yuigahama asked like that, like a wife with evidence of her husband’s affair, subtly urging him to confess.

Her cheeks puffed out, but there wasn’t much worry—maybe her intuition told her it wasn’t a big deal, or maybe she was just big-hearted?

Yuu sighed lightly. “There is… I’ll ask you one thing.”

“Mm mm, go ahead.” Yuigahama nodded obediently. Then she added, “Is this about Yukinon? Or does Yuu-kun want another girlfriend?”

“No, having a girlfriend isn’t like catching Pokémon. That comment…” Yuu’s lips twitched. He felt a few shocked stares nearby. Seeing him nagged by his clingy girlfriend, their eyes slowly spelled out: Jerk.

He cleared his throat, pretending not to care, and asked nearly the same question he’d posed to Sora that morning.

“Yui, if it were you, under what circumstances would you send me a text in the middle of the night with no warning, just four words—‘You’re Done’?”

“Eh? Sending a text like that, isn’t it basically a threat?” Yuigahama blinked in surprise. Then she pursed her lips, pondering. She said uncertainly, “If it were me… maybe I’d only send you a text like that if Yuu-kun decided to break up with me and got cozy with another girl besides Yukinon, and I was completely desperate?”

She concluded as if realizing something. “Right, like I’d want to go down with you or something!”

Yuu: “…”

“What’s wrong, Yuu-kun? Why’s your face suddenly so grim?”

“N-nothing. Just thinking of something not funny.”