Parting at Sakura Dormitory
In front of Sakura Dormitory, Yukino Yukinoshita stepped into the car.
Outside, Su Yu stood watching her with a gentle smile.
"See you tomorrow."
"…See you tomorrow."
Her voice was soft.
The driver started the engine and glanced at Yukino through the rearview mirror.
"Let's go," Yukino said quietly.
The driver nodded, and the car pulled away from the curb.
Su Yu watched as the car disappeared from sight.
Only then did he turn and head back inside.
Inside the car, Yukino held a piece of paper in her hands—
The drawing Su Yu had given her.
She stared at her own image, lost in thought.
It brought back memories—
The loneliness, the quiet solitude of that time.
Back then, she had always convinced herself that being alone was fine.
That she didn't need friends.
But Su Yu's arrival had changed things.
Like the knock on the door of the Service Club that day—
Now, he had knocked on the door of her heart.
At a red light, the driver stole a glance at the mirror.
Yukino was sitting there, staring blankly at the paper.
It was obvious.
This second young lady… her heart is already completely occupied by whatever is on that page.
A Surprise Guest at Home
By the time the car reached her apartment complex, Yukino finally snapped out of her daze.
She carefully folded the drawing and stepped out.
Inside the building, she took the elevator up to her floor.
At the door to her apartment, she pushed it open—
And immediately noticed an extra pair of shoes.
"…You're back earlier than I expected, Yukino."
A familiar voice.
"I thought maybe Su Yu-kun wouldn't let you leave tonight."
Yukino looked up.
Standing inside—dressed in comfortable loungewear—was Haruno Yukinoshita.
"…Nee-san."
Haruno chuckled, tilting her head.
"I already made some tea. How about a chat?"
"I'm a little tired—"
"Oh? You don't want to know what I talked about with Su Yu-kun yesterday?"
Haruno's voice carried an unmistakable teasing edge.
Yukino's fingers twitched.
She hesitated, then finally—
Looked at her sister.
Haruno smiled knowingly and turned toward the living room.
Yukino sighed.
There's no avoiding this conversation, is there?
Silently, she followed her sister.
Memories and Revelations
The two sat on the couch.
Haruno took the main seat, while Yukino sat at the side.
Haruno poured two cups of tea and began talking.
"The first time I met Su Yu-kun, his attitude toward me was quite cold."
"In fact… I'd say he disliked me a little."
Yukino remained silent, listening.
That sounded like Su Yu, alright.
"He immediately saw through Hayama's feelings for me. And he also realized—"
"—that it was a love that could never be reciprocated."
Haruno's voice carried a slight amusement.
"He called me the 'Sun' and you the 'Moon.'"
Her lips curled into a smirk.
"…As if anyone who got too close to me would get burned."
Haruno took a sip of tea.
Yukino kept quiet.
It was so like Su Yu to make that kind of analogy.
Haruno continued.
"The second time we met was at Sakura Dormitory—when I visited to celebrate Shizuka's move-in."
"Turns out Su Yu-kun owns the place. Who would've guessed?"
"That night, the barbecue was delicious. Both Shizuka and I had a lot to drink."
A glint of mischief flashed in her eyes.
"Shizuka can't handle her alcohol. She passed out quickly. And I…?"
"I pretended to be drunk."
Yukino's fingers tensed slightly around her teacup.
"I wanted to see how Su Yu-kun would react."
Haruno giggled.
"I even secretly started a recording—just in case."
She pulled out her phone, grinning.
"…Want to hear what he said?"
Yukino hesitated.
Then, she nodded.
Haruno hit play.
A voice echoed softly from the phone.
"To be honest, I don't dislike you."
"I know you genuinely care about your sister. You want the best for her."
"Yukino needs someone who can break through the walls she's built around herself."
"I thought about being that person, but… maybe I don't understand her well enough yet."
"I know she needs friends. I'll try to find her some."
"Beyond that… I can't make any promises."
"Maybe I can change her, but—"
"—I don't want to change her."
The recording ended.
Yukino sat frozen in place.
"…Su Yu-kun already understood you back then."
Haruno watched her closely.
"And he wanted to help you."
A complicated emotion flickered in Yukino's eyes.
"…I'm a little jealous of you, Yukino."
Yukino looked up.
Haruno's tone was soft.
"He invited me to dinner yesterday."
"But it was really for your sake."
Then—
Haruno smirked again.
"…But he's also greedy."
Yukino's breath caught.
Her hands curled slightly into fists.
Haruno studied her expression.
"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"
"You know, yet you're still so close to him."
"That kind of man—"
"—is he really worth liking?"
Yukino opened her mouth—
But no words came out.
Haruno's gaze sharpened.
"…I'm going to tell Mother."
Yukino's face drained of color.
"If she finds out about this…"
"Su Yu-kun's anime and manga will be completely shut down."
"And hopefully, that'll teach him a lesson—"
"Nee-san! Please! Don't tell her!"
Yukino clenched her hands tightly.
Her eyes shone with genuine fear—and deep reluctance.
Haruno sighed inwardly.
There it is.
Yukino had fallen for him.
Not just a casual affection.
Something far deeper.
If their family wasn't an issue, she would've already been with him.
After a long pause, Haruno finally let out a small sigh.
"…Relax. I was just testing you."
Yukino's eyes widened.
"I have no intention of telling Mother."
Haruno set down her teacup.
"In fact, even if she did find out, she'd just be curious about Su Yu-kun."
"If he were willing to take our surname, she'd probably ignore the fact that he has other girlfriends."
Yukino's lips parted in shock.
"You're just the second daughter, Yukino."
"No matter who you marry, it won't change the standing of the Yukinoshita family."
"Mother only really cares about my marriage."
"And as for Father—"
"If you introduced Su Yu-kun to him, I think he'd be delighted."
Haruno stood up.
She turned to leave, but before stepping away, she threw out one last remark—
"…If you can't accept Su Yu-kun like this, then I don't mind making him mine."
"I know he wouldn't refuse."
Yukino sat there, stunned, as her sister walked away.
(t/n: that escalated quickly…)