Chapter 11 – Haruno's Sudden Departure
A quiet hum echoed through the air as the black sedan slowly came to a stop in front of a luxurious apartment building.
One by one, the eldest and second daughters of the Yukinoshita family stepped out gracefully. The chauffeur, fully understanding the unspoken cue, turned the car around and left without another word.
During the ride, Yukinoshita Yukino had been completely absorbed in her thoughts.
She still couldn't quite believe it.
Someone like him—Yukinoshita Akira—had actually managed to defeat Busujima Saeko?
Saeko wasn't just anyone. She was the heir of the modern Busujima sword school, and her strength wasn't something to be taken lightly.
Not long ago, she had dominated the National Kendo Championship, sweeping through every opponent without even giving them a chance to land a hit.
As a woman, Saeko had carved a name for herself in a world dominated by men.
Yukino admired her deeply.
She respected powerful women like Saeko—those who earned their place through sheer effort and excellence, not through appearances or status.
Speaking of appearances, both Yukino and Saeko were often listed among the most beautiful girls at Sobu High.
But unlike Yukino, whose cold and aloof demeanor kept most people at bay, Saeko had the grace and warmth of a proper young lady—earning her admiration from classmates and the student body alike.
Click.
The apartment door opened with a soft mechanical sound, and the two Yukinoshita sisters entered the room.
No sooner had they stepped inside than Haruno collapsed onto the sofa, letting her body sink into its cushions with a sigh of exhaustion.
Here—inside this apartment—was the only place she could live without the weight of a social mask.
At home, even in front of their mother, Haruno had to remain perfect. She had to play the role of "Yukinoshita Haruno"—the flawless, elegant, ever-smiling eldest daughter.
Only in front of her beloved little sister could she finally shed that identity and simply be herself.
The real Haruno.
"Hey, Yukino~ what do you think of Akira-chan?"
"…Why are you asking that all of a sudden?"
"No reason. Just curious."
"He's stubborn… and a fool."
"Stubborn and foolish, huh…"
Haruno's eyes lingered on her sister, her smile fading just a little.
Yeah. Yukino still cared about him.
That word—"fool"—wasn't meant to insult him. In fact, it probably applied to her too.
Because in the end, Yukino and Akira were alike.
Both were trying, in their own ways, to resist the will of their mother. Even though they knew how powerless they were in the face of that overwhelming force, they still pushed back.
They could only rebel quietly, in their own small ways.
But to Yukino, it was all just an experiment—a feeble attempt at asserting her own path. Deep down, she had never truly believed that she could defy their mother completely.
And in that sense… Haruno and Yukino were painfully similar.
Bzzzz… Bzzzz…
Haruno's phone vibrated against the armrest.
She always kept it on silent when not at work—partly out of courtesy, partly out of habit.
"H This is the ever-graceful Yukinoshita Haruno speaking~"
Her voice instantly shifted into its signature tone. The perfect smile returned to her lips as if it were a reflex.
Yukino watched silently from the side. She saw everything. The transformation, the mask sliding back into place—it was all too familiar.
She knew she could never be like her sister.
After a few short moments, Haruno's expression hardened.
"…Understood. I'll be there right away."
She ended the call and stood up, her posture straight, her face composed—but devoid of any trace of her usual charm.
"…Work?"
"Mm-hmm. Something urgent came up. I'll drop by again another time, okay?"
"Alright, Nee-san."
Watching her sister shift instantly into work mode, Yukino couldn't say a word.
Part of her felt admiration… but another part of her felt something else.
Something heavier.
For the longest time, she had been chasing after her sister's shadow.
But now… she was beginning to realize something.
Even her sister had burdens—burdens she had never noticed. Responsibilities she had never understood.
As Haruno stepped into the elevator and descended to the ground floor, someone else happened to arrive at the same time.
Yukinoshita Akira had just returned.
The two met in the apartment lobby—by chance, or perhaps by fate.
Yukinoshita Haruno.
Yukinoshita Akira.
One was the elegant eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita household.
The other, the young man fated to become its future son-in-law.
"Yaa~ Akira-chan! Good evening. Just got back? Looks like you were at club practice~"
"…Ojou-sama."
"Ehh? Come on now, we're engaged, remember? You should be calling me something sweeter~"
She leaned forward with a teasing smile, closing the distance between them with a playful glint in her eye.
But Akira didn't react.
He didn't flinch.
He remained calm, even as she invaded his space.
Because he knew it was all fake.
No matter how flawless her act was, how perfect her expression or voice, he could still sense it—the faint scent of falsehood that clung to everything she did.
"…You must've come to visit Yukino-san. I won't keep you, then."
"Oh my~ pretending like you don't know again, huh? I'm actually just heading out."
"Then I wish you a pleasant trip."
"'Pleasant trip'? That sounds awfully stiff, don't you think~?"
"In that case… feel free to do as you wish, Ojou-sama."
Without waiting for her response, Akira walked past her and stepped into the elevator.
Haruno narrowed her eyes slightly.
There it was again.
That subtle shift.
Something had changed about him.
This wasn't the same Akira from before.
He radiated confidence—real confidence, not the cold indifference he used to wear like armor.
No… it was something deeper. Something absolute.
"Well then~ I guess I really should be going. But Akira-chan… next time, let's have a proper talk."
Her voice had changed.
It was calm, but no longer teasing. It was a promise.
Akira paused for a moment and turned his head, meeting her eyes.
But he said nothing.
Click… Clack… Click…
The sound of Haruno's heels echoed across the marble floor, slicing through the silence like sharp glass.
Moments later, Akira reached his apartment floor.
He stood quietly for a second in front of his door… then glanced at the one across from his.
Yukino's apartment.
Haruno usually stayed overnight whenever she visited. It was one of her rare chances to be with her sister.
But this time, she left right away.
Strange.
Still, Akira didn't dwell on it for long.
He stepped inside his own apartment and closed the door behind him.
Because right now, there was something far more important on his mind.
He needed to figure out how to improve his Template Inheritance Rate.
That… was all that mattered now.
— — —
[Name: Shin Akira (Yukinoshita Akira)]
[Status: Transmigrated from Another World]
[Level: Zero Stage (Normal Human)]
[Template Inheritance: Tsugikuni Yoriichi (0.1%)]
[Complete Templates: Enkidu (100%), King of Shadows (100%)]
[Talents: Demon Mark, Swordmastery Divine Path, Sword Heart]
[Skill: Swordsmanship · Lv1]
[Equipment: —]
[Item: Phoenix's Tear ×1]
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