Chapter 20 — The Ambiguity at Dawn
The sharp chime of a bell suddenly shattered the silence, snapping Yukinoshita Akira out of his peaceful slumber.
As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was… softness. A gentle warmth enveloped him. When his vision adjusted, what greeted him was a pale, snow-like face—beautiful and serene, like a white lotus blooming in the moonlight.
That face belonged to none other than Yukinoshita Yukino, the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Technically, his sister-in-law.
And right now, she was sleeping in his arms.
At some point during the night, the swords they had used had slipped from their hands and now lay forgotten on the floor, resting quietly by their side.
Yet the bell didn't stop ringing. Its persistent chime continued to echo through the room.
"Mmm…"
Yukino stirred and opened her eyes slowly, still wrapped in the fog of sleep. But within seconds, her eyes met Akira's.
Her drowsiness vanished in an instant, replaced by alertness after a brief moment of confusion.
"How long do you plan on holding me like this, Yukinoshita Akira-kun?!"
Her voice turned cold and sharp—completely opposite to the softness she'd shown the night before.
Or rather, this was the Yukinoshita Yukino Akira knew. What happened last night was a rare exception.
Thankfully, Akira had managed to improve her opinion of him a little. Otherwise, he was sure she would've already erupted.
"Second Daughter, I haven't moved an inch. You're the one who rolled into me."
With a huff, Yukino pulled herself out of his arms and sat stiffly on the sofa across the room. But before she could fully regain her composure, Akira's calm voice followed her.
Her first instinct was to get angry. After all, she—an elegant young lady—had just woken up in a man's arms. Of course she was furious.
But almost immediately, she realized… it really wasn't Akira who had moved toward her. It was her.
Still, no matter how aware she was, there was no way she would ever admit it aloud.
She quickly reached for her phone on the nearby table. On the screen, only two kanji glowed brightly: "Nee-san."
Her face instantly stiffened.
It was the look of a woman caught cheating—guilt, panic, and dread all rolled into one.
After all, Akira was, in everyone's eyes, the man her older sister was supposed to marry. Even if there wasn't a formal engagement or any written contract, that unspoken understanding was deeply rooted in both families—and even Akira himself accepted it.
And now, as the younger sister, she had just spent the night in his arms. Anyone would feel uneasy in her position.
Still, Yukino composed herself and picked up the call.
"Yukino, I just got a call from Shizuka. Why aren't you at school? You've never missed a day before."
"Huh? I didn't go to school?"
Yukino turned to glance at the wall clock. Half past nine. She was already very late.
From childhood until now, Yukino had never been tardy. She always arrived early and never left school before time. And yet today… she'd overslept.
What's worse—she had fallen asleep in Akira's arms.
"Yukino, don't tell me… you just woke up?"
Her sister's voice on the other end sounded sweet, almost teasing, as if she'd already guessed everything.
"Yes, Nee-san. I just woke up," Yukino replied calmly.
Her tone was steady. Her expression didn't waver in the slightest. As if nothing had happened, her voice remained as cool and collected as ever.
"I'm honestly shocked. You actually overslept? This is definitely a first."
"It was just an accident. I'll report my absence to the teacher."
"No need. I already informed Shizuka. But tomorrow, you should probably meet her in person."
"Understood."
"By the way… I'm curious. What were you doing last night that made you sleep so deeply? Don't tell me you stayed up reading again?"
"I'm hanging up now~"
"Yukino, wait—"
Beep—beep—
Before Haruno could finish her sentence, Yukino had already ended the call.
Akira, watching from nearby, shook his head with a smile of quiet admiration. In this world, perhaps only Yukino could hang up on Haruno mid-conversation and not immediately suffer her wrath.
Back when he watched anime, Akira used to think—if Haruno had been a man, their sibling dynamic would have fueled endless theories from fans who loved forbidden sibling ships.
"Fuuuuh…"
Yukino let out a long breath as her expression finally softened.
She truly cared for her sister. Deep down, she was a younger sister who loved her Nee-san more than she'd ever admit. But that didn't mean she approved of how Haruno chose to live her life.
"…Why didn't you just tell her what happened last night?" Akira asked quietly.
"I knew you'd ask. But even if I did, she wouldn't believe me."
"No, she would. If it came from you, I think she'd believe every word."
"…Huh?"
"You don't realize how deeply your sister loves you. Or how much burden she's been carrying for your sake."
"…What are you trying to say?"
"There are people who live freely only because someone else carries their burdens."
Akira looked at Yukino with steady eyes and continued.
Yukinoshita Haruno—without question—was someone who had mastered the art of survival in social circles.
She played her roles well, adapted effortlessly, and wore a flawless mask that rarely slipped. And all of that... was to protect the family's interests.
But more than that—it was so her little sister, Yukino, could live her life without being crushed by those same pressures.
"If I were you, I'd be honest with Miss Haruno."
"…Why?"
"Your sister's sharp. If she starts suspecting something, she won't ask you. She'll investigate herself. And if she stumbles on something she wasn't meant to know… things could spiral very fast."
"What do you mean?"
Yukino frowned. Why was Akira suddenly speaking in riddles?
"After last night's fight, you've already seen it—how dangerous demons can be. And when something must be kept hidden from the public… the only way to keep a secret is to silence the one who finds it. And you know, the best way to silence someone… isn't always with words."
"…Are you saying my sister's in danger?"
"That's exactly why I'm saying this. For her sake—and yours—you need to speak up. Because there are some things you simply can't handle alone."
Akira's gaze shifted to the bloodied clothes and scattered mess in the corner of the room. If Yukino tried to clean all that up by herself, it would be impossible.
Only Yukinoshita Haruno—the eldest daughter, already involved in the family's business affairs—had the poise and experience to handle this kind of chaos with a clear head.
Yukino stayed silent, lost in thought.
And finally, she admitted to herself… Akira was right.
This wasn't just a theory.
This was real.
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