The weather forecast said no rain today.
So, perhaps as night approached, the sky slowly shifted from gray to dark. The clouds looked heavy, as if about to drip. It felt like invisible pressure blanketed the entire amusement park.
The cold wind gradually stopped. Though the temperature neared ten degrees Celsius, it was stifling, making the whole body feel hot.
At the Ferris wheel exit, the atmosphere formed by two women and one man felt like a vacuum—heavy, hard to breathe.
"You're blood sisters, why fight over me…"
His advice fell flat. Yuu held his forehead, sighing heavily in pretense.
Unfortunately, like a clown performing in the wrong place, neither paid him any mind.
Standing gallantly like a knight, Yukino pressed her soft lips tightly. With a solemn expression, she blocked in front of him, not allowing the person ahead to breach her rear territory even slightly.
Smiling brightly like the Virgin Santa, Haruno narrowed her sickle-like crescent eyes. A gentle yet unstoppable cold aura mercilessly pressed her sister. Faint cold flames flickered in the depths of her eyes.
They glared at each other. Sparks seemed to crackle in the air.
After a moment, Yukino broke the deadly silence first.
"Why are you here? You didn't come all this way just to ruin our schedule, right?"
Haruno kept smiling. "I said I just want to meet my ex-boyfriend. New thief cat, step aside quick, okay?"
Yukino rolled her eyes lightly, habitually mocking in a sarcastic tone. "That again? I feel sorry hearing it."
Haruno immediately dropped her smile, showing a similar yet different sneer. "Heh. A fool like you who knows nothing, blinded by split love and turning against your sister—I'm the one who feels sorry. Hah, it makes me laugh. Why do I have such a stupid little sister?"
Yukino remained unfazed, retorting coldly. "Oh? Then what do you know about him? That he hates sweets, or his eyebrow rises a centimeter when lying? Sorry, I knew those by the fifth day of knowing him."
Haruno raised an eyebrow, folding her arms, refusing to yield. "Then, do you know he can break a strength-testing machine with one punch and sneak into a heavily guarded vacation home undetected?"
Yukino: "Have you eaten food he cooked himself? Made lunch with him for his little sister and underclassman?"
Haruno: "Have you been hugged and kissed by him on stage, seen by many? Driven around with him everywhere, leaving your own traces?"
Yukino: "Have you seen him ask for help?"
Haruno: "Have you seen him kneel on one knee?"
Neither backed down.
One sentence for one sentence. Barely giving the other breathing room.
A word battle unfolded multiple times in mere seconds. Less about fighting for love, more like two cunning assassins cautiously probing, seeking a chance for a fatal strike.
Yukino, instinctively doing this, shouldn't beat Haruno, who never stopped calculating. Sooner or later, she'd lose and run out of words.
But before truly falling behind, she suddenly stopped. Frowning, she stared at Haruno's expression, searching for lies. She fell silent, lost in thought.
"…Didn't expect your imagination to be so rich. You speak as if it's real."
Yukino sighed softly, calming again. Her aggressive, attacking kitten-like anger temporarily receded.
Haruno sneered. "You dare say that about such small things? Underestimating your big sister too much?"
"Those are all real things between him and me. Better than the silly fantasies you keep piling on."
"Hah—that's why I say you're an outsider who knows nothing."
Haruno shook her head, sighing pityingly. She suddenly curved her lips meaningfully. "Yukino, aren't you curious about what I just said? Don't pretend to be slow. You should feel I didn't come all this way just for unrequited or one-sided love, right?"
She paused. Her soft voice coaxed, trying to lure her into her own trap.
"You know him, but don't you know me? Coming this far, was nothing really between us? Just fantasies driving all this? Is the big sister you chased since childhood but never caught up to, truly an incurable foolish madgirl?"
"…Yes, even with your bad personality, no reason to be this crazy."
Though shaken briefly, Yukino's gaze stayed calm. She warily watched Haruno.
"But so what? Whatever the issue, I'll ask him myself later. No need to guess your intentions! I'm not stupid enough to believe a troublemaker's words."
"Tch, so stubborn."
Seeing her unmoved, Haruno bit her nail, muttering annoyedly. "Talking more is useless. Can't show proof…"
Thinking this, she changed topics. "Then ask now! Ask the guy behind you if I'm making it up?"
Without turning, Yukino said naturally, unfazed. "What he'll tell me later, I don't need to know in a rush. I just wait for him to say it himself."
Seeing this expression, Haruno's gaze shifted slightly. She slowly clenched her hands, falling silent briefly.
"…Yes, but I don't want to hold back. I'm only getting more impatient."
Suddenly, Haruno seemed to release all hostility. She lowered her head, voice suppressed, sighing. "I've held back long enough. If I keep holding, no one will pity me. So… I actively sought him before being truly forgotten."
Stepping past her sister, she looked at the youth behind.
Her gaze slowly softened. Brief fragility showed on her face. But she forced calm, smiling helplessly.
"My goal is actually simple. I just want him to admit in front of you… Admit my past existence and those extraordinary experiences aren't fiction."
Feeling Yukino's gaze change slightly, Haruno smiled brightly, looking back. She poked her soft, white cheek.
"Eh? You didn't really think I came just to steal my little sister's boyfriend, right? Fight directly, act out a morning drama husband-snatching scene? Even hit my own sister if angry?"
"…"
"Pfft! Hahahaha, so stupid and cute~ Even if yes, I wouldn't do it so obviously." Haruno laughed, waving her hand. Her voice soft and cheerful as usual, like winter's new sunrise. "How embarrassing seen by everyone. I'm not planning to act in a drama or movie. My attitude is serious—I just wanted to scare you two."
Yukino stared calmly. No expression. She didn't lower her guard.
Building confrontation was easy, erasing it all and starting over too. Casually polishing everything like a joke—her sister was like that. Could flip to anger next second. Don't let emotions be controlled by her act.
"Alright, alright, let's make up for now~" Haruno seemed to sense her tension. She patted her stiff shoulder soothingly. Seeing her frown, she gave up hugging.
Then she looked up, narrowing eyes at Yuu.
Still smiling, but her tone sank subtly.
"So, you've watched the play long enough. You should respond."
"Whether my business or Natsukawa-san's… Yukino-chan, can you say it all here?"
Yuu: "…"
"Not just you, this involves Natsukawa-san too?"
Hearing this, Yukino couldn't help turning to him. Her face showed slight anxiety and confusion. She and her sister formed a two-sided gaze encirclement.
These sisters, just hostile and spraying each other, now silently agreed to face a certain suspicious man.
"…Haaah."
Yuu, finally noticed, truly didn't know whether to rejoice or sigh exhaustedly.
He didn't feel much tension from being forced to confess. Just helplessness spreading in his heart.
(Wow, you finally plan to force me to admit. I really feel like an outsider.)
He was the main cause of their fight…
Clearing his throat, Yuu put on a serious expression.
"I planned to say all I could before you fought… You two fought so fiercely alone, ignoring me, and still blame me for just watching?"
After complaining dissatisfiedly, he skipped nonsense. He locked eyes with Haruno's calm gaze.
"Honestly, I didn't want to say these things here."
Discussing family matters publicly—embarrassment level no less than mom dragging him by the ear in the street.
"No choice, I couldn't hold back, so I came openly. Didn't think that much~"
Haruno pouted innocently, shrugging. She glanced at the noisy surroundings. "Or move places and settle all our business privately?"
"I planned that." During the silent time, Yuu found a hidden corner suitable for talking—behind the stairs where Haruno emerged from shadow. "Let's go there. But Haruno, hope you're mentally prepared…"
No panic, retreat, or guilt—Yuu looked directly at Haruno, saying seriously. "I tried being honest with them, your business and what I experienced. But in the end, all blocked by some magical force."
Haruno startled, blurting reflexively. "You mean that bastard god meddled again…"
"God? Tch, you call him that? Adding bastard fits perfectly." Yuu muttered amusedly, shaking his head. "Roughly yes. So, no matter how resolute your decision, even changing old clothes to come openly, I'm not sure I can say what I want and you want to know… If I can't, I'll use No Comment as substitute."
He said this flatly, as if expressing helplessness and inability to compromise.
But Haruno seemed oblivious. She just stared with sparkling eyes. A genuine, innocent smile appeared. Longing and satisfaction overflowed in her voice.
"Yuu-chan, I knew you still remember!"
Saying that, she spun in place. Her skirt flew like butterfly wings, elegant and beautiful.
Sleeveless lace yellow top, graceful plain white long skirt, light blue denim jacket over, famous brand white sneakers—though modified with thickness for winter, this outfit matched their old amusement park date.
Of course Yuu remembered.
Besides his good memory, untouched by the System—Haruno, Asuna, or Masuzu. Everything on their separation day, every scene together, even their clothes and hairstyles.
Yuu remembered clearly. Those memories etched deep in his heart, carved with knife and axe. Unlike feelings, he couldn't forget even if he wanted.
…And just remembering this small thing made her this happy?
Yuu shifted from Haruno's smile. He glanced at the distant cloudy gray sky, sighing softly.
"Haruno, I can only guarantee you, everything I say next is truth… Won't lie to you or myself."
He stepped toward the stairs' back.
His sleeve tugged. He met those soft dark blue eyes.
"…You coming too?" He asked, though rhetorical.
Yukino immediately frowned, staring coldly with killing aura. "Something I shouldn't know?"
"Uh… If it's sayable, seems almost all shouldn't be known by you…" Yuu smiled awkwardly. Before Yukino revved up and shot freeze beams from her eyes, he raised his hand, rubbing her round little head twice.
"Though I want to talk alone with Haruno, at this point, unrealistic to ask you to step away… Mm, come if you want. It's your right as girlfriend. Might resolve your long-held confusion."
"…"
Yukino held the man's hand. She bit her lip softly. Her eyes sharp as torches. She stared silently several seconds. Who knows what she thought or realized.
Then she turned away. Without much talk, she just tucked beautiful hair behind her ear. She walked gallantly and coolly toward the stairs' back.
Yuu watched her back. He took a deep breath, letting cold air fill his lungs, stabilizing his wavering emotions.
He didn't use Calm Water Mirror Heart. This was just honest confession. He believed Yukino could understand his actions.
Of course, assuming no repeat of before—her exploding in love upon realizing Haruno was his ex-girlfriend.
"Yukino, do you trust me?"
Yukino's steps halted. Without turning, she seemed to sigh lightly.
"Don't use sly questions like that… Anyway, I'll know immediately if you lie."
"Mm." Yuu couldn't help smiling, feeling slightly relieved.
Suddenly someone pushed him. Unfortunately unmoving. He stood firm before stumbling.
Haruno patted his back, passing him. Her face still that friendly smile. But not as cold and scary as before, full of pressure.
"Yuu-chan, this time I came fully resolved." She narrowed her eyes, saying meaningfully.
"What resolve?"
"You'll know later. Hope you don't disappoint me." Haruno cheerfully raised her brows, following Yukino's steps. "I came far to interrupt your date. Not just jealousy… You should prepare mentally too."
Yuu frowned slightly, catching up in two or three steps. "Please don't do weird things again."
"Teasing, ex-boyfriend has no right to order me! Say that after we get back together!"
She tilted her head, sticking out her tongue mockingly. Her tone showed annoyance. But she laughed like that summer—innocent, pure, frank, full of love.
"Anyway, whatever I do, the starting point is always one—I love you."