Today, both Sora's lunch and dinner were meals Yuu had prepared in the morning, ready to be reheated anytime.
Though still tastier than delivery, how to put it…
The care and love poured into them had been scorched by the microwave's electromagnetic waves. They lacked the usual flavor.
Precisely because of that, to compensate for this love and deliciousness, after Yuu returned at night, his little sister arbitrarily stayed in his room and refused to leave.
Sora wore thin pajamas, lying on the double bed. She held a game console, rolling back and forth. She paid no mind to the white cotton panties peeking from under her nightgown. She messed up her big brother's bed like a fish in water.
"So, what did you do on your date with Ponytail today?"
As if she'd already guessed the truth, Sora asked casually. Her eyes stayed fixed on the console screen.
Yuu at the desk didn't turn around. He was busy handling business emails in his inbox. His fingers tapped the keyboard. At the same time, he spared a bit of his mind to answer her question.
"Not with Yui, but with Yukino."
"Yukino?" Her fingers quickly pressed the game pause button. Sora frowned and thought: "Yukinoshita Yukino… Is that the flat-chested black-haired cat lover?"
"Don't directly mention people's character attributes."
"You think the same but blame me." After grumbling silently, Sora asked confused: "But why her? Are you two-timing? Does Ponytail know about this?"
Yuu's keyboard tapping paused briefly. A complicated sigh sounded.
"My little sister, why do I feel you're not surprised at all? In your heart, is your big brother really a bastard who treats cheating like daily meals?"
"I'm surprised, but not too surprised." Sora sniffed twice with her small nose. Then she resumed the paused game and said casually: "I don't care how naughty you are outside; in the end, you have to come home… Of course, you can't do it secretly without my permission!"
Yuu sneered. He pretended not to hear the plan mentioned later. He said as if surrendering: "Yes, I'm two-timing. Yui not only knows, she even actively supports our relationship."
"Seriously? Does she have mental issues?" Sora couldn't help drawing a cold breath as her expression of shock.
"Hey, hey, hey, use politer words." Yuu was somewhat unhappy: "If not for love, who'd want to share her boyfriend with another girl? Do you think how much resolve Yui made to accept this situation?"
He recalled the scene when Yuigahama caught up after they left the coffee shop.
Though she only said one line following the mood, she thought she'd made Yukino angry enough to leave. She immediately bowed in apology with guilt and sincerity, making Yukino panic and confused about where to start comforting.
After enough small talk, they finally blamed Haruno and Masuzu, relieving her guilt: In the end, the three left the amusement park together. They took a group photo in front of the Christmas tree at the gate, then went to a nearby restaurant for dinner, before finally heading home under Yuu's escort.
As for task and past-related matters, Yuigahama didn't ask much. She just encouraged with a smile like this—
"Two people who truly love each other and date sincerely—no obstacle can defeat them! Especially us three. Let's fight together! I'll stay by your side!"
Simply happy they were dating sincerely. Simply wanting to face the future together and endure anything—Compared to him who accepted Haruno's bracelet out of pity, Yuigahama's resolve was clearly stronger and firmer.
If it's said that the wounded become strong, how much pain did she endure to carve the current Yuigahama?
Thinking this, affection and guilt filled Yuu's chest. His conviction to give her happiness grew stronger.
Yet even so, Yukino's figure couldn't be erased. Every expression, every smile, every scene of her black hair fluttering in the cold wind—all clearly floated in his mind.
Though somewhat helpless, even starting to feel disgusted with himself, Yuu couldn't help smiling.
(So this is what it feels like to love two girls at once.)
The waves in his heart from missing both—somewhat sweet, somewhat troublesome, but no bitter regret at all.
(Forget it, bastard it is!)
He couldn't let go of either. So, at least before the task ends, he'd throw away his integrity and date properly, so this life with two girlfriends leaves no regrets!
After concluding today's dating feelings, Yuu made that decision.
"I'm not the one being cheated on, how would I know how much resolve she made? Anyway, the womanizer is clearly you—how can you say this so naturally!"
Behind him, Sora rarely defended Yuigahama. She threw the console and accused angrily: "You bastard Yuu! Already having a cute little sister, big-breasted girlfriends still not enough. Are you planning to add all the girls who came to our house that day to your harem? Oh right, there's also Yukinoshita's big sister and that silver-haired kiss maniac—Liked by so many girls, do you think you're a light novel protagonist!"
"Just two, just two, no more." Responding casually, Yuu resumed typing: "Next time I'll bring them home to play. Mahjong or games, whatever. After hanging out long, you'll definitely accept them."
"Not the time to talk about that! You're committing bigamy. Dumb Ponytail is understandable. How can that smart-looking flat-chested black-haired girl agree to let you two-time?!"
"Because I asked her to." Skipping the process, Yuu stated the result naturally.
"You asked and she agreed?!"
In disbelief, Sora jumped to the bed's edge. She asked somewhat tensely: "Is high school dating this free now? Then if I tell them I want to marry Yuu later…"
Yuu said helplessly: "Living together might be fine, but cousinmarriage—no one would accept it."
Sora gritted her teeth angrily. She pounced on the computer chair back and hugged his head: "We're not blood siblings! You're allowed bigamy, I'm not allowed to… Cough cough, love a cousin I've lived with since childhood?"
(Is this girl planning to say a censored word?)
Yuu rolled his eyes. He let her rub her chin on his head. He comforted as usual: "Alright, alright, future matters later. Anyway, now, even with two girlfriends, he won't forget to come home and take care of you."
"If it wasn't Yuu, I'd definitely kick the crotch of anyone saying this!"
After saying it viciously, Sora released her arms as if wanting to strangle him. She huffed and returned to the bed. She messed up the blanket as if venting anger.
"Back then Yuu wasn't like this. As expected, girls outside… they're all bad!"
"No, the womanizer reason is myself." While scanning email contents, Yuu said casually: "Your big brother is actually very greedy. Unless truly impossible, I won't let go of anything I want, even knowing others will blame me… Just sometimes disturbed by rational thoughts, so I always can't make firm choices."
"…" Sora suddenly stopped moving. After silent seconds, she spoke softly.
"Like back then when you wanted to work independently but didn't want other relatives raising me?"
Recalling the past, Yuu also smiled: "Yeah, it was really tough then. Every day enthusiastic relatives came to persuade kindly, asking me not to drag you into suffering and such."
"They're idiots." Sora buried her face in the blanket. She grumbled softly.
"Adults letting a child work to support family are the idiots. Reality isn't a light novel. Your big brother can't make money writing novels either. Anyone with conscience couldn't stay silent."
Yuu shrugged. His tone casual: "Luckily, choices that seemed wrong then all became right results until now… So they're idiots, and I'm the winner."
"Right!" Curled on the bed, Sora laughed happily like a cat: "Hehe, I love this shameless confidence of Yuu's!"
"Where am I shameless…" Yuu sneered.
He suddenly stopped his fingers. He opened the desk drawer. The beaded bracelet stored in a transparent box was clearly visible.
Under the desk lamp light, the colorful and beautifully made bracelet seemed to emit neon memory glow. But closer look, it was just an ordinary accessory worth no more than a few hundred yen.
Yuu sighed softly. He closed the drawer, calming his mind.
Whether two-timing, sincerely falling for Yukino, or temporarily accepting Haruno's necklace as a delay tactic…
His future self would surely agree with all choices he made now, right?
(Can't agree… Ahaha it's fine. Who made me want to do it?)
Yuu rotated his shoulders. He stretched his fingers. His eyes full of spirit.
Since he didn't want to give up, just like back then working to support his sister, he just needed to bravely face it and keep moving!
As long as not alone, no need to fear anything.
"Oh yeah, Yuu."
"What?"
"Your school cultural festival is soon, right?"
"Next week. Didn't you say you wanted me to take you? Why, don't want to anymore?"
"No, I'll definitely go."
Sora rolled. She took her phone beside the bed. She opened the notes app. She typed characters quickly.
Yukinoshita Yukino, Yuigahama Yui…
Yukinoshita's big sister, the silver-haired kiss maniac…
Underclassman, Isshiki Iroha…
—Six, probably no more, right?
A pondering expression crossed her face. She continued casually: "I hope I don't meet your other lovers at school then, fighting to be my sister-in-law."
"Heh, you're overthinking." Yuu coldly sneered. He said proudly: "I'm popular at school, doesn't mean I'm an integrity-lacking hormone emitter… That day you'll see how cold your friendly big brother is to others!"
Sora cutely rolled her eyes: "Then I'll hope without hoping."
"You hope or not!"
"I hope, but not fully."
In the room, the siblings' conversation returned to peace.
Night grew later. Stars and moon hidden. Cold wind cooled the balcony glass.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"…"
Yukino shifted her gaze from the neon-glittering street view. She turned from the window. The warm red tea cup in her hand had somehow turned cold.
She slowly walked to the single sofa. Her dark-blue eyes seemed to still reflect night colors. Not as firm as morning.
"Dating for a purpose, if pouring sincere feelings during, then at a critical moment, memories will vanish… In the end, I'll suffer the same fate as Nee-san and Natsukawa-san."
How many times now, such sighs escaped her mouth and vanished into calm air.
She folded her knees and curled into the soft sofa. Though the heater was on, her white smooth toes twitched twice as if fearing cold. Her incisors always biting her lip nearly left marks.
Her black hair draped to her waist, messily pressed behind.
Yukino only looked up, staring blankly at the neon light. As if wanting to find a calming answer from the dazzling glow.
But time passed. Only lonely echoes swung in her heart.
"So, is this my end?"
"If I complete his request, memories from past to now will vanish, and I'll be considered a hindrance for approaching the next target…"
"Then one day, will I also cry and make a difficult decision like that, forcing him to beg me to stay?"
"Something like that… never."
As if scared, the black-haired girl slowly raised her shoulders. She buried her face in her knees. Her slim small body trembled slightly.
This was the first time Yukino hated her overly fast mind.
Hated herself for seeing clearly. Hated herself for thinking of the worst end before it happened.
It wasn't foresight, just an excuse the coward found to retreat.
"Why must something unreasonable like this happen… Why did I fall for him before knowing this…"
Empty voices kept questioning herself. Pulled by confusion until her whole heart fell into a bottomless abyss. She couldn't see any light.
"Who can tell me what to do…"
Like a kitten buried in snow. She curled shivering from cold, too lonely to even cry for help.
This was a fragile, helpless, and foolishly real Yukinoshita Yukino she never wanted others to see.
In the coffee shop private room, the reason she angrily left wasn't just her sister's and Masuzu's deliberate provocation.
It was also thinking of her future, thinking of the future Service Club.
She loses memories during this period. She also loses feelings during this period.
⊰✧⊱
When they both hand-in-hand entered the club room, Yukino only looked up. She greeted Yuigahama first, then stared at him flatly.
"Good afternoon, Tenkuji-kun."
And in her eyes flashed longing, but no attachment at all. She only smiled naturally, and answered like this.
"Good afternoon, Yukinoshita."
⊰✧⊱
"…"
The usual scene, but starting today caused piercing heart pain.
That firm strong resolve, after leaving his side, became more fragile than snowflakes.
Thus, how much time had passed.
Leaving the sofa, Yukino placed the empty tea cup in the sink. After a quick rinse, she directly entered the bathroom.
After soaking for an hour, she dried her hair while walking to the desk. She took her phone and turned on the screen.
One unread message at the top of the notification bar, with a familiar name.
Yuu: {Suddenly thought of you for no reason, I don't understand at all. In the end I only thought of one possibility: Yukino, are you secretly thinking of me?}
"Hmph…"
The first smile after returning home naturally appeared at her lip corners.
"That idiot, changes so fast."
Yukino couldn't help laughing and sighing. She pulled the chair and sat. She typed characters in reply.
She once thought whether to start holding back her feelings now, to not love him more, so her mood wouldn't grow heavier over time, until that most feared moment arrived.
Yes, let the request stay a request, love stay love.
No problem being called escaping. Even her perfect strong sister cried so sadly, so it's natural for her to retreat a bit, right?
…However, what she couldn't do in the past, she still couldn't do now.
She could only helplessly realize one fact—Yukinoshita Yukino happy from one message would only love Yuu more from now on.
"His own fault, who made me fall for a troublesome guy?"
She shook her head as if mocking herself. As if surrendering to further struggle, her mood instead lightened.
She pressed send message, and returned to the home screen.
Seeing the group photo set as wallpaper, Yukino propped her cheek with one hand, ignoring side hair touching her lip corner.
She stared long. Unconsciously, her eyes softened, her smile softened. She poked the youth's naughty face with her finger, and softly said to him:
"Tenkiji-kun, until the last day, I might still love you."
"So before that, you must be happier than anyone, must be cheerier than before."
"Because the one with you is me."
"Even though this is first love, but, I'll fight."
"I must save him."
Even if a cliff ahead, even if fear of the future.
Even so, Yukino still had resolve.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Yukino: {Don't be narcissistic, you just love me too much, loving until thinking of me day and night.}
Yuu: {Alright, I love you that much, then what about you?}
Yukino: {Going to sleep, good night.}
Yuu: {Running with sleep excuse?! What time is it now!}
Yukino: {You're too annoying. Please be serious when texting, don't always bother me with excessive love words.}
Yuu: {Tch, Yukino is really strict.}
Yuu: {Then good night.}
Yukino: {Good night.}
Yukino: {...Maybe it's the feeling of wanting to be the first to say good morning to you every day.}
Yuu: {???}
Yukino: {Just answering the previous question. Done, I'm really going to sleep.}
Yuu: {Wait, a literature girl confesses this elegantly too?! Don't sudden attack like this! I feel my face blushing even through screen!}
Yuu: {Hello? Yukino, there?}
Yuu: {Then the first thing after waking is sending good morning to you? Or calling?}
Yuu: {Darling, answer!}
Yuu: {Tch, daring to tease then run, unsportsmanlike…}