5.23 million Doomsday Points.
After checking his personal status, Nanashi gave it some thought and decided to upgrade his Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
He'd put vector manipulation on hold for now—this seemed like the better investment.
Ding!
[5 million Doomsday Points consumed. Mystic Eyes of Death Perception upgraded to Lv.7!]
The upgrade was a success.
A flash of icy blue lit up his eyes.
Ding-dong.
The doorbell rang.
He hadn't had time to verify any noticeable improvement in his Mystic Eyes, but for a split second… he saw the death line of the Milky Way.
"Who is it?" Sayuri opened the door, her expression tinged with confusion.
Unexpected visitors were rare.
"I'm Haruno. Yukino's older sister."
The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family?!
Sayuri recognized her immediately—she'd seen her at a social event once.
It took a moment, but Haruno also recognized her. "Mrs. Sawamura."
"Are you here to see Yukino?" Sayuri asked politely.
"Yes, and Nanashi-kun as well."
Sayuri had heard about these sisters and couldn't help feeling a complicated emotion—an unease mixed with curiosity. Still, she had a good impression of Haruno.
Though Haruno was known for her polished social graces, she was undeniably competent—and stunningly beautiful.
"Haruno," Nanashi called, stepping up behind Sayuri.
Once she'd entered, Nanashi introduced the household members to Haruno.
Haruno was visibly surprised to learn Nezuko was a demon, and even more surprised at the relationship between Sayuri and Eriri—and their ties to Nanashi.
Not just a mother and daughter... but the mother and daughter from the Sawamura family.
She recalled rumors of the Spencer family's downfall. It had been a major incident among the upper class. After that, the Sawamuras had vanished from society's eye, sparking speculation that they'd withdrawn completely from high society.
She never expected to find them here.
Truly unexpected.
"Onee-chan."
Yukino appeared, holding Haru in her arms.
Nanashi gently patted Haru's head. "This is Haru."
"Haru?"
"Meow!" (I'm here.)
Haruno was momentarily stunned, thinking Nanashi had used her previous alias to name this cat. There was no clarification, and the moment passed without explanation.
Nanashi proceeded to introduce everyone else to Haruno.
It was almost like introducing passersby... if passersby were each extraordinary in their own way.
To Haruno, the reality was hard to wrap her head around.
These weren't just casual acquaintances—each of them had a significant bond with Nanashi. Some had already crossed the line, and for others, it was just a matter of time.
The real shock?
Four of them were wives. And there were two mother-daughter pairs.
In her mind, Haruno imagined her own mother showing up next. What had once been idle speculation now felt eerily inevitable.
"You really do know how to surprise me." Haruno leaned lightly against Nanashi, her gaze playful but laced with something deeper.
"Where's Yukino's room? Take me there."
Nanashi blinked. "Why do you want to go to her room?"
"I just took a shower. What do you think I want to do?" Haruno's lips curled in amusement, eyes glittering.
With a graceful flick of her finger, she traced a slow circle on a very specific part of Nanashi's anatomy.
"Hiss—! Alright, alright, let's go!"
Without another word, Nanashi scooped her up and dashed off toward Yukino's room.
Just as Cocolia was about to head over to Nanashi's place, she saw him hurrying into the room next to hers with Haruno in his arms and slamming the door shut behind them.
Soon after, the sounds started.
Cocolia chuckled to herself. "So full of energy, huh?"
Touching her own body thoughtfully, she turned and strolled leisurely back to her room.
"Where are my sister and Nanashi?" Yukino had been waiting downstairs for quite some time with no sign of the two.
She set Haru down and decided to go check upstairs.
They were at Nanashi place.
So she returned to her own house—only to hear sounds coming from her room as she walked past the living room.
That sound... she knew it well.
"…"
Yukino felt utterly drained.
That's my room!
More importantly—wasn't her sister being a bit too enthusiastic?
Wasn't the volume a bit too much?
Well… Yukino was still young.
Haruno and Nanashi hadn't seen each other in a long time. Their bodies had been waiting. Now, the floodgates had opened.
Worried about what might happen to the furniture—or their health—Yukino promptly turned around and left.
Back at Nanashi's house, she saw Chito and Yuuri getting ready to leave.
She quickly reached out to stop them.
"What is it, Sister Yukino?" Chito asked, tilting her head.
"…."
There was no way Yukino could tell them what was happening in her room.
There was no way she could let them go back, either.
So, for the first time in her life, Yukino broke her own moral code and told a lie.
Blushing, she stammered, "Uh… Haru! Haru wants to play with you two!"
"Huh?"
The girls exchanged glances, communicating silently with a look.
Sister Yukino is definitely lying.
But clearly, it was for a good reason.
After a quick non-verbal exchange, the two nodded and decided to go play with Haru.
Phew…
Yukino finally let out a breath of relief.
Even if she had to lie, it was worth it to protect the innocence of the two girls.
Kanae strolled over, a teasing glint in her eye. "So… it's Haruno and Nanashi now, huh?"
"Ugh…" Yukino turned red instantly.
Kanae took her hand with a smile and led her into Nanashi's room.
Haruno reminded her of herself and Shinobu—just in a slightly different flavor.
From what she could see in Nanashi's eyes, there was no doubt: he and Haruno were destined to end up together.
As a wife, it was her duty to give Yukino a few… pointers.
It would save her a lot of heartache in the future.
Yukino, thoroughly confused, ended up learning an array of "strange knowledge" from Kanae.
She might not understand it now…
…but when the time comes, it could prove very useful.
By the time noon arrived, Nanashi and Haruno finally came downstairs.
Sayuri, naturally perceptive, understood exactly what had happened.
While Yukino was still chatting with Kanae, Sayuri subtly made sure to keep Chito and Yuuri occupied.
Haruno, now thoroughly satisfied, left the house with a glowing expression. Before departing, she leaned close to Yukino's ear and whispered with a teasing smile,
"Amin said I'm better than you~"
"…"
Yukino stared at her expressionlessly, her face blank.
She didn't believe for a second that Nanashi would say something like that.
"It's such a shame I couldn't see Yukino's cute reaction," Haruno said with mock regret as she waved and walked off.
With Haruno gone, Yukino turned to Nanashi, her eyes filled with a complicated emotion.
She knew very well they hadn't stopped for nearly half a day.
How did she know?
Well, when Kanae was chatting with her, there had been… unusual sounds echoing from nextdoor.
Without a word, she grabbed Nanashi and dragged him into her room.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Sayuri, Nezuko, Eriri, and Kanae exchanged glances.
Something was clearly about to go down.
Instinctively, they rushed to send Chito and Yuuri away.
"Nyaa."(Whew. Time for a break.)
Haru, having played non-stop for hours, was thoroughly exhausted.
Meanwhile, Yukino shoved Nanashi onto the bed, her competitive spirit burning fiercely.
"Tell me the truth—who's better? Me or my sister?"
"???"
Nanashi blinked, utterly confused.
Was this really Yukino?
Did his Yukino just ask something like that?
"Uhh... why would you ask that?"
Yukino narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp as ice. "I want the truth. You wouldn't lie to me, would you?"
"…"
Nanashi sighed. He wouldn't lie to her.
He had no choice but to be honest.
"Haruno…"
"Why?" Yukino's voice trembled.
Nanashi coughed awkwardly and explained,
"Well... under normal circumstances, you both have your own strengths. You're pretty evenly matched. But Haruno used her new ability... and, well…"
That passionate, almost scorching experience left a lasting impression on him.
"… I see."
Yukino's eyes dimmed.
That was cheating!
"I get it!" she said with resolve.
Nanashi's eyes widened as he felt a sudden chill in the air.
It was like standing inside a block of ice.
"!!!"
Haruno and Yukino were fundamentally different.
And that contrast became even more pronounced after awakening their respective abilities.
Haruno's power was fire—passionate and hot.
Yukino's was ice—calm and freezing.
When neither used their abilities, or when they fought on their own turf, they were evenly matched.
Yukino didn't come out victorious today, but she wasn't disappointed either.
After all, she hadn't lost to her sister.
It was a draw.
"Sigh, no one ever considers my feelings…" Nanashi sighed as he pinched Yukino's soft cheeks while she lay against him.
"I didn't even get anything done today. I just... played with you all."
Yukino blushed and looked away.
"I'm sorry. I was being selfish."
After the thrill faded, Yukino regained her composure. She realized her actions had been a bit inconsiderate.
She remembered reading that it wasn't healthy for boys to engage in too much...sex.
Nanashi gently pinched her cheek again.
"What are you talking about? I could take ten more of you."
As if responding to his bold claim, his "weapon" stirred again, making Yukino jump.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and whispered,
"I like both you and Haruno. There's no need to compare yourselves."
"…Alright."
Yukino nodded shyly.
After a while, she peeked up at him with moist eyes and murmured,
"Then... let me make it up to you."
Summoning her courage, she pulled the blanket over her head—just as her sister had once done.
"…"
Nanashi's eyebrow twitched.
This side of Yukino was completely unexpected—but also completely adorable.
Clearly, she was pushing herself far beyond her comfort zone.
And this rare moment?
It was not one to waste.
It was truly a weekend without rest.
Nanashi couldn't help but sigh as he made his way back to school on Monday.
"AAAH!"
A sudden scream snapped him out of his thoughts.
He was walking near the stairs, heading toward the Paranormal Research Club room.
He turned just in time to see a woman in a white coat miss a step and stumble.
"Hiratsuka-sensei?"
Without hesitation, Nanashi leaped up the stairs and caught her mid-fall.
Shizuka, clearly shaken, looked stunned for a second. But when she realized who had caught her, she relaxed.
"Thank you," she exhaled.
Nanashi didn't set her down right away. Instead, he carried her over to the landing in a proper princess carry.
That small gesture made Shizuka feel oddly flustered.
Though he didn't have a bulky build, he carried her with ease.
After gently setting her down, Nanashi frowned, noting her pale complexion.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, are you okay? You don't look well."
"Sigh..."
Shizuka let out a tired sigh and mumbled,
"Blind dates. I spent the whole weekend on them. It's exhausting."
"Eh? With your looks and personality, you still need to go on blind dates?"
Nanashi knew about Shizuka's character settings, but after spending time with her, he found her genuinely likable.
She had a great figure, a beautiful face, and a bold, straightforward attitude.
Her family background was solid too.
Okay, she smoked and drank a bit, and maybe she was a little rough around the edges...
But other than that, she was a total catch.
Why was she still struggling with blind dates?
Shizuka's eyes brimmed with helplessness. "Maybe it's because I smoke and drink?"
Nanashi shook his head, unconvinced. "Sensei, could it be that you don't actually like blind dates and are just showing off your wild side to scare the guys away?"
"…Huh."
Shizuka blinked, then gave a bitter smile. "You saw right through me."
Leaning against the railing, her gaze turned distant. "Even though I'm getting older, I still want to find someone who can accept me for who I am."
Perhaps because she was speaking to Nanashi—the one who had just saved her—she let her guard down and spoke from the heart.
What she longed for wasn't just a husband or marriage.
She wanted something real.
If someone couldn't accept the true her, what was the point of marrying them in the first place?
"Hang in there, Sensei," Nanashi said awkwardly, patting her on the shoulder. It was all he could do.
"I'm heading to the club now. See you later, Hiratsuka-sensei."
"Mm, go on." Shizuka waved with a half-smile, watching Nanashi walk away.
"…I'm so envious."
She had a rough idea of Nanashi's relationship with Eriri. It was innocent. Pure. Something she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Tch… Why am I getting sentimental?" she muttered, clicking her tongue.
She shook off the feeling and exhaled.
"Back to work. I still need to prep my lesson plan."