"Go... shopping?"
Hearing Sakura Mai's words, a trace of confusion appeared in Soga Yura's eyes. She and Sakura Mai had been classmates for many years. But... in Soga Yura's impression, this guy was never the type of person to actively suggest going shopping.
Clad in a trench coat, with a shirt and trousers, she looked quite dashing. Coupled with her clean, sharp single ponytail, the girl standing there appeared free-spirited and uninhibited, just like a "Knight Princess" that would only appear in otome games. But Soga Yura understood. The reason this guy dressed like this was purely because she found choosing outfits troublesome, and applying makeup was the trouble among troubles. In the end, this guy was just a lazy person with a glamorous exterior.
A hint of vigilance suddenly arose in her heart; she felt this guy was plotting something. It would be fine if she were plotting against her. But what if she was plotting against Little Yuzu? There is a saying that goes well: guard against fire, guard against theft, guard against best friends.
This was exactly why Soga Yura chose Saotome Yukina—who looked soft and harmless at first glance, and whose status and position were appropriate—to take care of Su Yuzu. It was the reason she didn't directly ask Sakura Mai, whose status and strength were far more suitable, to take care of Yuzu. But... Soga Yura absolutely never expected this. Just thinking of the scene where that little rabbit sat on Yuzu's bed, almost sitting into Yuzu's lap, made Soga Yura want to howl and cry out.
That little rabbit had hidden herself so deeply, actually setting her sights on her family's cabbage.
'That is my Yuzu!!!'
'Mine!!!'
'The Yuzu I don't even dare to touch!!!'
Sakura Mai slowly stood up, looking at Soga Yura's expression, alert as a small animal. She couldn't help but sigh in her heart. Years of being classmates and best friends had made Sakura Mai understand just how important Su Yuzu was in Soga Yura's heart. It was no exaggeration to say—Sakura Mai even felt that in Soga Yura's heart, Su Yuzu was far more important than Soga Yura herself.
But... the more she understood, the more Sakura Mai couldn't comprehend. Why did Soga Yura treat Sister Yuzu so coldly? Being a tsundere has no future. Moreover... Soga Yura's behavior couldn't even be called tsundere anymore. A tsundere at least has the 'dere' part. Being shy, saying no but body saying yes, could be considered a bonus point. But Soga Yura... Sakura Mai got a headache just thinking about it.
If she were Sister Yuzu, her heart would have long been cut to pieces, painful enough to not want to acknowledge this sister anymore. It was no wonder Sister Yuzu left the Soga family. Such a family wasn't worth staying in. Sakura Mai vaguely remembered that night when Soga Yura received the call from home hearing that Sister Yuzu had left the Soga family, looking lost and crying her heart out.
In a trance, a joke suddenly popped into Sakura Mai's mind. Otherwise... she should just abduct Sister Yuzu to the Sakura family to be a mascot. Seeing Soga Yura anxious and angry to the point of crying would definitely be interesting. It just so happened—the Sakura family was a Kendo family. With Sister Yuzu being so brilliant at Kendo and so cute, her Mother would definitely not mind. As for Father... if Mother agreed, what say did the head of the house have!
Sakura Mai suddenly began to seriously consider the feasibility of the matter. She didn't have too much interest in Sister Yuzu herself. At best, it could only be considered playful amusement. But... just thinking of Soga Yura crying like a puppy whose toy had been snatched away, she found it interesting.
Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura, who was alert as a small animal before her. Only when it concerned Sister Yuzu would Soga Yura—who smiled at everyone at school but, as Sakura Mai knew, was equally distant to everyone—reveal that expression of a small animal protecting its young.
"We've finally made a trip to Keigunen..." "Even if you don't dare to visit Sister Yuzu." "You should at least buy something for Sister Yuzu, right?" Sakura Mai said righteously, "Sister Yuzu ran head-on into a Third Sequence filthy octopus last night." "If you buy it, I'll deliver it for you at worst." "Or could it be... you're unwilling..." Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura.
The girl bit her lip, her crimson eyes full of hesitation. She knew Sakura Mai had definitely dug a pit waiting for her to jump in; she didn't even know what was waiting for her inside this pit, but... Yuzu... Seeing Soga Yura's hesitation, Sakura Mai smiled happily. Sure enough. Bringing up Sister Yuzu worked better than anything.
"Fi... Fine." Soga Yura nodded gently in agreement. "You help me deliver it later." "No..." "Deliver it to Yuzu as a school consolation gift." "After we go back, I'll make a Mental Ascension Elixir, and you can help me deliver it together then."
Sakura Mai suddenly felt an urge to sigh. Mental Ascension Elixir... this guy really was... a twisted sister-slave. That was a potion that helped other mental-type users recover by depleting one's own mental power. The conversion ratio... was less than one-third. Given this guy's degree of sister-complex, Sakura Mai had every reason to believe she would mess herself up to the point of not being able to get out of bed for ten days. Really... why bother. If it were her, she would have just attacked directly long ago. Taboos or whatever. In the creed of the Sakura family women, such things simply didn't exist. "Alright..." She nodded gently in agreement.
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Commercial Street.
Su Yuzu had just come out of a clothing store with the girls. To be safe, she had even reconfigured a set of clothes for the little rabbit from inside out. Originally... Su Yuzu had wondered whether to give the 'attire' distributed in the favorability rewards to the little rabbit as underwear. But... she thought about it; she had already bullied the little rabbit to the point of tears today. Better leave it for next time.
Of course, the main reason was—there were a bit too many people today. That kind of attire for self-pleasure was better brought out during a private date between just the two of them. Also... compared to "Basic Combat Records", the side effects of "Primary Combat Records" were indeed too great. She would really have to think carefully before using them in the future.
Su Yuzu looked at the three extra "Primary Combat Records" in her resource inventory, and... Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi and Little Mihou Sakai, whose steps were so unsteady they could fall at any moment, their truly watery eyes almost losing focus. She confirmed her thoughts. But fortunately~ Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi and Mihou Sakai were Abyss-side Operators after all. They were girls Su Yuzu had saved from the Edge of Aberration.
Little Mihou Sakai was originally a good child who would work hard in private... the intensity of 'Lady Fate's Blessing Heavy Blow' suddenly increased significantly, she... could still accept it. But the girl also gradually understood. Why student Saotome had lost so thoroughly today.
And Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi... the girl bit her lower lip lightly. She could only say... compared to that dark night where there seemed to be no dawn from which she was saved by Su Yuzu, 'Lady Fate's Heavy Blow'... was... just okay. Since returning from the domination of the Pitch-Black Throne, only by getting close to Yuzu, being praised by Yuzu, and having her head patted... or when Lady Fate's "Blessing" descended, could the hollow... chest that seemed impossible to fill be plugged up a little bit. She... was already a broken marionette.
The girl tried hard to lift her chin arrogantly, unaware... that her snow-white, slender neck had long been stained crimson by the flush. Among the girls, only Ms. Unohana Chiyo's reaction seemed a bit more calm. Compared to "Basic Combat Records", the impact "Primary Combat Records" brought to the woman seemed to have only increased a tiny bit. Rippling water colors shone in her beautiful eyes. Unohana Chiyo supported Little Mihou Sakai.
"I'll go to the crepe shop to pack a strawberry crepe for the little rabbit~" Su Yuzu stood on her tiptoes and turned around, "What flavors do you guys li...ke..."
Su Yuzu's words were not yet finished when she happened to see... Soga Yura, carrying bags big and small, being marched out of a shop held by the arm by a girl in a white trench coat.
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Held by the arm by Sakura Mai, Soga Yura looked at the back of the girl with her hands behind her back on the commercial street in front of her. She frantically wanted to struggle, but dared not use force, dared not make a commotion, and dared not scold loudly. She could only beg in a whisper, cursing, "Let go of me..." "Let go of me!!!" "Sakura Mai!" "Are you freaking crazy!"
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