On the other end of the line, Hina Tachibana was surprised too.
The Yukino Yukinoshita she knew at school gave off the air of an aloof girl you didn't approach, the kind who had no friends.
She had plenty of male admirers, but none of them dared get close, and her female friends were few as well.
Having few female friends, or even none at all, fit the aloof-beauty image perfectly.
But today's answer from Yukino Yukinoshita, and the way she'd openly affirmed her relationship with Sister, made Hina Tachibana realize there was an unusual side to her.
Yukino Yukinoshita, it seemed, was quite different from what she'd imagined. Perhaps her impression of the girl had simply been off.
To have become friends with Yukino Yukinoshita, Sister had done something remarkable.
Yes, "remarkable." Hina Tachibana had chosen that very word, that very praise, to affirm her Sister.
After all, Sister was pretty and cute, but next to Yukino Yukinoshita she was behind by who knew how many levels.
It was only because of the family backgrounds that Hina Tachibana thought Sister was better suited to Lin Ye than Yukino Yukinoshita was.
Becoming the son-in-law of a prestigious family was no easy thing. A capable man would never put up with that kind of situation.
And Lin Ye, even less so.
Hina Tachibana quickly set the thought aside and went on, "Anyway, Rui has been a bother to you these past two days, Student Yukinoshita."
She figured the proper thanks were still in order.
She wanted to know the details of what had happened between those two even more.
Probably, when they'd run into that kind of incident, Sister had helped Yukinoshita, even taking on considerable risk for her. Why else would things be like this?
Hina Tachibana felt a fresh surge of worry.
In the end, though, she decided not to dwell on it. When Sister came home, she'd ask her properly what had happened and why things had become so good between her and Yukinoshita.
That was her plan.
"All right, all right. Rui, you've all had dinner, haven't you?"
"We have. Lin-kun bought pizza."
"Pizza, huh? It's been ages. Next time, why don't you try making pizza at home, Rui, and invite Lin-kun and Student Yukinoshita over?"
Hina Tachibana had made a proposal, and she thought it a pretty good one.
After all, Rui's cooking was decent. She just remembered that Rui had never tried Western dishes like pizza. But anyone with kitchen experience ought to manage it by following the steps, right?
Above all, Hina Tachibana held extremely high expectations of, and trust in, Sister's cooking. Even a dish she'd never made before, Sister could turn out delicious.
"Sure. I can make some other dishes and desserts too."
Having said that, Rui Tachibana looked over at Lin Ye, Yukino Yukinoshita, and Haruno.
Haruno had thought she was about to be left out. "Sister Rui is inviting me too, so of course I'll say yes!"
Her smile was radiant. "I have absolutely no reason to refuse. I'm dying to know how Sister Rui's cooking compares to Yukino's! My Sister Yukino's cooking is really quite good. I've tasted it and approved, and Lin-kun absolutely adores it."
That made Rui Tachibana even more nervous.
She held fairly high hopes for her own cooking. She felt it ought to be good enough for Lin-kun to like, even to count as one of her strengths.
But clearly,
there's always someone stronger.
Yukino Yukinoshita, the Eldest Miss of a great family, had considerable skill in the kitchen too, enough that Lin Ye liked it.
That piled on even more pressure and chipped away at her confidence a little more.
She'd never had much confidence to begin with, and now she had even less. It felt awful.
"So if Sister Rui's cooking doesn't taste good, Lin-kun won't be satisfied, you know."
"Lin-kun will be satisfied. He's eaten the bento I made."
Rui Tachibana said, laying out the facts to state her case.
"Oh?"
Haruno looked at Lin Ye, but Yukino answered first. "I've tried Student Tachibana's bento too. It was delicious, better than what I make."
Seeing her elder sister keep picking on Rui Tachibana, Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't stand it any longer and spoke up on her own to settle the matter.
Her elder sister, honestly. She was always stirring up trouble, and a lot of the time she did it without even realizing.
That left her truly helpless, utterly helpless.
"Wow, Yukino really does look after Sister Rui! Even now you're shielding her so completely. It makes me envious!"
Haruno's smile grew even brighter.
To her, Yukino's reaction only confirmed her suspicion. Something she knew nothing about had definitely happened between her Sister and Student Tachibana. Otherwise, why would she act like this?
So what was it, exactly?
Haruno Yukinoshita had a guess, but she wasn't fully certain of it.
"I'm only stating facts."
"Got it. I'd love to try Sister Rui's bento too. Do you think you could make me one next time, so I can taste it as well?"
She asked it as a question, full of anticipation.
Those bright eyes convinced Rui Tachibana that Haruno truly was looking forward to it, that she meant it.
"Sure. Next time Yukinoshita-senpai comes to visit, I'll prepare a delicious, generous spread to welcome you."
"Great, it's a deal."
Haruno agreed without hesitation. "Next time I'll bring Yukino and Lin-kun along, and you'll have to treat us well, Sister Rui."
"Mm."
Rui Tachibana nodded.
She welcomed it. She was even looking forward to the three of them coming.
On the other end of the line, Hina Tachibana had heard it all.
Of Haruno Yukinoshita she'd heard a little from Shizuka Hiratsuka-senpai, but she hadn't known what kind of person she really was.
Now she did. From that tone alone, she had a decent read on her.
A woman to be guarded against with every defense,
reeking of scheming "green tea," no different from the girls in her class.
Those green-tea girls got along splendidly with everyone, but they weren't the type she liked or welcomed.
Hina Tachibana was a sincere, friendly, open-hearted girl, and that kind of girl and the green-tea type simply didn't mix.
And Haruno's love of stirring up trouble, that green-tea scent, was strong enough to smell through the phone.
Hina only wanted to keep her distance.
Then she remembered that she had no real connection to Haruno. The woman was Yukinoshita's elder sister and attended Chiba University, so she and Sister were unlikely to cross paths with her much. That put her at ease.
Otherwise, with Sister's personality, spending time with someone like Haruno would surely end badly for her, and badly at that.
Yes,
that was exactly what Hina Tachibana thought.
"Then we look forward to welcoming Miss Haruno for a visit soon."
Hina Tachibana extended the invitation to Haruno through the phone, making it official.
"Sure, no problem at all, as long as Miss Hina doesn't throw me out when I get there."
"Of course not! You're Student Yukinoshita's elder sister. How could I possibly throw you out? You're more than welcome."
She meant it, more than welcome.
Though she felt a strong resistance toward a woman as thick with green-tea scheming as Haruno, she was curious too. She wanted to know, wanted to see for herself.
She even felt like sitting down and talking with her face to face.
With Lin Ye and Yukino Yukinoshita there,
Hina Tachibana didn't think it would be a problem.
"That's a relief, then."
Haruno smiled.
The call ended soon after.
Rui Tachibana let out a breath.
Her elder sister hadn't said much. It seemed Yukino Yukinoshita's relationship with Miss Haruno hadn't given her any ideas.
Then again, having just been through a Strange event yesterday, not wanting to come home today was somewhat problematic in itself. Her elder sister must be suspicious, right?
But for now she hadn't said anything, probably because she trusted Rui based on how she normally behaved.
Rui Tachibana was grateful now for her past conduct.
It kept her elder sister from worrying too much.
The four of them sat in the living room. With the call over, the voices faded and the room went quiet.
Yukino Yukinoshita glanced around, and her gaze finally settled on Haruno Yukinoshita. "Elder Sister, it's very late."
"Oh!"
Haruno gave a little gasp and raised her wrist to check her watch. "Wow, it's already too late to go back to the hotel. Time flies!"
Then, under the gaze of Yukino Yukinoshita and the other two, Haruno lay down on the sofa, showing off her lovely figure, her graceful curves on full display.
With a figure like that, it wasn't just Yukino Yukinoshita who felt envious. Even Rui Tachibana couldn't help stealing several glances before looking down at herself.
Her figure was somewhat better than Yukino Yukinoshita's, but compared to Haruno's, the gap was far from small.
Lin Ye would probably like a girl with a figure like Haruno's even more, wouldn't he?
The thought crossed Rui Tachibana's mind.
She pressed her lips together and looked at Lin Ye, only to see his gaze move from Haruno's body over to hers.
Their eyes met.
After a moment, Rui Tachibana straightened her back, as if trying to say something.
Last night he'd had his way with her body, and he surely hadn't been satisfied. That must be why he was comparing.
From now on, she decided, she needed to rest well and get proper nutrition, to make herself better.
That was what Rui Tachibana was thinking at that moment.
Of everyone present, the most awkward was Yukino Yukinoshita.
She looked at her elder sister's figure and thought of Mother's. They were sisters. Why was the difference so big?
If she remembered right, her elder sister had already been quite noticeable at her age, and over the past two years even more so.
So why not her?
Maybe she just hadn't finished developing yet, and in a few years she'd be better.
Yukino Yukinoshita told herself so once again.
Even though Lin Ye liked her figure, as a woman she wanted a curvy figure like her elder sister's.
Between her and Mai Sakurajima, aside from the big gap in fame, the only other difference was exactly this figure.
And so,
Yukino Yukinoshita resolved that she must make the most of these next two years, while there was still room to grow, and let her body develop properly.
Otherwise, if she missed the best window for it, she'd be finished.
Even though she knew the old her would never have considered this problem. It wouldn't even have been a problem, because she'd never cared.
But since she'd begun dating Lin Ye, as her relationship with him had grown closer step by step, she'd become more and more conscious of things that came with being a woman.
Especially now that she had a rival like Mai Sakurajima, she was even more conscious of them.
She knew very well that she had changed, that she was no longer the person she used to be, and that in the future she might change even more, becoming even less like herself.
But,
Yukino Yukinoshita felt not a trace of regret or distress.
She didn't dislike it at all, didn't resent it. She might even say she liked it a little.
A feeling unlike anything before.
She liked who she was now.
"So, Elder Sister, what exactly do you mean by this?"
Yukino raised an eyebrow at her elder sister Haruno's graceful pose and spoke slowly.
"What do I mean by what? It means I'm tired! Yukino doesn't care about me one bit, doesn't mind me at all. Boo-hoo, I'm so sad, I feel awful! How can Yukino be like this? How could you? I'm... so hurt. Your sister is so miserable and heartbroken!"
She nearly started crying.
Tears were practically bursting out.
They glinted crystal-bright, so obvious that no one could look away.
"Go ahead and cry. I've never seen you cry, Elder Sister."
"Wow! Yukino really doesn't feel for me at all. Your sister would truly be sad enough to cry, you know!"
"..."
Yukino remained calm.
"Fine, never mind. I shouldn't cry over Yukino's coldness. On second thought, it'd be better to cry over Lin-kun's roughness and cruelty. Hahaha."
The topic was suddenly tossed over to Lin Ye.
Her words, laced with innuendo, and her laughing eyes, made a certain meaning all the more obvious.
Rui Tachibana, who had been through it, naturally understood what she meant.
Yukino understood too. She'd half been through it herself.
As for Lin Ye,
that went without saying.
"Sure. How about I arrange it for you tonight?"
Lin Ye's words changed the atmosphere in the room at once. "I promise I'll make you cry and wail until the tears never stop. And no matter how you struggle, sob, or beg for mercy, I won't agree to anything."
Under that kind of pressure, Haruno immediately shook her head.
"No, thanks. What Lin-kun's describing, I'll pass. I'd rather Lin-kun bully me the other way, the kind that makes me cry really hard."
Haruno still refused to lose the last word and tacked that on at the end.
But the change in her words told everyone where her mind was at that moment.
She had definitely been affected.
This woman, Haruno. Sure enough, he'd have to find a chance to give her a proper education later.
Lin Ye thought to himself.
"Elder Sister, are you not planning to go back?"
"Of course not! Sister Rui is staying over here, so I'm very interested in staying over too. You have rooms to spare anyway, Yukino."
That was true.
But the problem was that tonight she was planning to do all sorts of things with Lin Ye.
With her elder sister in the apartment, that would hardly be appropriate.
"Lin-kun, what about you? Are you heading back, or staying here?"
That made Lin Ye instinctively look toward Yukino Yukinoshita.
He was looking forward to tonight, very much.
Men were men, after all. They naturally had a high degree of interest in that sort of thing,
especially now that he'd just experienced Yukino's "help."
"I only have two rooms."
Yukino spoke.
She hadn't agreed, but she hadn't flatly refused either.
So Lin Ye spoke up right away.
This was no time to hesitate, no time to make excuses and leave.
"I'll sleep on the sofa."
Lin Ye pointed at the living room.
The sofa was big enough to sleep on easily.
Once it was late at night, he could just sneak over to Yukino's room.
He had to go to Yukino's tonight. If he didn't, he'd be taking a huge loss.
This time, Lin Ye didn't want to wait another night.
"Oh, then how about... Student Tachibana sleeps on the living room sofa?"
Rui Tachibana: ???
I wouldn't mind sleeping in the living room, and I'd be happy to sleep with Lin-kun,
but isn't it a bit inappropriate, Miss Haruno, to tell me so bluntly to go sleep in the living room?
The thought crossed Rui Tachibana's mind.
"And then Lin-kun and I can take the guest room."
Rui Tachibana fell silent once more.
Wasn't this elder sister being a little too direct, a little too... that?
Did she really not care about reserve at all?
Perhaps around Lin Ye, Miss Haruno simply didn't need any reserve.
That was all she could conclude.
"Elder Sister, you'll sleep with me. Student Tachibana gets the guest room, and Lin-kun sleeps on the living room sofa."
Now it was Lin Ye's turn to be hit with question marks.
If Haruno and Yukino shared a room,
his own plans and arrangements couldn't happen.
Did Yukino not want to keep her end of the bet tonight?
The bet hadn't set a date for it, but if possible, sooner was obviously better.
It was just that,
with an arrangement like this, she really didn't seem to want to.
In that case,
Lin Ye thought it over and decided not to press the girl.
There'd be plenty of chances. Next time he'd just have Yukino put in more effort and make it up to him.
That was what Lin Ye thought.
"Sleeping with Yukino, huh? Aren't you worried Student Tachibana will stage a night raid on Lin-kun?"
At that, even Rui Tachibana didn't want to say anything.
That was just how Haruno was. It was hardly surprising that she'd say something like this.
"I'm not worried. Student Tachibana won't pull a night raid, and even if it really happened, Student Lin would refuse."
On this point,
Yukino Yukinoshita was completely confident.
Lin Ye truly had no designs on Rui Tachibana. Otherwise, last night he could have simply taken her, and even done all sorts of things to her right in front of Yukino.
And she wouldn't have had a single word to say against it.
"A little beauty like Sister Rui, and Lin-kun's not even interested? Hmm, well, it'd be strange if he were. Lin-kun only likes Yukino. I still need to keep a closer watch over Yukino."
Haruno thought it over and decided she'd still share a room with Yukino.
One of the most important reasons was that Haruno Yukinoshita was a siscon. Sleeping beside her Sister Yukino, was there anything happier or more delightful than that?
Of course not.
Haruno Yukinoshita was absolutely certain.
…
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