Besides, this time it was Yukino herself who had brought it up.
That gave Haruno even less reason to refuse. If she turned it down, would there ever be a next time?
Haruno had considerable objections to that idea.
So this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and she had no intention of letting it slip by. Naturally, Haruno accepted Yukino's arrangement and agreed to share a room with her.
"Sister, I'm warning you in advance: sleep quietly," Yukino said, quick to speak up because she worried Haruno wouldn't.
If her sister got up to mischief, there was no telling what outrageous things might be done to her.
Lin Ye and Student Tachibana already knew, and in truth it wasn't far off, but Yukino still bristled at the thought on instinct. Tonight she hoped her sister could behave, be calm, and let her get a good night's sleep. Let her hands finally rest and recover!
"Quiet? Don't worry, don't worry, I'll sleep very quietly tonight. Even if Lin Ye came for a night raid on Yukino, I wouldn't make a sound. I wouldn't get in the way of anything you two do," Haruno said with a hearty laugh.
She'd even floated an impossible scenario.
But that scenario actually rattled Yukino, because she felt there was a real chance of it. Lin Ye might well show up for a night raid tonight.
Of course, she couldn't say so. If she did, it might put ideas in Lin Ye's head.
With her sister sleeping beside her, Yukino trusted that Lin Ye wouldn't come. She only hoped he hadn't taken her sister's words as the truth.
"Sister, the joke ends here."
"Your big sister isn't joking at all," Haruno went on cheerfully. "Me, joke? Never. I'm serious. If Lin-kun really comes for a night raid on Yukino, I won't make the slightest sound. I'd never get in Lin-kun's way."
As she spoke, Haruno walked up to Lin Ye and poked his waist with her elbow, her face beaming.
"Lin-kun, I mean every word, you know!"
"Mm. Got it," Lin Ye answered, accepting it outright this time.
The response startled even Haruno Yukinoshita.
She'd expected him to refuse with some verbal threat, but he'd simply accepted.
This was...
Unexpected!
Could it be that Lin Ye really was thinking about a night raid, and that was why he said that?
Haruno's eyes lit up. If so, tonight would be fun.
Instantly, her interest soared and she perked right up.
"Great, great! Then I'll be waiting for Lin-kun's night raid tonight. Yukino and I will be waiting, you know!" Haruno added with a giggle.
Lin Ye said nothing more.
Yukino was resigned to it, but anything she said now would be superfluous. For the moment, saying nothing was the best choice.
As for everything else, the more she said the worse it would get. As long as Lin Ye didn't come for a night raid tonight, that was enough.
That was Yukino Yukinoshita's thinking.
"I'm going to shower first," she said, heading for the bathroom.
"I'll come too."
"No."
"We're sisters. There's nothing wrong with it."
"I refuse."
"We're sisters. There's nothing to refuse."
Haruno was determined to cling on. She was set on going together.
In the end, she did manage to follow Yukino into the bathroom.
The sound of running water kept up.
Outside, only Lin Ye and Rui Tachibana remained.
"Lin-kun, how about tonight, you and I..."
As she spoke, Rui Tachibana tried her best to keep her reaction under control, but the faint flush spreading across her pale face gave her away.
What she'd said was still far too embarrassing, far too mortifying.
Even though they'd already slept together, even though they were already intimate, inviting Lin Ye to sleep beside her still set her heart racing.
"No. We're not lovers anymore."
Lin Ye refused, and he gave a reason too.
That way, the girl should be able to accept it. That was Lin Ye's thinking.
But clearly Rui Tachibana couldn't accept it that easily, and she still clung to hope.
"It's fine, Lin-kun. Even if we're just ordinary friends, it doesn't matter. Friends can squeeze onto one bed with no problem."
Rui Tachibana gritted her teeth against her embarrassment. She didn't want to give up, didn't want to give up so easily.
After all, who had let things get to this point?
She could only try more ways to draw Lin Ye in and change his attitude toward her. And sharing the same guest room tonight was a good opportunity.
Maybe Lin-kun wouldn't be able to hold back and would touch her, and then...
Their relationship would change completely, would be fully restored.
That was the scene Rui Tachibana longed for, even if she herself felt the chance of it was tiny, tiny.
"Really, no need. Friends sharing a bed means the same sex, not a man and a woman."
"It's really fine. Lin-kun wouldn't touch me or take advantage of me, so sleeping together is no problem."
Rui Tachibana didn't give up. She even stepped right in front of Lin Ye, met his gaze, and went on with serious eyes. "Or is Lin-kun worried that if we share a bed, he won't be able to stop himself from touching me?"
She'd actually resorted to provocation.
Yes. At this point, Rui Tachibana felt provocation was all she had left. She truly had no better way to make Lin Ye agree.
Whether it would work, she honestly didn't know. She really had no idea.
But she had no choice now. She could only try once.
If she failed, she lost nothing. If she won, she'd be soaring.
That was Rui Tachibana's thinking.
"No need. I'll just sleep on the living room sofa."
Lin Ye's attitude was firm.
Rui Tachibana's lips parted slightly, but several times no words came out.
She knew he was firm. Pressing further would be pointless.
It hurt. She'd gone this far, and Lin Ye still refused.
She was a girl too, and she had her pride!
But still, but...
Rui Tachibana let out a soft sigh, gave up, and walked into the guest room.
The guest room was clean and tidy, and she simply spread out the bedding.
The Yukinoshita sisters showered quickly and soon returned to their room.
"Lin-kun, the door's not locked, you know. Feel free to come anytime," Haruno said with a smile before closing it.
The next second, Yukino dragged her back into the room and warned Lin Ye, "Don't you dare come."
Yes. This time, Yukino Yukinoshita had warned him outright.
The warning in those navy-blue eyes only piqued Lin Ye's interest.
If Yukino hadn't pulled that stunt, he might really have slept soundly on the sofa and dealt with the matter of the wager later.
But since Yukino had threatened him, he, as Yukino's man, couldn't let a girl's threat succeed so easily. He had to let her know her place.
He was the head of the household. Yukino had no standing to give orders.
Lin Ye decided to carry out a night raid tonight.
But what time would be best?
He thought over which hour would be most suitable.
Rui Tachibana finished her shower and said good night to him too. "Lin-kun, get some rest early."
She stood at the door, smiling at him.
The expression looked nothing like her usual calm face. It was a smile, but it came across as terribly awkward.
Lin Ye actually preferred the girl's poker face. He knew she'd put on this look to make a better impression on him.
It left him helpless and gave him a headache, but he couldn't let her sink any deeper.
Stopping here was the best choice.
"Good night," Lin Ye replied.
Rui Tachibana stepped back and closed the door.
Now only Lin Ye was left in the living room.
And on the sofa lay the pillow and bedding Yukino had prepared.
"A quick shower, then bed."
Lin Ye headed into the bathroom.
The bathroom was filled with faint steam and a light, pleasant scent. Besides the body wash, there was the fragrance unique to girls.
Lin Ye breathed it in and began to wash.
A few minutes later, he finished and went to the living room. He turned off the light, and the room fell into dimness.
Lying down, he mulled over the best way to approach Yukino's side.
About an hour from now should be about right, he figured.
For now he'd think about other things to kill time.
The seconds ticked by.
Click...
A door opened.
Hm? Was Yukino coming out?
No, it had to be Haruno!
But a moment's thought told Lin Ye the sound was wrong. It wasn't the master bedroom door but the guest room door.
Rui Tachibana.
Going to the bathroom?
He thought so, but the notion was quickly shattered.
Because Rui Tachibana was coming toward him. She'd entered the living room.
She stood beside the sofa, looking down at him.
With his eyes closed, Lin Ye only had to squint slightly to see the girl.
And the girl was wearing nothing at all.
Yes. Rui Tachibana had come to the living room carrying only a pillow. She had nothing on.
Lin Ye instantly understood what she was thinking.
This was highly inappropriate.
This girl really had nerve!
The next second, Rui Tachibana lifted a leg onto the sofa. Clearly she meant to sleep right there.
That was truly bold. If she slept here, Haruno would spot it at a glance the next day, and their intimate relationship would be laid out plainly before her eyes.
Haruno might already know, but knowing something and seeing it were on entirely different levels.
"Student Tachibana," Lin Ye's voice suddenly rang out.
Rui Tachibana started, flailed in a panic, and lost her balance.
She fell heavily, right on top of Lin Ye.
The pillow was gone now. Warm, fragrant softness filled his arms.
Lin Ye felt every bit of it.
"Lin-kun... you, you're still awake!"
She'd honestly believed Lin Ye was asleep. She never expected he'd still be up.
"If I weren't awake, I'd probably wake up tomorrow morning to find a naked girl beside me."
"Ugh..."
She lowered her head, even wanting to burrow into his chest.
"I just, I only..."
"All right. Go back and get some sleep."
"Together," she said, her hands resting on him, her attitude utterly firm.
She sincerely hoped he'd go with her.
Lin Ye naturally refused again.
"Then I'm not going back either," Rui Tachibana said, just as firmly.
She'd made up her mind to stay with Lin Ye.
"If you keep this up, I'll come to hate you," Lin Ye said, completely serious, without a trace of a joke.
Rui Tachibana froze, her body trembling.
She could hear it in his attitude.
But if she just left like this...
"Student Tachibana, acting like this only makes me think less of you."
Rui Tachibana's heart sank to the bottom.
She knew that once he thought less of her, recovering from it would only get harder, and anything further would be even more impossible.
"I understand. I'll go back," Rui Tachibana forced out, steadying herself. "But I... won't give up. I will never give up. Lin-kun, please prepare yourself!"
"..."
Lin Ye didn't answer.
Rui Tachibana quietly got up and returned to her own guest room.
She truly hadn't expected Lin Ye to still be awake. She'd steeled herself to be lectured the next morning, but he'd been awake and scolded her on the spot.
"This is only the beginning."
"I won't lose."
"I won't admit defeat."
Rui Tachibana wouldn't give up, didn't want to give up.
Lying on the bed, she stared at the gray ceiling and wondered what she was supposed to do from here.
What could she do to be with Lin Ye?
Meanwhile, Yukino Yukinoshita wasn't asleep either.
She didn't dare fall asleep, so she kept deliberately forcing herself to stay awake.
Haruno was the same. She wasn't the least bit drowsy, because she felt Lin Ye might well come for a night raid tonight.
"Yukino, still not asleep?"
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't react.
The moment she heard her sister's voice, she knew she must not answer. Once she did, her sister would only tease her more and keep pestering her, and there'd be no chance of a peaceful night.
"Yukino."
"Yukino."
Haruno even gave her a gentle shove, but Yukino Yukinoshita still didn't respond.
That only made Yukino Yukinoshita more certain her sister was planning something.
Could it be... Surely not...
Rustle, rustle...
Haruno sat up.
"Your big sister won't keep Yukino company tonight. I'm going to keep... Lin-kun company."
With that, she got up and carefully started to climb out of bed toward Lin Ye.
But before she could get out of bed, her hand was caught.
It was Yukino's hand.
The instant she felt that hand, a smile spread across Haruno's face. It was a victory smile.
Yukino really hadn't been asleep. How could she possibly fall asleep so fast tonight?
"What's this... Yukino can't bear to let me go?"
"Sister, go to sleep."
"I'm not sleepy. I need someone to keep me company."
Am I not a person?
"I need a man to keep me company. Your big sister is lonely."
Yukino Yukinoshita fell silent.
Her sister truly had no filter and would say anything.
Any other girl would never utter such outrageously bold words.
Her sister had absolutely no trace of a woman's reserve or shyness.
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