Click.
The door opened.
The long-haired black-haired girl, dressed in home clothes, glanced at him, then turned and entered the house with a calm expression.
"I'm home."
Natsuki, full of satisfaction, stepped into the apartment.
Would Yukino open the door and let anyone else in?
Certainly not.
This was special treatment.
Standing in the entrance, Natsuki took off his shoes and glanced around, noticing a pair of men's sandals neatly placed on the shoe cabinet. This apartment was only inhabited by Yukino and Haruno, so it was obvious who the slippers were prepared for.
Noticing the subtle smile on Natsuki's face, Yukino's delicate brows raised slightly, and she couldn't help but explain:
"Those are the slippers you wore last time you came. I just haven't put them away yet."
Natsuki's smile widened, and he said with a grin:
"I still remember these slippers, after all, they're the ones I wore the first time I came... But I'm very curious, why did Yukino feel the need to specifically explain?"
"..."
Yukino bit her lip slightly, her expression blank as she averted her gaze.
How infuriating!
She shouldn't have explained just now!
Explaining without being asked always looked a bit like a guilty conscience.
Natsuki changed into the slippers, put the fruit he bought on the way into the kitchen, and then walked out with his hands behind his back.
The outdoor sunlight streamed in through the French windows. Looking out, the sky outside was cloudless and clear.
The summer afternoon was exceptionally quiet, with only the distant chirping of cicadas and the sound of wind chimes.
The entire apartment was clean and tidy, spotless. A gentle breeze stirred the beige French windows, creating a subtle feeling of peaceful years.
Natsuki, as if in his own home, walked to the refrigerator, opened it, ignored the dazed human-headed ghoul inside, took out a bottle of 100% grape juice, and turned to ask:
"Yukino, what do you want to drink?"
Yukino sat on a chair, reading a book with her head down, a few strands of hair gently fluttering in the breeze. She didn't even look up as she said:
"I don't want to drink anything."
Natsuki shrugged, closed the refrigerator, walked over to Yukino, and casually said:
"The sofa is right next to you, why do you insist on sitting on a chair to read?"
Yukino's voice was calm as she said:
"Sitting on a chair allows for more focus, and reading is inherently something that requires focus."
Natsuki said seriously:
"I disagree with that point of view."
"Hmm?"
Yukino looked up.
Natsuki said:
"Focus is more about oneself and one's inner state, not external things. A truly focused person, even in a bustling city, can remain calm and read peacefully."
"Like me."
Natsuki pointed to himself and said earnestly:
"Even if I'm lying on Yukino's lap, or even counting stars with Yukino on the summit of Mount Everest, as long as I want to read, I can do so with single-minded focus."
Yukino's eyes showed disdain as she said:
"That sounds nice, but don't say it again in the future."
"Yukino, you don't believe me?" Natsuki rolled up his sleeves. "I'll prove it to you right now. Even if I'm resting on your lap, I can still read seriously."
"I refuse."
Yukino sighed helplessly and pressed her forehead, saying:
"Didn't you say you came for something important?"
Natsuki casually asked:
"Is Haruno-nee not at the apartment?"
"University has already started classes," Yukino said calmly. "If Garbage-kun wants to find my sister, he can go to the university."
"Good that she's not here." Natsuki smiled as he looked at Yukino. "I came here specifically to see Yukino."
"And then?"
Yukino's expression was unperturbed as she waited for Natsuki's next words.
Hey, hey, we're a newlywed couple, you're too cold!
Natsuki's tone was resentful as he spoke of what had happened these past two days:
"I've been helping the Strange Tales Management Bureau these past two days..."
After briefly explaining what had happened over the past two days, Natsuki continued:
"Do you remember Momo-senpai, who came with me when I returned from the other world?"
"I remember."
Yukino nodded gently.
A girl wearing a white bone mask, who had actually merged with a strange entity, naturally left a deep impression.
Natsuki said: "The Strange Tales Management Bureau probably wants to try having players merge with strange entities to improve their self-preservation and combat abilities, so they gave Momo-senpai an invitation to become a player, and then asked me to enter the dungeon with her to protect her safety from the shadows... The time is tomorrow."
Yukino closed the book in her hand and said softly:
"You agreed?"
"I originally didn't want to agree." Natsuki spread his hands and sighed. "But they offered too much—a full three Skill Cards. I really couldn't refuse."
Yukino: "..."
Natsuki continued: "Momo-senpai is a novice player, so even if she's merged with a strange entity, she shouldn't be entering overly dangerous high-level dungeons. So this operation doesn't need that many people. Yukino just needs to prepare for the start of school... Also, I wanted Yukino to check the Future Diary to see if there's any news about tomorrow's dungeon."
The item [Future Diary] is not bound, but only in Yukino's hands does it frequently reveal diary content. Although others can hold it, every time they open the diary, it's basically blank, and no one knows why.
Yukino gently pursed her lips, and a plain black notebook appeared in her hand:
"I'll take a look."
She opened the Future Diary.
Lines of text quietly appeared on the diary pages.
[Tokyo, August 26th]
[Weather: Sunny]
[Just like your mood at this moment, the sky is clear and the sun is bright]
[Your husband, who has been busy with official duties since your recent marriage, has finally returned home for a holiday. Although your face is expressionless, you are very happy in your heart...]
Yukino: "..."
This passage is simply nonsense, isn't it?
Her mood was clearly very calm, and she wasn't happy at all!
At most, just a tiny bit, definitely not as exaggerated as the diary says.
On the Future Diary, lines of text continued to appear.
[At the same time, there is also a tiny hint of resentment in your heart that you are unwilling to admit... Even though you haven't seen each other for a long time, and he has finally returned for a holiday, there's no hug, no kiss]
Yukino: "..."
Impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
Perhaps there might be a tiny bit of happiness, but as for resentment, there really isn't even a trace!
If Garbage-kun tried to do something vulgar the moment he walked in, she would definitely kick him out the door.
[You couldn't endure it, and you actively threw yourself into your husband's arms, offered a kiss, and confessed your love.]
Yukino: "..."
This is even more impossible!
Could the diary be broken?
Yukino was certain that no matter which timeline she was from, she would never make such a move as throwing herself into someone's arms!
The diary continued.
[The next day, your husband went out again and met an old acquaintance he hadn't seen for a long time]
[The third day, your husband returned safely, and then you found yourself becoming a 'loser dog'...]
"Loser dog?"
Yukino frowned slightly.
This term, like 'skinny dog,' inexplicably made her unhappy.
"Yukino, why are you frowning?" Natsuki couldn't help but ask, "Am I not going to make it back?"
After confirming that the content of the future diary ended there with no further entries, Yukino closed the future diary and said:
"It has nothing to do with you... The diary says that you will meet an old acquaintance you haven't seen for a long time tomorrow."
"Hmm?" Natsuki stroked his chin, "An old acquaintance I haven't seen for a long time... Does that mean a dungeon I've cleared before?"
Yukino said softly:
"It could also simply be meeting an acquaintance."
Although the diary could show fragments of the future, it was always vague, like a riddle, which was annoying.
After a pause, Yukino continued:
"Garbage-kun will probably return in three days, which is the day before school starts."
"As long as it doesn't interfere with school starting." Natsuki said, "There's one more thing, when I cleared the dungeon before, I got a Skin Card..."
As Natsuki spoke, he took out the [Battle Sailor Uniform] Skin Card and handed it to Yukino.
Yukino bit her lip slightly, wanting to refuse:
"I..."
Skin Cards were actually quite rare and valuable. Each Skin Card could provide additional attribute bonuses, and some even came with their own skills. On player forums, the price of a Skin Card was at least tens of millions of Yen, and they were also in high demand with no supply.
Natsuki interrupted:
"Juju said you got a katana, which just happens to go well with this Skin Card. Improving your strength is the most important thing. Who knows, the end of the world might break out someday, and it might be because Yukino lacked this Skin Card that we failed to save the world."
Yukino glared at him and couldn't help but retort:
"If one Skin Card can destroy the world, then such a fragile world might as well be destroyed."
Despite her retort, Yukino did not refuse again.
Although she was unwilling to admit it, Yukino knew very well that refusing at this point would seem a bit disingenuous.
Even if they hadn't agreed to date, their destinies were already intertwined.
Natsuki handed over the Skin Card, anticipating:
"Try it and see what the attributes are."
"Mhm."
Yukino nodded lightly, took the [Battle Sailor Uniform] Skin Card, quickly checked its attributes, and chose to equip it.
The Skin Card instantly transformed into a stream of light, dissipating at Yukino's fingertips. Immediately after, a standard blue and white sailor uniform suddenly appeared on Yukino.
A red necktie, a white top, a blue pleated skirt, black over-the-knee socks, and round-toed leather shoes on her feet... Sailor Uniform Yukino, made a sudden appearance, making Natsuki's eyes light up.
Sailor uniforms are very common in Japan and can be said to be unremarkable, but when worn by Yukino, if she were to go out like this, she would definitely attract a lot of attention.
It has to be said, cute girls look good even if they're wearing a sack.
Yukino raised her right hand and lightly gripped the air. Immediately after, a black katana appeared out of thin air.
"This was a reward obtained from clearing a dungeon..." Yukino explained softly, "Mr. Hirata used to be the captain of the Kendo Club. After they started dating, in order to support their lives, he gradually gave up kendo practice. Only this sword remained by his side and eventually became a weapon certified by the game, with its own sharpness effect, which can be used to slay spirits."
As Yukino spoke, she drew the katana and swung it through the air, and a cold blade glow immediately emerged.
"Not bad."
"Both speed and strength have received significant boosts."
"There's even a hidden effect that has a certain chance to inflict a one-hit kill on enemies."
Yukino's rosy lips curved slightly upwards, clearly quite satisfied with the [Battle Sailor Uniform] Skin Card.
Natsuki sat on the nearby sofa, holding his phone, snapping photos, and was equally satisfied.
If Yukino in a changed sailor uniform was merely eye-catching, then the black-haired, long-haired girl holding a katana and wearing a sailor uniform, combined with her sharp eyes and stern expression, exuded a valiant and heroic aura that made it impossible to look away.
Natsuki held his phone, searching for angles, and took many photos, deciding to upload them to his cloud drive for safekeeping.
"Suddenly, I noticed something very strange..."
Natsuki suddenly sighed.
"What?"
Yukino's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the phone.
This was a perfectly timed snapshot. In the photo, the sunlight happened to fall on Yukino, and the girl's sailor uniform gently fluttered in the breeze, faintly revealing an astonishingly slender waist, showcasing astonishing softness and tranquility. It would be perfectly fine to use as a phone wallpaper.
Yukino had to admit that Natsuki's photography skills were quite good, clearly honed over time from taking countless photos of girls.
Natsuki asked curiously:
"Why are all your girls' belly buttons vertical, while boys' are round?"
"Boring." Yukino retracted her gaze, "Having time to think about such boring things, you're really too idle."
"It's a very serious biological inquiry, okay?"
Natsuki retorted as he took out the twin-tail hair tie and handed it to Yukino:
"Here, you should be able to use this item too."
[Item: Twin-Tail Hair Tie]
[Category: Accessory]
[Attribute: All martial arts, only speed is unbreakable. When you use this hair tie to tie your hair into twin tails, you will gain an additional attack speed bonus]
[Note: Please be aware that, according to relativity, the effect of speed is relative, so in certain special scenarios, you may gain a 'being attacked speed' bonus]
Natsuki had originally planned to sell this item, but it was quite suitable for Yukino to use.
Since you plan to go the Valkyrie route, then increasing attack speed must be right, no?
Yukino took the twin-tail hair tie, carefully read the attribute description, and hesitated:
"What does 'being attacked speed bonus' in the note mean?"
Yukino didn't dislike twin-tail hairstyles. In fact, she had casually tied her hair into twin tails when she was bored.
But for some reason, the 'being attacked speed' bonus in the note seemed inexplicably full of malicious humor between the lines, and Yukino always felt something was off.
"I don't know." Natsuki's expression was serious, "It's an item I just got from a Blind Box today, I haven't used it at all."
Clearly, while Yukino was not a pure little white flower in a greenhouse, she was also not an old driver racing on Mount Akina, and she did not know the true meaning of gaining a 'being attacked speed' bonus with twin tails.
Natsuki used a retreating tactic:
"If Yukino is worried about a trap in the note, you don't have to use it, it's perfectly fine."
"..."
Yukino was silent for a few seconds, then quietly put away the twin-tail hair tie.
Dungeons were unpredictable, and no one knew what might happen. Any opportunity to become stronger should not be missed, so Yukino would naturally make a wise choice.
"Why are you putting away the hair tie?" Seeing Yukino put away the hair tie, Natsuki quickly said, "Tie it on now and see what the effect is."
Yukino glanced at him, naturally knowing what Natsuki was thinking, and said in a cold voice:
"This katana has side effects from long-term holding. If I hold it any longer, I won't be able to suppress it."
Natsuki was startled and said:
"What side effects? Why didn't you say just now?"
Yukino said indifferently:
"Just a slight side effect."
Natsuki said:
"Since it's very slight, then you should tell me even more."
"..."
Yukino bit her lip lightly and demonstrated the side effect of the katana.
It turned out that this katana had been neglected for a long time, and over time, a resentment had developed. Once someone wielded the sword, the resentment would slowly erode the wielder's mind, making them cold, emotionless, and prone to accidentally harming those close to them.
"I understand..." After listening, Natsuki made a simple summary and said with narrowed eyes, "Simply put, it's 'the first sword after landing, first cut down your beloved,' right?"
Yukino: "..."
"It sounds a bit dangerous, but..." Natsuki smiled, "I love side effects the most."
"Hmm?"
Yukino tilted her head in confusion.
"Didn't you say there were three good news? Two have been said, and there's one last good news left to tell..."
As Natsuki spoke, he opened his skill panel and said with a smile:
"Now for the third one."
"Eh?"
Yukino's beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she immediately saw a new golden skill in Natsuki's skill bar, exclaiming:
"You actually obtained a new Golden Skill?"
"That's right." Natsuki smiled, "Although it's a support ability, I feel it's well worth the price."
Regarding the news of the new skill [Quantum Entanglement], Natsuki had asked Chika and Kaguya to keep it temporarily confidential and not to mention it in the mutual aid group. After all, it's better to be safe than sorry, and who knows if anyone would be envious, so Yukino was not yet aware of this news.
Natsuki sighed:
"The skill card cost a full five thousand game coins. I saved up so hard for so long, and now I'm instantly bankrupt, back to being a pauper."
Yukino glanced over, and said venomously:
"That smug look of getting a bargain and still complaining is truly the most annoying."
Natsuki didn't care at all, and smiled:
"It was already verified at the Strange Tales Management Bureau before, [Quantum Entanglement] can reverse skill side effects. Now is a good time to try if it can reverse equipment side effects."
Yukino said speechlessly:
"You said the skill name wrong, didn't you?"
"It's just a name, whatever sounds good." Natsuki waved his hand and said enthusiastically, "Let's try to reverse the equipment side effect first."
Yukino said softly:
"How exactly do I do it?"
"It's simple." Natsuki said, "You just need to kiss..."
Yukino said expressionlessly:
"I'm sorry, I can endure the side effects myself, Garbage-kun can leave now."
Natsuki changed his words:
"I misspoke just now, actually, only physical contact is needed. However, when helping others reverse side effects, only one can be reversed at a time. It's still unclear which one will be reversed first if there are multiple side effects..."
As Natsuki spoke, he took Yukino's soft hand and silently activated [Quantum Entanglement].
Before long, Yukino felt the cold, lonely, and depressed feeling in her chest rapidly disappear.
"How's the effect?"
Natsuki asked softly.
"It feels great," Yukino whispered, "The side effects have indeed disappeared... Hmm?"
Yukino's eyes narrowed slightly, and she quickly realized something was wrong with her body.
Her heart was racing.
Her blood was surging.
Her gaze seemed to be affected by an unknown cosmic gravity, firmly glued to Natsuki's lips, completely unable to move away, and her body and mind were involuntarily shouting, wanting to...
W-what's going on?!
Yukino's beautiful eyes widened as she desperately resisted the primal urge erupting within her body.
Seeing Yukino's expression was off, Natsuki asked curiously:
"After the quantum reversal, did a very strange gain effect appear?"
"R-right..." Yukino listened to her rapid heartbeat and came back to her senses, "That gain effect!"
Hastily opening her character status panel, Yukino quickly saw a new status added to the panel.
[You have gained a buff: Blazing Fire]
[Blazing Fire: Under this state, your emotions will become exceptionally rich and active, all your attributes will receive an additional boost, and each of your attacks will come with additional burning damage.]
There were no enemies in the apartment, so the prompt about additional burning damage on attacks was useless.
Yukino's gaze fell on the phrase 'emotions exceptionally rich and active'.
Simply translated... is it an emotional amplifier?
Her feelings were infinitely magnified?
And at this moment, the feeling surging in her heart was...
"Like..."
Yukino quickly bit her lips, finally swallowing the two words that had reached her mouth, leaving only an indistinct murmur.
"What did you say?"
Looking at Yukino's quickly reddening face, Natsuki leaned closer, wanting to hear clearly.
Their breaths mingled.
Yukino only felt her heart beating even more violently, and the infinitely magnified emotions were almost impossible to suppress, overflowing from her chest. She could only bite her silver teeth tightly and try her best to remind him:
"No, don't..."
"Don't what?" Natsuki leaned in confusedly, preparing to measure Yukino's body temperature with his forehead. "Is it a fever buff?"
The moment their foreheads gently touched.
Yukino felt a subtle electric current suddenly sweep through her entire body, and she couldn't help but let out a soft moan. The infinite emotions in her chest finally could not be suppressed, erupting like a volcanic eruption.
"There's no other way..."
Yukino sighed, finally closing her eyes with trembling eyelashes, letting her emotions overwhelm her reason, and leaving everything to her body's instincts.
So, in the bright afternoon sun, the black-haired girl raised her arms and tightly embraced Natsuki's neck.
Then she stood on her tiptoes.
And offered her cherry lips.
At the moment of their passionate chase and touch, Yukino suddenly remembered the content on the future diary.
"You finally couldn't bear it anymore, and actively threw yourself into your husband's arms, offered a kiss, and confessed your love..."
When Yukino saw this diary entry at the time, she was convinced that such a future could never become reality, but she didn't expect the slap in the face to come so quickly.
"Yukino?"
Facing Yukino, who had suddenly thrown herself into his arms and offered a kiss, Natsuki quickly calmed down after a brief surprise.
Yukino was not right.
The reason for her abnormality was probably related to the gain buff after the quantum reversal?
Unfortunately, now was not the time to ask questions; how to treat Yukino in his arms was the primary issue.
Righteously push Yukino away, tell her she's not sober, so she must calm down and not do anything she'll regret?
This thought lingered in Natsuki's mind for a second before he decisively dismissed it.
What a joke.
He had already pushed Yukino down more than once in the dream world. To act like a gentleman now would be like being a prostitute and still putting up a memorial arch!
The correct approach, of course, was to follow his heart.
Natsuki extended his right hand, wrapped it around the girl's soft, slender waist, and sat down on the sofa.
What happened next goes without saying.
Normally, he had to be cautious with his actions, fearing counterproductive results, but at this moment, Yukino was passionate like fire. Natsuki naturally indulged in all sorts of teasing, taking an inch and wanting a mile, insatiably greedy.
However, just as he had taken off the pure cotton fabric from Yukino's body, and before he could do anything else, his tongue suddenly felt a sharp pain.
"Mm..."
Natsuki subconsciously tilted his head back.
"Hoo... hoo..."
Yukino was panting, her chest rising and falling, her pretty face flushed like fire, as if blood would drip from it the next second. Her gaze fell on the pure cotton item in Natsuki's hand, her eyes filled with shame, anger, and murderous intent.
The buff duration ended?
Natsuki covered his lips and quickly realized.
Yukino hadn't held the katana for long, so after the quantum transformation, the duration of the gain buff wouldn't be long either.
What a pity.
Natsuki felt extremely regretful.
If he had two more minutes, by the time the rice was cooked, Yukino wouldn't have time to regret it.
Natsuki took a deep breath and shamelessly said:
"My chastity is gone, Yukino must take responsibility."
...Shameless!!!
Yukino almost bit through her silver teeth upon hearing this.
He was clearly taking advantage of someone, yet he was turning around and making the victim take responsibility. How could there be such a shameless person in the world!
Just as Yukino was about to speak, the door suddenly opened.
A female university student with short black hair walked in lightly, and in a flash, she spotted the two people on the sofa.
Their gazes met.
The air in the apartment instantly quieted down.
"Eh..."
Haruno's gaze shifted downwards. She looked at Yukino, whose face was beet red and who was covering her body with her hands, then looked at the disheveled Natsuki. Her gaze finally landed on Natsuki's right hand. Then she broke the silence first, waving her hand casually and saying:
"Sorry, I guess I came at the wrong time."
Natsuki suddenly remembered an internet meme and subconsciously extended his right hand, saying:
"No, you came at just the right time."
"..."
What happened next goes without saying.
After the 'Blazing Fire' buff effect disappeared, Yukino clearly didn't want to continue, otherwise she wouldn't have bitten him, not to mention that Haruno was home now, so wanting a Sisters Rice Bowl was purely wishful thinking.
"...Get up!"
Yukino bit her silver teeth, her voice low and filled with murderous intent.
"Yes."
Natsuki quickly stood up and moved aside.
Yukino sat up, trying her best to remain calm, and then stood up and walked towards the bathroom.
After a few steps, she suddenly paused, then turned around, walked in front of Natsuki, and extended her right hand, saying:
"Give it to me."
Natsuki was startled and said:
"What thing?"
"..."
The murderous intent in Yukino's eyes suddenly intensified. If gazes could kill, Natsuki would surely be riddled with holes by now.
"Sorry, I really just forgot."
Natsuki slapped his forehead and returned the panties he had casually put in his pocket to Yukino.
Yukino took the panties, said nothing, and turned to walk into the restroom.
Only then did Haruno walk over, saying pitifully:
"Natsuki-kun is so mean. That's my favorite sofa, where I usually take naps... You and Yukino should at least go to the room."
Natsuki picked up the nearby drink, drank it all in one gulp, and said:
"It was just a misunderstanding."
"Natsuki-kun is even worse." Haruno extended a slender finger, gently poking Natsuki, and whispered, "You've already had the rice bowl, and now you're saying it's a misunderstanding... As expected, once a boy gets a girl's body, he won't cherish her anymore, will he?"
Natsuki: "..."
Alright.
If the experiences in the dream counted, he had indeed had the rice bowl.
Haruno's tone was resentful:
"I didn't want to disturb you, but I don't have classes this afternoon. Natsuki-kun, next time you come over, remember to message me in advance, and I definitely won't come back."
Your sister is being taken advantage of in the apartment, why don't you hurry back and save her!
"It really was a misunderstanding. I didn't think that much when I first came over..."
Natsuki put down the drink bottle and began to recount what had just happened.
"Eh eh eh?"
Haruno's eyes sparkled:
"Natsuki-kun has mastered a new Golden Skill?"
Natsuki nodded and opened his skill panel:
"A skill I just bought this morning..."
After reading the skill description, Haruno blinked, put her hands behind her back, and said:
"Speaking of which, after becoming a succubus, needing to replenish magic every once in a while is also a side effect, right?"
Natsuki nodded and said:
"That should be right."
Haruno tilted her pretty face slightly, looking expectant:
"Then let's try to see if we can turn the side effect into a positive buff?"