The time rewinds slightly.
(Going to find Yuu-chan with feelings of joy and anxiety, only to be distanced by him who no longer loved me.)
(Just wanting to reclaim everything that should have been mine, but being outright rejected by him who already had a new girlfriend. I could only resort to small tricks in secret, feeling lost, jealous, and sneering, like a defeated dog that could only envy others' happiness, forced to stand on the opposing side.)
(Yes, just because Yuu-chan didn't acknowledge me as his girlfriend, back then Yukino-chan felt so righteous and dignified on the phone, scolding me for only using petty methods to approach him, even declaring war on her older sister and vowing never to lose to someone like me.)
(Not to mention at the amusement park back then, she and Dango-chan truly teamed up to teach me a lesson—two girlfriends together repelling an old female stalker. Such a beautiful story must make them proud, right?)
(Even though the root cause was the man I loved the most, but remembering their self-righteous faces at that time, remembering my own pathetic and heartbreaking appearance...)
"Ah, it really makes me nauseous."
A sigh enveloped in volcanic, burning hatred slowly faded in the cold winter corridor.
Haruno was still smiling, but only the corner of her lips lifted slightly. Her mature and beautiful face had lost all smiles and warmth, becoming pale and cold.
"The heartbreak, the jealousy back then... I truly hope you can feel it too."
She murmured expressionlessly, slowly releasing her tightly clenched fist.
"Looking back, both November and December were all unpleasant things—even their expressions when seeing Yuu-chan reluctantly accept the bracelet I made with my own hands were so annoying."
"After all, I came first, why?"
"Why could you use that superior gaze, belittling me who kept struggling to reclaim the past?"
"Why must I, who painstakingly recovered my memories, be treated like an outsider by you juniors?"
During that period, Haruno, filled with negative emotions, once thought:
"If our positions were switched, I'd make you know what true cruelty is..."
Of course, that was just a joke—
One of them was her most beloved younger sister, and the other was her sister's best friend plus the foolish Dango who Yuu inexplicably liked so much. How could she bear to take revenge on these two?
At most, just tooth for tooth, returning everything she had received.
If it was something normal, then there was no need for mercy or restraint, right?
After all, everyone did the same.
The door slowly opened. Seeing her familiar yet strangely distant younger sister behind the door, Haruno showed a bright smile.
(...So, sorry, Yukino-chan.)
(Before you recover your memories, allow me to see if you'll show the same heartbreaking expression as my past self, who was miserable and helpless.)
Then, time returned to the present.
"Your Tenkuji-kun—Yuu-chan, is actually my boyfriend."
The shared photo on the phone wallpaper was deliberately requested from Yuu before leaving his house, because she wanted proof of identity as his girlfriend.
Not too intimate, just holding hands, cheeks touching, and lips slightly pursed almost kissing, but that was enough as proof of a couple.
Haruno wouldn't waste time taking a bed photo for the wallpaper, right? She didn't mind, but she was afraid her mother would kill her immediately if she saw it.
"By the way, I took this photo after visiting him at his house—right after you and Yuu-chan met."
Seeing her sister stunned in place, Haruno smiled, retrieved her phone after succeeding, and pretended to blame Yukino: "Although ignorance is no sin, but Yukino-chan, you're really something. How could you date your older sister's boyfriend at school so early in the morning? I've already warned Yuu-chan, I hope you two can keep your distance as friends should."
After those words fell, she casually enjoyed Yukino's changing expressions, brilliant like neon lights.
"No, I... this..."
As Haruno had anticipated before entering, on her beautiful and charming sister's face, there was undisguisable anxiety and shock.
It seemed the excessive information made her brain unable to react quickly. The always intelligent and exceptional sister was now speechless with her mouth slightly open, like a fool who couldn't utter a complete sentence.
Her right foot staggered back a step, as if the created distance gave her air to breathe. Yukino took several deep breaths, and under Haruno's slightly regretful gaze, she finally calmed herself.
"...If this is a joke you carefully prepared, I can only congratulate you on your great success."
Yukino bit her lip, staring at Haruno coldly, her usual stubbornness unwilling to lose to her older sister.
"Oh, someone who makes jokes like this must be more of a failure than a woman who keeps chasing a taken man, right?"
Haruno laughed casually, already expecting this reaction from Yukino: "So, let me show you the proof."
She pulled out her phone again, called Yuu in front of Yukino, and turned on the speaker.
Placing her index finger to her lips and winking, signaling Yukino to stay silent, Haruno waited for the call to connect with a joyful face.
The busy tone didn't last long.
"Haruno? What's up, have you changed your mind?"
"!!"
Yuu's familiar, natural, melodious, and gentle voice entered Yukino's ears, as if the suspicion she thought impossible had been instantly proven. Yukino's pupils trembled violently, her steps staggered back to the wall, her face losing all color.
"How could this be..."
To Yukino's unconscious murmur, Haruno frowned unhappily, emphasizing the importance of silence during someone else's phone call with her index finger to her lips.
Fortunately, she had anticipated her sister's reaction and had covered the microphone with her finger beforehand.
When it was her turn to speak, of course she released her finger from the microphone and spoke as if nothing had happened:
"I haven't changed my mind, I'll find time myself to monopolize you. By the way, for the Christmas party tonight, you'll invite Yukino-chan too, right? Do you need me to help inform her?"
The oblivious Yuu said in a casual tone: "It's fine. Let her calm down first, I'll go see her myself later... And if I'm not mistaken, she should have already realized something and be prepared to talk to me again, right?"
"..."
Upon hearing that sentence.
Yukino couldn't help but freeze in place. Although her mind was still hard to calm from the huge shock, and her brain was blank unable to think, an inexplicable warmth began to flow in her chest, slowly spreading through her cold fingertips and nerves.
The greatest treasure between the two of them wasn't something hard to define like friendship or love, but something that understood each other more than telepathy—Compatibility.
As long as this compatibility existed, no matter how many times, Yukino was willing to trust the Yuu in her heart.
Observing this change, Haruno raised an eyebrow toward Yukino, dissatisfaction flashing in her eyes, and her face pouted as if feeling jealous.
"Goodness, you're openly saying you want to cheat with my sister in front of me, I'll really get angry, you know~"
Yuu coughed awkwardly: "Uhuk uhuk, for this matter, I beg your understanding... Let me settle the issues at hand first."
"Huh, don't worry. Since I already promised you, especially now, I'll try my best to cooperate with you at the Christmas party."
Changing the topic, Haruno suddenly smiled sweetly, "By the way, darling, how will you tell Dango-chan that you're actually cheating with your best friend's older sister?"
Yukino: "!!"
Yuu paused for a moment, then sighed helplessly: "I can only be honest, I suppose... When I dated Yukino last time, her reaction was far bigger than I expected. This time, it might hurt her even more."
"Hah, I hope she's like Sora, still retaining previous memories. That would be much easier."
Haruno nodded obediently: "Mmm, that's unavoidable. If it really can't be helped, just abandon Dango-chan! If she hates you over something trivial like this, it's her loss. No need to waste energy comforting her, after all, I'll always be with you~"
Yuu laughed wryly: "Don't say things like that... Hmm? Wait, you wouldn't call me just to talk about these things, and your questions feel intentional..."
"You're really a suspicious man, even toward your own girlfriend."
Haruno could barely hold back her laughter, and at the same time shot a sharp glance at her sister who seemed about to say something, warning her not to interrupt her conversation with her boyfriend.
(However, he's indeed worthy of being called Yuu-chan.)
(With just a few sentences, he already realized something was off. If I continue, I might get exposed soon.)
Reluctantly canceling her intention to talk about kisses and bedroom matters with him in front of Yukino, Haruno raised her voice irritably, covering Yuu's thoughtful mutter:
"Alright, alright~ I'm hanging up. Can you say 'I love you, see you tonight' to your beloved girlfriend? If not, watch out, I'll cause chaos at the Christmas party!"
"I beg your pardon, great lady."
Before the call ended, Yuu's voice sounded gentle as if seeping into the heart.
"See you tonight, I love you, Haruno. And..."
Hearing what she wanted to hear, Haruno immediately pressed the end call button without waiting for Yuu to finish speaking.
Then she tossed her phone slightly into the air, tilted her head a bit, and smiled while enjoying Yukino's embarrassed and confused expression in front of her.
What did he want to say? She couldn't say anything.
As if her lungs were covered in snow, her throat clogged, her blood cold, and her vision blackening.
However, the reality before her eyes was extremely cruel, not allowing her to escape.
"This is the expression I wanted to see from you..."
A nearly inaudible murmur, lost in a small triumphant laugh.
Was it just an illusion? She saw the shadow of her past self in Yukino.
Although the revenge succeeded, for some reason, she felt no instant relief, where the resentment and bitterness in her heart immediately vanished.
So in the end, Haruno always did things that harmed others and didn't benefit herself.