After realizing that her goal had been achieved, and her sister already knew what it felt like to hear, "The Tenkuji Yuu you like is actually dating me."
Like a balloon suddenly deflating, Haruno instantly lost interest. From the bottom of her heart, she felt that her own arrogant self, and her sister standing there alone and helpless like a child, were all extremely boring.
What was the point of saying sharp words to family and hurting her sibling's feelings for something called love?
Although she thought this calmly in her heart, Haruno didn't regret it. Some things weren't done because they had meaning, but rather their meaning was only understood after they were done.
Just consider this an opportunity for her past self, an opportunity to release the burden in her heart.
"This is how it is, and I'm too lazy to explain the details to you... Anyway, Yuu-chan will contact you. If you come to his house for the Christmas party tonight, everything will be answered then."
Stopping her smile, Haruno said flatly, passing by Yukino, and putting on her shoes that she had just taken off.
"You might think I'm being outrageous, deliberately doing this in front of you who secretly likes him... But once you remember, you'll understand that I'm just doing the same thing as you."
Ignoring Yukino's complex gaze full of confusion and sadness, Haruno opened the door and continued speaking to herself: "I'm even gentler than you were back then. Besides stating the facts, I didn't say anything else like declaring war on you, or disowning you."
"Of course, there's a reason because the current you isn't doing anything, but... Ignoring sibling bonds for love, and using words to swing a sword at family, we're both the same."
At this point, Haruno couldn't hold back a laugh, the curve of her lips slightly mocking.
Women of the Yukinoshita family weren't just troublesome, but also extremely deviant.
Deviant toward the outside, and even more deviant toward the inside... Even so, Haruno still believed that she loved her foolish little sister, loved the stubborn and innocent Yukino.
So as she stepped out, she put both hands into the pockets of her trench coat, tilted her body forty-five degrees, turned her head, and smiled at Yukino:
"If it were just you, I might even be happy to share Yuu-chan with you... After all, we're from the Yukinoshita family! Assets don't fall into outsiders' hands. My child would have the Yukinoshita surname, yours would have Tenkuji, this kind of division is perfect!"
"..."
The topic change was too abrupt, making Yukino, who was still immersed in complex emotions from the overwhelming information, only able to blink in confusion. The corners of her lips unconsciously twitched because she couldn't speak, not knowing what to say to her sister.
Haruno didn't care, she shrugged casually, and turned back to face forward.
"As someone who experienced it first, I'll give you one piece of advice—don't hesitate, don't be confused. When the time comes, move forward; when it's time to confess your feelings, just say it directly."
"The man you like is a scoundrel, and also a top-class playboy with many tricks that girls basically can't avoid... So, if you don't intend to let him go just like that, or cause a big mess, it's best if you're more open about your three-way relationship in the Service Club, don't keep your distance from him for Dango-chan's sake."
"If that love triangle drama drags on too long, it torments you and torments us spectators too. Better to speed it up to the result, the situation won't change anyway..."
Muttering like a sigh, Haruno closed the door behind her.
"Onee-san is going home, no need to see me off. See you tonight."
"..."
Looking at the closed door, Yukino slowly closed her thin and soft lips. Her chest rose and fell with deep breaths, and her fists at her sides unconsciously clenched.
Since earlier, she hadn't been able to utter a single word to her sister who was talking to herself... Not just because she was still confused about the current situation, like still in a dream, there were too many questions she didn't know where to start.
More importantly, she kept being stared at by her sister's dark red eyes. In the depths of eyes she was used to seeing, there was not only the usual pressure and coldness of mockery, but also many unfamiliar complex emotions: jealousy, anger, and pity.
Why did this happen?
Yesterday she was still living an ordinary daily life, only feeling an unusual loneliness on Christmas Eve alone... Why after waking up, so many strange and chaotic things happened?
Which part of her memory was wrong...
"Ah, right, right~"
The door that hadn't been locked with the electronic lock was pushed open slightly, and Haruno poked her head out from outside.
Seeing her unprepared and surprised sister, pulling back her neck and retreating like a cute kitten, she narrowed her eyes with a wicked smile as if victorious, and her tone unconsciously became cheerful:
"I want to ask, did you find anything wrong with your body, or any strange changes, when you woke up this morning?"
Yukino slightly widened her eyes, asking with slight confusion: "Changes... what do you mean?"
"Goodness, do I have to explain? It's embarrassing, you know!"
Like a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl, Haruno puffed her cheeks and stomped her foot, her face flushing from embarrassment and a bit of awkwardness.
Then she said very straightforwardly: "I mean, is your hymen still there, does your body feel sore because you're no longer a virgin, and is there blood on the sheets. Although I didn't see any stains on your body, I'm still worried if you two really cooked the rice to maturity."
"..."
After being stunned foolishly for a few seconds, red color quickly spread from her collarbone to her face. Yukino stepped forward angrily and embarrassed, pushing her sister's head out, then slammed the door shut.
"There's nothing!! He and I aren't in that kind of relationship, how could we cook, cook... rice!"
"Hahahaha, turns out asking someone who doesn't remember anything like you really isn't reliable~"
"Please go home quickly!"
Panting as she pressed against the door, listening to that familiar annoying laughter fade further away, Yukino gritted her teeth, her body slowly sliding to the floor as if suddenly out of breath.
"...If you know I don't remember, don't ask things that make people curious!"
Her long, disheveled hair covered her expression. Her voice of despair and loneliness sounded as if it would disappear at any moment in the corner of the living room.
She supported herself with both hands on the floor, flipping over like a salted fish, her slender back leaning limply against the front door, no longer upright and dignified as usual.
"What exactly did I forget... Why is Tenkuji-kun dating Nee-san, and what does it have to do with Yuigahama-san..."
Yukino murmured softly.
The people who could answer her, one had just said "I love you" to her sister on the phone, and the other left with mad triumphant laughter.
Only she, who knew nothing, was still trying to dispel the fog, yet suddenly attacked one after another by those two. The information bombs made her dizzy, and the painful facts stabbed her heart mercilessly. No matter how much heartbreak and confusion she had, there was no place to express it.
How wonderful it would be if everything was just a nightmare, and she woke up in a normal state?
If this wasn't a nightmare, then how should she face this complex and cruel reality?
"..."
In front of the entrance, the coldness of the floor crept up along her spine, freezing her struggling heart.
Yukino hugged her legs helplessly, hiding her face deep in her knees, her shoulders trembling slightly as if cold.
She never knew that she, who always considered herself perfect, actually had such a ridiculous and sad side.
So sad, that she could only sob like the weak whimper of a helpless kitten, in the empty living room.