When Genichi returned to the apartment, he found a woman sitting in the living room.
No, perhaps "young woman" was more accurate.
She was lounging lazily on the sofa, one leg elegantly crossed over the other, a magazine in her hand as she flipped through it at random.
At the sound of the door opening, she lifted her head, revealing a face that looked nearly identical to Yukino Yukinoshita's.
The same delicate features. The same long black hair. The same cool, refined air.
But her eyes held a touch more amusement and slyness than Yukino's.
Haruno Yukinoshita.
Genichi's financial backer. His rich older-sister patron.
In this world, Genichi had no parents. He was an orphan.
The fact that he could afford an apartment in a decent location with passable furnishings clearly was not because he had money of his own.
It was because of the woman in front of him.
Haruno Yukinoshita, the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. Though still young, she was already a business prodigy capable of standing on her own within the family enterprise. She was also Genichi's sponsor.
As for why she would sponsor an orphan, there was a story behind that.
In any case, the living expenses arrived on time every month. That was enough.
"It shouldn't be time yet, should it?"
Genichi looked at Haruno on the sofa and asked.
According to their arrangement, Haruno would come once a month to check on his living situation and give him the next month's allowance while she was at it.
But that was usually at the end of the month. Right now, it was only the middle of the month.
Haruno set the magazine down and looked at him with a smiling face.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons, making her look harmless to humans and animals alike. But Genichi knew that behind that smile was a woman sharp to the bone.
"Not yet."
She spoke softly, her voice lazy and pleasant. "But I heard you nearly made little Yukino cry today."
Genichi's hand paused briefly as he changed his shoes, then returned to normal.
Nearly made her cry?
That cold, prideful Yukino Yukinoshita would cry over a few words?
He did not believe that.
Still, he had not expected the news to spread so quickly.
Haruno was a textbook sister complex case. It would not be an exaggeration to say she was keeping tabs on Yukino at all hours.
That was why, after such a short time, she had already learned what had happened between Genichi and Yukino.
"So you're here to call me to account?"
Genichi did not care in the slightest. After changing into his indoor slippers, he walked inside, casually tossed his schoolbag aside, then went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water.
His attitude was far too casual. A faint trace of surprise flashed through Haruno's eyes.
This boy was different from before.
The old Genichi had always carried a trace of restraint and distance whenever he saw her.
After all, she was his sponsor. She was the source of his living expenses. She was the support that allowed him to survive in this city.
Though he had never fawned over her or lowered himself too much, Haruno could clearly sense the cautious distance he maintained.
But now...
That restraint was gone.
That cautious distance was gone too.
In its place was composure, confidence, and something else.
A foundation.
Yes. A foundation.
Haruno keenly caught that change.
Genichi had gained a foundation.
He was no longer the orphan who needed her support to survive.
No longer the boy who always kept his distance in front of her.
No longer the teenager whose eyes occasionally carried a trace of confusion.
Now, he stood there, drinking water and looking out the window with a casual posture, as if this apartment truly belonged to him.
As if she, Haruno Yukinoshita, was the uninvited guest.
Interesting.
A playful smile curved Haruno's lips.
"Call you to account?"
She spoke softly, a hint of laughter in her voice. "How could I? Little Yukino can be too rigid sometimes. It's not bad for her to suffer a small setback."
She stood up and walked over to Genichi in her high heels. Then she reached out, took the cup from his hand, and drank from it without the slightest hesitation.
Genichi looked at her and said nothing.
Haruno placed the cup back in his hand, then lifted her head and looked closely into his eyes.
Those eyes were clear and deep.
They no longer held the faint confusion they once had.
Instead, they were calm, composed, and even carried a trace of...
Looking down.
Yes. Looking down.
This boy was looking at her from above.
A strange feeling rose in Haruno's heart.
When had this orphan she had sponsored for more than two years gained such confidence?
"Genichi-kun."
She spoke softly. Her voice was still lazy, but her eyes had sharpened. "Did something good happen to you recently?"
Genichi looked at her, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Why do you ask?"
"Because your eyes have changed."
Haruno was blunt. "Before, when you looked at me, there was always a hint of avoidance. But now..."
She paused, and her smile became even more teasing.
"Now, it feels like you're looking at someone who doesn't matter."
Genichi raised an eyebrow.
Someone who did not matter?
Indeed. To him, Haruno had truly become someone who did not matter.
In the past, he needed her support to survive, so he had to care about her attitude. He had to carefully maintain this relationship.
But now?
He was already someone who could travel across countless worlds.
The power he possessed was enough to make any force in this world bow its head.
A mere Haruno Yukinoshita. A mere few hundred thousand yen of monthly support.
What did that amount to?
"You're joking, Haruno-nee."
Genichi spoke calmly. "How could I possibly think you don't matter?"
Haruno looked at him without speaking.
Her eyes seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts.
Only after a long while did she withdraw her gaze and return to the sofa.
"Forget it. Let's not talk about that."
She waved a hand, took a stack of envelopes from her bag, and placed them on the coffee table. "This is next month's living allowance. I'm giving it to you early. I'll be busy for a while after this, so I may not have time to look after your side of things."
Genichi looked at the stack of envelopes but did not reach for it.
"No need."
He spoke softly.
Haruno's movements paused.
She lifted her head and looked at Genichi, a trace of surprise flashing in her eyes.
"No need?"
"Mm."
Genichi nodded. "You don't need to support me anymore."
Haruno fell silent for a moment.
Then she laughed.
That smile carried a trace of amusement, a trace of curiosity, and a trace of admiration.
"Looks like something good really did happen to you."
She stood up, walked over to Genichi, and patted him on the shoulder.
"Fine. Since you've said so, I won't force it. But..."
She paused, her eyes looking straight at Genichi.
"If you run into any trouble, you can come to me anytime."
Genichi looked at her, and a complicated emotion stirred faintly in his chest.
This woman was shrewd. She was calculating. She had a dark side.
But she really had always treated him well.
"Thank you."
He spoke softly.
Haruno waved a hand and turned toward the door.
When she reached the entrance, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Genichi.
"Oh, right, Genichi-kun."
"Mm?"
"Don't bully little Yukino too much. That girl acts tough, but she's actually rather fragile."
Genichi did not reply.
Haruno smiled, then opened the door and left.
The instant the door closed, Genichi heard her final words.
"Still, I'm getting more and more curious about this change in you."
The sound of high heels gradually faded down the corridor.
Genichi stood where he was, looking at the closed door as the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Curious?
Then let her be curious.
In any case, he was also curious about what this clever woman would do next.
(End of Chapter)
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