As the sentence paused, Yukino couldn't help but say, "Nee-san, do you think this is normal? Honestly, you really need to see a psychologist."
"Foolish child, this is what love is like. You're the one who doesn't understand."
Haruno said casually, "Unless I actually do something bad to Danggo-chan for my own desires, or lock Yuu-chan in a basement and train him to be my little puppy, then you can call it abnormal and question me—but at least for now, I have no plans to go that far."
She sneered coldly.
"So, Yukino-chan, the current you is just meddling in other people's business."
Without hesitation, Yukino said seriously, "You're my sister, and they're my best friends. That's not called meddling!"
"Haaah, how touching. But so what?"
Haruno said indifferently, "No matter what you all think, to me, Tenkuji Yuu is my boyfriend. Using any means to drive away the girls around him is a right granted by this status."
"Even if we take a step back, if I just have a crush on him, do you know what a long-distance relationship is?"
At this point, she gave a small laugh. Her tone suddenly softened, no longer as sharp as before.
Yet her voice was quieter than a bird returning home to find its chick gone. It carried self-mockery and sadness. That voice slipped gently into Yukino's heart through the phone.
"Yukino-chan, I'm different from you all…"
"I can't meet him at school every day, I can't find chances to chat and eat with him daily. Even video calls at night, texting back and forth, saying goodnight, making plans to go out on holidays, looking into each other's eyes, and smiling—all these things."
"Now, they can't be done."
Perhaps it was just a fleeting illusion.
Yukino had never heard her sister's voice choke up. Complaints, anxieties, and uncertainties she had never shared with anyone spilled out like mud suddenly splashed, sinking straight to the bottom of a river where no one could see.
That perfect sister, the Haruno who always faced everything with a relaxed smile, unshaken…
How could she cry like an ordinary girl?
"You asked why I only use little tricks like this?"
As if denying the thoughts that arose, Haruno took a deep breath. Her voice returned to a calm, emotionless tone.
"Because only by doing this can I find a way to enter his life without causing trouble for my lover."
"Forced to stand at a distance I can't reach, tell me, is there any other way to make him turn and look at me?"
Her tone was unemotional, almost gentle.
Yet under this question, Yukino couldn't utter a single word. She could only lower her head and remain silent.
And so, Haruno sneered coldly again.
"Got it now? Believe it or not, I've been dating him far longer than any of you. A little girl who's never even been in a relationship shouldn't act like she knows better and criticize an adult's choices."
"By the way, Yukino-chan, you're not even better than Masuzu-chan. You have no right to meddle in our relationship… So, don't act so high and mighty."
Despite being mocked like this, Yukino bit her lip until it turned pale. She gripped her phone tightly and didn't speak.
Because she knew, no matter how many pale words she said, they would only be crushed one by one by the current Haruno.
She understood her feelings, so what? She couldn't stay silent and wanted to stop her, but then what?
Her sister wasn't someone she could persuade. Even after this heartfelt conversation, Yukino suddenly couldn't find a reason to refute her. She gradually acknowledged those deep, unspoken feelings.
(So, was I the one who made the wrong choice?)
The thought lasted less than a second.
"Alright then, don't bother me with this kind of thing again. Even though you're my dearest little sister, I can get angry too, you know~"
Like a general who'd won a battle, Haruno's tone lightened again. Just as she was about to hang up—
Yukino suddenly spoke up, "Nee-san."
"Hmm? Something else to say?" Haruno waited patiently for her to continue.
After that one word, the surroundings fell silent for a moment.
The phone was no longer pressed to her ear. Yukino slowly raised her head. Her blue eyes reflected the warm yellow glow of the neon lights.
She looked at the light, as if seeing the day she and Yuu met.
As if seeing the times when she gradually grew close to Yuigahama.
As if the days the three of them spent in the Service Club—laughter, arguments, and confessions—flashed vaguely yet deeply in her mind.
Would the strength of these feelings lose to Haruno?
…She didn't think so.
Because of their existence, because of this cherished daily routine, the current Yukino had been able to change so much.
From now on, she still wanted to laugh with them—she still wanted to be with Yuigahama and Yuu in that small clubroom, eating lunch with their side dishes all mixed up, chatting about unimportant topics.
If time allowed, it would be wonderful if the three of them could go to Kyoto, or even somewhere farther.
So, she had to say this to her.
"I can't comment on your choices, but likewise, Nee-san, you have no right to meddle in the relationship between the three of us."
No longer cold, no longer firm. Yukino only smiled with the corners of her lips raised, saying softly:
"Indeed, I've never been in a relationship. I don't know how heavy those adult choices you mentioned are… But I can tell, you're suppressing your feelings. You're not even better than that Natsukawa-san. You're a hesitant coward."
"…You're pretty bold, Yukino."
"Only bold enough to speak now."
Yukino ignored her sister's subdued tone. She leaned gently against the sofa's backrest and continued.
"I also have words I can't say and feelings I don't know how to handle… Even so, I won't meddle in someone else's love life."
"If love is a war by any means, as you say, then come and fight honorably. Do things that will make him love you, not things that will push him away once he finds out."
In truth, what she wanted to say wasn't all this philosophy.
Yukino slowly closed her eyes. In the darkness of her vision, she saw the scene when Yuu hugged her to his chest, shielding her from a kitchen knife with his body.
Even if it was just acting, his racing heartbeat felt so real, impossible to forget even now.
Was this the same feeling as her sister's?
Was this what Yuigahama felt every day?
Even now, Yukino still couldn't be sure.
She felt she didn't have the deep, persistent love for him that they did. Nor did she think she was a sweet, foolish girl who would sacrifice many principles if she fell in love with someone.
If so, then let her say the one certain thing to Haruno, who was both her sister and her romantic rival now—
"And if you don't change, and insist on causing trouble and disrupting the Service Club while claiming it's your way of love…"
Yukino took a deep breath. She said firmly:
"As one of Tenkuji-kun's girlfriends… I'll also use every means to stop you from acting recklessly."
"Yuigahama-san and I definitely won't lose to you!"
As the sentence ended, she ignored the silence on the other end.
She hung up immediately. She quickly powered off her phone and tossed it onto the table like it was burning.
"…"
Yukino pressed her lips together and fell silent. She stared straight ahead.
Her expression was resolute, unwavering. Her eyes shone with determination. She was like a leader who had just declared war, savoring the passionate, extraordinary words she'd just spoken.
And so, time passed—how long, she didn't know.
Her slender body suddenly collapsed onto the sofa. Like a puppet with its strings cut, the aura she'd had completely vanished.
Grabbing a pillow beside her, Yukino covered her flushed face. She rolled back and forth like a caterpillar, kicking her limp white legs. Thud, thud, thud sounds came from the edge of the sofa.
"I… why did I have to say something like that… 'One of his girlfriends' or whatever, 'won't lose' or whatever… Ngh ngh ngh er ah—if he finds out, I'd rather die! Kill him first, then kill myself… No, Yuigahama-san would be sad. I'd better find a way to get physical amnesia…"
No one heard. Her muffled groans echoed in the empty living room.
Outside the window, the night had grown late.
There was no Yuki-Onna here. Only Yukino, an ordinary girl, deeply embarrassed and regretting her impulsive actions, wishing she could disappear.