After dinner, after clearing the dirty plates and cups nearly filling the sink.
Iroha approached Yuu.
"Senpai, you didn't forget our previous promise, right?"
"The political statement video? Not forgotten—let's do it now."
Yuu had the others sit around the dining table, clearing space for temporary filming.
Sitting straight on the sofa, he smiled friendly and cheerfully, posing like a political statement speaker before the camera.
"Okay, ready anytime."
Though just in school uniform, his suddenly changed aura gave a formal suit-like impression.
"I feel Senpai's really skilled…"
Muttering admiringly, Iroha turned on the camera, smoothly adjusting settings; her expression turned serious: "Alright, starting in three seconds. Three, two, one… Action!"
Kanade held the script, standing outside camera range, reading flatly.
"What are your hopes for the new student council?"
"Bring better, more comfortable school life for all students, and be a bridge connecting the school and students."
"Is there anything you hope we pay attention to and beware of?"
"Distribute work, delegate tasks, rest adequately. Students' main focus is studying—don't let heavy council duties hinder your steps."
"Do you agree with the policy that the cafeteria must stably provide mapo tofu as a lunch menu and actively develop related mapo dishes?"
"I'm fine with it… But please don't insert personal interests, Tachibana-san—at least not this blatantly."
"…"
"Eh? Why the gloom? Pretend I said nothing—I personally fully support opening a mapo specialty area in the cafeteria, and willingly provide all mapo recipes I know, so Tachibana-san can eat to her heart's content with different flavors every day!"
"Suggestion accepted—this will be added as a new policy statement. Thank you, Yuu-senpai."
"Cut! Cut! Cut! You two idiots—can you stick to the script?! This video can't air!"
"Wow, the camera's talking."
"Who's the camera! I'm the director—you listen to me!"
Under Iroha's know-it-all orders, the two innocent-looking ones had to restart. This time no improvisation—they obediently completed the script dialogue.
But right after recording version two, Yukino said, "Won't this background let others know we're at home and cause misunderstandings?"
They were forced to pull out the green screen used for video filming, hang it on the wall, and record political statement interview version three. Just wait for Yuu in post-production to decide the background and replace it.
Dinner done, tasks nearly finished, and they were tired from gaming.
At night, under the night sky where Sora grew more excited while Kanade yawned and got sleepy, Yuu put on his jacket, preparing to escort the girls home.
Before leaving, he carefully reminded his stay-home sister: "Look at Kanade-chan—her sleep schedule's so healthy; once her biological clock hits, she prepares to rest… What about you? Staying up every day—you're not a web novelist waiting till midnight for inspiration!"
"Are you my mom! Anyway, I've been staying up—not just a day or two—why say it now!"
Sora grinned annoyedly, glaring unfriendly: "Besides, even with healthy sleep—what? Kanade's body shape's same as mine—breasts not growing, height not increasing—doesn't that mean no reason to change?"
"Ah, this…"
What to do—her words made perfect sense.
Yuu's expression turned weird; he unconsciously turned, seeing Kanade supported by Iroha—thankfully eyes tightly closed, half-conscious, not hearing his sister's rude words.
As for body shape—he didn't look; anyway not interested in flat chests.
Shifting gaze under Yukino and Yui's friendly stares, Yuu sighed helplessly, patting Sora's head.
"Forget it—with your current body, as long as you sleep well daily and don't stay up three days straight, should be fine—no need to worry too much."
The Life Potion's effects were significant; Sora now looked healthy, active, cheerful—no longer sickly like before. Even staying up till 3-4 AM and waking at 6 for breakfast, she recovered quickly with 2-3 hour naps—no more checkups or meds to monitor her condition.
For Yuu, nothing better.
If not for the system getting more outrageous—just his sister recovering was enough for past him to thank it a hundred times inwardly.
Now?
Roughly, Yuu wanted to squeeze the system into a silicone doll and stomp it.
"Hmph—good you know." With outsiders at the entrance, Sora unconsciously hid this secret, pouting and brushing off his hand, saying coldly: "If you want to nag, wait till you're back—escort them home safely and return quickly."
Seeing her slightly awkward attitude, Yuu couldn't resist teasing: "Relax—I dare not leave my loneliness-fearing sister home too long."
"…" Sora's mouth corners twitched; dark aura appeared on her face.
She glanced at Yukino, then Yuigahama.
Finally shifting back to Yuu, she sneered meaningfully, saying slowly:
"I don't want to be rude."
But—fearing loneliness?
More like fearing someone getting too intimate with one of his girlfriends and ending up sleeping over.
"…Understood—big brother's heading out."
His sister too mature; Yuu firmly ended this interaction, wiping cold sweat as if nothing, turning to call those waiting at the entrance.
"Let's go—I'll drop you one by one in order."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"In order" meant from Tenkuji house to the station.
First was Yuigahama's house—so Sora's worry completely unnecessary. With many people, Yuigahama had no chance for anything bad that'd make him late returning with her.
As for Yukino—unfortunately same apartment as Masuzu; with this high-wattage neon light, no chance for another stolen kiss—just ordinary goodbye.
The two juniors dropped at the midway station—their parents picking up, so Yuu no worry.
Less than half an hour after leaving, Yuu returned home, hanging his night-wind-chilled jacket on the rack.
Seems Sora heard the door; as he went upstairs, Sora peeked from her room door, staring slightly surprised.
"Why so quick?"
"Quick? I'll give you a chance to rephrase."
No outsiders; Yuu spread his fingers smiling, as if ready and eager.
Sora naturally understood—that was the signal he'd flick her forehead anytime.
"I mean—pretty efficient." Honestly rephrasing, Sora scanned him top to bottom, suddenly frowning.
"Yuu—is Masuzu really just your secret crazy fan?"
"Why ask?" Yuu tilted his head oddly.
Sora curled her soft hair ends with a finger, looking down thoughtfully: "I feel your interactions with her are weird… Sometimes deliberately distancing, sometimes somehow familiar—very awkward."
"Oh?" Yuu surprised, then couldn't resist commenting: "My sister—you're just a lazy home hikikomori, not a love expert…"
"Shut up!"
Sora glared annoyed, then puffed her chest, huffing proudly unclearly: "How many romance works do you think I've watched at home? From CL to School Days—all watched; plus Yuu's my brother—just a glance and I know about your emotional issues—is that weird?!"
"For me it's pretty weird."
Lamenting his sister's emotional intelligence growth, Yuu said with sincere smile: "True—she's not just my secret fan."
"If I must say—Masuzu is my girlfriend from another world? One lost memory, one lost feelings."
"…"
Sora blinked, asking confused: "Another world? Girlfriend? Feelings? Memory?"
Accompanied by fading confusion sounds, odd silence before the room door.
Yuu instead showed a more confused expression.
"How did I say it—what principle is this…"
Seeing that, Sora pushed her room door, walked toward him frowning; gaze gradually shifting from confusion to worry.
"Yuu—your head okay? Did you bump something on the way?"
"Of course fine—just the truths I say are always hard to believe." Snapping back, Yuu temporarily set aside inner doubts; unconscious smile appeared.
He wanted to use this chance to reveal everything about the system to his sister.
Hiding from his only family—this thorn long embedded in his heart; now finally a chance to pull it—how could he not feel joyful and excited?
But just as his mood brightened, heart pain returned him to normal.
(Can only state facts—can't explain?)
(System's existence still can't be told to others—loosened only things I've said to others before, like she was my girlfriend, we dated due to certain tasks.)
"…Hah—forget it."
Quickly understanding, Yuu sighed softly; expression flattened.
Though slight frustration and disappointment—luckily he didn't hope too much; at most back to usual.
If like other transmigrators wanting to take system secrets to the grave—maybe he wouldn't be too confused.
Unfortunately—Yuu hated lies more than imagined.
"I believe Yuu's words—anytime, whatever the content."
Sora stood before him, raising her small warm soft hand, cupping his cheek—forcing him to look at her.
"But—I need your explanation."
Petite and slim—yet her hand strength left him unable to resist.
Her pale gray eyes shone—more serious than usual.
"Another world—mean the world where that weird medicine came from? You dated that crazy girl there? Still holding memories and feelings? Really not dreaming?"
"…"
Facing this barrage, Yuu slightly surprised, then smiled helplessly—gently patting her shoulder.
"Don't rush—there are upper-side restrictions; some things I can't say—I can only tell you what I can leak now… This is also what I've told Yukino, Yukino's sister, Yui, and Masuzu."
Sora opened her small mouth in shock.
The next ten minutes—Yuu recounted everything he could and what happened; he even accidentally slipped and exploded several times mid-way—like stepping on mines—almost enjoying the frequent blasts.
After finishing—he ignored his petrified sister with a world-shattered life-questioning expression; let her calm alone in the hallway—turned back to his room.
Everything that needed saying said; he still had work—no free time for more explanations.
Inserting camera memory card into computer external reader—pulling out video data; Yuu cleared complicated thoughts—started typing keyboard attentively.
Editing video, post-production, adding effects and subtitles…
Working hard till nearly 11 PM—Yuu temporarily ended. Remaining parts easily done in two-three more days—no need to cut rest time.
Work taking others ten hours—he finished in one-two hours daily, about three days.
Glancing at unmoving room door—Yuu decided to read a bit before sleep.
He didn't know what Sora thought—after being force-fed such massive info; she stood petrified in hallway five-six minutes, then quietly returned to her room—not chasing to ask endlessly as he imagined.
Disbelief? Or unable to accept?
Or maybe mind not cleared—unsure how to face it?
Many guesses in his mind—still, Yuu felt no anxiety; heart calm.
Just as Sora willingly believed him without reason—he believed Sora, willing to accept everything about her.
A bond deeper than family—something only these siblings had, unbreakable by world changes.
"Every late night is to await tomorrow's sunrise…"
Closing the classic novel flipped ten pages—Yuu shook his head, making a literary sound.
Then returned the book to the shelf—casually pulled drawer, glancing at the bead bracelet still in the corner—closed without doing anything.
Locking door, turning off lights, sleep.
Not letting anything disturb his rest—like a tired playing baby; he closed eyes—quickly falling into deep sleep.
"…"
Moonlight couldn't penetrate tightly closed curtains; thick night darkness filled every crevice.
His breathing calm and regular; time passed unnoticed.
—That night, Yuu dreamed.
A dream related to summer vacation.
Before Shibuya station, blazing sun.
He suppressed inner anxiety—pretending calm greeting the mature-dressed beautiful woman; about to do something very important with her.
As he raised his hand—seemed colorful light glittering above.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Yukinoshita residence.
"Those little fox girls must be flirting with him again… Damn—why am I a college student!"
Complaining in helpless anger, Haruno pulled the blanket—turned off lights with smart remote on phone; moonlight outside couldn't penetrate the glass.
Sighing sounds vanished in silent dark air; she slowly closed eyes—as if remembering something, heart slightly disappointed.
"I don't know how many times I've dreamed of him… I hope he sees me in his dreams too."
Dream Haruno would surely do anything to make him remember all their love feelings—and willingly fall into her embrace.
Because it's a dream—no matter how he avoids, he can't escape her grasp.
Because it's a dream—those little fox girls won't be there; she'll ensure Yuu has no extra energy to look at other women.
With such beautiful hopes—she turned, buried under the blanket; innocent child-like smile hung on her mouth corners—letting consciousness fall into darkness, sleeping peacefully.
—That night, Haruno dreamed.
A dream so beautiful—she couldn't remember it.