At the same time, Leo was making his way toward the Service Club room. Judging from the direction he came from, it was clear he hadn't been chatting with Utaha in the classroom, as Yukino had guessed—but had come from the rooftop instead.
He was running a little late today, but that was because right after school he'd received a message from Sona. To keep things discreet, they'd met on the rooftop and talked for a while.
As he walked, Leo mulled over what Sona had told him earlier.
"It's a bit troublesome," he thought, "but this is the perfect chance to give Yukino some real combat experience."
It had been a month since Yukino became his servant. She'd been diligently studying demon lore and training her abilities, but she hadn't had a single real fight yet.
Without experience, even the strongest person would have plenty of flaws.
That's why Leo had decided—this time, Yukino would handle things herself. He'd only step in if absolutely necessary.
"No point wasting time. We'll start tonight."
With that thought in mind, Leo arrived at the Service Club room.
But the moment he pushed open the door, the heavy atmosphere inside made him pause for a second.
"Y-you're here?"
As soon as Yukino saw him walk in, she immediately stood up, her reaction far from calm.
Sitting beside her, however, was someone watching him with a smiling expression—though the sharp glint in her eyes was anything but friendly.
Leo raised an eyebrow but ignored both Yukino's nervousness and that piercing gaze. He walked in as if nothing was out of the ordinary.
"So, we've got quite the distinguished guest here. How rare."
He sat down in Yukino's usual seat, prompting her to instinctively step aside and stand behind him.
The "distinguished guest" subtly frowned at the sight, a flash of surprise flickering in her eyes. Still, she maintained her radiant smile and greeted him politely.
"Hello there, Elig-kun. I'm Yukino's older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Her cheerful tone and bright expression were completely unlike her cold, reserved sister. Combined with her refined looks and pleasant voice, it was the kind of presence that made people lower their guard without realizing it.
Unfortunately for her, Leo's charm outshone even hers.
"I know who you are—the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family. You're pretty famous around here, after all."
Leo's grin was open and genuine, like that of a carefree boy with nothing to hide. For a brief moment, Haruno found herself dazed by it, silently admitting to herself, This kid's looks and presence could outclass half the rich heirs I've met.
As for being called a "celebrity," Haruno wasn't surprised in the slightest.
At twenty years old, she was now a student in the engineering department of a national university. But she'd once attended Sobu High herself—and before she graduated, she'd been the school's "Flower on the Peak," the one everyone admired.
Back then, Haruno had it all: beauty, pedigree, elegance, stellar grades, and almost unfair social skills. In stark contrast to Yukino, who struggled with communication, Haruno had been able to charm everyone she met.
During her years at Sobu High, she'd built strong connections with students, teachers, even the principal and board members. Her influence lingered long after graduation—her name still came up among the seniors who'd entered during her final year.
Leo was one of them.
Back in his first year, he hadn't interacted with Haruno directly, but he'd seen her often—walking down the hall surrounded by a crowd of people, the undeniable center of attention. She could manage dozens of relationships without neglecting anyone. She was, in every sense, a social powerhouse.
People called her the perfect human, and many viewed her as the "big sister" type they could never forget.
That was who Yukinoshita Haruno had been.
Even now, she remained a local celebrity—because she wasn't just the Yukinoshita family's eldest daughter, but their designated heir. Despite not having graduated, she was already handling portions of the family's political and business dealings, and she had a solid reputation in Chiba Prefecture's high society.
With someone so flawless and accomplished as her sister, it was no wonder Yukino had grown up in her shadow.
Her behavior now made that perfectly clear—she stayed silent, visibly tense, all her usual sharpness gone. She looked almost fragile as she stood quietly behind Leo, completely deferring to him.
Haruno couldn't help but feel that her understanding of their relationship might be very, very wrong.
"Elig-kun is quite the celebrity himself, isn't he?" Haruno said, glancing back at Yukino before focusing on Leo again. "I remember before I graduated, you were already pretty popular. Some upperclassmen even snuck off to watch you, didn't they?"
"I'm nothing compared to you, Haruno-senpai." Leo smiled easily. "There are people who don't like me, but I doubt there's anyone who dislikes you."
"You're giving me too much credit." Haruno's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone carrying a hidden edge. "Things aren't always what they seem. Sometimes people who look close actually despise each other, while those who seem at odds might care deeply."
Her gaze flicked between Leo and Yukino, a knowing smile curling her lips.
"Like you two, for example. I used to think there was something… improper between you. But now, it seems your relationship is even more complicated than I imagined."
It wasn't hard to guess why she'd come—she'd heard Yukino hadn't been staying at her apartment and had been spending a lot of time with a certain boy. Naturally, Haruno came to confront them.
Yukino knew her sister would misunderstand, but instead of explaining, she chose silence. Arguing would only play into Haruno's hands.
After all, she knew better than anyone—Haruno was terrifyingly perceptive, someone who could corner you with just a few words.
To avoid giving anything away, Yukino decided not to speak at all. Even when Haruno tried to provoke her, she endured it quietly and waited for Leo to arrive.
Leo, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease—almost as if he didn't care what Haruno might think.
"In a sense, Haruno-senpai isn't wrong."
Meeting Haruno's probing gaze, Leo smiled.
"There is something between me and Yukino that no one else knows about. And yes—it's not exactly proper."
At that, Haruno's eyes sharpened again.
The two stared at each other, both smiling, but neither showing the slightest warmth.
No—that wasn't quite true. Leo's eyes held a playful glint, while Haruno's calm composure wavered for the first time.
The air in the Service Club room grew tense once more, almost electric. Yukino could feel cold sweat forming on her back.
"You're quite bold, Elig-kun," Haruno said after a long silence, her voice soft but edged. "You realize we're the daughters of the Yukinoshita family, right? If our mother found out you were having some improper relationship with my foolish little sister… you might not last long at Sobu High."
It wasn't so much a threat as it was a test.
Haruno was trying to read him—to understand what kind of person Leo really was. That was her specialty.
Despite her warm, cheerful demeanor, Haruno was a consummate actress. She adapted herself to match the preferences of whoever she was dealing with, becoming their ideal image—all for her own ends.
But her attempts to read Leo were wasted effort.
"Well, it's not like we can hide it forever," Leo said lightly. "Sooner or later, she'll hear about it anyway. So what's the point?"
Haruno's smile faltered slightly. "So even now, after I came all this way, you're not planning to end it?"
Leo's grin only widened.
"End it? You've got it backward, Haruno-senpai."
He leaned back casually, eyes glinting with amusement.
"This isn't something you can end."