Shinra didn't know if Yukinoshita Father's mentality collapsed or not, but his current mentality might be a bit panicked.
In the living room, the Yukinoshita sisters sat opposite each other. Yukino sat upright, her slender white legs together without a gap. Haruno sat casually, leaning against the soft leather backrest, legs crossed, her black slippers swaying on her stockinged toes.
As for Shinra... Shinra was huddled in the kitchen preparing tea and snacks for the two beautiful girls.
Time rewinds to when Shinra left the Yukinoshita family. He and Haruno rode in a black luxury car and soon arrived at Shinra's apartment. Just as they got off the car, they met Yukino downstairs who had returned from buying groceries.
So there was the scene just now...
"Nee-san, where did you go just now?" Yukino asked with a tense face.
Looking exceptionally serious, as if ready to interrogate.
"Just went back home." Haruno didn't panic at all, even having the leisure to play with her hair tips.
"Home?" Yukino was stunned, looking towards the kitchen area.
"He went with you too?"
Haruno's mouth curled into a playful smile, saying: "Yeah, didn't I tell you before? A guest came to the house, and I even asked if you wanted to go back together."
"The guest you mentioned refers to Shinra?"
"Correct." Haruno snapped her fingers.
Yukino pursed her lips, "Why was he invited to the house?"
"Of course, to propose marriage."
"Pro-Propose marriage?!"
Yukino was startled. Propose what marriage?
"Haha, just kidding. As for why Shinra was invited to the house, naturally because someone wanted to see him."
"Mother..." Yukino thought of Yukinoshita Mother immediately.
Why does Mother want to see Shinra? Could it be she suspects something between me and him? Or is she worried I met a bad person?
For a moment, Yukino's mind was in a mess, her delicate fingers tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
"Why does Mother want to see Shinra?"
Finally, Yukino couldn't help asking.
"Of course, to thank him."
"...Eh?"
Yukino had expected many answers, but this was the only one she didn't expect. She thought Mother called Shinra over to break... cough cough, to make him pay attention to relationships between men and women.
But she never expected it was to thank him.
Actually, thinking about it carefully, she would know. If it were really to interrogate, it would be impossible to invite him to the house; at most, they would meet somewhere outside.
It's just...
"Why does Mother want to thank him?" Yukino was puzzled. Did Shinra do something?
"Regarding business matters at home, Shinra revealed a piece of news to me before, avoiding a lot of losses for the family. Without that news, the family's assets would have shrunk by at least one-third."
As a prestigious family in Chiba, the Yukinoshita family's foundation naturally included more than just the construction company. However, the construction company accounted for a large part of the cash flow. If this company had problems, it would affect many other family assets.
Moreover, from a long-term perspective, Shinra's help to the Yukinoshita family was far more than helping them avoid the loss of one-third of their family property. After all, the expansion market their family's construction company might welcome now was, in a sense, also brought by him.
Truly, Shinra's kindness can't be repaid.
"So that's how it is." Yukino breathed a sigh of relief after hearing Haruno's explanation.
Then Yukino couldn't help feeling a bit annoyed at her wild thoughts just now. It's all Nee-san's fault for saying strange things, making me think nonsense.
But what news did Shinra reveal to Nee-san that could avoid such a big loss for the family... Also, why didn't he tell me directly?
Thinking this way, Yukino inexplicably felt a little stifled again.
In the kitchen, seeing the atmosphere in the living room improve, Shinra planned to bring the freshly brewed tea to the living room. Then he sensed the girl's displeasure through Emotion Perception and began to hesitate again.
Seems like too much tea leaves; maybe brew another pot?
"Speaking of which, Mother seems to like him very much." Haruno suddenly spoke.
Yukino was stunned, looking towards the kitchen repeatedly, "Likes him very much?"
"Yeah, just the first meeting, and she wanted to invite him to stay at home." Haruno paused, then said with a teasing tone: "She might even be willing to let you marry Shinra."
It's just that Mother seems to have misunderstood something. The one she wants to marry off isn't Yukino, but me, Haruno thought.
She didn't say this to Yukino. If she really said it, with Yukino's personality, she might really explode at her.
"Nee-san, stop joking." Yukino obviously didn't take Haruno's words seriously, thinking she was joking again.
After all, it was his first visit to the house; how could Mother invite him to stay overnight? This was obviously her sister teasing her.
"Okay Okay" Seeing Yukino didn't believe it, Haruno didn't continue. She just smiled and looked towards the kitchen.
"How long do you plan to brew a pot of tea? Shinra-kun."
"Cough, wasn't I preparing snacks?"
Shinra coughed lightly, then served tea and snacks to the Yukinoshita sisters.
Mm, the snacks were still made by Yukino.
Using Yukino's snacks to treat Yukino—probably only he could do such a thing.
"Black tea?" Yukino looked at the tea in the cup, somewhat surprised.
She remembered Shinra usually drank white tea at home; why drink black tea suddenly?
And this fragrance was so familiar, a bit like the one often used at home to treat guests...
Yukino took a sip of tea. After tasting it, she immediately confirmed her guess. This was the black tea from home.
She was smart and immediately thought of the origin of the black tea. It should be a return gift from Mother before Shinra left.
Mm, it seems Nee-san was right about at least one thing, that is, Mother's impression of Shinra is indeed good; otherwise, she wouldn't give him this black tea.
After all, there were many good teas at home, and many were more expensive than this black tea. But in terms of taste, Yukino liked this one the most. On this point, her mother's thoughts were consistent with hers.
Only when you like someone will you think of sharing good things with them, instead of just giving expensive but not right things.
The only drawback was that the tea brewing technique was a bit rough, failing to fully bring out the aroma of this black tea.
Considering the person brewing tea was Shinra, Yukino didn't demand too much. He probably used the method of brewing white tea to brew black tea.
Next time, I'll brew it myself, Yukino thought.
Haruno wasn't so particular. She drank a mouthful of black tea, smacked her lips, and felt something was missing.
"If only there were alcohol." Haruno said.
Drinking black tea at night feels weird; always feel like I can't sleep after drinking.
Yukino glanced sideways at her sister and said coldly: "Drinking alcohol is harmful to health."
"Just a little drink for pleasure." Haruno had a different opinion on this.
Talking about toxicity without considering dosage is hooliganism. As long as one doesn't drink excessively, the harm of alcohol isn't that big.
"I'll help you find it." Shinra didn't plan to participate in the two girls' topic. He wished Haruno would find something for him to do, better than being sandwiched between the two like a meat patty.
Two pieces of bread sandwiching cheese, so to speak.
"I was just saying; no need to trouble yourself." Haruno pressed Shinra, who was getting up, back down.
"Besides, I already drank a lot at the dinner table before. Drinking more would exceed the limit."
Haruno had strict control over her drinking. Except for necessary social occasions, it was basically just a little drink for pleasure.
In addition, her alcohol tolerance was very good. Except for her 20th birthday when her mother got her completely drunk to let her know her limit, she had never been drunk.
"And drinking alone is quite boring."
In Japan, the legal drinking age is 20, so among the three people present, only Haruno could drink.
Yukino raised her wrist to look at the time, then looked at her sister who had no proper sitting posture. She felt if they stayed longer, her sister would say more tiger and wolf words, so she decided to leave.
"It's getting late."
"Oh, indeed. Then you go back first, Yukino."
Yukino: #
Looking at Haruno who wanted to stay alone, Yukino felt her chest swell with anger. She said grumpily: "Nee-san, come with me too."
"Eh~ Can't you go back first? I haven't finished my tea yet."
"Drinking too much tea at night careful you can't sleep. Also, it's getting late; don't cause trouble for others!"
"Shinra didn't say anything!"
"He's just too embarrassed to say it! Nee-san is too thick-skinned!"
"I think Yukino is too thin-skinned."
Pushing and shoving, the sisters arrived at the entryway.
Seemingly thinking of something, Yukino suddenly turned back to Shinra and said: "Black tea isn't brewed like that. Remember to watch how I brew it next time."
Haruno was speechless. Running to someone's house, only paying attention to black tea. You really are something, Yukino.
It's only because you are my sister. If it were anyone else, she would have made a move long ago.
After all, the flower language of a good man is 'gone if slow'.
Although Haruno felt Shinra couldn't be considered a good man in the strict sense, for Haruno, as long as the other party had points that attracted her, other problems were just trivial details that could be fixed slowly later.
Pity her sister met him first.
...
"Click."
After sending the Yukinoshita sisters away, Shinra was the only one left at home.
He stretched lazily, then picked up his phone to log into LINE to check if there were any missed messages.
Futaba Rio: [Picture.jpg]
Unsurprisingly, Futaba Rio sent him another selfie today. Surprisingly, this photo seemed to be a normal outfit... was it?
Shinra narrowed his eyes slightly and quickly discovered a blind spot.
Is there a slight protrusion here?
Shinra: !!!
How is this a normal outfit? The condition is clearly more serious!
No, it's been less than a day!
Shinra realized the seriousness of the problem. He felt the meeting with Surface Futaba tomorrow was imminent; he couldn't let Inner Futaba continue like this.
Sending vacuum (no underwear) pictures now, will she send small videos later?
Even going a step further, coming directly to his house...
Difficult to handle.
Thinking about this, Shinra replied to Inner Futaba with a thumbs-up emoji as usual, then logged off LINE.
Can't look anymore; looking more will require a cold shower.
To relieve the vigorous energy, Shinra turned and walked into the gym. Soon, rustling electric current sounds came from the room.
Nothing happened overnight.
After school on Monday, Shinra took out his phone and sent a message to Yukino, roughly saying he had something to do and wouldn't go to club activities today.
Not long after the message was sent, he received her reply.
Yukino: [Got it.]
After asking for leave, Shinra rushed to Mai's apartment non-stop.
Just downstairs, he found Futaba Rio waiting in the lobby at the apartment entrance.
Mm, thick lenses, long hair naturally draped over shoulders, school uniform wrapped inside the classic science lab white coat... It's Surface Futaba, no doubt.
Seeming to sense someone's gaze, Surface Futaba quickly discovered Shinra's presence.
"Let's go upstairs first." Shinra raised the key in his hand.
Futaba didn't answer, just nodded.
The two walked into the elevator. In the small space, Shinra sensed the emotions named 'nervousness' and 'unease' transmitted from the girl behind him.
This moved Shinra's heart. He didn't think this emotion was caused by being in the same room with him; it was more like she realized some problem.
"Um..."
Futaba Rio suddenly spoke.
"Let's talk when we get to the apartment."
Shinra interrupted Futaba's speech. After all, some words were inconvenient to say in the elevator.
"Ding-dong."
The elevator reached the destination.
Shinra opened the apartment door familiarly. A slight odor hit his face, caused by the room not being ventilated for a long time.
After all, Mai had been filming commercials in Kyoto since last week. She probably wouldn't be home until this Wednesday. The room had been uninhabited for about five or six days.
Shinra changed his shoes, opened the living room window for ventilation, and signaled Futaba to find a place to sit first. He went to the kitchen to get two cups and took out a large bottle of tea drink from the refrigerator.
"You should know my purpose for asking you to come, right?"
After sitting down, Shinra got straight to the point.
Futaba Rio held the glass full of drink with both hands, lowered her eyes, and replied softly: "I know, Adolescence Syndrome."
"Then..."
"About the other me, I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
Shinra secretly said 'Sure enough'.
"You seem to have known very early?" Shinra raised his doubt.
"Pretty much." Futaba Rio paused after speaking, then continued: "About a week ago."