At seven o'clock sharp, Utaha arrived.
Haru welcomed her into the living room, and as soon as she sat down, she pulled Yukino into conversation.
Their talk wasn't anything unusual, Utaha expressed her gratitude, while Yukino responded in her usual calm, understated way.
While the two girls chatted, Haru received a message from Haruno.
She said she had prepared a Valentine's gift for him and had already arranged for someone to deliver it.
Haru didn't think much of it at first, assuming it would just be chocolate.
Before long, the doorbell rang. Haru took the package from Haruno's driver, thanked him, and watched him leave.
The box was neatly wrapped and small enough to fit in his hand. Haru guessed he'd been right something that light and compact had to be chocolates or candy.
"Just as I thought, chocolates. Looks like Haruno-nee made them herself."
He opened the box, confirmed it was chocolate, and pulled out his phone to send her a thank-you message.
Her reply came instantly: "Did you open both boxes?"
Haru froze. Both?
Looking down, he finally noticed what he had missed. He had only torn away part of the wrapping paper earlier, certain he already knew what the gift was. Beneath the chocolate box was another, slimmer box, so small and light that it had gone completely unnoticed.
Curious, Haru unfastened the ribbon, opened the lid, and blinked.
Inside lay a pair of black stockings.
No wonder the box had felt practically weightless.
He stared at them for a moment, then took a photo and sent it to Haruno with a message: "What's the meaning of this?"
Her reply was instant, almost teasing: "It's your Valentine's gift. Do you like it?"
"Who gives stockings as a gift?" Haru typed back.
"Maybe others don't, but I know you'll appreciate it," came her smug response. "Otherwise, why would Yukino keep so many pairs at home? And that Kasumigaoka girl, doesn't she always wear black stockings whenever she comes over?"
Haru wanted to argue, but he couldn't. Yukino's stockpile really was for him.
And as for Utaha… well, her fondness for black stockings was simply her own style, not his doing.
Before he could type a reply, another message popped up: "I only wore those once. I made sure to wash them carefully before sending them. Remember, they're for you, what you do with them is entirely up to you."
Haru groaned and didn't bother responding.
What am I supposed to do with them? …Use them to…? No, that's ridiculous.
He sent her nothing but a petrified emoji.
While Haru was dealing with that situation at the door, Yukino was facing her own surprise in the living room.
Originally, Utaha had been making small talk and thanking her. But the moment Haru stepped out, Utaha leaned close and whispered:
"Tonight, let's do it together."
Yukino froze, stunned.
Excuse me? Did she just say that so casually? Has she lost her mind?
It wasn't as though this was their first time sharing a night, but usually there was at least some embarrassment or hesitation between them. Never this kind of brazen declaration.
For three long seconds, Yukino could only massage her temples. "Senpai… what exactly has gotten into you?"
Utaha's smile was as radiant as ever. "Do I look like someone who's lost control?"
"…Could it be because Haru came to help you right away today, and handled everything so smoothly, that you're… moved?" Yukino guessed.
Utaha tilted her head. "Not just Haru. You helped me too."
Yukino let out a quiet sigh. "If you recognize my help, then why would you choose to 'thank' me like this?"
"Because today is special," Utaha replied simply.
Yukino fell silent.
Truthfully, even if Utaha hadn't said anything, tonight probably would have gone in that direction anyway. But having it spelled out so boldly only made her feel even more self-conscious.
"I'll admit I'm a little embarrassed too," Utaha went on, "but it's not our first time. I can adjust."
Yukino gave her a flat stare. "You don't look the least bit embarrassed right now."
"That's because I prepared myself before coming over," Utaha answered.
"…Is that so?" Yukino muttered, deciding to drop the subject.
Just then, Haru returned. Utaha instantly changed the topic with a sly grin: "How about we all take a bath together?"
The question was clearly aimed at Yukino, but Haru happened to overhear it as he walked in. He pointed at himself in disbelief. "Me?"
Both girls promptly shot him a withering glare.
"Do you think that's even remotely possible?" Yukino said coldly.
Utaha chuckled, her tone playful. "Well, if Yukino agreed, I might consider it."
That earned her a sharp glare from Yukino.
Moments later, the two girls disappeared into the bathroom with their clothes in hand.
Haru tucked Haruno's "gift" neatly into the wardrobe. Stockings weren't exactly intimate garments like underwear, so it wasn't as though he needed to hide them.
After the girls finished their bath, he noticed they hadn't washed their hair. Taking the chance, he grabbed a change of clothes and went into the bathroom himself.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Utaha sat on the bed in a camisole nightdress, her legs swinging idly. She glanced at Yukino, who was choosing pajamas.
"Did you use that skincare product today?" she asked.
"Not yet," Yukino replied.
"I didn't either," Utaha admitted. "It's so small, I want to make it last."
Yukino gave a quiet hum of agreement she was thinking the same thing.
"I brought my own stockings," Utaha said with a teasing smile. "How about we wear matching ones?"
Yukino had no intention of entertaining that kind of talk.
She lingered at the wardrobe for a while, and in the end, decided to put on black stockings.
After all, someone had a thing for them.
So, she chose black.
He once told her that her legs were too beautiful, and not wearing stockings was practically a crime.
By coincidence or perhaps not she ended up picking the very pair Haru had just tucked away at the bottom corner of the wardrobe.
The moment she touched the fabric, Yukino instantly recognized the familiar texture and design. They were the same brand Cervin that she and Haruno had bought together after Haruno dragged her out for dinner not long ago.
Back then, Haruno had teased her mercilessly about it.
Wait… is this pair mine?
Yukino hesitated for a moment but didn't think too hard about it. She simply slipped them on.
~~~~~~~~~~
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