Shout out to Vegito Blue and Ophis for the pledges. 8 chapters dropping from now. 2 bonus chapters next week.
*****
The next day.
Nozomi took a rare day off. With a quick call, he had Haruno arrange a private car from the Yukinoshita family to send Rita off at the airport.
Mashiro stood beside him, tightly holding Rita in a lingering embrace. Their time together had been short, but full of warmth. As they finally parted, Rita turned to Nozomi, her gaze lingering as her golden hair shimmered under the morning sun.
"Well, goodbye!" she said with a wistful smile, waving her hand gently. "Remember to think of me."
There's a saying—sometimes, a short farewell is just the prelude to a longer reunion.
Rita would return. Next time, it wouldn't be for a brief visit. She was preparing to stay.
Although Mashiro was visibly reluctant, her expression unreadable, she didn't try to stop her. She respected Rita's choice. And it wasn't goodbye forever. With Nozomi beside her, Mashiro soon regained her composure.
Nozomi reached out and lightly patted Mashiro's soft head. Like a docile kitten, she leaned into him and clung to his arm with a peaceful smile.
After dropping her off at school, Nozomi returned to Sobu High. He checked in with Hiratsuka-sensei and requested half a day off to catch up.
By the time he returned, the sun was already high in the sky. With the intent to visit the Service Club, he strolled down the quieter corridors of the old, abandoned school building.
Suddenly—
"Guess who?"
A pair of soft, slender hands covered his eyes from behind, pressing against him gently. He could feel a familiar warmth against his back.
The girl deliberately disguised her voice, but the sweet scent that lingered in the air gave her away.
Nozomi chuckled. "It's Yuki, right? I've already caught your scent."
"Ehhh? No fair! You identified me just by smell? That's kinda pervy, you know."
Suo Yuki stepped back with an exaggerated pout. Nozomi turned, raising an eyebrow and giving her a teasing smile.
"It's not just your scent. I'm also quite familiar with your… touch, you know."
He smirked. "Yuki, I know your body better than you think."
"Kyaa~ how bold! That's great!"
Without hesitation, she threw her arms around his once more, flashing a grin so bright it nearly sparkled.
Nozomi ruffled her soft hair. "Yuki, how did you sneak up on me so perfectly?"
"Hehe~ I just came back from the student council office. I'm the new publicity officer, remember?" she said proudly.
"Onii-chan, is Rita gone already?"
"Yeah. I saw her off at the gate myself. She boarded the plane."
"Then she'll definitely come back," Yuki said firmly.
Nozomi tilted his head. "Oh? What makes you so sure?"
"Because you're irresistible! No beautiful girl can resist my Onii-chan's charm!" she declared, puffing out her chest.
Again, she latched onto his arm, as if afraid he might fly away.
Nozomi laughed and patted her gently. "So, is there something else you came to say, Yuki?"
"You're sharp as always, Onii-chan! Do you remember our maid, Ayano?"
"Ayano? You mean the girl with the long black curls and the signature ahoge? Yeah, I vaguely remember her."
"That's her! She said that now that I've transferred schools, she'll follow me as my personal maid. She's transferring here soon and wants to move in with me. What do you think?"
Nozomi rubbed his chin. "That's quite the commitment. I haven't seen her in years… my memories of her are still of when we were little."
"Hehe~ if you want to know more about her now, I've got all the latest info! As our loyal maid, she'll do anything for us. Even if Onii-chan wants her to— ahem—warm the bed, she wouldn't say no!"
Nozomi's face turned crimson. "Y-Yuki! Don't say such things! I'm not that kind of guy."
…Then again, maybe he was.
Seeing the conflicted look on his face, Yuki Suoh burst into giggles like a mischievous kitten. "Since Onii-chan already gave his silent approval, I'll reply to Ayano that she's welcome!"
"Yeah, sure. Let her know," Nozomi murmured, gently rubbing her head in response.
Yuki let out a small hum of contentment, her smile growing as she closed her eyes and leaned into his touch. "Ahh~ it's so nice. Onii-chan's hand is so warm... please always stay this energetic, okay?"
Nozomi raised an eyebrow at her, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Energetic, huh? What exactly does that mean?"
Yuki tilted her head with feigned innocence, then dropped a playful bomb. "Obviously, the kind of energy that turns all the girls around you into doki-doki messes! You know—the kind that makes their legs weak and hearts race!"
"Wait, wait, what does that even mean?!" Nozomi blinked in shock.
"Geez, Onii-chan, stop pretending. You know what I mean!" she huffed, her cheeks puffing up as she playfully jabbed him in the waist.
They eventually found a quiet, shaded corner of the school courtyard, tucked away from the usual bustle. Nozomi lay down and rested his head on Yuki's lap.
"Yuki, I... I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Hmm? Why are you apologizing, Onii-chan?" she asked gently, fingers brushing through his hair with tender care.
He let out a long sigh. "It took me so long to recover my memories... I must've made things really hard on you."
"Not hard at all," Yuki replied, her voice soft but steady. "Just your everyday training to be a proper ojou-sama of the Suoh family."
She smiled down at him. "Besides, it was worth it. Because now, I have you back. And around you... I get to be just Yuki. Not Suoh Yuki the heiress."
Her fingers paused, and her expression turned more serious. "So don't apologize, Onii-chan. For you, I'd sacrifice anything."
Then, with a sudden sparkle in her eyes, she asked sweetly: "So, Onii-chan... when are you going to eat Yuki?"
Nozomi choked on air. "Wh-What kind of question is that?! I'm not a monster!"
"Don't play dumb, my lovely Onii-chan," she teased with a wink. "You know what I mean."
He covered his face with his hand, sighing dramatically. "If I turned into a beast, I could do it anytime. But... I want it to be perfect. I want Yuki to have no regrets."
Yuki pouted, folding her arms. "Ugh, my brother's being so noble again. It's kind of annoying."
Inwardly, she was fuming just a bit. Was she not attractive enough? Her goal was simple—make her beloved Onii-chan fall so deeply in love that he couldn't resist her.
She wanted to be like Yukinoshita Yukino, who always made Nozomi's eyes linger just a moment longer.
"Speaking of which... you still haven't won over President Yukinoshita yet, have you?" she asked, tone sharp with curiosity.
"Ahem! That's a little personal, don't you think, Miss Gossip Queen?" Nozomi scratched the back of his head.
"Hehe~ I have to monitor the battlefield. If my Onii-chan is still losing, I should know who's ahead! So? Spill it!"
With a chuckle, Nozomi sat up and pulled her close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Not yet... but soon. I cherish Yukino just like I cherish you, Yuki."
Yuki blushed faintly but smiled as she leaned against him. "Good answer. That confidence suits you, Onii-chan. Keep going!"
"No problem," he replied, a calm smile on his lips.
He didn't say anything more. He just held her close.
It was true—Yuki had done more than enough. From gentle support to mischievous teasing, she had helped him get closer to the enigmatic Yukino.
But Nozomi knew better than to take her devotion for granted. Every now and then, he let her act spoiled and gave her affection back.
She deserved that much. After all... such a lovely sister should never be left feeling alone.
************
Attached is Ayano Kimishima.