The three of them sat around the dinner table.
They ate in near silence.
Yukinoshita Haruno moved with graceful elegance.
Yukinoshita Yukino kept her head lowered, as if pondering how to start a conversation.
As for Su Yu…
He stayed quiet, subtly dodging Haruno's small teasing gestures under the table.
The entire meal passed in this awkward atmosphere.
Afterward, Yukino cleared the table and went to the kitchen, leaving Su Yu and Haruno alone.
Su Yu glanced at Haruno.
She met his gaze with a smile.
"Little Yukino probably invited me over because…"
"She might be feeling afraid."
Hearing that, Su Yu recalled last night's events and gave Haruno an awkward look.
"I'm not afraid at all. Though Su Yu-kun is a bit unlovable at times, as the older one here…"
"Alright, alright, you don't have to say it. I get it." Su Yu interrupted her.
Haruno chuckled behind her hand and stood up.
"I'll go take a bath, Su Yu-kun."
"You don't need to announce it."
Su Yu gave her a helpless look.
Haruno gave him one last amused smile before heading off.
Su Yu watched her go, then stood and walked toward the kitchen.
Stopping at the door, he pushed it open.
Yukino turned and saw Su Yu, but continued washing the dishes.
"There's no need for you to help. I can do this alone."
"Yukino, did you invite Haruno because you were scared?" Su Yu asked directly.
"I… I was not…" Yukino blushed, turning her face away with her back to him.
"Alright, I believe you're not afraid." Su Yu stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Yukino's cheeks turned even redder.
Seeing the blush on her face, Su Yu chose not to expose her feelings.
A few minutes later,
Su Yu let her go.
"I'll be waiting in the room."
With that, he left the kitchen.
——
Half an hour later.
Yukino had finished cleaning up.
As she passed by the bathroom, she heard her sister humming inside.
After a brief hesitation, Yukino returned to her room, picked up her pajamas, and walked to the bathroom.
Standing at the door, she knocked.
"Su Yu-kun? How shameless, coming here even though Yukino's still home." Haruno's teasing voice sounded from inside.
"It's me," Yukino said, her cheeks burning.
Click. The door opened.
"Of course I knew it was you. Just joking with you, dear sister — you don't mind, do you?" Haruno beamed at her.
"N-Not at all," Yukino replied as she stepped into the bathroom.
Haruno looked her up and down.
"You've grown a lot, haven't you?"
"The last time we took a bath together was back in middle school, right?" Yukino wasn't embarrassed at the comment — instead, she looked a bit nostalgic.
"That time… I hid in the tub just to scare you," Haruno chuckled as she got into the bath.
"You've always liked teasing me," Yukino said, sitting down.
"You were just too cute. Your angry little face was always so adorable…"
"When you bullied me, I used to get so mad. But thinking back, it's kind of funny now."
"See? I wasn't just being mean. I wanted to make you laugh."
"I know. But back then, I couldn't laugh. I hated the atmosphere at home. I hated your fake smiles. I didn't want to face Mother…"
Haruno's smile faded.
Yukino turned to her.
"I used to hate the old you. But now, I'm starting to understand. Thank you."
"No need to thank me. You're my only little sister. You're my pride. I used to think that one day, you'd grow up to be just like me. But you didn't. Part of me was glad — part of me was worried. It wasn't until Su Yu-kun became your friend that I finally felt at ease." Haruno reached out her hand.
"Because of him, I changed. It's a change I never imagined possible before." Yukino took her sister's hand.
"I always thought I'd never fall in love. But Su Yu-kun is the exception," Haruno said, meeting Yukino's eyes.
"He promised he'd marry me," Yukino replied, her gaze unwavering.
"I know. I don't want to get married — I've already decided. Whether it's my child or yours, they can inherit the Yukinoshita name." Haruno smiled gently at her sister.
Yukino lowered her head, a trace of hesitation in her eyes.
Haruno seemed to understand what she was thinking.
"Yukino, don't overthink it. I'm not afraid of what people will say. They'll gossip behind my back, sure — but I doubt any of them have the guts to say it to my face."
"Even so, you'll still be attacked by words. I don't want that for you…"
Yukino's eyes were filled with concern.
"I've come this far. I've heard it all. Even Mother isn't spared from gossip — so why would I be? We don't need to silence them. They're like rats — hiding in the shadows, never daring to come out."
"I could never have your kind of mindset."
"I've just seen too much, heard too much, so I've grown numb. But you have Su Yu-kun by your side. You can live happily every day. That's more than enough."
"I want to share that happiness with you."
"Really? Then I won't hold back." Haruno gave her a meaningful smile.
"T-This is my way of making it up to you," Yukino said, her cheeks flushing again.
——
In Su Yu's bedroom.
He'd been waiting for two full hours.
Then…
He saw Yukinoshita Yukino enter, her gaze avoiding his.
She looked exactly like he had earlier that morning.
No need to guess — she and Haruno had clearly come to some kind of agreement.
Su Yu could even guess what it was about.
"What's with that guilty look? Don't tell me you did something unfaithful?" Su Yu said, mimicking her tone from earlier.
"I… I just…"
"No need to explain. I forgive you." Su Yu raised a hand, cutting her off.
"Really?" Yukino's eyes lit up.
"You forgave me once — it's only fair I forgive you now." Su Yu gave a helpless smile.
"Thank you, Su Yu-kun." Yukino stepped closer to him.
Su Yu gently embraced her.
Yukino slipped into the bed and curled up against him.
"So, tell me — what kind of deal did you strike with Haruno?" Su Yu asked, looking down at her.
"I said… I wanted to share half of my happiness with her."
Yukino's voice was barely above a whisper. After speaking, she looked up at Su Yu.