Chapter 88: Aftermath
Sasuko didn't retreat but instead maintained her close position, lifting watery eyes to look at him.
From Yu's angle, the faint red marks beneath her thin sleepwear were clearly visible, involuntarily making him recall last night's loss of control.
"Just now... were you thinking something naughty?" she asked softly, her trailing tone carrying a slightly coquettish nasal quality, seeming both innocent and deliberately teasing.
Yu's unconsciously swallowed. Her every approach now was like challenging the self-control he'd just painstakingly rebuilt.
Clearly before, Sasuko had still been an unworldly girl in his eyes...
The faint sweet fragrance on the girl mixed with the warmth of fresh waking, swirling thread by thread around his nose,
Making his voice involuntarily deepen. "Sasuko..."
He ultimately still restrained himself, slowly exhaling.
Yet a flash of cunning suddenly passed through Sasuko's eyes. She deliberately blinked, using an innocently naive tone to ask, "Oh right, Yu... my upper undergarment, do you know where it went?"
This question immediately made Yu's ears burn. Unable to maintain composure any longer, he abruptly threw off the blanket and stood, saying somewhat awkwardly, "Time to get up."
Yu almost fled as he pushed open the bedroom door, quickly walking toward the bathroom.
He urgently needed cold water to douse the surging heat in his heart.
Sasuko still sat on the bed, head slightly tilted, gaze gently following his somewhat hurried retreating figure, lips unconsciously curving into a faint smile.
After quite a while, Sasuko leisurely rose from the bed.
She walked to the wardrobe and carefully selected autumn attire—a high-necked knit sweater and long skirt that perfectly concealed those imagination-stirring faint marks on her upper body.
Then she slowly walked toward the kitchen and began preparing breakfast.
Morning light streamed through the window, softly illuminating her. Though still appearing girlish, a trace of unprecedented gentle temperament had quietly emerged in her features.
She handled ingredients with practiced movements, occasionally raising a hand to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind her ear, expression focused and serene.
When finishing the cooking, Sasuko extended slender, fair fingers to lightly dip into the warm broth, bringing her fingertip to her lips to taste, confirming whether it suited Yu's preferences.
Yu had just finished washing up and stepped out of the bathroom when he smelled the fragrance of food drifting through the air.
Following the scent to the kitchen doorway, he immediately saw Sasuko wearing an apron, busy at the stove.
As if sensing footsteps behind her, Sasuko didn't turn but gently spoke, "Yu, finished washing?"
"Let me do it today, Sasuko. You rest a bit." He stepped forward.
Hearing this, Sasuko turned her head, eyes rippling with a shallow smile. "I rested... very well last night."
Her deliberately meaningful pause made Yu's ears immediately burn. Not knowing how to respond for a moment, he could only stand silently in place, watching her continue her work.
The little girl who always loved tugging at his sleeve acting spoiled in his memories had now actually been with him...
Certain images involuntarily surfaced in his mind—her flushed cheeks, moist eyes, subtle gasps...
Yu took a deep breath, forcing himself to look away, yet ripples still spread through his heart.
After half an hour of work, breakfast was finally ready.
Sasuko had made several light dishes: emerald stir-fried spinach glistening with oil, tender yellow corn soup with enticing aroma, and a plate of rice balls wrapped with seaweed and sesame that looked very appetizing.
Yu used Magnetic Field Rotation to transport the dishes smoothly and steadily to the dining table from thin air.
During the meal, he set down his chopsticks and looked at Sasuko with concern. "Sasuko, your eyes...?"
Sasuko swallowed the food in her mouth and answered honestly, "Mmm, these eyes... can probably let me return to the past."
Yu was shocked. "How could there be such an absurd ability?"
Sasuko smiled bitterly. "Probably because... seeing Yu with someone else, I desperately wanted to return to the past and change it all."
Yu was instantly stunned.
Over these years, he'd been researching soul-type secret techniques, longing to resurrect his adoptive parents, but those techniques mostly only worked on the living.
Even the "Impure World Reincarnation" closest to his ideal was merely summoning a controlled puppet.
If Sasuko's eye technique could truly return to the past and warn him seven years ago in advance, perhaps that tragedy could be avoided!
He suddenly stood, voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Sasuko, how far into the past can you return?"
Sasuko tried hard to recall the feeling when using the ability, answering softly, "Just with my own power, currently I can only go back a few seconds... but if Yu helps me, perhaps I could return to several hours ago."
Yu disappointedly sat back down.
As expected, the more powerful the ability, the stricter its limitations.
Sasuko keenly caught the fleeting loneliness in his eyes and couldn't help asking softly, "Yu... is there something you particularly regret?"
Yu shook his head, seemingly unwilling to continue this topic.
Now, he only had this one sister left.
He raised his head, gaze deeply fixed on Sasuko before him, tone extremely solemn. "Sasuko, no matter when, I hope you'll always prioritize your own safety. Don't do anything to harm yourself, don't rashly take risks."
"If you truly weren't here anymore... I'd probably abandon everything, including myself."
Hearing Yu's solemn response, Sasuko's small face immediately flushed as she said softly with some shyness, "Yu... does this count as a confession?"
Mmm, Yu really, saying such heart-racing things first thing in the morning...
Yu looked at her appearance and sighed softly, yet his tone remained serious. "I suppose so. Sasuko, can you promise me?"
Sasuko immediately responded happily, "Of course! I like Yu the most!"
Yu gazed at her eyes, adding in a deep voice, "I mean, always prioritize your own safety and don't rashly take risks."
But Sasuko cunningly blinked, responding softly, "Me too. As long as Yu is here, I'll protect myself well. But if you're not..." She deliberately drew out her tone, leaving the implication unfinished.
If you're not here, I'll just restart!
Yu smiled helplessly.
He'd long ago left magnetic field marks on both Sasuko and Naruko. If they truly encountered danger, he could cross space to appear instantly.
But he didn't plan to tell Sasuko directly—with her personality, she might frequently trigger the mark just to make him appear by her side for company.
Yu looked at Sasuko's cunning yet moist black eyes and couldn't help lightly tapping her forehead, tone carrying some indulgence. "Eat first. Where do all these words come from?"
But Sasuko muttered quietly, with slight petulance retorting, "Mmm... you clearly brought it up first..."
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