Compared to the current Minamoto household, the Yukinoshita family was without a doubt a distinguished, upper-class family.
Both Yukinoshita sisters had their own bedrooms—each so spacious that an ordinary family could easily mistake them for living rooms.
And that wasn't even counting the walk-in closets, stocked wall-to-wall with all kinds of beautiful clothes and shoes a girl could want.
From the second-floor windows, one could gaze upon the Yukinoshita family's traditional Japanese garden, with its distant view of the lake shimmering beyond. A far cry from Senya and Rikka's bedrooms, where pulling open the curtains revealed nothing but the blank wall of the neighbor's house pressed up against them.
In such a grand, practically luxurious room, Yukinoshita Haruno noticed something about her guest. It wasn't the first time she'd invited her best friend, Tokika, over. But Haruno, blessed with a natural gift for reading people's hearts, could tell that Tokika had something weighing on her mind.
At first, Haruno assumed Tokika was still sulking about the result of the recent rhythmic gymnastics national finals. Maybe her mood hadn't recovered.
But as Haruno tried to comfort her with words of encouragement, she noticed Tokika's reactions—or rather, the lack thereof. She wasn't brooding. She wasn't frustrated or regretful. She had already accepted the results with surprising calm.
So if it wasn't the competition, then what was it?
Haruno had a little hobby—or perhaps even a bad habit—that had followed her since childhood: uncovering people's secrets. It gave her a strange thrill, a fresh jolt of satisfaction. In the strict, high-pressure environment of the Yukinoshita household, these little discoveries gave her a rare burst of release and joy.
Snow, her younger sister, had never been able to keep secrets from her because of this.
But Tokika was different. She wasn't a sister she could tease without restraint—she was her closest friend. Which meant Haruno had to tread a little more carefully.
So she decided to test the waters."Tokika, you've got something on your mind lately, don't you?"
Tokika, standing by the window with her hot coffee, stiffened almost imperceptibly at the question. She didn't turn around right away. Instead, she took a slow, deliberate sip from her cup before finally turning back, her expression composed."…Why do you ask all of a sudden?"
Because you're not yourself, Haruno thought. You've been quieter than usual. You've been spacing out more. If I didn't keep tossing conversation your way, the silence would've smothered us by now. That's not the way we usually are together.
And besides, Tokika was actually easier to read than Yukino. Yukino's cold, detached expression never changed, which made her impossible to pin down. Tokika, on the other hand, gave herself away in little ways.
Not that Haruno would tell her that. If Tokika realized she had this tell, she might change it—and then Haruno would lose her favorite method of prying secrets loose.
So instead she smiled lightly and offered another excuse."Just a hunch. Why don't you try talking to me, your best friend? Who knows, maybe I can help."
Tokika lowered her gaze to her hands, her fingers wrapped tightly around the white porcelain coffee cup. She spoke in a soft murmur."…It's nothing serious."
Haruno's eyes lit up.
Bingo.
If Tokika had rejected her outright, Haruno would've backed off. No matter how close friends are, there are still boundaries. Their friendship was important, and Haruno wouldn't risk pushing her away just for curiosity's sake.
But this response…
This hesitation, this admission—it was perfect.
Haruno could feel the thrill rising in her chest. Tokika wasn't shutting her out. She actually wanted someone to listen, to share the weight of her worries.
And Haruno was more than ready to oblige.
Without giving her the chance to resist, Haruno took the coffee cup from Tokika's hands and set it on the table, then tugged her gently over to sit on the bed."Come on, sit here. Tell me what's been bothering you. What could trouble my dear Tokika so much?"
Tokika sighed helplessly."I'm not 'yours,' and I'm not even that troubled. It's just… hard to explain."
"Mhm, mhm, mhm!" Haruno nodded rapidly, her eyes shining with anticipation. "Then explain anyway!" She looked like she could barely hold back from devouring the gossip—no, offering heartfelt advice.
Tokika had been bottling this up for days. And though she didn't always share her worries, she had confided in Haruno before. Maybe it was time to let it out.
"…It was after the finals ended that night."
And so Tokika told the story of how her adoptive younger brother, Minamoto Senya, had comforted her, and how the two of them had ended up spending the night together in a private theater. (With no blood relation between them, of course.)
Naturally, she left out the details about him letting her rest her head on his lap and holding her close in an embrace.
Tokika was the oldest child in her family, the reliable big sister. But she was still only a first-year in high school—her life experience wasn't that deep.
Her father had passed away, and she had lived through tough times with her mother and younger sister. That had forced her to grow up faster than most. But only in terms of responsibility and daily life.
So when it came to this… this confusing mix of emotions that kept replaying that night in her head… she didn't know what to do. She hated how little control she had over it. She chalked it up to resentment—resentment that her younger brother had been the one to comfort her instead of the other way around. She felt she'd failed to live up to the dignity of an elder sister.
But from Haruno's perspective, listening carefully and piecing things together, it was clear this wasn't so simple.
"My, my. That sounds like quite the sibling bond," Haruno said playfully. "My little Yukino's never once comforted me after a bad competition. Forget about inviting me to the movies to cheer me up."
Well, bringing tea and snacks to her room occasionally—sure.
"That's probably because you tease Yukino too much," Tokika replied flatly.
"How cruel! I don't 'tease,' I just play with her a little." Haruno tilted her head, then added with mock thoughtfulness, "But you know… the way you described it, if you didn't mention the 'adoptive brother' part, it really does sound an awful lot like a date."
Haruno leaned back on her hands, gazing lazily at the ceiling, her legs swinging idly.
Her tone was casual, almost joking.
But as she said it, she caught the tiniest flicker in Tokika's eyes. A flash of something sharp and unguarded.
Gotcha.
Haruno smirked inwardly, but outwardly she only stretched and stood up as if she'd lost interest."Anyway, I envy you. Family should care for each other like that. I wish Yukino would learn from Senya—he's practically maxed out in emotional intelligence. If she were like him, I wouldn't have to worry about her so much when she goes out into the world."
The casual add-on worked like a balm, calming the storm she'd stirred in Tokika's heart.
Before Tokika could dwell on it, Haruno grabbed her hand with a bright smile."Oh, that reminds me. I saw a really pretty scarf while I was out shopping and picked one up for you. Try it on!"
"Why are you suddenly giving me a scarf?" Tokika asked in mild confusion.
"Christmas is almost here! Consider it an early gift. Also, don't forget to get me something too."
Laughing, Haruno pushed her toward the walk-in closet.
Tokika gave in, wrapping the light coffee-colored scarf around her neck in front of the mirror, while Haruno stood beside her, watching with a mischievous little smile.
But behind that smile, Haruno's eyes still lingered on the reaction she had just seen—on the secret she might have just uncovered.
A secret far too interesting to let go.