Yukinoshita Yukino didn't know what happened, but she noticed the gaze of the girl she was supporting suddenly became strange.
Right after she introduced her surname.
"Do you know the Yukinoshita Family?" Yukino asked curiously.
"Sword box." At the door, Sen Getsusa had already regained her mobility.
She took the sword box, refused the girl's help, and let go of her hand.
The corners of Yukino's mouth drooped.
She unnaturally rubbed the hand that had been released and stepped forward to catch up: "What exactly happened just now?"
The surroundings were silent, and the black hole-like shadows of the trees swallowed the light.
However, having just witnessed monsters, Yukinoshita Yukino was no longer afraid of such'small scenes.'
Ahead, Sen Getsusa stopped and answered her question: "It's exactly what you saw.
Monsters, heroes—haven't you read manga?
This society is very dangerous, Miss Yukinoshita."
"So, please restrain your kindness in the future.
This is why we 'passing-by heroes'
are always so busy."
Sen Getsusa spoke words of dissatisfaction toward Yukinoshita Yukino, completely forgetting her own act of saving someone ten minutes ago.
"Tsundere." Yukinoshita Yukino muttered with her head down, following unhurriedly behind Sen Getsusa.
Suddenly, a flash of craftiness crossed her eyes, and Yukino spoke: "Miss Tsukisa, your expression became very strange after hearing the name Yukinoshita.
As I thought, you know someone."
"Given your age, Miss Tsukisa, it's unlikely you've had contact with my mother."
"Is it my sister?"
Sen Getsusa paused and gave a light laugh: "Can't it just be keeping a respectful distance?
Someone who has observed the wealth and power of the Yukinoshita Family from afar might develop awe and admiration.
And when they actually meet the second young lady of that family,
they can't adjust their mindset for a moment.
Does that explanation satisfy you?"
"After all, I'm just a poor person struggling in the big city."
Yukinoshita Yukino spoke: "Power? Is being a prefectural assemblyman and a representative of a construction company considered 'power'?"
"As for wealth..."
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Sen Getsusa's calves and feet:
"Wearing Ferragamo's latest seasonal lambskin boots,
and you say you 'envy' the wealth of the Yukinoshita Family?
Tell me, Miss Sen Getsusa,
these boots worth two million yen,
did you just pick them up somewhere?"
To hide her embarrassment, Sen Getsusa turned her head slightly to look at the distant night view: "Ah, this... the boots... right! The boots!!"
My boots! I just bought them this afternoon!!
('?д?`)... The boots on Sen Getsusa's feet had lost any possibility of being worn again—they were stained with blood and mud, and dust clung to the suede. The whole pair looked... as if they had been worn by a burly male soldier for a twenty-kilometer weighted cross-country training session.
Sen Getsusa was puzzled.
Why did this kind of thing happen every time she bought new shoes or boots?
The burly male soldier was also puzzled.
Why was he wearing sexy high-heeled boots with lace for a weighted cross-country run?
Yukinoshita Yukino noticed the girl beside her instantly turned gloomy, her entire being radiating a thick aura of disappointment.
She looked at the boots, then at Sen Getsusa:
"I thought you didn't care.
After all, you wore them in there, didn't you?
Now that I think about it, you advised me to leave early, which means you noticed something was wrong a long time ago."
Sen Getsusa sighed: "I originally wanted you to leave first so I could put on my gear before coming back."
Yukinoshita Yukino blinked: "Gear? Like those military boots and camouflage? 'Combat gear'?"
No, the detailed name should be: 'Integrated Cross-Country Training and Combat Gear That I Don't Want Anymore Because I Stepped on Worms Version 1.0.'
Sen Getsusa shook her head. "They're just ordinary boots. It's just that after the last time I encountered this kind of thing and accidentally got them dirty, I designated them for combat use. Sigh, my heart aches, it really aches..."
"I see."
Yukinoshita Yukino nodded, then suddenly pointed at the boots on Sen Getsusa's feet and said: "Now, you have two pairs for 'combat use.'"
Sen Getsusa:...As expected of the eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita Family, she really knows how to talk.
A long silence ensued.
Yukinoshita Yukino walked with her hands behind her back, following Sen Getsusa with light steps.
"Don't you think our conversation sounds like two sisters walking a night road, forcing themselves to talk because they're afraid?"
"I can't even imagine what just happened..."
The subway station was close at hand.
Two girls walked side by side; one had a stiff face, cold and arrogant, while the other carried a box, looking generous and free-spirited.
Sen Getsusa stopped in front of a vending machine at the subway station, took out a few coins, and inserted them.
"Not really. More like a valiant female hero and the stubborn, rebellious young girl who was saved."
Yukinoshita Yukino pointed at a drink in the vending machine and replied, "Don't mention heroes. I've already become disillusioned with the word 'hero'."
When they reached for the drink, both of them froze for a moment.
This level of interaction and body language... such great chemistry.
Passersby not far away also secretly admired the 'affectionate' gaze between the two beautiful girls.
"Cough... I'm going home. Sen Getsusa, where do you live?"
Yukinoshita Yukino covered her mouth and pretended to cough a few times, then asked for Sen Getsusa's address.
Omotesando...? A place for rich people.
Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze toward Sen Getsusa became even stranger: And you still said you 'envied' the Yukinoshita Family?
And you said you were poor?
The girl who had been exposed showed no self-awareness at all. She grandly pulled out her wallet and opened it: inside, indeed, there were only a few scattered banknotes.
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced disdainfully past the wallet and began to recite the clothes on Sen Getsusa's body: "The top is Dior multi-layered taffeta..."
"The pants are..."
"Fine, fine." Sen Getsusa spoke up irritably: "I get it, I get it. Miss Yukino, that was indeed an excuse, okay?"
"So, you haven't answered my question."
"Why did you look at me with that expression?"
"When I said my surname was Yukinoshita?"
Yukinoshita Yukino was very smart.
She stared intently into Sen Getsusa's eyes, not wanting this girl—who had just saved her and radiated a unique aura—to misunderstand.
If it was a result of her family name, she could bear it.
But if it was for other reasons... "Because I've met your older sister."
Sen Getsusa didn't think there was anything that couldn't be said: "Because I've met your sister before, that's how I know about the Yukinoshita Family. Is there a problem?"
Yukinoshita Yukino's expression didn't change, but her hand behind her back clenched into a fist in an instant.
"I see, Tsukisa, you know my sister... How—how is she? She's very outstanding, right?"
Yukinoshita Yukino probed cautiously, though she already knew the answer.
After all, her sister had always been the best.
Academics, sports, business, interpersonal relationships—no matter the field, she was the most outstanding person.
The most outstanding person.
Much more outstanding than herself.
Sen Getsusa didn't think so: "Yukinoshita Haruno... a puppet, I suppose."
Yukino suddenly looked up: "Huh?"
This answer was too unexpected.
"Not really."
Sen Getsusa curled one corner of her mouth, her words carrying a hint of mockery and teasing: "I can actually see her difficulties.
No, for the children who came out of 'our place', even a Child could see through what she's trying to hide."
"But even so, I still quite dislike her."
Sen Getsusa spoke a bunch of cryptic words without mentioning what had happened with Haruno.
Yukino opened her mouth to ask, but at that moment, the subway pulled into the station.
She bowed to Sen Getsusa, her face still cold even though her cheeks were slightly red.
The girl spoke hesitantly: "C-can you give me your contact information?"
Sen Getsusa pointed to the train door, telling her to hurry inside.
"No need. We probably won't meet again.
If possible, please don't reveal my existence. Thank you."
Sen Getsusa waved with a smile. The subway doors slowly closed, and she watched the girl being carried away by the train with a conflicted expression.
The nighttime train car was less crowded than during the day.
Yukinoshita Yukino leaned against the glass, billboards flashing past quickly in the tunnel.
She felt a bit uneasy. What was going on?
"Sen... Getsusa..."
The girl murmured the name, a seed in her heart sinking into fertile soil.
Waiting for the sweet rain.
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