Chapter 9. Meanwhile, What did you Do?

The truth is, I wasn't entirely honest.

Like all the other cases, it would take me an inordinate amount of time to even admit something like this.

Unlike all the other cases, I'm…

Ashamed.

No, I didn't do anything bad to Yuki; no, neither did she. In fact, after her family crisis had been resolved, we returned to living the way we were beforehand. There wasn't any urgent need to stay in Yuki's apartment and earn money anymore, yet we never discussed it and kept things as they were. To my and probably her pleasant surprise we fell into the groove way faster than expected, as if it was the most natural thing in the world and we had been living together for several years. Even my parents just shrugged and reminded us we were welcome to come over any day.

And so our quiet life went on.

Wake up, stretch, yawn. See Yuki do the same in the adjacent futon, arching her back, drawing attention to her modest but very pronounced chest. Watch her stand up, roll her futon, get her clothes and move to the bathroom to change… with me taking in the sights all the while.

How she carefully put her exquisitely petite feet toes-first on the floor. How her legs, simply lean and straight as a ruler before, were gradually getting so deliciously toned, making my eyes gravitate naturally when her hips swayed with every step; visibly, but not deliberately. Who was that genius who proposed riding bikes to school? Oh, right, me. Self-sabotage at its finest. How, if I paid close attention, I could very clearly figure out the outline of her panties under that nightgown, and the first time I did that I felt that immense sensation of dam-breaking excitement and bone-crushing shame I've felt when stumbling upon the lewd magazines for the first time as a kid.

Think long and hard about dead kittens to be able to stand up at all, focus on your morning routine-

-And her putting on the blazer, then arching and freeing her hair from under the clothes was just a swift precise finishing blow-

-Focus properly. Unchain our bikes, start pushing pedals… almost lose it in the middle of the ride to school. Because Yuki, now confident in her physical fitness, would sometimes take the lead and I could watch her calves, strong and sculpted by the gods; or her hips yet again when she stood up over the saddle to gain speed.

Good thing Yuki was a diligent model student, and bless those school regulations that explicitly stated the skirts should be knee-length or else. Had she worn hers the way light novel illustrators liked, short enough to show those entrancing edges of the eponymous thigh high socks with a single stripe on each one for emphasis (for some reason I always imagined it would be a single stripe for Yuki)… I… I'd probably have made a blood fountain and died right there and then.

Yuki wasn't even breathless at the end of the ride anymore: her face was only a little bit red from the exercise as her chest was rising and falling at steady intervals, like waves in the ocean, lulling yet paradoxically keeping me awake more than ever.

Settle down, brave through school and the club. The way she absentmindedly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, that perfectly shaped ear, evoked thoughts that would make any adult video producer beet red. Reading even that simplistically written light novel I was writing the review for became an insurmountable challenge.

Calm down yet again, go to work and eagerly haul the crates with goods around. At least here I would be distracted less as she was either dealing with the customers or exchanged idle replies with Kawasaki. Good to see the latter mellowed up considerably, by the way; maybe not Yuigahama level, but she still was becoming a friend.

But then we would meet up after work and hug each other, more a tradition now than the means of support, and I would stroke her back and make an effort not to trace the outline of her bra: the seams, hooks, every strap ring…

To my own shame, despite our explicit agreement, I did look upwards at our balcony to see her underwear; during our return home, when it was way after dark. I darted my eyes upwards, caught glimpses of blue and green and pink and yellow and within moments caught myself, feeling like every single religion would consider me a sinner beyond redemption now. For we did make an agreement.

Finally, after dinner, try to relax in the futon, slowly drifting to sleep. The keyword was "try": don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed cuddling with Yuki, but the warmth of her body I felt through her indoor clothes was driving me insane. So what if her clothes were literally nothing provocative? Yuki herself was provocative. And she wasn't even trying!

I once thought I was desensitized. What a hapless fool I was.

I was the worst.

Or maybe not. I was the worst when sometimes I stood up and paced a couple times back and forth along the bathroom door, trying to assemble the picture of Yuki in the shower, immediately feeling that same fear and shame and not catching anything at all because of course it was all steamy inside.

Or scratch that. When I had mastered the dangerous forbidden art of discreet masturbation in the shower to at least somehow cope with all that. Yes. That's where I was the worst.

The truth is, I wasn't entirely honest. Before I could just shut up and shove it where the sun won't shine because there was no time nor place for those feelings. But now we were settled and stable and I just couldn't take it anymore.

The truth is, I wanted Yuki.

Badly.

One more important matter quite unlike those other cases was that I knew exactly what to do. Simple as they come: approach Yuki and ask her if she would like to have sex with me… no, make love to me… or was it "with me"?… lose virginity together… or was "become one" better? Stupid semantics. Unimportant too, as that wasn't even the main problem; just me dancing around the issue. The dance would probably be not unlike a Noh performance. Or better yet, Izumo-ryu Kagura. Though, who am I kidding: it's most probably Hounensai dance. Yeah, that one, with a dozen grown men carrying a half-ton wooden phallus.

… Still avoiding the issue, aren't I?

No, the problem wasn't what to do, it was if I should do it in the first place.

Would Yuki like to? No, that was not a rhetorical question. And no, there was no easy answer.

The girls around me, the real ones, not the ones from lewd magazines; those girls didn't seem to be eager at all. They would seemingly call the guys creeps and perverts at a drop of a hat. I would gladly write that off as watching too much media where they did this, but Yuigahama hurling a racket into my forehead was still all too vivid. So no, I couldn't.

On the other hand, the girls did tend to flock to Hayama and others like him. So maybe they didn't mind as long as it was them and not me? Stupid riajuus burn in hell-

Except I lived together with officially the prettiest girl in school. There were questionnaires. I've never seen any since apparently no one bothered to share them with me, but it turned out there were. So was I a riajuu now?

Upon closer scrutiny…

… Dear lord yes I was a riajuu now. And the racket encounter happened almost a year ago and ever since then Yuigahama… had also been clingy to me. The same as Yuki.

That right there was actually enough to make me grab my head with my hands mid-writing during the biology class; fortunately I composed myself fast enough.

Please forgive me, everyone. The one to explode here should be me. And let's leave it at that for now, because I was avoiding The Issue yet again.

But… wasn't it normal for couples to do it? It's supposedly fun and nice and feels good, as far as I could gather from the media around me. Except there are those bits of statistics, even discussed on TV, that less than 48% of even adult couples were intimate… forget that, there were less and less couples in general. Wait, me and Yuki were already a couple… weren't we? We never actually proclaimed anything of the sort, but, well, we were living together, doing household chores, kissing and hugging and all that. Yeah, we were a couple. At least that part was certain.

On the other hand, was that even legal? Sure, everyone heard about the age of consent being fourteen in Japan but quick search to confirm that turned out it was only in some rural prefectures. In Tokyo area it was strictly eighteen. So… illegal- wait, no. A further search told me if both were underage it was fine. We were both seventeen but oh wait I would turn eighteen in August while it would take another four months for Yuki. So it would be legal, then illegal, then legal again?.. How did that even work?..

On the other hand, if Yuki was averse to the idea that'd be entirely academic. And I had some evidence she may as well be. From that throwaway phrase about being a virgin at her age, all the way back after our first meeting, to the way she stiffened when I tried to lower my hands even centimeters lower than her ribs for the past several days. It was all immediately back to normal whenever I put my hands elsewhere, but…

So was I the evil creepy pervert after all?

No, and I could say that with confidence. No, I was not. At least not in a way of harming Yuki.

Seriously though… Even if anyone else refused to do those lewd things… Didn't I always take pride in being a loner and making decisions for myself? I wanted Yuki. I didn't want to hurt her; quite the contrary, I wanted us to both to feel good, however inexperienced I was. Everything I knew about intimacy pointed to the fact it was good after all, despite megatons of contradicting information out there.

Wasn't I the one who learned wasting time on pointless musings lead nowhere and communication was key?

That's right. No guessing, no deducing; I would ask fair and square. If she refused, then so be it… haha, no, not even close. That would hurt deeply for me: the mere thought about that already hurt deeply. But I would at least try to respect that decision.

So… Here I go.

"Yuki…" I was sitting in a proper seiza position on my futon, keeping my hands on my knees. At the same time I put all my effort into looking her in the eyes. That made her rise up and sit on her knees too, with a worried expression.

A late Wednesday evening, after work and dinner. A part of me remembered the end of the second year was just round the corner, along with Golden Week. Normally I would be glad about that.

Normally.

"Hachi? What's with the… sitting position?" I saw familiar panic in her eyes. "Is… is it something serious?"

Can't get any more serious, I'm asking my girlfriend to become intimate with me here.

"You c-can say that." I spent several moments trying to find the right words before realizing I couldn't. To hell with that. Let's cut to the chase. "I want you. I would like to-to h-have se… make lo-… become one with me."

The silence was practically palpable now. I felt my chest squeezed tight with all the anxiety.

Yuki meanwhile closed her eyes, lowered her head and grabbed her knees, to the point of digging her nails into the skin. No good. She also started heaving unevenly, as if fighting a wave of panic. Knowing her… she probably was.

All because I said it.

I couldn't just keep my stupid mouth shut, right?

I just had to ruin everything, didn't I?

Too late now. No coming back from this.

"Yuki… I suspect you probably don't like the idea. Sorry for that." Her face was invisible under her hair now, I couldn't even get a read about it; all I saw was just her heaving and trembling. "I'm sorry for dumping it all on you. But… You're pretty and nice and… no, that's not it. You're… comfy wait no. I'm not… I want you. I want to do nice things to you. I want you to feel good. If… If you don't want to… I'll be fine. I'll live with it. Just… Please… I…"

"I" what? Demand her answer me?

I had just dug myself deeper. Me and my stupid mouth.

I really should just shut up. Probably forever.

"… I think I'll take a walk," I mumbled heavily standing up. "I promise I won't ever talk about that again-"

"-No." She suddenly whispered, then said louder. "Not… not that. Please don't go."

Startled, I kept standing there, keeping in check the stupid hope appearing out of nowhere.

"I…"

Yuki nervously swallowed, then stood up too. Her face still lowered, she clasped her hands and huddled.

"It's…"

She took several deep breaths.

"…d" She looked like she was about to cry now.

"Yuki?" Without even thinking about it I stepped closer and carefully hugged her; a learned reaction now. "What's wrong? You… you don't have to push yourse-"

"I'M ON MY PERIOD!" She suddenly shouted. It was in fact so loud (and so close) that all I heard was ringing in my ears for several seconds. By the time it stopped Yuki got away from my embrace and dashed into the bathroom; I heard the lock being turned.

For some time I felt a very unique sensation that I had never experienced before. That is, a complete absence of thoughts. Somewhere in the periphery of my consciousness I felt there should be at least something to think, any sort of reaction, to no avail. The situation was beyond stupid, beyond absurd, it was in fact nothing I could've imagined. So my brain just shut up.

Still in that mindless state, I approached the bathroom door and carefully knocked.

"Yuki? Yuki, are you alright?"

"… I am," came the muffled reply. "Just… I need some time. Maybe ten minutes. Can… Can you wait?"

"Uhh… Yeah."

Still experiencing that stupid state, I returned to my futon and tried reading my book entirely on autopilot. On the pages of that book I saw exactly nothing. Putting it away I stood up once more and approached the window.

By the time I started pacing like a tiger in a cage the door had finally opened and Yuki appeared. Aside from reddened cheeks she looked relatively normal. Seeing me turn to her, Yuki slowly made several steps to me, then gently touched my hand.

"My apologies… that was probably unexpected, wasn't it?"

"… Yeah." Not to mention kinda loud.

"My apologies once-… oh. What am I even saying." Yuki softly leaned into me and cautiously caressed my face. "I… I don't mind, Hachi."

That took me some time to comprehend.

"You don't?" I parroted dumbly.

"No," She expressively shook her head. "Would you… believe I had the same thoughts to have… intercourse… with you?"

"You had?"

"I had." Yuki nodded, equally expressively. "I have. Just… I'm really on my period. And… It's…"

"Shameful?"

"That too, but… It's nasty." Yuki tenderly caressed my palms. "I'm irritated by everything, having pains, my…"

She flinched.

"I'm not sure you'd like to hear the details."

"Probably not." I replied. "That's why you're kinda out there recently…"

"Right."

"And that avoiding hugging me part?"

"And that." She put my palm on her cheek. "Forgive me."

"Eh, I'll live. But… Once it's over?.."

"Yes." She finally looked at me and smiled, that broad happy smile. "Yes. Just tame your urges till, oh, Saturday. Can you?"

"I'll heroically manage." I smiled back and hugged her. "I was really afraid, you know."

"No! Goodness no! I wouldn't treat you like that!"

"I know. I know."

I was a man of my word.

No, not in the sense that I had tamed my urges as I had promised, though that too. In the sense that I had managed. Heroically. As promised.

Those four days I paid utmost attention to teachers, then pushed the pedals with the concentration Eisai and Dougen would have been proud of, then floated like a butterfly around the store, even earning a nod of approval from Yasuda-san. And last but not least, upon returning home I had opened up the novel I had to write a review for and looked into the symbols till the symbols started looking back at me, made notes in my laptop and almost saw a mental image of the text I'd write afterwards. Only for the briefest moment though.

On Thursday I caught myself walking to the library during the lunch break; to find anything educational regarding the matter at hand (hahaha, at hand). The gist of what I was doing exactly dawned to me precisely when I was about to ask the librarians on duty about anything on the matter. The sight probably was quite memorable: suddenly they were approached by an absentminded second-year student who looked at them, made a vague gesture with his hand, opened his mouth, stayed like that for several seconds, closed it, scratched his head and just silently headed to the aisles. Possible bonus points for them remembering me as That Creep Who Somehow Dated Yukino Yukinoshita (How Did he Manage That Anyway?). According to Yuki as relayed by Yuigahama the topic still kept resurfacing here and there. Probably to the point of becoming one of our school's own seven mysteries.

And the only sexual education book the library had only mentioned safety, sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancies, just as I suspected.

Why did I come there anyway? The internet is full of helpful advice-… Um. Please pardon me, I said that without thinking. More like "abundant yet contradicting advice". But surely there should be some sort of a wiki about The Matter, shouldn't there?

The rest of my time was spent as described with the exception of me making several tabs on my phone and trying to prognose as what our first time would look like. In a love hotel? At home? What would we do? What would she wear?..

Seriously though, what would she wear?..

That was an interesting question. At least it kept me from asking myself things like "how long would I last?" or "which creative way would I screw everything up?".

Oh, the possibilities. What if I'd be insensitive? What if I wouldn't know something obvious? What if it would be just not for us?

That evening I was this close to telling Yuki to hold it all off. The only reason I didn't give in was Yuki's reassuring tenderness as she held my hand while we drifted off to sleep, the same, unchanging Yuki.

That gave me hope.

It was Saturday night.

I would really like to find the nearest waterfall and spend the next ten minutes underneath it. Alternatively, I could consciously stare into the nearest Zen rock garden. At the very least get back to Lawson and haul three tons of goods.

No, I couldn't do any of those; not even the last one as we both asked for a day off. Yasuda-san raised a brow and squinted at us intently for a second, but in the end just shrugged and that was it.

Instead we went to Parco where Yuki told me to meet her in an hour, then left in a hurry. When we met she was clutching an oblong bundle at her chest while I had a Cocokara Fine's package full of tissues and a big pack of condoms; feeling reasonably silly and incredibly embarrassed even though the package was opaque. We nodded to each other like two thieves planning a robbery, then returned home. There we, still fiercely blushing and stuttering, made an agreement I would take a bath first so then Yuki would prepare herself. I wanted to ask what that meant but decided not to.

Which brought me to the present time, in which present time Yuki was in the bathroom and I was located by the window in our dark apartment, having already showered and listening to my phone's radio while experiencing an urge to run in eight directions at once. At first I tried ruffling through my music library but it quickly dawned on me Miki Matsubara was mostly singing about the adult stuff in love. So did Momoko Kikuchi. And Junko Yagami. And Anri. And Amin. And…

I finally remembered my phone had a radio receiver and tuned to a variety show, staring listlessly into the crawling evening behind the window. They had two rising voice actresses, one former model and one former… someone, I hadn't quite grasped who she was. Normal stuff for the shows like that one, to have someone whose career had ended long ago and now earned money by participating in them. A lot of silly chat generously mingled with an enormous amount of laughing at every phrase. I think I could distinguish whether laughing was of embarrassment or anger or-

The bathroom lock clicked and I inadvertently turned to the sound and was practically blinded.

Out stepped Yuki. With her still damp hair flowing freely, the blush on her face almost glowing, her blue eyes cautiously gauging me. She had a familiar sweater on, that white knitted one she had greeted me and Yuigahama when we had visited her, eternities back. Even back then I subconsciously noted how it clung to her figure and left her ivory-white shoulders exposed. I was unable not to notice. Even now I couldn't help but look at her collarbones, her finely pronounced shoulders, her black hair accentuating them.

Back then she also had worn a modest, probably even prudish, ankle-length skirt and for a second I seriously wished she had it now: the sweater ended at her thighs, those strong, ample thighs, and did nothing to conceal her legs. Ever from that time at the summer camp when I saw her in a swimsuit, I remembered the sight as it was burned into my memory.

Forget "conceal". Her legs were now enticingly clad in lacy stockings, innocently white, trimmed with roses and vines on the lace and held in place by two simple garter straps I still couldn't take my eyes off, not when Yuki moved, step by tiny step, towards me.

It was the same Yuki, yet it wasn't, and instead I was observing an entirely new, mature, sexy Yuki, ensnaring, entrancing, engulfing me.

When she was at an arms reach I finally looked at her again.

"I… You… You're beautiful." I hoarsely whispered.

"Am I?.." Yuki made a timid smile. "Unfortunately I wasn't ab… I mean, I couldn't find something fancier for our surplus money. Please pardon me-"

"You're beautiful, Yuki." I repeated more firmly. There she went again.

"I…" She nervously glanced at aside, then pressed her palm to her chest and sighed. "Thank you. I'm… nervous."

"Yeah. Me too." Still looking at her, I outreached my hand. Yuki took it, her palm trembling slightly. Without thinking much about it I drew her closer in a familiar hug. Feeling her hugging me back I slowly caressed her face and kissed her, just like we kissed every time.

Familiar Yuki. Beautiful, warm, soft Yuki, leaning into me with all her body, giving into the kiss. Maybe it all wasn't so bad after all.

With both of my hands, I carefully traced her face and neck, moving on to her ears as she gave in with closed eyes and parted lips.

And… What if?.. Could I?.. Couldn't I?..

Finally steeling myself, I slowly lowered my hands down her spine, eliciting a muffled gasp from Yuki; she only broke the kiss very briefly before resuming. Assured by that, I almost subconsciously put my palms to her sides, lowered them all the way down to the hem of the sweater, feeling every knitted stitch and loop; then, without even thinking, grabbed it and tugged up. All the way up, over her hips, waist (silk smooth garter belt panties bra strapless after all somebody shoot me I'm gonna die), over her head; finally off her hands she had readily raised to assist me.

It wasn't just the stockings; that bundle she had carried home contained the whole lingerie set. A strapless rose-adorned white bra, shaping up her chest in all the right ways. High-leg panties with decorative bows on the sides, not really skimpy but still accentuating her waist and thighs and belly; a garter belt with another bow.

"I… Wow" I uttered aloud.

"Do you?.." Still uncertain, wasn't she.

"I do." I said trying to calm my beating heart. "I do. I really do."

It seemed my words were all Yuki needed, as the next thing I felt was her hands, small, nimble, delicate hands reaching underneath my t-shirt and raising it too, just like I did earlier. And as I tossed that t-shirt away, she apprehensively put her palms on my chest, leaned into me once more, looked into my eyes and said:

"I'm paper in your hand. I'm under your command."

And that was all I needed.

That evening we learned more things than we could ever hope for.

That no amount of lewd stuff could prepare for the real thing. That we were both way clumsier than we thought. That Yuki's hair, while gorgeous and all, was constantly ending up under our knees and elbows. That I lasted way less than I would like to. That those stupid condoms should have a more convenient way of packaging.

But also that Yuki was as interested in my body as I was in hers, and responsive, and agreeing. That even though I didn't last all that long, after taking a shower we realized we still had our hands and mouths and tongues. That Yuki's breathless voice when she talked to me during that time was the second most wonderful sound in the world, and that her gasps and moans were the most. That when we finally fell asleep in each other's arms, with Yuki leaning into me and whispering "thank you", I felt all the shaking and apprehension and anxiety were long gone, replaced by the feeling of the strangest, most satisfying happiness.

There was a source of heat right next to me when I opened my eyes. Moreover, my hand was wrapped around it. A dark mass of hair by my face.

Behind the futon we were in I could see my pants, shirt and boxers, arranged into a semi-organized pile. Somewhere nearby should be Yuki's underwear. And also the drug store package we used as a trash can for four condoms, three torn and one used. If we were to keep going I'd really have to learn to open those with less collateral damage.

It took me several moments to actually comprehend my situation.

The mass of hair meanwhile stirred and revealed to me Yuki's face, smiling at me sleepily.

"Good evening. Sleepy Hachi."

"Mhm." I slowly responded. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing. As it seems, all men express this behavior."

"Yeah. Prolactin something something. That site I've read about it had the explanation."

"The 'Lovey-Dovey Wiki'?" Yuki inquired raising her brow.

"… Yes?" I looked at her suspiciously. "You read that one too?"

"Correct." She nodded, nuzzling back into my chest. "I did have a thought you were following their first time guide a bit too thoroughly… At first I actually considered going to the library though, but I realized there would only be generalized topics there."

"And a lot about the diseases."

Yuki raised her head and looked at me with a raised brow.

"You visited the library?"

"Yep."

"Did you ask the library assistants for recommendations?" The corners of her mouth were quivering.

"No." I sternly frowned. "I'm not that stupid."

"Indeed. Just a fetishist. Asking me to leave stockings on was rather baffling." She smiled fully now and put her thigh on mine under the blanket; I immediately felt the silky texture. "Pervy Hachi."

"You wore panties over the garter belt. And you didn't mind by the way. Plotting Yuki."

"I had a suspicion you'd say that." She cuddled closer to me.

"How was it though?"

"Great." Yuki nose-bumped me. "Only slightly painful. We'd have to wait however, till… well…"

"It heals, got it." Yuki silently nodded.

"Was really afraid you would be against the idea, you know."

Yuki shook her head.

"Maybe save for our neighbors listening."

I idly considered the thought. We weren't that loud… I hoped.

Oh well. A round of apologies it would be then.

"You really are the first person to leave me breathless, thirsty, wet and sore in the bottom."

That made me frown.

"Wait, is that…"

"Yes. Yes, it is. I'm glad you remember-" Yuki suddenly started laughing. "You should have seen your expression!"

Second year had ended.

Golden Week has passed.

Third year had started.

If asked, I would simply shrug and say nothing changed much.

My classmates apparently begged to disagree.

Everyone simultaneously gave me space, almost recoiling whenever I passed nearby, and plain stared at me like I was a wild elk in the city.

Their suspicions were nicely summed up by Yuigahama.

"Guys, you're both, like, glowing."

"Are we?" Yuki's attempt at plausible deniability failed, albeit in particularly subtle ways. She wasn't smiling brightly or skipping while walking but there still were small changes in her posture, like movements being less rigid and more fluid, or her features being more relaxed and positive. The mental image of a bushy tail and forward-pointed whiskers didn't help either.

Something akin to this was probably observed in me too, which would explain the stares.

There's not many things I'd like to become, but being the school's popular celebrity was definitely not one of them. This March had proven that to me once and for all.

It seemed we had to work on our behavior.

"No go, Yukinon. I see it." Yuigahama accusingly squinted her eyes at us. "Don't tell me you did it."

"Did what, exactly?"

Yuigahama put her hands on her sides for emphasis.

"Naughty things."

"I can neither confirm nor deny those accusations," Yuki straightened up in her seat, put her hands on her lap and made a haughty face.

"Uhhhh-huh." Yuigahama expressively frowned. "Not to mention Hikki's looking so full of glee it's annoying. And kinda creepy. And also annoying."

She then leaned in to Yuki, her eyes glowing with curiosity.

"So? Was it good?"

"Oh, it was," Yuki gave up pretending and just gave a smile most heartfelt. "If you're that eager for details we can discuss later."

"Oi." I glanced at them disapprovingly. "At least don't share it to anyone else."

"I won't! Who do you take me for?"

"Just to be sure."

Despite all the frowny front I just smiled to myself.

Oh, the details.

We indeed braved through the Sunday, keeping the cuddling to the civil level.

On Monday evening, while writing the next thousand words for the review, I heard "purr?" in my left ear. This was followed by a "purr!" in my right, then a playful bite at my earlobe followed by Yuki's hands getting entwined around my torso.

At that point I gave up and gave in.

On the futons; Yuki straddling and pinning me to the ground, still awkwardly yet assertively, never letting go.

In the shower; Yuki's back arching and her looking at me over the shoulder, pleading for more.

Finally back to futons, slowly and carefully this time, Yuki's strong legs confidently around me, to immediately drop asleep in each others' arms, sore everywhere.

Of course we slept through both our alarm clocks but still made it to school in time, barely. All thanks to our gained stamina and acquired energy.

Suddenly both me and her had a whole lot more of it for everything. So much so that next evening I finished the review draft in record time, not in small part to fully experience Yuki once more.

It wasn't just the fact that Yuki was agreeing and flexible and playful. Or how her chest was now my most favorite, or her back most lean. It was also that Yuki started guiding my hands, and encouraging, and giving directions, and readily following mine.

Or the way she, time to time, started fixing her hair with a hairpin before approaching me seductively, only to then pull it, like a pin out of a grenade, right after she straddled me, with a practiced grace now, and that made me shiver with anticipation.

And finally, the most joyful of it all, was that we could touch and caress each other more freely in general. I could seat Yuki on my lap and she'd just cross her legs and make herself comfortable. Yuki in turn would just lay me down on hers and I would wordlessly enjoy the lap pillow as she proceeded to read or type while slowly ruffling my hair.

In the midst of the Golden Week I received my payment for the successfully submitted review, along with the recommendation to keep that sarcasm, but cut down on the flowery language (heh, nope. Someone had to compensate for those stiff and wooden sentences people in the editorial considered good enough writing). I decided to celebrate it in the most silly way possible: to treat Yuki to another visit to Parco's underwear section. The result was another set, blue and frilly this time, with a front-tie top I spent several minutes figuring out to Yuki's constant giggle… and an equally frilly blue thong. The sight of Yuki in that almost sent me into a blissful coma like a knockout from a heavyweight boxer.

It was settled. The motivation. The purpose. The meaning. The raison d'etre.

From that time on, I would write for underwear.

By the way, not sure if Yuigahama noticed, but Yuki's legwear today, while still formally black, was of different texture. And that meant she wore one of her lingerie sets to school.

Again.

What kind of a beast had I released? I could only smirk a satisfied smile at the answer.

"Global events happening right now." Hiratsuka-sensei propped her head up on an elbow and provided her observations as we were waiting for our order. "Yukinoshita ordering ramen."

"Just a bowl of a light shio," Yuki nonchalantly answered. "No need to dramatize."

"Teaching your girlfriend ramen." Sensei nodded in approval. "Nice."

"Just the lighter ones," I shrugged back. "Besides, we'll bike back home, so no big deal I guess."

"Nice way to burn the calories, yep. Probably not as nice as the other way." Sensei squinted accusingly. "Wanna tell you one thing. Real important. You're both so happy it's disgusting."

"We've been like that for quite some time already," Yuki countered after accepting her bowl, setting it and carefully sipping some of her shio broth. "One would think you should have gotten used to it."

"You keep reminding me of my love life," Sensei propped her head on another hand. "My love apocalypse. Like, a zombie survival. Nah, wait, that actually still has zombies. Like, uhhh, what, Third Impact? SCP-2935? Something like that, yeah."

"Ummm…" This was getting uncomfortable.

"While you probably are having fun at love hotels and dressing up. Don't ya?"

"We… did sleep in a love hotel once." I hesitantly allowed.

"See? Just as I thought."

"Literally."

That made her stare at me.

"What."

"Their beds are too damn fluffy, we just couldn't help ourselves."

"It was after that time we finally made a strategic decision to install our own," Yuki interjected.

"What are you, thirty and working overtime?" Sensei just shook her head in disbelief.

"Nah, actually later," I corrected. "When we wanted to have some fun on a decent bed in my room. But then Komachi told us this home can only house one pair of rabbits."

"While giving a look as if we were the gravest sinners," Yuki added and sighed. "We didn't exactly inquire about Hikigaya-kun's parents but their passion is rekindled by whatever reason."

And it's not like Sensei needed to know about the dressing up part.

For one, it took us some time to collectively giggle over the fact we're dressed as school students as we were. After which we proceeded to school student cosplay.

Generally though Yuki now had several "normal" dress sets; money from my reviewing and her freelance database administration apprenticeship (don't ask me what that was, I only had the vaguest idea) certainly helped. For example, right now Yuki had a frilly blouse and a knee-length lace-up corset skirt, accentuating yet modest. The immodest skirt, the same design except puffy and short to the point of exposing the stocking trim, was reserved for our more private moments.

And speaking of private moments, I had managed to earn two bites in succession over a new set of underwear. And don't you dare blame me, for you'd all do the same. It was the eponymous cat lingerie set, complete with cat-print thighhighs, wrist cuffs and an earband. When Yuki emerged from the bathroom dressed into all that wearing an expression most unreadable, she made a beeline to me and bit my wrist, only then to turn away huffing and immediately bite it again.

Immediately afterwards, though, she made a paw gesture that made something in my brain audibly click.

So, so worth it.

"I see reminiscence on your faces," Sensei meanwhile continued. "Screw that, I'm changing the topic. How's Haruno?"

"We don't know," Yuki shrugged. "She hasn't contacted us ever since… not that we are all that eager."

"Sounds about right." Sensei nodded to her thoughts and scooped some noodles. "She's been like that since, what, a month and a half?"

"About right," I confirmed.

"Still yet to break a record then. Plenty of time till the previous one of three months. Yukinoshita, you should remember that."

"I believe I do," Yuki nodded. "Mother was… let's say… seriously upset."

Her face clouded for a second, but then she suddenly confidently smiled.

"But now I don't have to visit their home so it's out of my scope of concern."

"Their home. Gee, your family's lovely. Yeah, actually, she did contact me once or twice during that time, from her friends' phones. I tried calling back but the first time I was told she wasn't there. And the girl's voice was, like, colder than the North Pole. And the second time it was 'out of service'. Can't help but wonder, you know. Tingles my mystery sense."

"Not sure I wanna know," I dryly noted.

"Yeah, guess what, in the end, neither do I." She finished up the broth. "Damn it's filling. Thanks for the meal. And generally… thanks."

"For what?"

"For ending up better than I ever imagined." Sensei gave us a motherly smile. "Makes me think I'm doin' it right after all."

"You're welcome."

"Speaking of…" Yuki interjected squinting her eyes. "I distinctly remember something called a Battle Royale a year ago being said…"

Sensei's motherly smile slowly turned down a notch just as her eyes equally slowly rolled to the side.

"… You've forgotten, haven't you."

"Oh damn."

"Yuki." Hot tears were flowing down my cheeks. I steadied the knife in my hand, grabbing it with all my might to reaffirm this reality we were in.

"Yes, Hachi?" She was crying too, those bitter salty tears, the same as me. The knife in her hand was slightly trembling, almost in the same ragtime tempo as the rain behind the window. June. A season of rains. A perfect time for somberness and a heavy dose of reality.

"I…" I swallowed. "I just want you to know."

She sniffled, but kept listening. Wiping my tears with my free hand, I looked at her, inadvertently noticing the tidbits of our room. Our lovely bed, the fruit of our labor. A desk with both out laptops, holding so much invaluable information now. Two hangers with our uniforms, a sign of belonging, a sign of commonality. Turning to her I steeled myself and continued:

"I want you to know I don't hold any grudge."

Those words made her show a weak smile despite all the direness.

"I know, Hachi." Yuki sniffled, shook her head and looked at me intently. "I appreciate that."

Sniffling once again for good measure, she used her wrist to wipe the tears, steadied her knife and said:

"Let's get this over with. It will be sooner than you think. Just…"

She paused, as if to throw everything she had into this final confession, and finally managed to add:

"Keep cutting the darned onions. I wouldn't ask for more."

That in turn made me sniffle too.

"I will."

Summer promised to be rather hot yet this Tuesday evening wasn't notified: heavier rains than usual, cloud front all the way west to Siberia and not more than fifteen degrees all day. Hence why Yuki's craving for a French onion soup was enthusiastically met with approval among me. One trip to the grocery later we laid out the accursed vegetables, opened our utensils drawer and around this moment it dawned on us we didn't have so much as a microplane to effectively dice them. In fact, all we had for the task was knives. Good, sharp knives we now had to use to dice the fruits, errr, vegetables of our hubris. All three-ish kilograms of them: Yuki, being Yuki, also mentioned caramelized onions made for a great sauce addition so why not kill two birds with one stone?

… That would teach us, I guess.

"And done." I wearily wiped the knife clean and stared at the small mountain of diced onions. "Isn't it kinda too much?"

"Onions are eighty percent water," Yuki replied reaching into the fridge for the thawed stock. "The amount is just right- oh. Ohhhh."

I didn't like the tone.

"You forgot something."

"You forgot something, to be precise," She turned to me and looked accusingly. "Butter."

"And?"

"And you were the one with the grocery list last time. It definitely had butter."

"That means you forgot about it too, you know."

"You were the one with the list."

That made me roll my eyes and sigh.

"Sure, woman. You're heartless enough to chase your boyfriend outside, into the rain, for a measly piece of butter."

"You will be rewarded with a portion of hot flavorful soup full of caramelized goodness." Yuki teasingly smiled. "It was invented in Paris docks to warm up the watchers returning from their shifts. If this is not fitting then nothing is."

I frowned.

"And a towel?"

"And a towel." Yuki's smile was fully sincere now. After returning with an umbrella she handed it to me. "There's not enough room in our, ahem, kitchen for two at any rate."

"Surrrrre."

Just as I was making a beeline to our stairs back from the trip to the store (home home warm and dry) I almost ran into a tiny figure trying to cross the road.

"Oh, uhh, sorry," I blurted out while moving around the figure.

"Hachiman?" That voice. That posture. That scowl.

"RumiRumi?"

"Told you not to call me that. Creep." Rumi Tsurumi (it indeed was her) recoiled in disgust. Right now she was wearing a plastic coat doing a semi-decent job at keeping her dry, though not protecting her rubber boots.

"Yeah, well, and I told you to show some respect for your elders." I frowned and eyed her again. "Visiting someone?"

"None of your busine-achoo!" She sneezed. "Just going to the station to return home."

The sneeze was followed by other two. Tsurumi shivered slightly.

Come to think about it, she didn't look like she just made a short trek from a friend's home to the station. More like she spent about an hour in the rain.

Knowing Tsurumi, hmmm…

"What, your friends didn't wait up for you or something?"

"How is that-" She snapped, but then sulked. "How did you know?"

"A hunch," I shrugged, contemplated for several seconds, and resumed: "You need to get warm and dry. Come with me."

"Wh?- Where?"

"To our apartment."

"What 'our' apartment?"

"Mine and Yukinoshita's. Godsake it's cold and wet here and I wanna get home. There are nice things like towels there. And a warm soup. You coming?"

Tsurumi clearly wanted to say something but instead sneezed yet again.

"That's it, you're coming."

"Welcome ba-" Yuki's smile was replaced by surprise as she noticed another person. "…Tsurumi-san?"

"Yeah, it's her. She's cold. Hell, I'm cold."

"Ah- oh. Right." She tossed a towel in her hand over Tsurumi's neck and started drying her hair. Moments later she looked at me, probably read something in my eyes and silently went to the bathroom, then returned with another towel, proceeding to dry my hair too.

"Thanks. I'll manage."

"Good. My apologies, Tsurumi-san would-"

"Would need some more time, got it." I nodded. Yuki apologetically nodded back and proceeded to dry the young girl's hair.

"Now to the bathroom." She gently prodded Tsurumi to the shower.

"Wh- w-w-wait, why?"

"To keep you warm." Yuki finally guided her to the bathroom. Some time later she returned to the stove and turned off the gas.

"Just in time." She was remarkably terse as she reached for the cupboard where our bowls were. "Help me set the bread and put those into the microwave to grill."

"Roger."

The shower stopped shortly after we completed preparing three bowls. Tsurumi exited, now clad in Yuki's cardigan and pants and looking adorably awkward.

"Um, thanks, but I have to go-"

"You have to wait for your clothes to dry and have a warm meal," Yuki interrupted as she briskly stood up and continued drying Tsurumi's hair.

"B-but I don't-"

"It's alright, you don't owe us anything."

"Are you… alright." Tsurumi finally gave up, letting Yuki semi-consciously separate her hair and fix her clothes.

"It's no problem, Tsurumi." I decided to add. "You're cold and it's nothing drastic for us."

"Oh. Okay." Seemed like she decided to heed my words. "I'm just…"

"What- ah." I followed her gaze to Yuki who reached for a comb in her toiletries bag. "Something new for me too. Seems like it's, what, mama cat mode? Let her be, she won't do you any harm."

"… If you say so."

It took Tsurumi some time to finally relax, but between Yuki's preening and delicious-as-promised onion soup she finally gave in and even started yawning.

"How did you pick her up by the way?" Yuki leisurely asked, now scooted relaxed at the table, enjoying the warmth from the soup.

"Ah, that. Bumped into her. Looked like she was stood up by her friends or something."

"Oh. Seems like Tsurumi-san alright." Yuki sighed and absentmindedly ruffled her hair. "You're still having trouble, aren't you?"

"I don't!" She huffed. "Well… maybe a little."

Tsurumi paused.

"N… Not like before. No one's bullying me or anything. I… I just Tried to get to know some girls. Heard them planning a sleepover so I asked if I could join. Didn't demand or anything, just asked. They said okay. I promised I wouldn't be a nuisance, prepared, to be polite and all. And then I knocked on the door and there was no one."

She sighed.

"Oh well."

"Not the first time?" Yuki asked carefully.

"Nah." She probably saw something on our faces and hastily added: "No, no, I'm fine! You really helped! And at that Christmas event too! It's… probably just me."

"You can stay here for some time, if you wish," I said. Yuki nodded to that.

"You have some time till sunset. Be our guest."

"Ah… Really?" She asked timidly.

"We don't mind."

"Oh. Then… You're, what, living here?"

"We are."

"Together?"

"Yes."

"Umm… together together?"

"Yes." Yuki was now smiling.

"How?.."

"Oh, long story."

"Huh. And a bed- w-what is that?!" She was now staring somewhere behind us, suddenly redder than a tomato. As I turned to follow her gaze I realized what the reason was.

Our drying rack. With the rain season and all we had to dry our clothes inside for the time being. And right now the rack slowly rotated itself to showcase the colorful collection of Yuki's lingerie.

"What is-" Yuki looked at Tsurumi, then followed her stare to the rack. "Oh my."

"'Oh my' what?" I glared at her. "You broke a little girl. You explain it now."

"Oh." She competitively squinted. "So you're the one gifting me lingerie and I have to explain. Is that how it is?"

"Hachiman? Yukinoshita-san?" Tsurumi now stared at us, with something not unlike mild fear in her eyes. "I-I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, just please don't argue-"

"It's alright, Tsurumi-san." Yuki reassuringly smiled.

"Like she said," I confirmed as she looked at me. "It just, I dunno, happens."

"You'll be fine?"

"Yep."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"Huh…" Tsurumi fell silent, then looked at Yuki. "So… about that adult underwear."

"It's mine, Tsurumi-san. I wear those."

"Just… like that?"

"I don't exactly show it off to everyone," Yuki shrugged. "You probably would start wearing something like that too in just a short time. It's not even the most outrageous design."

"…Huh."

"One moment," Yuki stood up and turned the accursed rack away. "How about we watch something in the meantime? I have been meaning to show Hikigaya-kun that series called Simon's Cat."

As we returned home after walking Tsurumi to the station Yuki stretched and yawned.

"Tired?"

"More like under the weather," she yawned once more, caressed my hair, then silently went for the towel again. She continued drying my hair even as I guided her to my laptop with a DVD lying nearby.

"I've also been meaning to show you stuff."

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Kare Kano. You'll like it."

Judging how I spent the evening watching her giggle away into her pillow at the misadventures of another Yukino, I knew I made the right choice.

"Modest." I held an incredulous look at Yuki having just taken off her jeans.

"Modest, yes." She stood up, looked at me, then at herself. "At least, that's what I had thought just a minute ago."

"So, modest." I went on with the teasing as I helped Yuki pull off her short-sleeved blouse. White, not exactly translucent, yet fitting. That all together, complete with plain ballet flats, felt elbow gloves and a parasol, gave Yuki an air of refined elegance while showing off her figure at the same time. Maybe this is how a 21st century noble princess would look like.

"I openly admit my mistake and take those words back," Yuki sighed. "One look at you was enough for that."

A modern 21st century noble princess who chose a competition swimsuit for our beach outing to Kamakura. No, not my cat this time.

Of course I've been to Tokyo's most leisure and historical area before. This time was still different: just me and Yuki, with our own money, by ourselves, going for a walk among shrines and museums to get our minds off preparing for our finals and meeting others only at the beach. Sure, the exams were still far away, but Yuki kicking me into starting to study now was so predictable I didn't even protest.

June rains have come and gone and July's heat wave was just starting to rear its ugly head. One year ago my life was full of adventure: from a fallout with Yuigahama, to Chiba village, to eventually wasting precious summer days on mulling over Yuki. This time was surprisingly unsurprisingly even: finish the first trimester, pass the midterms uneventfully(appear in top 100 too, gotta hand it to Yuki); go on vacation, prepare for the university. Yuki was confident she could tutor me well enough to get into Waseda or Kyoto uni. I was generally doubtful at that. Yuki just shrugged, habitually flexed her hair and set me on a two-hour learning bender that day. And then another one the next day. And ever since then it was even two-hour learning sessions under Yuki's patient yet steady guidance.

Learning is easier when it's at constant intervals each day. News of the year.

The only thing complicating matters was the air conditioning. The lack of air conditioning to be precise. So one of these days I, being the voice of laziness, said enough was enough and we were going to the beach.

Which led us to present time, in a changing booth by the Yuigahama beach, awaiting for, errrm, Yuigahama.

That was one "errrrm" out of at least a dozen this day. The Tokaido line had prepared many surprises I didn't pay attention to before: Hiratsuka, through Totsuka, to Kamakura and eventually Yukinoshita and Yuigahama. I had my laugh at Yuki in Yukinoshita; Yuki had hers when exiting the Tsurugaoka Hachiman shrine, turning around to check no one was watching, clapping hands, then tossing a five hundred yen coin into my pocket. After making sure no one saw the act of mischief, we headed out to the nearest rice crackers stall where I spent the coin to buy us exactly two packs.

And finally we arrived at the beach, on foot since the Enoden trains were jam-packed; where I took my time to quietly marvel at Yuki in a competition swimsuit, blue and black, leaving her back open for me to gently stroke later.

"One moment, stand still," I carefully released a strand of her hair that was pinched by the strap, Yuki sending me a grateful smile. "You're probably getting tired of taking care of that."

"You get used to it by around twelve years," Yuki shrugged. "It's all a habit by now."

"Why so long though?"

"Oh, but a must for a classical Japanese beauty and many other similar reasons."

"… Mother again?"

"At first. Not that I actually mind anymore. As I said, just a habit by now." She tilted her head questioningly. "What's with the question all of a sudden? Are you perchance getting tired of it?"

"Never said that." I carefully traced a fore strand up to her cheek. "Just curious- wait."

"Hm? What is it?"

"Just had a thought… Haruno-san was probably pressured into long hair too before, right?"

"Hmmm…" Yuki thoughtfully touched her chin. "Before, probably. Not entirely sure I want to clarify… Why?"

"Just a thought. Nevermind." I took off my shirt. "To the beach."

"To the beach." Yuki smiled and offered her hand, which I took gladly.

"Heeey, guys! Over here!" That's Yuigahama spotting us. Together with her were Ebina and Miura but strangely no guys. I raised a brow but let it slide. The beach awaited.

Yuki's exposed belly had been tempting me.

She was lying right next to me, in her underwear, lethargically typing something on her laptop with one hand. Long strands of hair were scattered around her, likening her to a forest nymph.

It was only natural that I would start moving my hand, fingers flexing, to that belly.

Slowly, carefully, raising just high enough to not touch Yuki's side so as not to alert her prematurely.

Finally hovering over the destination I carefully lowered my fingers and started gently scratching.

Scratch, scratch, scratchy-scratch. The most perverted delight.

"Hachi?" Yuki lazily called.

"Yes, Yuki?"

"You do realize the only reason you're not bitten yet is that it's too hot to move?"

"Perfectly. That was the plan."

"Good. Just so we're on the same page-"

At this point a knock on the door came.

"Who's that?"

"Beats me. Neighbors?"

"But we're quiet and they said it's alright."

"Hmmm. Policeman?"

"Katagiri-san already visited us a month ago."

"You leave me no choice. We have to dress up and open the door."

"Hellooo!~"

There are good days and then there are days when Haruno-san is at your door. Just standing there, outside the door, lit by a bright Sunday sun. A cheerful smile showed on her face as she raised a hand with a grocery store package.

"Came to pay a visit. Hope I'm not too early!"

Unable to even say anything, I just slowly turned my head to look at Yuki. She stared quietly at her sister, her face entirely unreadable.

"Wait. What's with the long faces? Don't tell me you're not glad to see me."

"Are we?" Yuki finally turned back to me. Maybe it was the August heat wave (and just one month till our air conditioner should become a refreshing reality); or maybe Yuki did manage to overcome her apprehension of Haruno-san to manageable levels; one way or another, I was glad to see no familiar signs of panic, only barely visible worry.

"Complicated question, that," I evenly replied. "Gotta think about it. Nah, kidding. I'm not."

Haruno-san, the instigator of doom. Whenever she came in contact it never meant anything good.

Haruno-san, the puppet master in the shadows. If she wanted something, not coercing people was never an option.

Haruno-san, the angel on Yuki's back. Always having her dear little sister's best interests in mind. Her dear little sister's opinion notwithstanding.

And now Haruno-san, the one who goes into hiding after a serious turn of events. A new record by the way: close to four months.

Yuki meanwhile sighed.

"There is a complication on my side. I have no formal reason not to let her in. We are still family after all."

"So, let her in?"

"And watch closely."

"Hey!" Haruno-san pouted, but then proceeded inside as if nothing happened. Once in the apartment proper she beelined to the cupboard.

"Oh, cute. Been awhile since I've seen a kitchenette like this. I'm taking the cups for us, you mind?"

"I do mind." Yuki turned to her after folding and stowing our laptops. "Hachi, if you please, fold out the table. Sister, come sit down."

Haruno-san tilted her head, her hand still mid-reaching the cupboard handle.

"Hachi." She eyed us as if seeing for the first time. "Hachi. No way. Beyond cute. I could listen to that all day."

I rubbed my neck and sent a look to Yuki.

"Guess that was to be expected."

"My apologies."

"Eh, happens. Can't get any worse. Or can it?"

"Please don't." Yuki frowned.

"Don't wanna suffer alone."

"Petty, aren't you."

"Look who's talking… Yuki."

"Don't mind me, you're doing good," Haruno-san commented, now sitting at the table and propping her face on her hands with a dreamy expression. "Never thought you'd make this good of a married couple. I've got nothing else to wish for and my life goals are fulfilled."

That made me send a long look at her. A vortex of thoughts briefly swirled in my head. Thoughts I've been meaning to voice aloud, specifically voice aloud to her. About her wish, and goals.

Would it be wise to make a scene right now though? Pondering for a second, I decided it wasn't, at least yet. We still could have a civil meetup and Haruno-san would leave. Aside from a nagging thought she now knew our address this all would end up rather amicably.

Alright, let's sit.

"Mmm, yummy just as I thought," Haruno-san praised the muffins she brought us. "So, how's it going?"

"Mostly fine," Yuki neutrally replied. "What about you? Apparently you have been missing for four months. Even Hiratsuka-sensei is starting to get worried."

"Not that bad either," Haruno-san dismissively replied. "Cool bed, by the way. Too rich for futons now?"

"Something to that effect," Yuki replied, in the same neutral tone. "How did you find us?"

"Hmm, good question." Haruno-san theatrically sighed. "You don't even realize how hard it was. You don't use trains to commute to school. Makes it hard to, you know, deduce."

Deduce. That's how you call it.

"Besides, it's not like I have much time nowadays. Had to plan carefully."

You have enough time to come check on us on a regular basis, a nagging thought emerged. Not to mention you're a college student with a too keen interest in the affairs of some school kids, even if one of them is your little sister.

Not now. We still have a chance to be civil.

"Took me three attempts to find you. If not for Gahama-chan I'd still be looking for you."

"Yuigahama-san would've told me if you'd contacted her," Yuki replied, making a calm relaxed head tilt to indicate she wasn't affected.

Clash of the titans my ass.

"Oh you think so? What if I told her to stay quiet?"

"Yuigahama-san is not like Isshiki-san," Yuki calmly shook her head.

"Wait. What's Iroha-chan to do with this?"

"Genuine." Yuki stared at her sister. "There is no other way for you to know that."

"Wait. How do you know? Iroha-chan didn't communicate with you."

"We share information," I interjected. "Obviously. It's quite an effective countermeasure."

"Ooooh, counterintelligence. Thrilling. Anyway, hard to deduce still."

"You tailed Yuigahama-san to the beach, didn't you?" Yuki asked sipping her cold juice.

"Who do you think I am?" Haruno-san pouted.

"My elder sister who I've known for close to eighteen years."

"Fair enough…" Haruno-san sighed. "But you should be at least grateful."

"For what?"

"For everything to turn out so great."

"Great?.." I almost choked on my drink. Staying civil was becoming harder by the minute.

"Why, you don't think so? She's come clean with our family, she's got you for a boyfriend, and, most importantly, she's free and independent."

I felt chills down my spine.

"So you admit you leaked that photo? Because we already know you told on us to her mother."

"You were getting too slow again. Besides, a clean cut heals the fastest."

"So you three still haven't moved an inch… How boring."

"Don't worry, I still love Yukino-chan and wish her only the best!"

"That someone in my situation shouldn't even dare open their mouth and only listen and agree."

"Hachi I'm so-sorry I w-won't do that ag-g-gain I won't do anything at all ag-g-gain Hachi forgive me!"

"You call that a clean cut?" I heard myself say.

"Hmm? Well, yes?"

"You've goaded Sagami to slack off because you knew your hyper-reliable sister would take on all the work." I started recounting, barely registering to myself what I was doing. "Then you baited her into the student council elections even though she didn't want it that way. 'Having other people do the dirty work just like Mother' when she out of habit took it all upon herself, again. You kept telling her she's free even though you knew she wasn't. You recruited Isshiki to have an additional source of intelligence on us. You tried to imply her feelings for me are something worse than trust, and by extension so are mine. How are you so sure anyway?"

"Codependency. Looked a lot like that to me. Glad it's not the case."

Does it look like codependency to you? Did you read too much Murakami or something?

"You even drove her nuts with your home habits. You're supposedly very keen at reading other people. You should have known how she would feel. Then you had the gall to complain that your precious Yukino-chan wouldn't use her freedom to change. And then, to top it all off, you just casually sic her mother on her."

I stopped to fix my breath.

"It's a clean cut in a sense you cleanly cut the last stripe of skin off someone's limb after twisting and tearing it for an hour."

That was it. Shots fired. Rubicon's passed. The decisive battle and the final exam on me... on us.

I'm sorry, Yuki. I just couldn't bear it anymore.

Before Haruno-san could even open her mouth, I continued:

"And what did you mean by 'making others do dirty work'? It's always you who uses others to do yours. Up until some point she wasn't even courageous enough to ask for help. Are you projecting or something? You keep saying your solutions for her are perfect so why doesn't she listen. Just like all those life coaches who always blame their clients. Is this how you love her? Do you even love her or are you just bullying her?"

"Showing teeth, aren't you. Haven't you been taught to respect your elders?" Haruno-san was still cheerfully smiling. Not that I'd think it'd be easy. And I wasn't done yet.

"What's there to respect? Your talent at charming people into your schemes? Sure, you're so likable, nice, outgoing. A total contrast to your abrasive gloomy little sister. People would gladly listen to what you say instead of seeing what you do. You say you love your dear Yukino-chan and they take it at face value. That you are a master of. But… Did it ever occur to you there's more than one solution to any problem? Or do you specifically pick the most painful ones?"

"Look who's talking. 'Oh, Sagami-san doesn't want to come down, how about I lay all down to her as is and make myself a pariah?' Wasn't it?"

"He's grown out of it and you should know that," Yuki snapped. "He changed. Haven't you noticed? It's you who hasn't."

Yuki supported me now. I was fully prepared to do this alone, but she still supported me. That gave me strength.

She meanwhile went into a full Ice Queen mode.

"I had my thoughts about it, but you moving in was the last nail. What a painful realization it was back then. You're not knowledgeable, or wise, or experienced. You're just another flawed faulty person with a warped perception who for whatever reason thinks she can rule others' lives."

"Huh. Look at her, all brave when her boyfriend is nearby." Resorting to cheap prodding. We were close. Buzz off, thought. Not now. "So you claim you're the smart people now? The ones to listen to and abide?"

"We never said that." Yuki shook her head. "And we would never mess with others on a whim. Fortunately, we have a role model. An anti-role model, if you will."

"I'm flattered." Haruno-san briefly laughed. "And yet you still think you can lecture me?"

"Your sister had moved out to live on her own, learned to solve problems both hers and other people's, found friends and someone to be with and learned to trust. She had enough courage to turn her back and walk away on her mother, who she had been afraid of all her life." I recounted once more. "She's her own person, admirable, clever, diligent, nice and kind. Meanwhile, what did you do?"

I made the most twisted smile I could do.

"Got a haircut?"

Haruno-san's smile faded just a notch.

"You shut your filthy mouth and wash it with soap. Do you even know what you're talking about?"

Those cold eyes again. Something that scared me frozen before. Something that still scared me at that moment.

Something I should overcome.

Keeping on that twisted smile, I looked into those cold menacing eyes and finished:

"I win."

Haruno-san just sighed, closed her eyes and touched her hair. Some time later she opened them again and looked around.

"You may say so. You may say so."

"And in case you still think you know our address," Yuki interjected, "next time you visit I'll simply call the police on the grounds of stalking."

"And?" Haruno-san raised a brow in amusement. "I'll tell them I'm a close relative. How's that supposed to scare me?"

"They'll take you to the kouban one way or another. That one, right beside the station. They'll also have to question you just in case. While you'll prove your innocence it will take up to thirty minutes to fill out all the paperwork."

Ah, got it now.

"So?.."

"So I'll wisely use that time to call my father and tell him you're at the kouban by the Keisei-Funabashi station. How much time do you think it would take for him to arrive there from the mansion?"

Haruno-san's smile faltered.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I most certainly would. Do you want to test it?"

There they stared at each other; the elder daughter, smiling that deceptive coy smile; the younger one, staying neutrally calm and confident.

"No." Haruno-san finally averted her eyes. "I won't."

She made a slow deep sigh.

"I concede. You did grow, Yukino-chan. Hikigaya-kun too. Makes me happy." Haruno-san paused and bit her lip. "Makes me sad."

After falling silent for some time Haruno-san continued:

"All's left for me is acknowledge and make my leave." She rose up on her feet. "Which I guess I'll do now- oh, wait. One last thing."

She nimbly dove into the grocery store package, clutched something small in there, took my hand and put it in before me or Yuki could react.

"The last present from Harunon~."

Opening my hand I stared dumbly at the item in question.

A condom pack. Bright pink one, informing the customers about its strawberry-flavored contents.

"What's that, Hachi?"

"Condoms." I meaningfully paused. "Strawberry."

That made Yuki tilt her head.

"Sister." She eyed Haruno-san. "Strawberry? Seriously?"

That finally made Haruno-san show something beside an amused smile. A bewildered expression.

"What? What's wrong with that?"

"Have you even tried them?"

The bewildered expression turned up a notch.

"Of course I did?"

"You're telling me you're not put off by that horrible chemical smell? Not to mention taste?"

She unsurely rolled her eyes to me.

"Umm…"

"She's right," I replied to the unspoken question. "Neutral ones are better. Preferably thin. One moment."

With that I headed to the bed and fetched a drug store pack we had just opened up recently.

"These ones."

Haruno-san's eye started twitching.

"Oh. Ahem… yeah… Didn't know… Sure… I gotta go… Ummm… bye."

With that she rather hastily retreated and closed the door after herself. Quick steps were heard outside as she hopped down the stairs.

"Could have at least said goodbye properly-" I tried to say but was interrupted by a long blood-curdling horrified scream outside.

Silence followed.

"I believe we broke her," Yuki noted.

"At least pretend you're concerned." I rolled my eyes at her in response. "And don't tell me we should have quietly accepted that strawberry-flavored abomination."

"Well, just so as not to make a scene?"

"And what should we do with them afterwards? They're no good for holding water and I'd rather not present those to anyone."

"I… admit you're correct." Yuki smiled and outstretched a hand. "Otherwise, I propose a high-five to commemorate the event."

"Accepted."

A/N: I don't have any valid reason to explain the long delay. Other than how hard it was to put this chapter together.

Otherwise, thanks for staying with me so far, there's just one chapter left. Should be a bit easier to write, so hopefully no delays.

Stay safe.