"Thanks, Yocchan." Yuuno left the prison; the teacher was left behind, while he had a bit more leeway since he was a minor.
Though, needless to say, this had forever stained his reputation—affecting his academic future and his adult one. False charges are a serious offense. Something he couldn't forgive.
"Today," he let out as he looked forward, a grim expression on his face, "I'm fucking killing him. You're helping me."
"...But what about the subplot of you fucking your sister and me being your best friend?" Yocchan asked. "We're reaching the endgame too fast, no? Wasn't he going to do something about that, maybe make you turn on me and your sister Punisher (2004) style?"
Yuuno narrowed his eyes as he looked at him. "You gotta stop that habit of talking like we're in a story, it's creepy as fuck," he let out as he took out a cigarette with a sigh, smoking.
He exhaled some smoke.
"Besides, not everything that gets added has to be resolved in a story." He looked up at the sky. "He humiliated me. That bastard. I have to break his body now."
"...Haaaah... I'll follow your lead, but why are you going this far?" Yocchan asked, glancing at Yuuno.
"Just leave him alone? You already destroyed his rep beyond repair, fucked his sister, and bullied him for years. Can't we just... I don't know, go back to hanging out?"
Yuuno stared ahead, the rising smoke veiling his face. His eyes were half-lidded, blank. Yuka—Yuuto's sister—ran toward him.
"We'll do that. After I fucking break him. If I can't do it mentally, I'll do it physically. And if he tries to talk about it, we'll break his teeth and jaw so he can't."
"...." Yocchan hummed in concern, then sighed, nodding. "Fine. I'll round up the rest of the guys. Let's do it after school—"
"No," Yuuno cut in, opening his arms to welcome Yuka into them. "Let's all meet at school tomorrow, okay?" he said with a smile, looking at Yocchan as he hugged her.
Yocchan exhaled through his nose and nodded slowly, turning to walk away.
"Sure. I'll leave you two be."
"I was so worried... That bastard of mine did something, didn't he..."
Yuka's voice faded as Yuuno watched her ramble—going on and on about how she was on his side, how much she hated her brother.
Her words blurred into noise and static.
'Like a toy. Easy to handle... But I'm done playing. I'm... so bored. I imagine myself fucking her now, just to prove to that bastard Yuuto that I lord over him. But I don't feel the least bit excited anymore...'
'Tsch. Just proves she really was a toy.'
"Senpai," he said, "Let's break up."
Yuka flinched, her eyes widening for a moment before she looked at him—forcing a chuckle as he smiled.
'No... Actually, this is perfect.'
'I'll just frame him as the one who caused this. One more hit before I break him tomorrow.'
"W... hAHAHA... T-That's not the time for jokes, Yuuno... I'm just glad you're okay," she said, hugging him tighter.
"I'm not joking, Senpai."
Another flinch. She froze, still clinging to him.
"I love you..." he whispered.
"But you're his sister. The one who got me thrown in jail. The one tied to everything that's wrecked my life again. I... I can't do this anymore, Yuka." His voice sounded tired. Hollow.
He gently pushed her away.
"I'm sorry. It was... great while it lasted. I'm just not made for this, I guess..." He forced a weak chuckle and walked past her, leaving her standing there, frozen.
"I... I FUCKING HATE HIM!!!" Yuka suddenly screamed.
Yuuno smiled to himself, satisfied she'd reacted this way... But even that felt like too much effort, for some reason.
"PLEASE..." she whimpered. "I've... I've never been happier than I was with you... Please... I'll even move out! Let's... let's live together, or—"
"Goodbye, Senpai. I'm sorry," he said again, walking away—leaving her alone, standing in front of the police station.
Shocked.
——— TIME LATER... ———
She returned home, closing the door behind her. Her expression was unreadable. It was nighttime. Yuuto and their mother were asleep. The house was dark and quiet.
She slowly climbed up the stairs, walking over to her room...
...But Yuuto's room glistened in her eyes. Her fists clenched as she opened the door to his room.
There he was.
Sleeping soundly after ruining her happiness. Causing Yuuno to be sent to prison for whatever reason, their mom trusting him blindly for no reason and not taking her side anymore—then causing them to break up. All because of him...
'...All because of him.' She took a step, then another, in the quiet room after slowly and gently closing the door to his room—leaving the two shut off from the rest of the house. Her eyes widened in rage and wrath, replaying Yuuno's words over and over again. He gets to sleep soundly after ruining her life.
'ALL BECAUSE OF HIM...!' she growled, her fist clenched tightly, her heart pounding in her ears. She took yet another step. She was now standing directly above his bed, looking down at him.
Yuuto sighed internally.
'I guess it's a good thing I've been an insomniac in this world. There hasn't been a night where I slept more than 3 hours.' He slightly opened his eyes, making sure she didn't see. 'Not being able to sleep much has its perks... Now what?'
He wondered as he looked at her face.
'She looks angry. Hm... If he told her I just did something to him, she'd side with him even more, and that would be that. No. People are only this angry and this unhinged when they think they've been compromised...' he thought as she climbed onto the bed, her hands hovering near his neck.
'I see,' he concluded, as she placed her hands onto his neck, still wearing that crazed expression.
He must've broken up with her and blamed it all on me. Guess this means the endgame's coming. Well, time to put my gambling skills to use and bet everything on this next move.
She began to squeeze, but just at that moment, Yuuto emitted a soft, blurred cry—the murmur of someone talking in their sleep.
"Hmmn... S... Sis...?" he whispered softly, pulling her abruptly out of her haze.
Before she could think or move away, he reached out, gently pulling her closer and wrapping his arms around her body.
With a startled gasp, she let herself be drawn in.
"..!!!" Her eyes widened in disbelief as her face pressed against the pillow, her head pinned close to Yuuto's while he held her lower back.
'Two things could happen now,' he thought. 'Either Yuuno's influence is strong enough that she'll beat the fuck out of me right here and now—or the warmth he's denied her today will be too much, and she'll give in.' He tightened his embrace gently, holding her like a child would hold a teddy bear.
Please, let it be the latter, he found himself thinking involuntarily, surprised by his own desperation.
She remained frozen in his grasp, her breath hitching repeatedly.
"I mish... you, sisn..." Yuuto mumbled sleepily.
She blinked, feeling his warmth spread through her. Slowly, her focus shifted to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat and breath.
Calm. Not elevated in the slightest. Safe...
'What...?' She blinked rapidly, dozens of times. Her jaw trembled. 'What was I about to do just now...? Ah... I... W-why are you hugging me...? We're enemies, right...? You... Manipulated mom... This is what it is... But...' she thought desperately, gasping softly.
'Why are you so calm with me...? After everything I did to you...?'
Silence filled her mind.
'Yuuno... w-why...?' She quietly sobbed into the pillow, her arms instinctively wrapping around Yuuto as well.
"Why...?" she whispered softly, tears slipping down her cheeks.
Yuuto exhaled internally, relieved. 'Phew... I'm really good at gambling.'
She remained in his embrace for a while longer, and after several quiet minutes, Yuuto relaxed his arms. Feeling a surge of shame, she carefully slipped off the bed and walked silently to her own room.
'Tomorrow, then.' Yuuto thought firmly.
'It's finally time to beat his ass once and for all.'