Yukinoshita's mood was extremely poor.
Ever since she agreed to handle Isshiki Iroha's request, all sorts of troubles had arisen.
Today, moreover, she'd been treated like a "useless, clueless" person who couldn't answer a single question.
To her, that was the greatest insult – and it deeply pricked the pride of the Yukinoshita who founded the Service Club under the principle of "teaching someone to fish rather than giving them the fish."
Why did she create the Service Club? Precisely because she believed herself more capable than most, believing she was a strong person who could help those who were weaker. Yet today, she couldn't answer any of her client's questions.
In truth, this wasn't Yukino's fault. Mainly, she had zero experience in romance. Someone like that devising love strategies for others—what could she really come up with?
Secondly, Iroha's problem involved one central figure: Rei Ao. Anything related to Rei Ao mostly belonged to unspeakable secrets. Thus Yukino felt utterly helpless.
All that aside, the matter remained like a thorn in her heart, leaving her upset. Even after school, returning home, she wore an unhappy expression.
"Yukino, did something happen? Your face is scary," Mabel asked cautiously as they ate dinner.
"No."
Yukino shot her a glare, unusually cold this day. "Just eat your food and don't talk too much."
"Oh!"
That frigid tone made Mabel feel as though pricked by needles, and she didn't dare speak further, lowering her head to continue eating.
She inwardly trembled, certain that Yukino was off today—maybe she was on her period.
Women got it once a month, and even an "ice queen" wouldn't be exempt. Mabel could relate to that irritability, so she decided not to rile Yukino any further.
Mabel's guess wasn't entirely mistaken, at least. Yukino truly had her period that day.
After dinner, Mabel automatically cleared the table and washed the dishes. Yukino, meanwhile, finished bathing and shut herself in her room. She attempted to look up romance-related issues online, hoping to gain more knowledge so Isshiki Iroha wouldn't look down on her.
But the moment she searched such topics, awkward pages inevitably popped up. Yukino found it impossible to remain unaffected, because she had really witnessed, in Rei Ao's livestreams, those intimate interactions between men and women. Even the smallest image triggered memories she'd rather not recall, leaving her body heated and restless. Her heavy breathing revealed her turmoil.
Luckily, right before she lost control, a sudden, urgent ringtone snapped her back to reality.
"!!!"
Only then did she realize her hand had somehow slipped inside her pajamas. Jolted by cold sweat, Yukino slammed her computer shut, trying to calm her breathing. She'd nearly lost her composure – something she'd never done and disdained doing. Thankfully, she'd come to her senses mid-way.
"Ring ring!"
The phone kept ringing. Yukino reined in her emotions and took out the phone.
"Mother?"
She was puzzled; the caller was her mother. Confusion filled her as she answered. The voice on the other end spoke calmly: "Yukino?"
That familiar voice made Yukino tremble. Even though she no longer lived in the Yukinoshita household, Yukino still treated her mother with respect.
"Yes, Mother," she replied.
"Yukino, has Haruno been to the place you're living now?"
Why was her mother suddenly asking about her older sister? Despite her puzzlement, Yukino answered truthfully:
"My sister does know my apartment location, and she has visited before."
"Mhm."
The mother didn't sound particularly surprised. However, she then asked, "Then, is Haruno presently at your apartment?"
Yukino raised her brows, her beautiful eyes filled with shock and doubt.
"Mother, why are you asking that?"
"… …"
It seemed her mother was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Haruno has no work arrangements today, yet she still hasn't come home."
"Huh?"
Yukino glanced at the clock. It was already eleven at night. She knew their family had very strict rules—by nine in the evening, they were supposed to be resting. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't fail to return by nine. But from Mother's words, her sister had no official business tonight and still hadn't come back?
Yukino: "Why not just call Sister directly?"
"I can't get through to Haruno's phone. I'm guessing maybe she went to you. Is that right?"
"… …"
"No, Mother. My sister isn't here."
"… …"
Silence from the other end.
"I'm not lying," Yukino emphasized again, as if her mother might not believe her.
"I know you wouldn't lie to me, Yukino. I raised you. I trust you."
"… …"
Yukino's heart skipped a beat. Her usually icy mother just said she… trusted her?
"I was only thinking, if Haruno isn't at your place, and she's not coming home, and her phone's unreachable, then where would she go? Haruno has always been excellent and self-disciplined. I don't believe she'd be doing anything reckless. Could it be… something happened?"
"!!!"
Her mother's speculation made Yukino's heart lurch. Vanished without a trace! That reminded her of the monstrous threats from other worlds. If her sister had encountered some monster or demon…
"Yukino, you try contacting Haruno. If she's still unreachable, I may need to consider reporting this to the police."
Her mother's voice turned solemn. "Understood!"
When the call ended, Yukino immediately tried calling and texting Haruno.
"… …"
But after a while, no success—calls wouldn't connect, texts remained unread. Yukino's face grew steadily more grim. She knew better than anyone how perfect her sister was. Under normal circumstances, Haruno wouldn't suddenly be unreachable unless she was in a meeting or handling urgent business. But Mother said she had nothing scheduled today.
"Could it be…"
Yukino's heartbeat sped up. The suspicion that came to mind might be reality. She couldn't be faulted for overthinking. Having witnessed the fearsome presence of beasts and demons from another world, Yukino herself was terrified. Let alone if her missing sister had been targeted. If it was real, they couldn't delay—the longer it took, the greater the danger.
Decisively, she sent a message to Rei Ao in the chat group.
Yukinoshita Yukino: "@Rei Ao! Are you there? I need your help with something."
Stella: "Oh? Yukino actually needs help for once? Incredible."
Shiba Miyuki: "No need to phrase it like that. No one is omnipotent."
She too had never imagined she would need help, until her mother's health crisis. Now she profoundly realized having someone to rely on was a comfort.
~~~
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