Lunch, as usual, was Kaito's specialty, eastern cuisine.
Three meat, two vegetables, and one soup. Considering the guests' preferences, all dishes were very light in flavor.
This wasn't Yukino's first time tasting Kaito's cooking. Though the second young lady herself was already an expert in the culinary arts, she had to admit, the latter's skill in the culinary path was enough to serve as her teacher.
"A very delicious lunch. Thank you for the treat," Yukinoshita slightly lowered her head. This girl, beautiful as fine snow, always behaved seriously. Now, she showed a slightly softer, faint smile, appearing particularly content.
Gourmet food really is something that can bring people a good mood.
"As long as Yukinoshita-san likes it, that's good," Kaito glanced at her empty bowl, "Do you need me to get you some more rice?"
"No need," The second young lady slightly shook her head. After a pause, she added, "Actually… Kaito-kun can just call me Yukino. After all, you are the life-saving benefactor of me and Nee-san."
It was just an ordinary form of address, not worth fussing over. Kaito went along with it smoothly, "Yukino."
In Japan, calling someone by their first name usually only happens among friends, lovers, or family members.
Unfortunately, Yukinoshita had never had the first two types of relationships.
If you link social skills to a grand pyramid, then people like Soyo and Anon undoubtedly stood at the top. A casual post from them could easily gain dozens or hundreds of likes. Their popularity was enough to make introverts cry.
As for the second young lady… She should be on the floor tile level of the pyramid.
Single since birth. Zero friends. A solid social failure.
Usually, only her sister and mother would call her "Yukino." Kaito was the first male peer to call her by her first name.
Though it was a result she had brought about herself… it still felt a bit strange.
It was clearly the name she was most familiar with, but when he said it, it seemed to carry some kind of magic, making the girl's earlobes flush slightly red, as if someone was leaning close to her shoulder, softly blowing air.
She discreetly brushed the hair beside her ear, suppressing the messy thoughts in her mind. Just as she was about to say something more, the phone on the table suddenly vibrated, "buzz buzz."
'Nee-san?', Seeing that familiar note on the screen, Yukino had a vague bad feeling rise in her heart.
And reality proved, her premonition was indeed not wrong.
["Hello hello, long time no see, I've missed you a lot. A rare weekend, Yukino-chan, your Nee-san has come to play with you~"]
As soon as the video call connected, a grinning face popped up on screen. Yukinoshita Haruno waved at her cheerfully, her face full of delight, ["Surprised? Unexpected?"]
Yukinoshita Yukino: "..."
The second young lady's temple twitched slightly. A bit of a headache.
The one she was worst at dealing with was her sister, who always acted on impulse and liked sneak attacks.
If it were an ordinary day, that would be fine, but today Kaito was right beside her. It just so happened that he saw this scatterbrained side of her sister, giving Yukino a sense of shame that the family scandal had been aired outside.
"I'm not at the apartment," The second young lady tried to make someone give up.
["Not at the apartment?"]
The short-haired beauty on screen tilted her head, ["Looking at it now, your surroundings do look a bit unfamiliar…"]
Yukino's residence was an apartment Haruno had personally helped find. She had even participated in decorating it, so she was very familiar with every brick and tile. But the current background where her little sister was, it was clearly a strange living room.
["Wait, don't tell me…"]
Yukinoshita Haruno suddenly thought of something, her gaze deepening, ["You're at Kaito-kun's place, aren't you?"]
This answer wasn't hard to guess. Yukino was clearly visiting someone's home now, but she had no other friends in Tokyo. The only people she could talk to, aside from herself, were their mother, and at most, half of Shizuka.
But she had been to Shizuka's home, it was clearly not this type of decor.
After ruling out all impossible options, the only person left who could make her sister let down her guard and voluntarily visit… seemed to be that unforgettable Kaito?
Yukino lowered her eyelashes and didn't answer.
Lying didn't match her personality. But honestly speaking, she didn't really want her mischievous, teasing sister getting close to Kaito either.
But sometimes, silence is also an answer.
The corners of Yukinoshita Haruno's mouth curved more and more, smiling as she said, ["Speaking of which, I haven't had the chance to repay that life-saving grace from last time. Since this is such a coincidence, Yukino, why not send your location to your Nee-san and let her come over personally to properly thank Kaito-kun for his kindness?"]
'You better really just want to repay a favor!'
Haruno's scheming was so loud, the second young lady could hear it even through the screen.
Although Kaito indeed possessed the extraordinary power to easily exorcise evil spirits, he was, after all, still young, just a student.
If he encountered her sister, that awful and wicked woman who loved to tease others, wouldn't he end up being played in the palm of her hand?
The just Yukinoshita, of course, could not sit by while a handsome youth in his prime was lured by a mature and evil working woman.
"I'll be going home in a bit, so no need."
Yukino firmly rejected, not even giving her sister time to respond, "That's it then. See you later at the apartment."
Then she directly hung up the video call.
———
At the same time, looking at the blackened screen, Yukinoshita Haruno froze slightly.
From childhood till now, this was the first time Yukino had so bluntly hung up on her of her own initiative.
'My foolish touch of excess, has it already reached the age where she'll rebel against her sister for a boy outside?'
Haruno wasn't really angry. She just found it kind of amusing.
If Yukino thought that doing this could destroy her plan, then she was far too naive.
In this world, there's more than one road to Rome.
The corner of her lips lifted slightly. She pulled up someone's chat window and typed a few lines.
"Shizuka, it's been a while since we got together. Want to go out for a drink tonight?"
———
"Sorry, Kaito-kun. I should go," After hanging up, Yukino lightly sighed in relief, looking a bit apologetically toward the beautiful boy beside her.
She had originally planned to stay a bit longer, but after this mess, it was clearly no longer possible.
"Is it because of Haruno-san?", Kaito raised an eyebrow, "Actually, it's okay if you let her come too. I don't mind such things."
"No, it's that my Nee-san's personality is a bit…", Yukino sighed, "Anyway, it's best to stay away from her."
"…I see," Kaito nodded, not saying more. He simply got up,."Then I'll walk you out."
"Yuki-chan is leaving? Then I'll come see you off too!", Mortis joined in, trying to make noise.
She still hadn't given up on becoming friends with the second young lady. Unfortunately, she was pulled back by Mutsumi, "The entryway is small. Don't make trouble for Onii-chan."
"I'm not making trouble!"
Kaito didn't mind the usual bickering between the two sisters. He walked Yukino all the way to the door.
The girl stopped, about to leave, but just before pulling the door open, she slightly turned her head.
Then, she showed a faint smile like the first bloom of an epiphyllum.
"Thank you for the hospitality. Today… I was very happy."
"Me too."
Yukino let out a light breath, hesitated a little, then asked, "Can I come visit again in the future?"
"Of course."
Kaito nodded seriously, "As long as you want, you can come anytime."
He smiled a bit, "After all, that was our promise back then."
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