In the end, however, this family meeting didn't go through.
Yuu first offered an excuse: "I just met a nice girl at my part-time job, and there's a possibility of developing that kind of relationship."
He used this as a preamble to calm Sora, who seemed ready to drag him into her room for a serious talk. After that, he switched to messaging Haruno, asking if she wanted to formally introduce herself to his sister.
They had discussed this before, and Haruno's desire had been clear. Yuu thought she wouldn't refuse.
But unexpectedly, Haruno replied nonchalantly:
"Later, I'm not ready yet~"
Yuu found it very strange—this girl, who last time got angry and sped off because she didn't want to be introduced to Sora, was now saying she wasn't ready?
Besides, hadn't they already agreed she'd visit Yukinon as a "part-time coworker"?
Their relationship had already progressed a step further, so why was her attitude suddenly contradictory… Could she be shy?
No way…
Though confused, Haruno had no intention of explaining, so Yuu could only set aside his resolve to "take everything seriously from now on" and temporarily postpone the matter.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Dinner time.
The tableware lay untouched on the table. Sora ignored the aroma of the food, only staring coldly at Yuu, who had just sat down.
The little gray-spotted cat slowly walked to its food bowl, nudged it forward slightly, then, as if eating popcorn while watching a movie, looked up, munching while staring at the two.
"Yuu, about what you said this afternoon, I want you to explain in more detail."
Her tone was deadly serious, as if saying Sora wouldn't eat until Yuu explained.
Yuu had expected this and only sighed resignedly: "There's nothing to tell. Just that, while working part-time, I unexpectedly clicked with my boss… Stop that look, the boss is a rich, beautiful woman, not much older than me."
Sora lowered her head, clenching her small fists, her voice tinged with sadness: "Yuu, is our family's financial situation so bad that you have to let someone else take care of you…"
Yuu nearly faceplanted into his tomato scrambled eggs.
"Not taken care of… Okay, it's a bit similar, but we have real feelings, and I'm earning money with my own skills, alright?"
"Hosts have their own skills too. YouTube videos say people who only rely on looks can't make money as hosts."
"I'm not debating this with you. The point is, I, your brother, just want to date!"
Sora slammed the table, glaring at him angrily and aggressively: "What's wrong with me that you're not satisfied?! When we were kids, you said you'd marry me, and now, after seeing the glamorous outside world, you plan to abandon me and throw me into a dungeon, huh?!"
"I never said that! And if you want to watch brocon anime, fine, but stop watching those dramatic palace soaps!"
Sora completely ignored his protests, crossing her small arms over her chest and coldly staring at Yuu, still seated.
"Whatever, just tell me the details. What's her name, how old is she, how big is her chest, how far has your relationship gone, and what are your plans for the future… Does she know you have a sister like me?"
"There's a very selfish question in there… Never mind."
Yuu massaged his forehead with a sigh, waving her to sit down before picking up his tableware: "You don't need to rush. Though I had that intention, her attitude suddenly got a bit weird…"
"Once it's really settled, you can ask anything, and I'll tell you everything. So for now, let's eat, okay?"
Sora blinked, asking with surprise and hope: "So, you're just in unrequited love right now?"
Yuu firmly replied: "Mutual love. Just a difference of opinion about meeting family."
"Tch, I see." Clicking her tongue in annoyance, Sora returned to her seat, picking up her chopsticks and tapping her bowl. "All relationship problems should just end in a breakup. You still have me, so no need to find a girlfriend out there—you might just get your heart broken."
"What kind of sister immediately predicts her brother's love life crashing without a second thought?" Yuu, exasperated, scooped some green peppers onto her plate, which she promptly tossed back.
"Besides, didn't you say before? If I got a girlfriend, I had to tell you and get your approval—I haven't even got a girlfriend yet, but I told you first, so why are you still mad?"
"I'm not mad!" Sora vented her frustration by shoveling a few bites of rice, then pulled a can of cola from under the table and chugged it.
Yuu watched her with furrowed brows—cola with rice? Her taste buds must be broken.
Before he could snatch the cola, Sora preemptively placed the can between her legs, pressing her skirt down and gripping it tightly.
As Yuu withdrew his hand in resignation, about to scold her, Sora suddenly lowered her head, her silver hair hiding a gloomy shadow.
In a low, slow voice, she said:
"Yuu, I don't want you to have a girlfriend, and I don't want another woman entering our home."
"…I know." Yuu sighed softly.
"I thought you were just joking, wanting me to give up and not be too obsessed with you. So, though I was a bit scared, I didn't care too much…"
"But the expression you had when you told me that this afternoon—it was the first time I saw it."
Sora bit her lip, her voice trembling, like someone soaked by rain: "So, when you really like someone, you show that kind of expression…"
(I've never seen you like that because you've never truly loved me.)
For a girl secretly in love with her brother, this blow was heavy, almost making her want to leave, to distance herself from him, to hide somewhere no one knew, licking her wounds alone.
The reasons Sora didn't actually do it were, first, because Yuu didn't truly have a girlfriend yet, and second, because…
Yuu placed his hand on Sora's head, gently stroking it.
"For me, Sora is the most important family member."
Yuu didn't deny her words. He just looked into her hesitant, raised eyes and smiled: "So, I won't fall for a girl who wants me to abandon my family. Even if I really get a girlfriend, you don't need to worry I'll leave you."
"Our relationship can't be defined by like or dislike."
"I'll never let you feel lonely—lately, there's Yukinon, and in the future, I'll introduce my girlfriend, even your sister-in-law, and after I marry, there'll be nieces or nephews to play with you."
"Even if you're a hikikomori forever, your world will never be lonely, got it?"
Sora was different from Haruno; she always gave off a deeply fragile impression.
Of course, that didn't mean Haruno wasn't fragile, just that their nature and direction differed—Haruno was like delicate glasswork, light and easily shattered; if broken, its shards would hurt everything they touched.
Sora, meanwhile, carried a transience that would vanish if touched. If he turned away and stopped looking, after her last bit of mischief, she'd find a place to slowly disappear, as if she'd never existed in this world.
That's why Yuu never tired of comforting her. Even if similar scenes happened countless times, he'd still tell Sora:
"For a siscon, a little sister is far more important than a girlfriend. The choice is always the sister, and I want both."
"…"
Sora silently locked eyes with him. After a long while, the gleam in her eyes curved into two crescent moons, shining brightly and sweetly at him.
"You've really said stuff like that a lot."
"Yeah."
"Sorry, I'm such a troublesome sister."
"The more troublesome, the cuter. I'll say it as many times as you want."
"Including the siscon part? Deciding to 'go for' your sister from the start and sticking to it—truly my Yuu."
"Pfft… Wait, don't misinterpret me like that!"
Raising her slender, petite chin, the silver-haired girl snorted twice, completely ignoring his protests and continuing to talk to herself:
"So, Yuu's planning a harem? Finding a girlfriend who's okay with marrying you alongside your sister sounds insanely tough."
"Of course it is?!"
"But if they don't agree, I'll win in the end, right? Then there's nothing to fear!"
Sora picked up her tableware again, raising her brows at Yuu casually, challenging him: "Introduce your girlfriend to me whenever you want. I just can't guarantee you won't break up after she meets me."
"What are you planning to do to my girlfriend…"
The cooling rice sat before him. Yuu massaged his forehead, feeling a slight headache.
But thinking about it, if Haruno really met Sora… Sora, who always hid at home and rarely spoke to outsiders, would surely be toyed with by that Witch Lady (and warped siscon).
Seeing Sora seemingly fantasizing about defeating her future sister-in-law and becoming the housewife, her face faintly showing a proud, cheerful expression, Yuu hid the pity in his eyes, smiled, shook his head, and started eating dinner without another word.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
After dinner, Yuu returned to his room.
He opened the system, saw the empty single-use skills and status, and pursed his lips.
"So there's a penalty too… Just how much does this system not want me to reveal its existence?"
But the money and permanent skills weren't taken back—at most, he couldn't try his luck for a while.
"Stingy dog system." Yuu snorted, then scrolled down the system panel.
Before leaving the manor, Haruno had given him a permanent status.
"Injury Time? What's that?"
Frowning, Yuu closed his eyes, trying to sense the general idea of this status.
But after a moment, he opened his eyes with a strange expression, stating the unexpected answer the system gave him:
"Cannot be used at this time, please wait for the right moment…"
This dog system—why not just say my permissions aren't enough and tell me to hurry up and conquer the heroine to unlock them?