"You can take your time to think; our family still has that much foundation," her mother's voice was so gentle and steady that it felt unfamiliar to her.
Ah, ah—
Yukinoshita Haruno irritably scratched her head, avoided her mother's gaze, and lay down on the wooden floor.
From that angle, she could just see the dazzling starry sky as the dark clouds dispersed.
It was said that the light of the stars came from tens of light-years away in the distant past; she didn't know if that light truly still existed in this moment, but perhaps that was why it looked exceptionally beautiful. Things that were out of reach, and things that had already been lost, were always special.
Because she knew this, she couldn't bring herself to reach out and touch them.
That was the freedom she yearned for.
Was this what freedom felt like?
It felt as if she had gained something, yet lost something, like being in a dream, lonely and hazy.
In that instant, the days she had spent in this home, the time she had spent under her mother's guidance, surged forth like a turbid current and engulfed her.
This was a fork in the road of life.
She had thought she was resolutely walking alone down another path, but now her family was warmly and gently pushing her forward.
From now on, she would no longer have to force herself to smile, living a simple and peaceful life with no changes.
But after losing her status as heir, could she still continue on with Kiyono?
In her familiar home, under the familiar night sky—
What should she pursue from now on? Where should she go?
She turned her head and met the gazes of Kiyono and Yukino, who were peeking in. She quietly looked at the two of them, a gentle smile on her face.
Yukinoshita Haruno's story temporarily concluded.
Next, it was Yukino Yukinoshita's story.
A gentle night breeze blew, and Yukinoshita Haruno simply looked up at the leisurely moon in the night sky.
—In another distant world, could she become the heroine who spends her life with this person?
Outside the house, mother and daughter were filled with emotion.
Inside the house, Yukino Yukinoshita's thoughts were also numerous.
Her mother, in her heart, was both as majestic as a mountain and as gentle as a river, always making decisions about their lives. But in this moment, she realized that her mother, like ordinary people, could make mistakes, feel guilty, and be vulnerable.
Her sister was the same; before her sister's outburst, she had never imagined that her sister would be so annoyed, resentful, and envious of her.
She thought, when people look at others, do they only see what they themselves lack?
She admired her sister's all-powerful excellence, envied her sister for earning their mother's approval, but in places she didn't know, her sister was also jealous of her freedom and their mother's affection.
At that moment, soft footsteps sounded. Yukino Yukinoshita and Kiyono exchanged glances, then quickly sat back in their original positions, casually running their hands through their hair.
Yukinoshita's mother sat opposite them, her gentle gaze falling upon her second daughter.
"Yukino, Haruno wants to do other things now. What about you? Are you still interested in the family business?"
Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath. She met her mother's gaze; although her confidence wasn't entirely solid, she didn't waver or avoid it as she firmly expressed her opinion:
"I want to do it."
"If you truly don't like it, you don't have to force yourself. After all, Kiyono is still here…"
It seemed that Haruno's situation had left a shadow in her heart, and Yukinoshita's mother, uncharacteristically, showed a hesitant side.
…Hmm? What about my opinion?
Kiyono fell into brief contemplation.
"At least, I want to try it."
Since it had come to this, Yukino no longer hesitated, her bright black eyes filled with seriousness.
"Then go ahead and do it, Yukino."
Yukinoshita's mother sighed, half relieved and half helpless. To be honest, Yukino's personality was too awkward, and she wasn't good at dealing with people, so she might not adapt to this job. However, she had come to terms with it now—it was okay even if she failed.
Did I… succeed?
Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her lips, looking at her mother, then at Kiyono and her sister, her expression incredibly complex.
When had it started?
She admired her sister's talent and demeanor. This admiration was partly because her sister herself was perfect and dazzling, and partly because "doing so" would gain her mother's approval…
She wanted her mother's recognition and praise, and she longed for her sister to truly see her. Now, she had achieved it.
She had achieved the outcome she had dreamed of. She had gained everything, but, but…
Why was there an emptiness welling up deep inside, leaving her feeling somewhat bewildered and uneasy?
Her ideal way of winning: the strongest in history versus the strongest in modern times, both sides giving their all, an exhilarating battle. But the decisive battle hadn't even begun; the opponent had directly forfeited. Now, even if she obtained the title of the strongest, there was no sense of accomplishment at all.
Because this success felt more like something her sister had given to her, it made her wonder—
Was it that she still couldn't compare to her sister at all?
Was it that their mother had merely been forced to choose her?
"Heh heh, little Yukino, from now on I'll call you Madam Head of the Family." Yukinoshita Haruno hugged her with a giggle, swaying her from side to side like a doll. "But before that, if you don't understand anything, feel free to ask your older sister, okay?"
"Don't stick so close…"
Feeling the emotions transmitted through her sister's touch, Yukino Yukinoshita grumbled unhappily, then quietly let a small smile appear.
Never mind, this is fine too.
She looked up at the boy beside her, her gaze gradually becoming soft and warm.
On the day her sister had her outburst and ran away from home, she had been truly terrified and anxious, because she knew that she had always been the little child walking behind her sister. By herself, she couldn't change her sister's mind; her words couldn't reach her sister's heart. Even with their mother, once a rift appeared between their personalities, it was impossible to mend.
But the moment the call connected and she heard Kiyono's words—"Don't worry, leave it to me"—she calmed down. And Kiyono had indeed brought her sister back, mending their family's relationship… though she didn't know what unpleasant things had happened during their "elopement."
Luckily, he was there.
Yukino Yukinoshita didn't know if this was the first time she had felt such clear gratitude.
Regardless of whether people carried wishes or reluctance, the snow would melt, and spring would sprout new branches from within the white.
After being accepted into university in February, she would return to school in March for the high school graduation ceremony to receive her diploma, and then she could officially begin her university life.
At what moment do people grow up?
After celebrating his eighteenth birthday with the three Yukinoshita women, Kiyono inadvertently had this question.
Is it when the legal age is reached, and one inwardly exclaims, "I'm an adult now!"? Is it the first time one receives their own salary? Or is it seeing one's parents' faces gradually age?
Kiyono considered himself a mature and steady adult—from the moment he started his wandering life and became self-reliant. But as the age on his household register grew, he too would ponder like the philosophers before him.
What kind of life should he choose?
This simulation had been unexpectedly long; perhaps he would fast-forward through this life.
At that moment, a mature and gentle voice pulled him back to reality.
"Kiyono, when you get to Tokyo, don't stay up late, and remember to moderate your gaming. Leisure and entertainment are fine, but too much gaming will affect your self-control. You need Yukino to supervise you more in this regard."
In the Japanese-style room, Yukinoshita's mother looked at Kiyono, opened her fan, covered the corner of her mouth, and gave him a gentle, innocent smile as she spoke softly.
In the past, her education for her children had leaned more toward strict arrangements, but for Kiyono, who had already achieved so much, she could only give him daily reminders like an ordinary mother. She couldn't even find fault with his personality.
"I will absolutely not stay up late playing games while eating junk food, oversleep, or waste my life doing nothing!" Kiyono thumped his chest in assurance.
Yukino Yukinoshita, beside him, sneered triumphantly.
"Don't worry, Mother, as soon as I detect any indulgent behavior from him, I will immediately perform strong sterilization on the harmful bacteria that have proliferated."
—What do you want to do to me!?
Yukinoshita's mother turned her gaze to Yukino, speaking gently and slowly.
"Yukino, I also have something to say to you."
"Although Tokyo University is a prestigious school, with excellent political connections and business resources, you don't have to make friends with people you don't like for those reasons, nor do you need to deliberately force your way into a certain circle. This final period of campus life can remain innocent and kind."
Yukino Yukinoshita listened silently and nodded.
"I understand, Mother."
Yukinoshita's mother hummed, put down her fan, pondered for a moment, and then spoke:
"Also, this time in Tokyo, you two must promise me two conditions."
"What are they?" Yukino asked curiously.
Yukinoshita's mother said faintly, "The first condition is: no children before you graduate from university."
Kiyono spat out the tea in his mouth.
Yukino Yukinoshita coughed violently.
Haruno, who had been watching the show from the side, took a deep breath.
"There's a bull!"
She gave a cliché reaction.
"The second condition is: you can date before graduating from university, but no sexual activity."
Yukino Yukinoshita: "Cough, cough—"
Kiyono: "Pfft, pfft—"
Yukinoshita Haruno: "There's a bull!"
Sexual activity—this was an important step in humans becoming rulers of the Earth.
But why did Yukinoshita's mother place sexual activity after having children? Could it be understood that having children was absolutely forbidden, but sexual activity was not as strictly prohibited?
Kiyono's mind flashed with all sorts of dubious "intelligent" knowledge.
Yukino Yukinoshita, meanwhile, patted her chest, a faint blush appearing on her snow-white cheeks like the tender color of cherry blossoms, as she shouted in embarrassment and anger:
"Mother! I would never do such a thing with this guy! He hasn't even…"
They hadn't even officially confessed to each other, nor had they formally confirmed their relationship, so how could they jump so quickly!
"Yukino, this is a very serious matter. Don't you want to take over the family business? If so, you need to show your attitude. Whether it's your career or your love life, you need to have a clear plan."
Yukinoshita's mother sighed, her tone so serious it could be considered a reprimand.
Their situation was different from Haruno's. Although Haruno and Kiyono had both moved out in the past two years, they hadn't moved far from home, and they weren't living together. But now, Yukino was going to live with Kiyono in an unfamiliar city for four years. If there weren't some restrictions, having two children wouldn't be surprising.
Yukino Yukinoshita squirmed uncomfortably as she listened.
"Just dating before university graduation is fine. You can consider children only after graduating from university. After all, one accident could lead to a child, which is not only bad for your health but also throws your life into chaos. Even for having children, it's best to wait until your career is established."
Yukinoshita's mother sat upright, her gaze serious and profound, her appearance directly reminding one of Yukino Yukinoshita twenty years later.
"This is not just for your life and health, but also for your emotions."
She said faintly:
"You are both adults now, and you will begin to truly experience sex and love. I don't want you to be swept up by circumstances and atmosphere, but rather to seriously consider the other person's life. If you can truly persevere until university graduation, respecting each other and loving each other… then it will happen naturally."
Yukino Yukinoshita's gaze wandered over the floor, and she said softly, "I… I understand."
Kiyono also responded, "I will absolutely not have any ulterior motives!"
Yukinoshita's mother glanced at him, tilting her head.
"I trust Kiyono very much. After all, he's a rigid boy who can stick to his principles."
…Hmm?
Kiyono and Yukino both fell into contemplation.
He thought, this kind of reassurance for a man probably isn't a compliment, right?
She, on the other hand, thought, Mother trusts this guy very much—in other words, she's actually worried about me!?
Yukino Yukinoshita felt a challenge from her mother!
Her chest tightened, and she subconsciously began to hypothesize: even if the two of them lived together in a different place, she would only accept holding hands. If a special situation arose, at most it would only be a hug! There was no way she would ever be the one to initiate anything! Unless Kiyono-kun had ulterior motives…
As the two of them were lost in their own thoughts, Yukinoshita Haruno paused, then interrupted the conversation with a smile:
"Mother, did you forget someone? What if I also want to stay by Kiyono's side?"