Mid-July, morning—exactly one day after Yuuki's spar with Kaname.
Ryougi residence, first-floor reception room.
Asagami Yuuki sat on the tatami, pretending to be calm as he drank the green tea offered to him. Beside him sat the customary visiting gift: delicate wagashi from a famous Kanbu City shop.
And once again, the one receiving him was Shiki's brother—Kaname Ryougi.
"Are you healed already?"
"Yeah. We have a very capable doctor at home."
"That's… impressive. If I get the chance, I'd like to see them for myself."
Yuuki didn't answer—only took another quiet sip of tea.
Aside from the warm sunlight spilling through the window, and the tea changing from black tea to traditional green tea, it felt no different from last time.
If anything, it was precisely because nothing looked different that the silence turned awkward.
Behind the reception room, Shiki let out a long sigh.
Physical punishment. Verbal rejection. She believed she'd done more than enough.
If Yuuki were normal, after being rejected this thoroughly, he wouldn't go anywhere near the Ryougi family again.
"What is wrong with this Asagami guy… is he some kind of masochist…?"
She was truly speechless. This time she didn't even intend to keep spying—she turned and went back to her room, shutting the door with a furious slam.
Hearing the upstairs door bang, Kaname gave a helpless, apologetic smile.
"Sorry, Yuuki. My sister might be going through a rebellious phase. She won't even go to school lately—so naturally she doesn't want to see people."
"Yeah. I know. Especially not me."
So you're aware you're disliked… Kaname thought, but kept his face neutral and asked calmly:
"Then, Yuuki—shall you head home now? If you keep insisting, it really isn't good. Don't you agree?"
"Yes. Which is why I'd like to trouble you to mediate."
Kaname's brow creased.
"Isn't that already over? I acknowledge your effort, but you lost."
"Yes. I did lose. But it's not over. Kaname… I specifically asked you: the agreement we made has no time limit. Right?"
"…Ah."
Seeing Kaname's expression shift as if he'd remembered something, Yuuki smiled like a man springing a trap.
"Exactly. I wasn't asking about yesterday's 'trial' in the dojo. I was asking whether our agreement—that you'll help me if I beat you—has a time limit."
So in that moment, with his stance set, the words he spoke were a trap… Kaname thought, replaying the conversation from yesterday.
"…That's true. I was considering adding a time limit… Ah. So that's why your attack was—so that's what it was."
Yesterday, Kaname had said: If you're still standing after the fight, I'll consider adding a time rule.
And after seeing Yuuki's potential and obsession, Kaname began to seriously consider whether Yuuki could become the person who, in the future, would support Shiki.
After all—when Kaname deliberately had Shiki carry Yuuki away after knocking him unconscious—Kaname noticed something: Shiki didn't truly hate or loathe Yuuki himself.
In Kaname's eyes, she was simply resisting feelings and a presence she didn't yet understand—an instinctive desire to reject the unknown.
And if that was the case… then perhaps, slowly, stubbornly, this could still be steered somewhere safer.
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