"Well, if it isn't Yukinoshita-san. What a rare guest."
Looking at Yukinoshita Yukino before her, Mio's expression stiffened almost imperceptibly. She really hadn't expected her to show up at her home. Sure, she'd said Yukino could come pet the cat anytime, but there was no need to be in quite such a hurry, was there?
"Aren't you going to invite me in?"
"Sorry, I was just so surprised to see you, Yukinoshita-san. Please, come in."
After showing Yukinoshita Yukino inside, Mio politely poured her a glass of water and said, "Yukinoshita-san, just wait here a moment. I'll go find where Cake ran off to."
"And if I said I wanted to pet you instead—what would you do?"
At Yukinoshita Yukino's words, Mio blanked for a second, then walked straight over, sat down beside her, and leaned her whole body against her. "If Yukinoshita-san wants to pet me, you can go right ahead."
Looking at Mio right up close, at that matter-of-fact look on her face, Yukinoshita Yukino found herself at a momentary loss for words. She'd only said it to see how Mio would react—she hadn't expected her to just lean right in like that. Her sister's girlfriend, really—was she quite all right?
Noticing that Yukinoshita Yukino wasn't making any move, Mio tilted her head. "Not going to pet me, Yukinoshita-san? If not, I'll go get Cake."
"That won't be necessary."
Yukinoshita Yukino turned her head aside, feigning disinterest. As for why she was feigning—well, because just now, for a fleeting instant, she'd actually wanted to pat Mio's head. Thankfully, she'd held herself back. How strange, that she'd have such a bizarre thought at all.
With Yukino's answer, Mio stood back up. Just as she was about to go fetch Cake to entertain their guest, the System's voice suddenly sounded in her ear. "If Yukinoshita Yukino wants to pet you, then let her, Host. It's not like you'll lose anything by it."
"The Host must find a way, before Yukinoshita Yukino leaves, to get her to pet you of her own initiative for over three minutes. No restriction on where. Success may earn you the Yukinoshita Yukino Series Deck or an item reward. Failure means drawing from the Punishment Deck."
"Do your best, Host~"
"Tch. Why are there so many tasks today? This is the third one already, isn't it?"
As if it had long anticipated the question, the System said breezily, "It's not as though the Host hasn't been through this before. Today's luck just happens to be a little better, that's all."
"Tch."
Mio suddenly felt an urge to level up her [Unlucky Person] card—but if she raised its level, she figured she'd be looking at injuries, maybe even mortal danger. So on second thought, she let it go. What she should be thinking about now was how to complete the task.
Getting Yukinoshita Yukino to pet her for three minutes—sure, anywhere was allowed, but no matter how she looked at it, the head was really the only option. Petting anywhere else probably wouldn't get past the censors.
Reining in her wandering thoughts, Mio first carried Cake out of her bedroom and placed the cat in Yukinoshita Yukino's arms, then settled down beside her.
Looking at the adorable Cake, a rare, faint smile surfaced on Yukinoshita Yukino's face. You wouldn't even notice it without looking closely, but once you did, it was strikingly lovely. This was exactly why there were always people who loved to melt an ice queen.
Right now it was just the two of them, her and Yukinoshita Yukino, in the apartment. Shiina Mashiro had gone out with Rita on some errand today, and judging by the time, they'd probably be back soon. Shiina Mashiro was the lesser worry, though—what concerned Mio more was Yukinoshita Haruno. She had no idea where Haruno had gone today or when she'd be back. If Yukinoshita Haruno came home, there'd be no completing this task at all.
With that thought, Mio scooted over to get closer to Yukinoshita Yukino. Even though Yukino's attention was all on the cat, she still noticed Mio inching nearer.
"Shirai-san, is there a reason you're sitting so close?"
"Well, watching you pet Cake, Yukinoshita-san, it looked like Cake was really enjoying it."
"Get to the point."
"Could you pat my head? Just three minutes is fine."
Yukinoshita Yukino raised an eyebrow. She'd already guessed from Mio's creeping closer that some strange request was coming, but she genuinely hadn't expected it to be for a head pat. As much as she wanted to write Mio off as a pervert, the helplessness on her face and the wistful note in her voice made her feel, once again, that Mio wasn't quite acting of her own free will. But it was just the two of them here, and Mio wasn't on her phone or anything. If someone were putting her up to this, there'd at least have to be some kind of contact.
"Please, Yukinoshita-san. Just three minutes—think of it as me owing you a favor, how about that?"
"And what use is a favor from you?"
"As long as it doesn't violate my principles, you can ask me to do anything you like. And for the record, even if Yukinoshita-san wanted me to do that sort of thing, it wouldn't violate my principles either."
The words were barely out before Mio wanted to smack herself. She was so used to teasing people that the flirty line had just slipped right out.
"That sort of thing?"
"Don't mind that—I was just running my mouth. Let's get back to the head-patting."
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Cake in her arms, then at Mio beside her, and let out a soft sigh. "Fine. Three minutes it is."
With that, she placed her hand on Mio's little head and gave it a gentle stroke. Honestly, it felt quite nice. Hair this silky—Yukinoshita Yukino half wanted to ask Mio what brand of shampoo she used.
Watching the countdown in her vision tick steadily down, Mio quietly let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness Yukinoshita Yukino was willing to help—otherwise she really wouldn't have known what to do, since this task required Yukino to act of her own initiative. Now all she had to do was wait for the countdown to finish. She just hoped no one would come to interrupt in the meantime.
No sooner had Mio finished that silent prayer than she heard the sound of the front door opening.
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