What a pity!
Hadn't Lin Ye boasted that Yukino had already accepted Mai Sakurajima?
As long as Yukino was awake, having the person in question—Yukino herself—give the answer would be enough to expose this boastful lie of Lin Ye's.
But Yukino was still asleep,
and Haruno had no intention whatsoever of waking her early.
Her little sister had been put to sleep by some unknown power of Lin Ye's, and rashly rousing her might instead end up hurting her.
For Haruno, her sister's body came first.
"Miss Haruno, stop grinning and cheerfully deciding things on your own. There's no way I'd agree. Of all the people to pick as a girlfriend, you're the last one I ever would."
"Whaaat?! Why?!"
Haruno cried out in shock.
Even though she'd long known about Lin Ye's resistance toward her—and even though he'd made it clear time and time again—she still felt a little angry.
"Am I not pretty?"
She thought only of her own face. "I'm at least seventy percent identical to Yukino, aren't I? I'm a great beauty too, right?"
Seeing that Lin Ye gave no response, Haruno pressed further, shaking him. "Lin-kun, answer me quickly. Tell the truth. Say exactly what you think."
Lin Ye lifted his eyes to the young woman before him. "Mm, your looks aren't bad. You're a beauty."
"Then is my figure no good?"
Haruno pointed at her own body again. "I'm curvy in all the right places, slender with great curves—how is that not good? When I walk down the street in tight clothes, you have no idea how many men drool. If you saw me, Lin-kun, you'd surely be one of them. Or how about I just put something on and show you right now."
As she spoke, Haruno made to get up and change clothes.
This was Yukino Yukinoshita's apartment, but it wouldn't be strange for some of Haruno's clothes to be here.
And even if there weren't, her little sister Yukino's clothes could probably do in a pinch.
Lin Ye grabbed Haruno's wrist. "You don't need to put on a show. It's not like I haven't seen it before."
Back then, at the hotel in Macau, he'd gotten a pretty good look—and copped a few feels too, getting a sense of the texture.
"Then is my skin no good? You have no idea how many times you've touched it, Lin-kun. Is it really not good?"
"Miss Haruno, as far as outward appearance goes, you're very fine. I won't deny that."
"Then why…"
"You're too dangerous. I don't want to stake my entire life on you."
"Aww! How could that be! If you're with me, I'll definitely be your sweet little woman—gentle and tender, sweet and clingy. Whatever kind of personality you like in a girl, Lin-kun, I can be it!"
Lin Ye could give Haruno's acting a ninety out of a hundred.
But his answer remained the same: he couldn't afford it.
If he actually believed this nonsense of Haruno's, then however good things felt now, that's exactly how much trouble there'd be later.
However sweet the present moment, the future would surely demand it back twofold—this was the feeling his intuition kept warning and telling him.
Lin Ye looked at the young woman whose hands clasped his arm, who gazed at him with a sweet smile, and slowly withdrew his hand from that soft sensation.
This was his attitude.
"Hey, hey, Lin-kun, do you really dislike me that much?"
"Yes."
"Your big sister understands men far better than Yukino does."
"That's not important. Surely the clever Miss Haruno already knows that?"
She did know—but she wanted to pretend she didn't.
"Sigh. In that case, I suppose I'll just have to accept the family's arrangement and start meeting other men."
Lin Ye was momentarily startled.
Haruno's parents were already pushing her to marry and lining up prospective partners.
"Lin-kun, your possessiveness is no small thing, you know!"
She smiled radiantly and once again threw her arms around Lin Ye. "Your mouth says you're rejecting me, Lin-kun, but deep down you don't actually want me to be with other men either. Heh heh heh, I'm so happy."
"..."
"I won't put you on the spot. Either way, I already know."
Haruno, at this moment, looked just like a victorious general, smiling with delight.
Lin Ye knew there was no reasoning with this woman—unless…
Something occurred to him.
Should he just use Hypnosis on Haruno too, and make her treat him with a little more respect?
It was a good method,
and the effect ought to be quite good as well.
The key was that, since the target was Haruno, Lin Ye didn't have many reservations.
Soon, Lin Ye made his decision: if Haruno kept up this clinging routine afterward, then she couldn't blame him for being 'cold-hearted and ruthless'—he'd make her understand the power of his superpower.
Of course,
Lin Ye first had to check on Yukino's situation—wait for her to wake up and see how her consciousness had changed. If there were no problems, then he could consider using this power of Hypnosis on other people when needed.
Haruno had been watching Lin Ye the whole time. The calm in the parlor lasted a few minutes before she couldn't help speaking up again. "Lin-kun, what are you thinking about? You're so absorbed. Could it be you're imagining a scene where us sisters serve one husband together?"
The moment those words came out,
a scene flashed through Lin Ye's mind—but he quickly flung it away.
Haruno smiled.
Just as expected: no man can resist this kind of temptation. However much reason resists, instinct still welcomes it.
"I'm thinking about how to change this attitude of yours toward me."
"Eh, is my attitude toward you not good enough, Lin-kun?"
She blinked, her eyes full of confusion.
But it was all an act.
Of that, Lin Ye was certain.
"I don't like it."
"Then what kind does Lin-kun like?"
"A bit more respectful, a bit more fearful."
"Can't do it. I really can't."
Haruno shook her head in refusal.
If she truly respected and feared Lin Ye, then how could she get close to him?
She was one to never abandon, never give up—she was preparing to win Lin Ye over.
Truth be told, although Haruno was currently happy to see Lin Ye together with Mai Sakurajima—since that kept her sister safe—as for that whole speech Lin Ye had just given, she didn't believe a single word of it.
What's more, she planned to acquire the agency Mai Sakurajima belonged to, through methods like capital injection and buyouts.
On one hand, it would make it convenient to look after Mai Sakurajima; on the other, it would bring this girl Mai Sakurajima into her own sphere.
But in the end,
her relationship with Mai Sakurajima was merely so-so, and in the future they could never become intimate, inseparable sisters.
Trying to rely on Mai Sakurajima to handle Lin Ye was a pipe dream—in fact, if she really harbored such a thought and plan, it would only further provoke Lin Ye's disgust.
She still had to rely on herself.
This was Haruno's thinking.
Given Lin Ye's current attitude and their current relationship, she truly couldn't set her mind at ease.
"I think Miss Haruno will manage it someday."
Facing Lin Ye's words, Haruno shook her head. There was no way she could go back to how she'd been on that day.
Having spent all this time, working at it gradually, to get Lin Ye to accept her current mode of behavior—how could she possibly return to the dread and fear of that first day of contact?
Unless Lin Ye resorted to force—but having come to understand Lin Ye's way of doing things, she really wasn't afraid anymore.
"Alright, Lin-kun, enough about this."
Haruno had no intention of letting Lin Ye leave just like that.
She had to make use of this rare opportunity to advance their relationship.
"Your body feels pretty stiff. Let me give you a massage!"
Haruno worked the five fingers of her right hand, the slender digits producing a crisp cracking sound. "Your big sister has studied under a professional, you know."
Really now?
Haruno had actually gone and studied it specially.
Looking at her earnest expression, Lin Ye was half-skeptical.
"You'll know if you try."
"Come on, take off your outer clothes, and your big sister will give you a massage."
Lin Ye didn't refuse this time.
It wasn't as if Haruno had never massaged him before, so he didn't have too much resistance to this behavior of hers.
"These pants won't do either. I'll go get a pair of loose shorts and some clothes—change into them."
Haruno immediately walked off toward the guest room, and soon returned with a brand-new set of clothes.
The sizing was tailored completely to him.
Lin Ye changed into them right away,
while Haruno stroked her chin, savoring the entire process.
What a lecherous woman.
Lin Ye silently thought to himself.
"Lin-kun, your figure just keeps getting better and better. It really makes a person unable to resist wanting to touch it!"
"Although I'll get to touch it in a moment anyway. If Yukino saw, I wonder whether she'd be envious or angry."
She rather looked forward to Yukino seeing—but unfortunately, her little sister was sleeping.
Haruno then came around behind Lin Ye, placing the slender fingers of both hands on his shoulders and slowly beginning to apply pressure.
Under the force of her fingers, the muscles slowly relaxed.
After last night's great battle, Lin Ye's entire body really was sore and aching, and even now much of that soreness lingered.
Haruno had volunteered to massage him,
and he accepted directly.
From his shoulders down to his waist, Lin Ye narrowed his eyes. From the relaxation of his muscles to the relaxation of his spirit—having a massage and not having one were simply two completely different feelings.
"Lie down…"
Lin Ye lay down on the sofa,
and Haruno adjusted her posture.
Lin Ye recalled and compared his experience in Macau last time—Haruno's technique and strength were far more on point now. She really had studied this specially, consulting a professional for guidance.
The dignified eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family, the future heir to the clan, specially learning massage for his sake—it did stir something in him a little.
Had it been anyone else, Lin Ye might well have been moved.
But since the other party was Haruno Yukinoshita, that simply wouldn't do.
'Pat…'
Haruno slipped off her shoes and straddled across Lin Ye's legs. "Next, it'll be like this."
"If it hurts, Lin-kun, you've got to tell me."
"Go ahead!"
He didn't think for a second that Haruno could make it hurt all that much.
"Sss, sss, sss…"
This angle, this force—it really did hurt a bit.
In this moment,
Lin Ye was in pain yet enjoying it.
...
...
Yukino Yukinoshita's consciousness gradually returned.
Her head ached a little.
Instinctively she raised a hand and rubbed her temple.
It was a good while before she opened her bleary, sleepy eyes,
and a familiar ceiling came into view.
"The bedroom…"
She couldn't remember in the slightest how she'd gotten back to the bedroom.
Yukino Yukinoshita propped herself up with one hand.
'Whoosh…'
The bedding slid down,
exposing a broad expanse of fair skin to the air.
She frowned slightly,
because she didn't remember how she'd gotten into bed, let alone how she'd taken off her outer clothes.
Absolutely no memory of it.
Not the slightest impression,
which was highly unscientific.
Yukino Yukinoshita threw back the covers, pressed a switch with one hand, and her toes landed in her slippers.
With a 'click,'
the dim room flooded with light.
She saw the clothes hanging on the rack, but since this was her own apartment, she had no thought of putting them on. Instead, after glancing around, she walked toward the bedroom door.
As her consciousness cleared and the distance closed,
the faint sounds outside grew increasingly distinct.
"Don't move."
"This feels good, doesn't it!"
"Lin-kun, you're awful—you just love this spot."
"Mm…"
...
Yukino Yukinoshita's consciousness grew ever clearer. She slowly widened her eyes, her breathing growing rapid.
Whose voice was that outside?
It was her sister, Haruno.
Those ambiguous, suggestive phrases set her imagination running wild.
And who was the one her sister was doing this with at the moment?
It had to be her boyfriend, Lin Ye, of course!
Hm?
Lin Ye is my boyfriend?
Yukino Yukinoshita only felt that it was a little strange, yet she had no sense of aversion to it—as though it were a perfectly natural fact.
"This spot feels good, doesn't it!"
"Then I'll go a little softer."
"Lin-kun, you're awful—don't touch there!"
...
Yukino Yukinoshita listened, her face flushing red.
This woman, her sister, was stealing her boyfriend.
Taking advantage of her being asleep to sneak around with Lin Ye, was she!
And what's more, doing it right in the parlor—wasn't that going too far? At the very least, do it in the guest room!
Could it be they didn't even have time to make it to the guest room, so frantic that they just did it right in the parlor?
Amid her runaway imagination,
Yukino Yukinoshita, enduring the intense discomfort within her, grasped the door handle and flung it open with a 'swish.'
With a 'clack,' the two people in the parlor were instantly startled into a brief silence.
Especially Haruno Yukinoshita, who at this moment was sitting atop Lin Ye, drenched in fragrant sweat. Earlier, on account of her exertion, she'd even taken off her outer garment, and the inner shirt clung to her skin, threaded with sweat.
"Yu—Yukino… you're awake."
Haruno was still caught in her astonishment.
Honestly, she truly hadn't expected her little sister to suddenly wake up at this moment. Normally she should have slept straight through till dawn, shouldn't she?
"Sister."
"Lin-kun."
She walked over, lips pursed, face dark.
At first glance, she really had thought the two of them were in the midst of a passionate love-battle. But after getting a clear look at their postures and the state of their clothes, she realized she'd been overthinking it.
Her sister and Lin Ye hadn't done the thing she least wanted to happen.
These two—
a massage?
Her sister was giving Lin Ye a massage?
Yukino Yukinoshita was a little displeased.
This was something her sister had no business doing at all.
'Swish…'
After her initial nervousness, Haruno instead climbed down off the sofa slowly and in an orderly manner, smiling as she looked at her just-awakened little sister.
"Yukino, awake so early? I thought you'd sleep straight through to tomorrow!"
"Sister, with you out here going 'mm' and 'ah,' how could I possibly sleep?"
Haruno's mouth twitched at the corner.
She hadn't been moaning for her little sister to hear—she'd been playing along with the massage, saying those things for Lin Ye to hear, hoping to provoke a reaction and some interest from him, hoping to stir a little impulse in him.
But in the end Lin Ye's reaction was muted, and instead it was her little sister who'd overheard.
"There's nothing I can do about it. Who told Lin-kun to have such a great body, such fine muscles? Once I start touching, I can't stop."
Far from being embarrassed, Haruno went on the counterattack, with no regard whatsoever for the relationship between Yukino and Lin Ye.
"Sister, mind your position."
"Me—my position? Aren't Lin-kun and I good friends? Surely there's no problem at all with me giving a good friend a massage."
"He is my…"
In this moment,
Yukino Yukinoshita hesitated.
Was he her boyfriend, or her quasi-fiancé?
Her head felt the tiniest bit muddled.
"He's your what?"
Haruno's eyes flickered, and she shot a glance at Lin Ye.
Didn't you say Yukino was your girlfriend? Why won't Yukino say so in front of me, her big sister?
On this matter, Yukino had nothing to be shy about in front of her—they were already in a quasi-fiancé relationship built through contact and exchange, so saying they were now boyfriend and girlfriend carried little embarrassment.
Lin Ye was puzzled too.
The Hypnosis hadn't taken effect?
But seeing that Yukino hadn't immediately interrogated him about the Mai Sakurajima matter, he felt his Hypnosis ought to have worked after all.
It seemed something had gone a little wrong somewhere in the middle.
"Quasi-fiancé."
Isn't that the same thing?
Haruno thought.
Lin Ye pursed his lips, pondering where the Hypnosis had gone wrong.
It shouldn't have!
Isshiki had been hypnotized into losing her memory of this very morning—surely it couldn't be that Yukino Yukinoshita had resistance and immunity to Hypnosis?
"And also my boyfriend."
Haruno: ???
So he really was her boyfriend now!
"Sister, right now Lin-kun is my boyfriend, and also my quasi-fiancé. Hm? No, I think it's more fitting to describe him as my fiancé."
Lin Ye: ???
This relationship was progressing fast—so fast that even Lin Ye was caught off guard.
How had he become a fiancé?
Quasi-fiancé + boyfriend = fiancé.
That… somehow seemed to hold up too.
Haruno was left dumbstruck by the remark as well.
By her little sister's logic, her sister's attitude toward Lin Ye hadn't just gone up a notch or two—it had climbed several whole levels.
This shouldn't be!
"Yukino,"
Haruno swallowed and gathered her words. "Do you understand what you're saying?"
"I do. I'm Lin Ye's fiancée. This… there's no problem with that, right, Sister?"
No problem with what?
This problem was a huge one.
There was no way Haruno could watch her little sister sink into this.
The previous quasi-fiancé relationship could be regarded as a simple relationship of contact, but this fiancé relationship was different—this was a genuine betrothal.
It meant her sister had truly set her sights on Lin Ye, accepted him, and was willing to move toward marriage with him.
The next step was marriage,
and Haruno panicked.
"There is a problem."
She spoke, her tone firm. "Lin Ye currently has a girlfriend. Did you know that?"
Although, judging by Lin Ye's reaction earlier, Yukino already knew about the Mai Sakurajima matter, until her little sister said so herself, Haruno would still treat her as not knowing.
"I know."
Yukino nodded. "Mai Sakurajima, the girlfriend Lin-kun is dating. I know about it."
So you really do know!
And from her little sister's tone and attitude, she seemed to not care in the slightest.
"I'm already Lin-kun's girlfriend and fiancée. I'll be understanding of him. It's just dating—it's nothing, really. And I believe he'll discover that I'm the one most suited to be his marriage partner."
Was this something her little sister could ever say?
Haruno stared wide-eyed at the sister before her. She even walked over and circled her several times to confirm whether this was indeed her little sister, Yukino Yukinoshita.
But whether it was her face, figure, and aura, or her temperament and expression—every single thing revealed one fact: this was her little sister, Yukino Yukinoshita.
"Yukino, you… you weren't threatened into this by Lin Ye, were you?"
"Sister, what are you talking about? This is simply what I think."
Yukino reminded her, face cold.
Understanding and tolerance—accepting him, and then his dating other girls.
The Hypnosis had taken effect.
It was just that a slight deviation had appeared.
But the result was a good one.
As for that line Yukino Yukinoshita had said—'she's the best marriage partner'—Lin Ye figured it was the Hypnosis superpower acting on the girl, influencing her consciousness,
while her own consciousness, based on her own personality and behavior, had supplemented that part.
If the target had been Isshiki Iroha, or say Haruno, then even with the same Hypnosis content, the reactions and ways of expressing it would likely differ.
"Lin-kun, did you do something unspeakable to my little sister?"
"Miss Haruno, please watch your words. Yukino is now my girlfriend. How could I bear to do anything to her?"
Unless she were willing.
Lin Ye silently added in his heart.
"There's no way Yukino would make this kind of decision, no way she'd accept this business of you dating other women. Absolutely impossible."
Haruno spoke almost frantically.
It was as if her very worldview had suffered a tremendous shock.
Her sister's enormous change left her unable to accept it for the moment.
And no wonder—
all this time, Haruno had held an extremely high desire for control over her sister Yukino, and an extremely high understanding of her. If she called herself the second-most-understanding person of her little sister in the whole world, no one would dare claim first.
This was her confidence,
but now, this decision and attitude of her sister's had completely exceeded her expectations, leaving her unable to accept it.
"Sister, I accept it. If I don't accept it, does that mean he won't date anyway? That Lin-kun won't date in secret?"
The two rhetorical questions left Haruno speechless.
This style—it really did seem just like Yukino's style.
Had she been overthinking it just now?
But there was still a problem with her sister's thinking. She shouldn't accept it outright—she should refuse directly and make Lin Ye choose one of the two. How could she just accept it and go compete with other women?
"What's more, I'm now Lin-kun's fiancée. We have a betrothal relationship."
At these words, Lin Ye immediately wanted to offer a proper explanation.
This fiancé relationship—it seemed it hadn't gotten his consent!
But seeing the girl's earnest expression, Lin Ye simply let it slide.
Fiancé it is, then.
Yukino had even accepted his dating Mai—indulging the girl in this wasn't something he couldn't accept.
"I'll make Lin-kun realize who is the most suitable for him."
In this moment,
the eyes that gazed at Lin Ye—Yukinoshita's—brimmed with a competitive spirit and a desire to win.
It was a challenge and a struggle against Lin Ye's other girlfriend, Mai Sakurajima.
Inwardly, Haruno cried out that it was all over.
Her sister's competitive spirit had been ignited, and as the big sister she really had no good way to stop it, let alone any way to change it.
Damn it.
Even in her heart Haruno couldn't help but cry out 'damn it.'
Her sister's behavior was highly abnormal. Even if it could be explained away, on an instinctive level she was unwilling to accept it.
So,
she'd try once more.
Something suddenly occurred to Haruno, and she threw her arms around Lin Ye's arm. "Yukino, you're even willing to allow Lin-kun to date Mai Sakurajima, so why not give your consent to Lin-kun and me dating too? I like Lin-kun very, very much as well."
"Sister, let go."
Yukino glared coldly at Haruno, so much so that she nearly lunged forward to forcibly pry the two apart.
"No, no way, I want to be with Lin-kun. Yukino, just give your consent."
"I refuse."
Lin Ye successfully pulled his arm free.
He had no intention of playing along with Haruno. He worried that if he agreed, it would then trigger the Hypnosis on Yukino and cause the girl—who a moment ago had been unwilling—to consent the very next moment.
Such an obvious change—there was no way Haruno wouldn't notice it.
And if Haruno noticed, grew suspicious, and confirmed something,
then he might need to lend a 'humanitarian' hand—helping Haruno forget a few things to avoid inviting even more trouble.
"Boo hoo, Lin-kun, you scumbag. Earlier you had me do this and that, sweet-talking me into making you feel even better, and now you turn your back and pretend not to know me."
Full of grievance, Haruno gave a 'hmph.'
But Yukino was satisfied with Lin Ye's performance.
At least he harbored no improper designs toward her sister.
Still, the fact that he'd just let her sister give him a massage had left a deep impression on her.
She'd have to privately remind Lin Ye about it later: as for massages, she could do them too. And if not, they could find a professional therapist—there was absolutely no need to ask her sister.
Yukino Yukinoshita's guard against her sister Haruno was maxed out.
Caught between the two sisters, Lin Ye was at a loss as well.
The effect of the Hypnosis was pretty good.
Afterward, he'd find some other people to try hypnotizing, and see the limits of this ability.
Could Strange entities be hypnotized?
This was actually the matter Lin Ye cared about most.
If even Strange entities could be hypnotized, then whether he encountered a Strange Invitation Mission this week, or a Reality's Strange, he could handle and resolve it with ease.
This week was a sure thing,
the pressure wouldn't be great.
Lin Ye was even hoping there'd be more Strange Missions this week, to let him gain more experience and earn more game points.
"It's about time. I'll be heading back now."
Lin Ye picked up the clothes he'd set aside, preparing to set off back.
"You're leaving already? It's still early!"
It was already nearly nine o'clock—that hardly counted as early.
"It's not early. Miss Haruno, Yukino, you two should get some rest too."
"How about you… stay over tonight?"
This was said by Yukino.
Even Haruno was stunned.
Generally speaking, this was the kind of suggestion Yukino would never make—but now her little sister Yukino had actually said it.
Her little sister had truly changed.
Mm, it gave her a completely different feeling—at least when it came to how she treated Lin Ye, her sister's attitude was different.
Haruno grew more and more convinced there was something off about this, and in the end she pinned the possibility on the abilities and items that Lin Ye, this Strange Player, brought with him.
If it were abilities and items, it really was possible to influence her sister's consciousness.
But why would Lin Ye do such a thing?
Haruno couldn't quite figure it out; she couldn't find a fitting reason.
"That's not appropriate, is it?"
"We're already in a fiancé relationship, and besides, it's not the first time you've stayed over here."
Haruno was speechless, and even more exasperated.
Even if it wasn't the first time he'd stayed over, you still couldn't put it so matter-of-factly, could you?
"I'm staying too. I want to sleep with Yukino."
Haruno immediately raised her hand. "I'm worried Lin-kun won't be able to hold back and will come for a midnight raid, so I absolutely must share a bed with Yukino to protect her safety."
But in the end, Lin Ye still didn't agree to stay. He chose to leave and return to his own apartment after all.
Because he thought of John back at his apartment.
If he didn't head back, John would probably go on being hungry.
There'd be plenty of chances to stay over at Yukino's, and plenty of chances to have Yukino wear the maid outfit.
Besides, with Haruno here tonight, a lot of things would be no fun.
And so, he decided to leave and return to his own apartment.
After Lin Ye left,
Haruno had no intention of leaving; she truly planned to stay and spend the night here.
At the same time, now that Lin Ye was gone, she intended to question this little sister of hers thoroughly—
just what on earth was going on, that Yukino would agree to allow this kind of thing.
...
...
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