In the end, Yuu still returned to the apartment with Yukino.
All this time, he had faced the relationship that would end alone. All this time, only he had prepared for the separation…
The choices were always made by him alone. Though the decision to make Yukino his girlfriend was left to her, Yuu still believed that in the end, he would have to face the frozen world before the reset by himself.
Not just him—even the system probably never expected a target to voluntarily help the host complete the task, doing something suicidal like this.
After all, losing memories was like dying as he had been back then. All current thoughts and feelings would be killed by the world after the reset, becoming a stranger to himself.
Take his little sister, for example—she knew everything that happened to her big brother and all the suffering Yuu endured. Yukino should feel even deeper fear about this. Yet she still unhesitatingly brought him back to the apartment where she lived alone.
…But with the precedent of resurrection, it didn't seem that scary anymore.
"Come in—these are your slippers."
Carrying the shopping bags, Yukino opened the door. She took out a pair of blue house slippers from the shoe rack. After placing them in front of him, she put the small leather shoes she removed into the rack. Her beautiful small feet, confined for hours and wrapped in black stockings, were finally freed and quickly slipped into fluffy cat slippers.
Feeling the gaze from behind, Yukino resisted the urge to turn. She took off her jacket and hung it on the coat rack near the door. Then, with slightly warming cheeks, she walked to the kitchen as if nothing happened.
"…She really prepared everything thoroughly, huh."
Yuu took a light breath. He put on his slippers with a slightly odd expression. He also hung his uniform jacket on an empty spot on the rack and closed the door. He followed her back.
The curve of her hips visible when bending to remove her shoes—like a half-ripe peach freshly picked.
When her small feet escaped the leather shoes, a faint scent entered his nose.
In the clean and tidy home, there was an elegant girl's aroma.
When the door closed, this place became their world of two.
Watching the girl's lightly swaying steps ahead—her straight long thighs under the school uniform skirt, and the slim waist he could easily hug with both arms.
If he hugged her directly from behind, the touch would surely be exquisite. Tightening his arms as if to squeeze her, burying his face in her swan-smooth neck, deeply inhaling her softness and scent…
(Am I getting aroused the moment I enter? I'm really hopeless…)
Scolding himself inwardly, Yuu shook his head. He expelled all the uncontrollable pink bubbles continuously rising in his mind from his consciousness.
Though Muscle Control couldn't manage the thing made of corpus cavernosum, blood vessels, fascia, and skin—he could influence blood flow by tensing his thigh muscles, avoiding situations where his body reacted beyond his rational control.
"Let me help."
To distract himself, Yuu took the initiative to speak. He placed the shopping bags beside Yukino, who had opened the fridge and was preparing to sort ingredients. His eyes scanned the spotless kitchen.
(Though Yukino cooks for herself every day, her kitchen looks newly built—clean to the point even the neatest person wouldn't find fault—Hmm, she's good wife material.)
Thinking this, Yuu asked: "What kind of hot pot base do you like? Konbu, lemongrass, Mongolian, spicy mala, seafood, cheese, milk, tomato, vegetable—all possible. There's also clear oil and beef tallow, but old-stock broth needing dozens of days to simmer is impossible. Can only prepare simply."
"Your definition of simple is a bit strange…" Pausing slightly, Yukino held her chin and thought. "How about something lighter? You don't like spicy either."
"Decent—I can eat it." Yuu started searching for the newly bought ingredients from the bags.
"Speaking of spicy food—since around September, I don't know why, Nee-san suddenly likes spicy. She wasn't that interested before…"
Yuu's movements stopped. Yukino lifted her head with a wordless expression and stared: "…Good question, but are you sure you want to talk about this during our precious time alone?"
"Afraid I'll get jealous? Relax—I'm not that petty." Yukino smiled lazily like a cat, as if Yuu could see a mischievously swaying tail behind her. "I wasn't even angry at the amusement park. Rather than hearing Nee-san exaggerate her stories, I prefer hearing you tell the past events directly."
"Actually, there's nothing special to tell…"
Though Yuu seemed uninterested, Yukino persistently asked: "But there must be some things I haven't heard. Or—are they things you're uncomfortable telling me?"
Yuu met her eyes. After confirming only pure curiosity and obsession to know more, he let out a long sigh as if defeated.
"…Fine—anyway, the uncomfortable things have already been told by Haruno. The rest are just trivial daily stories. If you want to know—I'll tell you."
"Great!" Yukino clenched her small fist in the shadows. She couldn't hold back a happy smile as if victorious.
Realizing her improper attitude, she immediately cleared her throat twice and regained composure.
"Relax—today there's enough time for you to tell everything about your three ex-girlfriends."
Yuu widened his eyes in disbelief: "Did you bring me home just to dig up this information?"
Yukino slightly tilted her head. She asked confused: "What else would it be for?"
Seconds after the words left, she realized. Her white skin was dyed again with charming red. She glared at him with slight embarrassment and anger—but couldn't think of any retort or condemnation.
After all, the small locked box in the bedroom closet proved she did have hidden motives… Or rather—she was indeed thinking of something deeper.
"Aren't you making the hot pot broth? Hurry—the ingredients are also left to you to handle."
Yukino commanded coldly. She flipped her graphite-like black hair and turned toward the bedroom: "I'm changing out of my school uniform."
"Okay~" Yuu dragged his voice lazily. He watched her flee the kitchen. Soon after, the sound of the bedroom door closing.
Standing from the floor, he stretched. He drew a deep breath of the still-fresh air into his lungs. Then he looked around the completely different cooking environment from his home.
"Hmm… Regular hot pot probably can't make explosive dishes. The ingredients also seem insufficient…"
Muttering with slight regret, he turned to the apron on the wall and couldn't help a helpless laugh.
"Acting like I'll live here. Are my toothbrush and cup already prepared in the bathroom too? Really…"
Taking the very new sky-blue apron hanging beside the cat apron and tying its strings at his waist, Yuu turned on the faucet. He took the pot placed on the stove—probably bought specially for today.
Unfortunately, his home stove was electric. Yuu was still more used to gas. Firepower was easy to control, and stir-fried seasonings were more fragrant.
But it didn't matter. Anyway, the important thing when eating hot pot at home usually wasn't the taste—but the intimacy and warmth of eating from the same pot.
His mood somehow became cheerful. Yuu hummed softly. He turned off the faucet. He placed the pot three-quarters full of water on the stove and turned on the power.
"Though not the first time—but cooking at a girlfriend's house feels quite new~ Oh right—I forgot about this."
He suddenly remembered something. He confirmed Yukino was still in the bedroom and hadn't come out. Then Yuu took out a beautiful small crystal bottle from his school bag.
The long-absent Life Potion. A magical item from another world. Besides healing all diseases, it could also strengthen the body. Currently, six drops remained.
Yuu originally planned to use this chance to give it to both—but since the situation changed, Yuigahama's portion would wait until she came to eat at his house next time.
"If put in the hot pot, it'll be diluted. Better mix into drinks…"
Opening the crystal bottle cap, he once again showed a wicked smile like preparing a crime.