"…Of course there is. Wait for me here a moment."
Yukino drew a deep breath. After answering expressionlessly, she turned and walked toward the bedroom, holding her neck where the fresh bite mark had just been planted.
Before closing the bedroom door, she suddenly turned back, her eyes sparkling with a different light.
"I suddenly thought of something."
"What?"
"Besides my chest and thighs, you also carelessly left many of your traces on my ears and neck… But it's impossible you didn't consider the possibility that these marks would be hard to erase and would eventually be seen by others."
Yukino's crisp melodious voice said softly and confidently: "You who always think of me would never do something that would trouble me just because of momentary lust."
"That's because…" Yuu opened his mouth to answer, but somehow couldn't continue. He couldn't make any sound.
Yukino spoke the answer for him. Her tone calm like a prosecutor reading the defendant's crimes.
"Because you know everything that happens after tonight will be reset by God. All the traces you left on my body, this necklace you gave me, even what we might do later… All facts that have occurred will turn into illusion bubbles tomorrow morning and disappear when eyes open."
"Because you believe in me—that I'll complete your request tonight. Believe we'll soon part."
Yukino could feel it. Though she tried hard to hold back, she still couldn't help venting the unspeakable emotions in her heart.
The kiss marks on her body were the best proof.
"..."
After a moment, she smiled at the silent young man. She turned casually and cheerfully.
The slowly closing bedroom door separated their gazes. Only one sentence remained lightly.
"Maintain this belief until the end, my boyfriend."
*CLICK!*
In the living room, Yuu was as silent as the closed door.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Though Yukino was only getting the Christmas gift, she hadn't come out for ten minutes.
Yuu sat on the sofa, staring at the girl's bedroom door from afar. He couldn't resist the urge to barge in and see what she was doing… His ears were sharp, and he could hear the other side hadn't locked the door.
But there must be respect between couples. Even husband and wife shouldn't ignore their partner's feelings. Especially for Yukino who upheld etiquette and had a serious personality.
But if her sexual deviation was the opposite—and she preferred him being forceful and rough—and waiting in the room for him to enter…
Yuu shook his head. He silently denied that less-than-five-percent possibility.
At that moment, the bedroom door that felt closed for an hour finally made a sound. From behind the slowly opening door, a figure carefully stepped out.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
When her full figure reflected in his eyes, Yuu unconsciously drew a cold breath. It felt like seeing a Stardust Dragon transform into a beautiful sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl before him. His mouth gaped in shock, eyes wide as if about to fall from their sockets.
"H-How… Doesn't it suit me?"
(Are you kidding? Is there a girl in the world more suited to a Christmas mini dress than Yukino?)
Answering in his heart, his gaze greedily fixed on the smooth collarbone and snow-white shoulders. Yuu stopped at her chest for less than a second, then swept downward.
The girl who just spoke arrogant confident words now shyly averted her gaze, looking very insecure. Her hands occasionally pulled the too-short red-and-white furred cotton skirt. Her knees unconsciously bent inward, as if ready to squat and take a defensive position anytime.
But no matter how much Yukino pulled, she couldn't hide the lamb-fat-white skin exposed to the air. Her long smooth proportional legs were vaguely covered, instead making her innocent shy allure clearer. It once again ignited the extinguished fire in Yuu's body.
(Damn, this time it's really a bit bad…)
Thinking so, Yuu slowly exhaled and unconsciously stood—well, imagine for yourself where he stood; it can't be written anyway.
With eyes full of admiration, he said in a very serious tone: "It suits perfectly! But I think there are still a few places needing adjustment. Stand there—I'll check carefully."
"Places needing adjustment? Which part do you mean…" Yukino tilted her head confused. She pulled her red-white Christmas skirt with slight insecurity. After observing her own body a moment, she suddenly realized.
She sharply raised her gaze and halted Yuu's casual walking steps—as if with real force.
"What do you want to do?"
Putting on an innocent face, Yuu was only a few steps from her—but as if Tokyo Bay without sewage flowed between them.
"Help you measure the size."
"With your hands?"
"I can't possibly use my feet…"
As if forgetting her shyness, Yukino said coldly: "Back up now… Back up more—lean on the sofa. Okay—just look from there."
After ensuring Yuu was about three meters away, Yukino returned to the room to get her phone. After nodding satisfied with his still unmoving standing posture, she started swiping her phone.
Leaning on the sofa, Yuu waited almost two minutes with a confused expression before he couldn't resist asking: "Yukino—isn't my Christmas gift you in a Christmas outfit?"
"Ngh… you're overthinking. I'm not that stupid!" Her white cheeks stained pink. Yukino sweetly rolled her eyes at him, then lowered her head and continued pressing her phone.
"This Christmas gift was originally to be given with Yui—but I got her approval. Now I'm giving it to you first. Later Yui will give you something different."
"You two prepared it together? What exactly is it…"
Before Yuu finished asking, familiar electronic music came from her phone.
Yuu immediately recognized it. It was the once-popular internet song Gokuraku Jodo. The song quickly became famous in ACG circles with unique dance steps, clear rhythm, and avant-garde lyrics. Countless related covers and dance covers existed on bullet-screen sites.
Though not known to everyone, most slightly otaku-culture-aware people had seen this song's MV.
…So—the question was—why was Yukino, who basically had no relation to otaku culture, playing Gokuraku Jodo for him now?
(Could it be Yui…)
Without giving Yuu time to guess, Yukino drew a deep breath. Her expression quickly calmed, but the red on her face deepened like intoxication.
"Your Christmas gift is this. Don't say anything—just watch until the end."
As the beautiful gentle intro ended, accompanied by increasingly strong drum beats, the Christmas-dressed girl with black hair in a high ponytail lightly clapped—then began skillfully standard butterfly dance steps.
[When moonlight rises, red lanterns light…]
In the living room, the music was captivating—and the scene somewhat bizarre.
Before the sofa, Yuu looked stunned—gazing at the girl lightly spinning and gracefully dancing—in a cool confident appearance.
From too great a shock, he even had nearly a minute where his brain was completely blank. He only dazedly admired her dance.
Not that Yukino danced poorly. Though lacking stamina, her motor nerves were highly developed. Plus—she seemed to have carefully studied this song for some time. Her dance could be called very standard—without findable flaws.
But—how to say it…
Yuu never thought in his twist-filled life hard to express in words—he would meet a day where his girlfriend danced Gokuraku Jodo as a Christmas gift for him.
Especially the dancer being Second Miss Yukinoshita—nicknamed Ice Queen. If others saw this too-fantastical scene—they might immediately start doubting life…
(Except Haruno. She'd probably gleefully take out her phone and record this scene for eternity.)
Thinking this, Yuu couldn't help deciding in his heart—
This unknown Yukino—only he now could see her—in all Japan, the world, even all parallel worlds.
Slowly, Yuu set aside unnecessary thoughts. He admired the girl's dignified serious cool dance—without a hint of seduction.
It was a special gift Yukino presented to him—enduring shyness.
And the focused-dancing Yukino of course didn't notice.
Yuu's gaze was basically locked below. The mini skirt jumping with dance steps—tight white thighs—and occasionally visible black lace fabric…
Anyway—it was a different type from what she wore before dinner. Yuu didn't know if Yukino intentionally skipped safety shorts—then wore this to tease him.
Struggling to suppress his increasingly heating heart from the temptation—until the music ended—the girl stopped her movements. Her flat chest slightly rose and fell. After Yukino stood in place and regulated her slightly panting breaths—Yuu finally sincerely clapped. One person's applause thundered like cheers.
"Beautiful—sexy! Yukino the world's best—no one can match!"
"Just saying beautiful is enough."
Sighing helplessly at him, Yukino still pressed her lips—showing a small happy smile.
"…This is your Christmas gift. Glad you're satisfied."
"Not just satisfied—almost overflowing." Smiling shamelessly saying so, Yuu stretched his arms—preparing to warmly passionately excitedly hug her.
Yukino lightly dodged. While wiping thin sweat on her forehead with her sleeve, she released her high ponytail. She shook her quite messy long hair and lightly sighed.
"The snow outside is getting heavier."
"But the thing really getting bigger—you pretend not to see it."
"Please don't say lewd statements in such a wistful tone."
Yukino glared at him—and turned her flushed face away again.
"Hold it. This is punishment for forgetting us waiting outside—because you were dueling Yuuki-san."
"No way? That was so long ago…" Yuu wailed long—like a thirsty unsatisfied beast.
Yukino ignored him. She could also hear her boyfriend wasn't really rushing to do it. He was just deliberately teasing her.
There was one final threshold she hadn't crossed in her heart—and before that—Yuu probably couldn't pierce that membrane and truly fuck her?
No—not couldn't. But wouldn't dare.
Because for Yuu—it meant—no matter how the world changed—no matter if God forced him to be another girl's boyfriend again—he must shamelessly make her his girlfriend again—that meaning was that important.
But Yukino sneered at that.
This was absolutely not responsibility—just a coward weak bastard mentality—what after she helped him do it with her legs—let him kiss all parts of her body—and endured shyness and fear to be honest with him.
After the task ended—Yuu could still pretend nothing happened—and think Yukino was still pure—and no need to take responsibility for her?
Unreasonable double standards!
The so-called top student—at best just a self-deceiving fool. Maybe only brainless insects would love him to death.
Her thoughts spun a thousand times. Yukino lightly sighed. She stood before the frosted window.
She suddenly spoke: "Tenkuji-kun—let's go out to see the snow."
"Eh? So sudden?"
Yuu gazed surprised at her back. Her figure in the Christmas mini dress was still very tempting from behind.
"Hmm—but I can't go down dressed like this—so just view from the balcony."
Saying that, Yukino unlocked the floor-to-ceiling window and pushed it open.
Dry cold air that seemed to freeze breaths immediately flowed in—opposing the living room heater. Yukino removed her furry slippers without feeling anything—and walked out barefoot.
Yuu instinctively wanted to stop her: "Wait—you'll catch cold like this—"
"No—it's very warm."
Her black hair fluttered like silk. Yukino half-turned—cupped falling snowflakes—and showed him a pure joyful calm smile.
"The necklace you gave is very useful. Even walking out in such thin clothes—even barefoot on the near-ice floor—I don't feel much cold…"
"So—thank you, Tenkuji-kun."
Yukino smiled satisfied.
Her crisp melodious voice—under the snowy night—gently knocked Yuu's heart.
"This is the first time I know—Christmas is actually such a warm holiday."
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The floor-to-ceiling window separated the warm and cold worlds.
Both walked out—leaning on the balcony railing—gazing far at the pitch-black sky where snow scattered.
Initially they stood side by side. But Yuu feared Yukino—who hadn't fully absorbed the Life Potion—would get cold—so he went to the living room for a jacket. He hugged her from behind—so the jacket could cover both their bodies.
They hugged front and back like that—letting snow fall on shoulders. Their white breath intertwined—and disappeared under the boundless snowy night.