The moment Yukino and Hayashi stepped into the office.
Hiratsuka's exclamation, full of envy, jealousy, and hatred, rang out.
It was filled with the resentment of an older, unmarried female teacher who had failed at matchmaking.
Her words struck Yukino speechless…
Dating? Does my sister know?
But Yukino quickly reacted, staring coldly at Hiratsuka-sensei and demanding in a chilling voice:
"Hiratsuka-sensei! What nonsense are you spouting?"
She could ignore idle gossip, but Hiratsuka was different; she held a favorable impression of this responsible teacher who genuinely cared about her students.
Therefore, her 'teasing' 'envy and jealousy' helped Yukino slightly break the ice.
"Ah, it's not!?"
Hiratsuka looked suspiciously at Yukino, who seemed more charming than usual today, her voice full of doubt.
She still trusted her judgment, having seen so many couples.
How could she not see through such a small matter?
"Of course not!"
Yukino said angrily, simultaneously shooting Hayashi a 'fierce' look, signaling him to quickly prove her innocence.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, we are definitely not dating!"
Teasing a kitten requires moderation, or else... it will throw a fit. So, Hayashi played along with Yukino, shrugging his hands as he spoke.
"Is that so?"
She still felt slightly unconvinced, but Hiratsuka carefully observed their attitudes and realized she might have genuinely misjudged the situation.
But even if they weren't dating, they were close enough!
Hiratsuka pouted, thinking unhappily to herself.
After all, Yukino's isolation was famous at Sobu High School, especially after she started associating with the Shinomiya Family's eldest daughter from Shuchiin Academy, Shinomiya Kaguya.
Even her older sister didn't dare discipline her.
She only dared to ask me to keep an eye on her... Thinking this, Hiratsuka didn't pursue the issue with Yukino any further.
After carefully checking on Hayashi's situation over the past few days, she let the two of them go.
Watching Hayashi and Yukino walk away, Hiratsuka pouted and simultaneously complained:
"Tsk, young people these days really know how to play games. With this back and forth, and they're not dating! Even his whereabouts are being explained by you, Yukino! You look completely like a supportive wife! If she's not his girlfriend, is she his secretary then?"
She recalled how Yukino had just answered all her questions for Hayashi, while Hayashi merely stood by and nodded, adopting an expression that said, "Everything Yukino says is correct."
'I wasn't attending school the past few days because I was working hard for the National Competition...'
This attitude... 'Although I feel it's good that Yukino has a male friend, Haruno's request...'
Considering Haruno's entrustment to her, Hiratsuka still felt she should inform her of Yukino's current situation.
After all, she is Yukino's older sister~
...After leaving Hiratsuka-sensei's office, Yukino parted ways with Hayashi, and nothing particularly unusual happened at school.
In the International Class, which had an abundance of girls, the female students looked at her with even greater hostility.
Yukino didn't care about this; after all, their attitude towards her before was only slightly subtler, but not much better.
Yukino wasn't afraid of them even before entering the Instance, and in her eyes, they were no better than monkeys.
Naturally, she wouldn't care about their feelings now either.
They wouldn't dare do anything to her—this was Yukino's current confidence.
Although she didn't care about them, Yukino noticed something strange after leaving school.
—Her steps stopped in front of a jewelry store!
'Such a beautiful necklace, I love it!'
Yukino's gaze fell upon a particular necklace.
—The Blood Diamond Choker.
Crafted by a master, its design was extremely exquisite. Embedded in the center of the choker was a 25-carat deep red, rhombus-shaped diamond... It gave off an immediate feeling of luxury.
'Why would I like something so flashy and impractical?'
This question flashed through Yukino's mind, but soon an uncontrollable desire arose deep within her heart.
'I want it, I want it! I want it! Only it is worthy of me!'
By the time Yukino regained her senses, the necklace was already resting on her fair neck.
Through the store mirror, Yukino saw a cool, aloof girl wearing a gorgeous necklace.
The luxurious necklace tainted her originally elegant temperament with a hint of extravagance.
'It's just a tax on stupidity.'
'It can make them envious and jealous of you.'
'They are already jealous of me, and it's meaningless.'
'But it's beautiful, isn't it?'
...Voices kept echoing in her mind. Gradually, Yukino felt that something was wrong, but the moment that feeling arose, it vanished.
She only felt that it was her instinctive desire... Finally, in a daze, Yukino purchased the expensive necklace under the eager gaze of the sales staff.
Wearing the luxurious and delicate necklace, Yukino walked out of the jewelry store and into a clothing store... Basic clothing attributes like comfort, practicality, and warmth were completely irrelevant!
Opulence! Beauty! Luxury goods whose high price could be instantly recognized by those around her were what truly mattered!
By the time Yukino emerged from the private high-end clothing store, her appearance had completely changed.
The Blood Diamond Choker necklace, black pearl earrings, jade bracelet, golden leg ring... expensive accessories, luxurious clothes.
In just one day, Yukino had exhausted all her savings.
The money she had saved since childhood, plus what she had saved from completing missions—savings sufficient to buy several apartments in Tokyo—was all gone.
Under these circumstances, driven by the uncontrollable desire in her heart.
Yukino even entered an extremely expensive restaurant for a meal.
After ordering a table full of luxurious dishes and only lightly sampling each one.
A waiter approached, his eyes filled with infatuation.
"Madam, is this your bill?"
"Mhm~!"
Subconsciously, Yukino prepared to take out her card to pay, but after swiping it... "Beep~ Insufficient balance on card~."
The sound of the machine rang out, finally jolting Yukino awake from the intense desire.
'What have I done!'
Looking at her luxurious clothes and extravagant accessories, Yukino instinctively looked at the cursed tool on her body... The cursed tool was not out of control!
'Everything is normal, isn't it!'
A delicate laugh that made her brain tremble sounded, causing a trace of confusion to flash in Yukino's eyes. She struggled, eventually murmuring.
"Mhm, it's nothing serious."
"Do I need to pay for my meal?"
An arrogant voice suddenly came from 'Yukino,' and the waiter, gazing infatuatedly at her, said without objection.
"Of course! It is our honor that you chose to dine here!"
Infatuated, the waiter intended to waive the bill for Yukino.
As for whether the boss would charge the expensive meal cost to him after waiving the bill or when he could possibly pay it back with his meager income.
These matters were no longer within his scope of consideration.
'As long as she gives me a smile, dying for her would be worth it!'
He thought this way.
"Heh~"
Yukino's lips curled into a mocking arc.
But just then, right as the waiter was about to let her go and bear all the costs.
A clear yet trembling voice rang out.
"There's no need!"
It was Yukino's voice. With trembling fingers, she subconsciously dialed Hayashi's number.
"Hello?"
The call connected quickly, and Hayashi's confused voice came through.
"Help me!"
Yukino's voice of distress sounded, and she sent Hayashi the restaurant's location.