Leaving aside this pitiful person trapped in desire and fear.
Meanwhile.
Hayashi quickly brought 'Yukino' back to her high-end apartment.
The interior looked like a display room in a luxury hotel, sparsely decorated, save for a few cute cat dolls.
Especially noticeable was the Mr. Pan doll, which was kept spotless and placed on the sofa.
But now, 'Yukino' casually tossed it aside, letting it fall to the floor, while she sat down on the sofa herself.
Hayashi silently watched this scene and said nothing, merely patting the Mr. Pan doll clean and placing it on the coffee table nearby.
"You're quite caring, aren't you? Now, please help me out~."
'Yukino' chuckled lightly, no longer pretending to be Yukino, and extended her foot directly toward Hayashi.
"I just felt that Yukino must really like it..."
Hayashi said, his tone slightly meaningful, but 'Yukino' ignored his implication, or perhaps she was extremely confident in her own charm.
She was only impersonating Yukinoshita for fun, not genuinely intending to fully act like Yukinoshita.
Skipping the topic, 'Yukino' placed her foot on Hayashi's knee, a shallow, slightly mocking smile gracing her delicate face, indicating that he should apply medicine for her.
Hayashi removed 'Yukino's' black over-the-knee socks and applied medicinal liquor to her ankle.
Outside the window, the bright moon hung high; inside, the young man and woman were alone in the room. Especially since Hayashi had just applied medicine to 'Yukino,' the girl's skin retained a faint pink flush.
"It's too late! I'm leaving now."
Just as the atmosphere between the two grew ambiguous and 'Yukino' felt Hayashi was about to lose control and pounce on her, Hayashi strategically announced his departure.
If he were applying medicine to the real Yukino, Hayashi would definitely tease her more at this point, only leaving after he had provoked her until her icy demeanor shattered and she bristled.
But now... Hayashi was not facing the real Yukino, and dealing with this 'Yukino,' being passive was the best approach.
Sure enough.
When Hayashi, acting like a perfect gentleman, prepared to bid farewell and turned to leave without hesitation.
Behind Hayashi, the faint trace of mockery on 'Yukino's' lips vanished, replaced by a frown.
Clearly, she was displeased with Hayashi's current attitude, which made her feel as if her charm was insufficient.
Even though she was using Yukino's face right now, this shouldn't be happening!
Even if he had to leave, Hayashi should have been reluctant and nostalgic, or perhaps casually driven away by her.
"Wait~
'Yukino' called out to Hayashi.
Hayashi cooperatively turned around with a look of confusion, his gaze questioning her.
Wearing an expression that said, 'Is there something else?'
"I haven't thanked you yet~."
A hint of seduction flashed in 'Yukino's' eyes. Paired with her cool, detached face, it made Hayashi think of one word: pure desire.
After speaking, 'Yukino' didn't wait for Hayashi's reply but walked into the bathroom on her own accord.
"Splash, splash—"
As the sound of the shower started, whether intentional or not.
The curtain of the glass bathroom was drawn, opaque, showing only the silhouette of the girl hanging up a bath towel... A swing inside the wall, a road outside. Passersby outside the wall, a beauty laughs inside.
Hayashi hadn't known how beautiful Su Shi's poem was before, but at this moment, he understood a little. It was truly well-written... This poem is beautiful!
When 'Yukino' emerged radiating heat, she had changed into another set of Sobu High School uniform, although this uniform seemed to have been modified... it could only be described as brimming with youthful energy.
But none of that was the most important thing. The most important thing was that cat tail—'Yukino' was wearing it! And her expression was enchanting, like a spirit, wonderfully indescribable.
Compared to the real Yukino... she was practically a born enchantress!
As expected of the manifestation of desire, she seemed to instinctively know what Hayashi liked and what would pique his interest the most... Just as Hayashi's weakness was being challenged, the timeline rewound slightly.
Downstairs at Yukino's high-end apartment building.
A woman whose appearance was comparable to Yukino's, but whose temperament was sunnier and who had neat, shoulder-length short hair, could no longer smile.
Yukinoshita Haruno!
Yukino's older sister.
The person Yukino had always wanted to surpass.
In the eyes of the former Yukino, she was practically a perfect model, a capable heir in their mother's eyes, and the reliable daughter of the Yukinoshita Family in the eyes of others.
Unlike Yukino, who couldn't even handle interpersonal relationships well.
That was how it used to be.
But at this moment, Haruno's mood was quite terrible!
As someone who appeared sunny but was actually cunning, extremely concerned about Yukino, and even a bit of a sister complex, she received bad news from Hiratsuka Shizuka today.
"Haruno, your sister might be in love! Let me tell you..."
In love!!!?
Her own sister might be dating!
!
If it were a few years ago, she wouldn't even need Hiratsuka Shizuka to inform her; she would have already known her sister's movements through other channels.
After all, don't underestimate the resolve of someone with a sister complex.
But things were different now. Ever since her sister started associating with the Shinomiya Family's eldest daughter, Shinomiya Kaguya.
She completely lost control over Yukino.
Yukino's status in their family had long changed; after all, the Shinomiya Family... was not comparable to their Yukinoshita Family.
The gap between them was simply the difference between a local magnate and a powerful aristocratic clan.
Under Shinomiya Kaguya's warning, let alone her, even their domineering mother dared not criticize Yukino's actions.
And Yukino hadn't told them about the dangers she encountered or her status in the Anomaly Management Bureau.
Therefore, Haruno didn't know that Yukino had been to the eerie villa, nor did she know about her abnormality.
Even the suspicion that Yukino was in love, she only learned through Hiratsuka Shizuka.
It was fine before; she was relieved that Yukino was with Kaguya, as her sister wouldn't suffer under that young lady's wing.
But Hayashi was different!
Haruno was very concerned about her sister's love life.
Even though Kaguya had warned her not to investigate Yukino's affairs, if her sister was dating, as her older sister, she had the right to know, right?
Thinking this, Haruno had originally intended to investigate Hayashi's background.
However, before her private detective could provide any information.
Haruno, who was driving near her sister's place, intending to find her and discreetly gather information because she worried her sister might be deceived, was shocked!
—Yukino brought a boy back to her apartment!
Looking up at the moonlight in the sky and repeatedly confirming that it was indeed night, Haruno's expression turned incredibly grim.