"It's getting pretty late—little Mio, why not just stay the night?"
Seeing Mio getting ready to say her goodbyes, Mrs. Yuigahama spoke up to keep her.
And while she was at it, she shot her daughter a meaningful look.
There was no way Yui missed what her mom was getting at, but they had class tomorrow, and Mio still had homework to finish—she couldn't exactly force her to stay.
"Next time. I've still got homework to do when I get home tonight," Mio said apologetically.
"All right then, I'll have Yui see you off."
"You didn't have to tell me—I was going to anyway."
With that, Yui walked out the door alongside Mio.
The night was a good deal colder than the day, and the moment Mio stepped outside, a gust of cold wind made her hunch her neck down.
She turned to Yui. "Yui, it's freezing out here—you should head back in."
"I'll just walk you down. I won't go outside."
Since Yui had already said as much, Mio didn't push it.
They rode the elevator down. Mio was standing at the entrance, about to say goodbye and head home, when Yui suddenly leaned in and kissed her.
Mio froze, then glanced around. Once she was sure no one was nearby, she said, "Yui, at least be a little careful out in the open. If someone sees, people will talk."
"Relax. I only did it because I checked nobody was around. Be careful on the way back, and call me when you get home."
"Mm. See you at school tomorrow."
Only after watching Mio go did Yui head back inside, humming a tune with a spring in her step.
The instant she got home, she felt her mom's knowing gaze on her.
"Wh-what is it?"
"Just a little curious—what were you two up to in your room before dinner? Why was little Mio's face so red when you came out?"
"W-we didn't do anything. Don't read into it."
Tossing out that line, Yui bolted into her room at top speed.
Sometimes you don't need an answer to your question—you just watch what they do and you have it.
Meanwhile, when Mio got back to her apartment building and was about to open the door, a familiar car pulled up to the curb, and Yukinoshita Haruno stepped out.
Fresh out of the car, Haruno made a beeline straight for Mio.
And then pulled her into a big, big hug.
"Little kouhai! I missed you to death."
"Senpai, mind your image a little—you're supposed to be a proper young lady, aren't you?"
But Haruno acted as if she hadn't heard a word, clinging tightly to Mio's arm. "Did my little kouhai's date go well today?"
"Well enough."
"So when do you get to go on a date with your senpai, hm?"
Mio was about to say something, but the System's voice beat her to it. "Since Yukinoshita Haruno's gone and said that, the host really ought to respond, hm?"
"Host, find a way to go on a date with Yukinoshita Haruno before the end of this month. Time and place are up to you. Success may earn the Yukinoshita Haruno Series Deck or an item reward; failure means drawing from the Punishment Deck."
"Again?"
This was the second task she'd triggered today. Even with [The Unlucky One] lowering her luck, the tasks kept coming anyway.
Mio was starting to doubt whether that card did anything at all.
Well, it had already happened, so she'd just have to deal with it.
Once upon a time, a Yukinoshita Haruno task would've given her a splitting headache. But now? Mio actually kind of liked the ones involving Haruno.
Unlocking the door, Mio said, "That depends on when my senpai's free."
Surprise flickered through Haruno's eyes. She'd only said it offhandedly—she hadn't expected Mio to take it seriously.
The attitude Mio had shown at first had been nothing like this.
Looks like that situation unique to Mio is cropping up again.
Still, that was fine by her—she could go home and put some real thought into picking a date.
Once inside, Mio flopped down onto the sofa, sprawled out lazily like a limp salted fish.
Shiina Mashiro wandered out of her room, and the moment she spotted Mio, she padded straight over without hesitation and flopped down on top of her.
"Mashiro?"
"Haven't seen you all day. Missed you."
"Okay, okay, up you get—I've still got other stuff to do."
"I won't get down until Mio gives me a kiss," Mashiro said in a flat tone.
Her expression was blank, but the look in her eyes as she gazed at Mio shimmered with anticipation.
Mio gave a helpless little laugh. "Who taught you that?"
"Can't say. Chihiro won't let me tell you."
Mio nearly burst out laughing. Even if Mashiro hadn't said anything, she could pretty much guess who it was.
To win back her freedom, Mio had no choice but to plant a kiss on Mashiro's cheek.
And Mashiro obediently climbed off of her.
Maybe it was the recharge, but Mashiro looked a fair bit more energetic now.
Then Mio watched her skip over to the fridge, grab a pudding, and head back to her studio.
With some time on her hands, Mio set about finishing the homework she hadn't done.
She hadn't lied to Yui earlier—her homework really wasn't done. But with the System's cheat powers, it took her just over half an hour to wrap it all up.
She checked the time. Nine in the evening.
For someone who went to bed at midnight every night, that was still pretty early.
After a bath she could practice drawing for a bit, or just turn in early and rest.
Just as Mio finished her bath and was about to head to her room, the doorbell rang.
The one ringing it was Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Did you need something, senpai?"
"It's precisely because I don't need anything that I came to see you."
Mio had no idea what Haruno was after, but she couldn't just leave her standing in the doorway, so she led her into the living room to sit.
Mio had assumed Haruno wanted something, but all she did was chat, or quietly watch Mio draw—nothing else happened at all.
Mio really couldn't tell just what this wicked woman was scheming.
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