The last time Kotomi Izumi came to Kyoto to attend the first exhibition of the National Youth Art Award at the University of Tokyo, she had planned to visit her Third Uncle and Third Aunt. However, since they had been in Nagoya at the time with Yuyu Izumi for an English exam, the visit never happened.
Her Third Uncle's cooking was genuinely excellent. When she was little, whenever she had the chance, Kotomi would go to his house just to freeload a meal.
Before coming to Kyoto this time, Kotomi specifically called her Third Uncle and Third Aunt in advance to inform them, "Your adorable eldest niece is coming!"
Naturally, they agreed without hesitation and immediately ordered a freshly caught bluefin tuna from a friend, preparing to make a grand feast for their niece and her friends.
When Yuyu Izumi heard that her cousin was coming, she shouted in excitement.
That was the kind of relationship Kotomi and Yuyu had. They could start fighting within minutes of meeting, like three-year-olds. Yet if they didn't see each other for a while, they would start missing each other terribly.
Yuyu would mutter, "Why hasn't Onee-chan come to play with me yet~"
Meanwhile, Kotomi would roll her wrists and think, It's been so long since I beat up Yuyu. My hands feel a little lonely. Next time we meet, I have to find a reason to bully her properly.
Kotomi had scheduled the visit to her Third Uncle and Third Aunt's house for tomorrow.
Thinking of this, she set down her phone and said:
"I'm planning to visit my Third Uncle and Third Aunt tomorrow. They live here in Kyoto. It's less than twenty minutes by taxi. Want to come along~? I recommend coming with me. My Third Uncle's cooking is amazing, especially when it comes to fish dishes."
"Then what kind of gift should we buy?"
The moment Yui Yuigahama heard that Kotomi was taking her to meet relatives, she agreed without hesitation and had already started thinking about what to bring as a gift.
To Yui, Kotomi was her girlfriend. If Kotomi was taking her to meet relatives, didn't that basically mean meeting her girlfriend's family?! Of course she couldn't show up empty-handed!
At that thought, Yui felt both happy and nervous. Happy because Kotomi was bringing her to meet family—wasn't that like saying, "This is my girlfriend" in front of them?
For a brief moment, Yui had already planned when she and Kotomi would get married—and even where the wedding would be held.
But she was also nervous. She didn't know whether Kotomi's family would accept that she had a girlfriend.
Yui's current worries were somewhat premature. If Kotomi brought two girls to meet her relatives, the family would naturally assume they were just good friends. How could they possibly jump to the conclusion that one of them was her girlfriend?
Unless Kotomi wrapped an arm around Yui's shoulders and openly declared, "This is my girlfriend."
"We'll buy gifts for Third Uncle and Third Aunt when we go shopping this afternoon. They don't have any particular hobbies—just cooking and fishing. We can get some fishing gear as a present.
"As for Yuyu… she's in her second year of middle school now. She absolutely loves studying. She ignores everything outside the window and focuses only on reading the sages. She treats money like dirt, so there's no need to buy her anything. If we really want to, we can just grab a few second-year middle school practice books. She loves math."
Kotomi said this casually, feeling like a good older sister who never forgot to care about her younger sibling's education.
Yukino Yukinoshita, who had been browsing a book app, lifted her head when she heard Kotomi mention visiting family tomorrow. Her expression remained calm, but inside, she was anything but.
Kotomi is bringing Yui to meet her relatives. Does that mean she plans to formally introduce Yui as her girlfriend? I didn't expect their relationship to be so passionate that they can't wait to tell their families they're dating… My chest hurts. It's like a lemon tree has grown inside me.
Yukino felt as if her entire heart ached.
Envy, jealousy, unwillingness, disappointment, blessing, sadness—so many emotions pressed together like compressed cotton, filling her heart completely.
Should I still go with them? When Kotomi introduces Yui to her family, am I supposed to stand beside them as Yui's good friend and help speak well of her?
Yukino asked herself this in her heart.
The moment she posed the question, the answer followed.
"Sorry, Kotomi. I'd really like to go with you, but I want to visit some bookstores in Kyoto tomorrow…"
Yukino spoke slowly. The disappointment in her eyes was impossible to hide. She wanted to meet Kotomi's family—but she wanted it to be just the two of them.
The pride in Yukino's heart made her long for Kotomi's complete love.
"But, Yuki…"
Yui had just been about to persuade Yukino when Kotomi interrupted her.
"I see. All right then. Tomorrow it'll just be Yui and me going to Third Uncle and Third Aunt's house. You can go to the bookstore. But I still hope you'll come. My Third Uncle's cooking is incredible, and my Third Aunt's sashimi is unmatched.
I used to dislike sashimi, until I tasted hers…
I only regret not studying enough—I don't even know what idiom to use to describe that delicious sashimi. All I could say was, 'Holy crap, it's so good.'"
"Maybe next time. To be honest, I don't really like eating fish," Yukino said calmly.
"Mm~ Everyone has foods they like and dislike. Just like my cousin—if I don't beat her up for half a day, she'll climb onto the roof and tear off tiles. Since Third Uncle and Third Aunt both love fish, they named her Yuyu Izumi.
So every time she eats fish, her feelings are especially complicated. If you don't count the surname, her two-character name is both 'fish.' But Third Uncle and Third Aunt are so skilled at cooking fish that every time she sees fish on the table, her sorrowful tears flow from her mouth."
"I'll make sure to overcome my dislike of fish as soon as possible," Yukino said with a soft laugh.
"Haha, there's no need to go that far. Third Uncle and Third Aunt aren't only good at fish dishes. 'The same food may be loved by some and disliked by others, and a chef's responsibility is to embrace those differences and, through exquisite skill, allow every customer to taste delicious food equally.' That's Third Uncle's motto."
As she said this, Kotomi scooted a little closer to Yukino.
"Hehe, Yukino, look—you're smiling again. Isn't that a beautiful smile? Smile more in the future. Just seeing your smile once can make me happy all day."
It would have been better if she hadn't said anything. The moment Kotomi said that, Yukino instantly withdrew her smile, lowered her head as if sulking, and continued reading on her phone. She didn't forget to let out a soft huff.
Kotomi chuckled and thought to herself:
So this little Yukino is acting tsundere now. Once you become my girlfriend, I'm definitely going to make you wear white thigh-high stockings and a cat-ear maid outfit every day, smiling sweetly as you say to me, 'Master, I like you the most, meow~.' I'll make you meow for me every single day!!
...
After quite a while, Yui Yuigahama finally finished packing Kotomi's luggage exactly according to her instructions.
Although Kotomi was too lazy to pack herself, she could sit there sipping tea while directing things like a general commanding troops, telling Yui how everything should be arranged. Yui had no intention of arguing at all and obediently followed every instruction.
Even Yukino Yukinoshita, who had long since packed her own luggage and was sitting on the tatami browsing a book app, couldn't quite bear to watch. More than once, she reminded her:
"Yui, your temper is way too good. You're already helping Kotomi pack, and you still have to do it exactly the way she says. If she knows so much, she should pack it herself."
"Hehehe, as long as Kotomi's happy, it's fine."
Yui gave a silly grin. Only after carefully closing Kotomi's suitcase and setting it aside did she begin packing her own things.
Hearing Yui say that again, Yukino could only sigh helplessly. Then, using the phone in her hand, she lightly tapped Kotomi on the head.
"Our Miss Izumi really is blessed~"
Kotomi lifted her chin proudly, deliberately putting on an arrogant expression.
"I originally wanted to get along with you as an ordinary person. But now—I won't pretend anymore. I'll come clean. I'm the daughter of a financial conglomerate!"
As she said this, she even smugly extended her little hand toward Yukino.
"Woman, I permit you to kiss the back of my hand… Ow—"
Before she could finish, Yukino smacked her outstretched hand without mercy.
Kotomi immediately withdrew it pitifully, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. The earlier pride and arrogance vanished without a trace, replaced by a soft, vulnerable expression that made one want to pull her into their arms and cherish her for a lifetime.
Kotomi Izumi had a remarkable ability to stir up the deepest protective instincts in others, even when she didn't mean to.
Though this time, she absolutely meant to.
She wanted to awaken that protective instinct in Yui or Yukino—or better yet, both of them at the same time.
Despite constantly claiming she was probably the dominant one, Kotomi was actually very honest with herself about how much she enjoyed being held, doted on, and pampered. She understood that clearly in her heart—she just refused to admit it out loud.
She loved calling Yukino a tsundere and aloof little tigress, but wasn't she herself a tsundere little penguin?
Just like that time when Kazumi had asked her, "Kotomi, are you a tsundere?"
Kotomi had flushed bright red and pounced on Kazumi, trying to cover her mouth with both hands as she protested shyly, "Who's a tsundere? I'm not a tsundere at all!"
Kotomi successfully stirred up the protective instincts in both Yukino and Yui. The usually slow-moving dumpling reacted with astonishing speed this time. Before Kotomi had even finished speaking, Yui had already pulled her tightly into her arms.
Kotomi's hand—the one Yukino had just smacked—was gently enclosed in Yui's two hands and tenderly stroked.
"Kotomi, does it still hurt?"
"Mm~ Yui, my hand hurts."
Kotomi sniffed softly, pouting with a voice as soft and sweet as a milk cake. Her pink eyes seemed veiled with mist, and she buried her head into Yui's embrace as though she lacked all sense of security.
Watching Kotomi change expressions faster than flipping a page, Yukino was momentarily stunned. Then she twitched her lips.
She too had felt that protective urge rising within her. Normally, her reaction speed was even faster than Yui's. But what was the use of quick reflexes when she was a tsundere?
When that protective instinct surged up, she had also wanted to reach out and pull Kotomi into her arms. But just as she was about to extend her hand, her tsundere nature kicked in instinctively.
Hmph. I don't even need to look—just listening is enough to know Kotomi is acting spoiled on purpose. Such childish tricks. As if I'd take that to heart.
After less than a few seconds of mental resistance, she argued with herself again.
Maybe… I should hug her after all. When I hit her just now, I might have used a bit too much force.
Those few seconds of hesitation were enough.
Yui had already beaten her to it and pulled Kotomi into her arms.
Now Yukino could only watch helplessly as the Kotomi who might have been in her embrace instead lay nestled in Yui's arms, acting spoiled.
Tch… how childish.
Yukino clicked her tongue inwardly, pretending she neither heard their conversation nor saw Kotomi acting cute. She lowered her head and continued reading on her phone.
What was the book about? Which page was she on?
She had no idea.
Her mind wasn't on reading at all. She was merely lowering her head to avoid awkwardness.
At this very moment, Yukino Yukinoshita felt as though a lemon tree inside her had ripened. In her mouth, in her heart, in her mind—everything was filled with the sourness of having swallowed countless lemons.
After lounging lazily in Yui's arms for a while, Kotomi finally sat up and stretched comfortably.
Not because she had enjoyed enough—how could she ever enjoy enough?
She was simply hungry and planning to go eat lunch first.
She wondered whether Ayani Kika had already left Harugamo Inn.
Kotomi truly did not want to run into Ayani Kika while walking down the corridor with Yukino and Yui—or worse, while eating in the restaurant.
A "king meets king" situation between two girls was already more than enough for Kotomi to handle. If it escalated into a three-girl "king meets king"… the intensity of that battlefield would upgrade from the Chu–Han Contention straight into a Three Kingdoms standoff.
After stretching, Kotomi was just about to ask Yukino if she wanted to go eat when her gaze was drawn to the book app on Yukino's screen.
It wasn't that the book itself was particularly fascinating. In fact, Kotomi had already read it several times before.
The reason she was drawn in was because—
"Ahem…"
Kotomi cleared her throat and said slowly,
"The bow bends like the autumn moon crossing the sky, the arrow flies like a falling meteor… Yukino, are you reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"
Yukino froze for a moment, then nodded.
"Yes. Kotomi, is your eyesight really that good? I don't like setting the font too large when I read. You could still recognize it?"
"My eyesight is pretty good, but more importantly… you're holding your phone upside down. From my angle, the text is upright, so I could tell you're reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
Kotomi smiled awkwardly, pointing out that little Yukino had been pretending to read the whole time.
Only then did Yukino snap back to reality and realize she had indeed been holding her phone upside down all along.
A flush spread across her face, her cheeks growing warm. She hurriedly flipped her phone the right way up and forced an explanation.
"I—I knew I was holding it upside down! Reading is about viewing the same book from different perspectives. That way, you gain more insights and discoveries. I've already read Romance of the Three Kingdoms once. I wanted to approach it from a different angle, so I deliberately held my phone upside down."
"Ohhh~ I see. As expected of literary girl Yukino. I've been enlightened," Kotomi said with a mischievous grin.
Before she could finish speaking, Yukino shot her a flustered glare, her cheeks still tinged red.
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