Seeing that Yuyu Izumi remained silent, Yui Yuigahama assumed she was simply too embarrassed to speak.
She originally wanted to phrase things in a different way, but with her usual clumsy way with words, how could she possibly come up with a new way of saying it in such a short time?
If Kotomi Izumi were here, it would have been an easy matter.
But if Kotomi were here, she would never have brought this topic up in the first place.
After all, the whole story—[Yuyu secretly has a crush on a girl but doesn't dare confess, so she stole that girl's "intimate clothing"]—didn't exist at all. It was something Kotomi had fabricated yesterday just to have an excuse to go out alone, deliberately tricking Yui and Yukino.
However, both Yui and Yukino trusted Kotomi deeply, and with how vividly she told the story, they had believed it completely without the slightest doubt.
Right now, if Yuyu were to ask a few confused questions, Kotomi's fabricated lie would immediately collapse on the spot.
"Yui-nee, what are you talking about?" Yuyu tilted her head in confusion. She felt as if, without realizing it, she had somehow ended up taking the blame for something?
"Before Kotomi went to your house yesterday..."
At this point, Yui Yuigahama didn't know how to continue. If she spoke directly, it would actually be quite simple, but wanting to preserve Yuyu's dignity, she decided to explain what Kotomi had told them yesterday in a more tactful way.
The idea was good, but Yui simply couldn't think of how to put it tactfully!
Yuyu's expression gradually became more puzzled. Although she didn't know what Yui was about to say next, she had clearly heard what Yui had just said.
—Before Kotomi went to your house yesterday.
But her sister hadn't come to her house at all yesterday... Yuyu thought, utterly confused.
With countless little question marks swirling above her head, Yuyu was just about to ask what exactly was going on when—
Boom!
Her mind suddenly exploded with realization!
Yuyu understood!
Even though she didn't know exactly what her sister had said yesterday, judging from the current situation, Kotomi hadn't been with Yui-nee and Yukino-nee. That meant she had most likely gone out alone yesterday—and hadn't even returned yet!
She didn't know what her sister had gone out to do, but one thing was certain: before leaving, Kotomi must have made up some excuse to prevent Yui-nee and Yukino-nee from following her. And in that fabricated excuse, Yuyu herself was very likely the main character.
As for the exact content of that excuse... she still didn't know, but it definitely wasn't anything good. Otherwise, Yui-nee wouldn't be looking at her right now with such a serious, earnest expression.
That damn sister of mine! It's one thing to make up an excuse to go out and flirt around, but why drag me into it as the main character?! Since when did I become your shield?!
By the end of that thought, Yuyu even ground her teeth in frustration.
But no matter what, in just a short moment, Yuyu had already pieced together a fairly accurate guess based on her observations.
As long as I act confused and ask a few questions now, your lie will fall apart instantly, and Yui-nee and Yukino-nee will realize you were lying... Yuyu thought with a quiet chuckle.
Originally, she had been a little angry and was ready to do exactly that. But then she reconsidered—she still didn't know why her sister had insisted on going out alone yesterday.
Normally, Kotomi wasn't the type to act alone. If she had lied to Yui-nee and Yukino-nee just to go out by herself, there must have been some reason she couldn't tell them...
Could it be... her sister was being threatened by some bad woman?!
A sudden flash of inspiration struck Yuyu's mind, accompanied by a vividly imagined scene unfolding in her head.
After making up an excuse and deliberately leaving alone, Kotomi Izumi rushed straight to a secluded apartment building.
Standing in front of a familiar door—one she feared, yet also felt a faint, inexplicable anticipation toward—Kotomi tightly gripped her phone. The screen, still lit, displayed a message from a certain woman:
[Miss Kotomi, if you'd like your girlfriend's phone to receive a video of our "wonderful time together" in one hour, you're free to ignore this message. Of course, if you don't want that video to reach your girlfriend, then obediently come wait for me at the usual place. I'm only giving you one hour. If you're even one second late, your girlfriend will receive that video—one that records your enchanting body and captivating voice~]
Standing outside the door, Kotomi took a deep breath. A trace of humiliation flashed across her flushed cheeks as memories surfaced in her mind:
It all started that night...
Drunk, she had boldly taken the initiative to kiss her girlfriend on the street. She had thought there weren't many people around, but unexpectedly, a female classmate she had been close with in middle school had happened to see everything. Not only did she not leave, she hid in the shadows and secretly took photos of them kissing.
Back in middle school, Kotomi had only treated her as a good friend and often spent time with her. But it seemed that the girl had gradually developed different feelings toward her...
During their third year graduation, she had even confessed her feelings. But at the time, not yet aware that she liked girls, Kotomi had decisively rejected her.
Perhaps witnessing that kiss with her girlfriend had completely triggered something twisted inside her. Or perhaps she simply wanted to "punish" Kotomi. The very next day, when Kotomi was home alone, she rang the doorbell. Holding up the photo she had taken the night before, she smiled in a distorted way as she threatened:
"Izumi, long time no see. Do you still remember me? Back at the graduation ceremony, I gathered all the courage I had in my life to confess every bit of my feelings for you over those three years. But you rejected me with that gentle smile on your face...
"Back then, I could still comfort myself, telling myself maybe you just didn't like girls, so being rejected was inevitable. But last night—can you explain what this photo is about? My gentle I-zu-mi~
"I saw it with my own eyes. The way you threw yourself into her arms and kissed her so willingly.
"Tsk—how disgusting, and yet enviable. When it's me, you reject me. But when it's that woman, you eagerly throw yourself at her and become her girlfriend?!
"Heh, I even did a bit of research on your girlfriend last night. Quite inspiring, isn't she? After enrolling in a private high school this year, she's been aiming for Koshien, overcoming countless difficulties to finally join the school's baseball team, working hard as a newcomer..."
"But if I remember correctly, that private high school is most famous for its baseball team. To ensure that every member can focus on training, doesn't the team have a rule prohibiting relationships? If someone is discovered to be dating, they're immediately expelled from the team.
"Knowing full well that she's not allowed to date, yet still choosing to be with you and making you her girlfriend~ how greedy~
"I'm really curious—if this photo of you kissing her were shown to her baseball team, forget about her ever playing at Koshien one day... whether she could even stay on the team would already be uncertain~
"Izumi, if you don't want this photo to be seen by everyone, then you'd better obediently listen to me."
Under her threat, the image of her girlfriend—always facing forward on the baseball field, giving it her all—appeared before Kotomi's eyes.
She wanted to support her dream. She wanted to watch her achieve it someday.
I absolutely can't let her destroy my girlfriend's dream! I just have to endure it once... As long as I satisfy her and get her to delete that photo, my life with my girlfriend will definitely return to normal!
At that thought, Kotomi tightened her grip on her phone, as if trying to encourage herself.
Even though her middle school classmate had already threatened her multiple times with photos and videos, like falling into a bottomless pit with no end in sight...
Every time she felt like giving up, Kotomi would remind herself: For my girlfriend's baseball dream, I must stop this woman from posting that photo of us kissing online! Just hold on a little longer... just a little longer! I won't lose to her, because the bond between me and my girlfriend can never be eroded by her!
Kotomi silently recited her girlfriend's name in her heart. After recalling the sweet moments they had shared, she finally gathered the courage to push open the door in front of her.
Inside the dim room, beer cans were scattered across the coffee table and floor. Several extinguished cigarette butts filled the ashtray. The heavy curtains were tightly drawn, blocking out the sunlight even during the day.
With no windows open, the air was thick with the mixed smell of perfume, alcohol, and cigarette smoke.
The woman, as if recovering from a hangover, lay on the sofa wearing only a white robe. Upon hearing the door open, she slowly sat up and looked at Kotomi. A dangerous smile spread across her beautiful face.
"From the moment I sent you that message until now, it's only been less than fifteen minutes. What, couldn't wait to rush over after receiving it? My cute little Kotomi~"
Kotomi turned her flushed face away and spoke in a cold tone:
"Stop talking nonsense... You've really changed. Not only has your personality become awful, you've even learned to smoke and drink. Back in middle school, you were so quiet, always sitting in the corner reading. That's why I used to talk to you about books all the time. But now, you've changed so much I can't even recognize you anymore. Where did that gentle and calm you go?!"
The woman suddenly pulled Kotomi into her arms with rough force, her cold laughter tinged with madness:
"You're asking where the old me went? Hahaha!!! Asking something so obvious—only a silly little thing like you would ask that, Kotomi! The old me is already dead! She died the day you rejected me!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she forcefully kissed Kotomi.
Before entering the room, Kotomi had repeatedly recalled in her mind the happiness of kissing her girlfriend, their promises, and their bond... yet in less than five minutes, all of it was completely shattered by the woman's aggressive kiss. Along with it, Kotomi's rationality collapsed as well. She felt as if her mind was melting...
At the same time, her girlfriend, who had been waiting and hadn't seen her return, sent her a message.
But Kotomi never replied.
The same continued over the following days.
Until several days later, when Kotomi appeared in front of her girlfriend together with her middle school classmate, her girlfriend hurried over and asked:
"Kotomi, what's going on? Why haven't you replied to my messages for so many days? Did I do something wrong? Tell me... Th-this person is?"
Facing her girlfriend's questioning, Kotomi, her face flushed as if enduring something, could only avert her gaze and say:
"Ah... has it been that many days? S-sorry... I've been exercising with her these past few days. I felt like I was starting to gain a bit of weight... She's my middle school classmate."
"I see... But even if you're exercising, don't get so absorbed in it. Come on, I'll take you to your favorite place for ice cream."
After saying that, her girlfriend reached out to take Kotomi's hand. For some reason, she felt an inexplicable sense of rejection toward the woman standing beside her.
But unexpectedly, Kotomi—who loved ice cream and loved going on dates with her—pulled her hand away this time.
With her gaze still avoiding eye contact, as if constantly glancing toward the classmate beside her, Kotomi spoke with a hint of guilt and trembling in her voice:
"S-sorry... honey, I... I still have to... to work out with her today. It's okay, don't worry. The past few days, it was because my phone was broken that I couldn't reply to you in time. Today will definitely be fine... But if I don't reply because I'm too tired... d-don't worry about me. G-goodbye, I love you..."
Kotomi left together with her classmate.
Leaving her girlfriend standing there alone, staring blankly in the direction they had gone.
...
When this entire imagined sequence finished playing out in her mind, Yuyu felt that the more she imagined it, the more real it seemed.
After all, Kotomi's personality really did seem to attract women. Not just good women—but especially bad ones... particularly the slightly unhinged type.
"Yuyu, what's wrong? You've been spacing out since just now?" Yui Yuigahama asked in confusion.
"Ah, n-nothing!"
Yuyu quickly replied. At the same time, she had already made up her mind—although she still didn't know where her sister had gone, if she didn't help cover up this lie right now, there was a one hundred percent chance a full-blown disaster would erupt between her sister and her sisters-in-law.
"Oh right, Yui-nee, do you know how to play baseball?"
"Baseball?"
Yui thought for a moment, then smiled.
"Now that you mention it, I remember—in middle school, whenever I had time after school, I'd play baseball with my little sister. Though it was just something simple, like her wearing a glove while I threw the ball for her to catch."
!!!
After hearing that, Yuyu suddenly felt that her earlier imagination had become even more realistic!
After answering, Yui continued to ask:
"By the way, why did you suddenly ask if I can play baseball? Anyway, I've answered. Now it's your turn."
The more Yuyu thought about it, the more likely her earlier imagination seemed. If that were true, then Kotomi might still be with another woman right now...
Things like a full ROG setup, change-of-address gifts, and game consoles could wait. She and Kotomi had grown up together. Even though they argued all the time, when it really mattered, she still had to help.
Right now, the only thing she could do was help maintain this lie!
With that thought, Yuyu hardened her resolve, lowered her head, and spoke as if admitting her mistake:
"Yui-nee, you're right. I didn't say anything just now because you hit the mark, and I felt too embarrassed to respond. When my sister came to my house yesterday, I was also too shy to talk much with her..."
Yui let out a surprised "Ah!" and glanced at Kobayakawa Tomoyo in the distance before hurriedly asking:
"Was it Kobayakawa Tomoyo?"
Although Yuyu had no idea why Kobayakawa Tomoyo had suddenly been brought into this, right now her priority was covering for Kotomi. So she forced herself to nod.
"Y-yeah! That's her!"
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