After losing multiple rounds and being repeatedly subjected to "physical training," Utaha finally decided to quit the game.
Megumi had also suffered a few "accidental" punishments and ended up sweating quite a bit. Her face was still flushed from the exertion.
Of course, from Yukino's perspective, those weren't exactly accidents.
After all, those two girls had been her main targets from the start.
Among the four present, the only one who looked completely unbothered was Haru. Despite going through the most intense training of them all, he remained perfectly composed.
"I just called home," Megumi said, wiping the sweat from her face while sneaking glances at Haru.
"My parents won't let me stay over, but they said I can hang out a bit longer."
Just as she suspected—Haru's stamina really was insane!
At the moment, she felt just like Yukino had last year—constantly "eyeing" Haru's physique.
Not in a dirty way, of course. She was simply curious. She wanted to personally test just how much his body could handle.
"Shame. You're going to miss some fun stuff," Yukino said with a light, satisfied tone.
She was in a great mood. Not only had she dominated the game, but she'd also taught Utaha a proper lesson.
Her expression practically screamed that iconic movie line: I've been waiting to do this for ages!
"I'm taking a shower," Utaha announced as she stood up.
Sweat clung to her bangs, and her flushed cheeks only added to her allure, making her look like a seductive beauty straight out of a painting.
Yukino and Megumi didn't even blink. They had witnessed it all—Utaha had been punished the most, and she looked thoroughly worn out.
Utaha walked around the couch, opened her bag, and pulled out a set of boldly styled front-closure lingerie. As she did, she said casually,
"Haru, bring me a clean bathrobe."
He blinked. "Not going to wear Yukino's pajamas?"
Yukino lifted her head with feigned calm at that.
Utaha replied in the same cool tone, "Her pajamas are too small. They're tight around the chest. It's uncomfortable."
Tossing her hair with pride, she turned and strutted toward the bathroom, long legs on full display.
Yukino's voice was cold and crisp.
"Looks like I went too easy on her."
Haru agreed inwardly—but he wasn't about to say it out loud and risk ticking Yukino off.
Honestly, though, he didn't care about the whole "bigger or smaller chest" thing.
He grabbed a clean robe from the bedroom. Just as he reached the bathroom door, he found Utaha leaning against the wall, arms crossed over her chest, expression calm.
The way she stood made it clear—she had something to say.
"You want to talk?" Haru asked.
"Yeah," she answered plainly, motioning him closer so Yukino and Megumi couldn't overhear from the living room.
Haru stepped inside, watching her gently push the door halfway closed behind him.
"You probably have questions for me too, don't you?" she said first, not jumping straight to her own point.
He nodded.
"You kept losing on purpose. Why? Why not just quit halfway?"
That had been bothering him.
"You noticed, huh." Utaha didn't look surprised at all. Her voice was calm as she continued,
"My original plan was to let Yukino win a couple rounds. I figured once she felt satisfied, she'd be willing to sit down and talk with me."
Haru's eyes narrowed.
"So… earlier, when you called me into the dressing room, Megumi told her about it?"
"Of course she did. Otherwise, why do you think Yukino went after me the moment she got home?" Utaha's tone turned cold.
That explained it.
With her intelligence and observational skills, there was no way Utaha hadn't noticed how convenient Yukino's wins were. And yet, she had still gritted her teeth and played along—because, deep down, she knew she was in the wrong.
Utaha continued,
"I'm guessing Yukino asked Megumi about what happened between us, and Megumi told her the truth…"
She frowned, frustrated.
"Lately, Megumi's been doing this a lot. She won't take initiative to tell anyone anything—but the second someone asks, she gives a full report."
"Is your relationship with her getting worse?" Haru asked, surprised.
From what he'd seen, their interactions seemed normal. More like Utaha had been annoying her with constant flaunting or teasing.
"I'll explain that part another time," she said, not wanting to dive into it.
She leaned her head back against the wall and fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.
Then she spoke again, this time lowering her voice.
"Tonight, you're not allowed to side with Yukino anymore."
"You're still going to fight her?" Haru blinked, surprised.
Talk about persistence. She'd been getting wrecked all night.
Utaha stayed calm.
"If you hadn't been favoring her earlier, there's no way she would've beaten me."
"You sure about that?"
"Oh? You think she's better than me?"
"This isn't about who's better," Haru replied evenly. "It's about your mental states. The two of you weren't on equal footing."
Utaha raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
As an observer, Haru had a clearer view.
"Yukino pinned you the second she walked in. That pissed you off, didn't it? Blackjack's a psychological game. If you two had been facing off one-on-one, could you really keep calm the whole time and not get shaken by her provocation?"
Utaha paused, processing that.
Haru added,
"The more a game relies on strategy and bluffing, the more important your mindset becomes. From the very beginning, the two of you were playing with completely different mentalities."
Utaha closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she opened them again, she looked… annoyed—with herself.
"…You're right. I overlooked that."
She looked visibly more frustrated now.
If Haru hadn't pointed it out, she might've stayed stuck in her own little fantasy of a comeback victory.
If the King's Game had really been a 1v1 against Yukino, she probably would've snapped midway from Yukino's psychological attacks.
Finally, she'd calmed down.
…But only mentally. Her goal hadn't changed.
"You're still not allowed to interfere tonight," she said firmly.
Haru tilted his head. "So what are you planning?"
Utaha gave him a cryptic smile.
"You'll see."
Just as she finished speaking, Utaha suddenly grabbed Haru by the collar. With a slight flush on her cheeks and a teasing smile, she looked into his eyes and said,
"I'm a little annoyed. You're willing to help me get over it, right?"
Haru raised a gentle reminder.
"Yukino might come over at any moment."
But Utaha seemed to ignore that entirely. Her soft, enticing lips parted slightly.
"I just had an apple. My mouth's really sweet. Want a taste?"
With her being so bold, there was no reason for Haru to back down.
He moved in as usual—but just as he reached out, Utaha gently pushed his hand away.
Still blushing, she pressed her forehead against his. Her breathing was light and slightly husky, thick with emotion.
"I'm covered in sweat right now."
Haru chuckled.
"I don't mind."
"But I do." She shot him a glare.
Even though they'd already seen each other intimately more than a few times, she still wanted to show him her most beautiful side—always.
She tilted her head slightly, silently asking for another kiss.
Haru responded, capturing her lips once again.
Meanwhile, out in the living room—
Yukino's danger radar suddenly activated. She stood up with the ginger cat in her arms and headed straight for the bathroom.
Behind her, Megumi asked in confusion,
"You're going to shower too?"
"No," Yukino replied without even turning back.
"I'm going to catch someone."
But when she reached the bathroom door, she found Haru leaning against it, his expression somewhere between helpless and guilty.
Inside, Utaha was… inspecting the underwear Yukino had hung in the bathroom.
When she noticed Yukino's arrival, she didn't bother hiding her smirk.
"Cute. A little small, but cute."
Yukino's expression froze over.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed, senpai?"
"I'm just stating the facts," Utaha replied, clearly in a good mood after the kiss.
Yukino set the ginger cat down, watching it lazily stroll back to the living room. Then, as if casually, she said,
"Perfect timing. I was just about to take a bath too."
Utaha's smirk faded slightly, and she replied in an oddly gentle tone.
"Sorry, you'll have to wait until I'm done."
"You don't want to bathe together?" Yukino asked emotionlessly.
"Nope. No interest. Zero willingness."
As soon as she said that, Utaha shoved Haru out of the bathroom, slammed the door, and locked it in one smooth motion.
Haru blinked, thoughtful.
"Looks like she sensed danger."
Yukino turned back toward the living room, voice cool and deliberate.
"I was curious to try practicing some joint locks in the tub. Her reaction would've been… fascinating."
Ah. Now Haru understood.
Apparently, it wasn't just Utaha who still wanted to fight—Yukino was very much game as well.
~~~~~~~~~~
You can support me by subscribing on Patreon and read upto 5 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/Ranabir_20