Outside Yukinoshita Yukino's apartment.
The moment Yukino stepped out of the car, she saw her sister standing there.
Su Yu glanced at her and wasn't surprised.
"Nee-san, why are you here—"
Before she could finish, she noticed the cold expression on Haruno's face.
Haruno was furious. But not at them.
Yukino had never seen her sister like this before. She suddenly didn't know what to say.
"Yukino, head upstairs first," Su Yu said softly.
"...Okay."
Yukino looked at Su Yu, then obediently left.
Su Yu watched her enter the building and also waited until the Yukinoshita family's car drove away.
"Did you find out?" he asked Haruno.
"...I did," Haruno answered in a low voice.
"What are you planning to do?" Su Yu asked.
"...I don't know."
Haruno lowered her head.
"Do you want my advice?" Su Yu understood what she wanted.
"You're the only person I can rely on."
Haruno raised her head and stared straight at him.
Su Yu fell silent, shifting his gaze away.
Haruno slowly stepped closer.
"What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to inherit the Yukinoshita family business."
Su Yu spoke his mind directly.
"I can gather evidence and force Mother out of the construction company, but… I need you to help me."
Haruno reached out and held his hand.
"You have the ability to manage the company. The only thing I can do is secure investments from the Yukinoshita family."
Su Yu looked down at her hand.
"Promise me one thing, can you?" Haruno tightened her grip on his hand.
"Sorry, I love Yukino."
Su Yu already knew what she was going to ask.
"If you don't agree, I'll have no choice but to fake it. And when I get exposed… I'll have to surrender and go through with the arranged marriage."
Haruno's voice was filled with disappointment.
"Are you… threatening me?" Su Yu looked at her.
Haruno let go of his hand and instead wrapped her arms around him tightly.
Su Yu stood still, not sure where to put his hands.
"You're the only one who can help me. You're the first person I've ever had feelings for."
"If you refuse… I'll have to face despair alone. And I'll hate you. I will hate you for the rest of my life."
Haruno looked up at him, tears shimmering in her eyes.
"You're not afraid that my real goal is to take over the Yukinoshita family? That I've been acting all along?" Su Yu sighed.
"If you want it, I'll give you everything in the Yukinoshita family."
Tears finally fell from Haruno's eyes.
"I don't want to manage the Yukinoshita family. Honestly… I don't want to work at all."
Su Yu averted his gaze.
"I'll handle the work, I'll manage the Yukinoshita family for you. Just help me this once."
"You can marry Yukino. I'll explain everything to Father. I'm not afraid of his anger. I'm not afraid of Mother. I don't care about anyone else's opinions."
Haruno's voice trembled slightly.
Su Yu was silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"Then let's… throw this dilemma to Yukino."
Haruno's eyes lit up immediately—she understood exactly what Su Yu meant.
Overjoyed, she tried to kiss him, but he raised his hand and blocked her.
"You should head upstairs. I'll cook dinner—you two can talk it out."
"If Yukino agrees, I won't have a reason to reject you."
With that, Su Yu walked toward the apartment entrance.
"Su Yu-kun, even if Yukino doesn't agree, we could always keep it a secret between us…"
Haruno caught up with him and linked her arm around his.
Su Yu didn't respond, but he could feel the pressure from her presence.
Haruno smiled brightly.
Even though she had mentioned hiding it from Yukino, as her sister, she didn't truly want to keep it a secret.
—
Ten minutes later.
Inside Yukino's apartment, in the living room.
Once Su Yu entered the kitchen, that left only Yukino and Haruno in the room.
Yukino held a book in her hands, but at this point, she couldn't focus on reading at all.
Haruno was sitting right next to her.
"If you have something to say, just say it."
Yukino looked up, a bit helpless.
"Yukino, Su Yu-kun must have told you already, right? I only have one request. Can you grant it?"
Haruno looked at her sister.
"Why him?" Yukino asked.
"He's the first person I've ever fallen for," Haruno replied seriously.
"What about Mother? Father? How will others see you? Have you thought about that?"
Yukino spoke while avoiding eye contact.
"Yukino, you know I don't care what other people think."
"As for our parents, I won't explain myself. I already have a plan."
Haruno spoke clearly and firmly.
Yukino glanced at her, then lowered her head.
Haruno moved closer and held her sister's hand.
"Yukino, in the past, I had no choice, so I followed Mother's orders."
"But now, I finally see a glimmer of hope."
"As long as you agree, I'll agree to anything you ask of me."
"I… I don't know…"
Yukino turned her face away, struggling internally.
"I have many ways to achieve my goal."
"But I don't want to disappoint you…"
"Because… I'm your older sister."
Haruno whispered softly.
"Nee-san…"
Yukino's heart wavered.
Haruno didn't say anything more.
She simply wrapped her arms around Yukino, holding her gently.
For a moment, Yukino remembered—
When she was younger, she had once fallen and cried.
That day, her sister had held her just like this.
Back then, Haruno had been so gentle, her embrace so warm—
Just like now.
—
Dinner time.
Su Yu brought the dishes to the table and was immediately greeted by a smiling Haruno and a quiet, obedient-looking Yukino sitting next to her.
Judging by their expressions, they had clearly come to an agreement.
Su Yu didn't ask.
He simply sat down and started eating.
"Su Yu-kun, your cooking is great!"
"In the future, when Yukino comes home from work, you should always have dinner ready for her. Got it?"
Haruno grinned.
"No problem," Su Yu replied, glancing at her.
"I don't need you to cook for me."
"What you do need to do is write anime scripts—and not just one or two."
"You owe me at least a hundred. Do you understand?"
Yukino finally spoke up.
"Yukino, human capabilities have limits."
Su Yu tried to reason with her.
Yukino lifted her head and stared at him.
Seeing her expression, Su Yu gave a sheepish smile.
"I'll… do my best."
"If you fail, I'll kick you out."
Yukino snorted coldly.
Su Yu's expression turned a little odd.
Meanwhile, Haruno smiled knowingly—
Because she had completely understood what Yukino really meant.