Nighttime.
Su Yu rested in his bedroom, while Yukinoshita Yukino and Yukinoshita Haruno shared another room.
He wasn't sleepy at all and was still drawing Yuuza.
As for what Yukino and Haruno were discussing, he could already guess.
Knowing Yukino, she would definitely soften her heart and agree to her sister's request.
And as for himself? He had no intention of asking for an answer.
After all, he wasn't the one in a hurry.
If he asked, Yukino would probably think he was eagerly anticipating something else entirely.
So, he just let things unfold naturally.
Time passed.
When Su Yu had almost finished drawing, he stood up and walked to his bed.
Turning off the lights, he closed his eyes.
—
Half an hour later.
Just as he was about to fall asleep, the door creaked open.
Su Yu instantly woke up and looked toward the visitor.
She walked step by step to his bed, lifted the blanket, and slipped inside.
"I thought it'd be Haruno, but it turns out to be my little Yukino," Su Yu teased.
"Do you want me to go back and call Nee-san instead?" Yukino said flatly.
"Yes, please." Su Yu chuckled.
"Knew you'd say that, you awful man!" Yukino pinched him hard.
"Hiss— Yukino! Who taught you that?" Su Yu winced in pain.
"Self-taught. Just to deal with you." Yukino huffed.
Su Yu laughed and pulled her into his arms.
Yukino didn't resist and hugged him back.
—
After a long silence.
"Aren't you curious about my answer?"
Yukino finally spoke.
"If you want to tell me, you will. If you don't, I won't ask."
Su Yu smiled at her.
"Nee-san was right—you're just a sly bastard!"
"You threw this whole mess onto me, knowing exactly what my answer would be, and then pretended you had no idea!"
Yukino looked up at him, her eyes carrying a hint of resentment.
"I wasn't completely sure what you'd say."
"Because… I know your sister truly cares about you and has always loved you."
"But whether you can feel that love—whether you can understand her true intentions—that was something I couldn't predict."
Su Yu spoke softly.
"You knew all along that Nee-san didn't have bad intentions? That she was just teasing me?" Yukino asked.
"Yeah. I knew." Su Yu nodded.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Yukino fell silent.
"Some things need to be said face-to-face, not relayed by an outsider like me."
Su Yu shook his head.
Yukino buried her face in his chest, no longer pressing the matter.
She understood.
If Su Yu had told her earlier, it wouldn't have had the same effect.
Only through a direct, heartfelt conversation could their long-standing misunderstandings be resolved.
When her sister hugged her, the warmth she felt—
That was something no one else could give her.
Not even Su Yu.
—
Saturday morning.
After his morning run, Su Yu returned to the apartment and was surprised to see Haruno in the kitchen.
It was rare to see Yukinoshita Haruno cooking.
For a moment, he even doubted his own eyes.
"My cooking skills aren't any worse than Yukino's."
"Ever since I mastered it, I've never cooked for anyone before."
"You're the first."
Haruno smiled confidently when she saw Su Yu.
"Really?"
Su Yu wasn't convinced that her cooking could surpass Yukino's.
Haruno didn't bother arguing.
She preferred to prove herself through action.
Seeing her skilled movements, Su Yu realized that—
She actually knew how to cook.
Reassured, he left the kitchen, took a shower, and changed into fresh clothes.
Afterward, he went to wake up Yukino, who was still sleeping like a princess.
Yukino opened her eyes sleepily, saw Su Yu, yawned, and sat up.
"Do you need me to carry you to your room to change?"
Su Yu smirked.
"Yes."
Yukino gave him a glance and didn't hold back.
Su Yu carried her in a princess hold and brought her to her room.
Then, he glanced at her sleepwear.
"Do you need help changing?"
"No."
Yukino's face turned red, and she shot him a glare.
Su Yu wisely left the room.
As the door closed, Yukino looked at her wardrobe and began picking her clothes.
—
By the time Yukino came out, Haruno had just finished preparing breakfast.
Su Yu sat down and took a bite.
After a few seconds, he looked at Haruno in surprise.
She hadn't been lying—her cooking was actually better than Yukino's.
"If you want to eat my homemade breakfast every day, you should work for me."
Haruno smiled.
"I'm not going to sell my freedom for breakfast," Su Yu said calmly.
"I never said it was just breakfast."
Haruno's smirk carried deeper meaning.
"I'll pass on dinner—I have a feeling I won't be able to leave afterward."
Su Yu suddenly felt her foot brushing against his leg.
"It's fine. I'll just call Yukino when the time comes."
Haruno casually glanced at her sister.
"...Yukino?"
Su Yu looked at her in surprise.
Yukino's face turned red as she turned away.
Clearly—
She had not only agreed to Haruno's request…
She had even given her some extra conditions.
That's why Haruno dared to say such things in front of her.
"I'm full. You two should go on a nice date today."
Haruno stood up, smiling, and left Yukino's apartment.
The moment the door closed, Su Yu looked at Yukino.
"...S-Sorry."
"I just… thought Nee-san has been through a lot. If you can help her…"
Yukino apologized softly.
"You should've discussed this with me first."
Su Yu was quiet for a moment before replying.
"I'll apologize, and I'll agree to anything you ask."
Yukino held his hand.
"Then… If I ever meet someone I can't refuse, you have to forgive me once."
Su Yu thought for a moment and made a condition of his own.
"Deal!"
Yukino agreed immediately.
"Alright. Let's finish eating. If I have to work harder, that's just how it is."
Su Yu sighed.
Yukino's face turned red.
For some reason… that sentence felt like it had another meaning.
She had apologized because she dragged Su Yu into the Yukinoshita family's affairs—
Because she knew it was a difficult task.
But what she didn't know was—
Haruno and Su Yu had already planned this together.
Haruno had kept Yukino in the dark on purpose.
That way, Su Yu could negotiate a condition for himself.
The only one who didn't know… was Yukino.
—
After breakfast.
Yukino cleaned up the dishes.
The two of them left the apartment together.
But instead of taking the Yukinoshita family's car,
They rode a motorcycle.
Inside the underground garage, there were several motorcycles waiting.