Chapter 38 – Yukinoshita Yukino's Subtle Displeasure
By the time Yukinoshita Akira returned to the apartment, the clock was nearing ten at night.
After a quick shower and a bit of tidying up, he prepared to rest. Early to bed, early to rise—a healthy routine he'd maintained without fail.
While he was already fast asleep in his room, a completely different scene was playing out in the living room.
Yukinoshita Yukino sat curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket with a book in her hands. But her eyes weren't reading a single word on the page.
The entire apartment was brightly lit. Not a single corner was left in darkness. It was as if the stage lights had been left on long after the performance ended.
She was afraid.
Inside this large, luxurious apartment, she was completely alone.
For years, Yukino had lived independently, proud of her ability to stand on her own. Even while studying abroad, far from home in a foreign land, she endured everything by herself—studies, life, and the weight of solitude.
But now, that rational worldview she'd clung to had been completely shattered.
The appearance of those strange beings called "oni" had upended everything. The world was no longer the place she thought she knew. Fear had crept into the depths of her soul.
In a world like this, she was just a frail girl—someone who had almost lost her life not long ago.
There's a saying: Once bitten by a snake, even a rope brings fear. Even someone as cold and logical as Yukino was, at her core, still human.
On this quiet night, surrounded by artificial light trying to chase away the dark, her fear grew wild and unchecked. Her mind—now aware of the reality beyond science—couldn't find solace in logic anymore.
"…Onee-chan… Mama… Akira…"
Soft whispers escaped her lips from beneath the blanket, calling the names of those who made her feel safe.
— — —
⸺ Time Skip ⸺
"Tringgg—!"
Without much incident, the night passed quietly. The alarm rang early in the morning, waking Yukinoshita Akira from his sleep.
It was 5:30 AM. As usual, he had to wake up early for morning training.
After washing up, getting dressed, and grabbing a light breakfast, he stepped out to begin his daily routine.
— — —
⸺ Training Session ⸺
[Ding!]
[You've gained 0.1% Heritage Progress]
The system notification rang in his mind once more. Akira let out a quiet sigh.
He had expected it. Still, seeing that tiny gain in real time brought an undeniable wave of disappointment.
With practiced fluidity, he turned and sheathed his Murata Katana. Sweat glistened on his forehead, which he wiped away slowly.
"Trrrtt... Trrrtt..."
Just as he was about to put on his school uniform, his phone vibrated on the table.
The screen showed an incoming call from: Yukinoshita Haruno.
"Yeah?" he answered simply.
"Akira-chan, I've prepared the item," Haruno replied cheerfully.
"What item?"
"A high-output portable UV flashlight. Strongest handheld model I could find."
"Got it. You sending it over, or should I come get it?"
"Hmm~ I'll send it over. Might as well bring one for Yukino too."
"How thoughtful of you. Taking care of your precious little sister."
"Of course. She's my one and only little sister, after all," she replied with that familiar smug smile in her voice.
"When are you sending it?"
"Around noon. But if I get too busy, maybe late afternoon."
"Alright."
Click.
Akira ended the call immediately. He knew Haruno too well. If he left the line open any longer, she'd start pulling her usual mischief. That woman was a natural-born chaos-bringer.
Back in her own room, Haruno stared at her phone, mildly annoyed.
"Seriously? He just hung up? How rude."
She glared at the screen with a pout.
On the table beside her sat more than a dozen jumbo-sized UV flashlights. Enough not just for Akira and Yukino, but several backups as well—including some for herself.
"This shift in behavior... It's too drastic. Have you always been hiding this, Akira-kun? Or did it all start recently?"
Her gaze narrowed as she looked over the neatly arranged equipment.
If something piqued her interest… she would chase it until she understood everything.
And right now, the sudden transformation in Yukinoshita Akira—and this new, unfamiliar world—had ignited her curiosity more than ever.
It wasn't about love or romance. It was pure intrigue. The desire to unravel something mysterious.
— — —
At the same time, Akira, now dressed and ready, stepped out of the apartment.
Coincidentally, Yukinoshita Yukino also exited her room around the same time.
Her face looked slightly pale, with faint dark circles under her eyes. It was clear she hadn't slept well last night.
"I thought you stayed over at the Busujima estate with their daughter," she remarked dryly upon seeing him.
For a moment, her expression softened—just the sight of someone strong nearby brought a subconscious sense of calm.
But that didn't last long. Her next words carried a sharp, sarcastic undertone.
Akira didn't respond. He knew better than to argue with her. Yukino wasn't the type to listen, let alone admit fault.
She'd spent years walking alone, forging her own path without relying on anyone. That independence shaped her pride and temperament.
But precisely because Akira didn't argue back... Yukino felt oddly unsettled.
Why wasn't he denying it? Did that mean it was true?
Of course, she wasn't the type of girl to lash out or demand explanations. That wasn't her style.
When they reached the ground floor via elevator, the Yukinoshita family car was already waiting at the front lobby.
Ever since the revelation about the existence of oni, Akira had been officially tasked—under Haruno's command—with serving as Yukino's semi-official bodyguard.
It was a precautionary measure. One that couldn't be avoided anymore.
Once both were inside, the car ride to Sobu High School was drenched in silence.
Not a single word was exchanged between Akira and Yukino.
The chauffeur, watching them through the rearview mirror, could only sigh inwardly.
Weren't things going well between them just a few days ago? Why had they gone cold again?
Though he was Yukino's personal driver, he actually reported directly to the head matriarch of the Yukinoshita family.
Every week, he was required to provide updates on the younger daughter—and her relationship with a certain young man named Akira.
And over the past week... there had been quite a lot to report.
Especially because the relationship between Yukinoshita Yukino and Yukinoshita Akira was growing increasingly... complicated.
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