Fifteen minutes and thirty-two seconds had passed. Yukinoshita still hadn't returned.
Haruno kept telling herself that whatever that person was doing, wherever she had gone, had nothing to do with her. Her only responsibility was to protect this body and wait for the day her real sister could safely return.
Yet, ever since Yukinoshita excused herself to go to the restroom, Haruno couldn't help but keep glancing toward the staircase.
If the soul inhabiting my sister's body were to die, would my real sister come back?
It wasn't the first time Haruno had considered this possibility. In fact, at one point, on a certain day, at a certain moment, that thought had grown so overwhelming it nearly turned into action.
But what if even if that person died my sister still didn't return?
In the end, Haruno had forcibly stopped herself. Anything related to her sister no matter how small the possibility had to be considered. She couldn't risk it.
"Haruno, you're really dating someone, aren't you?"
Miss Yagyū spoke casually, "You haven't looked great for the past year. The dark circles under your eyes practically have their own personality now. You're inseparable."
Miss Hanamiya teased, "Don't tell me you're juggling so many guys you don't even have time to sleep?"
For the past year, no matter how many luxurious skincare products she used, Haruno still carried faint bluish shadows beneath her eyes.
Though her smile remained dazzling, she looked far more worn out than she had a year ago.
Haruno emptied her glass and gave a soft laugh. "It's just that I've been juggling work at the company and school kind of exhausting, that's all."
That was a lie.
For the past year, Yukinoshita Haruno had been pushing herself to the brink of collapse.
Both the main and subsidiary branches of the Yukinoshita Group were expanding aggressively, and as the highly anticipated heir to the Yukinoshita family, there was no room for her to falter not even for a second.
At school, she had to maintain her position at the top academics, extracurriculars, even student council influence she couldn't afford to fall behind in anything. After all, her sister had always looked up to an older sister who was brilliant in every way, and Haruno would never allow herself to disappoint her.
And then there was the truth that only she knew, the truth that only she believed: someone else now lived inside her sister's body.
Diving into studies of curses, charms, occultism, religious rites, even probability theory and at one point, even cults Haruno had spent the past year desperately searching for any thread of hope that might help her bring her sister back.
She'd consulted Tokyo's most renowned spiritual mediums and mystics in an attempt to summon Yukino's soul. But every last one of them had turned out to be a fraud.
She had visited every shrine and temple in Japan known for fulfilling wishes. She'd hung up prayer plaques at nearly all of them, each inscribed with her one, unwavering wish.
Science, superstition none of it mattered to her. She was willing to believe in anything, so long as it brought Yukino back.
All the exhausting work only wore her body down. What nearly broke her spirit was the cold, crushing realization that nothing she did made the slightest difference.
Is Yukino out there somewhere, waiting for me to find her?
Every time she neared the edge of collapse, that thought would keep her going. She'd pull herself back together, reset her emotions, and start again.
Her pain and despair had twisted into an obsession unyielding, absolute, and terrifyingly fragile.
She grabbed another glass of red wine from a server's tray and downed it in one gulp.
Miss Suzuki's eyelids twitched. "Hey, hey, you've had a lot to drink today."
"You all know my tolerance," Haruno replied, her eyes still clear. She smiled. "No matter how much I drink, I won't get drunk."
As the Yukinoshita heir, Haruno had been attending social gatherings with her parents since childhood. After coming of age, it was almost as if she had lived in a barrel of wine.
"Yukino's back."
Hanamiya's eyes lit up as she spotted Yukinoshita descending the stairs shortly after Miss Shijō returned to her seat.
Haruno instinctively turned her gaze toward her.
She had sensed earlier that Yukinoshita had left in a subdued mood, her emotions slightly off.
But now, barely fifteen minutes later, that gloom seemed to have vanished entirely.
She held a champagne flute casually in one hand, walking back toward them until a young man from another elite family stepped forward, smiling as he said something to her.
Yukinoshita stopped and began chatting politely in return.
The Yukinoshita family had always had good genes. Mr. Yukinoshita was a refined and handsome gentleman, and Mrs. Yukinoshita had once been a radiant beauty, like a summer flower in full bloom. Their eldest daughter, Haruno, had become a beloved figure in society the moment she stepped into the social scene.
But to Haruno, the most beautiful, most adorable person in their family had always been Yukino.
She had grown into such a graceful, poised young lady. Everything about her the way she carried herself, the way she spoke was composed and thoughtful. Every young man at the banquet, no matter his pedigree or confidence, found his eyes drawn to her.
This banquet had been organized by a local prestigious family to celebrate their alliance with the Shijō clan and to welcome them back to Japan. Most of the attendees were young elites, so there was clearly a matchmaking undertone to the evening.
After the first young man approached her, several others followed. They were all impeccably dressed, handsome, and carried themselves with confidence but to Haruno, the scene was a stabbing eyesore.
What's with that smug look on your face, you body-snatching thief...
What exactly are you so proud of?
Yukinoshita didn't look smug. Being surrounded like this was clearly uncomfortable for someone who didn't like crowds and was something of a social introvert.
After politely excusing herself, she made her way back to Haruno and her friends.
As soon as she returned, Hanamiya slipped an arm around her waist and gave her a playful hug. "Aww, little Yukino finally came back...!"
Why is my sister's friend so clingy...
Sighing, Yukinoshita glanced at Haruno and noticed her ears were tinged with pink.
With a helpless look, she handed her a glass of orange juice. "Don't drink so much. You know Mom's going to scold you when we get home."
Haruno could hold her liquor. But even more than that, she was an expert at pretending she hadn't had a drop. Even when completely plastered, her eyes would remain sharp, her voice steady, her posture composed.
The only way to tell if she was drunk was to look at her ears.
And judging by the color of her ears now she was probably halfway there.
"I'm not drunk," Haruno said defiantly, instinctively taking the orange juice and drinking a sip only to freeze the moment she realized what she'd done.
Why did I just act so naturally around her??
I can't.
I absolutely can't.
I can't let myself relax around her not even a little.
Yukino... she only has me now.
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