When Luo Shu mentioned an SDS recruitment slot, Shirayuki Hotogi gave him a rather peculiar look, thinking to herself—this junior of hers seemed to hold quite a high position.
Although both the Bureau of Onmyō and the official authorities had always been reluctant to allow the SDS to freely recruit members, there was one fact neither could deny: when it came to research and utilization of the Abyss and its artifacts, SDS was several levels above them.
Despite wanting to suppress SDS for the sake of local power interests, that opposition wouldn't hold firm if SDS willingly opened its doors to recruitment, allowing even members from official agencies or Onmyō Bureau families to join.
The only issue was that SDS's Section Chief, Tachibana, was notoriously hardline—if you tried to push her out, she'd push you back even harder. This personality had made SDS's recruitment and expansion within Japan extremely difficult.
Now, Luo Shu suddenly offering a spot to someone made Shirayuki wonder—could it be that SDS was finally preparing to ease that stance and open up to the local mystic community? Not fully understanding the situation, she silently made a note to ask her mother later.
Meanwhile, across from her, Haruno Yukinoshita had already realized the purpose of Luo Shu's visit upon hearing the recruitment offer—but still asked tentatively, "Luo Shu-kun, you mean to say...?"
Luo Shu glanced at her, then clarified plainly, "Exactly as I said. The division I belong to—the Secret Management Division—will be accepting one member from the Yukinoshita family. In return, your family will use its influence in Chiba Prefecture to support the soon-to-be-established SDS Chiba Branch."
Shirayuki's eyes widened at that. "Wait, a Chiba branch?"
"Oh... right," Luo Shu smacked his forehead in mock realization. "I guess that's technically still classified. Forget I said anything."
(Like that helps now…) The three girls simultaneously had the same thought.
Despite Luo Shu blatantly laying out the terms of this mutual exchange, Haruno was clearly tempted. She knew very well the offer from the Hotogi Shrine was more ceremonial—a formality meant for appearances. The actual cost to the Yukinoshita family would be negligible.
But Luo Shu's offer wasn't just symbolic. It was a chance for the Yukinoshita family to form direct ties with SDS, a powerful, real-world organization.
Ever since her mother had been stabilized, she had been trying to investigate SDS through her connections. Yet the most detailed information they could dig up was that SDS was on par with the military and operated under the authority of an American financial conglomerate. Even that vague intel was enough to make a bet worth considering.
The problem, however, was finding someone suitable to join SDS on their behalf. That was the real challenge.
While Haruno was silently wrestling with this dilemma, Yukino suddenly spoke up.
"If someone from the Yukinoshita family is accepted into SDS, would that exempt us from memory erasure?" she asked.
Hearing that calm, yet faintly defiant tone, Luo Shu turned to look at her—the girl often referred to in school circles as the "Ice Woman"—and gave a slight nod. "The confidentiality protocols are only enforced on ordinary civilians. Individuals involved with related parties or organizations are exempt. That said…" He paused and gave her a meaningful look. "Losing those memories isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"Staying away might not mean danger... but getting close guarantees it, is that what you're saying?" Yukino mulled over the words, then exhaled slowly. "I understand."
She looked toward her sister and said quietly, "I'm sorry, Haruno, but I might have to make a selfish decision."
But in truth, Yukino knew better than anyone that this "decision" wasn't really hers to make.
If someone from the Yukinoshita family had to be sacrificed, it was going to be her.
Their mother was the one who controlled the family's development and finances. Their father, a prefectural assemblyman, handled political alliances. And Haruno, as the heir, had been groomed for more than a decade to inherit their mother's responsibilities and their father's resources.
Out of the four members of the Yukinoshita family, three were irreplaceable parts of its public-facing, traditional path. Only Yukino could be spared.
Knowing her mother as well as she did, Yukino was fully aware that in the end, it would be her who was sent away.
She would either be married off into the Hotogi Shrine and become Yukino Hotogi, or she would join SDS and become Yukino Yukinoshita of the SDS. There was no third option.
Because her mother would never allow a peaceful, mundane choice. Especially not after what had happened with that man—the one who had demonstrated power great enough to singlehandedly threaten the Yukinoshita family's entire foundation. There was no way her mother would allow such a scenario to happen again.
So, drawing closer to the mystic world wasn't a possibility—it was an inevitability. Even if it meant sacrificing the future of her second daughter.
When Yukino called it a "selfish decision," Haruno felt a wave of helplessness wash over her.
Of course, she'd realized all of this—how could she not?
And that was precisely why Haruno now felt so powerless. The last time, she had even tried provoking Yukino just to push her further from the family's affairs. But if she rejected her sister's choice now, that would be outright defiance against their mother's will.
And Haruno, raised as the heir and thoroughly trained from childhood, understood all too well what that would mean. So, in the face of Yukino's decision, she could only sigh and say:
"I understand. If it's truly your choice... I'll respect it."
In truth, Haruno had originally leaned toward selecting Shirayuki Hotogi. But in the end, she avoided responsibility and let the choice fall to Yukino.
This time, she didn't want to force her will upon her sister.
Seeing Haruno back down left Yukino somewhat surprised. She had expected her sister to stop the discussion and interfere later in private. But instead, Haruno had given her unspoken approval.
It was unlike her. But Yukino understood—there was no more room to retreat.
Taking a deep breath, she stood up and bowed toward Luo Shu.
"I'll be in your care, Luo Shu-senpai."
Looking at the girl who had now made her decision, Luo Shu narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled.
"Senpai, huh? I like the sound of that."
To think he'd become a team leader in under a week... This promotion track might actually be kind of fun.