Without any further ado, after saying goodbye, Yukino headed straight for the Executive Committee office alone.
Since this wasn't a permanent farewell and they could meet again after her work was done, Yuu didn't say much either; but judging by the last look she gave him before turning away, she seemed somewhat reluctant to just leave like that.
...If they were alone, she might have taken the initiative to do some thrill-seeking things.
(Why is my Yukino so bold? Where did the cold, pure Ice Queen go...)
Although he didn't dislike this side of Yukino at all, Yuu still couldn't help but sigh.
"Where should we go next?"
After watching her back recede into the distance, the siblings began discussing their next plan.
Of course, the purpose of participating in the Culture Festival was to try out the various stalls, so the only thing to worry about was where to start—Sora didn't have any specific place she wanted to visit. After all, wherever they went, they couldn't avoid the crowds, so she decided to just take a leisurely stroll and enter any stall that looked interesting.
Meanwhile, Yuu did have a few places he planned to visit.
The first was Class 3-A's fortune-telling stall. He wanted to confirm whether that bait was truly thrown by Kasumigaoka Utaha; if so, what was her goal?
The second was the Game Club. Kouichirou had mentioned during a chat that he borrowed some virtual reality headsets from his underclassmen to set up a stall. He said they were holding some kind of "World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament"... Although it was just mentioned in passing, without asking for his help to check it out or anything, as a beta tester, after Yuu learned about this, he planned to drop by and see the commotion with his little sister.
The third was Iroha and Kanade's class. Purely just to support the cute underclassmen. Since they were running a café, it could serve as a resting spot when Sora got tired from walking.
"The fortune-telling stall is on the third floor, the Game Club is in the Club Building, the first-year classes are on the first floor... We're on the second floor now, we can't smoothly visit all of them no matter where we start."
A map of the campus appeared in his mind. Yuu frowned in confusion.
"Then let's just start from here. It's fine if we have to walk a bit more." Lazily hugging his arm, clinging to him like a koala, Sora narrowed her eyes, looking at the bustling scene at the end of the corridor.
"Anyway, my body is much better now. It should be fine for running a marathon or giving birth... Although I don't like running."
Assuming he didn't hear her last sentence, Yuu raised his hand and cheered with high spirits: "Alright, let's begin! Sora's first Culture Festival experience, Let's Go—!"
Sora raised her hand too: "First school date with Yuu, Let's Go—!"
However, just as they were about to step forward.
"Ah, perfect timing!"
Yuigahama's voice stopped them. She was walking quickly, followed by a pretty young woman with a gentle aura, her face showing a peaceful, stable smile, very much giving the impression of a married woman.
"Yuu-kun, Sora-chan... Eh, where's Yukinon?"
"She went to the Executive Committee, won't be back for a while."
Patting Sora's head as she quickly hid behind him upon seeing a stranger, Yuu nodded towards Mama Yuigahama, showing a gentle, polite smile.
"Ma'am, greetings. Welcome to this year's Sōbu Culture Festival. I hope you can enjoy a pleasant day here."
"Too formal, isn't it?!" Yuigahama couldn't help but sneer.
"Yes, yes. If treated this coldly, Mom might cry, you know~" Placing a finger at the corner of her eye, Mama Yuigahama pretended to sob, looking at Yuu with wet, pleading eyes.
"At least, at least... at least call me Mama!"
"That's too familiar?!" After sneering at the two most important people in her life consecutively, Yuigahama immediately felt mentally exhausted.
The corner of Yuu's mouth twitched slightly, he laughed awkwardly: "Then I'll just call you Auntie."
Mama Yuigahama frowned, saying with a serious expression: "Then let's take a middle ground, call me Onee-san."
Yuu shrugged: "I don't mind, after all you look very young, at first glance you really resemble Yui's older sister... But this would make things awkward for Yui, right?"
Yuigahama came to her senses, hurriedly standing between her mother and boyfriend, saying angrily: "Right, right! How can someone's boyfriend call her mother 'Onee-san'! All the family relationships would get messed up, you know!"
"Ah, that's true..." Mama Yuigahama sighed, lowering her brows as if giving up, and said a bit annoyed, "Fine, as long as you don't call me an old granny, you can call me whatever."
"Okay."
Yuu felt relieved—dealing with such a childish-minded adult was very difficult when trying to keep distance, and he also had to be careful not to be led by the rhythm of her conversation.
After all, people like this most enjoy seeing the embarrassed reactions of young people after being teased.
"Then, Mama Yuigahama, will you be joining us?"
"If you don't mind this old auntie, please accompany her for a walk around the school~"
Once she became serious again, Mama Yuigahama smiled gently. Her gaze fell on the silver-haired girl behind Yuu.
"Is this your little sister?"
"Yes, her name is Kasugano Sora."
Knowing Sora was shy, Yuu only gave a brief introduction and didn't force her to come out and greet.
Supporting her knees with her hands, Mama Yuigahama bent down, looking at Sora at eye level, smiling kindly: "Your hair is so beautiful, really cute like a doll!"
"..."
Sora reflexively lowered her head, looking at her shoes and their shadow, silent for a moment.
...She didn't know how long it had been since she last spoke with an adult other than doctors and nurses.
Although she wanted to ignore the kindness offered by the other party, and avoid contact with strangers by using her brother as a shield, before her retreating step could fully materialize, Sora suddenly remembered the incident that morning.
She couldn't keep hiding under Yuu's protection, becoming a shut-in girl who belonged only to him, comfortably.
Whether it was because she was shy, afraid to touch the outside world, or scared her brother would abandon her like the other family members—if she was always this weak and useless, when her brother fell, who would become his support?
Dango? Yukinoshita? Or that unclear ex-girlfriend?
...No, only herself.
Her trembling heart slowly strengthened. Sora clenched the hem of Yuu's clothes, then slowly released it, and step by step came out from behind him.
Taking a deep breath, she puffed out her chest, stubbornly raising her head.
Her calves trembled slightly, but she acted as if she didn't notice. She just slowly directed her gaze straight towards the figure in front of her, clearly looking into her eyes.
As if deciding to start facing the things she had been avoiding all along.
Sora had never forgotten that feeling.
Since losing her parents at age twelve, it was Yuu who protected her from wind and rain, sacrificed his youth for her, gave her this life without complaint.
Yuu had done everything an older brother should do—strong, confident, stable, gentle, firm, never defeated by difficulties, almost omnipotent.
Like a sun that never sets, that eternal night hadn't yet enveloped his head, it was already driven away by his light.
Every time Yuu returned from his part-time job, Sora could always see a happy, satisfied smile on her brother's face—that almost became her reason for existence, the reason she kept living after losing all her family.
So...
Because he stood in front, Sora could now stand calmly under the sunlight.
Because he supported from behind, Sora could now be amidst the crowds as if nothing was wrong.
So now, it was her turn.
"Thank you for the compliment... I-I'm Sora, Yuu's little sister!"
Standing in front of Yuu, Sora tried hard to keep her expression calm, and suddenly bowed formally.
It seemed a bit excessive, her silver hair fell messily over her face, looking slightly panicked.
She tightly held the skirt at her knees, grateful she didn't bite her tongue, then slowly straightened up. She tried hard to calm her nerves, speaking stiffly as if reading from a script:
"Although I don't know if Yuu will really marry Dango... Yui-san in the future, but, I ask for your guidance, Mama Yuigahama."
After finishing, Sora slowly exhaled, secretly clenching her sweaty palms.
Her heart was pounding, her breath felt tight, but at a surprising speed, it quickly subsided. Then, something called courage and confidence began to emerge.
She couldn't help but smile. While tidying her messy hair, she whispered softly in a voice no one heard:
"...I did it."
This was the first step, the first step officially taken into the outside world.
Even though it was a very small step, inconspicuous, something anyone could do.
But from this moment on, the lazy little sister who refused to leave the house, always hiding under the blanket waiting for her brother to return, had completely disappeared from this world.
Because she decided to become Yuu's strength.
Because she decided to become a reliable support for her brother anytime.
She would start stepping out of the house now, standing by his side to face all difficulties together with him, instead of just giving useless comfort and concern after her brother was badly hurt.
She would prove this, with all the time she had left.
Sora was absolutely not a burden to Yuu!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
"Hm? Yuu-kun, are you crying?"
"Crying? I'm not crying! It's just soul sweat unconsciously coming out."
"What kind of cliché Shōwa-era excuse is that..."
"Yuu is always like that, always moved by unclear things..."
"Although I don't know what happened, I truly feel a deep bond between you two." Mama Yuigahama looked at the two people in front of her with a gentle gaze, suddenly reached out her hand, and gently stroked the top of Sora's head.
Although Sora flinched slightly, she didn't refuse.
Suppressing the urge to hug and caress the silver-haired girl in her embrace, she withdrew her hand, and couldn't help but say emotionally: "Oh dear, I suddenly want a second child..."
Yuigahama narrowed her eyes wordlessly: "Mom, I'm already seventeen, and only now you say that..."
"Just kidding, your father might not have that much energy either." Mama Yuigahama waved her hand casually, propping her smooth cheek with her palm, her eyes observing Sora who naturally hugged Yuu's arm.
"Sora-chan, may I call you that?"
"Yes, it's fine."
Her flat response made Yuu involuntarily look up at the sky, as if wanting to declare to the whole world that his little sister had fully matured.
Luckily he still restrained himself.
"Then, Sora-chan, there's something I'd like to discuss with you." Mama Yuigahama put on a very serious expression, her eyes shining with strong intensity.
"Someday, if Yuu-kun and Yui get married, would you call me Mama?"
"Uh..." Sora instantly showed a strange expression.
Initially, she wanted to refuse outright, but looking at Yuu, and looking at Yuigahama whose face was red with embarrassment, she hesitated for a moment, then finally turned her face away, mumbling indistinctly:
"I'll consider it, let's see later..."
"Of course, I'm not forcing you." Mama Yuigahama smiled contentedly, then turned to face her daughter, her expression instantly changing, "Then why are you still dawdling? Hurry up and set a wedding date, I'll pay for it! Do you want to wait until I move the civil registry office right in front of you?!"
"That's why you're too rushed, Mom!!!" Complaining loudly because she couldn't take it, Yuigahama puffed out her reddened cheeks, quickly walked to Yuu's side, and forcibly grabbed his other hand.
"Yuu-kun, Sora-chan, let's just ignore this troublesome old granny! Let's go on our own!"
"Wait!" Mama Yuigahama hurriedly surrendered and changed the subject, easing her daughter's embarrassment and anger with humor, "Alright, alright, I won't bring it up again. Do you have any specific places you want to visit? I saw many interesting stalls along the way, it feels like a waste not to try them all."
"Exactly, we also planned to visit all the stalls starting from here."
Yuu smiled apologetically at Mama Yuigahama, holding the hands of his little sister and girlfriend, turning towards the bustling scene at the end of the corridor.
He said with high spirits: "Today, it's my treat! Whatever you want to eat, whatever you want to play, leave it all to me!"
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The black car drove slowly onto the campus. Since the parking lot was full, the Yukinoshita mother and daughter got off at the plaza in front of the school gate.
"Find a place to rest around here yourself. I'll call you when we're ready to go home." After giving instructions to the driver, Saori turned to Haruno, "Then, will you call Yukino?"
"Hehe, I want to surprise them~" Flicking away the car exhaust smell from the tip of her nose, Haruno smiled mischievously, "No need to call in a hurry. Let's first check the places they're supposed to be!"
"You always have such bad taste in humor..." Saori sighed helplessly. She opened her fan and fanned twice, saying casually, "Don't go overboard with your playing. If we can't find them, it's fine if we just watch that film first."
"I know, follow me."
With a cheerful smile, Haruno led her mother towards the Special Building.
About five minutes later, they stood in the quiet, cold corridor, looking at the dark, locked classroom door, falling silent for a moment.
"Turns out no one's in the clubroom... Damn, don't tell me they all went on a date!"
Haruno couldn't help but click her tongue, stomping her foot slightly in annoyance.
Saori glanced at her lightly, covering her mouth with her fan. Her elegant, graceful face showed no signs of surprise.
"The Culture Festival just started. It's natural for Yukino to want to go on a date and be affectionate with her boyfriend right away—I'm actually surprised, how could you be so sure they'd still be in the clubroom at this time?"
"No reason, just a miscalculation by chance." Haruno frowned and thought for a moment, considering Yuu's patterns of action and Yukino's behavioral logic. Suddenly an idea came to her mind, and she said with full confidence:
"After class matters are temporarily settled, they should have gone to the A/V room now, preparing to watch the film they made themselves!"
"Really?" Saori raised a suspicious eyebrow, "How can you be sure?"
"I can't be sure, but I think he... they would do that! Anyway, let's go and see. As Mother said earlier, if they're not there, at least we can achieve one of our goals, no loss."
Saying this, Haruno had already turned around and prepared to go down, heading towards the school building.
Saori shook her head behind her. The sigh behind her fan spread in the cold air.
"When you could just call Yukino, this child really..."
Then she raised her voice in annoyance:
"Haruno, walk slower! I'm wearing geta, I can't walk fast!"