Fireworks burst one after another, painting the night sky. The fleeting beauty of fireworks is always so magnificent and brilliant. Yukinoshita Haruno's fake smile has vanished. She stands by the pond, her face serious, staring at Hiratsuka Ryosuke without a word. Their situation is completely different from a few minutes ago. Ryosuke's voice is not loud, but to Haruno, it's louder than the exploding fireworks.
Stop it, stop it, I understand.After all, that's what I do. I cleverly find excuses for myself, and I have been deceiving myself like this for over a decade.
Yukinoshita Haruno thinks to herself, but she can't utter a word. Ryosuke's words are like a sharp blade, stabbing her heart. Does she not understand these things? She just doesn't want to admit them.
"Fake tears hurt yourself, and fake smiles hurt others. Yukinoshita Haruno, which one do you think your concern for your sister is?"
Hiratsuka Ryosuke continues to press on, as if he wants to tear off the mask that has been embedded in Yukinoshita Haruno's skin. Haruno's mind is in chaos. She covers her heart with her hand, almost falling into a trance. At this moment, she sees her mother's shadow in Ryosuke. Yukinoshita Haruno tries to object, but thinking of her suffocating mother, her voice trembles. She stands still, her hands and feet feeling cold. She mutters softly, "Born into a family like this, what choice do I have? Do you think I don't envy the birds that can fly freely in the sky?"
Haruno, who usually has a sunny smile on her face, is now like a bruised eggplant. She is the heir of the Yukinoshita family. From the moment she was born, her fate was planned out for her. All she had to do was follow the steps.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke looks at the distant sky. In the light of the fireworks, he sees a nightjar flying past. "You're wrong about that. Birds aren't free. They fly to hunt. Humans just project their dream of freedom onto them."
Yukinoshita Haruno looks up at him, as if she's had a sudden awakening. She looks at Ryosuke with a hint of disbelief. Their family backgrounds are similar, and they are both heirs of prominent families. Why does he have this understanding? Haruno instinctively puts herself in the shoes of the eldest daughter of the Hiratsuka family. She realizes something. The head of the Hiratsuka family has never forced his children to be a certain way. Even though Little Shizuka is a celebrity in her own right, her father doesn't blame her. Did he completely give up on Little Shizuka and just treat Ryosuke as the heir? Even so, Ryosuke's upbringing is completely different from her own. Is the root of the problem the Yukinoshita family itself? Her father is rarely at home. Did Mother infuse her way of thinking into her?
For the first time, Yukinoshita Haruno questions her mother, who is like a god to her. She stares at Hiratsuka Ryosuke, trying to read something from his face. She finds his face calm. Is he really able to say these things without any pressure?Does he dare to stand up to the head of the Hiratsuka family? To defy his father's will? Ryosuke's words have tied Haruno's mind in a knot.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke turns around and looks at the girl without a fake smile. At this moment, he sees a new side of Yukinoshita Haruno. Not the graceful and proper Yamato Nadeshiko, nor the flirtatious and charming little devil. Haruno's eyes are filled with curiosity, helplessness, longing, and a hint of a burning flame.
"What are you thinking?" Ryosuke asks calmly.
Yukinoshita Haruno seems to realize her abnormality and puts on her little devil mask again. She forces a bright and sunny smile. "Oh, my! Little Ryosuke, your words have moved my heart. It's making me a little fluttery."
Hiratsuka Ryosuke walks toward Yukinoshita Haruno. She subconsciously takes a step back. She doesn't notice the pond behind her and suddenly loses her footing. Ryosuke sees this and gently pulls her back. The forward momentum makes Haruno fall forward. Ryosuke quickly sidesteps, and Haruno lets out a surprised cry. "Ah!"
Yukinoshita Haruno falls to the ground. Ryosuke looks at her, and she looks terrified. He shakes his head and says, "The more cunning a person is, the more likely they are to fall into unexpected trouble. Yukinoshita Haruno, stop your little tricks."
"You moron... I was really about to fall! It was an accident!" Yukinoshita Haruno says, grinding her teeth. She is a mess. It was a genuine accident; she didn't mean to play any games. Does this guy not have a single bit of compassion? She's a beautiful woman, after all. This is the first time she's tasted such a feeling.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke looks down at her. "You have a fake life, so you long to see genuine feelings. You hope for the existence of something real in your heart, but you're afraid of it. How contradictory."
Yukinoshita Haruno slowly gets up and brushes the dirt off her body. But with every word Ryosuke says, her face gets darker. She knows that every word the boy says hits her where it hurts, and she can't find a single way to object. Yukinoshita Haruno observes Ryosuke, trying to see right through him. She has sacrificed so much to get to where she is. She has constantly observed and guessed the thoughts of everyone around her, using a facade to get close to them. So many people can't refuse her, but Hiratsuka Ryosuke is the exception. From the first time they met, he saw through her.
A flash of insight crosses Yukinoshita Haruno's mind. She realizes she's made a preconceived error. He is not another version of Yukino. He's her own kind. He has strong observational skills, sharp insight, and constantly tries to figure people out. At the same time, he is very hardworking and has a strong sense of responsibility. It's more accurate to say he's like an older brother rather than Little Shizuka's younger brother. He takes care of her like she's his sister.
Haruno has been constantly emphasizing the engagement to subtly influence Ryosuke's perception. She hoped that in the future, he would save her sister, just like he saved others. But now she has abandoned that idea. Sorry, Little Yukino, this person is a little dangerous.Your older sister won't let you be in harm's way.
With that in mind, Yukinoshita Haruno walks closer. Her face is very close to Ryosuke's. She wants to get a closer look, and she's extremely cautious. Hiratsuka Ryosuke can feel her warm, moist breath on his face, a breath that carries the scent of lilies. There's no hint of a smile on Yukinoshita Haruno's face; she is completely serious. Ryosuke doesn't move, wanting to see what she'll do.
Before Yukinoshita Haruno can speak, Ryosuke hears a powerful yell from behind him. "Yukinoshita Haruno! What are you doing to my cute little brother?!"