"So, she's joined that legendary department then?"
In the VIP hospital room, Mrs. Yukinoshita bit into a peeled but slightly oxidised apple, her beautiful features cold as she remarked:
"You didn't instruct Yukino to choose Hoshiga Shrine?"
"My apologies, Mother."
Haruno Yukinoshita stood beside her mother's bed, head lowered like a chastised delinquent child.
"Hoshiga Shrine has been our family's longtime ally. Only they can guarantee Yukino's absolute safety. You're not normally this thoughtless, Haruno."
Facing her mother's reproach, Haruno remained silent, offering no excuses, simply keeping her head bowed.
Seeing Haruno's silent protest, Mrs. Yukinoshita felt on one hand that her eldest daughter's innate nature hadn't yet been completely erased by her upbringing, and required further discipline.
On the other hand, she also thought her eldest daughter resembled herself, for she had once protested against her own father's control in exactly the same way.
Mrs Yukinoshita paid no further attention to her eldest daughter's resistance as she continued speaking to herself:
"Not involving Yukino in social engagements with Hoshiga Shrine was indeed my mistake, leading her to make incorrect judgments."
"But this isn't her fault. Even I was kept in the dark by Shirayuki for nearly forty years - it's only natural Yukino would misjudge the situation."
Anyone would be stunned to discover their closest friend was actually a superhuman capable of controlling wind and rain, from a family that had passed down supernatural abilities for generations.
Based on decades of friendship, although Mrs Yukinoshita was certain Hoshiga Shrine meant no harm to her daughter, this concealment still left her somewhat displeased.
This was merely emotional resistance. Rationally, she believed her old friend had acted correctly.
It was just unfortunate that the Yukinoshita family couldn't deepen their ties with Hoshiga Shrine further - after all, they didn't have a third daughter.
"When little Shirayuki left with that SDS department, did she say anything?"
At this point, with her youngest daughter already gone with that organisation - and with that young man who'd once accepted bribes no less - the situation was beyond changing. Mrs Yukinoshita could only accept reality.
The immediate priority was to understand the supernatural landscape and assess the risks and benefits of Yukino joining SDS, in order to determine the family's next steps.
Haruno Yukinoshita, who understood this too, finally dared to look up and explain to her mother:
"Shirayuki said SDS is currently the highest-rated official organisation worldwide. She guaranteed Yukino would be safe."
"She also explicitly stated that Yukinoshita joining SDS represents, in a way, SDS extending friendly overtures to various factions in Japan. We simply happened to catch this opportunity."
'Yukino's safety came first in her words...' Mrs Yukinoshita glanced at her eldest daughter, immediately recognising the partiality revealed in her emotional instability.
"If Shirayuki says so, then let it be. Oh, notify Sobu High to arrange temporary leave for Yukino. If that department requires it later, we'll transfer her."
"I'll notify them immediately." Haruno glanced at the apple her mother kept eating, instantly recognising it as one Yukino had peeled earlier in the room.
Only Yukino would carve apples into cat ears.
'It's been oxidising for so long, yet she's eating it all... Mother hates stale fruit...' Haruno suddenly realised her mother did care about Yukino after all.
Otherwise, she wouldn't unconsciously act against her usual habits like this.
With this realisation, as she left the room, Haruno suddenly felt less alone.
Unconsciously, a faint smile appeared on Haruno's lips as she quickened her pace down the hospital corridor.
...
On a forest path in Chiba City.
Shirayuki Hotogi leaned against a large tree, phone pressed to her ear:
"Yes, mother. Yukino chose to join SDS."
A gentle voice responded from the other end:
"That's odd. Given her rigid personality, how could she let her youngest daughter go so far? Unless... did she learn through some channel that SDS suits them better than we do?"
"That doesn't make sense. If there were really channels available, something like being kidnapped wouldn't have happened."
Shirayuki Hotogi remained silent, waiting until her mother finished muttering before speaking:
"Mum, what should we do now?"
"Let it be~"
The gentle voice suddenly became lively:
"Originally, my plan was to trick Haruno into coming over. That child's long-suppressed emotions, along with her strong resilience and all-around capabilities, make her perfectly suited for our family's Flame Arts."
"If there'd been no opportunity before, fine. But now that there's a chance, of course, I wanted to try recruiting her."
"Since we've failed now, it's no big deal for us. Or rather, having Yukino join SDS actually broadens our channels, allowing us to indirectly connect with them."
"Oh, right, Shirayuki, did you get the contact details of SDS's person in charge?"
Hearing this, Shirayuki Hotogi thought she'd forgotten and quickly exited the phone call interface to check her new contacts. Seeing Luo Shu's name, she sighed in relief:
"...I already have it."
"Hehe, I knew our Shirayuki was the most charming."
Blushing at her mother's embarrassing words, Shirayuki Hotogi whispered:
"So, are we just going to let Yukino join SDS like this?"
"What else?"
The teasing voice of Shirayuki Miyuki came through:
"I've met Yukino before. With her stubborn personality, neither Flame Arts nor swordsmanship would suit her - she's too prone to overthinking things. If SDS is willing to take her, it's a good thing. At least they have strong resources for training newcomers."
"Since it's already settled, just come straight back. As for the Onmyou Agency, let that madwoman Kirika Tachibana handle communications."
"Hmph, even my close friends are having their memories erased. Those old fools do nothing but cause trouble and make things difficult."
"We'll settle accounts sooner or later about the Chiba Prefecture military blockade and Katsuhiko Yakushiji's incident."
Shirayuki Hotogi didn't continue listening to her mother's complaints, hanging up with a beep and looking up at the sky obscured by tree canopies.
"I feel like I didn't accomplish anything on this trip."
...
Chiba City urban area.
Yukino Yukinoshita sat in the back seat, watching Luo Shu drive with nervous tension.
Luo Shu had been driving on the right the entire way, and Yukino had been watching the entire time. Finally, she couldn't hold back:
"Mr Luo Shu, is it really all right for you to keep driving on the wrong side of the road?"
"Eh?" Luo Shu, driving the Hummer, blinked in confusion. "Isn't driving on the right side breaking traffic rules?"
Hearing this, Yukino Yukinoshita visibly froze before asking doubtfully:
"But Japan's traffic rules require driving on the left, don't they?"
"Oh, sorry, I'm a foreigner."
Luo Shu quickly swerved onto the left lane, nearly throwing Yukino off the back seat.
Clutching the armrest to steady herself, Yukino Yukinoshita complained with clear resentment:
"Um, Mr Luo Shu, could you warn me before making sharp turns like that?"
At this, Luo Shu said breezily:
"Don't worry, I only drive on roads where accidents are absolutely impossible."
Yukino Yukinoshita opened and closed her mouth before finally managing to say, "May I ask if you've actually passed a driving test?"
"Nope!" Luo Shu replied cheerfully.
"What do you mean by 'no'?" Yukino Yukinoshita's expression turned odd, showing subtle signs of cracking.
Luo Shu hummed a tune as he casually replied:
"'No' means I've never taken a driving test. But don't worry, my driving skills are trustworthy. I just learned today by watching Takina drive for ages."
"..."
Yukino's expression froze completely.
Was it too late to get out of the car now?