The show currently playing on TV was called "You Fell for It!? The Great Prank Show!"
The title alone had that unmistakable ring of a Japanese variety program — and from the name itself, it was easy enough to guess what kind of show it was.
Just your usual collection of ridiculous pranks and slapstick setups meant to make the audience burst out laughing.
When Yukinoshita Haruno first got transferred to work on this program, the blaring intro music and the over-the-top screaming from the studio guests made her younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino, instinctively frown.
It was exactly the sort of chaotic noise she had no tolerance for.
Because of her personality, Yukino never cared for shows that served no purpose beyond making people laugh. She simply couldn't find any meaning in them.
Moments ago, she had been quietly reading in her room — until her sister had forcibly dragged her out with a mysterious grin, refusing to explain what she was planning.
And now, after suddenly turning on the TV without context, things had become even stranger.
Yukino's patience was wearing thin. She was just about ready to excuse herself and go back upstairs — this time, no matter what her sister said — when the program's host began his introduction.
That one line made the words she was about to say catch in her throat.
"Welcome back to 'You Fell for It!? The Great Prank Show!' I'm your host, Murata Yoshimitsu! A huge thank-you to all our loyal viewers at home who've supported us so far, and special thanks to our sponsors — Suzuki Group, Shinomiya Real Estate, and Koizumi Pharmaceuticals.
Alright, let's get right into today's special guest!"
Haruno raised an eyebrow. The audience in the studio leaned forward with interest.
"Today's guest is no ordinary person. He once took first place at the National Youth Kendo Championships, and later went on to single-handedly defeat forty-seven opponents in the prestigious Fukuoka Gyokuryūgi Kendo Tournament — leading his team to another championship victory!"
The audience's "atmosphere crew" gasped in exaggerated unison.
"But that's not all," the host continued rapidly, flipping through his cue cards. "He's not just a once-in-a-century kendo prodigy — he's also an accomplished writer whose debut novel won the Ranpo Award! And if that weren't enough, he's even a top-tier pianist who's placed highly in multiple competitions!"
"No way!"
"That can't be real!"
"That's an alien, not a human!"
The audience chatter grew wild, the exaggerated reactions filling the studio with chaotic energy.
"Alright, I think some of our clever viewers might've already guessed who our guest is today," the host said with a flourish.
The black silhouette projected on the large screen behind him slowly faded into a familiar figure — one that Yukino recognized immediately.
And in the corner of the screen appeared a glowing hexagon chart — like something straight out of a shōnen manga — listing the guest's abilities:
Strength, Reflexes, Intelligence, Endurance, Charisma, Potential — all maxed out.
"That's right! Please welcome—Minamoto Senya!"
The crowd erupted into applause, everyone rising to their feet.
From the opposite side of the stage, a young man in a white shirt walked out, smiling warmly and giving a small wave to the audience before stopping at center stage.
The TV broadcast continued — but the real scene worth noting was in the Yukinoshita living room.
Haruno, who had been watching her sister out of the corner of her eye, noticed the change immediately.
A moment ago, Yukino had looked like a cat dragged into the bath — stiff and defiant.
But now, it was as if someone had smoothed her fur the right way — she was calm, quiet, and fully focused on the screen.
Her clear, sapphire-blue eyes were fixed intently on the TV, unmoving.
Haruno let out a small laugh and leaned back against the sofa, her gaze drifting past her sister's perfectly straight posture to meet their mother's eyes across the room.
She raised an eyebrow knowingly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita caught the unspoken message her elder daughter was sending — and in that instant, she finally understood what Haruno had meant earlier by calling this whole thing a "test."
And yes… it was certainly an effective one.
Lately, the youngest daughter had seemed off — distracted, burdened by some unspoken thoughts.
Now, they knew the reason.
Though, instead of relief, Yukinoshita's mother felt a different kind of concern taking root.
To think her daughter's emotions could be swayed so easily by that boy, Senya… It wasn't exactly surprising, but it definitely warranted attention.
She was, after all, at that age — just like her mother once had been.
Back then, Yukinoshita's husband had been the kind of man people called hopeless — skipping work to gamble at mahjong parlors and pachinko halls. But she had fallen for him nonetheless, believing she could guide him back onto the right path.
And she had succeeded.
Yet now, Minamoto Senya was nothing like that.
He was exceptional — almost too exceptional.
Compared to him, even her carefully raised, perfectly polished daughter seemed to pale a little.
How could Yukino possibly bridge that gap?
Childhood friendship alone… didn't seem like enough.
Yukino herself, of course, had no idea what her mother and sister were thinking on either side of her.
One was quietly studying her every reaction, amused.
The other was silently planning out her daughter's future marriage prospects.
Meanwhile, Yukino was lost in her own world — watching the TV, absorbed in Senya's calm expression as he answered the host's questions.
She'd known him since they were little, but this was the first time she'd ever seen him in "professional mode."
It gave her a strange feeling — a mix of curiosity and admiration, a desire to see more of how he acted in front of others.
When it came to Senya, no amount of understanding ever felt like enough.
"Hey, Yukino—"
"Shh!"
Haruno had been about to tease her, but Yukino cut her off with a sharp, serious "shh!" — eyes still glued to the screen.
The cold glare she gave made it perfectly clear: Do not speak right now. This is important.
Haruno froze, blinking in disbelief.
She knew her little sister cared about Senya — that much had always been obvious — but this level of devotion was new.
Had she missed something?
Was it because they hadn't seen each other in a while, and that pent-up longing had finally boiled over?
Haruno wasn't sure.
But their mother, who had been quietly observing everything, was sure — and the look on her face said she'd already made a decision in her heart.
The show, "You Fell for It!? The Great Prank Show!", was pre-recorded.
As the sole guest for that episode, Minamoto Senya was shown taking part in a short on-site interview before watching the prank footage along with the studio crew.
When the footage aired, a small "reaction window" appeared in the corner of the screen — showing Senya and the others watching the scene unfold.
These "reaction boxes" had always been a controversial part of Japanese variety shows.
Some viewers found them annoying — saying they blocked the view and ruined the mood with too much noise.
Yukino wasn't someone who watched much TV, but she'd seen this format a few times when passing through the living room while her father had the television on. She'd never liked it much.
But this time was different.
Because the face in that little window — the one she could watch as much as she wanted — was Senya's.
No matter how silly the setup was, she could see more of him — how he reacted, how he smiled.
And that made it… worth it.
The show shifted scenes.
From the studio, it transitioned outdoors — the edges of the frame darkened, indicating a hidden camera view.
Senya stepped out of a car, greeted by staff members who approached to discuss the day's "filming schedule."
According to the narrator, the program had invited Senya onto a yacht under the pretext of a promotional shoot.
The prank's plan was simple:
The director would ask Senya to stand by the railing and shoot a scene of him turning dramatically toward the camera.
They'd rehearse a few normal takes first.
Then, during the real one, the camera crew would secretly swap the camera with a cream cannon filled with whipped cream.
As Senya turned, several cannons would fire at once — and the supposedly "secure" railing would unlatch, sending him tumbling into the sea in a hilarious surprise.
That was the plan.
Reality, however, went off-script almost immediately.
When the staff members prepared to fire, Senya's reaction was inhumanly fast.
The camera caught everything — the instant the pranksters pulled their triggers, he crouched in one fluid motion, dodging every shot aimed at his face.
He stood again with only a few flecks of cream on his shoulder.
The crew froze, dumbfounded.
The man in the center dropped his cannon and lunged forward, trying to salvage the moment for the show — but in his panic, he slipped on the spilled cream and went sliding across the deck like a bowling ball, splashing into the water with a loud plop.
Senya sidestepped neatly, peered over the edge, and called out with a light smile,
"Are you alright down there, sir?"
Then, before anyone else could react, he shifted his weight, gave two quick taps and pushes, and sent the other pranksters toppling into the sea one after another with perfect, almost elegant precision.
When one of them resurfaced, his once-thick hair was slicked back to reveal a shiny bald head that gleamed under the sun like a tiny golden orb — the comedic effect was irresistible.
"What an unexpected twist! The pranksters have been pranked instead!" the narrator exclaimed dramatically.
A message flashed across the bottom of the screen:
"This program contains absolutely no scripted content."
The shot zoomed in on Senya's bright, innocent smile — contrasting sharply with the drenched, bewildered staff shouting things like,
"Wait, was this the real prank!?"
"They got us instead!?"
Back in the Yukinoshita living room, Yukino exhaled quietly — a small, relieved sigh escaping her lips.
Haruno stared at her, utterly defeated.
Yep… this girl's gone. Totally unsalvageable.
She had watched Yukino's expressions throughout — how her brows had furrowed in worry when the narration explained the prank setup, whispering under her breath:
"That's too dangerous! Even if those cannons are harmless, what if one hit Senya's eyes by accident?
And falling into the ocean without warning—he could've swallowed water, or gotten an infection…
Did the production team even think this through properly?"
And now, seeing him unharmed — even turning the tables on his pranksters — she'd relaxed completely, smiling with a gentle radiance that reminded Haruno of moonlight.
Right… so the staff falling into the water was fine, but if Senya had, it would've been a disaster?
Her sister's bias couldn't be more obvious.
Before, Yukino's fondness for Senya had been apparent, but this — this was something else entirely.
Haruno's wide-eyed stare finally made Yukino notice her, and a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
She brought her hand to her mouth and coughed lightly, trying to hide her smile — and then realized their mother had quietly left the room.
"Eh? When did Mom go upstairs? I didn't even notice," she murmured.
Probably around the time you made that 'My beloved is so amazing' face, Haruno thought dryly.
She could've said it out loud — and in the past, she would have.
But now?
There was no need.
…
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