Yukinoshita Yukino was the second daughter of the distinguished Yukinoshita family from Chiba Prefecture in Sakurajima. She had an older sister named Yukinoshita Haruno.
Having an older sister wasn't always a blessing—especially when that sister was exceptionally talented.
Ever since Yukino could understand the world, she had been constantly compared to her capable elder sister.
Even though Yukino was impressive in her own right, she always seemed to fall just short of Haruno.
Her mother's favorite refrain was: "I don't expect you to be as good as Haruno, but…"
No matter how well she performed, the praise she received was always qualified: "As expected of Haruno's little sister" or "If it were Haruno, she would have done even better."
All of this eventually became tiresome. By the time she entered middle school, Yukino began seriously considering ways to leave home.
Her choice to enroll at St. Eden Academy wasn't driven by admiration for its school culture, nor by considerations of future university or career prospects. She chose it for one reason: only by passing St. Eden's entrance exam could she claim enough independence to escape her mother's strict arrangements, step out from her sister's shadow, and secure permission to attend high school in Tokyo on her own.
This wasn't an easy task. As a unified middle-and-high school system, the majority of St. Eden's high school students were automatic promotions from the middle school division, and the few slots open to outsiders were fiercely contested. Within the academic world, the external entrance exam was jokingly nicknamed "The Princess Kaguya's Dilemma"—so difficult that only a celestial being, untouched by worldly concerns, could hope to pass. Tutors would peer at any student who claimed St. Eden as a goal, double-checking for disbelief before giving a look of astonished admiration.
After over a year of grueling preparation, Yukino finally succeeded. She severed her official dependency on her family—at least in the sense necessary to attend school independently—and became a first-year high school student at St. Eden Academy.
Then…
Yukino reflected on her experiences during the first month at the academy, letting out a quiet sigh. Night had fallen, and the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family lay on her bed in Tokyo, clutching a pillow, her thoughts tangled.
From Chiba to Tokyo, she had sacrificed so much. And for what? Was it really worth it?
Had her decisions truly been the right ones?
Lost in her worries, the crisp chime of her phone broke the silence: a message.
She picked it up, unlocked the screen, and Shizuka Hiratsuka's avatar popped up instantly.
"小 Yukino, how's it going with Hara Kei?"
Yukino imagined Shizuka's teasing expression and clicked her tongue. She started to type a sharp reply—"None of your business!"—when another message arrived.
"He's like you, you know. Not an automatic promotion, but a student who passed St. Eden's high school entrance exam from outside. And neither of you are from Tokyo. Don't you think that's… a rather strange kind of fate?"
"Eh?" Yukino raised her brows in surprise. She had never considered it before. The memory of lunch that day returned vividly. With Shizuka's quiet approval, Yukino had finished her bento at the newly arranged desk and then pulled out a small book to read. Beyond a nod at the end of lunch, there had been no other interaction between them.
By her estimation, Hara Kei fit perfectly into her mental image of a "quiet, beautiful young man." And yet… he was in the same situation she was?
Curiosity bloomed within her. Where was his hometown? Was he from a noble family, or an ordinary one? How had he fared among his classmates? Had he faced discrimination like her? Was his unsociable personality innate, or merely a protective façade?
Her questions churned through her mind. She tentatively began typing a few inquiries on her phone, but out of modesty—and respect for his privacy—she deleted them all.
In the midst of her indecision, Shizuka sent her final messages for the night:
"I'm going to sleep. Goodnight.PS: Don't forget to leave your umbrella at home tomorrow."
"???" Yukino stared at the text, baffled.
What did that mean?
…Damn it. She shouldn't have trusted her.
Glancing over at Shizuka, who was teaching a classical literature class at the front, Yukino's eyes drifted to the window.
The morning had been overcast, clouds thickening ominously. By the last class, rain had begun to cling to the windows. When the final bell rang, thin silver threads of rain connected sky and earth.
Yukino frowned. In Chiba, she could have called home for a ride, but here in Tokyo… borrowing an umbrella seemed impossible. Shizuka had already disappeared after class.
Just as she resigned herself to balancing her backpack on her head and hoping to make it to the nearest station, an unexpected visitor appeared.
Hara Kei, also in the "going-home club," noticed her predicament and offered her space under his umbrella.
…
A serene quiet enveloped them beneath the shared canopy, a small world half-shaped by nature, half by circumstance. Neither spoke.
Hara Kei's long frame towered over her, his stride naturally longer, yet he adjusted it subtly to match hers. For some reason, Yukino didn't feel like she was being outpaced. He's shrinking his steps for me, she thought quietly.
Moreover, Yukino prided herself on her appearance. Even among the many beautiful students at St. Eden, she considered herself in the top tier. Yet, walking almost shoulder to shoulder with him, his composure remained utterly unshaken, every movement smooth and natural.
Damn it… this man is way too good with women. Where did he learn this? Some kind of playboy?
Her curiosity about him only grew, each question bubbling up from the depths of her mind. Watching the raindrops trickle off the edge of the umbrella, she asked impulsively:
"Hara Kei… do you like this city?"