"Mm, okay, thank you very much for your help this time, Reiko. I'll treat you to a meal later, bye~" Haruno hung up the phone with a smile.
After hanging up, the smile on Haruno's face gradually faded, her pupils reflecting the faint blue light from the computer screen.
Closing the email, her delicate body leaned back, relying entirely on the soft sofa cushion. Haruno pinched the center of her eyebrows with her bare hand, seemingly trying to relieve the fatigue of these days in this way.
On the day her sister and Shinra set off for the school trip, Haruno's private email received a mysterious email. The sender was unknown, but the content was quite provocative.
It was a photo of Shinra and the popular female star Sakurajima Mai. Although there was no intimate behavior between the two in the photo, anyone could see that the relationship between the two in the photo was unusual.
Haruno didn't know who sent her this email and what the purpose was, but one thing was certain: the other party didn't leave any contact information or clues indicating identity. Hiding the head and showing the tail like this definitely meant no good intentions.
At first, she thought the sender of this email was actually Sakurajima Mai herself, and the purpose was obvious: to dissuade her... sister, so as to achieve the goal of eliminating competitors without bloodshed.
But with the progress of the investigation, Haruno overturned this conclusion. The reason was simple: if Sakurajima Mai really wanted to do this, there was no need to hide. She could just come to find her... and her sister openly.
After all, whether it was herself or Yukino, the current relationship with Shinra was still just friends, at most a little ambiguous, not officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet.
If that Sakurajima Mai really had an intimate relationship with Shinra, she didn't need to worry about them at all. On the contrary, they should be the ones worrying about her.
No other reason, first-mover advantage.
In love, the forerunner can always seize the moral high ground, and this is also an excellent weapon against latecomers.
Any girl with normal values doesn't want to be labeled as a 'mistress', let alone girls like the Yukinoshita sisters who are proud to the bone.
According to Haruno's investigation, this Sakurajima Mai should have met Shinra recently. Including her recent comeback, everything was arranged by Shinra single-handedly, and even her agency company had Shinra's name written on it.
This was very interesting.
As the future heir of the Yukinoshita family, Haruno had begun to take over many affairs and connections of the Yukinoshita family in recent years. Therefore, she had heard a little about many things within wealthy families that were not known to outsiders.
So this Sakurajima Mai was a little lover kept by Shinra outside?
Haruno's thoughts flowed. In her impression, Shinra wasn't the kind of guy who liked beauty... at least not entirely. Although that Sakurajima Mai was indeed good-looking, in terms of appearance alone, Haruno felt that the other party and herself should be on par.
Yukino's appearance was more exquisite than the other party's, but the other party's figure made up for this very well. Moreover, Sakurajima Mai had a flavor of a good wife and loving mother, or in common parlance, a flavor of a married woman.
Although she was a high school student like her sister, that mature charm was something her sister didn't possess, and even she herself was inferior in this aspect.
Also mature, but the styles were different; can only say each had its own merits.
Considering Shinra's background of losing both parents, maybe the mature woman flavor on Sakurajima Mai counted as a special attack for Shinra?
Thinking of this, Haruno couldn't help narrowing her eyes, not knowing what she was thinking.
In addition, although modern society emphasizes equality for all and no distinction between high and low professions, saying is one thing, but doing is another.
Anyway, according to what Haruno knew, the more noble the powerful family, the more they cared about status. While Sakurajima Mai's identity as a famous actress was indeed good for ordinary people, it was somewhat not enough in front of powerful families, and might even be a deduction item.
In comparison, although the Yukinoshita family was far less powerful than the Mori clan, it was still a political and business family passed down for several generations.
Solely from the perspective of family background, her side undoubtedly had more advantages.
After all, one was a vase needing support, and the other was a virtuous internal helper who could provide support in career. Everyone knew which was better.
Under the condition of similar appearance and emotional foundation, the latter obviously had more advantages.
Precisely because of this thought, Haruno actually didn't regard Sakurajima Mai as a real opponent subconsciously.
However... although Haruno didn't think the other party was her opponent, it didn't mean she would take it lightly.
The other party not being her opponent didn't mean not being her sister's opponent.
With Haruno's understanding of her sister, if she knew there was such a person as Sakurajima Mai, she would most likely choose to escape and keep a distance from Shinra again, rather than confronting the other party head-on.
Let's put it this way: as long as that Sakurajima Mai hugged Shinra's arm in front of Yukino and declared she was his girlfriend, Yukino would leave by herself.
No other reason; Yukino, who believes in absolute correctness, wouldn't allow herself to become an intruder in others' emotions.
But this won't do.
Haruno sighed. This world is not black and white. Where is there absolute justice or absolute evil? She only knew that if she didn't fight or snatch some things, she would eventually be eaten clean by others!
Thinking of this, Haruno clicked on the identity information about Sakurajima Mai again, looking at the bright and moving girl in the photo, with no emotion in her eyes.
Some things she could yield to Yukino, but this didn't mean she would yield to outsiders.
Coming in to eat together was fine, but wanting to take the whole pot away... no way!
If Yukino didn't fight, then she would fight. At least doing so would keep the meat in the pot. But in that case, if Yukino still wanted it, she would have to get it herself.
Closing the computer completely, the last source of light in the cold living room dissipated, leaving only the bright moonlight shining in from the window.
——————
Kyoto, Commercial Street.
Shinra sat on the bench in the coffee shop, opposite Yukino who was ordering.
Currently, there were only the two of them here. Due to various reasons, the original Service Club team had to split up.
Hachiman and Totsuka Saika went to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine together to pray for Komachi's high school entrance exam next year. Yui was dragged by Miura Yumiko and the others to the Studio Park. Shinra and Yukino chose this commercial street because they wanted to buy souvenirs for Haruno.
Considered a small two-person world.
The reason for calling it small was that later, after Hachiman and the others finished their business, the Service Club team would reassemble and then go to the last classic spot of this school trip for a visit and commemoration.
"A cup of hot cocoa latte, thank you." Yukino closed the menu and said politely to the waiter.
Then the girl looked at Shinra sitting opposite and asked: "Nee-san, what did she ask you to bring?"
"Just some small gadgets."
"Some?"
Yukino raised her eyebrows, catching the keyword.
Did Nee-san list a shopping list for this guy Shinra too?
Considering Haruno's unreliability, Yukino felt the other party might really do such a thing.
She didn't hide it either, asking directly: "Did Nee-san list a shopping list for you too?"
"Too? You have one too?" Shinra pretended to be surprised.
"Really have!" Yukino felt her fist hardening.
For herself, fine, but why should Shinra help her bring souvenirs? And not one, but a pile.
Shinra, this guy, actually agreed.
Truly one dared to ask, and one dared to agree.
Although Yukino knew this little money for buying souvenirs was nothing to Shinra, she didn't care about the money itself, but Shinra's behavior of satisfying Haruno's outrageous request.
"I already helped her bring souvenirs; you don't need to help." Yukino said.
Shinra hesitated, "I already agreed; wouldn't it be bad?"
"The one who should feel bad is Nee-san who made such a rude request. You don't need to accommodate her so much at all."
"But bought already bought. Calculating the time, your sister should have almost received them."
"?"
Yukino slowly typed a question mark. What means bought already bought?
Didn't they just arrive at the commercial street, planning to sit down for a cup of coffee to rest before going in to purchase souvenirs?
Shinra pulled out the mobile order, placed it in front of Yukino and said: "Yeah, look, the logistics show it has arrived in Chiba now."
"This is... online shopping?" Yukino looked stunned, seemingly not expecting Shinra to buy souvenirs for her sister in this way at all.
"So many things; I couldn't possibly carry them all back, right?" Shinra spread his hands. Although he had a system, it was a wish-power system, not a four-dimensional pocket.
"Anyway, eventually have to express delivery over. Why not just buy directly online and let the merchant deliver?"
"..."
Hearing Shinra say this, for a moment Yukino didn't feel any problem. Although intuition told her something seemed wrong, but... she seemed to be able to do this too?
Better not. After a little thought, Yukino regretfully gave up this idea.
There were two reasons. One was that she didn't have many things to bring, and online shopping felt less sincere. Souvenirs are called souvenirs because they must be brought back personally; otherwise, it can only be called simple home delivery.
The other was if she bought online now, what would she and Shinra browse in the mall later?
And her sister's things could be bought online, but for the souvenirs for Father and Mother, Yukino still planned to choose them personally.
However, to be honest, hearing Shinra used online shopping to bring souvenirs for her sister, Yukino's mood inexplicably improved a bit.
Probably... because the way Shinra chose was quite funny?
Anyway, impossible because of jealousy.
"Does Nee-san know?" Yukino asked, suppressing the smile at the corner of her mouth.
Shinra looked at the girl with a smile on her lips with a strange expression. Because of Emotion Perception, Shinra could guess a thing or two about Yukino's thoughts.
The other party is really jealous of her sister.
Maybe because of those words on Truth or Dare last night, Shinra could clearly feel that Yukino was much 'easier to understand' than before.
No, shouldn't say 'easy to understand', but the other party seemed to have figured out some things, no longer hiding like before. Obviously objective conditions were there, but subjectively still refusing to admit it to death.
And this also meant the relationship between Shinra and Yukino entered a brand new stage.
Although still not reaching the stage where they could reveal their feelings to each other, both should have a relatively clear outline of their status in each other's hearts.
More or less guessed some thoughts of each other.
"Of course, Haruno-nee isn't a fool. Even if I don't say, she can see the problem from the express tracking number."
Although the recipient address was the Yukinoshita family's address, the buyer wrote Shinra's name.
In addition, even if Haruno knew he did this, she probably wouldn't be angry... mm, might use this as a 'handle' to take the opportunity to make some small requests to him.
Can't help it; 'bad woman' is like this.
"But not a big problem; Haruno-nee should understand me." Shinra said.
Yukino didn't think so. With her understanding of her sister, she would definitely take the opportunity to ask Shinra for some 'compensation'.
And rather than compensation, it was better to say using this excuse to get closer to Shinra. This kind of trick was almost a passive skill for Haruno.
It could be said that in terms of social skills alone, several Yukinos combined couldn't compare to the other party.
Fortunately, her sister's interest in Shinra only stayed on matching her. If she really wanted to attack Shinra, probably...
Yukino lowered her eyelids. Although she didn't want to admit it, in terms of snatching men, her sister was indeed more authoritative.
Coffee was finished quickly, and the shops on the street were almost all open.
The reason Shinra and Yukino sat in the coffee shop drinking coffee early in the morning was also because they came too early; many shops hadn't officially opened yet.
The two walked out of the coffee shop. Shinra looked at the girl beside him and asked: "So where is our first stop?"
Yukino opened the paper map calmly, then looked around, a trace of confusion flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Okay, he still has to lead the way.