Soga Yura's expression was unmistakably weighed down with something.
She had been hunting those Eye of Insight cultists in the dead of night, manipulating their wills — plucking from their memories every scrap of information about the Eye of Insight's surveillance of fate. She hadn't felt this lost even when she first learned that the so-called center of fate's storm was Yuzu herself.
But… the moment she saw that girl's white skirt hem swaying in the distance, she felt it, clearly and undeniably —
A storm was coming.
And Yuzu was at its eye.
Sister Kirishika looked no different from over ten years ago.
Even back then, she had that same youthful, endearing air. Soga Yura had to reach her arm up just to hold her hand.
Now… she looked even younger than Soga Yura herself.
Lost in that daze, Soga Yura suddenly caught a whiff of something — sweet and sharp like citrus.
She lifted her head, and there were Yuzu's crimson eyes, barely inches from her face. She could feel, easily and unmistakably, the weight of Yuzu's presence pressing in against her arm.
It was… honestly absurd.
She was the older one, after all.
And yet cruel fate seemed to have poured every last drop of its favor into Yuzu.
Though, thinking about it — it wasn't really a problem.
Because the one who got to enjoy all of Yuzu's blessings… was her, anyway.
"Want a taste of mine?" Su Yuzu's gaze drifted to the lips of the girl barely an inch away from her.
Heavy makeup had never really suited Soga Yura.
Just a touch of light makeup was all she needed — a little contouring here, a delicate stroke there.
More importantly, a girl needed to use foundation and contouring powder to subtly, ever so deceptively, sculpt a little definition into the silhouette in front.
But in front of Yuzu, the girl had still craftily dabbed on a faint, near-clear tinted lip gloss.
In the slanted afternoon light, her lips gleamed — more tempting than the crepe resting between Su Yuzu's fingers.
Su Yuzu could tell that Soga Yura had something on her mind.
Soga Yura hid it well, admittedly.
But… how could Soga Yura's little secrets ever hide from Yuzu?
Still, Su Yuzu said nothing.
A girl was entitled to her own private thoughts.
And Su Yuzu trusted that Soga Yura had her own judgment. If it was something she needed to share, she would.
Soga Yura tucked the strand of hair falling past her ear behind it, tilted her head slightly forward, and took a small bite from the crepe Su Yuzu had offered.
This time Su Yuzu hadn't bought every girl the exact same strawberry cream crepe — she'd made a point of getting something different for each person.
So naturally… it was only fair to swap a taste.
That was perfectly reasonable.
And moreover, this particular style of feeding seemed to raise Favorability even more than simply handing over a whole crepe on its own.
And yet… even after everything they had lived through together — life and death included.
Soga Yura's Favorability was still stubbornly locked at 99 (Doting).
The little rabbit's Favorability had already caught up.
And Soga Yura's was still frozen right there at that infuriatingly clear boundary.
"Damn it!!!"
"I want to try senpai's crepe too," the little rabbit said, eyeing the crepe in Su Yuzu's hand.
Su Yuzu simply smiled and held it out.
She herself hadn't even had a single bite.
The crepe — not especially large to begin with — was divided up and finished off by the girls in no time.
Only Unohana Chiyo had cut herself a small piece from Soga Yura's crepe.
Then, noticing that Su Yuzu still hadn't eaten, she cut the crepe in front of her — the one she had only taken the lightest nibble from — in two.
She offered the untouched half to Yuzu.
Soga Yura looked down at her own crepe, the faint crescent-shaped bite mark still there on its surface.
But… she had a nagging feeling something wasn't quite right.
At dusk.
The fading sunlight spread across sky and earth alike, painting everything in a gorgeous, burnished orange.
A sleek, deep-teal stretch limousine glided in from the distance and rolled to a stop in front of the waiting girls.
The driver's door swung open.
Out stepped a remarkably young, composed, slender woman.
She was tall to begin with — even slightly taller than Ms. Unohana — which only made her look more willowy. Slender to the point where it seemed like a strong gust of wind might knock her over.
And yet the air about her was one of quiet, composed efficiency.
Her attire was rather peculiar — a maid's dress layered over what was clearly a formal kimono — yet on her, the combination looked surprisingly natural.
Her firm, impassive eyes were crimson too, glinting with an almost starlit brilliance. But the moment those resolute eyes landed on Su Yuzu and Soga Yura, they softened — instantly, completely — into something warm and gentle.
"Eldest Young Lady —"
"Little Young Lady."
She looked contentedly at the joined hands of Su Yuzu and Soga Yura.
To see the Eldest Young Lady and the Little Young Lady reconciled — for her, that alone was more than worth celebrating.
A birthday banquet held in the girls' honor.
If anyone were missing, it would always be a loss.
"Sister Iori —" Su Yuzu gently released Soga Yura's hand and threw herself into the arms of the woman before her.
She was Soga Iori.
For as long as anyone could remember, she had been the personal attendant responsible for every aspect of Soga Yura and Su Yuzu's daily life — their meals, their household, everything.
And at the same time —
Within the Soga clan, she was the one who ensured Soga Yura's orders were carried out to the letter.
"It's been so long." Su Yuzu nestled gently in Soga Iori's embrace.
"It has been a long time," the woman said, and for a moment, genuine warmth broke through the severity of her expression in a quiet smile.
She didn't pull Su Yuzu close.
She simply rested one hand lightly on her shoulder.
But even so… she could feel, unmistakably, the rapid development of the girl's figure pressing against her.
She held out her hand and measured the top of Su Yuzu's head against the level of her own brow.
"You've grown taller."
"Your figure has improved as well."
By comparison.
The Eldest Young Lady's measurements, which had not moved even a millimeter in all these years… suddenly seemed rather pitiable.
Su Yuzu let out a soft, involuntary laugh. "I've only been away from the Soga household for a little over a year. It couldn't be that obvious."
Soga Iori simply looked at her. "A little over a year?"
"That's… already a very long time."
"The Eldest Young Lady didn't know how many times she cried…"
"Sister Iori!!!" Soga Yura, ears burning scarlet, cut Soga Iori off in a panic.
Had she… had she really cried that many times?
"Yes —" Soga Iori let her hand fall quietly.
She pulled the car door open and gestured for the girls to get in.
"I have been cleaning your room every day."
"The iris flowers you planted are nearly in bloom — the buds have been growing beautifully, and this year they will flower especially well."
"Perhaps because they knew, too, that you were coming home."
Soga Iori drove Su Yuzu back to that place — familiar and yet strangely distant to her now.
Paying no mind to the uncles and relatives with their various hidden agendas, Su Yuzu returned to her room.
The room was clean and tidy.
Exactly as it had been when she left.
The other girls all gave the space to Su Yuzu and Soga Yura alone.
"The Eldest Young Lady has missed you very much."
"I know…"
"She used to visit Keigunen Private Academy often, asking after you."
"I know…"
"When she found out you had gotten into Keigunen Private Academy, she was truly so happy."
"I know." Su Yuzu's smile kept growing warmer, and Soga Yura's cheeks kept growing redder.
"And on your shared birthday — that cake that dropped on the floor — the Eldest Young Lady actually…"
"Sister Iori!!!" Soga Yura's ears were burning hot enough to smolder, and she rushed to cut her off.
Su Yuzu looked up in genuine surprise, staring at Soga Yura.
"Are you a fool, or a child?"
"Eating something that fell on the floor."
"Because…" The girl choked, her voice thick and wet with the edge of tears. "Because… it was a gift from Yuzu."
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