The sedan slowly drove into the Yukinoshita family's Tokyo residence.
It was a detached Japanese-style estate tucked deep inside a quiet residential district. The grounds were spacious, the walls were high, and the main gate was firmly shut.
Through the wall, one could see carefully trimmed pine trees and an exquisite Japanese garden. Every detail radiated understated luxury.
The car stopped before the gate, and Haruno tapped the horn.
The gate slowly opened. The car drove into the courtyard and came to a stop in front of a two-story house.
Yukino sat in the back seat, her entire body still tense.
She looked at the figure in the driver's seat undoing her seatbelt, then at the guy chatting and laughing with her sister, and an indescribable sense of absurdity welled up inside her.
Genichi.
The bastard who had mocked her as "flat as a board."
The cold man who seemed indifferent to everything.
The problem student in her eyes.
How could he possibly become her brother-in-law?
She and he had attended the same school for so long, yet she had never known he was acquainted with her sister.
Her sister went out once or twice a month, claiming it was for work. Had she actually been going to see Genichi?
How long had they known each other?
How far had things developed?
Why was Mother involved too?
Countless questions spun through Yukino's mind, leaving her thoughts in chaos.
She did not even know how she got out of the car or how she walked into the house. It was not until she saw the person standing in the entryway that she abruptly came back to herself.
Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Her mother, the head of the Yukinoshita family, was standing in the entryway with a warm expression.
Yukino's pupils contracted slightly.
Mother was personally welcoming him?
In her memory, the only people who could make her mother personally come out to greet them were guests of extremely high status.
Business magnates, political officials, elders from distinguished families—only people like that received such treatment.
And now, the person Mother was welcoming was Genichi?
Yukino felt that the shocks she had received today were greater than all the shocks she had experienced in the past ten-plus years combined.
"Welcome, Genichi-kun."
Mrs. Yukinoshita bowed slightly, her face bearing an appropriate smile.
That smile was perfectly measured. It was neither overly warm nor cold.
It was the standard, well-trained smile of someone accustomed to standing above others.
Genichi looked at her, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"It's been two years since I last met you, Mrs. Yukinoshita."
His voice was quiet, his tone calm, but everyone present could hear the meaning behind his words.
Two years.
They had met once two years ago.
Back then, although Mrs. Yukinoshita had not said anything particularly harsh, she had made one thing very clear—Haruno's future husband would not be an ordinary person.
The implication had been simple. He was not worthy.
Now, he stood here again with an entirely different status.
His words were a pointed reminder.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's expression stiffened slightly.
Of course she understood what he meant.
Normally, if anyone dared speak to her like this, she would have already shown them a cold face.
But now, she could not.
Because the boy before her was no longer the orphan who had needed her daughter's support to survive two years ago.
He was an existence capable of strangling vengeful spirits with his bare hands.
He possessed extraordinary power.
He was someone she had to look up to.
Mrs. Yukinoshita took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"I misjudged you back then…"
She raised her head and looked at Genichi, her gaze sincere and composed.
"I hope you won't take offense, Genichi-kun."
It was an apology.
A subtle one, but an apology nonetheless.
Given her status and position, saying this much was already a tremendous concession.
Genichi looked at her, his expression shifting faintly.
The atmosphere froze slightly.
Yukino stood to the side, looking from her mother to Genichi. A complicated feeling rose inside her.
She could vaguely sense that there was some past between these two that she did not know about.
Just then, a hand reached over and wrapped around Genichi's arm.
Haruno.
She smiled at Genichi, then at her mother, and spoke.
"Oh, come on, that's all in the past. Genichi isn't petty enough to hold a grudge over something like that."
She shook Genichi's arm and leaned close to his ear, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Right, Genichi?"
Her voice carried a trace of coquettishness, a trace of pleading, and a trace of nervousness even she herself had not noticed.
She was asking him.
Asking him to give her mother a way out.
Genichi looked at her, her reflection appearing in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, he smiled.
It was a faint smile.
"Haruno is right."
He spoke, his tone much lighter than before.
"I forgot about something from two years ago long ago."
When Mrs. Yukinoshita heard that, she quietly sighed in relief.
She knew that this hurdle had been cleared.
A brilliant smile immediately bloomed on Haruno's face.
"I knew Genichi was the best!"
She pulled Genichi by the arm and led him inside.
"Come on, let's hurry and eat. You must be hungry by now, right?"
Genichi let her pull him along. He shook his head helplessly, but did not break free.
Yukino stood where she was, watching her sister behave like a girl clinging to someone she liked. An indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
She had never seen her sister like this before.
That older sister who was always clever, capable, and completely at ease. That sister who always teased her until she wanted to grind her teeth in frustration.
And yet, right now, she was like an ordinary girl, holding a boy's arm and smiling so happily.
Was this what it looked like to like someone?
"Little Yukino, what are you standing there for? Come in already!"
Haruno turned back and called out.
Yukino snapped back to herself, took a deep breath, and followed them inside.
Only Mrs. Yukinoshita remained in the entryway.
She watched the three children leave, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes.
There was relief, gratification, and a trace of indescribable loss.
Two years ago, she had used the most rational method to tell that boy the cruelty of reality.
Two years later, that boy had already become an existence she needed to look up to.
And her daughter was holding his arm, smiling so happily.
Mrs. Yukinoshita sighed softly, then turned and followed them.
In the dining room, a rectangular table was covered with exquisite dishes.
A sashimi platter, tempura, grilled fish, simmered dishes, and bowls of steaming miso soup.
Every dish was beautifully plated and released an enticing aroma.
Haruno pulled Genichi into a seat, then sat beside him.
Yukino hesitated for a moment before sitting across from her sister.
Mrs. Yukinoshita sat at the head of the table and looked at the three of them with a gentle smile.
"Genichi-kun, I made all of these myself. I don't know whether they'll suit your taste."
Genichi looked at the table full of dishes, then at Mrs. Yukinoshita, and a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
He truly had not expected this high and mighty Mrs. Yukinoshita to personally cook.
"You're too kind, ma'am."
He said softly, "They all look excellent."
Haruno immediately picked up a piece of sashimi and placed it in his bowl.
"Here, try this. It's one of Mother's best dishes—tuna belly. She bought it fresh from Tsukiji Market this morning."
Genichi looked at the sashimi in his bowl, then at the expectation in Haruno's eyes, and could not help smiling.
He picked up the piece of sashimi, placed it in his mouth, and chewed lightly.
The flesh was tender and fresh, rich with fat, melting almost instantly on his tongue.
It was indeed very good.
"It's delicious."
He nodded.
Haruno's face immediately blossomed with joy.
"Right? See? I told you!"
She picked up a piece of tempura and placed that in his bowl too.
"Try this next. Shrimp tempura. It's another one of Mother's specialties."
Genichi looked at her attentive behavior and smiled helplessly.
"I can serve myself."
"I want to serve you!"
Haruno said with perfect confidence. "You're the guest I invited, so of course I have to treat you properly."
Sitting across from them, Yukino watched her sister's overly attentive behavior and could not help turning her head away.
She couldn't watch this.
She really couldn't.
Mrs. Yukinoshita looked at the scene, and a hint of amusement flashed through her eyes.
She lifted her wineglass and looked at Genichi.
"Genichi-kun, this glass is to you."
Genichi also lifted his glass.
"Thank you for saving Haruno."
Mrs. Yukinoshita's voice was soft, but her gratitude was sincere.
Genichi shook his head.
"No need to thank me. Haruno-nee has helped me many times. It was something I should have done."
(End of Chapter)
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