I really don't want to have a girlfriend.

"You ask me why I only know how to use such petty tricks?"

As if to deny the thought that had just popped up, Yukino took a deep breath, and her voice returned to its emotionless calm.

"Because only by doing this can I find a way to enter my lover's life without causing him any trouble."

"Forced to stand at a distance beyond his reach, tell me, is there any other way to make him turn around and look at me?"

The tone was not agitated; in fact, it could be described as gentle.

Under such questioning, Yukino Yukinoshita could not utter a single word and could only lower her head in silence.

Then, Yukinoshita Haruno chuckled again.

"Do you understand now? Believe it or not, I've been dating him for way longer than you guys. A little girl who's never even been in a relationship shouldn't be so entitled to criticize adults' choices."

"By the way, Yukino, you're not even as good as Natsukawa Masuzu. You have no right to interfere in our relationship... So, don't be so arrogant."

Even while being mocked like this, Yukino Yukinoshita bit her lip until it turned white, gripped her phone tightly, and remained silent.

Because she knew that no matter how many pale words she spoke, they would only be shattered by Yukinoshita Haruno in the present moment.

So what if I know her feelings? I can't turn a blind eye, and I want to stop her, but what can I do?

Her older sister was not someone she could persuade, and after this "heart-to-heart" conversation, Yukino suddenly couldn't find a reason to deny her, and gradually came to acknowledge this profound feeling that couldn't be conveyed.

So, was I the one who made the wrong choice?

—This thought only lasted for less than a second.

"That's settled then. Don't bother me with this kind of thing anymore. Even if you're my most beloved little sister, I can still get angry~"

Like a victorious general, Yukino's tone returned to its cheerful state, and she was about to hang up the phone.

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly spoke up: "Sister."

"Hmm? Is there anything else to say?" Yang Nai waited patiently for her to speak.

After that sentence, a moment of silence fell around him.

The phone was no longer pressed against her ear, and Yukino Yukinoshita slowly raised her head, her dark blue eyes reflecting the warm yellow light of the fluorescent lamp.

She looked at the light, as if she could see the day she met Yuu Tenkuji in it.

It's like seeing the time when I gradually became familiar with Yui Yuigahama.

The days, laughter, arguments, and shared understanding that the three members of the Service Club spent together flashed through my mind, both vaguely and profoundly.

Is the strength of this affection inferior to that of Yukinoshita Haruno?

...She doesn't think so.

Because of their existence, because of this cherished everyday life, Yukino Yukinoshita has been able to undergo so many changes.

From now on, she still wants to laugh with them—she still wants to eat messy bento boxes with Yui Yuigahama and Yuu Tenkuji in that small clubroom, while talking about trivial topics.

If time permits, the three of them could travel to Kyoto again, or even further afield; that sounds like a pretty good idea.

Therefore, you should say that to her.

“I have no right to interfere with your choices, but similarly, you, sister, have no right to intervene in the relationship between the three of us.”

No longer cold, no longer aloof, Yukino Yukinoshita simply smiled gently, a slight upturn at the corners of her lips, and said:

"Indeed, I've never been in a relationship, so I don't know how heavy your so-called adult choices are... But I can tell that you're suppressing your feelings, even less than that Xia Chuan classmate, cowering like a coward."

"...You really dare to say that, Yukino."

"I only dare to say it now."

Ignoring her increasingly somber tone, Yukino Yukinoshita leaned back against the sofa and continued speaking.

"I also have things I can't say, and feelings I don't know how to handle... Even so, I won't interfere in other people's relationships."

"If love is like you say, a war where everyone uses their own methods, then please fight it fair and square, and do things that will make him like you, instead of making him keep his distance from you after he finds out."

What I really want to say isn't these grand principles.

Yukino Yukinoshita slowly closed her eyes, as if in a dark vision she saw the scene of him holding her in his arms and using his body to block the kitchen knife.

Even though it was just acting, the feeling of my heart racing was incredibly real, and I still can't forget it.

Is this the same feeling I have for my sister?

Is this the feeling that Yuihama experiences every day?

Even now, the identity of Yukino Yukinoshita remains uncertain.

She didn't consider herself to have the same deep and persistent feelings for him as the others, nor did she think she was the kind of naive girl who would give up many things she held dear if she fell in love with someone.

Then let's tell the only thing we can be sure of to Yukinoshita Haruno, who is both our older sister and now our love rival—

"But if you remain incorrigible and insist on causing trouble for our Service Department, claiming that this is your way of dating."

Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath and said it with a resounding thud:

"As one of Tenkuji-kun's 'girlfriends'... I will use every means to prevent you from acting recklessly."

"Yuigahama and I will definitely not lose to you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he ignored the deathly silence that had fallen over the other side.

She hung up the phone immediately, quickly turned it off, and threw it on the table as if it were burning hot.

"..."

Yukino Yukinoshita remained silent, her lips pursed, staring straight ahead.

With an unwavering expression and piercing eyes, she seemed like a leader who had just issued a declaration of war, savoring the powerful and inspiring speech she had just delivered.

And so, I don't know how much time passed.

Her slender body suddenly slumped onto the sofa, like a doll with its strings cut, all her former imposing presence vanished.

Picking up a cushion beside her, Yukino Yukinoshita covered her bright red face, rolled around like a maggot a couple of times, and then weakly kicked her snow-white legs, making a thumping sound at the end of the sofa.

"Why...why did I say those things..."

One of my girlfriends, so I won't lose or anything...

Ugh... If he finds out, I'd rather be dead!

"Kill him first and then kill myself... No, that would make Yui-chan sad. I should research a physical amnesia method instead..."

Unheard, the dull groan of arsenic echoed in the solitary living room.

Outside the window, night had fallen.

There is no Yuki-onna here, only an ordinary girl named Yukino Yukinoshita, who is so ashamed and regretful of her impulsive actions that she wants to die.

Chapter 111 Sisters' War (Part 3)

"Absolutely won't lose? One of my girlfriends?"

Yukinoshita House.

Slowly putting down her phone after the call ended, Yukinoshita Haruno's expression was calm, but her violently shaking pupils could not hide the turbulent emotions within her. Her head felt like a million bees were buzzing, and her thoughts were in complete chaos.

Those last few sentences about "declaring war" conveyed a tremendous amount of information.

She could sense that Yukino had a high level of affection for him, and she had worried that one day the two sisters might end up liking the same person, so she had tested him quite a few times. Because of this, when she learned that Tenkuji Yu was dating Yuigahama Yui, Yukinoshita Haruno breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that there was no possibility for the two of them...

She just said that she's become Tenkuji Yu's girlfriend, or rather, "one of" her?!

Is it really possible for my naive, innocent, and overly morally correct younger sister to share things about men with her best friend?

Don't be ridiculous, all high school girls these days have lost their minds!

Is it because Yuu's charm is too great, or is it because Yukino, who has never made friends before, was blinded by friendship and made such an irrational choice?

Yukinoshita couldn't help but lift her head, feeling a little dizzy as she sat down on the bed.

What's wrong with this world...?

"You bastard..."

For a moment, she didn't even know who to be angry at or who to yell at.

As if abandoned by the whole world at this moment, she sat on the bed, looking around blankly, wanting to say something, but the room was empty except for her. Even the night was shut out by the curtains, and no one could tell her how to cope.

What should I do?

My sister has declared war on me, and my boyfriend is about to be stolen away. What can I do?

Despite already having her own child, Xiao Youyou still went after her most precious younger sister, even making her a mistress—an unforgivable crime. She should be drugged and tied up in the basement.

Knowing full well that she liked Yui, she still became his girlfriend and so casually shared him with her best friend—she needs some education, but since they're family, let's just target Yui Yuigahama.

Seeing her best friend get hurt because of her must have caused Yukino, who considers herself right, immense pain, and she'll never dare to make the same mistake again.

"Heh... That's right, it should have been done a long time ago... Without him, I would have been a hopeless case anyway..."

It's probably because the surroundings are too quiet.

You can hear the crisp sound of something cracking inside your heart.

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly laughed, as if she had thought of some interesting scene, and chuckled very happily.

The muscles at the corners of his mouth twitched, and his deep eyes, now slightly narrowed, held no trace of a smile.

His hands, resting on his knees, gradually clenched, revealing several blue veins on his fair skin, his grip tightening to the point of trembling slightly.

It wasn't that my sister wasn't given a chance to explain.

However, when he made the second call, the other end simply answered with a voice message indicating that the phone was switched off, clearly indicating that they had decided to become his enemies.

Unwilling to communicate? That's fine too.

Yukino Yukinoshita has never beaten Haruno Yukinoshita. All she needs to do is crush her sister's hopes of surpassing her as always.

As for questioning Yuuki Tenkuji, Yukino Yukinoshita never considered it.

He has disappointed himself too many times. Regardless of whether there are hidden reasons or whether it was voluntary, what he has done is irreversible, and the fact that he has betrayed those memories has been established. If he wants to make excuses, he will "sit down" and listen to what he has to say after he is completely his own.

She will show them just how far one can go when deeply in love.

"This is the second time. No one can separate me and Xiaoyouyou... No one can."