I created a foundation

Yukino nodded slightly, took the document and reviewed it carefully.

Her fingers tapped quickly on the virtual keyboard, stopping from time to time to think, with a trace of concentration and dedication rarely seen before between her brows.

"The frequency of the energy fluctuations is 73 percent similar to known emotional pollution models, but the peak intensity is lower and the duration is shorter. I believe the crying is more of an induced mental suggestion rather than a direct spiritual attack."

After a moment, Yukino gave her own judgment, which was clear and logical.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took a sip of her tea, a glint of approval in her eyes. "As expected of Yukino-chan, your analysis makes perfect sense. With this, the response plan can be downgraded from B-level alert to C-level observation."

Eriri, who was slumped over the table, idly doodling a picture of Lin Qing on a digital tablet, looked up and interrupted, "Hey, Yukinoshita, there's an art exhibition this weekend. They say they're showcasing some never-before-seen medieval manuscripts. They seem to mention some ancient summoning rituals. Should we check it out? We might find some new clues to the anomaly."

In the past, faced with such an invitation, Yukino would most likely directly refuse it on the grounds that it was "meaningless" or "a waste of time".

But now, she just hesitated for a moment, then nodded gently: "Okay. Send me the time and place."

Ying Lili raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled: "Okay! I'll drive over to pick you up when the time comes!"

Watching Yukino communicating with them naturally, Kasumigaoka Utaha had a faint smile on her lips.

Since joining the foundation, Yukinoshita Yukino seemed to have shed a thick layer of ice shell, revealing the warm jade inside.

She was still taciturn and a bit aloof, but the sharpness that kept people at a distance had subsided a lot. There was also a glimmer and gentleness in her eyes that had never been there before.

She no longer viewed everyone as a potential enemy or someone to be wary of, as she had in the past. Here, she found companions with whom she could communicate on an equal footing, a career worth devoting herself to, and even more importantly, the one she had been searching for: her true self.

This change is subtle, but significant.

At least, in the eyes of Utaha Kasumigaoka, the current Yukinoshita Yukino is much more adorable than the thorny ice beauty in the past.

However, this change in Yukino naturally could not be hidden from the eyes of some people.

Yukinoshita Mansion.

Yukinoshita Haruno was leaning on the sofa in the living room, looking lazy, but she was playing with a latest model smartphone in her hand.

The screen was showing Yukino's class schedule and... Yukino's recent "extracurricular activity records" that she had obtained through some "special channels."

"The literature club at Toyonoki Academy... is close to that genius writer Kasumigaoka Utaha?"

"We're going to the art museum this weekend... with that fanartist with blonde twintails?"

"And occasionally visit some... strange old bookstores and abandoned parks?"

Yang Nai's fingertips slid gently across the screen. Every time she saw a record, the playful smile in her beautiful almond-shaped eyes would deepen.

Her younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino, who had lived under her "control" and "guidance" since childhood, was a lonely, proud, and unsociable sister. Recently, she seemed to have become... a little...

He is no longer the cold puppet who locks himself in his room as soon as he gets home and is indifferent to the outside world.

She began to have her own "social circle" and her own "secret part-time job", and even when she answered the phone, a very faint but real smile would unconsciously appear at the corner of her mouth.

This change made Yang Noi feel a little...novel.

And, a kind of prey seems to be quietly breaking free from its carefully arranged cage, about to be out of control... a subtle displeasure.

"Yukino-chan seems very happy lately."

Yang Nai put down her phone, picked up the black tea in front of her, and took a sip.

The aroma of tea wafted in the air, but her eyes gradually became deeper behind the mist.

She knew her sister too well.

Deep down, Yukino harbors a stronger sense of self-esteem than anyone else, and a dedication to the "real thing." The reason she's changed so much is definitely more than just making a few new friends.

There must be a deeper reason behind this.

A secret... one that she has not yet discovered, which is enough to change the trajectory of Yukino's life.

"What could it be?"

A meaningful smile appeared on Yang Noi's lips, with a hint of cat-and-mouse playfulness.

She never goes into battle unprepared.

Yukinoshita Haruno confirmed that there was indeed a pair of shoes missing from the entrance.

My younger sister Yukino is out again.

Recently, Yukino has been going out more frequently. She no longer goes straight home after school, locks herself in her room, and isolates herself from the outside world like she used to.

The corners of her lips curled up in an almost imperceptible arc, with a hint of playfulness and a subtle hint of sarcasm that showed her possessiveness was aroused.

"Extracurricular activities"?

Yang No was barefoot, and the soft wool carpet absorbed all the sounds. She walked silently to Yukino's door like an elegant and alert cat.

The door is not locked.

This was within her expectations. Although Yukino was a loner, she still had a basic level of trust within her family. Or rather, she had never imagined that her sister would pry into her secrets in this way.

Yang Nai pushed the door open gently without making any sound.

The room was as tidy as ever, almost spotless. The books on the desk were meticulously arranged, precisely organized by size and category. The bed was as smooth as if it had been measured with a ruler, without a single wrinkle. The curtains were a plain light blue, and the light filtering through seemed soft and cool.

Everything fits Yukino's character - rigorous, self-disciplined, and with a sense of order that keeps strangers away.

Yang No's eyes slowly swept across the room, like the most sophisticated radar, not missing a single corner. She was searching, searching for those abrupt traces that were not part of Yukino's style.

Was it a small trinket given by a boy? Or was it something related to a hobby she had never encountered before?

However, everything in the room was "too Yukino".

There were no extraneous ornaments, no girly dolls, not even a single poster on the wall. It was as cold and stark as a model room in a high-end hotel, except for the lingering, chilly atmosphere that belonged to the residents.

Yang No's gaze finally fell on the desk.

The computer was password-protected, but that wasn't a problem for her. However, her primary goal today wasn't digitizing information. Given Yukino's personality, she might prefer to record important things in traditional ways.

Her fingers lightly brushed across the bookshelf, which contained mostly literary classics and some highly specialized reference books. Each one was pristine, clearly someone merely browsing rather than immersing themselves in it.

Yang Nai's gaze did not linger on these "superficial skills" for too long.

She knew Yukino. The more perfection she tried to display, the more worth exploring the hidden things behind it.

She walked to the bed and squatted down so that her eyes were level with the edge of the bed.

Under the mattress? That's too cliché. Yukino wouldn't choose such an easily visible place.

In the closet? Tucked away among the pile of clothes? Same lack of originality.

Yang No's fingertips tapped his chin lightly, with a lazy smile on his face, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle.

She stood up and looked around the room again.

Yukino's room was almost devoid of personal belongings. Besides the necessary furniture and school supplies, there was only a small photo frame on the bedside table. Inside was a photo of the two sisters as children. Back then, Yukino's face still held a hint of innocence.

Yang No's gaze lingered on the photo frame for a moment, then moved away.

Her gaze finally settled on the locked drawer at the bottom of the desk.

This drawer is slightly different from the rigorous and somewhat rigid style of the entire room. It has a small and exquisite silver padlock.

"Oh?"

Yang Nai let out an almost inaudible hum, with a hint of understanding that it was just as he expected.

She pulled a thin piece of wire from her small bag. Her movements were as skillful as if she had done it a thousand times before. She inserted the wire into the keyhole and twisted it slightly. With a click, the lock opened.

The drawer was not filled with clutter, only a hard-cover diary lying there quietly.

The cover of the diary is dark blue, without any fancy patterns. There is only a small snowflake pattern hot-stamped in the lower right corner, which is low-key and elegant.

Yang Noi picked up the diary and stroked the slightly cool cover with her fingertips.

She sat down at Yukino's desk and casually opened the first page.

Yukino's handwriting is beautiful and neat, just like her, with a restrained strength.

"September 15th, sunny. The opening ceremony was as long and boring as ever. Kasumigaoka-senpai's speech was somewhat original, but the way she looked at me felt a little... strange."

"September 17th, cloudy. Eriri is still as noisy as ever, her twintails almost poking my eyes. It's hard to imagine that such a person is a famous artist."

The first half of the diary records trivial campus life, observations of classmates, and academic reflections. Her words are characterized by Yukino's characteristic calmness and detachment, with occasional subtle hints of sarcasm.

Yang Nai felt like laughing. Her sister was still the same little girl who said she was a bit righteous but acted honestly.

She flipped through the pages quickly, looking for clues that might contain key information.

About "extracurricular activities", about those "new friends", and about the reason why she has been going out so frequently recently.

However, the diary seems to be very secretive about all of this.

Just when Yang No's patience was about to run out, a name began to appear between the lines of the diary with extremely high frequency.

"October 3rd, sunny. Today, President Lin Qing gave me some pointers on my research direction. He really knows everything."

Lin Qing? President?

Yang Nai's eyebrows raised slightly. This address was clearly respectful.

She continued to look down.

"October 074th, rain. The first draft of the containment report for anomaly B- was completed and submitted to President Lin Qing. He said my logic needed improvement. Although I was a little reluctant, I had to admit that he always had a sharp eye."

"October 8th, sunny. There were some setbacks during the afternoon field work, but Chairman Lin Qing showed up just in time and resolved all the issues. Looking at his back, I always feel incredibly reassured."

Yang No paused in turning the pages.

There was still a faint smile on her face, but deep in her eyes, some emotions were quietly gathering.

"President Lin Qing..."

"The president..."

"With President Lin Qing here, all difficulties seem to be easily resolved..."

In the second half of the diary, the name "Chairman Lin Qing" appears on almost every page.

Between the lines, there was an almost blind admiration and trust in this man. That sense of dependence almost seeped through the paper, so strong that it was almost irritating to Yang Nai.

In Xueno's writing, this "Chairman Lin Qing" seems to be omnipotent. He is wise, powerful, decisive, and always appears at the most critical moment, solving all problems and bringing an unparalleled sense of security.

This goes beyond normal appreciation between superiors or colleagues.

Yang No's fingertips felt a little cold.

She knew Yukino too well. Her sister, so proud and yet so insecure. For someone to trust, rely on, and even... worship her so completely, the weight that person held in her heart was self-evident.