Yukino Yukinoshita thought it over in her heart and ultimately gave up the idea of standing up to look for Kotomi and Yui.
Even if Kotomi and Yui had used the excuse of "going to wash their hands" to secretly enjoy so ti alone together, Yukino felt she had no right to interfere. They were lovers who reciprocated each other's feelings. All she could do was silently offer her blessing.
But... was she really willing to accept it?
Unwilling!
The answer to those three words roared out almost instantly.
Yet what use was her unwillingness? In Yukino's view, no matter how resentful she felt, no matter how many grievances filled her heart, even if she vented them in front of Kotomi and Yui, it would only amount to powerless rage—utterly useless.
If she vented the unwillingness in her heart, would she be able to have Kotomi?
Yukino believed that was absolutely impossible. Doing so would only cause the friendship among the three of them to shatter even more violently.
When she vented her resentnt, she would probably look hysterical. If Kotomi Izumi and Yui Yuigahama saw her like that, they might even laugh at her in their hearts.
At that thought, Yukino removed the plastic lid and straw from the paper cup in her hand and tilted her head back, draining the remaining iced coffee in one gulp.
The taste of iced coffee lingered between sweetness and bitterness. With a single swallow, it might gradually rise upward, letting one taste the unique sweetness that belonged to iced coffee alone. Or it might sink downward, leaving one steeped in its bitterness.
Whenever she thought of Kotomi and Yui, Yukino felt as though she were soaking in that bitterness. Only by shalessly thinking up a suitable excuse behind Yui's back and seizing an opportunity to enjoy a brief mont alone with Kotomi could she taste the sweetness of iced coffee.
Yukino could not help glancing at Kotomi Izumi's paper cup. Kotomi had ordered an iced Pepsi.
There were two kinds of cola—Pepsi and Coca-Cola. Yukino was not very clear on the difference between them. She did not like soda, so she never paid much attention to its taste.
She rarely drank soda. Even when she did, she would only choose Pepsi—because Kotomi liked Pepsi.
Looking at the straw Kotomi had used, Yukino unconsciously licked her slightly dry lips.
Was it because the weather had turned colder? Every ti she secretly looked at Kotomi, she would inadvertently feel her lips becoming a little dry.
By the ti Yukino ca back to her senses, she realized her hand had already reached toward Kotomi's paper cup, as though she intended to take the cup filled with Pepsi.
What am I doing? Am I trying to secretly drink the cola Kotomi already drank?
Startled back to clarity, Yukino hurriedly withdrew her hand. She was shocked that she had just been thinking about secretly drinking the soda Kotomi had already drunk.
Not only did she want to secretly drink Kotomi's cola—she had even wanted to use the straw Kotomi had used.
If possible, she had even wanted to secretly slip Kotomi's used straw into her pocket and take it away.
Recalling the thoughts that had just surfaced in her mind, Yukino felt her cheeks grow warm.
Perhaps it was embarrassnt that dissolved her motivation to act. A mont ago, she had still been hesitating about whether to go look for Kotomi and Yui. Now, she completely abandoned the idea of getting up to find them.
It was not that she did not care what Kotomi and Yui had gone off to do, or why they had not returned after so long.
It was just that every ti she recalled the thoughts she had just had about Kotomi—especially those thoughts about the straw Kotomi had used—she beca so embarrassed she felt she did not even have the strength to walk.
Yukino could only sit in her chair, watching over their three suitcases, her and Kotomi's handbags, and Yui's backpack, waiting for Kotomi and Yui to return.
On the other side.
Yui Yuigahama tightly hugged Kotomi Izumi, stubbornly repeating in a soft voice,
"I'm going to marry Kotomi. I'm going to marry Kotomi. I'm going to marry Kotomi!"
Kotomi allowed Yui to hold her. Listening to Yui repeat those words over and over, the smile at the corner of her lips deepened.
Silly little dumpling. When it's just the two of us, I'm already your wife... As for whether you can truly put a ring on my ring finger, that depends on your ability~ Marrying won't be that easy.
What Kotomi had said earlier to Yui was not only encouragent. It was also a veiled ssage: marrying her would not be simple.
Although the Izumi family did not place excessive importance on social status, gaining the approval of Mr. and Mrs. Izumi—and the entire Izumi family—was no easy task.
Especially considering the Yuigahama family's circumstances. To put it bluntly, compared to the Izumi family, it was like one existed outside the solar system while the other stood on the ground.
In truth, Yui knew very well that her family background could not compare to Kotomi's. If she wanted to marry Kotomi, she would certainly face many challenges.
But even knowing that countless challenges lay ahead, Yui chose to face them bravely. It was not that her personality feared no challenge.
It was simply that the love in her heart for Kotomi made her willing to gather the greatest courage of her life to face every challenge that awaited their future together.
What Yui did not yet know was that if she wanted to marry Kotomi, she would not only have to face the Izumi family, but also the Hishinaga family and the Sakayanagi family.
At the sa ti, she would be facing three of Japan's great financial conglorates.
If the relationship between Kotomi and Yui were discovered by the Izumi family, the Hishinaga family, and the Sakayanagi family, the strongest opposition would undoubtedly co from the Sakayanagi family. After all, Arisu Sakayanagi's engagent to Kotomi Izumi had already officially taken effect.
Of course, Kotomi herself still did not know that she was already considered Arisu Sakayanagi's fiancée.
Although the engagent would be imdiately voided if Kotomi refused, likewise, as long as Kotomi nodded in agreent, the engagent would be formally concluded.
After letting Yui hold her for more than ten minutes, Kotomi leaned down and kissed Yui's small lips, smiling as she asked,
"Have you hugged enough?"
"Not enough. Even hugging you for a lifeti wouldn't be enough!" Yui shook her head and said earnestly.
Hearing that, Kotomi's cheeks flushed red. This little dumpling might be foolish and unable to say flowery love words, but when she said sothing like this with such absolute sincerity, the impact on Kotomi went far beyond what 'sweet talk' could possibly describe.
—
—
40 Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon:
Patreon/DaoOfHeaven
User Comments
0 comments from readers