Rei Ao personally carried Haruno into the guest room of Yukino's apartnt.
Inside, Yukino helped remove her sister's clothing. It probably took quite a while, because Yukino ca out carrying so clothes and reeking of alcohol.
"Yukino, does your sister always drink like that?"
In Rei Ao's mind—based on "OreGairu" and the impression he had of Haruno—this didn't seem like her usual behavior.
"…No. I've never seen my sister like this."
Yukino furrowed her brows.
She'd lived with her sister for many years and had never seen her drink herself into a state of complete unconsciousness.
"In that case, perhaps she's got so troubles she's trying to drink away."
Rei Ao kindly offered the remark. From Haruno, he could sense so negative emotions.
"…"
Yukino thought the sa. Both her mother and her sister had been acting strangely that day. She was paying close attention to the matter, but after all, it wasn't sothing she could investigate right now. More pressing at the mont was…her "trade."
"I…"
She was just about to speak when Rei Ao spoke first:
"Go shower first. You've got a strong sll of liquor on you. I'll wait for you in your room—number 26, right?"
"…All right."
Yukino silently walked toward the bathroom.
…
Lifting her gaze to the bathroom's ceiling light, she let the hot shower spray down every inch of her skin. Her thoughts simply wouldn't settle.
Before long, she would be giving up her "first ti." She had no idea how to feel. Shyness? Sorrow? Indifference? Maybe all of the above. It was a mix of emotions that was indescribable.
She'd once been unable to accept the trades other chat group mbers had made, and now, by so comical misunderstanding, that sa arrangent had landed on her own shoulders.
It wasn't that Yukino couldn't accept this obligation she was supposed to fulfill. Rather, it was that her stubborn, proud nature demanded she pay a price. Rei Ao had warned her before that even if there was no trade, finding soone was an easy task for him. It was her own principles, which she refused to abandon, that led to today's outco.
"I need to take responsibility for my decisions."
With fingers as fair as alabaster, she shut off the shower. She took a towel and dried herself off.
Soon, Yukino—wearing only a bath towel—arrived at her bedroom door. She didn't enter right away, because across the hall, a head peeked out to spy on her.
"…"
Yukino spoke in a low voice, warning:
"Mabel, do NOT co out of your room, no matter what you hear. If you do, I'll make you leave."
"!!!"
Mabel froze, nodded hastily, and withdrew into her room, slamming the door.
"… …"
Seeing that Mabel stopped, Yukino sighed softly and set her hand on the doorknob, pressing down gently. The door opened, and she stepped inside, locking it behind her.
Looking up, she saw Rei Ao sitting on the bed, observing her with amused interest.
He comnted, "Yukino, you're all flushed after your bath—your skin looks lovely."
"…Thank you."
Yukino answered stiffly, turning her head aside, hugging her left arm with her right, her shyness plain to see.
"You…aren't you going to rinse off?"
"You an ?"
Rei Ao took a few steps toward her with a half-smile.
"You know, with my abilities, no bacteria or dust can cling to ."
He raised his hand, gently lifting Yukino's slightly damp hair.
"It's remarkable, Yukino—I honestly never imagined that the chance for sothing like this between us would arise from such a coincidence."
"…"
Hearing that, Yukino—her eyes glistening with moisture—looked straight at him for the first ti.
"You had thoughts of doing such things with ?"
"Of course." Rei Ao nodded without hesitation.
"Because your looks and your personality both attract . But I've always assud your character would be hard to win over—like how you yearn for the real thing."
"!"
Yukino's eyes widened in shock.
"You…how do you know that?"
"My eyes see many things—like X-ray vision, maybe?"
Half-jokingly, Rei Ao said this while his gaze flicked toward her towel.
"!!!"
Startled, Yukino threw her arms around her chest, cheeks burning red.
"S-stop looking!"
"Haha, just teasing you—I don't actually have X-ray vision. But you flustering like this is so cute. I like it."
"…"
Yukino's blush deepened further. Feigning anger, she glared at him in sha:
"Would you please not joke like that?"
"Got it, no next ti." Rei Ao rolled with it. "I just noticed your heartbeat was racing, so I wanted to help you relax a bit. Feeling less tense now?"
"… …"
It was true—she wasn't as tense as before. Still, Yukino wanted to figure sothing out:
"Do you even know what the 'real thing' is?"
Rei Ao shook his head.
"Sorry, I'm not sure. Forgive for saying so, but from my point of view, that 'real thing' you pursue is an abstract concept."
"I see…"
A trace of gloom showed in Yukino's eyes.
"But—"
Rei Ao abruptly shifted his tone, raising Yukino's delicate chin. He bent closer to this cool, perfect-looking girl, gazing down at her:
"I know myself well enough to say this: Yukino, I want your heart. That's my 'real thing.' Now I've told you."
"… …"
Yukino's breath caught. eting his clear blue gaze, surprisingly, she didn't doubt his words at all. Maybe it was because Rei Ao was always so open and direct in the chat room. She never expected that the one person she found hardest to doubt was this "perverted wolf" with countless female confidants.
Was this the "real thing" she was seeking? She didn't know. But…
"Rei Ao-kun, at a mont like this, don't you think you're going too far?"
She bowed her head, unwilling to let him see her expression.
"Maybe so," he admitted. "But with such a good chance to get close to Yukino, wouldn't I be a fool to pass it up?"
"Maybe bluntly stating your indecent intentions right in front of already proves you're a fool."
"Hahaha. You said you dislike anything fake, so I'm just being honest."
"… …"
Their conversation ended there.
~~~
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