Chapter 127 - 127 — Yukino, Detective Mode

Half an hour earlier. As Utaha stepped through the door of her house, her mother, who was sitting in the living room knitting a scarf, looked up curiously. "Huh? No club activities today?" "There were," Utaha replied casually, already prepared for this question during her walk home. "But I didn't feel like staying." "Oh? Why not?" "Running wore me out. I was drenched in sweat. Figured I should come home and take a shower." As she spoke, Utaha deliberately tugged at her damp bangs to show proof. Her mother nodded in sudden understanding."Ah, you've been working out again?" She knew very well that her daughter had gotten into the habit of going for morning runs on weekends. "Yeah. I'm gonna shower first." Utaha entered her bedroom, her composed expression slowly giving way to something more complicated. "...Good thing I thought all this through on the way back. Otherwise, I would've totally blown my cover." Her fingertips brushed across her flushed cheeks — remembering the absurd things she'd done with Haru back at school sent both fear and a strange thrill coursing through her. Not to mention... the black tights she was wearing were still damp. That alone was reason enough for her to skip the clubroom entirely, shoot a quick message to Yukino, and head straight home. Carrying a change of clothes into the bathroom, she rubbed her slightly numb thighs — all that crouching had left her legs tingling. Honestly, if Haru hadn't let her lean against him for a while afterward, she probably would've struggled just to walk home. Next time, I definitely need to change positions... Utaha mused to herself as she brushed her teeth, cheeks still faintly red. Even though her feelings for Haru had always seemed to lag behind Yukino's, that didn't mean she lacked possessiveness. Just a few days ago, she had assumed Haru would probably be spending the weekend holed up at home with Yukino. That thought alone was enough to suppress her own reckless impulse to drop by his place. But what she hadn't expected... was to see him on the news. What really stung — what left a sour taste in her heart — was realizing that, in such an important moment of his life, she hadn't been the one standing beside him. She didn't even need to ask to know — after everything that had happened, Yukino would absolutely seek him out that night for comfort. Standing beneath the shower, Utaha closed her eyes, letting the warm water pour over her body. Her mind wandered back to something Yukino had once told her — "You and I are basically the same kind of pervert when it comes to him." But in Utaha's heart, she knew Yukino had gotten it wrong. It wasn't about lust. Not exactly. It was possessiveness — raw and powerful — that she simply had no choice but to keep hidden. Just like today. She had seized her chance to show him her own value — to remind him, and maybe herself, of her place by his side. The more she thought about it, the more heat rose in her cheeks. Without realizing it, her breathing had quickened. She opened her eyes slowly, staring into the swirling steam around her. Biting her lip, she hesitated for a second... then reached out her hand. Once you taste something... once you learn how sweet it is... it's only natural to crave more. After her shower, Utaha changed into fresh clothes and joined her mother in the living room, chatting casually. She'd planned to spend the night at home, relaxing, letting herself recover. But then — her phone rang. It was Yukino. Keeping her expression composed — not wanting her mother to read too much into it — Utaha picked up her phone and stepped out onto the balcony. She glanced down at the caller ID, where the name "Yukinoshita" was displayed. 'Could it be that she found out? No… even if Haru was completely honest with her, there's no way he'd dare to say those things right in the clubroom.' Having reassured herself, Utaha calmed down and picked up the call. "Didn't expect you to be calling me. What's the occasion?" "You're free right now, aren't you?" Yukino's voice came through, sounding like a question, but with an undeniable tone of command beneath it. "Should I come find you, or would you rather choose a place for us to meet?" Utaha stayed composed. "Are you… asking me to dinner? Where's he?" "He's gone with your friend to her film shoot." "…Huh? You mean Megumi? That's impossible." Utaha was genuinely surprised. Yukino's voice remained calm and unbothered. "Didn't you say before that Kato is your most reliable partner? In that case… wouldn't it be fair for me to trust her too?" "Tch, there's really no need for this kind of testing, is there?" "True enough. So, you pick the place." "…Fine. I'll send you the address." After hanging up, Utaha sent over the location of a restaurant she frequented. Then, she stood silently on the balcony, staring into the distance. She couldn't figure out why Yukino suddenly wanted to have dinner with her. And that line — "Wouldn't it be fair for me to trust her too?" — it gnawed at her. Something about it felt… off. Is she trying to hint at something? Or is this really just a simple test? Utaha frowned. With what she knew of Yukino, the girl wasn't the type to waste time on childish probing games. But the fact that they were love rivals—and had never really gotten along—made Utaha hesitate to draw any conclusions too quickly. Still lost in thought, she returned to the living room and casually told her mother that she was going out for dinner with a classmate. Her mother didn't suspect a thing. The restaurant they agreed to meet at wasn't particularly large — a small, cozy place Utaha had been to before. She liked the food there enough that it had stuck in her memory. When she stepped inside, she realized Yukino had already arrived, sitting alone at a seat by the wall. "Sorry to keep you waiting." As Utaha approached, her sharp eyes immediately caught a detail: Yukino's lips were especially soft and rosy today — clearly the result of carefully applied lipstick. And for some reason… staring at those pale pink lips, a stray thought popped uninvited into her mind. Had Yukino also... done something like that? Once the thought surfaced, her imagination instantly spiraled out of control like a car flooring the accelerator on an empty highway — impossible to stop now. Images from earlier that day — kneeling for so long her legs had gone numb — flashed through her mind. So much so, that when she went to sit down, her legs almost gave out beneath her, and she instinctively reached for the table to steady herself. Yukino's sharp gaze immediately caught the subtle movement. "Did you hurt your legs?" she asked, eyebrows slightly raised. "…No, I just spaced out for a second," Utaha tried to brush it off with a casual lie. But Yukino wasn't so easily fooled. Her gaze swept slowly over Utaha's face, as if seeing through her. "We see each other practically every day," Yukino said quietly, "and yet here you are, spacing out just from seeing me. Does that mean… I remind you of certain things you'd rather not say out loud?" She's way too sharp!! Utaha's heart was pounding in her chest, but outwardly, she maintained her usual calm composure. She even forced a light chuckle. "So this is why you asked me out to dinner? To pick a fight with me?" Yukino's sharp gaze narrowed. "You didn't answer directly… and you didn't deny it either. That means I was right, wasn't I?" Utaha smiled faintly, neither confirming nor denying the accusation — which in itself was already an answer. Yukino crossed her arms, sitting upright with perfect posture. "Let me guess… you weren't spacing out just now. Your legs gave out, didn't they?" Thump. Thump. Thump. For a split second, Utaha forgot to breathe. Yukino, perceptive as ever, let out a small mocking laugh. "You skipped club activities today to go home early. And before that, you were alone with Haru for quite a while. Now, the moment I ask you out to dinner, you show up looking guilty — and your legs practically give out when you see me. Honestly, this is getting rather amusing, senpai." Utaha's face instantly flushed a deep shade of red. But it wasn't because she felt guilty. It was pure embarrassment. This girl… is seriously infuriating. All Utaha wanted to do was beg her to stop talking. If you keep going, I swear the details in my head are going to get way too vivid! Are you trying to get me to teach you… certain "oral techniques" or something?! But Yukino wasn't done teasing. "If I suggested we go to a different restaurant right now... would you even be able to stand up, or would your legs just give out completely?" That was the last straw. Utaha finally snapped. "Can we please order already?" Yukino smiled, ever so composed. "Of course." She passed the menu over like nothing had happened. Utaha froze for a moment. She doesn't even know the truth, yet she's acting so smug and confident while mocking me... it's infuriating. Absolutely infuriating! Utaha simply picked up the menu, leaning her body forward as she did so. And very deliberately — rested her chest on the edge of the table. Yukino's mocking expression faltered for just a split second before twisting into a cold sneer. "Trying to show off that kind of thing again? How childish." Utaha smiled sweetly. "Childish? I disagree. In fact, with just this little gesture, I'd say most boys would agree to just about anything you ask." A clean, precise counterattack. Yukino's eyes instantly turned frosty, her gaze laced with an unmistakable sharpness. Of course she knew exactly which "boy" Utaha was talking about — Haru. And that was precisely why Utaha's blatant provocation, delivered practically nose-to-nose, was something Yukino absolutely could not tolerate. As Haru himself might've put it: "Bro, that's messing with my temper!" Yukino, who had been sitting back comfortably against her chair, suddenly straightened up, her posture tense and alert. Her voice was icy. "Looks like I wasn't wrong about you after all, senpai. Deep down, you and Haru are exactly the same kind of person." Utaha's lips curved upward — that was exactly the line she'd been waiting for. But just as she was preparing to launch her own swift counterstrike, Yukino added coolly, "Still, I can't help but feel like you're hiding something. If you're willing to be bold enough to show it off here and now… maybe I'll finally have a complete impression of you." Utaha paused for a split second — then narrowed her eyes, fully stepping into battle mode. "With your brain and your powers of observation, I highly doubt you need me to spell things out. I'm sure you have more than enough ability to uncover the truth on your own." Yukino let out a soft, almost amused snort. "Oh? So you want me to investigate?" Utaha blinked, momentarily puzzled — then her heart skipped a beat as realization dawned. She opened her mouth to speak, but Yukino was already smiling faintly, like a hunter tightening her grip on cornered prey. "If I don't find anything, then fine," Yukino said slowly. "But what if I do? I'm afraid things might become... quite awkward for you, senpai." Utaha kept her composure. "And why exactly would I feel awkward?" Yukino calmly raised her chin, eyes as sharp as ever. "Your outfit today… it doesn't exactly scream 'last-minute wardrobe change.' No, it looks more like you went home, took a shower, and deliberately dressed up afterward." Then, ever so slightly, Yukino leaned forward. Bit by bit, the pressure she exerted increased — the feeling of being slowly, relentlessly cornered. "And that," Yukino said with icy clarity, "naturally raises the question: just what exactly did you get up to, senpai — that made you skip club activities, rush home, and feel the need to shower right away?" Utaha: "…" Shit. She really is onto me?! Did this woman secretly install cameras on me or something? Seeing Utaha fall silent, Yukino arched an eyebrow, a faintly mocking smile tugging at her lips. "I said you and Haru are both hopeless perverts. Admittedly, that might not be entirely accurate..." Yukino paused, her voice turning sharp, "But I wasn't completely wrong either, was I?" With that line, she gracefully leaned back into her chair again — as if granting Utaha a moment to compose herself — before asking in an almost casual tone, "So? Would you like me to continue investigating and analyzing this further?" Utaha's full chest rose and fell sharply. This is bad! She hadn't expected Yukino to be this terrifying. Like some detective possessed her body, piecing together the truth from the tiniest clues and details. Wait a second… didn't Yukinoshita mention before that a lot of her methods were things she learned from dealing with her sister countless times? Don't tell me... this is one of them too?! Utaha lowered the hand resting on her black-stocking-clad thigh and slowly curled it into a small, shaking fist. — Just how powerful is this girl's support cast supposed to be!? So frustrating! My chest hurts from sheer rage! Off to the side, the poor waitress watching the scene was trembling nervously. What's with these two girls...? she wondered. Especially that one over there — flat-chested as heck, but her presence is absolutely terrifying!