Chapter 62 - 62: Yukino Won’t Hold Back

The spacious bedroom, once pristine and orderly, now bore the traces of a restless night. The bedsheets, once smooth and tucked in place, had been pulled and twisted, their four corners now misaligned from the struggle. The thin summer blanket had been tossed aside, leaving two youthful figures entwined, their bodies pressed close together, sharing warmth, unsteady breaths, and the rapid thumping of their hearts. Yukino's smooth arms circled around Haru's neck, her silky hair cascading over his shoulder, slightly tousled from his hands resting on her waist. The usual cold sharpness in her gaze had long melted away, replaced by something softer, more unguarded. When their lips finally parted, her eyes shimmered, half-lidded with lingering passion, her long lashes quivering ever so slightly. Her flushed cheeks glowed a deeper shade of crimson than the evening sun. After their conversation earlier, she had found herself unable to control her emotions, drawn into his arms, instinctively seeking the comfort of his embrace. She knew well how much he had been restraining himself. I have that much of an effect on him. The realization always sent a sweet, intoxicating warmth surging through her heart. He had made his feelings for her abundantly clear, and she—she felt the same way. If that was the case, then why should she make him hold back any longer? He had respected her boundaries for so long. Despite his obvious desire, he had remained patient, never once pushing her beyond what she was ready for, simply because she had been focused on catching up to him in every other way. With that thought, Yukino slowly opened her glistening eyes and, in a voice soft and tinged with shyness, whispered: "Turn off the lights." Haru held her gaze, his grip on her waist tightening slightly. "Are you sure?" Yukino didn't waste words. With burning cheeks, she slipped from his embrace and switched off the bedroom light. Then— She decided to take matters into her own hands. 2:00 AM Yukino was fast asleep, her exhaustion evident. In contrast, Haru felt completely awake, his energy untouched by the late hour. He lay beside her for a moment, studying her serene, beautiful face before carefully slipping out of bed, making sure not to disturb her slumber. Grabbing his phone, he walked into the living room and sent a quick message in the club's group chat: No club activities this Saturday. Feel free to make your own plans. Setting his phone aside, he scooped up his fat orange cat. "You too, huh? Still wide awake at this hour?" The cat let out a lazy meow and flopped onto its back, exposing its belly for a rub. Haru chuckled, scratching the cat absentmindedly as his thoughts drifted. Even after some time, sleep remained elusive, so he picked up his phone again and opened a private notebook app. A network map appeared on the screen—a meticulous diagram of connections, relationships, and influences. His personal web of influence. He added a new name: Yuto Yuki. This was the police inspector his father had mentioned. So far, the man had neither caused him trouble nor taken any overt actions. Instead, he had leveraged his connections with the Yukinoshita family and now seemed to be approaching his own household. Ambition. That much is obvious. Haru didn't mind. Someone like that was worth keeping an eye on. He'll probably arrange a "coincidental" meeting with me soon. He made a few notes, then shut off his phone and walked onto the balcony. At this hour, the city was silent, save for the occasional hum of passing cars. The view stretched wide before him as he reflected on the past few years and the gradual changes in his body. With his skill [Steel Body], he no longer needed to be as cautious as before. When he first arrived in this world, he had no way of knowing if it would follow the same trajectory as his previous life. Convincing his parents to expand their business had been a calculated move, grounded in years of firsthand experience clawing his way up from nothing in his past life. Before the system came into play, he had assumed his life would continue on this steady, controlled path. But now, things were different. I wonder… once my other abilities level up, what kind of person will I become? He retrieved a pair of binoculars and began scanning the cityscape, his [Auto-Aim] skill steadily increasing in proficiency. By 4:10 AM, with [Auto-Aim] now at level 4, he finally returned to bed. Sliding under the covers, he wrapped an arm around Yukino's waist and pulled her close. Even in her sleep, she instinctively nestled against him, seeking out the warmth of his embrace. Morning Yukino woke first. Her schedule was usually strict—she was accustomed to rising with the first light. But today, she had slept in longer than usual. Given last night's events, it was understandable. As her eyes fluttered open, she found herself pressed against Haru's chest, his face mere inches from hers. Her cheeks flushed a soft pink at the sight. Glancing at the clock on the bedside table, she noted the time: 7:40 AM. She remained still, simply gazing at him, warmth filling her heart. The memory of his words from last night surfaced, bringing a smile to her lips. She raised a hand, hesitating before touching his face, worried about waking him. But before she could decide, his voice rumbled softly: "If you want to touch me, just do it. I'll return the favor, anyway." Her heart skipped a beat. Haru's eyes were open, watching her with amusement. "You're awake?" she asked, feigning nonchalance. "Ten minutes ago. I just didn't want to move." His arms tightened around her. "Didn't want to let go of you." "…That does sound like something you'd say." "Can you blame me? I've been looking forward to this moment for a long time." "Enough," she murmured, her face burning. He chuckled. "You're even cuter like this." "There's no need to discuss things that are already a given." Even flustered, her pride remained intact. Haru laughed. "Fair enough. But I think I can make you even cuter." "Wait—what are you doing? Stop—!" By the time Yukino made it to the bathroom to freshen up, her steps were noticeably unsteady. She glared at her reflection, frustration mixing with embarrassment. I need to get stronger. She had been following Haru's training regimen for her—running, yoga, all kinds of exercises. And yet, last night… She had taken the lead, only to be utterly defeated. Twice. Absolutely humiliating. Pressing her warm cheeks with her palms, she made a silent vow: I need to train harder. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Haru hummed a tune while preparing breakfast, his mood undeniably cheerful. Paper knowledge is always shallow—true understanding comes from hands-on experience. He smirked to himself. "Poets really do have a way with words." Haru entertained himself by coming up with his own interpretation of the poem, thoroughly enjoying the process. [You are cooking. (Cooking) Experience +124] He ignored the system notification entirely. After all, how could he focus when Yukino was just too alluring? As they ate, Haru brought up the fact that he had canceled today's club activities. At first, Yukino wasn't too pleased. She insisted that she was fine and that they could continue filming as usual. In response, Haru simply leaned forward, tilted his head slightly, and silently stared at her long, fair legs beneath the table. Her face instantly turned red. Flustered and annoyed, she snapped, "What are you thinking?" Haru calmly sat back up. "The club activities are canceled. I'm the president, so what I say goes." Yukino pursed her lips, clearly unwilling to concede. Just as she was about to argue, he cut in smoothly: "This weekend, we're just going on dates. No other plans." That one sentence sealed the deal. Blushing, Yukino stopped resisting. They spent the entire morning lounging around at home. As Haru had promised, this weekend was all about relaxing—no work, no obligations. By the afternoon, Yukino was feeling much better, her steps no longer awkward. Seeing that, Haru decided to take her out for some grocery shopping. But on the way, he received a call from the company. The production team was ready to start filming the drama, and as the boss, they wanted him to stop by. Haru turned to Yukino, looking a little sheepish. Yukino pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh. "Just go. You said no work, but some things can't be avoided." Haru was surprised. However, his surprise lasted only two seconds before Yukino broke into a smile. A beautiful smile—but not a gentle one. She was laughing at him. "This isn't funny," he protested. "Considering how unreasonable and domineering you were during breakfast, I've decided to mock you for the rest of the day." "I surrender! I surrender!" "…" Upon arriving at the company, Haru was called away for business, leaving Yukino to quietly enjoy her tea in the lounge. She had been here several times before and was familiar with everything. After waiting for a while and seeing no sign of Haru returning, she decided to go downstairs to buy some personal items. She could have waited for him to go shopping together, but since she had just declared she'd be teasing him all day, she didn't want to give him a chance to turn the tables. Just as she was checking out at the supermarket, a surprised yet familiar voice called from behind. "Yukinoshita?" Turning around, Yukino found herself looking at Utaha Kasumigaoka. Dressed in a perfectly tailored dress that accentuated her curvaceous figure, Utaha stood out effortlessly. Beside her were a middle-aged couple whose facial features bore a striking resemblance to hers. Yukino quickly deduced they were her parents and gave a polite nod, silently suggesting they talk outside. Utaha understood and returned the nod. It wasn't the best place for a conversation. "Utaha, is that your classmate? She's so beautiful," the woman beside her remarked in admiration. Utaha's parents had taken the day off to spend time with their daughter, giving her a well-deserved break from her usual workload. "Yes, her name is Yukinoshita Yukino. She's a first-year," Utaha replied, her tone casual. She deliberately avoided mentioning that Yukino was Haru's girlfriend—she didn't want to ignite her parents' curiosity again. Haru had already helped her resolve some issues with them before; she didn't want to create new ones. "She really is a lovely girl. I don't think I've ever seen anyone as beautiful as our Utaha," her mother added. Her father, however, was more pragmatic. "Utaha, don't keep your friend waiting. We'll take care of this." "Okay." Handing her items to her parents, Utaha walked outside to join Yukino. Noticing the plastic bag in Yukino's hand, Utaha smiled. "Want to grab a coffee across the street?" "Sure." Yukino glanced at her phone. No unread messages from Haru. That meant he wouldn't be free anytime soon. The two striking young women entered the café and took a seat, drawing the attention of many male customers. Though they tried to be discreet after realizing they'd been caught staring, it was clear they were mesmerized. Neither Yukino nor Utaha paid them any mind. Or, as Haru would put it: They were simply too used to being beautiful. It was Utaha who broke the silence first. "Where's Amamiya-kun? I saw him cancel club activities in the group chat this morning, so I figured he'd be with you." Her tone was light, perfectly natural, as if making idle conversation. Yukino was slightly surprised but didn't let it show. "He is with me. He's just busy with something right now." "Let me guess—working on his script?" "You knew about that?" Utaha met Yukino's calm gaze with a small smile. "Did you forget? Back in the club, you mentioned a few things about him. Not much, but I have a good memory." Lifting her coffee cup, Yukino replied casually, "Of course I remember. But that day, it was Hashimoto who kept pestering me with questions about Haru, so I just mentioned a few things." Taking a sip, she finally locked eyes with Utaha. "What surprises me is that you still remember all of it." Utaha maintained her polite smile. "Some things are worth remembering." The air between them grew tense—yet not quite hostile. When the server brought over their desserts, she hesitated for a moment, glancing curiously at the two girls. As a fellow woman, she could sense something strange about the atmosphere. "They're both so stunning… even prettier than idols," the server whispered to her colleague as she walked away. Yukino's gaze turned sharp. "Are you trying to provoke me?" Utaha, however, shook her head. Then, unexpectedly, she let out a soft, self-deprecating chuckle. Yukino frowned slightly. Utaha took a slow sip of her coffee and murmured, "If it were the old me, I probably wouldn't have hesitated to say yes." "…So you're trying to change?" This time, Yukino was genuinely surprised. She had been ready for a battle of wits, but Utaha had taken a different approach. "Yes, I'm changing," Utaha admitted. Her response was open, natural. Yukino placed her cup down, her posture impeccable. "I see. Seems like Haru has influenced you quite a bit." Utaha was silent for a moment before saying, "I was too arrogant before. Whether at school, in the club, or in life—I was always a little too full of myself." Yukino, ever the judge, replied in an even tone, "Recognizing your own shortcomings is the first step to becoming better." Utaha let out a soft laugh. "I always knew that. I just never acted on it." Yukino studied her carefully. "What do you want to do now?" Is she trying to have an honest conversation? Utaha wasn't sure what Yukino was thinking but answered anyway. "A lot of things. My new novel, the club activities, my studies, and my daily life." Yukino immediately evaluated her words. "With your current energy, you won't be able to handle all of that at once." Even she couldn't manage it without exhaustion. "I know. That's why I've started planning things properly—focusing on my studies and club first. The novel can come later." "That's the right choice." Utaha paused for a few seconds before sighing. "I finally understand what Amamiya-kun meant when he called you a 'talent and stats monster.'" Having known Haru for years, Yukino easily deciphered the meaning. She remained composed. "I doubt that would discourage you. Besides Haru and my sister, I've yet to meet anyone more talented than you." Utaha blinked. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" "No," Yukino replied matter-of-factly. "I was including myself." "…" Utaha nearly choked on her coffee. She had forgotten—Yukino was just as confident and proud as she was. Suppressing a sigh, Utaha smiled. "Thanks for the advice." Yukino's eyes flickered. She understood the deeper meaning behind Utaha's words. She was changing, improving, becoming more capable. That was good for the club. But not necessarily good for her. Their conversation seemed friendly, but neither had truly lowered their guard. Sometimes, battles between women didn't require weapons or declarations of war. "I used to think I could beat you," Utaha admitted. "But now, I'm not so sure." Yukino's tone was calm. "You want to prove yourself to Haru." For the first time, Utaha's eyes burned with determination. "Yes." Yukino chuckled. Then, with sharpness in her voice, she said: "Someone already standing at the mountain peak rarely looks down." Utaha met her gaze without flinching. "But at least it's better than staying at the base and shouting." Yukino saw the sadness she was trying to hide—the quiet pain beneath her resilience. She was impressed by Utaha's ability to adjust so quickly. But admiration wouldn't make her go easy on her. Not a chance.