Chapter 75 - 75: Yukino: Meow~

"You mean something I like?" Hearing her sister say that, Yukino finally showed some interest. "That's right. I promise this will be an episode you'll enjoy." "...Be serious." Seeing her sister's usual stoic expression return, Haruno dropped the teasing and smiled meaningfully. "The reason you're okay with Kasumigaoka staying in the club isn't just because you admire her talent. There's something more important, isn't there?" Yukino froze. She hadn't expected her sister to start off with such a bombshell. No buildup, no lead-in—just straight to the ultimate move. Haruno, however, seemed completely unsurprised by her reaction. "Mind sharing the reason with me?" Yukino remained silent. Haruno let out a small sigh, resting her smooth arms along the edges of the bathtub, and murmured, "Is it that you can't tell me, or that you can't tell anyone?" A jolt of unease ran through Yukino. She knew her sister had pieced things together not through any supernatural ability, but simply by understanding both her and her boyfriend well. That, combined with Kasumigaoka's obvious slip-ups, had allowed Haruno to land on the truth effortlessly. But hearing it said aloud still caught her off guard. Haruno leaned lazily against the bathtub's edge, her tone relaxed. "I have a guess, but if I say it and I'm wrong, you might get mad." "Oh? So you actually care if I get mad?" Yukino kept her face expressionless, trying to keep her sister from reading her thoughts. "Of course I care—you're my little sister, after all. Besides…" Haruno's teasing smile returned. "You're already living with Haru." The moment those words left her lips, Yukino's cheeks flushed red. It was unclear whether it was from the bathroom's steam—or something else. Haruno clearly enjoyed seeing her sister flustered. She casually threw out another remark: "Haru's been working out for years. His stamina must be something else. You sure you're keeping up?" "Sister!" Yukino's entire face turned crimson as she shot her sister a glare. Even Haru wouldn't joke about such things unless they were in an intimate moment together. Haruno blinked innocently. "So, you're struggling, huh?" Yukino's gaze grew colder. "Alright, alright. I'll stop." Haruno raised her hands in surrender, deciding not to push her luck. Still, as she leaned back against the tub, she couldn't help but wonder—could Yukino's petite frame really keep up? She had known about Haru's physical prowess for years. From elementary to high school, he had always been the strongest competitor in their class sports events. By the time the two sisters stepped out of the bathroom, Haru was sitting on the couch, watching a video on his phone. Hearing the door open, he glanced up. Both of them had changed into sleepwear, their faces still flushed from the bath's heat. One quick look, and Haru could immediately tell that Haruno wasn't wearing a bra. Meanwhile, Yukino's figure remained as modest as ever. Haru quietly scolded himself for noticing such things. Haruno, oblivious to his thoughts, casually dried her hair with a towel before grabbing a blow dryer and taking a seat. Yukino, on the other hand, wrapped her long hair in a towel and glanced at Haru. He got the message and put down his phone. So, when Haruno finished blow-drying her hair and turned around, she was surprised to see Haru carefully helping Yukino dry hers. She stared for two full seconds before sighing in mock regret. "If I'd known, I would've asked Haru to help me too." "Haru is my boyfriend." Yukino's cool voice cut through the hum of the hairdryer. "Relax, it's not like I'm trying to steal him from you." Haruno laughed cheerfully. "I do admire Haru, but I watched you two grow up together. We're too close—I'd feel weird making a move on him." Yukino pursed her lips, her expression slightly tense. "So, you're basically saying you wouldn't mind making a move?" Seeing his girlfriend in trouble, Haru stepped in to help her out. "Actually, I was the one who made the move on Yukino." Yukino's lips curled up slightly. Haruno chuckled. Showing off your love life in front of me? I'm not playing along with that. Once her hair was dry, Haruno seized the moment while they were settling back down and quickly said, "I want to sleep with Yukino tonight. You don't mind, do you, Haru?" Yukino naturally kept quiet. A topic like this was too embarrassing—no matter how she refused, it would inevitably lead back to her boyfriend. Haru, on the other hand, was much more direct. "Of course I mind." Haruno smirked and tossed out a trap card. "Oh? You're that eager... could it be you actually want all three of us to sleep together?" Haru ignored the game and flipped the table instead. "Absolutely not. Yukino might be small and adorable, but I'm pretty big. There's only so much space on the bed, and Haruno, you keep growing every day. Three people simply won't fit." On the surface, Haru's argument sounded perfectly logical. But both sisters turned to glare at him. What do you mean 'small but adorable'? Are you sure you're complimenting me? Yukino thought to herself. 'Growing every day'... Is he calling me fat?! Haruno, puzzled, wondered if this was some kind of internet slang she just wasn't familiar with. In the end, the sisters took the master bedroom, and Haru was exiled to the guest room. That night, Haru received an unexpected call. It was Officer Yuuki. "Amamiya, last time you said if we ever had a tricky suspect, you'd be willing to help, right?" "If they're particularly tough, even better," Haru replied. The stronger they were, the more experience points he'd gain. "I wouldn't dare let you take on a violent criminal head-on… But at the end of the month, there's a luxury cruise party in Hokkaido. The man we're after will be attending—his name is Jun Gen Hisada, a businessman." "His status makes it difficult for you to investigate?" "Exactly. That guy is tied to multiple armed assault cases and some nasty corporate competition, but he's too cunning. And with his connections, we've never been able to pin him down." "So, what do you need me to do, Officer Yuuki?" "The technique you used on Koga the other day…" "You mean verbal therapy?" "Oh, right. That. I was wondering, if you could get on that cruise, would you be willing to try it on him?" Yuuki's tone carried a hint of doubt. He didn't fully believe in this so-called "verbal therapy." To him, what Haru had done at the station seemed more like hypnosis. But he quickly dismissed that idea. After all, the police had done their research—successful hypnosis requires full cooperation from the subject, often with the help of drugs. Even when both conditions were met, success wasn't guaranteed. So, despite his shock at what Haru had done that day, he had simply chalked it up as some kind of special ability unique to him. After a short call, Haru agreed. A luxury cruise party would definitely require an invitation, so he'd have to ask his parents for help. Perfect opportunity to let Yukino relax a bit. She's been pushing herself too hard lately. With that thought in mind, Haru made his decision. The next morning, after breakfast, Haruno left, while Haru called his parents to ask for two cruise tickets. But to his surprise, his mother told him their family had already been invited. They just hadn't decided whether to attend since neither of them particularly enjoyed such events. "If you and Yukino want to go, I'll have the invitations sent over this afternoon," she said. "Thanks, Mom." After hanging up, Haru told Yukino about the event. "A ball? Do you really want to go?" She didn't seem interested, but she left the decision to him. "Well, aside from filming and sparring at the karate club, I don't have much else planned for the break. So I figured, why not experience it together?" "Alright." Seeing that he was keen, Yukino agreed without hesitation. The days passed quickly, and the filming for the photography club's project went smoothly. At first, everyone was a bit uncomfortable with the extra "extras" on set, but after a few shoots, they got used to it. Of course, Yukino didn't make them come to school every day—she knew they all had their own lives. Before long, the end of the month arrived. And in that time, two major events happened. First, The World's Mysterious Tales officially aired. Initially slated as a late-night show, its solid ratings—boosted by Haru's ample funding and promotion—quickly pushed it into a prime-time evening slot by episode three. The second event was Utaha's new book release. While arranging publicity for the drama, Haru had also helped promote her novel. Not one to waste her talent, Utaha's book sales skyrocketed. The name "Kasumi Utako" had finally made its way into the public eye. That night, Utaha sat on her bed, staring blankly at her phone. She had just received a call from her publisher. The editor-in-chief had been thrilled—the book was selling incredibly well. Halfway through the call, the editor had even asked, "Did you get a friend to help with promotion? I've seen ads for your book all over social media and video platforms. Whoever they are, they really did you a huge favor." That one remark had left Utaha stunned. Who would help her? And who had the kind of influence to pull this off? It can only be him. She tapped open her contact list and stared at Amamiya Haru's name. She had already learned from Yukino that he had started a film company with his parents' backing. The drama currently airing—she had heard that he was the one who decided its core story and framework. While she had been worrying about her book sales, he had quietly given her a huge boost—without even mentioning it. "It was just a small thing." She could already imagine his response. But still, she typed out a message: "Thanks for your help. When do you have time? I'd like to treat you to a meal." No reply. He was probably busy. "Your phone's ringing. Could be something from the company." "I'm busy right now. Ignore it." In the bedroom, Haru held a flushed, breathless Yukino in his arms, responding quickly. Tonight, after much persuasion, she had finally agreed to wear a catgirl outfit. Cat ears, a tail, paw gloves—paired with her embarrassed, flustered expression… At this moment, nothing in the world could be cuter than her. "Yukino, I have one more request. It's not too much…" "...I refuse." "I haven't even said it yet." "Because I already know what it is." Rejected at lightning speed, Haru looked disappointed. Seeing his expression, Yukino hesitated for a few seconds. Then, cheeks burning, she raised her paw-gloved hands and softly meowed: "Meow~" Her voice was heavenly. And in Haru's mind, one thought echoed: Charge forward! No mercy! At that moment, he truly got busy.