That must be steamed taro, right? The color and texture suggested as much, but weren't the taros she saw earlier all oval-shaped? Why did Yukino cut them all into cylindrical shapes? And they were the same size as the popsicles next to them...
"..."
Looking at the stick-shaped food on the two plates, Haruno's face turned grimmer and grimmer. The guess in her heart seemed to be getting closer to the truth...
She suppressed the growing anger in her heart and continued to watch.
In the footage, after putting down the two plates, Yukino went back to the kitchen and brought out two more plates.
One plate had carrots, which appeared to have been simply rinsed, judging by the water droplets on them. No other processing steps had been done.
The other plate contained the snack she saw Yukino licking earlier.
After arranging the four plates, Yukino sat on the sofa, staring at the food on each plate for quite a while.
"Sigh~"
Even though there was no sound in the surveillance footage, Haruno knew that Yukino sighed from her actions and expressions.
The next moment, as if she had made some kind of decision, Yukino grabbed a red-and-white popsicle and stuck out her little pink tongue, gently licking the top.
Well, it's normal to lick a popsicle. Nothing wrong with that.
Already having her answer, Haruno tried to find excuses for Yukino's strange behavior.
"Lick lick lick~~ lick lick lick~~"
The video had no sound, but Haruno could imagine the full sound just by watching Yukino's licking actions.
"Hah~~ Hah~~"
Not only did she imagine the licking sound, but she even conjured up the increasingly strange breathing sounds Yukino might be making.
"..."
Haruno silently watched the surveillance video, the sparkle in her eyes gradually dimming.
The popsicle was very cold, but under Yukino's warm tongue, the top of the popsicle quickly began to melt...
Seeing the white condensed milk around Yukino's mouth and the red strawberry juice dripping onto the floor, Haruno's mood sank to the bottom.
"..." She forced a smile, her lips curling reluctantly.
Summer was approaching; wasn't it nice that Yukino-chan made popsicles to eat on her own?
Yukino-chan used to know nothing about enjoyment; she only cared about studying, studying, and more studying, always trying to surpass her in every aspect.
Such a lifestyle for Yukino was exhausting. Haruno felt distressed for her, but for Yukino's growth, she had to pretend to be oblivious and even provoke her occasionally, reminding Yukino of the mountain looming overhead.
But now, Yukino was no longer chasing her shadow; she had started enjoying life and walking her own path.
Wasn't this a good thing?
"..." Haruno's forced smile gained a bit more sincerity.
Yes, this was good. Yukino had her own life and path now. Not bad at all.
As an elder sister, she should be blessing Yukino.
Thinking this, Haruno's eyes softened as she watched Yukino on the screen.
In the footage, Yukino inexplicably began pushing the popsicle into her mouth. As the popsicle gradually disappeared into her mouth, a look of pain began to appear on Yukino's face.
"Cough, cough~"
Three to five seconds later, Yukino removed the popsicle and covered her chest, coughing continuously.
Seeing this, the smile on Haruno's face disappeared instantly. She clenched her fists and growled in a low voice, her expression becoming ferocious:
"Hoshimi Kiyokawa! You bastard!"
When on earth did this happen?! Has it already happened, or is Yukino rehearsing?!
If it was the former, how did that bastard Hoshimi Kiyokawa manage it?!
If it was the latter, that was even worse!
Her sister! The sister she watched grow up! Was rehearsing something like this for that bastard Hoshimi Kiyokawa!
She couldn't accept it! She couldn't imagine it!
Hoshimi Kiyokawa! You must have hypnotized my sister, right?! Otherwise, how could Yukino become so strange?!
This wasn't her sister! How could her sister do such a thing?!
"Damn it!"
"Bang!"
Haruno slammed her fist on the table, her expression becoming more and more twisted.
No, she couldn't delay this any longer!
The plan had to be moved up! If she waited any longer, Yukino would grow into someone she could never accept!
Hoshimi Kiyokawa, huh? Let's see what kind of nonsense you've been feeding my sister!
"Humph!" Haruno snorted coldly, her face darkening as she watched the surveillance footage and refined her plan in her mind.
First, the execution time of the plan would be next week.
Shizuka had already informed her that the midterms would be from Tuesday to Thursday next week, so she couldn't make a move during that time.
But afterwards, next Friday's workplace internship was a great opportunity to confront Hoshimi!
With that in mind, Haruno started crafting traps tailored to Hoshimi's character.
Meanwhile, in the footage, Yukino set down the popsicle and picked up the cylindrical taro...
Seeing this, Haruno's expression grew darker, and her thoughts quickened.
...
6:20 PM, at the apartment building where Hoshimi lived.
"Kotoko, I'm here." Hoshimi looked down at Kotoko beside him as they stopped at the building entrance.
"Yeah, I know." Kotoko didn't look at Hoshimi but instead gazed up at the high-rise. "Hoshimi, does Yukinoshita also live here?"
"Uh..."
Hoshimi's right eyelid twitched, as if something was forewarning him.
"Hehe~" Kotoko smiled sweetly, wrapping her arms around Hoshimi's. "Hoshimi, take me to visit Yukinoshita-senpai's place. I'm quite curious about her living situation."
Hoshimi: "..."
"What's wrong, Hoshimi?" Kotoko tilted her head, her smile overly sweet. "Could it be that there's a problem with Yukinoshita-senpai's place?"
Hoshimi: "No, if you want to visit, let's go."
"Mm-hmm~~~" Kotoko squinted with a smile as she held Hoshimi's arm and entered the building.
Soon after, they arrived at apartment 1507.
"This is Yukinoshita-senpai's place?" Kotoko asked with a smile.
"Yeah, this is it."
"Then which floor do you live on, Hoshimi?"
"My home is a duplex on the twenty-seventh and twenty-eighth floors."
"Mm..." Kotoko nodded, no longer asking questions, and turned to ring Yukino's doorbell.
"Ding dong~~ Ding dong~~ Ding dong~~"
Three rings sounded...
===
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