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[-Continuation-]
[-Location : Yukinoshita Residence-]
[Same Day(Time - 8:01)]
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[-Third Person View-]
As the evening drew to a close and after a peaceful meal with her family, Yukino retreated to her room.
Her mind had wandered through different topics discussed today before finally settling on something that led to what she is doing now.
She tapped away on her phone, completely absorbed in the colorful, buzzing world on the screen.
The steady beat of music flowed through the room, with occasional bursts of sound that matched her game's fast pace.
With her long, dark hair cascading over the pillow, Yukino lay back on her bed, fully immersed in her digital escape.
Suddenly, a new rhythm of knocks echoed through the room, adding to the music.
–*knok*knok
Yukino's brow furrowed, her concentration momentarily broken.
–*knok*knok
She propped herself up on her elbows, the bedspread wrinkling softly beneath her.
The sound felt intrusive, prompting her to set her phone aside, pausing the game mid-action.
Her eyes shifted toward the door, a blend of curiosity and irritation in her expression.
–*knok*knok
As the knocking persisted, Yukino swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her bare feet touching the cool floor.
She slowly walked across the room, each step feeling like a reluctant acceptance of leaving her comfort.
However, just to be safe, she prepared herself for whoever or whatever was on the other side.
As she approached the door, Yukino called out, her voice tinged with a hint of exasperation. "Who's there?"
Even as the words left her mouth, a sense of suspicion crept in as to who it might be.
She turned the knob and pulled the door open with a soft click, revealing a familiar figure outlined by the soft light from the hallway.
Her expression turned into a mix of casual indifference and slight apprehension as her hand stayed on the door, ready to shut it at a moment's notice if the encounter became annoying.
After all, she had other interesting things to do.
Like playing a game.
"Hey there, little sis." Haruno greeted Yukino, her voice barely audible, as if wary of disturbing the quietness of the room behind her.
Yukino leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a protective barrier between herself and her sister's unpredictable presence.
"What do you want?" She asked, her tone direct but not unkind.
Haruno's eyes twinkled with their familiar mischief as she glanced past Yukino into the room.
"I was just... hoping if you wanted to hang out for a bit." Her words softened, losing their usual bite.
Yukino hesitated, considering her options.
The allure of her game still echoed in her mind, but something in her sister's demeanor made her think twice.
Curiosity clashed with her usual routine, and after a brief pause, she stepped aside. "Okay, come in..."
As Haruno stepped inside, the whole vibe of the room changed, almost like it was making room for her.
The elder sister's energy filled the space.
Haruno strolled into the room, hands clasped behind her back, and glanced around with a fresh sense of curiosity.
"So, what were you up to?" She asked.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Yukino turned to face Haruno.
By then, Haruno walked over and plopped down on the bed without a care, unintentionally sitting right beside Yukino's phone - Its screen was still lit up, showing the bright colors of the game she had left behind.
Yukino, who has returned from the door, noticed this, and she had a bad feeling about that.
"Nothing much." Yukino replied, her voice carefully neutral as she approached the bed.
Her fingers twitched, itching to grab the device and stash it away from her sister's curious eyes, still not quite understanding why she felt the need to hide it.
It was just a game. Totally harmless.
So why did she feel this sudden urge to hide it?
But just as Yukino was a few inches away from her target, Haruno's eyes lit up as she finally caught on to the phone beside her.
But Haruno was quick as lightning, instantly spotting the telltale glow.
"Is that–"
She started, her hand reaching out as if drawn by an invisible force.
Yukino lunged forward, managing to grab the phone a heartbeat before Haruno could. But it was too late - the cat was already out of the bag.
"Is that what you are doing?" Haruno's voice lilted with amusement, her eyes dancing with the thrill of discovery.
"There's nothing to see." Yukino insisted, her thumb frantically tapping the home button.
The screen went dark, but the mischievous sparkle in Haruno's eyes told her she already got what she wanted.
Haruno grinned. "Was that [Candy Crush], you are playing? Which level are you at?"
"..." Yukino simply didn't answer.
"Someone's proud of their boyfriend's work." Haruno added, her voice dripping with playful amusement, leaning in closer to her sister.
Yukino bit back a sigh. She was already regretting letting her sister in.
Yukino felt a flush creeping up her neck. She had walked right into that one.
"Why are you here, anyway?" She asked, desperate to change the subject.
Haruno tapped her chin, feigning deep thought. "Oh, you know, just checking in on my dear little sister. Making sure she's not wasting her time on games instead of... more important things. Like romance."
Yukino's patience, already worn thin, began to fray at the edges. "If that's all, you can go now."
"Oh, come on, don't be so cold." Of course Haruno wasn't ready to leave just yet.
Yukino's eyes narrowed, her voice dropping to a low, warning tone. "If you're not going to be serious, then you can leave."
For a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. Then, like a storm passing, Haruno's expression softened.
"I promise, I won't tease you anymore, this time."
There was still a playful lilt to her words, but underneath lay a current of sincerity.
Yukino uncrossed her arms, letting her posture ease up a bit. "Alright, but if you start teasing, I'm kicking you out."
Haruno nodded, then leaned forward, her eyes suddenly intense.
"Hey, little sis." She asked, her voice uncharacteristically gentle. "How does it feel to find out –"
"-you weren't your boyfriend's first crush."
The words hit Yukino like a slap, shattering the fragile peace between them.
In an instant, her defenses snapped into place, her voice as cold and sharp as winter ice.
"Haruno... out. Now."
The command rang out, filling the room with an icy chill that seemed to freeze the very air around them.
For the first time in memory, Yukino felt a surge of genuine anger towards her sister, a hot sensation that bubbled up from deep within her chest.
She was truly furious - and it was a revelation she hadn't expected and unfamiliar, yet potent.
So she did not hold back.
Gathering herself, Yukino's eyes narrowed.
"I just want to ask, will you ever be able to find 'your type'?"
She retorted, her words were not careful, but aimed with precision.
Haruno's lips curled into a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Aw, worried about your big sis?" She quipped, but there was a flicker of something - uncertainty, perhaps even vulnerability - behind her playful facade.
"..." - "..."
Silence hung between them, as the air between them crackled with unspoken tension as they stared each other down, neither willing to break first.
Yukino held her gaze. She was determined not to let her sister's lightheartedness sway her displeasure.
Finally, Haruno's mask slipped.
...sigh.. With a heavy sigh, she flopped back onto the bed, her usual grace abandoning her.
She threw an arm over her eyes, as if trying to block out the world - and perhaps her own thoughts.
"I wonder about that too, you know, Yukino." She murmured, her voice muffled but laden with an unexpected weight. "I wonder if I will ever be able to find 'my type'. Or more like, if there is one actually."
The confession lingered in the air, shifting the mood to something serious and unfamiliar.
Yukino felt her anger fade, giving way to a twinge of concern she couldn't shake off.
"Big sis..." She started, her voice softer now, uncertainty coloring her tone.
But before the moment could deepen, Haruno sprang up from the bed with a burst of energy that seemed to come from nowhere.
"Got you!" She exclaimed, her smile back in place, her eyes twinkling with their usual mischief.
The earlier heaviness dissipated, replaced by the familiar teasing spirit that characterized their relationship.
Yukino couldn't help but roll her eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
Yet, for the first time, she felt as though she could see through her sister's act.
….and the realization was far from pleasant.
Haruno stood, her movements slower than before, as if something weighed her down.
"Anyway, I just… wanted to check on you, that's all." She continued, her usual smugness fading. "Sometimes I wonder if you are happy, really."
"..." Yukino blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift. "What are you talking about?"
"Nothing, nothing." Haruno replied quickly, waving off her own comment with a practiced casualness. But the sadness lingering behind her smile was impossible to miss. "Just big sister things, I guess."
For the first time in the conversation, Yukino found herself at a loss for words, unsure how to respond to the unexpected sincerity in her sister's voice.
Sensing the awkward silence, Haruno's grin reappeared, though it seemed more like a carefully constructed mask than a genuine expression.
"Anyway, I will leave you to your little games. Just don't get too absorbed in them, alright?"
Yukino remained silent, watching as her sister made her way to the door.
Haruno paused at the threshold, tossing a casual wave over her shoulder.
"See you around, little sis." She said, her tone light, before stepping out into the hallway.
As the door clicked shut, Yukino stood there, arms still crossed.
Her mind raced with questions she hadn't even known she wanted to ask.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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