….
[-Continuation-]
.
[-Third Person View-]
The challenge hung in the air for a moment. Haruno clicked her tongue, clearly taken aback by the quick response. "I see. So this is how it's going to be, huh?"
Yukino didn't reply - she just smiled again, that quiet, pleased smile, as if she had just won another small, personal battle.
Haruno narrowed her eyes at Yukino, her lips curling into a sly grin as if she were already plotting her comeback. "You know, Yukino, for someone who barely managed to acknowledge her feelings, you have gotten awfully bold these days. I wonder who is to thank for that."
Yukino's expression didn't falter, though there was the faintest flicker of something in her eyes - annoyance, maybe, or perhaps amusement.
"Growth, sister. You should try it sometime." She said, her voice calm and cutting, a verbal blade wrapped in silk.
Haruno leaned forward slightly, propping her chin on her hand as she studied her younger sister with mock seriousness.
"Growth, huh? And here I thought it was just him rubbing off on you." She glanced at me, her grin widening. "Though I suppose miracles do happen."
"Miracles? Or just someone competent enough to handle her nonsense?" I shot back, keeping my tone light but firm.
Haruno's laughter was immediate and sharp, drawing a few curious glances from nearby tables. "Touché. I will give you that one, little bro. But don't get too comfortable - I am still miles ahead of you two when it comes to understanding these things."
"Understanding what, exactly?" Yukino asked, tilting her head slightly, her tone innocent but her words anything but.
"Oh, just the complexities of love and relationships." Haruno replied airily, waving a hand as if the subject were too trivial to explain. "You know, things you are still fumbling through."
Yukino's gaze didn't waver, though her next words were sharper. "And yet here you are, lecturing us about love while you are still single."
Haruno pressed a hand to her chest, feigning a gasp. "Ouch, Yukino. That was below the belt. I might actually cry."
"Feel free." Yukino replied smoothly, taking another sip of her drink as if the conversation were already over.
For a moment, Haruno simply stared at her sister, then broke into another fit of laughter, shaking her head. "You really have changed. Fine, you win this round. But don't think I am giving up so easily."
"You can try." Yukino said her calm tone was a perfect counterpoint to Haruno's lively theatrics.
I let out a small sigh, watching the exchange with a mix of amusement and exhaustion. "Are you two done? Or should I just order another drink and settle in for the next episode?"
Haruno smirked at me, leaning back in her chair. "Don't act like you are not entertained. Admit it - you love watching us go at it."
"Maybe." I admitted with a shrug. "But that doesn't mean I want to be dragged into it."
"Oh, you are already in it, little bro." Haruno said, flashing me a mischievous grin. "You are always in it when it comes to Yukino."
Yukino's gaze flicked toward me for a brief second, her expression softening just enough for me to notice.
"That's his choice." She said simply.
And with that, the conversation shifted, though the lingering smirks and quiet victories stayed firmly in the air between us.
"Oh... Yukino, it was indeed his choice, but the thing is, he already made it." Haruno said, her chuckle laced with amusement as she leaned back in her chair, clearly enjoying herself.
"And what exactly do you mean by that?" Yukino asked, her tone steady, though the slight narrowing of her eyes betrayed her irritation.
Haruno raised a hand, feigning innocence. "Oh, nothing too dramatic. Just that someone here didn't hesitate to dive headfirst into things, despite all the grumbling and reluctance he is so well-known for."
"Is there a point to this, or are you just rambling?" I cut in, hoping to redirect the conversation before Haruno could dig deeper.
She smiled at me, a cat toying with its prey.
"No point, really. I am just appreciating how far you have come, little bro. From someone who avoided emotions like the plague to... well, this." She gestured vaguely between Yukino and me, her grin widening.
I sighed, knowing there was no winning against Haruno when she got like this. "Appreciation noted. Can we move on now?"
"Am I late...?" came a sudden voice, interrupting the flow of our conversation.
I turned to my right and found Hayama standing there, casual as ever.
Of course, if no one had mentioned it, I wouldn't have known he was also supposed to be here - or, more accurately, with Haruno.
Apparently, he had stepped out for a walk, claiming he had something to buy.
That too just before we arrived.
Truly what a coincidence.
"Yeah, you are late. Took your sweet time, didn't you?" I asked, making no effort to hide my irritation.
Hayama didn't flinch. Instead, he offered a relaxed smile. "Well, I had to take a detour, but it seems like you were having fun."
Fun? Sure, let's call this 'fun'.
The guy didn't even bother with an apology and was now justifying his absence?
Without further ado, he slid into the seat next to Haruno.
The chair was closer to hers than what you would consider the norm.
"Haaa..." Yukino chuckled softly, breaking the brief silence.
The sound caught everyone's attention.
Haruno, Hayama, and I all turned toward her.
For a moment, she seemed distant, as if her thoughts had wandered elsewhere.
Later, I would realize that Hayama's subtle gesture - him moving the chair with a little casual proximity to Haruno - had reminded Yukino of someone else.
"Sorry about that." She said, her tone measured yet entirely insincere.
Clearly, she didn't feel any need to explain her amusement.
I decided not to dwell on it and rose from my seat. "Anyway, we will be going now."
Haruno muttered faintly.
"Fine." Under her breath, but I ignored her entirely.
Yukino followed suit, standing up gracefully.
"Goodbye, big sis." She said, her voice polite yet distant.
She gave Hayama a small nod as well before walking after me, her hand slipping around my arm with natural ease.
As we exited, I didn't bother looking back.
Yukino's quiet presence beside me was enough, her hand resting comfortably against mine as we walked away.
….
.
Hayama watched their retreating figures until they disappeared from view.
His gaze lingered, his expression unreadable.
"Yukino is totally into him, huh." He murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Haruno smirked, her fingers lightly tapping on the table. "That's one way to look at it. But you are only half right. It's not just that she's into him - it's that she has got Hachiman completely wrapped around her little finger."
"Does that even matter?" Hayama asked, his tone neutral, though a faint edge of curiosity crept in.
Haruno shrugged nonchalantly. "Not to them, at least."
Her expression shifted slightly, her smile softening into something more reflective. "You know, Yukino always used to go on about wanting to change the world when she was younger. Even as she grew up, she'd cling to that idea, saying she wanted to save it or whatever nonsense she believed back then."
Hayama raised an eyebrow, not interrupting.
"But." Haruno continued, her tone taking on a faint note of amusement."It seems like, in the end, she really did save her world."
At that, Hayama let out a low chuckle, though it lacked any real humor. "Coming from you, that almost sounds believable."
Haruno joined in, a light laugh escaping her lips. "She stopped an idiot from running wild. She chained him down to her, and honestly, I would call that a world saved."
Hayama leaned back slightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "He is not that bad."
"Sure, not now." Haruno replied with a wave of her hand. "And let's hope it stays that way - for their sake and ours."
For a moment, Haruno's teasing demeanor dimmed. She thought about the two of them - Yukino and Hachiman - and the strange but undeniable connection they shared.
There was always a temptation to stir things up between them, to throw in her usual jabs and watch the sparks fly.
But she refrained herself from doing that.
Sure occlusal jags were fine, but she was repairing to cross the line a little.
But she stopped her excitement.
She was afraid.
Haruno Yukinoshita was afraid.
She didn't want to mess with him.
She had no idea what Hachiman might do if someone tried to interfere, and truthfully, she didn't want to find out.
Let things stay as they are, she thought to herself.
Let the world be peaceful, if only so she could enjoy the occasional fun at their expense.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
Her presence, she decided, was enough in this little world they had created.
.
….
[To be continued…]
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