Chapter 89: Yukino, I Can't Be Without You
Yukinoshita Haruno.
The eldest daughter of the Yukinoshita family.
The Yukinoshita family has only two daughters, and she is the elder.
As the older sister and the one better adapted to society,
Yukinoshita Haruno is almost a symbol of the Yukinoshita family.
However, this prestigious lady who shines brightly on the outside
is internally scarred and already in tatters.
Yukinoshita Haruno understands her mother very well.
Her mother, who is wholeheartedly devoted to inheriting and expanding the Yukinoshita family, possesses strong ambitions and abilities.
From a young age, Yukinoshita Haruno understood her own mission.
For the advancement of the Yukinoshita family,
Yukinoshita Haruno honed her social skills to their peak.
Every day, she wore a mask.
Speaking human words to humans, demon words to demons.
She was also prepared to sacrifice some personal freedoms for the sake of the family.
However, that resolve was shattered into pieces by two events.
The first.
At an evening party, Yukinoshita Haruno was drugged by her fiancé,
who intended to commit an indecent act against her.
Even though only two years remained until their engagement term,
he could not wait even for that short time.
He didn't even bother with sweet courtship,
opting instead for the most despicable method.
That day, although Yukinoshita Haruno escaped,
she still lost her first time.
If there was any consolation,
perhaps the fact that her first was with a younger, handsome boy made her feel a little less heartbroken.
The young man working as a server at the venue was quite Haruno's type.
This one thing could barely count as some small psychological comfort.
The second.
Yukino left the Yukinoshita family.
As someone who dearly loved her younger sister, Haruno's feelings toward Yukino were deeply complex.
She didn't want Yukino to be hurt,
but she also hoped Yukino could grow quickly,
mature enough to no longer rely on her.
During their youth,
Haruno always played the role of the "perfect" yet terrible older sister.
She acted as both an opponent and a target for Yukino to strive toward, guiding her forward.
But due to the turmoil within the Yukinoshita family,
Yukino also had to bear the burden of an arranged marriage.
Haruno didn't want to see that happen, but she was powerless to resist.
The Yukinoshita family was under the complete control of Mrs. Yukinoshita.
The two daughters born into this family were like two golden canaries trapped in a gilded cage.
Haruno tried to play the role of an exceptional canary.
One that could occasionally step out of its cage, earning applause and admiration for its master.
But in the end, it was still tethered by a thin string around its leg.
As for Yukino—
The other canary, locked tightly in the cage since birth,
suddenly, upon graduating from university, broke free from its chains and flew toward the sky.
As if, under the vast blue sky,
even if its feathers were singed by the sun,
even if its wings were broken by fierce winds,
even if it crashed into lush branches, bloodied and battered,
Yukino would not care.
Haruno was simultaneously astonished by her younger sister's strength and heartbroken by her fragility.
Yukino was strong enough to break free from the mental chains and soar straight into the sky.
But Yukino was also weak, unable to fully spread her wings under the blue heavens.
Haruno was sent by Mrs. Yukinoshita to Tokyo, tasked with forcing Yukino to return home.
Thus, Haruno sought out the Fujikawa publishing house.
She visited the companies behind the recruitment websites.
She approached every company Yukino had worked for,
forcing them to dismiss Yukinoshita Yukino.
When doing these things, Haruno sighed briefly.
But it didn't change anything.
Because even if Haruno didn't do it...
Mrs. Yukinoshita would come to Tokyo and do the same.
And once Mrs. Yukinoshita got involved, her actions would bring Yukino far more suffering than Haruno's ever could.
Therefore, Haruno believed it was better for Yukino to obediently accept it, suffer less, and return home.
Yet Yukino faced every hardship so resolutely.
She endured and soared for an entire year under Tokyo's vast blue sky.
Once more, Haruno traveled from Chiba to Tokyo, this time bearing an ultimatum.
This time, she had to bring Yukino home.
If not, Mrs. Yukinoshita would come personally.
But this time, when Haruno investigated her sister's circumstances,
she discovered that Yukino was working for a company called Laplace Corporation.
And the person controlling that company?
The records clearly listed the name Yukima Azuma.
Of course, Yukinoshita Haruno knew this name.
That day, when she tried to escape the hotel with her "battered body,"
she had gone to great lengths to investigate the young man who had been involved.
In the end, she discovered she had even met that boy before.
She had once marveled at his decisiveness.
That day, the two had crossed paths on the narrow road near the Yukinoshita household.
Who would have thought there was such a connection between them?
At that moment, Haruno truly wanted to find someone to cry her heart out to.
And now, that boy had spread his wings to protect her younger sister.
With a complicated mix of anxiety, emotion, fear, and sorrow,
Haruno drove to the school gates where that boy was currently studying.
Under the gentle light of the afternoon sun,
the young man stepped out of the school gates, dressed neatly in his uniform, his hair tidy, and his demeanor calm.
It was as though some significant transformation had occurred within him.
Yet, at the same time, it felt as if nothing had changed.
Yukinoshita Haruno stepped forward.
Initially, she had intended to simply greet him, then discuss Yukino's situation.
But in the end, she couldn't stop herself from extending her arms and hugging him tightly.
Now, the two of them sat inside the car.
"Sigh, you know the Yukinoshita family's situation isn't great right now, and Yukino still has an engagement looming over her."
"Allowing her a year of freedom outside was already the limit. Now it's time for her to come home."
"So, Azuma-kun, hand Yukino over. Or if you can't bear to, I'll talk to her myself."
As Yukinoshita Haruno spoke, her fingers played with the keychain dangling from the car keys.
Meanwhile, Yukima Azuma treated her words as if they were nothing more than a passing breeze.
"Yukinoshita Haruno, this matter has nothing to do with our relationship, and I have no interest in opposing you."
"But Yukinoshita Yukino—I must have her. No one else, only her."
Yukima Azuma articulated each word clearly.
It had to be Yukinoshita Yukino. No one else.
Laplace Corporation required someone as upright and principled as Yukinoshita Yukino, immune to any form of temptation, to provide support.
Yukinoshita Haruno could feel the unwavering determination in Yukima Azuma's words.
She couldn't help but stare at him in confusion.
She couldn't understand why it had to be Yukino.
"You've grown so much, so don't say such childish things. There's no one in this world who is irreplaceable…"
Before Haruno could finish her advice, Yukima Azuma interrupted her.
"Then there's nothing more for us to discuss."
"No one else, only Yukino. That might sound childish to you, but to me, it's an unchangeable truth."
"Next, I'm guessing you'll say that if I don't change my mind, your mother will come here next, right?"
"That's fine. Even if it's Mrs. Yukinoshita—or even Shinomiya Gan'an standing before me…"
"My answer will remain the same, and it will always be the same."
"If you want Yukino, try taking her from me."
"Yukino belongs to me. Only me."
After finishing his words, Yukima Azuma stepped over Haruno's long legs without hesitation.
He reached for the driver's side door lock, opened the door, and exited the car.
Throughout the entire process, Yukima Azuma didn't spare so much as a glance at those alluring long legs.
Watching Yukima Azuma's departing figure, Yukinoshita Haruno clasped her hands tightly together, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
A faint trace of Yukima Azuma's scent still lingered on her collar.
She silently buried her head into her clothing, arriving at a conclusion.
Her younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino, must have drawn the strength and determination to break free from the Yukinoshita family because of this young man's inspiration.
Because, in this very moment, Haruno herself wanted nothing more than to escape her gilded cage and stay by his side.
After taking a few heavy breaths, Haruno raised her head.
And then, through the rearview mirror, she saw her younger sister embracing the young man.
A surge of unprecedented jealousy welled up from Haruno's fractured heart.
For the first time in her life, Haruno felt envious of her own younger sister.
.....
After getting out of the car, Yukima Azuma saw a girl with long, straight black hair running toward him in a hurry.
The first button of her white shirt was undone, and the sleeves were rolled up in a messy fashion.
Although she was still wearing high heels, she was running frantically, not paying any attention to the risk of twisting her ankle.
This was the first time Yukima Azuma had seen Yukinoshita Yukino lose her composure like this.
Even when he had made her cry last time, she had still maintained her grace and dignity despite her tears.
Upon seeing Yukima Azuma step out of the car, Yukino rushed toward him.
"She… she said something to you? I can explain, I…"
Her breath was frantic, her words disjointed, and she was speaking so fast that it was difficult for her to make herself clear.
Yukima Azuma gently placed his hand on Yukinoshita Yukino's head, then his fingers slid down, straightening her misaligned collar.
Next, he carefully pulled down her sleeve, which was still rolled up, smoothing out the wrinkles.
These actions caused Yukino to choke on her words, unable to continue speaking.
After making the adjustments, Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
"Yukino, panicking like this isn't dignified at all. You're the branch manager of Laplace Corporation."
"Whatever others say to me doesn't matter, Yukino doesn't need to explain anything to me."
"Since you became the branch manager of Laplace Corporation, there's no turning back for you."
"If anyone tries to use threats or temptations to take you away, I'll be even more decisive than they are and offer better benefits."
"Even if you want to run away, I won't allow it. No matter where you go, I'll bring you back."
"Yukino, remember this. Laplace Corporation can't be without you. I can't be without you."
Yukinoshita Yukino opened her eyes wide, speechless in shock.
Since learning that her sister had come to Tokyo, she had rushed here immediately.
On the way from Toyogasaki Academy, due to traffic, she had left her car by the side of the road and ran here.
As she ran, her mind was flooded with possible scenarios.
Her sister might reveal her true identity to Yukima Azuma, using the Yukinoshita name to pressure him into letting her go.
Or her sister could offer a high price for him to take the money and fire her.
The young man, like a Laplace demon, might not care about money.
He might also not fear the threats from the Yukinoshita family.
But he had no reason to defy the pressure from her family just for her.
In this encounter, the young man might wear a cold expression and tell her to go away.
Or he might show a troubled expression and tell her not to blame him.
But Yukinoshita Yukino had never considered the possibility:
That this young man, Yukima Azuma, would calmly step in front of her, fix her crooked collar, and then, with a determined look in his eyes, say to her:
"Yukino, I can't be without you."
Those words exceeded the most beautiful dreams Yukino had had in over twenty years.
Because even in her dreams, there had to be some basic logic.
But why would he say something like that?
Yet reality was even more absurd than her dreams.
This young man truly said those words.
Yukima Azuma stood before her, his eyes unwavering and resolute.
"Yukino, I can't be without you."
Yukinoshita Yukino felt like she was about to lose herself in his gaze.