The moment Yukino heard Haru's voice on the other end of the call, her mind instantly shifted from surprise into full operational mode.
Before I left home, Haru had no plans to go anywhere other than tagging along to the bookstore with me.
That could only mean one thing—her sister must've called him after she'd gone out.
Yukino pieced the situation together swiftly. Ignoring the still-bewildered and curious Utaha beside her, she calmly asked into the phone, "Did you call Haru out, sis?"
Hearing her voice, Haruno replied brightly, "Mhm! I had some free time today, so I dropped by the company under Haru's parents' name to learn a few things. Figured I'd call him over while I was at it."
Yukino already knew her mother had plans to step into the entertainment industry, so with that, the rest made sense.
Then Haruno chuckled through the receiver, "So you didn't understand my message just now?"
"No," Yukino admitted.
Haruno's laugh grew even more delighted. "That's perfect! If you'd figured it out right away, the surprise would've been ruined."
Yukino blinked. Was she planning something with Haru? A gift, maybe?
But... today wasn't any special occasion.
Yukino fell silent, contemplating.
Meanwhile, Utaha—who had shifted seats just to satisfy her curiosity—was now paying the price.
She'd only just figured out why Haru had gone out, when Haruno tossed in a whole new mystery.
Her thoughts were on the same track as Yukino's: Are Haru and Haruno preparing a gift for her?
Without realizing it, Utaha curled her fingers into tiny fists. If it really is a gift… I kind of want one too.
And "surprise"? Well, what girl wouldn't like a surprise—especially if it came from someone she shared a special bond with?
Urgent, urgent, urgent!
Utaha stared unblinking at the side of Yukino's face, just like a viewer watching a livestream where the host was playing terribly—taking damage, missing loot, wasting every opportunity. She wanted nothing more than to snatch the controls and show how it was done herself.
That's how she felt right now.
She wanted to yell: Just ask her already! And if you're too proud to say it, hand me the phone—I'll ask for you!
But Yukino, after a few seconds of thought, calmly said, "If it's really a surprise, then I'd rather not spoil it by asking."
"Don't worry," Haruno's voice came with a laugh. "You're going to love it."
With that, she hung up.
Yukino lowered her phone, only to flinch as she turned and caught Utaha's intense stare.
"Senpai… what's with that look?"
"Why didn't you just ask her directly!?" Utaha finally blurted out.
Yukino responded with a question of her own.
"Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"That's exactly why I'm frustrated!"
"Haruno-san and Haru planning a surprise together—aren't you even a little curious?"
"I am. But I have plenty of patience."
Utaha exhaled slowly like she'd choked on her words, then stood and returned to her seat across from Yukino.
Yukino, surprisingly, found this all amusing.
"So even you have a side that gets easily flustered, senpai."
Utaha opened her mouth to retort, then waved it off casually.
"I was going to argue a bit more, but forget it. I'll just wish you a fun evening."
Yukino blinked. "That's rare. You're not going to insist on tagging along tonight?"
Utaha clicked her tongue, her tone suddenly aloof.
"Of course I'm curious. But if they've only prepared something for you, then me going would just make things awkward."
Yukino looked at her for a moment, then gave a small, quiet smile.
As expected, when it comes to serious matters, we really are in sync. She always manages to say things I appreciate.
She couldn't help but recall the more outrageous things they'd done together in the past. Looking back on them now... the embarrassment didn't seem quite so strong anymore.
Of course, as for the fact that Utaha had a talent for seductively twisting her waist, Yukino maintained her usual air of disdain.
Disgraceful. Absolutely indecent.
After leaving the company, Haru and Haruno went their separate ways. Before parting, Haruno shot him a mischievous smile and teased,
"I'll be waiting for you to take me to heaven, you know. And if you really pull it off, I might even start calling you Onii-chan."
Haru had no response for that. He could only greet her teasing with silence.
Because the thing was… he really suspected she might be serious about calling him that.
It had started off as a joke, something he blurted out on a whim. But Haruno, being Haruno, had taken it and run with it like it was gospel.
He wasn't even sure what to feel—"awkward" didn't quite cover it.
To be honest, he couldn't even picture what it would be like if Haruno ever actually called him "Onii-chan."
Now if it were Utaha playing that kind of character in one of her weird roleplay moods… yeah, he could imagine that.
Later that evening, Yukino returned home. She casually asked about his meeting with Haruno, but didn't mention the word "surprise" even once.
She was as calm and serene as always, which made Haru finally break and ask her while preparing dinner: "You're seriously not even a little curious?"
Yukino was trimming the orange tabby's claws and didn't even glance up as she answered, "Patience is a virtue."
Then she chuckled softly.
Haru blinked. "What's so funny?"
Yukino's lips curled with a faint smile. "I just remembered how Utaha-senpai looked earlier today. Since she sat next to me, she overheard part of the phone call—and ended up fidgeting restlessly the whole time, clearly losing her mind."
Haru tried to picture it. "She was probably crossing her arms and bouncing her leg in frustration, huh?"
Yukino paused, surprised. "She was bouncing her leg."
Then her gaze shifted toward him, deep and slightly amused.
"You seem to know her little habits and micro-expressions pretty well now, don't you?"
Haru responded coolly,
"Actually, I know you even better."
Yukino raised an eyebrow. "We've known each other since childhood. Of course you know me well."
But Haru shook his head. "No, I mean I know all your habits and expressions—in any situation, at any time."
He wasn't exaggerating either. Ever since he'd become more skilled with his [Perception] ability, he'd started picking up on even the tiniest details he would've missed before.
Like how Yukino, when they played games together, would always restrain her voice… until he gently reminded her to speak naturally—and then, just like that, her voice would become the most beautiful sound in the world.
"You're that confident in your powers of observation?" she asked, skeptical.
Haru smiled faintly. "It's not about confidence. It's about all the time we've spent together—everything I've learned from that. I've told you before, haven't I? That your voice… is the thing I love most."
Yukino's cheeks flushed pink in an instant. Without warning, she grabbed a cushion from the sofa and hurled it at him.
So that's what you meant by "knowing me"? Seriously?!
The orange tabby, nestled in her lap, blinked up at her and let out a curious meow, as if wondering why its human was suddenly radiating so much body heat.
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