As Haru finished playing Moonlit Night, the music store owner and the few customers around couldn't help but break into applause.
The Yukinoshita sisters also lowered their phones, clearly pleased and impressed.
Handing the erhu back to the owner, Haru gave a polite nod and said to Yukino and Haruno, "Just as I thought—it's been too long since I played. My hands are definitely rusty."
Yukino nodded. "You adjusted quickly, though. Aside from a rough start, your performance became much more fluid as it went on."
"That's because I took a moment to really focus beforehand."
This time, Haru wasn't fishing for compliments—just stating the truth.
After leaving the music store, Haruno's mood had noticeably improved. The three of them walked along the roadside for a while until she glanced at her phone.
"I should get going. Come on, I'll drive you two home first."
Neither Haru nor Yukino refused.
During the drive, Yukino suddenly asked, "What have you been busy with lately, sis?"
Haruno blinked, clearly surprised by the question.
Haru chimed in with a grin, "She asked you something, Haruno-nee."
Haruno chuckled. "Same old, same old. Though lately, the TV series produced by Haru's company are doing really well, and our mother hopes I'll start getting involved in that field a bit more."
"I see." Yukino responded calmly, but inside, she was thinking:At the pace I'm improving, I might surpass her in the entertainment industry one day.
Not that she wanted to steal her sister's spotlight—Yukino just genuinely felt she could contribute.But she kept those thoughts to herself.
When they arrived at the house, Haru and Yukino stepped out first.
Haruno rolled down the car window and waved cheerfully. "Thanks for today, you two. I feel ready to take on anything now."
Yukino simply waved back without speaking.
Haru made a phone gesture. "If anything else is bothering you, just remember what I told you—you can reach out to us anytime."
This time, Yukino added, "Haru's right. As long as I'm free, I don't mind."
Haruno was momentarily taken aback. Then her smile turned radiant.
Just before driving off, she winked at Haru and said, "I'll be there whenever you call~"
As the car pulled away, Yukino looked at Haru, puzzled. "What did she mean by ' I'll be there whenever you call'?"
Haru paused, frowning in thought. "Did you notice how intense Haruno-nee's gaze was just now?"
Yukino gave him a skeptical look. "Was it?"
"Oh yeah. I felt it. Like… she was looking at me like she could just eat me up."
"…What are you even talking about? And answer my question."
"It's just a promise between me and her," Haru said casually. "She always seems stressed out, and since we've known each other since we were kids, I just figured I should be there for her when she needs it."
"That makes sense."
Yukino accepted his answer and relaxed.
As Haru unlocked the front door, he added, "But seriously, her gaze really looked like she wanted to devour me."
Yukino shot him a glare. "Keep talking nonsense and I'll start scolding you."
"I'm not joking! Okay, okay, let me put it this way: I get the feeling she wants to eat me… in a figurative sense."
"She's my sister. She wouldn't do something like that."
Yukino dismissed the idea completely.
She even added, "If she really liked you that way, she would've made a move when we were younger, not after watching us get together."
Haru had no comeback for that.
She had a point—and a strong one.
Still, people change. He couldn't forget that "thank you kiss" Haruno almost planted on his lips when she'd been drunk. It had left a lasting impression. She'd brushed it off as a mistake caused by alcohol, but Haru still wasn't sure what to make of it.
As the days passed and late November rolled in, Haru could tell that Yukino—and the others—had become noticeably stronger physically.
The girls themselves were skeptical, but Haru had prepared well. When he first started training with them, he made sure every movement, every technique, every piece of advice was delivered with meticulous precision.
Because his coaching was so detailed and consistent, even someone as sharp as Yukino didn't suspect anything unusual.
Yukino ended up attributing her improved fitness to the long-term effects of regular exercise.
That night, after a week without being intimate, Yukino took the initiative.
Unsurprisingly, she was left exhausted, once again collapsed in Haru's arms. But this time, she was proud—she'd lasted much longer than usual.
She no longer had to beg for mercy just minutes after they started.
As she lay in his arms, flushed and glistening with sweat, Haru couldn't help but admire her.
"You were pretty bold tonight," he teased.
Yukino, eyes closed and clutching the blanket over her chest, replied lazily, "Don't talk. I need to rest."
Haru chuckled at how adorable she looked, her face blushing even redder. He studied her delicate features for a moment before his gaze settled on her soft, rosy lips.
Yukino was meticulous about self-care, and it showed—her lips were always smooth and moist, never chapped or dry. Just looking at them, it was hard to believe how skilled she'd become thanks to her… dedication.
Still pretending to rest, Yukino kept her eyes closed as Haru reached out and gently pinched her cheek. With almost no effort, her lips puckered into a tiny pout.
It was the kind of "goldfish face" that looked absurdly cute on her.
Slowly, Yukino opened one eye and grumbled, "Was that fun?"
Clearly, she knew what he was thinking.
Haru nodded, grinning. "Very."
She slapped his arm and rolled over, hiding her face in his chest. "Stop messing around. I'm tired."
Was she really tired… or just embarrassed? Only she knew the answer.
Haru wrapped an arm around her and said softly, "You haven't argued with Senpai much lately."
"As long as she doesn't provoke me, I can be… lenient," Yukino said evenly.
Haru laughed awkwardly. "To be fair, Senpai does like picking fights with you sometimes."
"And why do you think that is?" Yukino's cool voice matched her icy stare.
Haru wisely shut up.
Yeah, probably my fault again…
At least he was self-aware.
Yukino then changed the subject. "Her latest script is really interesting. I think she got the idea after reading a bunch of your stories. The twist-heavy setup feels familiar."
"Sounds impressive," Haru said. He hadn't read it yet, but Yukino's tone made it sound like something special.
"For a high schooler, she's definitely top-tier—well, if we're not counting you."
Yukino was always fair when it came to serious matters.
Even when the person involved was her rival—Kasumigaoka Utaha.
"So, what's the story about?" Haru finally showed some interest.
Leaning against his chest, Yukino slowly began, "The main character is a senior in high school, about to graduate. She's a genius in the photography club. One day, she accidentally snaps a photo of a murder scene, and the killer comes after her."
Haru frowned slightly. "A genius photographer, huh... That kind of character setting..."
Yukino smirked. "Exactly. Senpai based the protagonist on you. Only, she made you a girl."
"…"
Haru was speechless.
Still chuckling, Yukino continued, "Later on, the heroine ends up in a fight with the killer and kills him by accident. She wants to turn herself in, but then she finds out the killer was also involved in another murder—and that he had an old enemy. The two of them had fought with knives in the past."
"So the police arrest the wrong person?" Haru asked.
Yukino shook her head. "Not exactly. The protagonist carefully manipulates the scene to make it look like the killer was murdered by his enemy. So technically, the police weren't wrong—but she ends up getting caught in the second case too."
Her tone grew a little more serious. "According to Senpai, she plans to keep dragging the protagonist deeper into one murder case after another. Each time, the girl manages to escape danger through quick thinking and sheer coincidence. Eventually, though, she discovers it's not just luck or brains—she has a special ability."
"Interesting. That suddenly sounds like something out of The Twilight Zone." Haru chuckled.
Yukino agreed. "A high school girl who's somehow drawn into murders but always gets out alive—young audiences would love it. Hmm? Hey… what are you poking me with?"
Mid-sentence, Yukino suddenly noticed something was off.
When she looked up and saw Haru's mischievous grin, her expression changed immediately. "You recovered already?!"
Please. Everyone knows the cooldown time for young men is short. It's just science.
Feeling confident again, Yukino launched another round of attacks.
...
The next day, after gym class, Haru found himself roped into yet another impromptu high-jump contest with his classmates. He hadn't had a sip of water since, and now he couldn't be bothered to walk all the way to the school store. So he headed straight for the nearest outdoor faucet.
Just as he turned on the tap and bent down to drink, a pale, slender arm appeared in his peripheral vision.
He looked up—and saw Megumi standing beside him.
Two other girls stood behind her. Haru recognized them—they were the ones who'd hung around Megumi during gym class the other day. Probably her friends.
"Here," Megumi said.
She handed him a bottle of water.
When Haru looked at her in surprise, she explained in a gentle voice, "It's not good to drink cold water right after intense exercise. Room temperature is better."
"…Thanks."
Haru finally accepted the bottle and nodded his thanks.
Meanwhile, the two girls behind Megumi stared at him in shock.
They had seen it with their own eyes—Megumi had taken a sip from that bottle earlier.
Just a small sip…
But still.
Haru, of course, had no idea.