Haru couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about Yukino today.
She kept spacing out during their grocery run, and from time to time, her cheeks would flush as if she were remembering something embarrassing.
He tried to gently probe, but Yukino was tight-lipped, refusing to give away even the tiniest clue.
And, at her request, he made Chinese food tonight—quite a shift from the usual dishes preferred by the two beautiful girls who frequented his apartment.
Sweet crispy duck, steamed mandarin fish, shredded pork in garlic sauce, and tofu carp soup…
The benefits of his [Drugging] skill didn't stop at enhancing his brewing abilities—it had been quietly refining his culinary talents as well.
If it weren't for the lack of ingredients, he would've loved to wow them with an authentic Dongpo pork dish tonight.
At 5 p.m., Utaha arrived.
Haru was in the kitchen slicing vegetables when he heard the door. Wearing only an apron over his shirt, he stepped out to greet her—and froze for a second.
Utaha had ditched the bulky winter wear she'd been using the past few days. Now, with her coat off, she revealed a form-fitting, pale-colored turtleneck sweater.
Sweaters like that had a certain… reputation. They had a magical ability to boost a girl's cup size—sometimes by one size, sometimes by two.
Utaha was already well-endowed, and with that sweater hugging her curves, the visual impact was undeniable.
To top it off, she'd changed into thick black tights, her shapely legs elegantly showcased beneath the hem of her sweater. The moment she stepped into the living room, her figure unleashed its full charm.
Haru noticed she was carrying a dark cloth bag. Probably pajamas and other overnight stuff, he figured. He simply greeted her and went back to cooking.
Meanwhile, Yukino looked up from where she was cuddling the orange cat, her gaze sweeping Utaha from top to bottom.
"…You changed back into tights on purpose?"
Utaha leaned in with a mischievous grin and lowered her voice. "This is called Victory Black Stockings."
She sat down beside Yukino without waiting for an invitation.
"Stay away from me. I don't want to catch whatever idiocy you're carrying," Yukino huffed, scooting to the side.
The orange cat let out a soft meow at the familiar visitor, prompting Utaha's face to light up.
"See? Jelly still likes me. He doesn't want me to go."
"You're overthinking it," Yukino replied coldly, ruffling the cat's head a bit rougher than usual. "He just remembers you gave him snacks before. He's a greedy fat cat."
"Meow??"
The orange cat looked up in confusion, clearly wondering why the head pats had suddenly turned intense.
Utaha wisely didn't push Yukino further. Instead, she laid her upper body across the table and murmured, "After I got home today, I spent hours looking up highly rated movies online."
That piqued Yukino's interest. "And?"
"I figured we'd start by watching a movie together. It'll help us relax… and give us time to mentally prepare."
Yukino fell silent immediately.
She was going to ask which movie Utaha had picked, but now that the topic had returned to that—their "joint plan"—she didn't feel like talking anymore.
Even though she had agreed, and even though she didn't want to keep feeling helpless about not being able to fulfill Haru's feelings alone… facing the moment head-on still made her nervous.
It was ridiculous. No matter how she looked at it, the whole thing was insane.
"You're not… having second thoughts, are you?"
Utaha's question cut through the silence like a blade.
Yukino paused, then answered firmly, "I gave you my word. I won't go back on it."
"Your expression just now said otherwise."
"Does it matter?"
"Of course it matters. I had to prepare myself mentally for a long time before I even dared to bring this up."
Yukino turned to look at her, surprised.
Utaha was curled up in the heated kotatsu blanket, not teasing or sarcastic for once. She was being serious.
Yukino took a deep breath. "You've mentioned this more than once before… Does that mean you've been preparing yourself since then?"
"More or less."
Utaha leaned her chin on her folded arms, her voice softer now. "At first, I was just as torn up about it as you were. That sense of frustration, the helplessness—it was awful. I hated it."
Yukino gave a small nod. She understood that feeling all too well.
Utaha, serious for a rare moment, suddenly smirked again. "But then I noticed… you're always just as wobbly and weak afterward. Somehow, that made me feel a little better."
Yukino's cheeks turned pink. She glared at Utaha—who, for all her teasing, was also blushing.
Utaha lazily leaned back, almost talking to herself. "The longer I've known you, the more I think… compared to Megumi, who always keeps her feelings hidden, we're actually more suited to being friends."
"Friends do this sort of thing?" Yukino raised an eyebrow.
Utaha ignored the jab and continued, "At least you don't bottle everything up."
Yukino chuckled dryly. "Sorry to disappoint you, but I have my secrets too."
"Oh, come on, Yukinoshita. Are you just arguing for the sake of it now?" Utaha sat up straight, clearly annoyed.
"I'm just correcting you," Yukino said with a sly smile. "And by the way—I don't get weak in the knees like you said."
Utaha blinked. Then laughed. "Oh, that's what you're upset about…"
Her tone turned mischievous again. "Deny it all you want. Tonight, I'll see it with my own eyes."
Yukino's fists clenched.
She took a deep breath, then gently set the orange cat aside. Her tone dropped to a chilling level. "Senpai. Come here for a moment."
Utaha's instincts kicked in. Instead of approaching, she scooted away in the opposite direction.
"…Hah."
With a cold, contemptuous laugh, Yukino lunged forward. In one swift move, she pinned Utaha down in front of the kotatsu like it was second nature.
"I'm definitely mocking you tonight. Count on it!" Utaha growled between clenched teeth.
Yukino didn't answer—just tightened her grip.
So when Haru came out of the kitchen carrying a platter of food and saw the familiar scene in front of him, he couldn't help but smile.
"Should I… come back later?"
"Help me," Utaha called out, utterly abandoning her pride.
Yukino let out a soft laugh, her voice chilly and composed."Senpai, have you still not realized the truth? The gap between us is a chasm you could never cross."
Utaha fell silent, her expression dark. She had already made up her mind—tonight, she would enjoy watching Yukino trip up.
Seriously? We're both girls who boldly charge forward only to retreat the moment things get real. What gives you the right to mock me?
Besides… tonight, I'm wearing my ultimate weapon—Victory Tights!
After dinner, as the warmth of the kotatsu settled over them and the haze of post-meal fatigue—otherwise known as "sage time"—set in, even the sharp-minded Yukino fell under its spell. Utaha, unsurprisingly, had already become one with the kotatsu, refusing to budge.
Haru, on the other hand, didn't seem affected at all. With his boosted constitution, he barely felt the winter chill. Calm and composed, he cleaned up the table and headed into the kitchen to do the dishes.
By 8 p.m., Utaha suggested they watch a movie together. Yukino, who already knew about the plan, didn't object.
Haru, however, was growing increasingly suspicious.
Why are they getting along so well all of a sudden?Did they… make some kind of secret pact behind my back?
After thinking it over for a few seconds, he decided to test the waters.
"Are you two hiding something from me?"
Yukino, of course, didn't answer.
Utaha just smiled sweetly and said, "Don't ask. If you do, the answer's yes."
Haru blinked. "...Huh?"
He genuinely hadn't expected such a shameless response from her.
But her reply only confirmed his hunch—they're definitely hiding something.
"You're seriously not going to tell me?" he asked.
He wasn't really seeking an answer. This was a prelude—a tactical declaration of war.
"I told you, don't ask. We're not going to say anything anyway." Utaha remained calm, but the faint flush in her cheeks gave her away.
Yukino, too, had a soft pink tinge to her fair cheeks under the warm lighting.
"Alright," Haru said, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Then let's drop it. Since it's just the three of us watching the movie… come a little closer."
Neither girl thought too much of it and scooted over, taking their spots on either side of him.
The movie began.
And suddenly, Haru extended both arms in front of them.
"What are you doing?" Utaha asked suspiciously.
Yukino, more familiar with his antics, stared at him expressionlessly. "Don't start anything weird while the movie's playing."
"I'm serious," Haru said with a straight face. "Do you know what joint locks are? I've been practicing some new ones lately. Want me to show you?"
"You mean like martial arts grappling?" Yukino asked warily.
Utaha, on the other hand, was intrigued and offered her hand. "Okay, how?"
Haru turned to Yukino. She sighed in resignation and offered her hand as well.
"Alright," he said. "Both of you, hold my hands and lean forward a little."
The two girls did as instructed.
The next second, Haru moved.
With blinding speed, his hands slipped under their thighs, bracing his elbows at his sides. In a swift and fluid motion, he lifted both girls and placed them directly onto his lap.
"I knew it!"
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Two lovely faces instantly bloomed red, a rosy blush spreading across their cheeks like ripples on a still pond.
It was only then that they realized why he had asked them to reach forward first—so they wouldn't be able to resist in time. Once he acted, they were both still holding onto him. There was no chance to stop him.
Now, with both girls perched in his lap, he grinned and declared, "Well then, I've got the upper hand now."
"Upper hand?" Utaha blinked, still processing.
Yukino clenched her teeth, furious. "He means… unless we tell him the truth, this guy's going to hold onto us like this all night."
If it had just been the two of them, Yukino wouldn't have minded being this close to him.
But now—now he was holding her and a very busty senpai at the same time!
She turned, ready to give Utaha a signal to resist together—only to see the older girl smiling, her cheeks flushed but her voice sweet and clear.
"I don't mind."
Yukino froze.
"…What?"