Phew... Yukino felt flustered and tried to ease her anxiety with deep breaths.
She had never felt the wait for someone to answer the phone drag on so long. Just as the girl let out a sigh of relief, thinking her sister would not pick up, Haruno's delighted voice came through the receiver.
"Oh my~ Little Yukino, calling me so early in the morning. Could it be that you have a favor to ask of your big sister?" Haruno said, while secretly thinking that as long as Yukino's request was not too excessive, she would do her best to fulfill it.
...However, Yukino made no sound at all, and Haruno grew puzzled. Then, as if she had suddenly thought of something, she spoke.
"Hachiman-kun, what are you doing calling me with Little Yukino's phone so early in the morning? You got me all excited for nothing."
Haruno spoke resentfully.
"Not going to say anything? Then I'll hang up."
Haruno was growing impatient and had just been about to hang up when Yukino was forced to speak.
"Big sister, it's me."
The girl's voice was still cool and clear, but a faint blush colored her face.
"Huh? Could you say that again?" Haruno thought she was dreaming. It was incredibly rare for her little sister's first words to be calling her "Big sister."
"Big... big sister."
Yukino paused, then obediently stammered it out.
"I didn't hear you clearly. Say it again~" Haruno shamelessly insisted.
"If you keep this up, I'll hang up."
Yukino puffed out her cheeks and spoke angrily.
"Alright, alright~ What does Little Yukino want with her big sister so early in the morning?"
"It's nothing. There are just some things I want to tell you."
Yukino glanced at the bewildered Shizuka Hiratsuka, then suddenly felt someone take her