My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong, As Expected

As key members of a rising elite family, Madam Yukinoshita and her eldest daughter were always attending one banquet or another.

Yukino had studied abroad before, but whenever she returned home for the holidays, she still had to serve the family.

She might not have received much care or affection from her parents, but she had to admit that being born into the Yukinoshita Family had given her such a privileged life from childhood onward.

More puzzling to Yukino was the fact that her mother hadn't gotten angry with her at all from yesterday through today.

It was so strange!

After going through something like her daughter turning into Blonde Yukino, her mother had still managed to treat her with something close to kindness... Had that terrifying mother somehow evolved over the past year?

That evening, Madam Yukinoshita didn't even spend the night at home. Around ten, the impeccably dressed lady put on her high heels, pinned up her hair, and prepared to board a plane to Tokyo.

The Yukinoshita Family had passed down from the previous generation into Madam Yukinoshita's hands. Back then, the family hadn't reached its current scale, and she had been nothing more than a young lady without much authority. The head of the family was young, the future uncertain, and plenty of people below her were looking to run off with the money.

It was the young Miss Yukinoshita who had stepped forward to take charge and stabilize the situation. Then she had brought Mr. Yukinoshita into the family as her husband, and together, the two workaholics had led the Yukinoshita Family to new heights.

Madam Yukinoshita always treated work like a battlefield, never letting up for a moment. Often, in a daze, Yukino felt that her mother was like an older version of Haruno.

They were both so confident and capable, practically perfect superheroes.

This woman measured her time in seconds, yet yesterday she had unexpectedly wasted half the day at home. Yukino didn't dare flatter herself by thinking it had been for her sake.

Before leaving, Madam Yukinoshita showed her second daughter a rare hint of affection and ruffled Yukino's hair.

"Listen to your sister at tomorrow's banquet."

She thought for a moment, then added, "If anything happens, call Mom. No matter what happens, there'll always be an adult from the Yukinoshita Family backing you up."

She might not have been the most attentive mother, but she wasn't all that bad, either.

It was Saturday again, one week later.

That day, Yukino changed into her formal dress with practiced ease and got into the car with her sister, Haruno.

Yukino set her clutch aside and asked casually, "What's Mom going to Tokyo for this time?"

Haruno took out her compact mirror and gave her makeup one last check. "There's a Charity Gala in Tokyo tomorrow. Mom's going to pave the way for the company's expansion there."

Yukino clicked her tongue.

"Those hypocritical old women again..."

The Tokyo charity-and-socialite scene—well, people who knew, knew. There was no point explaining it to those who didn't. The interests involved ran too deep; all you could say was that there was a lot going on beneath the surface and plenty of powerful people were involved. Most of the detailed information had already been scrubbed from the internet, so if you knew, you knew, and if you didn't, there was nothing to be done.

All right, enough of that.

It was just a gathering of a bunch of older women showing off their wealth to avoid taxes, bragging about young men—and even boasting about the beauty of the girls they each had around them.

Haruno laughed. "Hey, hey, you're insulting Mom, too, you know~"

Yukino replied without missing a beat, "Mom's the exception."

Haruno laughed. "Oh, Yukino, what a double standard~"

It wasn't really a double standard. Madam Yukinoshita had only ever cared about making money. Her lifelong ambition was to push the Yukinoshita Family into the ranks of Japan's Top Tier of Wealthy Families, and she genuinely had no time for any of that nonsense.

Though the charity-and-socialite scene was a nest of filth, Madam Yukinoshita always managed to use its influence to achieve her goals.

It had been over four months since Yukino had seen Haruno. They'd gone through all kinds of unimaginable and absurd events, yet she could still talk to her sister so freely, without any awkwardness. That alone should have made her happy.

But for some reason, Yukino felt there was something subtly off about Haruno now.

She really didn't want to admit it, but if anyone in the world understood Haruno best, it had to be Yukino.

At the same time, Haruno sensed something off about Yukino, too.

Although they had the same face and body, Blonde Yukino and black-haired Yukino were two completely different people. When Yukino had changed, even their parents had assumed she was simply going through a long-overdue rebellious phase.

But Haruno had sensed that her little sister might have been replaced by someone else inside.

Blonde Yukino was like some kind of snarling little beast. Beneath her domineering exterior lay too many emotions on the verge of shattering. It was as if she was always afraid of something, as if something were driving her onward into the darkness.

Her sister Yukino, on the other hand, was a sensitive and proud little princess, a ridiculous yet stubborn champion of justice. She might have seemed confused and fragile, but when the moment came, she had her own boundaries and convictions.

No matter how awful the things driving her might be, she could still find her own path out of the darkness.

Just as Yukino understood Haruno, Haruno understood Yukino.

They had once been Close Sisters, growing up together from childhood. They knew each other far too well.

That "Yukinoshita" shouldn't have been like this.

At that moment, Yukino's every movement, every word, even the way she sat silently, reminded Haruno more of the younger sister she remembered than that other "Yukinoshita" ever had.

Yukino had been in poor health as a child. Like a certain famous little sister, she had often been in the hospital, and she hadn't been brought home until she was two or three.

By then, the Yukinoshita couple were already very busy. Apart from the maids, only little Haruno was at home.

When little Haruno came home from her first year of elementary school, she saw an adorable little bundle hiding behind the sofa, refusing to come out.

"Wow, are you my little sister~?"

"You're so cute—one million times cuter than Fran!"

Fran was Haruno's dog.

Little Yukino didn't speak or cry. She just hid behind the sofa and wouldn't come out.

Even at that age, she was stubborn. Once she got stuck on an idea, she wouldn't listen to anyone.

Little Haruno was already cheerful and strong-willed. She pattered back to her room and piled all her toys, snacks, and drinks in front of little Yukino.

"You can have all of it!"

Little Yukino still didn't say a word.

Little Haruno pushed Fran toward Yukino, too. She hesitated for a moment, then declared firmly, "You can have Fran, too!"

Little Yukino immediately burst into tears at the sight of the dog and crawled out from behind the sofa, trembling.

As if she'd succeeded, little Haruno wrapped her arms around Yukino.

"Got you!"

"What do you want? Mom and Dad? My whole box of dolls? Pretty clothes?"

"Or your big sister's love?"

Her lips, scented with a Milky Fragrance, pressed a kiss onto little Yukino's cheek.

Little Yukino cried even harder.

Perhaps it was only natural for sisters. Both of them fell into the same memories and then came back to the present at the same time. When they came to, they both gave a quiet cough in unison.

They exchanged strange looks. Haruno was still smiling, but Yukino gave a cold snort and turned away.

The two Yukinoshita sisters might not get along now, but there had been a time when they were close. All through Yukino's kindergarten years, Haruno had picked her up after school. Back then, Yukino followed Haruno everywhere.

Even Mr. Yukinoshita, who rarely came home, would often tease the inseparable sisters with a smile. "Yukino, are you Haruno's little shadow?"

[No, I'm not!]

Little Yukino would puff out her cheeks in indignation, yet still hide behind her sister and wrap her arms around her waist.

"Eldest Miss, Second Miss, we've arrived."

The two Yukinoshita sisters stepped out of the car with effortless grace.

From the entrance to the corridor, from the lounge to the spacious Banquet Hall on the second floor, they were greeted warmly at every turn.

"Well, look at that, Miss Haruno's here, too~"

"Good evening, Miss Haruno!"

"Is this your younger sister? She's gorgeous, and she looks just like you~"

Glasses clinked, and the room glittered with luxury.

Haruno was completely at ease in a setting like this. She was a natural-born creature of the banquet hall; the more eyes fixed on her, the more Like a Fish in Water she became.

"Good evening, Miss Yagyu. That necklace suits you perfectly today. It's absolutely stunning."

"Yes, this is the second daughter of the Yukinoshita Family, Yukino. Please look after her."

Miss Yagyu bumped Haruno's shoulder. "Give it a rest. You don't have to put on that act with us."

Another young lady, Miss Hananomiya, grinned. "She's just the Yukino who stole Miss Shijo's boyfriend, right? We're not going to be scared of her."

Haruno's smile grew warmer. "I was just worried you'd be too scared."

Miss Yagyu swirled the Red Wine in her glass. "The Shijo Family's main business is overseas. Even if the Yagyu Family went up against them, we wouldn't lose."

Miss Suzuki clicked her tongue. "The Shijo Family broke away from the Shinomiya Family, and most of their business is stuck overseas. They're already fighting the Shinomiya Zaibatsu tooth and nail. How would they have time to deal with anything else? Anyone making trouble for Haruno to Seek Credit is unbelievably stupid."

Miss Hananomiya smiled. "I heard those 'flies' have been causing you a lot of trouble, Haruno. Want me to help~?"

Haruno waved her off. "No, no. I've spent over a month pretending to run into obstacles everywhere and be completely helpless. It took me long enough to lure them into my trap."

Yukino immediately turned to look at Haruno.

Well, damn. Even she'd been fooled.

She really had thought Haruno was having a hard time of it!

Miss Yagyu laughed and clinked glasses with Haruno.

"Haruno, you're such a nasty piece of work."

Miss Hananomiya put on an exaggerated sigh. "So what were those 'flies' thinking? Picking a fight with a woman as wicked and underhanded as Haruno?"

"Could you two leave me some dignity in front of Yukino? Are you even my friends?"

Yukino wasn't used to this kind of setting, but she handled herself well enough. She was a daughter of the Yukinoshita Family, after all; this was a basic skill.

She wasn't overly warm or cold, just playing the part of a quiet younger sister who didn't cause trouble.

Earlier, when this group of women had heard the name Yukino Yukinoshita, their smiles had looked a little strange.

Now that the atmosphere had warmed up, Miss Yagyu gave her a long look. "You look a lot like Haruno, but somehow you're very different from her, too, little miss."

Miss Hananomiya leaned right over. "Little miss, the one who's dated half of Japan—would you like to try an older woman~?"

Miss Suzuki joined in the teasing. "Older women are much more fun than childish boys. Want to give it a try, little miss~?"

Yukino: "..."

Haruno ground her teeth. "I say, when did you two change your tastes?"

Miss Hananomiya grinned. "What can I say? Little miss is just too cute. I noticed her the moment she walked in."

She wasn't exaggerating.

People came and went throughout the banquet. With all the expensive Cosmetics and custom-made clothes, not to mention the glow of wealthy families and self-confidence, it was hard to find anyone who didn't look good.

But when Yukino Yukinoshita walked in, it was as if real light had entered that bizarre, glittering banquet hall.

The second daughter of the Yukinoshita Family didn't need much makeup to look beautiful. Every feature and every inch of her skin was lovely. With skin like White Porcelain and her quiet expression, she looked like an expensive, beautiful doll sealed behind glass.

But beyond her beauty, a melancholy Sense of Alienation seemed to surround her, making her seem like a clear, transparent, yet sharp crystal.

Precious, yet fragile.

Honestly, that sort of presence stirred up an incredible amount of Maternal Love.

Just as Yukino began to feel that she couldn't handle all these enthusiastic big sisters, the noise outside the Banquet Hall suddenly swelled.

She looked up and saw a beautiful young woman with shoulder-length light brown hair swept loosely over her shoulders. She walked in with a smile, surrounded by a crowd of people who greeted her warmly and respectfully, one after another.

"Miss Shijo."

The confident, poised, beautiful face, with all the bearing of a great family, slowly overlapped with the image of the twin-tailed girl Yukinoshita had seen on the list of victims, complete with pictures.

Maki Shijo.

One of the victims Blonde Yukino had cheated on.

Miss Shijo noticed the conspicuous group around Haruno Yukinoshita. She smiled, picked up a glass of juice from a nearby server, and raised it toward them from across the room.

Haruno Yukinoshita likewise lifted her glass of Red Wine and smiled as she toasted Miss Shijo.

The two seemed to be getting along quite well, disappointing the many people hoping for a scene.

"Miss Shijo probably hasn't even recognized you."