She usually acted as though she were always ready to rush off to battle, with an obsessive perfectionism and intense seriousness, like a wind-up doll that would never tire.
Before leaving, she even smiled and gently flicked Yukino on the forehead.
"Our Yukino is still a little girl. Why would she need to worry about something as far off as an engagement?"
"Don't worry yourself sick over it. Big sister will take care of all this annoying stuff for you~"
Then she pushed Yukino back into the bedroom. "There are still more than two hours. Get some more sleep."
Yukino objected, "If I go back to sleep now, I won't be able to get up later!"
"I'll call you later. I love seeing Little Yukino all grumpy when she wakes up, but unable to hit me. Hehe."
Yukino lay back down on the bed where Haruno had slept the night before, still faintly warm from her. Haruno turned off the light and closed the door for her, then strode out once more, ready for battle, into her own glorious battlefield.
Sobu High School was as peaceful as ever today. Still, Yukino felt that Classmate Miura had seemed rather down lately.
She had always been the center of attention, like a proud little phoenix surrounded by a flock of birds, every feather radiating confidence.
But now Miura seemed more like a little chick that had lost its feathers, all droopy and listless.
"Miura, are you sick?"
Miura only looked ashamed, as though she couldn't face anyone. "...No."
She had previously proclaimed in her heart that she'd make sure nothing stood in the way of Yukino's confession, so she could confess smoothly [the important thing was that Yukino confessed first!
But she'd barely started before disaster struck, leaving her in tears