Bathed in Orange Sunlight

"... Hmm?"

Yukino frowned, recalling the discussion she had seen in the group chat last week.

"I see. So, the time Inoue -kun and Mai- san went out together last week was after you finished practicing, right?"

Yukino understood why they had suddenly gone shopping together.

"Huh? How did Xiaoxue know that?"

"Inoue- kun has a group chat on LINE, that's what they said."

At that time, Yukino was surprised that Motoko had gone along as well.

"Oh... that."

Yuigahama also remembered that group; she hadn't been invited to join.

First, she would expose the practice if she joined the group; second, Shuya felt that everyone wasn't that familiar with each other yet.

"But... Inoue- kun actually took the time to help you, hmm, he really does have a lot of nerve, that pervert."

Yukino a disgruntled snort.

"Why did Xiaoxue say Shu-chan is a pervert? I think he's a very good person."

That's because you're not familiar with him.

Yukino said, "He used to be alright, but now he's getting more and more rotten. Ever since... um, it's nothing."

"... Um."

Yuigahama understood the atmosphere and didn't ask any further questions.

Yukino sighed softly and stood up. "Let's go, Yuigahama."

"Huh? Where are we going?"

"You're going to Inoue- kun's house to deliver something, aren't you? Let's go together."

Is Xiaoxue going too?

Yukino paused for a moment, then said, "It's something, really."

With her intelligence, it wouldn't be hard for her to guess that Shuya and the others would come to help, largely for their own benefit.

Although she never asked them to do so, she didn't consider it meddling either.

Therefore, expressing gratitude is the most basic etiquette.

Unbeknownst to her, the anger that Yukino had been stirred up by Haruno had subsided.

Shuya hadn't calculated it that way, so it was an unintentional joy.

He wasn't afraid of Yukino, but it was good that she could calm down.

After leaving the school together, Yukino and Yuigahama headed in one direction without hesitation.

When they were still a short distance apart, Yuigahama suddenly asked, "By the way, what if Shu-chan isn't home?"

"I remember he hasn't had much work lately, has he?"

Yukino hesitated for a moment. "That's true... Who knows, he might suddenly go to Akihabara or meet another girl. I'll ask him. Besides, it wouldn't be polite to suddenly show up at his door."

She and Ayase had the same idea.

After saying that, she sent a message on Line:

Are you home?

At this moment, Shuya was playing with eroge in his room, looked at Yukino's message and fell silent.

"... What kind of evil spirit has possessed her? Why is she coming to me in this state? Is she trying to mess with me?!"

Shuya cleverly slapped his thigh.

He's become paranoid lately.

He simply replied, "I'm not here."

Then he changed into his outdoor clothes, grabbed his wallet, and rushed out the door, intending to seek refuge.

Who would have thought?

"Didn't you say you weren't here?"

Outside the main gate, by the fence, Yukino looked cold.

"..."

Shuya stared blankly at them for a moment, then slowly closed the door.

Why are you closing the door?!

Yuigahama complained.

"Tsk, it really wasn't an illusion."

Shuya's face darkened. "I never expected you to come knocking on my door, Yukino Yukinoshita!"

He pulled out the First Snow with his right hand, getting into a fighting stance. "Come on, I won't let you do this to me without resistance!"

"Wait, a knife... a knife?!"

Yuigahama felt her legs go weak.

Yukino looked at Shuya, and said, "Have you gone crazy lately? I didn't come here to argue with you."

Are you kidding me? What kind of outrageous talk is that?

Shuya raised an eyebrow. "You didn't come here to cause me trouble?"

"If that were the case, I wouldn't have brought Yuigahama along."

"... That's true."

Shuya withdrew the First Snow: "Then come in."

A while later, in the living room.

Yukino and Yuigahama explained their purpose.

Yuigahama offered him cookies and thanked him.

She sensed the tension between Yukino and Shuya and wisely took the first step.

Only Shuya and Yukino were left alone at home.

Silence descended.

Yukino drank tea from her own cup, which had a cat pattern printed on it.

Shuya also drank his tea.

A long silence followed.

Yukino said leisurely, "What would you like to eat tonight? I'll cook for you."

"... Can you explain what this change in mindset is, Yukino- chan?"

Yukino shrugged. "Consider it a return gift. I don't want to owe you anything. So I'm just doing what you do, being a thoughtful junior, to thank you."

She laughed haughtily, "You should be grateful to me."

"Oh ho..."

Shuya finally understood why she had come.

Now he was completely relieved.

He keenly sensed that Yukino no longer cared about what Haruno had done, and his smile gradually became more unrestrained.

Yukino looked at him with a slight headache as he suddenly turned into a grin.

"Yukino- chan, really, you should have said that from the beginning. What an awkward child!"

"What should I do? I suddenly feel like punching someone..."

Yukino disliked the tunnel.

"Can I change it to stepping on it?"

Shuya blurted out some witty remarks.

But he sensed the temperature dropping around Yukino and that's when he calmed down a bit.

He stood up. "Then let's go on a date... no, let's go grocery shopping!"

"... Okay, fine."

Yukino reluctantly agreed.

"Okay! Let's start our trip with shopping at the mall!"

Are you sure this is grocery shopping?

"This is foreplay!"

"Sigh... you're really out of your mind."

Section 368, page 350: Enter at your own risk! This chapter contains sensitive and taboo topics!

To say that Shuya trying to pursue Yukino is not the case.

His main goal is to make the sharp-tongued Yukino submit; he'll feel a great sense of accomplishment that way.

Yukino saw through his playful attitude, which is why she never agreed to go out with him.

She didn't have the same perverse sense of humor or indulgence towards him as Haruno.

These two sisters represent two extremes.

This time Shuya seized the opportunity and finally succeeded in getting Yukino to go out with him.

Actually, this wasn't the first time she had gone out with Shuya, they just hadn't been going out as often lately.

However, in the past, people usually went out in groups, and it was quite rare for two people to go out alone.

Shuya told Yukino to go home first, put down her schoolbag, and change into casual clothes before they went out together.

He and Yukino went to the shopping mall they had visited with Yuigahama last time.

"There are so many people, and it's so noisy."

Yukino frowned, looking like she wanted to leave.

Shuya joked, "If there are a lot of people... should we hold hands so we don't get lost?"

"Are you a child? Don't worry, if you get lost, I'll definitely call for you over the loudspeaker."

Yukino snorted.

That's really interesting.

Shuya glanced at Yukino: "Any shops you'd like to visit?"

"Aren't you buying groceries?"

"Don't be in such a hurry, we'll get there."

Shuya and Yukino started wandering around aimlessly.

I walked past some handmade boutiques and fashion stores, and also ate some snacks.

As she walked, Yukino suddenly slowed her pace and turned her head to stare intently at a shop.

That's a pet store.

Shuya kindly asked, "Would you like to take a look?"

"No, no need."

"But don't you like cats?"

"No, I didn't."