Chapter 28: Sister's Resolve

Sister’s Resolve

“By the way, what did you want to talk about, Mizuki-san?”

Yuna-chan’s expression shifted rapidly.

However, there was madness in every change.

She was smiling on the surface, but her eyes were completely devoid of laughter.

I had intended to tell her to stop clinging to Yuki, but in her current mental state, that would likely backfire.

I decided to bring up something different from my original intention.

“You know about that news, don’t you? About Kashiwagi, the one who was supposed to be your boyfriend, and the young lady from the Tendouji family.”

“Yes, the police even came to see me. He visited my house right before he died. I told them, just as I’ll tell you, that I never dated him—I rejected him outright.”

I wasn’t surprised that the police questioned her in a case of unnatural death. However, I hadn’t expected Yuna-chan to have rejected Kashiwagi; I assumed she would have agreed to date him.

“Just Kashiwagi? You never met Tendouji Yukari?”

“I’ve never met Yukari-chan in person.”

“I see. Aren’t you angry at her?”

Yuna-chan must have some thoughts about both Kashiwagi and Tendouji Yukari.

“Huh? Why should I be angry at Yukari-chan?”

“Because you were used. You must have realized it. And more importantly, she took the person you chose over Yuki—shouldn’t that make you mad?”

“I never abandoned Yuki. That was just a foolish moment of weakness. Besides, Yukari-chan has liked Senpai for a long time. Thinking about it that way, I was just an intruder. I feel like killing my past self for even considering dating him on a whim.”

Seeing how firmly she stated that, it seemed she no longer had any feelings for Kashiwagi.

“But it’s true that you were used. In a way, that’s what triggered the end of your relationship with Yuki.”

“Oh, that’s true. But even without that incident, I would have made the same mistake sooner or later. In a way, I’m even grateful for becoming the person I am now.”

“…I see.”

I had tried to provoke her into resenting Tendouji Yukari, but it was pointless.

Yuna-chan had reached a twisted state of mind where no words could reach her.

Why couldn’t she channel that remorse into finding a new relationship instead of clinging to Yuki? That way, things could be settled more peacefully—it was frustrating.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

“One more thing. What will you do if the media finds out about you and Kashiwagi?”

“Kashiwagi-senpai was just a senior from my club. Before we even started dating, he ‘realized’ what true love was. The only ones who know about what happened between us are Yuki and Mizuki-san. You understand what that means, right?”

Yuna-chan laughed softly, amusement flickering in her voice.

“I have no intention of getting involved in trouble either.”

Even so, having Yuna-chan around Yuki was dangerous. I hoped this was just a temporary emotional high, but looking into her eyes, I couldn’t be certain.

“Good. Then for now, it seems I don’t have to be at odds with you, Mizuki-san.”

Yuna-chan said that with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

As I met her gaze, a thought crossed my mind.

If I wanted to remove Yuna-chan now, the only way would be by force. I needed to go home and think about what to do next.

“Phew. Talking any further today won’t be productive.”

“Really? I don’t mind chatting more. How about your love life, Mizuki-san? Is there anyone you’re interested in besides Yuki?”

“…Who knows?”

She knew full well that I had no such person, yet she asked anyway.

“Oh, come on, don’t be like that. A beauty like you must have tons of guys hitting on you at university, right?”

It was true that men approached me, but most were overconfident self-proclaimed playboys. The ones who knew me from high school were too intimidated by my reputation to even try flirting.

I didn’t know her intentions behind this conversation, but it was clear she was probing for information. In that sense, she was different from Tendouji Yukari, which was somewhat reassuring.

“You should also find a new boyfriend instead of clinging to Yuki. That would be much healthier.”

“I told you, I can’t be touched by anyone but Yuki. Guys our age only think about s🬀x when they date someone. It would never work.”

Yuna-chan spoke with genuine joy, despite it being a depressing topic.

“Not all guys are like that.”

“Oh, but they are. In the end, humans are just animals, and romance always leads to s🬀x. If they know they won’t get that, they’ll just go after girls who will give it to them.”

It was a blunt opinion, but seeing the men around me, I couldn’t say she was entirely wrong.

Ultimately, though, it depends on individual character. Some people, regardless of gender, are ruled by desire, while others remain rational.

“That’s an extreme take. But if that’s the case, doesn’t the same apply to Yuki?”

“Exactly. That’s why I thought about introducing Yuki to a girlfriend who would sleep with him. Fulfilling basic desires is enough.”

“Huh? You’re planning to get Yuki a casual hookup?”

This conversation was going in an absurd direction.

“Not a hookup—an actual girlfriend. Though, they’ll probably break up eventually.”

“And you’re okay with that? Letting someone else have the guy you love?”

“Why not? Yuki doesn’t belong to anyone. Besides, a girlfriend is just someone to satisfy s🬀🬀ual desires. That kind of relationship can’t compare to the pure love Mizuki-san and I have, untainted by lust.”

I didn’t want to be grouped together with her, but by now, I understood her thought process. She was completely rejecting her past self and manipulating Yuki’s nature to maintain a close yet distant relationship with him.

But no matter how much she claimed to love him, her actions were nothing but stalking.

And since she only interfered with him at school, neither the school nor the police would take serious action, which made things even trickier.

So I wondered—was there any part of the old Yuna-chan left? If so, I might be able to reach her.

“Just one last thing.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“You want Yuki to be happy, right?”

“Of course!”

“Then, did you ever consider that he might be happier without you around?”

I asked, as if questioning myself.

“…Of course I did. But to Yuki, my presence makes no difference.”

“Then, can’t you just leave him alone?”

“That’s exactly why! If something bad happened to Yuki without me knowing, I’d never forgive myself. I was taught never to entrust a loved one’s happiness to others.”

That was something I had come to realize through my dealings with Yuna-chan. And that was precisely why I could no longer believe that she could bring happiness to Yuki.

If that was the case, then I, too, had to make up my mind—I had to confront Yuna-chan.

If I allowed myself to hold onto any lingering sisterly affection, she would undoubtedly exploit that weakness.