"You're really smart, Yukino-chan." Akira said, teasingly.
"Hmph! You scoundrel. I'm going back! You go see her," Yukinoshita Yukino turned around.
"Whether to save her or not, that decision is up to you Yukino, I will listen to you."
"Listen to me?" Yukinoshita Yukino stopped and turned back to look at him.
"....Did your sister teach you that occasionally getting angry can make me nervous?" Akira asked with a faint smile.
"You're not nervous at all!" Yukinoshita replied unhappily, her tone carrying a rare hint of sulkiness.
Akira smiled and stepped closer, standing right in front of her.
"I like this side of you too, you know. In the future, you should express your emotions more openly, I won't be angry.."
"If I'm angry, will you change?" Yukinoshita Yukino looked straight at Akira, her gaze unwavering.
"...I'll do my best," Akira answered honestly. "Just like this time—I plan to listen to your opinion."
As he spoke, he gently took her hand.
"You already knew I would agree…" Yukinoshita lowered her head slightly.
"That just proves you're very gentle and kind, Yumino-chan."
"Even if you praise me like that, I won't be happy." She lifted her head, glanced at Akira, then deliberately turned her face away again.
Akira pulled her into his arms.
Yukinoshita Yukino stiffened for a moment, her cheeks flushing red as she instinctively looked around.
Fortunately, most students nearby were focused on eating their lunch boxes or chatting about the afternoon exam on the upper floors.
No one seemed to notice them.
"How about you show your fiancée's dignity and go meet the eldest daughter of the Nakiri family?" Akira asked casually.
"Mmm." Yukinoshita sighed softly. "Let go of me. Don't suddenly hug me like this at school. If someone sees us, it will affect your relationship with Yuigahama-san. I don't want others to think of me as a third party."
Akira released her and glanced around.
Even if someone had seen them, it wouldn't really matter. At worst, his reputation would take another hit.
And his reputation…
It had long since been considered hopeless.
Yuigahama Yui was widely regarded as his official girlfriend.
The relationship between Isshiki Iroha and him was no longer a secret among the first-year students.
As for his relationship with Yukinoshita Yukino, it had actually been known for a long time, but no one dared to discuss it openly in front of either of them.
There was also Nishimiya Shouko.
Needless to say, even if it was a task assigned by Hiratsuka-sensei, he still had to shoulder the blame.
That was why Akira didn't care.
But....If anyone dared to say such things to Yukinoshita Yukino, Akira would not mind testing out how much stronger he had become.
Unfortunately, there were no such idiots in reality — Akira really wanted to follow that cliche plot and bitch slap someone in the face, but no one stood up.
Akira and Yukinoshita Yukino left the school building together and headed outside.
At a corner near the entrance, two figures quietly emerged.
Hikigaya Hachiman and Totsuka Saika stepped out from behind a pillar.
They subconsciously hid themselves, but unexpectedly witnessed Akira hugging Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Fujimiya-kun and Yukinoshita-san really are close," Totsuka whispered softly.
"I need to keep Komachi away from that guy," Hikigaya muttered, staring at Akira's retreating back with complicated eyes.
.....
The coffee shop was quiet,
Akira pushed open the door, the small bell above it chiming lightly.
Yukinoshita Yukino's gaze immediately fell on the girl seated by the window.
Nakiri Erina sat upright, her posture elegant, a cup of coffee untouched in front of her.
Yukinoshita walked over calmly and sat down opposite her.
Akira took the seat beside Yukinoshita.
"Long time no see, Nakiri-san," Yukinoshita said politely.
"Long time no see, Yukinoshita." Nakiri Erina looked at her with a complicated expression.
Although both of them were young ladies, their positions were fundamentally different.
Nakiri Erina was the future head of the Nakiri family.
Yukinoshita Yukino, on the other hand, was merely the second daughter of the Yukinoshita household.
Logically speaking, Yukinoshita Yukino should not be on equal footing with Nakiri Erina.
Yet, from the very beginning, the two of them had never interacted based on status.
In cooking, Nakiri Erina undoubtedly held an overwhelming advantage.
But in other areas…
Nakiri Erina recalled their childhood competitions.
In athletic events, she had been completely inferior to Yukinoshita Yukino.
After undergoing rigorous training, she had finally gained an edge in physical strength.
But Yukinoshita Yukino had changed the battlefield.
Chess.
From that point on, Nakiri Erina had been crushed again.
Whether it was Western chess or shogi, she had never once defeated Yukinoshita Yukino.
As they grew older, Nakiri Erina devoted herself fully to cooking, gradually setting aside those meaningless competitions.
By the time they met again, both of them had matured.
There was no longer a desire to compete.
Yukinoshita Yukino had become the aloof cold princess of Sobu High.
While—
Nakiri Erina had risen to become one of the Totsuki Ten Masters.
"The last time we met should have been at your birthday party," Yukinoshita said with a trace of nostalgia.
"That day's you and the you now are very different" Nakiri Erina's gaze shifted to Akira.
"If I hadn't met him, the Yukinoshita Yukino you knew would still be the same as before." Yukinoshita smiled faintly and held Akira's hand.
"When are you planning to get married?" Nakiri Erina asked and lowered her gaze to the coffee in front of her.
"That depends on when he wants to," Yukinoshita replied softly. "I'll listen to him."
"Yukino, I…" Nakiri Erina hesitated, then raised her head. "I want to ask you a favor."
Yukinoshita's smile faded.
She lowered her eyes to the coffee cup.
"We're not children anymore," she said calmly. "If you want to make use of Akira-kun, I can agree—but I have one condition."
"What condition?" Nakiri Erina asked immediately.
"Akira-kun and I have an agreement. After three years of marriage, we will divorce. He will then marry my close friend and spend three happy years with her." Yukinoshita spoke slowly, clearly.
"I want you to marry Akira-kun after that."
"…What did you say?" Nakiri Erina froze, unable to process her words.
"My condition is that you also become Akira-kun's fiancée," Yukinoshita continued evenly. "Live together, and let him inherit part of the Nakiri family."
"Yukino, do you understand what you're saying?" Nakiri Erina's face was filled with disbelief.
For a moment, she even suspected that Akira had used some unknown method to influence Yukinoshita Yukino.
"I know exactly what I'm saying," Yukinoshita said seriously. "Akira-kun is a very bad man. Once you get involved with him, don't think about leaving easily."
"Yukino really understands me." Akira picked up his coffee and took a sip.
Nakiri Erina stared at the two of them in a daze.
Akira finished his coffee in one sipped, then looked at Nakiri Erina with a relaxed smile.
"As Yukino-chan said, I'm terrible—but I do have principles. If you reject me, then at most there will only be cooperation between the Nakiri and Yukinoshita families. I won't do anything to you, and don't expect me to help cure the side effects of the God Tongue."
"So I don't have a choice at all…" Nakiri Erina clenched her fists and glared at Akira.
"That's your problem, not mine," Akira replied calmly. "The price I pay to help you is reducing the time I spend with them. Time is precious—to me, and to you."
With that, he stood up.
"I can pay—"
"Then use the Nakiri family in exchange for completely curing the side effects of the God Tongue," Akira interrupted. If not for her knowing about the System he would have cure it just for the shares... But what she knows is one of his most hidden secrets, he can't and wouldn't let her leave after knowing this!
"You—" Nakiri Erina gritted her teeth. That was a condition she could never agree to.
Seeing her anger, Akira said nothing more and turned to leave.
Yukinoshita Yukino glanced at Akira's departing figure, then stood up as well.
"Think about it carefully."
.....
The afternoon exam began.
Akira was as usual the first to finish and leave the classroom.
....
Later—
Just as Yuigahama Yui had planned, she and Miura Yumiko prepared gifts.
Ebina Hina didn't say much and happily accepted the presents from her two friends.
After a brief celebration, the three of them parted ways.
On the train ride home, Ebina Hina kept glancing at her phone.
The screen remained on Akira Fujimiya's contact information.
In the end, she still didn't make the call. She was disappointed, even sad that he didn't wish her Happy Birthday... But as she had said she was just a bystanders.
When the train arrived, Ebina Hina stepped off.
She walked all the way home.
Her home wasn't a detached house, but an old apartment building.
A pair of women's shoes lay at the entrance.
As Ebina Hina changed her shoes, a woman came out from one of the rooms.
"I bought a cake, Hina," the woman said gently.
"Mm. Let's eat it later." Ebina Hina's voice was soft.
"..Did your friends give you gifts?" The woman noticed that Ebina's school bag looked a bit full.
"Yui gave me new glasses, and Yumiko gave me some cosmetics," Ebina replied.
"Didn't you invite them over?" The woman's expression grew complicated.
"We just finished exams today. Everyone's tired. We already celebrated together." Ebina shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Hina… it's all my fault." The woman lowered her head.
"Mom, I don't blame you," Ebina said with a bright smile. "Don't keep blaming yourself. I'll work hard, earn money, and let us move to a better place."
The woman looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with guilt—and relief.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,678