"Hah... huff... hello?"
"Hello, hello, it's your big sister here. Yukino-chan, tomorrow... why are you so out of breath?"
"I... huff... am exercising."
On the other end of the phone, Yukinoshita Haruno's eyes narrowed.
Why has my little sister suddenly started exercising?
She knew Yukino very well.
Compared to physical exercise, she would normally prefer to spend her time on literature.
"What is it?"
"We're having guests over for a banquet at home tomorrow. Mom asked me to see if you're coming."
"Guests... isn't it enough to have you there, sister?"
Yukinoshita Yukino slowed down the treadmill, walking at a slow pace as she replied.
"But I haven't seen you in so long, Yukino."
"Didn't we just see each other last week?"
"You said it yourself, that was last week."
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed upon hearing this, her gaze sweeping over to Mori Shinra, who was sitting on the sofa.
When Mori Shinra saw Yukinoshita look over, he immediately sat up straight, put the headphones he had just taken off back on, and put on an expression that said 'I didn't hear anything'.
"I have things to do this week, so I won't be going back."
If they were truly important guests, my sister definitely wouldn't be the one calling me.
So, if I'm not mistaken, it's just mother introducing her connections to my sister, so she can smoothly inherit the family business in the future.
In that case, what's the point of me going?
"Is that so..." Yukinoshita Haruno's voice trailed off. "Then open the door."
"!!!"
Yukinoshita Yukino was startled.
Her gaze snapped to the door, and then she looked back at Mori Shinra, who was sitting on the sofa eating fruit.
Taking a deep breath, Yukinoshita Yukino, holding onto a sliver of hope, walked to the entryway and looked through the peephole.
Her heart sank.
Her sister really was right outside her door!
"Hello... hello, hello, is Yukino there?"
Yukinoshita Haruno's voice came from both the doorway and the phone at the same time, giving Yukino a headache.
There was no choice.
The person was already at the door.
She couldn't possibly say she wasn't home, right?
As for how to explain Mori Shinra's presence... whatever, I'm too tired to care.
"Click."
The door opened.
Yukinoshita Haruno entered familiarly.
Just as she was about to change her shoes, she noticed an unfamiliar pair of shoes in the entryway.
Looking at the style... they were men's shoes.
Oh my~~~
A playful glint flashed in Yukinoshita Haruno's eyes.
Yukino, noticing her sister's gaze, cursed inwardly. This is bad.
Then, as expected, she heard Haruno say, "Are you having guests over?"
As she spoke, Haruno kept looking towards the living room, as if searching for something.
"It's Mori Shinra." Yukino stopped Haruno's pointless actions.
She didn't struggle, speaking calmly as if resigned to her fate.
"I thought so." Haruno knew her sister's social circle very well.
Speaking of friends, especially a male friend who could enter her home, there was probably no one else but Mori Shinra.
But...
Yukinoshita Haruno sized up her sister's current attire.
Her light pink sports t-shirt was clinging tightly to her body, soaked in sweat, faintly revealing the dark black sports bra underneath.
On her lower half, she wore matching sports leggings, outlining the slender, well-proportioned curves of her thighs.
On her feet was a new pair of running shoes, not dirty, looking as if they were specifically for running at home.
Besides her clothes, her sister's current state was also intriguing.
Her delicate face was damp with sweat, with even the hair at her forehead sticking to it.
Her cheeks were flushed an attractive crimson from the exercise.
Compared to her usual quiet demeanor, she now had more of the air of a sporty girl.
The charm added by the mix of these two temperaments was something even she, as her older sister, could feel.
"What are you staring at me for?" Yukino felt a bit creeped out by Haruno's stare and immediately turned and walked towards the living room.
Arriving in the living room, she saw Mori Shinra still pretending to wear headphones and look at his phone, and she couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
She didn't believe for a second that Mori Shinra hadn't heard her open the door.
"Stop looking at your phone. My sister is here," Yukinoshita Yukino said.
"Haruno-san?"
"Yahaloo~ Am I interrupting something?"
"Don't say weird things!" Yukinoshita Yukino glared at her sister, then explained, "I just asked him to help me with stamina training."
"Oh—— so it's Coach-kun~"
Yukinoshita Haruno very familiarly sat down next to Mori Shinra, shoulder to shoulder, and whispered, "Impressive."
How long has it been, and he's already in the living room?
And judging by Mori Shinra's relaxed appearance, he's probably a repeat offender who has been here quite a few times.
A few more days, and what will happen?
He'll probably be doing it in the bedroom.
I asked you to investigate what happened to Yukino in elementary school, but it looks like you're investigating Yukino elementary school, kid?
Sensing the vigilance and wariness emanating from Haruno, Mori Shinra looked at the flawless smile on her face.
Anyone else would have just thought she was very happy.
He thought to himself, 'the old saying that women are natural actresses is really true.'
"What does Haruno-san mean by that?" Mori Shinra asked, puzzled. "What do you mean, 'I've already got Yukino'?"
Haruno's expression changed, and she immediately made a 'you've been fingered' face.
Then she felt a cold gaze stabbing at her from behind.
Like needles on her back!
"Sister?" Yukinoshita Yukino looked coldly at her sister.
"J-just kidding~"
Haruno didn't try to explain that Mori Shinra had deliberately thrown mud on her, because she knew very well that Yukino wouldn't believe her.
Seeing her little sister would rather believe an outsider than her, Haruno felt her heart souring with jealousy, and her gaze towards Mori Shinra became increasingly unfriendly.
Just you wait, kid. Haruno conveyed this message to Mori Shinra with her eyes.
Mori Shinra, his face not red and his heart not pounding, picked up the black tea in front of him and took a sip, putting on an act of not understanding or hearing anything.
He said to Yukinoshita Yukino, "Should we call it a day for today's training? How many kilometers have you run?"
"The display shows about six kilometers," Yukino replied.
Running on a treadmill is actually quite different from running on a track.
Don't be fooled by the high number on the treadmill; for the same distance, running on a track consumes more stamina.
Therefore, the distance displayed on the treadmill needs to be discounted.
Usually, a 10% discount is about right.
So Yukinoshita Yukino's task for today was considered complete.
After all, stamina training can't be achieved overnight.
"Quite professional, aren't we," Haruno teased, now believing a little more of what Yukino said about him helping her train.
Mori Shinra waved his hand and said, "It's just normal training."
His main role was just to accompany her.
For stamina, as long as you train more and eat more, you can't go wrong.
If you really want to be particular, it's best to choose exercises that cause less harm to the body.
As for why they were running on a treadmill instead of outside, it was naturally because the treadmill has cushioning and is friendlier to the knees.
Of course, if one wasn't afraid of the trouble, swimming is actually the least harmful to the body.
Unfortunately, Mori Shinra suggested it, but Yukino not only disagreed but also guarded against him as if he were a thief.
She doesn't appreciate my good intentions!