Haruno Yukinoshita practically ran the entire way home.
When she threw open the front door, it struck the shoe cabinet in the entryway and sent it wobbling. A small potted plant on top nearly fell to the floor.
She didn't bother steadying it. She kicked off her high heels and rushed barefoot across the cold floor toward the living room.
Yukino Yukinoshita was sitting on the sofa, reading.
She wore a white lounge dress, her long hair cascading over her shoulders. A thick literary classic rested in her hands, and her expression was calm and focused.
Moonlight spilled through the window, bathing her in a silvery glow. She looked like the subject of a serene painting.
"Yukino! Come with me!"
Haruno grabbed her younger sister's hand and tried to pull her toward the door.
Yukino stumbled, and the book slipped from her grasp, landing on the floor with a thud.
Her brows instantly drew together. Twisting her wrist, she yanked herself free from Haruno's grip.
"Haruno, what are you doing?"
Her voice was cool and restrained, a trace of displeasure flashing across her face.
"Genichi agreed to grant you power too!"
Haruno's voice brimmed with excitement, her eyes gleaming like a pair of black gemstones.
"Hurry, come with me before he changes his mind."
Yukino's frown deepened.
She knew perfectly well that receiving power from Hanyu Genichi meant entrusting her life to him.
Once that happened, whether she lived or died would depend entirely on his will.
That man, the one who had mocked her for being flat-chested. The man who seemed indifferent to everything. The "problem student" she had judged him to be.
She was supposed to entrust her life to someone like him?
"I refuse."
Yukino's voice was calm and resolute, without the slightest hesitation.
Haruno's smile froze.
"Why?"
"I won't place my life in the hands of someone so selfish."
Yukino spoke softly, yet every word landed with unmistakable conviction.
She raised her head and looked at her sister. Something flickered in her eyes. Pride, stubbornness, or perhaps a self-righteous sense of justice.
In Yukino's eyes, Genichi was selfish.
He possessed tremendous power, yet cared only about his own desires.
He could help others, but chose to stand by and do nothing.
He clearly had the ability to change countless things, yet remained indifferent to all of them.
He had power, but refused to use it to help those in need.
No matter how powerful such a person became, he would remain nothing more than a slave to that power.
"He isn't selfish."
Haruno lowered her voice, sounding faintly helpless.
"He's just..."
"Just what?"
Yukino interrupted her.
"He simply doesn't want to help anyone? He's simply indifferent to everything? He simply watches people in need and refuses to lift a finger?"
Haruno fell silent.
She didn't know how to explain it to her sister.
How could she explain everything Genichi had experienced? How could she explain why he was so indifferent to the world, or why he refused to share his power with others?
Even if she told her, Yukino wouldn't understand. She would simply use her own self-righteous standards of justice to pass judgment on a man she knew nothing about.
Haruno stared at her sister's stubborn face as a complicated emotion welled up inside her.
She remembered what Genichi had asked her.
"Can you guarantee that Yukino won't become a weapon in someone else's hands?"
Haruno hadn't been certain then.
Now she was.
Someone with Yukino's personality was far too easy to manipulate.
She believed she was right. She believed her judgment could never be mistaken. She believed that simply clinging to justice would allow her to change the world.
She had no idea how complicated or dark the world truly was.
"It seems I protected you too well."
Haruno's voice was soft, with a trace of bitterness.
"So well that you've forgotten your place."
Yukino stared at her, waiting for her to continue.
"Genichi's power belongs to him. It has nothing to do with anyone else. It's no different from our family's wealth. Just because we have money, are we obligated to give it all to ordinary people?"
Yukino's expression stiffened.
"That's different..."
"How is it different?"
Haruno raised her voice.
"Money is power, and supernatural strength is power too. We're wealthy, but we have no obligation to give our money to other people. Genichi is powerful, but he has no obligation to share that power with anyone either. You call him selfish, but what about you? The Yukinoshita family has so much money. How much of it have you personally given to the poor?"
Yukino opened her mouth to argue, only to discover that no words would come.
Her face reddened slightly, and her fingers tightened around the hem of her dress.
Haruno looked at her and sighed inwardly.
She suddenly realized that protecting Yukino all these years might have been a mistake.
She had always believed her sister was still young. She had always believed Yukino merely needed time to mature, and that she would understand once she grew older.
But now Haruno understood.
All that protection had only made Yukino more naive, more stubborn, and more self-righteous.
"Yukino."
Haruno's voice became calm again.
"You only have this one chance. If you don't want to accept it, I won't force you."
Yukino raised her head and looked at her sister.
A trace of uncertainty appeared in her eyes, but her stubbornness remained far stronger.
"I'm not threatening you," Haruno continued quietly. "I just want you to understand that some opportunities never return once you let them pass. Genichi isn't the kind of person who will wait forever. If you reject him, he'll cross your name off his list and never bring it up again."
Yukino remained silent for a long time.
She lowered her gaze to the book lying on the floor. Its pages had fallen open, revealing rows of densely packed text.
She remembered the first time she had met Genichi. He had stood at the entrance to the Service Club, examining her with that scrutinizing gaze before saying something that had made her tremble with rage.
She remembered him sitting at the Yukinoshita family's dining table, chatting and laughing with her mother and sister with complete composure.
She remembered the casual way he had acted when he left, as though none of it had anything to do with him.
"Haruno."
At last, Yukino spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Do you trust him?"
Haruno looked at her, countless complicated emotions filling her eyes.
"I do."
"Even when he holds your life and death in his hands?"
"Even then."
Yukino was silent for a long time.
Then she shook her head.
"I still can't accept it."
Haruno looked at her as deep disappointment welled up inside her.
It wasn't because Yukino had refused. It was because of her reasons.
She hadn't refused for the sake of freedom or independence. She hadn't refused because she wanted control over her own fate.
She had refused because she believed Genichi was unworthy.
She believed he was selfish. She believed he was unworthy of possessing such power. She believed he had no right to hold another person's life in his hands.
That self-righteous arrogance chilled Haruno to the bone.
"Then forget it."
Haruno turned and walked toward the front door.
She put on her shoes, pulled the door open, and left without looking back.
Behind her, Yukino remained rooted in place, watching her sister's retreating figure. An indescribable feeling rose in her chest.
She opened her mouth, wanting to call out to Haruno, only to realize she had no idea what to say.
The door closed, and the sound of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Silence settled over the living room. The only sound came from the wind rustling the leaves outside.
Yukino lowered her head and picked up the book.
Some of the pages had become creased, and she gently smoothed them out with her hand.
Her fingers lingered on the page for a long time, but she never resumed reading.
She simply sat on the sofa, hugging the book to her chest as she gazed out the window.
Moonlight streamed into the room, casting her shadow across the floor, solitary and still.
She remembered the look Haruno had given her moments ago.
It hadn't been anger or sadness.
It had been disappointment.
Deep, complete disappointment.
That disappointment hurt more than any scolding ever could.
"Haruno..."
Yukino murmured the name so softly that only she could hear it.
No one answered.
Outside, the night was dark and deep.
Inside the Yukinoshita family's living room, Yukino was left all alone.
(End of Chapter)
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