Chapter 157 Verse 144 Once Again Deceived
After escaping from the main house where the atmosphere had become inexplicably heavy and strange, Yukinoshita Yukino quickly caught up with Yukinoshita Yono, who had left first.
Raindrops drifted through the wind into the corridor, striking people’s faces and bringing a slight chill.
Yukinoshita Yukino slowed down her steps. She stared blankly at her sister’s gentle side profile, a hint of silent sorrow naturally emerging from her short-haired beauty, only to fade away soon, as if it had never been there.
“Oh, it’s you, Yukino,” Yukinoshita Yono said, hiding her emotions and turning toward the black-haired girl with a perfect smile.
“Sister…”
Yukinoshita Yukino pursed her lips, questioning, “Why did you disparage me in front of Mother?”
“Well, Yono didn’t want to get scolded~” There was no sign of remorse on Yono’s face as she squinted her eyes in a smile, “Actually, Yukino, you admitted it yourself.”
“But you exaggerated the facts!” Thinking of herself being innocent yet receiving her mother’s reprimand, Yukinoshita Yukino couldn’t help but raise her voice.
“Sigh, sorry. Sorry.” The short-haired beauty clasped her hands together, attempting with a hint of a smile to pacify the situation, but failing.
“Never mind, I came here for something else,” Yukinoshita Yukino sighed helplessly, hesitating before asking, “Will you be responsible for the fireworks display this year again?”
“Huh? Well, it shouldn’t be any different.” Yukinoshita Yono blinked, seemingly surprised by the question, “What? Yukino, thinking of helping out?”
Suddenly, a hint of dejection flashed across her bright eyes, light laughter followed, “But it’s unlikely that the family would allow you to get involved in such matters. If you have any good ideas, you can tell your sister. Let’s see if we can make them happen.”
“No, actually, I wanted to ask you to help me pick a gift.”
Observing her sister suddenly become bashful, Yukinoshita Yono’s vague emotions were instantly replaced by a burst of intense curiosity, leaning in eagerly, “For Rin Qi? Planning to confess to him during the fireworks show?”
“Gua…No! Sister, what are you thinking!?” The black-haired girl flushed, vehemently countering, “I just want to thank Rin Qi. Nothing more!”
Yukinoshita Yono stared into her sister’s eyes for a while, trying to see through the indigo depths for her true intentions. She, without wavering, looked back tightly.
After a moment, Yono let out an unmotivated sound, “Tsk, how uninteresting.”
The two returned to Yukinoshita Yukino’s room. Yukinoshita Yono sprawled ungracefully on her younger sister’s bed, “So, you want me to help choose a gift?”
“I’ve already thought about what to give. Just not decided on the design.”
“What are you planning to give?”
“A kimono.”
“Hmm? You’re saying you don’t have feelings for him!?”
Yukinoshita Yono perked up, shaking off her previous dejected state, sat sharply on the bed.
In Japan, a woman giving kimono to a man symbolizes viewing him as a ‘special existence’ and an implied vow of lifelong companionship, unless they are engaged.
“I didn’t expect, Yukino, to think of such things.”
Yukinoshita Yukino felt her words might be misunderstood and clarified, “A female one.”
“Eh?” Yukinoshita Yono paused, seeming not to grasp the context.
“I’m planning to give Rin Qi a female kimono, white,” she repeated.
“Is Rin Qi recently making you unhappy? A well-made kimono isn’t cheap. Although we don’t lack money, is it worth spending so much just to insult him?”
Yukinoshita Yono spoke carefully, advising.
“Not like that…Never mind, look at this.” Knowing words alone weren’t enough, Yukinoshita Yukino pulled out her phone, showing photos taken during their stay together.
It showed Rin Qi in a snow maiden kimono, standing in front of a forest shrine, still without showing his four-armed quadruped form.
“What? Let me see.”
Curiously, Yukinoshita Yono took the phone. In the photograph, a young man with black hair dressed in a pale blue kimono stood in a serene forest. Moonlight shone on him, draping over him as if he was wrapped in silver gauze, illuminating patterns of snow on the kimono.
Holding his hands together, due to the loose neck of the female kimono, it revealed a tempting collarbone and a broad chest, his posture elegant and steady, akin to a sturdy bamboo swaying gently in the night breeze.
Most captivating were his profound dark eyes, sparkling like rubies in the deep night.
Yukinoshita Yono murmured, her emotions entwined, “I didn’t realize that I would ever find a man in a traditional feminine garment more fitting than myself…I guess I understand what Yukino means.”
Wanting to see more pictures, her finger instinctively slid, and at the sight of the man in the photo, the short-haired beauty trembled, nearly dropping the phone in shock.
It was still Rin Qi, but this appearance was totally different from the last photograph. His bulky form, non-human four eyes and hands, black patterns, and a grotesque grin on his face.
“Is…this Rinn Qi’s true form?”
Yukinoshita Yono struggled to comprehend Rin Qi’s personality and build proper relational lines. Yet this photo demolished her understanding.
Had I been too informal around Rinn Qi?
A question rose unconsciously in the girl’s heart.
“He said it’s his second stage,” Yukinoshita Yukino replied honestly.
“Could there be a third stage too?” Yukinoshita Yono was unsure.
If even stage two is like this, how frightening must stage three be?
“No clue. Rin Qi used this monstrous form at the courage testing event,” Yukinoshita Yukino reflected, feeling overwhelmed by it.
“…”
Yukinoshita Yono faltered then realized her surprise wasn’t justified.
“Alright, understood. We’ll go together at that time to decide on the design. We’ll go to our family’s usual kimono shop.” Yukinoshita Yono remarked, playfully giggling, “But we need to keep it a secret from Mother. If she knew that Yukino was picking a kimono for a man, she’d explode.”
“Mmm. Surely an interesting scene, shall we tell Mother?” Her face twisted mischievously.
“Sister!”
“Joking, joking, Yukino truly can’t handle jokes.”
…
“Phew, summer homework done!”
Komachi strode out of her room, deliberately stretching in front of Hachiman Hikigaya, showing her underdeveloped slender figure.
“Mmm, impressive,” Hachiman Hikigaya said absentmindedly.
“And thus, diligent learning deserves reward!” Komachi kicked out aggressively, stepping barefoot onto her brother’s upward-facing belly.
“Ugh!” Gasping heavily, Hachiman Hikigaya widened his fish-like eyes, dropping his game console.
“What reward do you desire? Expensive stuff’s impossible—I barely have 400 yen,” he added.
“Could 400 yen buy anything?” Komachi said, as usual, mocking her brother’s tight budget, before switching to a cutesy tone. Leaning against the couch back, she smiled, “The treasure I seek is simply to spend time with brother.”
“The fireworks show that day, let’s watch together!”
“The fireworks show? That’s feasible.”
Without much hesitation, Hachiman Hikigaya agreed.
Scarcely had he concluded when Komachi’s expression turned calm. Pulling out her phone and grinning, she excitedly spoke the other end.
“Did you hear that, Yui-neesan? My brother has agreed.”
“!?” Hachiman Hikigaya, startled, stared at the chatting Komachi.
“What did she say then?”
Byakuhin will attend too?
Once again, I was deceived!
…
I’ll make up for today, probably complete it in morning since these projects wrapping up will keep me busy. (Currently working)
After finishing these projects, I’m delegating future assignments. Hopefully updates can stabilize soon; apologies beforehand to my readers. Shhhh~
After school, then becoming a Jujutsu Sorcerer
