Chapter 219: "High-Risk Zone"

Yukino could now clearly feel just how much she had grown stronger. More than satisfaction, what filled her was excitement—an unexpected joy that bordered on exhilaration.

All this time, she'd trained with Haru—running together, doing indoor workouts—all with the goal of improving her stamina. That alone was enough for her.

But this newfound physical enhancement… this level of sensory sharpness… it was far beyond what she'd ever imagined possible.

In high spirits, she played a couple more game rounds with Haru, but she still didn't feel the least bit sleepy.

"I'm going to make some warm milk. Want some?"

Yukino got up from the desk. She was careful not to disrupt her routine too much, but the excitement bubbling inside her made it hard to wind down. Even with her excellent self-discipline, this unexpected surprise had shaken her balance—just a little.

"I'm good," Haru replied with a warm voice, easily sensing her restlessness. "If you still can't sleep, how about we turn off the lights and chat for a bit?"

Yukino nodded gently. "Mm."

It was true that in the dark—especially at night—the body naturally leaned toward rest.

Still in her pajamas, she made her way to the kitchen. The kettle had kept the earlier boiled water warm, so she quickly prepared a cup of milk and stood quietly in the living room, letting the warmth of the drink and the calm of the silence settle her heart.

She was standing closer to the guest room, some distance from the master bedroom. Her plan was simple: finish the milk, go back to bed.

But just then… she heard it.

A sound.

A woman's voice.

It was soft, like a whisper during a piano interlude—gentle, lyrical, and tinged with a kind of delicate emotion that stirred something deep.

Yukino was stunned for a moment, thinking she'd misheard.

But the next second, her neck slowly turned, almost mechanically, as her gaze locked onto the closed door of the guest room.

There was no mistake now.

The sound was definitely coming from inside.

And the person sleeping in that room… was her sister.

Which meant…

Her cheeks instantly flushed scarlet.

She'd teamed up with Haru for many late-night "gaming duos" and had even spent time with Utaha in… closer contexts. She knew exactly what that kind of voice implied.

Wistful, breathy, subtle, yet brimming with pleasure and excitement—like sea breeze rustling a tourist's hair at the shore, sweeping both strands and heart into disarray.

It sounded… just like Utaha-senpai.

Only she could turn a quiet night into a private sonata.

Yukino stood frozen, holding her milk, silent and stunned.

She never expected that stepping out for a cup of milk would lead her into this… awkward predicament.

She knew the house had great soundproofing. The fact she could hear this clearly only confirmed one thing:

Her senses really had improved.

Yukino touched her flushed face and took several deep breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

I shouldn't overreact, she thought. She's a college student. She's older than me. She's experienced more and carries more responsibility. She has pressure too…

Yes, it made sense—she was an adult. It wasn't unusual for someone in her position to want to unwind like that.

What puzzled Yukino was that her sister, so usually cautious and composed, would choose to do such a thing in someone else's house.

Wait… Could it be… she tested the house's soundproofing in advance? That way, she could go all out without worry…?

That thought struck her like lightning.

Even if she'd rationalized it, the awkwardness in her chest remained.

I shouldn't be out here. I should be in my room. I shouldn't be overhearing just how "skilled" my sister is…

Panicked, she made a beeline back to the bedroom, careful to keep her steps light like a guilty thief.

Only when she shut the door did her tense body finally relax.

First it was Hiratsuka-sensei, now it's my sister. That guest room's basically a high-risk zone now!

She sighed as she turned—and saw Haru sitting at the edge of the bed, playing a handheld game, completely engrossed.

That helped her recover a bit of composure. She casually walked over and sat beside him, trying to keep her voice calm. "Still not sleepy?"

"Exactly why I said I'd keep you company with some late-night talk," Haru replied, eyes on the screen.

"Mm."

She wasn't really trying to start a conversation—she just needed something to pull her mind away from the embarrassment. She sipped her warm milk quietly as they talked.

But as they chatted, another realization struck her.

If I've gotten this much stronger from consistent training, then Haru must've grown even more.

The thought made her fall silent.

Haru, noticing the sudden pause, looked up. "Why'd you stop talking?"

Under the room's soft light, Yukino's face glowed with a rosy flush. After a brief moment of hesitation, she slowly asked:

"…Did you hear it too?"

Haru remained calm. "Do you want the honest answer?"

Yukino let out a long sigh, defeated. "I figured. If I could hear it, then of course you could too. You're better than me at this."

Haru paused his game and set it aside. "You could've just left it unsaid, you know. I wouldn't have brought it up."

"I can't pretend not to notice." She shook her head, cheeks red. "Especially not with you. You're… you're the person I'm closest to."

Her expression was a bit troubled.

If it were my sister, she'd probably brush this off with a joke and make everything feel lighthearted… Wait—why am I still thinking about her?!

She ducked her head, letting her hair fall to cover her face as she sipped her milk again.

She'd already decided to forget about what she heard—and yet here she was, thinking about it all over again.

She glanced at Haru from the corner of her eye. He was leaning against the headboard with his arms crossed, seemingly deep in thought.

To avoid making him worry, she forced herself to speak up:

"This whole situation… it's kind of like what we said before, right? My sister and Hiratsuka-sensei are both adults. They're single. They must feel lonely sometimes…"

Her voice trailed off into a more delicate tone. She'd stopped herself from saying "overwhelmed by desire" at the last second.

Haru chuckled. "Why are you explaining this to me? If you'd just changed the topic, we could've moved on already."

Yukino froze for a beat, then blushed and turned away.

Clearly, she realized she'd just embarrassed herself for no reason.

Haru's laughter followed. "You're so cute."

Face darkening, Yukino slammed back the rest of her milk, set down the cup, and got up. "I'm going to brush my teeth."

As she opened the door, Haru called after her again:

"Seriously… you're adorable."

She tripped slightly at the doorway.

"Shut up!"

She shot him a red-faced glare, then quickly escaped.

He watched her go, his smile fading into a pensive expression as he leaned back against the headboard.

Truthfully, he hadn't even needed to use his [Perception] skill—he could hear everything coming from the guest room clearly.

And the reason behind that… was likely him.

Back when he was drying his hair in the living room, he'd already noticed how long Haruno had been staring at his body.

He hadn't thought much of it at the time—after all, she'd seen him shirtless plenty of times before. Every summer, they'd go swimming, and he'd be in just a pair of trunks. She'd even tease him openly back then.

But this time… her gaze was different.

His eyes drifted toward the dresser.

Inside the bottom drawer, where he kept socks and underwear, was the pair Haruno had gifted him.

He'd washed it… but never found a chance to return it.

He'd even thought about returning the underwear Haruno had given him… but knowing her, she probably wouldn't take it back. More likely, she'd use it as an opportunity to mercilessly tease him again.

"…A classic case of getting backstabbed by your own sibling."

Haru slipped on his headphones and started playing music, forcing himself to tune out the sounds from the next room.

Damn it, Haruno—how long are you going to keep going? Can't you tone it down already?!

Well, at least he'd learned one thing: Haruno was in excellent physical condition.

A short while later, Yukino returned.

This time, she didn't say a word. She simply flicked off the lights, climbed into bed, and pulled the covers over herself in a hurry.

Haru, out of habit, reached over and wrapped an arm around her slender waist—only to notice her breathing was slightly fast and uneven.

In the next second, his brain lit up like Conan solving a mystery.

She got aroused from hearing Haruno…

He almost laughed.

It honestly surprised him. He hadn't expected Yukino to react like this.

But when he thought about it more, it wasn't all that strange. Under his guidance and training, Yukino had grown remarkably—her body was now at its peak in every way.

At an age full of vitality and sensitivity, it was natural to feel something after being exposed to that kind of stimulation.

So he leaned in through the dark, gently kissed her smooth forehead.

She trembled slightly but said nothing.

That was it—he couldn't hold it in anymore.

He burst into quiet laughter.

"…What are you laughing at?" Her voice came out low and embarrassed, clearly flustered.

Still chuckling, Haru whispered, "How about… you put on those stockings?"

In the dark, Yukino froze for a second—and immediately realized he'd seen right through her.

Just as she was about to lash out from sheer embarrassment, his voice sounded again, quieter this time, with a hint of apology:

"…Because I… I'm feeling it now. I couldn't help it. Sorry for bothering you."

Yukino blinked.

He's trying to take the blame so I don't feel awkward…

She sat up, cheeks flushed, then sighed softly.

"…I really can't say no to you, can I?"

~~~~~~~~~~

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