Chapter 220: So Embarrassed I Couldn’t Even Think With My Eyes Open

Normally, Yukino wouldn't even consider changing clothes in the middle of the night.

But this time was different.

She was genuinely feeling it.

You could also say… she was hungry.

Click.

The room's soft lights flicked on. Yukino brushed her fingers through her long, tousled hair to straighten it, then stood and walked to the wardrobe.

Haru watched openly, unashamed, until Yukino reminded him gently, "If you could… I'd prefer you turn around."

"I'm just appreciating you," he said, completely shameless.

Yukino didn't fire back this time.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her gaze no longer held its usual composure. It wasn't that she was being generous by sparing him a sarcastic retort—rather, she was simply too flustered and restless to think of one.

She scanned the wardrobe quickly and made her decision.

Haru, watching intently, caught sight of what she grabbed and raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you buy skin-colored stockings?"

He remembered clearly: he'd told her once before that skin-colored stockings weren't really his thing, and she'd respected that, sticking to others.

Yet now, in her hand—was a pair of skin-colored stockings.

"I picked up a couple pairs when I was out shopping for clothes," she replied with a faint smile. "What, you don't like them?"

"I never said I didn't like them," Haru admitted honestly. "I just said other colors tend to catch my eye more."

Yukino raised her chin with quiet confidence. "I think everything looks good."

The unspoken implication: Everything looks good on me.

And Haru couldn't argue with that.

Still, Yukino didn't have the courage to change right in front of him. She headed into the bathroom instead.

Barely three minutes passed before she returned.

Gone was the modest pajama set. Now, she wore a thin, sky-blue slip dress—and those skin-colored stockings.

Yukino had always treated herself well, so of course the quality of the stockings was top-notch.

The tights clung to her long, perfectly shaped legs, so sheer that from a distance it would've been hard to tell she was wearing any at all.

Unlike black or white tights that gave off a clear, immediate air of sensuality, nude stockings were subtler—more of a finishing touch than a statement piece.

And with Yukino's already flawless legs, they only enhanced what was already exquisite.

She stood there at the edge of the bed, legs together in perfect symmetry, as if sculpted by an artist's hand.

"You don't seem particularly disappointed," she noted after watching Haru for a few seconds, mildly surprised.

"I did explain myself pretty clearly," he replied.

Yukino pressed her finger to her chin, nodding slowly. "Your reaction's really boring."

It clicked then—Haru realized what she'd been aiming for. He laughed. "So that's it? You just wanted to see me disappointed?"

She didn't even try to deny it. "Correct. I figured it would be an amusing sight."

"Terribly sorry for failing to meet your expectations, Miss Yukinoshita~"

"…What's with that weird tone?"

Haru dimmed the lights and patted the spot beside him, inviting her to sit.

Blushing, Yukino hesitated for a moment before shyly joining him.

She fully expected him to pounce right away.

But instead, he picked up the tablet on the nightstand.

Yukino bit her lip. What the heck is this guy doing? I'm already this prepared and you're not even going to kiss me?

As if unaware of her thoughts, Haru casually tapped the screen. "Since neither of us can sleep, how about a movie?"

She scowled, about to say she wasn't in the mood, when suddenly he handed her a pair of headphones.

Wait—headphones?

The house had excellent soundproofing. Why the headphones?

In just one second, her clever mind caught on.

She didn't say anything more. Cheeks still flushed, she leaned against him as the movie began—and her heart rate spiked.

Just as she expected.

Although the film was a perfectly respectable romantic drama, the number of steamy scenes was anything but subtle.

The first thirty minutes went something like this:

—The couple goes on a trip. Overwhelmed by the scenery, they share a passionate kiss.

—The couple visits a hot spring. One thing leads to another.

—The couple watches a fireworks festival. They lose control again.

Yukino's heart thudded in her chest. Then Haru mumbled beside her, "That's three now."

She blinked and immediately understood—he was counting the make-out scenes.

Feigning composure, she said, "Typical. You're not even watching the movie—you're just keeping score."

Then Haru casually remarked, "If they're going this all-in with the kissing, shouldn't we match the mood?"

The retort she'd been preparing crumbled in an instant.

She turned toward him, face flaming, only for his lips to meet hers before she could even blink.

"No closing your eyes."

That was the last thing she heard before instinctively trying to shut them.

He'd said the same thing before.

So she glared at him through her embarrassment.

Fine—no closing them, then!

But within moments, her eyes shimmered with a soft, flustered glaze.

Her boldness evaporated fast. She was blushing too hard to think anymore.

And just like that, Haru—usually a land-dwelling human—was about to prove himself once more… an amphibian.

_ _ _ _

The next morning at breakfast, Haruno acted like everything was completely normal.

At least on the outside.

But internally? She was fighting a storm of awkwardness.

What caught her off guard, though, was that Yukino looked even more uneasy than she felt.

She puzzled over this for a moment. Probably because I stayed in the guest room next door, and the two of them shared a bed. Of course she'd feel embarrassed seeing me first thing in the morning.

Smirking, Haruno teased, "What's wrong, Yukino? You look like you didn't sleep well."

Yukino remained stone-faced as she nibbled her toast in silence.

Haru came to her rescue. "We played games too late last night. If she hadn't reminded me to stop, we'd have overslept for sure."

"Games?" Haruno raised a brow. Clearly, she didn't buy it.

Haru nodded, calm as ever. "Yeah. I couldn't fall asleep, so I dragged Yukino into a co-op game with me…"

He trailed off slightly, as if something came to mind. "Oh, right. While we were playing Contra, I thought I heard footsteps outside. Was that you, Haruno?"

For a moment, Haruno's smile froze.

Then it quickly returned. "Yeah, that was me."

Haru's expression lit up with understanding. "So that noise was you, then… the strange sound I heard afterward—was that you too?"

This time, Haruno couldn't keep her cool. A slight blush crept up her cheeks as she turned away, grabbing her cup to hide her reaction. "What strange sound?"

Haru replied lightly, "I don't really know. I didn't catch it clearly."

Haruno breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Whew. He probably misheard. I tested the soundproofing last night—it should've been fine…

But just as she started to relax, Haru added casually, "Maybe someone was singing last night."

Haruno: "..."

Yukino, still munching on her toast, thought to herself, Seriously, sis… you should've just played dumb. You totally walked right into that.

Haruno was always the one teasing others. Haru usually sided with her, too.

But today? Today he turned the tables.

And seeing her flustered older sister fumble like that… Yukino let out a silent, satisfied breath.

I know it's a little mean, but… yeah. That felt great.

After breakfast, Haru and Yukino left for school.

Haruno didn't go with them. She thought it was still too early and decided to hang around a bit longer.

"…Jelly, do you think Haru and Yukino really heard it last night?"

Haruno, face flushed, reached out and scooped up the orange cat curled up beside the kotatsu. Her thoughts were in complete disarray, swirling with doubt and suspicion.

"Meow~"

The cat squirmed in protest, trying to dive back under the warmth of the kotatsu, but Haruno held it firmly in her arms.

Left with no other option, the orange cat settled reluctantly in her lap, letting out a series of plaintive meows—as if saying, Hey! I'm just a cat, I have no idea what's going on!

But Haruno didn't even register the poor thing's complaints. She absentmindedly stroked its fur, muttering to herself, "If Haru really did hear it last night… then, being at that age, full of hormones, he definitely went straight to Yukino…"

There was no doubt in her mind—Haru and Yukino didn't just play games last night. There had to be more to it. Definitely more.

As her imagination spiraled, all kinds of inappropriate scenes began to flash through her mind. The more she pictured it, the more restless she became.

And before she could stop herself, the same urge from last night began to creep up again—the urge to softly hum… just like she had then.

~~~~~~~~~~

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