127 The Sin Shall Be Shouldered by Yukinoshita Haruno!

127 The Sin Shall Be Shouldered by Yukinoshita Haruno!

The atmosphere grew even more heated.

Hiratsuka Shizuka parted her red lips, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her jade-like neck was also flushed with a red haze, the rich crimson on her face blending perfectly with the intellectual beauty of a mature female teacher, creating an indescribable sense of allure.

It was unclear whether she was truly drunk, or just using the alcohol to muster her courage, but her body intentionally or unintentionally pressed closer to Hikigaya Hachiman. Her thigh fully pressed against Hachiman's, allowing him to feel the taut elasticity of her figure.

Perhaps Hiratsuka Shizuka herself knew that this was wrong, but... today, she couldn't restrain herself. Borrowing the courage that came with being drunk, she wanted to let herself go just once.

Having had almost no physical contact with the opposite sex in her life, she could only show her side as a woman in front of her most cherished student.

Finally, Hiratsuka Shizuka, completely soft and powerless, collapsed onto Hikigaya Hachiman's body, unable to get back up.

"Ara~, looks like Shizuka is done too~."

Seeing that her objective had been achieved, Yukinoshita Haruno slowly stood up and helped Hiratsuka Shizuka over to the sofa to lie down.

Then, with a cheerful smile, she walked over to Hachiman:

"Hachiman, are you still okay?"

Hikigaya Hachiman felt someone calling him. In a daze, he opened his eyes, only to see the blurry image of a large-chested woman.

'I am... Hikigaya Hachiman. Where am I? What was I here for?'

'She is... Yukinoshita Haruno.'

Hachiman felt his brain had gone completely numb. The quick-witted mind he relied on every day was now sluggish and dulled under the effect of alcohol.

"Hachiman, here, have some black tea to sober up," Yukinoshita Haruno said, discreetly pouring a prepared sleeping agent into the tea.

Although it was despicable, tonight Haruno was determined to have Hachiman stay at their home.

Yesterday, she had gone to the station, intending to personally welcome Hachiman. But to her surprise, she saw him walking out of the station, looking intimate with another girl. That completely derailed Yukinoshita Haruno's plans.

Biting her red lips, she ultimately handed the cup of tea to Hachiman.

Even though she knew that ruining someone else's happiness was base and shameful, Haruno was willing to do anything for the sake of her sister's happiness. If simply having Hachiman sleep over wasn't enough... then...

Yukinoshita Haruno took a deep breath, steeling herself.

The sleeping agent she used was specially made; it wouldn't act immediately and would even allow the person to maintain a certain level of consciousness. Holding Hachiman's hand, she led him into Yukinoshita Yukino's room.

The unfamiliar surroundings helped Hachiman's mind clear up a little. Looking at the densely packed blueprints on the walls — resembling a detective drama's investigation board — Hachiman became even more bewildered.

"This, this is..."

"This is what Yukino made for you," Haruno said, crossing her arms and gazing at her sister's room with a complex expression.

"In order to get a little closer to you, she studied your [Challenge to the Reader] riddles every day, trying to solve the mysteries you posed."

In the past, Haruno had never imagined that her sister would go to such lengths for a boy.

This was essentially choosing a whole new path, cultivating a new hobby from scratch.

'Completely... head over heels in love.'

If she could, Haruno would want to scold her sister awake. But seeing Yukino's attitude — like she would accept no one but Hachiman — made her unable to do it.

So—

'I'm sorry, Hachiman... If you knew, you surely wouldn't forgive me. But for Yukino's sake, I'll do whatever it takes to steal you back from that other woman.'

Since the plan to obtain Hachiman's [Life Plan Book] from Momobami Kirari had fallen through, Yukinoshita Haruno had no choice but to take matters into her own hands!

Appeal to reason, move him with emotion.

"I..."

Heart in turmoil, Hachiman staggered to Yukino's desk, his trembling hand reaching out to the wall full of clue records.

Straining his eyes to focus, he realized the methods written for solving the riddles were identical to the answers he had envisioned.

Facing such overwhelming evidence, Hachiman could only let out a long sigh.

His mind became even more chaotic.

"So, Hachiman, what will you choose?"

Yukinoshita Haruno walked to Hachiman's side, blowing gently into his ear, asking him tenderly.

"I... I can't betray Yumeko. I've already..."

Drunk and woozy, Hachiman wobbled and collapsed onto the bed, his hands pressing against his messy hair, unable to speak.

"I'm sorry, truly sorry," Hachiman struggled to say. "I brought the latest manuscript with me in my bag — take it as my apology, Miss Haruno."

"I see..."

Yukinoshita Haruno sighed. Things had indeed progressed to the point she most wished to avoid.

"No need anymore. You can sleep now, Hachiman~."

Hachiman felt his eyelids become unbearably heavy. In a blink, his body slumped onto Yukino Yukinoshita Yukino's soft bed, unable to get back up.

Seeing the drug taking effect, Yukinoshita Haruno, her expression serious, supported Hachiman's sturdy body and step by step led him to the guest room.

After tossing him onto the bed, she stared at his familiar yet now distant handsome face, torn by inner conflict.

'If only I had treated him a little better back then, made him remember the Yukinoshita family's kindness, would today's outcome have been different?'

"But... there are no 'ifs.'"

Haruno bit her red lips tightly. With her bare black feet, she gently pulled the guest room door closed behind her.

Inside, the sounds of heavy breathing and the faint rustling of clothes could be heard.

"The one who should be apologizing... is me, Hachiman."

Hachiman's long-sleeved shirt was half-rolled up, revealing his firm abs. His belt had also been loosened halfway, leaving his pants slack.

Yukinoshita Haruno, her face flushed deep red, unbuttoned her own blouse, the previously proper attire instantly taking on a different, provocative allure.

She laid Hachiman's right hand flat and reclined her body against it, snuggling up to him.

Haruno could even feel Hachiman's heavy heartbeat.

'Shameless!'

Cursing herself, her hand trembled as she pulled out her phone and turned on the camera.

Her plan was to take compromising photos of the two of them — to use as the ultimate weapon.

As long as it meant Hachiman would stay by her sister's side, no matter how much ridicule or humiliation she suffered, Haruno would accept it.

As for what to do afterward?

Confront that girl named Yumeko and trick her into believing Hachiman had cheated.

No girl would tolerate a partner's infidelity — that was Haruno's best-case scenario: forcing Yumeko to leave.

Or, she could bring the photos to Hachiman's sister, Komachi, and ask for help. Hachiman was most obedient to his sister, after all...

Or even confront Hachiman directly and force him never to say anything that would abandon Yukino — even if it meant he had to two-time, allowing Yukino to live inside a fairytale spun by Haruno's own hands.

Whatever the method, the sin would be borne entirely by Yukinoshita Haruno.