Dun-dun-don!
Haru could practically hear the dramatic danger sound effect playing in his head.
He remembered clearly—after Utaha and Megumi had gone back to their rooms to rest, both doors had been firmly shut.
Not like now. Someone had deliberately left one slightly open.
The gap was small—but just wide enough to see everything inside.
Was it Senpai?
Or Kato?
No... it had to be Senpai.
"What's wrong?"
Yukino blinked open her sleepy, dazed eyes. Noticing Haru had stopped outside the door instead of going in, she looked up in confusion.
"I was just thinking... you're a lot cuter like this than usual," Haru said, finding an excuse.
Yukino blushed and rolled her eyes at him. "Besides making shallow comments about my looks, can you say something else for once?"
"How about your legs?"
"That still counts as appearance."
"Oh, then... I think your energy and aura are really attractive."
"…That was actually a good compliment. Please never do it again."
Yukino didn't want his nonsense to ruin the rare moment between them.
More importantly—she wanted him, too.
She couldn't bring herself to say something as bold as "let's go enjoy the rice fields together", but...She could at least nudge him to carry her inside.
Once the two entered the master bedroom, the door was quietly locked behind them.
Back in the guest room, Utaha was crouched by the door, sulking.
Shameless.Utterly shameless!
I thought you'd be fair, like at school...But you still went and snuck off for a midnight snack, Yukinoshita!
Utaha bit her lip, her heart a tangle of jealousy and frustration. So caught up in her emotions, she didn't even notice—
On the bed behind her, Megumi was lying still, eyes wide open in the darkness.
Watching her quietly.
It wasn't until 2 a.m. that Haru finally returned to the living room.
In Yukino's words: "I don't want them waking up and seeing you in the master bedroom."
In other words: That would be incredibly embarrassing.
Haru lay back down on the sofa, pulled the thin blanket over himself, and turned off the TV.
He hadn't even fully dozed off when his [Auto-Aim] skill picked up on a presence moving in the room.
Soft footsteps.
Whoever it was, they were trying very hard to stay quiet.
But Haru had played enough battle royale games to know—footstep detection was a beginner skill.
The moment he opened his eyes—
A wave of sweet, intoxicating fragrance hit him, and a soft, curvy body pressed itself right up against his.
"Huh, Senpai? You—"
"Don't talk. What if you wake them up?"
Utaha's voice was low and husky, her breathing uneven.
The living room was pitch black, and it was only by the faint glow of her phone that she managed to find her way into Haru's arms.
Their eyes met. Haru saw the heat in hers, and something about the mood felt off.
"What… are you trying to do?"
"I saw what happened earlier," she said directly.
Haru blinked. "You know… this is technically your second late-night ambush, right?"
Utaha, previously full of sultry confusion, paused. "Second time?"
"Yeah. You did something like this before too." He was referring to the lipstick mark on his neck from that other night.
Utaha settled into his lap, her voice low and teasing. "That wasn't me. This is my first time."
Haru froze.
She didn't seem like the type to lie in a situation like this.
But if it wasn't her… did that mean the kiss mark was from Yukino?
Haru tried to picture Yukino sneaking out in the middle of the night—but the image wouldn't quite form.
Not that it mattered.
Because the very next moment, Utaha slowly tugged open her robe, her cheeks tinged red as she whispered with slight shyness:
"I'm not wearing the black stockings you like... but I think I still have enough to tempt you."
"…That's a 10 out of 10," Haru muttered.
"Yukino had her fun just now, didn't she? Well—now it's my turn."
And this time, the one crouching by the guest room door was Megumi.
Watching the two figures embracing in the darkened living room, her cheeks burned red, her eyes wide in silent shock.
Senpai's this bold…?
Previously it was Utaha at the door. Now—it was Kato's turn.
Morning.
At the breakfast table, four people sat together.
Aside from Haru, who looked perfectly normal, the three girls all seemed a bit… off.
Yukino had gone to bed the earliest—and thanks to sheer exhaustion, had at least managed to sleep deeply.
She was just a little dazed now and then.
Utaha and Megumi, on the other hand, looked like they'd had zero sleep. It might as well have been written across their faces: "I'm severely sleep deprived"
Yukino noticed, of course.
She assumed the two had overheard what happened last night… But she was way too embarrassed to ask.
Utaha noticed it too.
And she, naturally, couldn't bring herself to ask either.
In this strange, silent tension, the four managed to finish the breakfast Haru had picked up during his morning run.
_ _ _ _
Days passed.Haru continued to advance smoothly through the karate tournament.
But during the final match—the team routine event—they lost to another school.
One of his teammates felt responsible and broke into tears, apologizing repeatedly.
Haru and senior Oyama both comforted him.
"We did our best," Oyama said. "Besides, we did way better than last year. You should be proud!"
"He's right. You're just in second year. You'll have plenty of chances next time."
Once the team event was over, it was time for Haru's individual match.
This time, a crowd of reporters had gathered, and the stands were packed tighter than ever.
Haruno had shown up.
The Yukinoshita parents were there.
So were Haru's parents.
Utaha was noticeably quiet.
When she wasn't flirting with Haru, she was the picture of grace: calm posture, mature features, refined charm.Anyone looking would think she was the perfect senpai.
Even Yukinoshita's mother, sitting two seats away, couldn't help but glance her way several times before whispering to Haruno:
"That's Kasumigaoka?"
Haruno smiled. "Cute, right?"
"'Cute' doesn't seem quite right," Yukinoshita's mother replied calmly. "She looks more like you, sitting there so straight and proper."
"She's not as amazing as me," Haruno said with a wink.
Yukinoshita's mother didn't push further.
At first, she'd just wanted to casually scope Utaha out. She had heard the girl was close to her daughter and in the photography club—and honestly, her appearance alone was already too impressive.
But Haruno's playful response made her wonder if she really didn't know—or simply didn't want to talk about the well-endowed senpai.
Then she overheard Haru's mother murmuring:
"Kasumigaoka's gotten prettier, hasn't she? I remember when little Haru started school—she didn't shine this much back then."
Yukinoshita's mother smiled and chimed in, "Maybe she's just enjoying her time in the photography club. With Haru's leadership, I'm sure he's managing the whole thing effortlessly."
Haru's mother beamed. "Exactly! My boy is the best! And so is Yukino!"
Her voice was loud and cheerful, making Yukino—who sat nearby—blush and sit up straighter without realizing.
Yukinoshita's mother gave a helpless smile.
Despite being around the same age, Haru's mother seemed far more youthful and carefree.
Then she heard her say: "And you've met Kato too, right? That girl is so sweet and gentle. I really like her after talking with her."
Yukinoshita's mother shook her head. "I don't know much about her. Haruno never mentioned her."
"You should! Don't let her quiet looks fool you—she's incredibly polite and well-mannered. Very steady for someone her age."
"Is that so? I'll be sure to speak with her sometime."
She nodded, then turned her attention to the arena.
Haru was already on the mat, exchanging a few pre-match words with his tall, muscular opponent.
She asked curiously, "By the way, Tsugumi—did you know Haru was practicing karate?"
Tsugumi was Haru's mother.
Yukinoshita's mother thought she knew Haru fairly well.
But after the cruise incident, the "hooded hero" mystery, and now this karate championship…She was starting to realize the boy she'd watched grow up had more layers than she imagined.
"Nope. He never told me. He used to go jogging and do push-ups at home, but the rest? I'm not sure. He's always been so independent—pretty much calls the shots himself."
Yukinoshita's mother sighed inwardly.
She almost wanted to ask: Has your son been protecting you all this time? Have you noticed your roles reversed?
She couldn't help but think of her two daughters.
Wait a minute—
Haruno had been awfully quiet today.
Turning to her usually reliable eldest daughter, she saw Haruno sitting there with a dreamy look, hands resting against her cheeks, eyes sparkling as she stared at Haru on the mat.
She assumed Haruno was excited about the match and didn't say more.
What she didn't realize…Was that Haruno was actually thinking about how to cover for Haru.
As Yukino's big sister and someone quite close to Haru, she naturally didn't want their sharp-eyed mother to pick up on anything today—
Especially not the real Utaha, beneath her composed facade.
Or the seemingly calm Megumi, who had never stopped watching Haru closely.
And certainly not…
Her own feelings.
Haruno stayed perfectly still, keeping her posture and expression in check, hoping her mother wouldn't strike up a chat.
On the mat.
Haru's opponent was a buzz-cut third-year student.
"Gotta say," the senior grinned, "you've got serious skills. Top-tier speed and explosiveness for your age.…Too bad you had to face me."
Haru pointed at the nervous but hopeful classmates cheering from the sidelines.
"You might be strong," he said, "but our friendship and bonds are even stronger."
The third-year blinked, thinking Haru was just another hot-blooded shounen manga fan.
But then the match started.
Haru charged forward, full of friendship and bonds—with such speed, the senior barely had time to react.
Within five seconds—and Haru was even holding back—the upperclassman was flat on the mat.
Later, during the interview, he looked completely dazed.
"I don't even know what happened," he said. "He yelled something about friendship and bonds… and then just exploded."