The atmosphere grew tense, thick with unsaid feelings.

Yukinoshita Yukino's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, but her gaze stayed resolute, like a sword honed for one decisive strike.

"Choose," she said, voice trembling slightly but eyes unwavering. "Me or my sister?"

She took a breath, trying to steady herself. "If you won't answer… then don't even think about touching me ever again."

Nozomi exhaled deeply, a low sigh escaping him. His heart ached. Yukino was cornering him with a question he had tried so hard to avoid.

The second daughter of the Yukinoshita family was as sharp as she was fragile. And right now, she stood before him like a cherry blossom about to be shaken loose by the spring wind.

But how was he supposed to answer something like that?

If he chose Yukino, wouldn't Haruno be crushed? But if he chose Haruno—how could he ever look Yukino in the eyes again?

"Why? Is it so hard to say?" Yukino whispered, her voice cracking.

She lowered her head, her long lashes trembling like petals caught in a breeze. "I guess it makes sense... My sister's amazing, and I've always been the one trailing behind."

A single tear trickled down her cheek.

"Wuwuwu..."

Without a word, Nozomi leaned forward and captured her lips. Yukino's eyes widened as he kissed her again, pouring in the affection he couldn't verbalize.

She resisted at first, pushing against his chest, but when he finally released her, she looked away.

"Don't touch me if you don't love me," she muttered, the corners of her lips trembling.

But Nozomi didn't let her go. His arms only tightened around her.

"Why would you think I don't love you?!" he said hoarsely. "The first time I saw you, I already started imagining a name for our future child!"

Yukino blinked, stunned.

Then her expression turned sharp. "Liar."

"If you really love me, then why can't you answer my question?"

Nozomi gently cupped her cheeks, staring straight into her soul.

"Because... I want both of you."

Yukino's expression froze.

"I could say I choose you, Yukino. But that would make Haruno the most pitiful one of all. She's always cared so much about you—more than you realize."

Yukino narrowed her eyes. "My sister... cares about me?"

Nozomi chuckled softly. "You're so dense. Haruno is the ultimate siscon. If I didn't care about you—if I ever hurt you—she would never even give me a second glance."

"You remember Hayato Hayama, right? He wronged you once when you were kids. Haruno's still cold toward him."

Yukino's lips parted slightly, as if caught between disbelief and reluctant acceptance. Her eyes lowered.

Could it really be true? Was it because of her that her sister had taken interest in Nozomi... and even agreed to the engagement?

She stood still, conflicted.

Nozomi gently leaned in, lips grazing the pale skin of her slender neck.

"Ah..."

Yukino's body shivered at his touch. Her fingers reflexively clutched the hem of his shirt.

She didn't stop him.

All this time, she had convinced herself she was just a substitute. That Nozomi truly liked her sister more.

But the way he looked at her—the way he held her—there was nothing fake about it.

If anything... it seemed like she was the one he couldn't bear to let go of.

Nozomi's hands traced the outline of her back, each movement filled with longing. Her body trembled slightly, heat rising to her cheeks.

He slowly undid the last button of her blouse.

Yukino instinctively folded her arms across her chest, her eyes fluttering shut in embarrassment.

The sight only made Nozomi's heart tighten.

"Yukino," he said with a smile, voice soft as falling snow. "You're stunning. So unbelievably cute."

Her cheeks burned.

"D-Don't mess around..."

He nuzzled her cheek tenderly. "Then, will you let me touch you in the future?"

Yukino hesitated. "Not unless you answer me."

Nozomi sighed once more.

"Alright. Then I'll answer honestly. If I had to choose only one... I'd choose Yukino. Without a second thought."

Her heart skipped.

"Liar," she said, trying to act annoyed.

But her eyes softened.

The storm in her heart had calmed. Because she now knew—she wasn't second-best. Not to him.

He was still a shameless guy, sweet-talking his way out of every mess.

But... maybe that's what made him so impossible to hate.

Nozomi grinned. "I'll say it ten thousand times: I love Yukino the most! If I have to pick one—it'll always be Yukino!"

"So... can we stay like this?"

Yukino slowly opened her eyes, biting her lower lip shyly.

"I guess... it's not impossible."

Nozomi lit up like a kid on Christmas morning.

But as he leaned in again, she quickly raised a hand and placed it on his chest.

"You can't let Onee-sama down."."

"Don't worry," Nozomi reassured her, his tone unusually gentle. "I won't."

Then he suddenly said with that boyish smirk of his, "If I let Yukino and Haruno down, let me die—"

"Stop!" Yukino slapped her hand over his mouth.

"Don't say that. Not with the weird stuff that exists in this world. Don't tempt fate."

Nozomi gave a slow, sincere nod, and when she finally removed her hand, she found herself staring into his eyes. They were soft, filled with warmth and a touch of longing.

Yukino clicked her tongue with a faint pout and turned her face to the side.

The girl's resistance melted like the morning frost. Her slender fingers slowly lowered from his chest, brushing against the edge of his sleeve. Her cheeks reddened as she whispered, voice barely audible:

"It's okay now. I... I'm fine."

If he wanted to touch her, then so be it.

She had already fallen—heart, body, and soul. There was no going back. And just as he had said he couldn't imagine a life without her... Yukino had already accepted that she couldn't bear to live without him either.

Unlike some indecisive scoundrels who ran at the first sign of trouble, Nozomi had both the heart and the power to stand beside them both—her and her sister. And judging by how much Haruno loved her... she probably wouldn't mind.

But whether it could be done or not all depended on him. Was Nozomi truly bold enough to stand before their mother and declare his intent?

...…

Nozomi's eyes bore into Yukino's, their depths reflecting the warmth and longing she felt. Her heart thundered in her chest as she whispered her consent, the vulnerability in her voice a siren's call.

Nozomi's hands came to rest on her waist, his fingers gently caressing her sides, the touch feather-light yet full of tenderness. Yukino's breath hitched, her eyes fluttering shut as she leaned into his touch.

His lips brushed against her forehead, then her cheek, before finding hers in a tender, passionate kiss. Their lips moved languorously, a slow-burning fire that threatened to consume them.

Nozomi's hand moved to the back of her neck, his fingers entwining in her hair, drawing her closer, his tongue delving into her mouth with a hunger that matched hers.

Yukino's hands came to rest on his chest, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as he broke the kiss, his lips trailing down her jawline, her neck, and finally to her breasts.

He took her nipple into his mouth, his tongue flicking over the sensitive bud, the sensations building within her. Yukino arched her back, her fingers digging into his shoulders, her nails leaving crescent moons as she struggled to remain still.

Nozomi's hand moved to the hem of her shirt, lifting it over her head, his lips never breaking contact. Yukino stood before him, naked and vulnerable, her heart in her throat.

He stood, unclasping his own shirt, revealing his toned chest, his eyes never leaving hers. Yukino's fingers trembled as she reached for the clasp of her skirt, her movements clumsy as her nerves threatened to unravel her.

Nozomi took over, helping her remove the last of her clothing, the two of them now standing naked, their bodies aching for each other.

He led her to the bed, his touch gentle as he helped her lay down, her body aching with anticipation. Nozomi positioned himself between her legs, his hardness pressing against her, the sensation a new and foreign one.

Yukino's hands came to rest on his chest, her fingers gripping his skin as he entered her, the pain of her innocence a biting contrast to the pleasure that soon followed. She cried out, her body tensing, tears welling in her eyes.

Nozomi paused, his eyes filled with concern, his touch gentle as he waited for her to adjust to the invasion. Yukino's body began to relax, the discomfort giving way to an intoxicating sensation.

He began to move, his thrusts slow and deliberate, her body rising to meet each one. Yukino's moans grew louder, her body bucking to meet each invasion.

The pain began to fade, the pleasure building within her. Her voice was a husky whisper in his ear, a plea for him to give her more, to push her further into the abyss of passion.

"More..."

Nozomi complied, his movements becoming rougher, more demanding. Yukino's cries filled the room, her body convulsing as her orgasm swept over her, her walls gripping him tightly.

In the throes of her release, Nozomi couldn't hold back any longer. He buried himself deep within her, his seed filling her, the intensity of his climax overwhelming.

Both of them collapsed, their bodies intertwined, their hearts pounding in unison. Yukino lay there, her body spent, her mind reeling from the experience.

Nozomi pulled her close, his hand stroking her hair, a sense of pride and protection emanating from him. Yukino, for her part, clung to him, her body still quivering from the intensity of their lovemaking.

Their connection had grown, a new level of intimacy forged through the heat of their passion. Yukino's frailty made another round impossible, but the emotional satisfaction was enough to leave them both satisfied, their hearts forever entwined.

.........

They say life is like a game—filled with unexpected events, critical decisions, and the occasional overpowered protagonist.

And tonight, for Nozomi, it was like unlocking a hidden route after completing the affection side quest.

He had originally planned to be patient with Yukino, to wait until after the engagement ceremony to cross that line. But he hadn't anticipated her to be the one to surprise him by agreeing to Yuki Suo's plan.

Yukino Yukinoshita, the frosty queen of Sobu, had willingly lowered her walls.

Nozomi hadn't stood a chance.

After heartfelt confessions and tearful truths, the emotional dam burst. What followed was natural, tender, and filled with the gentle passion only those bound by real feelings could share.

That night, Yukino gave herself to him completely.

Nozomi, internally, began calculating how to clean the aftermath.

Should he ask Frieren or Fern to use cleaning magic on the bedsheets?

…Or would that be too embarrassing?

When morning light finally began to trickle into the room, soft and golden, Yuki Suo quietly crept out from under Mashiro's arm and tiptoed her way back into her own room.

Wait, why was Mashiro Shiina even in Nozomi's room to begin with?

Well, that answer was simple—Mashiro was a cat-like creature by habit and affection. She had a strange attachment to Nozomi and often sneaked into his bed like a content feline.

But Yuki Suo didn't mind.

After all, if it made her precious Nii-san happy, she had no complaints. Besides, Mashiro was adorably strange and undeniably talented—a world-class painter, to boot. She would be useful to her brother one day.

As Suo returned to her room, she paused at the door. Inside, she saw the serene scene of Yukino and Nozomi curled up together, lost in the peace of sleep.

She pouted slightly.

Sure, her brother looked content and calm.

But why did her own chest feel so... sour?

Still, Yukinoshita owed her big time for this.

She better not forget it.