The atmosphere in the bathroom once again seemed on the verge of turning into a full-on "battle," but Megumi wasn't particularly concerned.

For one thing, she was already used to the way those two interacted—constantly bickering.

For another…

She had her own thoughts weighing on her mind.

The bathtub was wide enough, but with the three of them inside, it felt just full enough. Through the crystal-clear water, she could see three pairs of pale, beautiful legs shifting and crossing beneath the surface—white and flawless, like she'd seen in the living room earlier.

Megumi sat on the right side; on the left were Yukino and Utaha.

Right before her eyes, their verbal sparring had escalated into Utaha's small foot slipping underwater to gently pinch Yukino's calf.

It was plain to see—Yukino's expression instantly turned as cold as midwinter, sharp enough to bite.

Utaha, on the other hand, acted as if nothing had happened, speaking in a leisurely tone.

"Yukinoshita, are you upset?"

"Do you enjoy trouble, Senpai?" Yukino replied icily.

"Why so serious? I was only playing a harmless little prank between friends," Utaha said.

Perhaps Yukino simply didn't want to start a fight here, or maybe it was because there was someone else present. Either way, she merely shot Utaha a frosty glance before closing her eyes again, as if to focus on enjoying the comfort of the bath.

Megumi watched it all, and her own mood began to shift once more.

From the way the two bickered and slipped in those little underwater jabs, Megumi was almost certain—their relationship wasn't nearly as bad as it looked on the surface.

In fact, it was the opposite. They were very close.

They just had a way of interacting that didn't match most people's idea of "normal."

Megumi quietly drew in a deep breath.

Their relationship's already at this level? Given Yukinoshita's usual style, the fact that she hasn't shoved Senpai Utaha's head underwater right now is practically an act of mercy.

Scene after scene like this made a thought begin to take shape in her mind:

Could it be… these two have… been with Amamiya-kun?

It was such a shocking idea she almost laughed at herself.

She didn't know the history between Yukino and Utaha. She wasn't nearly as close to Yukino as Utaha was, and had no idea how deep things actually ran.

Still, one thing was obvious—Haru had definitely put in "careful effort" to get them to this point.

Even from what she'd personally seen, Haru often acted as the perfect high-aggro boss monster, pulling both of their attention toward him, letting their irritation with him dissolve whatever friction was between them.

And what she hadn't seen… was probably even more telling.

"Kato."

Yukino's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

Megumi looked over.

Yukino's tone was calm. "Did my sister leave right after dropping off the things today?"

"Mm. She left in a hurry, before Amamiya-kun and I even got home," Megumi replied.

Yukino's eyes flickered with a trace of doubt.

From the side, Utaha—still leaning back with her eyes closed—spoke lazily, "Is that really worth asking? If Ms. Haruno went out of her way to bring gifts for you and him, that just means she cares about you both."

"That's not something I need you to remind me of," Yukino said flatly.

"Then why ask?"

"Because I know my sister. If she came all the way to find Haru, she'd normally stay for dinner."

"Maybe she had something else to do? You did mention once that Ms. Haruno is being groomed to take over your family. If that's the case, she's probably busier than any of us."

"…Maybe."

The conversation continued, one sentence at a time, back and forth between Yukino and Utaha.

Megumi just watched them in silence.

She didn't mention Haruno's earlier "onii-chan" moment of public embarrassment.

From her perspective, it had just been a joke—a big sister's harmless mischief—until she happened to walk in and catch it. Then, after she'd casually delivered the finishing blow, Haruno had clearly lost the mood to come over afterward.

What Megumi was more interested in… was the nature of Yukino and Utaha's relationship.

Have the two of them really been… together?

If they had, she wasn't sure she could even keep her expression under control.

After a moment's thought, she asked casually, "Utaha Senpai, which room are you sleeping in tonight?"

Utaha answered in the same easy tone, "I'll share the bedroom with Yukino. You take the guest room."

Yukino didn't object.

Megumi tapped her chin as if mulling it over. "You two really do get along well."

Utaha cracked one eye open with a lazy smile. "Get along? If I sleep here, Yukino picks a fight with me almost every day."

"If you didn't provoke me, do you think I'd even bother acknowledging you?" Yukino frowned.

Megumi cut in suddenly, "So what you're saying is—you have the kind of relationship where, even if you argue every time you meet, you can still peacefully share the same room?"

Both Yukino and Utaha froze for a second.

The words didn't quite match—'arguing' and 'peaceful' shouldn't belong in the same sentence.

But Megumi had said it as if it were perfectly natural.

Utaha looked faintly surprised.

Yukino studied her for several seconds, a bold thought suddenly forming in her mind.

She stared intently at Megumi's face, flushed pink from the hot water, trying to read some trace of her emotions.

Unfortunately for her, Megumi had smoothed her expression before even asking the question.

After three seconds of silent eye contact, Yukino turned away and said evenly, "That's not entirely wrong. While I dislike certain things Senpai does, when it comes to serious matters, I don't mind working with her."

Serious matters? Does that include the two of you being together… or are you just talking about club activities and the like?

Megumi couldn't be sure.

But now that Yukino had answered, pressing further would only give herself away.

Utaha didn't seem to think too deeply about it. Her lips curved. "So Yukino, you think so highly of me after all?"

Yukino ignored her, closing her eyes again.

The bathroom grew quiet once more.

Megumi looked calm, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Utaha idly scooped water into her hands, let it slip through her fingers, then absently toyed with her wet hair. Just before she closed her eyes, her gaze sharpened—ever so slightly.

When the bath was over, Megumi was the first to put on her robe. She stood before the mirror, adjusting her damp hair, her gaze flicking toward Yukino and Utaha as they toweled themselves dry.

"I'm heading out first," she said softly, and turned to leave.

The bathroom door shut behind her.

Utaha's hands stilled mid-motion. Her voice dropped. "She knows something, doesn't she?"

"Oh? So you noticed too? I thought you were too busy soaking to care," Yukino replied with her usual bite.

Utaha wasn't in the mood to trade jabs. "She hid it well, but on any other day, she'd never ask those kinds of questions."

This time, Yukino didn't mock her. Her voice was calm. "She's just speculating."

"I don't want her speculating," Utaha said.

Yukino didn't disagree.

After all, that sort of thing was far too embarrassing.

Even if it wasn't their first time, just remembering it made her cheeks burn.

Bending down to slip on her underwear, Yukino shot Utaha a cold reminder.

"Behave yourself tonight."

Utaha gave her a sidelong glance, amused.

"I'm not stupid enough to hand Megumi proof in the middle of the night."

"Good." Yukino let the matter drop.

Both girls knew that, now that Megumi was suspicious, there was a fair chance she'd be "staking out" the situation later.

Yukino's self-control was impeccable—she could promise she wouldn't launch any midnight attacks.

Utaha, though… Yukino wasn't so sure about.

It wasn't that she thought Utaha was particularly lustful—it was just that whenever the senior got the urge to savor her flustered, angry expression, she would say something outrageous and then follow through, just like always.

That was what Yukino found most infuriating.

She could tell—every time they "played in co-op mode," Utaha's voice would waver with embarrassment, yet she still insisted on acting bold, as though going down together somehow gave her satisfaction.

Yukino could even guess where Utaha got that attitude—no doubt it was from Haru's favorite saying: If I'm not embarrassed, then the only one embarrassed is you.

"Speaking of which, something just occurred to me," Utaha's voice broke through her thoughts.

Yukino buttoned her pajamas without looking up. "Go on."

Utaha's tone was teasing.

"Megumi used your shampoo and body wash. If she gets up for a drink or to use the bathroom in the dark, do you think Haru might mistake her for you?"

Yukino gave her a look of pure disdain.

"Have you really grown this stupid? Or have you been hanging around that idiot Haru so much you're learning how to be a proper fool?"

The jab was merciless.

Utaha clicked her tongue—it had just been a joke.

When the two of them stepped into the living room, Megumi had already finished blow-drying her hair and was sitting there stroking the cat.

Haru had dragged his laptop over to the couch, looking for all the world like one of those grumpy old men on TV, one hand on the mouse, eyes fixed on the game.

Yukino went off to dry her hair, while Utaha wandered over to Haru, peeking at his screen.It was one of those silly little games you always saw in ads—your character walks along, gets presented with two options, and you pick one to move forward.

"You're playing this kind of game now?" she bent down, leaning in beside him.

"I was bored. They're fine for killing time now and then—provided you don't have to pay to keep playing."

"I've seen these in ads," Utaha said. "Most of them are fake as hell."

Haru was about to reply when he turned his head and froze for a moment—her robe was barely tied, revealing the smooth line of her collarbone and the pale curve of her shoulder.

His gaze dropped, unbidden, to where the hem failed to cover the rest of her legs, white skin gleaming under the warm light.

And then a small hand appeared in his vision, fingers pinching the hem of the robe, as if ready to lift it at any moment.

Haru looked up to meet her eyes—full of mischief.

The look clearly said: Want to see?

Of course he did.

But this was so obviously one of Utaha's little teases, he wasn't about to take the bait.

So he put on a straight face and returned his attention to the paused game.

"Wanna play?"

"Play what?" Her tone was lazy, her gaze full of invitation.

The words carried a meaning beyond the obvious.

Haru caught the faint, familiar scent of her hair—and noticed that Megumi seemed to be watching them curiously from the couch.

"Video game," he said evenly.

"Oh. No thanks."

Her refusal was instant.

Haru couldn't help flicking her a look that said: You're going to get yourself into trouble like that.

Utaha caught it and answered with a smile that was pure, dangerous charm.

She didn't say anything—but somehow, she said everything.

Hovering right at the edge between charging and being charged.

The next moment, a little ball came sailing through the air.

Perfect arc.

Haru didn't bother to catch it.

It was one of the springy toys Yukino had bought for the orange cat.

And it landed squarely against Utaha's forehead.

She froze for a moment, covering her forehead in surprise, then looked ahead.

Yukino was staring at them expressionlessly.

In one hand, she held a hair dryer; in the other, she was pinching two small balls.

Haru quietly picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Inwardly, he thought, Yukino really is a general.

~~~~~~~~~~

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