Yukino had always been strong-willed, and her resilience was remarkable.
Whether it was mental toughness or physical flexibility, she was at the top tier.
She had plenty of past experiences proving that no matter how determined she was, the outcome would always be the same—she'd end up losing, and fast.
Yet today, she was still full of courage.
Though, in the end, the result remained unchanged.
Another swift defeat.
Another one of her loss.
This time, a twin-tail defeat.
Now, her face was burning red as she curled up completely under the thin blanket.
From beside her, Haru's voice drifted over, calm and composed."You don't have any filming today, right? Then you should take the chance to rest properly."
Yukino stared at him in disbelief, biting her lip. "You're not tired?"
"I'm actually exhausted, but I'm forcing myself to act cool. It's more impressive that way."
"You're a terrible liar."
"That obvious?"
"..."
Yukino clutched the blanket tighter, slowly pulling it over her flushed face.
She had no idea how to respond anymore.
Messing around with him in broad daylight was already bad enough.The real tragedy? Her performance was just as humiliating as before.
What was the point of all my training if this is how things turn out?!
For the first time, Yukino began doubting herself.
She and Haru had always believed in one fundamental rule: "Books and exercise will never betray you."
Yet now, despite growing more and more skilled in certain things, she found no improvement in herself whatsoever.
No—wait.
Maybe the problem wasn't her.
Maybe it was him.
His stamina had improved at such an absurd rate that he had left her in the dust.
The thought alone made her feel even more defeated.
Unaware of her inner turmoil, Haru spoke gently beside her. "I'll make lunch. You just rest."
Yukino's face grew even hotter. "I'm not that weak."
"I know. I just mean you should take it easy—"
"I can still fight."
"Huh?"
Yukino, refusing to admit defeat, once again displayed her courage and determination.
This time, she lost even faster.
In the end, she gave up entirely and burrowed under the covers, refusing to come out.
"Adorable." A certain someone laughed beside her.
Yukino had no strength left to argue.
She had almost begged for mercy just now!
And yet, he still looked completely fine.
"Just how do you train?"
Her muffled voice came from beneath the blanket.
"I already told you, didn't I? Last time, I made it clear—I'm invincible now."
"Hah. Still so full of yourself." Yukino scoffed, unwilling to believe him.
"Hah. Still so stubborn." Haru mimicked her tone perfectly.
She was instantly speechless.
This time, she was truly exhausted.
Even sitting up felt impossible.
The worst part? She had actually enjoyed it.
"Get some rest for now... Oh, right, you didn't bring a change of clothes, did you? Want me to go to your place and grab some?" Haru offered, ever thoughtful.
He still has the energy to fetch my clothes?
"No need," Yukino muttered, defeated. "I'll just wear a bathrobe after I shower."
For now, she would retreat.
No—more accurately, she had no choice but to retreat.
"Alright then, rest up. Later, if you're interested, I can give you a massage."
"Massage?"
"Yeah. I recently learned a new technique. It'll help relieve your fatigue."
"...Okay."
Yukino didn't even bother to ask whether it was a proper massage.
She was too exhausted to care.
Besides, knowing him, he wouldn't tease her when she was this drained.
At the very least, he'd wait until she had recovered.
That was her last thought before she suddenly felt the blanket being lifted.
Before she could react, Haru pulled her into his arms.
"Just for a little while." He murmured.
Yukino closed her eyes, shifting slightly until she found a comfortable position, resting her head against his chest.
She couldn't deny it—she had grown quite fond of the warmth that followed their moments together.
After resting for over half an hour, Yukino finally felt somewhat recovered and got up to head to the bathroom.
She had always been particular about cleanliness, and after sweating more than once, the discomfort on her skin was unbearable.
By the time she stepped out of the shower, Haru had already changed into fresh clothes and was waiting for her in the living room, blow dryer in hand.
Freshly bathed, Yukino's fragrance was more pronounced than usual—delicate yet cool and refreshing. Her skin was as smooth as jade, and the glimpse of her collarbone peeking out from the bathrobe was like a crystal-clear spring, captivating enough to steal one's breath.
There was no need for words between them; their understanding was instinctive. Yukino sat down naturally, and Haru took his place behind her, carefully running his fingers through her damp hair.
"You really didn't hear the police sirens last night?"
She wasn't eager to continue their previous conversation, so she took the initiative to change the subject.
"I think I did, but I didn't really pay attention."
Haru's response was half-truth, half-lie. He had indeed heard the sirens on his way home, but he hadn't given them much thought.
"There were a lot of police cars out last night—something big must have happened. But I searched the news this morning and didn't find anything worth noting."
At that, a faint trace of doubt appeared on Yukino's bare face.
"You must have seen the news about Koji, right?" Haru asked with a smirk.
Yukino's eyelids twitched, clearly reluctant to discuss it. "Yeah."
Haru could already guess what she was thinking. "Those videos were... quite something. But at least he's famous now."
"I think he bought the trending spot himself," Yukino said coolly. "Of course, he's already built up a decent following online. It's not surprising that he'd go viral."
Haru chuckled, but he didn't mention the message he had received that morning from Mrs. Yukinoshita.
She was the one who made it trending.
According to her, since she knew about Haru's collaboration with Koji, she decided to use his popularity to divert attention from the 'Hooded Man' incident. The timing was simply convenient.
Once Yukino's hair was dry, they moved to the living room.
She sat on the couch, one hand gently cradling an orange cat while the other tapped away on the laptop resting on the coffee table.
The laptop belonged to Haru, but she had borrowed it to organize her thoughts, making notes to later post on her social media.
Haru's gaze drifted to her bare legs beneath the bathrobe, smooth and fair. After a moment of observation, he commented, "I was right, after all."
"What?" Yukino glanced at him in confusion.
"Your legs are already so pale. Wearing skin colored stockings actually takes away from their appeal."
"You've been sitting quietly all this time, and all you were doing was staring at my legs?"
"It's not just staring—it's appreciating."
"Well, thank you for your appreciation. Now kindly restrain yourself."
With that, Yukino refocused on her screen, typing occasionally, pausing now and then to think.
Haru took the hint and didn't interrupt her.
A little while later, Yukino finished her work. She shifted the cat to her other arm and turned to Haru. "I recall that Kasumigaoka-senpai has pretty nice legs too. You never sneaked a look?"
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Haru knew this was a trap—a surefire way to get himself into trouble.
Yukino gave him a knowing smirk. "Your survival instincts are kicking in already? I barely started questioning you, and you're too afraid to answer?"
Haru laughed awkwardly. "Let's talk about something else."
Yukino didn't press the issue. Instead, she turned to stare at the blank television screen and murmured, "I do get jealous, you know."
Haru opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, she cut him off.
"If you're about to apologize, don't bother."
She ran her fingers through the cat's fur a couple of times before setting it down beside her. Her voice was calm, yet tinged with complexity.
"I've already made my choice and my decision. There's no need for you to keep apologizing."
Haru had no rebuttal.
Yukino met his gaze again. "Have you figured out how to deal with my parents yet? And yours?"
"Not really," he admitted with an awkward shake of his head.
She let out a soft "Oh" before chuckling. "So you're still the same as before… What was it you said back then? 'Do as you wish, I accept my fate'?"
Her laughter was laced with amusement. "Should I call you brave?"
"Save the compliments for later. Let me give you a massage first."
"…Why is that always on your mind?"
Yukino sighed, but her resistance was half-hearted. As if resigning herself to his whims, she swept her hair aside and asked, "Should I lie down?"
"Yeah, lie down over here. I'll start with your head."
Haru gestured toward the side of the couch, where the orange cat was curled up. "You—get off!"
The cat let out a confused meow.
Haru waved his hand.
This time, the cat seemed to understand and lazily hopped down.
Yukino watched the interaction in mild surprise. "Now that I think about it, it knows how to use the litter box on its own, and it never scratches the couch or bed. Did you train it?"
"Do you want me to tell you that I am a beast tamer?"
"Great, this conversation is over."
She refused to give him any chance to make a fool of himself.
Haru wasn't joking, though. He had actually used his [Teaching] skill to train the cat.
But cats, unlike dogs, weren't naturally obedient. He could only teach it basic things. Having it follow complex commands like a well-trained dog? Even he couldn't pull that off.
Draped in nothing but a bathrobe, Yukino lay down on the sofa, instinctively pressing her hands against the hem of the robe.
Haru couldn't help but chuckle. "Why are you even covering up? It's not like I haven't seen—okay, okay, I won't make any dirty jokes. Don't glare at me like that."
Yukino flushed red and shot him a sharp look.
At this angle, their eyes met easily.
However, as Haru's fingers gently massaged her temples, she soon lost the will to stay angry.
It felt so good—so soothing.
Like soaking in a hot spring, allowing every muscle to relax completely.
Unconsciously, Yukino closed her eyes, resting the back of her head against his lap, surrendering to the comfort.
"You really did learn this properly," she murmured lazily.
"I'd even say that not even the best masseuse in Tokyo could match my skills."
"Oh?" Yukino responded halfheartedly, assuming he was joking.
But Haru wasn't.
His [Auto-Aim Lv. 6] ability wasn't just for combat—it let him pinpoint the exact spots that melted away tension.
"Now that I'm done with your head, let's move on to your shoulders," Haru said, sounding like a professional.
Yukino instinctively opened her eyes, a bit suspicious. "You're not about to tell me I need to take off my robe, are you?"
"Jeez, can you stop having such dirty thoughts? I'm just massaging your shoulders. You just need to lower it a little."
Watching him sigh in exaggerated exasperation, Yukino huffed and shut her eyes again. With a slight tug, she pulled the bathrobe down, exposing her smooth, fair shoulders.
The moment Haru's hands touched her skin, warmth spread through her body, sinking deeper than before.
Yukino bit her lip. That strange yet familiar feeling rippled through her, bouncing back and forth in her heart—like doing sit-ups, each wave of sensation making her mind a little fuzzier.
This guy… he's seriously too good at this.
Her whole body relaxed, and at some point, her hands had abandoned the hem of her bathrobe, resting naturally at her sides.
"Next up—your legs and waist."
Haru's voice reached her ears.
Yukino's face burned even redder. When she opened her eyes again, they were misty and damp.
She bit her lip, her gaze somewhere between embarrassment and irritation.
Because she knew she had lost.
Another defeat unlocked… she thought bitterly.
As the days passed, online discussions about the "Hooded Hero" started to fade. With no new updates, people's attention gradually waned.
The incident at the Hisada household never made the news—not even a single report.
Two days before the holiday break ended, Haru received an invitation to dinner from Mrs. Yukinoshita. That night, Officer Yuuki joined them as well.
Haru naturally expressed his gratitude for their help.
At 8 PM, after a hearty meal, Officer Yuuki tactfully excused himself, leaving only Haru and Mrs. Yukinoshita in the private dining room.
"Well, now that we're alone," she said, wearing a poised smile that was anything but friendly, "isn't it time for you to come clean?"
Haru nodded solemnly. "Fine. I'll admit it—I'm the incarnation of Homelander."
Mrs. Yukinoshita frowned. "Homelander?" It was clear she had never seen that show.
"In simpler terms… I'm already invincible."
She let out an unimpressed laugh. "Try coming up with a more believable excuse."
Though she had entertained the idea that her daughter's boyfriend might be superhuman, she never seriously considered it.
"Alright, let me think…" Haru pretended to hesitate.
"Take your time," she said, smoothly shifting topics. "Aside from the Hooded Hero, there are quite a few things you've kept from your parents, aren't there?"
Haru blinked. "What makes you think that?"
"Because every time I meet your mother, she gives me the impression that she's still very young."
"Haha, well, she does have a young mindset."
"No, it's because you've been doing a lot for them behind the scenes—protecting them."
"…So you already knew?" Haru feigned surprise.
Mrs. Yukinoshita ignored his act entirely. Crossing her arms, she smiled. "As my daughter's boyfriend, don't you think you should help me out as well?"
"So that's what this is about. Everything before was just a pretext."
"You catch on quick."
"So? What kind of help do you need?"
"You're quite skilled at screenwriting, aren't you? Don't even try to deny it. Your parents' company has produced several hit films."
"Wait, hold on…" Haru raised a hand.
If he wasn't mistaken, his future mother-in-law was planning to step into the entertainment industry?!
Mrs. Yukinoshita read his thoughts effortlessly. "That's right. I want to start a production company."
"Are you sure you'll have the time for that?"
Haru didn't mind helping—she had taken care of him over the years, and this time, she had done him a big favor. He was just curious if she could juggle everything.
"I won't be handling it myself. I'll have Haruno take charge," she said, clearly having planned everything in advance.
Yukino has grown so much under his guidance. With his help, Haruno—who is even more capable—will become even more remarkable.
That was her belief.
She had always excelled in making smart investments.
And just like that, the decision was made.
For his future mother-in-law, Haru was more than willing to lend a hand.
After parting ways, Haru headed home, only to receive a message from Utaha:
"I'd like to learn screenwriting from you. Is that okay?"
Haru glanced at the time. This late at night?
Still, he agreed.
She had mentioned this before but had hesitated until now, likely struggling with her own thoughts.
Or maybe Yukino's presence made her feel guilty and conflicted.
"Didn't expect Senpai to have such a shy side," Haru mused with a chuckle.
Just then, his phone vibrated again.
Another message from Utaha.
Haru opened it—only to be greeted by a photo.
A picture of her legs.
It seemed she was sitting on her bed. Her legs were long, fair, and smooth, looking almost flawless under the soft lighting. Even without nail polish, her delicate toes were like sculpted jade, their natural pink hue resembling spring blossoms in full bloom.
Haru silently saved the image.
Then he read the text that followed.
"Do you like them?"
Haru stared at his screen for a second before sighing.
"I take back what I said. That was my mistake."
He had seriously misjudged her.