I really don't want to be reborn.

It's okay, I can just play with my brother a little longer before we go to a hotel.

Anyway, she was free, happy, and should be happy this Christmas Eve.

Since her brother has agreed, he is unlikely to go back on his word.

On this night that held a certain significance, he declined his romantic evening with his girlfriend and returned to his own side.

Ah, I can't even hope for him to come back to me now.

Even just one night would be fine.

Kirino Kousaka sat in her seat, a happy smile on her face.

When I get off at Shibuya Station, I call my brother and ask him to come find me so we can have dinner together. Then we'll go shopping, and we absolutely have to pass by a jewelry store while we're shopping.

Because there's a scene in the novel where they buy engagement rings, right?

This is what we call research; we have to do the same things.

She was filled with such anticipation and happiness, or rather, she was anticipating happiness. Just as she was about to arrive at Shibuya Station, she received a phone call, and when she saw the arrival card, her happiness took a leap forward...

Then it smashed to pieces!

"Ah, you're going to a hotel with Shiyu-nee... Oh, I see..."

His voice trembled uncontrollably, and his brother's apologetic words on the phone sounded like a buzzing speaker, piercing his eardrums and churning his mind, draining all the color from his face.

She quickly perked up and forced a smile: "It's okay, it's okay, I just... just got on the bus, I'll go back now."

Secretly wiping away her tears, Kirino Kousaka's tone became normal: "Then remember to take precautions. Hey, you silly little sister really embarrassed you. Well... goodbye."

Outside the tram window, snowflakes fluttered wildly, their chaotic dance under the streetlights a poignant spectacle.

She was still sitting there motionless even after they had passed the destination platform.

A few minutes later, her phone rang again. Kirino seemed to snap out of her daze and answered with anticipation, "Hello..."

The next second, the anticipation turned into a bitter smile.

"Black cat..."

We won't call her "Pitch Black," or "Stinky Cat," or "Dead Cat."

Kirino's voice sounded tired. Hearing her friend's clumsy words of comfort, she forced a smile: "It's okay. Maybe I've gotten used to it."

The wind and snow outside were getting stronger.

She got off the train at a random station and didn't immediately return.

I want to stay in the snow a little longer.

------

June 6th, oh June 6th!

Is today Hisoka's birthday, or Sensui's birthday...? Or is it Togashi's birthday?

Tomorrow is the college entrance exam, right? Good luck!

Chapter Thirty-Three: Slowly, Gently

"How is Kosaka's sister? What did she say on the phone?"

In the Sawamura family's art studio, after putting down her phone, the black cat suddenly heard this question.

Eriri Sawamura, who seemed indifferent to her surroundings, had been listening to her and Kirino's conversation and was very concerned and curious about it.

They were watching anime with Bridget, but they only decided to draw something because they weren't really interested in Meruru.

The black cat was still a little confused: "That guy... that guy seemed to have let go, much calmer than I expected. There was none of the roaring and crying I anticipated."

Kirino's composure exceeded her expectations.

However, considering that Kirino often competed with Kasumigaoka Utaha for his affections and frequently failed, Kuroneko felt relieved.

Is it really as that guy said, that you've gotten used to it?

perhaps.

After a long silence, Eriri Sawamura picked up her paintbrush again: "I think it's alright. The younger sister of the Kousaka family is the kind of person who is very outstanding in school. It's not a bad thing for such a person to encounter some hardships."

The girl with twin tails spoke seriously, but her serious words sounded like self-mockery: "Hardship makes people mature, just like the plum blossoms in this season—is she really alright?"

"She should be fine. She said she's on her way back."

"That's fine, that's fine."

The two fell silent, suppressing their conversation in the quiet.

The only sounds in the room were Meruru's voice and Bridget's loud, imitative noises.

Eriri Sawamura glanced at the night outside the window, wondering how much snow was falling. Her thoughts drifted, and she thought of Kasumigaoka Utaha's rather inelegant sleeping posture.

A half-exposed nightgown reveals the skin, which is what is known as snowflake white.

She turned around and saw the black cat staring blankly out the window. Suddenly, she smiled mischievously and said, "You like Kyosuke Kousaka, you know that, right?"

"..."

The usual way to ask this is—So-and-so likes you, you know that, right?

Now Eriri is acting out of character, directly asking – Do you know that you like someone?

That's a really hard question to answer.

At least the black cat's pupils dilated, his mind a jumble of thoughts, a chaotic mess of thoughts, meeting Eriri's ambiguous gaze. He had initially wanted to play dumb, but now he remained silent in acquiescence.

That silence is actually a form of resistance, which is both endearing and pitiful.

Sawamura started the conversation, taking off his glasses: "And your best friend loves the person you like."

The black cat noticed the choice of words: "Love?"

"It's love."

For some unknown reason, Eriri suddenly became an emotional commentator: "His sister loves him—Kasumigaoka told me herself. Tsk, even I, as an outsider, feel heavy about this kind of emotion."

She paused for a moment: "Do you remember Kirino Kousaka's expression at this summer's comic? To be honest, if Kasumigaoka Utaha wasn't my best friend, I would choose..."

The black cat avoided her gaze: "None of that concerns you, Eriri."

"Yes."

Eriri laughed self-deprecatingly: "But if there were such a thing as if, I would definitely support my sister's comeback, because her courage moves me."

"Oh, is that so?"

"For this winter's comics event, I'm submitting an original sibling doujinshi. And because of that, that woman, Kasumigaoka Utaha—"

When it came to the shameful incident of being wantonly humiliated by her best friend, Eriri Sawamura showed no other expression except for a cold laugh.

Indeed, the story that Eriri Sawamura is going to have printed tomorrow is an erotic story about a brother and sister, with both erotic and tear-jerking moments, which is quite rare.

It only just dawned on Kuroko that the younger sister created by Eriri Sawamura... seemed to be somewhat similar to Kirino in many ways.

And Kousaka Kyosuke's intelligence—

In front of her brother, all her fierce and aggressive behavior was just a cover-up—even the black cat understood this, so it was impossible for Kyosuke Kousaka not to understand it.

Even if he didn't understand before, after this plagiarism incident, Kirino must have presented him with all the evidence.

After sighing over the awkward siblings, Eriri Sawamura steered the conversation back to the beginning: "And then, it's not surprising that you like Kuroneko-chan."

Eriri Sawamura, a self-proclaimed expert in love but a heartbroken loser—no, a woman who failed in her unrequited love—seems to have embarked on the path of hosting a relationship talk show on Christmas Eve.

She no longer cares much about people making fun of her failed relationship.

Perhaps, there is no one in this world who can't let go of someone.

Sometimes, restricting oneself is just an excuse for something else, or it may be a way of enjoying the pain.

Is Eriri Sawamura the former or the latter?

"Don't you believe I can tell? Well, people's troubles usually revolve around three things."

One is career, one is relationships, and one is illness.

"I think the most likely reason is relationships. If there are problems with family and relatives, you won't have the time to come to Tokyo to make doujinshi. So I think it's either friendship or... love."

If the background music from Detective Conan were playing right now, that would be amazing. Ms. Sawamura glanced almost imperceptibly at the books on emotional analysis on the corner of the table, ready to put her newfound knowledge to use.

"If it were a friendship, you would probably complain a little, but love is the one thing you're most embarrassed to say out loud—don't look at me like that. Anyway, there's nothing between you and Kosaka, so just be true to yourself."

The black cat lowered its head and drew a pig's head with pigtails on the drawing board, casually mocking itself: "What if I feel guilty?"

Two hours later, the black cat called Kirino with great concern, but no one answered. After several unsuccessful attempts, she gritted her teeth and dialed the Kousaka family's home phone.

"She didn't go home."

…………

Inside a love hotel room, a couple is embracing.

The girl smelled quite nice after taking a shower. Apart from the scent of her menstrual blood, this was the scent he was least familiar with.

Kyosuke Kosaka was very fond of the girl in his arms, and along with his male hormones, a few thoughts were also rising within him.

Emotion and desire are unified at this moment.

Based on his limited practical experience, he believed that when engaging in reproductive activities with a woman he loved to the core, the period of restraint would be relatively short.

If he is a virgin, he may also be unable to achieve a full erection due to nervousness.

He felt the latter was unlikely, because that would be somewhat embarrassing.

"Xiao Shi, take off your clothes?"

"...Turn off the lights first."

"Can't I have a proper look at it?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked into his eyes, her slightly reproachful and shy gaze reflecting the boy's bright eyes and gentle smile.

Kyosuke Kosaka turned off the light and took off her nightgown.

In the deep darkness, only a faint white body could be seen, the place where I had hastily embraced and caressed long ago, a place I had fantasized about many times in my life when I was bored.