Uneasy daily life

I don't have any dreams.

The mundane words flashed through my mind.

Yukino's chest heaved violently. Wait... My older sister is the perfect superhero, the child who pleases our mother the most. My older sister has already started learning the work at home.

I expressed my interests and ideas and received my mother's approval—did my mother approve of me, or did my ideas align with my mother's wishes, which is why they were approved?

Wipe away the joy of being recognized; in the end, isn't it just me and my sister fighting for the inheritance?!

Does my sister have no dreams, or am I trying to take them away from her?

I don't understand, I really don't understand. What is my sister thinking? What is my mother thinking? What is my father thinking?

What am I thinking about?

Calm down, calm down, it's all fake, it's all hallucinations caused by a fungal infection.

That's right, it's all fake, it's all a misunderstanding.

Yukino Yukinoshita is withdrawn.

Hey, it's temporarily evolved from a snow runner into a snow turtle.

Bai Ying was not surprised by this. After all, he was just a novice hero. It was too easy for him to fall into the mist under the control of this max-level demon king. In the end, the hero only suffered the aftereffects.

Oh dear, Auntie's opinion of herself has probably plummeted to rock bottom.

After all, Auntie is the type who likes to be easygoing. If you go along with her, you'll find that she's easy to talk to. But if you go against her, she'll start yelling and complaining. Not to mention, this kind of behavior of an outsider pointing fingers at your family's affairs.

Because the aunt is very confident and has successful experience, she would never accept the criticism of an 'outsider'.

Unless Auntie experiences a failure... People who have never fallen will always mistakenly believe they are geniuses.

Brave Sister, take it slow, simmer it over low heat, season it with anger. Since you lack the courage and strength to fight back, then protest with despair and pain.

There is only one Frostmourne; you must exert all your strength to even scratch its surface.

"...Niece, isn't there something wrong with your luck?"

Bai Ying looked at Chitanda Eru, who had once again stepped on a choice grid, and couldn't help but ponder.

"No! It's okay!" Chitanda Eru shouted in her heart, raising her hand to throw the dice. "As long as I succeed—oh! It's 12!"

Bai Ying said, "Due to your identity card ability, the judgment is -2, so the actual value is 10 points. But don't be in such a hurry, you haven't drawn your choice card yet."

"Oh right, um... should I roll the dice again?"

"No need for that—come on, let's draw a card."

Chitanda Eru reached out and pulled out a card, flashing it briefly: "Uh... love?"

"Choice of Love Successfully Completed".

Bai Ying calmly weaves a story: "Your energy is poured into your increasingly decadent hometown, with occasional successes and failures. You haven't given much thought to marriage, repeatedly putting it off. Your parents, worried about you, suggest finding you a suitable partner within their social circle. You understand this, but also insist that you must make your own judgment—you've made up your mind to change this place with your future. If your partner can't understand or agree with this, then it's destined to end badly."

"Fortunately, during the blind date arranged by your parents, you met a man of suitable age who understood your thoughts and intentions. You got along very well and, with each interaction, he chose you, and you chose him."

"Although the other party has his own career, pursuits and family responsibilities and cannot abandon them to come to Zhenchu, he offered to work hard outside to support your idea. This approach was approved by you, and eventually you became a couple who were separated by distance and rarely saw each other, but got along harmoniously. Considering the environment and the advanced age of his parents, the other party also sent his parents to Zhenchu ​​to live out their retirement."

"Each turn you are in battle grants you 2000 more wealth."

Chitanda Eru patted her chest reassuringly: "Yeah, I feel like if we do it a few more times, we can turn the negative returns back up."

Yukino asked, "Oh? If this love card fails, what kind of story will Shiro make up?"

“If it fails, it means that neither party has developed much affection for the other, and it’s just a business transaction. They understand each other but don’t support each other, and it’s just a way to appease their elders’ marriage. Zhenchu’s wealth will only increase by 1000,” Bai Ying said casually. “If it fails miserably, it means that my niece insisted on staying in Zhenchu’s standards, completely dissuading anyone her parents chose. Because of the wasted energy on the marriage, she made a mistake in her decision, resulting in Zhenchu ​​losing wealth.”

Yukino Yukino pouted: "How come it wasn't for the sake of the family's interests that you married me off like I was being sold? Is Haku-kun being biased?"

"Huh? That's definitely not going to happen." Chitanda Eru asked curiously, "My father and mother wouldn't choose a bad person for me to marry, and I definitely wouldn't agree to marrying someone and leaving the battleground."

Yukinoshita Haruno fell silent.

"As for marriage in the future, if I want to stay in Jinde, it would be more normal not to get married in the end... Besides, it's just a game after all."

Chitanda Eru shook her head slightly, a little melancholy in her eyes—Oreki-kun is so amazing, perhaps he wouldn't want to stay in such a narrow, remote place with no future... The outside world is so dazzling, so beautiful, so bustling and lively.

But it doesn't matter. Before I return to this land, I will face Oreki and get his answer.

"If it's a great success, it means that someone is willing to stay on this land for you, breathe the air of this land with you, and support your dreams and determination."

Bai Ying chuckled and handed the dice to Oreki Houtarou: "It's your turn to act, Oreki Houtarou."

"..."

Chitanda...getting married?

Houtarou Oreki took the dice, somewhat bewildered.

That's normal, right? Marriage is a choice in life, and everyone will have that day sooner or later. Parents will urge you to get married. Just pick someone who isn't too demanding, preferably someone as energy-efficient as me. Of course, it's better not to look for someone even more energy-efficient...

In that sense, I am resistant to marriage.

What about Chitanda? She doesn't seem to be... Yes, she's always been so proactive, facing all problems head-on, even if her impulsive ideas lead to a lot of trouble.

On the surface, she appears to be a well-bred young lady, but in reality, she possesses both courage and recklessness, and is always shrouded in a lot of questions.

She would never run away.

Wait—calm down, this is Bai Ying's trap.

Houtarou Oreki throws the dice.

“Oreki-kun has stepped on an event tile.” Shiro asked with a smile, “Do you want to use your ability to skip it? Ah, I know you will definitely skip it, so let’s skip it.”

Houtarou Oreki opened his mouth, then remained silent.

In this game, you've already missed your chance. Trying to make amends or having regrets will only torment both of you.

The unspoken words seemed to echo in my heart again and again.

bother.

Houtarou Oreki unconsciously reached up and touched his bangs, staring blankly at the entire game map.

This is a trap deliberately set by Bai Ying... You need to stay calm and not overthink things...

Chitanda won't run away; if she's going to get married, she'll take it seriously.

No, no, this is just a game. To draw such a hasty conclusion is simply absurd.

Chitanda won't run away—so, will you run away? If you choose to give up, she will fly far away.

I wasn't running away, I was saving energy.

Are you energy-efficient now?

Houtarou Oreki raised his hand to his forehead—stop thinking about it, really stop thinking about it... The gray youth I admire, understand, and want to have... If I keep thinking about it, I'll really crack.

"..."

Hachiman Hikigaya's eyes flickered slightly, showing a sense of shared misfortune.

Oreki's life as a gamer has come to an end.

Another soul has been lost among the minister's subordinates.

Chapter 115 The Finale, Overture

My mother passed away peacefully under the snow.

Once the fire is raging, all past events, riches and honors, and the successes and failures of a lifetime will be reduced to ashes.

Of all those who were supposed to attend the funeral, only one person did not come.

That person is also the least likely to come.

Yukino Yukinoshita greeted and saw off the guests who came to pay their respects with politeness. She had already put her hair up and was wearing a more dignified kimono. Many of her mother's acquaintances were quite saddened and remarked with emotion that she looked just like her mother.

Does she look a lot like her mother?

After seeing off all the guests, Yukino Yukinoshita looked at the photo of her mother when she was young in the funeral hall. Even in the end, she seemed not to understand her mother, her sister, or why her sister had spent her whole life targeting her mother for decades afterward.

She would always sabotage her mother's plans and always put her mother's ideas into practice.

She once wanted to see her sister, to talk, to tell her the truth about the treasure... Her sister's resentment and dissatisfaction were probably directed at her, right? But the twists and turns of time and life, and the other party's silent attitude, meant that she never got to see her sister.

She once wanted to ask her mother why the so-called treasure was her father's inheritance, and whether she had overlooked something. But in the end, she didn't have the courage to speak. No matter how much she achieved, no matter how many failures and successes she experienced, in front of her mother, she was still just that little girl.

Even when she felt joy at receiving approval, even when her mother was only urging her to get married rather than arranging one, and seemed to want her to pursue her own path without being too strict, even when she often clashed with her sister, her mother always appeared gentle yet authoritative.

What did my mother want? What did my sister want? What did I want? Time has buried all the answers, and the truth can never be found again.

Upon realizing my mother's passing, a profound emptiness welled up inside me.

Ah... I seem to have been trying so hard to meet my mother's expectations all along. Was I, was I dependent on her? The direction she gave, the advice she offered, the hopes she held—was it because I depended on her that I dared not utter any dissenting voices, and that I rejoiced at receiving praise and recognition?

My father passed away, my mother passed away, and my older sister left.

Yukino Yukinoshita, who else can you rely on to give you direction and answers?

"I have no idea……"

Yukino Yukinoshita gazed at the bright sky, but even the most intense sunlight could not dispel the gloom in her heart.

She had a strong premonition.

My life is destined to be a failure.

More than ten years later.

A world-class tycoon walks hand in hand down the streets of her hometown; now she's just an old woman nearing 100.

After her mother's death, Yukino Yukinoshita's life consisted of nothing but working, earning money, and continuing her mother's dying wish to support the family.

Sometimes, when I think back to my childhood, I feel both annoyed by my mother's control and longing for her approval. In the end, I gained her approval, inherited my father's estate, and got everything—but has my mother really passed away? Occasionally, I wake up in the middle of the night with a start, as if I can still hear my mother's expectations in my ears.

Chewing away the dregs in your heart until they're warm is enough to get you through another day of doing nothing.

I vaguely sensed that my time was coming to an end, but I also felt a sense of relief that it was finally over.

Yukino Yukinoshita rubbed her hands, which were no longer smooth and white, but resembled withered yellow tree bark. She subconsciously turned her head to look to the side.

There stood an elderly woman, still very elegant despite her advanced age. Her white hair was tied in a bun, and she wore a kimono that accentuated her upright posture. Her eyes were gentle yet profound.

……Mother?

Yukino Yukinoshita was momentarily dazed. She subconsciously stepped forward, reached out and gently pushed open the glass door, only to find that it was just her own reflection.

This is a strange ramen shop; its name is "Ninety-Seven-Year-Old Shop".

"Guest, welcome."

The middle-aged ramen shop owner greeted customers, "What would you like to eat... Um, I don't sell porridge here..."

"My teeth are fine, I can eat noodles."

Yukino Yukinoshita felt this place looked familiar. She subconsciously chose a seat and said, "I'll have a bowl of tonkotsu ramen, please..."

Ugh! What's the point of eating the same flavor all the time? Try this super high-fat ramen!

"If you eat one bowl, you might turn into a piglet. Sister, order some yourself if you want..."

Hmm! Is this old man mentally unstable? What is he muttering about while facing an empty seat?

The ramen shop owner was a little scared, so while making noodles, he quickly changed the subject: "It's amazing that you, an elderly lady, still have teeth to come and eat ramen. I'm only in my forties and I've already had several dental implants..."

Yukino Yukinoshita casually replied, "It's probably because everyone's constitution is different... This shop of yours looks kind of familiar to me..."

"Hehe, this is a shop passed down from my grandfather. It's almost a century-old shop, just three years away from being renamed." The ramen uncle said proudly. "It's been open for so long, maybe the old man came here sometime in the past."

Yukino Yukinoshita didn't reply, she seemed a little lost in thought.

"It's true that people's constitutions are different. Last year, an old lady came to eat ramen."

The ramen shop owner chatted casually, "That old lady ordered extra-strong flavored ramen today, adding garlic and chili oil to it. I was watching her very carefully, worried about something going wrong, but I didn't expect her to have such a good appetite and teeth; she actually finished the whole bowl of noodles..."

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly asked, "And then what happened?"

"And then? Then the old lady said, 'The memories here taste so good.' Before I could even figure out what was going on, she passed away. Come to think of it, she was sitting right across from you at the time." The ramen shop owner sighed. "Luckily, the hospital examination showed that she died of natural causes. Otherwise, the family business would probably have gone out of business in my hands."