Uneasy daily life

"My brat bait, my treasure-dropping incense burner—!"

"I want them all!"

Hachiman Hikigaya remained silent, almost invisible, and quickly followed his sister's lead, running away while glancing back at her.

Something feels off.

Forget it, forget it. Don't meddle in the minister's affairs. You'll just get meddlesome yourself.

“Now that you’ve finished your shrine visit, you young people can go and have some fun,” Yukino’s mother said. “It’s been too cold this year, and the weather forecast says there will be another blizzard in the coming days, so we have to cancel our planned trip.”

Yukino Yukinoshita paused for a moment, then nodded blankly.

Yukinoshita waved her hand: "Alright, alright, you two middle-aged people can go explore on your own."

"Let's go."

Yukinoshita's mother walked away, while Yukinoshita's father glared at the white figure with displeasure before quickly catching up with his wife. He asked with some doubt, "Wife, aren't you going to say you're planning to spend a few days with your father for the New Year?"

"Weather factors were indeed taken into consideration."

Yukinoshita's mother calmly gave a reason, then sighed and added, "Perhaps she was trying to find some justification for her decision."

"This..." Yukinoshita's father coughed, "What are you afraid of? When the time comes, just send that kid out, and he'll be sure to drive your father-in-law crazy."

Yukinoshita's mother glanced at her husband and said, "He doesn't give you a friendly look either."

"It's alright! I just need to have full respect for my father-in-law!" Yukinoshita's father said seriously. "That's a basic skill for a mature man!"

"what……"

Yukinoshita's mother said calmly, "When you were yelling at him that you were impotent, you didn't seem mature or composed at all."

"Cough cough cough! Those are all things from my youthful and impetuous past!"

Please stop talking, my goddess!

Yukinoshita's father glanced around warily. If the rebels found out about this, they might have a reason to raise their banners in rebellion and march to the capital to defend the emperor!

"Ah."

Yukino's mother extended her hand: "Let's go, I want to buy some clothes and books. I've been so busy lately that I haven't even thought about getting Yukino a kimono. It's a real mistake."

"Yukino and Haruno don't seem to like kimonos very much..."

The father muttered something under the snow.

……

……

Two girls in kimonos (?) and a boy with a donation box hanging around his neck, whose identity as either a priest or an extreme heretic (?), walked along the bustling New Year's streets, attracting a bit of attention.

"What do you think of me in a kimono, Mr. Bai?"

Seeing that there were no familiar faces around, Yukino Yukinoshita coughed slightly and asked, then added casually, "You're not allowed to say one thing."

"It feels like I've trapped myself in a cocoon."

Bai Ying complained.

"?"

Yukino Yukinoshita was stunned for a moment, not yet realizing what it meant, when she saw the white figure suddenly raise her hands and shout to the surroundings in a dramatic tone: "Men, women, young and old, everyone! Look at her! Look at her!"

People on the street, who were enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, suddenly heard a shout and instinctively looked in the direction from which the sound came.

"?!"

Yukino Yukinoshita suddenly understood. She subconsciously tried to take a step to stop them, but she couldn't cross those few steps.

"I have an announcement to make—she's adorable!"

The sound was resounding and decisive, soaring upwards to halt the clouds and piercing the sky, while falling snow made a resounding thud as it hit the ground.

You're the cutest one!

No, you're a white fungus!

Yukino Yukinoshita, furious, stepped forward and used her hands to shut that mouth that only pollutes the air!

The onlookers then witnessed a bizarre scene—a dignified young woman in a kimono strode forward aggressively, while a clergyman of unknown origin dramatically leaped backward, widening the distance. The woman chased for a dozen steps, but the boy repeatedly jumped back to maintain the distance. The woman chased again, and the boy retreated again. Finally, the woman realized what was happening, gritting her teeth and freezing in place, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks through her scarf. Seeing that she had stopped moving, the boy cheerfully raised his leg high, lifting his knee to chest level with each movement, displaying remarkable flexibility and agility.

Obviously, that's something a kimono can't do.

Whether the gazes of those around me were kind or silent was no longer important. As long as I felt that someone was watching, a sense of shame, like fireworks, burst forth from my heart, hissing and intensifying on my face.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Yukino Yukinoshita reacted, turned around, grabbed Yukino Haruno's arm (who was chuckling to herself), and forced herself to quicken her pace, half-dragging and half-pulling her away.

"Hey?"

Yukinoshita asked in surprise, "Why did Yukino-chan pull me like that? Do you want to run into your older sister's arms and act cute to escape other people's teasing and attention? Although I, Yukino, have no objection..."

"Sister, don't misunderstand." Yukino Yukinoshita said with a straight face, holding onto Yukino Yukinoshita's arm as they walked forward. "I just don't want you to be alone with Shirakami."

Yukinoshita Haruno looked startled, her brows furrowed, and she hesitated to speak.

Yukino Yukinoshita said inexplicably, "What are you trying to say now? Just say it."

Yukino sighed and said worriedly, "Yukino-chan, don't be so awkward. Being so direct is too scary."

Yukino Yukinoshita tightened her grip on her arm as if she wanted to break it, and said in a deep voice, "You're the one who's being awkward."

Yukino patted her chest with her other hand: "Yes, yes, that's the feeling!"

"#!"

Never mind, it's Chinese New Year.

Yukino Yukinoshita pursed her lips, her emotions calming down slightly. She wanted to turn around to see if the white figure had followed, but she still felt a little angry.

Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from the left and right sides, and the ten fingers waved a few times in front of my eyes, as if to say hello.

Yukino Yukinoshita stopped in her tracks and coughed slightly: "Is Shiraki-kun afraid to face me? You... hiss."

With her hands outstretched and fingers joined together, she gathered her long, dark hair into her palms, her cheeks slightly flushed as her fingers brushed against the air. Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but gasp slightly as her hair was pinched and pulled back by her two hands, causing a sensation that was both painful and itchy.

A slight tingling sensation near her temple made Yukino Yukinoshita hesitate to turn around, only able to feel a white figure fiddling with her hair: "What are you doing?"

"Finish!"

A white figure clapped his hands and walked out from the side, looking inscrutable.

Yukino Yukinoshita quickly reached behind her and touched her hair, only to find that two strands of her hair seemed to be tied together. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her eyes turned dangerous: "You didn't tie my hair into a knot, did you?"

"Oh, it's a bow! It's quite pretty. I didn't expect you to be so good at handiwork." Yukino Yukinoshita peeked back and reached out with interest. "It's not a knot that's impossible to untie. If you don't believe me, Yukino-chan, I'll untie it for you right now..."

Yukino Yukinoshita shifted to the side to avoid Yukino Yukinoshita, facing Yukino Yukinoshita's teasing gaze. She couldn't help but regain her composure, and instinctively raised her hand to smooth her hair, but her fingers only touched her cheek. She felt even more uneasy, so she picked up her scarf and lifted it slightly to cover her chin and lips, leaving only her nose to breathe in a faint breath.

“With the hair piled up on top and the sideburns tied into bows, it looks both elegant and playful,” Yukino Haruno commented. “It would probably look even better if the hair was down.”

"it does not matter."

Bai Ying waved her hand: "Anyway, the hero is cute, that's all that matters."

“Indeed.” Yukino sighed. “Yukino-chan is so greedy, she just took away Yukino’s scenes and story all by herself…”

Yukino Yukinoshita said irritably in a muffled voice, "What does this have to do with me? It's about my sister having short hair."

"What does this have to do with short hair?" Yukinoshita Haruno shifted the blame. "It's clearly a jerk's problem—Haruno wants to get her hair done too, Haruno is being treated unfairly, Haruno is jealous, Haruno is going to start a palace intrigue right now!"

"I support it!" Bai Ying immediately chimed in. "If we conspire together, we can first imprison our elder brother, then help our aunt resolve her troubles and obtain permission to return to the court. After that, we can seize power, oust the hero from his position as the prospective head of the family, and then our great undertaking will be accomplished!"

Yukinoshita asked in surprise, "Shouldn't we fight Sakurajima first, then kill Kazuha, level up our characters, and then plot against Yukino-chan?"

Bai Ying shook her head and said, "That's not right! As long as you have power, you can demote the brave woman to a maid and have her serve you tea. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Yukinoshita Haruno couldn't help but agree, "Good!"

"Stop spouting nonsense. Palace intrigue? The struggle of putting Bai Jun to castration? Humph." Yukino Yukinoshita exhaled a few puffs of white breath, saying lightly, "I just don't like to put on airs like my sister. Don't blame your problems on me, and don't be greedy or try to steal the spotlight..."

The white figure reached out and grabbed Yukino Yukinoshita's left arm, looking at her with curiosity.

Yukino Yukinoshita was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted, calmly reaching out and grabbing the white figure's waist, then looking at Yukino Yukinoshita with a curious expression.

Seriously, this rascal actually took the initiative... Oh no, I can't laugh, but it's so satisfying to be able to hug and cuddle so confidently and watch Yukino-chan puff out her cheeks in frustration.

"If you're going shopping, then go shopping properly. If you're only doing something to impress others, then don't do it."

Yukino Yukinoshita offered a lukewarm comment.

“Indeed,” Bai Ying nodded. “Let’s do it where the hero can’t see us.”

Yukinoshita Yukino: “?”

What else do you want to do, you white fungus?!

"Hehehe~" Yukino Yukinoshita let go of her hand with a smile, letting out an affected laugh. Suddenly, she changed the subject, "You rascal, has Mother been troubled by something lately?"

Yukino Yukinoshita's curiosity was also piqued, recalling the conversation at the shrine earlier: "Is this related to Grandpa?"

"How should I put this..."

Bai Ying tilted her head and pondered for a moment, then used an analogy: "It's like a brave man boldly proposing to inherit the throne, and the aunt, overjoyed, agrees. 9528 thought he was the crown prince raised from childhood, but was betrayed twice. In the end, he didn't even bother to fight anymore and simply left for distant lands, never to return... One day, a fallen leaf brought new news: the crown prince is about to ascend the throne, and the old emperor is seriously ill and will soon die—A: After all, we are family. What obstacle can't we overcome? Let's go back and say goodbye..."

Yukino immediately said, "BBBBBBBB..."

Bai Ying clenched his fist and said, "Good! With my mother dying and my new sister ascending the throne, the situation will inevitably be turbulent. This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. I will immediately muster my troops, uphold righteousness, and reclaim the throne!"

"C!"

"Go back and pretend to see her off, concealing your ambition. Once you've confirmed that Mom has taken her last breath, immediately launch a palace coup and reclaim everything you've lost, whether it's the throne or my sister!"

"D!"

"Mother? (Without concern)"

"E!"

"Send a letter to express your appreciation."

"F!"

"Amidst the hesitation and uncertainty, a new message suddenly arrived from Luoye—the Emperor Emeritus had passed away, and the Crown Prince had become the new Emperor..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Yukinoshita Haruno said disdainfully, "Can't you use your mind-reading ability to just tell me what I'm thinking? Are you deliberately guessing wrong?"

"I've already stated your thoughts," Bai Ying said, shrugging. "A, B, C, D, E, and F are all your thoughts. Who says thoughts can't be internalized?"

“My sister is a bit of a quirky person, that’s normal,” Yukino Yukinoshita casually remarked, then pondered, “As for Grandpa… I really don’t know anything about the relationship between Mother and Grandpa. At most, he mentioned it before. A chauvinistic man? My sister should know more about that, right?”

"I really don't know."

Yukino Yukinoshita spread her hands and said, "I only know that Grandpa lives in the countryside. Occasionally, my father and mother go back to visit him during holidays. They never invite me, so I naturally have no interest in visiting him... Hmm? That sounds a bit strange. I think I remember... I think I saw him when I was little? Where's Yukino-chan?"

"I don't remember much about it."

Yukino Yukinoshita gently shook her head and pondered, "What does Haku-kun think?"

Bai Ying's eyes flashed: "This must be the commission, right?!"

"?" Yukino Yukinoshita was taken aback, and asked warily, "What do you want to do?"

"Of course, it's in the name of the Minister that I'm asking you to help me fight!" Bai Ying said with high spirits. "This is a request from Auntie! I will do my best to shoot down the medal and win the competition in the last semester!"

Who would help you fight?

Dead memories suddenly revealed their sharp edges.

Yukino Yukinoshita tried her best to keep a straight face, but a blush of embarrassment and annoyance still crept up her cheeks: "Are you an idiot?!"

"When a man is only thinking about sex, he will step into any trap, no matter how absurd it may be, without hesitation."

Bai Ying sighed with a sense of vicissitude, "There's nothing we can do about it. After all, a man is still a teenager in front of a woman until the day he dies... Brave one, let's have a fair and just open duel!"

Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't help but repeatedly complain: "Isn't the goal of the commissioned duel to better help others? When did such a weird rule come about? Don't try to change the past, you white fungus with a head full of lewd nonsense! Don't think that saying some inexplicable, powerful, and complimentary things will satisfy your filthy and strange desires! The Service Club and the Aid Club are not those strange departments! Go and shove your head into the snow to cool it down and repent for your frog-like croaking behavior!"

"Hmph~" Bai Ying's lips curled into a sneer, "Don't dare?"

Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath: "Do you think I'm an idiot who'll agree just because you try to provoke me?! This is clearly unfair and unjust, not to mention making it public..."

"Wait a minute." Yukinoshita Haruno raised her hand seriously. "Does going public mean I have to watch Yukino fight for you?"

Yukino Yukinoshita turned her head and gave him a death stare: "..."

Yukinoshita Haruno crossed her index fingers, placed them in front of her lips, and nodded.