[Ding—]
[Feed: Soga Yura Favorability +1.]
[Obtained Favorability Increase Reward: Gold Hydration Set.]
[Ding—]
[Reverie: Soga Yura Favorability +1.]
[...]
The familiar mechanical woman's voice rang incessantly in her ears. Su Yuzu looked diagonally across the table at Soga Yura, who was taking small, delicate bites of her crepe.
Clearly, not a single word had been exchanged between the two.
In front of Yuzu, Soga Yura simply didn't know what she should say. She could only bury her head and silently eat her crepe.
In her heart, she was thinking... 'Yuzu treated me to this.'
When the moist pulp of the pomelo burst between her lips and teeth, her head seemed to tremble gently along with the sensation.
'This is... Yuzu...'
Compared to the 'Yuzu' citrus that Sakura Mai had ordered for Soga Yura, the pomelo—known as Wendan—that Yuzu had ordered for Soga Yura was obviously much more suited to a girl's taste.
However—
At this very moment, what exactly was entering her mouth was no longer important to Soga Yura at all. The only thing that mattered... the only thing... was the fact that Yuzu had treated her to it.
The notification sounds for Soga Yura's Favorability increase were like she had chewed on non-stop gum; they simply couldn't stop.
Yet... even though a tidal wave of thoughts was already surging in her heart, in front of Yuzu, Soga Yura couldn't squeeze out a single word.
Clearly, she was the one who had dragged Sakura Mai out early in the morning. But now... she could only watch... no, she could only listen to Sakura Mai and Su Yuzu chatting happily.
Just recalling her loss of composure in front of Yuzu last night, Soga Yura seemed to have lost the courage to even look up and face the girl directly.
She could only silently cut her crepe.
She listened to her younger sister affectionately calling "Sister Mai" one time after another, and felt disdain in her heart.
When they were little... Yuzu never called her anything like 'Sister Yura'.
Yuzu would always just hug her directly and act spoiled.
Although... in reality, more often than not, it was Soga Yura—crying her eyes out—who would cling to Su Yuzu's waist, crying and shouting that there were bugs or bad people, only to be gently hugged and comforted by Su Yuzu rubbing her back.
Soga Yura and Su Yuzu's childhood had no mother. And... rarely the shadow of a father.
For Soga Yura, Yuzu was like her only pillar of support. Soga Yura dreamed of becoming stronger, and then stronger still, so she could protect Yuzu just like Yuzu had protected her.
Protect Yuzu.
And as for Su Yuzu... how could Soga Yura not be her only concern within the Soga clan?
Listening to Su Yuzu's repeated calls of "Sister Mai," the fork in Soga Yura's hand pressed against the plate. She felt so sour that her tears seemed about to overflow.
To the side, Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura, who had buried her small head, and felt a thousand, ten thousand times angry at her lack of fight.
Although she liked how cute Sister Yuzu was... and wanted to hold Sister Yuzu in her arms and watch her act spoiled towards her...
But... Soga Yura was, after all, her classmate, roommate, and best friend for many years.
Sakura Mai still sincerely hoped that these two sisters could reconcile.
One could even say that Sakura Mai's main goal in coming with Soga Yura to find Sister Yuzu today was to prompt Soga Yura and Su Yuzu to meet.
And then, seize the momentum—
To make Soga Yura invite Sister Yuzu to attend Soga Yura's birthday banquet next month.
Of course—
Sakura Mai also knew that day was also Sister Yuzu's birthday.
When the time came, she would definitely urge her own Mother to help build momentum for Sister Yuzu. Since Sister Yuzu had already awakened an ability, she should stand under the spotlight of the Soga clan again, bit by bit.
Instead of always standing in the shadow of ridicule.
As for... 'Father'.
As long as Mother was persuaded, what say did 'Father' have? 'Father' just needed to peacefully help hold the fort for Sister Yuzu when the time came.
But... ever since they sat down, this guy had just been sitting there, nibbling and whining, eating non-stop.
The key point was, it would be fine if she was actually eating. But Soga Yura's appetite, in Sakura Mai's eyes, was simply like that of a cat.
The Knight Princess had already elegantly and quickly finished her own crepe, but... this guy, despite eating incessantly, hadn't even finished a third of hers.
Although Sakura Mai knew Soga Yura must be hesitant and conflicted in her heart right now...
But... if she let her hesitate any longer, then she really shouldn't be blamed for finding Sister Yuzu cute and charming.
「Cough, cough—」
「Joke.」
Sakura Mai gently kicked Soga Yura under the table.
"Cough, cough, cough—" Although the girl had used the lightest force possible, Soga Yura's constitution was already frail. Yesterday she had cried all day, and then rubbed against the body pillow without dressing properly after her bath. She almost burst into tears on the spot from the impact.
Soga Yura could only cover up her embarrassment. Just then, a napkin was handed over from the side.
"Than..."
"Thank you..." Soga Yura accepted the napkin.
When she lifted her head, she realized that Su Yuzu's crimson eyes—which seemed as cold as Soga Yura's used to be—were gazing at her.
The distance between their fingertips was mere millimeters. Soga Yura hurriedly lowered her head again.
Sakura Mai really wanted to stomp on Soga Yura's toes.
She was anxious just watching.
If it were her, she would have directly A-moved in long ago.
Now they were already eating crepes with Sister Yuzu, yet she was still dilly-dallying here.
However... Soga Yura obviously knew as well. She couldn't continue hesitating like this.
Checking the time, the Healing-type class dismissal time was approaching fast. If she delayed any longer, that damn rabbit who wanted to steal her cabbage would appear.
Soga Yura looked up hesitantly.
"Yu... Yuzu..."
"Hm?" Although her expression looked as cold as Soga Yura's used to be when facing her, Su Yuzu's eyes did not hold the indifference Soga Yura had once shown her.
Although cold, she wasn't unapproachable.
Compared to the knives Yuzu had eaten in the past, this kind of coldness was truly very, very light.
"Next... next month..." Clearly, she was the Soga clan's Eldest Young Lady, full of majesty and the center of attention at school and within the Soga clan.
But in front of Yuzu, Soga Yura stammered, incredibly embarrassed.
"I..."
"You..."
"Birthday..."
Her voice was broken and intermittent.
If not for the fact that Su Yuzu understood Soga Yura's mindset in her 'crybaby mode' far too well, she probably wouldn't have known what Soga Yura was trying to say at all.
Her voice grew lower and lower, more and more hesitant.
Just then, "Yuzu-senpai!!!"
From afar, from the direction where the commercial street approached the teaching building, came the sound of Saotome Yukina waving her small hand vigorously and shouting.
Soga Yura's head dropped down instantly.
The courage the girl had struggled to muster was extinguished, and she wilted immediately, unable to lift it up again no matter what.
"If you want to invite me—" Seeing Soga Yura's wilted appearance, Su Yuzu could almost no longer stand watching. The girl slowly stood up.
"At least be a bit more formal about it."
"Eh!?" The crimson eyes seemed to light up instantly.
"I am no longer a member of the Soga family."
"N... No, that's not it." Soga Yura wanted to say something more.
Looking at Soga Yura's appearance, Su Yuzu couldn't help but look at her with disdain.
"Idiot."
________________________________________
🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push... and you can help!
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 10 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉