As Hanyu Nan's singing faded to the last note, the entire banquet hall fell into a brief silence.
"...When did you learn this move?"
Yukiko couldn't help but ask.
Yuzuru smiled slightly, without answering, but gently put down the microphone and glanced at everyone present—Ran was resting her chin on her hand, her eyes slightly bright; Kazuha was biting her straw, her cheeks slightly flushed; Eri was taking a sip of wine, her eyes flickering behind her gold-rimmed glasses.
And Ai...
She put down her juice glass expressionlessly and commented indifferently, "It's alright."
That's all there is to it.
They're only slightly better than me.
...
...
The banquet ended amidst laughter and joy, and everyone then went for a soak in a hot spring together.
Yuzuru Hanyu expressed his deep regret over this.
With three elders—Ikenami Shizuka, Kisaki Eri, and Yukiko—in the room, he naturally couldn't have the same tense and exciting mixed-gender bathing session with Ran and the others as before.
Logically speaking, since he's the only man, and given the huge gender imbalance, he should be the one suffering!
In the corridor late at night, Yukiko, who was drunk, insisted on performing her signature "drunk walking in a straight line" act. As a result, she stumbled and fell headfirst into the arms of Hanyu Nanasu, who had also just come out of the bath.
"Hehehe... naughty little brother, I'm going to send you a lawyer's note. If you don't like it, I'll have Eri send you one too, hehe..."
Yukiko's cheeks were flushed, her eyes were glazed, and she was giggling and muttering to herself in Hanyu Nan's arms.
Yuzuru: "..."
Is this a legitimate lawyer's letter?
He doesn't want someone serious.
He glanced at Eri Kisaki, who had followed behind him—the legal queen remained expressionless, but her gaze behind her gold-rimmed glasses held a hint of danger.
"Xiao Nan, leave it to me."
"Um... okay."
Without hesitation, Yu Sheng Nan decisively sold out his good sister.
Eri Kisaki reached out and gently grabbed Yukiko by the back of her neck, lifting her up as easily as if she were carrying a kitten. Yukiko struggled a few times in Eri Kisaki's hands, but to no avail.
Yuzuru watched the lawyer's skillful movements and couldn't help but marvel at it. At the same time, he silently prayed for Yukiko, hoping to see his good older sister alive and well again tomorrow.
After all, Yukiko did a lot of stupid things today.
So sometimes you really can't blame Conan for liking to do stupid things; it's all genetic.
Eri Kisaki reached the door of her room, pushed it open, and stopped in her tracks the moment she stepped inside.
The current scene.
It involuntarily reminded her of that night in Izu.
Both were cases of drunkenness and loss of control.
The difference is that this time, when she wakes up, there won't be a boy sitting by her bedside watching over her overnight.
"Eri~" Yukiko suddenly tilted her head back from her arms, her eyes glazed with drunkenness, and reached out to grab Eri's glasses. "Your expression right now... hiccup... is so cute..."
"Shut up."
Eri Kisaki swiftly pressed her hand to her mouth.
Then, she took Yukiko into the room.
Goodnight, Xiaonan.
"Goodnight, Mother-in-law."
The door closed gently, as if shutting out the outside world.
Soon, a muffled thud echoed from the room—the sound of Yukiko being thrown onto the bed. This was followed by the whimpering of a certain big star, like a trapped kitten struggling in vain.
Yuzuru stood still and rubbed his temples.
These days are getting more and more exciting.
…
In the stillness of the night, only the occasional chirping of insects could be heard outside the window.
After being severely lectured by the lawyer, Yukiko became unusually quiet.
She lay sprawled on the bed, the blanket draped loosely over her, her eyes fixed on her best friend Eri's slightly frail back. Suddenly, she spoke, "Eri..."
"Um?"
"Actually, you don't need to care too much about worldly opinions."
Yukiko's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
The reason she did so many "self-destructive" things today was not only because she wanted to find an ally to fight Sharon, but more so because she was thinking about her independent and lonely best friend.
In her opinion, Eri Kisaki wears the halo of the "Invincible Queen," but who can truly understand the bitterness behind it?
Ten years of living alone, the loneliness and hardship—just thinking about it makes Yukiko's heart ache.
With the younger brother's abilities, as long as Eri Kisaki can overcome her inner hurdle, he can blind all worldly opinions and make them never dare to talk nonsense again.
Eri, with her back to her, stiffened slightly but did not turn around. She simply said quietly, "I know."
Yukiko was silent for a moment, then said, "You deserve happiness."
Eri's fingers gripped the corner of the blanket tightly, her pearly teeth biting her red lips.
After a long while, she finally let go of his hand and whispered, "Go to sleep."
Silence fell over the room, with only the sound of their breathing rising and falling.
Eri silently turned over, face up, and stared at the ceiling. Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a silver line on the floor.
She stared at the silver line, her eyes empty yet complex.
She knew that line was like the boundary she had drawn for herself—clear, definite, and insurmountable.
On the other side of the boundary was the moonlight she had always longed for but felt could never belong to her.
She might not care, but Xiaolan can't.
...
The next day, early morning.
Because everyone was going to admire the autumn leaves together today, everyone got up early.
As it was a family gathering for the Yuzuru family, the other two children, Genta and Mitsuhiko, had already been sent back to Tokyo by Ayako's arrangements, leaving only Ayumi behind.
Those who are attentive will naturally be able to appreciate the meaning behind it.
However, Ran and Kazuha, being such innocent girls, certainly wouldn't think that far ahead; they were busy discussing which scenic spot had the most beautiful maple forest.
"Good morning, you naughty little brother~"
Yukiko floated into the restaurant like a butterfly, her pale pink dress making her skin look as white as snow, showing no trace of the ravages she had suffered the night before—if not for the sudden contortion of her beautiful face when she sat down.
"Ouch~ It hurts, you bad little brother, Eri bullied me~" Yukiko complained pitifully to Hanyu Nan while rubbing her waist.
"It's all your fault, dear sister, for courting disaster."
Yuzuru's lips curled up slightly as he teased.
"Well, they're just thinking of you! Don't you, my naughty little brother, want Xiaolan and Ying to be together...?"
"stop!"
Seeing Yukiko's increasingly outrageous remarks, Yuuko Nanami felt the loli's death stare sweeping over him, and quickly summoned a horse charm to cast a spell on her.
Is it okay to say such things so casually?
Although it was exactly what he wanted.
"Look!" Yukiko, now fully recovered, immediately leaned over mysteriously and pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her collar. "Eri really sent me a lawyer's letter!"
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