Toru's room door was knocked on. The knocking was very light, as if the person outside was afraid.
Toru got up and opened the door. A slender figure stood at the doorway.
Yukino was holding a cute panda doll. She wore a chiffon nightgown, and her dark, beautiful hair fell naturally, making her skin look even whiter and more delicate in the night.
Yukino lowered her head, hugging the doll tightly. Her toes inside the fleece slippers were tense, and her clear black-and-white eyes darted around. A trace of panic showed on her delicate face.
Toru stood in front of her, watching the shy Yukino with a faint smile in his eyes. He did not speak.
Finally, Yukino could not take it anymore. She lightly bit her lips and said, "Can you let me in?"
Toru stepped aside and made a welcoming gesture.
Yukino walked into Toru's guest room and sat on the edge of his bed. Her slender fingers were intertwined, and she still held the panda doll tightly in her arms.
Seeing her shy and flustered appearance, Toru's heart softened. He stopped teasing her and said, "You're really brave, Yukino."
Yukino's heart skipped a beat. She whispered, "Did you hear everything we just said?"
"Even though the room has good soundproofing, you were speaking so loudly that it would be hard not to hear."
Toru walked over slowly and sat beside Yukino.
Coming into a man's room late at night and sitting next to him made Yukino's heart beat faster.
However, this was her own choice. Suppressing the joy in her heartbeat, Yukino said awkwardly, "You must be laughing at my family's affairs."
"Every family has its own difficulties, so there's nothing to laugh at. However, I am still an outsider, and it's not appropriate for me to know too much about your family."
After a pause, Toru continued, "…I also didn't expect my nominal stepmother to have gone through such things. It changed my impression of her a bit."
Toru had only met his nominal stepmother a few times. From those brief interactions, he could tell she was somewhat vain and cared a lot about material life.
He did not particularly dislike such a woman, but he did not like her either.
After hearing Ms. Yukinoshita's words today, Toru finally understood that the reason his nominal stepmother could not have children was because of her.
No wonder the Yukinoshita family, as nominal in-laws of the Fujiwara family, did not seem to receive much help.
Most of what the Yukinoshita family achieved in Chiba Prefecture was earned on their own, or by borrowing the Fujiwara name.
But the Fujiwara family did not provide any substantial assistance.
Yukino's expression dimmed. She lowered her head and whispered, "This is also the first time I learned about what Aunt went through."
"In the past, Mother always spoke badly about Aunt, so I disliked her from a young age, thinking she was selfish and only cared about herself."
"Now that I know the truth, I feel a bit guilty. If I see Aunt again, I will apologize to her properly."
Toru quietly listened to Yukino's remorseful words, then said, "Compared to your family matters, I'm more surprised by your choice, Yukino."
"What's wrong with my choice?"
Yukino turned her head, leaving only her beautiful profile facing him. She slightly raised her delicate chin, like a proud white swan.
However, her fair skin was flushed, mostly from shyness.
"Your choice is very bold. I thought you were the type who…"
"…the type of particularly traditional woman?"
Yukino answered quickly.
Toru nodded. "Yes, in my eyes, you were that kind of traditional woman, who would fall in love with a boy but also demand that he only love you."
"That has nothing to do with being traditional, right? Doesn't every woman hope that the boy she likes only has eyes for her?"
"That's true, which is why I was surprised that you would say such things to your mother and sister. Was it out of anger, or was it your true feelings?"
"It wasn't out of anger. It was my true feelings."
After speaking a few sentences with Toru, Yukino no longer seemed as shy. She met his gaze bravely and said, "Those were words I said after careful thought."
"In the past, I always lived in the illusion created by Mother, living under my sister's shadow."
"I knew this and wanted to change, but staying in that comfort zone made it impossible to truly change."
"It wasn't until you, pointed it out, showing me my own hypocrisy and letting me see the truth."
"My own truth, my sister's truth, my mother's truth. After seeing through everything, I want to live a different life from before. I no longer want to be completely controlled by Mother."
Yukino's delicate body slowly leaned against Toru. Her slightly stiff body rested on his shoulder.
She bit her lip, took one of Toru's hands, and guided it under the hem of her pajamas. This bold action stunned him.
Her abdomen had no excess fat. Her young body felt soft yet firm.
"So Mother also had such dark thoughts, and sister wasn't as brave either. She wasn't as perfect as she appeared."
"I saw all of this, and I realized that I can actually do better than them."
Yukino suddenly giggled. It seemed she had let go of all her burdens. Resting her chin on Toru's shoulder, she whispered in his ear, "I need your support."
Toru felt her softness and asked with a smile, "What kind of support do you want?"
Yukino said, "I've upset everyone in the family. I think Mother won't allow me to live outside alone anymore, and she definitely won't let me stay at home either. She will use this to force me to change."
"I don't have any income right now, and I don't have a place to stay. Can you lend me some money?"
Toru could not help but laugh. "What, you want me to keep you?"
"'Keep' sounds unpleasant."
Yukino pouted, "…I'm borrowing money from you. We can sign an IOU. After I graduate, I'll repay you with interest. I believe in my ability."
At this moment, Yukino was already thinking about how to make money. Even before graduation, there were many ways.
Only by having financial independence could she truly be considered grown up and free from her family's control.
She had already made up her mind to leave the Yukinoshita family.
There were many ways to earn money, such as part-time jobs. But with Yukino's personality, working part-time was impossible. She would never do something like being a cashier.
However, with the inter so developed, there were many livestreaming opportunities, and she believed she could do that kind of work.
For example, she knew a beauty blogger named Nekomura. She had many paths she could choose and could fully support herself.
But before those paths stabilized, she needed startup funds, which required Toru's help.
Her words confirmed to Toru that she had truly gathered the courage to change her unchanging life.
In that sense, she was even stronger than her sister Haruno.
Haruno maintained a perfect image on the surface, but only when that image collapsed would her timid inner self be revealed.
"I can lend you the money, and I don't need interest. But shouldn't you, pay some price?"
Yukino turned her head, bit her lip, and whispered, "Can you help Mother, help the Yukinoshita family?"
That was her mother, her family. How could she completely abandon them? She was not that cold-hearted.
"Your family needs about ten billion yen. That's an amount most people in Japan can't earn in a lifetime. Yukino, why do you think I can help?"
"I just feel that no matter what it is, you can do it."
"Don't try to flatter me like I'm some all-powerful Doraemon. I can't do everything, and you shouldn't expect too much."
Toru laughed, "…However, your family's problem isn't that difficult for me. It's just that your mother is too calculating. She should suffer a bit."
"But don't worry, I will help at the crucial moment."
Yukino let out a sigh of relief. Since Toru agreed, she felt her family would be fine.
"But Yukino, sometimes you're too impulsive."
"This time, I won't touch you. I'll give you a chance to regret it."
Yukino became anxious and was about to speak, but Toru covered her mouth.
He looked closely at the skin of her legs beneath her skirt. They were fair and slender, as if they would break at a touch. Her calves were long and smooth, her ankles delicate and refined, and the soles of her feet faintly pink.
Being watched like this, Yukino's toes curled again, and ripples spread in her heart.
Toru would not take her immediately, but he wanted her to play some special games.
Leaning close to her ear, he whispered a few words.
Yukino's heart pounded wildly, disbelief flashing across her face. Then, under his insistence, she endured her embarrassment and opened a website on her phone, watching videos of flexible feet.
She lifted her legs and awkwardly imitated them, following along.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
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