“…Bullied?”
Yukina’s fingers stiffened slightly.
Why had Onee-chan suddenly asked a question like this?
Was it pure curiosity, or had she already noticed something?
“Ah… it’s fine if Yukina doesn’t want to talk about it.”
Noticing the brief flash of difficulty on her little sister’s face, Yuna hurriedly propped up her upper body.
Her tail swung restlessly back and forth behind her.
“Actually, the school suddenly sent a notice yesterday saying you left early in the afternoon and didn’t attend class. It’s a small matter, really a small matter! When Onee-chan was young I often skipped class too. I’m not criticizing you, really. Don’t treat me like that kind of rigid older sister—”
Facing Onee-chan’s flustered explanation, Yukina quietly let out a breath of relief.
So that was it.
Yesterday at noon she had suddenly left the school without telling anyone.
It was only natural that the school would notify the guardian, and it was also normal for Onee-chan to worry.
That was close. She had thought she had been exposed.
“And also… how should I put it.”
It seemed Onee-chan still had more to say. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of the apron.
She stammered for a long time before finally forcing out the second half of the sentence:
“It’s just that Yukina’s personality has… changed a little too much recently. Onee-chan started worrying whether you were being bullied at school or something.”
“Changed… a lot?”
“Mm.”
Yuna lowered her eyes and smiled lightly. There was a trace of nostalgia in the smile, along with a bitterness that was hard to describe.
“The old Yukina, how should I put it… of course she was very cute! Just a little more… rebellious? She wouldn’t let Onee-chan hug and hold her. Every few days she would ask for pocket money to go out and play with friends. From time to time she would even get into fights with people, and Onee-chan would have to go to the school to apologize and all that.”
Yukina listened in silence.
Everything Onee-chan had described were things the original owner of this body would do.
That had been a rebellious child.
Perhaps because she had grown up under Onee-chan’s completely unreserved doting, she had unknowingly developed the illusion that “no matter what I do, I will be forgiven,” which led her to make many mistakes.
Her personality could be said to be the complete opposite of the current Yukina.
Yukina had also considered imitating the original owner’s behavior, but it was too difficult.
For a socially anxious person to hurt others was even more painful than hurting herself.
“Onee-chan just couldn’t help thinking… Yukina suddenly became this quiet recently. Could it be that something bad happened at school…”
A warm sensation came from the back of her hand. Onee-chan gently covered her hand. Those pale gold eyes swayed with undisguised worry.
Yukina pressed her lips tightly together.
How should she respond.
It was impossible to tell Yuna that she was not her little sister, that her real little sister was already gone.
That would only lead to something terrifying.
Moreover, restricted by the world’s rules, she could not even speak the truth that she was a transmigrator.
As for… “bullying.”
The wound beneath the bandage on her shoulder still ached faintly.
The things Mashiro had done to her inside the tin shack yesterday—could those be counted as “bullying”?
If they counted, then the things the original owner had done while assisting Yumiko against Mashiro, as well as the times she herself had coldly stood by and later unintentionally deeply wounded Mashiro’s heart—could those also be called “bullying”?
Bullying, settling scores, price, repayment.
Countless words flashed through her mind, finally settling on the one that matched her understanding…
Revenge.
Mashiro had taken revenge on the people who had hurt her. That was all.
Just like the core theme of the game Blood-Colored Return Gift.
“Yukina?”
Yuna’s voice pulled her consciousness back. Onee-chan was looking at her.
Threads of worry floated in the depths of her eyes.
The tail behind her had also drooped, hanging limply over the edge of the sofa.
“…It’s fine.”
Yukina opened her mouth. Her voice was more natural and steady than she had expected.
“Onee-chan is overthinking it. How could I possibly be bullied? The classmates at school are all very good to me. Everyone takes good care of me. There’s no need to worry.”
Was it because she had been lying too much recently?
This kind of lie that could not even deceive herself had somehow come out smoothly.
“Really?”
Yuna still seemed to retain some doubts. She waved her fist.
Her tail also lifted and struck an attacking pose, the tip thrusting through the air again and again.
“If anyone bullies you, you have to tell Onee-chan. Onee-chan is very good at fighting. No matter what level the guy is, I can take them down easily!”
“It’s really fine.”
Yukina slowly raised her head.
Through the gaps in her bangs, that cherry-colored eye faintly showed.
She tilted her head slightly to one side.
The tips of her hair slid lightly along the edge of the lace choker.
“Does Onee-chan not believe me? Or is it…”
She slowly withdrew the hand that Onee-chan was holding, then reversed it and covered the back of Onee-chan’s much larger hand, applying a little force.
“Does Onee-chan want me to turn back into how I used to be? Cold, rebellious, hiding from you, distancing myself from you, hating you, and never again being able to… hug like just now?”
Behind her, the slender succubus tail slightly peeked out from the edge of the lace skirt hem and swayed gently.
“Ah.”
Yuna’s expression instantly froze.
Under her little sister’s soft, almost beguiling tone, her heart felt as if it had been pricked by something—neither heavy nor light.
A flush spread across her cheeks at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“Th-That’s not allowed! Only this is absolutely not allowed! No no no…!”
Onee-chan suddenly lunged forward, tightly wrapping her arms around Yukina’s somewhat slender waist and pressing her entire body down onto the sofa as she shook her head desperately.
“I’ll die! If I’m not allowed to absorb, Onee-chan will really die! Within two days the withdrawal symptoms will appear—heart rate disorder, scratching my ears and cheeks, muscle spasms, and in the end I’ll become a dried-up corpse like a slug sprinkled with salt, wuuuuu ahhhhh…”
“Then Onee-chan shouldn’t ask anymore.”
“I won’t ask, I won’t ask anymore in the future… Things are good the way they are now. The current little Yukina is the best. Uu.”
Yuna buried her entire face into Yukina’s stomach and let out a wronged whimper.
The tail behind her also curled into a ball.
She’s clearly an adult, yet she’s this easy to handle.
Yukina reached out and gently stroked the back of Onee-chan’s head.
Her fingers passed through the fluffy pinkish-white hair, once, twice, as if soothing a large dog whose tail had been stepped on.
Beneath the bangs, a hard-to-read dark color surfaced in those cherry-colored eyes.
Right now, no matter what request I make of Onee-chan, she would agree, wouldn’t she…
Gulp.
It was as if a bubble had risen from the bottom of her heart.
…Wait. Why did I just have the thought of “manipulating Onee-chan”?
Yukina froze slightly and looked down at the hand that was currently stroking Onee-chan’s hair. The tips of her fingers seemed a little numb.
Was this the instinct of a succubus? Or something else…
Yukina was not sure, but a faint unease stirred inside her.
The remaining half of the cake on the plate had completely melted.
The cream mixed with the strawberry juice, spreading a patch of light pink water stain across the white porcelain plate, impossible to separate again.
“…Seriously, my little Yukina is this cute. You must have made a lot of friends, right?”
Yuna’s emotions had settled a little.
Her face was still buried in Yukina’s embrace.
Her voice was muffled, carrying a trace of unwilling spoiledness.
“Ahh… I’m so envious. Onee-chan also wants to go to school with little Yukina. That way I could absorb for a whole day.”
“Onee-chan, don’t you still have to go to work?”
“Urgh… Don’t suddenly say the two words ‘go to work.’ Onee-chan will have a myocardial infarction!”
Yuna’s entire body curled up. Even her tail folded into the shape of a lightning bolt.
The atmosphere in the living room gradually returned to a relaxed tone. Just then—
Beep beep beep.
A phone rang.
The monotonous electronic tone came from the corner of the sofa. The screen lit up accordingly.
It was Onee-chan’s phone.
Yukina lowered her head.
Her gaze swept across the lit screen.
Several lines of text squeezed into the narrow notification bar—
「Where the hell did you go? The report isn’t submitted and you dare leave? Don’t forget how much money you still owe our company. Believe it or not, I’ll take you and that little sister of yours…」
Before she could finish reading, a hand had already stretched over, grabbed the phone, and pressed the screen against the palm, covering all the remaining words.