A deathly silence hung over the Yukinoshita household. The cleaning maid held her breath, not daring to face Yukino.
Mrs. Yukinoshita's face was slightly pale, her avoiding gaze unable to meet her daughter's eyes, as if afraid of being scolded.
Only Haruno remained composed, gently pushing away her bowl and chopsticks, "Thank you for the meal, Miss Hisako."
"No need to be so formal! This is all thanks to... well... anyway... no need to thank me..."
Hisako waved her hands nervously — in just one evening, her medicinal cooking skills had improved dramatically.
Not only had her cooking skills advanced, but Rindō, Momo, and Nene's abilities had all improved as well. Only Erina showed no progress, making her face darken as she glared resentfully at Alice.
After speaking with Hisako, she learned the truth — Alice had arranged for the maid to be sent away.
"That Alice..." Erina fumed, never imagining her own cousin would pull such a move.
Though she didn't want to acknowledge their relation, it was an unchangeable fact — yet Alice would rather have others here than her!
What infuriated her more was how Alice had taken advantage of her confused state to make her taste... ah... she was supposed to be divine... No wonder something had tasted strange when she awoke — and it wasn't just the water. This realization only stoked her anger.
She couldn't meet Daiki's eyes directly, her fair jade-like cheeks turning a charming shade of dawn, making hearts flutter.
'This taste is unlike anything I've experienced before.' She unconsciously swallowed.
If she could taste this every day, would she ever tire of eating?
Erina's delicate face went blank for two seconds before suddenly flushing red — what nonsense was she thinking!
Though she tried to suppress her scattered thoughts, her gaze kept drifting toward a certain spot near Daiki.
Itsuki, seated beside him, noticed this with a casual glance. Her expression immediately turned stern as she blocked Big Daiki from Erina's view.
Erina froze as she met the redhead's eyes, that indignant and disdainful look petrifying her — someone had noticed.
Only after she awkwardly turned away did Itsuki sigh helplessly, feeling powerless about defending alone.
'I'll need to discuss this with Yotsuba and the others!'
As thoughts drifted...
Yukino likewise pushed away the medicinal cuisine before her, following Haruno's footsteps out of the dining hall.
"Sister!"
When they reached a secluded spot, Yukino could no longer contain her anger, while Haruno calmly turned to face her.
Earlier, though their mother had tried to prevent her from opening the door after Hisako left, Yukino had found it slightly ajar. With just a gentle push, she'd witnessed something so shocking that she'd immediately fled.
"Yukino, what's the matter?" Haruno's gentle smile seemed especially grating to her sister.
How typical of her, maintaining such composure even now.
"About Daiki-kun... why were you and mother... shouldn't you explain yourself?" Yukino's fists clenched in fury.
She had explicitly warned her sister against such behavior, yet Haruno had completely disregarded her!
Now all three Yukinoshita family members were Daiki's... the mere thought drove Yukino to the brink of madness.
"Hmm? What's there to explain? Sister believes Daiki-kun is someone worth entrusting her life to, so isn't this kind of relationship perfectly natural?" Haruno shrugged.
Though she'd resisted at first, she'd grown to appreciate the situation.
After all, wasn't marriage about finding someone to shelter you? And Daiki met all her criteria for an ideal partner.
"But... you made me a promise. And what about mother?"
At the mention of their mother, Haruno fell silent — truthfully, she delighted in seeing that woman's expression...
Before Daiki, she'd been the one exploited, forced to bear the family business while still so young.
Had she ever willingly shouldered those responsibilities? Had she enjoyed enduring their mother's constant domineering presence?
So when she discovered Daiki's connection to her mother, despite initial shock, acceptance came quickly. Recalling her mother helplessly sampling Big Daiki's concoctions the previous night, Haruno felt her past grievances had been avenged.
Of course, she couldn't reveal these thoughts to Yukino — it would shatter her perfect image... though that facade had long since crumbled.
Avoiding the subject, Haruno clenched her fist and declared, "Yukino, mother and I have always managed the family business. There are things someone your age simply cannot grasp. When you're older, you'll understand our intentions. If you want the real answer, you'll have to defeat your sister first, won't you?"
Her fist glowed with Cursed Energy, her provocative smile causing Yukino's face to darken as she assumed an aikido stance.
"Hahaha... Yukino, surely you don't think aikido can defeat a Jujutsu Sorcerer? Or perhaps you've realized you can't surpass me through ordinary means!" Haruno doubled over with laughter, tears streaming from her eyes.
To see the usually composed and logical Yukino resort to violence — it only proved this girl had absolutely no confidence in surpassing her!
However, Yukino had misjudged the gap between ordinary people and Jujutsu Sorcerers — she was still one move behind, especially given that she possessed Black Flash!
Haruno's lips curled into a slight smile. This round was definitely hers.
Little did she know that Yukino harbored the same thoughts across from her. Of course she could see that her sister had become a Jujutsu Sorcerer through Daiki!
But how long had her sister been a Jujutsu Sorcerer? At most one night, while she had been training day and night. Could her upstart sister withstand even a single Black Flash from her?
'It's time to show you the difference between us!'
This thought arose simultaneously in both sisters' minds.
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