Chapter 57: A Choice Without Regrets

Unlike the fast drive there, the car was now moving smoothly along the highway, and the interior remained quiet. 

Yukinoshita Haruno didn't dare to speak due to Hayashizaki's presence.

Yukinoshita Yukino was quietly thinking about how to explain everything that had happened so far to her sister. 

Before long, they arrived back at the apartment building where Haruno lived.

"Let's eat first. Your sister is hungry."

Hayashizaki suddenly spoke up, and after a brief pause, he added, "Find a place with big portions. Your sister has a good appetite."

Yukinoshita Yukino's face turned red, and she said angrily, "You don't have to mention it!"

Seeing her reaction, Yukinoshita Haruno realized that Hayashizaki was speaking the truth and couldn't help but laugh.

"Let's go to a family restaurant nearby."

Haruno said this while looking at her sister, but her gaze was actually meeting Hayashizaki's eyes.

Having dealt with various people on behalf of her family, Yukinoshita Haruno had become good at reading people's expressions to understand their thoughts. However, it was hard to read anything just from a pair of eyes.

Still, she had a sense that this mysterious presence connected to her sister was trying to convey goodwill.

Although her shattered worldview hadn't fully come together yet, at least she could feel a bit more at ease now.

The two arrived at the nearby family restaurant. Under her sister Haruno's watchful eyes, Yukinoshita Yukino ordered two large main dishes, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"T-this is because my body has become different due to the influence of Parasite-kun, so it needs more energy. That's completely normal!"

She hurriedly explained.

"Hmm? Isn't it because there are two people in your body that you need to eat two servings?"

Yukinoshita Haruno tilted her head cutely, resting her chin on her crossed hands.

"Not exactly…"

Yukinoshita Yukino realized she had overreacted, and the blush on her face deepened a bit more. After calming down, she explained coolly, "According to Parasite-kun and Hayashizaki-kun, my soul and his coexist in the same body."

"Wow—there really are souls. This world is amazing."

Haruno said with curiosity, blinking her eyes. "So, his name is Hayashizaki? Yukino really trusts him."

"Trust is a strong word."

Yukinoshita Yukino said seriously, "It's just a matter of necessity."

Ah, here it comes, Yuki-chan's unique stubbornness.

Yukinoshita Haruno smiled slightly, choosing not to press her sister further. Instead, she changed the topic. "So, does that mean you were responsible for the office building collapse in the Chiba slums?"

"That was done by Parasite-kun."

Yukinoshita Yukino replied immediately.

"How did he do that?"

Yukinoshita Haruno asked curiously.

"It's his technique."

After personally using the slicing technique, Yukinoshita Yukino realized how absurd Hayashizaki's technique was.

There was no complex concept—just straightforward power, a classic example of brute strength, and a beauty in its sheer numbers.

Not long after they ordered, their food was served.

"I'll explain more when we get back."

Today, after an intense battle, Yukinoshita Yukino was extremely hungry. While she was lost in thought, she didn't notice it, but once Hayashizaki pointed it out, her hunger became undeniable.

Despite being very hungry, the well-mannered girl ate her food slowly, though the items on her plate were disappearing quickly.

Looking at her sister's slightly shiny, cherry-colored lips that looked smooth and glossy like jelly, a spark of inspiration suddenly struck Yukinoshita Haruno, who was highly interested in Hayashizaki.

She picked up a piece of fried chicken and reached it toward her sister's face.

Just as Yukinoshita Yukino thought her sister was playing some embarrassing feeding game again, she realized the chopsticks with the fried chicken weren't aiming for her mouth but rather her cheek.

The piece of chicken was quickly devoured by the mouth that appeared on her cheek.

"Wow, it really went in!"

Yukinoshita Haruno blinked in surprise, then her playful side kicked in, and she began feeding Hayashizaki nonstop. She hadn't eaten much of the food she ordered, and most of it ended up in Yukinoshita Yukino's stomach instead.

The two were seated in a more secluded spot in the family restaurant, and there weren't many customers at that time. To outsiders, it would seem like the sister was just feeding her sibling, completely missing Hayashizaki's presence.

"Stop playing, sister!"

Yukinoshita Yukino finally couldn't take it anymore. Frowning, she leaned back and refused to let her sister continue feeding "Parasite" as she was getting full too quickly due to her sister's actions. As a result, there was still a small portion left of the two main dishes they ordered.

She pushed the leftover food toward her sister: "You can have these."

"Can't you finish it?"

Usually, Yukinoshita Yukino, being such a good girl, wouldn't waste food. Yukinoshita Haruno quickly thought of the reason, "The food that Hayashizaki-kun eats is actually going into your stomach?"

[Your sister is quite smart.]

Hayashizaki commented, setting aside Yukinoshita Haruno's slightly twisted affection for her sister. He thought that Yukinoshita Haruno could truly be described as both beautiful and kind-hearted; he had enjoyed a great meal today.

Is this what they call soft living?

"Hmph."

Ignoring Hayashizaki's thoughts, Yukinoshita Yukino shot her sister a weak glare and picked up some orange juice to drink quietly.

Haruno didn't mind and happily continued to eat her leftover food.

After they were full, the two returned to Yukinoshita Haruno's apartment.

Yukinoshita Yukino recounted everything that had happened since the day Hayashizaki suddenly woke up inside her body, explaining the curse, curses, and sorcerers to Yukinoshita Haruno.

As she listened to her sister describe her battles, Yukinoshita Haruno felt a tightening in her chest. How much worse must it be for Yukino, who was facing those battles firsthand?

"Don't worry, sister. I'm strong enough now."

Yukinoshita Yukino said with a smile.

After all, she had just taken down a special-grade cursed spirit on her own today. As a sorcerer, she was already capable of handling things independently.

All of this was, of course, thanks to Hayashizaki's guidance.

Under the living room lights, Yukinoshita Yukino's expression momentarily blanked, and she suddenly remembered the day she first met Hayashizaki, who had offered her another path representing an ordinary life.

If she had really chosen that path back then, what would her life be like now?

Maybe she would still be alone, quietly reading in the Servitude Department.

Life is a one-way street leading to a grave, and it's great not to feel regret for the choices made back then, Yukinoshita Yukino thought.

…

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