Yukinoshita-san is definitely secretly in love with me.

Japan's administrative divisions differ from those of many other countries. For instance, a ken (prefecture) is larger than a shi (city). Chiba City, for example, is governed by Chiba Prefecture. Although called a "prefecture," a ken functions at a level similar to a province or state elsewhere.

Well similar, but not quite the same.

Mr. Yukinoshita wasn't just a member of the prefectural assembly; he was also the president of the most prominent construction company in Chiba Prefecture. Meanwhile, Mrs. Yukinoshita was a well-known figure in the local education and philanthropic scenes both celebrated and influential.

Within the bounds of Chiba, the name "Yukinoshita" carried the weight and presence of an unstoppable, dragon-like aristocracy.

Yukino had grown up in a family like that.

"The Madam will be so pleased to see you home again," said Mr. Itō with a cheerful smile as he drove.

Yukino sat with her schoolbag neatly placed on the seat beside her. Her hands rested lightly on her lap, fingers curled into faint fists, gaze drifting out the window.

She replied without looking back, "If she isn't immediately struck with a headache from seeing me, that would be more than enough."

Mr. Itō chuckled. "That was the old you. You're different now."

Different? Yukino found that hard to believe.

To everyone else, it might have seemed like she'd only been away for a little over a month but in truth, Yukino hadn't seen her family for a full year and four months.

How would they view her now? This Yukinoshita who had vanished for so long, only to reappear without warning?

She glanced down at the system interface hovering before her, lips pressing into a thin line.

[Negative Impression: 60% | Possession Risk: 60%]

Over the past month, she'd worked hard to reduce both metrics first by earning favor with Miura, then later with Yui and Kasumigaoka. Only then had she been able to drag her scores down to this barely acceptable level.

Sixty percent.

Still far too high.

In other words, she was still at serious risk of being possessed.

Just then, the bouncy little system reacted triggered by some keyword, no doubt.

[Achievement unlocked: Top Student in School – Reward Available]

Huh. That was the first time she'd seen the system mention anything unrelated to gaining or reducing "favor points."

Come to think of it, the "Top Student" achievement had been one of the three mainline tasks originally assigned by the despicable system to help her fix her negative image.

She had given up on it back then due to its low success rate only 31%. Instead, she'd chosen the option with the highest chance of success: claiming she liked girls.

There had also been a third option, involving dating some honest, quiet guy... which she'd promptly dismissed.

[System, does that mean every mainline task comes with a reward if completed?]

This time, the system actually responded:

[Once the host selects a mainline task, the remaining tasks are downgraded to side missions.]

[Do I have to complete them all?]

[Side missions are optional.]

Good. That was a relief.

Even if the "Top Student" path lacked long-term potential, it would serve well enough as a backup. As for the dating option she'd pass.

No matter how deplorable the system was, Yukino still had her principles. She wouldn't stoop to manipulating someone's feelings for her own survival.

The car pulled to a stop in front of the Yukinoshita estate. A butler opened the door.

"Welcome home, Miss Yukino."

As she stepped out, Mr. Itō gave her an encouraging smile.

"I'll take my leave now, Miss."

Yukino drew a quiet breath and made her way to the front door. A maid in a full, modest uniform opened it for her.

Although neither Mr. nor Mrs. Yukinoshita cared for excessive staff or a bustling household, the estate was far too large to manage without butlers and maids. Without them, Mrs. Yukinoshita would've long since been buried under the daily burdens of household chores.

And a woman like her who believed the only thing worthy of her gaze was the star-strewn sky above had no time to concern herself with matters as trivial as her own daughter's affairs.

"Miss Yukino, the Madam is waiting for you in the drawing room."

The maid was new. She hadn't been with the household long and had heard that the second daughter of the Yukinoshita family had a difficult temperament. Naturally, she was nervous upon meeting her for the first time.

She snuck a quick glance at Yukino, only to avert her eyes just as quickly.

Cold, distant, and hard to approach that was the impression Yukino gave.

But so beautiful, too.

Yukino handed over her bag and stepped into the drawing room. Her mother sat with her back to her, flipping through a blue folder. A tall stack of documents in various colors lay scattered across the coffee table.

"You're back. Sit down. Dinner will be ready soon."

Mrs. Yukinoshita's tone was calm, yet carried an unmistakable finality.

Back at school, Yukino was radiant, commanding, and one of a kind. But here, in this house before her mother she became simply Yukino Yukinoshita again.

Quietly, she took a seat across from her.

"You're still so quiet, even now that you've grown," her mother said, lifting her gaze. She paused. "...It's been a long time since I last saw that face."

Yukino had never been close with her parents.

She was born during a time when both her father and mother were pushing their careers to new heights in politics and business alike. Neither had time to spare for a newborn.

It was her older sister, three years her senior, who had raised her.

Every time their parents came home, that tiny little thing would hide behind her sister, or cling to her waist, peeking out with wide, wary eyes as if she were watching a stranger enter the house.

Her mother placed the folder back on the table. "You still like sweets, don't you? I asked the housekeeper to make mango mille crêpes..."

"Mother," Yukino said softly, "I'm allergic to mango."

The drawing room fell silent.

Then, from the direction of the entrance, came the sound of the maid greeting another arrival.

Yukino looked up, just as her sister stepped through the doorway, beaming.

She handed her bag to the maid without breaking stride and half-jogged toward their mother.

"Ah, Mom, I told you not to bring work home! Just looking at that stack gives me a headache."

The moment she arrived, the cold, lifeless room seemed to brighten.

That was the effect Haruno Yukinoshita had.

Mrs. Yukinoshita smiled. "You talk about slacking off as if it's a virtue. Be careful those old men at the company will be lining up to tattle on you again."

They were a picture of a close-knit mother and daughter.

And Yukino? She felt like a stranger who had wandered in by mistake.

Only now did Haruno seem to notice her, grinning. "Yukino, you're home?"

She bounded over and grabbed Yukino's hand, her tone playful. "You didn't even tell me you were coming back! That's so mean, Yukino~"

A strange, uneasy feeling settled in Yukino's chest.

Haruno her sister, so often cruel in jest and unkind in ways that stung had never smiled at her quite like this before.

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