That Yukino gradually came to realize her feelings, and the growing desire within her.
Unconsciously, she began to harbor a little "scheme."
She wanted to knowhow far things had progressed between Yukima Azuma and those other girls.
Or perhaps, what Yukino truly cared about more
Was what Yukima Azuma was thinking.
Even though, not even Yukino herself knew
If she really found out the truth, what would she do then?
Had that boy already chosen someone?
If so should she convince him to open a harem?
Or maybe, no one had truly stepped into his heart yet.
Should she be the one to step forward?
But if she did
Would she have to drive the others away?
Yukino's thoughts were in a bit of disarray.
By principle, Yukino was a person of integrity, with a strong sense of possessionshe could never accept something like a harem, a structure that defied order and reason.
But now, in this very moment, it was Yukima Azuma who was her principle.
That's why, halfway through the conversation, Yukino stopped. She didn't press further.
Yet even without her asking, Yukima Azuma was sharp enough to sense the shift in her emotions.
Though she was now a mature female CEO
Yukino's ability to manage her facial expressions still wasn't perfect.
At least, not in front of Yukima Azuma.
Happy or upsetit was always written plainly on her face.
After thinking for a bit, Yukima Azuma's eyes shifted.
"I think I just got an idea for volume three."
Hearing that, Yukino couldn't help but be stunned.
Then she realizedYukima Azuma was staring directly at her.
And in that moment, she understood exactly where his "inspiration" was coming from.
Her heart began to race.
(>/////<)
"Let's not talk about that now," Yukima Azuma said. "This is a rare vacation. How about we think about dinner instead?"
"Let's leave all that until after the break."
"After all we've still got plenty of time, don't we?"
( — )
Yukima Azuma shifted the topic with a wink.
Yukino nodded seriously.
Indeed, time was still on their side.
At this point, Yukima Azuma was still a student.
And she herself was only in her second year post-graduation.
The bond between them wasn't something that would suddenly be severed anytime soon.
The pressure from the Yukinoshita household had been easily swept away by this young man.
His feelings were crystal clear.
And her feelings had already taken on his shape.
The futurethere was plenty of time to sort it all out.
And right now, it was the long-awaited vacation trip she had been dreaming of, her heart brimming with quiet joy.
She ran her hand lightly through the crystal-clear jade-colored water.
Yukino swam gently toward Yukima Azuma.
Then, scooping a handful of hot spring water, she flicked it into his face.
Even if things could wait for later, being deflected by Yukima Azuma like that still made her a little annoyed.
Just moments ago, he had been admiring his mermaid Yukinowhen suddenly, splashed straight in the face.
Caught off guard, he quickly retaliated.
"Take thismy Water Release technique: 'Who the hell rebuilt this dam?!'"
( ) (®®)
In the middle of their play
The golden hue of sunset descended upon them.
And then, they suddenly stopped.
Not because the surroundings had gone dim
But because just then, soft white snowflakes began to fall from above.
As he watched the snowflakes melt in the palm of his hand,
Yukima Azuma suddenly grabbed hold of Yukino.
She blinked in surprise.
"Truth is, snow that doesn't melt is way more enchanting."
( — )
Yukima 'Rizz' Azuma flirt smoothly.
"Snow that doesn't melt" pouted bashfully.
()
All the Heroines are my Ex-girlfriends
Curse_Heian_Chef
Chapter 301: A Bittersweet Feeling
Chapter 301: A Bittersweet Feeling
"Are you feeling a little dizzy?"
Yukima Azuma asked.
Yukino nodded.
At this moment, her fair face had a light blush, as if it had been carefully dusted with rouge.
Her usually sharp eyes now appeared a little hazy.
(/////" )
In truth, it wasn't so much because of the hot spring.
The current state was mainly due to her heart beating fast.
And the reason her heart was beating so fast
Yukino looked again at Yukima Azuma.
Yukima Azuma swam closer to the edge and climbed out.
Standing by the spring, he reached out his hand toward Yukino.
After pulling Yukino up, the two of them stepped inside.
The snowflakes falling from the sky weren't getting any heavier.
Just a few scattered, small flakes.
They fluttered down softly, some perhaps melting into clear droplets before even reaching the ground.
There was no white snow accumulation visible by the hot spring.
Only by looking up at the sky
One could see the delicate snowflakes falling gently, catching the dim resort lights.
After pulling Yukino up, Yukima Azuma didn't let go of her hand.
Instead, he skillfully clasped her hand, their fingers interlaced.
The two entered the indoor changing room.
As they stepped inside, a few snowflakes landed on Yukino, melting and carrying a chill.
Making Yukino, beautiful like snow herself, shiver slightly without realizing.
Yukima Azuma took Yukino's towel from the locker.
He wrapped it around her head, then gently began drying her hair.
Taking care of long hair was troublesome even drying it required caution.
Otherwise, it would hurt or damage the hair's quality.
But Yukima Azuma was very skilled.
"I can do it myself. Aren't you cold, Azuma?"
Yukino asked.
After all, they had just come out of the hot spring, and their bodies were still wet.
It was better to dry off quickly.
Even though she really enjoyed the feeling of Yukima Azuma drying her hair
Yukino still wanted Yukima Azuma to take care of himself first.
"It's fine, don't worry."
Yukima Azuma replied casually.
His physique
Let alone just coming out of a hot spring without drying off
Even swimming in winter in this kind of weather
Afterward, Yukima Azuma probably wouldn't even catch a cold.
By comparison, Yukino was still more important.
After all, since their school days, Yukino's physical condition had never been that great.
After graduating and entering the workforce, it didn't improveif anything, it got worse.
Overtime became more frequent, and her daily schedule often turned chaotic.
Thinking about it, Yukima Azuma realized there were quite a few girls in the house with weak constitutions.
Sora Ginko and Suou Yukithose two had serious illnesses back in elementary school, no need to mention that.
Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't have much better physical health either.
After all, one was an otaku, the other a novelist who barely exercised and stayed up late every night.
As he rubbed Yukino's black hair
Yukima Azuma thought about whether he should round up all the girls in the house sometime soon
And make them do some exercise to get healthier.
( )
...
It took about three minutes before Yukima Azuma reluctantly finished drying and arranging Yukino's long, straight black hair.
Then the two of them went into their respective rooms to change clothes.
By the time Yukino finished changing and stepped out
She saw Yukima Azuma already waiting with a hairdryer in hand.
She sat down on the small chair.
Watching Yukima Azuma skillfully lift her hair and begin drying it for her
Yukino couldn't help but let the corners of her mouth lift into a smile.
()
This feelingwas something she had never experienced before.
Something she couldn't have even imagined in the past.
Even though the Yukinoshita household had maids to attend to them
The feeling was completely different.
Even though it sounded a bit cheesy
Yukino could only feel that Yukima Azuma's actions were filled with affection.
It was a kind of love she had never experienced before.
( )~ ( oo) !!
However he really was skilled.
Her hair wasn't tangled at all, and even the lower layers were evenly dried.
Yukino's gaze unconsciously dropped to Yukima Azuma's short hair.
Hmm, come to think of it, he probably picked up these details from drying other girls' hair, right?
Yukino felt a little bitter.
But just a little bit.
As expected, someone who could come up with the plan for White Album definitely wasn't just lucky.
Yukima Azuma keenly picked up a slight whiff of vinegar, smell of jealousy.
Ever since his shogi skill maxed out, a sub-skill called "shogi" had appeared.
Yukima Azuma's sensitivity to emotion had grown even sharper.
For the people he cared about, he could sometimes pick up even the tiniest emotional shifts.
However, Yukima Azuma was a bit confused.
He was drying Yukino's hair right now, so what exactly was she jealous of?
(" v ") ?
Unable to figure out the reason for now, Yukima Azuma decided to change the subject.
"What do you want to eat tonight? I booked out the whole ryokan, so we can use the kitchen in the back too."
He leaned close to Yukino's ear and whispered softly.
Warm air brushed against Yukino's earlobe.
It was hard to tell whether it was from the hairdryer or Yukima Azuma's breath.
Yukino's whole body trembled slightly, and she unconsciously pressed her thighs together.
"I-I It's fine, no need to trouble yourself. You've already been busy all day"
(,,><,,)
Her voice stuttered a bit at first.
Yukino immediately composed herself.
Only then did she manage to speak with some dignity.
They had spent the entire day traveling.
Yukino truly didn't want to make Yukima Azuma work any more.
They'd departed early in the morning.
She had even fallen asleep leaning on Yukima Azuma in the car.
And yet, Yukima Azuma hadn't rested at all throughout the trip.
But after hearing her concern, Yukima Azuma just smiled lightly.
"It's fine. It's just cookingand I'm cooking for you."
"For me, it's actually a way to relax."
Cooking skill: Level 8.
For Yukima Azuma, cooking really was effortlessthere wasn't even a hint of fatigue.
Besides, he had gone through all the effort to bring Yukino on a vacation.
Of course he wanted to max out the experience.
Plus, there were still things to do after dinner.
Yukino, however, was completely unaware of Yukima Azuma's inner thoughts.
But when she heard his words
She felt like a sweet candy had melted in her mouth, its flavor slowly spreading through her heart.
(><)~*
"Just a regular bowl of ramen is fine."
Yukino finally said.
Her long, straight black hair that reached down to her waist was beautifully stunning.
But it had taken Yukima Azuma nearly ten minutes to dry it completely.
With a practiced hand, he braided her hair into a single plait, letting it fall over her shoulder.
It was the "dangerous hairstyle" that anime moms who die early often had.
After admiring it for a moment, Yukima Azuma nodded in satisfaction.
Yukino, on the other hand, stared wide-eyed at her intricately styled hair.
He was too good at this!?
The faint scent of vinegar spread again.
This time, Yukima Azuma more or less guessed the reason.
So, he used the Joestar family's secret techniqueNigerundayoand slipped straight into the kitchen at the back of the ryokan.
( )
After all, trying to explain stuff like this would only make it worse.
As soon as he stepped into the kitchen, Yukima Azuma saw that someone was already there by the counter.
Wearing a kimono, her hair neatly tied, skillfully washing and chopping vegetables
A Mrs. Yukinoshita who looked just like a classic Yamato Nadeshiko.
Yukima Azuma smiled softly.
Mrs. Yukinoshita gave him a glance but didn't say a word.
After all, she had already accepted the terms Yukima Azuma had offered
Naturally, she would give her utmost to fulfill that promise.
Chapter 302: The Conversation Between the Yukinoshita Mother and Daughter
Seeing the two beautifully presented bowls of shoyu ramen that Yukima Azuma brought out
Along with several side dishes full of traditional Japanese flair
Yukino blinked, slightly surprised.
"Why did you make so much? There's no way we can finish all of this."
Yukima Azuma smiled, offering no explanation.
He simply said, "More importantly, try it and see if it's good."
Yukino gave a small nod.
The shoyu ramen was as delicious as always.
()
Back when Yukino used to work late into the night and didn't have time for dinner, once she returned to the Yukima household
Yukima Azuma would often cook this dish for her.
She had eaten it more times than she could count, yet never once did she feel tired of it.
It felt like she could eat it for the rest of her life.
As for the side dishes
Yukino tried a bite.
And didn't feel particularly impressed.
Usually, Yukima Azuma's cooking always surprised her.
But these small dishes were unexpectedly ordinary.
Even so, after a few bites, she found herself unconsciously reaching for more.
()
Watching Yukino silently devour her ramen, Yukima Azuma seemed to be lost in thought and gave a small nod.
He had made three bowls of ramen.
Yukima Azuma had actually invited Mrs. Yukinoshita to join them.
But she shook her head and declined.
She had her meal in the back kitchen.
Those side disheswere made by Mrs. Yukinoshita.
Turns out, Mrs. Yukinoshita could cook.
And judging from her technique, she was fairly skilled.
Though not quite at a professional chef's level
She was at least as capable as a seasoned housewife.
Maybe even an exceptional one.
This genuinely surprised Yukima Azuma.
After all, she was a great ojou-sama from the Yukinoshita family
Knowing how to cook just felt a little off.
Though Japan didn't have outdated sayings like "a woman's place is in the kitchen"...
Cooking clearly wasn't a skill expected of someone raised like an ojou-sama.
On that note, Yukima Azuma casually asked her about it.
Mrs. Yukinoshita answered plainly.
She had learned to cook around the time she first became the head of the household.
Back then, the Yukinoshita family was just an ordinary familynot some prestigious noble line.
A woman stepping up as family head had stirred no small amount of controversy.
At the time, Mrs. Yukinoshita didn't even have anyone she could trust by her side.
