Chapter 73: Indulgence

If only she could hug Ephnel again.

If only she could confess her feelings to Ephnel like in her dreams.

But such a thing was probably impossible.

When Yukina opened her eyes again, the Ephnel on the pillow was still beaming with a radiant smile.

“Doesn’t like boys, and doesn’t have a girl she likes either…”

Yukina suddenly recalled the conversation between her aunt and her sister.

Did such an ambiguous answer leave room for hope, or did it cut off the possibility of the hope in her heart?

Ephnel was, after all, different from her.

So, her thoughts, her feelings, would they have to be locked away in her heart from now on?

“I like you”—that sentiment hidden under the table, did Ephnel really receive it?

Her heart was filled with a jumble of thoughts.

Yukina pressed the pillow tightly to her chest, her legs wrapped around it as if clinging to it.

“Doesn’t have anyone she likes…”

Having no one she liked in her heart, in other words, meant—”the position is vacant.”

Ephnel’s heart had not yet been occupied by someone else.

This was good news.

Yukina carefully reviewed every little detail from the past.

She turned over again, pressing the pillow under her body, and stared intently at the radiant gaze of the girl on the pillow.

The night was churning.

Yukina gently raised her hand, pressing down the top of the pillow with one hand, and using both legs like a cage to lock her prey.

Then she closed her eyes and kissed it forcefully, aggressively.

Ephnel’s coquettish nasal sound replayed in her mind.

Yukina only felt her lips and throat go dry, and she squeezed her legs tighter.

‘Just a little…’

‘She missed the scent she had smelled on Ephnel’s bed yesterday…’

Yukina released her lips, turned over, and hugged the pillow tightly.

The night was quiet, with only the sound of rustling fabric.

Yukina rested her cheek on the pillow and stared blankly at the wall with the wall scroll hanging on it.

“Naoto…”

Her voice was very soft.

Yukina didn’t know how long she could keep this feeling buried.

…

At this moment, next door to Yukina’s room—

Ephnel was still awake.

She was sitting at her computer desk, browsing web news, as well as announcements and related forums from the organization’s side.

Her phone was placed to the side, the screen still lit.

She had just finished contacting the Special Disaster Section and had scheduled a time to go there to inquire about the progress of the investigation.

Although she was currently on leave, as an Agent of this city, Ephnel was accustomed to keeping an eye on the events happening in the city.

The entire day had been peaceful.

No Erosion disasters occurred, nor were there any major man-made attacks.

“Phew…”

Ephnel stretched her arms and relaxed her body.

She closed her laptop, stood up, and loosely tied up her scattered hair.

Her parents had returned home today after a long absence.

Of course, Ephnel was very happy.

Her parents had a huge influence on Ephnel, which was why she had decided on her future path at a young age.

Her hard work had also brought her impressive rewards.

Her grades were excellent, similar to her parents’ during their school days.

But that only lasted until college.

That incident had brought a great change to Ephnel, so much so that she gave up on her long-held ideals.

Years of hard work naturally turned to dust.

But in its place, she embarked on another path—that of an Agent.

From that moment on, she had completely separated herself from the person named “Yanase Naoto.”

Friends, classmates, teachers, neighbors… she disappeared from everyone’s sight, appearing before the victims in the guise of a warrior.

Fighting became her sole purpose, and obtaining this power to save others was, for Ephnel, a fulfillment of her wishes in another way.

She occasionally wondered, if she hadn’t chosen to protect her classmates back then, if she hadn’t recklessly lured away the Erosion Organism by herself, would her future have been different.

But there was no doubt that “Ephnel” would have appeared.

Perhaps their fates would have been different, but the outcome would have been the same.

Everyone makes their own choice at the crossroads of fate.

In any case, she had never regretted it.

To protect others from the ravages of the Erosion was Ephnel’s initial wish in the first place.

Besides, it was also for her sister.

Ephnel came to the side of the bed, and just as she was about to turn off the light, there was a sudden knock on the door.

—Knock, knock.

Ephnel paused, then opened the door, slightly surprised.

Before her was her own sister, Shiomi Yukina.

At this moment, Yukina was only wearing a thin slip nightdress.

Her snow-white shoulders and neck, and the faint curves, caught Ephnel’s gaze.

“Yukina? What’s wrong, it’s so late.”

“I… can’t sleep…”

“Is it the tightness in your chest?”

“A little, but that’s not the reason.”

“I just think it’s too noisy…”

“Noisy?”

“I can hear every sound so clearly, it’s too noisy for me to sleep.”

Ephnel was enlightened.

The current Yukina was like being in a constant state of sync.

The enhancement of her five senses did not bring her complete convenience.

For others, it was a quiet night, but for Yukina, it was like a bustling street.

“The sound of the wind outside is like it’s blowing right in my ear.”

“I’m scared…”

Yukina’s voice was soft, like a feather drifting in a gentle breeze.

A flash of heartache crossed her eyes.

Ephnel bent down slightly and gently stroked Yukina’s hair.

“If you can’t sleep, I’ll stay with you.”

“Onee-chan…”

Yukina suddenly took a step forward, her hands slipping around Ephnel’s waist, and hugged her.

“Yu-Yukina…?”

This action startled Ephnel.

Her hands, with nowhere to go, were raised stiffly, letting Yukina hug her tighter and tighter, making it even a little hard to breathe.

“Yukina… it-it hurts a little…”

Only then did Yukina loosen her grip slightly.

She pursed her lips, lowered her eyelashes, her breath hitting Ephnel’s neck.

“Onee-chan, can I sleep with you…”

Ephnel was taken aback.

The scene of her sister coming to her bedroom yesterday and taking over her bed was still vivid in her mind, and she felt an inexplicable sense of apprehension.

Sleeping with Yukina seemed a bit improper.

But thinking about it from another angle, if she was to accept her female identity, then it was just sisters getting a little closer.

It didn’t seem to matter…

But…

The thought that she knew it could turn out like that, yet she didn’t refuse, but subconsciously didn’t reject it, made Ephnel’s cheeks burn.

Not refusing, wasn’t that a form of tacit approval and welcome?

It was even a signal that Ephnel was sending out, as if to say, “Even if you do this and that, I won’t mind.”

“Can I?”

Yukina tilted her chin up slightly, her hazy gaze making Ephnel’s heart race.

“I-if you don’t mind…”

Ephnel finally nodded.

…