books44 Chapter 75 Speculations Under the Snow
Chapter 75 Speculations Under the Snow
"Why did you suddenly ask this question?" Yukino Yukinoshita raised an eyebrow, looking at Yui Yuigahama with a puzzled expression.
"I... I just feel... Yukinoshita, you seem to like Natsuo." Yui Yuigahama looked at her cautiously, her voice soft.
"Me? I like him? Where did you get that idea?" Yukino Yukinoshita frowned in disbelief.
She herself was unaware that she had this thought.
"N-no?" Yui Yuigahama asked, sounding a little unsure.
"You tell me first."
"that is......"
Yuigahama Yui paused for a moment, then whispered, "I feel that you, Yukinoshita, aren't the type to initiate physical contact with men unless you're very close to them..."
"Just because of this?"
"Ah... um..."
"Since you think that way, why do you still think I like him?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked rhetorically.
"What?" Yui Yuigahama didn't understand what she said.
"Sigh." Yukino Yukinoshita sighed, looking at her helplessly.
"Given our current relationship with Xia Sheng, we're practically in the same boat, right? The experiment is necessary, so isn't it normal for me to have some physical contact with him?"
"Didn't you say before... you wouldn't force yourself to sacrifice yourself for the sake of the experiment?"
"If physical contact is considered a sacrifice, then I'm being too dramatic, aren't I? Given our current situation, I can't afford to do that." Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head.
"Then why did you say your relationship with Xia Sheng hasn't progressed to the next level yet...?"
"Yes, he and I are friends now, companions. Simple physical contact is of course not objected to, but going any further is not something I can accept." Yukino Yukinoshita nodded in agreement.
"Does this mean... you have feelings for Natsuo?" Yui Yuigahama asked hesitantly.
"Feelings? I haven't thought about it that way, but I don't think so. I only see him as a comrade who has gone through thick and thin with me," Yukino Yukinoshita answered truthfully.
"Oh, I see... I'm sorry, I guessed wrong." Yui Yuigahama immediately bowed her head and apologized.
"It's nothing. I'm more curious why you asked me that question." Yukino Yukinoshita stared at her calmly.
"Me... this... is it just curiosity?"
"I know you're always thinking about men and women, but the question you just asked didn't sound like you were just curious. Do you have feelings for Natsuo?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked bluntly.
"Eh? Is that so?" Yui Yuigahama was stunned.
"Don't you know?" Yukino Yukinoshita stared at her dumbfounded.
"Y-yes, I'm a little unsure... but I don't mind being with him." Yui Yuigahama scratched her head sheepishly, answering honestly.
"Is that so? Then you'd better be prepared." Yukino Yukinoshita's tone suddenly turned serious.
"Mental preparation?" Yui Yuigahama looked at her with a puzzled expression.
"Natsuo and we are bound together by fate, we are intertwined, and we may be together forever in the future." Yukino Yukinoshita stared into Yui Yuigahama's eyes and emphasized.
"That's right..." Yui Yuigahama blinked, confused.
"Not only that, if we can't get to that place out of our passive situation, we'll have to accept intimacy with Natsumi, otherwise we won't be able to help... or even survive."
"I know," Yui Yuigahama said with a serious expression.
"No, you don't understand. Since we're tied to him, have you thought about the future?" Yukino Yukinoshita asked in a clear voice.
"From now on..." Yui Yuigahama tilted her head and thought about what Yukino Yukinoshita had said.
If they continue to be bound to him in the future, and encounter a stronger intruder who requires them to share his abilities, then they will have to... all become intimate with him!
No one can avoid it!
Unless they can escape the call of that place!
Unless they don't mind being a burden.
Unless they... don't want to live!
But how could they not want to live? They hadn't encountered anything desperate or heartbroken.
Therefore, she had no choice but to accept that her relationship with Xia Sheng would develop further!
Yui Yuigahama immediately understood what Yukino Yukinoshita meant.
"So, what about us in the future...?"
"Prepare yourself mentally and think everything through. There's still time." Yukino Yukinoshita didn't intend to say much, just a simple reminder.
"So, Yukinoshita, you've already thought of so much..."
"No, it just came to mind suddenly because of today's experiment." Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head and told the truth.
"Then... then are you... mentally prepared?" Yui Yuigahama couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know, but there's still time." Yukino Yukinoshita said calmly.
"There's still time..."
"What? There's still time?" At that moment, Xia Sheng walked out of the room.
He changed into a black hoodie, which Yukino Yukinoshita had picked out for him last time.
"It's nothing, let's go." Yukino Yukinoshita glanced at his attire, then got up and walked towards the door.
Yui Yuigahama followed her.
The two put on their shoes, opened the door, and saw Shiina Mahiru coming out of the house.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." Shiina Mahiru closed the door and waited for them to come over.
"It wasn't long; Natsuo just finished changing his clothes." Yukino Yukinoshita shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind.
"Why is he changing so slowly?"
"They might be eavesdropping."
"Huh?" Yui Yuigahama exclaimed.
"What's wrong?" Shiina Mahiru looked at her in confusion.
"I..." Yui Yuigahama didn't know how to answer, so she could only look to Yukino Yukinoshita for help.
"Don't worry about it, let's go buy some groceries, we're a little hungry."
"OK."
Shiina Mahiru didn't intend to ask any more questions, and looked at Natsuo, calling out, "Natsuo, hurry up and catch up."
"They're here."
Upon arriving at the supermarket, Xia Sheng became the laborer, responsible for carrying the groceries.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Mahiru Shiina can both cook, and the two of them are responsible for choosing the ingredients.
Yui Yuigahama isn't a very good cook, but she follows the two of them, wanting to learn.
At this time, the supermarket was deserted and quiet, so Xia Sheng didn't get to enjoy the envious glances of outsiders.
After buying the ingredients, Natsumi also bought a lot of snacks and two pairs of cute indoor slippers for Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama. After paying, he carried the bags and went back with them.
Back home, Yukino Yukinoshita and Mahiru Shiina went into the kitchen.
The kitchen appliances in Xia Sheng's house were finally turned on for the first time.
It hadn't been used for a while, and cleaning it took quite a bit of time, but he didn't need any help; he could just wait to eat it.
Yui Yuigahama went to join in the fun, as she wanted to learn how to cook.
It's quick for two people to cook; they finished in a little over an hour. There were four of them, and the meal consisted of two vegetarian dishes and two meat dishes.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Mahiru Shiina each prepared one meat dish and one vegetable dish.
"It smells so good! It looks delicious!" Xia Sheng went to get the dishes, smelled the aroma, and praised them.
"Yeah, Yukinoshita and Shiina are so amazing! I wish I could be as amazing as them." Yui Yuigahama said admiringly as she served the dishes with Natsuo.
"...As long as you are willing to work hard, you will definitely succeed."
"Natsuo, do you not trust me?" Yui Yuigahama understood the meaning behind his words.
"No, I'm going to get some rice. I'm starving."
"Ah! They ran away!"
After Natsumi served the meal, Yukino Yukinoshita and Mahiru Shiina also came over after cleaning the kitchen.
The four people sat around the dining table in four different directions. Across from Natsumi was Yukino Yukinoshita.
It was his first time eating at the same table with them, let alone having them cook for him. He was a little excited and couldn't wait.
"Eat up, I won't stand on ceremony."
Xia Sheng casually picked up a piece of beef and shoveled it into his mouth along with the rice, taking large bites with restraint.
The tender beef and the full rice blend together, and you feel satisfied the moment you swallow it.
He ignored the three people watching him and tasted each of the four dishes.
It's a simple home-style dish, yet it's incredibly delicious.
"Why are you all staring at me? Come eat with us," Xia Sheng reminded him.
"Okay." Shiina Mahiru nodded with a smile.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama started eating.
"By the way, Natsumi, which of these dishes do you think is the best?" Shiina Mahiru suddenly asked.
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