Chapter 556: Haruna’s Tears, Yuko’s Lies
My gaze dropped to her lips. Lingered. Yuko's chest rose and fell with controlled breaths, her fingers digging into the edge of the table.
I could see the storm in her eyes, the way her pulse jumped at the base of her throat. She wanted to destroy me. But she stayed still. Because Haruna was watching. Always watching.
Then I shifted. Slow. Deliberate. I leaned in, my body angling toward hers, my lips hovering just beside her mouth. Close enough that the heat of her breath ghosted over my skin.
Close enough that, from the outside, it would look like a kiss—like I was claiming her in front of everyone. My hand found her jaw, my thumb brushing the edge of her lip in a featherlight touch, as if I were savoring the moment.
The air between us was thick with tension, every breath Yuko took sharp enough to cut glass. Her entire body had locked up, her voice a venomous whisper, trembling with barely contained fury. "If you kiss me, I'll break your fucking nose—and that's just the start, you piece of shit. I'll make sure you regret ever laying a finger on me."
I chuckled, my lips barely grazing the shell of her ear, my voice a low, taunting murmur. "Relax, Yuko. It's just an illusion. Haruna doesn't need to know the truth." My tone dropped even lower, laced with amusement. "But if you really want me to kiss you… all you have to do is ask. I'd be more than happy to make it real."
Her ear burned a furious crimson, her hands clenching into fists so tight her knuckles turned white. "Go to hell," she hissed, her voice shaking with rage. "I'd rather die than ask you for anything, you manipulative bastard."
I grinned, my eyes flicking toward the window just long enough to catch Haruna's reaction. Her face was a mix of shock and something darker—something that looked like pure, unfiltered betrayal. Perfect.
"Oh, I'm already there," I murmured, leaning back in my seat, my fingers finally retreating from Yuko's skin. "But you're coming with me, whether you like it or not."
Yuko's voice was a low, lethal promise, her eyes blazing with fury. "I'm going to end you. I'm going to make you suffer for every second of this."
I pulled back, thinking that was enough—and sure enough, I caught a glimpse of Hannah and Haruna's retreating figures as they ran away, their backs disappearing into the shadows.
Yuko noticed it too, her worry cutting through her anger like a blade. "Are we done yet? Should we go after her? Should we confront Haruna and fix this?"
I shook my head, my voice calm. "Not yet. We go back, but we wait. Let her stew in it. Let her think about what she saw."
Yuko's jaw tightened, but she nodded, her usual confidence faltering. She looked almost… vulnerable. A killer, nervous for her sister. It was strange—seeing her like this. Fragile. Almost cute.
We paid the bill and stepped out into the cool night air, the weight of what we'd done pressing down on us. Yuko's phone rang suddenly, the sharp sound cutting through the silence like a knife. She glanced at the screen, her entire body tensing. "It's Haruna."
"Answer it. Put it on speaker."
Yuko hesitated for only a second before swiping the screen. Haruna's voice came through, raw and trembling with fury. "Sister… where the hell have you been? You think I didn't see you? You think I'm stupid?"
Yuko's breath hitched, her voice unsteady. "Haruna, it's not—"
"Not what?!" Haruna's voice cracked, her words dripping with venom. "Not what I saw? You were all over him, Sister! Kissing him in public like some—some whore! How could you?! Hannah's right there, and you're flirting with her man?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
Yuko flinched like she'd been slapped, her fingers tightening around the phone. "Haruna, you don't understand—"
"I understand perfectly!" Haruna's voice rose to a scream, her sobs breaking through. "You're a liar! A traitor! I always looked up to you, and this is how you repay me?! By making a fool of yourself—of us?! I don't have a sister like you! I hate you!"
The call cut off abruptly, leaving Yuko standing there, stunned. Her phone slipped from her fingers, crashing to the pavement, the screen shattering into a spiderweb of cracks. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks in silent, devastating streams. She didn't make a sound. Just stood there, trembling, her gaze locked onto me with a mix of betrayal and pure, unfiltered rage.
Then she exploded.
Her fists flew at my chest, each hit fueled by years of pent-up fury. "WHY?!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "It's all your fault! I shouldn't have listened to you! You ruined everything! Now Haruna won't talk to me! She hates me!"
I didn't fight back. Didn't even flinch. Instead, I pulled her into my arms, holding her tight as she thrashed against me, her fists pounding into my chest. "You monster! You destroyed my relationship with my sister! Are you happy?! Tell me, are you happy now?!"
I let her hit me. Let her scream. Let her cry.
"I should kill you!" she sobbed, her voice muffled against my shirt, her tears soaking through the fabric. "I should!"
I held her tighter, my voice steady, unshaken. "Yuko… I'll fix it. I promise you, I'll fix this."
She kept struggling, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "How?! How the hell can you fix this?! You bastard! You destroyed everything!"
I didn't let go. Not even when her hits weakened, not even when her sobs turned into shuddering breaths. Not even when she finally realized she was still in my arms, her body pressed against mine, her face buried in my chest.
She stiffened, her voice suddenly cold. "How long are you going to take advantage of me? Get your hands off me!"
I released her slowly, watching as she shoved me back, her face flushed—anger, embarrassment, or maybe both. She wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her eyes still burning with fury.
"I swear, if you ever pull a stunt like this again…" she snarled, her voice trembling with leftover emotion.
I didn't smile. Didn't joke.
Because some wounds ran deeper than words. And some promises weren't just made—they were owed.