Yuko buried her face in my chest, her body trembling slightly as years of hidden fear were finally released. "I was so scared... I thought if you found out, you’d be disgusted. That you’d look at me like a monster..."

"You’re not a monster," I whispered, stroking her hair. "You’re my Yuko. Strong, protective, and part of this family. Nothing you’ve done will ever drive me away."

She stayed in my arms for a long time, the tension slowly melting. In the distance, the first hints of dawn were beginning to touch the horizon.

Yuko finally pulled back just enough to look up at me, her eyes still wet with tears but now shining with a new kind of warmth and deep trust. The vulnerability she had shown moments ago made her look even more beautiful under the moonlight.

"...Thank you, Jack," she whispered softly, her voice barely audible.

I gently wiped the remaining tears from her cheeks with my thumb. We stood there for a few more seconds in comfortable silence before heading back to the car. The night air was cool and quiet now, the horrors of the campsite feeling distant.

We climbed back inside. I started the engine, and we continued driving down the long, empty forest road. The headlights sliced through the darkness as the first faint glow of dawn began painting the horizon.

After a few minutes of peaceful silence, Haruna’s mischievous voice suddenly piped up from the backseat.

"Sister Yuko... why were you hugging my boyfriend so tightly outside? Are you trying to steal him from me~?"

Yuko stiffened instantly in the passenger seat, completely caught off guard. She had clearly forgotten that Haruna was sitting right there in the back, watching everything through the window. Her face flushed a deep crimson, eyes widening in panic.

"N-No! It’s not like that! I... I wasn’t— We were just—!" Yuko stammered, completely flustered, her usual cool assassin demeanor shattering in an instant.

Haruna puffed out her cheeks dramatically, then burst into laughter. "Pffft—! Hahaha! Your face is so red, Sister!"

Yuko whipped her head around to glare at her little sister in the backseat, still blushing furiously. "You... You were watching?! And you’re not angry?"

Haruna wiped a tear of laughter from her eye, grinning widely. "What do you think? Of course I’m not angry, silly."

Yuko looked genuinely surprised. She bit her lip, hesitation clear on her face before she spoke again, her voice softer and more sincere. "Then... do you blame your sister? I’m sorry, Haruna... but I really love Jack too. I can’t help it anymore."

Haruna’s playful expression softened into something warmer and more mature. She leaned forward between the seats and gently placed her hand on Yuko’s shoulder.

"I know, Sister. You’re my big sister. We’ve always shared everything important. From now on... we’ll be together. All three of us. With Jack."

Yuko blinked, then slowly nodded, a small, relieved smile forming on her lips. She reached back and squeezed Haruna’s hand affectionately.

Without warning, Yuko turned toward me and pinched my side hard. "This is for keeping secrets from me, you idiot."

"Aaah—!" I pretended to wince in pain, exaggerating it heavily while keeping one hand on the steering wheel. "Ow ow ow! Mercy, Yuko! I’m driving here!"

Both sisters giggled at my dramatic reaction, the tension in the car fully dissolving into light-hearted warmth.

The sudden commotion and laughter inside the car stirred Kasumi from her unconscious state. She groaned softly, blinking several times as she sat up in the backseat, looking around in confusion.

"Where... where is this?" she asked, voice still hazy. "What happened? The last thing I remember was being in the tent..."

Haruna quickly grabbed a water bottle from the side compartment and handed it to her mother with a bright smile. "Mom, you fainted earlier. Here, drink some water. You must be thirsty."

Kasumi accepted the bottle with a grateful nod, taking slow sips while looking between all of us. "Fainted...? I don’t remember feeling dizzy. Did those men come back? Is everyone alright?"

I glanced at her through the rearview mirror, keeping my voice calm and reassuring. "Everyone’s fine, Oka-san. The men ran away. We’re all safe now and heading home. You were just exhausted from worrying so much."

Kasumi sighed in relief, leaning back against the seat. She reached out and gently stroked Haruna’s hair with motherly affection, then turned her gaze toward Yuko, who had turned back to face forward, still faintly blushing from the earlier teasing.

"You three... always taking care of things without me," Kasumi said with a soft, loving smile. "But next time, don’t hide things from me, okay? We’re family. We should face everything together."

Yuko nodded quietly, her voice respectful. "Yes, Mom."

The playful atmosphere continued until we finally reached home as the sun climbed higher in the sky. The grand gates of the estate opened smoothly. I drove up the long driveway and parked in front of the mansion.

The front door opened almost immediately. The maid, Aiko, stood there politely, having watched our arrival through the security camera. She bowed gracefully.

"Welcome home, Master Jack, Madam Kasumi, Miss Yuko, and Miss Haruna. I hope everything went well on your trip."

"Thank you, Aiko," I replied. "We’re all tired. Please prepare some breakfast later, but let us rest for now."

Aunt Tomiko was still fast asleep in her room, unaware of our return. Kasumi looked exhausted after the long night. She gave us each a gentle smile before heading upstairs.

"I’ll go rest in my room for a while," she said softly. "I still feel drained. Wake me if anything important comes up."

She disappeared down the hallway toward her bedroom.

I walked into my own large, luxurious bedroom, the heavy wooden door clicking shut behind me. The curtains were still drawn, keeping the room dim and peaceful. I rolled my shoulders, finally allowing my body to relax after everything that had happened.

Before I could even sit down, the door burst open without knocking.

Yuko and Haruna barged in together, closing the door firmly behind them. Their eyes were locked on me with clear intent. Haruna had a bright, mischievous grin, while Yuko’s expression was a mix of lingering emotion, affection, and determination.

"Jack," Yuko said, stepping forward first. "You’re not sleeping alone after the night we had."

Haruna immediately hopped onto my massive bed, bouncing slightly as she patted the spots on either side of her. "That’s right! Big sister and I are staying right here with you. No excuses."