My 'System' Is Myself!?

On the gray-white wasteland, Haruno stood amid the remnants of a vengeful spirit swarm. The darkness beneath her feet writhed like a living creature, tearing the last spirit apart and reducing it to nothingness.

She dusted off her hands and turned toward her sister with a smug smile.

It was not a boastful smile. It carried the proud message, See? Your big sister is amazing, isn't she?

Yukino stood beside a massive gray-black boulder with her arms crossed, a complicated expression on her face.

Her gaze shifted from Haruno to the ruins she had cleared.

More than a dozen vengeful spirits had been wandering there moments earlier. Now, not even ashes remained.

The sister who had grown up beside her, who always teased her with a smile and stood in front of her whenever she needed protection, had become powerful enough to eliminate vengeful spirits with ease.

"That's it?"

Yukino spoke quietly, with a trace of bitterness that even she failed to notice.

Haruno raised an eyebrow.

"That's it? Yukino, do you have any idea how many vengeful spirits were here? There were twelve of them, and I eliminated every one in less than three minutes."

Yukino pursed her lips without answering.

Of course she knew her sister was powerful. She had understood that from the moment those shadows appeared.

Their speed, strength, and reaction time were beyond anything an ordinary human could resist.

Haruno also possessed the Shadow King, magic, and all the other abilities Genichi had bestowed upon her.

Compared to her sister, Yukino was like an ant standing before an elephant.

Yet an indescribable emotion still lingered within her.

It was not jealousy or resentment. It was something more complicated and deeply rooted.

Envy.

Yes, she envied her.

She envied Haruno's ability to eliminate vengeful spirits with ease. She envied her ability to protect others and stand beside Genichi as part of his power system.

"Haruno," Yukino said hesitantly.

"Hmm?"

"When did you become this strong?"

Haruno thought for a moment, then smiled.

"The moment I drank the Blood Wine. Genichi bestowed Gospel Magic upon me, transforming me from an ordinary person into someone with supernatural power."

She paused, and a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes.

"What's wrong? Are you jealous?"

Yukino blushed slightly and turned away.

"Of course not."

Haruno stepped forward and pinched her sister's cheek.

"Don't bother denying it. It's written all over your face."

Yukino slapped her hand away and glared at her.

"I said I'm not, so I'm not."

Haruno's smile grew even brighter.

She knew Yukino was being stubborn, and she knew exactly what her sister was thinking.

Yukino had always been like this. She refused to admit when she wanted something, denied it when she was envious, and pretended not to care even when her heart had already been moved.

She needed someone to give her a push. Someone had to tell her that it was not a terrible thing and help her set aside that infuriating pride.

"Yukino."

Haruno's expression became more serious. "Do you know why Genichi was willing to give me power?"

Yukino looked at her without answering.

"It wasn't because I had money or resources. It wasn't because I possessed some extraordinary background."

Haruno spoke softly, but every word was perfectly clear.

"It was because I was willing to entrust myself to him. Everything I am, body and soul, even my life and death, rests in his hands."

Yukino's pupils contracted slightly.

She understood what Haruno meant.

Drinking the Blood Wine meant placing her life in Genichi's hands.

That was what she had always resisted.

But as she looked at her sister standing before her, powerful, confident, and perfectly composed, her resolve began to waver.

"Don't you regret it?"

Yukino's quiet voice trembled slightly.

Haruno studied her in silence for a moment before smiling.

"Regret it? What would I regret? Gaining power? Being able to protect you? Standing beside Genichi?"

She shook her head.

"My only regret is that I didn't meet him sooner."

Yukino lowered her head, clutching the hem of her clothes.

Two voices argued inside her mind.

One urged, Go. You want that kind of power too.

The other warned, No. You can't surrender yourself like that.

The two voices continued arguing, but neither could convince the other.

Haruno watched her sister struggle and quietly exhaled.

Yukino needed time. She needed to think and reach her own decision.

Haruno could not force her or choose on her behalf. She could not push her into the abyss.

All she could do was stand beside it and wait for Yukino to jump of her own accord.

"Come on."

Haruno turned and started walking. "There are still plenty of vengeful spirits for us to clear out."

Yukino raised her head and watched her sister's retreating figure.

Sunlight…

No, there was no sunlight here. There was only the gray-white sky and eternal, deathly silence.

Yet Haruno stood out against that colorless world like a ray of light illuminating the path ahead.

Yukino took a deep breath and followed her.

The sisters walked across the gray-white wasteland, one in front of the other, their footsteps light.

Haruno occasionally glanced back at her sister with a faint smile.

Yukino followed behind, watching Haruno's back as warmth rose within her heart.

"Haruno," Yukino suddenly called.

"Hmm?"

"What were those shadows you used earlier?"

Haruno stopped and turned toward her.

"The Shadow King. It's a spell Genichi gave me after I formed my bond with him. It allows me to summon shadows that can fight for me, shield me from attacks, and even die in my place."

Yukino's eyes widened slightly.

"Die in your place?"

"That's right."

Haruno nodded. "If I suffer a fatal injury, a shadow will take the damage for me and transport me into the Shadow Dimension. It's effectively an extra life."

Yukino's breathing quickened.

An extra life?

What did that mean?

It meant Haruno could fight without constantly fearing injury or death.

It meant she could protect more people, accomplish more, and travel farther than ever before.

"Haruno, I want that kind of power too…"

Yukino startled herself the moment the words left her mouth.

Haruno looked at her sister with gentle eyes.

"Are you certain?"

Yukino fell silent for a moment before nodding.

"I am."

"Even if you have to drink the Blood Wine and entrust your life to Genichi?"

Yukino hesitated again, then nodded once more.

"I'm certain."

Haruno smiled. Her expression held relief and approval, along with another emotion too complicated to name.

She stepped forward and gently patted Yukino's head.

"I knew you would make the right choice."

Yukino blushed and lowered her head to avoid her sister's gaze.

"Stop patting my head. I'm not a child anymore."

Haruno's smile grew brighter.

"You'll always be a child to me."

Yukino glared at her but did not argue again.

She knew her sister was speaking the truth. Haruno had always protected her, waited for her to mature, and waited for her to make her own choice.

"Haruno," Yukino whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Do you think Genichi will accept me?"

Haruno looked at her gently.

"Of course he will. You're my sister, the younger daughter of the Yukinoshita family, and someone willing to dedicate herself to saving the world. He has no reason to reject you."

Yukino lowered her head and nervously twisted her fingers together.

"But before this… I said so many terrible things to him."

"He won't hold that against you," Haruno said firmly. "Genichi isn't that petty. He knows you spoke impulsively and that you didn't understand the truth."

Yukino raised her head and looked at her sister.

Her eyes held gratitude, dependence, and a faint trace of anticipation that was difficult to define.

"Haruno, do you think Genichi likes me?"

Haruno paused, then laughed.

"You should ask him that question, not me."

Yukino's blush deepened.

"I'd be too embarrassed…"

Haruno could not keep herself from laughing aloud.

"You can feel embarrassed? You didn't seem embarrassed when you called him a murderous monster."

Yukino's face became bright red.

"That was different…"

"How was it different?"

"It just was…"

Warmth filled Haruno as she watched her sister squirm.

Yukino had already taken the most important step. She had admitted that she wanted power and that she wanted to be with Genichi.

The rest was only a matter of time.

"Come on."

Haruno turned and continued walking.

"When we return, I'll take you to see Genichi."

Yukino nodded and caught up with her sister.

The two walked side by side across the gray-white wasteland, their steps light yet resolute.

Behind them, Genichi's shadow silently followed, recording every word of their conversation.

(End of Chapter)

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