Mash-Up Anime World: Adopted by the Sawamura Family

"Akira, did you do this on purpose?" Yukinoshita Haruno was subtly stirring the pot again.

"Haruno, are you jealous of Yukino and Shizuka?" Akira smirked. "I was just doing what a friend should do. But if it were you, I'd just sit back and watch you self-destruct. I wouldn't even bother warning you. Does that answer your question?"

"I admire Yukino and Shizuka, not you. In my eyes, you don't even compare to your little sister."

Yukinoshita Yukino, who had been silently brooding over her earlier breakdown, suddenly lifted her head in confusion. She never expected Akira to rank her above her sister in his heart.

"Akira, Haruno and I met you at the same time. Why do you hate me so much?" Haruno blinked, feigning sadness.

"Because you always act. No matter who you're facing, you're always wearing a thick mask," Akira said flatly. "It's become second nature to you. That mask's name is 'ruthlessness and opportunism.' You're no different from an ambitious villain like Ayanokouji."

"The only difference is, you're still in your growth phase, while he's already been tempered into a complete monster."

"If I ordered you to come to my room at night, you'd be there without hesitation, mentally prepared to offer yourself up."

"Yukino, on the other hand, would give me a slap across the face. That's the biggest difference between you two."

The false smile on Haruno's face disappeared completely. For the first time, she felt an uncontrollable fear toward Akira.

This young man, standing before her with a smirk, felt like a black hole—ready to devour everything, while she couldn't even grasp his depths.

"Yukino, do you still think your perfect older sister is someone you should aspire to be?" Akira chuckled. "Haruno, in my eyes, you're nothing but a clown. Watching you smile at me while seething inside because I took Yukino away from you? That's always been one of my favorite pastimes."

Everyone: ...

They had been left speechless too many times tonight.

"Now do you see why I don't want to play this game with you anymore?"

"Since my identity as the Taia Sword Master was revealed, you don't even dare to resent me in secret anymore."

"You have to swallow your frustration and force yourself to fawn over me instead. What a shame. I lost one of my greatest sources of entertainment."

Akira sighed dramatically, before doubling down.

"Do you all know why Haruno despises me so much?"

"Because she's a hopeless siscon! She's jealous that I took Yukino away from her."

Hiss—!

The girls collectively sucked in a breath. This was beyond disturbing.

Wasn't siscon behavior something that only happened between brothers and sisters?

Could Haruno actually be into… that?

A shiver ran down the girls' spines, and they instinctively took a step back.

They were straight. And with Akira around, they had absolutely no interest in that kind of thing.

Haruno realized there was no point in pretending anymore. She could no longer keep up the act.

Her expression darkened, teeth clenching as she practically spat her words through gritted teeth.

"Akira, when did you figure it out?"

"After meeting you a few times."

Akira grinned wickedly. "How does it feel, Haruno? You spent years putting on this show for me, only to realize I saw through you from the very start. Bet you didn't see that coming."

He laughed heartily, hands on his hips, as if reveling in her frustration.

What a terrible person!

"Your expression right now is hilarious. You want to hit me so badly, but you don't dare."

"Akira, tone it down," Shizuka spoke up at last. "You were just planning a political coup a moment ago. If you push Haruno too far, she might report you. Then we're all finished."

Shizuka's words were both a reminder for Akira and a warning for her daughter.

"Relax, Aunt Chizuru. You underestimate how much of a siscon Haruno really is. She wouldn't dare," Akira said smugly. "She would break every law on the planet if it meant protecting Yukino."

Chizuru's mouth fell open in shock. She was completely at a loss for words.

How on earth did she end up with two daughters like this?

"Yukino, how do you feel after hearing all this? Your dear sister loves you deeply."

"Disgusting!" Yukino shuddered, her face paling.

She recalled a disturbing childhood memory—when a perverted teacher had stolen her indoor slippers.

"Oh, right! I have another secret to tell you," Akira added with a sly grin. "Haruno secretly installed surveillance cameras in your luxury apartment."

Haruno felt like crying. She wanted to run away like Shizuka had earlier.

How the hell did Akira know about that?!

"Sister, this is beyond over the line!" Yukino was seething, her delicate features twisted in fury. "You invaded my privacy! This is a crime!"

She couldn't believe the biggest pervert had been right under her nose all along.

Haruno hung her head in shame, unable to argue.

She seriously suspected that Akira had been monitoring her the whole time. Otherwise, how could he know everything so precisely?

"Doesn't this match exactly what I said about Haruno earlier?" Akira smirked. "Lawless. No bottom line. Always resorting to shady methods."

"If she had only installed a camera outside your apartment, I'd understand. But no—she put them inside."

"Because, as a devoted siscon, she was prepared to interrupt me and Yukino if we ever did anything 'improper.'"

"But alas, I'm a gentleman. I never laid a finger on her. So your cameras were useless, Haruno. All they did was satisfy your twisted voyeuristic desires."

Haruno: ...

"Yukino, aren't I a great childhood friend?" Akira grinned.

"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" Yukino demanded, her anger shifting toward him.

"Did you forget what kind of person your sister is?" Akira shot back. "She's an actress. Just because I see through her doesn't mean you can."

"Yukino, I'm disappointed in you. People believe what they see and form biases. If I had told you earlier, you'd probably think I was slandering your 'perfect' big sister."

"If there was no solid proof—like the surveillance cameras in your apartment—would you have believed she was a full-blown siscon?"

"I don't think my bond as your childhood friend could ever outweigh your love for your sister."

"Akira… I-I'm sorry!" Yukino finally realized how much she had wronged him.

She had always pursued genuine human connections, yet she would've doubted Akira's words in favor of her sister's facade. He had been right all along.

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