Chapter 5. And then, the pretense became the real thing.

Chapter 5. And then, the pretense became the real thing. CHAPTER 5 And then, the pretense became the real thing.

The next morning, a peculiar tension lingered over the breakfast table in the Suou family’s antique dining room. Seated at the long table were Gensei Suou, the head of the household; his daughter, Yumi; her ex-husband, Kyoutarou; and Masachika, their son who had practically been disowned from the family by his grandfather. Anyone familiar with their relationships would have stared in disbelief at the sight. Yet ten minutes in, the meal had been unfolding surprisingly calmly without any particular drama.

“By the way Gensei, I used the advice you gave me at last month’s meeting, and it really helped. The discussion went very smoothly after that.”

“Really? Glader is still the same?”

“If anything, he was in an even better mood than usual, now that he has a grandson.”

However, only Kyoutarou and Gensei had been conversing; Masachika and Yumi simply ate their meal in silence. Natsu and Ayano were similarly subdued, quietly serving the family and performing their duties while blending into the background.

“Would you like another slice of bread, Master Masachika?” Ayano offered.

“No, I’m fine. Thanks, though.”

“As you wish.”

It was a quiet, seamless inquiry that didn’t interrupt the flow of the conversation. Her movements were graceful and efficient as she managed to stay out of sight as well. It was the mark of a true professional, thoroughly erasing her presence while perfectly fulfilling her duties. No one could have guessed she had spent the night tending to Yuki alongside Natsu; at only fifteen years old, Ayano had already reached a remarkable level of grace and competence. However…

“ … ! ♡ ”

If only she hadn’t faintly trembled after exchanging words with Masachika…

Ayano really can’t hide her “excitement,” huh? I can smell it from here.

Ayano’s face remained as expressionless as ever, yet to Masachika, her entire presence radiated a silent, overwhelming joy that practically declared, “I’m serving Master Masachika right now!” Even now, he could vaguely sense her sparkling eyes behind him, lost in the afterglow while staring into space. To Ayano, the chance to fully devote herself to Masachika right then seemed far more important than the historic fact that Gensei and Masachika were sharing a meal together for the first time in years.

But, well, I guess I’m kind of grateful that she never changes. Blank expression. Devoted. Silent. Maid. Once a subservient maid, always a subservient maid, I guess.

Masachika chuckled to himself at the fleeting thought, then immediately composed himself.

Whoops. Getting a little too relaxed there, Masachika. Eh, nobody’s looking though, so I guess I’m fine.

He shrugged slightly while watching Gensei and Kyoutarou converse. However…

“Masachika? What’s going on?”

The sudden address made Masachika’s eyes widen, and he turned around. He wasn’t the only one caught off guard, either. Gensei and Kyoutarou momentarily paused their conversation. Though they quickly picked back up where they left off as if nothing had happened, their exchange now carried a faintly strained, unnatural tone. Masachika, however, didn’t have the mental energy to care about their demeanor right now as he stared intently at Yumi, tilting his head.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“You… You looked like you were kind of smiling for a moment,” replied Yumi, her eyes still drifting somewhat as she tried to return her son’s gaze. Masachika was so taken aback he fell speechless for a moment, but with no time to put up a front, he honestly replied:

“Oh, it’s just… Ayano is acting so giddy that I couldn’t help myself…”

“ … ?!”

He sensed Ayano tense up behind him as Yumi’s gaze shifted in her direction.

“Ayano? Really?”

“Yes. I’m just so happy to get the chance to serve Master Masachika here that I guess I was acting a little strangely. I apologize.”

“No, it’s nothing to apologize for…”

Yumi wore a slightly awkward expression as Ayano earnestly bowed her head, prompting Natsu to suddenly speak up as if to smooth things over.

“Ayano? It’s okay to take your duties seriously, but you shouldn’t apologize. You should show that you’re embarrassed.”

“‘Embarrassed’ … ? Okay.”

Maintaining her usual impassive expression, Ayano placed both hands on her cheeks, but after a brief moment of contemplation, she struck a slightly more flirty pose.

“Po…” She made a popping sound with her mouth.

“Who are you, Lady Hasshaku?”

“Who?”

“Nothing.”

“ … ??”

Ayano looked as if a question mark were floating over her head, drawing a quiet chuckle from Kyoutarou.

“You two get along so well.”

“…Well, we did grow up together,” replied Masachika as he stole a glance at Gensei, but his grandfather showed no sign of displeasure as he continued eating in silence. That alone brought Masachika a sense of relief, since it seemed like a little joking around didn’t bother him.

Still, Masachika remained alert, waiting for just the right moment to speak, and when the post-meal coffee arrived, he started to brace himself. What mattered now was not losing sight of his role. He wasn’t here as Gensei’s grandson, but as Yuki’s schoolmate. With that in mind, he carefully began to choose his words.

“Mr. Suou.”

The way Masachika addressed Gensei caused a subtle shift in the room’s atmosphere. Yumi and Natsu frowned at his formal tone, their eyes darting between Gensei and Masachika. Kyoutarou, however, remained composed.

“What is it?” asked Gensei, his expression unchanged.

“I apologize, because I know this is sudden, but could I have thirty minutes of your time?”

“…Very well.” Gensei nodded as he stood up without even touching the coffee he had been served.

“Let’s go somewhere else to talk. Bring the coffee to my office,” Gensei demanded, glaring intently down at Masachika while Natsu picked up the tray.

“As you wish.”

“Come.”

And with that, he turned and briskly walked away without even waiting for a reply. Flustered, Masachika rose quickly, but carefully so as not to appear poor-mannered. However, as he passed behind his father, he felt a light pat on his lower back.

“ … !”

When Masachika glanced down, he was met with Kyoutarou’s usual kind expression and a reassuring nod. He immediately replied with a grateful nod of his own, then exited the room, following Gensei.

Oops. I probably should have left the door open for Natsu.

The thought struck him the instant he heard Natsu leaving the room with their coffee a few moments later. His usual thoughtfulness had abandoned him entirely, a telltale sign that he was nervous.

But the fact I realized that means that I’m still not completely panicking…

Analyzing himself from this detached perspective, Masachika trailed Gensei into the study, then held the door open for Natsu.

“Thank you, Mr. Masachika.”

“No problem.”

“Pardon me.”

After bowing at the doorway, Natsu looked toward Gensei, then placed the two cups of coffee on the desk he was standing behind.

“I’m going to place your coffee here, okay?”

“Thanks,” muttered Gensei, his back turned to them.

“My pleasure.”

A few seconds after Natsu exited the room with the empty tray, Gensei slowly turned to face Masachika.

“So? What do you want?”

His grandfather’s cold eyes shone with a hard glint, utterly devoid of even a sliver of affection for his own grandson. Yet Masachika also sensed no hostility or revulsion for the one who fled this house, either, so he was mollified.

“I’m going to get straight to the point. I want to be reinstated as the Suou family successor,” he announced, his voice filled with resolve as he uttered the words that would determine his future.

It was a firm decision Masachika had made the night before as he held his sick little sister in his arms. No more could he sit back and watch her suffer because of his selfishness. No more would his sister have to bear the responsibilities that rightfully should have been his. After all, it didn’t matter if someone like him, empty of passion and dreams, became shackled to this place. If his sacrifice could set Yuki free, then binding his life to within these walls was a small price to pay.

“…” Gensei’s eyebrow twitched at the demand as the atmosphere around him shifted. The polite host who had welcomed his granddaughter’s school friend into his home had vanished, replaced by the iron-willed head of the Suou family. Then, with a voice clearly gaining weight and intimidation, he said, “I have treated you as a schoolmate of my granddaughter’s since you stopped by yesterday. Are you making your demand with a full understanding of what that means?”

“Of course,” Masachika replied, straightforward and unfazed. Gensei, however, took a few steps closer, his gaze boring down on Masachika while radiating an intense aura.

“Then I will start treating you as a boy who has abandoned his family. You realize that you have no right to complain, even if I kick you out right now?”

Masachika endured Gensei’s crushing presence at point-blank range—the kind that would make even a grown man crumble—yet he didn’t flinch as he returned his gaze. In fact, he was actually relieved, because this confirmed that there was no lingering animosity or disgust in his grandfather’s eyes. This intimidation was mere theater. The man towering over him was first and foremost a calculating realist, and that meant there was nothing to fear.

“But even then, you’re not going to kick me out, because you understand that my proposal could benefit the Suou family.”

Gensei studied him in silence, taking in the young man’s unwavering stance and bold declaration. The seconds stretched taut between them before Gensei finally turned on his heel, circled to the far side of his desk, sat down in his creaking chair, and clasped his hands over the desktop. Then, slightly softening his intimidating aura, he said:

“All right, let’s hear it. How could the Suou family possibly benefit by accepting you back into the family?”

Masachika approached the desk, then plainly stated:

“It’s simple. With me, you get a more talented successor than Yuki to take over the family.”

Gensei narrowed his eyes at the young man’s audacity, leaning back in his chair before quietly and matter-of-factly replying:

“Yes, in terms of natural talent, Yuki cannot even compare to you.” He genuinely acknowledged Masachika’s genius, then coldly declared, “But that’s your only redeeming quality. For the past six years, Yuki has consistently exceeded my expectations. But you? What have you accomplished since leaving this house?”

It was like he knew of Masachika’s lazy, self-indulgent lifestyle, and he relentlessly continued as if he could see right through his grandson.

“You, who have learned nothing, refined none of your skills, and improved nothing about yourself? You, who have let the talent you were born with go to waste while you continued to neglect your duty as someone gifted? Does this sound like someone who is going to become a more suitable successor than Yuki? The arrogance,” barked Gensei dismissively, before changing his demeanor and speaking in a more indifferent manner.

“In addition, you already abandoned this family once. Inviting you back into the family would be disrespecting Yuki—the current successor—and my decision as the head of the Suou family, and I would never do anything to tarnish the Suou family name.”

But Masachika’s reply was simple, brief, and to the point.

“Now, that’s a lie. If you really felt that way, then you would have immediately kicked me off the property and never even taken the time to hear me out.”

Once he directly refuted Gensei’s assertion, he proceeded to explain his reasoning.

“Inviting me back into the family isn’t going to tarnish the Suou family name, because this family is known as a meritocracy that believes in rationalism.”

Masachika’s assessment of Gensei as a cold rationalist wasn’t mere personal observation. Not only Gensei, but the entire Suou clan was regarded by the nation’s elite as brilliantly calculating yet ruthlessly detached—a family that didn’t allow personal feelings to cloud their judgement, even within their own ranks.

In fact, after Masachika left home, Gensei had treated him as though he had never even existed. No matter how much he had doted on his grandson long ago, he ruthlessly erased his very existence the instant he became an outsider. This cold-bloodedness was the essence of the Suou family, so even if the successor’s position shifted from Yuki to Masachika, the act itself wouldn’t tarnish the Suou family’s reputation. All that mattered was if the decision was logical.

“I abandoned this family once? What’s important to you—to the Suou family—is who is a more suitable successor.”

Neither affirming nor denying the assertion, Gensei flatly replied:

“Even then, that still doesn’t mean you’re qualified to become my successor. You have accomplished nothing. You are not even worth considering.”

“While I admit I have been wasting my life away ever since leaving this house…it’s not like I haven’t accomplished anything, and I produce results that even you’ll be impressed with.”

Masachika then placed his hands on the desktop, met Gensei’s gaze firmly, and asserted:

“I will use my experience and connections from supporting Yuki as the vice president in middle school to get Alisa Kujou elected as the student council president. Then, I will take Yuki’s place in the First Light Committee. That’s how I’m going to prove to you that I’m worthy.”

He wasn’t going to appeal to emotion, since that would be pointless with Gensei.

“I’m going to win the election a second time with a different partner, which will secure my spot in the committee. Meanwhile, Yuki will fall short in the election without my support and thus lose her spot in the committee. Once that happens, it should be plain as day which of us is more suitable to take over the family.”

He wouldn’t grovel, either, since that wasn’t how Gensei had taught him to negotiate. Instead, he kept his head high, met Gensei’s gaze directly, and repeated:

“So again, I want you to make me your successor once I defeat Yuki in the election and am accepted into the First Light Committee.”

Gensei held his grandson’s gaze as silence stretched between them, then slowly responded:

“…Very well.”

“ … !”

“If you claim victory over Yuki in the election and prove you are worthy for the First Light Committee…then I will welcome you back into the Suou family.”

Masachika nearly surrendered to relief…until Gensei uttered a single, devastating word, “However,” instantly forcing his grandson to brace himself once more.

“I will still not make you my successor just yet, though. This will merely put you on equal footing with Yuki.”

In other words, he was only being placed at the starting line of the succession race, but that was fine. Yuki likely had no interest in leading the Suou family, nor any burning desire to become a diplomat. And with no reason to compete, it would simply be a matter of Yuki willingly withdrawing herself from the race.

“That’s fine.”

Masachika truly felt relief this time, but he didn’t let it show as he comfortably sat up straight and nodded. However, the conversation wasn’t over yet.

“In addition, you cannot run for vice president.”

“…What?”

“If you want to defeat Yuki, then you have to fight for the same position as her. That much should be obvious.”

Gensei’s demeanor made it clear to his speechless grandson that this was non-negotiable.

“If you win the election, successfully manage the student council as president for one year, and are able to be accepted into the First Light Committee, then and only then will I acknowledge you as a candidate to become my successor.”

“…”

The steady ticking of a clock echoed through the quiet room. After his conversation with Gensei, Masachika stopped by Yuki’s room and quietly checked up on his sleeping sister. According to Ayano, who, alongside Natsu, had stayed up all night caring for her, Yuki had briefly woken at dawn, and her fever had apparently subsided enough for her to be able to think clearly. Her complexion did seem much better than yesterday as well, and her breathing had settled into a peaceful rhythm.

The medicine seems to be working…

But just as gratitude for the now-napping Ayano warmed his chest, Yuki’s eyes suddenly fluttered open.

“…”

She gazed vacantly at the ceiling, her dry lips slowly forming words.

“And that’s the dream I had.”

“What?”

“So I was training to be a shrine priestess to exorcise demons, and what appeared to be just a regular bamboo broom that they gave me turned out to be one of the spears of Longinus that had been used to execute the underground Christians.”

“All right, now I’ve gotta hear more about this dream!” Masachika jested, leaning forward. Yuki, however, ignored his remark as she continued to gaze intently at the ceiling.

“…I know this ceiling.”

“That’s it?!”

Masachika was completely thrown off by his sister’s sudden return to form, momentarily even forgetting his conversation with Gensei as he got caught up in her theatrics. With a mischievous grin, Yuki tossed off her covers, sprang to her feet, and unraveled her braided hair, dramatically sweeping it back like a jet-black cloak. Exuding an air of grandeur, she then placed her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and declared in a defiant stance:

“The seal has been broken!!”

“No, some of your powers are still sealed away, so you need to lie down.”

“What am I? Some sort of demon?”

“You’re a malevolent god.”

“Hmm. Okay, I’ll take it. Now, go fetch me a glass of water, peasant.”

“Don’t push it. I can seal your powers away again if I have to.”

“Heh! I’d like to see you try.”

Yuki scoffed, gazing down at him from her lofty perch, but in one swift motion, Masachika snatched up the comforter and wrapped his sister into a human sushi roll in three seconds flat. She blinked once in stunned confusion, then immediately began thrashing about like a caterpillar on its back.

“Gaaah!! How dare you, an inferior being, do this to—!”

“It’s a common trope for godlike beings that look down on humans to lose in the end.”

“Grrr! You’ll pay! I’ll make you pay… Even if it takes eons, I will rise again, and when I do, the world will—”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s enough.”

“Mmmph?!”

He promptly smothered his sister with a pillow to silence her continued theatrics. However…

“‘ Eek! He’s going to kill me! He’s going to suffocate me and make it look like an accident! You’re not going to get your hands on my inheritance even if you kill me! ’”

“When did this turn into a thriller?”

Yuki started yet another performance, prompting Masachika to yank the pillow away. Then, with a long sigh and a hint of exasperation, he muttered:

“Seriously, though, you’re still sick, so you need to lie down. Your throat is hurting, right?” Masachika asked earnestly.

“Mn… Yeah.” Yuki stuck out her lower lip and nodded, then let out a sigh of resignation. “Fine. I’ll be good, so can you unwrap me already?”

“Nope. Because if I do, you’ll just start jumping around again.”

“Then are you fine if I do it here?”

“Do what?”

“Hint: golden shower.”

“No!”

Masachika began yanking the comforter back, causing Yuki to cry, “Oh, myyy” as she spun across the bed before gracefully landing by the bedside, where she planted her feet and stood up with her arms slightly angled in the air. She then glanced back at him over her shoulder, clearly fishing for a reaction.

“…I’m not going to give you a score. It wasn’t even that impressive.”

“Tsk. Would it have been better if I undressed while spinning, then posed completely naked?”

“You’d have been immediately disqualified. Now, hurry up and go pee.”

“In your room?”

“In the toilet!”

Watching his sister cackle her way out of the room, Masachika sighed in a mixture of exasperation and relief, then took out his phone to text Ayano that Yuki had woken up. After that, he poured some water from the pitcher into the glass he had brought earlier and waited until Yuki quickly returned, apparently having washed her face as well.

“Ah, I feel like a new woman.”

“Here. It’s water.”

“Thanks.”

Yuki took the glass from his hand and downed it in one gulp.

“Ahhh, that hit the spot… Hmm?” Then, looking at her brother’s face, she blinked and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“You’re just now wondering that?! We talked last night, you know?!”

“In the bathroom?”

“Here! Why would we be talking in the bathroom?!”

“Maybe to pee?”

“I’m not sure a guy and a girl could manage that with only one toilet.”

“We did (suggestive).”

“Yeah, yeah. That’s enough already.”

“Heh. You gotta keep quiet, Bro, or someone’s going to hear us.”

“Enough already!”

“Uh-huh. Now, have a seat right there… Heh. Good job. That’s a good boy.”

“Listen—”

“Heh-heh! I think you’re ready to graduate from your diapers.”

“Oh, is this some sort of potty-training session for toddlers? My apologies.”

“What’d you think this was?”

“…Caregiving for the elderly.”

“Now, that’s a stretch, Bro.”

“Just shut up, or I’m going to turn you into a burrito again.”

“Heh! Do you really think I would fall for the same trick twice? Don’t you dare underestimate—”

Burrito-ed.

“…I’m hot.

“Well, you need to sweat a little. You just had some water, too.”

“Interesting. You’re trying to make me sweat so that you can trigger the sponge-bath scene, huh?”

“Could you at least turn off your otaku brain when you’re sick?”

“Wish I could, but I already asked Ayano to bring us a warm bucket of water and a towel!”

“Did you hit your head when you left for the bathroom?” Masachika replied, followed immediately by a knock at the door.

“Come in,” he responded, prompting Ayano to come inside carrying a basin of hot water and a towel.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lady Yuki.”

“Ayano, perfect timing.”

“My pleasure.”

“Hold up. I thought you were taking a nap.”

“I already finished. I’m okay now.”

“No, go back to sleep. You only slept for four hours last night, right? I’ll take care of Yuki,” assured Masachika as he took the basin and towel from her hands and placed them by the bed. Ayano’s eyes, however, began to wander in a troubled manner.

“But…”

“Ayano, my brother said he wanted to wash my body all by himself.”

“ … ! Very well. I will return to my room, then.”

“How can you even think I’d ever say something like that?!”

Ayano swiftly left the room as if she hadn’t even heard Masachika’s retort, but as he stood there in disbelief at her swiftness, he felt a gentle tug on his sleeve. Immediately, he turned to the side to find Yuki perched on the bed in a coy pose, looking up at him while bashfully tilting her head.

“Dear brother? Could you wash my back?”

“How long have you been free?”

“Heh! My resistance went up after the second time, so I was able to break free even faster. I’m pretty sure this is common sense.”

“Yeah, in a video game. Since when did you stop being human?”

“What? I’m so cute that it’s hard to believe I’m human?”

“Nah, you’re no Alya or Masha. You look human.”

“Hmm? Did you just bring up other women in front of me?”

“Yeah? So what?”

“Groin punch!”

“Hey—?!”

A light tap to the groin instinctively sent Masachika lurching back, bending at the waist. Though there was no force behind it, the chilling sensation of having such a sensitive area smacked still made him shoot Yuki a resentful glare, but her eyes immediately began to well with tears as she clutched the comforter tightly, trembling.

“Big Brother? What’s wrong … ? You’re scaring me… This isn’t you… Please go back to being the nice big brother I used to know…”

“‘What’s wrong’? You punched me in the groin, you punk.”

“The what? What’s that? Cough! Hack! You’re not making any sense…”

“So now you’re playing the sick card, huh?”

“I have no idea…what you’re saying… Cough, cough… ”

Masachika closed his reproachful eyes, sighed at his overdramatic sister, then slowly muttered:

“A character who was described as the ‘little sister’ in the synopsis and her profile, but once the story begins, it’s revealed that she’s actually the protagonist’s stepsister.”

“Do you wanna die tonight, ya little punk?!”

Yuki instantly dropped her innocent little girl act and lunged at Masachika. Kneeling on the bed, she seized her brother’s collar with both hands, staring at him with crazed, wide eyes, and menacingly whispered in his face:

“Listen, scum… There’s nothing wrong with stepsisters. They’re fine. If she’s a stranger who became a stepsister after the protagonists’ parents got remarried, then that’s fine. If she was adopted by the family when she was young and raised as family but ends up wanting to get married to the protagonist still, then that’s fine, too. But…you need to clearly write ‘stepsister’ in the synopsis right off the bat. Don’t go out of your way to make us think she’s the main character’s biological sister, only to reveal she’s not.”

“All right, you’re getting way too worked up. You’re starting to scare me.”

“Tsk. If you’re lookin’ for a fight, I’ll give ya one.”

“What are you threatening me for?”

As Masachika met her intense stare with calm indifference, his collar still gripped in her hands, Yuki suddenly murmured:

“A companion monster character that suddenly starts speaking fluent human tongue the moment it evolves or gains some sort of telepathy skill.”

“I’m gonna rip your head off!!” He immediately grabbed his sister’s collar in return, rose to his feet, and glared down into her wide eyes as he menacingly muttered, “Listen, scum… Dragons and the like are fine. They usually end up speaking at some point and might even take human form from time to time, so they’re acceptable. But small- to medium-sized creatures, like mascot characters that sit on the protagonist’s head or shoulder, are off limits. If they’re going to end up talking, then make them talk from the very beginning. Don’t start making some creature that could originally only squeak start talking like a person. Making everything human-like isn’t always a good thing. Smart, cute pets and familiar companions are two completely different categories. Know your place!”

“Take a breather, Bro. I got it already.”

Masachika and Yuki, each bringing up the other’s pet peeve, glared intensely at each other.

“Hey, Sis.”

“Yeah, Bro?”

“I know I started this, but I feel like this exchange isn’t going to benefit either one of us.”

“True that.”

Immediately, they simultaneously released their grips and straightened their collars. Then, after exhaling a long breath to compose themselves, they resumed their conversation as if nothing had happened.

“Anyway, yeah. You’re right. Alya and Masha are cute…and they’re getting prettier every day. It’s getting to the point that it’s hard to believe they’re even human.”

“Hmm? They’re getting prettier? You really think so?”

“How can you not tell? Everyone’s talking about it at school.”

“Wait. Seriously? I honestly had no idea.”

But Masachika stopped himself just after saying that and began to trace his memories.

Now that she mentions it…

He actually had recalled hearing rumors that Alisa had gotten more beautiful lately. However, he had assumed that meant she had become somewhat more approachable, since she was smiling more and seemed more cheerful—something along those lines. But…

I guess Alya and Masha…have been getting even cuter lately? Maybe?

However, he had assumed that was all in his head—that he only saw them this way because he was strongly aware of their affection and because he started to view them differently as well…

“People are saying that they must have started dating someone or, at the very least, are in love.”

“ … !”

“Of course, they’re only rumors… What do you think, though?”

“Beats me,” replied Masachika with a straight face, causing Yuki’s eyes to snap open wide as she slapped the bed.

“Don’t play dumb! You let the cat out of the bag long ago!”

“Can I pet him?”

“No! You realize I’m the only person who can play along with your stupid jokes like this, right?”

“Sounds like we’re two peas in a pod to me.”

“Oh, stop. You’re making me blush.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re so cute,” muttered Masachika in a monotone voice while his sister covered her cheeks, squirming from side to side. Yuki then flashed a triumphant grin and sprang to her feet.

“Heh! Of course, I am! The power of love makes people cuter? A pathetic buff like that is meaningless before me! It doesn’t matter how much cuter Alya gets! She stands no chance against my perfectly calculated cuteness!”

“So you admit it’s calculated.”

“Of course, I do! I’d be terrified if I ever met someone that naturally acted like this.”

“I met someone like that once. She’s actually right in front of me now.”

“Yes… Habits are incredible things, aren’t they? It was all an act at first, yet before I knew it, this became the real me…”

A touch of sorrow clouded Yuki’s gaze as she stared into the distance. Masachika frowned a bit, perhaps realizing who she had done that for, and wrung out the towel soaked in hot water.

“Anyway, come on. Let me clean you up.”

“Hooray!” squealed Yuki as she turned her back to Masachika and sat down with a soft thump. She then removed her pajama top, leaving her upper body bare. With her left arm draped modestly across her chest, and her right hand lifting her hair to reveal her nape, she cast a glance back at him over her shoulder and snickered, “Oh, myyy… This is so scaaandalous. So sexyyy!”

“Until you opened your mouth, at least.”

With a note of exasperation creeping into his voice, Masachika began wiping Yuki’s back with the damp towel, but the moment it touched her skin, she jolted upright with a sudden shiver.

“Hyah! Oooh!”

“Are those supposed to be animal sounds?”

“Ahn! ♡ My back…is really sensitive…you know … ! Ahn! ♡ ”

“Stop moaning.”

“Ahhh! That’s the spot! Yes … ! Yesss, deary!”

“Stop acting like an old lady.”

“Ahhh… That feels so good…”

“Stop melting.”

“H-hey! Don’t touch that!”

“Stop dodging.”

“I—I hate to admit it…but this is heaven … !”

“Stop dying.”

“Ah! I’m feeling things I’ve never felt before…”

“Stop feeling that way.”

“Ha-ha! You’re hilarious.”

“Really?”

“You’re supposed to say, ‘Stop laughing!’ Idiot!” Yuki reprimanded sharply, prompting her brother to immediately apologize.

“Sorry!!”

She glared at her sibling, then snatched the towel right from his hand and began wiping down her left arm herself.

“As your punishment, I’m not going to let you wash my front side.”

“I wasn’t planning on it.”

“You say that, yet I caught you glancing at my armpit. Check it out.”

“Ew. No.”

“By the way, do you know anything about Alya’s and Masha’s love interest?”

“I told you already. No.”

Though caught off guard and slightly flustered, Masachika doubled down on pretending he didn’t know anything. But when he felt the weight of Yuki’s unwavering stare boring into him from over her shoulder, his heart skipped a beat.

“All right, if you say so.”

“…”

As if she could see straight through him, Yuki’s demeanor left Masachika unable to even question her behavior. Instead, he fell silent…until he abruptly changed the subject.

“Oh, hey. Speaking of Alya…”

“Hmm?”

“…Could you not just casually take your pants off like that?”

“Why? How am I going to clean myself with my pants on?” Yuki replied as she slipped off her pants and got on her knees to wipe her backside and thighs, then sat back down and cleaned her legs as well.

“Here. Pass.”

She immediately tossed the used towel over her shoulder at Masachika.

“I’m pretty sure that’s what the other person’s supposed to say,” he pointed out, effortlessly catching the towel that came flying at him, then dropping it into the washbasin. When he looked up again, however, Yuki had already turned completely around to face him on the bed, grinning mischievously while covering her chest with both arms.

“Secret technique: conceal the chest, reveal the stomach.”

“What kind of move is that?”

“The naive young lady was so desperate to hide her chest that she failed to realize her stomach was completely exposed, immediately stimulating the man’s carnal desires.”

“‘Naive’? More like ‘degenerate.’”

Yuki immediately and furiously slapped the bed with both hands.

“Who are you callin’ a degenerate!”

“You.”

“And yet, you’re the one who can’t take his eyes off my chest.”

“Just shut up, and put some clothes on already.”

“Fiiine,” Yuki replied cutely, slipping on her slippers before she headed over to the closet wearing nothing but a pair of panties.

“At least pretend you’re embarrassed.”

Without making the slightest effort to cover herself, Yuki confidently walked past her brother. She seemed genuinely unbothered as well, despite the fact that Masachika was muttering his objections while averting his gaze. And just like that, she casually slipped off her last piece of clothing and began changing as if it were the most natural thing in the world, neither teasing her brother nor putting on an act.

She has the shame of a kindergartener…

But Masachika felt like overthinking it meant defeat, so he simply kept looking away while forcing himself to bring up another topic.

“Oh, so about Alya…”

“Hmm? Yeah?”

“…Sorry, but I told her we were siblings.”

“Really? So you finally spilled the beans, huh?”

“Yeah… I couldn’t hide it from her anymore.”

“Eh, it was probably about time. She’d have figured it out sooner or later anyway, so you probably made the right call.”

“…That’s it?” he tentatively asked, noticing that his sister didn’t really even react.