Chapter 538: Aftermath…

Chapter 538: Aftermath…

She saw right through it?!

No! Akiko was definitely just fishing for information!

“Mashiro in my room? Ha… haha… what are you talking about? Of course not…”

Himekoji denied it almost instinctively.

Unfortunately, before he could finish—

“Akito? What’s happening? Did you get the underwear?”

Mashiro’s dreamy voice drifted slowly from behind him.

“…”

Busted in the act?!

“Hey! Mashiro! Can you not speak right now?!”

Even though he knew it was too late for such words, Himekoji couldn’t help himself.

He turned around, sighing in frustration.

“Huh?”

Mashiro looked utterly confused. Not understanding the situation, she tilted her head, blinking innocently.

“She really is in there! Big Brother!”

Akiko took a swift step forward. Her gaze, naturally piercing through the crack in the door, captured the true scene inside —

Mashiro was definitely, undeniably on Himekoji’s bed!

And, seemingly puzzled, Mashiro tried to sit up. The blanket covering her slipped down, gradually revealing skin as pale as snow, flushed and glowing, looking incredibly smooth and tender… like it had just been lovingly cared for…

Which meant Mashiro underneath the blanket… was completely naked!

This was truly catching her red-handed, caught in the act!

“No! That… I’m sorry! Akiko! Look! I…”

He didn’t know why he was apologizing to his sister, but “sorry” was all he could spit out. His loud, panicked voice floundering uselessly now.

He briefly considered offering excuses, like he always did, but immediately gave up on that. Lying now would just disrespect and hurt Mashiro.

An honest explanation seemed the easiest and simplest approach, but when Himekoji opened his mouth, he just floundered like a goldfish underwater, sputtering nothing but a meaningless string of dots— “…”

“…”

Akiko’s expression flashed with shock. Then, tears immediately filled her eyes, brimming over, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice in the world. She took a deep, shuddering breath, radiating deep hurt and resentment.

“How could you, Big Brother?! How could you?! How could you?!” Her sharp questions struck Himekoji’s ears. Even though he didn’t quite grasp why he couldn’t be like that (weren’t they honestly dating, progressing normally to that point?), he still felt utterly, irredeemably wicked.

“I-I’m sorry! Akiko, your brother deserves to die a thousand deaths…”

“Does Onii-chan realize what he did wrong?”

“Huh?”

That, Himekoji genuinely didn’t know!

Could his sister be fiercely, vehemently opposed to sex before marriage?

But no! She usually acted way too much like a… devoted fanatic towards him…

“Onii-chan’s mistake was messing up the order! Not knowing who comes first!” Akiko declared.

“Huh?! Wha—?”

Messing up the order? Not knowing first?

What the heck?!

Akiko was spouting things totally beyond Himekoji’s wildest expectations.

What came next was even more stunning.

Akiko lunged forward, grabbing Himekoji’s hand, her voice filled with righteous anger—

“I am your lawful wife! Your first fiancée! The head wife you’re supposed to marry formally! I know it might be tough for you to resist those foxes, those little temptresses, those… those flirts, every single time! But! At the very least! At the very, very least! I, Akiko, should be the first! To offer my first night to you, Onii-chan… I’ve waited for seventeen years! Restrained myself! Cherished myself! Kept myself pure! Doesn’t Onii-chan understand?! Your first night should have been kept lovingly for me too! But you…!”

“W-w-w, hold on Akiko… I… I don’t really understand..”

He was growing accustomed to his sister’s intense brother complex and quirks, but this time… it was just too much, right?

The impact was too strong.

So… his sister wasn’t angry that he was with Mashiro… she was mad that Mashiro was his first?! Before her?!

This… this…

Himekoji was speechless.

Honestly, what on earth was wrong with the world?!

It was just a thought, a helpless grumble in his head, but suddenly it triggered another possibility within him.

Could it be…?

He frantically glanced at his long-neglected System panel. Exactly as he feared—

[World Reset in progress! Progress: 57%!]

Shock, a strange flicker of… happiness? Confusion, fear, panic, a sudden strange calm, and a heavy guilt — all surged up at once. Twisted together. Unbelievably complex.

At that moment, Himekoji truly couldn’t tell what he felt.

At least regret wasn’t an option, sparing him from more pointless torment.

Figuring out how to craft a happy ending after all this became his only real puzzle.

Four phrases surfaced in his mind:

“Sorry… maybe it’s a bit cowardly.”

“Thank you… for being in my life.”

“I’ll work hard… to truly find happiness. And give it too.”

“Waste it… I won’t allow that.”

…

Himekoji’s face cycled through a kaleidoscope of emotions, but his body remained frozen in place. Seeing this, an idea spark seemed to light up in Akiko’s mind.

“I know! Since it’s already happened, all we can do is mitigate the damage! Right now… let’s see, it’s 6:32:57 a.m.! I heard the First Night has a shelf life of up to twelve hours! Onii-chan! Hurry! Do it with me now! It’s not too late!”

With a frantic “Rawr!”, Akiko launched herself at him with wild abandon.

This sudden attack finally snapped Himekoji back to his senses. But his mind was still reeling from the “World Reset” news. Seeing his sister’s genuinely ravenous expression, his first impulse was simply to bolt.

“I-I… I’m gonna be late! I have to get to school! Forget about the bento today, I’ll eat at the cafeteria!”

Himekoji twisted away from Akiko’s fierce lunge. With an oddly nimble, almost coquettish dodge, he sprinted towards the genkan. Shoving his shoes on, he managed to yell back at Mashiro without stopping,

“Mashiro! Get some rest! I’ll request leave from school for you!”

“Onii-chan! At a time like this, you’re still worried about school?! Forget school! Let’s both skip!”

Ignoring her cries, Himekoji slipped on his shoes and dashed out the door without looking back.

“Nope! I love studying! I’m late! Bye!”

“Onii-chan! It’s only 6:30! So early! We can do it, I promise! Even afterward, if you still want to make the bento… we totally have time! Plenty!”

“You! Shut up!”

“Bro!”

Himekoji tuned her out completely.

Akiko desperately tried to hold him back.

As the self-proclaimed head wife, being left behind like this was unacceptable.

Their loud commotion finally woke the Lady of the Wicked Lord’s Eye asleep in the bedroom. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, the girl poked her head out from the bedroom. She gave a huge yawn and complained wearily,

“Huh? Asking for leave? Oh, right. Mr. Himekoji, could you request leave for me too, please? Rikka used this body to play games all night last night… so tired…”

……

…