Kanase Kanon used to live at the convent in the back hills behind Saikai Academy; after an incident there, she was taken in by Kanase Kensei.
That convent had been built specifically for Kanon's mother—though Kanon never knew who her mother was. Her mother had lived there too; they originally lived together, but the mother never revealed her identity.
"Hard to believe Kanon's background is this serious…" Akatsuki Nagisa murmured.
"Nagisa, I'm just Kanase Kanon. I'm living with Onii-chan now, and I'm happy," Kanon said softly.
"I see…" Nagisa looked at her with a trace of envy. She'd like to live with Shichen too, but her brother was helpless at life, unable to take care of himself. Their parents were divorced; Dad had basically vanished, and Mom often didn't come home from work—and even when she did, she didn't do anything. If only Kojō could find a girlfriend who'd look after him.
"It's still kind of unbelievable," Himeragi Yukina said, glancing between La Folia and Kanon. From appearances, La Folia looked about seventeen or eighteen—a college student—and Kanon around fourteen or fifteen, clearly first-year college in this "age-up" setting. Yet their relationship was scrambled so the older one was the younger one's niece. Really, it was the grandfather's fault for not controlling himself.
"Um…"
"Just call me by my name," La Folia said quickly when she saw Kanon hesitate over how to address her.
"No… you don't need to call me 'Auntie' either; you call me by name too," Kanon replied.
"That's what I was thinking. After all, we might end up as sisters," La Folia said with a smile—then slid a glance at Shichen.
"Sensei…" Yukina turned a frosty look on him.
"…" Shichen opened his mouth and had nothing to say. He suddenly realized La Folia's arrival might turn his household into a war zone. She clearly enjoyed provoking others; unlike the rest, she wasn't shy—boldly stating her feelings and intentions. A girl who "gives herself" so easily isn't necessarily easy to handle.
"La Folia, what did you come to me for?" Kanon asked. She'd already accepted the aunt–niece reality; they looked so alike that sisters would be believable, and there was no reason for La Folia to lie.
"I originally came to take you back," La Folia said frankly.
"Take me back?"
"Mm. Even though you… Kanon… don't have succession rights, you are a member of the royal family."
"Shouldn't my identity be a scandal?"
Kanon understood at least that much.
"Actually, a few days ago my grandfather's most trusted minister passed away. His dying wish was for your existence to be acknowledged… Mm, my grandfather then promptly ran off, Grandmother was furious, and the palace is in a bit of chaos. But we truly can't just ignore you," La Folia said, face complicated.
"I see… but you said 'originally' just now?"
"I'd like to bring you back, but Shichen probably won't agree," La Folia said, looking at him.
"Onii-chan…" Kanon looked over, warmth blooming in her chest. La Folia's meaning couldn't be clearer—Shichen couldn't bear to let her leave his side.
"Sensei…" Yukina's face cooled again.
"Shichen, you philanderer!" Kirasaka Sayaka glared at him and said it outright.
"Sayaka, why would you say that?" Yukina asked.
"Eh? Well… look, Her Highness is like that with him, he wants to keep Kanon by his side, and then there's Avrora and the others… With so many girls, what else would you call him? I'm saying this for your sake."
"Me? Sayaka, what are you rambling about!" Yukina blurted, mortified. It sounded like she was jealous. Although… maybe… she was? Why was she jealous?
Right—she was his monitor. It was her duty to keep an eye on him, stop him from "preying" on girls, supervise his behavior! This many girls was way too messy! Even for a Primogenitor, that's not okay!
"Yukina, you're not angry?"
"I… why would I be angry? It's not like I…"
"I see," Sayaka sighed in relief—crisis averted.
"Hehe~" La Folia couldn't help laughing at the two.
"Your Highness, w-what are you laughing at?"
"It's nothing…" She shook her head. She wasn't about to call out their tsundere routine; it didn't look like either of them had made real progress with Shichen yet. That meant she could surge ahead.
"Feels like you're plotting something again…" Sayaka muttered.
"Hm? Looks like a spa—mmph—"
"Waaah!"
Before La Folia could finish, Sayaka slapped a hand over her mouth, face red.
"Sayaka, what's wrong?" Yukina asked, confused.
"Me? Nothing—hahaha…"
Sayaka let go of the smiling La Folia and whispered, conceding, "Your Highness, I was wrong, okay? Don't spill that thing—you promised."
"Alright," La Folia said with a smile.
"Really?" Sayaka still didn't quite believe her—the smile looked too mischievous.
"You don't believe me?"
"No, I do."
She had no choice but to.
"Kanon, what do you want?" Once the room calmed, Shichen turned to Kanon.
"Me… what do I want?" She blinked at him.
"Don't you want to meet your biological father? Don't you want to hear about your mother from him?"
"I… Onii-chan, are you asking me to leave?" Kanon asked suddenly.
"How could I?" Shichen shook his head with a smile. "You're already mine. I won't let anyone take you away—even your biological father."
"Onii-chan…"
"I just want you to understand your real situation. You want that too, don't you?"
"…I do."
"Then go back with La Folia for a visit. I'll come pick you up afterward," he said, ruffling her hair.
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. I'm not keeping you locked up. Do whatever you want."
"I understand. I'll go with La Folia to see—and then… then I won't ever leave Onii-chan again," Kanon said softly but firmly.
"Good."
"Sensei… is Kanon already yours?" Yukina asked, voice icy.
"She is. And you're mine too."
"Eh? Me? I… Sensei, what are you saying!" Yukina flushed scarlet at once.
"Hehe~ Shichen, don't tell me you like tsundere girls," La Folia teased.
"That depends on the person. Yukina's tsundere is adorable."
"A-adorable! Don't say stuff like that!"
"I'm just telling the truth."
"Mm…"
"Is Yukina the only adorable tsundere?" Sayaka bit her lip and asked suddenly.
"Hm? You're very cute too, Sayaka," Shichen said.
"I…" Sayaka's cheeks visibly reddened.
"Sayaka, you…" Yukina sighed at her.
"Eh? I… Yukina, it's not what you think!" Sayaka hadn't even had time to feel happy before she panicked.
"Sayaka, no need," Yukina said, shaking her head. She'd long noticed her best friend's odd attitude toward Shichen. Amazing that he'd "converted" the man-averse Sayaka. When had those two changed? She had no idea. Some monitor she was—she'd have to tighten surveillance from now on!
"Yukina! You've got it wrong! It's not like that!"
Sayaka hugged her, but Yukina wasn't listening anymore.
"La Folia, when do you plan to go back?" Shichen asked.
"Me? Not for a while. I might as well enjoy Itogami," La Folia said with a playful smile.
"Is that okay?"
"Of course. My ship was sunk—I couldn't go back even if I wanted to."
"It crash-landed on the fog island, right? Want me to retrieve it?"
"No need—it's useless now. Honestly, Shichen, are you trying to get rid of me… Wait, I just remembered—my lifeboat's still on the island," she said, smiling.
That smile was clearly up to something—everyone thought so.
"Your Highness, what now?" Sayaka asked.
"Nothing. The lifeboat has a lot of my things. I want them back," La Folia said calmly.
"Not because you want to be alone with Sensei?" Yukina shot straight to the point.
"Alone? Hadn't thought of that. Are you afraid of me being alone with Shichen? Then why not come along?" La Folia countered.
"O-of course not!" Yukina denied, flustered.
"Then there's no problem, right?" La Folia smiled faintly. Against tsundere, reverse-psychology worked wonders.