"Mm…"
In the early morning, Kaguya opened her eyes and looked at the bright sunlight outside the window.
It was already the second day.
She stretched slightly and yawned.
Rubbing her eyes, Kaguya's mind gradually shifted from haziness to clarity.
She quickly recalled the series of planned actions she had arranged the previous night but failed to carry out.
Then she turned her head and looked somewhat dissatisfied at Hayasaka Ai, who was beside her—having made a makeshift bed on the floor and, at this moment, having woken up slightly earlier than she had.
Last night, when she first heard that something outside did not sound quite right, she had planned to go out and take a look. However, Ai had steadied her, saying she would investigate first. Yet after investigating for a while, Ai had entered her room with a flushed face and insisted that under no circumstances could they disturb Takumi tonight. She had even refused to leave and simply laid out bedding on the floor to spend the night there. Kaguya had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
Moreover, even after an entire night had passed, for some reason her maid still wore a stiff expression, as if she had suffered a tremendous shock.
"Kaguya-sama, may I ask—what exactly is it about that man that you see in him?"
Ai struggled to lift her head. Recalling the bits of intimate words she had overheard between the two the previous night, along with Takumi's warning, she hesitated for a long time before finally looking at Kaguya and asking seriously.
"You've already asked that question many times, Hayasaka."
Already somewhat displeased, Kaguya frowned directly upon hearing this.
"But I still can't understand the reason you value him so much, pay so much attention to him, and even want to develop feelings with him."
Ai shook her head slightly, clearly having no intention of backing down as she continued speaking.
Here it comes again.
What should she say about this girl? Sometimes she was simply too serious.
"I've already said many times that I haven't taken a liking to Takumi-kun at all, nor do I think I have those kinds of feelings for him. It's just that this man indeed has a rather impressive side. It's necessary for me to secure his support and assistance. It's for reasons of interest that I need to do this—nothing more than that."
With an extremely calm expression, Kaguya spoke fluently to Ai.
"…If that's the case, then Kaguya-sama, if you want to achieve your goal, the price you'll have to pay may be greater than you expect."
Having heard these words—words Kaguya had repeated who knew how many times—Ai could only let out a deep sigh, feeling genuine helplessness at how her master had been becoming increasingly strange lately.
And she felt a trace of fear toward that seemingly ordinary Takumi, along with an even stronger curiosity.
After that invitation at school that day, Ai had actually seen Takumi once more.
After the entire Shinomiya family decided to bow their heads to Kaguya, and no one dared to restrict or track her movements anymore, Shinomiya Oko also instructed Ai that she no longer needed to report Kaguya's daily life to him. At that time, Ai sensed that something might have happened. Then, before she could fully uncover the truth, Takumi cornered her once at school while she was alone and said a few words to her.
"As for before, let's set that aside. But from now on, when I'm on a date, try not to follow me so closely."
"After all, you're no longer under Shinomiya Oko's restrictions now, aren't you?"
"If you keep tailing and monitoring me in the future, I might end up doing something to you~"
His tone was flippant, as if he were joking.
Yet the attitude behind those words was something Ai could not ignore.
Especially when she connected it with the drastic upheaval within the Shinomiya family, which seemed to have occurred on the very night this man went to meet Shinomiya Oko.
Just who was he?
This man—who clearly showed no abnormalities upon investigation—why did he possess such terrifying capability?
Was it truly a good thing for Kaguya-sama to approach him? And as her servant, how much was it that I still did not know?
Ai's mind was in turmoil.
After being discovered eavesdropping last night, it became even more chaotic.
She could be one hundred percent certain that Takumi had now unquestionably stepped onto the staircase to adulthood together with Chika and Maki, truly engaging in a two-timing relationship. Moreover, on that basis, it was very likely that both Chika and Maki were aware of and had accepted this situation.
And now her own master was also putting in full effort to join in, to form some so-called family of four.
What exactly is going on here?!
Had Kaguya-sama finally been infected by the corrupt tendencies of vulgar adults? Was she going to catch the promiscuous habits of American political families?! No—this cannot happen. Do not turn her Kaguya-sama into such a terrifying person!!!
The more unfavorable possibilities Ai imagined, the less she could calm herself.
"No matter what, I have the necessity of drawing closer to him. For that purpose, even paying some price is understandable."
Unaware of the inner drama of her servant, Kaguya merely let out a soft sigh and looked at her own reflection in the mirror in the room, silently encouraging herself in her heart.
Today, she would find a way to organize some activities that everyone could participate in together, and during the process, try to draw closer to Takumi-kun.
As long as she tried her best, it should… no, it would definitely be fine!
At this moment, Kaguya was filled with confidence.
And at this moment, Takumi…
Well, at this moment, Takumi… yes, he was spacing out in the bathroom.
The sound of rushing water drowned out the faint, fragile cries.
Her feet pressed weakly against the floor, then quickly rose onto tiptoe, and finally lifted completely off the ground.
By the time Takumi and Maki came out of the bathroom, several new rows of bite marks had appeared on his arms and shoulders. Judging from the explosive blush staining Maki's face as she was held in his arms, it was obvious that the girl had just fought a desperate battle in the bathroom.
"Couldn't you be just a little more gentle with a girl?"
Lacking the strength to even get up, Maki spoke to Takumi in a voice filled with grievance.
"I'm truly sorry. How should I put it… perhaps it's because you're just too appetizing?"
Takumi apologized readily, while trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for his behavior.
In a certain sense, the script of Maki's second morning was not much different from the one Chika had that day. The difference was that Maki had woken up earlier than Takumi; she had simply stayed in his arms, waiting for him to wake.
And Maki at that moment—how should one put it—was far more adorable than usual.
"Takumi-kun~ Takumi-kun~ hehehe, Takumi-kun's chest is so big, I can even lie on it and sleep~"
It was a side of Maki that was rarely seen—soft and clingy, acting spoiled.
And clearly, being cuddled and sweet-talked by a cute girl early in the morning, with both of them in a completely unreserved state, was something no normal man could endure. So, relying on his formidable willpower, Takumi swiftly made the most correct choice.
That was to happily "play games" together with Maki—fun upon fun—playing from the bed to the floor, from the floor to the hallway, and then from the hallway into the bathroom.
In the end, Maki, whose stamina gave out first, chose to surrender and admit defeat. Although Takumi still wanted to continue, seeing her firm attitude, he could only reluctantly stop, bringing this incomparably fulfilling morning "game" to an end.
Opening the room door and stepping into the corridor, Chika was already waiting outside.
Noticing that Takumi had come out alone, the girl was momentarily startled before immediately understanding.
"Maki-chan really worked hard, huh? Looks like she won't be able to come out and play with everyone this morning."
As she said this, Chika looked at Takumi with a teasing expression.
"Well… she should be able to get up by the afternoon. Anyway, do we have any plans in a bit? Are we going to look around nearby, or do something else?"
Of course Takumi understood that this was the result of him losing control again, so his expression looked somewhat awkward. He coughed lightly and quickly changed the subject, putting on a serious air as he began discussing the day's arrangements.
...
Saturday.
For students, this should be the happiest day. Friday's studies had just ended, the weekend had only just begun, and two pleasant days of vacation lay ahead. It was the most beautiful time of all.
Well then, as for those students and working people who still have to attend classes even on Saturdays or Sundays, there's no need for them to join in the fun.
For the three girls, who were both students and players, Saturday was naturally very important—a time that had to be properly planned and not treated casually. Although now one of them was absent, and the team could no longer be fully assembled.
"Why would Maki not be feeling well? And if she's unwell, why is she sleeping in Takumi-kun's room? What exactly is going on?"
After learning that Maki would not be taking part in the morning activities, Kaguya was extremely puzzled.
"Well… you could say there are all sorts of factors involved."
Takumi scratched his head and answered helplessly. Having been warned in advance by Maki not to talk nonsense, he could only brush Kaguya off with a few vague remarks; it was impossible for him to reveal the real reason.
"…It still feels very suspicious. And it really is a pity to be one person short. Should we cancel the morning plan?"
Kaguya looked at Takumi with obvious suspicion. However, seeing that he was unwilling to elaborate, she did not press him further and instead turned to Chika to ask her opinion.
"How could we? This is such a hard-won team activity. I refuse to spend half the day cooped up in the hotel. And Maki-chan already said not to worry about her, so we should just enjoy ourselves."
Chika expressed her opposition in perfectly righteous terms. For this fun-loving girl, staying in the hotel after going out was clearly impossible. After discussing it for a bit, the three of them ultimately left the hotel together.
Their destination was a small bamboo-covered hill near the hotel. The scenery there was fairly pleasant, and a single morning was enough for a round trip, making it a good choice for a short outing.
'I'll use this opportunity to properly close the distance between Takumi-kun and me, and get ahead of the others!'
Along the way, Kaguya thought to herself in secret.
'Maki's body temperature seemed a little lower than Chika's, but the feel of her thighs was quite nice. Of course, Chika's strengths went without saying…'
Meanwhile, Takumi, walking along the path, was still savoring last night's experience, unconsciously comparing it with the previous person he had shared his first time with.
Climbing, climbing, climbing, climbing, climbing, climbing—
Chika, on the other hand, was single-minded and focused; she was the only one truly devoting herself entirely to having fun.
'So sleepy… I want to go back and catch up on sleep… What exactly is Kaguya-sama planning to do… No, I have to pull myself together…'
As for Ai, who trailed far behind at the end of the group—after being frightened last night, she had not slept well. And because of her identity as a servant, she had to get up even earlier than Kaguya. At this moment, her state could be described as quite dispirited, liable at any time to shift from a low-pressure mode into a low-blood-pressure mode.
The morning sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, falling onto the small forest path and onto the people walking along it.
The three of them made their way step by step up the mountain. Meanwhile, on the other side where they could not see, in a secluded and shadowed corner along one side of the hill, a figure also arrived at this place. Without saying a word, she carried an old guitar on her back as she walked along the dirt path winding through the bamboo grove.
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