"Dinner's ready, you can wash your hands—!?"
Kaede took off her apron and walked out of the kitchen into the living room, but she stopped talking halfway through.
In the living room, Saki Yoshida was sitting sideways on the sofa, with Rin Ito sitting behind her.
Her pigtails had been undone, turning into long, flowing hair, and the fringe that slightly covered her eyes was clipped back with a hairpin, revealing her cute face. At this moment, Rin was behind her, using a comb to gently brush her slightly frizzy, waist-length hair.
Kaede's heart skipped a beat... That was her hairpin, and her comb!
What's going on!? Where am I? Who is this?
Kaede was completely stunned... This, this, this, this, this wasn't the right script!
Before, when she brought female classmates home, Rin always treated them politely as guests and never made any inappropriate moves.
But what was happening today?
He was using her comb to brush this girl's hair and giving her her hairpin?
"Um... Hoshizuki-san, I..."
Saki Yoshida, whose cheeks were entirely flushed with shame, immediately stood up, lowering her head, daring not to look Kaede in the eye.
Kaede wanted to speak but couldn't... Why did she look like someone caught cheating!
"Don't you think Yoshida-san is much cuter after changing her hairstyle?"
Rin said calmly, while closely observing Kaede. Although Kaede read Reverse-NTR novels and used Reverse-NTR manga as masturbation material, Rin was convinced Kaede couldn't possibly have a cuckold fetish! She only read the NTR genre for the thrill!
Until he met Saki Yoshida, Rin had believed this.
But now...
In his past life, Rin had read many novels and manga about people being struck by luck—or struck down by luck—and being transported to a different world. If he had truly come to an underground world, then it was normal for Kaede to have a cuckold fetish.
After all, this was the underground world... even though Rin hadn't been deeply involved, no fetish was strange here.
He had to test her.
To test Kaede and to also prevent Saki Yoshida's corruption, Rin had proactively offered to change her hairstyle.
Though Saki Yoshida knew it was inappropriate to let someone else's boyfriend do this, she was so flattered she couldn't refuse, blushing as she agreed.
While Rin was remodeling her, Saki Yoshida anxiously kept an eye on the kitchen.
In 2D media, you can identify a character by their hairstyle, and it's not much different in 3D.
A change of hairstyle could indeed transform a person's aura.
In any case, he had to test her.
And now... Rin's test was causing Yoshida to nearly hyperventilate.
"!!!!"
Yoshida Saki panicked even more at Rin's words... Praising another girl's cuteness right in front of your girlfriend?
I'm finished! My school life is over!
The most inconspicuous loner in the class, who has no friends, was presumptuously flirting with someone else's boyfriend... Similar rumors would definitely spread in school tomorrow.
Would she be forced to eat lunch in the bathroom, or even have water thrown on her while she did so?
"That's true." Kaede ran up to Yoshida in surprise and examined her closely. "It really is! Before, Yoshida-san always wore her fringe so low you couldn't see her face. Changing from pigtails to long black straight hair also gives her a very obedient look."
Kaede showed no sign of distress. Although she was momentarily stunned, she quickly thought: He didn't make a move on Suzu, who already likes him, so how could little Yoshida-san possibly cuckold me?
There must be something she didn't know!
Trust!
"I-Is that so?"
Yoshida sighed in relief when she heard Kaede's words. It seemed Kaede wasn't very angry.
That makes sense...
With a girlfriend as pretty and cute as Kaede, why would she think he'd like her?
Stealing Kaede's boyfriend? I was just flattering myself.
"That's right, you're much cuter with a new hairstyle," Kaede smiled. "But let's not worry about that now. Dinner's ready. Yoshida-san, go wash your hands first. The bathroom is over there."
"Ah... okay!" Hearing Kaede, Yoshida Saki dashed into the bathroom as if fleeing.
She pressed her hands tightly to her chest, trying to calm her frantic heartbeat. Being praised as pretty and cute was the first time since she grew up.
Yoshida Saki stared blankly at her flushed face in the mirror.
She straightened her slightly hunched back and tried to put a natural smile on her lips.
Although the smile looked a bit stiff, she thought...
I... I look cute!
She was completely different from her old self... Was this her Metamorphosis?
Rin and Kaede's compliments restored Yoshida Saki's long-lost confidence. With her back straightened, even her previously unremarkable chest seemed a little bigger.
Her whole demeanor shifted from gloomy to sunny.
Outside the bathroom in the living room, the three of them—who had finished setting the table—sat waiting for Yoshida Saki.
Kaede made a little pouting expression, staring at Rin. Under the table, her legs, encased in black stockings, lightly kicked Rin's shins.
"Looks like you really like her?"
Rin smiled and didn't directly answer Kaede's question.
"She probably doesn't have many friends at school, right? She seems lonely and lacks confidence. I was just helping her change her image and boost her self-esteem a little. It was just a small favor."
"You're a really good person," Kaede muttered, a faint smile unconsciously curling at her lips.
That confirms it! Even if he had the intention to cheat, it wouldn't be with Yoshida-san. The girls I brought home before were all cuter than Yoshida-san.
"Um... Yoshida-san is indeed a bit isolated," Kaede said, pausing. "If that's the case... then be a good guy all the way. How about you go on a date with her to help her regain her confidence?"
"Huh!?"
Rin looked at Kaede with a strange expression... Asking her own boyfriend to date another woman? Could she really have this kind of fetish?
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Kaede looked away nervously. "It's just a date, but it's only to help her regain her confidence. You need to gather material for your manga, right? Dating other girls can enrich your manga material and help her confidence at the same time."
Although she had indeed found a loophole in the system, could Saki Yoshida cuckold her just by going out on one date?
She wasn't looking down on Yoshida, but Kaede had immense confidence in herself and the strength of her relationship with Rin.
Relying only on Suzu wasn't efficient for gaining Nurturing Points.
A date would not only complete a mission and earn Nurturing Points but also provide him with material for his manga and, incidentally, boost Yoshida Saki's self-confidence.
Three birds with one stone.
Triple win means I win three times!
Suzu, who had been silent on the side, was unaware of Kaede's true intentions. She observed her sister discreetly.
She had only exposed Kaede's fetish last night, and Kaede first invited Yoshida Saki yesterday afternoon.
Bringing Yoshida Saki back today could be explained as being unable to refuse since they had plans yesterday. But Kaede was actually asking Rin to date Yoshida Saki?
Is having me help satisfy her cuckold fetish not enough? Does Kaede need to pull in others!?
It seems... I need to step up my game!