The next day.
Waking up in a daze, Sakiko felt for a moment like she was back in the Toyokawa manor. But the sight of the dilapidated ceiling and the faint scent of mildew brought her crashing back to reality.
She looked at the blonde doll in a red Lolita dress sitting on her desk and sat up. It was a gift from her mother—the only thing she had taken when she left her former life.
Even now, it was her only anchor.
She got out of bed, performed a quick wash, and glanced at her father, who was snoring in the living room, before heading to the kitchen to make him breakfast.
Leaving the Toyokawa family to be with her father had brought her pain and confusion, but she didn't regret it.
After finishing the breakfast and a bit of cleaning, she applied light makeup and walked to the train station.
"What kind of friends is he even talking about...?"
Sakiko was bewildered, but she had agreed. She stood at the station, waiting for Rin to pick her up.
It wasn't that Rin didn't want to pick her up at her door; Sakiko simply didn't want him—or anyone—to see where she lived. She couldn't bear for them to see how far she had fallen.
A luxury car pulled up to the curb. A silver-haired girl with a blank expression stood elegantly by the door. Sakiko didn't remember her name, but she recognized her as Karen's maid, Shion.
As Sakiko approached, Shion opened the door with an elegant bow. Inside, Rin Ito and Karen Okiura were already chatting.
"Mr. Rin, Miss Karen, Gokigenyo."
Sakiko's blue hair was tied into twin-tails with black-and-yellow ribbons. She wore a white shirt and a grey plaid skirt.
Her outfit was the same as always. She had no money for new clothes. When she met Nyamu, if Hatsune hadn't been there, Nyamu would have assumed Sakiko was a con artist.
After the greeting, Sakiko looked at Shion in the rearview mirror.
"Where... where are we going?"
"To my manga studio," Rin said, exchanging a glance with Karen. "I'm going to introduce you to some people... actually, Sakiko, you already know them."
Rin and Karen were clearly keeping a secret.
"The studio?"
Though confused, Sakiko could only wait patiently.
The car came to a stop, and Shion opened the door for them. Stepping out, Sakiko saw a sign that read "Baumkuchen Studio." From inside the yard, she could hear muffled shouting and laughter. Rin knew immediately they weren't working; they were definitely slacking off with video games.
"I'll show you the studio later."
Instead of going inside, Rin and Karen led Sakiko to the villa next door—the Fujiwara residence. Rin pressed the bell, and a few moments later, an energetic Chika and Moeha came running out.
"Yaho~~~~! Ah, it's Miss Toyokawa, right? Hehe, remember me? I'm Chika Fujiwara! Just call me Chika~"
"And I'm Moeha! Sakiko-oneesama, it's been a year... no, two years, right?"
The name "Fujiwara" on the gate, combined with the extreme energy and familiar faces, made Sakiko recognize them instantly from past banquets.
"Gokigenyo." Faced with the overwhelming enthusiasm of the Fujiwara sisters, Sakiko didn't know how to react and simply gave a polite, elegant greeting.
But Chika and Moeha didn't care for formalities. They grabbed Sakiko's hands from both sides and practically dragged her into the villa.
The moment she entered the foyer, a sense of dread washed over Sakiko... What are these terrifying-looking masks on the wall?
Why do the Fujiwara daughters collect such bizarre things?
Noticing Sakiko's stare, Chika quickly explained.
"The house is a bit of a mess. My sister has way too many collectibles. These were sourced from some obscure African tribes. We have even more in the basement. Want a tour?"
"Mmh mmh!" Moeha nodded frantically, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Sakiko. "Oneesama's collection is overflowing. I had to move all my stuff to the basement of Big Brother's studio. Want to see that, too?"
"Uh, well... okay."
Sakiko didn't really want to see a basement, but the Fujiwaras were so insistent she couldn't find a way to refuse.
Behind them, Rin and Karen almost burst out laughing.
Sakiko had no idea what was in that basement, but they knew all too well.
The last time Rin was down there, he was "milking" Chika and Moeha. Back then, the basement was full of metal frames and racks, but not many toys.
Rin had no idea how much Moeha had renovated the place since he moved in.
"Let's wait for Kaguya-san to arrive, then we'll all go together~" Moeha said, happily linking her arm with Sakiko's.
Though Moeha's favorites were Kaguya and Kei Shirogane, she wasn't about to pass up a chance to see another cute girl be "disciplined." A bewildered Sakiko was led deeper into the house.
"Kaguya-san?"
"Kaguya Shinomiya. I'm sure you've met her, Sakiko-oneesama."
The goal wasn't just to introduce Sakiko to the Fujiwaras, but to Kaguya as well. To build a "Shadow Hand" that could dominate both politics and business in the future, Rin couldn't be the only link between them.
Kaguya had left the Shinomiya main house, but only for now. If she wished, she could wait for her brothers to tear each other apart. When the family was at its weakest, she could strike, returning to lead the Shinomiyas with the backing of the Okiura and Fujiwara families.
But to form such a tight alliance, mere introductions weren't enough. Not nearly enough.
Sakiko was only willing to be used because of Mutsumi, but that was a fragile motivation. To truly "contaminate" and train Sakiko, they needed frequent parties.
In Karen's view, even though they'd had one party, she and Sakiko weren't truly close. There was still a barrier. The best way to shatter that barrier was to stand bare before one another and share their most shameful moments and deepest secrets.
Being toyed with by Rin together in a party would corrupt Sakiko while bonding her to the rest of them. Perfect!
After a moment of thought, an image appeared in Sakiko's mind.
"Mmm... I've seen her a few times."
Black hair, red eyes, a cold personality, and always accompanied by a girl who looked like a maid.
That was Sakiko's impression of Kaguya. They had only exchanged pleasantries at events. But... why were Rin and Karen introducing them to her now?
Rin had even postponed his plan to "eat" her.
Could it be...?
A dark premonition settled in Sakiko's stomach. Are they all here to find 'stress relief' from Rin too?