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Night had fallen.
Rei casually mentioned the storage room to Shuya.
To her shock, he only blinked once before agreeing without any hesitation.
She honestly hadn't expected it to go that smoothly.
Not only had she convinced Shuya to move into the room she'd spent all afternoon cleaning, she'd also successfully talked Saya into sharing a room with Yuriko.
It felt like the universe itself was on her side.
Everything was perfect. All she needed was the right moment.
But…
Why?
Why was Saeko Busujima—the girl sharing her room—still wide awake at this hour, sitting cross-legged on the bed and meditating like it was noon?
Rei stared at the purple-haired beauty with pure resentment in her eyes.
How the hell am I supposed to sneak out now?
"Miyamoto-san, am I disturbing your rest?" Saeko opened her eyes and asked calmly, those clear purple irises fixed on Rei.
"No! Not! At! All!"
Rei bit out each word through gritted teeth.
"Haha…"
Saeko couldn't help laughing softly. She looked at the clearly frustrated girl and said gently, "Miyamoto-san, if you really can't hold it in anymore, just go."
"What do you mean, Saeko-senpai?"
Rei was completely thrown off. She had a hunch, but she refused to let her mind go there.
Saeko didn't make her wait long. "You're in such a hurry because you want to go see Shuya-kouhai, right?"
"Eh?! H-how did you know?!"
Rei froze.
Was I that obvious?
She couldn't believe Saeko had figured out her plan so easily.
"It was pretty clear," Saeko shook her head with a small smile. "Suddenly cleaning out a whole room just for Shuya-kouhai… and then spending the entire night fidgeting like you're sitting on hot coals."
"…"
Rei scratched her head, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
After a second she asked curiously, "Saeko-senpai… you really don't mind? Me going to Yan-kun?"
"I mind… but I also don't mind."
Saeko's voice stayed soft. "Miyamoto-san, do you remember the question you asked me before?"
Rei looked confused.
Saeko continued, "Back then you asked if I was Shuya-kouhai's girlfriend. I told you no."
The memory hit Rei instantly.
More than half a month ago, that exact answer was what gave her the courage to make her move on Shuya. It was also why she'd been so sulky after watching Saeko and Shuya in the infirmary.
But she still didn't understand why Saeko was bringing it up now.
Saeko kept going. "My answer hasn't changed. I'm not Shuya-kouhai's girlfriend."
"But there was a second half I never said out loud."
"I'm not Shuya-kouhai's girlfriend… I'm his woman."
Rei's eyes went wide, pupils shrinking in pure shock as she stared at the purple-haired girl.
She never expected Saeko's resolve to run this deep.
If love was a battlefield and Saeko was the opponent standing in her way…
She couldn't win. There was zero chance of victory.
Honestly, if Rei had been the first woman in Shuya's life, she knew she would've tried to chase every other girl away. She could never be this generous.
Seeing the look on Rei's face, Saeko wasn't surprised at all. She just smiled and said the simplest thing possible:
"Miyamoto-san, you've already formed the contract with Shuya-kouhai too, right?"
"And do you really think Shuya-kouhai would ever let any of us contracted girls go?"
"…"
Rei finally understood.
Logically it made sense, but it had still taken her time to accept the reality after learning about the contracts.
Saeko, on the other hand, had accepted it instantly—and even actively helped the others.
If she remembered right, Saeko was the one who dragged Saya into the infirmary that day, giving her the chance to connect with Shuya.
And because of that, Saya had later brought Yuriko into the group too.
Honestly, Rei, Saya, and Yuriko's entire presence here was only possible because of Saeko's generosity.
"Go on," Saeko waved her hand and cheered her on with a warm smile. "Good luck, Miyamoto-san!"
Rei gave Saeko one last complicated look, then slowly breathed out two words:
"Thank you."
The ash-brown-haired girl clenched her fist against her chest and strode out of the room with purpose.
Carrying Saeko-senpai's will, I absolutely cannot lose!
Using the faint moonlight filtering in from outside, she quietly crept downstairs toward Shuya's new room.
The house was dead silent.
So quiet she could actually hear her own heartbeat thundering in her ears.
"Miyamoto-san, are you coming down for water too?"
A sudden voice from behind made her jump so hard her soul almost left her body.
Rei spun around on instinct.
It was the purple-haired woman she'd deliberately tried to keep occupied—Yuriko Takagi.
The elegant beauty sat calmly on the living-room sofa, a faint smile on her lips.
Her long purple hair spilled over skin as smooth as milk.
In the dim night light, every inch of her radiated that refined, mature charm.
Rei took a deep breath.
Looking at that calm smile, she felt an overwhelming urge to tear the woman apart.
On the surface, though, she answered politely, "Yeah… what a coincidence, Miss Takagi."
Yuriko didn't reply. Her purple eyes seemed to see straight through everything.
Under that gaze, Rei started fidgeting.
She walked to the fridge, poured herself a glass of cold water, and chugged it down in huge gulps.
The icy liquid helped a little.
Stay calm. Whatever you do, don't let her figure out why you're really down here.
After finishing the glass, Rei looked at the older woman and asked, "It's so late, Miss Takagi. Aren't you going back to bed?"
"Probably because I napped this morning," Yuriko said lightly. "I keep tossing and turning. I didn't want to disturb Saya, so I came out here to sit for a while."
"Unless something changes, I'll probably just sleep on this sofa tonight so I don't wake her."
There was a playful little smile on Yuriko's face as she spoke.
The living room was too dark for Rei to notice it.
Instead, she just thought the explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
But if she's sleeping out here… won't that completely block my path?
Am I seriously supposed to walk into Shuya's room right in front of her?
Rei puffed her cheeks out slightly, irritation bubbling up inside.
"Miyamoto-san, what about you? Aren't you going back to sleep?"
Yuriko asked the question innocently, but her real goal was simple: scare the girl off so she could swoop in and claim the prize herself.
Stolen fruit always tastes sweeter, after all.
Well… not exactly stolen.
Rei had made her move by surprise.
Yuriko had already made plans with Shuya ahead of time.
If anything, she was just protecting what was rightfully hers.
Rei could only answer awkwardly, "Soon… I'll go soon."
"Oh, right—I ran hot water in the big bathtub earlier to help everyone relax and sleep better," Yuriko added casually. "It should be ready by now. Want to take a bath together, Miyamoto-san?"
"No, I'm good."
Rei shook her head and refused.
But inside she was cheering.
Perfect chance!
As soon as Yuriko went into the bathroom, she could slip into Shuya's room undetected.
"Alright then," Yuriko waved it off like it was no big deal and headed toward the bathroom on her own.
Now!
Rei's heart soared with confidence.
She completely missed the small, knowing smile on Yuriko's face as the older woman walked away.
The second Yuriko disappeared into the bathroom, Rei crept silently to Shuya's door.
It wasn't locked.
Heart pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves, she gently pushed it open and peeked inside.
Her eyes flew wide open.
She couldn't believe what she was seeing.