How is this possible?
Rei stared in disbelief at the empty room.
The only things reflected in her wide eyes were the futon and pillow neatly laid out on the floor. No Shuya. Nowhere.
She rubbed her eyes hard and looked again.
Still nothing.
Did I open the door wrong?
Not willing to give up, she stepped back out, closed the door softly, and whispered, "Yan-kun, I'm coming in~"
She pushed the door open once more.
Still empty.
Rei thought fast.
She had just come from her own room, so Shuya definitely couldn't have gone to Saeko. She would've bumped into him.
She'd also peeked into the bathroom when Yuriko went in—Shuya wasn't there either.
Saya?
No way. That defeated-dog girl didn't have the guts. Rei mentally sent her to sit at the loser table for now.
Which left only one possibility…
He was in Shizuka and Rika's room.
The second that thought hit her, a wave of disappointment crashed over Rei.
She had done so much—cleaned the storage room, arranged the sleeping situation, worked up all this courage…
And it still ended like this?
If Yuriko could read Rei's mind right now, she would've told her: Of course it did.
Why else had she deliberately walked into the bathroom right in front of Rei? She wanted the girl to open Shuya's door, see it was empty, and give up.
Because Yuriko had watched Shuya walk into Shizuka's room earlier with her own eyes.
They had already agreed he would come find her in the bath once he was done.
Rei was simply too naïve… or maybe her skin just wasn't thick enough.
Trying to night-raid without even telling him first?
A little too optimistic.
Failure was basically guaranteed.
Yuriko sank deeper into the hot water until only her purple eyes showed above the surface.
Every time she pictured the exact face Rei must have made when she opened that empty door, a wicked little smile spread across her lips.
So satisfying.
Some time later, the door to Shizuka's room slid open.
Shuya stepped out looking completely refreshed, hair slightly messy, collar crooked.
Two-on-one? Piece of cake.
Easy win!
"Next up… Yuriko," he murmured to himself, a satisfied little smirk still on his face.
Shizuka's softness combined with Rika's wild energy had created some kind of magical one-plus-one-equals-three effect.
Plus, having her best friend right there had lit a competitive fire in Shizuka. Or maybe she was just showing off for Rika?
Either way, the usually lazy blonde had actually taken the lead tonight.
Shuya had enjoyed every single second.
If he hadn't already promised Yuriko, he might've been tempted to stay buried in that warm paradise forever.
He closed the door behind him, straightened his collar, and headed straight for the bathroom.
The door was closed, but the light inside was on.
Yuriko, for sure.
Shuya gripped the handle and gave it a gentle turn.
Click.
Unlocked, just like he expected.
He stepped inside and glanced at the laundry basket beside the washing machine. Yuriko's clothes from today were neatly folded inside.
Confirmed.
He added his own clothes to the pile.
The washing machine was loud, so he left it for later.
"You're here," Yuriko said softly.
She leaned against the far end of the tub, purple eyes opening lazily. Joy, anticipation, and excitement all mixed together in her gaze.
"Yeah," Shuya answered, eyes locked on her. "I'm here."
Everything below her neck was hidden under the water, so he couldn't see a thing. But that hazy, teasing view somehow made her even more tempting.
"You took so long the water's getting cold," she complained, voice low and playful. "Hurry up and wash. I don't want to smell another woman on you when we finally do this."
"No problem," Shuya said confidently. "Come on out first. I've got a trick."
Yuriko raised an eyebrow but stood up without hesitation.
A gorgeous, dripping mermaid.
The only problem? She was still wearing a swimsuit.
Shuya's teeth itched.
Are you kidding me? Who wears a swimsuit for a home bath?
"Disappointed you didn't get to see big sister's body?" Yuriko teased, clearly enjoying his frustrated expression.
What a sneaky woman.
Shuya clicked his tongue and raised his right hand.
Aura gathered in his palm.
A small cluster of red flames flickered to life—his Transmutation fire ability.
He dipped his hand into the tub.
The cooling water instantly heated back up.
Yuriko grabbed him and pulled him straight into the tub with her. "In that case, big sister forgives you. Now let me wash your back."
"Shuya-kun… don't move~"
Before he could react, she slipped in behind him and draped a towel over his face.
Shuya stayed quiet and let her do it.
A moment later, he felt two incredibly soft, warm pillows press against his back.
No fabric in the way.
So that's what she's using to "wash" my back.
Behind him, Yuriko wore a faint, satisfied smile.
That's what you call a surprise.
Build-up, then payoff.
She would never let him down.
After enjoying her very thorough "back-washing service," Shuya took the next step.
He scooped her up in a princess carry and headed for the bedroom to make tonight's main event official.
But of course… an interruption happened.
"Yan-kun?"
A voice full of pure grievance came from inside the room.
"Rei?"
"You didn't leave?"
Both Shuya and Yuriko froze in shock.
Yep. It was Rei—the same girl who had peeked into the empty room earlier.
She hadn't left. She'd stayed behind and waited.
Rei glared daggers at Yuriko in Shuya's arms and blurted out, "You thieving cat!"
"Uh…"
Shuya finally understood why Rei had gone to all the trouble of cleaning out the storage room.
She had been planning a night raid.
He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He opened his mouth to explain for Yuriko, but Rei suddenly rushed forward and hugged him tight.
"I'm not leaving, and neither are you, Yan-kun."
She stared straight at Yuriko, voice hard. "Tonight… I'm claiming this man!"
"You can either leave, or watch… or join!!"
The girl carrying Saeko-senpai's will had gone all-in.
"Join?"
Yuriko gave a cold little laugh.
Trying to scare me off?
Who did she think she was dealing with?
She was Yuriko Takagi—the woman who once ruled Wall Street.
Most importantly, she and Shuya were already one step away from the finish line.
Back down?
Please.
Yuriko's voice turned icy. "Then let's do it together!!"
"Huh?"
Now Shuya was the one left stunned.
Both women turned to him at the same time and said in perfect unison:
"Together!!"
Shuya could only answer with a helpless… yet very willing… "Alright."
Two flowers blooming at once, each fighting to be the most beautiful.
...…
Late into the night, Saeko—curious about how Rei was doing—quietly crept to Shuya's door and pressed her ear against it.
Without warning, the door flew open.
A Nen chain shot out, wrapped around her waist, and yanked her inside.
One tug, instant absorption.
The once-silent room immediately heated up again.
So the question is…
While everyone else was thoroughly satisfied that night, what was Saya doing?
In Saya's room right now, the pink-haired girl lay sprawled on her bed like a starfish, arms and legs wrapped tightly around a long body pillow.
She kept rubbing her cheek against it, a little trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.
Every so often she mumbled in her sleep:
"Shuya-kun… Shuya-kun… hehehe…"
Soft moonlight spilled through the window.
For one perfect moment, time froze.
The sleeping girl's pose became an absolute masterpiece.
Title: Saya Takagi Asleep