The dining room's multi-tiered crystal chandelier cast only the softest amber glow from its outermost lights. A bottle of exquisite white aperitif wine chilled in an ice-filled bucket, its crisp notes mingling with the clear, melodious strains of a violin, underscored by the gentle patter of rain outside and the flickering candlelight on the table. Such a scene, surely, would earn unanimous praise from anyone fortunate enough to witness it.
Yet…
"Why am I the one playing the violin…?"
After finishing The Lover of Ireland, Kagura shot an exasperated glance at the three women dining heartily at the table.
The piece was originally his piano composition, but his mastery of music theory allowed him to adapt it effortlessly for various instruments. While the piano was his forte, he was no stranger to others, though his achievements shone brightest on the keys.
The head of the table, usually reserved for his father, stood empty, as did the chair beside it—Kagura's usual spot. Instead, Sayuri, dressed in her butler attire, sat merrily next to it, wielding chopsticks to savor deboned rabbit leg.
A quintessential Japanese woman, she preferred chopsticks in private.
Across from Sayuri sat Sora, with Eriri beside her, occupying the seat opposite Kagura's.
"Well, because you're the only one here who can play, right?"
Sayuri looked up, delicately chewing with her left hand covering her mouth, answering only after swallowing.
"Honestly, what kind of idiot asks such a foolish question?"
Eriri, ever haughty, puffed out her chest, fiddling with her knife and fork.
"Hey, show some respect for your brother's efforts!"
Kagura brandished his bow, squinting his left eye as if aiming at Eriri's head, itching to give her a playful tap.
"Well… dining with music is delightful. Thank you, Lady Sayuri."
Sora swayed her head, teasing with a pleased smirk.
"Oh, you flatter me. It's only natural~" Sayuri clapped lightly, squinting with a grin. "Kagura, how about Summer next?"
"My stomach's growling!"
"Such a pity~" Eriri hummed, glancing sidelong at him with a pointed shake of her head. "Your 'Lover of Ireland' isn't here, tsk tsk~"
Kagura turned away, ignoring her.
With Ai undergoing "training," her role as Kagura's personal maid had been suspended, and Sayuri had stepped in. Ai's maid outfit didn't fit, so Sayuri donned the butler attire Ai used as Smith A. Hasaka.
Those trousers looked ready to burst under Sayuri's curves.
"Kagura, hurry up! When ladies are eager, how can a gentleman remain unmoved? Get moving and satisfy us three—are you a man or not?"
"Pfft—cough, cough!"
Eriri choked on her lemonade at Sayuri's urging clap, coughing as Sora dabbed her with a napkin.
"Sayuri, that phrasing is a bit… suggestive, don't you think?"
Kagura muttered, readying his violin.
"Anyway, dining with my sister beats dealing with that doll-faced girl's attitude." Eriri wiped her mouth, tilting her head at Sayuri with a grin. "Right, sister?"
"Don't speak ill of Ai behind her back~"
"Ugh… fine."
"Hold on," Kagura paused mid-bow, scrutinizing Eriri and Sayuri. "Sayuri, since when did you let Eriri call you 'sister' again? 'Mom' was fine, wasn't it?"
"You're too old to be coddled in Mommy's arms, aren't you? Calling me by name works just fine."
"Exactly!" Eriri pouted, tilting her chin smugly. "You're a grown man now. Clinging to 'Mommy'—isn't that childish?"
"If not 'Mom,' how about 'Milady' or 'Mother'? Why must I use your name?"
Kagura groaned, tempted to play Lostriver to vent his frustration.
"Hahaha—'Milady'? Kagura, too much anime or still stuck in your chuunibyou phase?"
Eriri laughed, wiping tears.
Kagura rolled his eyes, glancing at his mother. Sayuri daintily wiped her red lips, sitting upright, fingers interlaced under her chin. "It's about giving you a sense of being 'the future master of this house.' Or perhaps, letting you feel what your father does?"
"So you three 'ladies' leave the 'master' starving, playing for your amusement?"
"Pfft—" Eriri stifled a laugh, Sora smiled silently, and Sayuri, unfazed, waved a hand. "Kagura, possessing a skill to charm women is something to take pride in as a man."
"Charm…?"
Eriri, blushing, repeated the word, her doujin artist's mind likely conjuring something risqué.
"Fine, I'm proud."
"Shall I call you 'darling' to make you feel better? That's how I address your father."
"No thanks!" Kagura shuddered, flourishing his bow with a bow. "Ladies, please enjoy Summer."
After the piece, Kagura finally sat to eat.
Creak— Sora pushed back, bowing slightly. "Thank you for the meal."
"You're done? Eat more!"
Kagura pointed at her nearly two-thirds uneaten rabbit leg.
"Rather have snacks…"
Sora grabbed the black rabbit plush from the empty chair beside her, hugging it as she left.
"Tch, look at that, Kagura. You sit down, and Sora bolts. Figure out what you did and apologize!"
Eriri kicked him under the table.
"Enough!" Kagura clutched his head. "I didn't do anything…"
"The rabbit leg's delicious. Such a waste for Sora to leave so much…"
Sayuri sighed, propping her cheek.
She'd polished her plate and was sipping the aperitif as a digestif, basking in Kagura's music, looking enviably content.
"Forget her. She's got a snack stomach." Eriri swung her crossed leg, waving toward the door. "Hope that stick-thin frame doesn't starve."
"I'll take Sora's leftovers," Kagura speared the rabbit leg, reaching for her plate.
Eriri grimaced, glaring. "You definitely upset her. Eating her leftovers? She'll be furious."
What kind of nonsense is this? Eating a girl's leftovers would gross her out! Most girls would gag hearing about it! Worse than sneaking a lick of her flute! You're not after an indirect kiss—you're after her spit!
Eriri ranted inwardly.
"At least it's not wasted. Hand it over."
"Kagura's right. Waste not, want not. I'm full, Eriri, pass him Sora's plate. Growing boys need to eat."
"Ugh…" Eriri hesitated, then swapped her own near-identical plate for Sora's, setting Sora's before herself. "Eat. I don't mind you."
"Can I say I mind?"
Kagura grinned cheekily.
"Plate to your face, punk."
Eriri's glare turned murderous.
"Cough, kidding!"
Kagura took her plate, muttering flat-chested fiend while eating properly.
With Sayuri watching, unlike casual meals with Ai, the pressure was immense.
After dinner, Kagura and Sayuri returned to his room. He showered first, then her. Though his system and Cleanse spell made bathing optional, who could resist a hot shower and soak after a long school day?
Not Kagura.
"Phew… good, she didn't come."
Emerging naked, Kagura toweled his hair, relieved Sayuri hadn't barged in to scrub his back—something even Ai rarely did unless he asked.
At their age, a bathroom encounter could easily spark something.
After drying his hair, Sayuri ushered him to the piano room for his daily practice while she bathed. By the time he returned, a silver tray with a nearly room-temperature inowater awaited him.
"What an unprofessional butler…"
Kagura missed Ai dearly.
Gulping the water, he approached his bed, tossing his clothes onto the chair and pulling back the curtains—huh?
A white satin ribbon formed a heart on the bed, encircling a stiff card.
It was a handmade greeting card. Inside, a chibi Sayuri beamed on the left, while the right bore gothic red text: [To Kagura: Don't sneak off to Ai tonight. Goodnight, I love you, sweet dreams.
—Mom]
"This is straight-up a threat… Sayuri, you're not cute at all!!"
Kagura shivered, tossing the ribbon and card onto the nightstand, slipping under the covers.
He considered his "substitute doll" but dismissed it—Ai was likely under surveillance. A month without intimacy wouldn't kill him.
Yet, moments after closing his eyes, he sat up. Not to find Ai, but because he'd nearly forgotten something.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed his father. At 9:50 PM, Leonard should be awake.
Sure enough, he answered promptly.
"It's me. Evening, Kagura. Good day?"
"Decent… Evening, Dad. I've got a question."
Kagura kept his voice low, mindful of Sayuri's room next door.
"Oh? Spill it. I'm an open book!"
Leonard's tone was playful.
"You and Mom… things aren't good, are they?"
"Hm… That's a complex one. Adult relationships aren't just 'good' or 'bad.' But… sigh, I think I know what you're getting at."
Leonard's voice grew somber.
"You cheated, didn't you?"
Kagura asked after a pause.
"…Sayuri's a woman with high expectations. No excuses now. We were deeply in love once, but… never mind."
"So… Sora's…?"
Sayuri's pained smile flashed in Kagura's mind.
"My illegitimate daughter. Your sister. Only me, your mother, and Sora know. Who told you?"
"Does it matter?"
"Not really. But keep it quiet. For you and Eriri's sake, your mother and I will never divorce. We'll act loving in public, but… she'll never forgive me. I'm sorry."
"Sora's your daughter, and you let her be a maid…?"
Kagura's heart skipped, embarrassment flooding him. He'd once fantasized about bedding Sora like Ai, only to learn she was his half-sister.
What a Duan Zhengchun of a father.
"Her nominal parents died in a crash. I didn't trust Finnish or Japanese relatives to raise her, and Sayuri adores her. We kept her here. Publicizing her status would hurt you and Eriri. She's only a maid in name—her room aside, she's treated like Eriri. Sayuri ensures it."
"No wonder you and Mom always get Sora fancier gifts than Ai."
Kagura thought: Sora knows… No wonder she's so rude. She's my sister—can't hold her to maid standards.
"And you? Will you repeat my mistakes?"
"I…"
Kagura faltered, speechless.
"You'll marry Mahiro Shiina. Say hi to your mom for me. Anything else?"
"First, I don't want to marry her. Second, two more questions."
"You will marry her. Ask away—I never lie to my kids."
"Did you ever love Sora's mother? And do you still love Mom?"
"Both answers are yes. I also love you, Eriri, and Sora—you're all my family. For what it's worth, I've only slept with your mother and Sora's. That's it. See you, Kagura."
Leonard sighed heavily, hanging up.
Kagura stared at the ended call, silent.
Opening LINE, he messaged Sora: Sorry for everything…
No read receipt. She'd likely blocked him or ignored it. Tossing the phone aside, he slept.
Thursday, 7:00 AM.
Kagura's alarm woke him.
"…?"
Groping blindly, he silenced it, lying flat, tongue flicking instinctively…
Huh? Where's Ai's morning greeting?
He bolted upright. Sayuri stood by the bed, curtains parted, smiling.
"Uh… morning, Sayuri." Kagura licked his lips, scratching his head awkwardly. "How long you been watching me?"
"Hm… fifteen minutes? Wondering when you set your alarm."
"Seven…"
"But you usually eat breakfast around 7:50. Takes that long to get ready?"
Sayuri's knowing smile gleamed, hands clapping her cheeks.
"Uh…" Kagura flopped back, turning away. "I laze in bed for fifteen minutes."
Normally, Ai woke him at 6:50, disabled the alarm by 6:55, and by 7:00, straddled his face for a "morning 69 greeting." Those seventeen minutes refreshed him and eased his morning erection—a win-win.
With Cleanse, he'd skipped morning washes, using the time for a quick round with Ai.
But after one session and slaying her "Crimson Dragon," Ai was sent for training, leaving him stuck with Sayuri for a month.
"Lazing to wait out your morning erection?"
"Don't casually talk about your son's boner like that, please…"
Kagura's voice was lifeless, tempted to wave a white flag.
Or Ai's white panties.
The horror of a former ero-artist, otaku mom with no filter.
Rising, Kagura tugged his robe to hide the bulge, shuffling to the bathroom. Sayuri briskly opened the door, gesturing. "Did you masturbate last night, Young Master?"
"Is that a butler's question…?"
"It's a mother's."
"Are you a butler or a mom?!"
"Butler-Mom—ooh, sounds naughty, doesn't it?"
Sayuri clutched her flat chest, blushing and squirming.
"I think 'Maid-Mom' sounds naughtier…"
"Right? Maid outfits trump butler suits! So much better—better!!"
She emphasized "better" with a suggestive bite.
"Stop stressing 'better' like that—!!"
"Hahaha~" Sayuri giggled, patting his back. "Blushing at words like 'better' or 'hole'? You're still a puberty-struck kid, Kagura."
Kagura covered his ears, fleeing to the shower.
Breakfast was similar to usual, sans Ai. Well-rested, Kagura didn't need a system check-in but felt listless.
Since Ai's period ended, he hadn't tasted her delectable folds, nor had morning relief. Ugh, so pent-up.
"Bro, you look half-dead. You okay?"
Eriri kicked him under the table.
"Fine…"
"Yikes, terminal doll-girl withdrawal. Late-stage, huh?"
"Spot-on, Eriri."
Sora chimed in.
"Enough, you two. No badmouthing Ai—she's in training."
Sayuri clapped lightly.
"Mor—Ai's not attending classes?"
Kagura turned to Sayuri.
"She will, but I've instructed her to keep three meters from you at school."
"…Got it."
Kagura's mouth twitched. What could he say?
"Speaking of, Mom, what's up with Ai?"
"She's been lax in her maid duties, so I've arranged a month-long training with an expert. Could extend, depending."
Sayuri's left hand rested on Kagura's right thigh, circling lightly as she winked.
You get it, right?
Kagura got it—crystal clear.
In the car, Sora seemed grumpier than yesterday, making Kagura uneasy. He glanced at Eriri, who ignored him, humming, "Certain people shouldn't eat girls' leftovers. That's practically a misdemeanor, no?"
"Japan's misdemeanor laws are broad."
"Tell me about it." Eriri elbowed him, squinting. "Why'd you start calling doll-girl 'Ai'? Wasn't it always 'Hayasaka'?"
"Mom ordered me to. I'm helpless here."
Kagura shrugged bitterly.
"Oh, really?" Nao, the driver, chuckled, adding pointedly, "Ai's been exhausted lately. Good thing Madam gave her a month off."
"Certain people love bossing others around~"
Eriri piled on.
"Fine, everything's my fault, happy? I'm napping—don't bug me."
Kagura shut his eyes, leaning right.
Sora, far left, murmured, "Goodnight."
"Sora, what country are you from?"
Eriri whispered.
"Finland…"
"Not your nationality!"
"I live on Finnish time… Goodnight, Eriri. Nap."
"Ugh…"
Eriri sighed, weighing her options, then dozed on Sora's shoulder.
None of the car's four occupants were Japanese: Nao and Ai were Irish, Kagura and Eriri British, Sora Finnish. All held permanent Japanese residency. Even the car, imported from the UK, bore a "foreign" plate.
At school, Yumiko stood at the gate, bag in hand. Their eyes met, and she fixed on him. Kagura, sensing something off, approached. "Morning, Miura-san."
"Morning…" Yumiko blocked his path, arms crossed. "What's with the long face?"
Is this a lingering effect of that "window call"? Or was yesterday's incident too awkward? Did he fantasize about me and jerk off all night?
I don't know if he did… but I masturbated several times… So embarrassing.
"I wanna eat pussy…"
Seeing Yumiko, Kagura blurted it out, like asking a big sister for candy, a mischievous urge to tease her.
"Ha—? Mango?" Yumiko's face twisted in disbelief, brow raised. "Your family can't afford mangoes? They're in season now."
Kagura realized she'd misheard—unsurprising, as who'd expect a "model student" piano prodigy to say "I wanna eat pussy" at school? And technically, it'd be "lick pussy"—different verbs entirely.
Japanese made it easy to mix up: "mango" (マンゴー, mango) sounded close to "pussy" (マンコ, manko). A casual ear could miss the difference.
"You're right… Thanks. I'll hit Gamedata Café for a mango smoothie after school."
Kagura played along.
"Atta boy!"
Yumiko nodded, pleased to see him perk up.
She turned, and Kagura sighed. She hadn't caught it.
But Yumiko…
Kagura said he wants to eat pussy… He wants to eat pussy… He told me he wants to eat pussy—?!
Clenching her fists, face burning, she walked stiffly beside him, muttering inwardly.
As a JK hyper-sensitive to such terms, she'd heard him loud and clear. "Eat pussy" wasn't precise, but she got the gist.
She'd feigned misunderstanding to avoid discussing that at the school gate. Ruining his reputation was the last thing she wanted.
Pretending worked—she'd dodged the bullet.
Walking to the school building, Yumiko coughed loudly. "So… 'career shadowing' is coming up, right? You've picked your group, Zeamura?"
"Groups… Nah, I'm skipping it."
"Eh? Well, you'll probably get a pass. The school never bugs you."
"Pretty much."
"Then I'm not worried. See ya!"
Yumiko flashed a carefree smile, sprinting upstairs.
Her heart raced with shy excitement—she needed distance from Kagura to keep her composure.
Kagura, puzzled, returned to class, propping his cheek and sighing over Ai's absence. Glancing left, he noticed Yumiko, despite leaving first, arrived later.
A gray-haired girl with glasses sauntered over, hands behind her back, skirt pressed down, bowing slightly with a warm smile. "Morning, Zeamura-san."
"Oh… morning. You're… Ebina, right? Hina-san?"
They'd barely spoken since the first day, though they'd exchanged contacts. He recalled her name.
"Bingo~" Hina winked, bringing her hands forward, bowing again. "Yumiko caused you trouble yesterday."
"Nah, getting locked in was force majeure."
"As long as you're fine. Bye~"
Hina waved, leaving a breezy wake.
Kagura resumed sighing, only for Hachiman to clap his shoulder. "Sorry about yesterday… didn't report to the teacher in time."
"No biggie." Kagura waved, not turning.
"Doesn't look like 'no biggie.' What's up? Did the Flame Queen scare you in there?" Hachiman whispered, "You look drained. Left some trauma?"
"Nope… Why's everyone noticing I'm off?"
"Noticing? It's obvious! Your eyes are dead!"
Hachiman nearly added, Worse than my dead-fish stare!
"It's not just noticing you're off—it's that you want people to notice, Zeamura-san~" Megumi Katou stepped from behind Hachiman, setting her bag on her desk in front of Kagura, turning with a smile. "Morning, Zeamura-san."
"Morning…"
Kagura clutched his chest, muttering, Eriri's right—I've got Ai withdrawal.
Since Ai's period started, he'd gone days without her, and though Saturday was a frenzy, her soreness sidelined her after one round. Sayuri's intervention left him in full withdrawal.
No sane man could taste the forbidden fruit and then abstain. Madness.
"So, what's wrong? Besides nightmares or warehouse lock-ins."
Megumi sat sideways, glancing at him.
"Nothing. Just Mom pulling a fast one. Family stuff. Thanks for asking."
Kagura answered honestly, if vaguely.
He wasn't about to tell Megumi, "I wanna eat pussy." He wasn't that unhinged.
"No need to thank me… Your mother sounds strict."
"She's… firm on certain things."
"Every family's like that. Better perk up soon, Zeamura-san."
"Always on? Let me slack sometimes. Everyone's got some laziness."
"Not 'sometimes.' By normal high school standards, you're already slacking hard. You haven't even done your homework."
"Ouch, Katou, you don't hold back."
Kagura flopped onto his desk, waving for mercy.
"Is that why you got kicked out of J Class?"
"I requested the transfer…"
"Got it… Well, cheer up soon."
Megumi turned away.
Kagura eyed her uniformed back, struggling to reconcile the movie-star Megumi from Sunday with this unremarkable schoolgirl. The contrast was jarring.
Finally, Yumiko returned, hands slightly damp. She glanced at Kagura, who met her eyes. Hiding her hands, she silently took her seat, tossing her bag down.
Kagura's "I wanna eat pussy" had sent her, already keyed up from last night, to the restroom for a quick release—hence her delay.
A few classes in, Kagura noticed an empty seat. The teacher called the absentee's name repeatedly until homeroom, when Kirisu-sensei's class began, and the "big shot" strolled in, yawning.
Her long, teal hair reached her hips, natural, not dyed. Like some "gal" types, she tied a brown jacket around her waist, draping over her skirt, looking nonchalant yet tidy. Her legs, waxed or shaved, gleamed in the sunlight—eye-catching.
Kagura vaguely recalled a mole under her eye but couldn't place her name.
"Kawasaki-san… What time do you think it is?"
Kirisu-sensei, clutching her notes, blocked her path, veins bulging.
"I'm going to my seat. Move, please."
Kawasaki sidestepped, tossing her bag onto her desk, sitting to gaze out the window.
As teacher and student squared off, Kagura focused on his notebook, sketching a new composition.
He stayed listless until the final bell, only perking up at the thought of meeting his "future wife." He packed swiftly, not on duty, and unscrutinized by Yumiko, ready to leave.
Mid-packing, his left ear was pinched—painless but startling. He clutched it, turning.
"Good day… What? Speechless at a cute senpai?"
Mai Sakurajima, in her uniform, stood arms crossed, tapping her left arm with her right index finger, pouting.
No one but Kagura noticed her.
"Uh… Sakurajima-senpai, what's this…?"
Kagura leaned in, whispering.
"Where are you off to? Come keep me company."
Mai grabbed his satchel, slinging it over her shoulder and walking off.
"Eh—?!"
Kagura hurried after her.
Only to realize she was heading to the Service Club. Why chase her? Same destination!
"Knock. I've got something to show you."
Mai handed back his bag.
Kagura resisted saying, I was coming here anyway, and knocked twice.
"Come in."
Yukino's cool voice drifted through the door.
Kagura entered, Mai trailing. The familiar, time-frozen room greeted him. Closing the door, he set his bag in his usual corner of the worn sofa.
"Good work."
Kagura spoke first.
"You too…" Yukino looked up, shaking her bangs, then spotted Mai. "Sakurajima…-senpai?"
"Hey, that's me. Hi."
Mai smoothed her skirt, sitting a short distance to Kagura's right.
"???"
Kagura's head sprouted question marks, but Yukino shot him a displeased look. "Zeamura-kun, if you're bringing a guest, at least mention it."