With the trouble surrounding Shippou finally settled, Tatsuya found himself enjoying a rare moment of tranquility. Since the incident, Shippou had ceased his provocations, and Kasumi had remained quiet; for the first time in a long while, time seemed to flow at a peaceful pace.
Having had little time to breathe since starting the new school year, Tatsuya had accepted an invitation to a birthday party hosted by Shizuku. It was only because the recent conflicts had been resolved that he was able to attend at all; had the chaos continued, his presence here would have been a luxury he couldn't afford.
"Well then, Brother, Minami-chan and I will take our leave first. Please, enjoy the rest of your evening at your leisure."
"While you are away, Tatsuya-sama, I shall protect Miyuki-sama with my life," Minami added firmly.
"My apologies for leaving it to you. I've already taken measures to ensure her safety on my end, but if anything happens, I'm counting on you."
"Leave it to me."
Whenever Tatsuya was away from Miyuki's side, he usually coordinated with the Yotsuba family for backup. Now, however, he had Minami. With her protection and the fact that Aunt Maya had granted him a degree of personal freedom, he was finally able to act independently like this. Of course, he had left a portion of his own power tethered to Miyuki; if anything were to go wrong, he would know instantly.
Having seen Miyuki and Minami off, Tatsuya was now alone with his host. The other guests had already departed, leaving only Shizuku—his girlfriend—standing at his side.
"Tatsuya-san, is it really okay?" she asked softly.
"Don't worry. I've handled the arrangements for the family, and this won't put my position at risk."
Only Shizuku knew of his connection to the Yotsuba, one of the Ten Master Clans. Because it would be disastrous if the news reached Shizuku's parents, Ushio or Akane, they spoke in hushed tones, carefully avoiding the word "Yotsuba" entirely.
"I'm not just worried about your family. Won't Miyuki or Minami-chan be jealous?"
"They might be. But Miyuki is my sister, and Minami is my cousin. As my girlfriend, Shizuku, you shouldn't let that trouble you."
"Right... after all, I'm the one dating you."
Though they rarely had time to act like a typical couple, Shizuku cherished their relationship. Her best friend and others had declared they wouldn't give up on Tatsuya, and Shizuku knew that if she let her guard down for even a moment, he might be snatched away. Yet, she felt no desire to bind him. Part of the reason was her knowledge of his circumstances.
Being part of the Yotsuba—a family rumored to possess overwhelming power even among the Ten Master Clans—meant Tatsuya was shackled by countless secrets. Shizuku didn't want to be one more thing that robbed him of his freedom.
"Hey, Tatsuya-san."
"What is it?"
"What will you do when Miyuki takes over the family? Will you stay by her side?"
"If that's what she wishes, I intend to fulfill that role as best I can. However, Miyuki has acknowledged my relationship with you. Even if I prioritize my time with you, she won't be truly angry. Though... she will certainly be jealous."
Shizuku had heard from Tatsuya that as a candidate for the next head of a Master Clan, Miyuki wasn't free to pursue her own romance. Shizuku felt that Miyuki's desire to keep Tatsuya close was perhaps her only way of rebelling—a small, quiet resistance to a life where she couldn't choose whom to love.
"Now then," Tatsuya said, shifting the mood. "You didn't ask me to stay behind just to discuss politics, did you?"
"No... Honoka and the others gave you their gifts earlier, but I haven't given you mine yet."
Shizuku stepped closer, moving into his personal space. Given the height difference between them, she couldn't reach him no matter how she tried. Finally, she looked up at him with pleading eyes, wordlessly asking him to lean down. When he complied, she was finally able to deliver her "present."
"Happy birthday, Tatsuya-san. I'm so grateful that you were born into this world."
"Thank you, Shizuku. I suppose this is a 'gift' I can't show Miyuki and the others."
"Mm... that's why I waited until we were alone."
Having given him the kind of gift only a girlfriend could—the kind of intimacy she had longed for—Shizuku's face turned a brilliant shade of crimson, and she looked away. She was well aware that Tatsuya lacked the capacity for certain emotions, having heard the truth from his own lips.
"I know I'm your girlfriend, but you're still so popular... I wanted to leave my mark on you, so no one else can steal you away."
"I have no intention of leaving you for someone else... Do you really trust me so little, Shizuku?"
"No! That's not it! It's just... so many people openly say they love you. Even knowing we're dating, they keep coming after you. And unlike me, those girls are... well, they've 'grown up' more than I have."
She cast a dejected glance down at her own chest. Tatsuya felt a wave of affection for her; he found her insecurity, though misplaced, to be incredibly endearing. He reached out and pulled her into a gentle embrace.
"I don't choose my partner based on their physique. Besides, you've grown perfectly fine, Shizuku."
"No... compared to Honoka, or Miyuki, or Nanakusa-senpai..."
"There's no need to compare. You are you, and they are they. That is all that matters."
Tatsuya knew that while Shizuku usually didn't care about others' opinions, she was hyper-sensitive about her figure. He had lost count of how many times they had had this exact conversation, yet her anxiety remained.
"In that case... Tatsuya-san, could you 'hold' someone like me?"
"I'm holding you right now, aren't I?"
"That's not what I mean," she whispered, her face heating up even more as she looked up at him through her lashes. "I mean... you know... properly?"
Despite her shyness, her eyes were full of longing. Tatsuya understood exactly what she was asking. Without a word, he lifted her into his arms and began walking toward the private rooms.
"Once we graduate, Tatsuya-san, you're going to be mine—exclusively."
"I told you, once I get my license, I'll be your exclusive CAD—"
"No. Not for tuning. As a lover. I'm going to make it so clear that you're mine that Miyuki, Honoka, and Nanakusa-senpai will all have to give up. You're going to be my exclusive partner."
Tatsuya let out a wry, slightly pained smile at her fierce determination. "...I already considered myself yours, you know."
Accepting Shizuku's resolve, Tatsuya leaned in. And there, in the quiet of the evening, the two of them began to share a long, sweet moment together.
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