"I'm home~"
In the afternoon, Nanami's energetic voice rang out from the foyer.
When Nanami and Mashiro headed up to the second floor, Rin opened his door and stopped them.
"Shh..."
Rin made a shushing gesture. Mashiro tilted her head in confusion.
Under their curious gazes, Rin led them to their bedroom door and cracked it open.
The room was dark with the curtains drawn, but the faint light revealed a figure splayed out on their bed.
Facing two sets of questioning eyes, Rin closed the door and brought them to the living room.
"Rita flew through the night and hasn't slept. I let her sleep in your bed."
"Did you... convince her not to take Mashiro back?"
Nanami bit her lip, her face full of worry. She knew Mashiro was a genius in oil painting and felt drawing manga was a waste of that talent, but Mashiro's will came first.
"Don't worry. I've temporarily convinced her to stay."
Hearing this, Mashiro gave Rin a thumbs-up and a firm look of approval.
"Hehe... not only did I convince her to stay, I convinced her to draw manga with you, Mashiro. How's that for impressive?"
"Mmh!" Mashiro nodded vigorously. "That's great, Nanami."
"Yes, it really is... we should make a big dinner to welcome her. Let's have a small party~"
"I'll help too."
Mashiro nodded and dragged Nanami and Rin toward the kitchen. Usually, she had zero interest in such chores.
After pulling them into the kitchen, Mashiro ran next door to tell Kaede and Suzu.
Even though her face remained mostly blank, it was clear she was happy. Her bond with Rita was deep.
To Mashiro, Rita was the friend who had cared for her for ten years. Previously, her feelings for Rita were second only to her love for art. But now... hehe.
"Mashiro, go wake Rita up. It's time to eat."
Once the meal was nearly ready, Rin spoke to Mashiro, who was currently making a mess in the kitchen.
Mashiro wanted to help, but since she could barely dress herself, she was a liability.
Rin and Nanami had to cook while keeping a constant eye on her so she didn't hurt herself with the knives.
Hearing the excited pat-pat-pat of Mashiro's footsteps, the two let out a sigh and shared a helpless smile.
Rita was exhausted from her journey and was sleeping soundly. She didn't even notice when Mashiro entered.
Mashiro didn't wake her immediately.
She first imitated Nanami's morning routine by drawing the curtains, letting the sunset glow fall over Rita—who was splayed out like an octopus, drooling on the pillow.
Then, she gently shook her.
"Rita... wake up."
"Mmph... Mashiro?"
Rita rubbed her eyes, staring in disbelief at the girl leaning over her.
Mashiro is actually waking me up!? Am I dreaming?
"Dinner is ready."
"Ah... right."
After confirming it wasn't a dream, Rita got up.
However, Mashiro didn't take her to the table; she led her to the bathroom.
Mashiro clumsily found a new toothbrush in the cabinet, squeezed a mountain of toothpaste onto it, and handed it to Rita.
Then, she wet a towel and wrung it out, handing it over just like Nanami did for her every day.
"Mashiro..."
Rita looked at the towel with a complicated heart.
The old Mashiro was a genius who couldn't even put on her own underwear. Now... she was squeezing toothpaste, wringing towels, and going to school like a normal girl.
Rita suddenly felt a twinge in her chest... she didn't know how to describe it.
She felt empty, as if something precious had been stolen.
If Kaede were here, she would describe it as: Like coming home from a business trip and finding a locked chastity cage in your husband's drawer when he used to have zero kinks.
Rita didn't have Kaede's "experience," so she just vented by ruthlessly ruffling Mashiro's hair.
"Brush... teeth... wash... face... Uuu!!"
"Hmph, it's your fault for being too cute, Mashiro~"
After a while, Rita finished her hygiene routine amidst Mashiro's protests. Then, following their old habit, Rita washed Mashiro's face for her.
When the two returned to the table, the food was already served.
"(╯▽╰) Smells so good~~"
The social Rita wasn't stingy with her praise. She took a seat, and Mashiro naturally sat beside her. Nanami took the spot on Mashiro's other side.
Nanami and Rita were now flanking Mashiro. Usually, it was Rin, Nanami, and Mashiro.
With one extra person today, the seating was balanced. Suzu sat in the middle, separating Rin and Kaede... a small tactical move for her sister's "cuckold" interests.
Kaede: "So... I heard you and Mashiro have been painting together since you were six? You've been the one taking care of her all this time, right?"
Rita: "Mmh! The old Mashiro would get so lost in her art that she couldn't hear anything. Even if I yelled at her, she'd ignore me... I thought she hated me at first."
Mashiro: "I never hated you."
The small welcome party was casual. The six of them chatted and ate, though Kaede and Rita did most of the talking.
The two extroverts had a lot to say. Rin and Nanami chimed in occasionally. Suzu and Mashiro only spoke when addressed.
Normally, Nanami was quite talkative, but today she was unusually quiet, her expression shifting with a hint of unhappiness.
After the meal, Rin and Suzu cleared the table while Kaede and Nanami served tea and fruit.
Mashiro actually stayed at the table instead of retreating to her room immediately.
"Rita, do you have a place to stay?" Mashiro asked.
"Eh? No. I'm surprised you're worried about that, Mashiro..." Rita shook her head. She had flown in to take Mashiro back and hadn't even thought about a hotel.
But speaking of living arrangements...
Rita blinked, her gaze scanning Rin and Nanami.
Nanami, Mashiro, and Rin are all living together!
Excluding Mashiro—who only had art in her brain—the relationship between Rin and Nanami was obvious to Rita.
Lovers! Nanami and Rin are cohabiting lovers!
Mashiro is just like a child who needs a mother, so Nanami stays in the same room as her.
Oh dear... Mashiro has been a third wheel all this time and doesn't even know it.
Maybe they were too shy to share a room and were currently sleeping separately.
In that case... I'll be the wingman!
"By the way, why don't we share a room like we used to? That way I can keep taking care of you."
"Eh? Wait..."
The cry of surprise didn't come from Mashiro, but from Nanami.
Nanami looked flustered, her lips trembling as she tried to find words.
She suddenly felt a sting in her heart. It felt like her position was being stolen.
"Please, Miss Aoyama. There only seem to be two bedrooms here. I can't exactly stay with him... so please, let me stay with Mashiro."
"Mmm." Mashiro looked at Nanami seriously. "Please."
"I..." Nanami looked at Rita and let out a helpless sigh. "Fine. Just don't let Mashiro cause you too much trouble."
Nanami emphasized the word "trouble." Mashiro didn't nod; her eyes just began to drift aimlessly.
Looking at Mashiro, Nanami could only pray for Rita's safety.
But Rita noticed nothing. Or rather, she saw it but didn't care; in her memory, Mashiro had never made such a face.
She felt like a fangirl watching her favorite "ship," barely containing her excitement.
"Don't worry, Miss Aoyama. I'll take great care of Mashiro!"
Looking at Nanami's troubled face, Rita wanted to laugh.
Miss Aoyama is so shy. She has a perfect chance to be lovey-dovey with her boyfriend, yet she's pretending to be so conflicted.
Don't worry, I won't let Mashiro disturb your private time!