Wait—does Sakiko-sensei just really love hiding in wardrobes now?
And she even dragged Tomori in with her?
"Come in. The door's not locked."
Kamijou Mutsuki rubbed his temples. This time, he couldn't even be bothered to open the door himself.
Hearing that, Mutsumi pushed the door open and walked in.
Just like Sakiko and Tomori, she was wearing white pajamas as well—but in certain aspects, there was a subtle difference.
Before Kamijou Mutsuki could fully process what that difference was, the cucumber girl had already tilted her head up and softly called his name.
"Mutsuki."
"You're here to thank me too, aren't you?"
This time, however, Kamijou Mutsuki didn't wait for her to finish. He struck first.
"…How did you know?"
Mutsumi clearly hadn't expected him to predict it. The slightly dazed look on her face was incredibly cute.
I've already gone through this exact plot twice tonight. Why do you think I know?
"So, Mutsuki, what are you thanking me for?"
Skipping unnecessary dialogue, Kamijou Mutsuki tried to fast-forward the scene.
"I'm very grateful… that Mutsuki helped saki-chan."
Sure enough, it was about Sakiko-sensei again.
Inside the wardrobe, a certain girl's emotions became unbearably complicated.
She had acted so cold before precisely because she wanted to shoulder everything alone.
But now it seemed she had only made the people around her worry more.
At the same time, she recalled the anime she had watched today—and Anon's accusations toward her.
Had she… really been neglecting this childhood friend too much?
"Saki-chan… was almost breaking."
Mutsumi's evaluation made Sakiko instantly frown, but because of the guilt she'd just been feeling, she forcibly restrained her reaction.
"If Sakiko and Tomori truly drifted apart… she would definitely regret it."
"Mutsu really cares about Sakiko, huh?"
Seeing both Tomori and Mutsumi come to thank him because of Sakiko, Kamijou Mutsuki couldn't help teasing.
"I'm starting to get a little jealous~"
Truly worthy of being the former white moonlight. Shame she's turned a little dark now.
"That's not the same."
However, for some reason, Mutsumi seemed slightly upset.
"Mutsuki and Sakiko aren't the same. Sakiko… is just a friend!"
Hey—if you two are flirting and bickering, why am I the stepping stone here?
Watching Mutsumi hurry to distance herself from her like that, Sakiko suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest.
They're… just friends?
Well, that wasn't exactly wrong. After all, Sakiko-sensei considered her own orientation perfectly normal.
But the two of them had grown up together as childhood friends—almost like two halves of the same soul.
She knew Kamijou Mutsuki was Mutsumi's fiancé, but how many days had they even known each other?
And yet Mutsumi already looked as if Kamijou Mutsuki were even more important than she was!
This guy—after Tomori and even the house—was he now going to take Mutsumi too? Her childhood friend?
"And also, I have a thank-you gift for Mutsuki."
What Sakiko-sensei didn't expect was that this was only the beginning.
"A thank-you gift?"
Kamijou Mutsuki, who had been somewhat absent-minded, showed a trace of surprise.
He'd thought this would just be another repeat of the same scene—but instead, he'd triggered bonus content.
As expected of Mutsumi. Truly an honest person.
"Mm…"
Under Kamijou Mutsuki's gaze, a faint blush actually appeared on Mutsumi's doll-like face, as if she were shy.
She nodded lightly, then sat down at the edge of the bed.
Only then did Kamijou Mutsuki finally realize what was different between Mutsumi and Tomori.
Since they were about to sleep, Tomori and Sakiko were naturally barefoot. But beneath Mutsumi's nightdress, her legs were still wrapped in white stockings—not the short socks Sakiko had worn before, but over-the-knee ones.
And right in front of Kamijou Mutsuki, Mutsumi slowly lifted one slender foot clad in white silk, the sight strangely alluring.
Good grief. You're using this to test a cadre?
What kind of cadre could withstand a test like this?
Yet Mutsumi seemed to think that wasn't enough.
Though the blush on her face deepened, she placed her hands at her thighs and slowly rolled the white stocking down, gradually revealing her pale skin.
Finally, as the stocking slipped free, she held it in her hands.
Then she began removing the one on her other leg as well.
When both stockings were off, Mutsumi, face flushed red, placed them into Kamijou Mutsuki's hands.
Wait—what's with handing me your stockings?
"This is… my thank-you gift."
That was Mutsumi's shy answer.
Just what kind of image did he have in her mind?
Some kind of stocking-loving pervert?
And besides—he doesn't even play Arknights!
So—if he explains now that Sakiko-sensei's stockings were actually taken off by Soyo, is it still in time?
While Kamijou Mutsuki stood there holding the stockings in deep thought, inside the wardrobe Sakiko-sensei's pupils were undergoing a full-on earthquake.
Wait—you two play this wild in private?!
She had never imagined that her childhood friend—who acted like a silent, doll-like girl in front of her—would behave like this in front of someone else.
And this was only what she happened to witness. As for what the two of them might have done in places she didn't know about—she didn't even dare imagine it.
Mutsumi… you feel like a stranger to me!
Even though they were childhood friends, Sakiko felt like today was the first time she had truly met her.
Meanwhile, in Sakiko's arms, Tomori was also peeking into the bedroom through the crack in the wardrobe door.
So this is how you say thank you?
After watching Mutsumi's actions, Tomori suddenly realized that her own gratitude earlier had only been verbal. She hadn't truly expressed it through action.
Mutsuki had treated her so well—she should do something for him too!
So… Mutsuki likes stockings?
Tomori felt like she had just learned something new.
"Mutsuki,"
Although Mutsumi looked so shy she seemed on the verge of fainting, she still persisted in asking:
"Don't you like them?"
She hadn't sensed any happiness from Mutsuki upon receiving the gift.
Could it be that her stockings… weren't as good as Sakiko's?
"The flavor's not authentic enough."
Holding the stockings, Kamijou Mutsuki replied reflexively.
To avoid misunderstanding, let's clarify first—he didn't actually have any particular fixation on stockings.
But surprisingly, Mutsumi's stockings didn't have the slightest trace of odor. Instead, they carried a faint fruity fragrance.
For a qualified "Doctor," that was clearly unacceptable!
"They don't smell as strong as Sakiko-sensei's."
He genuinely hadn't paid special attention before—he was just making a simple comparison with Mutsumi's.
Logically speaking, though, Sakiko's had been marinating inside leather shoes for most of the day, so naturally they'd have more… depth of flavor.
Wait. What am I even thinking?
Damn it—it must've been that Arknights player spirit possessing me just now!
......................