"..."
Looking at the way Wakaba Mutsumi and Kamijou Mutsuki were holding hands, fingers interlocked, Soyo—who had just been feeling shy and guilty—suddenly felt her mood sink.
Never before had she so clearly realized that Mutsumi was Kamijou Mutsuki's fiancée.
He had only belonged to her for that brief moment just now. Once they came out—and in the future—Kamijou Mutsuki would belong to Mutsumi.
She had originally only intended to "borrow" Kamijou Mutsuki for a bit. The current situation should have been within her expectations.
But then, why did her heart hurt so much?
Clearly, toward Kamijou Mutsuki…
No—rather, after that impulsive kiss just now, the girl could no longer clearly understand her own feelings.
"Um…"
At that moment, the Occult Club president, now fully aware of the situation, walked over carrying water and a towel.
"…Do you want to clean up a bit?"
"Thank you…"
Soyo finally snapped back to her senses. She took the damp towel and nodded slightly in thanks.
"About what happened in the haunted house…"
After learning the truth from Kamijou Mutsuki, the girl's gaze toward Soyo became extremely subtle.
You're really not here to wreck the place?
Soyo, if you keep this up, you'll have to pay for it!
"I'll compensate…"
Soyo said a bit awkwardly.
But with her current income—including all kinds of shares and distributions—she had more than enough to cover the damages she caused.
"That won't be necessary!"
However, the haunted house's designer quickly shook her head and looked at Soyo with anticipation.
"By the way, Soyo, have you ever considered joining the Occult Club and working as an NPC in the haunted house?"
"You're incredibly talented!"
"I can offer you a high salary!"
After all, the haunted house she designed had always been criticized for not being scary enough.
Until today—when she discovered Soyo.
Those two girls earlier were members of the Occult Club, NPCs in the haunted house, and far braver than ordinary girls their age.
And yet, they were scared into tears.
That alone proved Soyo's talent!
If she could recruit her—ahem, bring her into the club—then this haunted house might finally be saved!
Unexpectedly, before her talent for comedy, another of Soyo's "talents" had already been discovered.
"…Sorry, I don't have the time for that right now."
Facing the girl's invitation, Soyo—who had already wiped off the "strawberry juice"—had a somewhat stiff expression.
What kind of experience is it to go into a haunted house, scare the staff into tears, and then get invited to join?
What is this even supposed to mean?!
She, Nagasaki Soyo, was just a charming and beautiful JK—she didn't have any weird talents!
Although the rejected girl was a bit disappointed, she didn't continue to pester her. She only told Soyo that the Occult Club's doors would always be open to her.
And this farce caused by the accident was resolved under the girl's control.
However, after this school festival, a campus legend about the "axe-wielding killer" suddenly began circulating around Tsukinomori, becoming a psychological shadow for countless underclassmen.
Of course, that was a story for later.
What Soyo needed to think about now was how to get through the rest of the school festival—
And how to deal with the relationship between the three of them.
Since Soyo didn't cause any more trouble, nothing else unexpected happened afterward.
Thus, this school festival trip with the three of them ended in a rather subtle atmosphere.
However, a certain maid Saki noticed something.
After Wakaba Mutsumi and Kamijou Mutsuki returned that day, they seemed especially clingy?
At least, "Teacher Saki's" experience wasn't very pleasant.
Time quickly moved to the next day. Although what happened during the school festival was rather subtle, life still had to go on.
However, by the afternoon, another unexpected situation arose.
Shiina Taki sent a message in LINE saying she wouldn't be coming to practice today.
Of course, it wasn't that the drummer had blown something up somewhere without anyone knowing—she just wanted to arrange music for Tomori's new song before the live, so she didn't have time to come today.
Originally, this matter had nothing to do with Kamijou Mutsuki—until he received an invitation from Shiina Taki on LINE.
"Taki?"
Wakaba Mutsumi tilted her head in confusion.
What was going on lately?
Yesterday it was Soyo with ulterior motives, and today it was Taki's invitation.
However, Mutsumi didn't feel much vigilance.
After all, setting others aside, there was no way Taki would have any thoughts about Kamijou Mutsuki, right?
After all, there was that "grudge of snatching"—no matter how you thought about it, it was impossible!
Thinking this, Mutsumi relaxed quite a bit and told Kamijou Mutsuki to go early and come back soon.
Although Kamijou Mutsuki found Taki's invitation a bit unexpected, he had no intention of refusing and soon arrived at the destination.
Unlike families like Soyo's and Mutsumi's, Taki's home was a standard standalone house.
After ringing the doorbell, it didn't take long for Taki to open the door.
Perhaps because she had just gotten home from school, she was still wearing her Hanasakigawa Girls' School uniform, and her expression looked extremely awkward.
She looked at Kamijou Mutsuki, stayed silent for a long while, and only then spoke: "…Come in."
"Taki—"
However, just as Kamijou Mutsuki followed Taki into the living room, a girl's voice and the sound of a door opening came from somewhere else.
"Taki, are you in the living room?"
Mm, from the direction of the bathroom.
Her sister?
Why at this timing?
"Don't open it!"
Hearing the voice, Taki's expression immediately changed as she hurriedly shouted.
"Help me get—"
But her warning came a bit too late.
As the steam drifted out, a figure wrapped in a towel appeared before Kamijou Mutsuki.
She was a girl about as pretty as Taki, but more mature.
Having just finished bathing, she looked like a lotus emerging from water—fresh, soft, and irresistibly alluring.
It was Taki's older sister—Yuuki Setsuna… ahem, Shiina Maki!
Wait, isn't this a bit too… welcoming?
He hadn't even brought a gift when he came—wasn't that a bit impolite?
"Eh?"
Noticing Kamijou Mutsuki's presence, the girl's face instantly flushed red.
Clearly, she had never expected her younger sister to bring a boy of the same age home.
"Don't look!"
At this moment, Taki finally reacted, quickly stepping forward to cover Kamijou Mutsuki's eyes. However, in doing so, her body pressed fully into his arms.
That soft sensation—its generosity could probably only be rivaled by Soyo.
After this chain of events, even Kamijou Mutsuki was a bit overwhelmed.
Wait, did Taki call him over today just to give him fanservice?
Even though he thought that, Kamijou Mutsuki still obediently let Taki cover his eyes.
Only after several minutes did he finally regain his sight.
..................