The next morning, the faint autumn sunlight of London filtered weakly through the heavy, thick curtains of the second-floor dormitory room, casting pale yellowish streaks across the pristine white silk bedsheets that Ami had changed the night before. The air in the room still carried a faint scent of pine wood drifting in through the slightly open window, mingling with the fragrance of English roses from the garden behind the church, creating a space that was both warm and chillingly crisp—a characteristic of October mornings.
Rie Komatsuzaki opened her eyes first, her eyelids still heavy from the red wine she had drunk during the previous night's camping trip. Her head throbbed faintly, as if someone were gently tapping her temples with a small hammer. Her throat was parched, like it had been scraped with sand, and her body burned with a strange heat, as though still echoing the remnants of unclear dreams—fragmented images of hot skin pressing close, ragged breaths against her ear, soft moans echoing in her mind, and a vague, sweet yet uncomfortable pleasure spreading from her lower abdomen up to her chest, leaving her restless all night.
She shifted slightly on the narrow single bed, her long, silky brown hair disheveled and spilling over her fair, pinkish shoulders, then turned to the side—where Ami Nonomura lay curled up under the thin silk blanket.
Ami was crying.
Not loudly, not screaming, but with soft, intermittent sobs, her small shoulders trembling as if brushed by a cold wind. Tears streamed down her smooth, porcelain-white cheeks, which still bore faint traces of flushed red and dried sweat from the night before. Her dark brown eyes were red and swollen, her long, curled lashes clumped together wetly, with droplets of tears falling plop-plop onto the pillow. Her long, glossy black hair was messy and spread across the pillow. She clutched the blanket tightly with both hands, pulling it up to cover her budding, delicate chest, which rose and fell with her erratic breathing. Her slender body curled up as if in extreme fear and shame.
Those sobs were so quiet they were just enough to jolt Rie fully awake, her heart pounding heavily in her full chest.
"Em… Ami… why are you crying?" Rie asked in panic, sitting up abruptly. Her voice was still sleepy and hoarse from the alcohol, her long brown hair tumbling down her back. Her heart tightened uncomfortably, as if someone were squeezing it. She reached out to touch her cousin's shoulder but stopped midway, frightened because she didn't understand what was happening. Her own skin still felt strangely hot, her small nipples unconsciously hardening under the thin nightgown, and between her thighs there was an unpleasant dampness, as though her body had betrayed her reason while she was drunk.
Ami slowly lifted her face, tears streaming endlessly, her voice trembling, choked, and broken as if she were about to break down: "Sister… what did you do to me last night? You were drunk… you touched me all over, sucked… sucked my breasts really hard, your teeth bit lightly into my nipples and made them hurt and sting. You even… slid your hand under my pants, rubbed… rubbed that place of mine so forcefully, your fingers digging deep into the outer folds, rubbing continuously until I was completely wet… It hurt so much, I was so scared! My skin is still burning hot, and down there I'm still wet and sore—I don't even dare to move… Why did you do that to me? I'm your blood-related cousin! You're older, you're supposed to protect me… You have to take responsibility! You have to apologize to me, promise you'll never do it again, and… and you have to take care of me from now on! If not, I'll tell Mom and Dad, and the teachers at this school… I don't dare to live anymore… I'm so ashamed…"
Ami's voice grew softer and weaker as she spoke. Tears fell plop-plop onto the bedsheet, soaking into small wet patches. She bowed her head deeper, her shoulders shaking violently, her whole body curling up like a badly wounded little animal. Her hands gripped the blanket so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Tears rolled down her cheeks, fell onto her neck, and soaked through the thin nightgown, making the curves of her budding breasts more visible beneath the fabric.
Rie sat frozen for several long seconds, her innocent, beautiful face clearly showing extreme shock and panic. Last night she had been quite drunk after two glasses of red wine. Her memories of what happened after returning to the room were only vague, fragmented pieces: the sensation of hot skin pressing close, strange soft moans echoing in her ears, a lewd, thick scent lingering in the air of the room, and a strange, sweet yet uncomfortable pleasure spreading from her lower abdomen to her chest—something she couldn't forget. She didn't remember the details clearly—only that the feeling was very strange, very different from anything she had ever experienced. Her skin still felt strangely hot, her small nipples unconsciously hardening under the thin nightgown, and between her thighs there was an unpleasant dampness, as though her body had betrayed her reason. Seeing Ami crying so miserably—tears streaming endlessly, shoulders trembling, voice full of accusation, fear, and shame—Rie felt her heart tighten as if being squeezed. Even though she didn't remember clearly, the marks on Ami's body, her cousin's current attitude, and the strange sensations lingering in her own body were enough for Rie to believe she had definitely done something seriously wrong to her cousin while drunk. She was the older cousin, a few months older, the one who was supposed to protect Ami, not the other way around. Guilt surged like a violent wave, causing Rie's eyes to redden as well, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Em… I'm sorry… I was so drunk, I don't remember clearly what happened…" Rie stammered, her voice trembling, tears now flowing uncontrollably. She reached out to stroke Ami's hair but pulled back, afraid of frightening her cousin further. "But if I hurt you, if I scared you… then I was wrong. I'll take responsibility. From now on, I'll take care of you, protect you, and not let you suffer any more. I promise… I'll stay by your side all the time, listen to you, and care for you like my own little sister. Please stop crying… we still have to go to school. Don't let anyone know about this… I'll make it up to you, my dear…"
Ami continued sobbing for a long while, wiping her tears with the back of her trembling, snow-white hand. Her voice was soft, full of grievance and weakness: "Do you really promise? You have to stay by my side all the time, listen to me, take care of me… you have to hug me to sleep every night like last night… I'm so scared, sister… I don't want to be alone…"
"I promise. I promise with all my heart." Rie nodded seriously, her eyes red from guilt and self-reproach, her voice hoarse: "I was wrong. I'll make it up to you. Stop crying, my dear… I'm here now."
The two sisters sat in silence for a long time, with only Ami's gradually subsiding sobs and Rie's rapid breathing. Finally, Ami wiped her tears dry. Her face was still flushed, but she had stopped crying. They changed into their school uniforms in heavy silence: crisp white shirts hugging their budding breasts, dark green vests embroidered with a holy cross emblem, light gray pleated skirts reaching just past the knees, and white thigh-high socks clinging to their smooth skin.
As they stepped out into the dormitory hallway under the chilly London sunlight, Ami lowered her head slightly, the corners of her mouth curling into a secret, triumphant smile that made her body tremble with excitement. Inside, Long—the soul possessing Ami's body—laughed savagely: "She took the bait… Rie has completely fallen into my trap. It was too easy. That naïve, foolish sister… From now on, she belongs to me, completely. Everything has only just begun."
Over the next five days, Ami quietly but skillfully and firmly protected Rie from Midori Takahashi and Naomi Thompson in a way that no one suspected. Whenever the two upperclassmen tried to approach Rie—whether by "accidentally" brushing her shoulder during break on the grassy courtyard, inviting her to lunch at the student cafeteria with sweet smiles and hungry eyes, asking her for a stroll in the rose garden behind the church during afternoon break when the autumn wind blew, or whispering invitations to "private study sessions" in the library—Ami would appear at just the right moment like a shadow. She would pull Rie close, naturally wrapping an arm around her cousin's waist, using excuses like "We have to practice piano together for music class," "I'm a bit cold, please stay with me," or cleverly asking Mako to join as a shield by pulling all three of them to review lessons. The more Midori and Naomi tried—glancing at Rie's chest, fingers brushing across Rie's back—the more skillfully Ami pushed them away, her dark brown eyes flashing with a sharp, cold vigilance that only Long truly understood.
The two sisters also gradually adapted completely to their new school life at St. Mary's Catholic School. The strict rhythm of the Catholic school—waking early for prayers in the ancient church with the melodious sound of the organ, precise class schedules down to the minute, uniform rules and modest behavior—had become a daily habit rather than something foreign. They immersed themselves in the flow: early mornings when church bells echoed across the campus, lunch with crisp fresh salads and teriyaki-grilled fish in the grand dining hall under crystal chandeliers, afternoons participating in the music club with the soft sound of piano echoing in the spacious practice rooms. They quickly became close with class president Mako—a tall Japanese-British girl with modern layered short black hair, cheerful and energetic personality, always smiling brightly and ready to help everyone. The three of them often sat together at lunch under the crystal chandeliers, joined the music club in the large practice room, and studied late together in the three-story ancient library filled with the scent of old paper and soft light from the stained-glass windows. Mako often told humorous stories about life in London—from rainy afternoon strolls in Kensington to quaint old tea houses—making Rie giggle endlessly, while Ami quietly observed and smiled secretly. The three girls were very close, forming a small, warm group. Their laughter echoed in the unfamiliar and strict environment, making Rie feel safer than ever and gradually dependent on Ami's presence.
On the sixth day, a major piece of news exploded throughout the school and spread outside like a bomb. Midori Takahashi and Naomi Thompson were immediately expelled and deported from the United Kingdom within just a few hours. The official reason announced clearly by the school board during an emergency meeting was: organizing violent lesbian orgies on school grounds, collecting and distributing illegal images and videos, seriously violating Catholic moral rules and school regulations. The incident caused a huge shock, severely damaging St. Mary's reputation. British newspapers reported it extensively with sensational headlines: "Two Japanese noble female students deported for organizing violent lesbian orgy parties," accompanied by vague details sufficient to cause a stir across London. Students in the school whispered and gossiped nonstop during breaks. A tense atmosphere enveloped the entire campus, and many girls quietly worried about dormitory security.
Ami heard the news during break between classes, standing beside Rie and Mako under the old oak trees. She glanced at Rie and saw that her cousin was only surprised, not too sad—rather, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
That evening, in the small, cozy dormitory room, after the two sisters had changed into thin silk nightgowns and were lying in bed, Ami could no longer hold back. The soft, yellowish glow of the bedside lamp illuminated her delicate face. She picked up the landline phone on the desk with her slender, slightly trembling fingers and dialed Tokyo.
"Dad… it's Ami. I heard that Midori and Naomi were expelled. This… it must have been you, right?"
Mr. Nonomura on the other end was silent for a second, then chuckled softly. His voice was deep, steady, yet full of power and affection: "I won't hide it from you. Yes, it was me. Those two little girls dared to have designs on Rie—your aunt's daughter. The Nonomura family does not forgive anyone who dares to touch our own. I had people collect evidence of their orgies and send it to the school board and the British police. They will be deported immediately. As for the Takahashi and Thompson families… they will go completely bankrupt within three months. Midori and Naomi will go to prison for organizing prostitution and distributing child pornography. Don't worry, I won't let anyone harm you two sisters."
Ami sat frozen, her hand holding the receiver trembling slightly. She had never imagined that the power of the Nonomura family was great enough to interfere deeply in a prestigious school in the UK, causing two other families to collapse in the blink of an eye. Her father's extreme doting on his only daughter left her utterly astonished, her heart pounding as if it would burst.
"Dad… I never thought… you are so strong and love me this much. I… thank you, Dad."
Mr. Nonomura laughed warmly, his voice overflowing with fatherly love: "You are my flesh and blood, the only pride of the family. Anyone who dares to touch you and Rie, I will not forgive. Study hard, my child. I will come visit you two soon."
Ami hung up the phone, lay down on the bed, and felt a surge of complex emotions: shock, gratitude, and a hint of fear at the true power of her family—a power that could crush everything with just one phone call. Rie lay beside her, gently turning to wrap her warm arm around her cousin's waist, whispering sweetly in the darkness: "Go to sleep, Ami… From now on, I will protect you properly."
Ami smiled in the darkness, but that smile carried far more layers of meaning than Rie could imagine. The trap had been fully set, and Rie had stepped right into it without realizing. Outside the window, the London autumn wind still blew gently through the rose garden, carrying a sharp chill, but inside the small, cozy dormitory room, the two sisters were cuddling closely—one hiding a dark secret, the other gradually sinking deeper into the web of desire woven by her own cousin.